Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 271-272 & 275; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Morrison Darland is one of the oldest settlers in the county and
ranks with the leading farmers, although he is now retired from active
labor, the management of the estate being in the hands of his
sons. He has been a very hard-work man and well deserves the rest
he is enjoying and the competence he has secured. He owns a
valuable tract of land in Young Hickory Township, comprising three
hundred and twenty acres on sections 13 and 25, and another tract of
forty acres on section 11.
Our subject is the fourth child of Isaac and Jane (Morrison)
Darland. His father was born in Kentucky, grew to manhood there
and then made his way to Ohio, locating in Preble County. There
he married the good woman who share his joys and sorrow for many
years. Like himself, she was a native of the Blue Grass
State. After his marriage Mr. Darland cleared a farm, which was
his home until the death of his wife, when he became an inmate of the
households of his children. He spent two years in this county,
but returned to Ohio prior to his demise.
Politically, he was an old-line Whig. The members of the
parental family are: John, who died in Ohio; Benjamin, now living
in Marble Rock, Iowa; Harrison, who died in Ohio; our subject; Van Lew,
who died in Iowa; Nathan, a resident of Kansas; Isaac, who died in that
State; Hannah and Catherine, who died in Ohio. Van Lew belonged
to an Iowa regiment in the Civil War and contracted a disease from
which he died soon after his return to his home.
Our subject was born near Paris, Preble County, Ohio, November
8, 1812. His school privileges were limited, consisting of
attendance in the winter in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse, where
instruction was supplied under the subscription system. He was
early set to work on the farm, and being unusually large and strong for
his years, had to put his shoulder to the wheel in quite heavy
labor. Being obliged to chop, burn and clear timber, he early
became an adept at using the ax. He remained with his father long
after he was of age and was the last of the boys to leave the home
fireside. The idea finally grew upon him of visiting the broad
prairies of Illinois, of which he had heard so much, and of selecting a
location in which to make himself a home. He, therefore, in 1835,
came on horseback through the Indiana and Illinois mud to this county,
where he soon purchased land.
Mr. Darland located near Fairview on a quarter section, and
buying another horse, set to work to improve is estate. He built
a rude log house and other necessary buildings, and when the land was
somewhat improved had an opportunity to sell it to advantage. He,
therefore, disposed of and bought an equal amount east of Fairview,
this also being raw land. Here he used cattle in breaking the sod
and cultivating the soil. In those early days the market was
Copperas Creek Landing, to and from which all produce and goods must be
hauled. The principal crops at that time were wheat and rye,
whereas at present the fields are mostly covered with corn. Mr.
Darland split hundreds of rails with which to fence his farm, and
otherwise exerted his powerful physical forces, which were far above
the average.
About 1845 Mr. Darland sold his property in Fairview Towsnhip
and bought one hundred and sixty acres of his present estate, already
somewhat improved. He added to the permanent work which had been
done. He now has a growing orchard of five acres of apple and
peach trees, which he set out on land grubbed by himself at noons,
when, as he says, he was resting. Energy and perseverance secured
the need of success, and year by year the circumstances of our subject
improved. In 1870 he bought an additional quarter section
adjoining his first purchase in the township paying $40 per
acres. This he has also improved, making two farms with the
necessary buildings. His forty-acre tract is timber land.
He has always raised a good grade of cattle and hogs, and has also bred
some very fine draft and driving horses. He is an excellent judge
of horse flesh, and his farm has been well supplied with equines.
About a decade since he retired from active life, and his sons are
carrying on the work which he so well instituted.
The first marriage of Mr. Darland took place in Fairview
Township, June 2, 1838. His bride was Miss Ann Shreeves, who was
born in Franklin County, December 10. 1809. She left five
children - Milton I., Mary J., Benjamin M., Marion Foster and Thomas
S. Mary J. is now the wife of Asa White, of Young Hickory
Township; Benjamin M. enlisted in Company B., One Hundred and Third
Illinois infantry, during the first year of the war, was taken sick,
sent home on a furlough and died about a year after his
enrollment. The other children died here.
January 26, 1851, Mr. Darland was united in marriage with Mrs.
Jane (Rest) Henry, the ceremony taking place in Young Hickory
Township. The bride was a daughter of Jacob Rest, was born near
Connellsville, Pa., February 24, 1820, and lived in her native place
until nineteen years old. She had no school advantages and is
self-educated, and has likewise acquired a good knowledge of the
domestic arts. Her manners are those of a friendly, gracious
woman, who meets with due respect from her acquaintances. In 1838
she accompanied her parents to this county, coming overland and being
four weeks on the way. She remained at home until her marriage to
Jacob Henry, July 2, 1841. The husband was born in New Jersey,
came to this county with his uncle in the early days, and engaged in
farming. He often hauled wheat to Chicago, when two weeks were
consumed in the trip. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Henry located
on Spoon River, in Young Hickory Township, where the husband died in
1846. He owned a good farm, but the administrator took such
advantage of the widow that she lost the little estate. She had
two children, a son and a daughter. John enlisted in Company B,
One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, I n1862. At Chattanooga
he was shot in the leg necessitating the amputation of that
member. A second amputation became necessary, and this caused his
death. The daughter, Hannah, married J. S. McFarland and lives in
London Mills.
The present Mrs. Darland is the mother of four children by her
last union. The first-born, Joseph, a prominent farmer in
Fairview Township, is represented elsewhere in this work; Eliza and
Ellen are deceased; Morrison W., an enterprising youth, is in charge of
the home farm. Mrs. Dorland (Darland) is a member of the
Christian Church. Some facts regarding her ancestry may be found
in the biography of Mrs. Lewis Shofers, which is included in this Album.
Mr. Darland has been Commissioner of Highways, School Director
and Trustee at various times. He has served on grand and petit
juries. In politics he staunchly supports Democracy, never
failing to cast his vote for the candidates who are pledged to uphold
its principles.
