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 613–614; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Greenbury H. Eveland, now representing Waterford Township on the
county Board of Supervisors, was born in this township October 13,
1844. He was reared and educated here and at the early age of
nine years began to assist his father on the farm occupied by the
family. He resided with his parents until his marriage, one year
before which he began to operate rented land which he has since
continued to do. He occupies property belonging to L. W. Ross and
in its management brings to bear the habits of industry which have
characterized him from boyhood, a good understanding of agricultural
methods and a determination to succeed.
The lady to whim Mr. Eveland owed the comforts of his home life
became his wife March 17, 1881, prior to which time she was known as
Miss Irena Harm. She was born in Lewistown Township to Jonathan
and Polly (Livingston) Harn, under whose care she developed the graces
and virtues of worthy womanhood. She was removed by death June
13, 1888, leaving three children – Charles, Luella and George.
Mr. Eveland is regarded with respect by his fellow-men, being known as
an honest, intelligent and reliable citizen, who quietly pursues his
course in life, endeavoring to discharge all the duties which lie in
his way.
Going back in the paternal line three generations, we come to
Frederick Eveland who, so far as known, was born in Pennsylvania.
He emigrated from that State to Ohio, taking his place among the
frontiersmen of Morgan County. He bought a tract of timber land
on the banks of the Muskingum River, from which he gave each of his
children a farm. After having lived there many years, he came to
Illinois, and spent his last years with a daughter near
Bloomington. He was a great hunter, successful in trapping and
killing various kinds of game that were abundant and finding a ready
sale for the furs which he secured.
The next in the ancestral line was John Eveland, who was born in
the Keystone State and reared in Morgan County, Oho. He began his
life work as a boatman on the Muskingum River when quite young, and
followed his occupation on that stream and the Ohio until his death,
which occurred when he was but thirty years old. He married
Harriet Newton, a native of New York or Massachusetts, who was living
in the Buckeye State at the time of their union. She came to this
county in 1845 and spent her last years with her children here.
Among the members of her family was a son, Abner, who had been born in
Morgan County, Ohio, reared in his native State and taught the trade of
a tailor. He pursued his calling in Ohio until he was twenty-two
years old, then came to this State and worked two years in
Havana. At the expiration of that time he turned his attention to
farming, first in Mason County and then in this county where he bought
forty acres of land on section 1, Waterford Township. In
September, 1871, he sold, removed to Kansas and bought a farm in what
was then known as Howard County. After residing there two years
and eight months, he sold and returned hither to spend the remnant of
his days. He breathed his last in Waterford Township in 1880.
January 24, 1850, Abner Eveland married Elizabeth Ackerson, who
was born in Lewistown Township, this county, May 27, 1835. She is
a daughter of Edward Ackerson, one of the early settlers of this
county, whose first home was in Lewistown. Soon after his arrival
he was elected Justice of the Peace. He lived in the village
about fifteen years, then bought a farm in Mason County, but after
occupying it a few years returned to this county and located in
Waterford. He bought the ferry across Spoon River, ran it about
ten years, then sold, bought property in Cuba and engaged in the
grocery business. He lived there until his death, in his
eighty-fourth year. His wife, formerly Jane Jarvis, a native of
Ohio, died in Waterford several years before his decease. The
father of Edward Ackerson bore the given name of Garret, was a native
of Pennsylvania and a pioneer of Ohio. He settled near
Cincinnati, buying timber land which he cleared and lived upon till
about 1833, when he came to this State. The removal was made with
ox-teams and he was accompanied by his son Edward and family. The
elder bought timber land on section 1, Lewistown Township, and lived
thereon until he had reached the age of one hundred and ten years, when
he closed his eyes in death.
Abner and Elizabeth (Ackerson) Eveland became the parents of
eight children, six of whom are now living, the oldest one living being
the subject of this biographical notice. The others are Chester,
George, Addie, Chandler and Libbie. The good mother still lives
in Waterford Township and is now quite aged. She is a member of
the Holiness Church.
