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 746-747; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Rev. Marion F. Havermale, a prominent minister of the Methodist
denomination, though he is not in the nave work now and is principally
engaged in the care and management of the fine old homestead in Joshua
Township that he purchased from his father, a pioneer of the county, is
a descendant of an old German family who settled near Hagerstown, Md.,
one hundred and forty years ago. The name was then spelled
Houvermahl, afterwards Hawvermale, but for the past fifty years has
been spelled as indicated above.
The subject of this sketch was born August 4, 1834 to Peter and
Maria (Gardenhour) Havermale. The father was born about July,
1796, and the date of the birth of the mother was January 1,
1798. Peter Havermale was a weaver by trade, but always made
farming the principal business of his life. As early as 833, he
migrated with his family from his old pioneer home to the wilds of
Montgomery County, Ohio, making the entire journey with the old
fashioned four-horse team and wagon as a means of conveyance. The
family lived among the pioneers of that part of Ohio eleven years, and
at the expiration of that time decided to come further West, and by the
same method of conveyance as had brought them to Ohio, started for
Illinois in 184. The fall and winter of that year they staid in
Farmington, and during that time Mr. Havermale purchased one hundred
and fifty acres on section 24, Joshua Township. The following
spring he went with his family to live on this land, occupying as a
dwelling a log cabin, for a year or more. About the time of his
purchase a Swedenborgian settlement or colony had been established on
the “community plan” on land about one mile north of his farm.
The community lasted as an organized body only about a year, but in
that time had erected a number of small buildings, and had also
manufactured a large quantity of brick with which to build a temple of
worship. On the dismemberment of the community Mr. Havermale
purchased the brick and with that material at once erected a commodious
and roomy brick house in 1846, which became the family residence and
which he occupied as such during the remainder of his life. The
following year he built a substantial and convenient barn, and both
buildings, with slight alterations, remain till the present time and
are occupied and used by the family as his son, whose name heads this
sketch. Mr. Havermale was an industrious and God-fearing man, and
became one of the most prosperous residents of this vicinity. In
early life he was a member of the Lutheran Church and for many years
was one of the Church Council. He afterwards became a member of
the Methodist Church, to which faith he adhered till his death.
In his political predilections he was a Republican and, although never
a politician or an office seeker, served his township in some of the
minor offices. He died March 27, 1888, leaving behind the record
of an upright, honorable life. His wife had preceded him only
three days to the other shore having died March 2, 1888. Her
grave was re-opened and his mortal remains were placed by her side, and
they now lie in the Lutheran grave yard a short distance south of the
old homestead.
Peter and Maria (Gardenhour) Havermale, have the following named
children: Noah, who was killed in the terrible Chatsworth
railroad wreck in 1887, his being the first death that had occurred in
the family for upwards of forty-eight years; Samuel G., who became a
minister of the Methodist persuasion and now lives at Santiago, Cal.;
John J., a farmer of Joshua Township; Daniel G., a retired farmer,
resident of Canton; George W., a Methodist minister at De Soto, Kan.;
the Rev. Marion F., subject of this sketch; Louisa F., the wife of John
F. Randolph of Canton Township; and Joseph S., a brickmason residing in
Canton. As seen by the foregoing, of the eight children in the
family, three became active ministers of the Methodist Church.
The Rev. Marion F. Havermale was educated principally in the
Fulton County schools. He early manifested a fervently religious
turn of mind and in 1860; became a minister of the Methodist
denomination, since when he has preached under the auspices of either
the Rock River or Central Illinois Conference. Ten years ago,
however, by special permission of his conference he returned to the
home of his aged parents to care for them, and ever since he and his
family have lived on the old homestead, of which he is now the
possessor. Mr. Havermale is a genial, Christian gentleman,
hospitable to a fault and on account of his many good qualities of head
and heart is greatly esteemed and respected wherever known.
During the war for the Union our subject was appointed by Gov. Yates,
as Chaplain for the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Illinois
Infantry. At that time the regiment had started with Gen. Sherman
on its famous march to the sea, and as he was unable to reach the
command, he resigned his commission three months after his
appointment. About the time he was appointed Chaplain Mr.
Havermale was drafted into the army, but owing to family and other
interests of importance he furnished a substitute at an expense of $700
or more.
The Rev. Mr. Havermale was married December 30, 1855 to Miss
Mary C. Cluts, the ceremony being performed at Cuba, Ill.; Mrs.
Havermale was born November 2, 1837, and is descended from an old
Pennsylvania family of German origin; like her husband, her parents,
Joseph and Eveanna (Eckeurode) Cluts, were early and respected citizens
of Fulton County. Her father died August 17, 1863, and her mother
June 11, 1886, and both lie buried in the Sanders graveyard. They
had the following named children: Sophie, born July 9, 1829, a
resident of Clinton; Josiah, born February 13, 1831, a resident of
Ohio; Francis J., born October 18, 1832, a resident of El Paso, Ill.;
Louisa Maria, born February 9, 1834, and died December 4, 1837; Mary
Catherine, born November 2, 1837, wife of our subject; Angeline, born
August 15, 1839, living near Fairview; Rebecca Lovina, born May 26,
1841, living in Cuba; Benjamin F, born April 9, 1849, also a resident
of Cuba.
The following children have been born to the Rev. Marion F., and
Mary Havermale: Clara A., born December 26, 1856; Percy W., April
25, 1859, Charley M., September 10, 1864; Mattie D., September 24,
1868; Jassie M., May 27, 1873. Clara A., died December 30, 1862.
