Lingenfelter, Matthias bio

History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co., Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 472, Banner Township
Matthias Lingenfelter was born in Bedford county, Pa., Feb. 21, 1833, and is the son of Jacob and Sarah (Clear) Lingenfelter, natives of the Keystone State. Our subject received his education in the common schools of his native State, and came to this county in 1848, and located in Buckheart township. His father died in 1876 and his mother is still living. By occupation Mr. L. is a farmer and has run a threshing-machine for 20 years. For he began work at the blacksmithing trade when 19 years old and continued at it until he was 27, and still works at it. He is the owner of 560 acres of land in this county. He was married July 12, 1855, to Rebecca Evans. This union has resulted in the birth of 14 children - 9 boys and 5 girls. Four of the sons are dead. Mr. L. is a member of the German Baptist church. He resides upon sec. 30; P. O., Canton.

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 443-444; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Matthias Lingenfelter resides on section 30, Banner Township, where he owns four hundred acres of finely-improved land which he devotes to diversified crops. The buildings that have been erected upon the estate are neat and substantial, sufficiently commodious for their respective uses, and include every necessary and convenient edifice. Mr. Lingenfelter pursues his calling with zeal and intelligence, winning from the soil an abundant share of the various grains which he cultivates, and in this way securing for himself and family all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
Mr. Lingenfelter is of good blood, being a descendant of George Lingenfelter, who came from Holland to America during the Revolution. That gentleman had a son, Jacob, born in Baltimore County, Md., and he in turn became the father of a son, Jacob, who was the immediate progenitor of our subject. The last named Jacob Lingenfelter married Sarah Claar, a native of Pennsylvania, and removed to this State with his family in the spring of 1848. He settled in Buckheart Township, this county, where he died in 1876, at the age of seventy years. The mother of our subject also breathed her last in this county, passing away in November, 1880, at the age of sixty seven. The family of the worthy couple consisted of thirteen children, eight of whom are now living, our subject the second in order of birth.
The gentleman whose life history is the subject of this sketch was born in Bedford County, Pa., February 21, 1833. He worked on his father's farm until he was eighteen years of age, then learned the trade of a blacksmith which he followed for about thirty years. He still works at it at times in connection with his farming and four of his sons have learned the same trade. In 1854 Mr. Lingenfelter rented a farm in Buckheart Township, conducting it while still working at his trade for two years. He then bought a part of the estate he now occupies, adding to it until it reached its present size and bringing it up to a high position of cultivation and improvement.
On July 12, 1855, Mr. Lingenfelter was happily married to a lady of genuine worth, known in her maidenhood as Miss Rebecca Evans. She was born in Licking County, Ohio, February 21, 1838, and is therefore the junior of her husband precisely five years. She is a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Morland) Evans. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lingenfelter has resulted in the birth of sixteen children, five of whom are deceased. The record of the survivors is as follows: Joseph E., born December 9, 1857, married Dora Shaw and lives in Buckheart Township; John P., born April 4, 1860, married Hester Westerfield and lives in Buckheart Township; Jacob A., born December 18, 1861, married Ella Johnson and lives in Farmington; Anna A., born February 7, 1865, married Samuel Westerfield and lives in Buckheart Township; Ida E., born December 18, 1866, married Cary Westerfield, and lives in Banner Township; Sarah S., born March 16, 1868, married Lewis Johnson, and lives in Buckheart Township; Matthias, Jr., born January 2, 1871, is unmarried and yet with his parents; Barbara E., born February 12, 1872, married H. C. Dowlar, and lives in Banner Township; Richard E., born December 3, 1873; Clyde, February 1, 1882, and Luella, March 20, 1885, are still at home.
Mr. Lingenfelter is an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and in the Dunkard Church, of which he has been a consistent member for years and in which he holds the office of second degree in the ministry. He has served as School Director for eighteen years and is now Trustee. Mrs. Lingenfelter is also a faithful member of the Dunkard Church and is highly esteemed by all who know her.
A lithographic portrait of Mr. Lingenfelter is shown elsewhere in this volume.