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 626–628; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
William S. Luman owns three hundred acres of land on sections 6
and 7, Fairview Township, forming an estate of which any man might well
be proud to be the owner. Its appearance, even to the most
unobserving eye, is that of thorough cultivation, orderly methods and
wise improvement. While no pretentions to elegance are made by
the owner and his wife, their home bears the stamp of comfort,
intelligence and refinement. Mr. Luman is much interested in
raising Shropshiredown sheep, has a great liking for all kinds of
stock, and successfully raises various animals in connection with
tilling the soil. He was brought to this county by his parents
when but four years old and is therefore numbered among those who have
done much to bring it to its present high condition and are thoroughly
familiar with its growth and development.
Jesse and Mary (Shreeves) Luman, the parents of our subject,
were natives of Franklin County, Ohio, and Bedford County, Pa.,
respectively. They were married in the Buckeye State and lived in
Franklin County until the fall of 1838, when they emigrated
hither. The father was a farmer who made a home for his family in
Fairview Township. Here he breathed his last in 1856, at the age
of forty-eight years, while the good mother survived until 1873,
attaining the age of seventy-one years. The parental family, of
which our subject was the first-born, included also Hannah, Catherine,
Elijah and Rachel A. Hannah married John Shockley, moved to Iowa
in 1865 and died in 1873, leaving the following children – Thomas
Edwin, Mary C., Albert (deceased) Manuel, Louisa, Milton, Elmer, Laura
A. and Rachel (twins). Catherine married Andrew Bowdin, moved to
Kansas in 1886 and died in 1889, leaving seven children – Elsie J.,
Rachel A., Mary, Elmer, Martha, Delos and Bertha. Elijah enlisted
in Company D, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, was wounded at
Lookout Mountain and died in the hospital of a rebel prison; he had
married Mary Gumble and had one child who died. Rachel A. is the
wife of B. S. Miller, proprietor of a meat market in London Mills, and
has one child – William.
The gentleman whose name introduced this biography was born in
Franklin County, Ohio, January 1, 1834, and reared in the township
where he now lives. He was privileged to attend the schools, such
as they were, in the township, the first in which he studied being
supported by subscriptions, but later ones by public moneys.
Being the older son of his parents, and reared on a farm, he was early
called upon to plow and bear a part in general farm work. He
grubbed out hazel brush, broke the virgin soil and did his full share
to place the acres owned by his father in a condition which would be
productive of a good support and creditable among agriculturists.
The marriage of Mr. Luman was celebrated April 1, 1858, his
bride being Miss Mary A., daughter of Miles and Mary (Fisher)
Cook. This lady was born in Todd Township, Huntingdon County,
Pa., and traces her descent from several families of honored
names. She was a young lady of seventeen when she came to this
State. It would be hard to find throughout all its broad expanse
one possessed of more genuine worth, more highly spoken of by those who
enjoy her hospitality, or better fitted for the duties of
womanhood. She is the other of seven children – Jesse F.,
Alice, Amos W., John, Elijah O., Ernest and Charles A. All are at
home except the first-born, who married Catherine Olson and makes his
home in Galesburg. He has two children – Vera and Jessie.
Jesse F. is a school teacher.
The father of Mrs. Luman was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., and
married in his native State, whence he removed to Illinois in
1855. He settled in Fairview Township, this county, where at the
time of his death he owned three farms. His demise took place in
1863 at the age of fifty eight years. His widow married a second
time, becoming the wife of R. W. Combs, of Young Hickory Township and
dying there in 1873 at the age of sixty-three years. She had six
children by her first union, Mrs. Luman being the third. The
other members of the family circle were John, who served his country
four years, married Martha A. Foster and died in 1873, leaving one
child; Hannah, widow of Robert Combs, who makes her home in Fairview;
Amos, who served in the Civil War, married Louisa Anderson, has three
children and lives in Kansas; Elizabeth, wife of L. D. Rose, a farmer
in Fairview Township, and the mother of five children; Jesse, a
brickmaker at London Mills, whose wife was formerly Miss Alice Morris.
The Cook family, celebrated in the annals of early American
colonization, was of English origin and crossed the Atlantic with
William Penn, settling at Philadelphia. From this family have
sprung many famous scholars, soldiers and statesmen, the ancestral
record being traced through more than two hundred years. The
paternal grandmother of Mrs. Luman was an Evans. The Fishers were
of German descent.
The life of our subject has been characterized by great energy
and industry, and intelligent, well-directed efforts in the line of his
chosen lifework, and in every position to which he has been called by
his fellow-men. He has served as Highway Commissioner several
years, has been Collector, and performed the duties of School Director
twelve or fifteen years. In politics he favors the Democratic
principles, but endeavors to vote for the men best fitted to fill
places of public trust. He is a member of Fairview Lodge, No.
350, A. F. and A. M., and has set of both petit and grand juries.
