He of whom these lines are written passed his early life in his native town and was educated in the public schools. He lived with his mother until he attained his majority. He inherited a part of the old homestead and farmed it for three years. In 1848 he paid his first visit to Illinois, coming hither by the way of canal and lakes to Chcago and then proceeding on foot to De Kalb County, where he invested in a tract of Government land in Shabbona Township. After entering his land, he returned to New York and erected a building at Corning, which he devoted to the grocery business the ensuing two years. His store and stock were then burned and he accepted a position as baggage master on the Erie Railway, which since he occupied two years and then turned his attention to carpentering.

In the meantime our subject had not forgotten the impression made upon him on his visit to Illinois, as to the many superior advantages its rich, virgin soil gave to a wide-awake, progressive farmer over the older settled portions of the country, and in 1854 he came back to locate on his land in Shabbona Township. He at once erected suitable buildings, began to cultivate his land, and in the twelve years that he lived upon it brougbt it into a fine condition. He then sold and bought the place where he now resides in East Paw Paw, where he is living in a cozy home, surrounded by every evidence of comfort.

March 14, 1843, Mr. Card and Miss Julia Green­man were united in marriage, and for nearly half a century they have traveled life's road together, sharing each other's joys and lightening each oth­ers sorrows,and securing to themselves the univer­sal respect of the community, where they have passed so many years, by lives of unselfish devotion to duty, wherein they have tried to do as they would be done by. Mrs Card is exemplary member of the Presbyterian Church. She is a native of the same town in which her hushand was born, and is a daughter of Gardner Greenman, who was also a native of New York, his birthplace being in Rensselaer County. He moved from there to Madison County when a young man, and was there married to Betsy Savage, a native of Vermont and a daughter of John Savage. Her father is thought to have been, born in Connecticut and to have removed from there to Vermont, of which State he was a resident for some time. He subsequently went to New York and bought n farm in Cazeno­via Township, upon which he spent his remaining days. His wife spent her last years with her children, and died at the home of her daughter, wife of our subject, in DeKalb County. Mr. and Mrs. Card have three children living; Lewis, Etta, and Edwin. Lewis married Emma Colgreaves, and they have two children; Albert and Charlie. Etta married Dr. Joseph Atherton and they have two children; Body C. and card Leslie. Addie, the elder daughter, married N.R. Wheat and died April 17, 1889, leaving two children; Elsie and Julia.

Portraits & Biographical

Illinois - "Our Way"