WILLIAM P. FAULKNER
Page 401
WILLIAM P. FAULKNER
Page 401
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WILLIAM P. FAULKNER is one of the pioneers of Mason County. Coming here about fifty-five years ago, he has witnessed the great change wrought by the hand of man in bringing this section of country from a state of nature to its present condition as one of the richest and most highly developed counties in Illinois, and he may well take pride in what he had done to aid in producing this wonderful result. As a farmer and stock-raiser, he was one of the most prosperous of that class of people, and after accumulating a sufficient amount of property to provide the comforts of life for his declining years he retired from active labor, and now makes his home in Mason City. To him belongs the distinction of having cut the logs for the first house ever built here, and from that time to the present he has watched the growth of the place with commendable pride and interest. Near Moore's Hill, in Dearborn County, Ind., the subject of this sketch was born December 23, 1825. He traces his lineage to Ireland, whence his paternal grandfather, Thomas R. Faulkner, emigrated to the United States and made a settlement in New York. He was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War, and aided in the achievement of the independence of the Colonies. Thomas R., Jr., our subjects father was born in Genesee County, N. Y., August 9, 1801, and removed thence to Dearborn County, Ind. Later, he came to Mason County, and here his death occurred in 1865. While not active in political affairs, he was firm in his allegiance to the Republican party. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Phoebe Heaton, was born in New England and died in Mason County in May 1839. At the age of four years our subject was taken by his parents to Madison County, Ind., and there he remained until he was thirteen years old, meantime gaining the rudiments of his education. With his parents he came to Illinois in 1838 and settled in Fulton County, but the sojourn there was a brief one, for in the spring of the following year the family removed thence to Mason County. Here William P. grew to manhood, and upon selecting a life occupation he chose that of a farmer, in which he was engaged until April, 1889. As a raiser of stock and grain he met with more that ordinary success, and is now the owner of four hundred and twenty-six acres lying in this county. The entire tract is well cultivated and improved with good buildings. March 21, 1851, William P. Faulkner and Miss Melissa Virgin were united in marriage. This lady was a daughter of Abram Virgin, on the early settlers of Mason County. At her death, in 1877, she left one son, Francis R., who lives in this county. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Faulkner married Mrs. Mahulda (Swiger) Phillip, and two sons, Walter and William, have been born to bless their union. The various issues of the age receive from Mr. Faulkner merited consideration, and he gives his support to the cause of Prohibition, believing this to be the most important question of the day. In educational affairs he has been active, and during his sixteen years' service as Director of Schools was instrumental in advancing the standard of scholarship and promoting the welfare of the schools of his locality. |