W. H. HOLE
Page 475
W. H. HOLE
Page 475
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W. H. HOLE, who carries on general farming on section 29, Havana Township, was born in Washington County, Ind., April 13, 1836. His grandfather, Daniel Hole, was an early settler of Ohio, and the father, Stephen Hole, was born there in the year 1795. He married Lucinda Mitchell, a native of Kentucky, for his second wife. He had previously been married and had two children, Phoebe E. and Mary Ann, both of Havana. The parents of our subject were married in Washington County, Ind., and in 1856 took up their residence upon a tract of wild land in Havana Township, Mason County, where the father improved a good farm. He was a Whig in politics, and afterwards a Republican. In Washington County, Ind., he served as Sheriff for eight years, and was Revenue Collector for ten years. He was temperate in all things, honorable and upright in all the walks of life, in fact was one of nature's noblemen. His death occurred in 1872, and his wife died in 1877. They had the following children, of whom three are now living, Thomas A., Louisa M., widow of Robert Lofton, and a resident of Chicago, and W. H. His other children, who reached mature years, were James H., who died leaving five children; Joseph E., a farmer who died leaving two children; Daniel P., who at his death left three children; John H., who died in Ogden, Utah, leaving one child; and Robert M., also deceased. Two sons of the family were heroes of the late war. W. H. Hole spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon a farm, and came with his parents to Illinois in 1856. On the 18th of August, 1862, he entered his country's service as a private of Company K, Eighty-fifth Illinois Infantry, under Col. Robert Moore, went to Louisville, Nashville and Murfreesboro, and took part in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Ringgold, the siege of Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, went with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea, and was present at the surrender of Johnson's Army in Raleigh, N. C. He was with his regiment in all of its engagements except Perryville, and was a brave and valiant soldier who followed the flag wherever it led and thus aided in the preservation on the Union. He marched through the Carolinas to Washington, D. C., and participated in the Grand Review in the Capitol City. He had been promoted to the rank of Orderly-Sergeant, and was mustered out in June, 1865. After his return Mr. Hole remained at his home until the 26th of January, 1866, when he was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Diffenbacker, sister of Dr. P. L. Diffenbacker, of Havana. In 1868 they removed to the farm which is now the home of our subject, and here the wife died April 11, 1877, leaving two children, Dr. B. W., a practicing physician of Menard, Ill.; and Garnet D. Mr. Hole was again married March 30, 1880, his second union being with Elizabeth D. Dietrick, who was born in Pennsylvania, September 22, 1839. Mr. Hole gave his children good educational advantages and both are graduates of the Havana High School. He takes quite an active interest in politics, is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party and is now a candidate for County Treasurer. Socially he is a member of the Grand Army Post of Havana. His farm comprises eighty acres of land and yields to him a good income. His life has been well spent, and he is recognized as one of the highly respected citizens of the community. |