WILLIAM DIVELEY, Supervisor of Waddams Township, and one of the extensive and progressive farmers of Northern Illinois, has been especially favored of Providence, being in the possession of a pleasant home and a fine family, and the respect and confidence of his friends and neighbors.

Mr. Diveley was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Jan. 7, 1831, and is the son of Isaac Diveley and a native of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Frederick Diveley, after his marriage and the birth of several children removed to Darke County, Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his life. There Isaac Diveley grew to manhood and took up his abode afterward in Scioto County, where he met and married Miss Alvira Graves.

The mother of our subject was born in Chenango County, N. Y., and was the daughter of Consider Graves (see sketch of Hubbard Graves.) After their marriage the young people continued in Scioto County until in the spring of 1837, then started for Illinois. They made the journey to Galena via the Ohio, Mississippi and Fever rivers, and thence overland to the banks of the Pecatonica. The party consisted of the parents, three children, and the mother of Mr. Diveley. He rented a house in what was then Ransomburg, which they occupied from May until December. In the meantime Mr. Diveley purchased a claim which is now included in his present homestead, but upon which there was then no building. He first erected a log cabin, and committed the extravagance of laying a floor of sawed lumber procured at McConnell’s mills, which was said to have been the first dwelling in that section supplied with such a luxury.

When the land came into market Mr. Diveley entered 125 acres from the Government, receiving his title from the office at Dixon. He lived and labored here the remainder of his life, and folded his hands for his final rest on the 28th of January, 1866. The mother of our subject died nine years later at the homestead, June 2, 1875. The family of Isaac Diveley included seven children, of whom but four are now living: William, of our sketch, was the eldest; Margaret, Mrs. Welty, lives on a farm in Waddams Township; Emily F., Mrs. Blair, is a resident of Almeda; Mrs. Rockey resides at Nora, Jo Daviess County.

The subject of our sketch is the only son of his father’s family who is now living. He was six years of age when he came to this county with his parents, where he attended the first school taught within its limits. This school was conducted by Miss Jane Goodhue, in a log cabin at Ransomburg. Young Diveley, as soon as old enough, was instructed in the various duties of the farm where he made himself useful, and in due time gained a good insight into the best methods of agriculture. He distinctly remembers the time when the farm products were transported overland to Galena forty miles away, and especially one trip made in 1851, when he took out oats and barley and returned with the sawed lumber which was used for the construction of a new frame dwelling which supplanted the log cabin. This was built mostly of native lumber. Mr. Diveley still occupies the dwelling which has now been standing over thirty-five years, and with proper care it is good for another decade.

The lady who has been the companion and help-meet of William Diveley for nearly thirty years was formerly Miss Mary Hulbert, a native of this county, and who became his wife Oct. 29, 1857. The parents of Mrs. Diveley, Lyman and Jane Hulburt, are noticed in the sketch of John Hulburt found elsewhere in this volume. Of her union with Mr. Diveley there were born twelve children, namely: Lewis, a resident of Buffalo County, Neb.; Delia Harriet, the wife of Adam Wales, of Rapaho, Co.; Louisa, Howard H., Mittie, Lucy, Laura, Julia, Bradley, Mabel, Isaac and Althea. The parents and all the children are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Diveley when first becoming a voter identified himself with the old Whig party, but upon its abandonment cordially indorsed Republican principles. He cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Winfield Scott, and while a resident of Waddams Township he has served as Highway Commissioner and School Director for a number of years. He has in all respects fulfilled his obligations as an honest man and a good citizen, and is valued accordingly by his friends and neighbors.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 256