HENRY MENDEN, of Ridott Township, is a thrifty farmer and successful stock-raiser. He located there in 1859, and now owns 290 acres in this township, and forty in Winnebago County, township of Seward. He was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, Sept. 5, 1843. His father, Leonard Menden, came to this country with his family in 1853, and lived in that township until his death, which occurred Oct. 10, 1855. Later, the mother went to Florence Township Dec. 10, 1855, where she died at Yellow Creek.

The subject of our sketch was the eldest of the children, two having died when young. He was only ten years old when he arrived in this country, and soon after set about earning his own living. We hear of his being a landed proprietor before becoming a benedict, his marriage occurring Feb. 9, 1869, and Miss Martha Hamilton being the name of his chosen bride. She was born in Seneca County, N. Y., in 1841. In 1844 her parents, William and Nancy (Miller) Hamilton, came to Illinois and took up their residence in Ridott, where Mr. Hamilton purchased some of the wild prairie land. The mother died in 1864, the father in 1874; both were among the first settlers here, and were honest, economical and thrifty people.

Henry Menden and his wife now live on the old Hamilton homestead. While they have religious convictions, they belong to no particular church. They are the parents of seven children, two being deceased. Those living are Mary, Sophia, Nancy, Gertrude and Robert. The deceased children are Lewis and Leonard. Mr. Menden is politics is a Republican.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 353