Cuthburt Walters, located in Winslow Township in 1885, where he put up the first and only cheese factory in the township, and in connection with dairying began the cultivation of 200 acres of land on section 4. He is the owner of a good property, the accumulation of his own industry, and illustrates in a forcible manner that which may be accomplished by steady perserverance and resolution.

Mr. Walters first drew breath in the eastern part of Scotland, in May, 1833, and when an infant of two months old, was taken by his parents to Ireland, where he remained with them until seventeen years of age, and then came to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. Upon reaching American shores he proceeded to Philadelphia, Pa. He had learned of his father the art of weaving, and now followed his trade in Pennsylvania until about 1853. He then pushed toward the far West, and coming to this county, commenced working by the month, and was thus employed until the breaking out of the late war in 1861.

Mr. Walters had acquainted himself sufficiently with the political affairs of this country to determine at once with which party he would take sides in the impending conflict, and in July of that year, enlisted in Co. K, 52d Ill. Vol. Inf., and rendered good service as a Union soldier until the fall of 1864. In the meantime he had been present at the battles of Ft. Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and Corinth, also at the siege and capture of Atlanta. After his term of service had expired, he received an honorable discharge, and returned to the scenes of his later operations in this county.

In the fall of 1864 Mr. Walters was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Brown, who was a native of New York State, and was brought by her parents when a young child, to Elgin, Kane Co., IL., where Mrs. W. was reared and received a common school education. Her father, Lewis Brown, was born in Canada, and was of French ancestry. He is now in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Walters became the parents of six children, namely, Ella, Nettie, Willie, Frank, Cora, and a little daughter still unnamed. They are all with their parents, and the family presents an interesting group, occupying a home in the midst of plenty, and surrounded by all the comforts of life. Mr. Walters has a herd of sixty cows, and realizes each year from his cheese factory, a handsome sum of money.

The father of our subject, Hugh Walters by name, was also a native of Scotland, where he grew to manhood, and was married to Miss Emeline Craig. He removed to Ireland in 1833, and settled near Londonderry, where he followed weaving for nearly forty years, and then in his old age emigrated across the water, and located in the city of Philadelphia, Pa., where he spent the remainder of his life. He was twice married; the mother of our subject was Miss Emeline Craig, a native of Scotland, who died three weeks after the birth of her son Cuthbert.

Portraits and Biographical