The gentleman whose name heads this notice and whose portrait is given in this connection, has followed the vocation at which he is at present engaged thus far in life, and by dint of his own industry and perseverance, has made a success of the same. He is pleasantly situated on his farm of 200 acres on section 3, Florence Township, where he is passing the sunset of life in the enjoyment of a well-earned competency, and respected by all.

Mr. Washburn is a son of Gael and Rebecca (Garfield) Washburn, the former of whom was born in Massachusetts, and the latter, it is supposed in New York State. After their marriage the parents settled in Ontario County, N. Y., where they continued to reside until their death. The father was a farmer by calling, and became the head of a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters. The names of the children were Sarah, Rebecca, Lucy, Alvin, William, Amos and Elisha. Amos and William are the only survivors.

Amos Washburn was born in Ontario County, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1808. He was reared to manhood on a farm, and has always followed the calling of a farmer. At the date of his father’s death our subject was only about ten years old, and from that time until the present he has been compelled to do for himself. He made his home with his eldest brother for a time, and when about seventeen years old, accompanied by his youngest brother, went to Kentucky. Not being favorably impressed with that State they went to Licking County, Ohio, whence they removed to Delaware County, that State, and there continued to reside until 1856. In the spring of that year Mr. Washburn, having been previously married, came with his wife and three children overland to this county. On our subject’s arriving here he located near where Florence Station is now situated. There he made his home for about thirteen years, when he removed to Freeport and lived there five years. A city life not meeting his approbation, he purchased the farm where he now lives, and has made that his home since 1873. His farm comprises 200 acres of choice land, is under an advanced state of cultivation, and has a fine set of farm buildings upon it.

Amos Washburn was united in marriage with Maria Lane in Licking County, Ohio, March 4, 1836. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Desire (Philbrook) Lane, natives of Maine. The father followed the sea a portion of his life, but in 1817 he removed to Licking County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. Selling his farm in that county he moved to Delaware County, whence he came to this State and located in Freeport, in 1854. He made that his home for some fourteen years, when he purchased a farm in Florence Township, where he lived a few years, and then went to Baileyville, Ogle Co., Ill., where he died. His wife’s demise occurred at the residence of her youngest son, Lorenzo D. Lane, in Iowa. Benjamin and Desire Lane became the parents of six children: John, Maria, Susan, Rufus, Margaret and Lorenzo D., of which number Maria, Rufus and Lorenzo survive. Mrs. Washburn was born Sept. 18, 1815, in Maine. Removing with her parents to Ohio, she continued to reside in the parental home until her marriage with our subject. Her union with Mr. Washburn has been blest by the birth of three children – Laura, John and Christopher. Laura is the wife of Thomas Webb, and they live in Freeport; John first married Miss Emma Fellows, who died in Florence Township, and he subsequently married Martha McCracken, and they are living in Kansas; Christopher married Miss Sarah Brownlee, and they are residents of Florence Township. Mr. and Mrs. Washburn are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 725