JOHN WIRTH is of German descent, and is endowed with all the perseverance of the people of that nationality. As a farmer he is persistent in compelling his acres to yield the largest per cent of product possible, and has earned the reputation of being one of the most successful farmers of Dakota Township and Stephenson County. He is the owner of 200 acres of highly cultivated land. In addition to this he owns ten acres of timber land in Buckeye Township, all of which he has acquired through his own efforts. His home is located on the 200-acre tract which lies on section 34, Dakota Township. When he first came to Dakota Township in 1854 he purchased eighty acres of land. With the exception of one year’s residence in Lancaster Township he has been a constant resident of this township. Throughout this section of Stephenson County he is looked upon as a skillful farmer, and the improvements which he has made are emulated by his neighbors.

Mr. Wirth was born on the 5th of September, 1826, in Wurtemberg, Germany, where his father, Adam Wirth, was also born and reared. The latter was the son of a German farmer, who was above the average in intellectuality, and was for many years an office-holder under the Government. He lived and died in Wurtemberg. Adam, the father of our subject, was one of ten children, nine of whom were boys. He married a lady by the name of Elizabeth Finkbeiner, and they reared a family of ten children, of whom John Wirth was the fourth child, and was eleven years of age when his mother died. He is the only survivor of the family of ten by this marriage. He father remarried after the death of his first wife, the lady being a Miss Brown. Of this marriage six children were born, making Adam Wirth the father of sixteen children in all. The father and step-mother both died in Fredstadt, Wurtemberg; the former was about eighty-four years of age when he died. He was a man noted for his industry and perseverance in whatever he undertook.

In 1852 the son of whom we write came to this country with his uncle, John Wirth, now a well-to-do man of the Colony of Economy of Beaver County, Pa. After living two years in Buffalo, N. Y., he came to this county. While in Buffalo, on the 20th of February, 1853, he was married to Miss Catherine Haist, who was born in Buffalo Jan. 29, 1833. Her father, George Haist, also came from Wurtemberg, Germany, where he had married a Miss Burkhart, and soon after came to this country. He was a farmer and both he and his wife died in Erie County, N. Y. Three of the children are yet living, of whom Mrs. Wirth is one. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wirth number eight, one of whom is deceased. John J. married Maggie Rutter, and they live on one of the finest farms of Dakota Township; Mary is the wife of Darius Elston, a successful farmer; George married Flora Corman, and they reside in Rock Run Township; Louisa married Otto Seyfried, who with Henry T., Anna and Kate reside at the home of Mr. Wirth.

Mr. and Mrs. Wirth are members of the Lutheran Church, of which Mr. Wirth has been a Deacon for many years. In politics he is a Democrat, and has been chosen by that party to several township offices.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 252