My Genealogy Hound

HENRY GILLENBERG, one of the representative and well known agriculturists of township 7, has the honor of being a native of Randolph County, his birth having occurred on his father’s farm near Chester, Ill., on the 25th of February, 1868. He is the sixth child of Jacob and Wilhelmina (Gussenberg) Gillenberg. His father was born in Germany, and came with his parents to America in 1842, the family locating in Randolph County, Ill., where the grandfather died when Jacob was a lad of only twelve years. The youth then lived with his mother and worked upon the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he began farming for himself. In 1873 he purchased land near Dozaville and located thereon. When a young man he learned the cooper’s trade, but did not follow it after his marriage. Instead he turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, and by his well directed efforts, his enterprise and business ability, he became one of the prosperous agriculturists of Randolph County, and left at his death more than five hundred acres of valuable land. While driving into Chester about the 1st of April, 1892, his horse became frightened; he was thrown from the buggy and received injuries which resulted in death a few days later. He passed away April 6, 1892. His widow still survives him, and is living on the old homestead.

The subject of this sketch obtained his education in the district schools of the neighborhood, and worked upon his father’s farm until twenty-four years of age, when he began to earn his own livelihood by still following the pursuit to which he was reared. He is recognized as one of the wide-awake and leading young agriculturists of the community. Upon his farm are good buildings and all modern improvements, and the well tilled fields indicate the careful supervision of the owner.

On the 29th of November; 1893, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gillenberg and Miss Margaret I. Hylton, daughter of M. B. and Nancy E. (Lindsay) Hylton, both of whom are natives of Virginia. The young people are prominent in this community, have a large circle of warm friends and agreeable acquaintances, and receive the high regard of all who know them. In religious belief they are Baptists, and Mr. Gillenberg is Clerk in the church to which they belong. In politics he votes with the Democratic party, but has never sought or desired the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests. He is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family, and it is with pleasure that we present to our readers this record of his life work.