My Genealogy Hound

LOUIS WEHRHEIM, one of the leading and representative farmers of Randolph County, who is now successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in township 6, range 7, has the honor of being a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Evansville, on the 8th of September, 1852, His father was John Wehrheim, and his mother bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Retty. Both were natives of Germany, and in their childhood they came with their respective families to America, and grew to mature years in Monroe County, Ill., where their marriage was celebrated. The father was a cooper by trade, and followed that pursuit for several years. He later engaged in milling, and also carried on farming in connection with the operation of his mill. During the last years of his life his energies were devoted exclusively to agriculture.

We now take up the personal history of our subject, who is so widely and favorably known in Randolph County that he needs no special introduction to our readers. The educational privileges which he received were only those afforded by the common schools of this locality. His training at farm labor, however, was not so meagre, for he was early inured to the arduous labors of the fields. He gave his father the benefit of his services until after he had attained his majority, when, at the age of twenty-two, he embarked in business for himself as a merchant. In connection with his brother George he established a store in Evansville, where they carried on operations for a year. On the expiration of that period, our subject sold out and resumed farming, which vocation he has since followed. He owns a valuable and productive tract of land, which is now under a high state of cultivation and well improved. Everything about the place denotes the careful supervision of the owner, who is justly regarded as one of the leading agriculturists of this region.

On June 4, 1874, Mr. Wehrheim was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Beare, a daughter of Christian and Martha (Lenherr) Beare, of Ellis Grove, Ill. Three children graced this union, but the only son died at the age of two years; the two daughters, Tillie and Anna, are still with their parents, and are attending school. The mother is a member of the German Methodist Church. The household is a hospitable one, and its members rank high in social circles.

In his political views, Mr. Wehrheim is an in flexible adherent of the Republican party and its principles, and does all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. Although he is so deeply interested in politics, he has never sought or desired political preferment for himself. However, he has served as Justice of the Peace, and is now creditably and acceptably filling the office of School Director. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend, and his hearty support and cooperation are given to every enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen and a man of sterling worth, who is held in high regard throughout the community in which the greater part of his life has been passed.