With William W. Atwood the reader will notice on the lithographic portrait of this gentleman, who occupies a leading place among the most enlightened and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Peoria County. He has long been prominently identified with the Grange movement which has done so much to advance the agricultural interests of Illinois, and is still a conspicuous figure in the councils of the Patrons of Husbandry. He was appointed Postmaster of Orange Prairie post-office, in Kickapoo Township, by Postmaster-General Wanamaker, and attends to the duties of that position while managing his large farming and stock interests on section 11, Kickapoo Township.
Our subject comes of fine New England stock, his father, Hiram Atwood, being a native of Vermont, and his mother, whose maiden name was Aurilla Douglass, a native of Connecticut. After marriage they settled in Macomb County, Mich., being among its pioneers, and there passed the remainder of their lives. The father was a ship carpenter by trade and pursued that calling in connection with his farm work. He died about 1875 and his wife died about 1884. They had a family of four children, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth.
He of whom we write was born in Clinton, Macomb County, Mich., April 10, 1856. The early years of his life were passed on his father's farm until he was thirteen years old. From the Aborigines, who still lingered there, he had learned the Indian language, and at the youthful age of thirteen was employed as an interpreter at different places on Lake Superior for about three years. At the expiration of that time he engaged in carrying the mail between Eagle River and Houghton, and between the latter place and Ontonagon and was appointed assistant-Postmaster. Nearly a year later he became employed as a trader and interpreter for the American Fur Company, and was with it for about one year, and then became an attache of the Hudson Bay Company, working for it nearly a year and a half.
We next hear of Mr. Atwood on the Pacific Coast and Paget Sound, where he had been sent by the Hudson Bay Company, and where he left their employment, to enter that of a company wishing him to go to Southern California to engage in prospecting. He was thus employed one season in that part of the country and in Mexico, also. From there he made his way back to the Lakes and purchased an interest in a sailing vessel, engaged in carrying merchandise between Chicago and Lake Superior. In 1865, having sold out his maritime interests, he came to Peoria County and was employed at different occupations until the time of his marriage, when he settled in Peoria and engaged in the manufacture of spruce beer for about five years. At the expiration of that time he resolved to give his attention to farming and coming to Kickapoo Township, rented land for three years and then purchased the fine farm where he now lives. This comprises four hundred and four acres of as rich and productive land as can be found in the township. He has made many valuable improvements, having his farm well stocked, and devoting considerable attention to that branch of agriculture.
November 24, 1858, Mr. Atwood and Miss Margaret Fry took an important step in their lives which has resulted in their mutual benefit, as by their marriage on that date he secured the assistance of a cheerful and helpful companion, and she a devoted husband. Mrs. Atwood is a daughter of Smith and Nancy (Shepler) Fry, natives of Washington County, Pa. They married and settled in that State and from there came to Peoria about 1835, and became pioneers of Richwood Township. Mr. Fry was prominent in public affairs and was Sheriff of Peoria County, for two terms. He was a contractor for the railroads and at the also served as conductor. During the latter part of their lives, he and his wife removed to Peoria, where they died, he June 23, 1860, and she January 21, 1882. Mrs. Atwood was the seventh of their eleven children, and she was born in Richwood Township, March 29, 1839. Ten children have blessed her marriage with our subject, who are named as follows: Charlie L. who married Miss Hattie Gordon, and died in Dakota, August 3, 1888; George W., who married Miss Hedges, and lives near Bennett, Neb.; Mary A., the wife of William Enders of Dakota; Smith F., who married Fannie Harris and resides in Peoria; William W. Jr., who married Lena Dornbus, and lives in Dakota; Douglass L., of Kickapoo Township, who married Hattie Ames; Henry A., Percy G., Aurilla A. and Phoebe C.
As we have seen, Mr. Atwood wields a potent influence in promoting various schemes for the further improvement of township and county, and his name will ever be linked with various plans that have greatly advanced their standing. As a loyal citizen he takes an earnest interest in the political situation of the day, and favors the Republican party by voice and vote. He and his wife were charter members of Orange Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, with which they are still connected, and he has been very prominent in an official capacity. He has been Master of the Grange and also of the county Grange and was for two years, (from 1878 to 1880) Master of the Grange Store located in Peoria. Mr. Atwood is a man of exceptional personal habits, and of a fine character, possessing many genial attributes and with his amiable wife, stands high in social circles in this community.
[Portrait and Biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois- 1890]
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