JOHN F. LINVILLE. This respected gentleman and thorough-going farmer who resides on section 18, Whitley Township, Moultrie County, is a son of John Linville and Elizabeth (Donnelsen) Linville, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, where they grew to maturity, married and settled in Bath County, Ky., coming from there to Indiana, where they settled near Greensburg. After living there several years they removed to Fayette County, same State, and there remained until called hence by death.

These worthy and venerated parents had ten children of whom our subject was the fourth in order of age, being born in Decatur County, Ind., April 7, 1824. He was about ten years old when his father removed to Fayette County, Ind., where he grew to manhood and continued to reside until he was about twenty-six years old. In his boyhood he received thorough and systematic drill and instruction both in the theory and practice of farming and agriculture has been his sole business in life.

John F. Linville continued to live in Indiana until the fall of 1849, when he came to Clark County, Ill., and purchased a farm, upon which he continued to live until December, 1864, at which time he removed to Moultrie County and settled upon the section where he has ever since resided. The most important event in his life as a young man was his marriage, August 3, 1848, in Fayette County, Ind., to Jane McDowell, who was born in Bates County, Ohio, January 17, 1829.

Mr. and Mrs. Linville, had two children viz.: William D. who married Margaret E. Kennedy and was a farmer in Whitley Township, but died February 16, 1891; Rebecca E. who is the wife of Henry Wright, of Whitley Township. The death of the only son was a severe blow to the parents as well as to the young wife.

Our subject now owns one hundred and twenty acres upon which he has placed many excellent improvements and where he exercises a kind and neighborly hospitality to all who enter his door. His political views have led him to affiliate with the Democratic party and he believes that the principles of that party are the ones which are destined to promote the prosperity of the State. In his religious views he is liberal and he is an active promoter of every movement toward the moral upbuilding of the community.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 551/552

Transcription copyright 2003/2007, Moultrie County ILGenWeb/USGenWeb