William F. Athey, stock-raiser and farmer, P. O. Annapolis, is one of the largest and most successful of the stock-raisers and farmers of Crawford County. He was born in Licking County, Ohio, July 17, 1833. His father, Robert Athey, was born in Fauquier County, Va., April 23, 1801. Here he was raised, educated and married. In 1830, he removed to Licking County, Ohio; in the fall of 1850, he removed to Crawford County, Ill. He has followed the occupation of a farmer, but is now living a retired life upon his farm of 260 acres, in Hutsonville Township. His father was Elijah Athey, a native of Virginia, and of Scotch descent. He died in Ohio, in 1835 or 1836, aged eighty-four years. The mother of our subject, Eliza Smith, was born in Virginia, and died in 1835, age thirty-years. She was the mother of three children, of whom William was the second child. His early life was spent at home, receiving such an education as could be obtained from the common schools, and assisting to till the soil of his father's farm. At twenty-one years of age, he left his home and embarked on his career in life as a hired hand upon a farm for John Hill, and remained in his employ for about four years. In 1859, he bought eighty acres of land where he now resides, and began farming on his own account; here he has since remained, and by his honesty, industry and economy, succeeded in accumulating a good property. He is now the owner of 960 acres of prairie land in one body. Mr. Athey raises a large quantity of stock and deals largely in stock, making it a specialty. In 1859, he married Miss Adeline Newlin, a native of Crawford County. Politically, he is a Democrat.
