HERMAN H. LOVECAMP, one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers of township 17, range 11, near Arenzville, Illinois, was born in this county in 1840. He has passed his life in this section and is the son of Katherine and Fred Lovecamp, both natives of Germany, born and reared in Hanover, and married after they came to St. Louis. They were early settlers of Cass county, coming to Cass county about 1835. They were both industrious and economical, and bravely contended against all the trials that beset the early settlers. They spent their last days on the large farm which their united efforts had earned. Mr. Lovecamp only lived to be forty-five years old, but his wife survived him until she was seventy-eight. They had both been Lutherans, and Mr. Lovecamp was a Republican, a worthy, good citizen and his wife was one of the best and kindest women in the world.

Herman grew up under his mother's care and became a farmer also. He was married in this county to Mary Peters, born in Hanover, Germany, December 19, 1843. She came to the United States and to Beardstown with her parents Mary and Fred Peters, in 1845. Mr. Peters was a blacksmith by trade, a good mechanic and had always been a hard working man until the time of his death. He was a Democrat and belonged to the Lutheran Church. He died in 1877, aged sixty-five. His wife is still living in Beardstown, and upon her last birthday, August 13, 1892, was seventy-three years old. She is still active and has been a member of the Lutheran Church all her life. Mrs. Lovecamp is one of nine children, three yet living. She is one of the good, German women where she resides and she has the respect of the whole neighborhood. She is the mother of twelve children: Emma and Cora died young; John is a harness maker in Arenzville; William, a farmer in Cass county, married Miss Caroline Carls; Henry assists in running the home farm; Mary, Christina, Lucinda, Louisa, Alma, Albert and Julius are all at home. They are Lutherans and they have had the pleasure of seeing their children confirmed in the same faith. Mr. Lovecamp and his grown sons agree in their political faith, being members of the Democratic party.

Mr. Lovecamp owns over 240 acres of well improved land, and has been the possessor of it for the past fifteen years. He has made a great many improvements on the place and now resides very comfortably in his nice home with his family around him.