JOHN UNLAND, of Beardstown, a practical farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Hanover Germany, July 30, 1833. He was young when he came to this country with his father, Rev. Casper H. Unland. The latter grew up a farmer, was well educated and became early in life interested in religion and while yet a young man began to exhort and preach experimental religion. For this he was persecuted by the State church. He married Maria Calres in Hanover, and, after the birth of eight children, to better their condition they set out for the United States. They left on a sailing vessel October 20, 1844, and landed in New Orleans after a journey of eleven weeks. They landed in Beardstown in the latter part of January, 1845, which was very remarkable, as the river is usually frozen at that time. They settled near Bluff Springs, on what is now known as the Tom Clark farm. After five years Mr. Unland sold, and purchased land five miles northwest of Arenzville, where he lived and died at the age of eighty-one years, his death occurring March 8, 1890. He was prominent in Cass county as a farmer and Methodist preacher, a good, noble man, a Republican, and the only one of his family who came to this country.

John is the second child of a family of thirteen, of whom nine are married and all have families. He remained at home until he became of age and was married in this county to Elizabeth Christianer, born in Germany. She came with her parents when but three years old to Beardstown. Her father, Yost Christianer, died at the age of eighty, and her mother died about the age of eighty, also. The name of the latter was Gustling. She and her husband were members of the Methodist Church and old settlers and good people of Cass county. Mrs. Unland was carefully reared by good parents. She is the mother of seven living children: George married Nancy Henners and is a farmer in Morgan county; Lucinda a widow with two children, lives with her father; Mary Higginson lives near Philadelphia, Cass county; and Nattie, Frank, Henry and William (the twins) live at home.

Mr. Unland has lives in this county since 1845 and has been one of its good citizens. He has lived on the farm, except three years, and he has put in all the improvements. He purchased it in June, 1860, and settled there in 1861. He has 200 acres in section 17, township 18, range 11, and his good farm buildings and fine improvements show that he thoroughly understands his business. He and his wife are both active members of the Methodist Church, of which Mr. Unland has been Class-leader since his twentieth year. He is a licensed exhorter. He is a sound Republican, but no office seeker.