WILLIAM H. CROMWELL, an intelligent and well-educated gentleman who takes a true interest in all public affairs, resides upon his farm at Honey Point Township. He was born a few miles east of Dayton, Ohio, November 11, 1836. His father, Richard Cromwell was a native of Hagerstown, Md., and was of English descent, and his father was a farmer who worked his land by the help of slave labor, and died near Hagerstown. The father of our subject was quite young when he was orphaned by his father's death and he continued to live in Maryland with his mother until the family removed to Ohio, where the mother bought land in Greene County, near Xenia, and resided there until her death, completing nearly a century of honorable and virtuous life.
In 1842 the parents of our subject came to Illinois moving with a team and then by the way of steamer on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and made their first stopping place in Alton. They soon rented a farm in Hilyard Township, and later bought a tract of land here. Their first home was in a log house but afterward they put up a good farm residence and made their home there for a number of years, after which they lived for awhile in Bunker Hill. He was a hard worker and had excellent judgment and thus gained a good property, having at one time four farms at Hilyard Township, besides his home in Bunker Hill where he died June 5, 1889.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Caroline Eichelberger and she was a native of Hagerstown, Md., and now resides in Bunker Hill. Her nine children are our subject, Susan, Margaret, Comfort, Cynthia, Catherine, Mary, Joseph and William. Our subject was in his sixth year when he came to this county and in those days the country was very new, as there was no railroad an d the nearest market was at Alton twenty miles away. He received his education on the farm and in the district school and as soon as old enough to assist in the farm work he became an efficient helper in this way.
Upon attaining his majority Mr. Cromwell leased a tract of land in Hilyard Township, and farmed it for nine years and during that time purchased one hundred and twenty acres of fine timber land in Honey Point Township. In the year 1865 he settled on this place and has added to it until he now has two hundred and eighty acres all under cultivation. He was married on the 3rd of May, 1868, to Mary C. Hutton, who was born in Northern Illinois and is a daughter of Daniel and Mary Hutton who were natives of Maryland.
Our subject is a member of Charter Oak Lodge No. 536, F. & A.M. of Litchfield and in his political views is a stanch Democrat having cast his first Presidential vote for James Buchanan. He served for two years as County Coroner and has been the Supervisor of Honey Point Township, besides serving as delegate in many county, district and senatorial conventions.