HENRY VENTRES was born in Smith county, Tennessee, January 25, 1812. His parents, Asa and Nancy (Wakefield) Ventres, were of Welsh and English ancestry respectively. The former was born December 24, 1793, and the latter was born about the same time. Soon after the war of 1812, in which he was a soldier, he located in St. Clair county, Illinois, where he died about 1818.

Henry was the eldest of a family of four children, three of whom are still living. He learned the brick-making trade in early manhood, and worked at that and brick-laying up to the time he came to Illinois, and has engaged in it since coming to this State. Coming to Illinois at such an early date, the family have witnessed a wonderful growth in the country. The Black Hawk band was located on Rock river, and frequently infested the settlers. Mr. Ventres has held the various township offices, and given satisfaction in every one. He settled on his present farm in 1834, and is one of the oldest settlers of the county. There was only an occasional log cabin in the county. The land which he took up was a military tract, which he purchased, consisting of 160 acres of land, to which he has added forty acres since.

He was married in Monroe county, Kentucky, to Miss Elizabeth Jones, January 27, 1833. In 1883 they celebrated their golden wedding, and are looking forward to the celebration of a diamond one. They have had nine children, of whom five are still living, namely: William C., a miller and merchant, located in Kansas; Ophelia, now Mrs. A. R. Marshall, of Gove county, Kansas: her husband is a farmer and stock-raiser; Sarah, now Mrs. T. Shippy, of Plymouth, Illinois: her husband is a teacher by profession; Lucy A., now Mrs. Beck, of Pueblo, Colorado: her husband is a merchant; Walter Maro resides on a farm adjoining his father's: he married Miss Maggie Diamond. Mr. and Mrs. Venters have been consistent members of the Christian Church for sixty years. Mr. Venters has been a life-long Democrat, but is disgusted with both the old parties. He has been a man of exemplary habits, not using any kind of intoxicants or tobacco in any form. Mr. and Mrs. Venters are comfortably situated, and are enjoying the fruits of their early labors.