WILLIAM MORTIMER. One of the most attractive little homesteads of Woodson Precinct, belongs to the subject of this sketch. He is a gentleman in the prime of life, and is distinguished for his thoroughness and skill as a farmer and stock raiser, and his general habits of thrift and industry. His property is pleasantly located on section 25, and comprises 160 acres of choice land, which under careful cultivation yields the richest crops of Central Illinois. In the livestock line he is able to exhibit some of the finest animals in this region. In addition to the homestead he and his wife together own about 400 acres of land, all in this county, and are thus in the enjoyment of a comfortable income.
The first twenty years of the life of our subject were spent on the other side of the Atlantic, in Yorkshire, England, where he was born Aug. 9, 1847. His parents, William and Sarah A. (Hugill) Mortimer, were also natives of that shire, where the mother spent her entire life, dying about 1857. The father, some years after the death of his partner, emigrated to America in 1882, and died at the home of his son in this county, April 2, 1889. The parental family included seven children, of whom William, Jr. was the second born.
Our subject after reaching the United States proceeded directly westward to this county, and for five years thereafter was in the employ of Vincent Richardson and family, west of Jacksonville. His next ten years were spent in township 13, where in the meantime he was married, and settled upon a farm which he conducted five years, then removed to his present homestead. His marriage occurred Feb. 26, 1879, with Miss Sarah Rawlings, at the bride's home in township 13, range 10.
Mrs. Mortimer was born April 17, 1858, in this county, and is the daughter of James and Frances (Hembrough) Rawlings, who were natives of England, and are now in Morgan County. Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer are the parents of five children, all living, namely: Cora and Carrie, twins; Hattie; Earl and Eva, twins. Mr. Mortimer cast his first Presidential vote for Hayes, and uniformly votes the straight Republican ticket. He has had little to do with public affairs, however, aside from officiating as School Director in his district. He is public-spirited and liberal, and a firm supporter of those measures calculated to advance the community in morals and enlightenment, and keeps himself well posted upon events of general interest to the intelligent citizen.