History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

300 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
to the democratic party. He is a man of many sterling traits of
character, able in business, progressive in citizenship and at all
times trustworthy and reliable.
HENRY W. HILLISON.
Henry W. Hillison, actively engaged with agricultural inter-
ests in Lee county, his home being on section 25, China township,
was born on the old family homestead in Bradford township, this
county, September 12, 1850. His parents were Ommon and
Catherine Elizabeth (Reiuhart) Hillison. The former, born in
Norway, December 11, 1811, left his native land in 1835 and for
two years was a sailor upon coastwise vessels. In 1837 he settled
on a claim in Bradford township, Lee county, about two and a half
miles north of Lee Center and there remained until his death,
which occurred in 1853. He was the first one to leave the Hardanger
country of Norway and the first Norwegian to settle in
Lee county. Although he established his home here when the
Indians still lived in the neighborhood, he never owned a gun,
pistol nor revolver nor found it necessary to protect himself from
the red men. "He came not to make war, but peace," and he
lived quietly among his red neighbors finding that they were
appreciative of friendship as well as the members of the white
race. It was many years after he located here before there were
any other Norwegians in the county. He married Catherine
Elizabeth Reinhart who was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany,
in 1832, a daughter of Christian and Christine (Reinhart) Rein-
hart. In 1845 they crossed the Atlantic to New York and thence
made their way direct to Lee county. It was on the 14th of November,
1S49, that their daughtei' gave her hand in marriage to Mr.
Hillison. She long survived her hnsband, passing away July 20,
1900. They had two children, Henry and Betsey Josephine, the
latter the wife of Conrad Brandau, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Henry W. Hillison has spent his entire life in Lee coimty.
residing always in Bradford or in China townships. He has ever
been extensively engaged in farming and his holdings of farm
land are now large. In developing his fields he has employed the
most progressive methods nnd his diligence and determination
have constituted the foundation of his success.