History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

332 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
in tlie same year. His widow still owns the property but after her
husband's death returned to Lee county, where she now resides.
In January, 1881, Mr. Sanders married jVIiss Martha George,
a native of Lee countj^, daughter of David and Susan (Reed)
George, and moved on his father-in-law's farm in Bradford
townshii), where he farmed until 1889. To this union were born
three childi'en: Nathan H., who now lives in Ashton; Clarence
D., who lives on his farm in Bradford township; and Grace M.,
who was born in May, 1888, and died the same year. Mr. Sanders
also lost his wife in that year. In 1891 he married again, his second
union being with Miss Annie L. Sanders, a native of Pennsylvania
and a daughter of Daniel and Sarah (McCleaf) Sanders, both
born in Adams county, that state. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders became
the parents of two sons : Robert F., a resident of Iowa, and Roger
A., at home. Mrs. Sanders is a member of the Lutheran church
and is widely known in Lee county, where she is recognized as a
woman of exemplary character and high principles.
AUGUST F. GEHANT.
Aiigust F. Gehant is the owner of two hundred acres of fine
land on section 31, Viola township), and upon this property is liv-
ing a retired life after many years of close connection with agri-
cultTiral interests of the locality. He is a native son of Lee county,
born in 1866, his parents being Modest and Olympia (Chaon)
Gehant, the former of whom passed awa_v in 1904 and is buried in
West Brooklyn. His wife survives him and makes her home in
Brookl^m township, having I'eached the age of sixty-nine.
August F. Gehant acquired his education in the public schools
of Brookhni township and laid aside his books at the age of fifteen,
afterward assisting his father with the work of the farm until
he was twenty-three. When he began his independent career he
rented land, upon which he resided for three years, after which he
bought the farm which he now owns, remaining active in its culti-
vation for many years. He has erected an excellent residence
upoii it and a number of farm buildings and, although he has now
given up the active work of the fields on account of ill health,
he yet gives careful supervision to the operation of the prop-
erty.