History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

340 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
were laid to rest in the Ashton cemetery. Of the seven children
born to their union six survive.
Tony M. W. Reitz spent lais childhood and youth upon his
father's farm, aiding in its operation when not engaged with his
books. When he was twenty-three years of age he married and
rented a farm upon which he resided for seven years. At the
end of that time he bought a farm on section 33, Ashton township
and upon this property has since resided. It is provided
with a tine residence, barns and outlmildings and all the con-
veniences necessary to the conduct of a profitable agricultural
property. Aside from general farming Mr. Reitz is also exten-
sively interested in stock-raising, paying particular attention to
breeding sheep.
Mr. Reitz married JMiss Mary A. Gonnerman, a native of Brad-
ford township, this county, and they have become the parents of
five children: Clara K. L., Molly L., Katie L., Emma M., and
Clarence H. The parents are members of the Lutheran church,
and Mr. Reitz gives his political allegiance to the republican
paity. In business his course has been characterized by the strict-
est fidelity to principle, and in social relations he displays an un-
failing courtesy that has won for him many friends.
DAVID GEORGE.
Illinois outside of the city of Cliicago owes its prosperity and
advancement to the industry, enterprise and progressiveness of
the representatives of agricultural life and prominent in this con-
nection was David George of Lee county, who was the owner of
extensive farms not only in this state but in Iowa. Pennsylvania
numbei'ed him among her native sons, his birth having occun-ed
at East Berlin, Adams county, August 21, 1828. His parents,
Jacob and Mary (Knop) George, spent their entire lives in Pennsylvania,
where the father followed the occui^ation of farming.
The family nmnbered four sons: Cornelius, Da^dd, Samuel and
Henry and several daughters: including Mrs. Lizzie Weaver,
Mrs. Anna Cline, Mrs. Molly McClellan and Mrs. Rachel Pentz.
Reared in the Keystone state David George worked at the car-
penter's trade in early life and when a young man of twenty-three
years came to Illinois, arriving in 1851. For two years thereafter
he continued to follow his trade. After his marriage, which oc-