History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 365
bought a farm on section 27. With characteristic energy he began
its development and continued its cultivation until his life's
labors were ended in death on the lUth of March, 1913, when he
was in his seventy-sixth year. His widow survives and resides
on the old homestead with her son John. By her marriage she
became the mother of the following children: Charles; William
A.; Mrs. William Christian; C. M. ; John, and Henry. The
daughter is a resident of Dysart, Iowa, but the sous all live in
Reynolds township, this county. There are thirteen grand-
children.
William A. Ewald was a little lad of seven years when his
parents crossed the Atlantic with their family and came to Illi-
nois. He has since lived in this state and the public-school system
of Illinois afforded him his educational privileges. His training
at farm labor was received under his father's direction, for
he remained at home until twenty-seven years of age. He then
started out in life on his own account, by renting eighty acres of
his father's land. This he cultivated tor two years and in the
success which attended his efforts proved his capability and
resourcefulness. At the end of that time he was united in marriage
to Miss Martha A. Wagner, who was born in Reynolds
township, January 3, 1874, and is a daughter of Martin and
Martha (Henert) Wagner, both of whom were natives of Germany,
whence the,v came to the new world, establishing their
home in Bradford township, Lee county, Illinois.
Following his marriage Mr. Ewald leuted land belonging to
his wife's imcle, Henry Henert, in Reynolds township and lived
upon that place for six years. In 1902 he purchased the farm
on section 29, Reynolds township, now known as the Willow
Corner farm and comprising one lumdred and fifty-nine acres of
rich and productive land, from which he anniuilly gathers good
harvests. He has since added to his possessions and is now the
owner of another excellent farm of two hundred acres on sections
9 and 10, Viola township. Here he makes a specialty of raising
and feeding stock and annually sells a large number, this branch
of his business proving a profitable one. Beginning at the early
age of sixteen and continuing Tmtil five years ago our subject,
with his brother. Charles, operated a threshing, corn-shelling and
clover-hulling outfit. At first they used the old horse-power
machinery, but later they owned two steam outfits. He neglects
no branch of his farm work, and his care and supervision have
made his valuable properties.