History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
One of a family of seven children, William H. Cionneimann
was reared at home and assisted in the operation of his father's
farm until he was twenty-three years of age. His marriage
occurred at that time and he afterward rented property, upon
which he carried on general farming fur some time. Eventually
he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Bradford township.
Upon this property he has since resided and he has steadily car-
ried forward the work of improving and developing it so that it
is today a valuable place, equipped with the accessories and con-
veniences of a model farm property. Mr. Gonnermann engages
in general farming and stock-raising and his interests ai'e care-
fully controlled, so that he has now reached a plane of affluence,
being numbered among the substantial citizens of the community.
Mr. Gonnermann has been twice married. When he was
twenty-three years of age he wedded Miss Lena H. Reinhart, a
daughter of Anton and Catherine Reinhart, both natives of Germany.
Mrs. Gonnermann passed away June 25, 1910, leaving
two children: Arthur H. and Catherine II., both at home. In
January, 1913, Mr. Gonnermann was again married, his second
wife being Mrs. Marie (Stauffenberg) Wallace, the widow of
Charles H. Wallace, a native of New York. Mr's. Gonnermann 's
parents were born in Germany and came to America in the early
'70s. The father died in May, 1913, and is survived by his wife.
Mrs. Gonnermann 's first husband died in 1899 and was laid to
rest in Ashton cemetery. He left two children, Henry and Wil-
liam, residents of Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Gonnermann is a republican
in his political beliefs and has served as school director. He
is a prolgressive and public-spirited citizen and a capable and successful
farmer and is held in high regard wherever he is known.
W. H. VOSBURGH.
Lee county numbers among its progressive and representative
native sons W. H. Vosburgh, who occupies two hundred and
forty acres of fine land on sections 23 and 26, Willow Creek township,
and gives practically his entire attention to its impi'ovement
and cultivation. He was born in the house whore he now resides
July 10, 1867. a son of S. and Ellen (Atherton) Vosburgh. the
former of whom came from Pennsylvania to Lee county, Hlinois,
in 1856, and settled upon the property which his son now occu-
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