History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 389
part of Illinois in 1860 and followed farming here for the remainder
of his life. He died in 1892 and is buried in Prairie
Repose cemetery. His wife makes her home in Amboy. The family
is of Norwegian origin but its representatives settled in Ireland
in the fourteenth century.
P. G. TyrreU is one of a family of eight children. He acquired
his education in the district schools of May township and laid
aside his books at the age of twenty. He then rented land, follow-
ing farming upon this property for twenty years, at the end of
which time he purchased his present farm. He owns one hundred
and thirty acres on sections 3 and 10, May township, and upon
this property raises grain and live stock, meeting with excellent
success.
In Dixon, Illinois, April 3, 1895, Mr. Tyrrell was united in mar-
riage to Miss Isabelle Reeves, a daughter of Benjamin and Isabelle
Reeves, the foi'mer a well known farmer of Lee county, now
residing in Amboy. Mr. Tyrrell is a meml^er of the Modern Woodmen
of America and a republican in his political beliefs. He is a
director of the school board and for the past five years has served
as assessor of the township. He is numbered among the most pro-
gi'essive and representative of Lee county's native sons, and his
worth as a man and a citizen is widely acknowledged.
WILLIAM KILLMER.
William Killmer was born upon the farm in Bradford to\\Ti-
ship which he operated for twenty years from the time of
his marriage, and during most of his active life has been connected
with agricultural interests of this locality, being today
numbered among its representative and successful farmers. His
birth occurred January 31, 1859, his j^arents being Nicholas and
Mary (Halbmaier) Killmer. natives of (rermany. The father
came to the Ignited States in 1852, settling in Lee coimty, Illi-
nois, and some months later the mother also arrived in Lee county,
where they were married. In 1884 they removed to Ashton, where
they resided during the remainder of their lives, the father dying
in 1892 and the mother in 1893. They were the parents of six
children, of whom two survive.
William Killmer acquired his education in the district schools
of Bradford township and remained at home until his marriage.