History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 405
age. The mother is a native of Lee county, Illinois, where she still
makes her home, being now a resident of Bradford township.
In their family were twelve children, ten of whom survive.
Following his marriage Mr. Ewald began his domestic life
upon a rented farm, which he continued to till for seven years.
Lie then purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 22,
Reynolds township, a tract which was then partially improved.
He has continued its further development along progressive lines
of farming and annually the fields bring forth rich crops owing
to the care and labor which he bestows upon them. His methods
are at once practical and progressive and in addition to raising
grain he makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock, which
constitutes an important source of his income.
As the years have gone by Mr. and ^Irs. Ewald have become
the parents of three children : Fern Anna M., born April 4, 1906,
Mark William, August 17, 1910, and Lloyd Andrew William,
January 28, 1912. The parents hold membership in the Evangelical
church, and Mr. Ewald gives his political support to the repub-
lican party but has never sought nor desii'ed office as a reward for
party fealty, preferring to give his undivided attention to his
farming interests, which, capably managed, are bringing to him
a good return.
HENRY L. CtEHANT.
Henry L. Gehant, the tenant of a valuable tract of land comprising
two hundred and twenty acres on section 31, Viola town-
ship, devotes his attention to mixed farming with excellent
success and is well known as one of the enterprising young citizens
of his native county. He was here born in the year 1883 and is a
son of Fi-ank J. and Victoria (Henry) Oehant, who make their
home in West Brooklyn and are highly esteemed residents of the
community.
Henry L. Gehant attended school in Leo county until eighteen
years of age and subsequently assisted his father in the work of
the home farm for three years. On the expiration of that period
he embarked in the hardware business as the junior member of
the firm of Bcrnardin & Gehant, being thus engaged for six years.
He then disposed of his interest in the concern and again turned
his attention to general agricultural pursuits, having since de-