History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
township. lu 1911 lie purchased the old homestead, comprising
two hundred and forty-five acres on section 14, Alto township, and
prioi' to this he had invested in one hundi'ed and sixty acres on
section 15, of the same township, so that he now owns altogether
five hundred and sixty-five acres of rich and valuable laud, that
responds readily to the care and cultivation he bestows upon it.
While his fields produce good crops, in his pastures are to be
found registered Hereford cattle and draft horses, of which he
makes a specialty, raising a large number each year.
In 1888 Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude
G. Hemeuwa}'. who was born in Kendall county, Illinois, a daugh-
ter of William and Cynthia (Dewey) Hemenway, the former a
native of Will county. Illinois, and the latter of the state of New
York. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have become the parents of six children
: Effie G., now the wife of M. M. Fell ; Harold H. ; Lyal E.
M. Gardner; Marjorie L. ; and Florence A. The parents hold
membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Cook be-
longs to the Masonic fraternity at Steward. His political allegi-
ance is given to the republican party, and he is now serving as
supervisor of Alto township, while for five years he filled the office
of assessor. He has also been school director and is interested in
the cause of education as a preparation for the young for life's
practical and responsible duties. Mr. Cook is a self-made man
and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. Graduually
he has worked his way upward, and his persistent energy
has made him one of the substantial citizens of his part of the
county.
WILLIAM M. SHAW.
William M. Shaw, a prominent agriculturist and extensive
landowner of Lee county, devotes his attention to the cultivation
of a farm of four hundred and seventy-five acres in Amboy to-nm-
ship. His birth occurred in this county on the 24th of September,
1847. his parents being Henry G. and Jane (Waldron) SliaAv, both
of whom are deceased and lie buried in Prairie Repose cemetery.
The father's demise occurred in 1874. while the mother passed
away in April, 1902, both being sincerely mourned by an extensive
circle of friends and acquaintances.
William M. Shaw attended the schools of his native county
until sixteen years of age and subsequently spent about five years
;
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