History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

428 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
sections 33 and 34, Viola township. He was born on the 19th of
April, 1874, a son of Modest and Olympia (Chaon) Gehant. The
father, whose demise occurred in Tebruary, 1904, lies buried at
West Brooklyn, but the mother survives at the age of sixty-nine
years and resides in Brooklyn township.
In the acquirement of an education Modest L. Gehant
attended the schools of Lee county until fifteen years of age and
subsequently devoted his entire time to assisting his father iu the
operation of the home farm, being thus engaged until the latter
passed away. At that time he came into possession of the tract
which he owns and operates at present and which embraces one
hundred and thirty-one acres of rich and productive land on sections
33 and 34, Viola township. He engages in mixed farming
and keeps about eleven horses and about fifteen head of cattle.
Success has attended his rmdertakings in such measure that he
has long been numbered among the prosperous and representative
citizens of the community. All of the buildings on his property,
including an attractive and commodious residence, were erected
by him and are kept in good repair.
On the 16th of May, 1907, in Dixon, Mr. Gehant was united in
marriage to Miss Gertrude Jacobs, her parents being Henry and
Fannie (Rothamaker) Jacobs, residents of Iowa. He exercises
his light of franchise in support of the men and measures of the
rei^ublican party and is at all times a most loyal and public-spirited
citizen. In religious belief he is a Catholic. He has remained a
resident of Lee county from his birth to the present time, and
that his life has ever been upright and honorable is indicated in
the fact that the associates of his boyhood and youth are stUI
numbered among his stanch friends and admirers.
JOHN H. GROVE.
John H. Grove, serving in a creditable and able manner as
supervisor of Willow Creek township and connected with agri-
cultural interests through the operation of his father's farm of
one lumdred and twenty acres on section 21, is a native of Lee
county, born in the house in which he now resides July 19, 1874.
He is a son of William H. and Amanda N. (Gee) Grove, the
former of whom came from Ohio to Lee coimty in October, 1865.
He purchased a farm near Scarboro and improved this until