History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

432 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Iii May township, December 31, 1885, Mr. Nichols was united
in marriage to Miss Mary E. Acker, a daughter of Jeremiah and
Lucy Acker, the former for many years a prominent farmer of
Lee county. Both have passed away and are buried in Prairie
Repose cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have become the parents
of four children: E. A., a farmer in Lee county; R. C, assist-
ing his father ; Eva L., at home ;
and Mabel E., attending school.
Mr. Nichols is connected fraternally with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and his political allegiance is given to the
republican party. For the past five years he has been justice of
the peace and he has been a member of the school board for
fifteen years, the cause of education finding in him an earnest and
able champion. Mr. Nichols is well known in his part of Lee
county and in all relations of life has proved upright, capable and
straightforward.
JOHN EWALD.
One of the excellent stock farms of Reynolds township is that
owned by John Ewald, who is a member of a family that has been
very prominent in advancing the farming and stock breeding and
raising interests of Lee county. He was born in Scott town-
ship, Ogle county, Illinois, November 15, 1874, and is a son of
Henry and Anna Martha Ewald, of whom mention is made in
connection with the sketch of Charles Ewald. elsewhere in this
volume.
John Ewald spent the first five years of his life in his native
county and in 1879 was brought by his parents to Lee county,
where he has since lived. His experiences were those which usually
fall to the lot of the farm lad and his early training brought
him practical knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil
and caring for the crops. He acqiiired a common-school educa-
tion and when not busy with his text-books his time and atten-
tion were given to various parts of the farm worlv. He continued
at home until ho attained his majority and eventually through
purchase became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres on
section 27, Reynolds township. This is the old homestead prop-
erty and is one of the good farms of the county. The fields produce
good cr(^])S, for the soil is naturally rich and productive and
his methods of crop production are pi'aetical and progressive.