Our subject is the representative of an honored pioneer family of Marion
county, so that a consideration of his genealogical and personal history
becomes doubly interesting and doubly apropos in connection with the
prescribed province of this publication. Mr. See is one of the prominent
farmers of Kinmundy township, having a finely improved landed estate of two
hundred and forty-four acres and he is carrying forward his operations with
that energy, foresight and careful discrimination which ever betoken the
appreciative and model yeoman.
Henry William See, Sr., is a native
of Marion county, where he has been satisfied to spend his entire life,
having been born April 30, 1849, in Kinmundy township, the son of Michael
See, who married Elizabeth Allman May 1, 1848, and to this union the subject
of this sketch was born, the mother dying when the son was seven months old.
Our subject received his early education in the district schools of
his native county where he applied himself in a careful manner to his
studies. He spent his boyhood on his father's farm assisting with the work
about the place until he reached maturity when he was married to Mary Alice
Blackburn June 29, 1869, in Hillsboro, Montgomery county, Illinois, the
ceremony which made them one having been performed by a Justice of the
Peace. The family from which Mrs. See came were, many of them, known as
eminent lawyers, doctors arid preachers. On her mother's side of the house
many of the family were Baptist ministers. Mary Alice was born March 16,
1849, in Medora, Macoupin county, Illinois. Her father was George P.
Blackburn, who was born in Huntsville, Alabama, May 24, 1826, and who was
married February 14, 1848, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Emily E. Farrow, who
was born in Mount Sterling, Kentucky, December 9, 1830. Seven children were
born to them, five girls and two boys, all of whom lived to be grown and all
married, the subject's wife being the oldest of the number.
Our
subject and wife are the parents of eight children, named in order of their
birth as follows: Harry M., deceased; Ollie E., who married James Lasater;
they live in Redlands, California, and are the parents of six children, an
equal number of boys and girls. Ernest B., the subject's third child, is
deceased; Sabyon G. is also deceased; Mabel I. married J. R. Kelly, a
Baptist minister of Highland, Illinois, and they are the parents of four
sons; Emma A. married Dellis Malone and is the mother of one son. She lives
in Taibin, New Mexico; Michael J. and Richard E. are both deceased. These
children have received good educations and are fairly well situated in life.
The subject has eleven grandchildren, all living but one girl.
Mr.
See has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, of which he has made an
eminent success, now owning a fine farm. No small part of his income from
year to year is the result of the successful handling of stock, he being an
extensive breeder of Polled-Angus cattle, and good horses. His farm is also
well stocked with many fine varieties of chickens, among the principal
breeds being the Black Langshan, which has often taken prizes at fairs and
poultry shows. Mr. See is regarded as one of the best farmers in Kinmundy
township as the general thrifty appearance of his place would indicate. He
is always at work and never neglects anything about his place that needs his
attention.
Mr. See is a Democrat in his political relations and
takes considerable interest in political affairs, always casting his ballot
for the man whom he believes to be the best fitted morally and
intellectually for the office sought. He and his family are Missionary
Baptists as was also his ancestors, among whom was one minister. The Sees
are regarded as people of the highest integrity and are known as substantial
citizens wherever they reside. Our subject's well improved property is a
monument to his thrift and well directed efforts. He is a man of earnest
purpose and upright life.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 395-396.