William Catherman, Walnut, was born July 22, 1847, in Union County, Pennsylvania. His parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Boney) Catherman, were natives of the same state as their son. They were the parents of thirteen children, viz.: Christine, wife of John Draper, of Cass County, Michigan; Laura, deceased; Louisa, wife of Henry Wood, of Erie County, Ohio; Montgomery, married to Alinda Glenn, resides of Erie County, Ohio; Eliza, wife of Andy Smith of Winamac, Indiana; Albert, of Cass county, Michigan, married to Laura Hay; William, of Bureau County; Isabelle, wife of Amos Smith, of Cass County, Michigan; Mary, wife of David Howser, of Sacramento, California; Matilda, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; David of Bureau County, married to Maggie Lindbery; Clara, of Cass County, Michigan; Robert Catherman is a carpenter by trade, and worked at that until he removed from Pennsylvania to Erie County, Ohio. In 1854, since which time he has engaged in farming. In 1865 he removed to Cass County, Michigan, where he still resides; his wife died there October 16, 1875.
William Catherman was educated in the schools of Erie County, Ohio, and also attended one term in Michigan. In 1866 he was in Kankakee County, Ill., but returned to Michigan the same fall, and in 1868 came to Bureau County, Ill., where he has since resided.
July 3, 1869, he was united in marriage to Rebecca Black, a sister of G. W. Black (see sketch). Mrs. Catherman was born February 8, 1848 in Sandusky County, Ohio. She is the mother of one daughter, Jennie E., born November 28, 1870.
After marriage, Mr. Catherman began farming on rented land in Bureau Township. In 1882 he purchased his present farm of 200 acres, in Section 36, Walnut Township, a farm in excellent state of cultivation.
He gives his attention chiefly to raising and feeding stock. Mr. Catherman has always been a supporter of the Republican party.
Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885