Jeremiah Hetler, born on October 4, 1843, in Dixon Township, Illinois, is a prominent farmer and community member. He manages a well-equipped 120-acre farm and a successful dairy business. Hetler, the son of Nathan Hetler, has deep roots in the area, having begun his farming career in Dixon Township. He married Mary E. McCleary on December 25, 1872, and they have four children, with three daughters still living at home. The couple is respected in their community and active in the Presbyterian Church, aligning politically with the Republican Party.
Jeremiah Hetler. The enterprising farmer and good citizen whose name we now give is a native of this county, having been born in Dixon Township, October 4, 1843. He is engaged in cultivating his beautiful tract of one hundred and twenty acres, which he has well improved and embellished with all the necessary farm buildings. He has his place well stocked with cattle of good breeds and in addition to his farming interests is carrying on a thriving dairy trade. Mr. Hetler located on his present purchase in 1873, having previous to that time been engaged in farming in another portion of Dixon Township.
Our subject is a son of Nathan Hetler, a native of Pennsylvania, who had come overland to Illinois some time in the ’40s, and on making Lee County his home, purchased Government land in what is now Nachusa Township which he improved and resided upon for a number of years. Later he removed to another portion of the township where he spent his last days, his decease occurring in June, 1877, when sixty-three years of age. At the time of his death he left four hundred acres of excellent land which he had accumulated by his industry and good management. For a fuller history of Nathan Hetler the reader is referred to the sketch of Hiram Hetler to be found elsewhere in this volume.
The gentleman of whom we write was the fourth in order of birth of a family of seven children, of whom four sons and two daughters are yet living and who are farmers by occupation. Our subject received a good education in the common schools and remained at home assisting his father on the farm until five or six years after reaching his majority. He thus received thorough training in farm duties which is perhaps the secret of his subsequent success in life.
Jeremiah Hetler was united in marriage in Nelson Township to Miss Mary E. McCleary, the ceremony being solemnized December 25, 1872. Mrs. Hetler was born in Pennsylvania, March 4, 1844, and is the daughter of William McCleary, also a native of the Keystone State, who came to Illinois in 1866 and located in Nelson Township, where he resided until his death, being one of the prominent and influential citizens of the county. A fuller history of Mr. McCleary will be found in the sketch of George McCleary.
Mrs. Mary Hetler received a thorough education in the English branches in Pennsylvania and accompanied her parents to the Prairie State when a young woman. She is the only one living in a family of five sons and one daughter born to her parents and by her marriage with our subject has become the mother of four children, one of whom is deceased, and who bore the name of Nettie S., dying when fifteen years of age. Those living are Grace M., and Kittie M., both of whom are graduates of the city schools at Dixon, the former taking a course in the Business College at Dixon; and Florence A. The three daughters still remain under the parental roof where they are receiving that training which will make them good and useful homekeepers.
Religiously our subject and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church, are respected members of society in this part of the county and are worthy of the esteem which is granted them. The political views of Mr. Hetler have brought him into active co-operation with the Republican party, in which he has great confidence and for which he is glad to cast his vote.