William Landau, born on January 4, 1836, in northern Germany, was a successful farmer in Lee Center Township, Illinois. After emigrating to the United States at age 25, he initially worked as a laborer before purchasing his own farm. Over two decades, he expanded his holdings to 716.5 acres, focusing on farming and stock-raising. Landau married Martha E. Moller in 1861, and together they had eleven children. A dedicated Republican and member of the Reformed Church, Landau was well-regarded in his community for his industriousness and contributions to local agriculture.
William Landau. The German-born citizens of our country are always in the front ranks of progress and enterprise, loyal to their adopted land and forming an intelligent and industrious class in every community in which they make their homes. Among this class may be mentioned the subject of this sketch, who is a farmer residing on section 6, Lee Center Township.
Mr. Landau was born in the northern part of Germany on January 4, 1836. He was reared to manhood in his native country, remaining there until twenty-five years old. He then emigrated to America, landing in New York City and at once came to Illinois, settling in Sterling where he remained six weeks. He then came to Lee County, where he worked out by the month for one year in China Township, then removing to Lee Center Township where he worked as a day laborer for some four or five years. Afterward he rented land in Lee Center Township for two years and having saved sufficient money, became the owner of a farm where he lived some twenty years. At the expiration of that time, having been prosperous in his worldly affairs, he purchased his present place on section 6, where he has since resided. That he has been energetic, industrious and persevering is evinced by the fact that from a very small beginning he has acquired his present large property of seven hundred and sixteen and a half acres, where he is carrying on farming and stock-raising to a large extent.
July 16, 1861, Mr. Landau was married in China Township, Lee County, to Martha E. Moller. Mrs. Landau was born in Germany on March 30, 1838, and departed this life at her residence in Lee Center Township on March 25, 1890. To this couple were born a large family comprising eleven children, as follows: Christena, deceased; John; Christena; Katie; Anna; Henry; William; Lizzie; Mary; Christie; and Minnie.
In politics, Mr. Landau is a Republican, but has been too much occupied in his own affairs to become an office seeker. He is a member of the Reformed Church to which his wife also belonged. The family is well and favorably known. They occupy a comfortable residence, a view of which with its rural surroundings is presented on another page.