Portrait and Biographical Record of Lee County, Illinois

The “Portrait and Biographical Record of Lee County, Illinois,” created in the late 19th century, stands as a remarkable compendium of personal histories, reflecting the lives and legacies of individuals who contributed to the development of Lee County. This volume, compiled by the Biographical Publishing Company, offers a unique lens through which genealogists and historians can explore the lives of past residents. As you delve into this collection, it’s essential to approach the information with both appreciation and a critical eye, recognizing its dual role as a primary and secondary source.

As a primary source, the album provides direct insights from the individuals or their contemporaries, capturing the essence of their lives through personal narratives. This firsthand information is invaluable for genealogists, offering detailed accounts that enrich family histories with depth and context. These stories, chronicling everything from humble beginnings to notable achievements, humanize the past and provide a vivid record of the individuals who resided in the communities of Lee County, Illinois, up to the 20th Century.

Simultaneously, the volume acts as a secondary source, interpreting and collating these personal accounts into a cohesive historical record. While the narratives are rooted in personal testimonies, the compilation process introduces an editorial layer that shapes the presentation of these stories. Genealogists should be mindful of the potential biases or inaccuracies that might arise from this secondary interpretation, cross-referencing information with other records when possible to ensure a comprehensive and accurate family history.

Approaching the album as a genealogical tool requires a balanced understanding of its strengths and limitations. The richness of personal detail offers a glimpse into the past, yet the selective nature of its contents and the potential for editorial influence underscore the importance of critical analysis. By corroborating the album’s accounts with other primary sources such as census records, birth certificates, and other official documents, genealogists can construct a more nuanced historical narrative.

Alphabetical List of Lee County Biographies

1. John H. Abbott
2. William H. Acker
3. Mrs. Catherine E. Aschenbrenner
4. Jacob Aschenbrenner
5. Charles A. Becker
6. Samuel A. Bender
7. Henry Bly
8. Henry Bollman
9. John F. Bossemeyer
10. Henry C. Brookner
11. Jules Brechon
12. William S. Brierton
13. Thomas W. Brown
14. Thomas J. Buckaloo
15. William Burd
16. Loyd Burger
17. Christian B. Classen
18. Thomas Clayton
19. Hon. John Dawson Crabtree
20. Jonathan Depuy
21. Hon. Sherwood Dixon
22. Thomas Dolan
23. Col. Alex. P. Dysart
24. Samuel Dysart
25. Isaac Edwards
26. Charles F. Emerson
27. Richard S. Farrand
28. John B. Felker, M. D.
29. William H. Fiscel
30. Adolphus Fisher
31. Hugh Fitzpatrick
32. John L. Geiger
33. Richard Gooch
34. Josiah L. Gray
35. Stanwood Griffith
36. Dennis C. Harden
37. Chester Harrington
38. William W. Heckman
39. Jacob Hepperlin
40. George W. Hill
41. William H. Hilles
42. John Holdren
43. Barren De F. Holly
44. Ithiel A. Horton
45. George W. Hulbert
46. Hon. William Ellery Ives
47. Ebenezer H. Johnson
48. Charles Jones
49. Frank King
50. George L. Klostermann
51. Peter Kreiter
52. Joshua E. Lahman
53. William Landau
54. Eli Lloyd
55. George S. and Elliott S. McCleary
56. Thomas P. McCune
57. John Mensch
58. Henry Miller
59. Merritt Miller
60. Richard F. Miller
61. Samuel Mong
62. Charles A. Morris
63. Will1am H. Mossholder
64. David Murray
65. William B. Page
66. Richard Phillips
67. Hon. Abijah Powers
68. Charles F. Preston
69. Levi Rafensperger
70. Schuyler Ransom
71. Elijah H. and Daniel B. Raymond
72. Andrew Reinhart
73. Simon Rhodes
74. Hon. James Ryon, M.D.
75. David B. Senger
76. John Shank
77. Benjamin F. Shaw
78. John D. Sitts
79. Ira S. Smith
80. James Sneed
81. George F. Stainbrook
82. George Stenger
83. John M. Sterling
84. Thomas H. Stetler, M.D.
85. William S. Straw
86. Joseph Tait
87. Charles Trainer
88. Rev. James Treacy
89. John M. Trostle
90. William T. Tuttle
91. Henry Uhl
92. Sardias Vosburgh
93. Cornelius Vroom
94. Elijah Walker
95. Emrich Weishaar
96. Ernest Wernick
97. Moses C. Weyburn
98. Harlow A. Williamson
99. Stewart Wilson
100. John W. Wingert