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