McDonough ILGenWeb

DERRY, Emanuel, who has successfully carried on farming for many years in New Salem Township, McDonough County, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, May 5, 1838, and received his early schooling in Fulton County, Ill. He is a son of William and Elizabeth Derry, who were natives of Pennsylvania. William Derry spent the greater part of his life in Fulton County, Ill., where he died in 1884, his wife passing away a few months later during the same year.

Emanuel Derry is the eldest of a family of nine children, five of whom were girls. He came with his parents to Fulton County, Ill., in 1843, and lived there until 1867, when he moved to McDonough County and bought a farm of 154 acres in Section 10, New Salem Township, where he has since resided.

In November, 1863, Mr. Derry was married to Martha Burchett, who was born and educated in New Salem Township. Five children resulted from this union, namely: James, Cora (Mrs. Edward Wilson), C. Frederick, E. Roy and Elmer. Mrs. Derry's parents were James and Lucy (Woods) Burchett, the former, a native of England, and the latter, of New Hampshire. Her grandparents were James Burchett, of English origin, and Eliza (Woods) Burchelt, born in New Hampshire. The grandfather Burchett came to this country in 1834, and died in 1897. In politics, Mr. Derry exercises his franchise in the interests of the Democratic party.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907.