McDonough ILGenWeb

HERNDON, William Howard. — Of the prosperous representatives of the younger generation of farmers in McDonough County, Ill., one of the most prominent is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. Mr. Herndon was born in Scotland Township, McDonough County. November 9, 1876. His father and mother, Elijah and Lucinda (Clark) Herndon, were born in Illinois, the former in Cass County and the latter in Morgan County. The grandfathers were Manson Herndon and William Clark, of whom the former was a Virginian. Elijah Herndon came to McDonough County in 1856 and engaged in farming in Scotland Township, where he remained until his retirement from active life. He now resides in Adair, Ill., with his three youngest sons and grandson, Carl, the son of the subject of this sketch.

William H. Herndon is the second in birth of a family of ten children born to his parents, five boys and five girls. Of these all of the sisters and one brother are deceased. Mr. Herndon attended the public schools in his boyhood, and after his marriage lived on one of his father's places until the fall of 1900, when he and his brother Wilbur entered into partnership in working the home farm. In this connection he is still engaged. On February 24, 1897, Mr. Herndon was married to Mary McFarland, who was born in Macomb Township, McDonough County, where she received her early education. Two children blessed this union, namely: Mildred, born January 16, 1898, and Carl, June 14, 1899. The mother of these children died October 1, 1900, and Mr. Herndon was married again February 7, 1906, to Mamie Farr, of Industry Township, McDonough County. Mr. Herndon unites in religious worship with the members of the United Brethren Church. In politics, he is a Democrat, and fraternally, is connected with the M. W. A. and I. O. O. F.

---

Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 907, extracted 09 Mar 2019 by Norma Hass.