McDonough ILGenWeb

TRUMAN, Horace William, Second Vice-President of "Trumans' Pioneer Stud Farm," at Bushnell, McDonough County, Ill., whose general business capacity and thorough knowledge of matters pertaining to the breeding, care and use of fine horses have contributed in no small measure to the success of that enterprise in later years, was born at Whittlesea, Cambridgeshire, England, on February 18, 1872. He is the fourth son of Jonathan Hall and Mary Elizabeth (Crane) Truman, and a grandson of George and Ann (Brown) Truman. His father and mother were also natives of Cambridgeshire, born in Whittlesea and Thorney, respectively, and of the paternal grandparents, George Truman was a native of Yaxley, Huntingdonshire, and Ann (Brown) Truman, of Whittlesea. Jonathan Hall Truman, organizer and President of the corporation conducting the Bushnell concern of the Trumans, has long been one of the most widely known and successful individual operators in the horse and cattle trade between England and America. Four of the five sons seem to have inherited the father's predilection for fine horses, both in a personal and commercial sense. Of these, three are actively engaged in the work at Bushnell, and another, living in England, is interested in it as a shareholder. Full details of the career of Jonathan H. Truman, together with incidents in the lite of his father, and biographical records of the four other sons above mentioned, may be found herewith. In connection with the sketch of the head of this family appears also a description of the perfectly equipped headquarters of their operations in this country.

Horace W. Truman was reared on the home farm at Whittlesea, England, and in his youth was a member of the choir of St. Mary's Episcopal Church of that town for ten years. His boyhood was marked by a pronounced inclination toward outdoor diversions and athletic sports, and he grew up with an especial fondness for horses. His education was principally obtained in the Classical and Commercial School at Peterborough, England, from which institution he is a graduate. On completing his studies he was engaged for some time in supervising the affairs of his father's Hackney Stud Farm in Cambridgeshire, during the absence of the latter in America. After leaving England the first responsibility devolved upon him was the management of the branch of "Trumans" Pioneer Stud Farm" established at London, Canada. His active connection with the work at Bushnell commenced in 1902, and since that period he has ably and diligently devoted his utmost energies to its prosperous development. To this end he has traveled over all the States of the Union and throughout Canada, and has made many visits to European countries.

The religious faith of Mr. Truman Is in harmony with the creed of the Church of England. Politically, he is a Republican, and manifests a good citizen's interest in public affairs. He has a wide circle of acquaintances, and wherever known is regarded as a gentleman of honorable character and estimable qualities of mind and heart.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 1024, extracted 07 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass.