Arthur TRUE, residing on section 5, Whitefield township,
Marshall county, and receiving his mail at Whitefield post
office, Bureau county, came from the old pine tree state. He was
born in Portland, Maine, May 10, 1824, and is a son of Benjamin
TRUE, also a native of that state. When but a small boy he
removed with his father to Dearborn county, Indiana, where he
grew to manhood, assisting his father in the development and
improvement of the farm, and remaining at home until he attained
his majority. Purchasing from his father the home farm, he
continued its cultivation until 1853, when he sold out and
removed to Marshall county, Illinois. His marriage, however,
occurred some years prior to this removal, that interesting
event taking place March 4, 1846. He married Sophronia Abigail
DARLING, who was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, May 23, 1823.
On his arrival in this county, Mr. TRUE had but seven hundred
dollars with which to begin life in this country. He brought his
family and a few household articles by team from his Indiana
home, and therefore spent but little on the journey. His first
purchase of eighty acres was made on long time. The place was
slightly improved, and on it was a small house in which the
family moved and where they remained several years. After making
some necessary purchases, much of the seven hundred dollars was
used up, and, as may be imagined, the next few years were not
such as to bring tears of joy. The discomforts of pioneer life
had to be endured; ground had to be broken and sown in grain,
barns and outhouses erected, orchards planted and stock
purchased and cared for. Several years of hard labor, ceaseless
toil and strict economy were required in which to pay for the
land already purchased and add enough more land to make them a
respectable sized Illinois farm. It must be remembered that what
would constitute a fair sized farm in the eat would be
considered little more than a garden patch in this new west, and
so at the earliest opportunity forty acres more were added to
the original purchase. This was prior to the war.
When the war came on, the price of grain and other commodities
advanced, and the future with greater abundance of this world’s
goods was made brighter. Stock raising was also more profitable
and Mr. TRUE became a breeder of Poland China hogs and quite an
extensive feeder of swine. A larger and more commodious dwelling
house was erected which was occupied until 1892, when it was
destroyed by fire, entailing on him quite a serious loss. He
subsequently rebuilt and is now comfortably living in the new
home.
To Mr. and Mrs. TRUE twelve children have been born, as follows:
Mary Adeline, wife of Abraham SHURTS, of Bureau county; Harriet
Ann, widow of Labon H. COX, of Whitefield township; Huldah Jane,
wife of Elliott BUNCH, of Perry, Iowa; Albert, a farmer of
Saratoga township; Ellen M., wife of James PATTERSON of Iowa;
William MORTON, of Bureau county; John Wesley, at home; Caroline
Augusta, wife of George SHURTS, of Saratoga township; Ruth Alma,
who died at the age of two years; Alice Eugenie, wife of John
FRAILEY, of Henry, but who first married William APPLEGATE, by
whom she had one son, Louis, who makes his home with our
subject; Charles Burt, at home, and Sarah Emma, who died in
infancy.
In politics, Mr. TRUE was originally a whig, and cast his first
presidential vote in 1844, and has voted at every presidential
election since that time. By nature and training he was a strong
anti-slavery man, and it was but natural for him to unite with
the republican party on its organization. With that party he has
since acted, and has voted for its nominees for president from
General John C. Fremont, the great admirer of the immortal
Lincoln, and while he did not enter the service during the late
war, he did much in promoting enlistments and raising bounties
for those who could go.
Religiously, Mr. TRUE is a free thinker, inclined to the
Universalist belief, although he has never attached himself to
that religious body. He has been a Bible reader and has his
views in relation to that book. In early life he was quite a
sportsman, and loved especially to chase the nimble footed deer,
and with a long shot from his rifle secured the game. On coming
to Marshall county prairie chickens were in great numbers and it
was high delight to take them on the wing. He yet takes an
interest in the sport and excels many young men in the use of
the rifle. While in his youth and early manhood, he was fleet of
foot and could out run and out jump almost any one in his
vicinity. He was naturally of a strong constitution and could
endure great fatigue. Of late years he has practically been
living a retired life, enjoying the love and respect of family
and friends.
Albert TRUE, of section 13, Saratoga township, Marshall county,
was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, October 4, 1851, and came
with his parents to this county when but a child of two years.
His boyhood and youth were spent on the home farm, and his
education received in the public schools. He remained with his
parents, assisting in the farm work until twenty years of age,
when he commenced life for himself, renting a farm in Saratoga
township, which he operated for eleven years. He then bought his
present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has
made good improvements, and where he engages in general farming.
For twenty-six years he has run a threshing machine and corn
sheller, and much of his time has been devoted to that work, in
connection with a feed grinder. He has operated his machine not
alone in Marshall, but in surrounding counties, and is well and
favorably known throughout his section of country.
Albert TRUE and Miss Mary E. CULTON were united in marriage
September 11, 1872. She is a native of Canton, Illinois, and is
a woman of good judgment and ability. Two children have come to
bless their union – Ora May and Jarvey J., both yet residing at
home. Like his father, Albert TRUE votes the republican ticket
“both spring and fall” and is a firm believer in the principles
of that party. A practical farmer, an honest, industrious man,
he goes on the even tenor of his way, doing as his conscience
dictates, and as near as possible living up to the teachings of
the golden rule.
Extracted April 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
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