A farmer by birth and inclination, John Logan Cartwright is the owner
of a beautiful place of one hundred and sixty acres in section 14, Honey
Point township. He has just reason to be proud of his farm as it
represents many years of application and assures him and his family of
an ample income. His eyes first opened to the light in Montgomery
county, Illinois, November 28, 1864, his parents being William P. and
Nancy E. (Barton) Cartwright, the former of whom was of Scotch-American
and the latter of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. The father was born at
Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1832 and continued at home until sixteen years
of age when he ran away and enlisted in the Mexican war. He served under
General Winfield Scott and was taken ill in the field but persisted in
remaining in the army until after peace was declared. He was a bridge
carpenter by trade and at the time of the construction of the Big Four
Railroad from Fort Wayne to Litchfield assisted in building the bridges
and later in erecting the Big Four shops at Litchfield. He erected the
first Baptist church in Litchfield, which is now being used as a shop by
the Litchfield Marble and Granite Company. In 1863 he gave up railroad
work and rented eighty acres of land four miles south of Litchfield.
After two years he purchased eighty acres in section 15 of Honey Point
township, Macoupin county, and cultivated this land to good advantage
for ten years. He then traded his place as part payment for one hundred
and sixty acres, which became the family homestead. He died February 8,
1876, but his wife survived for many years and was called away May 23,
1909. There were eight children in their family: Walter and William,
deceased; Margaret, who is the wife of Edward Aikman, a coal miner and
farmer of Spokane, Washington; Charles, proprietor of the Phoenix Hotel,
of Phoenix, Arizona; John L.; Lawrence, a farmer and ranchman of
Washington; Elmer, who is engaged in the real-estate business at
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Carrie, who married William M. Bitter, a
farmer living southwest of Litchfield.
John L. Cartwright was
twelve years of age when his father died and for seven years following
he assisted in the support of the family by working upon the home place
and also by securing employment among farmers in the neighborhood. His
early education was secured in the district schools. In 1883 he began
renting land in his own name but two years later took charge of the
homestead which he rented from the estate. As his brothers and sisters
reached maturity he purchased their interests and since June, 1910, has
been the owner of the farm. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding
stock for the market and the success which has rewarded his efforts
entitles him to recognition as one of the substantial and enterprising
citizens of the county.
On the 11th of March, 1903, Mr.
Cartwright was married to Miss Catharine L. Walschleger, a daughter of
Edward and Nancy N. (Snooks) Walschleger. Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright have
two children: Lois, who was born January n, 1906; and Lola, born May 4,
1909. Mr. Walschleger is a native of Germany while his wife was born in
Cahokia township, Macoupin county, being of American descent. He came to
the United States with his parents in his early boyhood, the family
landing near New Orleans, subsequently taking up their home at St.
Louis. At the age of eleven years he started out in the world on his own
account and came to Macoupin county, Illinois, where he worked by the
month until after arriving at his majority, when he began farming for
himself. He was married to Miss Nancy M. Snooks in this county and they
are now living on a valuable farm, of which he is the owner, on section
21, Honey Point township.
Mr. Cartwright is a progressive
republican of the most pronounced type and believes that the party has
within itself the ability necessary to carry forward the country to
unprecedented prosperity. He and his wife are valued members of the
Honey Point Baptist church. He is a stockholder in the Bank of Des
Moines and fraternally is connected with the Knights of Pythias and the
Modern Woodmen of America at Litchfield. He has from his boyhood been
imbued with worthy ideals and has seen many of his hopes realized. He is
fearless in the discharge of what he considers his duty and no man in
the township possesses in a higher degree the confidence of the people.
He represents the best type of citizenship and is, therefore, fully
worthy of the success with which his efforts have been crowned.
Extracted 20 Oct 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 217-218.
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