Biography - DAVID R. MANSFIELD

David R. Mansfield, for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county, still resides upon his farm in Scottville township, but is now living practically retired, several of his grandsons looking after the cultivation of his property. He was born in Morgan county, Illinois, on the 27th of October, 1842, and is a son of Albert and Lucinda (McDonald) Mansfield, the father being a native of Kentucky and the mother of Tennessee. Albert Mansfield, who was a farmer, came from his native state to Illinois in 1829, locating in Morgan county, where he resided until 1856, when he came to Macoupin county and purchased some land. Here he passed away in 1890 at the age of seventy years, when the mother died during the early childhood of her son David R. For his second wife Mr. Mansfield married Maria Price, who died in 1909.

David R. Mansfield was educated in the common schools of his native county, during which time he was also becoming familiar with the best methods of caring for the fields and stock under the direction of his father. When he was nineteen years of age he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois Infantry and went to the front for three years. He took part in some of the most notable battles of the war, among them being that of Nashville, and was mustered out at Mobile, Alabama, in August, 1865. After receiving his discharge he returned home and once more resumed the work of the farm, assisting his father in its cultivation until 1867, when he began for himself. In December, 1868, he purchased what has proved to be the nucleus of a fine homestead of two hundred and thirty-three acres, upon which he continues to reside.

In January, 1867, occurred the marriage of Mr. Mansfield and Miss Arena Duggar, a daughter of John H. Duggar, a farmer in this county, who died in August, 1892. To Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield were born ten children: Jesse H., William B., and one who died in infancy; Dora, who married Jesse Hicks, a farmer of this county, by whom she has had four sons: Leonard, Earl, R. Guy and Roy W.; Rose E., who became the wife of James A. Duggar, also a farmer in this county, and they have nine children: Orvil, Daniel, Irvin, David, Alfa, Bassil, Ula, Wayne and one who died in infancy; Alonzo R., who is a farmer in Greene county, married and has one son, Coy H.; Ira A., who is farming in Christian county, married and has four children: Vesper, Troy, Deane and Wayne; James, who is engaged in the oil business in the vicinity of Bakersfield, California, married and has one child, Wayne; Albert E., who was formerly engaged in the undertaking business in Winchester, living at home; and Alvin B., the youngest member of the family, who has never married and continues to live at home.

Mr. Mansfield is a Baptist and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of Nortonville Lodge, No. 947, A. F. & A. M., and both he and his wife are affiliated with the Order of Rebeka, belonging to Nortonville Lodge, No. 25. His political allegiance he accords to the democratic party, and has served both as a road commissioner and school director. Mr. Mansfield is known as one of the substantial agriculturists of the county, the unremitting energy and application of former years having brought him a measure of success that now enables him to live in retirement.

Extracted 15 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 409-410.