For nearly forty-seven years William Albert Tate has resided on the
place which he now owns, in Cahokia township, and in the time named he
has witnessed many important changes in the methods of farming and
stock-raising. He has also been a witness of the great influx of
population from other states and countries to the fertile lands of
Illinois and has noted the beautiful and well furnished homes which have
taken the places of the simple habitations of the pioneers. He is a
native of Illinois, born in St. Clair county, December 19, 1831, a son
of John and Rhoda (Badgley) Tate. The father was born in Pennsylvania
and the mother in Virginia. They came to Illinois in their childhood
with their respective parents and were reared and married in St. Clair
county where they continued during the remainder of their lives. Mr.
Tate was one of the successful farmers of the county and became the
owner of six hundred acres of land.
William A. Tate secured his
education in a little log schoolhouse which stood on his father’s farm
and as a boy showed an interest in his studies and also in his work
about the home place which gave bright promise as to his future. After
his marriage he cultivated land belonging to his father and later had
charge of his father-in-law’s farm. In 1864, at the age of thirty-three
years, he came to Macoupin county and purchased eighty acres upon which
he has since resided. He is the owner of a well improved property,
including a comfortable residence, good barns and other outbuildings,
and all the conveniences required to facilitate the work of agriculture
and stock-raising. He has always been prompt and reliable in his
business and his success has, therefore, been well deserved.
In
1859 Mr. Tate was married to Miss Lucy A. Potter, a daughter of Matthew
Potter, who was a native of Maine and located in St. Clair county,
Illinois, after having spent a number of years upon the sea. Eight
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Tate, five of whom survive, namely:
Charles, who is engaged in the coal business at Gillespie; Laura, the
wife of Albert Mercer, of Gillespie; Clara, who married Ira Greenwalt,
of Honey Point township: George, who is now engaged in mining at
Gillespie; and Lulu, who married Walter Wilhite, now serving as
postmaster of Hornsby.
The life of Mr. Tate has been an active
and useful one, devoted in a large measure to the welfare of his family
and also to the advancement of the region which he adopted as his home.
During the long years of his residence in Macoupin county he has gained
a wide acquaintance and the esteem in which he is held by the community
is a just tribute to his personal worth. In politics he adheres to the
democratic party. He has never aspired to public office, preferring the
quiet of private life to the turmoil of political campaigns. As a
genuine friend of education he has served for a number of years as
treasurer and director of the school board. He is now in his eightieth
year and may truly be designated as one of the most worthy living
representatives of the agricultural interests of Macoupin county.
Extracted 14 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 294-295.
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