W. H. Utt, a gentleman widely known throughout Macoupin County,
has followed the vocation of an auctioneer for a period of more than 35
years, and has made more sales of personal property than any other man in
the county. He was born in Scioto County, Ohio, July 18, 1837, and is a son
of Henry and Sarah (Hibbs) Utt, the former a native of Chester County,
Pennsylvania, and the latter, of Ohio.
Henry Utt was a farmer by
occupation and followed that line of work in his native State during
boyhood. At an early day he settled in Ohio, first purchasing a farm in
Scioto County, where he lived some years. He later sold this property and
removed to Illinois, settling in Jersey County, eight miles south of
Jerseyville. He purchased a farm which he cultivated for some years, then
sold the property and removed to Christian County, Illinois, where he
purchased a large tract of land which he cultivated during the remainder of
his life, dying in 1862. Mrs. Utt lived until 1878. To them were born the
following children: Priscilla; Catherine; N. B.; George; Mary; Aaron; and W.
H. Religiously, they were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Utt
was a strong Republican in politics and for some years held the office of
justice of the peace, besides serving in several township offices.
W. H. Utt was educated in the common schools of the State of Illinois and
upon reaching man's estate worked upon the farm for his father. During the
Civil War he purchased horses and mules for the United States government,
and upon the close of that memorable struggle returned to farming. He also
took up the work of auctioneering, work for which he displayed great
aptitude, and he has continued it ever since. He has an average of four
sales a week, has sold more personal property than any other man in the
county, and is widely known throughout this and adjoining counties. He
followed farming until some 15 years ago when he gave it up in order to
devote his entire attention to auctioneering. He now owns a small tract of
land one and one-half miles southeast of Carlinville, where he resides.
In 1862, Mr. Utt was married to Martha Jane Lantz, a native of Virginia,
and to them were born six children, as follows: Ella; Mary; Josephina;
Edward; William; and George. Our subject is a Republican in politics, but
his business duties have been too confining to permit him to give much
attention to political affairs. He is a man of good character, a
representative citizen, and is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens.
Extracted 2018 May 04 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 36-39.
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