Transcribed from "THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF DEWITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS", S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1901, pages 266 – 271
He was born on the 12th of September, 1839, in Page county, Virginia, of which state his ancestors were early settlers. His father, William Price, was also born in that county, about 1799, and on reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Mary Decker, a native of the Old Dominion and of German descent. After farming for some years in his native county, William Price came to Illinois, in 1850, and settled at Brooks Grove, Tazewell county, where he died in 1852. His wife only survived him about two years.
After the death of his parents James H. Price was thrown upon his own resources, and his early life was fraught with many hardships and privations. For some time he worked as a farm hand. In 1854 he came to DeWitt county and was in the employ of Samuel Hammitt for four or five years. Feeling that his country needed his services during the dark days of the Civil War, he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. His first engagement was the battle of Knoxville, Tennessee, and was followed by the Atlanta campaign. After the battle of Resaca Mr. Price was taken ill and sent to the hospital in Knoxville, where he remained three weeks. He was then placed on detached duty in the quartermaster's department, where he served until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Knoxville and honorably discharged in time to reach home on the 4th day of July, 1865. For several years thereafter he was engaged in farming on rented land.
In September, 1867, in this county, Mr. Price was united in marriage with Miss Barthena
Williams, who was born on the farm where Mr. Price now resides, and was a daughter of Moses and Catherine E. Williams, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of S. Dean Williams, on another page of this volume. About 1871 he purchased his farm on section 19, Waynesville township, and to its further improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his attention with good results. The land is now well tiled and fenced and under excellent cultivation, and a good set of buildings adorn the place, making it a most desirable farm. In connection with general farming our subject is also engaged in stock raising.
Mr. Price's first wife died in 1879, and was laid to rest in Fremont cemetery, McLean county. She left three children, namely: (1) William M. is a well educated young man, having attended the Waynesville Academy, and also taking a commercial course at a business college in Lexington, Kentucky. For eight or ten years he successfully engaged in teaching school, but is now assisting his father in carrying on the home farm. He possesses good business ability and takes quite an active and prominent part in local politics, serving as a member of the county board of supervisors three terms of two years each. While filling that office he was chairman of some important committees, and a member of a number of others. He has also served as township trustee three years, and has been a delegate to numerous county and congressional conventions of the Democratic party, with which he always affiliates. (2) Mrs. Myra Griffin is the next of the family. (3) Mary Catherine is the wife of Matthew Connell, the present supervisor of Waynesville township. Their only child, John S., died in infancy. In 1881 Mr. Price married Mrs. Sarah Milburn, who was born in Ohio, but was reared in Logan county, Illinois, where she was first married. By the second union there are two children, Leslie and Leo.
The Democratic party has always found in Mr. Price a stanch supporter of its principles, and he cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas, "the Little Giant," in 1860. He served six years as commissioner of highways, and was an efficient member of the school board ten or twelve years. He and his son William M. are both members of Waynesville Lodge, F. & A. M., and he also belongs to the Grand Army Post at that place, and his son to the Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has filled all the chairs and is now past grand. For the success that he has achieved in life Mr. Price deserves great credit, and he well merits the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
He was born on the 12th of September, 1839, in Page county, Virginia, of which state his ancestors were early settlers. His father, William Price, was also born in that county, about 1799, and on reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Mary Decker, a native of the Old Dominion and of German descent. After farming for some years in his native county, William Price came to Illinois, in 1850, and settled at Brooks Grove, Tazewell county, where he died in 1852. His wife only survived him about two years.
After the death of his parents James H. Price was thrown upon his own resources, and his early life was fraught with many hardships and privations. For some time he worked as a farm hand. In 1854 he came to DeWitt county and was in the employ of Samuel Hammitt for four or five years. Feeling that his country needed his services during the dark days of the Civil War, he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. His first engagement was the battle of Knoxville, Tennessee, and was followed by the Atlanta campaign. After the battle of Resaca Mr. Price was taken ill and sent to the hospital in Knoxville, where he remained three weeks. He was then placed on detached duty in the quartermaster's department, where he served until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Knoxville and honorably discharged in time to reach home on the 4th day of July, 1865. For several years thereafter he was engaged in farming on rented land.
In September, 1867, in this county, Mr. Price was united in marriage with Miss Barthena
Williams, who was born on the farm where Mr. Price now resides, and was a daughter of Moses and Catherine E. Williams, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of S. Dean Williams, on another page of this volume. About 1871 he purchased his farm on section 19, Waynesville township, and to its further improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his attention with good results. The land is now well tiled and fenced and under excellent cultivation, and a good set of buildings adorn the place, making it a most desirable farm. In connection with general farming our subject is also engaged in stock raising.
Mr. Price's first wife died in 1879, and was laid to rest in Fremont cemetery, McLean county. She left three children, namely: (1) William M. is a well educated young man, having attended the Waynesville Academy, and also taking a commercial course at a business college in Lexington, Kentucky. For eight or ten years he successfully engaged in teaching school, but is now assisting his father in carrying on the home farm. He possesses good business ability and takes quite an active and prominent part in local politics, serving as a member of the county board of supervisors three terms of two years each. While filling that office he was chairman of some important committees, and a member of a number of others. He has also served as township trustee three years, and has been a delegate to numerous county and congressional conventions of the Democratic party, with which he always affiliates. (2) Mrs. Myra Griffin is the next of the family. (3) Mary Catherine is the wife of Matthew Connell, the present supervisor of Waynesville township. Their only child, John S., died in infancy. In 1881 Mr. Price married Mrs. Sarah Milburn, who was born in Ohio, but was reared in Logan county, Illinois, where she was first married. By the second union there are two children, Leslie and Leo.
The Democratic party has always found in Mr. Price a stanch supporter of its principles, and he cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas, "the Little Giant," in 1860. He served six years as commissioner of highways, and was an efficient member of the school board ten or twelve years. He and his son William M. are both members of Waynesville Lodge, F. & A. M., and he also belongs to the Grand Army Post at that place, and his son to the Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has filled all the chairs and is now past grand. For the success that he has achieved in life Mr. Price deserves great credit, and he well merits the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
Transcribed from "THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF DEWITT COUNTY, ILLINOIS", S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1901, pages 266 – 271
He was born on the 12th of September, 1839, in Page county, Virginia, of which state his ancestors were early settlers. His father, William Price, was also born in that county, about 1799, and on reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Mary Decker, a native of the Old Dominion and of German descent. After farming for some years in his native county, William Price came to Illinois, in 1850, and settled at Brooks Grove, Tazewell county, where he died in 1852. His wife only survived him about two years.
After the death of his parents James H. Price was thrown upon his own resources, and his early life was fraught with many hardships and privations. For some time he worked as a farm hand. In 1854 he came to DeWitt county and was in the employ of Samuel Hammitt for four or five years. Feeling that his country needed his services during the dark days of the Civil War, he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. His first engagement was the battle of Knoxville, Tennessee, and was followed by the Atlanta campaign. After the battle of Resaca Mr. Price was taken ill and sent to the hospital in Knoxville, where he remained three weeks. He was then placed on detached duty in the quartermaster's department, where he served until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Knoxville and honorably discharged in time to reach home on the 4th day of July, 1865. For several years thereafter he was engaged in farming on rented land.
In September, 1867, in this county, Mr. Price was united in marriage with Miss Barthena
Williams, who was born on the farm where Mr. Price now resides, and was a daughter of Moses and Catherine E. Williams, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of S. Dean Williams, on another page of this volume. About 1871 he purchased his farm on section 19, Waynesville township, and to its further improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his attention with good results. The land is now well tiled and fenced and under excellent cultivation, and a good set of buildings adorn the place, making it a most desirable farm. In connection with general farming our subject is also engaged in stock raising.
Mr. Price's first wife died in 1879, and was laid to rest in Fremont cemetery, McLean county. She left three children, namely: (1) William M. is a well educated young man, having attended the Waynesville Academy, and also taking a commercial course at a business college in Lexington, Kentucky. For eight or ten years he successfully engaged in teaching school, but is now assisting his father in carrying on the home farm. He possesses good business ability and takes quite an active and prominent part in local politics, serving as a member of the county board of supervisors three terms of two years each. While filling that office he was chairman of some important committees, and a member of a number of others. He has also served as township trustee three years, and has been a delegate to numerous county and congressional conventions of the Democratic party, with which he always affiliates. (2) Mrs. Myra Griffin is the next of the family. (3) Mary Catherine is the wife of Matthew Connell, the present supervisor of Waynesville township. Their only child, John S., died in infancy. In 1881 Mr. Price married Mrs. Sarah Milburn, who was born in Ohio, but was reared in Logan county, Illinois, where she was first married. By the second union there are two children, Leslie and Leo.
The Democratic party has always found in Mr. Price a stanch supporter of its principles, and he cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas, "the Little Giant," in 1860. He served six years as commissioner of highways, and was an efficient member of the school board ten or twelve years. He and his son William M. are both members of Waynesville Lodge, F. & A. M., and he also belongs to the Grand Army Post at that place, and his son to the Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has filled all the chairs and is now past grand. For the success that he has achieved in life Mr. Price deserves great credit, and he well merits the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
He was born on the 12th of September, 1839, in Page county, Virginia, of which state his ancestors were early settlers. His father, William Price, was also born in that county, about 1799, and on reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Mary Decker, a native of the Old Dominion and of German descent. After farming for some years in his native county, William Price came to Illinois, in 1850, and settled at Brooks Grove, Tazewell county, where he died in 1852. His wife only survived him about two years.
After the death of his parents James H. Price was thrown upon his own resources, and his early life was fraught with many hardships and privations. For some time he worked as a farm hand. In 1854 he came to DeWitt county and was in the employ of Samuel Hammitt for four or five years. Feeling that his country needed his services during the dark days of the Civil War, he enlisted in August, 1862, in Company A, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee. His first engagement was the battle of Knoxville, Tennessee, and was followed by the Atlanta campaign. After the battle of Resaca Mr. Price was taken ill and sent to the hospital in Knoxville, where he remained three weeks. He was then placed on detached duty in the quartermaster's department, where he served until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Knoxville and honorably discharged in time to reach home on the 4th day of July, 1865. For several years thereafter he was engaged in farming on rented land.
In September, 1867, in this county, Mr. Price was united in marriage with Miss Barthena
Williams, who was born on the farm where Mr. Price now resides, and was a daughter of Moses and Catherine E. Williams, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of S. Dean Williams, on another page of this volume. About 1871 he purchased his farm on section 19, Waynesville township, and to its further improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his attention with good results. The land is now well tiled and fenced and under excellent cultivation, and a good set of buildings adorn the place, making it a most desirable farm. In connection with general farming our subject is also engaged in stock raising.
Mr. Price's first wife died in 1879, and was laid to rest in Fremont cemetery, McLean county. She left three children, namely: (1) William M. is a well educated young man, having attended the Waynesville Academy, and also taking a commercial course at a business college in Lexington, Kentucky. For eight or ten years he successfully engaged in teaching school, but is now assisting his father in carrying on the home farm. He possesses good business ability and takes quite an active and prominent part in local politics, serving as a member of the county board of supervisors three terms of two years each. While filling that office he was chairman of some important committees, and a member of a number of others. He has also served as township trustee three years, and has been a delegate to numerous county and congressional conventions of the Democratic party, with which he always affiliates. (2) Mrs. Myra Griffin is the next of the family. (3) Mary Catherine is the wife of Matthew Connell, the present supervisor of Waynesville township. Their only child, John S., died in infancy. In 1881 Mr. Price married Mrs. Sarah Milburn, who was born in Ohio, but was reared in Logan county, Illinois, where she was first married. By the second union there are two children, Leslie and Leo.
The Democratic party has always found in Mr. Price a stanch supporter of its principles, and he cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas, "the Little Giant," in 1860. He served six years as commissioner of highways, and was an efficient member of the school board ten or twelve years. He and his son William M. are both members of Waynesville Lodge, F. & A. M., and he also belongs to the Grand Army Post at that place, and his son to the Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has filled all the chairs and is now past grand. For the success that he has achieved in life Mr. Price deserves great credit, and he well merits the high regard in which he is held by his fellow citizens.
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