Mr. Furrer of this sketch was a child of only ten years when with his parents he bade adieu to his native land and crossed the briny deep to the New World. He was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, and early in life became familiar with the arduous task of developing wild land. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until after the breaking our of the late war, when on the 1st of August, 1861, he enrolled his name as a private of Company A, Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry.

This company was organized at Havana and was commanded by Capt. R. R. Ritter. It was the first at Camp Butler organized under the direction of Governor Yates. The regiment was commanded by Col. A. K. Johnson, of Petersburg, Ill., was drilled at Camp Thebes, thence went to Bird's Point, Mo., on to Ft. Hold, Ky., to Paducah, and up the Tennessee River to Ft. Henry. Mr. Furrer took part in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, was in the siege of Corinth, then was in the Mississippi Valley Expedition under General Grant, and the battles of Holly Springs, Memphis, Bolivar and Hatcher's Run. The following fall he was in the campaign under General Grant, marched back to Memphis, took transports for Vicksburg, landed at Young's Point, marched around the city and took boat for Grand Gulf. He was in the brigade that made the charge on Jackson, Miss., and afterwards returned to Vicksburg, whence he went to Natchez, Miss., where he did provost duty for about nine months. He took part in the battle of Morganzia Bend, afterwards went to New Orleans and later to Mobile, and was shipwrecked on the Gulf of Mexico, but succeeded in reaching land. He then marched seventeen days through rain, mud and water, aided in building the corduroy road to Spanish Fort and took part in the capture of that place and Ft. Blakely and Mobile, being at the latter place when the news of Lee's surrender was received. He then went to Mobile, Ala. In the meantime he had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was now detailed to take a squad of men to Citronelle, where the surrender was consummated. Later he did duty in Texas as one of the Army of Observation until February, 1866, when, at Brownsville, he was mustered out and by steamer returned home, receiving his discharge at Springfield, April 6, 1866, having served four years, eight months and five days. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, but out of the company of one hundred and five men who left Havana only eleven of the original number returned.

After being mustered out Mr. Furrer at once returned to his home and began farming in Sherman Township. He was married on Christmas Day of 1867 to Christina Drechler, a native of Baden, Germany. Nine children have been born to them, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. They are Laura, Edward, Mary, L. H., Hattie, Irene, Earl, Freddie and Albert. Laura married Austin Barrett, a farmer of Sherman Township. They have three children, Russell, Glen and Grace. Mary married Charles Bowman, and engineer of Easton. They have one child, Cecil.

Mr . Furrer continued farming until 1873, when he embarked in merchandising, which he continued for eight years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to the grain business, to which he now devotes his time and energies. His sagacity and well directed efforts have brought him success, and he is now possessed of a handsome competence, Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he belongs to J. Q. A. Jones Post, G. A. R., of Havana. In politics he is a Democrat, has served as School Director, Road Commissioner and as Township Clerk, and has been Supervisor of Sherman Township for six years. The cause of education has always found in him a warm friend, and he has given his children good advantages in that direction.
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Portrait & Biographical Record of Tazewell & Mason Counties, Illinois Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago 1894 .

DIEBOLD FURRER, grain dealer of Easton, and a wide-awake and enterprising business man, was born in Baden, Germany, October 11, 1841, and is the son of John and Sarah (Schlager) Furrer, who were both natives of Baden. They came to America in 1852 and located in Quiver Township, Mason County, Ill. They had four children, Andrew, Diebold, George and John, the latter of whom is deceased. The mother having died, Mr. Furrer was again married, and by that union were born the following children, Barbara, Mary, Elizabeth (deceased), Louise and Sarah. The father of this family died in May, 1864.

Mr. Furrer of this sketch was a child of only ten years when with his parents he bade adieu to his native land and crossed the briny deep to the New World. He was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, and early in life became familiar with the arduous task of developing wild land. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until after the breaking our of the late war, when on the 1st of August, 1861, he enrolled his name as a private of Company A, Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry.

This company was organized at Havana and was commanded by Capt. R. R. Ritter. It was the first at Camp Butler organized under the direction of Governor Yates. The regiment was commanded by Col. A. K. Johnson, of Petersburg, Ill., was drilled at Camp Thebes, thence went to Bird's Point, Mo., on to Ft. Hold, Ky., to Paducah, and up the Tennessee River to Ft. Henry. Mr. Furrer took part in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, was in the siege of Corinth, then was in the Mississippi Valley Expedition under General Grant, and the battles of Holly Springs, Memphis, Bolivar and Hatcher's Run. The following fall he was in the campaign under General Grant, marched back to Memphis, took transports for Vicksburg, landed at Young's Point, marched around the city and took boat for Grand Gulf. He was in the brigade that made the charge on Jackson, Miss., and afterwards returned to Vicksburg, whence he went to Natchez, Miss., where he did provost duty for about nine months. He took part in the battle of Morganzia Bend, afterwards went to New Orleans and later to Mobile, and was shipwrecked on the Gulf of Mexico, but succeeded in reaching land. He then marched seventeen days through rain, mud and water, aided in building the corduroy road to Spanish Fort and took part in the capture of that place and Ft. Blakely and Mobile, being at the latter place when the news of Lee's surrender was received. He then went to Mobile, Ala. In the meantime he had been promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was now detailed to take a squad of men to Citronelle, where the surrender was consummated. Later he did duty in Texas as one of the Army of Observation until February, 1866, when, at Brownsville, he was mustered out and by steamer returned home, receiving his discharge at Springfield, April 6, 1866, having served four years, eight months and five days. He was never wounded or taken prisoner, but out of the company of one hundred and five men who left Havana only eleven of the original number returned.

After being mustered out Mr. Furrer at once returned to his home and began farming in Sherman Township. He was married on Christmas Day of 1867 to Christina Drechler, a native of Baden, Germany. Nine children have been born to them, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. They are Laura, Edward, Mary, L. H., Hattie, Irene, Earl, Freddie and Albert. Laura married Austin Barrett, a farmer of Sherman Township. They have three children, Russell, Glen and Grace. Mary married Charles Bowman, and engineer of Easton. They have one child, Cecil.

Mr. Furrer continued farming until 1873, when he embarked in merchandising, which he continued for eight years. On the expiration of that period he turned his attention to the grain business, to which he now devotes his time and energies. His sagacity and well directed efforts have brought him success, and he is now possessed of a handsome competence, Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church, and he belongs to J. Q. A. Jones Post, G. A. R., of Havana. In politics he is a Democrat, has served as School Director, Road Commissioner and as Township Clerk, and has been Supervisor of Sherman Township for six years. The cause of education has always found in him a warm friend, and he has given his children good advantages in that direction.