WILLIAM L. WAKEFIELD, who is one of the representative farmers of Jasper
County, now resides on section 26, Smallwood Township, and the record of his
life work is as follows: He was born on the 9th of August, 1846, in Clay County,
Ind., and on the paternal side is of German and Irish extraction. His father,
Charles McCoy Wakefield, was born in the Hoosier State in 1823, and was reared
to manhood upon a farm, but after attaining his majority, he engaged in
merchandising in Bowling Green, Clay County. In an early day, however, he came
West, locating in what is now known as the village of Wakefield, Richland
County, Ill. Purchasing a stock of dry goods, he established the first store in
that place. This was in 1856. There he remained for four years, when, in 1860,
he came to Jasper County, and purchased land in Smallwood Township, where he
carried on farming until his death. He served as Deputy Provost Marshal for this
district for about three years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine
Hickson, is a native of Ohio, and is yet living on the old homestead in this
county. Her parents were both born in Germany. Mr. Wakefield died December 5,
1888.
In the family of this worthy couple were five children, four sons
and a daughter, of whom William is the second in order of birth. At the age of
ten years, he came to Illinois with his parents, and since 1860 has been a
permanent resident of Jasper County. In the common schools, he acquired a good
English education and in his parents' home he became familiar with farming in
all its details, for from an early age he aided in the cultivation of his
father's land. When the war broke out he joined the brave boys in blue,
enlisting November 20, 1861, as a member of Company F, Forty-sixth Illinois
Infantry. He served until December 22, 1863, when he was enrolled as a veteran
to serve for three years, or until the close of the war. On the 20th of January,
1866, after a long and faithful service, he was honorably discharged. During the
siege of Vicksburg, he was taken prisoner while on picket duty, but after two
days and three nights of imprisonment he succeeded in making his escape. Mr.
Wakefield was only fifteen years of age when he entered the service a mere boy
but he took part in all the engagements of his company, and his loyalty and
bravery equaled that of the men of mature years.
When mustered out, our
subject returned to his home in Jasper County, and once more devoted his time to
agricultural pursuits. On the 15th of March, 1873, he was united in marriage
with Miss Clara Manning, who was born September 21, 1856, in Wayne County, Ind.,
and is a daughter of James and Mary Jane (Hughes) Manning, the former a native
of Indiana, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Her parents are now residents of
Jasper County. Seven children grace the union of our subject and his wife,
namely: Frank, born June 24, 1873; Carrie, March 17, 1878; Ticha, November 7,
1880; Bertha, June 19, 1883; Foster, March 10, 1885; Ollie, May 7, 1888; and
Willie, May 18, 1890.
Throughout his entire life, Mr. Wakefield has
engaged in farming, and in his business interests he has met with fair success.
He now owns an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres of rich land, all
under a high state of cultivation and well improved, and his possessions are as
a monument to his thrift and enterprise. He exercises his right of franchise in
support of the Republican party and has served as School Director for a number
of years. Socially, he is a member of Jacob E. Reed Post No. 550, G. A. R., of
Newton. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are
worthy people, who hold an enviable position in social circles and are favorably
known.
Extracted 12 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1893 Portrait and Biographical Record of Effingham, Jasper and Richland Counties, Illinois, pages 239-240.
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
 |
Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
