Henry Clay West
SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: BELL, CARTER, GRAHAM, GRINDLEY, HERRIOTT, JORDAN, WAMACKER, WEST
HENRY CLAY WEST. In 1855 the traveler through Hensley Township, then an unsettled stretch of country, might have descried a lonely cabin situated on the open prairie with but few dwellings in sight. This humble abode was the original home of our subject, who came to this county when a young man, deciding to here establish a permanent home. The courage required to thus practically isolate himself from his fellow-men, as it were, in order to carry on the plans which he had in view may be better imagined than described. Mr. West, however, possessed an inherent independence and resolution which prevented him from looking back when he had once placed his hand to the plow, and he settled down in his pioneer cabin, determined to stay, to labor and wait for results. Considering the fine homestead whose doors he now hospitably opens to his old friends, it is hardly necessary to say that his labors and patience have been richly rewarded. The log cabin has been replaced by a handsome and commodious dwelling, and the once unfenced prairie upon which he laid claim has been transformed into smiling fields of green meadows and growing grain. Everything about the homestead indicates thrift and prosperity, and is a forcible illustration of what may be accomplished by steady perseverance and unflagging industry.
Mr. West was born in Bourbon County, Ky., Aug. 9, 1831. His father, Russell W., and his grandfather, William WEST, were both natives of Virginia. Russell WEST grew to manhood in his native State and was there first married. His wife lived but a few years, and soon after her death he removed to Kentucky in about 1826, settling in Bourbon County, where he became a foreman on a large plantation. There also he married Mrs. Margaret (HERRIOTT) CARTER, the mother of our subject. In 1847 he purchased a farm in Scott County, Ky., which he occupied until 1854, when he removed to Champaign County, settling in Mahomet Township. He also purchased land in Piatt County. He remained a resident of mahomet until his death, which occurred Jan. 26, 1861, and his remains are buried in a pleasant spot on the old farm. The mother died in Bourbon County, Ky., Nov. 7, 1835, and was buried in the Cane Ridge Churchyard.
The subject of this history was reared in his native State and educated in the subscription schools. After his father purchased land he assisted in its improvement and remained under the home roof until twenty-one years of age. In September, 1851, he started for Illinois on horseback, riding the entire distance in this manner. He stopped here three months, then saddled his horse and started for his old home in Kentucky, which he reached after a twelve days' journey. He remained with his father on the farm one year, and in 1853 returned to this county. He was still a single man and secured employment by the month with one of the pioneer farmers. The following August he was married in Hensley Township, and started South once more, this time accompanied by his bride. They made the journey with an outfit of two horses and a covered wagon. After reaching the old home they visited with his father's family and friends until November, then started for the West once more, and spent the following winter in Condit Township.
In the spring of 1854, Mr. West rented land in Hensley Township. They spent the fall of that year with the father of Mrs. W. on section 28, and on the 17th of April, 1855, located on the farm which they have occupied continuously since, but which as we have seen was very far from being a farm when they took possession of it. There was little then but open prairie on all sides, especially the eastern part of the township. Most of the people who there located and improved farms, have sold out and gone to other parts of the country, or to their long home. Mr. West is now the oldest settler in this part of the township, and is tacitly accorded that reverence and respect due to one who looked upon the prairie in its virgin state and assisted in its transformation.
The wife of our subject, to whom he was married Aug. 11, 1853, was formerly Miss Harriett E. GRAHAM, also a native of Bourbon County, Ky. Her father, James M. GRAHAM, was a native of Bath County in the Blue Grass State, and her grandfather, James GRAHAM, Sr., a native of Virginia, was among the early pioneers of Kentucky, where he engaged in farming and spent his last years in Bath County. His son, James M., was also reared to farming pursuits, and then began to teach a subscription school. He then went into the general merchandise and commission business, and remained in his native State until 1852, when he came to this county, and purchased land on section 28, in Hensley Township. He opened up a good farm and remained a resident of the township until 1885, when he removed to Kansas and is now living there in Republic County. He was a man of much force of character, prominent in local affairs, and held the various offices of trust within the gift of his fellow-citizens, among them being that of Supervisor, which he filled very satisfactorily for several terms. The mother of Mrs. West before her marriage was Miss Margaret HERRIOTT, also a native of Kentucky. She died when Mrs. West was but three years old.
Mr. and Mrs. West have six children living: Margaret became the wife of L. P. WAMACKS, and lives in Hensley Township; Susan E., Mrs. John P. GRINDLEY, lives in Mahomet Township; George C. took to wife Miss Rosetta BELL, of Champaign Township, and reisdes on the homestead; Sarah A., the wife of John JORDAN, resides in Hensley Township; Thomas and William are on the old homestead, and single. These children, who have inherited in a marked degree the excellent trains of character possessed by their parents, are greatly respected as citizens and members of society. Mr. and Mrs. W. became connected with the Presbyterian Church at Champaign in 1854, our subject being one of the three charter members now living who assisted in its organization, the other two being ladies.