My Genealogy Hound

WAYHAM, JOHN C., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 4, P. O. Carrollton. John C. Wayham is a native of Philadelphia, where he was born on the 1st day of June, 1820; we cannot trace back the genealogy of this family, further than to state that the parents of John died during his seventh year, and thus early thrown upon his own resources, he was taken in charge and finally bound to a farmer by the name of Edward Browning; remaining seven years, engaged in the duties appertaining to a farm hand enduring many hardships, he made his escape from a cruel task master, and on the 10th of March, 1833, he made his way to Kentucky where he worked for a man by the name of Soper, a cattle trader, for a period of two years; the year of his settlement in Kentucky he made his way to South Carolina in charge of stock, and thereby gained knowledge of the world that proved useful in after years of mature manhood; on leaving the employ of James Soper, possessed of an adventurous disposition, he now concluded to go it on his own hook, and for six years became an expert rider for a master who followed horse racing for a livelihood; becoming tired of the excitements attending upon this kind of a life, he now settled down in Old Kentucky where he secured employment from a man by the name of Cook. In 1841 he united his fortunes to Miss Louisiana Carter, a daughter of Wm. Carter, a native of Virginia. Principally engaged as a farmer during the Summer months, during the Fall he became a drover. In 1850 he concluded to follow the star of empire westward and accordingly in a covered wagon, after the usual trip he landed in Greene County, where he rented land of William Borrow, and erecting a cabin, begun the clearing away of timber, often prolonging the hours of labor until nearly midnight; remaining here for a period of five years, he moved to the farm of John Caldwell, where he rented thirteen years. His first purchase of land was made in 1863, and consisted of 230 acres of valuable land, and now commenced that hard labor that has contributed very much toward his present prosperity and has made him one of the most successful agriculturists in Greene County; few indeed commenced the battle of life under more discouragements than the subject of this sketch, whose sole capital on arrival in Illinois, financially speaking, consisted of eleven dollars. Of this marriage twelve children were born, of whom ten are living; Mary, John R., Fanny, Henry, Hugh, Katy, Lucy, Frank, Thomas and Jacquet W. The estate comprises 485 acres.