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Below is a family biography included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published by Biographical Publishing Co. in 1894.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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PROF. H. W. EVEREST, Regent of the Southern Illinois State Normal University of Carbondale, and one of the most prominent ministers of the Christian Church, is a native of North Hudson, Essex County, N. Y., where his birth occurred May 10, 1831. His father, W. B. Everest, was a native of Vermont, and came of an old New England family. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He married Lydia Smith, a native of New Hampshire, and a daughter of Benjamin Smith, who also was descended from an early New England family. Their marriage was celebrated in the Empire State, and they made their home in Essex County until 1851, when they removed to northern Ohio, and thence to Ionia, Mich. The father died at the age of ninety-two, and his wife when ninety years of age. He was a farmer and mechanic. With the Methodist Church he held membership, while his wife belonged to the Christian Church. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom are yet living: H. W., of this sketch, Mrs. Clara Spaulding, of Ionia, Mich.; Jane, Frederick, Stephen and Charles H., who are also living in Ionia.

Professor Everest remained upon the home farm until eighteen years of age, giving his father the benefit of his services. At the age of sixteen he began teaching in the common schools of his native state, and when a young man of seventeen he attended school at Crown Point, N. Y. The following year he was a student in Chester Academy, of Geauga County, Ohio; later he attended Hiram College, and in 1861 was graduated from Oberlin College, after completing the classical course. While at Chester and Hiram Colleges, he was associated with President Garfield. His life work has been that of teaching, and he has occupied some prominent positions. For a time he was President of Hiram College, as the successor of General Garfield. In 1864, he was elected President of Eureka (Ill.) College, and filled that position until 1872. In 1877, he was again called to its Presidency, and there continued until 1881, when he became President of Butler University of Indianapolis, Ind., of which he remained in charge until 1887. He then became Chancellor of Garfield University, of Wichita, Kan. He was also a Professor in the Kentucky University, at Lexington, and is now at the head of the Southern Illinois State Normal University. Under his leadership many men of fame have pursued their studies, and his guiding hand has aided in directing the lives of men who have become prominent in various walks of life.

In 1857, Professor Everest was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Harrison, of Painesville, Ohio, who was born in 1833, and was a daughter of William Harrison, an Englishman. To her husband she ever proved a faithful companion and helpmate, and by her encouragement and sympathy aided him greatly in his life work. She was called to the home beyond October 20, 1892. Three sons were born to them: Claude H., who married Miss Martha Pettit, by whom he has three children, and resides in Hutchinson, Kan.; Jean H., a lawyer of Oklahoma, who married Miss Edith Kirkbride, who died leaving four sons; and Herbert H., who wedded Miss Josie Brook. He is now studying law. The sons are all university graduates, and are members of the Christian Church.

Mr. Everest has been a minister of the church for forty years, and has occasionally served as pastor, but the greater part of his time has been devoted to teaching and to lecturing. Besides his duties as Regent, he occupies the chair of psychology and ethics in the Southern Illinois Normal University. He received the degree of A. B. and A. M. from Oberlin College, and that of LL. D. was conferred upon him by Eureka College. He is a ready and fluent writer, and has contributed much to different papers and periodicals. He is also the author of a work on Christian evidence called the “Divine Demonstration.” He delivered an address before the World’s Congress of Religions held in Chicago in 1893. It was the opening address and was upon the subject of “The First Century of the Church.”

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This family biography is one of 679 biographies included in The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois published in 1894.  View the complete description here: The Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe Counties, Illinois

View additional Jackson County, Illinois family biographies here: Jackson County, Illinois Biographies

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