My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES STERLING, farmer, Sec. 4, Town 21; P. O. Le Roy; born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Nov. 24, 1821; his father, Thomas Sterling, died when the subject of this sketch was 8 years of age, after which he assisted his mother until her second marriage, when he commenced labor for himself. His first wages were $4 per month, the receipts of which were used for the support of the family until he was 20 years of age; he was then employed by one man for a period of seven years in succession, when he commenced to farm for himself, in 1846, which business he followed in Ohio until the fall of 1854, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in Empire Township, McLean Co. The following spring, he, with his brother Samuel, rented land which they worked in partnership together, until he purchased 160 acres of land in Sec. 35, where he lived eight years, when, disposing of the above, he purchased his present place in 1864, where he has since lived. He now owns about 200 acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings, which he has accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and economy, in which he has been nobly assisted by his amiable wife, to whom he was united in marriage Dec. 17, 1848; her maiden name was Anna Kesler; she was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Jan. 7, 1827; they had seven children by this union — Thomas, born Feb. 21, 1851, now practicing law at Springfield, Ill.; Isabella, Dec. 18, 1852, now teaching school at Decatur; Sarah E., Nov. 14, 1854, now Mrs. N. Vance, DeWitt Co.; John A., Feb. 1, 1857; Joseph, March 5, 1859; Eda Alice, Sept. 9, 1862, and one which died in infancy; of the above John A. and Joseph are now attending the Wesleyan University at Bloomington. Mr. Sterling has filled the office of School Director for several years, and is now School Trustee.