My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM S. LAFFERTY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11, Town 21; P. O. Le Roy; born in DeWitt Co., Ill., Aug. 16, 1847; he is a son of W. H. Lafferty, who was born in Ohio, May, 1807, and emigrated to Illinois and located in DeWitt Co. in 1835, where he followed farming until his decease, which occurred April 18, 1875. He was Judge of the Probate Court of De Witt Co., for a term of four years. During his residence in Ohio he was a Colonel of a regiment of militia until his removal to Illinois, when he resigned. He married Amanda Anderson; she was born in Philadelphia, and now lives in De Witt. W. S. Lafferty lived with his father and attended school and followed farming until 15 years of age, and, on Feb. 24, 1864, he enlisted in the 39th Reg., I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union; he served in the Army of the James River, under Gen. Grant, in Virginia, and was engaged in many severe battles, among which we mention Fort Darling, Bermuda Hundred, siege of Petersburg, capture of Richmond and surrender of Lee. He then remained in Richmond until the fall of 1865, when he was sent to Norfolk, Va., where he was discharged December, 1865, having served in the army nearly two years. He then returned to De Witt Co., and followed farming until he located upon his present place in 1873, where he owns eighty acres of land, and farms 160 acres belonging to his wife. He is extensively engaged in stock-raising, feeding from fifty to seventy-five head of cattle and some one hundred hogs. His marriage with Laura E. Crumbaugh was celebrated Dec. 5, 1872; she was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Aug. 26, 1852. They have two children by this union — Charles A., born Nov. 7, 1873; Blanche May, June 16, 1877. Mrs. Lafferty is a granddaughter of Esquire Hiram Buck, who has a very extended sketch among the biographies of Empire Township, in another part of this work. She is the oldest daughter of J. H. L. Crumbaugh, whose sketch also appears among the sketches of Empire Township.