My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES H. RUTLEDGE, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born near Hillsboro, Montgomery Co., Ill., April 1, 1828; his father, M. S. Rutledge was born in Georgia April 2, 1800; he emigrated to Illinois and located in White Co., in 1812, then to Montgomery Co., in 1826. He was married in Henderson Co., Ky., to Nancy Bostick; she was born in Kentucky May 19, 1799; she died in Illinois January, 1855; Mr. R. died Nov. 27, 1877; they were the parents of ten children, of whom four are now living. The subject of this sketch lived with his father until 18 years of age, when in June, 1846, he enlisted in the 3d I. V. I., and served one year in the war with Mexico, going down the River to New Orleans; thence by vessel to Brazos Santiago; from there to Carmargo, Matamoras, Tampico; thence to Vera Cruz engaged in several battles, among which were the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. In June, 1847, his time having expired, he returned to New Orleans, where he received his discharge, having served a little upward of one year; he then returned home and followed farming in Montgomery Co., until February, 1848, when he settled in McLean Co. upon his present place. At the time of locating here, there were but four houses from Buckles’ to Randolph Grove, a distance of six miles, where now upon every quarter-section stands one or more houses. His capital, when settling here, was simply a land-warrant, and with this he secured his land, and purchased a farmhouse 16x16, in which he lived one year. The land was in its rough state; neither a tree nor shrub appeared in view; he has, by his own hard labor, brought it from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation. He owns 250 acres that he has accumulated by his own exertions in which he has been nobly assisted by his wife, to whom he was united in marriage upon the 14th of April, 1853; her maiden name was Martha A. Chapin; she was born March 21, 1831, in. De Witt Co., Ill.; she was a daughter of Hiram Chapin, who was born in North Carolina, and emigrated from Kentucky to Illinois in 1819; the children of Charles and Martha Rutledge were seven in number, of whom four are now living, viz.: Stillman D., born May 16, 1867; Edgar H., born Aug. 14, 1861; Florence, born Aug. 26, 1864; Louisa J., born Aug. 22, 1867. Mr. Rutledge has been favored with his full share of township and school offices, having been third Supervisor of Downs Township, which office he held three years in succession; as Town Collector, he successfully handled the funds of Downs Township for three years; School Trustee, nine years, which office he now holds; School Director nine years, and other petty offices. He has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been a member of the C. P. Church for upward of thirty years, of which he has been a Ruling Elder for twenty-eight years, his wife joining about the same time.