People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — WILLIAM WASHBURN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WILLIAM WASHBURN.

DIRECTOR AND VICEPRES. PILOT PUB. CO. William Washburn was born in St. Joe county, Indiana, Nov. 15, 1845. When eight years old he removed with his parents to Michigan. He enjoyed the privileges of tlje common school and spent • a term or two in Carlisle Hill high school. In 1870 he returned to his native state, settling id Walker township of this county. Here he engaged in the cattle business and met with good succ:ss for a couple of years until an unfaithful partner abscounded with about nil their accumulated capital. This was a severe blow to a new beginner, but with the little left he continued hopeful snd attentive at his work and soon found himself prospering again. In 1873 he was married to Margaret Sebring, of Wheatfield township, and from this union there have been borp two daughters, the Misses Eva and Iva. In 1875 Mr. Washburn moved to Jordan township, where for a few years he gaie hit attention to farming, but believing

that it is better to consume the crop on the farm he began feeding stock, and for years has been one of the leading stock men of the county. He has a fine prairie farm of 440 acres, well tiledf' with roomy and convenient buildings, well fended, and everything modern and convenient. Like too many other farmers, Mr. Washburn and his wife have worked too hard for their own good, so in 1892, on account of poor health, they quit the farm and moved to Rensselaer, where they are now comfortably located, perhaps for life, in one of the neatest and most convenient houses in the city, an illustration of which appears in this edition.

He has never held an office, been a canhad a lawsuit, and until quite

recently, has never had any experience with a secret society goat. William Washburn isa man of strictest religious and mor il habits, just such a man as is a credit and a blessing to any community.

DAVID H. YEOMAN.