1887 Hamilton County History:

The following is a transcription of the Hamilton County biographical appendix of The History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson Counties, Illinois (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1887).

LOUIS ESWINE.

     Louis Eswine, farmer, was born in Hamilton County, April 18, 1844, the fourth of five children (two living) of Albert and Rosena (Karcher) Eswine, natives of Germany, born in 1812 and 1818 respectively, and of that company of Germans who settled in Hamilton County in 1842.  The mother died on their farm in Section 32, Town 3 south, Range 6 east, about 1848.  The father's second wife having died several years previous to 1880, he then left the farm to live with his children.  By his second wife he had four children, one dead.  Our subject attended the common schools, and began life for himself when twenty-one.  He enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry, at Vandalia.  At the war's close, and after eight months' service, he received his honorable discharge and returned home.  After two years' railroading he married and settled on his present farm of 140 good acres, mostly cleared and improved, which has been of his own earning.  His wife, Mary, daughter of Godfrey and Christinia (Haller) Rubenaker, was born December 7, 1850, in Hamilton County.  September 21, 1869, is the date of their marriage.  Their children are Stephen, Ludwig, John, Dora, Joseph, Rosena, Elizabeth, Emma and Charles.  Politically, our subject is a Republican, first voting for Grant in 1868.  His entire family are members of the Catholic Church.  He has been trustee of St John's Church for the past five years and school director for fourteen years.

(More bios to come later as they are transcribed)

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