ADAM LIST
Page 647
ADAM LIST
Page 647
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ADAM LIST stands among the foremost of the successful farmers who have contributed so greatly to the development of Mason County. His interest is centered in Crane Creek Township, where he has six hundred and forty acres of land, which is one of the largest and best managed farms in this part of the state. He is actively and successfully engaged in its cultivation, and for many years has reaped handsome profits from his stock interests. Mr. List was born January 27, 1835, in Bedford County, Pa., and is the son of Lewis List, a native of Germany, who on emigrating to America located in the Keystone State. In 1835 the father crossed the country to this state, making his home at first in Peoria. Later he located on the farm in Tazewell County, which he entered from the Government, paying for it $1.25 per acre. He improved eighty acres of this tract and resided on it until his decease in about 1846. The mother of our subject, Mrs. Catherine (Gaeble) List, was also born in the Fatherland, whence she came to America when in her twenty-fifth year. Like her husband she too made her home in Pennsylvania, and after her marriage accompanied him on his various removals, departing this life in this state, when in her seventy-fifth year. She reared a family of eight sons. Her only daughter died when an infant. He of whom we write is the second child in order of birth of his parents' family, and was only three months old when the removal was made to Peoria, When a lad of eleven years he began to make his own way in the world, and worked out by the month on farms. He was engaged at this a short time, however, when, in company with his brothers, he began the improvement and cultivation of the land which his father had entered from the Government, in Tazewell County. In October, 1861, Adam List was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Kile, a native of Tazewell County. After their union the young couple located on a farm of one hundred acres which now comprises a portion of our subject's valuable estate. He has prosecuted his calling with good success, adding to his farm from time to time and placing it under good improvements. He now has six hundred and forty acres, and from its well cultivated, highly productive fields, reaps rich harvests in compensation for the toil and care expended. He has watched the growth of his township with pleasure, promoting it in his capacity of an energetic agriculturist. The land is divided into two bodies, one-half of it lying in Salt Creek Township and the remainder in Crane Creek Township, on which is located the farm residence. This was built in 1878 at a cost of $3,000. Mr. List has also placed convenient barns and outbuilding on his estate, and gives considerable attention to stock breeding. The three sons and three daughters comprised in the household of our subject and his wife are, Charles F., a farmer of Sale Creek Township; Julia E., at home with her parents; Lewis A., an agriculturist living in Crane Creek Township; E. J., a veterinary surgeon located in Havana; Katie M. and Matilda M. M., residing at home. Prior to his advent into this county our subject had learned the carpenter trade and also for some time operated a threshing machine. He is truly a self-made man, and unlimited praise is rightfully bestowed upon him for the noble manner which he has battled with the trials and privations that the poor are compelled to endure. Politically, he has been a life long Democrat and served as School Director for a quarter of a century. |