CLARK I. BYINGTON, one of the enterprising young farmers of Loran Township, owns and occupies the homestead of his late lamented father, which the latter built up from the uncultivated soil during the early settlement of Stephenson County. This comprises 200 acres of finely improved land on section 36, and is one of the points of attraction in the southwestern part of the county. Its substantial buildings and the evident care which has been exercised over the entire premises for a period of probably over thirty years, have made it the observed of all through that part of the country, where it stands out prominently as one of the homesteads whose foundations were laid by economy and industry, and which has been perpetuated by the exercises to the same admirable qualities.

The parents of our subject, Ira S. and Harriett (Barnes) Byington, were natives of Oneida County, N. Y., where they passed their childhood and youth and where they united their fortunes for life. Soon after their marriage they sought what was then the far West, and pitched their tent first in Ridott Township, this county, of which they were residents for a period of eleven years. Thence they removed to Loran Township, having sold out their property in Ridott, and in the former place spent the remainder of their days. The mother died Oct. 1, 1884, and Ira Byington looked his last upon the scenes of earth nearly three years later, on the 9th of May, 1887. The family consisted of seven children, two sons and five daughters, of whom our subject was the youngest.

Clark I. Byington was born in Ridott Township on the homestead which he now occupies, Dec. 12, 1858. He spent his early years after the manner of most farmers’ sons, his education being chiefly carried on in the winter season. He was a bright and ambitious boy and anxious to obtain a better education than that afforded by the district schools. His studies accordingly were completed in the graded school at Shannon, in Carroll County, where he attended two years and obtained a good knowledge of the classics. His subsequent reading of practical matter yielded him a good fund of information, so that he now ranks among the intelligent and thinking men of his locality. After completing his studies our subject returned to the home farm, and at once began to assist his father in its labors and management. Upon the death of the latter, the son became possessor of the property, and has made it his aim and object to keep up its reputation and its value. He had been married in Cherry Grove Township, Carroll County, Oct. 27, 1881, to Miss Mary, daughter of James and Elizabeth Willfong. Mrs. B. was born in Carroll County March 8, 1862, and remained under the parental roof until her marriage, receiving a fair education in the district schools of her native township. Her parents are natives of India, and now reside in Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Byington have 2 daughters, Harriett M. and Mary E., now interesting little girls of five and two years respectively. Our subject, politically, is identified with the Democratic party, but gives little attention to politics, his time and thoughts being mostly absorbed by the many duties which devolve upon him as the proprietor and superintendent of a large farm and valuable estate.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 263