GEORGE W. CONSTANT, a retired farmer, residing in Williamsville, is in every way a representative man of this county. He is the son of one of its early pioneers and is himself classed among those who have been prominent in its upbuilding. A long and honorable career has brought him wealth and has placed him among the influential citizens of his community.
Mr. Constant was born in Winchester, Clark County, Ky., October 23, 1818. His father, Isaac Constant, was born in the same place, April 3, 1789. He was reared on a farm and in 1826 came to Sangamon County, Ill., to prospect for land, but he was not pleased with the country and returned to his native State. He, however, changed his mind about locating here and in 1830 removed to Sangamon County, making the journey with wagons, and settled in Williams Township among its early pioneers. He purchased a large tract of land and entered five hundred and sixty acres. He and his family lived first in a log cabin under the primitive conditions of life in a newly settled country. Mr. Constant died December 25, 1854, and Sangamon County lost then a valuable pioneer, who had taken a very active part in its development. When he was quite a young man he enlisted in serve in the War of 1812, but peace was declared soon after he entered the army. He was a zealous member of the Christian Church and a thoroughly good man in every respect.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, John Constant, was born and reared in Virginia, his family being of French descent. He was one of the early settlers of Kentucky. The mother of our subject, who was in her maiden days Amy Dean, was a native of Virginia, and she died July 7, 1860, aged sixty-eight years. She was a true and upright woman and a devoted member of the Christian Church.
George W. Constant, who is the subject of this biography, is the only one of a family of eight children now living. He was born in a log cabin in Clark County, Ky. He obtained his early schooling in rude log schoolhouses with puncheon floors, slab seats and rude open fire places, the chimneys being made of sticks and clay. He was not able to attend school very much as the burden of labor fell on his shoulders at an early age, and he was obliged to assist his father on his farm. He was twelve years old when the family came to Sangamon County, and as he is familiar with all the incidents of its early settlement, it is interesting to converse with him concerning the pioneer days of this part of the State. In 1839, the year he attained his majority, his father gave him a small farm, and with characteristic energy he entered upon its improvement, working hard at splitting rails for fences and placing the land under cultivation. He met with more than ordinary prosperity, and in years of busy toil accumulated a handsome property. He owns three fine farms, including his father's old homestead, which contains two hundred and ninety-two acres, his two other improved farms comprising one hundred and sixty acres each. He retired from farming in 1857 and removed to Williamsville where he has since lived. He was in the dry goods business for four years.
Mr. Constant has been twice married. The maiden name of his first wife, to whom he was untied in marriage November 26, 1840, was Martha B. Stewart. She was born in Illinois in 1821, and was a daughter of James and Roxanna (Stilman) Stewart. Her parents moved from New York to Illinois in 1820, and were among the early settlers of Sangamon County. Three children were born to our subject of that union - William N., James H., and Mary Ann - all of whom are living. Mrs. Constant departed this life June 1, 1850. She was a sincere Christian, a member of the church of that name, and left behind her the record of a well spent life.
October 7, 1852, Mr. Constant was wedded to Miss Mary W. Stapleford, a native of Delaware and a daughter of Edward and Mary (Williams) Stapleford, natives of Delaware and Maryland respectively. Her father died September 9, 1852, and her mother September 27. Both were consistent members of the church. Mrs. Constant is the only living representative of a family of seven children. She is an intelligent woman of a fine character and has taught school in several States. Notwithstanding that she has been blind since 1878, she is always cheerful and pleasant and is kindly in her relations to all about her.
During a residence of sixty years in Sangamon County, Mr. Constant has made many strong friendships and is widely and favorably known throughout this region, his probity and integrity giving him a high place among our best citizens. He was reared a Whig in politics and joined the Republican party in 1856, and has voted with it ever since. He is strongly in favor of Prohibition and of every other reform that will elevate the social and moral status of the country. Though he has never aspired to office he has served as a member of the Board of Trustees in Williamsville and has been President of the Board. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Christian Church, he having joined it in early life and for the long period of forty years has served it as Deacon and has been an Elder of the Church eleven years.
Mr. Constant was well acquainted with President Lincoln, with whom he was on terms of friendship. He was one of the jury when his friend tried cases in court and he remembers many of Lincoln's best jokes. Our subject is a man of fine physical proportions, six feet in height, and during the exciting campaign when Lincoln was elected President he was selected to act as rail-splitter to represent Mr. Lincoln on a wagon drawn by twenty-one yoke of oxen, August 8, 1860, in Springfield.