Sangamon County ILGenWeb © 2000
In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data and images may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or for other presentation without express permission by the contributor(s).



PAST AND PRESENT OF THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD AND SANGAMON COUNTY ILLINOIS
By Joseph Wallace, M. A.
of the Springfield Bar
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL
1904



Page 1482

JOHN H. LARD - In the history of the agricultural development of Sangamon county, the Lard family is deserving of mention and John H. Lard and his brothers, who are also represented in this work, are today active and energetic farmers, winning success through perseverance, business ability and thorough understanding of farm work. He whose name introduces this review was born in Ball township, April 6, 1863, and is a son of Josiah Lard, who in pioneer times came to Sangamon county. Further mention of his parents is made in connection with the sketch of Jacob Lard, on another page of this volume. In the usual manner of boys of the period John H. Lard spent the days of his childhood. He attended the public schools and in the months of summer was trained to farm work in all its departments. His father profited by his assistance until his death and he afterward continued on the old homestead for some time.

In Ball township, in February, 1885, occurred the marriage of Mr. Lard and Miss Laura B. McAtee, a native of Sangamon county and a daughter of Benjamin McAtee, one of the early settlers of this portion of the state. The young couple began their domestic life upon the old family homestead and after the father's death Mr. Lard inherited one hundred and ninety acres of the property situated on section 35, Ball Township. He also owns another farm of about one hundred and twenty-four acres in the same township and each tract is valuable and productive, bringing to him golden harvests for the work he bestows upon the fields. He is also engaged in the raising of stock. In 1902 he erected a good residence near the main road and has made other substantial improvements which indicate to the passer-by the ownership of a man of progressive ideas and practical methods in his work.

Mr. and Mrs. Lard have two children, Otis and Carol, both at home. The family is well known in this locality and Mr. and Mrs. Lard have a wide circle of warm friends. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Lard is a Democrat in his political adherence.



Return to 1904 Biographies Index
Return to Sangamon County ILGenWeb