JOSEPH MCWHERTER was born in Marion county, Ohio, April 17, 1846. His father, James McWherter, who was engaged in farming, died in 1851. The boy, Joseph, was left to the care of his mother. In 1854, his mother again married and removed to Knox county, Missouri, in 1855, where Joseph was employed on the farm until February 14, 1862, when he enlisted in the Second Missouri Cavalry, and hastened to the defense of his country. His company being composed of expert horsemen, they were, most of the time, ordered into scout or skirmish duty, and the record of the Second Missouri Cavalry was one bravely won. Mr. McWherter was in thirty-two close battles and skirmishes. He was wounded but twice - once in the body, just above the hip, by a shot discharged in a close fight, at Scatterville, Missouri. The wound was not severe, only keeping him off duty about two weeks. The other, by accident, near Herman City, Missouri, while on guard duty. Three drunken soldiers were put under guard, one broke away and ran, was re-arrested, and while the Captain of the company was binding him, he drew his revolver and aimed at the captain's heart. At that instant, a bystander seeing the movement, quickly knocked his hand up, and the ball passed through the captain's hat and left its mark across his scalp. The captain drew his revolver, and in his excitement and struggle with the prisoner, missed his object and badly wounded McWherter, who was off duty four months in consequence of it. The captain them shot the prisoner twice, causing him to carry the remembrance of his spree to his grave. He was mustered out April 8, 1865. He being then near his majority, he began work for himself, farming about two years, when he began buying stock and supplying a meat market, which he had opened, locating at Newark, Missouri. April 1, 1870, he came to Adams county, Illinois, and engaged in farming and general stock trade. In 1873, he went to Williamsville, Sangamon county, and conducted a large meat market, remaining until 1875, when he came to Chatham, and still remains, now wholly in the stock business. In December, 1871, he married Miss S. J. Conrad, daughter of Mr. Conrad, proprietor of hotel at Williamsville. Have had four children. Mr. McWherter always managed his business, from a small beginning, very successfully, maintaining an unimpeachable character for honesty and integrity. His school facilities, while in Missouri, were of very low order, in a slave district, where they were no advantages except for the rich, but by making the best of his limited means, and by personal application, he has acquired a fair business education.