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WILLIAM WALLBAUM is one of the leading farmers of this county and the second largest landowner in Cartwright Township. His real estate now amounts to twelve hundred and eighty-six acres, the home farm being a quarter of section 11, well improved in every particular, and farming a home of great comfort and even luxury. In the accumulation of this fine property much credit is due to Mrs. Wallbaum, who has borne a fair share in the good management from which it has resulted.
Mr. Wallbaum was born in Hamburg-Lippe, a small province of Prussia, July 9, 1837, and is one of ten children comprising the family of Earnest and Sophia Wallbaum. Two only are now living and in this State. Frederick L. married Barbara Reiser, and makes his home in Morgan County. Our subject received his early education in his native land but in order to better his condition embarked for America on the sailer "Augusta" and landed at New Orleans after a voyage of eight weeks and four days. His objective point was St. Louis, Mo., where he engaged at the trade of a shoemaker. When he reached the city he had but twenty cents, and twenty-five was asked by a drayman for hauling his trunk. He borrowed the additional amount and having secured work was able by close economy to support himself during the winter. In the spring he came to this county with a farmer who had shipped a load of hogs to St. Louis, and worked for him three months for $25.
Young Wallbaum continued to work by the month for five years, then purchased eight acres of land on section 12, and from time to time, as his affairs prospered, added to his landed estate. The first purchase was made in 1864 and he subsequently bought as follows: One hundred and sixty acres on section 11, in 1867; one hundred and sixty on section 14, in 1879; one hundred and sixty on section 14, in 1876; one hundred and sixty on section 2, and three hundred and twenty on section 11, in 1881; one hundred and twenty on section 2, in 1885; and one hundred and twenty-four on section 1, in 1889. He also owns two acres of timber land on section 35, which was one of his first purchases, and he has paid from $20 to $60 per acre for the various tracts.
Mr. Wallbaum was reared in the Lutheran faith and confirmed in that church, but he now belongs to the Missionary Baptist Church at Ashland in which he holds the office of Deacon. Mrs. Wallbaum and all the children, except one, also belong to the same church. In the political, educational and religious affairs of this section our subject has borne an active part, being as deeply interested in the welfare of his adopted country as though it were the land of his birth. He is a first-class man and citizen, deserving of the respect with which eh is regarded by those who know him.
Mrs. Wallbaum bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Chittick. She is a daughter of Henry and Margaret (Robinson) Chittick, the former of whom was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, which was also her own birthplace. She is one in a family of twelve children, all living but one, and eight besides herself being residents of this State. One brother lives in Melbourne, Australia, and a sister in California. When nineteen years old Mrs. Wallbaum came to this State with her brother Robert and her uncle, James Chittick, and about a year later became the wife of John Robinson. The young couple made their home in Morgan County where Mr. Robinson died in 1859. The union was blest by the birth of five children: Joel, deceased; Hardin R. and Jesse are at home; Mary married John Dalson and is living in Morgan County, Ill.; Hardin married Miss Emma Heisler and has four children, Harry L., Annie M., Elsie E. and Beulah M., his home being in Cartwright Township; he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
By her second marriage Mrs. Wallbaum has become the mother of five children. Of these Lizzie A. died when sixteen years old; Emma F. became the wife of L. Hurt and died at the age of twenty-four years; William C. married Minnie Wood, of Morgan County and died when twenty-two years old; Ernest A. and Frederick C. are still living. Mrs. Wallbaum is a member of the same religious society as her husband and stands side by side with him in the respect and goodwill of their acquaintances.