Page 1487

JACOB F. LARD - The family of which Jacob F. Lard is a representative has become well known in connection with agricultural interests in Sangamon county and he of whom we write is a thrifty and enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, living on section 35, Ball township, where he has four hundred acres of land. His fields are productive, his farm well improved and its neat and thrifty appearance is indicative of the care and attention which he bestows upon his place. Born in Ball township, on the 6th of February, 1861, he is a son of Josiah and Millie (Funderburk) Lard, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of George R. Lard on another page of this work. In his boyhood he attended the home schools and when not occupied with his studies his time and energies were largely devoted to the work of field and meadow. He remained with his father until the latter's death and after that continued to operate the old homestead until the time of his marriage.

That important event in his life occurred in 1884, the lady of his choice being Miss Stella Leach, who was born in Pike county, Illinois, and was reared and educated there. Mr. Lard took his bride to the farm on which he now resides and began the further improvement and development of his tract of land of two hundred and twenty acres. It is now a splendidly improved property. There is a large and attractive residence, in the rear of which stand good barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Not far distant is a fine orchard and the fields are well drained by many rods of tiling. Other substantial improvements have been made and the farm has been brought to a high state of cultivation by the care and labor he has bestowed upon the fields. The boundaries of the farm have also been extended until it now comprises four hundred acres, and in addition to this Mr. Lard owns another farm in Pawnee township comprising one hundred acres. He is engaged in the buying and feeding of stock, annually sending a number of carloads of cattle and hogs to the city market. Thus the years go by, his attention being given entirely to his business interests, and his excellent business qualifications, his energy and straightforward dealings bring to him desirable and richly merited success.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lard has been blessed with one child, Geneva, who is yet under the parental roof. Mr. Lard is an earnest Democrat and, although never an office seeker, he is interested in public progress and improvement, giving his co-operation to many measures for the general good. He has shaped his life in accordance with honorable and manly principles and his personal worth has gained him the esteem of his fellow men.