Notes for William STURGES
WILLIAM STURGES
William Sturges is one of the most prominent and influential farmers in Virgil Township, standing well with his neighbors, respected far and wide for his many good qualities of head and heart: one who has prospered in those things that make even the humblest life well worth living. His finely improved farm is well stocked with a good grade of cattle and horses and provided with a substantial residence and farm buildings that denote thrift and comfort on every hand. He owns 136 acres in Section 11. Mr. Sturges was born in England August 1 1828 his parents being William and Elizabeth (Martin) Sturges, who were farmers and upon the farm in his native county the subject of this memoir spent the days of his youth.
April 28, 1851 William Sturges was united in wedlock with Susan E. Moulds, and in the following May set sail for America. To this marriage were born two children. One died in infancy, the other, Robert, is a resident of Kansas. Upon reaching America Mr. Sturges spent one year in New York as a farm laborer. In 1853 he went to Ohio but remaining there only one year he started west, and landed in Batavia, Ill where he found his first employment as a teamster. In this place his good wife died in July 1854. Mr. Sturges removed to Virgil Township and here rented land until 1868, when he bought eight acres in De Kalb Co. In 1861 he married Isabelle Perry, of Batavia, who lived but two years after her marriage, dying in October 1863. July 4, 1865, Mr. Sturges married Mrs. Ann Dusold, nee Welchborn, who was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, March 25, 1830: her father died when she was but eight years old, in 1845 her mother came to America, locating at Springfield, Mass., where Ann found employment as a servant girl until her marriage Feb. 8, 1850 with George J. Dusold. They have four children: George H., a resident of Chicago; Emma, who became Mrs. Kilgore: Margarette A., now Mrs. Henry Allen and Louis Dusold, all citizens of Iowa. In 1851 Mr. and Mrs. Dusold came to Kane Co. and lived in Batavia fifteen years, when he enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and was killed at South Mountain Gap July 10, 1863. Mrs. Dusold remained at Batavia laboring to support her family until her marriage with Mr. Sturges. Mr and Mrs. Sturges have but one child, a daughter Ester M. who is still with her parents.
During the year 1871, Mr. Sturges sold his farm in De Kalb Co and bought 240 acres in Ford Co, which he owned and cultivated until 1875, when he again sold out, and bought where he now resides. Though not a politician, Mr. Sturges supports the Republican party. He was brought up in the faith of the Church of England to which he has adhered though life.
1888 Commemorative Biographical and Historical Record
of Kane County, Illinois
(DATE ?)
East Batavia Cemetery, in Batavia, IL.