Biography - W Volentine
W. B. VOLENTINE. The gentleman whose life we here briefly sketch is one of the most prominent farmers in Shoal Creek Township, Bond County, Ill. He was born on a farm adjoining the place where he now lives, February 23, 1849, and was the youngest of three sons born to W. P. and M. E. (Jones) Volentine. His father was a native of North Carolina, and his mother was born in Tennessee.
But little can be learned of the early history of the Volentine family, but there are many characteristics apparent in both the older and younger members to qualify the surmise that their ancestors were Scotch. The grandfather of our subject settled in Bond County in the year 1817, and was known as a man of fine principles and admirable traits of heart and mind. The father of our subject was a man of limited means, but allowed his family all the advantages he could possibly afford. He departed this life on the old Volentine homestead December 1, 1867, having just completed his fifty-first year. The mother of our subject was quite prominently connected in the South, and was a most excellent example of the pioneer wife and mother; she departed this life in the year 1888, at the age of seventy-three years.
The brothers of our subject were Ewing M., who only lived until five years old; and Eschew A., born January 20, 1847, who departed this life after living one year and eight days. Their sister, Louisa A., is now the wife of Mr. Edwards, a prominent farmer and most excellent business man, who resides on the old Volentine homestead.
After completing the common-school course, our subject found that from the experience obtained on his father's farm, he was eminently fitted to commence the serious pursuits of a livelihood as a farmer. His first purchase was a farm containing two hundred and eighty acres, and by strict attention to business and energy, thrift and enterprise, he has to-day added three other farms to his first possession, and now has five hundred and thirty-five acres.
The year 1877 is the one marked for our subject by the event of his life to which the most sentiment is attached. On the 31st of May of that year, Miss Sarah E. Stepp became his wife. This lady was the daughter of B. W. and K. G. (Tidwell) Stepp. Her father and mother were both natives of the South, and she was born in Tennessee. The Stepp family consists of the following children: Elizabeth, who is the wife of Elias Jones, of Joplin, Mo.; Margaret, the wife of W. T. Foster, of Alton, Ill.; Eva, the wife of Edward Beckley, of Chicago; the brother John is in business in California; and William R. is a well-known business man of Fillmore, Ill.
Mr. and Mrs. Volentine have been the parents of five children, one of whom died before reaching the boundary line of childhood; the others are Omer, who is now thirteen years old; Oliver, one year younger; Effie, who was born January 22, 1881; and Ethel, who was born April 15, 1883. Mr. Volentine is a man of progressive ideas and broad thought. It is the ambition of him and his wife that their children shall each possess the best possible educational advantages, and to this end they do all in their power to encourage the pursuit after knowledge in their progeny.
Mr. Volentine has always identified himself politically with the Republican party and is an earnest exponent of the principles of his native land. He is satisfied to pursue the even tenor of his way, without seeking recognition from the party he stanchly supports, and seeks only the honor of being known as a loyal American citizen. Mr. Volentine is a man of bright, frank, genial nature, broad outlook in his views and acts, and he has used his influence by example and otherwise to advance the welfare of the community in which he resides.
Extracted 21 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 447-448.
