Biography - THOMAS H. RUTHERFORD
Thomas H. Rutherford, the present supervisor of Newman
township, and one of the acknowledged leaders in farming as well as in
political affairs of Douglas county, was born at Oakland, Coles county,
Illinois, January 16, 1853. He is a son of Dr. Hiram Rutherford, settling
there in the year 1840, one of the pioneers, and at the time of his death he
was one of the oldest physicians in eastern Illinois, and one of the largest
land owners as well. He has written much of the early settlers, especially
of the eccentric ones of this region.
He has a remarkable memory, and probably knew more of the early history of
Douglas and Coles counties than any other man within their bounds.
He was born in Cumberland Valley, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, December
27, 1815. (For further facts pertaining to ancestry, see work of Dr. Eagle,
state librarian of Pennsylvania, on early families of the Cumberland
Valley.) Dr. Hiram Rutherford, after attending Jefferson University,
commenced the practice of medicine at the age of twenty-five years, at
Millersburg. Pennsylvania.
Thomas H. Rutherford received his education in the schools of Oakland, and
on October 15, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah R. Zimmerman, a
daughter of John B. Zimmerman, who settled in Oakland township in 1837. To
them have been born four children: Cyrus W., Bessie (deceased), Hiram B.,
and Katie. Mr. Rutherford resides on his beautiful farm of two hundred and
forty acres, just north of Newman, and is one of the most influential
leaders of the Republican party in the county. He has been school treasurer
of township No. 16, range 11, since the spring of 1876. In 1885 he was
elected commissioner of highways and held that office until December, 1890,
when he resigned to be appointed supervisor to fill the vacancy of L. E.
Root, who was elected county treasurer. He was re-elected supervisor in
1892, also in 1894, and was elected chairman of the board in 1893 and 1894.
He is now a member of the committee on finance, refunding of tax and public
buildings and grounds. Socially he belongs to the Newman Blue Lodge and is
past high priest of the Royal Arch Masons, Newman Chapter, No. 172, and is
also a member of Melita Commandery, No. 37, Knights Templar; is a Knight of
Pythias and a member of the Modern Woodmen.
Mr. Rutherford is a man of action and business capacity, and whatever cause
he espouses he generally carries through successfully, with a vim and
earnestness which are in a high degree characteristic qualities of his
makeup.
Extracted 25 May 2019 by Norma Hass from the Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County, Illinois, published in 1900, pages 187-188.
