RUTHERFORD, NEWTON, a successful farmer of Illiopolis, Ill., is a veteran of the Civil War and highly respected by all who know him. He was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, April 15, 1836, a son of John R. and Elizabeth Rutherford, natives of Kentucky. They came to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1841, as did their parents, who were also natives of Kentucky. The grandfather of Newton Rutherford was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, but the latter knows very little further of his ancestors. He received his education in the country schools and then engaged in farming, which he has followed ever since. He came to America when five years old and in 1874 moved to Kansas, where he lived seven years, but returned to Illinois and carried on farming in Montgomery County until 1900, when he came to his present home.

Mrs. Rutherford enlisted at Springfield, August 10, 1861, in Company D, Fortieth Illinois Infantry, served two years and several months and in December, 1863, re-enlisted at Scottsboro, Ala., in the same company, serving until July 24, 1865, when he was mustered out at Louisville, Ky. He served under Captain Samuel Hooper and later under Captain G. J. George, now residing in Springfield, and participated in the Battles of Shiloh, Siege of Corinth, Iuka, the Atlanta Campaign, Kenesaw Mountain, Griswoldville, Georgia, and many skirmishes. He was wounded in the Battle of Shiloh and was with Sherman on his famous March to the Sea. He is reasonably proud of his record and is a prominent member of the local post, G.A.R. He is a devout member of the Christian Church and in politics is a Republican. He is a man of upright character and true worth and has many friends.

February 28, 1879, Mr. Rutherford was married, at Decatur, Ill., to Miss Sarah Knott, who was born in Macon County, Ill., daughter of William and Sarah Knott, the former an early settler of Macon County, where her mother was born. Mr. Knott and his wife both died on their farm there. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rutherford, all of whom are deceased.