|
Allen A. Rouse devotes his time and
energies to general agricultural pursuits in Henry township, where
he rents a tract of land of two hundred and eighty-nine acres, of
which he is cultivating one hundred and seventy-five acres. His life
record began in Stark county, Illinois, on the 18th of December,
1860. His father, William Rouse, was a native of the Empire state
and a farmer by occupation. During his infancy, however, he was
brought from New York to Illinois by his father and a settlement was
made by the family in Valley township, Stark county. There he was
reared to the occupation of farming, which he made his life work
after attaining his majority, but he is now living retired from
active business. He married Cynthia Ratcliff, a native of Ohio, and
their home is in Stark county, Illinois. In their family were nine
children, of whom five are still living.
No event of special importance occurred
to vary for Allen A. Rouse the routine of farm life when he was in
his boyhood days. He attended the district schools in the winter
months and in the summer seasons aided in the labors of the fields
and after starting out in life on his own account he continued in
the agricultural work and is now renting a farm from Holmes
Morrison, comprising two hundred and eighty-nine acres of very rich
and productive land, of which he has one hundred and seventy-five
acres planted to crops. He thus annually gathers good harvests and
his energy and business ability constitutes the secret of his
success.
In 1882 Mr. Rouse was united in marriage
to Miss Maggie McMullen, also a native of Stark county, this state.
They now have four daughters: Mrs. Ada Cox, who is living in Stark
county; Nora, who married Frank Curry, and lives in Whitefield
township; and Maud and Aura, both of whom are attending school and
still make their home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. Rouse hold
membership in the Methodist church and are interested in its work
and growth. His political allegiance is given to the republican
party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the
day, so that he is able to support his position by intelligent
argument, yet the honors and emoluments of public office have no
attraction for him. He prefers to depend upon business interests for
an income and is accounted one of the wide-awake, alert and
enterprising farmers of his community. |