Benjamin F. Rebman  

 
BENJAMIN F. REBMAN, a farmer and dairyman, was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, at Pleasant View, January 12, 1848. He was the seventh child in a family of nine born to John and Margaret (Huffman) Rebman, the former of whom was born at Strasburg, Germany, and the latter near the same place. They emigrated to America in 1830 and were married in New York city in 1832. They lived in New York State about four years, when they removed to St. Louis, and after remaining there two years removed to Beardstown, Illinois, where they lived four years more. At the end of that time they moved to Schuyler county and here they both died, Mrs. Rebman in 1877 and her husband four years later. Mr. Rebman was a mechanic by trade.

Benjamin Rebman, after the slight schooling he was able to obtain in the country schools, at the age of eighteen, engaged in farming, working by the month for farmers until he had accumulated enough to begin business for himself. He has been engaged in the dairy business for some years and has supplied the city of Beardstown with vast quantities of milk. This taken in connection with his extensive farming yield him a nice income. He was engaged in the manufacture of brick, but sold out recently.

He was married in this county January 1, 1879, to Mrs. Louisa Curry, daughter of Anthony Messeren, one of the pioneers of Schuyler county. He was a very successful farmer, being a representative of an agricultural family for generations back. He went from Germany, his birthplace, to the West Indies, when he was six years of age. The uncle who was taking him to America died on the voyage and the child was adopted by a West Indian planter. Here he grew to manhood, and came to Illinois in 1832 and entered a large tract of land in Schuyler county, where he lived until the time of his death in 1859. His wife survived him for twenty-two years. They had five children, two of whom died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Rebman have had three children: Anthony, deceased; Gale and Herman Blane. His religious views are those of a freethinker; is Republican in politics.
 

Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, Biographical Review Publishing Co., Chicago, 1892, page 200.

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