Portrait and Biographical Album of Woodford County, Illinois (Chapman Bros., 1889)
Henry Eft came to Illinois in 1869 a comparatively poor man. He did not at first invest in land, but for two years engaged in farming as a renter, south of El Paso. He then came to Panola Township, and bought a tract of land on section 26 that is now included in his present farm, and since that date he has been numbered among the practical, sagacious farmers and stock-raisers of this section of Woodford County, who have contributed to its advancement. His land when it came into his possession (the second purchase of 160 acres), was a barren tract of wet, swampy prairie, and seemed hardly fit for cultivation. But he shrewdly saw its possibilities, and by patient labor carefully drained it and prepared it for tillage, and it proved to be very fertile, and today yields him bounteous harvests in return fo the care and money he has spent on its improvement. To his original 100 acres he has added more land, and now has a valuable farm of 340 acres of finely cultivated land, provided with ample buildings, and all necessary improvements.
Mr Eft comes of good old New Jersey stock, and is himself a native of that State, born in Salem County, Nov. 29, 1831, a son of John and Ann (Hanthorn) Eft, natives of New Jersey, the Eft family being among the early settlers of that State. His father is now living in Salem County, and although he has attained the remarkable age of ninety-four years, and has been a hard worker all his life, he is still hale and hearty. He enjoys the respect and veneration of all about him, as his long life has been well spent, and he has always walked in the path of honesty and uprightness.
Our subject was reared to man's estate amid the pleasant scenes of his birthplace. His educational advantages were not such as are enjoyed by the youth of today, but he made the best of them, being desirous of securing a good knowledge of books, and in early life he attended the subscription schools, and after the schools were made public he was a student in them for awhile. but th most of his learning he has acquired without the assistance of intructors, as he has always been fond of reading, and has been a close observer of men and events. March 30, 1854, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Haines, who he had chosen to walk by his side to assist him in his lifework, and aid him in building up a home. She is a native of the same county as himself, and a daughter of John and Harriet Haines, also natives of New Jersey. Of the nine children that have blessed the union of our subject and his wife, six are living. John, William, Ann (wife of William Kingdom), Joseph, George, Elizabeth. Those deceased are Charles, Frederic, and one that died in infancy.
After his marriage Mr Eft farmed on rented land in New Jersey a number of years, and then came, as we have before mentioned to Illinois in 1869. We have seen that he has been very much prospered since locating in Panola, and besides increasing the size of his farm, haivng it well-drained and putting it under admirable tillage, he has erected substantial buildings and a fine windmill of the Eureka make. Since he settled here Panola Township has greatly improved. There were practically no roads here at the time of his arrival, and there were many sloughs and rough places to cross, and the streams were some of them unbridged. Since then great changes have been wrought, waste pieces of prairie have been transformed into good farms, other farms have been improved, and in many cases a better class of buildings have been erected, and throughout the township a general air of neatness, thrift and prosperity prevails. Our subject may be proud of the fact that he has had a hand in bringing about this state of affairs. He and his wife have shared together the hardships necessitated by their pioneer labors, and now, while yet in life's prime, are together enjoying the fruits of their early toils.
A self-made and a self-educated man, possessing in a high degree those attributes that win success in any walk in life, and noted for his integrity in business, our subject occupies an important place in the community. Public spirited and liberal he contributes to its advancement in every direction, favoring all schemes for the improvement of township or county, and giving of his means to support religious institutions, although not a church member. He has been School Director, and has thus furthered the cause of local education. In politics he belongs to the old Jacksonian Democracy.