[The original was one long, relentless paragraph.  I have broken the text into smaller paragraphs for improved readability.]

THE Fruit family were (sic) among the early settlers and pioneers of De Witt county.  On the paternal side they are of Welsh ancestry and, on the maternal, Scotch-Irish.  Two brothers bearing the name left Wales and emigrated to America prior to the old French war.  Both were soldiers in that struggle and were with Braddock in his disastrous defeat by the French and their Indian allies.  In the battle, the brothers were separated, and one was never heard of afterward.  John Fruit, the survivor, from whom the present family have (sic) sprung, after the war settled in the Carolinas.

Thomas Fruit, the father of Edmund W., was born in North Carolina, October the 5th, 1784.  In 1802 he went with his father to Kentucky and settled in Christian county where he remained until 1834 when he came to Illinois and settled in what is now known as De Witt, then a part of Macon.  They landed here November 15th, of that year.  In 1827, in company with some friends and land explorers, they came to the State and entered land.  When he came here to reside permanently, he settled on section 14, in what is now known as Tunbridge township.  There he remained until his death, which occurred December the 15th, 1871.

While a resident of Christian county, Kentucky, he married Elizabeth Thompson, the date of which marriage was July the 31st, 1806.  She died March 28th, 1866.  By that marriage they had six sons and six daughters.  Edmund W. is the eighth in the family. He was born in Christian county, Kentucky, September the 21st, 1823.  His education was limited to the common school's and was of a meager character and confined to three months tuition, all told.  When the family came to Illinois, he was eleven years old. From that time forward he was compelled to do a man's work and help provide for himself and other members of the family.  He remained his father's principal support until he passed his twentieth year.  He then purchased forty acres of land and broke it and, in the following winter, made rails and fenced it.  The next year, he broke prairie and did general work.  In the fall of 1844, he went back to Kentucky to visit an elder brother and, while there, made the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Boyd, whom he married on the 6th of March, 1845.  He remained in Kentucky eighteen months, which time was occupied in farming and working for his brother.  In the fall of 1846, he returned to De Witt county, settled on his land, and built a log cabin, a view of which may be seen on another page.  There he lived for several years, then built a  frame house, and in 1858 built and removed to his present residence.

His wife died August the 8th, 1856.  By that marriage there were five children--three of whom are living, whose names are Sydney Jane, who is the wife of John Barnett, a resident of Atchison county, Mo.; James A., who married Sarah Jane Stoughtonborough; and Mary Elizabeth, wife of Franklin Barnett.

On the 5th of November, 1857, Mr. Fruit married Sarah E., daughter of Uriah and Jemima Blue.  She died April the 28th, 1873.  Two children living by that marriage.  Their names are Arthur W. and Laura B. Fruit.

After the death of his second wife he married Susan E. Blue. She died January the 16th, 1880, without issue.  On the 4th of November, 1880, he married Miss Isabel, daughter of Garrett and Sarah Ann Blue.  She was born in Hampshire county, Virginia.

Politically, Mr. Fruit was originally a Henry Clay Whig.  In 1864 he joined the Democratic party and is still a member of that political organization.  In his religious belief he is a Universalist.

Mr. Fruit has been the architect of his own fortune. He started in life poor, but by the practice of industry and economy he has succeeded to a handsome competency.  He is the undisputable possessor of nearly fifteen hundred acres of as fine land as can be found in Central Illinois.  All of it is well improved and under cultivation.  His occupation and highest aim in life was to be a successful and independent farmer, and he has suceeded to that proud position.  In stock-raising, particularly in sheep, he has been very successful.  Wherever known, Mr. Fruit enjoys the reputation of a good farmer and successful man, honorable in all his dealings, and strictly honest in every business transaction.