Clergyman M. E. Church; born at Felicity, Clermont County, Ohio, August 27, 1835; the son of Henry and Mary (Bowser) Apple.  The father was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, June 16, 1803 and died in Fulton County, Illinois in 1867.  The mother was born in Union County, Pennsylvania May 24, 1803 and died April 21, 1876.  The great-grandfather Andrew Apple came from Germany.  The grandfather, Christian Apple, married Catherine Bolander; both were natives of Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  The maternal grandfather, Nathanial Bowser, married Mary Wright who was of Irish parentage – both born in Union County, Pennsylvania.  Henry Apple, Sr. brought his family to Illinois in 1837 and settled at Lewistown, Fulton County, April 10.  The family consisted of ten children six sons and four daughters of whom three daughters and two sons are still living.  Amos, a farmer, lives in Page County, Iowa; Sarah Pugh died January 28, 1900; Amanda Byers lives in Marysville, Missouri; Andrew died at six years of age; Nathaniel was a solder in the Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and died in the Civil War aged twenty-eight; Henry is the subject of this sketch; Simeon and Christian died in infancy; Mary Johnson lives in Clackamas County, Oregon; Martha Thompson lives in Fulton County, Illinois.  Henry Apple graduated from Fulton Seminary in 1860 and began preaching the same year at Mt. Hedding Peoria County.  Since then he has been stationed at the following places:  Peoria, French Grove, Brimfield, Coleville, Groveland, Peoria, Groveland, Peoria, Bartonville.  His last charge was filled in 1897.  He now preaches occasionally as a supply.  April 23, 1863 he was married in Chicago to Janet Borland, born in 1834 and they have three children:  Henry S., graduated from the Peoria High School in 1884; Frank H., graduated from Peoria High School in 1884; Frank H. graduated from Parrish’s Business College, Peoria; Chloe the third child and only daughter is the wife of E. L. Kearns.  They make their home with Mr. Apple at the homestead, Knoxville Road.  Mr. Apple cast his first vote for John C. Fremont and has continued to be a Republican every since.

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