History of DeWitt County Illinois: with biographical sketches of prominent representative citizens of the county.
Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Co., 1910
NELSON W. LUTTRELL. (Volume II, Page 359)
Nelson Willmore Luttrell, who lives upon his splendid farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 6, Creek township, began life by working out by the month. Through tireless energy and determination to succeed he made his way against great odds until finally he became one of the substantial self-made men of the county. He is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Morgan county, October 12, 1860, and is a son of James M. and Martha (Willmore) Luttrell, his father having been born in the same county as he. His mother was a native of Virginia and came to Illinois when quite a young girl with her parents. His father died when Mr. Luttrell was but fourteen years old, being in his fortieth year, and his mother had passed away while in her thirty-fifth year, her son being then but nine years of age. At the time of the deaths of his parents the Luttrell family lived in Kansas City, Missouri, and a cousin of James Luttrell took charge of the three motherless children. This cousin was Mrs. R. H. Nelson and with her N. W. Luttrell remained until he had attained the age of twenty-one years. He was the second child in a family of four, his brothers and sister being: William Douglas, now in Nebraska near Hebron; Ernest, who died when quite young; and Effie Lee, the wife of G. R. Lane, of Clinton, Illinois.
Working upon the Nelson farm, N. W. Luttrell attended the public schools of Missouri and secured a fair education. In the winter of 1880-81 he came to Dewitt county, Illinois, and worked by the month for farmers in Creek township. Then he rented a farm for a time and in 1894 he bought the first tract of land he ever owned, which consisted of forty acres in Creek township. Disposing of this in 1896, he bought eighty acres in Nixon township and farmed that place until 1902, when he disposed of it at a good profit and bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 6, Creek township, where he at present lives. Upon this farm he has built a good, comfortable house and has also erected new sheds and haymows and remodeled other buildings until the place has become one of the best equipped in the country for stock-raising and general farming.
On December 31, 1885, Mr. Luttrell was united in marriage to Miss Katie Davenport, a daughter of Hugh and Mary (Hall) Davenport, of Creek township. Mrs. Luttrell was born in that township, June 7, 1868, her father being a native of Illinois and her mother also a native of the state, born in Sangamon county. Mr. Davenport died April 5, 1908, aged sixty-six years, and is buried in Woodlawn cemetery at Clinton. His widow is now living in that city. There were eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Davenport and but one of them, Mrs. Luttrell, is now living. Mr. and Mrs. Luttrell are the parents of seven children, two of whom are deceased. All were born in Creek township, DeWitt county. James G., born May 26, 1888, secured an excellent education and has become a good business man, being now connected with the Warner Bank at Clinton, a position which he creditably fills. He married Miss Alba Shaw and they make their home in Clinton. Hugh D., born January 29, 1892, Guy Davenport, born February 9, 1894, Raymond Claire, born May 24, 1899, and Martha F., born June 30, 1907, all make their home with their parents.
In addition to farming the place he resides upon, Mr. Luttrell rents an eighty acre tract in Clintonia township, and with his sons' assistance also cultivates that place. Voting the democratic ticket at national elections, he is independent in local affairs. He has served as tax collector of Creek township for two terms and has been school director for six years, being clerk of the board at the present time. Fraternally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, having occupied all the various offices within the gift of the lodge to which he belongs as well as serving twice as representative to the grand lodge held at Springfield and Quincy. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church of Lane, where they are regular attendants. Mr. Luttrell owes what success he has attained entirely to his own efforts as his capital in life when he began battling for himself was good health and a clear brain and the determination to succeed by honest and persistent effort.
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