William Haupert was born circa 1878. He came to Hancock County in 1892, at the age of 14. He was placed with Drenon M. Johnson of Plymouth, Illinois. William mentions a brother, Phillip, in a letter to Asylum and states that he lived about a mile away.
Mr. Johnson was a graduate of Wesleyan University. He was a farmer and raised purebred cattle and hogs.
In letters to the New York Juvenile Asylum published in their 1894 Annual Report, Mr. Johnson and William wrote:
William is healthy, and has grown quite stout, and can do most all kinds of farm work. He seems to like farming, and is very fond of horses, and he says he intends to be a farmer. If he stays with me until he is of age I shall do well by him. He is obedient and tries to do his best in all his work, and he is a very good boy. He attends church and Sunday-school regularly, and is now attending school, and I intend that he shall have a good education if he will take it. He received the Annual Report and was very much pleased with it.”
William writes: “ I have been in my home a year, and I am getting along nicely. I have a good home, and I go to Sunday school and church every Sunday, and am attending school. Mr. Johnson has 160 acres, and I am very fond of farming. Mr. Johnson has a fine saddle-horse which I am very fond of riding. My brother Philip and I are only a mile apart, and we see each other every Sunday. I received the Annual Report and your good letter, and I thank you very much for them.”
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