It started out as simply establishing a Macon County Calf Club in the early 1920’s. But it turned into 25-years of serving as a 4-H club leader. And today, 37 of his descendants (and their spouses) account for 267 years of 4-Hmembership, 80 years serving as a 4-H club leader, and 335 years of volunteering with 4-H.
Howard A. Peverly was born in 1879, farmed in Macon County, and raised five sons that all became members of 4-H. Howard founded a Calf Club that eventually turned into a 4-H club that he served as leader for at least 25 years. In fact, Howard A. Peverly is the first 4-H leader in Illinois known to have been recognized as a 25-year leader back in the late 1940’s.
Howard’s oldest two sons—Howard and George—each showed beef cattle in 4-H but both died as young men. Howard died of an appendicitis attack at age 25 and George died at age 20 from Spinal Meningitis while attending the University of Illinois where he earned high honors, participated on the 1929 Livestock Judging Team, and pledged Beta Kappa Fraternity.
Howard’s youngest three sons—Ralph, Joseph, and Robert—were all selected as National 4-H Club Congress delegates between 1930 and 1940. Ralph was also one of two 4-H youth to attend the 1931 National 4-H Leadership Conference where he met President Franklin D. Roosevelt in WashingtonD.C. All three of these brothers joined the Rural Youth (4-H alumni organization), married women who were 4-H alumnae, and each of the brothers and their wives spent at least a short time serving as a 4-H club leader.
All twelve of the Peverly grandchildren were enrolled in 4-H for at least eight years. One granddaughter, Janice Peverly, was selected to the National 4-H Club Congress in 1969. A grandson, John Peverly, currently works as an Extension Educator with the Vermilion County Unit of University of Illinois Extension.
Another granddaughter, Elizabeth “Liz” Peverly, married Marvin Schnitzler and raised five children in JoDaviessCounty who were 4-H members for a cumulative total of 56 years in the “Besty Juniors 4-H Club”. Liz is a 40-year 4-H club leader between the “Besty Juniors” and the “Top Notchers” clubs. Each one of the Schnitzler children—Leisa Hubb, Karen Koester, Roger, Sheila Alexander, and Marla Todd—were selected as delegates to the National 4-H Congress. And in 1993, Liz’s childhood dream of attending the National 4-H Congress became a reality when she served as an Illinois chaperone to the Congress. Four of the five Schnitzler children married 4-H alumni. And their eight-year-old granddaughter, Kelley Koester, joined 4-H last year and represents the first great-great-grandchild of Howard A. Peverly to have joined 4-H. Kelley is the fifth consecutive generation of 4-H involvement in the family.
The Peverly and Schnitzler Families collectively shared some of their favorite 4-H memories that relate to the unique experiences, earned achievements, service opportunities, the teachable moments, and the lifelong friendships. Memories include attending events such as the World Poultry Congress, National 4-H Club Congress, National 4-H Safety Congress, National Horticulture Judging Contest, Illinois Leadership Conference, Junior Leaders Conference, 4-H Band Camp, and 4-H Memorial Camp at Allerton. Other special 4-H moments were of recognition including exhibiting the Reserve Grand Champion Steer at the International Livestock Show in Chicago, receiving the Gardening Exhibit Excellence Award, earning 1st place Vegetable Display at the State Fair, and winning the Electricity Jacket. Some memories are of their volunteer service as 4-H Club Leader, Fair Superintendent, and Illinois 4-H Foundation Board Member. And finally, 4-H experiences that occurred at home came to family members minds. These include sharing sewing and cooking skills with daughters and granddaughters, hosting international exchange students from the IFYE program, and sewing new clothes for their wardrobes (that ranged from prom dresses to drop-seat pajamas).
