Cosler, Jacob bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 575-576; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Jacob Cosler. Fulton County is greatly indebted for its present wealth and high standing to the sturdy, intelligent and enterprising tillers of the soil who have been instrumental in developing its vast agricultural resources. As a worthy member of its farming community who has contributed toward its material advancement, and has been very prominent in its civic, social, religious and educational life, it gives us pleasure to represent Mr. Cosler in this volume. He has long been associated with the agricultural interests of Joshua Township and has built up a comfortable home here on the southwestern quarter of section 5.
Mr. Cosler was born near Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, June 25, 1823. He passed the early years of his life in Greene County, a half-mile from the place of his birth. He was a mason by trade, and followed that occupation while a resident of Ohio, and by industry accumulated a small property. In 1852 he sold it, and with the proceeds came to Illinois, accompanied by his family, making the journey with a team, a heavy wagon and one light wagon and upon his arrival locating in Joshua Township. He was a man of considerable education, had taught school in Ohio for three terms and was engaged in that profession the first winter of his settlement in this State.
Mr. Cosler first settled on the northwest quarter of section 26, his place comprising one hundred and twenty acres, and on the land was a rude log cabin and stable, in the former of which he and his wife and family of four children first made their home. He made an addition to the cabin 16x16 feet in dimensions, and lived there until 1863, when he built a neat frame house, 18x28 feet, with an “L” 16x24 feet. In 1860 he built a bank barn, 32x44 feet in dimensions, and erected a wagon shed and corn cribs, 16x32 feet. He lived on that place until 1877, when he put it in charge of his oldest son, who still operates it.
Our subject has another farm of eighty acres on the western half of the southwestern quarter of section 14, and this has been occupied by his youngest son since 1877. It consists of twenty-three acres of choice, highly cultivated land on the southwestern quarter of section 25. He has met with good fortune in the prosecution of his calling and now owns two hundred and twenty acres of as fine farming land as may be found in the county, and is one of the solid men of his township.
Mr. Cosler has received substantial aid in what he has accomplished from his devoted wife, formerly Miss Margaret Miller, to whom he was united in marriage in January, 1845. They wedded life has been gladdened by the birth of five children, as follows: Cyrus f., who lives on section 26, has been twice married; he first married Miss Maxie, while the maiden name of his present wife was Frances A. Murphy; Barbara Ellen married William H. Geltmacher and lives near Good Hope, McDonough County; Mary Jane married Job Walker, former treasurer of Fulton County, who is now deceased; she is living in Atlantic, Cass County, Iowa. David F. Married Caroline Thorne and lives on section 14, Joshua Township; and Lydia Maria married John D. Young and lives near Good Hope.
The power of honesty and integrity is well illustrated in the quiet unpretentious life of our subject, as all agree who know him; and all who come in contact with him, realize that he is a Christian man in every sense of the word and practices Christianity in his daily life. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the United Brethren Church, with which he has been connected since 1843. Mr. Cosler’s fellow-citizens, recognizing his worth and his good capacity for affairs, have often called him to take part in the public life of the county and township, and he has proved an invaluable civic officer. He has been Justice of the Peace since 1858, and has ever been a peacemaker rather than an encourager of litigation. He has been a member of the Board of Supervisors ten different times, and has served as Assessor six terms. He is still Justice of the Peace, and is also School Director, having always manifested a deep interest in educational matters in this locality. Politically, he is a Democrat and lends ready aid to his party.
Elsewhere in this volume will be notice a lithographic portrait of Mr. Cosler.