Thomas F. VEATCH. Among the good citizens of Johnson County who are
carrying forward its agricultural interests is Thomas F. VEATCH, who
has a farm pleasantly situated on section 1, Cache Township. He is
descended from one of the earliest settlers of Johnson County, of which
he is a native, born on a farm within its precincts on the 20th of
September, 1844. His paternal grandfather, Green B. VEATCH, was one of
the earliest of those adventuresome spirits to penetrate the wilds of
southern Illinois to establish a home in its forest wilds. He was a
farmer by occupation, who, hoping to better his condition, had left his
native State, North Carolina, with a wagon loaded with a few
necessities, and had boldly pushed onward until he arrived in what is
now Johnson County, which was then a literal wilderness, infested with
wolves, panthers and other wild animals, and inhabited only by Indians,
with but few exceptions. He constructed as best he could a log cabin,
and entered upon his pioneer life under circumstances which might well
cause the stoutest heart to quail. He and his family had to live on
parched corn, which was pounded to make meal. After a while a mill was
put up and operated by horse-power for grinding corn, when he would
occasionally carry some to be ground, having to wait his turn with
others. He worked diligently to clear his farm, cutting down fine large
trees, rolling the logs together and burning them to make room to sow
his crops. He lived upon that place many years, but others coming in,
he had an opportunity to sell it at a good price, and after disposing
of it, opened up another farm near by, and died thereon at a ripe old
age after having contributed materially to the growth of the county,
which he had found heavily timbered, and without churches or schools or
other signs of civilization.
Benjamin F. VEATCH, the father of our subject, was born in the pioneer
home of his parents in this county, and was reared amid its primitive
scenes with but few advantages for self-improvement, as far as the
schools of that day were concerned. They were taught on the
subscription plan by teachers who were rarely qualified for their
profession, reading and
a slight knowledge of arithemtic being generally the extent of their
learning, one who could "cipher in the 'rule of three' " being
considered exceptionally learned. At the age of twenty young Benjamin
left the parental home, and as an initial step toward a home of his
own, married Elizabeth MOUNT, a native of this county. The newly wedded
pair combined their forces and worked with willing hands and light
hearts at their task. The young husband first rented land near the old
place, and later bought some land in the neighborhood, built a log
cabin for shelter, cleared and improved a farm, and lived upon it
eighteen years. Disposing of it for a goodly sum of money, he bought
another farm in Vienna Township, five miles to the south, and it is
still in his possession, its well-tilled fields yielding him a
comfortable income. Mr. VEATCH's first wife died in 1853. leaving but
one child, our subject, another having died in infancy. His second
marriage united him with Elizabeth McKUEN, a native of Johnson County,
and to them were born seven children: James C. and Leroy C., who live
in Vienna Township; Mary Jane, deceased; Allen, living on the farm;
Martha and Rosa, at home with their parents; and William, who died in
infancy.
Thomas VEATCH attended the local schools in his boyhood, and obtained
such an education as they offered. He early became familiar with every
branch of farm work, and was a good practical farmer when he began his
independent career as a farmer at the age of twenty-four. He had
previously assisted his father, but he then married Miss Harriet
MATHIS, of Johnson County, and for six
years rented a farm. Industry, thrift and wise economy enabled him to
accumulate money, and at the end of that lime he bought a
place of his own, comprising eighty acres of unimproved land on section
1, Cache Township, and he has made of it one of the most desirable
farms of the neighborhood. Here he and his family are deservedly
enjoying the comforts of a substantial home. Of the six children born
to him and his estimable wife, but one remains in the household, Fearl,
the others having been early called to the home beyond. Mr. VEATCH is a
Christian gentleman, and an active working member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Politically, he is a Democrat, and in all things he
is a good citizen.
transcribed by Nan Starjak
Source:
The Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin
Counties
Chicago
Biographical Publishing Co., 1893
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