JOHN W.
ARROWSMITH, JR., a highly respected resident of Padua Township,
is successfully operating the farm of his mother, which is pleasantly located
on section 32. From this he derives a handsome income, and is also the owner of
sixty acres of good land on section 5, Empire Township.
The father of our subject was John W. Arrowsmith, Sr., a native of Ross
County, Ohio, where he passed his childhood and youth, and
developing into manhood engaged at farming pursuits. There also he was married
to Miss Nancy Oliver, a lady of Irish parentage and descent, but a native of Maryland. After marriage the young people
settled on a farm in Green Township, Ross Co., Ohio, whence in 1854 they
emigrated to Illinois, making the journey overland with teams. They settled in
Padua Township, on section 32, where the father of our subject purchased 160
acres of land, and ninety acres in Empire Township, on section 5. He was born
Oct. 31, 1805, and departed this life Jan. 11, 1885, on the homestead which he
had established in this county. The wife and mother is yet living, making her
home with her younger daughter, Nancy M., at Leroy.
The
subject of this history was born in Green Township, Ross Co., Ohio, June 13,
1849, being the youngest but one of a family of eight children, two of whom are
deceased. He was five years of age when his parents removed from the Buckeye
State to Illinois, and received his education mostly in Padua Township. He
remained an inmate of the parental home until 1873, then going into
Seward County, Neb., engaged in farming, being also married there on the 2d of
September, 1875, at the home of the bride's parents, to Miss May M. Davis. Mrs.
A. was born in Lee County, Iowa, in the vicinity of Keokuk, Dec. 27, 1855. She
was the daughter of James T. and Amanda E. (Collins) Davis, natives
respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. They removed West while young, and were
married in Lee County, Iowa. After marriage they went to Nebraska, settling on
a farm in Seward County. Later the father returned East to Butler County, Neb.,
where he died July 27, 1882. The mother married again and is now a resident of
Lincoln, Neb.
Mrs.
Arrowsmith was the elder of her mother's two children, and went with the latter
to Nebraska, remaining with her until her marriage. Of her union with our
subject there have been born five children—Preston D., Maudalena, Rose O., John
W. and Alvin R.
After
their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Arrowsmith located in Seward County, Neb., where
they lived five years, and then came to Illinois, settling first at Stumptown,
this county, and in about 1885 removed to their present home. Mr. Arrowsmith
politically is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and as a business man
and citizen is considered one of the valued members of the community.
Portrait and biographical album of McLean County,
Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent
and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and
biographies of all the governors of Illinois, and of the presidents of the
United States. (Chicago:
Chapman Brothers, 1887), 284. Transcribed
by Judy Rosella Edwards. Please link to
this page if you find it useful – and drop us a note if you do!
