"John Cessna is busily engaged in tilling the soil and raising stock on his well-managed, comfortably improved farm on section 10, Pilot Township. He is a representative self-made man and by industry and prudence has succeeded in accumulating a competence and in building a cozy home where he may pass his declining years well fortified against want and poverty. Mr. Cessna was born in Cochocton County, Ohio, June 29, 1833, his parents being Jonathan and Margaret (Divan) Cessna. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1810, his mother in Belmont County, Ohio.
At the age of seventeen the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents to another home near Toledo, Ohio, where they lived but a short time. They then went down the Ohio River on a trading boat to Cairo, Ill., where the father died in 1844. After that sad event the subject with his mother and sister returned to Coshocton County, Ohio, and in about two years the mother remarried again, becoming the wife of Joseph Richardson. In 1848 the family once more came to Illinois and located on the homestead Mr. Richardson then purchased in this county, and now occupied by mother of our subject. Mr. Cessna has but one sister now, the widow of Elisha Grimes, living on her husband's homestead. She has eight children, namely: John M., Elisha C., William and Jacob (who are deceased), Alvin, Margaret, Ellen, Charles and Belle.
John Cessna, of who we write, commenced life as a farm hand. He wisely saved his earnings and in a few years had money enough to buy a good farm. In 1857, smitten with a desire to accumulate wealth still faster, he went to California by the way of New York and Panama. In the Golden State he found employment on a ranch and was well paid well for his work in that country, where good reliable help was scarce. Twenty-two months of life in that climate satisfied our subject and he retraced his steps homeward, and on his return invested some of his capital in an 80 acre farm, which he subsequently disposed of at a good advance price, and then bought his present homestead, which then comprised but 140 acres. He has kept adding to his landed property till he now owns 260 acres of fine land, with excellent improvements, that add greatly to its value, and he is profitably engaged in a general farming business, raising cattle, horses and hogs of good grade.
Mr. Cessna has twice married. The maiden name of his first wife was Ann Rebecca Truax. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1841, and died in the pleasant home she had helped her husband to build up, in 1876. Her people were of Irish origin. Of her marriage with our subject seven children were born, two of whom are dead; those living are William, Mary, Charles E., Lemuel E., and Elizabeth. Mr. Cessna was united in marriage to his present wife in 1877, and to them have come six children, two of whom are dead, Frank and Johnathan. The others are Ann R., Albert B., Mont P., all at home.
Mr. Cessna has been a hard working man, but his labors have been amply rewarded, as he knows well how to direct his energies so as to produce the desired results. He is possessed of sound sense, discretion and other good traits, is honest and strait forward in his manner and dealings, and is prominently connected with the Masonic order as Master Mason.
In politics, he is a good democrat, and is loyal in every fiber to his country. He has held school offices and has served on the juries of his county. Our subject's mother died since the above was written, her death occurring June 30, 1889." (Portrait & Biographical Album of Vermilion County, Illinois, by Chatman Brothers, 1889)
At the age of seventeen the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents to another home near Toledo, Ohio, where they lived but a short time. They then went down the Ohio River on a trading boat to Cairo, Ill., where the father died in 1844. After that sad event the subject with his mother and sister returned to Coshocton County, Ohio, and in about two years the mother remarried again, becoming the wife of Joseph Richardson. In 1848 the family once more came to Illinois and located on the homestead Mr. Richardson then purchased in this county, and now occupied by mother of our subject. Mr. Cessna has but one sister now, the widow of Elisha Grimes, living on her husband's homestead. She has eight children, namely: John M., Elisha C., William and Jacob (who are deceased), Alvin, Margaret, Ellen, Charles and Belle.
John Cessna, of who we write, commenced life as a farm hand. He wisely saved his earnings and in a few years had money enough to buy a good farm. In 1857, smitten with a desire to accumulate wealth still faster, he went to California by the way of New York and Panama. In the Golden State he found employment on a ranch and was well paid well for his work in that country, where good reliable help was scarce. Twenty-two months of life in that climate satisfied our subject and he retraced his steps homeward, and on his return invested some of his capital in an 80 acre farm, which he subsequently disposed of at a good advance price, and then bought his present homestead, which then comprised but 140 acres. He has kept adding to his landed property till he now owns 260 acres of fine land, with excellent improvements, that add greatly to its value, and he is profitably engaged in a general farming business, raising cattle, horses and hogs of good grade.
Mr. Cessna has twice married. The maiden name of his first wife was Ann Rebecca Truax. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1841, and died in the pleasant home she had helped her husband to build up, in 1876. Her people were of Irish origin. Of her marriage with our subject seven children were born, two of whom are dead; those living are William, Mary, Charles E., Lemuel E., and Elizabeth. Mr. Cessna was united in marriage to his present wife in 1877, and to them have come six children, two of whom are dead, Frank and Johnathan. The others are Ann R., Albert B., Mont P., all at home.
Mr. Cessna has been a hard working man, but his labors have been amply rewarded, as he knows well how to direct his energies so as to produce the desired results. He is possessed of sound sense, discretion and other good traits, is honest and strait forward in his manner and dealings, and is prominently connected with the Masonic order as Master Mason.
In politics, he is a good democrat, and is loyal in every fiber to his country. He has held school offices and has served on the juries of his county. Our subject's mother died since the above was written, her death occurring June 30, 1889." (Portrait & Biographical Album of Vermilion County, Illinois, by Chatman Brothers, 1889)
"John Cessna is busily engaged in tilling the soil and raising stock on his well-managed, comfortably improved farm on section 10, Pilot Township. He is a representative self-made man and by industry and prudence has succeeded in accumulating a competence and in building a cozy home where he may pass his declining years well fortified against want and poverty. Mr. Cessna was born in Cochocton County, Ohio, June 29, 1833, his parents being Jonathan and Margaret (Divan) Cessna. His father was born in Pennsylvania in 1810, his mother in Belmont County, Ohio.
At the age of seventeen the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents to another home near Toledo, Ohio, where they lived but a short time. They then went down the Ohio River on a trading boat to Cairo, Ill., where the father died in 1844. After that sad event the subject with his mother and sister returned to Coshocton County, Ohio, and in about two years the mother remarried again, becoming the wife of Joseph Richardson. In 1848 the family once more came to Illinois and located on the homestead Mr. Richardson then purchased in this county, and now occupied by mother of our subject. Mr. Cessna has but one sister now, the widow of Elisha Grimes, living on her husband's homestead. She has eight children, namely: John M., Elisha C., William and Jacob (who are deceased), Alvin, Margaret, Ellen, Charles and Belle.
John Cessna, of who we write, commenced life as a farm hand. He wisely saved his earnings and in a few years had money enough to buy a good farm. In 1857, smitten with a desire to accumulate wealth still faster, he went to California by the way of New York and Panama. In the Golden State he found employment on a ranch and was well paid well for his work in that country, where good reliable help was scarce. Twenty-two months of life in that climate satisfied our subject and he retraced his steps homeward, and on his return invested some of his capital in an 80 acre farm, which he subsequently disposed of at a good advance price, and then bought his present homestead, which then comprised but 140 acres. He has kept adding to his landed property till he now owns 260 acres of fine land, with excellent improvements, that add greatly to its value, and he is profitably engaged in a general farming business, raising cattle, horses and hogs of good grade.
Mr. Cessna has twice married. The maiden name of his first wife was Ann Rebecca Truax. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1841, and died in the pleasant home she had helped her husband to build up, in 1876. Her people were of Irish origin. Of her marriage with our subject seven children were born, two of whom are dead; those living are William, Mary, Charles E., Lemuel E., and Elizabeth. Mr. Cessna was united in marriage to his present wife in 1877, and to them have come six children, two of whom are dead, Frank and Johnathan. The others are Ann R., Albert B., Mont P., all at home.
Mr. Cessna has been a hard working man, but his labors have been amply rewarded, as he knows well how to direct his energies so as to produce the desired results. He is possessed of sound sense, discretion and other good traits, is honest and strait forward in his manner and dealings, and is prominently connected with the Masonic order as Master Mason.
In politics, he is a good democrat, and is loyal in every fiber to his country. He has held school offices and has served on the juries of his county. Our subject's mother died since the above was written, her death occurring June 30, 1889." (Portrait & Biographical Album of Vermilion County, Illinois, by Chatman Brothers, 1889)
At the age of seventeen the subject of this sketch accompanied his parents to another home near Toledo, Ohio, where they lived but a short time. They then went down the Ohio River on a trading boat to Cairo, Ill., where the father died in 1844. After that sad event the subject with his mother and sister returned to Coshocton County, Ohio, and in about two years the mother remarried again, becoming the wife of Joseph Richardson. In 1848 the family once more came to Illinois and located on the homestead Mr. Richardson then purchased in this county, and now occupied by mother of our subject. Mr. Cessna has but one sister now, the widow of Elisha Grimes, living on her husband's homestead. She has eight children, namely: John M., Elisha C., William and Jacob (who are deceased), Alvin, Margaret, Ellen, Charles and Belle.
John Cessna, of who we write, commenced life as a farm hand. He wisely saved his earnings and in a few years had money enough to buy a good farm. In 1857, smitten with a desire to accumulate wealth still faster, he went to California by the way of New York and Panama. In the Golden State he found employment on a ranch and was well paid well for his work in that country, where good reliable help was scarce. Twenty-two months of life in that climate satisfied our subject and he retraced his steps homeward, and on his return invested some of his capital in an 80 acre farm, which he subsequently disposed of at a good advance price, and then bought his present homestead, which then comprised but 140 acres. He has kept adding to his landed property till he now owns 260 acres of fine land, with excellent improvements, that add greatly to its value, and he is profitably engaged in a general farming business, raising cattle, horses and hogs of good grade.
Mr. Cessna has twice married. The maiden name of his first wife was Ann Rebecca Truax. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1841, and died in the pleasant home she had helped her husband to build up, in 1876. Her people were of Irish origin. Of her marriage with our subject seven children were born, two of whom are dead; those living are William, Mary, Charles E., Lemuel E., and Elizabeth. Mr. Cessna was united in marriage to his present wife in 1877, and to them have come six children, two of whom are dead, Frank and Johnathan. The others are Ann R., Albert B., Mont P., all at home.
Mr. Cessna has been a hard working man, but his labors have been amply rewarded, as he knows well how to direct his energies so as to produce the desired results. He is possessed of sound sense, discretion and other good traits, is honest and strait forward in his manner and dealings, and is prominently connected with the Masonic order as Master Mason.
In politics, he is a good democrat, and is loyal in every fiber to his country. He has held school offices and has served on the juries of his county. Our subject's mother died since the above was written, her death occurring June 30, 1889." (Portrait & Biographical Album of Vermilion County, Illinois, by Chatman Brothers, 1889)
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