Portrait & Biographical Record of Tazewell & Mason Counties, Illinois; Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago; 1894
THOMPSON G. ONSTOT. Few of the residents of Forest City are more widely and none more favorably known that the subject of this notice, who, through his able contribution to various newspapers, has gained an enviable reputation throughout this community. He is at present a regular contributor to the Havana Republican, and through his weekly articles in that paper has formed a large circle of friends in this county. His recollections of Abraham Lincoln and Peter Cartwright have been published and widely read, as well as other production of his pen.
Referring to the personal history of Mr. Onstot, we find that he is the son of Henry and Susannah (Schmick) Onstot, both of whom were born in Lincoln County, Ky., in 1804. The paternal grandfather, Gottlieb Onstot, migrated from Pennsylvania to Kentucky at a very early day, while the maternal grandfather, Casper Schmick, moved from Maryland to the Blue Grass State. The parents were married in Kentucky and came to Menard County, Ill., settling in Sugar Grove in 1824, when the Indians were still plentiful in that locality. They settled near Greenview on a tract of wild land at the edge of the timber, where the Marbold place now is situated.
In 1830 the father moved to Salem, Menard County, where he became the proprietor of a log tavern, and among his guests was Abraham Lincoln, who remained with him for two years. To Henry Onstot, as much perhaps as to any other man, was due the decision of the afterward famous statesman to enter the legal profession. In 1840 Mr. Onstot removed to Petersburg, moving his log house down to that place, where it is still standing. About 1846 he came to Havana, where he remained until 1865. The last ten years of his life were passed in the home of our subject, where he died in 1876. His wife had passed away ten years before that time.
Six children comprised the parental family, only two of who are now living, T. G. and R. J., the latter a resident of Mason County. The parents were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for more than forty years, and the father was an influential officer in that denomination, in which he served as an Elder. As a citizen, he was loyal to the Whig party so long as it existed, and after its disintegration he joined the Republican party, to which he afterward gave his support. His youngest son, William Henry, enlisted in the Union army at the age of seventeen years, becoming a member of Company E, Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and served as Orderly-Sergeant of his company. He died in 1864, while in service, and the body was brought to Havana, where it was interred in the old cemetery.
In Menard County, Ill., the subject of this sketch was born, July 20, 1829, and in Petersburg he was a student in the common schools. His education, however, has been acquired largely by self-culture, and he is a man of broad information upon subjects of local or historical importance. In 1852 he married Miss Sarah L. Ellsworth, a sister of Joseph C. Ellsworth, of whom a sketch is elsewhere presented. Mrs. Onstot was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1828, and died in Forest City, January 19, 1887. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living. Ellen, who died at the age of twenty-four, was a graduate of the Jacksonville Female Seminary, and was one of the most intellectual young ladies in the county; Mary is the wife of Harmon G. Brenning, of Havana; Sue E. makes her home with her father; Lulu is the wife of B. F. Jackson. The other three children died in infancy.
In 1852 Mr. Onstot settled upon the farm in Forest City Township now owned by Fred Meyers. At that time the land was wholly unimproved, and he frequently saw large herds of deer and wolves roaming within sight of the house. For fifteen years he resided upon the place, improving it and placing the soil under good cultivation, after which he came to Forest City, and here he has since resided. For more than a quarter of a century he was actively identified with the business interests of Forest City, but recently he retired, transferring his mercantile interests to his son-in-law, B. F. Jackson, and his daughter Sue.
A man if firm religious belief, Mr. Onstot has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as Trustee, Steward and Sunday-school Superintendent for many years. Politically, he was early trained into the principles of the Republican party, under the teaching of no less a man than Abraham Lincoln, and he has since remained firm in his allegiance to that party. He is a strong advocate of temperance, both by example and precept. For several years he has served as Township Collector, and at various times has filled other positions of trust and honor. He is a genial, good-natured gentleman, full of life, humor and anecdote. Though the frosts of sixty-four winters have silvered his head, he is still hale and vigorous, bidding fair to retain a young heart to a ripe old age.
THOMPSON G. ONSTOT. Few of the residents of Forest City are more widely and none more favorably known that the subject of this notice, who, through his able contribution to various newspapers, has gained an enviable reputation throughout this community. He is at present a regular contributor to the Havana Republican, and through his weekly articles in that paper has formed a large circle of friends in this county. His recollections of Abraham Lincoln and Peter Cartwright have been published and widely read, as well as other production of his pen.
Referring to the personal history of Mr. Onstot, we find that he is the son of Henry and Susannah (Schmick) Onstot, both of whom were born in Lincoln County, Ky., in 1804. The paternal grandfather, Gottlieb Onstot, migrated from Pennsylvania to Kentucky at a very early day, while the maternal grandfather, Casper Schmick, moved from Maryland to the Blue Grass State. The parents were married in Kentucky and came to Menard County, Ill., settling in Sugar Grove in 1824, when the Indians were still plentiful in that locality. They settled near Greenview on a tract of wild land at the edge of the timber, where the Marbold place now is situated.
In 1830 the father moved to Salem, Menard County, where he became the proprietor of a log tavern, and among his guests was Abraham Lincoln, who remained with him for two years. To Henry Onstot, as much perhaps as to any other man, was due the decision of the afterward famous statesman to enter the legal profession. In 1840 Mr. Onstot removed to Petersburg, moving his log house down to that place, where it is still standing. About 1846 he came to Havana, where he remained until 1865. The last ten years of his life were passed in the home of our subject, where he died in 1876. His wife had passed away ten years before that time.
Six children comprised the parental family, only two of who are now living, T. G. and R. J., the latter a resident of Mason County. The parents were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for more than forty years, and the father was an influential officer in that denomination, in which he served as an Elder. As a citizen, he was loyal to the Whig party so long as it existed, and after its disintegration he joined the Republican party, to which he afterward gave his support. His youngest son, William Henry, enlisted in the Union army at the age of seventeen years, becoming a member of Company E, Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and served as Orderly-Sergeant of his company. He died in 1864, while in service, and the body was brought to Havana, where it was interred in the old cemetery.
In Menard County, Ill., the subject of this sketch was born, July 20, 1829, and in Petersburg he was a student in the common schools. His education, however, has been acquired largely by self-culture, and he is a man of broad information upon subjects of local or historical importance. In 1852 he married Miss Sarah L. Ellsworth, a sister of Joseph C. Ellsworth, of whom a sketch is elsewhere presented. Mrs. Onstot was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1828, and died in Forest City, January 19, 1887. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living. Ellen, who died at the age of twenty-four, was a graduate of the Jacksonville Female Seminary, and was one of the most intellectual young ladies in the county; Mary is the wife of Harmon G. Brenning, of Havana; Sue E. makes her home with her father; Lulu is the wife of B. F. Jackson. The other three children died in infancy.
In 1852 Mr. Onstot settled upon the farm in Forest City Township now owned by Fred Meyers. At that time the land was wholly unimproved, and he frequently saw large herds of deer and wolves roaming within sight of the house. For fifteen years he resided upon the place, improving it and placing the soil under good cultivation, after which he came to Forest City, and here he has since resided. For more than a quarter of a century he was actively identified with the business interests of Forest City, but recently he retired, transferring his mercantile interests to his son-in-law, B. F. Jackson, and his daughter Sue.
A man if firm religious belief, Mr. Onstot has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as Trustee, Steward and Sunday-school Superintendent for many years. Politically, he was early trained into the principles of the Republican party, under the teaching of no less a man than Abraham Lincoln, and he has since remained firm in his allegiance to that party. He is a strong advocate of temperance, both by example and precept. For several years he has served as Township Collector, and at various times has filled other positions of trust and honor. He is a genial, good-natured gentleman, full of life, humor and anecdote. Though the frosts of sixty-four winters have silvered his head, he is still hale and vigorous, bidding fair to retain a young heart to a ripe old age.
Portrait & Biographical Record of Tazewell & Mason Counties, Illinois; Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago; 1894
THOMPSON G. ONSTOT. Few of the residents of Forest City are more widely and none more favorably known that the subject of this notice, who, through his able contribution to various newspapers, has gained an enviable reputation throughout this community. He is at present a regular contributor to the Havana Republican, and through his weekly articles in that paper has formed a large circle of friends in this county. His recollections of Abraham Lincoln and Peter Cartwright have been published and widely read, as well as other production of his pen.
Referring to the personal history of Mr. Onstot, we find that he is the son of Henry and Susannah (Schmick) Onstot, both of whom were born in Lincoln County, Ky., in 1804. The paternal grandfather, Gottlieb Onstot, migrated from Pennsylvania to Kentucky at a very early day, while the maternal grandfather, Casper Schmick, moved from Maryland to the Blue Grass State. The parents were married in Kentucky and came to Menard County, Ill., settling in Sugar Grove in 1824, when the Indians were still plentiful in that locality. They settled near Greenview on a tract of wild land at the edge of the timber, where the Marbold place now is situated.
In 1830 the father moved to Salem, Menard County, where he became the proprietor of a log tavern, and among his guests was Abraham Lincoln, who remained with him for two years. To Henry Onstot, as much perhaps as to any other man, was due the decision of the afterward famous statesman to enter the legal profession. In 1840 Mr. Onstot removed to Petersburg, moving his log house down to that place, where it is still standing. About 1846 he came to Havana, where he remained until 1865. The last ten years of his life were passed in the home of our subject, where he died in 1876. His wife had passed away ten years before that time.
Six children comprised the parental family, only two of who are now living, T. G. and R. J., the latter a resident of Mason County. The parents were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for more than forty years, and the father was an influential officer in that denomination, in which he served as an Elder. As a citizen, he was loyal to the Whig party so long as it existed, and after its disintegration he joined the Republican party, to which he afterward gave his support. His youngest son, William Henry, enlisted in the Union army at the age of seventeen years, becoming a member of Company E, Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and served as Orderly-Sergeant of his company. He died in 1864, while in service, and the body was brought to Havana, where it was interred in the old cemetery.
In Menard County, Ill., the subject of this sketch was born, July 20, 1829, and in Petersburg he was a student in the common schools. His education, however, has been acquired largely by self-culture, and he is a man of broad information upon subjects of local or historical importance. In 1852 he married Miss Sarah L. Ellsworth, a sister of Joseph C. Ellsworth, of whom a sketch is elsewhere presented. Mrs. Onstot was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1828, and died in Forest City, January 19, 1887. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living. Ellen, who died at the age of twenty-four, was a graduate of the Jacksonville Female Seminary, and was one of the most intellectual young ladies in the county; Mary is the wife of Harmon G. Brenning, of Havana; Sue E. makes her home with her father; Lulu is the wife of B. F. Jackson. The other three children died in infancy.
In 1852 Mr. Onstot settled upon the farm in Forest City Township now owned by Fred Meyers. At that time the land was wholly unimproved, and he frequently saw large herds of deer and wolves roaming within sight of the house. For fifteen years he resided upon the place, improving it and placing the soil under good cultivation, after which he came to Forest City, and here he has since resided. For more than a quarter of a century he was actively identified with the business interests of Forest City, but recently he retired, transferring his mercantile interests to his son-in-law, B. F. Jackson, and his daughter Sue.
A man if firm religious belief, Mr. Onstot has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as Trustee, Steward and Sunday-school Superintendent for many years. Politically, he was early trained into the principles of the Republican party, under the teaching of no less a man than Abraham Lincoln, and he has since remained firm in his allegiance to that party. He is a strong advocate of temperance, both by example and precept. For several years he has served as Township Collector, and at various times has filled other positions of trust and honor. He is a genial, good-natured gentleman, full of life, humor and anecdote. Though the frosts of sixty-four winters have silvered his head, he is still hale and vigorous, bidding fair to retain a young heart to a ripe old age.
THOMPSON G. ONSTOT. Few of the residents of Forest City are more widely and none more favorably known that the subject of this notice, who, through his able contribution to various newspapers, has gained an enviable reputation throughout this community. He is at present a regular contributor to the Havana Republican, and through his weekly articles in that paper has formed a large circle of friends in this county. His recollections of Abraham Lincoln and Peter Cartwright have been published and widely read, as well as other production of his pen.
Referring to the personal history of Mr. Onstot, we find that he is the son of Henry and Susannah (Schmick) Onstot, both of whom were born in Lincoln County, Ky., in 1804. The paternal grandfather, Gottlieb Onstot, migrated from Pennsylvania to Kentucky at a very early day, while the maternal grandfather, Casper Schmick, moved from Maryland to the Blue Grass State. The parents were married in Kentucky and came to Menard County, Ill., settling in Sugar Grove in 1824, when the Indians were still plentiful in that locality. They settled near Greenview on a tract of wild land at the edge of the timber, where the Marbold place now is situated.
In 1830 the father moved to Salem, Menard County, where he became the proprietor of a log tavern, and among his guests was Abraham Lincoln, who remained with him for two years. To Henry Onstot, as much perhaps as to any other man, was due the decision of the afterward famous statesman to enter the legal profession. In 1840 Mr. Onstot removed to Petersburg, moving his log house down to that place, where it is still standing. About 1846 he came to Havana, where he remained until 1865. The last ten years of his life were passed in the home of our subject, where he died in 1876. His wife had passed away ten years before that time.
Six children comprised the parental family, only two of who are now living, T. G. and R. J., the latter a resident of Mason County. The parents were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for more than forty years, and the father was an influential officer in that denomination, in which he served as an Elder. As a citizen, he was loyal to the Whig party so long as it existed, and after its disintegration he joined the Republican party, to which he afterward gave his support. His youngest son, William Henry, enlisted in the Union army at the age of seventeen years, becoming a member of Company E, Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and served as Orderly-Sergeant of his company. He died in 1864, while in service, and the body was brought to Havana, where it was interred in the old cemetery.
In Menard County, Ill., the subject of this sketch was born, July 20, 1829, and in Petersburg he was a student in the common schools. His education, however, has been acquired largely by self-culture, and he is a man of broad information upon subjects of local or historical importance. In 1852 he married Miss Sarah L. Ellsworth, a sister of Joseph C. Ellsworth, of whom a sketch is elsewhere presented. Mrs. Onstot was born in Shelby County, Ohio, in 1828, and died in Forest City, January 19, 1887. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom are now living. Ellen, who died at the age of twenty-four, was a graduate of the Jacksonville Female Seminary, and was one of the most intellectual young ladies in the county; Mary is the wife of Harmon G. Brenning, of Havana; Sue E. makes her home with her father; Lulu is the wife of B. F. Jackson. The other three children died in infancy.
In 1852 Mr. Onstot settled upon the farm in Forest City Township now owned by Fred Meyers. At that time the land was wholly unimproved, and he frequently saw large herds of deer and wolves roaming within sight of the house. For fifteen years he resided upon the place, improving it and placing the soil under good cultivation, after which he came to Forest City, and here he has since resided. For more than a quarter of a century he was actively identified with the business interests of Forest City, but recently he retired, transferring his mercantile interests to his son-in-law, B. F. Jackson, and his daughter Sue.
A man if firm religious belief, Mr. Onstot has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as Trustee, Steward and Sunday-school Superintendent for many years. Politically, he was early trained into the principles of the Republican party, under the teaching of no less a man than Abraham Lincoln, and he has since remained firm in his allegiance to that party. He is a strong advocate of temperance, both by example and precept. For several years he has served as Township Collector, and at various times has filled other positions of trust and honor. He is a genial, good-natured gentleman, full of life, humor and anecdote. Though the frosts of sixty-four winters have silvered his head, he is still hale and vigorous, bidding fair to retain a young heart to a ripe old age.
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