Clark Abbott, was born and reared in New Hampshire. In 1843, hoping to enjoy better advantages in the west, he made his way to Illinois, settling near Aurora, where he made his home until 1852, in which year he took up his abode in Whiteside county, taking up government land in Ustick township. At the time he settled in this locality there were but three other settlers in the township, these being Oliver Baker, Henry I. Burt and Aaron Ives. Here a long, strenuous task presented itself to him, but he met it with a steady, unwavering resolution. Wild game was still plentiful in this district and wolves frequently came in the dooryard. The houses, too were very crude, being built by driving posts into the ground and covering them with slabs or clapboards on the outside, while in the winter a similar wall was made on the inside, the space between the boards being filled with dirt in order that the inmates might be better protected from the cold. The roof of the house was also made of clapboards and many times members of the family who were sleeping in the attic have wakened in the morning to find several inches of snow on the bed. The father soon developed his farm of one hundred and fifty acres and each year gathered good crops, for the soil was made rich and productive through the care and labor he bestowed upon it. The family had to endure many hardships and inconveniences during the pioneer epoch of the section of the state, the nearest milling point being at Jacobstown, in the northern portion of the county. The trip was made with ox teams, the journey requiring a day, and often upon reaching the mill one would have to wait a week in order to get his feed ground into bread stuff, this being the only milling place for a great area of country. In 1861 the loyalty and patriotism of Mr. Abbott was displayed when he organized a company for service in the Civil war, this being known as Company F, of the Ninety-third Illinois Regiment. He did not go to the front, however, as his son enlisted and his services were needed on the home farm and in the care of the wife and children,. He continued to cultivate this property until 1868 and during this time took and active interest in public office. At various times he served as city marshal, being in the office about ten years, while for several terms he served as deputy sheriff and as constable. His death occurred in 1882, and thus the county lost one of its most valued and honored pioneer citizens, for from the time of his settlement here he had been known as a most industrious and useful man, whose probity was an unquestioned element in his career, and many times his energy was at the service of his community.
Clark Abbott was three times married. He was first married in the east to Miss Betsy Crouch, a native of New York, who died in 1845, two years after coming to this state. The children of that marriage, five in number, all lived to maturity, these being: Mariam, the deceased wife of Abner Ustick; Olive, the widow of John Johnson; Llewellyn, deceased; Leland, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company F, Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, and is now deceased; and Albert T., whose name introduces this record. The second wife of Mr. Abbott bore the name of Sarah Moore and by this marriage there was one daughter, Helen, who died of diptheria, this being the first case of that disease in the county where death resulted. Mr. Abbot was married a third time to Mrs. Mary Wilson, nee Cocks, by whom he had a son and daughter: Clark, and Mary, the wife of Ollie Penoyer, a resident of Quincy, Illinois.
[The History Of Whiteside County]
Clark Abbott, was born and reared in New Hampshire. In 1843, hoping to enjoy better advantages in the west, he made his way to Illinois, settling near Aurora, where he made his home until 1852, in which year he took up his abode in Whiteside county, taking up government land in Ustick township. At the time he settled in this locality there were but three other settlers in the township, these being Oliver Baker, Henry I. Burt and Aaron Ives. Here a long, strenuous task presented itself to him, but he met it with a steady, unwavering resolution. Wild game was still plentiful in this district and wolves frequently came in the dooryard. The houses, too were very crude, being built by driving posts into the ground and covering them with slabs or clapboards on the outside, while in the winter a similar wall was made on the inside, the space between the boards being filled with dirt in order that the inmates might be better protected from the cold. The roof of the house was also made of clapboards and many times members of the family who were sleeping in the attic have wakened in the morning to find several inches of snow on the bed. The father soon developed his farm of one hundred and fifty acres and each year gathered good crops, for the soil was made rich and productive through the care and labor he bestowed upon it. The family had to endure many hardships and inconveniences during the pioneer epoch of the section of the state, the nearest milling point being at Jacobstown, in the northern portion of the county. The trip was made with ox teams, the journey requiring a day, and often upon reaching the mill one would have to wait a week in order to get his feed ground into bread stuff, this being the only milling place for a great area of country. In 1861 the loyalty and patriotism of Mr. Abbott was displayed when he organized a company for service in the Civil war, this being known as Company F, of the Ninety-third Illinois Regiment. He did not go to the front, however, as his son enlisted and his services were needed on the home farm and in the care of the wife and children,. He continued to cultivate this property until 1868 and during this time took and active interest in public office. At various times he served as city marshal, being in the office about ten years, while for several terms he served as deputy sheriff and as constable. His death occurred in 1882, and thus the county lost one of its most valued and honored pioneer citizens, for from the time of his settlement here he had been known as a most industrious and useful man, whose probity was an unquestioned element in his career, and many times his energy was at the service of his community.
Clark Abbott was three times married. He was first married in the east to Miss Betsy Crouch, a native of New York, who died in 1845, two years after coming to this state. The children of that marriage, five in number, all lived to maturity, these being: Mariam, the deceased wife of Abner Ustick; Olive, the widow of John Johnson; Llewellyn, deceased; Leland, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company F, Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, and is now deceased; and Albert T., whose name introduces this record. The second wife of Mr. Abbott bore the name of Sarah Moore and by this marriage there was one daughter, Helen, who died of diptheria, this being the first case of that disease in the county where death resulted. Mr. Abbot was married a third time to Mrs. Mary Wilson, nee Cocks, by whom he had a son and daughter: Clark, and Mary, the wife of Ollie Penoyer, a resident of Quincy, Illinois.
[The History Of Whiteside County]
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