Bio donated by Christine Walters BENJAMIN SHECKLER comes from Pennsylvania stock, his father, John Sheckler, having been a native of the Keystone State, born in Union County, of which the grandfather of our subject, Daniel Sheckler, was one of the earliest pioneers. The latter became a resident of union County while it was still a wilderness, going bravely into the heart of the forest and opening up a farm which he succeeded in bringing to a good state of cultivation and where he spent the last years of his life. He also married there and reared a family.
John, the father of our subject, grew to manhood in his native county and there married Miss Elizabeth Antony, who was a native of Northampton County, Pa. After their marriage the young people located in Columbiana County, Ohio, during the early settlement of that State and where John Sheckler had the same experience through which his father passed among the wilds of Union County, Pa., namely, that of clearing a farm and assisting to open the way for a later civilization. John Sheckler occupied his land in Ohio about four years, then traded it to his father for a tract in Buffalo Township, Union Co., Pa., and returning to the vicinity of his birthplace remained there until 1847. He was not contented, however, to see nothing more of the world, and disposing of his interests in Pennsylvania gathered together his family and household goods and started for the West. The reports which he had received from Northern Illinois determined him to seek that locality, and coming into Stephenson County he purchased a farm in Oneco Township, where he lived and labored until advancing years admonished him that he must rest. He then abandoned the farm and removing into Orangeville, took up his abode in a comfortable little home where he remained until his death, in the fall of 1866. The faithful wife and mother had passed to her long home three years previously, her last days also being spent at Orangeville.
The subject of this history, who was the third of fourteen children born to his parents, all of whom grew to man and womanhood, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 10, 1821, and was but a few months old when his parents moved back to Pennsylvania. In common with his brothers and sisters, he was early trained to habits of industry and received the limited education afforded by the schools of those days. His father was extensively engaged in the raising of wheat, and there being no threshing-machines the grain was tramped out by horses. One of the duties of our subject was to ride these as they traveled around over the great barn floor. There being raised annually about 1,000 bushels of wheat on his father's farm the "threshing" usually consumed the entire winter. Benjamin remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age and then joined a company which started on an overland journey to Stephenson County. After reaching Pittsburgh, and becoming tired of this method of travel he took passage on a steamboat and in due time, via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, finally reached Galena, whence he came into Stephenson County, whither his brother-in-law, Alexander McCalle, had preceded him. He made his home with the latter and employed himself at whatever he could find to do until enabled to carry out his intention, viz., to become possessor of a tract of land.
Mr. Sheckler arrived in this county with a cash capital of $13. Not long afterward he entered a claim in Rock Grove Township and when the land came into market was enabled, by the assistance of his father, who sent him a small amount of money, to secure 120 acres. As soon as possible he set about its improvement. The nearest markets then where the settlers could dispose of their farm produce, were Milwaukee and Chicago, to which they conveyed their commodities by horses or oxen and upon the return trip our subject always utilized his team in some manner. Upon his first return trip he brought a load of lumber from mill intending to build a house for himself. Just then, however, instead of building he purchased more land upon which stood a small house. He therefore sold his lumber and took up his abode on the latter, where for a time he kept bachelor's hall. He subsequently bought another tract of land in Waddams Township upon which stood a sawmill which he utilized in preparing lumber for his neighbors, and which he operated successfully for about five years. After abandoning the mill he turned his attention exclusively to farming and stock-raising.
July 1, 1854, Mr. Sheckler was united in marriage with Miss Sarah St. John, at Monroe, Wis. This lady was born in Green County, Wis., and is the daughter of William A. and Catherine (Shelton) St. John, natives of Kentucky. Mr. St. John early in life removed from Kentucky to Southern Illinois and thence to Wisconsin in 1836, locating a few miles southwest of Monroe, where he carried on farming until 1839. He then came into Stephenson County and was among the first settlers here. He entered a tract of Government land and improved a farm in Oneco Township, which he cultivated for a number of years, and finally retiring from active labor took up his abode in Buena Vista, where his death took place in the summer of 1880. The mother passed to the silent land six weeks before the death of her husband.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sheckler resulted in the birth of six children: Catherine, the eldest daughter, became the wife of Thomas Grisinger, a farmer of Waddams Township; John A. is a resident of Springfield, Mass.; E. Charles is farming in Waddams Township; Elida May, Elmer and Leon are at home with their parents. The unbroken family circle constitutes a group of which the parents may well be proud. Mr. Sheckler votes with the Prohibition party and has served as Commissioner of Highways for a period of fourteen years. Both our subject and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 760-761.
John, the father of our subject, grew to manhood in his native county and there married Miss Elizabeth Antony, who was a native of Northampton County, Pa. After their marriage the young people located in Columbiana County, Ohio, during the early settlement of that State and where John Sheckler had the same experience through which his father passed among the wilds of Union County, Pa., namely, that of clearing a farm and assisting to open the way for a later civilization. John Sheckler occupied his land in Ohio about four years, then traded it to his father for a tract in Buffalo Township, Union Co., Pa., and returning to the vicinity of his birthplace remained there until 1847. He was not contented, however, to see nothing more of the world, and disposing of his interests in Pennsylvania gathered together his family and household goods and started for the West. The reports which he had received from Northern Illinois determined him to seek that locality, and coming into Stephenson County he purchased a farm in Oneco Township, where he lived and labored until advancing years admonished him that he must rest. He then abandoned the farm and removing into Orangeville, took up his abode in a comfortable little home where he remained until his death, in the fall of 1866. The faithful wife and mother had passed to her long home three years previously, her last days also being spent at Orangeville.
The subject of this history, who was the third of fourteen children born to his parents, all of whom grew to man and womanhood, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 10, 1821, and was but a few months old when his parents moved back to Pennsylvania. In common with his brothers and sisters, he was early trained to habits of industry and received the limited education afforded by the schools of those days. His father was extensively engaged in the raising of wheat, and there being no threshing-machines the grain was tramped out by horses. One of the duties of our subject was to ride these as they traveled around over the great barn floor. There being raised annually about 1,000 bushels of wheat on his father's farm the "threshing" usually consumed the entire winter. Benjamin remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age and then joined a company which started on an overland journey to Stephenson County. After reaching Pittsburgh, and becoming tired of this method of travel he took passage on a steamboat and in due time, via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, finally reached Galena, whence he came into Stephenson County, whither his brother-in-law, Alexander McCalle, had preceded him. He made his home with the latter and employed himself at whatever he could find to do until enabled to carry out his intention, viz., to become possessor of a tract of land.
Mr. Sheckler arrived in this county with a cash capital of $13. Not long afterward he entered a claim in Rock Grove Township and when the land came into market was enabled, by the assistance of his father, who sent him a small amount of money, to secure 120 acres. As soon as possible he set about its improvement. The nearest markets then where the settlers could dispose of their farm produce, were Milwaukee and Chicago, to which they conveyed their commodities by horses or oxen and upon the return trip our subject always utilized his team in some manner. Upon his first return trip he brought a load of lumber from mill intending to build a house for himself. Just then, however, instead of building he purchased more land upon which stood a small house. He therefore sold his lumber and took up his abode on the latter, where for a time he kept bachelor's hall. He subsequently bought another tract of land in Waddams Township upon which stood a sawmill which he utilized in preparing lumber for his neighbors, and which he operated successfully for about five years. After abandoning the mill he turned his attention exclusively to farming and stock-raising.
July 1, 1854, Mr. Sheckler was united in marriage with Miss Sarah St. John, at Monroe, Wis. This lady was born in Green County, Wis., and is the daughter of William A. and Catherine (Shelton) St. John, natives of Kentucky. Mr. St. John early in life removed from Kentucky to Southern Illinois and thence to Wisconsin in 1836, locating a few miles southwest of Monroe, where he carried on farming until 1839. He then came into Stephenson County and was among the first settlers here. He entered a tract of Government land and improved a farm in Oneco Township, which he cultivated for a number of years, and finally retiring from active labor took up his abode in Buena Vista, where his death took place in the summer of 1880. The mother passed to the silent land six weeks before the death of her husband.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sheckler resulted in the birth of six children: Catherine, the eldest daughter, became the wife of Thomas Grisinger, a farmer of Waddams Township; John A. is a resident of Springfield, Mass.; E. Charles is farming in Waddams Township; Elida May, Elmer and Leon are at home with their parents. The unbroken family circle constitutes a group of which the parents may well be proud. Mr. Sheckler votes with the Prohibition party and has served as Commissioner of Highways for a period of fourteen years. Both our subject and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 760-761.
Bio donated by Christine Walters BENJAMIN SHECKLER comes from Pennsylvania stock, his father, John Sheckler, having been a native of the Keystone State, born in Union County, of which the grandfather of our subject, Daniel Sheckler, was one of the earliest pioneers. The latter became a resident of union County while it was still a wilderness, going bravely into the heart of the forest and opening up a farm which he succeeded in bringing to a good state of cultivation and where he spent the last years of his life. He also married there and reared a family.
John, the father of our subject, grew to manhood in his native county and there married Miss Elizabeth Antony, who was a native of Northampton County, Pa. After their marriage the young people located in Columbiana County, Ohio, during the early settlement of that State and where John Sheckler had the same experience through which his father passed among the wilds of Union County, Pa., namely, that of clearing a farm and assisting to open the way for a later civilization. John Sheckler occupied his land in Ohio about four years, then traded it to his father for a tract in Buffalo Township, Union Co., Pa., and returning to the vicinity of his birthplace remained there until 1847. He was not contented, however, to see nothing more of the world, and disposing of his interests in Pennsylvania gathered together his family and household goods and started for the West. The reports which he had received from Northern Illinois determined him to seek that locality, and coming into Stephenson County he purchased a farm in Oneco Township, where he lived and labored until advancing years admonished him that he must rest. He then abandoned the farm and removing into Orangeville, took up his abode in a comfortable little home where he remained until his death, in the fall of 1866. The faithful wife and mother had passed to her long home three years previously, her last days also being spent at Orangeville.
The subject of this history, who was the third of fourteen children born to his parents, all of whom grew to man and womanhood, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 10, 1821, and was but a few months old when his parents moved back to Pennsylvania. In common with his brothers and sisters, he was early trained to habits of industry and received the limited education afforded by the schools of those days. His father was extensively engaged in the raising of wheat, and there being no threshing-machines the grain was tramped out by horses. One of the duties of our subject was to ride these as they traveled around over the great barn floor. There being raised annually about 1,000 bushels of wheat on his father's farm the "threshing" usually consumed the entire winter. Benjamin remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age and then joined a company which started on an overland journey to Stephenson County. After reaching Pittsburgh, and becoming tired of this method of travel he took passage on a steamboat and in due time, via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, finally reached Galena, whence he came into Stephenson County, whither his brother-in-law, Alexander McCalle, had preceded him. He made his home with the latter and employed himself at whatever he could find to do until enabled to carry out his intention, viz., to become possessor of a tract of land.
Mr. Sheckler arrived in this county with a cash capital of $13. Not long afterward he entered a claim in Rock Grove Township and when the land came into market was enabled, by the assistance of his father, who sent him a small amount of money, to secure 120 acres. As soon as possible he set about its improvement. The nearest markets then where the settlers could dispose of their farm produce, were Milwaukee and Chicago, to which they conveyed their commodities by horses or oxen and upon the return trip our subject always utilized his team in some manner. Upon his first return trip he brought a load of lumber from mill intending to build a house for himself. Just then, however, instead of building he purchased more land upon which stood a small house. He therefore sold his lumber and took up his abode on the latter, where for a time he kept bachelor's hall. He subsequently bought another tract of land in Waddams Township upon which stood a sawmill which he utilized in preparing lumber for his neighbors, and which he operated successfully for about five years. After abandoning the mill he turned his attention exclusively to farming and stock-raising.
July 1, 1854, Mr. Sheckler was united in marriage with Miss Sarah St. John, at Monroe, Wis. This lady was born in Green County, Wis., and is the daughter of William A. and Catherine (Shelton) St. John, natives of Kentucky. Mr. St. John early in life removed from Kentucky to Southern Illinois and thence to Wisconsin in 1836, locating a few miles southwest of Monroe, where he carried on farming until 1839. He then came into Stephenson County and was among the first settlers here. He entered a tract of Government land and improved a farm in Oneco Township, which he cultivated for a number of years, and finally retiring from active labor took up his abode in Buena Vista, where his death took place in the summer of 1880. The mother passed to the silent land six weeks before the death of her husband.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sheckler resulted in the birth of six children: Catherine, the eldest daughter, became the wife of Thomas Grisinger, a farmer of Waddams Township; John A. is a resident of Springfield, Mass.; E. Charles is farming in Waddams Township; Elida May, Elmer and Leon are at home with their parents. The unbroken family circle constitutes a group of which the parents may well be proud. Mr. Sheckler votes with the Prohibition party and has served as Commissioner of Highways for a period of fourteen years. Both our subject and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 760-761.
John, the father of our subject, grew to manhood in his native county and there married Miss Elizabeth Antony, who was a native of Northampton County, Pa. After their marriage the young people located in Columbiana County, Ohio, during the early settlement of that State and where John Sheckler had the same experience through which his father passed among the wilds of Union County, Pa., namely, that of clearing a farm and assisting to open the way for a later civilization. John Sheckler occupied his land in Ohio about four years, then traded it to his father for a tract in Buffalo Township, Union Co., Pa., and returning to the vicinity of his birthplace remained there until 1847. He was not contented, however, to see nothing more of the world, and disposing of his interests in Pennsylvania gathered together his family and household goods and started for the West. The reports which he had received from Northern Illinois determined him to seek that locality, and coming into Stephenson County he purchased a farm in Oneco Township, where he lived and labored until advancing years admonished him that he must rest. He then abandoned the farm and removing into Orangeville, took up his abode in a comfortable little home where he remained until his death, in the fall of 1866. The faithful wife and mother had passed to her long home three years previously, her last days also being spent at Orangeville.
The subject of this history, who was the third of fourteen children born to his parents, all of whom grew to man and womanhood, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, May 10, 1821, and was but a few months old when his parents moved back to Pennsylvania. In common with his brothers and sisters, he was early trained to habits of industry and received the limited education afforded by the schools of those days. His father was extensively engaged in the raising of wheat, and there being no threshing-machines the grain was tramped out by horses. One of the duties of our subject was to ride these as they traveled around over the great barn floor. There being raised annually about 1,000 bushels of wheat on his father's farm the "threshing" usually consumed the entire winter. Benjamin remained with his parents until twenty-two years of age and then joined a company which started on an overland journey to Stephenson County. After reaching Pittsburgh, and becoming tired of this method of travel he took passage on a steamboat and in due time, via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, finally reached Galena, whence he came into Stephenson County, whither his brother-in-law, Alexander McCalle, had preceded him. He made his home with the latter and employed himself at whatever he could find to do until enabled to carry out his intention, viz., to become possessor of a tract of land.
Mr. Sheckler arrived in this county with a cash capital of $13. Not long afterward he entered a claim in Rock Grove Township and when the land came into market was enabled, by the assistance of his father, who sent him a small amount of money, to secure 120 acres. As soon as possible he set about its improvement. The nearest markets then where the settlers could dispose of their farm produce, were Milwaukee and Chicago, to which they conveyed their commodities by horses or oxen and upon the return trip our subject always utilized his team in some manner. Upon his first return trip he brought a load of lumber from mill intending to build a house for himself. Just then, however, instead of building he purchased more land upon which stood a small house. He therefore sold his lumber and took up his abode on the latter, where for a time he kept bachelor's hall. He subsequently bought another tract of land in Waddams Township upon which stood a sawmill which he utilized in preparing lumber for his neighbors, and which he operated successfully for about five years. After abandoning the mill he turned his attention exclusively to farming and stock-raising.
July 1, 1854, Mr. Sheckler was united in marriage with Miss Sarah St. John, at Monroe, Wis. This lady was born in Green County, Wis., and is the daughter of William A. and Catherine (Shelton) St. John, natives of Kentucky. Mr. St. John early in life removed from Kentucky to Southern Illinois and thence to Wisconsin in 1836, locating a few miles southwest of Monroe, where he carried on farming until 1839. He then came into Stephenson County and was among the first settlers here. He entered a tract of Government land and improved a farm in Oneco Township, which he cultivated for a number of years, and finally retiring from active labor took up his abode in Buena Vista, where his death took place in the summer of 1880. The mother passed to the silent land six weeks before the death of her husband.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sheckler resulted in the birth of six children: Catherine, the eldest daughter, became the wife of Thomas Grisinger, a farmer of Waddams Township; John A. is a resident of Springfield, Mass.; E. Charles is farming in Waddams Township; Elida May, Elmer and Leon are at home with their parents. The unbroken family circle constitutes a group of which the parents may well be proud. Mr. Sheckler votes with the Prohibition party and has served as Commissioner of Highways for a period of fourteen years. Both our subject and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 760-761.
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