THE LATE JOHN S. KASBEER.
Published in the Bureau County Tribune, Princeton, ILL
27 Mar 1908, Friday, Page 6

John Shull Kasbeer, the eldest of twelve children of Samuel and Mary Kasbeer, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, Dec. 28, 1818 and died practically of old age at his home in Kasbeer, March 16, 1908. He is survived by the youngest member of his family, one sister, Mrs. Emily Clewell, of Mount Ayr, Iowa. He was united in wedlock to Hannah Ross, daughter of Dr. William and Jane Whittaker Ross, of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, March 6, 1842. Their union was broken by the death of his wife, which occurred one year to date before that of her husband after a period of sixty-five years and ten days of life together. The burial of each on the same day in March, the 18th, will sacredly be remembered by the children.

Christianity, temperance, industry, honesty and economy were their guide through life of this noble couple, which no doubt aided them in accumulating a moderate fortune. In Sept. 1899, at a reunion of the family, of their own free will they made a general division of their property, often saying the children were obedient and industrious and had all toiled with them in making the same. In May 1902 they moved to Kasbeer to retire from care, after very active lives. To this home came twelve children, eight of whom are still living: Mrs. Rebecca Mercer, Asa, Ira, Joab, Sumner, Mrs. Melissa Coulter, Mrs. Alice McCleary, and John William. Father and Mother Kasbeer, with little Rachel, one year old, started westward in 1846 by wagon to make their fortune, leaving the hills and forests of Ohio, on through the timber and swamps of Indiana to Illinois after three weeks of tedious journey, where they settled in Lee county for one year; then settling in Ohio township, Bureau county, where Brick Dewey now resides. The log cabin they built there stood for many years. Later they moved to the farm directly north of Kasbeer and finally purchased the home across the road from Jacob Hunter who moved to Missouri in about ’69. Here our subject resided until he moved to a home in the village that bears his name.

One does not realize the exposure and endurance of the early pioneers. The building of log cabins, the breaking up of prairie and making sod fences in a new, cold country---the building of a home for man and beast without money resources to draw from; that was the condition of Mr. Kasbeer. The main trading points, such as Chicago, Amboy, Peru and La Salle were far distant. Many of the shade and fruit trees in the county were planted by him. In addition to farming and stock-raising our subject did blacksmithing, the trade taught him by his father, having driven to Chicago to purchase tools.

Self-reliance, industry and endurance were placed upon the shoulders of this tender youth. His father died when he was little over sixteen years old, leaving him on a very small farm as the main stay of the mother and eleven children. In 1849 Jacob Ross and family, Jacob Hunter and wife, came from Ohio and wintered with Uncle John and Aunt Hannah. Jacob Ross being a brother and Mrs. Hunter a sister of Mrs. Kasbeer. Thus was shown the hospitality of the early settlers. In this home Joseph Ross, son of Jacob Ross, died and was the first buried in Limerick Cemetery, just a few feet away from the family lot chosen by Mr. Kasbeer.

Father Kasbeer united with a church in his native state and aided largely to the building of three churches in Bureau county. He and his good wife were liberal, often doing without the heard earned necessities to help others. Mr. Kasbeer kept a record of events for almost fifty years which is a library in itself. The last few years his sight failed him and he could not write. These books will be referred to and prized by his children as the years go by. The funeral was largely attended at the church Wednesday, Rev. Hannon taking his text from Romans 1:16. This passage like many others being marked by Mr. Kasbeer in his Bible. He often spoke of his faithful companion, her consecration to God and her family, and longed to be buried by her side.
Contributor: Nancy (Hitchcock) Clewell (47250521) •