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 AMUEL WYETH, a son of one of the earliest pioneers of this county, is located on the land entered by his father from a Mexican land grant in 1853, and which he purchased of the latter, in 1853. He is located on section 27, in Seven Hickory Township, with whose farming interests he has been identified for the last thirty years. He is a New Englander by birth, his native place being Franklin County, Mass., where he was born Nov. 20, 1832. His father, Nathan S. Wyeth, was born in Massachusetts May 16, 1801, and his mother, formerly Miss Hannah P. Kellogg, a native of the same State, was born in 1800. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Gad Wyeth by name, and a native of the Bay State, was born July 27, 1763, and married Miss Mary Kendall, also a native of Massachusetts, born Dec. 3, 1770, their wedding taking place at the home of the bride in 1792. They became the parents of six children, namely, Jonas Parker, born Oct. 27, 1793; Gad, Jr., July 4. 1795; Joseph S., Nov. 8, 1796; Mary, Sept 15, 1799; Nathan S., May 16, 1801, and David, Oct 3, 1802. The eldest son of the grandparents’ family, Jonas P., emigrated to Illinois about 1853, having been married to Miss Margaret Files, July 25, 1825. He located on a farm in Humbolt Township and died there. His widow afterward removed to Michigan, where her death took place after a few years. Gad W. married Miss Elizabeth Chase, May 18, 1823, and died in middle life in his native State; Joseph S. married Miss Sallie Star, Oct. 11, 1823, and is a resident of Massachusetts; Mary W. became the wife of Silas Stites, Feb. 9, 1825; David married Miss Sallie Kellogg, Jan. 2, 1826, and died in Ohio; his widow is still living there. Nathan S.. removed from Massachusetts to Ohio, where he lived until 1851, then came to this county and located in Seven Hickory Township, where he became a large land-holder; he died Aug. 11, 1864; his wife, the mother of our subject, died Feb. 6, 1866. Years ago he united with the Baptists, but subsequently became a Methodist. His wife was also a member of the latter church. The parents of our subject were married Nov. 15, 1824, and to them were born the following children: Nancy K., born Nov. 7, 1825; Leonard J., born Jan. 13, 1827, married Miss Malinda Northway, and is a resident of Tuscola, Ill. ; they have two children, a son and daughter, Clarence and Emma. Joseph S., born Sept. 13, 1828, is a resident of Douglas County; Albert B., born Dec, 22, 1829, is married and a resident of Seven Hickory Township, his wife being formerly Miss Angelina Carris; their children are George and Cora. Samuel K., our subject; Thomas S., born June 21, 1833, has been twice married, and is a resident of Seven Hickory Township; Mary K., born Dec. 28, 1838, is the widow of John F. Coffer and a resident of Douglas County; Delilah, born June 7, 1841, died the following year in Licking County, Ohio. The father of our subject came to Illinois in 1851, opened up a good farm in Seven Hickory Township, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits. While on a visit to Tuscola he died at the home of his son, Aug. 11, 1864. The wife and mother departed this life in Seven Hickory Township Feb. 6, 1866. The subject of our sketch was but a youth when his father emigrated to Ohio, and received a limited education, continuing under the parental roof until reaching his majority. Soon afterward he started out for himself, first farming on rented land and then purchased 160,]acres of his father, where several years later he engaged largely in the cultivation of broom corn, and afterward turned his attention to stock-raising in addition to diversified farming. In 1879 he put up a commodious frame residence, and is amply supplied with other necessary farm buildings. Samuel Wyeth was married, Oct. 27, 1857, to Miss Catherine Combs, who was born in Clark County, Ind., Aug. 29, 1838, and is the daughter of William and Margaret (Myers) Combs, natives respectively of Indiana and Kentucky. They located in Coles County in 1853, where the mother died July 2, 1880. The father is also deceased, dying Sept. 1, 1874. Their children were, Mary Jane, now a resident of Indiana; Nancy, deceased; Catherine, the wife of our subject; William and Margaret, deceased; Rachel, the wife of Thomas C. Coffer, and John, who died Nov. 22, 1 872. All were members of the Christian Church. The children of our subject and his wife are, William Madison, James F., Thomas J., Mary J., John, who died at the age of three, and Minnie when one year old. The only daughter living became the wife of Abraham Hard in, and resides fifteen miles east of Louisville, Ky. The others are at home with their parents. Mr. Wyeth, politically, is one of the most reliable members of the Republican party, and with his wife and children is connected with the Christian Church at Rural Retreat. The home farm of Mr. Wyeth comprises 480 acres, which is one of the finest and best improved in the county. Besides the home place he has 160 acres across the line in Douglas County, 200 acres in Morgan Township, and 700 acres more in different localities in Seven Hickory Township, making a grand total of 1,540 acres. Besides his farm property he is a stockholder in the Arcola Bank in Douglas County, and in all respects a representative citizen of the progressive and enterprising Prairie State. |
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