SAMUEL E. HETTICK. The ancestral history of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch presents many incidents of interest. His father, Stephen, was the son of Andrew Hettick whose father, Christian, was a native of Germany who settled on the Pennsylvania frontier and was murdered by the Indians when the son Andrew was a little lad of six years. The child was in captivity to the savages for three years but was finally rescued by the soldiers and returned to his mother. She had married a second time and he was reared by her and his step-father and everything done to remove the cloud of sorrow which had been brought upon him by the terrible scenes through which he passed. The scars which he received at the time of his capture went with him to his grave. After a few years he started out in life for himself and became a pioneer in Fayette County, Ohio.
After going to Ohio, Andrew Hettick raised stock and drove it to market across the mountains to Baltimore and Philadelphia. In 1816 he removed to what was then the Territory of Illinois, making his journey in a keelboat on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. He bought two hundred acres of land in Monroe County and there made his home until 1820, when he removed to Greene County. After living for five years in Carrollton he removed to Scottville Township, Macoupin County and became the first actual settler in what was afterward this township and one of the first in the county, which was then a part of Greene County. He settled upon a tract of Government land, built two log houses and a log stable and broke thirty acres of land. He was unable to buy as he was entirely without means, but this land was properly entered by a would-be settler who gave Mr. Hettick $100 as a compensation for the work he had done and with that money he was able to enter eighty acres and secure a home of his own, upon which he built a hewed log house, which was his home until his death in 1853.
Stephen Hettick, one of the sons of Andrew grew to maturity amid the primitive scenes of pioneer life and before his marriage entered eighty acres on section 28, Scottville Township, where he built a log house preparatory to housekeeping. He was married December 24, 1853, to Delilah Sharpe who was born in Clinton, Tenn., May 14, 1817. She is a daughter of William and Sarah (Kirk) Sharpe, and of the children born to her the following are now living: Emily, wife of Henry Ruyle; Melinda, wife of J. W. Neighbors; Andrew, John, Stephen A., Jesse B. and Samuel E., our subject. The parents are earnest and consistent members of the Baptist Church.
The subject of this sketch was born on the home farm in Scottville Township, June 12, 1859 and commenced to assist on the farm as soon as large enough to lend a hand. He also attended the district school and took the best advantage that he could of the opportunities given him for an education. He resided with his parents until his marriage, which occurred December 11, 1877, when he was united in marriage with Nancy A. Walker, a native of Scottville Township, who was born April 30, 1860. This daughter of James and China (Owens) Walker.
After marriage Samuel Hettick took charge of the home place for some time and finally settled on the farm which he now owns and occupies. This land is situated on sections 24 and 25, of Scottville Township and comprises two hundred and fifty acres of rich prairie soil suitable for tillage and pasture land. He has placed it in a first-class condition and its appearance is a credit to the township. He is a thorough and systematic farmer but devotes himself largely to stock raising, not only raising a good grade himself but buying stock, which he feeds and ships to market.
Four children have blessed this happy home - Clara M., Nellie, Ruth and Opal, whose future is bright and promises well not only for their own happiness and well-being but also for upholding the high reputation which this family has sustained in the past.