JACOB HOOSER, Sr., Platteville; one of the earliest of Grant Co.'s pioneer settlers, was born Oct. 25, 1807, in Lancaster Co., Penn. His father, Jacob F., a blacksmith, soon after took his family to St. Louis. On July 15, 1828, young Hooser arrived in Galena, Ill., then comprising the U. S. warehouse, a store and Jonathan Meeker's furnace. Four days later, Mr. Hooser came to Platteville. Here he met J. H. Rountree, and was by him employed to burn a quantity of charcoal, and to do sundry jobs of blacksmithing. During the summer of 1829, Mr. Hooser opened up a farm on the Pecatonica River. The next year was spent at mining in "Jimtown." In the spring of 1831, he bought out the claim of a miner, which purchase gave him 160 acres, 80 of which he still owns. At the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he assisted in the building of a stockade on the present farm of Mr. Roseleib, then owned and occupied by E. M. Orrin. Early in the summer of 1832, Mr. Hooser went to Galena, where he earned good wages at shoeing horses during the Indian war. On the surrender of Black Hawk, Mr. H. again sought his Platteville farm, where he has since resided. Hr married, near Eddysville, Ill., Elizabeth Knotts, who died Feb. 14, 1865, leaving three children - Justus D., Jacob and Amanda E. The present Mrs. Hooser was Mary Bennett, and by her he has three children - Marietta, Lester M. and Archie B. The 160 acres before mentioned, was bought of the Government, at the first land sale ever held at Mineral Point.

This biography generously submitted by Roxanne Munns.