JESSE WIGHT, farmer of township 17, range 10 west, Little Indian post office, was born in Delaware county, New York, February 13, 1828. His parents were Harvey and Judith (Jenkins) Wight�father born in New Jersey and the mother near Bunker Hill, Massachusetts. Both died the same week in New York State. Of a family of twelve, Jesse was the second youngest. The family has been scattered, some to Michigan, others to Pennsylvania and one to Illinois.
Jesse came to Beardstown on May 1, 1846, and hired out to work on a farm in this precinct, where he continued to work in that way for four or five years. He then rented land for several years, and about thirty years ago purchased his first real estate in Illinois. He was raised and educated in New York, and left there at twenty-two. Mr. Wight, by industry and economy, has accumulated a snug property, where he now lives in comparative ease. He owns a fine farm of 107 acres in a good state of cultivation, and raises grain and stock. Mr. Wight has never seen any of his father's relations, and hence knows but little of his family's genealogy.
He was married here in 1851, to Margaret Taylor, of Montgomery county, Ohio, who was born in 1826. Mr. and Mrs. Wight have eight children: Abigail, the eldest, married Taylor Berry, and lives in Morgan county; William is a farmer and lives in Nebraska, where also lives John I.; Amos Harvey lives on his father's farm; Lizzie J. Parker is now a widow and resides at home with her father; Mollie is still unmarried and lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Wight are members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Wight is a member of the Republican party. He has held various positions of trust in the precinct.
Amos Harvey, the youngest son of the above, now managing his father's farm, was born in this precinct, February 14, 1859. He grew to manhood on the farm and attended the public schools. He was a farmer one year in Dakota and was otherwise employed there for one year. He was also one season in Nebraska, herding cattle and running a threshing machine.
He was married, January 15, 1891, to Ollie Gilpin, born in Morgan county, Illinois, June 9, 1871. Her parents were James and Becky Gilpin. Her father was a soldier during the late war and is a pensioner. Mr. and Mrs. Wight have one child, Nettie May, born January 9, 1892. Mrs. Wight died at their home August 24, 1892. Mr. Wight is a member of the I.O.O.F., and in politics is a Republican.