TAAPKEN, JOHN D., who is one of the best known and most industrious and thrifty of the farmers and stock raisers of Cass County, Ill., lives in the vicinity of Tallula, his farm being situated in section 28, township 18, range 8, and consists of 162 acres of very productive land. Mr. Taapken was born in Hanover, Germany, January 20, 1850. His father, John F. Taapken, born in the same province, was by trade a shoemaker, and there married John D. Taapken's mother, whose maiden name was Mary Boalster, a native of the same place. On one occasion, while the father was busy at the work of his trade, he found he had exhausted his supply of a certain kind of leather. Starting out to secure an additional quantity, he became bewildered in a blinding snowstorm, and met with a fatal accident. His death left his widow with the sole care of several small children. In 1870, the mother with her family started for the United States, taking passage on a sailing vessel, which consumed forty-eight days on the trip across the ocean. They finally reached Menard County, Ill., where she settled down and lived for nine years. John D. Taapken and his brother rented land, on which they carried on farming, but ultimately, the former purchased the farm he now lives on in Cass County, which he cleared and improved. Mr. Taapken received his education in the country schools, using what spare time he could for that purpose, and then applied himself to farming.

On March 14, 1884, in Menard County, Ill., Mr. Taapken was united in marriage with Mary Hansill, a native of that county, and they have eight children, namely: John H., Frank, Henry J., Harry, Powell, Mary H., Anna, Julia and Deeicks.

Mr. Taapken is a very hard working man. Besides grain farming, he is a breeder and raiser of shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs; but, whatever be his cares or perplexities in the course of work, he is almost always good natured and sociable. His religious connection is with the Lutheran Church of Petersburg, Ill., and he has served the public as school director for three years. He is well liked by all, and is considered a good farmer and a good citizen.