History of Macon County, Illinois.  With Illustrations Descriptive Of 
Its Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of some of its Prominent Men and 
Pioneers.  Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Phildelphia, 1880.  
Reproduced through efforts of The Decatur Genealogical Society, 1972. 
pp. 186-187 [Shelby County].

JACOB HOSTETLER (DECEASED.) Jacob Hostetler, who died on the 11th of 
January, 1873, as one of the early settlers of Harristown township.  He 
was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, on the 6th of July, 1810.  His 
father, Adam Hostetler, was a Pensylvanian of Dutch descent who became 
an early resident of Kentucky.  His mother's maiden name was Hannah 
Hartman. His parents were married in Pennsylvania, and moved afterward 
to Kentucky.  About the year 1825 Adam Hostetler moved from Kentucky to 
Indiana, and settled in Clark county of the latter state.  Soon after 
the removal of the family to Indiana the father died.  Jacob was the 
youngest son, and was obliged to remain at home and assist in caring for 
his mother.  On this account his opportunities for acquiring an 
education were limited.  He went to school but little, securing, 
however, mostly by his own efforts, a good business education, which 
enabled him to acquit himself with credit in all the positions in which 
he found himself in life.  He grew to manhood in Clark county, Indiana, 
and on the 11th of March, 1833, married Tabitha Crum, who was born in 
Oldham county, Kentucky, on the 4th of November, 1816, the daughter of 
Andrew Crum and Mary Haymaker.  Her parents were Virginians and early 
settlers of Kentucky.  After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler moved 
to Illinois.  In September, 1835, they settled on section 14 of the 
present Harristown township.  At that time the settlements in that part 
of the country were few in number.  Some locations had been made along 
the timber, but north of the Springfield road wall was open and 
cultivated prairie, which at that time the old settlers thought would 
never be brought under cultivation.  Mr. Hostetler entered a tract of 
land on which a log house had already been built.  He bought the 
improvement, and moved into the house which they occupied till more 
comfortable quarters could be arranged, residing on this farm from the 
time he came to the county till his death.  He was a man who took an 
active interest in politics and public affairs.  He had always been a 
democrat, and always supported the candidates of that party.  He held 
the confidence of the people of his part of the county, who elected him 
to several public positions.  For eight years he filled the office of 
justice of the peace, and for a like time, also, acted as county 
commissioner.  The duties of these positions he discharged with credit 
to himself and satisfaction to the citizens of the county.  He was known 
as an honest and capable citizen, whose character was above reproach and 
whose integrity was beyond suspicion.  He possessed good business 
capacity and accumulated considerable property.  At the time of his 
death he owned between three and four hundred acres of land, and was one 
of the prosperous farmers of Macon county.  Mr. and Mrs. Hostetler were 
the parents of three children, whose names are as follows:  Francis 
Hostetler, now carrying on the mercantile business at Latham, in Logan 
county; Mary J., the wife of James Campbell, of Decatur; and Ellen, who 
married Charles Hunsley, of Harristown township.  Mrs. Hostetler still 
survives and resides on the same farm which has now been her home for 
forty-five years.  Her husband was one of the oldest settlers of the 
county, and during his life-time was intimately identified with its 
business interest.  It is fitting, therefore, that his name should be 
mentioned in these pages.

Campbell Crum Hartman Haymaker Hostetler Hunsley
=
Clark-IN Decatur-Macon-IL Harristown-Macon-IL Latham-Logan-IL Oldham-KY 
PA

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/shelby/hostetler.j.txt