Biography for Jacob Troxell SOURCE: JoDaviess County Portrait and Biographical Album containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. 1889 Troxell, Jacob represents the farming and stock-raising interests of Jo Daviess County, one of its sagacious, enterprising, and successful farmers. He owns a farm of 330 acres, finely located on section 12, Pleasant Valley Township; which, in point of value, cultivation, and improvements is classed among the best farms in this vicinity. Mr. Troxell is a native of Pennsylvania, the place of his birth being, in Union County, and the date thereof Aug. 14, 1830. His parents, Jacob and Sarah (Grimm) Troxell, were also Pennsylvanians by birth, the father born in Union County in 1794, and the mother in Berks County Feb. 14. 1798. After marriage they settled in their native state, remaining there until 1842, when they emigrated to this county. The father bought forty acres of land in Berreman Township, and became one of it, prominent pioneers. The land was in a wild condition, not a furrow having been turned, nor a building erected for shelter. He built a log house covered with rude shingles of his own make with a rough oak-floor, and the door had a latch with a string -- the string usually being out as a sign hospitality of the inmates of that primitive habitation. Mr. Troxell became quite prosperous, and accumulated a handsome property for those days, and at his death left 280 acres of fine farming land to be divided among, his heirs. Of the ten children born to the parents of our subject but two, Lucy and John are deceased. The others are: Elizabeth, Mary, Leah, Jacob, Edward B., William, Sarah J., and Henry. Elizabeth, who lives on the homestead, keeping house for her brother Edward, married Jefferson Pratt, of New Jersey, a hotel-keeper. He is dead, as are the two sons; Norman and an infant born of that marriage. Mary married William Mackey, a farmer of Walworth County, Wis., and they have seven children, all living Sara E., Alice, Saloma, Lillie, Henry, and Jacob; Leah married Washington FitzSimmons, of Stockton Township. He died leaving her with her with five children - Franklin, William, Harry, Florence, and Mary; Edward carries on the old homestead. (For futher particulars of his life see his sketch on another page of this volume.) William a farmer in Berreman Township, married Ida Walters of Philadelphia, and they have four children - Irene, Pauline, Walter, and Edward; Sarah Jane. a school teacher in Berreman Township makes her home with her brother Edward and her sister, Mrs. Pratt; Henry resides in California, where he is engaged in mining,. He is one of the , 49ers," going, to that State across the plains with an ox-team shortly after the discovery of gold. He revisited his friends in Illinois in 1853, spending some time here, and then returned to the Golden State. The subject of this sketch was a lad of twelve years when his parents removed to this county to cast in their lot with the pioneers who had preceded them. He grew up with limited chances for an education, but eagerly availing himself of the few opportunities for attending school became quite a fair scholar. His father built the first institution of learning, in Berreman township, in 1844, it consisting of a rude log – building which was paid for by subscription, and the teachers were then paid in the same way. Our subject was also, in early manhood, ere he had attained his majority, smitten with the gold fever that led so many across the desolate plains and rugged mountains that lay between his home ,and the Golden State, and in 1850 he followed his brother Henry to that region going in an ox - team. 1853 be gathered together his savings and resolved to seek his old home, and started on the long journey by the way of the Isthmus and New York City. On his return he invested some of his money in his present homestead, and from time to time has increased its acreage, until he now owns 330 acres of valuable, well-improved land, of which he cultivates 250 acres. He has erected fine buildings, has pleasant surroundings, and everything about the place betokens the master hand and mind in its management. August 7. 1885, the home of of our subject was bereaved of its greatest blessing, by the death of the devoted wife and mother, a woman of fine character, whom to know was to respect and revere. Her maiden name was Mary Elizabeth May, and she was born in Hancock County, Ky., Dec. 23, 1833. She accompanied her parents to Indiana, where they lived for some years, and from there they removed to Wisconsin, from whence they came to Jo Daviess County in 1850, and made their home here until death. The pleasant wedded life of our subject and his wife was blessed to them by the birth of eight children : Mary J. , Sarah A., Emma May, Fanny Gertrude, Theodore H., Webster Douglas, Sylvester Grant, William John. Mary Jane married Henry Wise, a furniture dealer and undertaker in Yellow Creek, and they have three -- Oris, Ray, Elsie; Sarah married Robert Austin, of Morseville, Stockton Township, a carpenter, and they have one child, Howard; Emma May keeps house for her father; Fanny Gertrude is attending school and lives at home; Henry, who lives on the neutral strip of land in Indian Territory, married Hattie Henderson, of Pleasant Valley; Webster is a farmer in LeMars, Plymouth Co., Iowa; Sylvester Grant is also farming in that county; William lives at home with his father, and is attending school. Mr. Troxell is a man whose character, is above reproach, and whose reputation for honor and ability is second to that of none in his neighborhood, and his fellow citizens, naturally regarding him with confidence, have called him to responsible positions in public life, and he has held various offices at different times, having served as Road Commissioner, School Director. And is at present one of the Supervisors of the Township. He is a good Democrat, and is one of the leaders of his party in this locality. He is an influential member of the Masonic order of this county, being Master Mason of the Blue Lodge. ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Dori Leekley