Piatt County IL Archives Biographies.....Adkins, Benjamin ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Kaylynn Loveland gram2five@gmail.com February 29, 2008, 5:58 pm Author: Portrait and Biographical Album of DeWitt and Piatt Counties ADKINS, Benjamin; page 632 The life of a farmer, particularly if one takes possession of an undeveloped tract of land, calls forth the vigor of body and powers of mind in a degree that would be surprising to one who is unacquainted with rural life. The man who can make a success of tilling the soil must be ready to take advantage of the variations in soil and climate and must therefore be keenly observant regarding the results of drainage, rotation of crops and methods of cultivation. It is by reason of industry and intelligence on the part of her agriculturists that Piatt County has reached its present state of development and productiveness and those who have aided in this work are deserving of grateful remembrance. Among those who in Monticello Township have for some years been advancing the interests of the county is Benjamin F. Adkins who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 4. The natal day of our subject was September 3, 1832, and his birthplace Pickaway County, Ohio. His parents were early settlers there and he was reared amind the scenes of a somewhat primitive nature and enjoyed only the educational advantages afforded by the subscription schools. His parents, Reuben and Martha (Hill) Adkins, were natives of Maryland and both were of English descent. In 1854 our subject came to Piatt County for the purpose of buying cattle for the New York market, working in the interest of another party. This sectio was stiull the haunt of deer and other animals but seemed to Mr. Adkins to present opportunities that made it a desirable place in which to locate. He therefore was ere long numbered among the agriculturists of thecounty and labored with them until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he felt that it was his duty to aid in preserving the Union. The enrollment of Mr. Adkins in Company C, One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry, took place August 13, 1862, and he became an integral part of the Army of the Ohio. He enlisted as Duty Sergeant and served as such during the three years in which he bore a part in war's alarms. Mr. Adkins took part in the siege of Knoxville, was with Sherman in the Atlanta campaign and participated in the battle of Jonesboro. He was then sent back with Gen. Thomas to aid in the operations against Hood and fought at Franklin and Nashville. The command of which he formed a part then rejoined Sherman at Goldsboro, N. C., and Mr. Adkins ere long participated in the Grand Review at Washington. He received an honorable discharge in June, 1865, and returning to his former home so worthily borne and again took up the peaceful implements of agricultural life. In December, 1860, Mr. Adkins was united in marriage with Mrs. Nancy Harris, widow of Charles Harris and a daughter of Caleb and Sally Jones. Mrs. Adkins was born in Owen County, Ky., on the 22d of December, 1822, and after her marriage to Mr. Harris came to Piatt County, the removal taking place sometime in the '40s. They took possession of a tract of land that had been entered by Mr. Harris and is now the home of our subject. Mr. Harris died here in 1858. He was the father of eight children, of whom the living are Martha, William, Fanny, Charles E., Benjamin F. and James. Martha is the wife of L. Patterson and Fanny is now Mrs. Kisick. In commemoration of his connection with the Union forces Mr. Adkins is a member of Franklin Post, No. 256 G. A. R., at Monticello. When the ballot box is open he is always to be found depositiong a Republican ticket. He has seved creditably as Township Road Commissioner, but he is not one of those who are continually seeking office. He endeavors to promote the good of his fellowmen by his good citizenship and interest in that which is progressive, and with his wife stands well in the community. Additional Comments: Published by Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1891 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/piatt/bios/adkins2771nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 4.5 Kb