Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Reecher, Samuel ************************************************ 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: Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 3:14 am Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885 Samuel Reecher, general farmer, section 17, Genesee Township, was born Nov. 5, 1828, in Frederick Co., Md. Jacob Reecher, his father, was of German parentage and was by calling a shoemaker. The latter was reared in Maryland, where he married Catherine Chrise, who was of the same nationality as himself. In 1832, they transferred their residence to Washington County, in the same State, settling in the now village of Ringgold, which was then Ridgeville. There, among the mountains, they reared six of their seven children to maturity, and laid down their life's armor after years of usefulness and honorable struggle. The father died in the autumn of 1866, aged about 78 years. The mother died in February, 1871, when she was about 72 years old. Mr. Reecher is the fourth child in order of birth, and, until he was 24 years of age, he lived at home, securing such education as he could in the common schools of Washington County, augmented by home reading, study and observation. The first prominent event of his life occurred on the day made historical in the annals of the United States by the election of President Pierce, whose administration covered four of the most portentous years in the history of the republic. That day preceded his 24th birthday. Nov. 4, 1852, he was joined in marriage with Leah Hoffman, in Waynesborough, Pa. Jacob and Madelina (Stoffer) Hoffman, the parents of Mrs. Reeeher, were of unmixed German descent and were farmers. Their family comprised seven daughters and three sons, all of whom attained adult age. They lived most of their lives in Washington County, and there the father died in 1866, aged 68; the demise of the mother took place in 1884, and she was 85 years of age. Mrs. Reecher was educated in the same common school as her husband. She has been the mother of 15 children. Ten of the number still survive, and three are married. Following is the record: William married Sarah C. Mentzer, and is present (1885) proprietor of the Transient House at Coleta. Emma C. married Henry Donahue of Coleta. Aaron married Hattie C. Pratt and resides on his father's homestead. Louis lives at Coleta. Anna, Isaac, Samuel, Margaret E., Leah and Jacob are under their parents' care. Sarah, Alice, Benjamin F., Ida M. and John H. are the names of the children who are deceased. After he was 12 years of age Mr. Reecher assisted his father, as occasion required and leisure afforded opportunity, in the business of shoemaking, of which he acquired a complete knowledge, and after his marriage he operated one year as a craftsman in that avenue of employ, after which he turned his attention to the business of a marketman, in which he was engaged as long as he remained in Maryland. In February, 1865, with his wife and five children, he came to Illinois, leaving forever the early home, made dearer by the fact that the old soil contained the remains of two deceased children. Mr. Reecher first sought a home at Sterling, where he operated as a shoemaker a little more than a year. He went thence to a point seven miles north of that city in the township of Jordan, where he did a country business for one year. At the end of that time he decided to combine farming with his trade and he removed to a farm near the eastern county line containing 100 acres of land. He conducted his two-fold business one year, and in March, 1868, he purchased 200 acres of land in Genesee Township, on which he has since resided. A large proportion was in timber, and the place was wholly unimproved, but has been converted into a good farm. A spring of underground origin situated centrally on the farm supplies a perpetual flow of water of remarkable coldness and purity and large volume, being the fountain head of a considerable stream which empties into Rock Creek. The owner is constructing a pond on his farm for the artificial production of fish, which will cover 15 acres in area. He designs to stock the pond with German carp. Mr. Reecher is in accord with the Democratic element in politics and has held several township offices. Mrs. Reecher is a member of the Mennonite Church. Additional Comments: Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Containing Full- page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County. Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1885. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/whiteside/bios/reecher2363nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.0 Kb