Whiteside County IL Archives Biographies.....Zook, Abraham 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 January 31, 2008, 1:01 am

Author: Portrait/Bio Album, Whiteside County IL 1885

Abraham Zook, a retired farmer of Clyde Township, resides on section 3. He was 
born Dec. 2, 1820, in Lancaster Co., Pa., and is the son of Joseph Zook, who 
was born in Chester Co., Pa. In national descent Mr. Zook is of Swiss 
extraction, and records himself as third in generation from three brothers in 
the paternal line who came to America just previous to the Revolutionary War. 
Joseph Zook was a woolen manufacturer in Pennsylvania until he was 43 years of 
age, when he turned his attention to farming. He died in his native State in 
July, 1852, aged 65 years. Anna (Shuck) Zook, the mother, was born in 
Lancaster County, and was of mixed Swiss and German origin. Her progenitors 
were early settlers in the United States. She died in 1826, in the county 
where she was born, when her son was but six years of age. She had been the 
mother of six children. The father married again after the death of his wife, 
and the children were reared at home. Mr. Zook was educated in the common 
schools and instructed in the duties of farm labor. Feb. 18, 1840, he was 
married in Franklin Co. Pa., to Ann, daughter of John and Susanna (Raiher) 
Gsell. Both the latter were born in Pennsylvania, of German descent. They were 
farmers and died in Franklin County. The death of the father transpired May 
10, 1873, when he was 94 years of age. The mother died in 1832. They were the 
parents of 11 children. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Zook, 10 in number, are 
all yet living, and are all heads of families: Catherine is the wife of Jacob 
Swisher, a farmer in Adair Co., Iowa; Sarah married Jacob Garwick, of whom a 
full sketch appears on another page; Anna is Mrs. Henry Garwick, and lives in 
the township of Clyde; Mary is the wife of Isaac Trump, a bishop in what is 
designated the River Brethren Church, and resides at Polo in Ogle County; 
Joseph S. married Adaline Law, and is a farmer in Adair Co., Iowa; Amanda is 
Mrs. George Hiller and is a resident on a farm in Clyde Township; Elizabeth 
married Jacob Ditch, who is a farmer in Ogle Co., Ill.; Abraham married Rosa 
Bowers and is a resident of Clyde Township. John R. Zook was born Nov. 27, 
1857, in the township of Newton. When he was 20 years of age he began teaching 
in the public schools of the township where he was born, and after spending 
two years in that vocation he went to the college at Valparaiso, Ind., where 
he passed some time in study. Subsequently he engaged in teaching in Ogle 
County, but passed only one term in that avenue of business, returning at its 
expiration to the family homestead, of which he has since been the 
superintendent. He has been engaged for some years as a teacher of vocal 
music. Dec. 18, 1884, he was united in marriage to Sarah A., daughter of Jacob 
and Priscilla (Holley) George. She was born Feb. 22, 1865, in Carroll Co., 
Ill. She was only two years of age when her father and mother came to the 
township of Clyde, where she grew to womanhood, was educated in the common 
schools and was married at her father's house. Melissa the youngest child of 
Abraham and Ann Zook, married John H. Gayman, a farmer in Fairhaven Township, 
Carroll Co., Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Zook remained in Franklin Co., Pa., after their 
marriage, until 1857. In that year they removed to Illinois and resided 
between two and three years in the townships of Garden Plain and Newton. In 
1860 they removed to Clyde Township, where they purchased 160 acres of 
unbroken prairie. They proceeded with vigorous energy to make the usual 
improvements. Their efforts resulted in a fine and valuable farm, all under 
cultivation, well stocked and supplied with commodious and necessary farm 
buildings. The present manager of the place is interested in the improvement 
of stock and is the owner of fine grades of Short-Horn cattle. All the members 
of the family, with one exception, belong to the River Brethren Church. The 
father and sons are Republicans of pronounced type.

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.

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