Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Antcliff, John ************************************************ 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 February 29, 2008, 12:36 am Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907 John Antcliff, a retired farmer making his home in Peotone, is the oldest living resident in this city and the only remaining pioneer settler who was here at the time of his arrival in 1852. Mr. Antcliff was born in Nottinghamshire, England, February 13, 1818, a son of Charles and Charlotte (Jackson) Antcliff, who were also natives of England, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died at the age of forty-nine years, and his wife, who was born in Yorkshire, died after our subject came to this country. John Antcliff is the eldest of six children and the only one who ever came to America. One brother is still living, while four members of the family are now deceased. Mr. Antcliff had no educational advantages in his boyhood and youth, for he began to provide for his own support at the early age of ten years, being employed at farm labor, which continued to be his occupation throughout his entire residence in his native country. He was married in England, December 12, 1842, to Miss Mary Pacy, who was born in Yorkshire, England, October 25, 1820, while her death occurred in Peotone, October 8, 1906. The young couple began their domestic life in their native land and there remained until after the birth of three of their children, or in 1852, when, believing that he might better provide for the support of himself and family in the new world, Mr. Antcliff emigrated with his family to America. Taking passage at Liverpool, they landed in New York city after a voyage of five weeks. They made their way from the latter city up the Hudson to Albany, thence by the New York Central Railroad to Buffalo, by lake to Detroit, by the Michigan Central Railroad to New Buffalo, and by lake to Chicago. Arriving in the last named city they made their way by the Illinois and Michigan canal to Lockport, where lived a man by the name of Robinson, whose home was the headquarters for his countrymen. Mr. Antcliff had no money when he reached his destination so that immediate employment was rendered a necessity. He soon found employment at farm labor, whereby he not only provided for the necessities of life but also saved a sum that was sufficient to enable him in 1856 to purchase eighty acres of land in Peotone township, but then a part, of Wilton township. He paid for this tract ten dollars per acre, and here erected a little home twelve by eighteen feet, the structure being covered with a thatch roof. It was very rudely constructed so that the rain and snow beat in, and it was no unusual thing to find four inches of snow on the floor when the family arose in the morning. As the years passed by Mr. Antcliff by his close application and careful management of his business affairs, added to his original possessions from time to time so that he is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of rich and valuable farming land. He was actively identified with farming pursuits until eleven years ago, when he retired from active life and took up his abode in Peotone, where he has since lived in well earned ease. Ten children were born unto our subject and his wife, of whom four died in childhood, while one daughter, Jane, died at the age of twenty- three years. Those living are: Harriet, who is the widow of David Wilson, by whom she has six children, and is now making her home with her father; Charlotte, the wife of Henry Merrill, who lives in Iowa; Annie, the wife of Charles Porter, of Storm Lake, Iowa; Eliza, the wife of John Simpson, also of that state; and Mary, the wife of George Antcliff, of Goodland, Indiana. Mr. Antcliffe has always given stanch support to the republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and he has voted for every candidate of that party since that time. He has served as school director and as highway commissioner but has never been active in politics. He was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church but for the past twenty-nine years has been identified with the Presbyterian denomination. Though Mr. Antcliff is now in his eighty-ninth year he is still a well preserved man, retaining his mental faculties to a marked degree. He may truly be called a self-made man for when he arrived in this country he had nothing with which to gain a start in the new world except willing hands and a courageous spirit. Through his diligence and enterprising spirit he worked his way steadily upward until he is now one of the largest landowners of Will county. During his residence here of more than fifty-four years he has gained and retained the friendship and good will of all with whom he has been associated and is one of the highly respected and honored citizens of this portion of the state. Additional Comments: PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/will/bios/antcliff2736nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb