Will County IL Archives Biographies.....McQueen, Archibald 
************************************************
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, 12:21 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

Archibald McQueen is numbered among the prosperous and well-to-do farmers of 
Will county, having a well-improved and valuable farm of three hundred and 
eighty acres in Florence township. Mr. McQueen was born in Fulton county, New 
York, June 20, 1843, a son of David and Joanna (Atkinson) McQueen, the former 
born in Paisley, near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1810, while the latter was born in 
that city October 12, 1806. They were reared and married in their native land, 
there remaining until after the birth of six children. In 1841 the father 
emigrated to the new world, landing in New York city on the 29th of April of 
that year. He located in Fulton county, where he worked at his trade, that of 
a stone mason. The following year, 1842, he was joined in New York by his wife 
and children. They established their home on a farm in Fulton county, and 
there seven more children were added to the household, thus making a family of 
thirteen, of whom five are now living, namely: John, a resident of Nebraska; 
Thomas, a resident of Iowa; Archibald, whose name introduces this review; 
Jeannette, the widow of Orson Barker and a resident of Braidwood, Illinois; 
and Alfred, who also lives in that city. The father died in Fulton county, in 
1856, at the early age of forty years, meeting his death by accident. 
Following his demise the mother carefully reared and educated her children, 
and her death occurred at Redwood, New York, in 1879, when she was seventy-
three years of age. Archibald McQueen lost his father when but a youth and 
remained with his mother in the east until 1863, when he made his way to Will 
county, Illinois, being then a young man of twenty years. He was accompanied 
here by his mother and sister, Jeannette. He began farming in this section, 
and in the winter of 1874 purchased eighty acres of land in Florence township, 
to which he has added as the years have gone by until today he owns three 
hundred and eighty acres of well improved land, constituting him one of the 
large landowners of this county. In 1892 he erected a modern home, this being 
supplied with all conveniences and accessories for the comfort of himself and 
family. He has also made many other substantial improvements upon his place 
and keeps everything in a good state of repair, so that his property presents 
a neat and attractive appearance. On the 11th of July, 1873, occurred the 
marriage of Mr. McQueen and Miss Emma Corbett, who was born in Florence 
township, July 2, 1850. Her parents, Rufus and Mary Ann (Currier) Corbett, 
were both natives of Maine, the former born in Kennebec county, February 26, 
1811, while the latter was born in New Sharon, August 27, 1813. They were 
married in New Sharon November 13, 1844, after which they started for the 
west, making the journey by water to New York city, thence by rail to Buffalo, 
where they took passage on a steamer bound for Detroit. Michigan. From the 
latter city the father made his way to Crown Point, Indiana, where he remained 
until the spring of 1845, when he returned to Detroit for his wife, from which 
place he came by wagon to Illinois, the family home being established in New 
Lenox township, Will county. The journey was made by way of Chicago, which 
city contained but one brick building at that time, and there was but one 
home, that of Charles Star, between his place and Joliet. Mr. Corbett, in 
connection with Dr. Hoffman, rented the Kinsey farm for one year, and in 1846 
purchased eighty acres of wild land in Florence township. He left his family 
at the residence of A. Hill, while he erected a house, hauling the lumber with 
ox teams from Chicago, and at that time there was not a bridge between here 
and Chicago. The family took up their abode in the new pioneer home in August 
of that year. The father improved and developed his farm, to which he added 
from time to time until he possessed one hundred and forty-one acres, all of 
which he cleared and improved with the exception of about ten acres. He gave 
his political support to the whig party and served as school director for many 
years, while he also acted as road commissioner. The marriage of this worthy 
pioneer couple was blessed with two sons and two daughters. Frank M. enlisted 
February 24, 1864, as a member of Company E, Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, 
for service in the Civil war, being honorably discharged December 6, 1865. He 
now makes his home in Wilmington. Helen A. became the wife of Thomas McQueen, 
but is now deceased. He makes his home in Iowa. Emma, now Mrs. Archibald 
McQueen, is the next in order of birth. Willard died in infancy. The father of 
this family died December 16, 1885, while the mother was called to her final 
rest August 31, 1887. Unto our subject and his wife have been born five 
children: George R., Frank D., who died June 4, 1896, when a young man of 
twenty years, and Carl A., Mary H. and Raymond T., all at home. Mr. McQueen is 
stanch in his advocacy of republican principles, and for two terms has served 
as road commissioner, while for a number of years he has filled the office of 
school director. Coming to Illinois as a young man, Mr. McQueen has here found 
in the rich agricultural resources of the state ample opportunity for the 
acquirement of a good property and a comfortable competence, which enables him 
to provide his family with many of the comforts and luxuries of life. His 
residence in Will county covers a period of forty-three years and he is 
therefore well known both in business and social circles. His record shows 
what can be accomplished by a young man of ambition and determination, for he 
started out without capital, but through his industry, thrift and economy has 
worked his way steadily upward until he is today one of the largest landowners 
in Florence township. 

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/mcqueen2728nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 6.6 Kb