LITCHFIELD, John
John LITCHFIELD, a retired farmer whose
home is on section 7, Bennington
township,
Marshall county, was born in Cambridgeshire, England,
December 11, 1821, a son of Richard and Sarah (KENDRICK)
LITCHFIELD. In the fall of 1836 the family left
London, bound for the
United States, but it was
thirteen weeks before they reached the shores of this country,
as they encountered several severe storms and were also
becalmed. They were three weeks in getting out of the British
Channel, were delayed for one week at Teneriffe Island,
and were several days in trying to enter the
Mississippi river. Finally landing at
New Orleans, they took passage on a river
boat, and proceeded to their destination – Vanderburg county,
Indiana, where they arrived early in the year 1837, and were
numbered among its pioneer settlers. There the father opened up
and developed a small farm, on which he spent his remaining
days.
Amid the scenes of frontier life our
subject grew to manhood, and acquired a fair common school
education in the primitive log school house. He gave the benefit
of his services to his father until he had attained his
majority, and then began life for himself by working as a farm
hand by the month, and also ran flatboats for a couple of years.
In 1848, Mr. LITCHFIELD was united in marriage with Miss Ann
PALMER, by whom he has one son, Edward, now engaged in the
banking business in Flanagan, Livingston county,
Illinois.
In 1849 Mr. LITCHFIELD came to Illinois, locating first in McDonough county, but two
years later came to
Marshall
county, where he is numbered among the early settlers. He
entered land in Bennington township, and
located thereon when there was no one living between his place
and Long Point on the east. He met with success in his farming
operations, and is now the owner of four hundred acres of
valuable land, lying partly in Livingston
county. He assisted in the organization of his township, which
was at first a part of Belle Plain, and while they were still
together served as town clerk. He became the first clerk of
Bennington
township, which position he acceptably filled for several years,
was later supervisor for a number of terms, and also school
treasurer. After taking out his naturalization papers, he cast
his first vote for Henry Clay in 1844, but supported Pierce in
1852, and has since been an ardent democrat. He is one of the
representative men of the county, widely and favorably known,
and during his long residence here has gained the confidence and
respect of all with whom he has come in contact, either in
business or social life.
After the death of his first wife, Mr.
LITCHFIELD married her sister, Emily PALMER, and to them were
born ten children, who are still living: George, a lumber dealer
of Flanagan, Illinois;
Sarah, wife of J. W. PARKER, of Toluca; William R., a merchant
of Flanagan; Martha J., wife of W. R. STRATTON, of Toluca; John
P., who is a business man of Toluca; Robert I., May E., Charity
D., Joseph G. and Emily Louise, all at home.
Of this family, Robert I. LITCHFIELD was
born on the home farm in
Bennington
township, May 24, 1864, and was provided with a good common
school education. In April, 1888, he led to the marriage altar
Miss Ada Naomi STRATTON, of Bennington township, a
daughter of James and Marsha (SCHALCRAFT) STRATTON. They have
become the parents of three interesting children: Emily M., born
in Bennington township, March 22, 1889; Ray D.,
born in the same township, July 10, 1891, and Ruth, born in
Belle Plain township, January 2, 1894. Mr. LITCHFIELD is now
living upon a farm of his father’s in Belle Plain township, is a
strong democrat in the political views, casting his first vote
for Grover Cleveland in 1888. He was elected highway
commissioner of
Bennington
township, but, owing to his removal to Belle Plain, did not
serve. For one term he filled the office of school director. He
is one of the most progressive and energetic agriculturists of
the community, and one of its honored and respected citizens.
Extracted May 2011 by Norma Hass from
The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.
Browse ILGenWeb
