My Genealogy Hound

TUCKER, JOHN A., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 1, P.O. Rockbridge. John A. Tucker is a native of Clayburn County, East Tenn., where he was born July 22, 1820, third child of Obadiah and Elizabeth Tucker, whose maiden name was James. In the famous old State of Tennessee, those who bore the name, so far as we have any knowledge followed agricultural pursuits. Obadiah Tucker was a renter of land in his native State, and consequently living in moderate circumstances; to better his condition in life he concluded to cast his fortunes in the West, and accordingly, the year 1843 found him en route for the fertile prairies of Illinois, where he settled in due time in Greene County. He never became opulent as many have in Greene County, but he became moderately successful through well directed energy, and an honesty of purpose that never wavered. He died in 1850, and thus there passed to a home not made with hands, another pioneer who helped to pave the way for the prosperity that we of today enjoy; many of us scarcely realizing the hardships undergone by the people of the South and East, whose restless ambition have carried them ever onward. Mrs. T. died many years prior to her husband, finding a last resting place in the Witt Cemetery. John was in his 23d year when the family arrived in Greene County, and the head of a family, having united his fortunes to Miss Rachel Graves, a daughter of Henry Graves, in Tennessee; to use his own language, his capital, financially speaking, consisted of seventy-five cents, and for many years he held his own remarkably well. His first purchase of property was made in 1861, and consisted of ten acres, known as Bottom Prairie. Since this date he has gone steadily forward to a successful career, and from the little patch of ground has come an estate of over 300 acres, acquired by the same energy of character that distinguished Obadiah Tucker and his estimable wife. Of eleven children that blessed the union of Mr. Tucker and Miss Graves, six only are living: Martha E., James H., Nancy C., Eva. E., Jacob M., and Samuel O.