My Genealogy Hound

JOHN RODMAN, farmer, Sec. 22, P. O. Holder; one of the old settlers of Illinois, whose birthplace was Berks Co., Penn.; he was born Dec. 5, 1817; he emigrated to Ohio with his parents, when 1 year of age, and located at Muskingum Co., where he attended school in an old log schoolhouse, with mud-and-stick chimney, the fireplace extending nearly across one end, and would burn wood eight feet long; the seats were of split logs, extending across the room, and around the walls being a desk for writing; in 1838, he commenced farming for himself upon rented land for thirteen years, when he purchased eighty acres of timber land, and improved, until he came to Illinois and settled in Old Town Township, McLean Co., Dec. 13, 1854; he then purchased 110 acres of land on Sec. 22, where he has since lived, during a period of one-fourth of a century; he has since added, by purchase, until he now owns 230 acres, with good buildings, all of which, with the exception of $400, he has made by his own efforts. His marriage with Mary Jane Gray was celebrated Feb. 15, 1838; she was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, May 1, 1819; they were the parents of seven children, of whom three are deceased; the living are Joseph L., Eliza (now Mrs. Homer Boyce), Edmund L. and Lucinda W.; of the children, two sons and one daughter are living less than one-fourth of a mile from their parents —the others living within three miles. Mr. Rodman has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been a member of the M. E. Church for forty years, and all the children are members of the same church.