My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH KERSHAW, retired farmer; P. O. Le Roy; born in Lancashire, England, May 8, 1802, where he worked in the cotton mills until 24 years of age, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York Sept. 7, 1826. Upon landing, his capital consisted of one single copper penny. He then sold his bedding, and with the proceeds reached Boston, and walked to Stoughton, where he worked for the Stoughton and Canton Manufacturing Co., until he had a capital of $13, when he started to walk to New York, and on the way was robbed of all his money, save his copper penny. He worked at cotton spinning in the mills in New Jersey and Philadelphia, until 1830, when he emigrated to Williamson Co., Ill., where he located eighty acres of land, and in 1836 entered eighty more, making a farm of 160 acres, upon which he lived until 1853, when he sold out and removed to Downs Township, McLean Co., where he purchased 400 acres of land, and engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1870, when he removed to Le Roy, where he has since lived. His marriage with Hannah Robinson was celebrated in England, Sept. 3, 1823; she was born in England, Dec. 10, 1799, and died March 2, 1859, leaving five children now living — John W., Hannah, Francis, Mary Ann and Phoebe. His marriage with Lucinda Gilmore was celebrated June 6, 1860; she was born Jan. 4, 1817; she emigrated from Kentucky, and located in McLean Co. in 1858; she is now in her 63d year, is in possession of all her faculties, and does all the household labor for herself and husband. Mr. K., now in the 78th year of his age, enjoys good health, and attends to the “chores” which his neat little place requires. He now keeps two horses and a cow, which he daily attends to. Arriving in New York without means, he has struggled against poverty, and succeeded in securing a good property, and has settled a good share upon his children, reserving enough to support himself and wife through life.