My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH L. GOCHEE, farmer. Sec. 21; P. O. Le Roy; born in Canada, July 1, 1831; he removed with his uncle to Boston when a small boy, and, at 11 years of age, he started for himself, going to New York, where he was raised upon a farm, and at 20 years of age emigrated to Illinois, and walked from Peoria to Le Roy, where he arrived in the fall of 1851; during the following two years he cropped with H. C. Dickerson, then worked one year in the brickyard at Le Roy, after which he worked as farm laborer, getting from $8 to $12 per month for about six months, or during the season, and, in winter cut cord-wood at from 30 to 40 cents per cord. In 1858, he purchased eighty acres of his present place, at $12.50 per acre, to which he has since added by purchase, until he now owns 160 acres of land, which he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation, and upon which he has good farm buildings; his residence being erected in 1873, and his barn in 1874. He was married Dec. 31, 1863, to Eliza A. Morgan; she was born in Rush Co., Ind., Aug. 5, 1844, and raised in Illinois. They have five children now living — Mary C., born June 7, 1865; Luella, born April 12, 1867; Tabitha Q., born Jan. 1, 1870; Thomas, born July 24, 1872; George, born July 24, 1875. Mr. Gochee commenced in life at 11 years of age, without capital, and has accumulated all of the above property by his own labor, energy and industry; although having but a limited education himself, he is using every effort to educate his children. Mrs. Gochee is a daughter of George and Mary Jane Morgan, who emigrated from Indiana, and located in McLean Co., in 1844. Mrs. Morgan died in McLean Co., Feb. 7, 1869. Mr. Morgan now lives in Empire Township, one and a half miles from Le Roy.