My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM A. CROOKSHANK; Sec. 6; P. O. Heyworth; born in Hamilton Co., Ohio Oct. 17, 1823. His father, William Crookshank, was born in the city of New York, and emigrated to Ohio in 1818, where he followed shoemaking until he removed to Illinois, in 1853, and settled in Randolph Township, McLean Co.; he met with his death by being run over by the cars on the Illinois Central Railroad, about the year 1862. He married Elizabeth Hathaway of New York; they were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living; she died in Ohio in 1826. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents until 18 years of age, when he drove stock to Illinois, and located in Randolph Township in the spring of 1842 ; he then worked as farm laborer for seven years, his wages at that time being from $6 to $12 per month during which time he saved from his low wages $250, with which he purchased a team and rented land, and engaged in farming for himself; he removed upon his present place in 1872 where he has ninety-two acres under good cultivation, upon which he has good farm buildings; he also owns twenty acres of timber in Randolph Township. His marriage with Emily C. Birdsell was celebrated January, 1850; she was born in Randolph Township May 16, 1833; she was a daughter of William Birdsell, one of the early settlers of McLean Co. The children of William A. and Emily Crookshank were six in number, of whom five are now living — Lucia F., born June 27, 1851, now Mrs. Charles L. Rutledge, of Heyworth; Scott, May 20, 1854; John B., June 26 1857; Jane, March 18, 1860 ; Harrison L., May 2, 1863; and one which died in infancy.