My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS M. WHITAKER, farmer; P. O. Le Roy; one of the early settlers of McLean Co.; born in Mason Co., Ky., March 10, 1807. His father, James Whitaker, was born in Maryland, near Havre de Grace, and emigrated to Kentucky when quite young; here he followed farming, and worked at the trade of stone and brick mason until his decease, which occurred in Kentucky about the year 1840; he married, in Kentucky, Cordelia Field; she was born in Maryland, and died in Kentucky, in 1845. The subject of this sketch learned the trade of a brick mason, which he followed, with farming, until 23 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Matilda Barnett upon the 27th of February, 1830; she was born in Dayton,, Ohio, Nov. 11, 1811; she was the daughter of Moses and Catherine (Ellis) Barnett, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in the spring of 1831; Mr. Barnett died in 1855; Mrs. Barnett died May 15, 1865. Mr. Whitaker followed farming eight years in Kentucky after his marriage, when he emigrated with his family to Illinois, and landed in Le Roy Dec. 31, 1837; he located upon his present place in 1841, where he has lived for a period of thirty-eight years; upon his locating here he had no capital, save one team, a strong arm and willing hand; he then purchased forty acres of land on twelve months’ time; he then put up a log house, in which he lived some fifteen years, when it gave place to his present pleasant and convenient place. Mr. Whitaker has suffered all the hardships and privations of frontier life; he now owns upward of 200 acres of land, which, aside from raising a large family, he has accumulated, with the assistance of his amiable wife, by their hard labor, energy and industry. Their children were ten in number — Charles A., born Nov. 3, 1832; Catherine, Sept. 10, 1834; Mary Jane, July 3, 1836; Alvin, Jan. 29, 1841; George M., Feb. 16, 1843; John O., May 10, 1845: Alfred and Albert (twins), June 26, 1848, and two deceased; Alvin served in the Union army for upward of three years; at the battle of Petersburg, he was color-bearer of the 39th Regt.; was wounded and taken prisoner while still holding to the glorious old flag; after laying in rebel prisons, he was paroled; the war closed soon after, and he received his discharge. In politics, Mr. Whitaker has been a life-long Democrat, having cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson, and has worked hard for the success of the party; he has never sought political honor, but has held some petty offices, among which was School Director in his district for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker have trod the path of life peacefully together for nearly half a century, and should their lives be spared but a few short months, by the kindness of the same Providence which has so long watched over and protected them, they will live to witness the anniversary of their golden wedding.