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TIDMARSH, Abel

Abel TIDMARSH is a leading representative of the agricultural interests of Marshall county, and belongs to that honored class of self-made men to whom success has come as the reward of earnest persistent effort. He was born in Wilkeshire, England, December 27, 1821, one of the seven children of Richard and Sarah (WOODHAM) TIDMARSH, who spent their entire lives in England. Our subject was reared in the land of his birth, and from an early age his life has been one of toil. When a child of seven he began working to help his mother. Later he engaged in teaming for many ears, and thus at various occupations he labored persistently until he gained for himself a comfortable home.

Mr. TIDMARSH was married January 12, 1845, to Elizabeth WITTS, a native of New Castle on Tyne, in England, born January 31, 1822. Her parents, Seth and Barbara (HOWELL) WITTS, also lived and died in England. Of their seven children, only one now survives – Mrs. Sarah WALTERS. Our subject and his wife have four children – Sarah Ellen, wife of Samson ROWE, of Whitefield township, Marshall county, by whom she has seven children; Emma, wife of John WETZEL, of Roberts township, Marshall county, and the mother of five children; Clara, wife of John B. MARTIN, of Roberts township, and Henry W., who married Elizabeth MILLER, and with his wife and three children is living on the old homestead farm. Mrs. TIDMARSH died June 13, 1896, after an illness of but three days. She was a member of the Church of England, and was well respected by all who knew her.

Mr. TIDMARSH came with his family to America in 1855, and took up his residence in Whitefield township, Marshall county. He worked one season in a brickyard and then purchased the yard, which he operated for four years. In 1860 he rented a farm of Jesse BANE in Roberts township, cultivating the same for six years, and in 1866; he purchased his present home, then but partially improved. His home was a log cabin, but in 1879 this was replaced by a commodious frame residence. He has made excellent improvements upon his farm, and has extended its boundaries until it now comprises four hundred and four acres of rich and arable land, which yields to him a good tribute. He is a successful and progressive general farmer, who arrived in this country with a cash capital of twenty-five cents, but has steadily worked his way upward to a position of affluence. He has also given his children good educational privileges and they are now settled in comfortable homes. In politics he is a democrat, and has served as school director.

Extracted April 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.


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