Years of activity and enterprise have brought to Isaac Allen GLENN a measure of success that classes him with the substantial farmers of Magnolia township, where he owns and operates a valuable farm of four hundred and eighty acres. This has been in possession of the family for many years, having once been the property of the grandfather of our subject, who came from Tazewell county to Putnam county when Indians were still inhabitants of this part of the state. He entered the land from the government and in the midst of a frontier district began the development of a farm.
His son Isaac D. GLENN, was born and reared in Kentucky and there married Sarah ALLEN, who was also a native of that state and was a daughter of Archibald ALLEN, who also became a pioneer settler of Magnolia township, Putnam county, where he died at the venerable age of ninety-four years. On leaving Kentucky Isaac GLENN, Sr., and his wife removed to Indiana and in 1832 became residents of Illinois, but it was not until three years later that they took up their abode on section 31, Magnolia township, the father securing the land from the government. The year of their arrival in this state was the one in which the Black Hawk war occurred and the family shared in the hardships and trials of pioneer life, when an unsettled district, with its lack of advantages and opportunities, brings many discomforts and trials. The father, however, resolutely undertook the task of developing a new farm, continuing its improvement until his death, which occurred July 7, 1850. He was long survived by his wife, who passed away August 17, 1876. Both were members of the old school Baptist church, in which he served as deacon for many years. They were the parents of six children who reached adult age: Mrs. Nancy H. YOUNG, of Iowa; Samuel, of Varna, Illinois; Mrs. Elizabeth LARKINS and Mrs. Margaret HALEY, now deceased; Young A., living in Magnolia township; and Isaac A.
The youngest of the family, Isaac Allen GLENN, was born on the old family homestead on section 31, Magnolia township, August 24, 1837, and was given his father's Christian name and his mother's surname. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. As his years and strength increased he aided more and more largely in the work of the farm and when winter came and brought a respite from the arduous labor of the fields he spent about three months in attendance at the district school, which was about a mile and a half from his home. He was married in December 20, 1855, when not yet nineteen years of age, to Miss Mary Jane STEWART, sister of Mrs. W. M. GERMAN, of Hopewell township, Marshall county. She was born in Hennepin December 30, 1838, and was the eldest member of the STEWART family. Her father, who was born January 7, 1817, died January 30, 1896.
The first home of Mr. and Mrs. GLENN was a log cabin on the farm which is still their place of residence, but the pioneer dwelling has long since been replaced by a more modern and commodious dwelling. As the years passed he brought his land under a high state of cultivation, annually harvesting good crops, produced through the care he has bestowed upon the seed and the soil, the latter being naturally very rich and productive for there is no finer farming land in all this great country than can be found in central Illinois. For some years Mr. GLENN has also engaged quite extensively and successfully in the breeding and raising of fine horses and cattle, as well as other stock, and has worked diligently and persistently in bringing his farm up to a high state of improvement. From 1861 to 1873 he and his brother, Young A. GLENN, were engaged extensively in buying and shipping stock.
As the years passed Mr. and Mrs. GLENN became the parents of eight children: John E., who was born October 23, 1856, died October 13, 1857; Samuel M., born August 29, 1858, died February 15, 1862; Sarah Sophia, born August 30, 1860, is the wife of W. H. BURR; Eliza Hall, born August 31, 1862, is the wife of Randolph DISOSWAY of Iroquois county, Illinois; Nancy J., born September 18, 1864, died February 23, 1889; Isaac A., born May 9, 1867, died August 15, 1871; Jessie Elizabeth, born February 19, 1873, is the wife of D. W. DUNLAP, of Evans township, Marshall county; and Robert Edwin, born November 4, 1875, died June 11, 1894.
Mr. GLENN votes with the democracy and has been honored with some local offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. Fraternally he is connected with Magnolia lodge, A. F. & A. M., and. he also belongs to the Magnolia Grange. Both Mr. and Mrs. GLENN are members of the 0. E. S. lodge, No. 189, of Magnolia, of which Mrs. GLENN is a charter member. His entire life has been spent in Putnam county and one of the first farms claimed and developed is his property. The work of improvement instituted by his grandfather and carried on by his father is now being continued by him, and thus the name of GLENN has ever stood as a synonym for progress here.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
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La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
