History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

352 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
the new world frum Germany iu 1854 and settled ou a farm uear
Lamoille, Bureau county, where he remamed until 1859. He
then purchased a tract of land of eighty acres in Brooklyn town-
ship and by degrees converted it into fertile fields, from which he
gathered golden harvests. He practiced strict economy as well as
industry and was thus able flom tune to time to add to his holdings
until he had four hundred acres, bringing the entire farm
to a high state of cultivation. Upon that place he reared his
family of eight children, of whom six are yet living and are a
credit to the family name. Of the two who passed away, Tina
died at the age of seventeen years and was buiied in the Mendota
cemetery, while Phillip died in February, 1912, at the age of
fifty-six years, and was buried in the Brooklyn Union cemetery.
The living members of the family are besides our subject: Wil-
liam, who followed the carpenter's trade iu Mendota; Catherine,
the wife of William Ulsh, of Gompton, Illinois ; Mai'y. the wife
of John Yost, of Mendota ; Gharkitte, the wife of Edward Ulsh
and Louise, the wife of Conrad Yost, of Mendota. The parents
have both been called to the home beyond, the father dying Janu-
ai-y 5, 1904, and the mother October 4, 1897.
John P. Fassig was a pupil in the public schools of West
Brooklyn until sixteen years of age, although he attended only
through the winter months, while the summer seasons were de-
voted to fai'm work. After putting aside his text-books his entire
time was given to the labors of the fields on the old homestead
until he reached the age of twenty-three years. Desirous that his
efforts should more directly benefit himself, he then i-ented a
farm, which he operated for four years, and the money that he
saved during that period enabled him to purchase eighty acres
of his father's farm. By degrees he increased this to three hun-
dred and sixty acres and carried on general agricultural pursuits.
His methods were practical, progressive and resultant. He placed
substantial improvements upon his land, di\'ided it into fields of
convenient size by well kept fences and used modern farm machinery
to till the soil and harvest the crops. At length his financial
returns had made him the possessor of a handsome competence
aud content with this, he put aside further business cares and
removed to West Brookhm, erecting his present home in the
spring of 1913. l^ere he is pleasantly situated and is surrounded
with all of the comforts and some of the Inxuries of life.
On the 4th of Jannarv, 1885. in Brookhm township, was celebrated
the marriage of Mr. Fassig and Miss Sophie Florscheut?;,
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