Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

BIOGRAPHY MD REMINISCENCES
of blacksmith, and continued so engaged at Millington until his death,
January 16, 1884. IIe mas a member of the DiIethoclist Episcopal
church, ancl always held the position of class-leader. IIis mother, now
aged sixty-f our years, resides at irorl~ville, Kenclall coon ty . George
C. Van Osdel is the second child of a family of tell. children, of 137110111
seven are still living; one brother being engaged in the ministry. IIe
s~ent his easlv life at home, assisting In the cluties of the far111. 13s
ehucationrtl aiiGantages were'limited G the colnnlon scllools, but applying
himself cliligently to study he accluiretl n practical education. At
the age of twenty-one he entered Bryant L! Stratton's college, at Chicago,
and, completing his studies theke, in 1864, retunaned to liendall
. county, where, at Ne\\-i~rlc, he engaged in clerlting. After a, sllolat time
h.e joined Company F, One-huntlretl-ancI-foi~tj~-fi~*s t Ill ino is Trolunteer
Infantry, mas promotecl cur.pornl, an tl at tlr e close of 11 is tern1 ol' enlistment
returned to his clnties at the store. In IS65 he went to Aurora,
where he engaged as clerlr for a short time, when ile ura,s attacked by
sciatic rheumat~sin, froin ~vhicllle suff eretl izbont ;L year. Recovering
from this attack sufficiently to iaesu1ne business, lle mrs engaged as
instructor in the public scl~hols of T,a Sr~lle and Kendall counties. In
1867 he was granted a licerise to preacll in the Methodist Episcopal
church. In 1s68 he married Miss Clara A., a, daughter of Etlwarcl P.
and Hannah (Gridley) Eibbins, born in Kenctall county, Ill., December
13, 11347. In 1871 Mr. Van Osdel became a Inember of the Baptist
church, ancl was engaged in the ministry at Newark, Somonauk, Wyoming
ancl Toulon, Ill. In 1876. he came to Wyoming anct assmned
charge of the Baptist church there, for one year; he nlovecl to Toulon,
where he was engatgecl as pastor of tlie Second 13a11tist church. I-Ie
was instrulnentul in uniting the two churches. EIe was also engaged
in photography, which he still follo\vs, being t11 e on lev l)l~otographer
at Toulon. On February 10, 1883, 5I1.s. Van Ostlel (lied. Of the four
chilclren who blessed this union, one tliecl clnlaing infancy. In 18S4 he
married Miss Isabel Stuclcey , of Washington Court house, O., ~vllo ~vas
born in Fayette connty, O., in 1543. Politically, Mr. Van Ostlel is a
Republican. In 1SS1 he mas elected justice of the peace, ~vllich office
he st111 holds. IIe has been quite ixctive tn political affi~irs, a,nd l~as
held the ofice of village clerk. I-lis penchant bl- Ilolne studies 11:~
accompaniecl him in hislater years ancl he is now reading la\v, with a
view of becorninp a, member of the bar of illinois.
fIarrie8 A ~ijil~)~ot, daughter of. William ancl EI;~rriet PIT. (BIorrill)
Ricker, was born in Topsl~am, Me., November 17, 1345. I-Ier father
was born in Maine, Augiist 12, 1813, receirecl a liberal education, and
from the age of eigliteen to thirty-three was engaged in school teaching
every winter. At the age of twenty-one lle moved to Topsham,
ancl was identified wit11 mercantile interests there until 1851, when he
moved to Marshall county, Ill., ~~urchased land, ant1 in 1855 was joined
there by his wife and chilclren. He married Miss Morrill October 1,
1840. at Tonsham. Eleven chilchen blessed this union, seven of whom
are living :' Mary E. L., Lyman J., I-larrjet N. ~amukl M., Willie C.,
Annje E., Susannah I., R. A., Ti~ninicus, Lucv 0. ancl Fredclie 0. In
1867 the family moved to Peoria county, where Mr. Ricker was engaged