Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

ESSEX TOWNSHIP. 507
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which, within fifty-four years effected a total change in the customs
and manners of the people, as well as in the country which the pioneers
found a wilderness. Throughout this State there cannot be
found a inore beautifully located township than this of Essex. Within
its limits many of the ea.rly settlers made their homes ; there also, that
natural locater, the Indian, built his wigwam, ancl squatted, so to
speak, in the midst of plenty. The streams of the to~vnship offered
the lazy red men their wealth of fish, the forest its game, and the soil
its ~vill fruits, herbs, and in some cases corn.
So many references have been made to the township in the general
history of the county, as well as in that of the townships, and so complete
are the biograpllical sketches of its citizens that little remained
to be written here, beyond the special items pertaining directly to the
township.
BIOGRAPHY AND RERIINISCENCES.
/ I;: El B~ockw~cq, the son of J. H. and Harriet (Fuller) Broclimay,
was born in Broome county, N. IT., in the year 1833. His
i~aiernal grandparents were natives of Scotlancl who emigrated to
America ancl settled in the state of New York about the year 1800,
and there reared a farnily of six children. J. H. Brockway, their only
son. was born in Scotland. and with parents came to Xew York at six
yeirs of age, remaining at home u&il about seventeen years of age,
and then spent some three years in Illinois, nrospecting, with the
object of obtaining land. He entered 6,000 aires near J acksonville.
Returning to his father's home, he, at the age of twenty-three years,
was married to Miss I-Iarriet Fuller. They resided in Broome county
until 1544, when they removed to Illinois and settled in Boone county,
where he purchased land and remained some seven years. The death
of his faithful wife, n7hom he followed to the grave some years litter,
took place there. ' He had been a man promillent wherever he had
. , resided, having held the ofice of sheriff of Broome county, N. Y ., ei~ht
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years. His family comprised six children, three of whom are still living.
F. F. Brock~vav, the second chilcl of the family, remained in
Broome county, N. P., until about thirteen years of age, when with
his parents he made the journey in Tvczgons across the prairie to Boone
county, Ill. Until about the age of eighteen he remained in that
county, and then ment as an apprentice to learn the trade of a mason,
and after two years began work for himself; but desiring to know his
business thoroughly, he ment to St. Louis ancl servecl asain his time,
thus showin0 a determination that but few possess. Aiter two years
of hard wo&, having become proficient in his bnsiness, he obtained
important contracts for work on public boilclings, as the jail, cottage
female seminary, and o thela buildings at Davenport, Iowa. Thus t mo
years were passed, when he turned his steps to~vard Stark county,
where his home has since been made. For one year here he devoted
his whole time to his trade. In the winter of 1856 he was marriecl to
Miss Catherine Trickle, of Stark county, daughter of Jefferson Trickle.
After their marriage they settled upon a, farm in the southern part of
Essex township, where for fourteen years they resided, when they
moved to Wyoming, Mr. Brockway engaging in mercantile business
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