Early Farm Life in Bureau County, Illinois, and ... - New Page 1

move back to Bureau County before 1874 Did they have a long distance romance which
would have been a little difficult in that time frame
Four more years would pass before Jacob married Justina Croisant on 28 October 1878.
Justina was three months shy of her 17 th birthday. Jacob was 24 years old
Henry and Juliana then apparently moved back to Livingston County shortly after their
marriage and farmed there for some years, perhaps at the farm that they lived in earlier. In the
mean time, Jacob probably remained with his father in Section 36 Berlin Township and
worked there until he married Justina in 1878.
Following 1878, there was a convergence back to a complete family again and the accounting
of the family becomes a little more clear.
Jacob and Henry Start Families, Build Wealth
By 1880, Henry and Jacob were both married and had children. They were most likely living
on the property in Berlin Township purchased by their father Heinrich in 1874 in the
southeast corner of the township.
By this time in 1880, the widowed Heinrich was no longer farming on his own. He had
retired and was listed in the census as living with Henry and his family.
This point marks the time when Jacob and Henry began their own families and began their
own farming lifestyles. It also marks the point where their family and farm expansion began.
Over the next 20 + years, Henry and Jacob worked their respective farms and added to their
holdings. Appendix A has a more detailed timeline of their farm expansion. During this time,
Heinrich made his home alternately with his two sons.
Chapter 8 Page 10