Trowbridge Biography
Jacob Trowbridge
JACOB TROWBRIDGE is classed among the farmers and stock-growers of DeWitt County, who have a thorough understanding of their calling and have made a success of it. His farm in Tunbridge Township gives every evidence of careful and thrifty management and is a vaulable piece of property. A native of Warren County, Ohio, our subject was born July 15, 1826. Abraham Lacy Trowbridge, his father, was a native of New Jersey, but he was reared in Pennsylvania, where he learned the trade of a millwright. He married Rachel Wampole, who was born and reared in the place of her nativity in Pennsylvania. Her parents were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Trowbridge were married near Harrisburg and they became the parents of twelve children, of whom two died in infancy, while six sons and four daughters grew to maturity, namely: Josiah, John, Alexander, Jacob, Amos E., Abraham B., Susan, Rebecca, Clarissa and Mary C.
The gentleman to whom these notes refer is the fourth son in this family of children. His early life was passed in his native county and his first school days were at the district school in the town where he was reared. He came to DeWitt County in 1856, his parents having come in 1854. He remained an inmate of the parental household till he was twenty-one years old and then began life on his own account. The family after coming to this county located in Tunbridge Township, one mile east of Kenney, where the father rented a place for awhile. He afterward bought a farm on section 20, and busily engaged in its development, placing the land under tillage and erecting suitable buildings. He finally sold his farm when the infirmities of old age began to creep upon him, and then lived for a time with our subject. His last days were passed with his daughter, Mrs. J. A. Kirby, of whom a sketch will be found in this Album.
Our subject in early life worked out by the month on a farm until he had earned money enough to become more independent. He then rented land and farmed on that till his marriage. This important event in his life took place in April, 1852, when he was married to Mary Gustin in Ohio. She was a native of Warren County, that State, and after a brief but happy wedded life died in 1859 and now lies sleeping her last sleep in the county where she was born.
On September 9, 1865, our subject was the second time married, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Lydia A. (Stout) Wallace. By their union there have been born five children. Those living are Seymour and Margaret Ann. Mary B., Ora and an infant unnamed died in infancy. By her first marriage with Mr. Wallace she had five children -- William C., Laura E., Ada, Josephine and Charles C.; of these two are living. Our subject by his first marriage had three children -- Alice J., James A. and Madison Fillmore, the last-named being deceased.
After he was married Mr. Trowbridge came to Illinois, but returned to Ohio in the same year. After his wife's death he came back to Illinois and made several trips between the two States. He finally came to Tunbridge Township to settle permanently and has here a beautiful farm of one hundred and seventy-six acres, which is mostly under excellent cultivation, and which he devotes to a successful general farming business. He is especially interested in raising stock and has one hundred and seventy hogs in fine condition, thirty-four sleek, well-kept cattle, and fifteen horses, besides an interest in two valuable stallions at Kenney that cost over $2,000.
Mr. Trowbridge has a well-balanced mind, an energetic and pushing disposition and shrewdness and foresight are also among his characteristics. He cast his first vote for a Whig candidate, but is now an uncompromising Democrat. He has served as a Commissioner and School Director, making a capable and intelligent civic official, who looked well after the interests of his adopted Township. He is an active member of the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association.
Submitted by
Marlyn
J. Duff
Portrait and Biographical Album of DeWitt Co., Illinois