Untitled Document

Hudson B. Engle

Hudson B. Engle, residing at Orion, and engaged in general farming and the raising of stock, is a native of Burlington Co., N. J., where he was born Nov. 4, 1820 . The father, Joseph Engle, was a native of the same county, where he was married to Hannah H. Burr, a native also of the same State, and a second cousin to Aaron Burr. They became the parents of seven children, of whom our subject was the eldest son and third child.

His father died when he was about ten years of age. He continued to reside with his mother, helping her along in her trouble to provide for her family until he was 17 years of age, when he became an apprentice to learn the wagon-maker’s trade, under David Heaton, of Moorestown , N. J. After working for four years for Mr. Heaton, he came West with his mother and two sisters and three other brothers, the family locating at Richland Grove, Mercer County . They endured many hardships on their journey westward, which was made all the way over land in three wagons and with six horses. They were on the road two months, and during the time never slept in a house, and, as one might expect experienced many hardships. In the spring of 1848, three years after their arrival, the family moved into Western Township and purchased 40 acres of land on section 22.

Mr. Engle, however, had come to Orion the year before, and was married Nov. 11, 1847 , to Miss Sarah Elwell, daughter of Perly and Sarah ( Stanley ) Elwell. Her father died in Massachusetts , and her mother married again, came to Illinois , and settled in Western Township , in 1843, where they were very early and well-known settlers. The wedding of Mr. Engle was the first to be celebrated in Western Township . At that time there were but five houses with in its borders. They have since made this a place of their permanent residence, where Mr. Engle owns 115 acres of land, all under the plow, and adjoining the village corporation line on the north. Mr. Engle deals in high grades of swine and cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. E. are active members of the Baptist Church , and Mr. E. is a Trustee. Mr. Engle is a believer in, and a supporter of, the principles of advocated by the Republican party.

1885 Portrait & Biographical Album of Henry Co., Illinois page 523

Transcribed by Jan Roggy

Illinois Ancestors