BIOGRAPHY - GEORGE HIDDLESON
George
H. Hiddleson, a practical, progressive and enterprising farmer engaged in
the raising of grain and stock on section 18, Rogers township, was born in
Little Rock township, Kendall county, Illinois, his parents being William
and Elizabeth (Ferguson) Hiddleson. Upon the home farm George II. Hiddleson
spent the days of his boyhood and youth and when not occupied with the
duties of the schoolroom he worked in the fields or in his father's
brickyard until twenty-two years of age. He has lived upon his present farm
since February, 1867, and has converted the place into a splendid property,
bringing forth rich harvests annually. He first purchased eighty acres of
land and afterward added to it a tract similar in size. He also bought
eighty acres in Norton township, Kankakee county, so that at the present
time he has two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land, his
last purchase being just across the county line. He has added to his farm
many modern equipments and accessories and everything about the place is
indicative of his careful supervision. 11 is first purchase of eighty acres
was a tract of raw prairie but with characteristic energy he began its
development and in the course of years waving fields of grain have taken the
phiee of the native prairie grasses and the wild flowers that formerly
covered the country-side. In addition to tilling the soil he also raises
some stock of good grades and thus adds materially to his income.
On Christmas day of 1867 Mr. Hiddleson was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Inscho, who was born in Bristol township, Kendall county, Illinois, January 29, 1844, a daughter of Samuel Inscho. This marriage has been blessed with five children: Sarah, who is now the widow of Peter Seroy and resides in Herscher with her two children: Minnie, the wife of Nephy Olson, of Broughton township, Livingston county, by whom she has three children; Cyrus, who resides in Norton township, Kankakee county, and has two children; Elizabeth, who is the wife of Guy Aldrich, of Cabery and has one child; and Frank, who resides upon the home farm. He is also married and has one child.
Mr. Hiddleson gives his political allegiance to the democracy and is recognized as one of the leading members of the party in this locality. He has served as township highway commissioner for over thirty-three years, continuing in the office until the spring of 1907. What stronger proof of his capability and fidelity could be given than the fact that he has so long remained in this position. For twenty-one years he has been a school director and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart friend. Mr. Hiddleson is numbered among the old settlers of the county, having for forty-one years resided within its borders, years that have witnessed remarkable changes here as the county has been converted from a western frontier district into one of the leading counties of this great commonwealth. He has done much for its agricultural development and has withheld his support from no movement or measure calculated to prove of general good. Moreover, the standard of life that he set up for himself has been one that has commanded for him the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.
Extracted 16 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 586-589.
