Abbott, John bio

Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 767-768; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
John Abbott is perhaps one of the largest if not the largest landowner in Farmington Township. He is one of our self-made men, and has been wonderfully successful financially. He has four farms, as follows: his home farm of two hundred and seventy-three acres, and three farms of eighty acres each in Farmington Township, comprising in all five hundred and thirteen acres of as fine farming land as may be found in the county.
Our subject was born January 10, 1834, in Scotland County, Ind. He is a son of Alexander and Nancy (Doty) Abbott, who were natives respectively of Ohio and Scotland Counties, Ind. They came from the Hoosier State to Illinois in 1840, and were early settlers of Farmington Township. Mr. Abbott was only thirteen years old when he came to Illinois in 1847, with his uncle Wesley Abbott. He was a poor boy, had had but few advantages, and his prospects were not very brilliant when he began life on his own account. However, he had good health, strong muscles, and a stout heart, and was endowed with a great deal of energy and push. These were capital enough for such a young man, and since 1860 he has accumulated property, and has become one of the wealthy men of Farmington. For three years after marriage he rented a farm, and then bought one of eighty acres, for which he soon paid, and he has ever since been buying and selling land, and has been very fortunate in his speculations. In all his transactions he has been wise and cautious, and at the same time bold and enterprising, so that he has rarely made a misdeal.
Mr. Abbott is a large cattle raiser and feeder. He feeds about a carload each year, and he also disposes of about a carload of hogs, and always knows when to place them on the market to the best advantage. Every one of his farms are finely improved, and his homestead is provided with two residences. The dwelling which he occupies was erected in 1869, and is a substantial, roomy, comfortable farm residence, neatly and well furnished. The grounds around are attractive, and the lawns are kept neatly cut with a lawn mower. Everything about the place denotes skillful care, and the best of management on the part of the owner. Mr. Abbott is just and fair in all his dealings. and his name stands high in financial circles. He is a good neighbor, kind and accommodating, and stands well in his community. In politics he is a decided Democrat.
Our subject has been greatly helped in his work by his good wife, who in her careful management of household affairs has done her share towards bringing about their present prosperity. They were married June 1, 1854. Mrs. Abbott's former name was Margaret Barkley, she was born September 5, 1837, and is a daughter of John and Sarah (Anderson) Barkley, who came to Illinois from their old home near Dayton, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have had seven children, all of whom are living, who are named as follows: Samuel, William, Sarah, Julia, Laura, Albert, and May, the latter of whom is at home with her parents. Samuel, who lives on a farm in Farmington Township, married a Miss Catherine Heddon, and they have two children, Viola and Lelah; William, who rents a farm in Peoria County, married Amy Roth, and they have three children - Flora, Mary, and Fairy; Sarah married Anthony Heddon, of Farmington Township, and they have two children - Alvie and Carrie; Julia married Calvin O. Field, and they have five children--Cora, Margaret, Edith, Raymond, and Harland; Albert is a resident of Farmington Township, married Miss Elma Heddon, and they have one child named Altie; Laura married Frank Heddon, of Farmington Township, and they have one child, John.