Bearce, Orsen 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 277-279; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst - Transcribers Note: Not in index.
Orsen Bearce, the owner and occupant of a well-improved farm in Lewistown Township, is numbered among the intelligent, industrious and prosperous agriculturist of this productive county. His home farm comprises one hundred and twenty acres upon which a fine brick house has been erected, together with a full line of frame barns, granaries, sheds, etc. Mr. Bearce owns another tract of improved land, consisting of eighty acres on section 10, and a forty-acre tract on section 4.
Eli A. Bearce, the father of our subject, was born in Connecticut, his father, Josiah Bearce, being presumably a native of the same State. The latter spent his last years in New York of which his son had become a resident. Eli Bearce remained in his native State until sixteen years old, when he accompanied Dr. Beecher to New York, intending to study medicine with that gentleman. On the death of Doctor, which occurred soon after, the young man abandoned his intention and turned his talents to account in teaching school during the winter and farming during the remained of the years. He was married in the Empire State in 1816, and continued to reside there until 1821, when he determined to emigrate to the West. He built a flatboat at Olean Point, loaded his goods, and with his wife and two children floated down the Alleghany and Ohio Rivers to Shawneetown, Ill.
A forty-acre tract of land in New York had been traded by Mr. Bearce for a quarter section now included in Fulton County. His means were very limited, however, and he did not think best to undertake life in the wilderness, therefore renting a tract near Shawneetown he remained there three years. In April, 1824, he made his way to Fulton County with a team, but even then did not locate on the land for which he had traded. He rented a farm near Lewistown which at that time contained one store, a log jail, log courthouse, its few inhabitants living in log houses.
At the close of the season Mr. Bearce traded a yoke of oxen and a wagon, for one hundred acres of land two and one-half miles north of the village and in 1825 built a log house thereon to which he removed his family. Indians were still more numerous than whites throughout this section, and for a number of years deer, wild turkeys and other game was abundant. There were no railroads for many years, the river towns being the nearest markets. The pioneer labors of Mr. Bearce were brought to a close by his death, February 18, 1857. He was a soldier in the War of 1812.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Sarah Austin. She was a native of the Empire State and spent her last years with her children. She reared seven children, the second of whom is the subject of this biographical notice. Hannah married Jacob Shawver and now lives in Lewistown; Lucinda is the wife of Jonathan Bordner, of Lewistown township; Maria, who is now deceased, was the wife of Moses Bordner, who died in Lee Township in 1889; Franklin is now living near Clarinda, Iowa; Mary is the wife of James Winterbottom, their home being in Kansas.
Orsen Bearce was born in Monroe County, N. Y., April 1, 1819, and was therefore two years old when he became a resident of Illinois. He was reared on the farm in the development of which he early began to bear such a part as his strength would permit. His studies were carried on in the pioneer schools first taught in the log house wit h its homemade furniture, the only desk being a board around the side of the building, at which the larger scholars did their writing. The facts noted in regard to his parents’ home and surroundings are sufficient to indicate the manner of life
Under which he became persevering, industrious and vigorous. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, although he had previously begun the improvement of a portion of the farm which he now occupies. His first purchase was of eighty acres, to which he soon added forty acres, the whole being heavily timbered when bought by him. Its present beautiful appearance and good value is a standing monument to the qualities which he has exhibited since boyhood.
March 23, 1842, Mr. Bearce was united in marriage with Betsy Brown, a native of Licking County, Ohio, who passed away September 9, 1852, after a comparatively brief wedded life. She was the mother of five children whose record is as follows: Icy Ann married Jonas Evans and now lived in Nebraska; Catherine, who is now dead, was the wife of John Hunter; Sarah L. married Aaron Orrindale, their home being near Bradford, Stark County; Frances married Henry Ryan and lives in Lewistown Township; Leonard died in infancy. Mr. Bearce was again married, April 3, 1853, his companion on this occasion being Miss Jane McNeil, a native of Lewistown and daughter of one of the hardy pioneers of this county. Her father was John McNeil, a native of Hillsboro, N. H., who removed with his parents to Indiana, where he was married when abut twenty-one years old to Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Margaret (Smith) Youngman, pioneers of the Hoosier State. Mr. McNeil after locating in this county followed his trade of a carpenter in Lewistown, finally opening a cabinet shop which he operated some years, but eventually buying a farm north of town and turning his attention to agriculture. He died on his estate in February, 1867. He was originally a Whig and later a Republican in politics, and he and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The parents of John McNeil were Daniel and Martha (Parker) McNeil, the father being a farmer in his native New England many years. After spending some time in Indian he finally became a pioneer of this county, locating near Astoria where he continued his agricultural labors for a long period. His death too place at the home of his son in Lewistown. His wife was born in Londonderry, N. H., being a daughter of Alexander and Nancy (Dickey) Parker, the latter of whom was the daughter of William and Elizabeth Dickey, who settled in Londonderry immediately after their emigration in 1725. Mrs. Daniel McNeil died on the farm near Astoria when full of years.
Our subject and his present wife have ten children: Rueben now lives in Lewistown Township, established in a home of his own; Eliza is the wife of Frank Lee, her home being in the same township; Annie, John, Charlie, Jacob, Nellie, Frank, and two who died in infancy complete the family circle. Mr. Bearce was formerly a Whig but has been a Republican since the formation of the party. He is a member of Lewistown Lodge, No. 104, F.& A.M. He is a believer in the doctrine of universal salvation.