Cozine, George 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 660–661; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
George Cozine. This gentleman now occupies his father’s homestead in Lewiston Township, a mile and a quarter west of the county seat. He is well-known throughout this vicinity as a contractor and builder, having been for many years located in Lewistown, and still carrying on his work in and about the city. He is a skillful worker, thoroughly cognizant of the value of different materials, and in the carrying out of the engagements made, is reliable and straightforward. In politics he is a Democrat and both his wife and himself belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Cozine family is of German extraction but was represented in Pennsylvania several generations since. In that State, Garret Cozine was born, reared and married, removing thence to Kentucky and becoming a pioneer of Mercer County. There he resided until 1835, when he purchased a tract of land in Hendricks County, Ind., spending the remnant of his days upon it and dying when eighty-four years old. His wife was also of German ancestry, and a native of the Keystone State. She died at the same age her husband did, but two years before his decease. To this couple was born a son, Cornelius, who spent his entire life in Kentucky, dying at the age of fifty-two. His wife was Jenny Van Arsdall, also of Kentucky.
In the family of Cornelius and Jenny Cozine was a son, Garret, whose birth took place in Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Ky., March 19, 1810. After reaching mature years he married Susan Beadles, a native of the same county, and directly after their marriage the young couple emigrated to Indiana, performing their journey with teams in accordance with the custom of the times. They located in Hendricks County upon a tract of timber land, building a log cabin, in which three of their children were born. After eight years the changed their residence to Morgan County, whence, in 1849, they came to Illinois, locating in Lewistown. For four years Mr. Cozine rented a farm, then bought that now occupied by his son, our subject, which he cleared and improved, residing there until his death, April 15, 1888. His good wife passed away November 6, 1872.
The maternal grandparents of our subject were John and Elizabeth Beadles, the father a son of Rice Beadles, of whom mention is made in a sketch of Nathan Beadles, which is included in this Album. The parents of our subject reared nine children, of whom George is the eldest, William H., the second child, is also represented in this volume; Simon is now deceased; Mrs. Almira Tribbet lives in Bernadotte. James died in Wabash County, Ill., March 12, 1890; Joseph R. resides in Wabash County, Ill.; Mrs. Mary Chambers, Mrs. Susan A. Black and Mrs. Sarah Houston are all deceased.
The gentleman of whom we write is a native of Hendricks County, Ind., born January 18, 1838. He was in his twelfth year when he accompanied his parents to this State, where he attended school, and assisted on the farm, until eighteen years of age. He then began to learn the trade of a carpenter, serving under Jacob Brown tow years. After this he began business as a contractor and builder and has continued to make this his occupation until the present time. With the exception of two years spent in McDonough County, and one summer Iowa, Lewistown was his place of residence until 1884, when he purchased his father’s homestead and removed thereto.
Mr. Cozine has been twice married, first in 1858, to Miss Irene Beadles, a native of this county, daughter of Anderson and Nancy (Wilcox) Beadles. She survived until 1880, when she was borne to the tomb, her death not only leaving a great void in the family circle, but being mourned by many friends. She was the mother of four children, all boys, bearing the names respectively of Oliver, William, Ezra, and Ralph. In 1883 Mr. Cozine was again married, his bride being Miss Jennie Kenney, a native of Montgomery County, Ind., and the daughter of John and Lucinda Kenney. This marriage has been blest by the birth of two daughters, Zuleime and Edith.