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 504-505; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Jacob P. Hensley, a progressive farmer of Cass Township, has
risen to a position in agricultural affairs which many might envy.
Since 1853 he has made his home between Harris and Cass Townships, and
has for the past twenty-five years resided in the latter named place.
His birth occurred on December 22, 1837, in Clay County, Ind., being
the son of John A. Hensley, a native of Kentucky, who was born in that
State in Montgomery County, October 6, 1816. He married Miss Minerva
Yocum, also a Kentuckian, but their marriage took place in Clay County,
Ind., in 1836, they continuing to reside in that place for a period of
seventeen years. At the expiration of that time they removed to
Illinois, settling near Marietta, where the mother died in 1865.
To our subject's parents were born nine children, five of whom
are living at the present time, viz: he whose sketch now claims
attention; Mary C., wife of Hiram Bartlett, has three children, and
resides in Harris Township; William O. married Jennie Johnson, has
three children, and lives in Harris Township; Algon H., who married
Linda Jones, is the father of eight children, and lives with his family
in Cass County, Mo.; Eva, wife of Jeremiah Pierce, lives in Mound
Township, McDonough County, and has three children.
Our subject's father is still living, and makes his home with
his son. Jacob received a common-school education at Marietta, and was
diligent in preparing his lessons and in laying the foundation for a
prosperous future. When twenty-one years of age he engaged in business
for himself, and settled in Lynn County, Kan., where he remained two
years, breaking up and cultivating the prairie land. He then returned
home and worked for others, receiving only a small amount of money in
compensation for his service - a state of affairs which existed until
1865. Buying a farm on section 21, he lived there eleven years. And
then purchasing property on section 20, made that his home during the
next five years. He finally settled upon his present farm, which
embraces two hundred acres of valuable land. When he took possession of
the same it was one unbroken stretch of brush and timber, and the hand
of civilization had not robbed it of one primitive charm; but by means
of inexhaustible energy and good business judgment, he has cleared this
land and has it well under cultivation. In 1876 he built his residence
at a large cost, and loses no opportunity to add to the comfort and
valuation of his estate.
The subject of our sketch, who as before stated, devotes much
attention to farming, is chiefly interested in stock-raising, and has
in his possession seventeen valuable horses, including the two famous
stallions, "Oxney Samson" and "Baryton," half a dozen of good Southdown
sheep, and fifty full-blooded Poland-China hogs, and also some fine
Galloway cattle.
Mr. Hensley was married March 9, 1862, to Miss Margaret
Baughman, daughter of Gabriel Baughman, one of the old settlers in this
township, and who is now deceased. He emigrated from Ohio to Cass
Township in 1834, and was the father of fourteen children, seven boys
and seven girls; nine are still living, and most of them in this
county. The daughter's birth occurred December 27, 1834. To Mr. and
Mrs. Hensley have been born three children, living and one deceased,
viz: Hannah Jane, Mrs. James E. Drummond, of this place; John G.;
Marcellus O., who married Ellen J. Sterling; and Mary M., deceased.
Our subject and wife are devout Christians and faithful
attendants at the Christian Church. He is a strong temperance man
himself, and a great advocate of this cause. Being a man of prominence,
he is naturally called upon to fill responsible positions, and has for
the past fifteen years served as School Director, and helped build two
school-houses. He is actively interested in political matters, and has
voted for the Greenback party, and of late years for the Prohibition
ticket, having cast his first vote for Stephen A. Douglas. His father
is a member of the Democratic party, casting his first Presidential
vote for Van Buren.
