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 231-232; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Jacob Perry Maus is one of the successful farmers in Liverpool
Township, to whom fortune has been exceedingly generous in her
gifts. He is a native-born citizen of Fulton County, Liverpool
Township, the place of his birth and December 26, 1850, the date
thereof. He is a son of Jacob Maus, who was a well-known pioneer
of this county and was prominent in its early development.
The father of our subject was born in Carroll County, Md.,
October 12, 1814. His father, whose name was the same as his own,
was a native of Adams County, Pa., and a son of George Maus, who was
born in Holland and came to America about the time of the Revolution,
settling in Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our subject moved to
Maryland in early life and there carried on business as a farmer and
miller, he being the proprietor of a good farm on which stood a
mill. He was killed at the age of seventy-four years by the
falling of a wall of his mill.
The father of our subject was reared on a farm in Maryland and
learned the trade of a miller. He was married in that State to
Mary Formwalt who was born there in September 6, 1818.
Immediately after marriage the young couple came to Fulton County in
the spring of 1840, making the journey by wagon to Pittsburg, Pa.,
thence by boat by the way of the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers,
and landing at Liverpool. Mr. Maus bought one hundred and sixty
acres of land on section 13. Liverpool Township, and at once
entered upon its improvement. He found the surrounding country in
a wild, sparsely settled condition and deer wild turkeys and other game
abounded in the woods. Only about twenty acres of is entire land
were cleared and as there was much valuable timber standing there, he
soon erected a sawmill on Buckheart Creek which he had in operation for
about fifteen years, also having a gristmill in connection with
it. While carrying on his milling business he devoted himself at
the same time to farming and at different periods bought land until his
estate embraced four hundred and eighty acres at the time of his
death. He placed upon it many valuable improvements, including a
fine brick residence which he built in 1861 and a large barn.
Mr. Maus departed this life August 29, 1888, and it is doubtful
if in this whole county the death of any man has been more sincerely
mourned. He was beloved in the family circle, by his neighbors,
and by all who met him in a business way. An ardent Christian and
a member of the Methodist Church he was instrumental in advancing all
religious causes. He was a member of the Democratic party and was
well known in political circles and in public life. For a period
of ten or twelve years he represented Liverpool Township, as a member
of the County Board of Supervisors and he was also School
Treasurer. His good wife preceded him in death, dyeing May 19,
1878. She was a consistent Christian woman and a member of
the Methodist Church for a great many years. The following is
recorded of their three children: Josephus H. born November 25,
1844, died January 23, 1845; John William, born February 12, 1848, died
March 11, 1861; Jacob Perry, their youngest son, is the subject of this
biographical review.
Our subject passed his youth on the home farm, attending the
primitive pioneer schools during the winter season and helping his
father during the summer months. Since the death of the latter he
has managed the farm alone with excellent success. He has two
hundred and fifty acres of choice land under his care, and his land
lying principally on the Illinois River bottom, is of exceptional
fertility and is quite productive. He resides in the house that
his father built, which is one of the largest brick residences in the
county and the other farm buildings are of a substantial order and the
large red frame barn is one of the most commodious in this section.
Mr. Maus was married September 21, 1876, to Lottie E. Morton, a
native of Fulton County. She was born May 12, 1859, and is a
daughter of Richard W. Morton. Her father was born in Estill
County, Ky., April 15, 1819. When he was eleven years old he came
to Fulton County, 1830, with his uncle, Elijah Wilcoxen. He is
still living on a small farm on section 2, Liverpool Township. He
has been three times married. Richard Morton, the paternal
grandfather of Mrs. Maus, was captain of a boat on the Ohio
River. He married Mary Wilcoxen, who was born in Ashe County, N.
C., and was a grand-niece of Daniel Boone, the noted Kentucky
pioneer. Capt. Morton died in 1820.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Maus has resulted in the birth of
these four children: Mary L., born April 29, 1881; Clara G., June
15, 1883; Myrtle M., June 28, 1885; and Frank M., September 28, 1887.
Mr. Maus is an active, intelligent farmer, who has a good
understanding of his calling. He is kind and generous in his relations
with others and is generally popular among his fellow citizens.
He is an ardent Democrat in politics. He has served one term as
Road Commissioner of his township, and ever manifests an interest in
its welfare.
