Shawver, Jacob 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 354-355; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Jacob Shawver. One by one the old settlers of the county are departing to the bourne whence no traveler returns, leaving behind them records more or less worthy of study, and examples more or less worthy of emulation. One of this number is the late Jacob Shawver, who is well remembered by all who knew him, as a man of great industry, good judgment, and the personal character which won a high degree of respect from those with whom he associated. Financially speaking, he was a self-made man, having begun his career in life with no other capital than that embraced in his brain, his will power, and his physical ability. When removed by death, June 22, 1874, he was the owner of a fine estate of nearly three hundred acres in Lewistown Township, which is still held in the family.
Mr. Shawver was of German ancestry, a son of John Shawver, who, so far as is known, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was himself born in Union County, November 4, 1804. His father being a farmer, he was reared with a knowledge of agricultural pursuits, and with the educational advantages which at that period of the century were possible in the country. He learned the trade of a comb-maker, and finally engaged in the business for a time, later turning his attention to agriculture.
Our subject removed from his native State to Ohio, residing in Clarke County until 1836, when, in company with his brother, he started for Illinois, their mode of conveyance being a wagon drawn by four horses. He located near Lewistown, and with his brother engaged at the blacksmith's trade, but ere long bought a tract of timber land. He began at once to clear a farm, building a log house in which he lived for some years. He then sold his property and bought a tract on section 10, Lewistown Township, from his father-in-law, making that his home during the remainder of his life.
The marriage of Mr. Shawver occurred September 20,1838, his bride being Miss Hannah Bearce. This worthy woman was born in Monroe County, N. Y., April 3, 1817, being a daughter of Eli H. and Sarah (Austin) Bearce. (See sketch of Orsen Bearce on another page in this Album). She was five years old when she came to Illinois with her parents, and she has lived to witness the wonderful development of this county, of which she is one of the very oldest living settlers. During her early years her mother had no stove, doing her cooking and performing other household duties at the open fireplace. She also spun and wove, and in the knowledge of those useful arts instructed her daughter, who became proficient with the wheel and shuttle. In 1889, Mrs. Shawver removed to the county seat, where she is yet living. She is the mother of ten children, viz: Sarah H., Elizabeth, John, Amanda, Jacob, Wesley, Franklin deceased in childhood, Sophia, George, and Harvey.
John Austin, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Shawver, was a native of the Empire State, and a farmer by occupation. After residing in New York many years, he started to move to Illinois, coming via the rivers. He had been in poor health for some time, and died at St. Louis, Mo., while enroute to his new home. His wife, formerly Miss Hannah Frost, came on to this State, and spent her last years in this county.
The farm formerly operated by the subject of this sketch is now occupied and carried on by his son George, who is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was born on the homestead, October 3, 1860, and was but fourteen years old when his father departed this life. Four years later the management of the estate devolved upon him, and he has since been carrying on his labors there. He is numbered among the enterprising, progressive and intelligent young farmers of the township, and is looked upon with respect as a worthy follower in the footsteps of his progenitor. At the residence of George W. and Elizabeth Ford, in this township, on New Year's day, 1889, he was united in marriage to Miss Addie, daughter of the host and hostess, a young lady who has many friends in this section where she is well known.