There came among others journeying to the Northwest in search of a permanent abiding place, many men who had emigrated from across the Atlantic, expecting in the New World to better their fortunes. As a rule they met with success, being of strong and self-reliant natures, and willing to carve out their fortunes by the exercise of industry and economy. Among those thus deserving honorable mention is the subject of this biography, a native of Cornwall County, England, and born March 14, 1821.
Mr. Wilcox was reared to manhood in the place of his birth, and employed himself mostly in farming and mining. His education was somewhat limited, although, being naturally bright and observant of what was going on around him, he managed to acquire much practical information, which has served him well through all his life. In hisnative county he was married, .June 15, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Webb, who was also born in Cornwall County. Oct. 15. 1824. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox spent the first two years of their wedded life in their native county, but in the spring of 1846 decided to seek their fortunes on another continent. Taking passage on a sailing-vessel at Liverpool, they arrived at New York City after a voyage of five weeks, and journeyed thence by the Hudson Hiver to Albany, thence to liuffalo by canal, and from there by a lake steamer to Chicago. From the latter place, which was then in its infancy, they came overland to this county, succeeding in taking passage with a farmer at Hockford, who happened to be at that point selling grain, and he conveyed them to Elizabeth Township, this county.

During the first eight years of his residence here Mr. Wilcox engaged in lead mining, and then went over into Michigan, and worked in the Lake Superior copper mines one year, his wife in the meantime remaining with the children in Elizabeth Township. I'pon returning to this county, our subject followed mining another year, then rented a tract of land and busied himself in agricultural pursuits in this manner for a term of fifteen years. He was thus enabled to purchase, in 1869,120 acres of land in Woodbine Township. This was a prairie tract, with not a stick of timber, and upon which not a furrow had been turned. The task before him seemed an Herculean one. but a few years of plowing and sowing brought their legitimate results, and Mr. Wilcox not only succeeded in chang- ing the prairie to a productive farm, but added to his landed estate until he is now the owner of 180 broad acres, with excellent farm buildings. His accumulations have been the result of his own unaided industry, unless we mention the assistance of his estimable wife, who has done her full share in her sphere, looking well to the ways of her household, and holding up the hands of her husband through his seasons of labor and discouragement.

Mrs. Wilcox is the daughter of Samuel and Jane (Williams) Webb, who were both natives of Cornwall County, England, and whose family included eight children, seven of whom are living, namely: Mary A., Elizabeth, Harriet, Jane. Samuel. Francis, and Susan. William died in California, at the age of forty years. The parents are deceased. Isaac and Mary (Jeffrey) Wilcox,the parents of oursubject, were of English birth and ancestry, and spent their last years in Elizabeth. Their family consisted of tivechildren,namely: Abrara,Isaac,John, WiWiam,and Nancy. Only twoof these are living, our subject and his sister Nancy.

There came to the fireside of Air. and Mrs. Wilcox eleven children, who present the remarkable spectacle of a household still unbroken by death, all living and married. Isaac is living in Elizabeth; John A. is practicing as a physician and surgeon in Clinton, tliis State; Elizabeth is the wife of James Bateman; Samuel and William arc residents of Elizabeth; Abram lives in Iowa; Susan is the wife of Benjamin Chapman, of Elizabeth; Ellen is the wife of Abram Cox, the present Marshal of the village; Frank, Charles and Marion operate the farm of their father.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox have been for many years consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and take an active interest in all good works. Mr. Wilcox, upon becoming a voting citizen, identified himself first with the Whigs, and later with the Republican part}*. Iteing of the latter a stanch supporter, as are his sons likewise. While a resident of Woodbine Township he served as School Director, and has uniformly evinced an interest in all those projects calculated for the advancement of his adopted county.

The parents of Mr. Wilcox were buried side by side.in the cemetery of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Elizabeth. Mrs. AVilcox has in her possession a shaving dish formerly owned by Mr. James Aulk, one of Wellington's old soldiers, who fought in the battle of Waterloo, and carried the cup with him through all the vicissitudes of that memorable time, finally bringing it to America. The widow of Mr. Aulk being a friend of Mrs. Wilcox, presented her with this valuable relic upon her removal to Iowa.

Transcribed by Christine Walters - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)