JESSE MARICLE, who over thirty years ago migrated to this county and cast his lot among his brother pioneers, grew with them from his early manhood, and from the first identified himself with their interests and the building up of this section of country. The hardships which the early settlers endured, and the thrilling scenes through which they passed, afford us a means of entertainment at this later days, as we read of them by the comfortable fireside, and scarcely pause to realize that but for their courage and perseverance, the Prairie State would not stand where she does to-day. There should be reared to those brave spirits a monument enduring as the ages, and a record of their deeds should be perpetuated, as now we seek to do it, from one generation to another.

The subject of this history, a native of Broome County, N. Y., was born in the town of Vestal, June 8, 1837. His father, William Maricle, was a native of Schoharie County, and his grandfather, Jacob Maricle, also a native of the Empire State, traced his ancestors back to Holland, whence they emigrated and located along the Mohawk Valley. Jacob Maricle left his native State late in life, and going across the Mississippi took up his abode in Webster County, Iowa, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Broome County, N. Y., where he purchased a tract of timber land and reared his children. His son William, the father of our subject, was reared to manhood, and purchasing a forest tract in Vestal Township, occupied it until 1853, then sold out and came to Illinois. He spent a few months in Jo Daviess County, and then pushing on westward, purchased a tract of wild land in Winneshiek County, Iowa, where he improved a farm, and made his permanent home. He had married Miss Margaret Stephenson, who was born in New Jersey and died in Winneshiek County, Iowa.

Our subject was a youth of sixteen years when his parents came to the West. He lived with them in Iowa eighteen months afterward, then returned East as far as this county, and employed himself at whatever he could find to do until 1865. He was then able to purchase eighty acres of unimproved land in Winslow Township, of which he has retained possession since that time. He labored industriously for a number of years, meeting with success, and as his capital increased, invested it in property that could not be destroyed by fire or carried off to Canada. He is now the owner of 370 acres of fertile land, all enclosed and improved, and which constitutes one of the finest homesteads in this part of Stephenson County. The buildings are in keeping with the quality of the soil, and everything about the premises indicates the intelligence and industry of its proprietor.

The marriage of Mr. Maricle with Miss Premila O. Kennedy, took place in the spring of 1859, at the home of the bride's parents in Christian Hollow, Winslow Township. Mrs. M. was born in Ohio, and by her union with our subject became the mother of eight children, namely, Cora, the wife of Charles Kellum, of Winslow Township; Adelie, deceased; John, Willie; Ada, who is married to George Staven, and resides in Winslow Township; David, Jesse and Alfred. The parents belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and our subject, politically, is a stanch Republican, strongly imbued with prohibition. His worldly possessions and his standing in society are due to his own straightforward and creditable course, which has gained him the esteem of all who know him, and placed him among the representative men of Stephenson County.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 659