JOHN PRICE, one of the early settlers of Stephenson County, and now numbered among its prosperous and well-to-do citizens, is a fine illustration of self-made men who commenced at the foot of the ladder in life and have by their own exertions attained a good position socially and financially. Mr. Price comes of substantial Pennsylvania ancestry, and is himself a native of the Keystone State, born in Centre County, Sept. 10, 1815.

The father of our subject, Jacob Price, was also a native of Centre County, Pa., to which his grand father, Henry Price, removed in early manhood, and where he spent the last years of his life. He was married and reared a fine family of sons and daughters, Jacob being educated, like the others, to habits of industry and farming pursuits. He developed into manhood in his native county, and purchased a farm in Potter Township, where he located and spent the remainder of his life. Jacob Price married, at an early age, Miss Kate Conrad, a native of his own county, where she remained with her parents until she became Mrs. Price. Their children, in common with their son John, were reared on the farm in Centre County and commenced at an early age to assist their parents in the maintenance of the family.

The early years of John Price were spent after the manner of most farmers’ sons of that period, his education being extremely limited and his prospects for the future dependent upon his own exertions. He was married early in life, and afterward worked for a time in a sawmill and at whatever he could find to do, until the spring of 1848. He had a strong desire for something better than he had known, and then decided to seek his fortunes in the far West. Accordingly, accompanied by his wife and four children, he started overland on a long journey with but a small amount of money, trusting to his good health and his strong hands for their future welfare. They traveled after the manner of those days, taking with them their household effects and provisions, camping and cooking by the wayside. By the time he arrived in Stephenson County he was without money, but made arrangements for the comfort of his family and located them in a rented house in Waddams Township. His next business was to seek employment, and during the first winter he split rails at fifty cents per hundred and boarded himself.

In the spring following, Mr. Price took possession of a farm upon which his wife was employed as housekeeper and himself as laborer. He had still retained possession of his team, but the second year traded one horse for one acre of land, which constituted his first ownership of real estate, and was located on section 4, in Waddams Township. Upon this he put up a small log house, and cultivated his limited area of soil, in the meantime laboring elsewhere by the day or month, as he could secure employment. He now began gradually to gain a foothold, and in due time became the proud possessor of nine acres, for which he had paid 9,000 rails. For thirty-six years, successively, he followed threshing in the winter seasons. He invested his surplus cash in additional land until he became the owner of 154 acres, which in due time was provided with a good set of farm buildings, including a substantial house and barn, and the machinery necessary for the convenience of the enterprising and progressive agriculturist. He also gradually accumulated a goodly assortment of stock. In 1866 he sold the old homestead on section 9 and removed to his present location, where he has practically abandoned active labor and is enjoying, as he deserves, the fruits of his early industry.

The marriage of John Price and Miss Sarah Babb was celebrated in November, 1838, at the home of the bride’s parents in Union County, Pa., in which county she was born. Of her marriage with our subject there are six children living, and located as follows: John J. is a resident of McConnell’s Grove, this county; Catherine, now Mrs. Walters, is a resident of Waddams Township; James C. lives near Freeport; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Rice, is a resident of Cook County, Neb.; Jonathan and William H. are residents of Freeport. Mr. Price votes the straight Democratic ticket, and with his estimable wife, is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 333