PETER VAN SICKLE, an estimable citizen of Lena, was born in New Jersey on the 20th of January, 1806. His father, Abraham Van Sickle, was also a native of New Jersey, and his grandfather, Peter Van Sickle, was a farmer, who removed from New Jersey to New York about 1807, where he located in Tompkins County and lived until about 1815. In that year he moved to Ohio and settled in Delaware County, where he died at the home of his son-in-law. The father of our subject grew to manhood in New Jersey, where he was married to Rachel Kirkenball. In 1810 he moved to Tompkins County, N. Y., where he purchased timber land, which he cleared and improved, and where he resided until his death.

Our subject was four years of age when his parents left New Jersey, and he remained with them until manhood. He went to Ohio with a neighbor in 1839, and in June of that year, he started for Illinois with his wife and four children, himself and wife each driving an ox-team, and camping out each night. Six weeks after leaving Ohio they arrived in Stephenson County. The land had not come in to the market at that time, but he bought a claim in what is now Erin Township, on which there were five acres of timber land, where he felled trees and built a log house. The mines in Wisconsin afforded the nearest market, and it required two days to make the round trip. At that time pork sold at two cents per pound, and oats sometimes as low as ten cents per bushel. After the land came into market he entered 120 acres, upon which he lived for about thirty years, improving the farm and erecting good buildings. He sold this farm and moved to Lena, and with the exception of five or six years’ residence in Waddams Township has resided in the town ever since.

Mr. Van Sickle has been married twice, his first wife being Julia Ann Richards, who was born in Geneva, N. Y., and died in October, 1883. By this marriage there were eight children, six of whom are living – Ann, Amanda, Andrew B., Sarah, Jane, Julia, John and Harriet. His second wife was Lavinia Thomas, who was born in the town of Belfast, Allegany Co., N. Y., Sept. 1, 1812.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portraits & Biographical 1888 Stephenson Co IL Pg 759-60