Andrew Thomas Glassburn is cashier of the Bank of Tampico, the only one in the village, and while his father, John W. Glassburn, retains the presidency, the son is the manager of the business, which is one of profit to the community as well as to the owners. In tracing the early history of the Glassburns we note that John Glassburn, grandfather of our subject. was a native of Virginia and in his boyhood days went with his parents to Ohio, where he met and married Miss Sarah Ann Fee, a native of Vinton county, that state. In later years they removed to Whiteside county, Illinois, and John Glasshurn purchased a farm about six miles southeast of Tampico, becoming owner of this property in the `80s. He made it his home throughout his remaining days and passed away when about sixty-seven years of age, while his wife died at the advanced age of eighty-two years. In their family were six children: David, Thomas, John, Albert, Sally Ann and Mary, all of whom were farming people, but John W. is the only one now living.

For many years John W. Glassburn has figured as one of the prominent and influential residents of Tampico and this part of the county, successfully controlling constantly increasing business interests, and now in the evening of life living retired in the enjoyment of well-earned ease. His birth occurred in Springfield township, Gallia county, Ohio, June 26, 1834, and there he resided on the home farm with his parents until he attained his majority, when he resolved to see something of the world and find better business opportunities elsewhere if possible. In the meantime he acquired his education in the district school, he and his brother riding several miles on horseback in order to pursue their studies. Later a little log schoolhouse was built nearer their home and John W. Glassburn had the privilege of attending school from two to two and a half months in the winter seasons. In the school of experience, however, he has learned many valuable lessons, and reading and observation, coupled with an observing eye and retentive memory, have constantly broadened his knowledge and increased his effectiveness as a factor in the business world. As a boy of nineteen years he came to Whiteside county to look over the country and for a time worked for a man on the Fox river. Later he hired out. to Jacob Black, proprietor of a gristmill at Milford, with whom he continued through the winter. Pleased with the country, Mr. Glassburn purchased one hundred and sixty acre of land from Mr. Black. or rather made arrangements for the purchase, as he had no money. He then returned to his old home in Ohio and induced his father to come out and buy the farm of one hundred and sixty acres upon which he is now living, for the village of Tampico has been built upon this farm.

On the 14th of June, 1855. John W. Glassburn was married to Miss Olive Johnston, whose birth occurred in Gallia county, Ohio, January 10, 1836. The marriage was celebrated in their native state and in the fall of 1856 they journeyed across the country from Ohio to Illinois, making the trip in a wagon after the primitive manner of travel of those days. Mr. Glassburn then set the cover off the lumber wagon and used it as a shelter until he could build a house. The place was two miles north of Yorktown. it was not the farm which his father had purchased, but he lived there for two years, or until he broke the land and made some improvements upon the present farm. Since the spring of 1861 he has lived continuously upon the farm which his father purchased. The first building erected was a granary and he occupied it as a dwelling until a frame house was erected. He continued to occupy that dwelling for a number of years, when it was moved away and replaced by his present fine brick residence in 1887. Mr. Glassburn carried on general farming until the railroad was built, through in 1871, when he platted the town of Tampico. He gave his entire attention to the work for a yea.r and then engaged in the grain and stock business, shipping grain and stock from Tampico. That venture proved successful and he continued in the grain and stock business for about thirty years, meeting with prosperity. In 1882 he, with W. W. Craddock, established a private bank to accommodate the people of the vicinity, but for a time regarded banking as a side issue. This continued until March 1, 1885, when Mr. Craddock retired from the bank and A. T. Glassburn purchased his interests. About 1882 he built his present bank building and made a separate business of his banking interests. This was t.he first and is today the only bank in the village. Mr. Glassburn is still its president, but several years ago turned over the active management to his son Thomas, and admitted his son Fred to a partnership in the grain trade. He has always engaged to a greater or less extent in real-estate operations. buying and selling land on quite an extensive scale and eventually becoming the owner of fourteen hundred acres in one body west. of the town. It was known as the Lawndale farm, and in addition to this property he had several smaller tracts of land. He has since disposed of much of his realty, however, although he is still the owner of two good farms. He has also erected a number of dwellings and business houses in Tampico and has thus contributed in substantial measure to the welfare and improvement of the village.

John W. Glassburn gave his early political support to the democracy, but voted for Abraham Lincoln and other candidates of the republican party and is now a prohibitionist in political principle. He casts an independent ballot, however, as the prohibition party often has no ticket in the field. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to office. He has been president of the town board for many years and would have filled other offices to which his fellow townsmen would have elected him had he not declined to do so. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, but is not aggressively sectarian, and on the contrary no good work done in the name of charity or religion solicits his aid in vain. He has given lots to all of the different denominations represented in Tampico and has assisted all in building their churches. He likewise gave the lots for the school grounds and has taken a deep and helpful interest in the cause of education, advocating the employment of good teachers and the constant improvement of the school system. As a member of the school board he has done effective work in this regard, and as a private citizen he is continually laboring for the interests of the community along lines of material improvement. He is a prominent Mason, holding membership in the lodge, the chapter and the commandery.

In 1905 Mr. Glassburn was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. who died on the 21st of September of that year. She was a lady of many excellent traits of heart and mind, and her death was deeply deplored by many friends. The family numbered six children: A. Thomas, who is cashier of the bank; Jennie E., the wife of Glenn Reeve. of Denver, Colorado; May, the wife of Silas Hovey, of Independence. Iowa ; John E., who died at the age of fifteen years; Fred E., who died at the age of twenty-seven years; and Ina, who died in infancy.

Andrew Thomas Glassburn, whose name introduces this record, was born in Springfield township. Gallia county Ohio, October 4. 1856, and was therefore only a few months old when brought by his parents to Whiteside county in January, 1857. Here he has lived continuously since-an interested witness of the changes that have occurred, bearing his full share in the progress that has been wrought as the county has kept pace with modern civilization. His youth was spent as that of most farm boys and he attended the common schools until 1875. He then entered his father's grain office in the capacity of clerk and in 1879 was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of J W. Glassburn & Son. This business relation was maintained until March 1, 1885, when he became connected with the bank, giving up his interest in the grain business and becoming sole owner of the Bank of Tampico in 1887. Although his father is nominally president, he has been the active manager for the past twenty years; his official designation being that of cashier. He has developed the bank in accordance with the growth of the village and surrounding district and the institution has become a valued enterprise in this locality.

On the 10th of September, 1878, Mr. Glassburn was married to Miss Minnie V. Smith, a native of this county and a daughter of A. M. and Laura Smith. The mother is now deceased and for the past twelve vears the father has lived with Mr. and Mrs. Glassburn. There are now two sons in the family: Asa Clyde, who is acting as cashier of the bank; and Vernon Lynn, who is a student in Phillips Academy at Andover, Massachusetts.

Mr. and Mrs. Glassburn are members of the Methodist Episcopal church in the work of which they take an active and helpful part, doing all in their power to promote its progress. Mr. Glassburn has been for the past fifteen years, been superintendent of the Sunday school and is also a member of the church board of trustees. His political views were formerly in accord with the principles of democracy, but during the past ten years he has announced his belief in the principles of the prohibition party, but casts an independent local ballot. He has been a member of the village board for a number of years and its president for some time. While in office his course was char- acterized by the utmost devotion to the general good and in every relation of life he is known as a man reliable, enterprising and progressive. The fact that his staunchest friends are among those who have known him from his boyhood to the present is an indication that his has been a most honorable career.

History of Whiteside Co by W.W. Davis