Rufus K. Hiddleson, resident at Unionville, where he is living in retirement, has been a citizen of Whiteside County since 1850. His father and mother, John and Mary (Pimm) Hiddleson, were natives of Pennsylvania, and came in 1865 to this county, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The mother, who was born in 1786, died April 19, 1866, in the township of Mt. Pleasant. The father, who was born in 1789, died Oct.25, 1875. Edwin M., Rufus K., Jane S., Wm. P., Rebecca, John A., Joseph H., Lydia A. and Mary E. were the names of their children.
Mr. Hiddleson was born Jan. 19, 1813, in Chester Co., Pa., and he lived in that State until his removal to Whiteside County, obtaining there a common-school education and laboring as a farmer. On coming to Illinois, he located in the township of Mt. Pleasant, where he became an extensive land-holder, owning 440 acres of the variety of land which gives Whiteside County its prestige, located on one of the creeks which traverses the township.
He has disposed of the major portion to relieve himself of the cares of extensive business connections in his advancing years, and is at present the owner of about 122 acres of land in Whiteside County. He also owns 160 acres of land in Mitchell Co., Kan. In political sentiment he is a Republican. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace four years and also has officiated in other township offices.
He was first married March 12, 1836, in Lycoming Co., Pa., to Caroline Converse, and they became the parents of three children, - Sarah E., Lydia J. and William P. The wife and mother was horn in the State of Vermont, and died in March 1883, in Mt. Pleasant Township. Mr. Hiddleson was again married Aug. 28, 1883, in Grundy Co., Iowa, to Mrs. Charlotte (Dening) Long. Mrs. Hiddleson was born June 11, 1832, in England, where she grew to womanhood and was married to Simeon Long, who died there June 9, 1877. By her first marriage she had four children, - Ellen A., Emily M., Daniel D. and Charles. In 1882 she came with her children to the United States and located in Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Hiddleson are members of the Protestant Methodist Church. The portrait of Mr. Hiddleson which appears on a preceding page is made from a likeness taken in 1885."
Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois, Chapman Brothers Publishing Co., Chicago, 1885., Page 451-452
