ISAAC HORN. An honorable citizen and a thorough business man, a practical mechanic, and the representative of a worth family is to be found in Isaac Horn, who is now a farmer and stock-grower residing on section 29, Sullivan Township. He was born in Washington County, Pa., July 30, 1832. His parents John and Mary M. (Gantz) Horn, as well as his paternal grandparents were natives of Pennsylvania, while the great-grandparents on that side came from Germany.

The subject of this sketch worked with his father upon the farm in Pennsylvania until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he worked at the carpenter's trade until 1870, at which time he made his permanent home on a farm in Moultrie County, Ill. It was in 1865 when he came to Illinois and on account of failing health being obliged to stop his mechanical work he decided to settle upon a farm. For several years past he has done but little more than to superintend his various interests in Moultrie County.

The marriage of Mr. Horn, February 13, 1870, united him with Miss Barbara A. Hudson, a daughter of J.J. Hudson, for whose family history, the reader will please see the sketch of Isaac Hudson upon another page. Of the Horn family there were twelve children born, seven sons and five daughters, namely: Martin, who resides on a farm in Knox County, Ohio; George C., who lives on the old homestead in Washington County, Pa., which was entered from the Government by the great-grandfather of our subject; two girls who died in early childhood; Hugh N., who resides in Henry County, Iowa and is engaged in farming; our subject; Mary M., the widow of W. M. D. Price, who resides in California; Hannah, who married first Eleven Alva, who died in 1868, and is now Mrs. Squire Woodruff; Jacob, who enlisted in a cavalry organization afterward known as the Ringold Cavalry, and having served three years died a few days after the expiration of his term of service, passing away in Clarysville Hospital, Md.; John, who died in Pennsylvania when sixteen years old; Sarah Maria, wife of George Coogle who resides in her native county and William M. who owns a portion of the old homestead in Pennsylvania a fine tract of three hundred and four acres which was divided between George and William.

Isaac Horn was the financier of the family and in his early days undertook the difficult task of saving the old homestead from the relentless hand of a security debt which was contracted by the father. By dint of a tremendous effort and the sacrifice of years of his early manhood the property was saved and he afterward sold his interest, as did the other heirs, to the two brothers. The parents passed away in Pennsylvania.

To our subject and his estimable wife six children came: the eldest, a son, died in early infancy; the second a girl died when nine months old; Leslie C., was born August 3, 1877; Doy O., February 3, 1882; Earl A., April 12, 1881; and Chester July 3, 1886. When Mr. Horn came to Illinois in 1865, he brought with him the results of his savings at the carpenter's bench and his share from the sale of the old homestead, making in all about $7,000. This he invested in lands and improvements in Sullivan Township. Mrs. Horn had inherited two hundred and seventeen acres and to this her husband has added at times by purchase until they now own eight hundred and sixty-two acres of fine farming and timber lands. Fine improvements and good buildings are now upon the place. One of their farms, a tract of three hundred and five acres, located near Sullivan, is usually rented out on shares.

This gentleman has ever taken a thoroughly intelligent interest in public affairs and his political convictions have led him to ally himself with the Republican party, but office he has never sought and has often declined, as he prefers home-life and the quiet pursuit of agriculture to the turmoil of the political arena. He has accumulated a fine property, the income from which will afford him and his family a good living during their lives.

Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties, 1891 - p. 208/209

Transcription copyright 2003/2007, Moultrie County ILGenWeb/USGenWeb