My Genealogy Hound

JOHN BRITTIN, farmer, Sec. 1, P. O. Saybrook; born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Ill., May 3, 1848. He was the second son of Nathan T. Brittin, who emigrated from Ohio and located upon Sec. 1, Empire Township, in 1829. Here he entered land, erected a log house with stick-and-mud chimney, puncheon floor and clapboard door, hung with wooden hinges. His first bedstead was called, in early days, a raccoon bedstead, built by boring holes in the end and side logs of the house, in which poles were inserted and fastened to a single post, where they met. Their first cupboard and table was an old dry-goods box. In this they kept their dishes and provisions, and also used it as a table. He married Sarah Barnett; she was born in Kentucky, Feb. 15, 1816; she died in Illinois Aug. 7, 1878. Mr. Brittin was born in Ohio Oct. 18, 1809; he died in McLean Co., Ill., Oct. 10, 1869. He was held in great esteem by the poor, to whom he was very kind. He commenced life without means, and at the time of his decease had accumulated upward of one thousand acres of land and some $50,000 in securities. They raised a family of nine children, all of whom lived to grow up. His sketch appears among the biographies of Empire Township. John Brittin lived with his parents until 20 years of age, when his father deeded him 126 acres in Empire Township, upon which he farmed until his father’s death, when he lived upon the old homestead one year, when he removed upon his own farm, which he afterward exchanged for his present place. He now owns 205 acres upon Sec. 1, West Township, all under a good state of cultivation. His marriage with Isadora Straight was celebrated June 2, 1867. She was born in Brown Co., Ohio, July 5, 1849. She was the daughter of Amos Straight, who came from Ohio and located in Empire Township in 1858, where he now lives.