My Genealogy Hound

HUGH EASDALE. One by one the pioneers of Randolph County are passing away, and their labors and struggles will soon be a matter of history. It is well to preserve a brief account of the privations and difficulties under which they labored in laying the foundation of our material, civil and religious prosperity. For this purpose a few facts regarding the honored gentleman above named will be presented to our readers.

The subject of this brief sketch was of Scotch birth, and was born in Ayrshire in October, 1814. He was reared to manhood in Scotland, and for many years made his home on a farm with his grandmother in that country. He was given a good education, and deciding to come to America in 1840, he crossed the Atlantic, and after landing in the New World, made his way to Illinois and located in Randolph County.

The marriage of our subject, which took place in 1849, was with Miss Mary Aitken, who was born in Ayrshire March 31, 1831. Mrs. Easdale was the daughter of James and Barbara (Stephenson) Aitken, also natives of the above place, where the mother’s decease occurred. The wife of our subject came to America in 1849, in company with two of her brothers, and with them made her home in this county. After her marriage with our subject, the young people located upon a tract of land in township 4, range 5, which in that early day bore no improvement. The estate comprised three hundred and fifty acres, and at his death Mr. Easdale had placed two hundred and seventy acres under good tillage. The farm is supplied with a comfortable residence and all the accompaniments in the way of barns, sheds, etc., that are needed in properly carrying on a farm. Our subject was engaged in mixed farming, and made a specialty of breeding fine blooded horses.

Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Easdale, we make the following mention: Mary married William Crawford, and resides in Kansas; Maggie is the wife of John Stephenson, and makes her home in this township; Janet is the wife of Samuel Boyd; Ida married James Lindsey; and Hugh A., Helen and Robert are at home. Mr. Easdale was Treasurer of the United Presbyterian Church, of which he was a member for many years. He was School Director of this district for many years, and also served as Township Trustee. A stanch Republican, he represented his party as delegate to the various conventions. He possessed those noble personal qualities which justly classed him among the best citizens of the county. The farm is managed by Mrs. Easdale and the three children who are at home. She is an intelligent and capable woman, and is a member of the United Presbyterian Church.