Notes |
- History of Vermilion County, Illinois: A tale of its evolution, settlement and progress for nearly a century. Jones, Lottie R. Chicago, IL, Pioneer Publishing Co, 1911. V.1. pp236-237
https://archive.org/details/historyofvermili01jone/page/236
George W. Hoskins was born three and on-half miles southwest of Georgetown, near the Little Vermilion river, February 20, 1830. His father, Azariah Hoskins, came to Vermilion County, in 1825, by flatboat from their home in Virginia, down the Ohio river to Cairo, in Illinois, where they took wagons and came to Vermilion County. It took several weeks for them to make this trip. Mr. Hoskins, the father of George W. Hoskins (who was born in Vermilion County) settled on what was known as the Helt Prairie, and later removed to the vicinity of Georgetown in the timber, and married Sarah Swisher. When George W. Hoskins was about a year old his father moved to what is known as the Walnut Grove, or where Rossville is now located. He had bought a tract of land there and it did seem to be very near to the end of the settlements. There was only one family living in the grove and only one white family living between their house and Chicago, which was better know as Fort Dearborn. Danville had only one store in it at that time. George Hoskins never had any but home-made clothing, up to the time he was twenty years old. The material from which his garments were made was the product of his mother’s spinning wheel and loom, and the cut and making was her work as well. When he was twenty years old he bought some cloth, hired a tailor to cut it, and had a neighbor woman sew it. They had no matches but hunted punk in the woods and made a fire by using flint and tow. This fire was carefully kept, and if by any misfortune it should go out, someone must run to the neighbors and borrow a little on the shovel. The corn they raised was worth ten cents per bushel and other produce corresponding in price. He married Mary E. Gritton, who was born in Indiana in 1850, and afterward bought a farm in Ross township for which he paid $6 per acre. Mr. Hoskins was the parent of six children who lived to maturity and others who died in infancy. All of their children married and settled within six miles of them; they had bought the old home farm in 1867. Mr. Hoskins has served as tax collector and school director and been identified with the building of churches and schools in that neighborhood.
- George W. Hoskins Dead.
Special in The Herald.
Danville, Ill., Jan. 16. - George W. Hoskins, one of the pioneer residents of Henning, this county, died at his home. Mr. Hoskins was born in the county eight-four years ago and lived his entire life in the county. He is survived by his widow and three sons, William, John and Theodore, and one daughter, Mrs. Hattie Potter.
Anderson Herald, Anderson, Indiana. Sunday, 17 January 1915, page 2.
[4, 7]
|