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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Hezekiah CATTRON 

Pages 260-261, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: ALCOTT, BOHANNON, CATTRON] 

    
HEZEKIAH CATTRON who is well known and honored in this section of the county, is distinguished as being one of the oldest residents of Hickory Township, where he has a large and valuable farm. He is one of the most extensive landholders of Fulton County, and as a prominent farmer has been a potent agent in advancing the growth of this portion of Illinois. 
    
Mr. Cattron was born in Sullivan County, East Tennessee, May 26, 1813, to Valentine and Frances (Bohannon) Cattron, natives respectively of Virginia and North Carolina. At an early day the father of our subject left Tennessee with his family and started on an exploring tour in search of a pleasant location and in 1820 arrived in Washington County, Ind. They settled three miles south of Salem and engaged in farming there four years. In 1825 the family moved to Bartholemew County the same State, four miles north of the city of Columbus, where Mr. Cattron obtained a lease of a school section. In a short time he sold his lease and we next hear of him in Fountain County, Ind., where he took possession of eighty acres of land, which he continued to occupy for a period of ten years. He then traded that land for a tract of land in La Porte County, and after the death of his wife which took place April 15, 1832, he sent his son, our subject, to improve his last purchase. In 1834 he removed to that place and while he was residing there bought a quarter section of land in Pleasant Township, Fulton County. On the 30th of April, 1837, the family came to this county and settled on said land, and the father and our subject made an additional purchase of a half section of land in Deerfield and Young Hickory Townships. 
    
The father of our subject died February 4, 1840. He had been very much prospered and at the time of his death owned land in the following four townships: Hickory, Fairview, Joshua and Deerfield, which property is now in possession of our subject. He remained with his father during the life of the latter, afforded him material assistance in the acquisition of his fortune, and to-day is one of the wealthy men of his county. He has further increased the acreage of his estate by various purchases and now owns twelve hundred acres of choice and valuable land in Fulton County. The farm on which he resides is pleasantly located on section 6, Hickory Township, and the improvements on it are of the best class. Mr. Cattron, although on the shady side of life is yet vigorous, and manages his affairs with the old time ability and sound judgment. The work that he has done to advance the welfare of the county and to help build up its schools and churches, and so elevate its social, moral and religious status, entitles him to a high place among the pioneers of Fulton County. 
    
Mr. Cattron was married July 4, 1839, to Rachael Alcott, their marriage taking place in Fairview Township. Her parents came from New Jersey and were of Scotch-Irish descent, while he springs from German ancestry. Four children have blessed the wedded life of our subject and his wife, all of whom are living in Fulton County, and their record is as follows: Mary Eliza, born July 20, 1840; Josiah A., January 8, 1842; John Milton, April 4, 1844; and Israel Valentine, September 15, 1846. 
    
Mr. Cattron and his good wife joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, December 4, 1850, and have been connected with it ever since as two of its most consistent and valued members, who are deeply interested in all religious matters and willingly contribute to all worthy causes. Mr. Cattron has been a true Republican since the formation of the party. He has borne a prominent part in the public life of this section, and has served in various important offices. For three years he was a School Commissioner, for two years a Road Commissioner, a Justice of the peace for the same length of time, was a member of the County Board of Supervisors one year, and he sat on the first grand jury that was ever convened in this county. He has also interested himself in educational matters as a teacher. He obtained his education in Washington and Fountain Counties, Ind., under difficulties, as he had to walk a distance of three miles over a rough, dreary road in order to get to the primitive pioneer school which he attended. After coming to this State he utilized his education by teaching school on year (1838) two miles west of Canton. He is a generous, open-hearted gentleman, and is ready at all times to do what wealth and good feeling can accomplish both in business and social circles. His genial nature, as well as his unusual liberality, has made numerous friends for him in the community with which he has been identified for more than half a century.