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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of James HEZLEP 

[Surnames: BORDNER, HEZLEP, KNOTT, MCEWEN, MOORE, PATTERSON, PAYNE, POTTS, SMITH, SYKES] 

HEZLEP, JAMES 

    
A well known and much respected farmer and stock-raiser living in Sect. 30, Liverpool Twp., Fulton County, he was born in Waterford Twp., this county July 28, 1852, a son of James and Eunice C. (Sykes) Hezlep, natives of Pennsylvania. The parents settled in Fulton Co. about 1830, locating in Waterford Twp. where the mother died Oct. 10, 1873 and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery. 
    
James Hezlep, Sr., afterward moved to Independence, Montgomery Co., KS where he died, Dec. 24, 1886. He and his wife were the parents of the following children: Samuel and Jennie, who died in infancy; William Porter, who died Nov. 20, 1867; Lucretia, who married J. W. Smith, and died Oct. 2, 1902, leaving four sons and two daughters; Jennie, wife of E. P. Truitt, a resident and editor of California; James; and Mary B., who married Alexander McEwen, and died in California Jan. 15, 1901. 
    
The subject of this sketch was reared on the home farm and received his education in the district schools and the public schools of Havana. 
    
In the spring of 1876, Mr. Hezlep went to Montgomery Co., Kansas where he engaged in farming for about 13 years. In 1889 he returned to Fulton County and farmed for awhile on rented land. In 1903 he moved to the George W. Bordner farm which he now operates on shares. 
    
On Oct. 6, 1875, Mr. Hezlep was united in marriage with Mary Belle Patterson, a daughter of Robert and Isabel (Moore) Patterson, of Ohio, who settled in Liverpool Twp. some years previously. There Mrs. Patterson died Feb. 21, 1873, and her husband passed away Oct. 6, 1877. They were the parents of three children, namely: Mary Belle; Martha Ellen, who married L. W. Potts, and died Feb. 12, 1871; and Lydia Jane, who was the wife of Homer L. Knott and died June 15, 1892, leaving three children--Frank, Fannie and Don. 
    
Mr. and Mrs. Hezlep have had nine children, as follows: William M. born Mar. 2, 1876; Almira B. born Aug. 25, 1877; James Roy, born Aug. 11, 1879, who was a soldier in the 19th Regiment, United States Infantry, and served three years in the Phillipines; Fred Porter, a farmer in Waterford Twp., born Mar. 6, 1881, who married Celesta Knott; Minnie A. born Mar. 11, 1882, wife of Raymond Payne, a resident of Cedardale, Okla.; Frank Grover born Apr. 15, 1886; Chester T. who was born Mar. 24, 1888, and who died July 27, 1904; Alva Edward, born Dec. 13, 1890; and Dollie Lucretia, born Jan. 21, 1897. 
    
In politics, Mr. Hezlep is a supporter of the Democratic party, and has filled the office of Road Commissioner with credit to himself. He takes a deep interest in Church work and is a steadfast advocate of the cause of the schools. Mr. and Mrs. Hezlep are consistent members of the Christian Church.