**************************************************************************** File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project Copyright 2008, all rights reserved. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format without the written consent of the author at http://fulton.ilgenweb.net. **************************************************************************** Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908 **************************************************************************** The Biography of James M. WILLCOXEN [Surnames: BERRY, ELLIOTT, FALL, FORD, KINNLIN, MILLETT, PUTMAN, RAY, SHIELDS, STROUT, WILLCOXEN] WILLCOXEN, JAMES M. Among the leading farmers of Liverpool Twp., Fulton County, one of the most prominent isthe well known citizen whose name furnished the caption of this biographical record. He was born in Liverpool Twp., Mar 26, 1848, a son of Elijah C. and Prudence (PUTMAN) Willcoxen. Elijah C. was a son of Captain Elijah Willcoxen, whose career is portrayed in another portion of this volume. Prudence PUTMAN was the daughter of Redding PUTMAN who was a soldier of the Black Hawk War, and is long since deceased. Elijah C. Willcoxen was the father of a family of 14 children, four of whom died in infancy. The others are as follows: Redding, who live in Lamar, MO Elvira, deceased wife of Amos FALL, also deceased, leaving two children, Post and Ray. Nancy, wife of William SHIELDS, a farmer of Liverpool Twp., a sketch of who life is contained in this work. Elijah, who died at age eighteen Jane, deceased wife of Andrew SHIELDS, who is engaged in farming in Buckheart Twp. James M. Prudence, married and a resident of the state of Washington Calloway, who died at the age of eighteen Douglas, a farmer in Liverpool Twp. Rebecca, deceased wife of Alfred RAY The father of this family departed this life in 1872, and the mother passed away in 1883. Both were prominent and highly respected members of the community. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church. In politics he was a Democrat, and he filled various township offices. The subject of this sketch, James M. Willcoxen, was reared on a farm in Sect. 8, Liverpool Twp., near the place where he was born. He remained under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty-two years, when he moved to his present farm on Sect. 9, Liverpool twp. Besides this property of 100 acres, he is the owner of another 200 acres on which he is successfully engaged in general farming and raising a good grade of stock of all kinds. Ib Apr 12, 1870, Mr. Willcoxen was united in marriage with Belle FORD, daughter of John and Ruth (KINNLIN) Ford, natives of Kentucky, and pioneer settlers of Fulton Co. Besides Mrs. Willcoxen Mr. and Mrs. Ford were the parents of three other children: Utta, wife of Andrew SHIELDS, a farmer in Buckheart Twp. Nancy, wife of John BERRY, a resident of Arkansas Sarah who is the widow of David STROUT, and resides in Kewanee, IL the parents of this family were members of the Christian Church. The father departed this life Jun 10, 1894, and the mother passed away in January 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Willcoxen are the parents of four children, namely: Dora, born Feb 5 1871, wife of Joseph MILLETT, a farmer in Buckheart Twp. John, b. July 17, 1875 who is engaged in farming in Liverpool Twp., and who married Josephine ELLIOTT Melvin, a farmer in the same township, b. Jan 19, 1879, and is the husband of Emma MILLETT Roba, born Oct 29, 1881 In politics, Mr. Willcoxen supports the Democratic party, and he and his worthy wife are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Willcoxen is a man of excellent qualities of the head and heart and no member of the community is more highly esteemed or exercises a more wholesome influence in behalf of the public welfare.