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Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890

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The Biography of Samuel WILLCOXEN 

Pages 198-199, transcribed in full by Danni Hopkins 

[Surnames: CARNER, JOHNSON, TATRIM, TATUM, WILLCOXEN] 

    
SAMUEL WILLCOXEN, a wealthy citizen of Buckheart Township, has for many years been identified with its farming interests as one of its most practical, wide-awake and business-like farmers and stock-raisers. He is a native of Ashe County, N. C., born October 12, 1813. His father, the Rev. Squire Willcoxen, was for many years a Baptist preacher. He was also a North Carolinian by birth and was married in the State of his nativity to Sarah Tatrim* [sic, TATUM], a daughter of James Tatrim* [sic, TATUM], and a native of North Carolina. The Rev. Mr. Willcoxen was a son of Samuel Willcoxen and he served in the War of 1812. 
    
When our subject was about three years old the family removed from North Carolina to Kentucky, where they remained twelve years, and then came to this county about 1828. Thus his parents were among the first settlers of this part of Illinois, locating in a place called Slabtown. Five years later they moved into what is now Buckheart Township, west of the present home of our subject on section 5, and were among the pioneers of the township. Here the father's death occurred on his farm in 1837 at the age of fifty-nine years. They were the parents of nine children, six girls and three boys, and Samuel, of whom we write, was the seventh of the family. 
    
Our subject was reared among the pioneer scenes in Kentucky and experienced also all the hardships and privations of pioneer life in Fulton County. After coming here he attended the old Tatrim school, which was conducted on the subscription plan, and there he learned to read, write and cipher. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he married and established a home of his own, taking as his wife Miss Lucinda Carner, of this township. She was born in Kentucky and was brought to this State when she was quite young by her parents, who were pioneer settlers here. She has been a very useful assistant to her husband in the acquirement of his property and has been a devoted mother to their children, of whom they have had three: Ellen, wife of Elijah Johnson; George W., who resides on the old homestead, and one who died in infancy. 
    
By wise thrift and prudence, by the dint of hard and unremitting labor, by careful management, shrewdness and foresight in the transaction of business, Mr. Willcoxen has placed himself among the most well to-do members of the farming population of Buckheart Township. He is very skillful as a farmer and has his farm well-stocked with cattle, horses and hogs of high grades. Before he divided his land with his children he had nine hundred acres of choice farming land. He still retains possession of two hundred acres which is under a high state of cultivation and finely improved. After marriage he first settled on the old homestead that belonged to his father, and besides carrying that on managed one of his mother's and he lived on it forty-six years, when he bought his present farm on section 11, Buckheart Township, comprising one hundred and fifty-four acres, and is considered one of the most valuable in the locality. It is supplied with substantial buildings, including a large and comfortably furnished residence and one of the best brick barns in the neighborhood. 
    
As an early settler of Buckheart Township and as one of its most able farmers, who has done much for its development, our subject occupies a prominent place among the pioneers of this locality and of the county. He and his wife are devoted members of the Baptist Church, contributing their quota to its support and helping along its every good work. 

*Note: The correct spelling of Sarah's maiden name is TATUM. Her husband Squire WILLCOXEN is my 5G uncle.--Alice