Biography - Albert Estabrook
Albert ESTABROOK, farmer, P. O. Raymond, was born in Madison County, Ill., September 13, 1830. The father of this gentleman, John ESTABROOK, was born in Boston, Mass., in March, 1799, and in 1818 settled in Madison County, where he engaged in farming up to the time of his death, which occurred May 2, 1881. His wife, Nancy WHITE, was born in North Carolina in August, 1795, and died in December, 1881. She was the mother of ten children, five boys and five girls, viz.: John, Edward, Lucy, deceased, Emeline, James W., Albert, Harriet, William, Clara and Sarah J., all of whom grew to man and womanhood, and all of whom, with one exception, are still living, and at the death of their parents the youngest was forty-two years of age. The subject of this sketch spent his early childhood in attending the common schools of the county, to which his educational privileges were limited, and in assisting his parents upon the homestead farm. At the age of eighteen years, he entered upon his career in life for himself, and concluded to try his fortune in the gold regions of California, where he remained about four years, at the end of which time he returned home and entered a grist-mill, owned by his father, at which occupation he continued until the sale of the mill required him to look for a new occupation, and caused him to engage in a saw-mill, in Iowa. He soon tired of his work, and engaged in merchandising business in Wisconsin, where he remained about ten years, and then took a like position in a merchandising store in Nebraska. In the spring of 1872, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and purchased a tract of land in Washington County, Kan., where he remained about two years, and he says it is his opinion that Kansas is just the place for a poor man to live if he wishes always to remain poor all his life; but if he wishes to get rich, go to Illinois, to which State he returned in 1874, and settled upon the place upon which he now resides, and where he has since been engaged in farming. His farm consists of 360 acres, which may be termed as three improved farms, each of which is well fitted up with all the buildings and other improvements necessary for comfort and convenience. Mr. ESTABROOK is considered one of the most practical farmers in the township, and, being a progressive man himself, he is always fully alive to all enterprises favoring the growth and prosperity of the county, and for the advancement of religious and educational privileges. He was married January 15, 1857, to Sarah Jane BOMLEY, who was born May 13, 1839, and died September 2, 1866. She was the mother of two children, viz.: Julia Nannie, born January 30, 1859, wife of Henry NEWMAN, living in Madison County; Sarah Minnie, born April 20, 1865. Mr. ESTABROOK's second marriage occurred November 25, 1869, to Miss Crara KING, who was born November 12, 1850, to Hilleary T. and Louisa (DORSEY) KING, natives of Calvert County, Md., he born November 10, 1815, and is still living in Davis County, Iowa, a farmer by occupation; she, born June 9, 1818, and died June 19, 1860. Mr. ESTABROOK took no active part in the rebellion other than to assist the Union soldiers by caring for their families at home. He has been a member of the order of I. O. O. F. for a number of years. He has been termed a black Republican, and says he is proud of the name.
Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 217-218.
