Biographies

JOHN TWEED, who owns and operates a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 14, Gladstone Township, is a native of Ross County, Ohio, born July 19, 1829.

His father, John Tweed, Sr., was born in Virginia, on the 17th of April, 1797, and was one of a family of six children, namely: Mrs. Mary Rittenhour, Jesse, John, Mrs. Margaret Wyckoff, Abraham and Mrs. Catherine Jackson. John Tweed, Sr., spent the first seven years of his life in the Old Dominion, and then became a resident of Ross County, Ohio, where he remained until he was twenty-five years of age.

He served as a soldier for three years in the War of 1812, and was Captain of a company during the Black Hawk War. At the age of twenty- five, Mr. Tweed removed to Warren County, Ind. He was married about 1822 to Keziah Hinson, a native of Ross County, Ohio. They continued to make their home in Indiana until 1841, when they came to Henderson County, Ill., where the mother of our subject died in July, 1845. In April, 1846, Mr. Tweed married Sarah Dunn. During his entire residence in this State he followed fanning. He also engaged in stock-raising, and brought the first Arabian stock to this county. On the 27th of September, 1856, he was called to the home beyond, and his remains were interred in the Kemp Cemetery. In his family were eight children, as follows: Mrs. Catherine Osborn; Maria, who is now deceased; John, of this sketch; Sarah J., deceased; Henry; Abraham, who died in early life; Mrs. Mary Ward, and Jesse, who died in childhood.

Mr. Tweed of this sketch has long lived in Henderson County, and has witnessed the greater part of its growth and development. He was reared here amid the wild scenes of frontier life, for during his boyhood much of the land of the county was still in its primitive condition, many of the now thriving villages were mere hamlets, or had not yet sprung into existence, and the work of progress and civilization seemed just beginning. He attended school for only about eleven months altogether, but extensive reading, business experience and observation have made him one of the best-informed farmers of this locality.

On the 26th of October, 1865, Mr. Tweed was united in marriage with Miss Harriet Lynn, who was born in Henderson County, and is a daughter of E. W. Lynn, one of the earliest settlers and most highly respected citizens of this community. To our subject and wife have been born no children, but out of the kindness of their hearts they have given homes to seven orphan children, carefully and tenderly rearing them, and some of the number are an honor to their foster parents. The poor and needy always find in them friends, and their lives have been filled with good deeds, quietly and unostentatiously performed.

Mr. Tweed has met with many difficulties and obstacles in his path. Much sickness and the loss of a leg have been barriers in his way to success, but with a resolute will and a strong determination, he has steadily worked his way upward, and, although not wealthy, he is comfortably situated, having a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres, which yields to him a comfortable income. He is widely known, and well merits the high esteem in which he is held.

From the Portrait and biographical record of Hancock, McDonough and Henderson counties, Illinois : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county (1894)
May, 1894. Lake City Publishing Co.