Biography - James Hogarth
JAMES HOGARTH, a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of Penn Township,
was born in Yorkshire, England, July 5, 1839. His father, who bore the same
name as himself, was a native of the same country, his birthplace being
Westmoreland, and he in turn was the son of another James Hogarth, who was a
farmer, native of Lancastershire, and a life-long resident of England. The
father of our subject was reared on a farm and followed agricultural
pursuits in Yorkshire, where he spent his last years. He married Elizabeth
Birtle, whose whole life was passed in Yorkshire. She was the mother of two
children, our subject and Isabella, her daughter spending her entire life in
England.
Our subject was left an orphan when only ten years old. As soon as large
enough he began work on the farm and early gained a practical insight into
the best methods of carrying on farming. While attending school he learned a
great deal about the United States of America, a subject which had a great
interest for him, and in pursuance of a determination to try life in this
great and growing country, he embarked at Liverpool in 1860, on the steamer
"Washington City," and after a voyage of eleven days landed at Castle
Garden, New York. He came directly to Shelby County, arriving here with
about $15 in his pocket, which scant capital was supplemented by a
courageous heart, a cool head and steady hand, and willingness to do
whatsoever he found to do with the capacity of doing it well. He began life
here by working on a farm by the month, continuing that employment until his
marriage, when he located on the farm in Penn Township, that he has since
occupied. At that time the place was but very little improved, but since it
came into his hands he has wrought a wonderous change by persistent and well
directed labor. The land is now under a high state of cultivation, the neat
and substantial buildings comparing with any in the township, and fruit,
shade and ornamental trees, planted by his own hand, add greatly to the
attractiveness of the place. The reader will be pleased to notice a view of
this homestead on another page.
In 1867, Mr. Hogarth took unto himself a wife in the person of Mrs. Margaret
(Shimman) Birkett, a native of Cumberland, England. Mrs. Hogarth's father,
Philip Shimman, was reared on the Isle of Man, and thence he removed to
Cumberland, where he lived for many years. In 1857 he came to America with
Mrs. Hogarth. He visited a short time in Cleveland, Ohio, and then went to
Clinton in the same State, to see a daughter, and died in her home ten weeks
after landing in this country. His wife died in England in 1851. She was the
mother of six children, of whom these three came to the United States — Mrs.
Hogarth, her sister Mary and brother Thomas.
The wife of our subject grew to womanhood in her native shire, and was first
married there to John Birkett. He was a native of that part of England, and
resided there until 1857. In that year. August 7. he set sail from Liverpool
on the vessel "American Union," accompanied by his wife and her father, and
landed in New York after a voyage of six weeks and five days. He and his
wife lived in Ohio from is 1857 to 1860, then they came to Todd's Point
Township, this county, which at that time was but sparsely settled and
little improved, with plenty of land for sale at $5 or less an acre. Mr.
Birkett's means were limited, and he began life in his new home on rented
land. In the spring of 1864 he bought a tract of railway land in Penn
Township, and at once commenced to improve a farm. But he was not destined
to finish his work, as death cut short his career in the fall of that year,
and his township lost a useful citizen.
Mr. and Mrs. Hogarth are people of most estimable character, worthy in every
way of the good will and respect of their neighbors, which is accorded to
them in full measure. They are both members of the Presbyterian Church. In
national politics Mr. Hogarth votes the Republican ticket, but in local
affairs he is independent, giving his support to the best man regardless of
party.
Extracted 16 Feb 2019 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 590-593.
