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From the book, Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, 1890, Chapman Brothers



pp. 228, 229

ANDREW J. LINEBARGER. Probably no section of country has advanced more rapidly than that of Northern Illinois and this has been wholly owing to the character of the men who first made settlement here. They encountered many difficulties during the first years of their sojourn in the Prairie State, but they came equipped, not so much with worldly goods as the spirit of resolution and perseverance which admitted no such word as "fail." They battled with the elements of a new soil, the inconvenience of rude farming implements and imperfect transportation of their produce, and have lived to see prosperity smiling upon their labors.
He with whose name we introduce this sketch deserves more than a passing mention in noting the early settlers of Will County. He is the son of one of its most worthy pioneers and was born at his father's old homestead in Jackson Township, January 7, 1834. His father, Henry Linebarger, was a native of North Carolina while his mother who bore the maiden name of Nancy Hougham, was a native of Ohio. Henry Linebarger came to Illinois in the fall of 1832, accompanied by his brother George, then went back to Indiana, and in the spring of 1833, returned to Will County, where he spent the following summer and in the fall of the year went back to Park County, Ind., for his family. They settled on section 21, Jackson Township, in the month of November, at a time when the country was very thinly settled and there they continued to live until called from their earthly labors. The father died September 8, 1842, when comparatively a young man. The mother survived her husband for the long period of thirty-five years, remaining a widow, and departed this life April 22, 1877.
To the parents of our subject there was born a family of seven children, of whom Andrew J., was the third. He has been a life long resident of Jackson Township and obtained his education mostly in the log schoolhouse in the neighborhood of his father's farm. After the latter's death he remained with his mother until his marriage. This interesting and important event occurred April 30, 1856, at Joliet, Ill., the bride being Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph and Frances (Hildebrand) Phillips. Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Linebarger settled upon the land which they now own and occupy, and which comprises four hundred and thirty five broad acres on section 20. Here they have since made their home. The household circle was completed by the birth of three children, the eldest of whom, a son, Lewis H., is a banker in Peotone, this State; Laura is unmarried and remains with her parents; Emma J., is the wife of J. R. McCleery, of Oxford, Iowa.
The parents of Mrs. Linebarger were natives of Germany, where they were reared and married. Upon emigrating to America they settled in Madison County, N. Y., where the mother died in April 1881, and the father in October, 1888. Their family consisted of eight children, of whom Mrs. Linebarger was the next to the eldest. She like wise is a native of the Fatherland and was born January 1, 1834. She was a child of twelve years when coming to America with her parents and was reared to womanhood in Madison County, N. Y. She has been the true helpmate of her husband in all his worthy undertakings and has assisted him materially in the accumulation of their property.
The Linebarger farm is one of the most valuable in Will County, being improved with good build ings, fruit and shade trees and all the other appurtenances required by the progressive and industrious agriculturist. Mr. Linebarger keeps himself posted upon modern methods of agriculture and avails himself of the most approved machinery in the cultivation of his land. It is devoted largely to grain raising, while Mr. Linebarger gives due attention to the breeding of good grades of live stock. He is conservative in politics, usually giving his support to the Democratic party. He has never been an office-seeker, preferring to give his time and attention to his farm and his family and is looked upon as a peaceable and law-abiding citizen who has contributed his full quota to the general welfare of the community. Our subject was the first white child born in Jackson Township.