"The experience of the Hoskins family in Illinois during the pioneerda ys was marked by many hardships and trials. At one time a band ofrobbe rs took away four head of horses, escaping with them toKentucky. Mr. H . overtook the thieves, but could not satisfactorilyprove that the ani mals belonged to him, and was obliged to relinquishhis claim. This for t he time crippled his farming operations, as hehad no other horses left , and he went to work at twenty-five centsper day, cutting rails, unti l enabled to start again. Afterward hefollowed trading principally, an d accumulated a fine property inColes County owning at one time nearly 8 00 acres of land."
Residences & events:
Morgan Co, IL.
7/25/1828 Morgan Co, IL. Lowry certified that his sister Julia was"a bove the age of eighteen years" and eligible to marry John Rowland.
1835 N Okaw Twp, Coles Co, IL. That was the year of arrival perlocal h istory, 2 years behind the Whitley family and other relatives.
1840 Coles Co, IL. The census taker recorded Lowry at age 30-40 witha f amily consisting of 2 males age 5-10, 2 females under 5, 1 at5-10, 1 a t 10-15, and his wife at 30-40. Neighbors were Hoots,Whitley and Dunc an relatives.
1850 Where was this family at census time? Lowry had a new wife andt he children were not married yet.
NE Descendants said the family moved there but returned to IL.
7/24/1860 S Okaw Twp, Coles Co, IL. Farmer Lowry, 55, had a fairamou nt of property for the day, valued at $10,000/1400. Wife Mariawas 48, a nd the family included John, 20, farm laborer, Lucinda, 18,domestic, N ancy, 17, also a domestic, Patsey, 14, Thomas, 12,William, 9, James Ca mpbell, 16, another farm laborer, and MargaretWalker, 28, school teach er.lowry
7/8/1870 Okaw Twp, Coles Co, IL. At census time Lowry was a wealthy6 5 year old farmer. His property totaled $15,700/2000. Wife Mariawas 5 9 and in the household were William, 19, born OH, Ella Wilson,31 and h er 3 children, Thomas, 12, Maria, 9, and Solomon, 2. and 24year old fa rm laborer, Isaac McFadden.
8/12/1870 Apparently the census was twice that year. Only a monthlat er Lowry was listed as 56, a farmer with $15,400/2400 in propertywith w ife Maria, 46, born OH, son William, 18, born IL, a farmlaborer, and 2 3 year old Isaac McFadden, also a farm laborer.Daughter Ellen Wilson a nd the 3 children lived next door.
1880 N Okaw Twp. Back home again, he was a 76 year old widowerliving w ith daughter Lucinda and William Barker. He and both parentswere born i n VA.
