Biography - Jacob Rebman
JACOB REBMAN, a resident of Elvira Township, went into the army during the war, and won a good name as a loyal and capable soldier, and since those days that so tested the manhood of those who bore the brunt of battle, he has performed good service in the interests of agriculture in southern Illinois as a practical farmer. He was born in Rowan County, N. C., July 1, 1836. His father, whose name was John Frederick Rebman, was a German by birth, and was the only one of the family that ever came to the United States. He came when he was a young man, was married in North Carolina, and after learning the trade of a carpenter, followed it in that State until 1847. In that year he came to Illinois, bringing with him his wife and five children, making the journey overland with teams, and camping by the wayside at noon and night to rest and cook their meals. After a month of travel the family arrived in Montgomery County, and Mr. Rebman bought a tract of land five miles from Hillsboro, upon which he erected a dwelling and other needed buildings, and worked hard to develop a farm. In 1859 lie removed to Union County, and purchased land three miles north of Jonesboro, continuing to carry on farming, and making it his home until 1861, when he came to Johnson County and bought land in Bloomfield Township, which was his residence until he departed this life. The maiden name of his wife was Margaret Setzer. She was born in Rowan County, N. C., and died in Montgomery County, this State. Her father was John Setzer, a native of Germany.
Jacob Rebman was ten years old when he accompanied his parents on their memorable journey from their old home in North Carolina to a new abode in the wilds of Montgomery County, this State, which was then but thinly settled, much of the land being owned by the Government. There were no railways there for several years, and St. Louis, sixty-five miles distant, was the principal market and depot for supplies, and there the farmers sold their dressed pork at the rate of $3 a hundred pounds. Deer and other kinds of game still roamed at will across the country.
Our subject remained with his parents until his marriage in 1860, and then settled in Bloomfield Township. He was busily engaged in agricultural pursuits at the opening of the war, but in the following year he laid aside his work to offer his services to his country, and September 13, 1862, he became a member of Company I, One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Infantry, and was at the front until after the rebellion was ended. The most important engagements in which he took part were the battle of Guntown and the siege and capture of Vicksburg. He was honorably discharged with his regiment in October, 1865.
Returning to his home in Bloomfield Township, Mr. Rebman quietly resumed his occupation, and has done well, showing himself to be an industrious and competent farmer. He is a man of sterling merit and Christian character, and in him and his good wife the Cumberland Presbyterian Church has two of its most worthy members. The memory of his experiences on Southern battle-fields is kept alive by his connection with Vienna Post No. 221, G. A. R.
Mr. Rebman's first wife, to whom he was married in 1860, was Matilda J., daughter of Daniel and Melinda Jenkins, and a native of Tennessee. She died in 1870, leaving six children: Victoria, Ida, John, Luther, Maggie and Nellie. Mr. Rebman was again married, in 1872, to Margaret A. (Mathis) Shearer, a sister of R. D. Mathis, of whom see sketch on another page of this volume. Two children have been born of this marriage, Robert and Grace C.
Extracted 16 Dec 2016 by Norma Hass from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 596-597.
