1925 Biography - Joel Thacker
Joel Sampson Thacker, son of Nathanial, came here when a small boy with his widowed mother, Lucretia, from Tennessee, where he was born in Stewart County, about 1815. Two brothers of Joel re moved to Arkansas from this county. In 1839 he entered what is now known as the Shoemaker Farm just east of Vienna, on the Simpson road where he first settled, but later entered a tract a few miles farther east on the same road at what is now called Pond, where he died 1857. His widow continued this as her home almost fifty years, dying in 1906. Joel S. 1st married Sarah Bain about 1839 and their children were Frances Brooks (2), born 1841, Sampson P. (2), born 1844, Martha (2), born 1846, Charles A. (2), born 1848, Green N. (2), born 1850. Frances B. Thacker (2) served his country from 1861 to 1865 with the famous 31st Illinois Infantry as a Lieutenant and Adjutant, was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Burnt Ridge, Port Gibson, Champion Hills, the Siege of Vicksburg and Corinth, and was on Sherman's march to the sea. He participated in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. His business was farming. He also served the county as Treasurer and Circuit clerk for nine years. He was a useful and dependable citizen. He has now retired from business and resides with his children. He is a Republican, a Mason, a member of the M. E. Church and the G. A. R. Post. He married Nancy C. Petersson, 1866 and their children are Fannie (3), who married Rev. J. W. Dundas of the Methodist Church, and they have Leona (4); Harry (3) died in 1910; Samuel (3) married Fannie Stewart, and had Jeannette (4); Samuel with Charles (4), resides on a farm in Bloomfield township. Kate (3) married a Mr. Wanger of Chicago, 1921 and has one child; Nola (3) also resides in Chicago. S. P. (2) was born and resided many years in Bloomfield township. He was a good farmer, a quiet but influential citizen and served the county as commissioner, was a Republican and a member of the M. E. Church. He married Mary E. Smith and their children were Herbert (3), born 1878 and married Lula Abney, 1902, and their children are Jewel E. (4), Edgar A. (4) and Dora (4). Mr. Thacker is interested in farming and is also mail clerk on the Big Four railroad. Arthur B. (3) married Frankie Sullens, 1914 and has Wendal and Wallace (4) born 1914; Buelah (4), born 1916; Americus (3) served in the World War and married Louise a young girl of France, 1919; they have Georges (4) and reside in Chicago; Esther (3) married Ernest Stoltz; Martha (2) married James Mathis and had Rosa (3), Pleasant (3), and Garfield (3); Martha (2) married second a Mr. Fort and had Fannie (3). C. A. Thacker (2) married Emiline Lasley, and had John (3), Clara (3), Oscar (3). Clara (3) married Orphus Thomas; John (3) married Hattie Verhines, and second Maud Verhines. G. N. (2) married Ellen Brown and their children are Dora (3), Stella (3), Francis (3), Paul (3), Theodora (3) and Mary (3). The families of C. A. (2) and G. N. (2) left this county several years ago and reside in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Extracted 08 Feb 2017 by Norma Hass from 1925 A History of Johnson County, Illinois, by Mrs. P. T. Chapman, pages 449-450.
