JOSEPH CRESSWELL. The citizenship of Calhoun County, is no better represented than by those men who were born within its limits and are now actively identified with its various interests. Among them is Joseph Cresswell, whose birthplace was in Point Precinct five miles south of Brussels, where he was born February 16, 1852. He is now identified with the farmers and stock-raisers of his native county, and owns and is successfully managing a farm in Richwoods Precinct.
Our subject comes of good pioneer stock. His father, Robert Cresswell, was born in Maryland, and his grandfather, also Robert Cresswell, was a native of Scotland and a pioneer of St. Louis County, Mo. The father of our subject was one of the pioneers of this county. He bought a large tract of land south of Brussels, engaged extensively in farming and there death rounded out his career in the month of September, 1860. He had married in early life Margaret Huff, a native of Tennessee; her father, John Huff, was also a native of that State and a son of one of its pioneer families. He came from there to Illinois at an early day and settled among the pioneers of Bond County, residing there for a time and then going to St. Louis County, Mo., whence he came to Calhoun County in 1824 and was one of the earliest settlers here.
At that time there were but few white inhabitants within the borders of this county, Indians being much more plentiful, and deer, wild turkeys, panthers, and other wild animals abounded and roamed at will through the forest and over the prairies. Mr. Huff located near the Salt Springs in Gilead, and there bought land and built a home in which he spent his last days. The mother of our subject was three times married and died in Point Precinct June 25, 1890. Our subject has one brother, John, who was born March 2, 1850, and has always resided in this county.
Joseph Cresswell of this notice was but eight years old when his father died, and was reared by his mother and step-father. He attended the district schools as opportunity offered, as he was anxious to obtain an education, and when not in school he assisted on the farm and continued to live with his parents until he attained manhood. He was bred to the life of a farmer and having a natural liking for that calling adopted it as his own, and in 1883 settled on the farm where he now resides. His land is fertile and well-tilled, giving him rich harvests in return for the toil and care expended upon it, and being improved with comfortable buildings and everything necessary to carry on farming operations. A view of his comfortable home will be found elsewhere in this Album.
That our subject has a cozy home where comfort abides is in part due to the fact that by his marriage April 19, 1877, to Miss Candace Greamba, he secured a willing, capable wife and a true helpmate and companion who knows well how to look after the interests of her household. Mrs. Cresswell is a native of this county and a daughter of Henry and Lucinda (Gillman) Greamba. She and her husband are the parents of five children, who are named Egbert, Floyd, Bessie, Raymond and Carroll. Mr. Cresswell is a true man in every sense, and his excellent personal traits of character have gained him the esteem of the entire community. He is a man of earnest religious views, which find expression in the Methodist Episcopal faith, and he has united with the church of that denomination in this place. In politics he stands with the Republicans.
Extracted 16 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois, published in 1891, pages 569-570
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