The subject of this sketch is one of the representative farmers of Grand Rapids township, LaSalle county, Illinois, and has been identified with this place since 1862. A brief review of his life is herewith given:
Jonah Hibbs was born in Red Stone township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1844, and has in his veins a mixture of Scotch, German and English blood. His father, Jonah Hibbs, Sr., was of Scotch and German descent; his mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Jeffries, was of English extraction - both being natives of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, the latter born near Uniontown. In their family were six children, namely: Ann Eliza Walters, of Nebraska; Mary Ann Moss, of New Salem, Fayette county, Pennsylvania; Harriet Galligher, of Des Moines, Iowa; Clarissa, wife of M. C. Near, died near Des Moines, Iowa; Jacob, who died when young; Lacey, a resident of Grand Ridge, Illinois; and Jonah. The father died in his native county, at the age of sixty-one years; the mother at the time of death was eighty-two. Both were members of the Presbyterian church.
Jonah Hibbs is the youngest of his father's family. His father being a farmer, he was reared to farm life, his youthful days being passed like those of other boys in the neighborhood, working in the field in summer and attending the district school in winter. In 1862, at the age of eighteen, he came to Illinois and engaged in farming with his brother Lacey, in LaSalle county, and was associated with him for a period of ten years. His present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on section 16, Grand Rapids township, he purchased in 1883. This is one of the desirable farms of the township, is well improved with good buildings, fences, etc., and is under a high state of cultivation, devoted to general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Hibbs was married January 24, 1884, to Miss Elsie Wakey, who was born and reared in LaSalle county. Mrs. Hibbs' father, William Wakey, who was a native of Germany, came to this country when a young man and located first in Connecticut, coming later to Illinois and settling in LaSalle county, near Ottawa. He was married in this county, December 14, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Hopple, a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania, whose parents, Solomon and Sarah (Cramer) Hopple, came to Illinois with their family in 1842 and located on Covel creek, in Grand Rapids township, LaSalle county. William Wakey died in 1886. His wife is still living, a resident of Grand Rapids township. She is a Methodist, as also was her husband. For years he was prominent and active in church work, being a class leader and leader of the choir. In the Wakey family were ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Hibbs have one child, a son, William I., born August 22, 1887. Politically Mr. Hibbs gives his support to the Democratic party, and religiously he and his wife are Presbyterians.
Extracted by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois published in 1900, volume 1, pages 295-296.
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