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Biographies Page Jersey County Page
Thomas WeddingJersey County Illinois History, year unknown
Thomas WEDDING, Esquire, is a native of Washington City, District of Columbia. He was born July 18, 1808. He is the second child of James H. and Nancy Wedding who where natives of Prince George County, Maryland. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 participating in the defense of Washington. His occupation was that of a farmer. In September, 1814, he removed with his family to Scioto Co., Ohio locating near Portsmouth where he resided about 20 years and in 1834 removed to the present limits of Jersey Co., Illinois locating on a farm in the Illinois bottoms.
Mr. Thomas Wedding, when quite a small boy, can remember seeing the British troops that were stationed around Washington after the burning of the National Capitol. Most of his early education was obtained in the common schools of Ohio. At that early day, facilities for school purposes were not limited. Most of his time previous to his marriage was employed in assisting his father in carrying on the farm. In April, 1835, he entered a farm of about 400 acres of land, being the farm now owned by J. C. REID, Esq.
He resided on that farm about 14 years. Mr. Wedding went back to Ohio and was married to Miss Matilda NOEL, June 23, 1842. She was a daughter of Col. Jacob and Lucretia Noel of Scioto Co., Ohio. Col. Noel was a soldier in the War of 1812 and commanded a regiment doing good service in that war. When Mr. Wedding came to Illinois, he had hardly any capitol, but being industrious and economical, he succeeded in acquiring a home for himself and family. Of course, he had many hardships to encounter which characterizes the condition of the early pioneers. When he landed in this county, he had only $300.00 as a capitol to commence life with and it has been the peculiar fortune of Mr. Wedding to have witnessed many important changes in the history of Jersey County. When he commenced to improve a farm in its borders, the country was in its primitive state, and but few years before, the Indian was swarming over its plains, but by his industrious hand, they were soon made to yield large crops of golden grain, instead of furnishing meager subsistance for the wandering savage.
Mr. Wedding and wife became members of the Baptist Church about 1851 and in 1862 joined the Christian Church. Quite early in life he joined the ranks of the Whig party. His first vote for president was cast for Henry Clay and on the dissolution of the Whig party, he joined the Republicans. He voted twice for Abraham Lincoln and as many times for General Grant. During the war, he was not among the weak-kneed in this section of the country, but was among the strong advocates of an immediate suppression of the rebellion. His venerable wife, after lingering with an illness for several years, died at their residence on the 14th June, 1868 and Mr. Wedding was married to his present wife on the 28th January, 1872. She was a Miss Mary CRULL, a daughter of John and Sarah Crull of Jersey County with whom Mr. Wedding now lives at his residence enjoying the fruits of a well spent life. He is highly respected for his Christian character and his generous and hospitable nature.
Submitted by Robert Wedding, [email protected].
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