McDonough ILGenWeb

WISSLEAD, James Edward, who is the owner of a fine farm in Sciota Township, McDonough County, Ill., was born in Lincolnshire, England, on December 25, 1850, a son of Edward and Mary A. (Loise) Wisslead, natives of England.

Edward Wisslead came to the United States with his family, and proceeded to Illinois, where, in 1856, he settled in Blandinsville Township, McDonough County, and locating on Section 13, there engaged in farming and stock-raising. In the spring of 1856 he bought 480 acres of land in Section 7, Sciota Township, to which he moved, and on which he spent the remainder of his life in agricultural pursuits. He died April 25, 1900, his wife having passed away March 12, 1886. James Edward Wisslead is one of a family of five children, four of whom are still living. He attended the public schools of his neighborhood when he was a youth, and remained under the paternal roof, assisting his father in the work of the farm until 1877. In that year he commenced farming for himself. He now owns 240 acres of the home place in Sciota Township and 132 acres in Hancock County. His general farming and stock-raising are carried on in a thorough manner, and with successful results. On November 15, 1877, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Elizabeth Hodges, a daughter of William and Mary (Watts) Hodges, natives of Somersetshire, England. Mrs. Wisslead, who is eighth in order of birth of a family of nine children, was born and educated near Roseville, Warren County, Ill. Two children — Alfred E. and Frank Levi — are the offspring of this union. Politically, Mr. Wisslead supports the principles of the Democratic party.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, pages 1048-1049, extracted 26 Oct 2020 by Norma Hass.