McDonough ILGenWeb

Rushville Times - Thursday, June 24, 1915 (this is a very lengthy article - so this is only an excerpt)

John L. Hoskinson, Died at His Home in Macomb, June 17th

John L. Hoskinson, a pioneer resident of Rushville, and the oldest man in McDonough county, died at his home in Macomb on Thursday morning of last week, aged 96 years, 3 months and 25 days.Mr. Hoskinson's fatal illness dated from the middle of May when he suffered a stroke of paralysis, which weakened his bodily functions and he steadily grew more feeble until the end came. On Sunday funeral services were held at the home in Macomb and the day following the remains were brought to Rushville for interment and brief services were conducted at the cemetery by Rev. Fred Wilson.

The following children of Mr. Hoskinson accompanied the remais to this city: Mrs. George A. Wilson of Peoria, Charles Hoskinson and son Edward of Rockford, Thomas and George Hoskinson of Macomb.John L., son of Chalres and Mary Lantz Hoskinson was born in Monongalia county, West Virginia February 24, 1819. When 8 years old his father moved to Shelbyville, Indiana were the latter died in 1828. The mother was subsequently married to Whitfield Chandler.

When 16 years of age he went to Martinsville, Indiana and entered service as an apprentice at the harness and saddlery trade and remained there until he reached his majority. He then went to Pennsylvania where he worked at his trace until 1844. On July 10, 1842 he was untied in marriage with Edith Edwards of Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania. Two years later they came to Illinois, settling at Rushville. They lived in Rushville until 1877, when upon the death of his bachelor brother, A. E. Hoskinson, who conducted a harness shop on the south side of the square, he moved to Macomb, took charge of the business and has conducted it up until the last few weeks.

Contributed by Linda Worstell