Biographies from "History of Alexander, Union & Pulaski Counties", Illinois, edited by Wm. H. Perrin, published by Baskin, Chicago, 1883. Page 145-146 JACKSON SIFFORD, farmer and fruit-grower, P. O. Cobden, was born in this county August 17, 1834, to Peter and Leah (Mull) Sifford. They were both born in North Carolina, he in 1795, she in 1805. They came to this county in 1819; were married in 1820. There ancestors were of German origin. He died in this county in 1853; she is still living. They were the parents of 12 children, seven of whom are still living, three sons and four daughters. He made no permanent settlement till 1827, when he settled on the farm now owned by A. L. Sitter, and died there. Our subject's opportunities for an education were very limited. He remained at home till he was 23 years old and assisted in the support of the family. In 1856 he was married to Rosena Mull, daughter of Martin and Catherine Mull. They were also early settlers in this county, coming from North Carolina. She is still living, but he died a few years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Sifford have 12 children, all but one living - William, John, Sarah, Tampa, Frank, Louis, Ida, Delia, Edward (deceased), Cora, Nina and Amos. When first married, Mr. S. settled on his present farm of 85 acres, and is engaged in general grain, fruit and vegetable farming. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church. In politics he is Democratic. ======== Page 146 DANIEL SIFFORD, farmer and fruit-grower, P. O. Cobden, is a native of Union County, Ill., born January 5, 1839, and is a son of Peter and Leah (Mull) Sifford. His early life was spent at home assisting to till the home farm, and receiving such an education as could be obtained in the schools of the county. Arriving at his majority, he embarked on his career in life as a farmer, an occupation he has since followed. His farm contains 125 acres of good land, of which 100 are under a high state of cultivation and a portion devoted to fruit-growing. Mr. Sifford was married April 18, 1861, to Miss Susan C. Casper, a native of the county, born November 8, 1842. She is a daughter of Henry Casper, whose history appears in another part of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. S. have been blessed with eight children, viz.: Dora E., W. R., T. Peter, Minnie J., Lizzie, Henry, Dell and Susie. Mr. S. and wife are members of the Lutheran Church; he is a member of the orders of A.F.&A.M. and K. of H. Politically, he is a Democrat. ======== Page 146 GEORGE SNYDER, fruit and vegetable grower, Cobden, was born in Susquehanna County, Penn., March 2, 1823, to Benjamin and Elizabeth (Griffin) Snyder, both of whom were born in New York, he in Columbia County, she in Orange County. Both died in Pennsylvania. They were the parents of four sons and ten daughters. Two sons and five daughters now survive. Our subject was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools of his native State. In 1848 he began the putting on of composition roofs, and continued in this employment in the leading cities of NY till 1852, when he removed to New Orleans, and resided there for five years, making lime from oyster shells. His health failed, so in the spring of 1857 he came to Cobden and settled on his present farm. His farm of 123 acres he bought from the railroad company. He has been engaged in fruit and vegetable raising since. He is one of the largest sweet potato raisers in the State. In 1882 he had out 28 acres, and in 1883 increased it to 30 acres. He also has large peach orchards, etc. In New York in 1852 he was married to Miss Jane Butler, daughter of James and Lydia (Reed) Butler. James Butler was a native of New York and a cousin to Gen. B. F. Butler. Mrs. Butler was born in Maine. They moved to near Detroit, Mich., and died there. They were the parents of six girls and three boys - all living but one daughter. Previous to marriage, Mrs. S. had been engaged in teaching school. She now raises an abundance of beautiful flowers, and in 1883 shipped 400 boxes to Chicago for Decoration Day. Mr. and Mrs. S. have never been blessed with children. In politics he is Democratic. His first vote for President was cast for Henry Clay. During the time spent in New Orleans, Mr. Snyder had the yellow fever, cholera, breakbone fever and swamp fever. ============ Page 147-148 SAMUEL SPRING, merchant, Cobden, was born January 15, 1827, in Massachusetts, in the town of Newburyport. His maternal ancestors for several generations were ministers of the Gospel, Non-Conformists and English Puritans. In the year 1834 (sic), John Spring, with his wife Eliza, embarked at Ipswich, England, for New England with four children. They settled in Watertown, Mass., near Boston, where his name is on the earliest list of proprietors in 1836 (sic). [Transcriber's Note: Passenger list of the "Elizabeth" indicates the ship left Ipswich in 1634 (rather than 1834) with John Spring and wife 'Elinor' bound for Watertown, Mass.] His descendants were John and Henry, from whom a large number have sprung. Samuel, the father of our subject, married Lydia M. Norton, the result being nine children, four of whom survive, viz.: Mary, Lucia, Gardner and Samuel. The father was an active minister for 37 years, and died at the age of 89, and his consort at the age of 90. Mr. Spring had some advantage of the country schools until he was 16 years old, when he went to St. Louis, Mo., and there engaged as a clerk in a grocery store at $75 per month. One year later he, in partnership with his brother A. L., opened up a wood yard and grocery store at Union Point, this county, at which they continued until 1867, when they came to Cobden and entered a general dry goods and notion store. In 1877 our subject opened up where he now continues, having a full line of almost anything the general public may be in want of. In addition to his large stock of goods and some excellent property in this village, he has 540 acres of land in this county that ranks equal to any in Southern Illinois, all of which is the result of his own labors. He was married March 15, 1854, to Martha J., a daughter of C. D. and Margaret C. (Gray) Henderson, natives of North Carolina; the former born November 14, 1800, and the latter December 24, 1804. They emigrated to Missouri in 1831. Her parents were blessed with nine children, two of whom are living, viz.: J. E. and Martha J. Her parents were members of the Presbyterian organization. Mr. Spring has served on the board of trustees of Cobden and was for seven years postmaster at Union Point. His wife, who was born August 5, 1838, in Missouri, blessed her husband with four children, viz.: Charles, Gardner, Lucia A. and Lillie. She and Mr. Spring are members of the Presbyterian Church. He is an active Democrat. Mr. S. is a thorough businessman, and knows exactly what class of goods to keep to please his many customers. ======== Page 147 JOHN SWEITZER, fruit farmer, Cobden, was born in Baden, Germany, July 17, 1845, to John and Rosa (Dirr) Sweitzer. They both were born, lived and died in Baden. He died at the age of 45 years, when our subject was but five years old. She was born in 1811 and died in 1879. His occupation was that of farmer. They were the parents of seven children, all now living. Our subject is next to the youngest child. Only John and his brother Frank are in America; both live near Cobden. Our subject came to America in 1866; remained at Cincinnati for about six months; then came to Cobden and engaged to James Bell, and continued with him for 16 years as foreman on the farm. January, 1883, he came to his present farm, and is engaged in fruit and vegetable raising. Besides his home farm of 90 acres, which is well improved, he has another farm of 120 acres. He was first married January, 1872, to Anna Blsigg (sic*). She was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany, but came to America with her parents when small. Her father died in this county in 1881. Mrs. Sweitzer died in April, 1879. By her he has three children: Edward, Harry and Freddie. In 1880 he was married to Anna Bleger. She was born in Pennsylvania; came to this county when small. Her parents are both still living in the county - Joseph and Mary (Unto) Bleger. By this marriage there are two children: Josie and Rosa. He and family are members of the Catholic Church. In politics he is Democratic. ----- *[Transcriber's Note: Name may have been Blessig or Blessing. Possibly a relative of Christian Blessing (1833-1919) of Cobden, who was reportedly born in Wuerttemberg.] ============================================================================ ================