Biography - JOHN D. STREET

John D. STREET, retired farmer, Girard, was born in Shelby County, Ky., August 10, 1820, to David and Catharine (DUNCAN) STREET; his early life was spent in receiving a common-school education and assisting in tilling the soil of his father's farm; he was brought to Illinois, Macoupin County, by his parents, in 1831; in 1841, he left houme and embarked on his career in life as a hired hand; in 1842, he moved ot Iowa, where he remained four years, and, while there, experienced many hardships, such as are found in a pioneer life; one instance he remembers of going sixty miles to a mill to get his corn ground, and, after making the trip, found it impossible to get his grist, as the water was so high as to prevent the running fo the mill; he returned, and, to keep from starving, used a coffee-mill to grind corn enough to live on. In 1847, he returned to Macoupin County and engaged in farming, which he followed for about one year, after which he again worked by the month, or day, at carpentering, and, in fact, at anything he could find to do and receive a compensation for his labors. In 1856, he went to Texas, where he followed hunting; while there, he bought 600 acres of land, but was defrauded out of it by the last rebellion; he returned to Montgomery County, Ill., in 1857, and, in 1861, bought 120 acres of unimproved land in Pitman Township, upon which he removed his family in 1862; here he has since remained, engaged principally in raising stock; his farm now consists of 231 acres of land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. Mr. STREET commenced life a poor man; by his honesty, industry and economy, he has succeeded in accumulating a good property now, in the later years of his life, he is surrounded with those comforts and enjoying those pleasures that are ever the result of honesty, industry and economy. Mr. STREET was married, April 3, 1862, to Mary E. BANNING; she was born in Illinois in 1838; she was the mother of seven children, of whom six are now living - Andrew T., Sarah C., John W., Jennie A., Charles M. Antoinette G. and Bessie Lula, all of whom are at home. The father of Mr. STREET was born in Virginia in 1785, and died in 1855; he was a farmer and stone-mason; he was among the early settlers of Kentucky, and also of Illinois; his wife, and mother of J. D. STREET, was born in Virginia August 26, 1788; was brought to Kentucky by her parents when quite a small child; she died November 4, 1838; she was the mother of eleven children, of whom our subject was the sixth child. In politics, Mr. STREET is a Republican; is a member of Washington Grange, Lodge No. 970, of Pitman Township; in the lodge, he has acted as Treasurer; he and wife are members of the Christian Church.

Extracted 20 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 267-268.