It
is interesting to study the life record of such a man as the gentleman
whose name appears above owing to the fact that he began life under no
favorable auspices and has had to battle his own way through the world, but
he has succeeded remarkably well and has shown how a man can "go it alone"
when once his face is set in the right direction and he has the courage of
his convictions. Therefore, for this and many other reasons, not the least
of which is the fact that he is one of the brave veterans of the great war
of the Rebellion, efficiently serving his country during its dark days, we
take pleasure in giving him a place in this work.
A. M. Peddicord was
born in Bracken county, Kentucky, June 4, 1841, and he was about fourteen
years old when he came to Marion county, Illinois, and spent most of the
time since then in Carrigan township. He is the son of Nelson and Rebecca
Peddicord, the subject's parents having been cousins. The father died when
the subject was very young and he has but little recollection of him. The
subject's mother was born in Mason county, Kentucky, and died about fifteen
years ago. There were six children in the family of Nelson Peddicord and
wife, namely: Emanuel J., who first married Hester Lawrence, and they became
the parents of three children; his second wife was Sallie Hooker and they
became the parents of five or six children; Emanuel's third wife was Nancy
Roberts; A. E., the second child of Nelson and Rebecca Peddicord, served in
the Union army in the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
having remained single, and he died soon after the close of the war; F. M.
married a Miss Faggin and they are the parents of five children; A. M., our
subject, was the fourth child in order of birth; Sarah M. was twice married;
Priscilla died when young.
The subject of this sketch was compelled
to make his own way after he was fourteen years old and he has succeeded
admirably well. When he reached maturity he was married to Eliza Britt in
August 1869, in Marion county. She was the daughter of Samuel and Abigail
(Roderick) Britt. Her parents lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana and
finally settled in Marion county, Illinois, and they died here. Mr. Britt
was a farmer. The subject's wife was the ninth of a family of ten children.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Peddicord:
Francis M., who is forty-one years old in 1908, married Mary E. Foltz and
they are the parents of seven children; Mary E. died when fourteen months
old; Sarah E., who is now thirty-nine years, married Thomas P. Walker, and
they have three children living and two dead.
As already intimated
Mr. Peddicord was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, having
enlisted in Company K, Thirty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, on August
10, 1861, under the command of Gen. John A. Logan. He served in a most
gallant manner for a period of four years. He was taken prisoner on the
march to the sea at Meridian, Mississippi. He was in the battle of Fort
Donelson, was in the siege of Vicksburg and Champion's Hill. He was in
Andersonville prison for a period of six months, later being moved to
Florence. He contracted the scurvy while in prison, having been in prison
when peace was declared.
Our subject has an excellent farm consisting
of two hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in section 34, seventy-seven
acres of which are in timber. The subject has made most of the improvements
of his farm, which now holds high rank with Marion county's best farms. It
shows good management and is well stocked. He has a comfortable residence,
which is well furnished.
Mr. Peddicord was Road Commissioner for two
terms and gave entire satisfaction. He is a loyal Democrat. Mr. and Mrs.
Peddicord are faithful members of the Baptist church. Our subject deserves
much credit for what he has accomplished, for he had little chance to attend
school in his youth. The only schoolhouse in his community was built of
logs, and the terms of school were very short. But he has been a hard worker
and has succeeded despite early disadvantages, until today he is one of the
county's most representative agriculturists and has many friends throughout
the same.
Extracted 11 Jul 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 176-178.