Source: The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois
Originally published 1896
S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., Chicago, IL
Reproduced on CD purchased from OLD GLORY ACCENTS

RELATED LINK: Index to all Biographies from this book

Transcribed by Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 398

MICHAEL SKEFFINGTON

The well-appointed farm of this gentleman is finely located on section 15, Westfield township. Bureau county, within whose borders he arrived in 1850. About 1867 he located upon the land which he now occupies, a valuable tract of two hundred and forty acres, and to which he has given his close attention with results that can hardly fail to be satisfactory to himself, and where his labors have met with sources.

Ottawa, Canada, was the early tramping ground of our subject, and there his birth took place December 13, 1837. His father, Patrick SHEFFINGTON, was a native of Ireland, born in county Meath, about 1814, but when a young man he emigrated to Canada with two brothers. He sawed the first lumber in Ottawa with whip saws, which was used in building the city and the canal. There he married Nora STOCKPOLE, a native of County Cork, Ireland, and they began their domestic life upon a farm of one  hundred acres which the father cleared and developed. In 1830 he brought his family to Bureau county, Illinois, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in Westfield township on which he located. He prospered in his undertakings here and at his death owned over a section of land. He was numbered among the most active, enterprising and succeeded farmers of Bureau county, and was called upon to serve in a number of local positions of honor and trust. His death occurred in 1876, at the age of sixty-two years, and his wife passed away in 1882. Both lie buried in La Salle cemetery, where a neat and substantial monument marks their last resting place.

Michael SKEFFINGTON is the oldest in the family of eight sons and three daughters, all of whom grew to maturity, and five sons and two daughters are still living. The others are as follows: Maria, wife of Patrick NOLAN, of Seymour, Champaign county, Illinois; Ann, who died in girlhood; Peter and Patrick, both farmers of Champaign county; William, John and Joe, all deceased; Dennis, a resident of Kansas City; Frank, a farmer of Westfiled township; and Maretha J., who is married and resides in Canada.

Mr.SKEFFINGTON, of this sketch, was a lad of thirteen years when brought by his parents to Bureau county, where he grew to manhood and completed his education in the common schools. He early became familiar with farm workk and continued to aid in the cultivation of the home farm for several years. He was married in La Salle county, Illinois, on the 5th of March, 1867, to Miss Elizabeeth COAKELY, a native of Bureau county and a daughter of Cornelius COAKELY, one of the old settlers of this state, who came when a young man to La Salle county, but afterward took up his residence in Bureau county. His death occurred in Peru, July 3, 1859. His daughter was reared and educated in that city, and for a time was a successful teacher.

Upon his marriage, Mr. SKEFFINGTON located upon his present fine farm, which he now has under a high state of cultivation and improved with a substantial two-story residence, good barns and out-buildings. In his undertakings he has been uniformly succesful, and is nmbered among the energetic and stirring men who operate to such good purpose in Westfield township. Besides his farminig interests, he established a dry goods store at Arlington in 1890, which he conducted for about three years, and was also engaged for two years in the same business at Ladd, his son John managing the store at the latter place.

To Mr. and mrs. SKEFFINGTON were born the following named children: Eleanore, who died t the age of two years; John, who completed his education at Niagara College, and is now assisting his father in the operation of the home farm; Patrick and Theresa, who are also at home; Elizabeth, who is attending the Sister's school at Utica, Illinois; Eleanora, Joseph, Conrelius and James, allat home; Henry, who died in 1894, at the age of eight years, and Cleophus, Genevieve, Michael Sylvester and William, who complete the family. The parents and children are communicants of the Catholic church at Arlington.

Politically, Mr. SKEFFIINGTON is a stalwart supporter of the democratic party, take an active part in its affairs, has served as chairman of the township central committee for years, and has been a delegate to numerous county, state and national conventions. He has acceptably served in several official positions, being supervisor sixteen years, township treasurer and school treasurer. To whatever position he has been elected he has proved a most competent and trustworthy officer, and always faithfully discharges every duty devolving upon him, whether public or private. During his long  residence here he has gained the confidence and esteem o all with whom he has come in contact and he and his estimable wife have maade hosts of warm personal friends among their large circle of acquaintances.