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JACOB GARWICK

The history of Clyde Township would be incomplete without the record of Jacob Garwick, a man whom to know ws to respect, because his life was active, usful and hnorable. He started out fo himself empty-handed and for many years struggled earnestly to gain a substantial position in the business world.

The methods which he followed were ever honorable and upright and thus in his death, which occurred October 21, 1895, Whiteside county lost a valued citizen. He is well remem ered as a progressive farmer living on section 2, Clyde township, and also as a minister. That his business interests were capably managed is indicated by the fact that he left a valuable estate of three hundred acres lying partly in Carroll County and still carried on by his widow.

The birth of Jacob Garwick occurred December 13, 1834, in Alsace, which was then a province of France, but has since reverted to Germany, the original owner. His father, Jacob Garwick, Sr., was also a native o that province and was of German parentage. In that country he learned and followed the miller's trade. In early manhood he wedded Magdalene Wolff, who was of French and Swiss lineage. Both of  her grandsires came to America during the  progress of the Revolutionary war under the command of General LaFayette and sesrved on his corps of officers. Several other male relatives were among the French soldiery who came to assist the colonies in their struggle for independence. Jacob Garwick, Sr., came to the United States with his wife and children in 1853 and located upon a farm in Butler county, Pennsylvania. His son Jacob was the eldest of his children and left his native province i November, 1852, arriving in Pennsylvania a year prior to his parents. In his native country he had been liberally educated in the German and French languages and for some time acted as an assitant teaacher in the schools where he had been a student.  He spent three months on shipboard on his way to America, not knowing a single soul on the vessel, haused and disstressed signals were flown from the masthead three successive days before their condition was discovered. They then anchored near an island in the South sea belonging to Portugaland secured sufficient supplies to enable them to proceed on their voyage. At length, however, the long trip was ended and Mr. Garwick landed safely in the new owrld. Here he made preparation for a home for his parents and when he saw them comfortably settled he started for Illinois. When he reached Chicago he had not enough money to pay for his breakfast, but he succeeded in making his way to friends in Dupage County, where he obtained aid and employment. In 1854 he locataed in Clydde Township, Whiteside County, and three years later his father's family followed him to Illinois and took up their abode upon a farm at Fair Haven, Carroll county. There the father died in June, 1878, while the mother survived until May ,1884.

After coming to Illinois Jacob Garwick, of this review, worked as a genreal laborer, but whle in Pennsylvania he followed the miller's trae, which he had learned under the diretion of his father in his native country. His life to the age of twenty-seven years was one of continual hardship and toil, but he possessed strong determination and unfaltering courage and gradually worked his way upward. After his arrival in Whiteside county he became a farm hand and was thus employed until he could make arrangement to purchase land and engaged in farming on his own account.

As a companinon and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Garwick chose Miss Sarah Zook, whom he wedded in Clyde township on the 27th of February, 1861. Her parents, Abraham and Anna (Gsell) Zook, were natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvaia, and of Swiss and German descent. Their ancestors settled in America about the time of the colonial struggle for independence. Mr. and Mrs. Zook were farming people and were married in Franklin coutny, Pennsyllvania, their daughter Sarah being there born on the 19th of January, 1843. She was one of a family of eight children and accompanied her parents to Illinois when she was thriteen years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Garwick first settled in Newton Township, Whiteside county, and two years later removed to Clyde township, establishing their home on the farm where Mrs. Garwick has since remained, now owning three hundred and fifty-five acres of land. Of the children born unto them the six who still survive are as follows: George E., the eldest, who now follows farming near Garden Plain, this coutny, acquired a college education and married a daughter of Henry Brubaker. They have three children - Floyd, Florence and Eber. Anna Garwick is the wife of William Geesey, and resides at home. They, too, have three living children - Hattie, Jacob and Ethel - and they lost one child, Lucille, at the age of four years. Sarah Garwick became the wife of Martin Hanna, of Carroll county, and has two children - Paul and Lenora. Lizzie is the wife of Charles Dial, of Carroll county, and they have one adoptd child, Charles. Dora is the wife of J. O. Elwing, a resident of West Union, Iowa, and has one son, Lillo. Katie is the wife of Dr. Cecil R. Rogers, an osteopathic practitioner of New York city. Of the children who have passed away Edith Esther, born November 25, 1885, died at the age of eight years and eight days. William H. died at the age of fifteen years, and Abraham and Lena died at the age of five and three years, respectively.

When Mr.and Mrs. Garwick came to what is now the old home frarm he invested twenty-five dollars, his entire capital, in the property, and made arrangements for future payments. Soon, as the result of his earnest and unremitting labor, he was enabled to discharge his fiancial obligations