JOSEPH T. HOSICK, of Elizabethtown, Ill., is one of the leading farmers of Hardin County, a son of William Hosick, of Virginia, and a grandson of Alexander Hosick, who was a native of Scotland, and came to America before the Revolutionary War, settling in Virginia. William Hosick was born in Virginia, was brought up on the farm, and secured a good education for the times. He was at one time Surveyor for his county, and removed to Livingston County, Ky., in 1810, buying timber land and erecting a log cabin in the woods. He settled down to hard work, and cleared up and improved his farm. Even at that early day the question as to the right and policy of slavery was being agitated, and he, being opposed to the institution in any form, sold his farm and left the State, this being the only thing he could do, as those who favored the continuance of the system, whether or not they believed in its righteousness, seemed to know instinctively, that if the question were fully and fairly discussed, such discussion must necessarily result in its overthrow. Leaving Kentucky, he came to Illinois in 1816, entered Government laud, built a log cabin with puncheon floor, and again began to clear up and improve his farm. He remained in that locality until the end of his days, dying in about 1810. He was married in 1797 to Polly Turner, of Kentucky, by whom he had ten children, viz: Elizabeth, Alexander, Nancy, Polly, Nellie, Perlina, Joseph T., Johnson, Matilda and Sallie.
Joseph T. Hosick was born in Livingston County, Ky., June 9, 1812, and was brought up on the farm, and educated in the schools of the day, such as they were, learning but little therein. But being of strong and active intellectual powers, he obtained a good, practical education, and has made a fair success of his life. He came to Pope County in 1827, and settled in what is now Hardin County, buying timber land, erecting a log cabin, and going to work in earnest to establish a home. He made a success of his efforts, and in after years a large, two-story brick residence took the place of the humble log cabin, and large fields in a high state of cultivation took the place of the timbered wilderness. He was married in the year 1832 to Nancy Martin, of Livingston County, Ky., daughter of David Martin, of South Carolina, who was of Irish ancestry. To this marriage with Miss Martin there were born four children, all now deceased, and she died in 1840. He was married the second time, to Elizabeth M. Telford, in 1842. She is a daughter of Robert Telford, a native of South Carolina. To this second marriage there were born five children, viz: Edmond S., a farmer of Hardin County; Amanda, deceased; Polly Ann, wife of Leroy Clanahan, a minister at Metropolis; Samuel T., a farmer of Hardin County; and Alice A., deceased.
Mr. Hosick takes pride in the fact that he has made ten trips down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in flatboats, and has traveled a great deal on railroads without ever seeing an accident. He is also proud of the fact, that although there are a great many people of his name, yet none of them have ever been convicted of any crime. He has been fighting whisky for the past fifty-two years, and has voted with the Prohibition party for the last five years. It will thus be seen that it runs in the nature of the Hosick family to oppose the wrong, for as his father was a decidedly anti-slavery man, so is he now a decidedly anti-whisky man. He is also on the side of religion, having been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty years, and, all in all, Mr. Hosick is one of the best and most useful citizens of Hardin County, and is so considered by all who know him.
Extracted from Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, published in 1893, page 470
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