STANDARD ATLAS
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1903
Geo. A. Ogle & Co.Publishers & Engravers
134 Van Buren St.
Chicago
Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 94
This son of William and Martha Redshaw was born on what is known as the Woodhouse farm in Longford, Derbyshire, England, January 9, 1831. He was the eleventh child in a family of twelve - ten sons and two daughters. Until the age of seventeen he worked on his father's farm, receiving his education at the subscription schools of his native country. In March, 1848, he set sail from Liverpool, on the steamer St. Patrick, for New York, and after a tempestuous voyage of six weeks, reached his destination. He then engaged passage on the steamer Sir Isaac Newton for Albany, and from there on a canal boat, J. N. Parsons, via the Erie canal, for Buffalo. At Buffalo he secured employment with L.F. Allen, an uncle of ex-President Cleveland, at $6 per month and was working there when the ex-president came to Buffalo and began working for his uncle. He remained at Buffalo about three years. In September, 1851, he took passage on the Steamer Mayflower from Buffalo to Detroit, and from there he journeyed to Cincinnati by rail. He then took passage on a boat for Vicksburg, Mississippi, where he was engaged in the lumber business until 1859 when he bought a hotel at Carrollton, Louisiana, six miles above New Orleans.
In September, 1859, Mr. Redshaw was married to Miss Mary E. Brown of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, and in November following they came to Illinois, arriving at Naples, December, 11. In August, 1875, he purchased the farm on which he now resides, two and one-half miles west of Merritt; in 1881 he bought what is known as the Robinson place, and in 1886 he added to his possessions the Uncle Billy Campbell farm, just north of and adjoining his home farm. In September, 1902, he retired from active business and will spend the remaining years of his life in leisure. He has been an energetic and successful farmer and it is time for Mr. Redshaw and his faithful wife to enjoy the rest which they have so well earned.
To Mr. and Mrs. Redshaw were born nine children, all born in Scott county, three dying in infancy, leaving three sons and three daughters. They are: Sallie, wife of J.N. Funk; A.J., who married Miss Julia F. Sappington; B.F., who married Miss Maud Allen; Wm. H., who married Miss Clara B. Smithson; Maud, wife of G. W. Hogan, and May, who is yet single. He also has four grandsons who, he says, will follow in their grandfather's footsteps and cast their first and last vote for the democratic ticket.
Such is the history in brief of one of Scott county's prominent retired farmers. It points the sweet lesson of love of home; of companionship; of reward for faithful toil, and now at the ripe old age of seventy-two, none will deny honest, tried, true Stephen Redshaw the rest and peace, the quiet and contentment he now enjoys.