The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-04-07
Ottawa, H.. April 7, 1883.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Mrs. Peter Dick, formerly Mrs. Daniel
Warren.

II belongs 10 the masculine division of
animated nature TO put on airs and crow,
and 70 the feminine "to search for liv-
ing" Chanticleer parades his GLOSSY feath-
ers in the sun, while his wife matches and
raises their children. He does all the
Dragging and she the hard work True, he
watches for prowling animals who relish
spring chickens, and espyeth sfsr the
swooping hawk, and gives danger signals;
but she gathereth her young ones under
her wing by day and night and her vigi
ience In their care never ceases till her
brood are old enough to care for them
selves. While the life OF the masculine
old settler was full Of burdens and dis
COuragements, the lot Of his wife WAS It'll
harder and not one of the pioneers who
has prOspered who does not owe the greater
share Of his success to the patient industry
of his gentle help mate While his day
work may have averaged sixteen hours,
hers vas n ceasing round of unmitigated
toll knowing no hours of rest. Year after
year, with her, the woman's work was
never done" 1t WAS a sort OF perpetual
motion, and many OF these noble women
labOred on and on, literally from the cradle
10 the grave; monuments 70 heroes and
statesmen are proper, but what OF the
brave and lovely mothers who have peopled
the nation, the mothers OF heroes and
statesmen A more self.sacrificlng and
devoted class OF women never hOnOred the
dear name of mother than the wives Of the
pioneers of La sale county. II they have
no splendid monument In bronze or mar BILE
To preserve the heroic deeds for fame, let
US erect fitting one In our hearts and keep
their graves forever green and beautiful.
OF this class of feminine excellence was
and Is Mrs, Peter Dick, of our city, whose
life until within few years had been An
example OF femme toll and patient suffer.
lug, such as go to brighten the already
brilliant record of pioneer wives.
Miss Lucy A. Skeel was born in Onon-
dagua Co, N. y, June 3, 1913. Her
father, Nathan SKeel, WAS native of Yer
lntnt and her mother, Olive Bacon, was
also born In the Green Mountain State
They came " New York at an early date.
Wien Miss Lucy WAS five years old, her
parents moved TO Clear Creek, Ohio, where
they rstiained until she had STAINED her
twelfth year, when the tide of emigration
n tracted them TO Illinois They located
~ Hennepin, Putnam county, where Mr..
>keei made a claim which ne subsequently
developed into fine farm, Just and nearly
a.joining the corporate limits of that vii
hge He became prominent citizen of
that county and held different positions of
public trust and her brothers, Linas b. and
Lewis T., were also estimable citizens. Mr..
Nathan skeel died about forty years age,
aud his widow, Lucys mother, lived on IN
Ill she had become 30 years old before she
followed him. On Feb IS, 1882, Miss
Lucy was married to Mr.. Daniel Warren,
member OF highly respected family of
old settlers, The new couple "struck out"
for themselves, arriving at Bailey's Grove,
near where Tonica now stands, In March
1882. .,ss 81 10 ..', ~ %. ID. l g's e.a.5
lta,ou.p wARREN's SAW MILL.
Mr.. Warren had previously made claim
on Indlsnl Creek, four miles east Of the now
village Of Harding. Here he erected
saw mill, ono OF the FIRST in this entire re-
gion of country. The nest for himself and
bride consisted Of one.story log cabin
sixteen feet square. and high enough at
the sides to permit moderately tall man
70 enter the door without humping his head
against the rafters. The chimney consist