J. MILTON LOCHRIDGE, who resides on section 4, Auburn Township, and whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is one of the extensive landowners of the county, his possessions aggregating some five hundred acres. For many years he did an extensive business in farming and stock raising but has now partially retired from the more arduous duties of life, having by his industry and enterprise in former years gained a handsome competence which supplies all his wants and leaves him a good surplus.
The Lochridge family is of Scottish origin. The grandfather of our subject, John Lochridge, was born in Scotland and when a child accompanied his parents to his country, the family locating in Virginia. At the early age of sixteen years he enlisted in the Colonial Army under Gen. Washington and served until the close of the war. During that time he had many narrow encounters with the Indians and often saved his life by swimming a stream and thus escaping his savage foes. He was an expert swimmer, possessed great strength, and a splendid physique, being strong and powerful, and tipping the beam at two hundred and thirty-five pounds. He became an early settler of Indiana, where he had ample opportunity for indulging his love of hunting. He made farming his business and afterward removed to Montgomery County, Ky., where he owned four hundred acres of land. Selling out, he came to Illinois in 1835 and with his son William located land in what is now Ball Township. He became one of the well-to-do citizens of the community, was prominent in public affairs, for thirty years was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and died at the very advanced age of ninety-four years at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Bridges.
John Lochridge, the father of our subject, was born in Scott County, Ky., where he was reared and followed farming and wagon making. He was an excellent mechanic and his taste in that direction led him to take up the latter pursuit. In 1824 he removed to Owen County, Ky., where he owned and operated five hundred acres of land. He also served as Colonel in the State Militia. The year 1839 witnessed his arrival in Illinois. He purchased three hundred acres of land on Lick Creek, where William foster now lives and engaged in farming until 1852, when attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he started with an ox team to make the overland trip but was taken sick and died in Sweet Water, Ore. He was known as Capt. Lochridge and his genial manner made him many friends. In political sentiment he was a Whig and in religious belief a Presbyterian.
His wife, whose maiden name was Margery Killough, was a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of James Killough, who was also born in the Keystone State and was of Welsh extraction. He became an early settler of Montgomery County, Ky., and his farm of one hundred acres adjoined that of Elder Lochridge. In 1823 he removed to Owen County, ind., and settling on White River improved four or five one hundred acre tracts of land. His death there occurred. In his younger days he followed teaching. He was a fine scholar, also an excellent surveyor and in political sentiment was a Whig. The mother of our subject died in Montgomery County, Ky., at the home of her son James. Her children were, mrs. Nancy Hart, who died in Indiana; J. Milton of this sketch; James W., a farmer of Arkansas; Mrs. Martha J. Smith, of Chatham; Matthew K. died in California; Mrs. Elizabeth Curvey in Chatham Township, and Andrew in Owen County, Ind., of cholera; Mrs. Louisa Steele, of Owen County, Ind.
J. Milton Lochridge was born January 18, 1814, in Montgomery County, Ky., in the midst of the famous Blue Grass region. Upon a farm he received his first lessons in business life and in a log schoolhouse with its puncheon floor, slab seats and greased paper windows, he acquired his literary education. At the age of ten years the family went to Indiana but he spent about as much time in Kentucky as in that State. In 1837 he came to Illinois with his grandfather to help him bring a quantity of money which was carried in their saddle-bags, our subject having $1,100 in specie with him. He then settled upon his father's farm and remained at home until his marriage, which was celebrated July 2, 1840, in Auburn Township. He married Miss Jane Nuckolls, who was born in Madison County, Ill., October 11, 1819, and is a daughter of James Nuckolls, a native of Virginia. When a babe of a year she was brought by her parents to this county where her maidenhood days were spent.
Mr. Lochridge made his first purchase of land in 1839, becoming the owner of one hundred acres of land in Chatham township, upon which he located at the time of his marriage. In 1841 he traded that farm for one hundred and ten acres in Ball Township, and after improving that tract and placing it under cultivation, he sold it in 1848 and purchased raw land in Chatham Township. Not a furrow had been turned thereon but he broke prairie, built a house and after a few years sold for $25 per acre what he paid only $2.50 per acre for. He also owned thirty acres of timber land which he disposed of about the same time, investing his money in three hundred acres on section 4, Auburn township, for which he paid $20 per acre. It has many times increased in value and by subsequent purchase the boundaries of his farm have been extended until at one time he owned six hundred acres. His possessions now aggregate five hundred acres, upon which are three good residences, miles of fencing, good barns, outbuildings and two large windmills and tanks.
The place is watered by Painter Creek and the home is pleasant situated within a mile of Auburn. Mr. Lochridge has devoted much time to sheep raising, to breeding Poland-China hogs and raising Short-horn cattle. He formerly operated extensively as a stock raiser and shipped about one hundred and twenty head of cattle per year. His horses at the county fair frequently received the first premiums and no animal of an inferior grade was ever found upon his farm. He now has a fine carriage team and other stock, although to a great extent he has retired from that line of business.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Lochridge numbers five children: John W., who assists his father in the management of the farm; James M. and Andrew H. at home; and Robert and Charles E. who are married and reside on the old homestead. James was in the one hundred days service during the late war. Mr. Lochridge has identified himself with the best interests of town and county. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend; he helped to build the first schoolhouse in Auburn and for fourteen consecutive years was a School Director. He belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Ball Township, is open-hearted, liberal with his means and has the respect of all who know him. In politics he is a stanch Republican and was a warm friend of President Lincoln. He has frequently served as delegate to the county conventions and four times was elected Supervisor of his township, overcoming a Democratic majority of sixty-five.
On July 2, 1890, Mr. and Mrs. Lochridge celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary and the same groomsman and bridesmaid of half a century ago attended them. Many friends gathered to wish them happy returns of the day and the historian joins them in wishing the worthy couple many more years of happy wedded life.