C. A. HOSMER, retired attorney and counselor at law, Villa Ridge, was
born at Avon, N. Y., June 14, 1818, and is the only surviving son of Hon.
George Hosmer, who at the time of his death was one of the oldest and most
prominent members of the bar in Western New York. He served for two terms in
the New York State Legislature. Our subject is a lineal descendent of
Revolutionary stock — one of his family and name, Rufus Hosmer, being among
the first whose blood was shed at Concord. In Mr. Hosmer's parlor hangs the
certificate of his grandfather, Hon. Timothy Hosmer, who was a surgeon in
the Sixth Connecticut Regiment. He was a member of the society of the
Cincinnati, a society formed at the close of the Revolution, by officers who
had served during the war. George Hosmer, the father of our subject, was a
Major in the war of 1812, and took part in the defense at the time Buffalo
was burned. During the late unhappy rebellion, several of our subject's
nearest kin shed their blood on the field of battle, in defense of the
Union, and one brother was sacrificed, being made a prisoner at the time of
Wilson's Cavalry Raid upon Richmond, in 1862. He died after months of
suffering in Andersonville Prison. Mr. Hosmer studied law under his father,
and was admitted to the practice in the courts of the State, and also of the
United States. In 1855, he removed west and located at Lockport, Will Co.,
Ill., but soon found that the climate was too changeable and severe on
himself and wife, so removed to his present residence in 1856. They soon
found that the genial climate of Southern Illinois was beneficial, and they
have both entirely recovered from their catarrhal troubles, with which they
had been afflicted for years. Mr. Hosmer resides on a farm one mile west of
Villa Ridge, on the place formerly the residence of Dr. Daniel Arter, known
and distinguished forty years ago as the house with the "glass windows."
This place is situated on the Thebes and Caledonia road, the finest
continuous highway north of Cairo, running across the State from river to
river, and is near enough to each river so that the whistle can often be
heard from the boats. Mr. H. has long since retired from the arduous duties
of his profession, and is trying to enjoy the latter days of an active life
on a small fruit farm, where he can better rest from professional duties. He
can now realize the words of the poet as applying to the pleasant clime he
has chosen for his home:
"Look now abroad, the scene how changed!
Where fifty fleeting years ago,
Clad in their savage costumes, ranged
The belted lords of shaft and bow.
"In praise of pomp let fawning
art
Carve rocks to triumph over years,
The grateful incense of the
heart
We give our living pioneers.
"For our undaunted pioneers,
Have conquest most enduring won,
In scattering the night of years,
And opening forests to the sun."
Extracted 02 Nov 2014 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V - Biographical Sketches, pages 289-290.
| Union | Johnson | |
| Alexander |
 |
Massac McCracken KY |
| Ballard KY |
