John Thomas Wyatt.

One of the conspicuous instances of individual enterprise in acquiring a farm and providing for those dependent upon him is that afforded by John T. Wyatt of Honey Creek Township, whose productive and valuable farm is a mile east of Mendorn.

Mr. Wyatt was born in Mendon Township a half mile south of the village of that name December 25, 1863, son of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Cherry) Wyatt. His father was born in Northamptonshire, England, and about 1855 came to the United States. He and his married in England and they came at once to Qunicey. Her father, William Cherry, had previously located in Mendon Township. Thomas Wyatt came here without means, worked at day's labofor a time, later had a farm of his own three miles north of Mendon, and finally retired to that village where he died when about seventy years age. His wife died in 1898, aged sixty-five. They had a family of five children: Annie, who died when thirteen years old; William who lived in Mendon; Sarah who is unmarried and lives with her brother William; George W., a dentist at Guthrie, Oklahoma; and John T.

John Thomas Wyatt grew up in a home of fair comforts, had such education as the local schools provided, but otherwise had to start life dependent entirely upon his own resources. He is one of the old time farm hands, that class of men who labored from sun to sun, mich of the time without the help of any modern implements to lighten the burdens of agriculture, and his wages ranged from $18 to $20 a month with board and washing. That was the service he rendered between the ages of twenty and twenty four. For all that he managed to save $100 every year. In 1894 Mr. Wyatt and his brother William became partners in the purchase of 120 acres of land in Honey Creek Township. The contract price was $7,000. J.T. Wyatt had about $800 in cash and a horse, while his brother had $1,500. For the balance they went in debt and continued seven tears as partners. John T. Wyatt then bought out his brother, and again incurred a debt of $6,000. That sum he has since paid off, and he has also kept the farm up to a high standard of improvements and cultivation. In earlier years he made progress very slowly, but was in a situation to reap the best advantages if the present era of high prices in the agriculture industry. Some years ago Mr. Wyatt sold his hogs at 2 ½ cents a pound, wheat at 45 cents a bushel, oats at 15 cents a bushel and corn at 17 cents bushel. Having labored under the disadvantages of the older order, none will gainsay the fact that he is thoroughly deserving of all the prosperity that may come to him in the times in which he is now living.

Mr. Wyatt has the reputation of a very public spirited citizen, has served as school director fourteen years and is still on the board as clerk of the district. He is a republican and a deacon in the Mendon Congregational Church. He is also affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.

October 28, 1894, Mr. Wyatt married Miss Eunice Hoskins of Mendon Township. Mrs. Wyatt from the age of nine was reared in the home of R.B. Starr. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Clara (Spencer) Hoskins. She was nine years of age when her mother died leaving four children: Charles Hoskins of Lagrange, Missouri; John, who died in Missouri at age fifty; Drusilla, Mrs. Ed Nelson of Houson Township, this county; Eunice. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have two sons and one daughter, Thomas R. Willis G. and Pearl Elizabeth. They are all at home and Thomas is a student in high school.
QUINCY AND ADAMS COUNTY HISTORY AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN
BY David Wilcox. Lewis Publishing, 1919. P. 818