John A. Mielkey

John A. Mielkey, son of John and Wilhelmenia (Comb) Mielkey, was born in Prussia, February 20, 1836, of which country his parents were natives, his father serving in the German army at the defeat of Napoleon. His death occurred January 3, 1852, being over sixty years of age. John A. is the second child of a family of three. When he was eighteen years of age he came to America and landed at Quebec, proceeded at once to Detroit where he was taken sick, and for a month was compelled to remain at the hospital. After his recovery he came to Chicago and began working on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pittsburg Railroad. On January 19, 1861, he married Mrs. Elizabeth, daughter of John and Nancy (Arnold) Vanscoyk, who was born in Crawford county, July 19, 1820. Her father was a native of Germany and her mother of Carolina. The former, when one year of age, came with parents to America and settled in Ross county, Ohio. In 1835 Mr. Vanscoyk was foully murdered by one of his neighbors. This was in Mossville, Peoria county, where he settled some four years before. He left six children, of whom Elizabeth was the third. At the age of sixteen years she married Mr. Simeon Sprague, with whom she lived ten years, when death parted them. By her first marriage she is the mother of three children. Nine years later she married John A. Mielkey, as before stated. After this marriage they farmed in Peoria county for six years, when they removed to Osceola township, where they purchased a farm and began its improvement. Four children have blessed their union: Julius A., John A., Lillie M. and William E. They have always been hard workers, and as a reward of their labors they now own 120 acres of the choicest lands in Osceola, about three miles from Bradford. In political matters Mr. Miekley is bound by no party ties.