Aaron D. Van Sickle

Aaron D. Van Sickle, son of Aaron and Nomey (Decker) Van Sickle, was born in Warren county, N. J., March 24, 1831. His parents, New Jerseyians, came to West Jersey township, where his father died June 1, 1874., His mother is still living, and is seventy-eight years of age. Aaron D. is the second child of their family of ten children. In 1850 he married Miss Mary Kelly, a native of Ireland. After their marriage, Mr. Van Sickle was employed as a farm hand, he working for $90 per year, Which occupation he followed six years. In 1856 he came to Stark county, and in 1863 he purchased a farm and began its improvement. In 1875 Mrs. Van Sickle died, her health having been failing for some time. She left.five children, one of whom died in infancy; Harriet, now1 Mrs. Barr, of Euda, Ill.; George, a farmer of West' Jersey; Josephine, Mrs. Laing, of Missouri, and Willie, at home. In 1877 Mr. van Sickle married Miss Martha Ann Wiley, a daughter of Jacob and Julia Ann Wiley, born in Stark county, Ill., March 26, 1860. Her father, a native of New Jersey, being born in Morris county, April 27,1802, removed to Illinois in 1853, and settled in Stark county. Here, in 1854 Mrs. Wiley died. In 1855 Mr. Wiley married Mrs. Julia Ann White. She was born in Ohio, May 27, 1872. Again Mr. Wiley was left a widower, Mrs. Wiley's death occurring March, 16, 1872. She left five children, Mrs. Van Sickle being the third child. Since his wife's death, Mr. Wiley has for the most of the time made his home with, his children, recently at Mr. Van Sickle's. He is now in his eighty-fifth year, and for so old a man is strong and active. Since Mr. Van Sickle's marriage with Miss Wiley in 1877, he has resided oh his farm, about two and a half miles from the village of West Jersey. This marriage was blessed by two children, Bertha A. and Charles E. He has always been a Republican, and has held several township offices. He has increased his original farm of 100 acres to 500 acres of choice lands in West Jersey.