AMOS POOLE, fruit-raiser, P. O. Cobden. Some time in the seventeenth century, one by the name of John Poole was born, either on the Isle of Man or Taunton, England. Early in life, he came to America, and for some years resided at Beverly, Mass., working with one Richard Woodbury, who died in 1690, leaving a widow whom Poole afterward married. In April, 1700, he bought of John Emerson, Jr.. a tract of land at "ye Cape," and moved to it, finding but one family on Sandy Bay, now Rockport, Mass., that of Richard Tarr, who had settled there a short time before. Poole became a large land-owner, and died in 1727, quite wealthy. He had been married four times and had seven children. One son, Ebenezer, was born in 1699. He also had quite a large family, and one, Francis, was the grandfather of our subject. His son, Aaron Poole, the father of Amos, was born November 12, 1767, and lived to the age of seventy-six years. His wife, Sarah (Batman) Poole, was born May 10, 1770, and reached the advanced age of eighty-seven years. They were the parents of nine children, only four of whom reached maturity. There are only two now living, the oldest son, Aaron, born October, 1798, and our subject, who was born September 8, 1814, in Rockport, Mass. Aaron still lives on the old homestead, where his father lived and died. By trade, the father of our subject was a cooper, but most of his life was spent in farming. When a boy, Amos learned his trade of blacksmith, and then began working by the day. This he continued for six years, and in that time saved $2,000; then established a business of his own at Milton, Mass., six miles south of Boston Court House. Here he continued for about twenty-five years, till coming to Union County, Ill., February, 1868. When coming to this county, he bought but forty acres of his present farm, and has since been engaged in general fruit and vegetable growing. His farm contains eighty acres and is well improved, but contained few of the present improvements when he bought it. In Milton, Mass., October 6, 1841, he was married to Miss Caroline C. Rand. She was born in Bradford, Vt., but her parents moved to Milton, Mass., when she was small, and resided there until the time of their death. She is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Babcock) Rand. They were both natives of Massachusetts. She was born at Milton. In early life, he resided in Beverly, Mass., where his father was a baker, and he learned the trade of chaise-maker, and was established in business at one time in Boston, but sold out and entered the ministry, being one of the early Christian ministers. He traveled for a number of years preaching the Gospel, then settled in Milton, where he died at the age of seventy-four. She died at the age of sixty-six. The Rands formerly came from England. Mr. R. was one of the early workers in the temperance cause, and also one of the earliest Abolitionists. They were the parents of eleven children who reached maturity, six of whom are still living. Of Mrs. Poole's brothers, it is useless to speak, for their reputation is worldwide, one establishing the publishing house in Boston of Rand, Avery & Co.; another is the senior member of the Chicago house of Rand, McNally & Co.; and still another, Franklin Rand, devoted thirty years of the best part of his life to Zions Herald, and it was largely due to his energy that the paper made its financial success. Mr. and Mrs. Poole have five sons living, one daughter dead: George A., Caroline S. (deceased). William H., Arthur B., Franklin R. and Frederick C. The daughter died January 5, 1867. She was the wife of John Ritchie, of Boston. The Poole Bros., George A. and William H., started into the printing business for themselves January, 1881, and have in their employ over eighty persons. Rooms 117-119 Lake street, Chicago. Entrance also on Clark street. They were both with Rand, McNally & Co. for quite a time, and are still interested in the company as stock-holders. George A. had clerked for them, but William H. learned the printer's trade. The other three sons are in Montana. In politics, Mr. Poole is a Republican, and has not been without political honors serving one term in the Massachusetts State Legislature.
Extracted 26 Jul 2021 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, pages 140-141.
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