George F. Hackett, farmer, S. 18; P. O. Oakland; born in Scott Co., Ky., Aug. 27, 1827; he emigrated with his parents, in the fall of 1834, to Illinois, and located in Coles Co., where he attended school during the winter, and assisted his father farming during the summer, until 18 years of age, when he worked by the month during the summer driving cattle from Coles Co. to Wisconsin, and attending school during the winter for four years; in 1850, he drove an ox-team, overland, to California, going via the old Oregon route, by Fort Hall, arriving in Wearville, Aug. 26, of the same year, being on £the road six months and twelve days, leaving St. Joe, Mo., May 14; he traveled 2,200 miles without seeing a house or habitation, save three forts, which were occupied by United States soldiers; he then went directly to the mines, where he followed mining, meeting with fair success, for two and a half years; when he came home, by steamer. via New York, arriving at Oakland, April 16, 1853, having been gone for upward of three years; he then engaged in farming five miles from Oakland, which he followed until 1858, when he purchased his present place, where he has since lived for a period of upward of twenty years. He married March 9, 1854, to Edna Pemberton; she was born in Virginia Feb. 8, 1826; they have four children now living – Fred S., Anzonett M., William E. and George W. Mrs. Hackett is the youngest daughter of Stanton Pemberton, one of the pioneers of Coles Co., locating here in 1831.
