Isaac Earl. This prominent business man is a popular grocer in Ashton, where, by his honest and courteous treatment of his customers he is carrying on a thriving business, keeping in his splendid store a full line of staple and fancy groceries and all table delicacies in their season. He is ambitious and industrious and is bound to succeed in all his undertakings.
Isaac Earl was born May 20, 1830, in Danville County, Canada, where he grew to manhood, receiving a good education and when starting out to battle with the world for himself at the age of twenty-one, he was well qualified to bear bravely with the discouragements and hardships which were sure to befall him in a strange and thinly-settled region. He came to Ogle County in 1851 and engaged to work out on a farm by the month, having nothing with which to begin life but strong and willing hands and a determination to succeed. He continued as a farm laborer for two years, when learning the trade of a stone mason, he worked industriously at that occupation in Lee and Ogle Counties for a number of years.
Our subject resided in Ogle County for some fifteen years, at the end of that time coming to Lee County where he followed his trade in Ashton. A few years later he started in the coal and salt business, continuing to give his time and attention to that occupation for a twelve-month, then, in 1872, he started his grocery, and is numbered among the prosperous merchants of Ashton.
Miss Cynthia Hitchcock became the wife of our subject, the marriage taking place in Ogle County. Mrs. Earl was born in the Buckeye State, and was a lady greatly esteemed in her neighborhood for her many excellent traits of character. She became the mother of two children — Francis A., and Alice M., who is the wife of Charles Crum. Mrs. Cynthia Earl passed from this life in Ogle County. Our subject was a second time married, the lady of this occasion being Sarah A. Worthington, also a native of Ohio, where she was born. This worthy couple make their home in a comfortable residence which indicates that its inmates are people of refinement and education. They have a large circle of acquaintances and have the goodwill of all who know them.
In politics Mr. Earl is a stanch Republican, hence always votes for the candidates of that body. He has served acceptably in the office of Township Treasurer and is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. All in all he is well worthy of the estimation in which he is held by his fellow-townsmen and by his honest and upright life is destined to become even more popular than he is.