I E> RAR.Y

OF THE

UNIVERSITY
OF ILLINOIS

977 37£
C36p

Illinois Historical Survtj

S&f.

-OF-

LES COUNTY, ILL.,

CONTAINING

Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent
and Representative Citizens of the County,

TOGETHER WITH

PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF ALL THE GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS, AND
OF THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES.

CHICAGO:

CHAPMAN BKOTHEES,

1887.

i-

9-77- 372,

HAVE completed our labors in writing and compiling the PORTRAIT AND Bio-
iGRAPHiCAL ALBUM of this county, and wish, in presenting it to our patrons, to speak
briefly of the importance of local works of this nature. It is certainly the duty
of the present to commemorate the past, to perpetuate the names of the pioneers,
to furnish a record of their early settlement, and to relate the story of their progress,
i- The civilization of our day, the enlightenment of the age, and this solemn duty which
men of the present time owe to their ancestors, to themselves and to their posterity,
demand that a record of their lives and deeds should be made. In local history is found a power
to instruct man by precedent, to enliven the mental faculties, and to waft down the river of time a safe
vessel in which the names and actions of the people who contributed to raise this region from its
primitive state may be preserved. Surely and rapidly the noble men, who in their vigor and prime
came early to the county and claimed the virgin soil as their heiitage, are passing to their
graves. The number remaining who can relate the history of the first days of settlement is
becoming small indeed, so that an actual necessity exists for the collection and preservation of his-
torical matter without delay, before the settlers of the wilderness are cut down by time. Not only
is it of the greatest importance to render history of pioneer times full and accurate, but it is also essen-
tial that the history of the county, from its settlement to the present day, should be treated through its various
phases, so that a record, complete and impartial, may be handed down to ihe future. The present the age
of progress, is reviewed, standing out in bold relief over the quiet, unostentatious olden times; it is a brilliant
record, which is destined to live in the future ; the good works of men, their magnificent enterprises, theii
lives, whether commercial or military, do not sink into oblivion, but, on the contrary, grow brighter with age,
and contribute to build up a record which carries with it precedents and principles that will he advanced and
observed when the acts of soulless men will be forgotten and their very names hidden in obscurity.

In the preparation of the personal sketches contained in this volume, unusual'care and pains were
taken to have them accurate, even in the smallest detail. Indeed, nothing was passed lightly over or treated
indifferently ; and we flatter ourselves that it is one of the most accurate works of its nature ever published.
As one of the most interesting features of this work, we present the portraits of numerous represent-
ative citizens. It has been our aim to have the prominent men of to-day, as well as the pioneers, represented
in this department; and we congratulate ourselves on the uniformly high character of the gentlemen whose
portraits we present. They are in the strictest sense representative men, and are selected from all the call-
ings and professions worthy to be given. There are others, it is true, who claim equal prominence with
those given ; but of course it was impossible for us to give portraits of all the leading men and pioneers
,of the county. We are under great obligation to many of the noble and generous people of this county
for kindly and material assistance in the preparation of this ALBUM.

p*«

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CHICAGO, October, 1887.

CHAPMAN BROTHERS.

911421

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OF THE

AND OF THE

OF THE

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The Library
of the
of

FIRST PRESIDENT.

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.

Tt

HE Father of our Country was
born in Westmorland Co., Va.,
Feb. 22, 1732. His parents
were Augustine and Mary
(Ball) Washington. The family
to which he belonged has not
been satisfactorily traced in
England. His great-grand-
father, John Washington, em-
igrated to Virginia about 1657,
and became a prosperous
planter. He had t\yo sons,
Lawrence and John. The
former married Mildred Warner
and had three children, John,
Augustine and Mildred. Augus-
tine, the father of George, first
married Jane Butler, who bore
him four children, two of whom,
Lawrence and Augustine, reached
maturity. Of six children by his
second marriage, George was the
eldest, the others being Betty,
Samuel, John Augustine, Charles
and Mildred.

Augustine Washington, the father of George, died
in 1743, leaving a large landed property. To his
eldest son, Lawrence, he bequeathed an estate on
the Patomac, afterwards known as Mount Vernon,
and to George he left the parental residence. George
received only such education as the neighborhood
schools afforded, save for a short time after he left
school, when he received private instruction in
mathematics, His spelling was rather defective.

Remarkable stories are told of his great physical
strength and development at an early age. He was
an acknowledged leader among his companions, and
was early noted for that nobleness of character, fair-
ness and veracity which characterized his whole life.

When George was 1 4 years old he had a desire to go to
sea, and a midshipman's warrant was secured for him,
but through the opposition of his mother the idea was
abandoned. Two years later he was appointed
surveyor to the immense estate of Lord Fairfax. In
this business he spent three years in a rough frontier
life, gaining experience which afterwards proved very
essential to him. In 1751, though only 19 years of
age, he was appointed adjutant with the rank of
major in the Virginia militia, then being trained for
active service against the French and Indians. Soon
after this he sailed to the West Indies with his brother
Lawrence, who went there to restore his health. They
soon returned, and in the summer of 1752 Lawrence
died, leaving a large fortune to an infant daughter
who did not long survive him. On her demise the
estate of Mount Vernon was given to George.

Upon the arrival of Robert Dinwiddie, as Lieuten-
ant-Governor of Virginia, in 1752, the militia was
reorganized, and the province divided into four mili-
tary districts, of which the northern was assigned to
Washington as adjutant general. Shortly after this
a very perilous mission was assigned him and ac-
cepted, which others had refused. This was to pro-
ceed to the French post near Lake ' Erie in North-
western Pennsylvania. The distance to be traversed
was between 500 and 600 miles. Winter was at hand,
and the journey was to be made without military
escort, through a territory occupied by Indians. The

•20

GEORGE WASHINGTON.

trip was a perilous one, and several limes he came near
losing his life, yet he returned in safety and furnished
a full and useful report of his expedition. A regiment
of 300 men was raised in Virginia and put in com-
mand of Col. Joshua Fry, and Major Washington was
commissioned lieutenant-colonel. Active war was
then begun against the French and Indians, in which
Washington took a most important part. In the
memorable event of July 9, 1755, known as Brad-
dock's defeat, Washington was almost the only officer
of distinction who escaped from the calamities of the
day with life and honor. The other aids of Braddock
were disabled early in the action, and Washington
alone was left in that capacity on the field. In a letter
to his brother he says : " I had four bullets through
my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet I escaped
unhurt, though death was leveling my companions
on every side." An Indian sharpshooter said he was
not born to be killed by a bullet, for he ha'd taken
direct aim at him seventeen times, and failed to hit
him.

After having been five years in the military service,
and vainly sought promotion in the royal army, he
look advantage of the fall of Fort Duquesne and the
expulsion of the French from the valley of the Ohio,
to resign his commission. Soon after he entered the
Legislature, where, although not a leader, he took an
active and important part. January 17, 1759, he
married Mrs. Martha (Dandridge) Custis, the wealthy
widow of John Parke Custis.

When the British Parliament had closed the port
of Boston, the cry went up throughout the provinces
that "The cause of Boston is the cause of us all."
It was then, at the suggestion of Virginia, that a Con-
gress of all the colonies was called to meet at Phila-
delphia.Sept. 5, 1774, to secure their common liberties,
peaceably if possible. To this Congress Col. Wash-
ington was sent as a delegate. On May 10, 1775, the
Congress re-assembled, when the hostile intentions of
England were plainly apparent. The battles of Con-
cord and Lexington had been fought. Among the
first acts of this Congress was the election of a com-
mander-in-chief of the colonial forces. This high and
responsible office was conferred upon Washington,
who was still a member of the Congress. He accepted
it on June 19, but upon the express condition that he
receive no salary. He would keep an exact account
of expenses and expect Congress lo pay them and
nothing more. It is not the object of this sketch to
trace the military acts of Washington, to whom the
fortunes and liberties of the people of this country
were so long confided. The war was conducted by
him under ever)' possible disadvantage, and while his
forces often met with reverses, yet he overcame every
obstacle, and after seven years of heroic devotion
and matchless skill he gained liberty for the greatest
nation of earth. On Dec. 23, 1783, Washington, in
a parting address of surpassing beauty, resigned his

commission as commander-in-chief of the army to
to the Continental Congress sitting at Annapolis. He
retired immediately to Mount Vernon and resumed
his occupation as a farmer and planter, shunning all
connection with public life.

In February, 1 7 89, Washington was unanimously
elected President. In his presidential career he was
subject to the peculiar trials incidental to a new
government ; trials from lack of confidence on the part
of other governments; trials from want of harmony
between the different sections of our own country;
trials from the impoverished condition of the country,
owing to the war and want of credit; trials from the
beginnings of party strife. He was no partisan. His
clear judgment could discern the golden mean ; and
while perhaps this alone kept our government from
sinking at the very outset, it left him exposed to
attacks from both sides, which were often bitter and
very annoying.

At the expiration of his first term he was unani-
mously re-elected. At the end of this term many
were anxious that he be re-elected, but he absolutely
refused a third nomination. On the fourth of March,
1797, at the expiraton of his second term as Presi-
dent, he returned to his home, hoping to pass there
his few remaining years free from the annoyances of
public life. Later in the year, however, his repose
seemed likely to be interrupted by war with France.
At the prospect of such a war he was again urged to
take command of the armies. He chose his sub-
ordinate officers and left to them the charge of mat-
ters in the field, which he superintended from his
home. In accepting the command he made the
reservation that he was not to be in the neld until
it was necessary. In the midst of these preparations
his life was suddenly cut off. December r 2, he took
a severe cold from a ride in the rain, which, settling
in his throat, produced inflammation, and terminated
fatally on the night of the fourteenth. On the eigh-
teenth his body was borne wi'h military honors to its
final resting place, and interred in the family vault at
Mount Vernon.

Of the character of Washington it is impossible to
speak but in terms of the highest respect and ad-
miration. The more we see of the operations of
our government, and the more deeply we feel the
difficulty of uniting all opinions in a common interest,
the more highly we must estimate the force of his tal-
ent and character, which have been able to challenge
the reverence of all parties, and principles, and na-
tions, and to win a fame as extended as the limits
of the globe, and which we cannot but believe will
be as lasting as the existence of man.

The person of Washington was unusally tan, erect
and well proportioned. His muscular strength was
great. His features were of a beautiful symmetry.
He commanded respect without any appearance of
haughtiness, and ever serious without being dull.

The library

of tke
Unfvenity if Illinois

SECOND PRESIDENT.

23

'WH^-™+"*^

)">

\| OHN ADAMS, the second
$). President and the first Vice-
President of the United States,
was born in Braintree ( now
2,, Quincy),Mass., and about ten
miles from Boston, Oct. 19,
1735. His great-grandfather, Henry
Adams, emigrated from England
, about 1 640, with a family of eight
fl sons, and settled at Braiatree. The
parents of John were John and
Susannah (Boylston) Adams. His
father was a farmer of limited
means, to which he added the bus-
iness of shoemaking. He gave his
eldest son, John, a classical educa-
tion at Harvard College. John
graduated in 1755, and at once took charge of the
school in Worcester, Mass. This he found but a
"school of affliction," from which he endeavored to
gain relief by devoting himself, in addition, to the
study of law. For this purpose he placed himself
under the tuition of the only lawyer in the town. He
had thought seriously of the clerical profession
but seems to have been turned from this by what he
termed " the frightful engines of ecclesiastical coun-
cils, of diabolical malice, and Calvanistic good nature,''
of the operations of which he had been a witness in
his native town. He was well fitted for the legal
profession, possessing a clear, sonorous voice, being
ready and fluent of speech, and having quick percep-
tive powers. He gradually gained practice, and in
1764 married Abigail Smith, a daughter of a minister,
and a lady of superior intelligence. Shortly after his
marriage, (1765), the attempt of Parliamentary taxa-
tion turned him from law to politics. He took initial
steps toward holding a town meeting, and the resolu-

tions he offered on the subject became very popular
throughout the Province, and were adopted word for
word by over forty different towns. He moved to Bos-
ton in 1768, and became one of the most courageous
and prominent advocatesof the popular cause, and
was chosen a member of the General Court (the Leg-
lislature) in 1770.

Mr. Adams was chosen one of the first delegates
from Massachusetts to the first Continental Congress,
which met in 1774. Here he distinguished himself
by his capacity for business and for debate, and ad-
vocated the movement for independence against the
majority of the members. In May, 1776, he moved
and carried a resolution in Congress that the Colonies
should assume the duties of self-government. He
was a prominent member of the committee of five
appointed June n, to prepare a declaration of inde-
pendence. This article was drawn by Jefferson, but
on Adams devolved the task of battling it through
Congress in a three days debate.

On the day after the Declaration of Independence
was passed, while his soul was yet warm with the
glow of excited feeling, he wrote a letter to his wife,
which, as we read it now, seems to have been dictated
by the spirit of prophecy. "Yesterday," he says,"the
greatest question was decided that ever was debated
in America; and greater, perhaps, never was or will
be decided among men. A resolution was passed
without one dissenting colony, ' that these United
States are, and of right ought to be, free and inde-
pendent states.' The day is passed. The fourth of
July, 1776, will be a memorable epoch in the history
of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated
by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary
festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of
deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to Almighty
God. It ought to be solemnized with pomp,

24

JOHN ADAMS.

games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations
from one end of the continent to the other, from this
time forward for ever. You will think me transported
with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of
the toil, and blood and treasure, that it will cost to
maintain this declaration, and support and defend
these States; yet, through all the gloom, I can see the
rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is
worth more than all the means; and that posterity
will triumph, although you and I may rue, which I
hope we shall not."

In November, 1777, Mr. Adams was appointed a
delegate to France and to co-operate with Bemjamin
Franklin and Arthur Lee, who were then in Paris, in
the endeavor to obtain assistance in arms and money
from the French Government. This was a severe trial
to his patriotism, as it separated him from his home,
compelled him to cross the ocean in winter, and ex-
posed him to great peril of capture by the British cruis-
ers, who were seeking him. He left France June 17,
1779. In September of the same year he was again
chosen to go to Paris, and there hold himself in readi-
ness to negotiate a treaty of peace and of commerce
with Great Britian, as soon as the British Cabinet
might be found willing to listen to such proposels. He
sailed for France in November, from there he went to
Holland, where he negotiated important loans and
formed important commercial treaties.

Finally a treaty of peace with England was signed
Jan. 21, 1783. The re-action from the excitement,
toil and anxiety through which Mr. Adams had passed
threw him into a fever. After suffering from a con-
tinued fever and becoming feeble and emaciated he
was advised to go to England to drink the waters of
Bath. \Vhilein England, still drooping and despond-
ing, he received dispatches from his own government
urging the necessity of his going to Amsterdam to
negotiate another loan. It was winter, his health was
delicate, yet he immediately set out, and through
storm, on sea, on horseback and foot,he made the trip.

February 24, 1785., Congress appointed Mr. Adams
envoy to the Court of St. James. Here he met face
to face the King of England, who had so long re-
garded him as a traitor. As England did not
condescend to appoint a minister to the United
States, and as Mr. Adams felt that he was accom-
plishing but little, he sought permission to return to
his own country, where he arrived in June, 1788.

When Washington was first chosen President, John
Adams, rendered illustiious by his signal services at
home and abroad, was chosen Vice President. Again
at the second election of Washington as President,
Adams was chosen Vice President. In 1796, Wash-
ington retired from public life, and Mr. Adams was
elected President,though not without much opposition.
Serving in this office four years,he was succeeded by
Mr. Jefferson, his opponent in politics.
' While Mr. Adams was Vice President the great

French Revolution shook the continent of Europe,
and it was upon this point which he was at issue wuh
the majority of his countrymen led by Mr. Jefferson.
Mr. Adams felt no sympathy with the French people
in their struggle, for he had no confidence in their
power of self-government, and he utterly abhored the
class of atheist philosophers who he claimed caused it.
On the other hand Jefferson's sympathies were strongly
enlisted in behalf of the French people. Hence or-
iginated the alienation between these distinguished
men, and two powerful parties were thus soon organ-
ized, Adams at the head of the one whose sympathies
were with England and Jefferson led the other in
sympathy with France.

The world has seldom seen a spectacle of more
moral beauty and grandeur, than was presented by the
old age of Mr. Adams. The violence of party feeling
had died away, and he had begun to receive that just
appreciation which, to most men, is not accorded till
after death. No one could look upon his venerable
form, and think of what he had done and suffered,
and how he had given up all the prime and strength
of his life to the public good, without the deepest
emotion of gratitude and respect. It was his peculiar
good fortune to witness the complete success of the
institution which he had been so active in creating and
supporting. In 1824, his cup of happiness was filled
to the brim, by seeing his son elevated to the highest
station in the gift of the people.

The fourth of July, 1826, which completed the half
century since the signing of the Declaration of Inde-
pendence, arrived, and there were but three of the
signers of that immortal instrument left upon the
earth to hail its morning light. And, as it is
well known, on that day two of these finished their
earthly pilgrimage, a coincidence so remarkable as
to seem miraculous. For a few days before Mr.
Adams had been rapidly failing, and on the morning
of the fourth he found himself too weak to rise from
his bed. On being requested to name a toast for the
customary celebration of the day, he exclaimed " IN-
DEPENDENCE FOREVER." When the day was ushered
in, by the ringing of bells and the firing of cannons,
he was asked by one of his attendants if he knew
what day it was? He replied, "O yes; it is the glor-
ious fourth of July — God bless it — God bless you all."
In the course of the day he said, "It is a great and
glorious day." The last words he uttered were,
"Jefferson survives." But he had, at one o'clock, re-
signed his spirit into the hands of his God.

The personal appearance and manners of Mr.
Adams were not particularly prepossessing. His face,
as his portrait manifests.was intellectual ard expres-
sive, but his figure was low and ungraceful, and his
manners were frequently abrupt and uncpnrteous.
He had neither the lofty dignity of Washington, nor
the engaging elegance and gracefulness which marked
the manners and address of Jefferson.

The Library

of the
University of Illinois

THIRD PRESIDENT.

27

HOMAS JEFFERSON was
born April 2, 1743, at Shad-
well, Albermarle county, Va.
His parents were Peter and
Jane ( Randolph) Jefferson,
the former a native of Wales,
and the latter born in Lon-
don. To them were born six
daughters and two sons, of
whom Thomas was the elder.
When 14 years of age his
father died. He received a
most liberal education, hav-
ing been kept diligently at school
from the time he was five years of
age. In 1760 he entered William
and Mary College. Williamsburg was then the seat
of the Colonial Court, and it was the obodeof fashion
a.id splendor. Young Jefferson, who was then 17
years old, lived somewhat expensively, keeping fine
horses, and much caressed by gay society, yet he
was earnestly devoted to his studies, and irreproacha-
able in his morals. It is strange, however, under
such influences,that he was not ruined. In the sec-
ond year of his college course, moved by some un-
explained inward impulse, he discarded his horses,
society, and even his favorite violin, to which he had
previously given much time. He often devoted fifteen
hours a day to hard study, allowing himself for ex-
ercise only a run in the evening twilight of a mile out
of the city and back again. He thus attained very
high intellectual culture, alike excellence in philoso-
phy and the languages. The most difficult Latin and
C.reek authors he read with facility. A more finished
scholar has seldom gone forth from college halls; and

r

there was not to be found, perhaps, in all Virginia, a
more pureminded, upright, gentlemanly young man.

Immediately upon leaving college he began the
study of law. For the short time he continued in the
practice of his profession he rose rapidly and distin-
guished himself by his energy and accuteness as a
lawyer. But the times called for greater action.
The policy of England had awakened the spirit of
resistance of the American Colonies, and the enlarged
views which Jefferson had ever entertained, soon led
him into active political life. In 1769 he was chosen
a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. In
1772)16 married Mrs. Martha Skelton, a very beauti-
ful, wealthy and highly accomplished young widow.

Upon Mr. Jefferson's large estate at Shadwell, there
was a majestic swell of land, called Monticello, which
commanded a prospect of wonderful extent and
beauty. This spot Mr. Jefferson selected for his new
home; and here he reared a mansion of modest yet
elegant architecture, which, next to Mount Vernon,
became the most distinguished resort in our land.

In 1775 he was sent to the . Colonial Congress,
where, though a silent member, his abilities as a
writer and a reasoner soon become known, and he
was placed upon a number of important committees,
and was chairman of the one appointed for the draw-
ing up of a declaration of independence. This com-
mittee consisted of Thoinas Jefferson, John Adams,
Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman and Robert R.
Livingston. Jefferson, as chairman, was appointed
to draw up the paper. Franklin and Adams suggested
a few verbal changes before it was submitted to Con-
gress. On June 28, a few slight changes were made
in it by Congress, and it was passed and signed July
4, 1776. What must have been the feelings of that

28

THOMAS JEFFERSON.

«L-

man — what the emotions that swelled his breast —
who was charged with the preparation of that Dec-
laration, which, while it made known the wrongs of
America, was also to publish her to the world, free,
soverign and independent. It is one of the most re-
markable papers ever written ; and did no other effort
of the mind of its author exist, that alone would be
sufficient to stamp his name with immortality.

In 1779 Mr. Jefferson was elected successor to
Patrick Henry, £.s Governor of Virginia. At one time
the British officer, Tarleton, sent a secret expedition to
Monticello, to capture the Governor. Scarcely five
minutes elapsed after the hurried escape of Mr. Jef-
ferson and his family, ere his mansion was in posses-
sion of the British troops. His wife's health, never
very good, was much injured by this excitement, and
in the summer of 1782 she died.

Mr. Jefferson was elected to Congress in 1783.
Two years later he was appointed Minister Plenipo-
tentiary to France. Returning to the United States
in September, 1789, he became Secretary of State
in Washington's cabinet. This position he resigned
Jan. i, 1794. In r797,he was chosen Vice Presi-
dent, and four years later was elected President over
Mr. Adams, with Aaron Burr as Vice President. In
1804 he was re-elected with wonderful unanimity,
and George Clinton, Vice President.

The early part of Mr. Jefferson's second adminstra-
tion was disturbed by an event which threatened the
tranquility and peace of the Union; this was the con-
spiracy of Aaron Burr. Defeated in the late election
to the Vice Presidency, and led on by an unprincipled
ambition, this extraordinary man formed the plan of a
military expedition into the Spanish territories on our
southwestern frontier, for the purpose of forming there
a new republic. This has been generally supposed
was a mere pretext ; and although it has not been
generally known what his real plans were, there is no
doubt that they were of a far more dangerous
character.

In 1809, at the expiration of the second term for
which Mr. Jefferson had been elected, he determined
to retire from political life. For a period of nearly
forty years, he had been continually before the pub-
lic, and all that time had been employed in offices of
the greatest trust and responsibility. Having thus de-
voted the best part of his life to the service of his
country, he now felt desirous of that rest which his
declining years required, and upon the organization of
the new administration, in March, 1809, he bid fare-
well forever to public life, and retired to Monticello.

Mr. Jefferson was profuse in his hospitality. Whole
families came in their coaches with their horses, —
fathers and mothers, boys and girls, babies and
nurses, — and remained three and even six months.
Life at Monticello, for years, resembled that at a
fashionable watering-place.

The fourth of July, 1826, being the fiftieth anniver-

sary of the Declaration of American Independence,
great preparations were made in every part of the
Union for its celebration, as the nation's jubilee, and
the citizens of Washington, to add to the solemnity
of the occasion, invited Mr. Jefferson, as the framer,
and one of the few surviving signers of the Declara-
tion, to participate in their festivities. But an ill-
ness, which had been of several weeks duration, and
had been continually increasing, compelled him to
decline the invitation.

On the second of July, the disease under whic h
he was laboring left him, but in such a reduced
state that his medical attendants, entertained no
hope of his recovery. From this time he was perfectly
sensible that his last hour was at hand. On the next
day, which was Monday, he asked of those around
him, the day of the month, and on being told it was
the third of July, he expresied the earnest wish that
he might be permitted to breathe the airof the fiftieth
anniversary. His prayer was heard — that day, whose
dawn was hailed with such rapture through our land,
burst upon his eyes, and then they were closed for-
ever. And what a noble consummation of a noble
life ! To die on that day, — the birthday of a nation,- -
the day which his own name and his own act had
rendered glorious; to die amidst the rejoicir.gs and
festivities of a whole nation, who looked up to him,
as the author, under God, of their greatest blessings,
was all that was wanting to fill up the record his life.

Almost at the same hour of his death, the kin-
dred spirit of the venerable Adams, as if to bear
him company, left the scene of his earthly honors.
Hand in hand they had stood forth, the champions of
freedom; hand in hand, during the dark and desper-
ate struggle of the Revolution, they had cheered and
animated their desponding countrymen; for half a
century they had labored together for tne good of
the country; and now hand in hand they depart.
In their lives they had been united in the same great
cause of liberty, and in their deaths they were not
divided.

In person Mr. Jefferson was tall and thin, rather
above six feet in height, but well formed; his eyes
were light, his hair originally red, in after life became
white and silvery; his complexion was fair, his fore
head broad, and his whole countenance intelligent and
thoughtful. He possessed great fortitude of mind ;:s
well as personal courage ; and his command of tem-
per was such that his oldest and most intimate friends
never recollected to have seen him in a passion.
His manners, though dignified, were simple and un-
affected, and his hospitality was so unbounded that
all found at his house a ready welcome. In conver-
sation he was fluent, eloquent and enthusiastic ; and
his language was remarkably pure and correct. He
was a. finished classical scholar, and in his writings is
discernable the care with which he formed his style
upon the best models of antiquity.

The Library

of the
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I

FOURTH PRESIDENT.

AMES MADISON, "Father
of the Constitution," and fourth
President of the United States,
was born March 16, 1757, and
died at his home in Virginia,
June 28, 1836. The name of
James Madison is inseparably con-
nected with most of the important
events in that heroic period of our
country during which the founda-
tions of this great republic were
laid. He was the last of the founders
of the Constitution of the United
States to be called to his eternal
reward.

The Madison family were among
the early emigrants to the New World,
landing upon the shores of the Chesa-
peake but 15 years after the settle-
ment of Jamestown. The father of
James Madison was an opulent
planter, residing upon a very fine es-
tate called "Montpelier," Orange Co.,
Va. The mansion was situated in
the midst of scenery highly pictur-
esque and romantic, on the west side
of South-west Mountain, at the foot of
Blue Ridge. It was but 25 miles from the home of
Jefferson at Monticello. The closest personal and
iwlitical attachment existed between these illustrious
men, from their early youth until death.

The early education of Mr. Madison was conducted
mostly at home under a private tutor. At the age of
1 8 he was sent to Princeton College, in New Jersey.
Here he applied himself to study with the most im-

prudent zeal; allowing himself, for months, but three
hours' sleep out of the 24. His health thus became so
seriously impaired that he never recovered any vigor
of constitution. He graduated in 1771, with a feeble
body, with a character of utmost purity, and with a
mind highly disciplined and richly stored with learning
which embellished and gave proficiency to his subsf
quent career.

Returning to Virginia, he commenced the study of
law and a course of extensive and systematic reading.
This educational course, the spirit of the times in
which he lived, and the society with which he asso-
ciated, all combined to inspire him with a strong
love of liberty, and to train him for his life-work of
a statesman. Being naturally of a religious turn of
mind, and his frail health leading him to think that
his life was not to be long, he directed especial atten-
tion to theological studies. Endowed with a mind
singularly free from passion and prejudice, and with
almost unequalled powers of reasoning, he weighed
all the arguments for and against revealed religion,
until his faith became so established as never 'to
be shaken.

In the spring of 1776, when 26 years of age, he
wjs elected a member of the Virginia Convention, to
frame the constitution of the State. The next year
(1777), he was a candidate for the General Assembly.
He refused to treat the whisky-loving voters, and
consequently lost his election ; but those who had
witnessed the talent, energy and public spirit of the
modest young man, enlisted themselves in his behalf,
and he was appointed to the Executive Council.

Both Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson were
Governors of Virginia while Mr. Madison remained
member of the Council ; and their appreciation of his

JAMES MADISON.

intellectual, social and moral worth, contributed not
a little to his subsequent eminence. In the year
1780, he was elected a member of the Continental
Congress. Here he met the most illustrious men in
our land, and he was immediately assigned to one of
the most conspicuous positions among them.

For three years Mr. Madison continued in Con-
gress, one of its most active and influential members.
In the year 1784, his term having expired, he was
elected a member of the Virginia Legislature.

No man felt more deeply than Mr. Madison the
utter inefficiency of the old confederacy, with no na-
tional government, with no power to form treaties
which would be binding, or to enforce law. There
was not any State more prominent than Virginia in
the declaration, that an efficient national government
must be formed. In January, 1786, Mr. Madison
carried a resolution through the General Assembly of
Virginia, inviting the other States to appoint commis-
sioners to meet in convention at Annapolis to discuss
this subject. Five States only were represented. The
convention, however, issued another call, drawn up
by Mr. Madison, urging all the States to send their
delegates to Philadelphia, in May, 1787, to draft
a Constitution for the United States, to take the place
of that Confederate League. The delegates met at
the time appointed. Every State but Rhode Island
was represented. George Washington was chosen
president of the convention; and the present Consti-
tution of the United States was then and there formed.
There was, perhaps, no mind and no pen more ac-
tive in framing this immortal document than the mind
and the pen of James Madison.

The Constitution, adopted by a vote 81 to 79, was
to be presented to the several States for acceptance.
But grave solicitude was felt. Should it be rejected
we should be left but a conglomeration of independent
States, with but little power at home and little respect
abroad. Mr. Madison was selected by trie conven-
tion to draw up an address to the people of the United
States, expounding the principles of the Constitution,
and urging its adoption. There was great opposition
to it at first, but it at length triumphed over all, and
went into effect in 1789.

Mr. Madison was elected to the House of Repre-
sentatives in the first Congress, and soon became the
avowed leader of the Republican party. While in
New York attending Congress, he met Mrs. Todd, a
young widow of remarkable power of fascination,
whom he married. She was in person and character
queenly, and probably no lady has thus far occupied
so prominent a position in the very peculiar society
which has constituted our republican court as Mrs.
Madison.

Mr. Madison served as Secretary of State under
Jefferson, and at the close of his administration
was chosen President. At this time the encroach-
ments of England had brought us to the verge of war.

British orders in council destioyed our commerce, and
our flag was exposed to constant insult. Mr. Madison
was a man of peace. Scholarly in his taste, retiring
in his disposition, war had no charms for him. But the
meekest spirit can be roused. It makes one's blood
boil, even now, to think of an American ship brought
to, upon the ocean, by the guns of an English cruiser.
A young lieutenant steps on board and orders the
crew to be paraded before him. With great nonchal-
ance he selects any number whom he may please to
designate as British subjects; orders them down the
ship's side into his boat ; and places them on the gun-
deck of his man-of-war, to fight, by compulsion, the
battles of England. This right of search and im-
pressment, no efforts of our Government could induce
the British cabinet to relinquish.

On the 1 8th of June, 1812, President Madison gave
his approval to an act of Congress declaring war
against Great Britain. Notwithstanding the bitter
hostility of the Federal party to the war, the country
in general approved; and Mr. Madison, on the 41(1
of March, ig'3, was re-elected by a large majority,
and entered upon his second term of office. This is
not the place to describe the various adventures of
this war on the land and on the water. Our infant
navy then laid the foundations of its renown in grap-
pling with the most formidable power which ever
swept the seas. The contest commenced in earnest
by the appearance of a British fleet, early in Februaiy,
1813, in Chesapeake Bay, declaring nearly the whole
coasrt of the United States under blockade.

The Emperor of Russia offered his services as me
dilator. America accepted ; England refused. A Brit-
ish force of five thousand men landed on the banks
of the Patuxet River, near its entrance into Chesa-
peake Bay, and marched rapidly, by way of Bladens-
burg, upon Washington.

The straggling little city of Washington was thrown
into consternation. The cannon of the brief conflict
at Bladensburg echoed through the streets of the
metropolis. The whole population fled from the city.
The President, leaving Mrs. Madison in the White
House, with her carriage drawn up at the door to
awa'it his speedy return, hurried to meet the officers
in a council of war. He met our troops utterly routed,
and he could not go back without danger of bei' g
captured. But few hours elapsed ere the Presidential
Mansion, the Capitol, and all the public buildings in
Washington were in flames.

The war closed after two years of fighting, and on
Feb. 13, 1815, the treaty of peace was signed at Ghent.

On the 4th of March, i8r7, his second term of
office expired, and he resigned the Presidential chair
to his friend, James Monroe. He retired to his beau-
tiful home at Montpelier, and there passed the re-
mainder of his days. On June 28, 1836, then at the
age of 85 years, he fell asleep in death. Mrs. Madi-
son died July 12, 1849.

The Library

of the
University of Illinois

FIFTH PRESIDENT.

35

AMES MONROE, the fifth
Presidentof The United States,
was born in Westmoreland Co.,
Va., April 28, 1758. His early
life was passed at the place of
nativity. His ancestors had for
many years resided in the prov-
ince in which he was born. When,
at 17 years of age, in the process
of completing his education at
William and Mary College, the Co-
lonial Congress assembled at Phila-
delphia to deliberate upon the un-
just and manifold oppressions of
Great Britian, declared the separa-
tion of the Colonies, and promul-
gated the Declaration of Indepen-
dence. Had he been born ten years before it is highly
probable that he would have been one of the signers
of i h;it celebrated instrument. At this time he left
school and enlisted among the patriots.

HL- joined the army when everything looked hope-
less and gloomy. The number of deserters increased
from day to day. The invading armies came pouring
in ; and the tories not only favored the cause of the
mother country, but disheartened the new recruits,
who were sufficiently terrified at the prospect of con-
tending with an enemy whcm they had been taught
to deem invincible. To siuh brave spirits as James
Monroe, who went right onward, undismayed through
difficulty and danger, the United States owe their
political emancipation. The young cadet joined the
ranks, and espoused the cause of his injured country,
with a firm determination to live or die with her strife

for liberty. Firmly yet sadly he shared in the mel-
ancholy retreat from Harleam Heights and White
Plains, and accompanied the dispirited army as it fled
before its foes through New Jersey. In four months
after the Declaration of Independence, the patriots
had been beaten in seven battles. At the battle of
Trenton he led the vanguard, and, in the act of charg-
ing upon the enemy he received a wound in the left
shoulder.

As a reward for his bravery, Mr. Monroe was pro-
moted a captain of infantry ; and, having recovered
from his wound, he rejoined the army. He, however,
receded from the line of promotion, by becoming an
officer in the staff of Lord Sterling. During the cam-
paigns of 1777 and 1778, in the actions of Brandy-
wine, Germantown and Monmouth, he continued
aid-de-camp ; but becoming desirous to regain his
position in the army, he exerted himself to collect a
regiment for the Virginia line. This scheme failed
owing to the exhausted condition of the State. Upon
this failure he entered the office of Mr. Jefferson, at
that period Governor, and pursued, with considerable
ardor, the study of common law. He did not, however,
entirely lay aside the knapsack for the green bag;
but on the invasions of the enemy, served as a volun-
teer, during the two years of his legal pursuits.

In 1782, he was elected from King George county,
a member of the Leglislature of Virginia, and by that
body he was elevated to a seat in the Executive
Council. He was thus honored with the confidence
of his fellow citizens at 23 years of age ; and having
at this early period displayed some of that ability
and aptitude for legislation, which were afterwards
employed with unremitting energy for the public good,

JAMES MOw£OE.

he was in the succeeding year chosen a member of
the Congress of the United States.

Deeplyas Mr. Monroefelt the imperfections of the old
Confederacy, he was opposed to the new Constitution,
ihinking, with many others of the Republican party,
that it gave too much power to the Central Government,
and not enough to the individual States. Still he re-
tained the esteem of his friends who were its warm
supporters, and who, notwithstanding his opposition
secured its adoption. In 1789, he became a member
of the United States Senate; which office he held for
four years. Every month the line of distinction be-
tween the two great parties which divided the nation,
the Federal and the Republican, was growing more
distinct. The two prominent ideas which now sep-
arated them were, that the Republican party was in
sympathy with France, and also in favor of such a
strict construction of the Constitution as to give the
Central Government as little power, and the State
Governments as much power, as the Constitution would
warrant. The Federalists sympathized with England,
and were in favor of a liberal construction of the Con-
stitution, which would give as much power to the
Central Government as that document could possibly
authorize.

The leading Federalists and Republicans were
alike noble men, consecrating all their energies to the
good of the nation. Two more honest men or more
pure patriots than John Adams the Federalist, and
lames Monroe the Republican, never breathed. In
building up this majestic nation, which is destined
to eclipse all Grecian and Assyrian^ greatness, the com-
bination of their antagonism was needed to create the
light equilibrium. And yet each in his day was de-
nounced as almost a demon.

Washington was then President. England had es-
poused the cause of the Bourbons against the princi-
ples of the French Revolution. All Europe was drawn
into the conflict. We were feeble and far away.
Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality be-
tween these contending powers. France had helped
us in the struggle for our liberties. All the despotisms
of Europe were now combined to prevent the French
from escaping from a tyranny a thousand-fold worse
than that which we had endured. Col. Monroe, more
magnanimous than prudent, was anxious that, at
whatever hazard, we should help our old allies in
their extremity. It was the impulse of a generous
and noble nature. He violently opposed the Pres-
ident's proclamation as ungrateful and wanting in
magnanimity.

Washington, who could appreciate such a character,
developed his calm, serene, almost divine greatness,
by appointing that very James Monroe, who was de-
nouncing the policy of the Government, as the minister
of that Government to the Republic of France. Mr.
Monroe was welcomed by the National Convention
in France with the most enthusiastic demonstrations.

Shortly after his return to this country, Mr. Mon-
roe was elected Governor of Virginia, and held the
office for three yeais. He was again sent to trance to
co-operate with Chancellor Livingston in obtaining
the vast territory then known as the Province of
Louisiana, which France had but shortly before ob-
tained from Spain. Tlieir united efforts were suc-
cessful. For the comparatively small sum of fifteen
millions of dollars, the entire territory of Orleans and
district of Louisiana were added to the United States.
This was probably the largest transfer of real estate
which was ever made in all the history of the world.

From France Mr. Monroe went to England to ob-
tain from that country some recognition of our
rights as neutrals, and to remonstrate against those
odious impressments of our seamen. but Eng-
land was unrelenting. He again returned to Eng-
land on the same mission, but could receive no
redress. He returned to his home and was again
chosen Governor of Virginia. This he soon resigned
to accept the position of Secretary of State under
Madison. While in this office war with England was
declared, the Secretary of War resigned, and during
these trying times, the duties of the War Department
were also put upon him. He was truly the armor-
bearer of President Madison, and the most efficient
business man in his cabinet. Upon the return of
peace he resigned the Department of War, but con-
tinued in the office of Secretary of State until the ex-
piration of Mr. Madison's adminstration. At the elec-
tion held the previous autumn Mr. Monroe himself had
been chosen President with but liitle opposition, and
upon March 4, 181-7, was inaugurated. Four years
later he was elected for a second term.

Among the important measures of his Presidency
were the cession of Florida to the United States; the
Missouri Compromise, and the " Monroe doctrine.'"

This famous doctrine, since known as the " Monroe
doctrine," was enunciated by him in 1823. At that
time the United States had recognized the independ-
ence of the South American slates, and did not wish
to have European powers longer attempting to sub-
due portions of the American Continent. The doctrine
is as follows: "That we should consider any attempt
on the part of European powers to extend their sys-
tem to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous
to our peace and safety," and "that we could not
view any interposition for the purpose of oppressing
or controlling American governments or provinces in
any other light than as a manifestation by European
powers of an unfriendly disposition toward the United
States." This 'doctrine immediately affected the course
of foreign governments, and has become the approved
sentiment of the United States.

At the end of his fecond term Mr. Monroe retired
to his home in Virginia, where he lived until 1830,
when he went to New York to live with his son-in- 4
law. In that city he died,on the 4th of July, 1831.

T

The Library

of the
University of Illinois

SIXTH PRESIDENT.

39

3055

IiaHIIIHMRMKI&HK'<HINNflNHtt^^

I

OHN QUINCY ADAMS, the
sixth President of the United
States, was bom in the rural
home of his honored father,
John Adams, in Quincy, Mass.,
on the i ith cf July, 1767. His
mother, a woman of exalted
worth, watched over his childhood
during the almost constant ab-
sence of his father. When but
eight years of age, he stood with
his mother on an eminence, listen-
ing to the booming of the great bat-
tle on Bunker's Hill, and gazing on
upon the smoke and flames billow-
ing up from the conflagration of
Charlestown.

When but eleven years old he
took a tearful adieu of his mother,
to sail with his fatner for Europe,
through a fleet of hostile British cruisers. The bright,
animated boy spent a year and a half in Paris, where
his father was- associated with Franklin and Lee as
minister plenipotentiary. His intelligence attracted
ihe notice of these distinguished men, and he received
from them flattering marks of attention.

Mr. John Adams had scarcely returned to this
country, in 1779, ere he was again sent abroad. Again
John Quincy accompanied his father. At Paris he
applied himself with grer.t diligence, for six months,
to study; then accompanied his father to Holland,
where lie entered, first a school in Amsterdam, then
the University at Leyden. About a year from this
time, in 1781, when the manly boy was but fourteen
years of age, he was selected by Mr. Dana, our min-
ister to the Russian court, as his private secretary.

In this school of incessant labor and of enobling
culture he spoilt fourteen months, and then returned
!o Holland through Sweden, Denmark, Hamburg and
Bremen. This long journey he took alone, in the
winter, when in his sixteenth year. Again he resumed
his studies, under a private tutor, at Hague. Thence,

in the spring of 1782, he accompanied his father to
Paris, traveling leisurely, and forming acquaintance
with the most distinguished men on the Continent;
examining architectural remains, galleries of paintings,
and all renowned works of art. At Paris he again
became associated with the most illustrious men of
all lands in the contemplations of the loftiest temporal
themes which can engross the human mind. After
a short visit to England he returned to Paris, and
consecrated all his energies to study until May, 1785,
when he returned to America. To a brilliant young
man of eighteen, who had seen much of the world,
and who was familiar with the etiquette of courts, a
residence with his father in London, under such cir-
cumstances, must have been extremely attractive;
but with judgment very rare in one of his age, he pre-
ferred to return to America to complete his education
in an American college. He wished then to study
law, that with an honorable profession, he might be
able to obtain an independent support.

Upon leaving Harvard College, at the age of twenty,
he studied law for three years. In June, 1794, be-
ing then but twenty-seven years of age, he was ap-
pointed by Washington, resident minister at the
Netherlands. Sailing from Boston in July, he reached
London in October, where he was immediately admit-
ted to the deliberations of Messrs. Jay and Pinckney,
assisting them in negotiating a commercial treaty with
Great Britian. After thus spending a fortnight in
London, he proceeded to the Hague.

In July, 1797, he left the Hague to go to Portugal as
minister plenipotentiary. On his way to Portugal,
upon arriving in London, he met with despatches
directing him to the court of Berlin, but requesting
him to remain in London until he should receive his
instructions. While waiting he was married to an
American lady to whom he had 'been previously en-
gaged,— Miss Louisa Catherine Johnson, daughter
of Mr. Joshua Johnson, American consul in London;
a lady endownd with that beauty and those accom-
plishment which eminently fitted her to move in the
elevated sphere for which she was destined.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

He reached Berlin with his wife in November, 1797 ;
where he remained until July, 1799, when, having ful-
filled all the purposes of his mission, he solicited his
recall.

Soon after his return, in 1802, he was chosen to
the Senate of Massachusetts, from Boston, and then
was elected Senator of the United States for six years,
from the 4th of March, 1804. His reputation, his
ability and his experience, placed him immediately
among the most prominent and influential members
of that body. Especially did he sustain the Govern-
ment in its measures of resistance to the encroach-
ments of England, destroying our commerce and in-
sulting our flag. There was no man in America more
familiar with the arrogance of the British court upon
these points, and no one more resolved to present
a firm resistance.

In 1809, Madison succeeded Jefferson in the Pres-
idential chair, and he immediately nominated John
Qnincy Adams minister to St. Petersburg. Resign-
ing his professorship in Harvard College, he embarked
at Boston, in August, 1809.

While in Russia, Mr. Adams was an intense stu-
dent. He devoted his attention to the language and
history of Russia; to the Chinese trade; to the
European system of weights, measures, and coins ; to
the climate and astronomical observations ; while he
kept up a familiar acquaintance with the Greek and
Latin classics. In all the universities of Europe, a
more accomplished scholar could scarcely be found.
All through life the Bible constituted an important
part of his studies. It was his rule to read five
chapters every day.

On the 4th of March, 1817, Mr. Monroe took the
Presidential chair, and immediately appointed Mr.
Adams Secretary of State. Taking leave of his num-
erous friends in public and private life in Europe, he
sailed in June, 1819, for the United States. On the
i8th of August, he again crossed the threshold of his
home in Quincy. During the eight years of Mr. Mon-
roe's administration, Mr, Adams continued Secretary
of State.

Some time before the close of Mr. Monroe's second
term of office, new candidates began to be presented
for the Presidency. The friends of Mr. Adams brought
forward his name. It was an exciting campaign.
Party spirit was never more bitter. Two hundred and
sixty electoral votes were cast. Andrew Jackson re-
ceived ninety-nine; John Quincy Adams, eighty-four;
William H. Crawford, forty-one; Henry Clay, thirty-
seven. As there was no choice by the people, the
question wer.t to the House of Representatives. Mr.
Clay gave the vote of Kentucky to Mr. Adams, and
he was elected.

The friends of all the disappointed candidates now
combined in a venomous and persistent assault upon
Mr. Adams. There is nothing more disgraceful in
the past history of our country than the abuse which

was poured in one uninterrupted stream, upon this
high-minded, upright, patriotic man. There never was
an administration more pure in principles, more con-
scientiously devoted to the best interests of the coun-
try, than that of John Quincy Adams; and never, per-
haps, was ther& an administration more unscrupu-
lously and outrageously assailed.

Mr. Adams was, to a very remarkable degree, ab-
stemious and temperate in his habits; always rising
early, and taking much exercise. When at his home in
Quincy, he has been known to walk, before breakfast,
seven miles to Boston. In Washington, it was said
that he was the first man up in the city, lighting his
own fire and applying himself to work in his library
often long before dawn.

On the 4th of March, 1829, Mr. Adams retired
from the Presidency, and was succeeded by Andrew-
Jackson. John C. Callioun was elected Vice Presi-
dent. The slavery question now began to assume
portentous magnitude. Mr. Adams returned to
Quincy and to his studies, which he pursued-with un-
abated zeal. But he was not long permitted to re-
main in retirement. In November, 1830, he was
elected representative to Congress. For seventeen
years, until his death, he occupied the post as repre-
sentative, towering above all his peers, ever ready to
do brave battle' for freedom, and winning the title of
" the old man eloquent." Upon taking his seat in
the House, he announced that he should hold him-
self bound to no party. Probably there never was a
member more devoted to his duties. He was usually
the first in his place in the morning, and the last to
leave his seat in the evening. Not a measure could
be brought forward and escape his scrutiny. The
battle which Mr. Adams fought, almost singly, against
the proslavery party in the Government, was sublime
in its moral dating and heroism. For persisting in
presenting petitions for the abolition of slavery, he
was threatened with indictment by the grand jury,
with expulsion from the Hou?e, with assassination;
but no threats could intimidate him, and his final
triumph was complete.

It has been said of President Adams, that when his
body was bent and his hair silvered by the lapse of
fourscore years, yielding to the simple faith of a little
child, he was accustomed to repeat every night, before
he slept, the prajer which his mother taught him in
his infant years.

On the 2 1 st of February, 1848, he rose on the floor
of Congress, with a paper in his hand, to address the
speaker. Suddenly he fell, again stricken by paraly-
sis, and was caught in the arms of those around him.
For a time he was senseless, as he was conveyed to
the sofa in the rotunda. With reviving conscious-
ness, he opened his eyes, looked calmly around and
said " This is the end of earth /'then after a moment's
pause he added, "/am content." These were the ^ ,
last words of the grand "Old Man Eloquent."

T

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS

SE VENTH PRESIDENT.

't<z-.~'2<$. -i
Jfygva*" 5»^T>w^a«Wzrev. aPjrs'

NDREVV JACKSON, the
seventh President of the
' United States, was born in
Waxhaw settlement, N. C.,
March 15, 1767, a few days
after his father's death. His
parents were poor emigrants
from Ireland, and took up
their abode in Waxhaw set-
tlement, where they lived in
deepest poverty.
Andrew, or Andy, as he was
universally called, grew up^. very
rough, rude, turbulent boy. His
features were coarse, his form un-
gainly; and there was but very
little in his character, made visible, which was at-
tractive.

When only thirteen years old he joined the volun-
teers of Carolina against the British invasion. In
1781, he and his brother Robert were captured and
imprisoned for a time at Camden. A British officer
ordered him to brush his mud-spattered boots. " I am
a prisoner of war, not your servant," was the reply of
the dauntless boy.

The brute drew his sword, and aimed a desperate
blow at the head of the helpless young prisoner.
Andrew raised his hand, and thus received two fear-
ful gashes, — one on the hand and the other upon the
head. The officer then turned to his brother Robert
with the same demand. He also refused, and re-
ceived a blow from the keen-edged sabre, which quite
disabled him, and which probably soon after caused
his death. They suffered much other ill-treatment, and
were finally stricken with the small-pox. Their
mother was successful in obtaining their exchange,

and took her sick boys home. After a long illness
Andrew recovered, and the death of his mother soon
left him entirely friendless.

Andrew supported himself in various ways, such as
working at the saddler's trade, teaching school and
clerking in a general store, until 1784, when he
entered a law office at Salisbury, N. C. He, however,
gave more attention to the wild amusements of the
times than to his studies. In 1788, he was appointed
solicitor for the western district of North Carolina, of
which Tennessee was then a part. This involved
many long and tedious journeys amid dangers of
every kind, but Andrew Jackson never knew fear,
and the Indians had no desire to repeat a skirmish
witn the Sharp Knife.

In 1791, Mr. Jackson was marjied to a woman who
supposed herself divorced from her former husband.
Great was the surprise of both parties, two years later,
to find that the conditions of the divorce had just been
definitely settled by the first husband. The marriage
ceremony was performed a second time, but the occur-
rence was often used by his enemies to bring Mr.
Jackson into disfavor.

During these years he worked hard at his profes-
sion, and frequently had one or more duels on hand,
one of which, when he killed Dickenson, was espec-
ially disgraceful.

In January, 1796, the Territory of Tennessee then
containing nearly eighty thousand inhabitants, the
people met in convention at Knoxville to frame a con-
stitution. Five were sent from each of the eleven
counties. Andrew Jackson was one of the delegates.
The new State was entitled to but one member in
the National House of Representatives. Andrew Jack-
son was chosen that member. Mounting his horse he
rode to Philedelphia, where Congress then held its

-I

-JL

44

'ANDREW JACKSON.

sessions, — a distance of about eight hundred miles.

Jackson was an earnest advocate of the Demo-
cratic p-irty. Jefferson was his idol. He admired
Bonaparte, loved France and hated Kngland. As Mr.
Jackson took his seat, Gen. Washington, whose
second term of office was then expiring, delivered his
last speech to Congress. A committee drew up a
complimentary address in reply. Andrew Jackson
did not approve of the address, and was one of the
twelve wlio voted against it. He was not willing to
say that Gen. Washington's adminstration had been
" wise, mm and patriotic."

Mr. Jackson was elected to the United States
Senate in 1797, but soon resigned and returned home.
Soon after lie was chosen Judge of the Supreme Court
of his State, which position he held fjr six years.

When the war of 1812 with Great Britian com-
menced, Madison occupied the Presidential chair.
Aaron Burr sent word to the President that there was
an unknown man in the West, Andrew Jackson, who
would do credit to a commission if one were con-
ferred ti[)on him. Just at that time Gen. [ackson
offered Ilis services and those of twenty-five hundred
volunteers. His offer was accepted, and the troops
were assembled at Nashville.

As the British were hourly expected to make an at-
tack r.pan New Orleans, where Gen. Wilkinson was
in command, lie was ordered to descend the river
with fifteen hundred troops to aid Wilkinson. The
expedition reached Natchez; and after a delay of sev-
eral weeks there, without accomplishing anything,
the men were ordered back to their homes. But the
energy Gen. Jackson had displayed, and his entire
devotion to the comrfort of his soldiers, won him
golden opinions; and he became the most popular
man in the State. It was in this expedition that his
toughness gave him the nickname of " Old Hickory."

Soon after this, while attempting to horsewhip Col.
Thomas H. Beaton, for a remark that gentleman
made about his taking a part as second in a duel, in
which a younger brother of Benton's was engaged,
he received two severe pistol wounds. While he was
lingering n\xm a. bed of suffering news came that the
Indians, who had combined under Tecumseh from
Florida to the Lakes, to exterminate the white set-
tlers, were committing the most awful ravages. De-
cisive action became necessary. Gen. Jackson, with
his fractured bone just beginning to heal, his arm in
a sling, and unable to mount his horse without assis-
tance, gave his amazing energies to the raising of an
army to rendezvous at Fayettesville, Alabama.

The Creek Indians had established a strong fort on
one of the bends of theTallapoosa River, near the cen-
ter of Alabama, about fifty miles below Fort Strother.
With an army of two thousand men, Gen. Jackson
traversed the pathless wilderness in a march of eleven
days. He readied their fort, called Tohopeka or
Horse-shoe, on the 271)1 of March. 1814. The bend

Pi
!

of the river enclosed nearly one hundred acres of
tangled forest and wild ravine. Across the narrow
neck the Indians had constructed a formidable breast-
work of logs and brush. Here nine hundred warriors,
with an ample suplyof arms were assembled.

The fort was stormed. The fight was utterly des-
perate. Not an Indian would accept of quarter. When
bleeding and dying, they would fight those who en-
deavored to spare their lives. From ten in the morn-
ing until dark, the battle raged. The carnage was
awful and revolting-. Some threw themselves into the
river; but the unerring bullet struck their heads ;is
they swam. Nearly everyone of the nine hundred war-
rios were killed A few probably, in the night, swam
the river and escaped. This ended the war. The
power of the Creeks was broken forever. This bold
plunge into the wilderness, with itsterriffic slaughter,
so appalled the savages, that the haggard remnants
of the bands came to the camp, begging for peace.

This closing of the Creek war enabled us to con-
centrate all our militia upon the British, who were the
allies of the Indians No man of less resolute will
than (ien. Jackson could have conducted this Indian
campaign to so successful an issue Immediately he
was appointed major-general.

Late in August, with an army of two thousand
men, on a rushing march, Gen. Jackson came to
Mobile. A British fleet came from Pensacola, landed
a force upon the beach, anchored near the little fort,
and from both ship and shore commenced a furious
assault. The battle was long and doubtful. At length
one of the ships was blown up and the rest retired.

Garrisoning Mobile, where he had taken his little
army, he moved his troops to New Orleans,
And the battle of New Orleans which soon ensued,
was in reality a very arduous campaign. This won
for Gen. Jackson an imperishable name. Here his
troops, which numbered about four thousand men,
won a signal victory over the British army of about
nine thousand. His loss was but thirteen, while the
loss of the British was two thousand six hundred.

The name of Gen. Jackson soon began to be men-
tioned in connection with the Presidency, but, in 1824,
he was defeated by Mr. Adams. He was, however,
successful in the election of 1828, and was re-elected
for a second term in 1832. In 1829, just before he
assumed the reins of the government, he met with
the most terrible affliction of his life in the death of
his wife, whom he had loved with a devotion which has
perhaps never been surpassed. From the shock of
her death he never recovered.

His administration was one of the most memorable
in the annals of our country; applauded by one party,
condemned by the other. No man had more bitter
enemies or warmer friends. At the expiration of his
two terms of office he retired to the Hermitage, where
he died June 8, 1845. The last years of Mr. Tack- A
son's life were that of a devoted Christian man.

T

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

"7

EIGHTH PRESIDENT.

ARTIN VAN BUREN, the
eighth President of the
United States, was born at
Kinderhook, N. Y., Dec. 5,
1782. He died at the same
place, July 24, 1862. His
body rests in the cemetery
at Kinderhook. Above it is
a plain granite shaft fifteen feet
high, bearing a simple inscription
about half way up on one face.
The lot is unfenced, unbordered
or unbounded by shrub or flower.

There is but little in the life of Martin Van Buren
of romantic interest. He fought no battles, engaged
in no wild adventures. Though his life was stormy in
political and intellectual conflicts, and he gained many
signal victories, his days passed uneventful in those
incidents which give zest to biography. His an-
cestors, as his name indicates, were of Dutch origin,
and were among the earliest emigrants from Holland
to the banks of the Hudson. His father was a farmer,
residing in the old town of Kinderhook. His mother,
also of Dutch lineage, was a woman of superior intel-
ligence and exemplary piety.

He was decidedly a precocious boy, developing un-
usual activity, vigor and strength of mind. At the
age of fourteen, he had finished his academic studies
in his native village, and commenced the study of
law. As he had not a collegiate education, seven
years of study in a law-office were required of him
before he could be admitted to the bar. Inspired with
a lofty ambition, and conscious of his powers, he pur-
sued his studies with indefatigable industry. After
spending six years in an office in his native village,

he went to the city of New York, and prosecuted his
studies for the seventh year.

In 1803, Mr. Van Buren, then twenty-one years of
age, commenced the practice of law in his native vil-
lage. The great conflict between the Federal and
Republican party was then at its height. Mr. Van
Buren was from the beginning a politician. He had,
perhaps, imbibed that spirit while listening to the
many discussions which had been carried on in his
father's hotel. He was in cordial sympathy with
Jefferson, and earnestly and eloquently espoused the
cause of State Rights ; though at that time the Fed-
eral party held the supremacy both in his town
and State.

His success and increasing ruputation led htm
after six years of practice, to remove to Hudson, th.:
courtly seat of his county. Here he spent seven years
constantly gaining strength by contending in tht
courts with some of the ablest men who have adorned
the bar of his State.

Just before leaving Kinderhook for Hudson, Mi.
Van Buren married a lady alike distinguished for
beauty a/nd accomplishments. After twelve short
years she sank into the grave, the victim of consump-
tion, leaving her husband and four sons to weep over
her loss. For twenty-five years, Mr. Van Buren was
*an earnest, successful, assiduous lawyer. The record
of those years is barren in items of public interest.
In 1812, when thirty years of age, he was chosen to
the State Senate, and gave his strenuous support to
Mr. Madison's adminstration. In 1815, he was ap-
pointed Attorney-General, and the next year moved
to Albany, the capital of the State.

While he was acknowledged as one of the most
prominent leaders of the Democratic party, he had

48

MARTIN VAN BUREN.

the moral courage to avow that true democracy did
not require that " universal suffrage" which admits
the vile, the degraded, the ignorant, to the right of
governing the State. In true consistency with his
democratic principles', he contended that, while the
path loading to the privilege of voting should be open
to every man without distinction, no one should be
invested with 111 it sacred prerogative, unless he were
in some degree qualified for it by intelligence, virtue
and some property interests in the welfare of the
State.

In 1821 he was elected a member of the United
States Senate; and in the same year, he took a seat
in the convention to revise the constitution of his
native State. His course in this convention secured
the approval of men of all parties. No one could
doubt the singleness of his endeavors to promote the
interests of all classes in the community. In the
Senate of the United States, he rose at once to a
conspicuous ix»ition as an active and useful legislator.

In 1827, John Quincy Adams being then in the
Presidential chair, Mr. Van Buren was re-elected to
the Senate. He had been from the beginning a de-
termined opp-jser of the Administration, adopting the
"State Rights " view in opposition to what was
deemed the Federal proclivities of Mr. Adams.

Soon after this, in 1828, he was chosen Governorof
the State of New York, and accordingly resigned his
seat in the Senate. Probably no one in the United
States contributed so much towards ejecting John Q.
Adams from the Presidential chair, and placing, in it
Andrew Jackson, as did Martin Van Buren. Whether
entitled to the reputation or not, he certainly was re-
garded throughout the United States as one of the
most skillful, sagacious and cunning of politicians.
It was supiwsed that no one knew so well as he how
to touch the secret springs of action; how to pull all
the wires to put his machinery in motion; and how to
organize a political army which would, secretly and
stealthily accomplish the most gigantic results. By
these powers it is said that he outwitted Mr. Adams,
Mr. Clay, Mr. Webster, and secured results which
few thought then could be accomplished.

\Viie.i Andrew Jackson was elected President he
appointed Mr. Van Buren Secretary of State. This
position he resigned in 1831, and was immediately
appointed Minister to England, where he went the
same autumn. The Senate, however, when it met,
refused to ratify the nomination, and he returned

home, apparently untroubled ; was nominated Vice
President in the place of Calhoun, at the re-election
of President Jackson ; and with smiles for all and
frowns for none, he took his place at the head of that
Senate which had refused to confirm his nomination
as ambassador.

His rejection by the Senate roused all the zeal of
President Jackson in behalf of his repudiated favor-
ite; and this, probably more than any other cause,
secured his elevation to the chair of the Chief Execu-
tive. On the 2oth of May, 1836, Mr. Van Buren re-
ceived the Democratic nomination to succeed Gen.
Jackson as President of the United States He was
elected by a handsome majority, to the delight of the
retiring President. " Leaving New York out of the
canvass," says Mr. Parton, "the election of Mr. Van
Buren to the Presidency was as much the act of Gen.
Jackson as though the Constitution had conferred
upon him the power to appoint a successor."

His administration was filled with exciting events.
The insurrection in Canada, which threatened to in
volve this country in war with England, the agitation
of the slavery .question, and finally the great commer-
cial panic which spread over the country, all were
trials to his wisdom. The financial distress was at-
tributed to the management of the Democratic party,
and brought the President into such disfavor that he
failed of re-election.

With the exception of being nominated for the
Presidency by the "Free Soil" Democrats, in 1848,
Mr. Van .Buren lived quietly upon his estate until
his death.

He had ever been a prudent man, of frugal habits,
and living within his income, had now fortunately a
competence for his declining years. His unblemished
character, his commanding abilities, his unquestioned
patriotism, and the distinguished positions which he
had occupied in the government of our country, se-
cured to him not only the homage of his party, but
the respect ot the whole community. It was on the
4th of March, 1841, that Mr. Van Buren retired from
the presidency. From his fine estate at Lindenwald)
he still exerted a powerful influence upon the politics
of the country. From this time until his death, on
the 241)1 of July, 1862, at the age of eighty years, he
resided at Lindenwald, a gentleman of leisure, of
culture and of wealth; enjoying in a healthy old
age, probably far more happiness than he had before
experienced amid the stormy scenes of his active life,

t

1IBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS

*-*-*

PRESIDENT.

-

ILLIAM HENRY HARRI-
SON, the ninth President of
the United States, was born
at Berkeley, Va., Feb. 9, 1773.
His father, Benjamin Harri-
son, was in comparatively op-
ulent circumstances, and was
one of the most distinguished
men of his day. He was an
intimate friend of George
Washington, was early elected
a member of the Continental
Congress, and was conspicuous
among the patriots of Virginia in
resisting the encroachments of the
British crown. In the celebrated
Congress of 1775, Benjamin Har-
rison and John Hancock were
both candidates for the office of
speaker.

Mr Harrison was subsequently
chosen Governor of Virginia, and
was twice re-elected. His son,
William Henry, of course enjoyed
in childhood all the advantages which wealth and
intellectual and cultivated society could give. Hav-
ing received a thorough common-school education, he
entered Hampden Sidney College, where he graduated
with honor soon after the death of his father. He
then repaired to Philadelphia to study medicine under
the instructions of Dr. Rush and the guardianship of
Robert Morris, both of whom were, with his father,
signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Upon the outbreak of the Indian troubles, and not-
withstanding the remonstrances of his friends, he
abandoned his medical studies and entered the army,
having obtained a commission of Ensign from Presi-

I

dent Washington. He was then but 19 years old.
From that time he passed gradually upward in rank
until he became aid to General Wayne, after whose
death he resigned his commission. He was then ap-
pointed Secretary of the North-western Territory. This
Territory was then entitled to but one member in
Congress and Capt. Harrison was chosen to fill that
position.

In the spring of 1800 the North-western Territory
was divided by Congress into two portions. The
eastern portion, comprising the region now embraced
in the State of Ohio, was called '' The Territory
north-west of the Ohio." The western portion, which
included what is now called Indiana, Illinois and
Wisconsin, was called the "Indiana Territory." Wil-
liam Henry Harrison, then 27 years of age, was ap-
pointed by John Adams, Governor of the Indiana
Territory, and immediately after, also Governor of
Upper Louisiana. He was thus ruler over almost as
extensive a realm as any sovereign upon the globe. He
was Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and was in-
vested with powers nearly dictatorial over the now
rapidly increasing white population. The ability and
fidelity with which he discharged these responsible
duties may be inferred from the fact that he was four
times appointed to this office — first by John Adams,
twice by Thomas Jefferson and afterwards by Presi-
dent Madison.

When he began his adminstration there were but
three white settlements in that almost boundless region,
now crowded with cities and resounding with all the
tumult of wealth and traffic. One of these settlements
was on the Ohio, nearly opposite Louisville; one at
Vincennes, on the Wabash, and the third a French
settlement.

The vast wilderness over which Gov. Harrison
reigned was filled with many tribes of Indians. About

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

the year 1806, two extraordinary men, twin brothers,
of the Shawnese tribe, rose among them. One of
these was called Tecumseh, or " The Crouching
Panther;" the other, Olliwacheca, or " The Prophet."
Tecumseh was not only an Indian warrior, but a man
of great sagacity, far-reaching foresight and indomit-
able perseverance in any enterprise in which he might
engage. He was inspired with the highest enthusiasm,
and had long regarded with dread and with hatred
the encroachment of the whites upon the hunting-
grounds of his fathers. His brother, the Prophet, was
anorator, who could sway the feelings of the untutored
Indian as the gale tossed the tree-tops beneath which
they dwelt.

But the Prophet was not merely an orator : he was,
in the superstitious minds of the Indians, invested
with the superhuman dignity of a medicine-man or a
magician. With an enthusiasm unsurpassed by Peter
the Hermit rousing Europe to the crusades, he went
from tribe to tribe, assuming that he was specially sent
by the Great Spirit.

Gov. Harrison made many attempts to conciliate
the Indians, but at last the war came, and at Tippe-
canoe the Indians were routed with great slaughter.
October 28, 1812, his army began its inarch. When
near the Prophet's town three Indians of rank made
their appearance and inquired why Gov. Harrison was
approaching them in so hostile an attitude. After a
short conference, arrangements were made for a meet-
ing the next day, to agree upon terms of peace.

But Gov. Harrison was too well acquainted with
the Indian character to be deceived by such protes-
tations. Selecting a favorable spot for his night's en-
campment, he took every precaution against surprise.
His troops were posted in a hollow square, and slept
upon their arms.

The troops threw themselves upon the ground for
rest; but every man had his accourtrements on, his
loaded musket by his side, and his bayonet fixed. The
wakeful Governor, between three and four o'clock in
the morning, had risen, and was sitting in conversa-
tion with his aids by the embers of a waning fire. It
was a chill, cloudy morning with a drizzling rain. In
the darkness, the Indians had crept as near as possi-
ble, and just then, with a savage yell, rushed, with all
the desperation which superstition and passion most
highly inflamed could give, upon the left flank of the
little army. The savages had been amply provided
with guns and ammunition by the English. Their
war-whoop was accompanied by a shower of bullets.

The camp-fires were instantly extinguished, as the
light aided the Indians in their aim. With hide-
DUS yells, the Indian bands rushed on, not doubting a
speedy and an entire victory. But Gen. Harrison's
troops stood as immovable as the rocks around them
until day dawned : they then made a simultaneous
charge with the bayonet, and swept every thing be-
fore them, and completely routing the foe.

Gov. Harrison now had all his energies tasked
to the utmost. The British descending from the Can-
adas, were of themselves a very formidable force ; but
with their savage allies, rushing like wolves from the
forest, searching out every remote farm-house, burn-
ing, plundering, scalping, torturing, the wide frontier
was plunged into a state of consternation which even
the most vivid imagination can but faintly conceive.
The war-whoop was resounding everywhere in the
forest. The horizon was illuminated with the conflagra-
tion of the cabins of the settlers. Gen Hull had made
the ignominious surrender of his forces at Detroit.
Under these despairing circumstances, Gov. Harrison
was appointed by President Madison commander-in-
chiefof the North-western army, with orders to retake
Detroit, and to protect the frontiers.

It would be difficult to place a man in a situation
demanding more energy, sagacity and courage; but
General Harrison was found equal to the position,
and nobly and triumphantly did he meet all the re-
sponsibilities.

He won the love of his soldiers by always sharing
with them their fatigue. His whole baggage, while
pursuing the foe up the Thames, was earned in a
valise; and. his bedding consisted of a single blanket
lashed over his saddle. Thirty-five British officers,
his prisoners of war, supped with him after the battle.
The only fare he could give them was beef roasted
before the fire, without bread or salt.

In 1816, Gen. Harrison was chosen a member of
the National House of Representatives, to represent
the District of Ohio. In Congress he proved an
active member; and whenever he spoke, it was with
force of reason and power of eloquence, which arrested
the attention of all the members.

In 1819, Harrison was elected to the Senate of
Ohio; and in 1824, as one of the presidential electors
of that State, he gave his vote for Henry Clay. The
same year he was chosen to the United States Senate.

In 1836, the friends of Gen. Harrison brought him
forward as a candidate for the Presidency against
Van Buren, but he was defeated. At the close of
Mr. Van Buren's term, he was re-nominated by his
party, and Mr. Harrison was unanimously nominated
by the Whigs, with John Tyler for the Vice President y.
The contest was very animated. Gen Jackson gave
all his influence to prevent Harrison's election ; but
his triumph was signal.

The cabinet which he formed, with Daniel Webster
at its head as Secretary of State, was one of the most
brilliant with which any President had ever been
surrounded. Never were the prospects of an admin-
istration more flattering, or the hopes of the country
more sanguine. In the midst of these bright and
joyous prospects, Gen. Harrison was seized by a
pleurisy-fever and after a few days of violent sick-
ness, died on the 4th of April; just one month after
his inauguration as President of the United States.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

TEtfTH PRESIDENT.

TYLER, the tenth
Presidentof the United States.
He was born in Charles-city
Co., Va., March 29, 1790. He
was the favored child of af-
fluence and high social po-
sition. At the early age of
twelve, John entered William
and Mary College and grad-
uated with much honor when
but seventeen years old. After
graduating, he devoted him-
self with great assiduity to the
study of law, partly with his
father and partly with Edmund
Randolph, one of the most distin-
guished lawyers of Virginia.

At nineteen years of age, ne
commenced the practice of law.
His success was rapid and aston-
ishing. It is said that three
months had not elapsed ere there
was scarcely a case on the dock-
et of the court in which he was
not retained. When but twenty-one years of age, he
was almost unanimously elected to a seat in the State
Legislature. He connected himself with the Demo-
cratic party, and warmly advocated the measures of
Jefferson and Madison. For five successive years he
was elected to the Legislature, receiving nearly the
unanimous vote or his county.

When but twenty-six years of age, he was elected
a member of Congress. Here he acted earnestly and
ably with the Democratic party, opposing a national
bank, internal improvements by the General Govern-

ment, a protective tariff, and advocating a strict con*
struction of the Constitution, and the most careful
vigilance over State rights. His labors in Congress
were so arduous that before the close of his second
term he found it necessary to resign and retire to his
estate in Charles-city Co., to recruit his health. He,
however, soon after consented to take his seat in the
State Legislature, where his influence was powerful
in promoting public works of great utility. With a
reputation thus canstantly increasing, he was chosen
by a very large majority of votes, Governor of his
native State. His administration was signally a suc-
cessful one. His popularity secured his re-election.

John Randolph, a brilliant, erratic, half-crazed
man, then represented Virginia in the Senate of the
United States. A portion of the Democratic party
was displeased with Mr. Randolph's wayward course,
and brought forward John Tyler as his opponent,
considering him the only man in Virginia of sufficient
popularity to succeed against the renowned orator of
Roanoke. Mr. Tyler was the victor.

In accordance with his professions, upon taking his
seat in the Senate, he joined the ranks of the opposi-
tion. He opposed the tariff; he spoke against and
voted against the bank as unconstitutional ; he stren-
uously opposed all restrictions upon slavery, resist-
ing all projects of internal improvements by the Gen-
eral Government, and avowed his sympathy with Mr.
Calhoun's view of nullification ; he declared that Gen.
Jackson, by his opposition to the nullifiers, had
abandoned the principles of the Democratic party.
Such was Mr. Tyler's record in Congress, — a record
in perfect accordance with the principles which he
had always avowed.

Returning to Virginia, he resumed the practice of
his profession. There was a split in the Democratic

I

TVLER.

party. His friends still regarded him as a true Jef-
fersonian, gave him a dinner, and showered compli-
ments upon him. He had now attained the age of
forty-six. His career had been very brilliant. In con-
sequence of his devotion to public business, his pri-
vate affairs had fallen into some disorder; and it was
not without satisfaction that he resumed the practice
of law, and devoted himself to the culture of his plan-
tation. Soon after this he removed to Williamsburg,
for the better education of his children ; and he again
took his seat in the Legislature of Virginia.

By the Southern Whigs, he was sent to the national
convention at Harrisbnrg to nominate a President in
1839. The majority of votes were given to Gen. Har-
rison, a genuine Whig, much to the disappointment of
the South, who wished for Henry Clay. To concili-
ate the Southern Whigs and to secure their vote, the
convention then nominated John Tyler for Vice Pres-
ident. It was well known that he was not in sympa-
thy with the Whig party in the North : but the Vice
President has but very little power in the Govern-
ment, his main and almost only duty being to pre-
side over the meetings of the Senate. Thus it hap-
pened that a Whig President, and, in reality, a
Democratic Vice President were chosen.

In 1841, Mr. Tyler was inaugurated Vice Presi-
dent of the United States. In one short month from
that time, President Harrison died, and Mr. Tyler
thus found himself, to his own surprise and that of
the whole Nation, an occupant of the Presidential
chair. This was a new test of the stability of our
institutions, as it was the first time in the history of our
country that such an event had occured. Mr. Tyler
was at home in Williamsburg when he received the
unexpected tidings of the death of President Harri-
son. He hastened to Washington, and on the 6th of
April was inaugurated to the high and responsible
office. He was placed in a position of exceeding
delicacy and difficulty. All his long life he had been
opposed to the main principles of the party which had
brought him into power. He had ever been a con-
sistent, honest man, with an unblemished record.
Gen. Harrison had selected a Whig cabinet. Should
he retain them, and thus surround himself with coun-
sellors whose views were antagonistic to his own? or,
on the other hand, should he turn against tjie party
which had elected him and select a cabinet in har-
mony with himself, and which would oppose all those
views which the Whigs deemed essential to the pub-
lic welfare? This was his fearful dilemma. He in-
vited the cabinet which President Harrison had
selected to retain their seats. He reccommended a
day of fasting and prayer, that God would guide and
bless us.

The Whigs carried through Congress a bill for the
incorporation of a fiscal bank of the United States.
The President, after ten days' delay, returned it with
his veto. He suagested, however, that he would

approve of a bill drawn up upon such a plan as he
proposed. Such a bill was accordingly prepared, and
privately submitted to him. He gave it his approval. __
It was passed without alteration, and he sent it back
with his veto. Here commenced the open rupture.
It is said that Mr. Tyler was provoked to this meas-
ure by a published letter from the Hon. John M.
Botts, a distinguished Virginia Whig, who severely
touched the pride of the President.

The opposition now exultingly received the Presi-
dent into their arms. The party which elected him
denounced him bitterly. All the members of bis
cabinet, excepting Mr. Webster, resigned. The Whigs
of Congress, both the Senate and the House, held a
meeting and issued an address to the people of the
United States, proclaiming that all political alliance
between the Whigs and President Tyler were at
an end.

Still the President attempted to conciliate. Ke
appointed a new cabinet of distinguished Whigs and
Conservatives, carefully leaving out all strong party
men. Mr. Webster soon found it necessary to resign,
forced out by the pressure of his Whig friends. Thus
the four years of Mr. Tyler's unfortunate administra-
tion passed sadly away. No one was satisfied. The
land was filled with murmurs and vituperation. Wliigs
and Democrats alike assailed him. More and more,
however, he brought himself into sympathy with his
old friends, the Democrats, until atthe close of his term,
he gave his whole influence to the support of Mr.
Polk, the Democratic candidate for his successor.

On the 4th of March, 1845, he retired from the
harassments of office, to the regret of neither party, and
probably to his own unspeakable relief. His first wife,
Miss Letitia Christian, died in Washington, in 1842;
and in June, 1844, President Tyler was again married,
at New York, to Miss Julia Gardiner, a young lady of
many personal and intellectual accomplishments.

The remainder of his 'days Mr. Tyler passed mainly
in retirement at his beautiful home, — Sherwood For-
est, Charles-city Co., Va. A polished gentleman in
his manners, richly furnished with information from
books and experience in the world, and possessing
brilliant powers of conversation, his family circle was
the scene of unusual attractions. With sufficient
means for the exercise of a generous hospitality, he
might have enjoyed a serene old age with the few
friends who gathered around him, were it not for the
storms of civil war which his own principles and
policy had helped to introduce.

When the great Rebellion rose, which the State-
rights and nullifying doctrines of Mr. John C. Cal-
houn had inaugurated, President Tyler renounced his
allegiance to the United States, and joined the Confed-
erates. He was chosen a member of their Congress;
and while engaged in active measures to deslroy, by
force of arms, the Government over which he had
once presided, he was taken sick and soon died.

LIBRARY

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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

ELEVENTH PRESIDENT.

59

AMES K. POLK, the eleventh
President of the United States,
was born in Mecklenburg Co.,
N. C., Nov. 2, 1795. His par-
ents were Samuel and Jane
(Knox) Polk, the former a son
of Col. Thomas Polk, who located
at the above place, as one of the
first pioneers, in 1735.

In the year 1006, with his wife
and children, and soon after fol-
lowed by most of the members of
the Polk farnly, Samuel Polk emi-
grated some two or three hundred
miles farther west, to the rich valley
of the Duck River. Here in the
midst of the wilderness, in a region
which was subsequently called Mau-
ry Co., they reared their log huts,
and established their homes. In the
hard toil of a new farm in the wil-
derness, James "K. Polk spent the
early years of his childhood and
youth. His father, adding the pur-
suit of a surveyor to that of a farmer,
gradually increased in wealth until
he became one of the leading men of the region. His
mother was a superior woman, of strong common
sense and earnest piety.

Very early in life, James developed a taste for
reading and expressed the strongest desire to obtain
a liberal education. His mother's training had made
him methodical in his habits, had taught him punct-
uality and industry, and had inspired him with lofty
principles of morality. His health was frail ; and his
father, fearing that he might not be able to endure a

sedentary life, got a situation for him behind the
counter, hoping to fit him for commercial pursuits.

This was to James a bitter disappointment. He
had no taste for these duties, and his daily tasks
were irksome in the extreme. He remained in this
uncongenial occupation but a few weeks, when at his
earnest solicitation his father removed him, and made
arrangements for him to prosecute his studies. Soon
after he sent him to Murfreesboro Academy. With
ardor which could scarcely be surpassed, he pressed
forward in his studies, and in less than two and a half
years, in the autumn of r8i5, entered the sophomore
class in the University of North Carolina, at Chapel
Hill. Here he was one of the most exemplary of
scholars, punctual in every exercise, never allowing
himself to be absent from a recitation or a religious
service.

He graduated in 1818, with the highest honors, be-
ing deemed the best scholar of his class, both in
mathematics and the classics. He was then twenty-
three years of age. Mr. Folk's health was at this
time much impaired by the assiduity with which he
had prosecuted his studies. After a' short season of
relaxation he went to Nashville, and entered the
office of Felix Grundy, to study law. Here Mr. Polk
renewed his acquaintance with Andrew Jackson, who
resided on his plantation, the Hermitage, but a few
miles from Nashville. They had probably been
slightly acquainted before.

Mr. Folk's father was a Jeffersonian Republican,
and James K. Polk ever adhered to the same politi-
cal faith. He was a popular public speaker, and was
constantly called upon to address the meetings of his
party friends. His skill as a speaker was such that
he was popularly called the Napoleon of the stump.
He was a man of unblemished morals, genial and

So

JAMES K. POLK.

*

\

courteous in his bearing, and with that sympathetic
nature in the joys and griefs of others which ever gave
him troops of friends. In 1823, Mr. Polk was elected
to the Legislature of Tennessee. Here he gave his
strong influence towards the election of his friend,
Mr. Jackson, to the Presidency of the United States.

In January, 1824, Mr. Polk married Miss Sarah
Childress, of Rutherford Co., Tenn. His bride was
altogether worthy of him, — a lady of beauty and cul-
ture. In the fall of 1825, Mr. Polk was chosen a
member of Congress. The satisfaction which he gave
to his constituents may be inferred from the fact, that
for fourteen successive years, until 1839, he was con-
tinued in that office. He then voluntarily withdrew,
only that he might accept the Gubernatorial chair
of Tennessee. In Congress he was a laborious
member, a frequent and a popular speaker. He was
always in his seat, always courteous ; and whenever
he spoke it was always to the point, and without any
ambitious rhetorical display.

During five sessions of Congress, Mr. Polk was
Speaker of the House. Strong passions were roused,
and stormy scenes were witnessed ; but Mr. Polk per-
formed his arduous duties to a very general satisfac-
tion, and a unanimous vote of thanks to him was
passed by the House as he withdrew on the 4th of
March, 1839.

In accordance with Southern usage, Mr. Polk, as a
candidate for Governor, canvassed the State. He was
elected by a large majority, and on the i4th of Octo-
ber, 1839, took the oath of office at Nashville. In 1841,
his term of office expired, and he was again the can-
didate of the Democratic party, but was defeated.

On the 4th of March, 1845, Mr. Polk was inaugur-
ated President of the United States. The verdict of
the country in favor of the annexation of Texas, exerted
its influence upon Congress ; and the last act of the
administration of President Tyler was to affix his sig-
nature to a joint resolution of Congress, passed on the
3d of March, approving of the annexation of Texas to
the American Union. As Mexico still claimed Texas
as one of her provinces, the Mexican minister,
Almonte, immediately demanded his passports and
left the country, declaring the act of the annexation
to be an act hostile to Mexico.

In his first message, President Polk urged that
Texas should immediately, by act of Congress, be re-
ceived into the Union on the same footing with the
other States. In the meantime, Gen. Taylor was sent

with an army into Texas to hold the country. He was
sent first to Nueces, which the Mexicans said was the
western boundary of Texas. Then he was sent nearly
two hundred miles further west, to the Rio Grande,
where he erected batteries which commanded the
Mexican city of Matamoras, which was situated on
the western banks.

The anticipated collision soon took place, and war
was declared against Mexico by President Polk. The
war was pushed forward by Mr. Polk's administration
with great vigor. Gen. Taylor, whose army was first
called one of "observation," then of "occupation,"
then of " invasion,."was sent forward to Monterey. The
feeble Mexicans, in every encounter, were hopelessly
and awfully slaughtered. The day of judgement
alone can reveal the misery which this war caused.
It was by the ingenuity of Mr. Polk's administration
that the war was brought on.

'To the victors belong the spoils." Mexico was
prostrate before us. Her capital was in our hands.
We now consented to peace upon the condition that
Mexico should surrender to us, in addition to Texas,
all of New Mexico, and all of Upper and Lower Cal-
ifornia. This new demand embraced, exclusive of
Texas, eight hundred thousand square miles. This
was an extent of territory equal to nine States of the
size of New York. Thus slavery was securing eighteen
majestic States to be added to the Union. There were
some Americans who thought it all right : there were
others who thought it all wrong. In the prosecution
of this war, we expended twenty thousand lives and
more than a hundred million of dollars. Of this
money fifteen millions were paid to Mexico.

On the 3d of March, 1849, Mr. Polk retired from
office, having served one term. The next day was
Sunday. On the 5th, Gen. Taylor was inaugurated
as his successor. Mr. Polk rode to the Capitol in the
same carriage with Gen. Taylor; and the same even-
ing, with Mrs. Polk, he commenced his return to
Tennessee. He was then but fifty-four years of age.
He had ever been strictly temperate in all his habits,
and his health was good. With an ample fortune,
a choice library, a cultivated mind, and domestic ties
of the dearest nature, it seemed as though long years
of tranquility and happiness were before him. But the
cholera — that fearful scourge— was then sweeping up
the Valley of the Mississippi. This he contracted,
and died on the i5th of June, 1849, in the fifty-fourth
year of his age, greatly mourned by his countrymen.

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t

r

TWELFTH PRESIDENT.

ACHARY TAYLOR, twelfth
President of the United States,
was born on the 24th of Nov.,
1784, in Orange Co., Va. His
father, Colonel Taylor, was
a Virginian of note, and a dis-
tinguished patriot and soldier of
the Revolution. When Zachary
was an infant, his father with his
wife and two children, emigrated
to Kentucky, where he settled in
the pathless wilderness, a few
miles from Louisville. In this front-
ier home, away from civilization and
all its refinements, young Zachary
could enjoy but few social and educational advan-
tages. When six years of age he attended a common
school, and was then regarded as a bright, active boy,
rather remarkable for bluntness and decision of char-
acter He was strong, feailess and self-reliant, and
manifested a strong desire to enter the army to fight
the Indians who were ravaging the frontiers. There
is little to be recorded of the uneventful years of his
childhood on his father's large but lonely plantation.
In iSoS, his father succeeded in obtaining for him
the commission of lieutenant in the United States
army ; and he joined the troops which were stationed
at New Orleans under Gen. Wilkinson. Soon after
this he married Miss Margaret Smith, a young lady
from one of the first families of Maryland.

Immediately after the declaration of war with Eng-
land, iu 1812, Capt. Taylor (for he had then been
promoted to that rank) was put in command of Fort
Harrison, on the Wabash, about fifty miles above
Vincennes. This fort had been built in the wilder-
ness by Gen. Harrison, on his march to Tippecanoe.
It was one of the first points of attack by the Indians,
jed by Tecumseh. Its garrison consisted of a broken

company of infantry numbering fifty men, many of
whom were sick.

Early in the autumn of i8r2, the Indians, stealthily,
and in large numbers, moved upon the fort. Their
approach was first indicated by the murder of two
soldiers just outside of the stockade. Capt. Taylor
made every possible preparation to meet the antici-
pated assault. On the 4th of September, a band of
forty painted and plumed savages came to the fort,
waving a white flag, and informed Capt. Taylor that
in the morning their chief would come to have a talk
with him. It was evident that their object was merely
to ascertain the state of things at the fort, and Capt.
Taylor, well versed in the wiles of the savages, kept
them at a distance.

The sun went down; the savages disappeared, the
garrison slept upon their arms. One hour before
midnight the war-whoop burst from a thousand lips
in the forest around, • followed by the discharge of
musketry, and the rush of the foe. Every man, sick
and well, sprang to his post. Every man knew that
defeat was not merely death, but in the case of cap-
ture, death by the most agonizing and prolonged tor-
ture. No pen can describe, no immagination can
conceive the scenes which ensued. The savages suc-
ceeded in setting fire to one of the block-houses-
Until six o'clock in the morning, this awful conflict
continued. The savages then, baffled at every point,
and gnashing their teeth with rage, retired. Capt.
Taylor, for this gallant defence, was promoted to the
rank of major by brevet.

Until the close of the war, Major Taylor was placed
in such situations that he saw but little more of active
service. He was sent far away into the depths of the
wilderness, to Fort Crawford, on Fox River, which
empties into Green Bay. Here there was but little
to be done but to wear away the tedious hours as one
best could. There were no books, no society, no in- •

ZACHARY TAYLOR.

tellectual stimulus. Thus with him the uneventful
years rolled on Gradually he rose to the rank of
colonel. In the Black -Hawk war, which resulted in
the capture of that renowned chieftain, Col Taylor
took a subordinate but a brave and efficient part.

For twenty -four years Col. Taylor was engaged in
the defence of the frontiers, in scenes so remote, and in
employments so obscure, that his name was unknown
beyond the limits of his own immediate acquaintance.
In the year 1836, he was sent to Florida to compel
the Seminole Indians to vacate that region and re-
tire beyond the Mississippi, as their chiefs by treaty,
had promised they should do. The services rendered
here secured for Col. Taylor the high appreciation of
the Government; and as a reward, he was elevated
to the rank of brigadier-general by brevet ; and soon
after, in May, 1838, was appointed to the chief com-
mand of the United States troops in Florida.

After two years of such wearisome employment
amidst the everglades of the peninsula, Gen. Taylor
obtained, at his own request, a change of command,
and was stationed over the Department of the South-
west. This field embraced Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama and Georgia. Establishing his headquarters
at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana, he removed his family
to a plantation which he purchased, near Baton Rogue.
Here he remained for five years, buried, as it were,
from the world, but faithfully discharging every duty
imposed upon him.

In 1846, Gen. Taylor was sent to guard the land
between the Nueces and Rio Grande, the latter river
being the boundary of Texas, which was then claimed
by the United States. Soon the war with Mexico
was brought on, and at Palo Alto and Resaca de la
Palma, Gen. Taylor won brilliant victories over the
Mexicans. The rank of major-general by brevet
was then conferred upon Gen. Taylor, and his name
was received with enthusiasm almost everywhere in
the Nation. Then came the battles of Monterey and
Buena Vista in which he won signal victories over
forces much larger than he commanded.

His careless habits of dress and his unaffected
simplicity, secured for Gen. Taylor among his troops,
the sobriquet of " Old Rough and Ready.'

The tidings of the brilliant victory of Buena Vista
spread the wildest enthusiasm over the country. The
name of Gen. Taylor was on every one's lips. The
Whig party decided to take advantage of this wonder-
ful popularity in bringing forward the unpolished, un-
lettered, honest soldier as their candidate for the
Presidency. Gen. Taylor was astonished at the an-
nouncement, and for a time would not listen toil; de-
claring that he was not at all qualified for such an
office. So little interest had he taken in politics that,
for forty years, he had not cast a vote. It was not
without chagrin that several distinguished statesmen
who had been long years in the public service found
their claims set aside in behalf of one whose name

had never been heard of, save in connection with Palo
Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey and Buena
Vista. It is said that Daniel Webster, in his haste re-
marked, " It is a nomination not fit to be made."

Gen. Taylor was not an eloquent speaker nor a fine
writer. His friends took possession of him, and pre-
pared such few communications as it was needful
should be presented to the public. The popularity of
the successful warrior swept the land. He was tri-
umphantly elected over two opposing candidates, —
Gen. Cass and Ex-President Martin Van Buren.
Though he selected an excellent cabinet, the good
old man found himself in a very uncongenial position,
and was, at times, sorely perplexed and harassed.
His mental sufferings were very severe, and probably
tended to hasten his death. The pro-slavery party
was pushing its claims with tireless energy , expedi-
tions were fitting out to capture Cuba ; California was
pleading for admission to the Union, while slavery
stood at the door to bar her out. Gen. Taylor found
the political conflicts in Washington to be far more
trying to the nerves than battles with Mexicans or
Indians.

In the midst of all these troubles, Gen. Taylor,
after he had occupied the Presidential chair but little
over a year, topk cold, and after a brief sickness of
but little over five days, died on the 9lh of July, 1850.
His last words were, "I am not afraid to die. I am
ready. I have endeavored to do my duty." He died
universally respected and beloved. An honest, un-
pretending man, he had been steadily growing in the
affections of the people ; and the Nation bitterly la-
mented his death.

Gen. Scott, who was thoroughly acquainted with
Gen. Taylor, gave the following graphic and truthful
description of his character: — " With a good store of
common sense, Gen. Taylor's mind had not been en-
larged and refreshed by reading, or much converse
with the world. Rigidity of ideas was the conse-
quence. The frontiers and small military posts had
been his home. Hence he was quite ignorant for his
rank, and quite bigoted in his ignorance. His sim-
plicity was child-like, and with innumerable preju-
dices, amusing and incorrigible, well suited to the
tender age. Thus, if a man, however respectable,
chanced to wear a coat of an unusual color, or his hat
a little on one side of his head; or an officer to leave
a corner of his handkerchief dangling from an out-
side pocket, — in any such case, this critic held the
offender to be a coxcomb (perhaps something worse),
whom he would not, to use his oft repeated phrase,
'touch with a pair of tongs.'

"Any allusion to literature beyond good old Dil-
worth's spelling-book, on the part of one wearing a
sword, was evidence, with the same judge, of utter
unfitness for heavy marchings and combats. In short,
few men have ever had a more comfortable, labor-
saving contempt for learning of every kind,"

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THIRTEENTH PRESIDENT.

67

ILLARD FILLMORE, thir-
teenth President of the United
States, was born at Summer
Hill, Cayuga Co., N. Y ., on
the yth of January, 1800. His
father was a farmer, and ow-

ing to misfortune, in humble cir-
cumstances. Of his mother, the
daughter of Dr. Abiathar Millard,
of Pittsfield, Mass., it has been
said that she possessed an intellect -
of very high order, united with much
personal loveliness, sweetness of dis-
position, graceful manners and ex-
quisite sensibilities. She died in
1831 ; having lived to see her son a
young man of distinguished prom-
ise, though she was not permitted to witness the high
dignity which he finally attained.

In consequence of the secluded home and limited
means of his father, Millard enjoyed but slender ad-
vantages for education in his early years. The com-
mon schools, which he occasionally attended were
very imperfect institutions; and books were scarce
and expensive. There was nothing then in his char-
acter to indicate the brilliant career upon which he
was about to enter. He was a plain farmer's boy ;
intelligent, good-looking, kind-hearted. The sacred
influences of home had taught him to revere the Bible,
and had laid the foundations of an upright character.
When fourteen years of age, his father sent him
some hundred miles from home, to the then wilds of
Livingston County, to learn the trade of a clothier.
Near the mill there was a small villiage, where some

enterprising man had commenced the collection of a
village library. This proved an inestimable blessing
to young Fillmore. His evenings were spent in read-
ing. Soon every leisure moment was occupied with
books. His thirst for knowledge became insatiate;
and the selections which he made were continually
more elevating and instructive. He read historyi
biography, oratory, and thus gradually there was en-
kindled in his heart a desire to be something more
than a mere worker with his hands; and he was be-
coming, almost unknown to himself, a well-informed,
educated man.

The young clothier had now attained the age of
nineteen years, and was of fine personal appearance
and of gentlemanly demeanor. It so happened that
there was a gentleman in the neighborhood of ample
pecuniary means and of benevolence, — Judge Walter
Wood, — who was struck with the prepossessing ap-
pearance of young Fillmore. He made his acquaint-
ance, and was so much impressed with his ability and
attainments that he advised him • to abandon his
trade and devote himself to the study of the law. The
young man replied, that he had no means of his own,
no friends to help him and that his previous educa-
tion had been very imperfect. But Judge Wood had
so much confidence in him that he kindly offered to
take him into his own office, and to loan him such
money as he needed. Most gratefully the generous
offer was accepted.

There is in many minds a strange delusion about
a collegiate education. A young man is supposed to
be liberally educated if he has graduated at some col-
lege. But many a boy loiters through university halls
and then enters a law office, who is by no means as

68

MILLARD FILLMORE.

well prepared to prosecute his legal studies as was
Millard Fillmore when he graduated at the clothing-
mill at the end of four years of manual labor, during
which every leisure moment had been devoted to in-
tense mental culture.

In 1823, when twenty-three years of age, he was
admitted to the Court of Common Pleas. He then
went to the village of Aurora, and commenced the
practice of law. In this secluded, peaceful region,
his practice of course was limited, and there was no
opportunity for a sudden rise in foitune or in fame.
Here, in the year 1826, he married a lady of great
moral worth, and one capable of adorning any station
she might be called to fill,— Miss Abigail Powers.

His elevation of character, his untiring industry,
his legal acquirements, and his skill as an advocate,
gradually attracted attention ; and he was invited to
enter into partnership under highly advantageous
circumstances, with an elder member of the bar in
Buffalo. Just before removing to Buffalo, in 1829,
he took his seat in the House of Assembly, of the
State of New York, as a representative from Erie
County. Though he had never taken a very active
part in politics, his vote and his sympathies were with
the Whig party. The State was then Democratic,
and he found himself in a helpless minority in the
Legislature , still the testimony comes from all parties,
that his courtesy, ability and integrity, won, to a very
unusual degn e the respect of his associates.

In the autumn of 1832, he was elected to a seat in
the United States Congress He entered that troubled
arena in some of the most tumultuous hours of our
national history. The great conflict respecting the
national bank and the removal of the deposits, was
then raging.

His term of two years closed ; and he returned to
his profession, which he pursued with increasing rep-
utation and success. After a lapse of two years
he again became a candidate for Congress ; was re-
elected, and took his seat in 1837. His past expe-
rience as a representative gave him strength and
confidence. The first term of service in Congress to
any man can be but little more than an introduction.
He was now prepared for active duty. All his ener-
gies were brought to bear upon the public good. Every
measure received his impress.

Mr. Fillmore was now a man of wide repute, and
his popularity filled the State, and in the year 1847,
he was elected Comptroller of the State.

Mr. Fillmore had attained the age of forty-seven
years. His labors at the bar, in the Legislature, in
Congress and as Comptroller, had given him very con-
siderable fame. The Whigs were casting about to
find suitable candidates for President and Vice-Presi-
dent at the approaching election. Far away, on the
waters of the Rio Grande, there was a rough old
soldier, who had fought one or two successful battles
with the Mexicans, which had caused his name to be
proclaimed in trumpet-tones all over the land. But
it was necessary to associate with him on the same
ticket some man of reputation as a statesman.

Under the influence of these considerations, the
namesof Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore became
the rallying-cry of the Whigs, as their candidates for
President and Vice-Peesident. The Whig ticket was
signally triumphant. On the 4th of March, 1849,
Gen. Taylor was inaugurated President, and Millard
Fillmore Vice-President, of the United States.

On the pth of July, 1850, President Taylor, but
about one year and four months after his inaugura-
tion, was suddenly taken sick and died. By the Con-
stitution, Vice-President Fillmore thus became Presi-
dent. He appointed a very able cabinet, of which
the illustrious Daniel Webster was Secretary of State.

Mr. Fillniore had very serious difficulties to contend
with, since the 'opposition had a majority in both
Houses. He did everything in his power to conciliate
the South ; but the pro-slavery party in the South felt
the inadequacyof all measuresof transient conciliation.
The population of the free States was so rapidly in-
creasing over that of the slave States that it was in-
evitable that the power of the Government should
soon pass into the hands of the free States. The
famous compromise measures were adopted under Mr.
Fillmcre's adminstration, and the Japan Expedition
was sent out. On the 4th of March, 1853, Mr. Fill-
more, having served one term, retired.

In r856, Mr. Fillmore was nominated for the Pres-
idency by the " Know Nothing " party, but was beaten
by Mr. Buchanan. After that Mr. Fillmore lived in
retirement. During the terrible conflict of civil war,
he was mostly silent. It was generally supposed that
his sympathies were rather with those who were en-
deavoring to overthrow our institutions. President
Fillmore kept aloof from the conflict, without any
cordial words of cheer to the one party or the other.
He was thus forgotten by both. He lived to a ripe
old age, and died in Buffalo. N. Y., March 8, 1874.

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FOURTEENTH PRESIDENT,

s-pc

4>4&4&&Mg»&yhiMh&&&dH!^^ft*&i4yy^|*^

I

RANKLIN PIERCE, the
fourteenth President of the
United States, was born in
Hillsborough, N. H., Nov.
23, 1804. His father was a
Revolutionary soldier, who,
with his own strong arm,
hewed out a home in the
wilderness. He was a man
of inflexible integrity; of
strong, though uncultivated
mind, and an uncompromis-
ing Democrat. The mother of
Franklin Pierce was all that a son
could desire, — an intelligent, pru-
dent, affectionate, Christian wom-
an. Franklin was the sixth of eight children.

Franklin was a very bright and handsome boy, gen-
erous, warm-hearted and brave. He won alike the
love of old and young. The boys on the play ground
loved him. His teachers loved him. The neighbors
looked upon him with pride and affection. He was
by instinct a gentleman; always speaking kind words,
doing kind deeds, with a peculiar unstudied tact
which taught him what was agreeable. Without de-
veloping any precocity of genius, or any unnatural
devotion to books, he was a good scholar ; in body,
in mind, in affections, a finely-developed boy.

When sixteen years of age, in the year 1820, he
entered Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me. He was
one of the most popular young men in the college.
The purity of his moral character, the unvarying
courtesy of his demeanor, his rank as a scholar, and

genial nature, rendered him a universal favorite.
There was something very peculiarly winning in his
address, and it was evidently not in the slightest de-
gree studied : it was the simple outgushing of his
own magnanimous and loving nature.

Upon graduating, in the year 1824, Franklin Pierce
commenced the study of law in the office of Judge
Woodbury, one of the most distinguished lawyers of
the State, and a man of great private worth. The
eminent social qualities of the young lawyer, his
father's prominence as a public man, and the brilliant
political career into which Judge Woodbury was en-
tering, all tended to entice Mr. Pierce into the faci-
nating yet perilous path of political life. With all
the ardor of his nature he espoused the cause of Gen.
Jackson for the Presidency. He commenced the
practice of law in Hillsborough, and was soon elected
to represent the town in the State Legislature. Here
he served for four yeais. The last two years he was
chosen speaker of the house by a very large vote.

In 1833, at the age of twenty-nine, he was elected
a member of Congress. Without taking an active
part in debates, he was faithful and laborious in duty,
and ever rising in the estimation of those with whom
he was associatad.

In 1837, being then but thirty-three years of age,
he was elected to the Senate of the United States;
taking his seat just as Mr. Van Buren commenced
his administration. He was the youngest member in
the Senate. In the year 1834, he married Miss Jane
Means Appleton, a lady of rare beauty and accom-
plishments, and one admirably fitted to adorn every
station with which her husband was honoted. Of the

I

FRANKLIN PIERCE.

three sons who were bom to them, all now sleep with
their parents in the grave.

In the year 1838, Mr. Pierce, with growing fame
and increasing business as a lawyer, took up his
residence in Concord, the capital of New Hampshire.
President Polk, upon his accession to office, appointed
Mr. Pierce attorney-general of the United States; but
the offer was declined, in consequence of numerous
professional engagements at home, and the precariuos
state of Mrs. Pierce's health. He also, about the
same time declined the nomination for governor by the
Democratic party. The war with Mexico called Mr.
Pierce in the army. Receiving the appointment of
brigadier-general, he embarked, with a portion of his
troops, at Newport, R. I., on the 27th of May, 1847.
He took an imjwrtant part in this war, proving him-
self a brave and true soldier.

When Gen. Pierce reached his home in his native
State, he was received enthusiastically by the advo-
cates of the Mexican war, and coldly by his oppo-
nents. He resumed the practice of his profession,
very frequently taking an active part in political ques-
tions, giving his cordial support to the pro-slavery
wing of the Democratic party. The compromise
measures met cordially with his approval ; and he
strenuously advocated the enforcement of the infa-
mous fugitive-slave law, which so shocked the religious
sensibilities of the North. He thus became distin-
guished as a " Northern man with Southern principles.''
The strong partisans of slavery in the South conse-
quently regarded him as a man whom they could
safely trust in office to carry out their plans.

On the 1 2th of June, 1852, the Democratic conven-
tion met in Baltimore to nominate a candidate for the
Presidency. For four days they continued in session,
and in thirty-five ballotings no one had obtained a
two-thirds vote. Not a vote thus far had been thrown
for Gen. Pierce. Then the Virginia delegation
brought forward his name. There were fourteen
more ballotings, during which Gen. Pierce constantly
gained strength, until, at the forty-ninth ballot, he
received two hundred and eighty-two votes, and all
other candidates eleven. Gen. Winfield Scott was
the Whig candidate. Gen. Pierce was chosen with
great unanimity. Only four States — Vermont, Mas-
sachusetts, Kentucky and Tennessee — cast their
electoral votes against him Gen. Franklin Pierce
was therefore inaugurated President of the United
States on the 4th of March, 1853.

His administration proved one of the most stormy our
country had ever experienced. The controversy be-
tween slavery and freedom was. then approaching its
culminating point. It became evident that there was
an "irrepressible conflict" between them, and that
this Nation could not long exist " half slave and half
free." President Pierce, during the whole of his ad-
ministration, did every thing he could to conciliate
the South ; but it was all in vain. The conflict every
year grew more violent, and threats of the dissolution
of the Union were borne to the North on every South-
ern breeze.

Such was the condition of affairs when President
Pierce approached the close of his four-years1 term
of office. The North had become thoroughly alien-
ated from him. The anti-slavery sentiment, goaded
by great outrages, had been rapidly increasing; all
the intellectual ability and social worth of President
Pierce were forgotten in deep reprehension of his ad-
ministrative acts. The slaveholders of the South, also,
unmindful of the fidelity with which he had advo-
cated those measures of Government which they ap-
proved, and perhaps, also, feeling that he had
rendered himself so unpopular as no longer to be
able acceptably to serve them, ungratefully dropped
him, and nominated James Buchanan to succeed him.

On the 4th of March, 1857, President Pierce re-
tired to his home in Concord. Of three children, two
had died, and his only surviving child had been
killed before his eyes by a railroad accident ; and his
wife, one of the most estimable and accomplished of
ladies, was rapidly sinking in consumption. The
hour of dreadful gloom soon came, and he was left
alone in the world, without wife or child.

When the terrible Rebellion burst forth, which di-
vided our country into two parties, and two only, Mr.
Pierce remained steadfast in the principles which he
had always cherished, and gave his sympathies to
that pro-slavery party with which he had ever been
allied. He declined to do anything, either by voice
or pen, to strengthen the hand of the National Gov-
ernment. He continued to reside in Concord until
the time of his death, which occurred in October,
1869. He was one of the most genial and social of
men, an honored communicant of the Episcopal
Church, and one of the kindest of neighbors. Gen-
erous to a fault, he contributed liberally for the al-
leviation of suffering and want, and many of his towns-
people were often gladened by his material bounty.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS

flFTEENTH PRESIDENT*

I

AMES BUCHANAN, the fif-
teenth President of the United
States, was born in a small
frontier town, at the foot of the
eastern ridge of the Allegha-
nies, in Franklin Co., Penn., on
the 23d of April, 1791. The place
where the humble cabin of his
father stood was called Stony
Batter. It was a. wild and ro-
mantic spot in a gorge of the moun-
tains, with towering summits rising
grandly all around. His father
was a native of the north of Ireland ;
a poor man, who had emigrated in
1783, with little property save his
own strong arms. Five years afterwards he married
Elizabeth Spear, the daughter of a respectable farmer,
and, with his young bride, plunged into the wilder-
ness, staked his claim, reared his log-hut, opened a
clearing with his axe, and settled down there to per-
form his obscure part in the drama of life. In this se-
cluded home, where James was born, he remained
for eight years, enjoying but few social or intellectual
advantages. When James was eight years of age, his
father removed to the village of Mercersburg, where
his son was placed at school, and commenced a
course of study in English, Latin and Greek. His
progress was rapid, and at the age of fourteen, he
entered Dickinson College, at Carlisle. Here he de-
veloped remarkable talent, and took his stand among
the first scholars in the institution. His application
to study was intense, and yet his native powers en-

abled him to master the most abstruse subjects with
facility.

In the year 1809, he graduated with the highest
honors of his class. He was then eighteen years of
age; tall and graceful, vigorous in health, fond of
athletic sport, an unerring shot, and enlivened with
an exuberant flow of animal spirits. He immediately
commenced the study of law in the city of Lancaster,
and was admitted to the bar in 1812, when he was
but twenty-one years of age. Very rapidly he rose
in his profession, and at once took undisputed stand
with the ablest lawyers of the State. When but
twenty-six years of age, unaided by counsel, he suc-
cessfully defended before the State Senate one of the
judges of the State, who was tried upon articles of
impeachment. At the age of thirty it was generally
admitted that he stood at the head of the bar ; and
there was no lawyer in the State who had a more lu-
crative practice.

In 1820, he reluctantly consented to run as a
candidate for Congress. He was ' elected, and for
ten years he remained a member of the Lower House,
During the vacations of Congress, he occasionally
tried some important case. In 1831, he retired
altogether from the toils of his profession, having aO.
quired an ample fortune.

Gen. Jackson, upon his elevation to the Presidency,
appointed Mr. Buchanan minister to Russia. The
duties of his mission he performed with ability, which
gave satisfaction to all parties. Upon his return, in
1833, he was elected to a seat in the United States
Senate. He there met, as his associates, Webster,
Clay, Wright and Calhoun. He advocated the meas-
ures proposed by President Jackson, of making repri-

76

JAMES BUCHANAN.

sals against France, to enforce the payment of our
claims against that country ; and defended the course
of the President in his unprecedented and wholesale
removal from office of those who were not the sup-
porters of his administration. Upon this question he
was brought into direct collision with Henry Clay.
He also, with voice and vote, advocated expunging
from the journal of the Senate the vote of censure
against (Jen. Jackson for removing the deposits.
Earnestly he opposed the abolition of slavery in the
District of Columbia, and urged the prohibition of the
circulation of anti-slavery documents by the United
States mails.

As to petitions on the subject of slavery, he advo-
cated that they should be respectfully received; and
that the reply should be returned, that Congress had
no power to legislate upon the subject. " Congress,"
said he, " might as well undertake to interfere with
slavery under a foreign government as in any of the
States where it now exists."

Upon Mr. Folk's accession to the Presidency, Mr.
Buchanan became Secretary of State, and as such,
took his share of the responsibility in the conduct of
the Mexican War. Mr. Polk assumed that crossing
the Nueces by the American troops into the disputed
territory was not wrong, but for the Mexicans to cross
the Rio Grande into that territory was a declaration
of war. No candid man can read with pleasure the
account of the course our Government pursued in that
movement

Mr. Buchanan identified himself thoroughly with
the party devoted to the perpetuation and extension
of slavery, and brought all the energies of his mind
to bear against the Wilmot Proviso. He gave his
cordial approval to the compromise measures of 1050,
which included the fugitive -slave law. Mr. Pierce,
upon his election to the Presidency, honored Mr.
Buchanan with the mission to England.

In the year 1856, a national Democratic conven-
tion nominated Mr. Buchanan for the Presidency. The
political conflict was one of the most severe in which
our country has ever engaged. All the friends of
slavery were on one side; all the advocates of its re-
striction and final abolition, on the other. Mr. Fre-
mont, the candidate of the enemies of slavery, re-
r.eived 114 electoral votes. Mr. Buchanan received
174, and was elected. The popular vote stood
1,340,618, for Fremont, 1,224,750 for Buchanan. On
March 4th, 1857, Mr. Buchanan was inaugurated.

Mr. Buchanan was far advanced in life. Only four
years were wanting to fill up his threescore years and
ten. His own friends, those with whom he had been
allied in political principles and action for years, were
seeking the destruction of the Government, that they
might rear upon the ruins of our free institutions a
nation whose corner-stone should be human slavery.
In this emergency, Mr. Buchanan was hopelessly be-
wildered He could not, with his long-avowed prin-

ciples, consistently oppose the State-rights party in
their assumptions. As President of the United States,
bound by his oath faithfully to administer the laws,
he could not, without perjury of the grossest kind,
unite with those endeavoring to overthrow the repub-
lic. He therefore did nothing.

The opponents of Mr. Buchanan's administration
nominated Abraham Lincoln as their standard bearer
in the next Presidential canvass. The pro-slavery
party declared, that if he were elected, and the con-
trol of the Government were thus taken from their
hands, they would secede from the Union, taking
with them, as they retired, the National Capitol at
Washington, and the lion's share of the territory of
the United States.

Mr. Buchanan's sympathy with the pro-slavery
party was such, that he had been willing to offer them
far more than they had ventured to claim. All the
South had professed to ask of the North was non-
intervention upon the subject of slavery. Mr. Bu-
chanan had been ready to offer them the active co-
operation of the Government to defend and extend
the institution.

As the storm increased in violence, the slaveholders
claiming the right to secede, and Mr. Buchanan avow-
ing that Congress 'had no power to prevent it, one of
the most pitiable exhibitions of governmental im-
becility was exhibited the world has ever seen. He
declared that Congress had no power to enforce its
laws in any State which had withdrawn, or which
was attempting to withdraw from the Union. This
was not the doctrine of Andrew Jackson, when, with
his hand upon his sword hilt, he exclaimed, "The
Union must and shall be preserved ! "

South Carolina seceded in December, 1860; nearly
three months before the inauguration of President
Lincoln. Mr. Buchanan looked on in listless despair.
The rebel flag was raised in Charleston; Fort Sumpter
was besieged ; our forts, navy-yards and arsenals
were seized; our depots of military stores were plun-
dered ; and our custom-houses and post-offices were
appropriated by the rebels.

The energy of the rebels, and the imbecility of our
Executive, were alike marvelous. The Nation looked
on in agony, waiting for the slow weeks to glide away,
and close the administration, so terrible in its weak-
ness At length the long-looked-for hour of deliver-
ance came, when Abraham Lincoln was to receive the
scepter.

The administration of President Buchanan was
certainly the most calamitous our country has ex-
perienced. His best friends cannot recall it with
pleasure. And still more deplorable it is for his fame,
that in that dreadful conflict which rolled its billows
of flame and blood over our whole land, no word came
from his lips to indicate his wish that our country's
banner should triumph over the flag of the rebellion.
He died at his Wheatland retreat, June i, 1868.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

1 1

SIXTEENTH PRESIDENT.

BRAHAM LINCOLN, the
sixteenth President of the
% United States, was born in
Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 12,
ft 1809. About the year 1780, a
man by the name of Abraham
Lincoln left Virginia with his
family and moved into the then
wilds of Kentucky. Only two years
after this emigration, still a young
man, while working one day in a
field, was stealthily approached by
an Indian and shot dead. His widow
was left in extreme poverty with five
little children, three boys and two
girls. Thomas, the youngest of the
boys, was four years of age at his
father's death. This Thomas was
the father of Abraham Lincoln, the
President of the United States
whose name must henceforth forever be enrolled
with the most prominent in the annals of our world.
Of course no record has been kept of the life
of one so lowly as Thomas Lincoln. He was among
the poorest of the poor. His home was a wretched
log -cabin; his food the coarsest and the meanest.
Education he had none ; he could never either read
or write. As soon as he was able to do anything for
himself, he was compelled to leave the cabin of his
starving mother, and push out into the world, a friend-
loss, wandering boy, seeking work. He hired him-
self out, and thus spent the whole of his youth as a
laborer in the fields of others.

When twenty-eight years of age he bull! a log-
cabin of his own, and married Nancy Hanks, the
daughter of another family of poor Kentucky emi-
grants, who had also come from Virginia. Their
second child was Abraham Lincoln, the subject of
this sketch. The mother of Abraham was a noble
woman, gentle, loving, pensive, created to adorn
a palace, doomed to toil and pine, and die in a hovel.
" All that I am, or hope to be," exclaims the grate-
ful son " I owe to my angel-mother.

When he was eight years of age, his father sold his

cabin and small farm, and moved to Indiana. Where
two years later his mother died.

Abraham soon became the scribe of the uneducated
community around him. He could not have had a
better school than this to teach him to put thoughts
into words. He also became an eager reader. The
books he could obtain were few ; but these he read
and re-read until they were almost committed to
memory.

As the years rolled on, the lot of this lowly family
was the usual lot of humanity. There were joys and
griefs, weddings and funerals. Abraham's sister
Sarah, to whom he was tenderly attached, was mar-
ried when a child of but fourteen years of age, and
soon died. The family was gradually scattered. Mr,
Thomas Lincoln sold out his squatter's claim in 1830,
and emigrated to Macon Co., 111.

Abraham Lincoln was then twenty-one years of age.
With vigorous hands he aided his father in rearing
another log-cabin. Abraham worked diligently at this
until he saw the family comfortably settled, and their
small lot of enclosed prairie planted with corn, when
he announced to his father his intention to leave
home, and to go out into the world and seek his for-
tune. Little did he or his friends imagine how bril-
liant that fortune was to be. He saw the value of
education, and was intensely earnest to improve his
mind to the utmost of his power. He saw the ruin
which aident spirits were causing, and became
strictly temperate; refusing to allow a drop of intoxi-
cating liquor to pass his lips. And he had read in
God's word, "Thou shalt not take the name of the
Lord thy God in vain ;" and a profane expression he
was never heard to utter. Religion he revered. His
morals were pure, and he was uncontaminated by a
single vice.

Young Abraham worked for a time as a hired laborer
among the farmers. Then he went to Springfield,
where he was employed in building a large flat-boat.
In this he took a herd of swine, floated them down
the Sangamon to the Illinois, and thence by the Mis-
sissippi to New Orleans. Whatever Abraham Lin-
coln undertook, he performed so faithfully as to give
great satisfaction to his employers. In this adven-

f

So

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

ture his employers were so well pleased, that upon
his return they placed a store and mill under his care.

In 1832, at the outbreak of the Black Hawk war, he
enlisted and was chosen captain of a company. He
returned to Sangamon County, and although only 23
years of age, was a candidate for the Legislature, but
was defeated. He soon after received from Andrew
Jackson the appointment of Postmaster of New Salem,
His only post-office was his hat. All the letters he
received he carried there ready to deliver to those
he chanced to meet. He studied surveying, and soon
made this his business. In 1834 he again became a
candidate for the Legislature, and was elected. Mr.
Stuart, of Springfield, advised him to study law. He
walked from New Salem to Springfield, borrowed of
Mr. Stuart a load of books, carried them back and
began his legal studies. When the Legislature as-
sembled he trudged on foot with his pack on his back
one hundred miles to Vandalia, then the capital. In
1836 he was re-elected to the Legislature. Here it
was he first met Stephen A. Douglas. In 1839 he re-
moved to Springfield and began the practice of law.
His success with the jury was so great that he was
soon engaged in almost every noted case in the circuit.

In 1854 the great discussion began between Mr.
Lincoln and Mr. Douglas, on the slavery question.
In the organization of the Republican party in Illinois,
in 1856, he took an active part, and at once became
one of the leaders in that party. Mr. Lincoln's
speeches in opposition to Senator Douglas in the con-
test in 1858 for a seat in the Senate, form a most
notable part of his history. The issue was on the
slavery question, and he took the broad ground of
the Declaration of Independence, that all men are
created equal. Mr. Lincoln was defeated in this con-
test, but won a far higher prize.

The great Republican Convention met at Chicago
on the i6th of June, 1860. The delegates and
strangers who crowded the city amounted to twenty-
five thousand. An immense building called "The
Wigwam," was reared to accommodate the Conven-
tion. There were eleven candidates for whom votes
were thrown. William H. Seward, a man whose fame
as a statesman had long filled the land, was the most
prominent. It was generally supposed he would be
the nominee. Abraham Lincoln, however, received
the nomination on the third ballot. Little did he then
dream of the weary years of toil and care, and the
bloody death, to which that nomination doomed him :
and as little did he dream that he was to render services
to his country, which would fix upon him the eyes of
the whole civilized world, and which would give him
a place in the affections of his countrymen, second
only, if second, to that of Washington.

Election day came and Mr. Lincoln received 180
electoral votes out of 203 cast, and was, therefore,
constitutionally elected'President of the United States.
The tirade of abuse that vas poured upon this good

and merciful mar.,' especially by the slaveholders, was
greater than upon any other man ever elected to this
high position. In February, 1861, Mr. Lincoln started
for Washington, stopping in all the large cities on his
way making speeches. The whole journey was fraught
with much danger. Many of the Southern States had
already seceded, and several attempts at assassination
were afterwards brought to light. A gang in Balti-
more had arranged, upon his arrival to" get up a row,"
and in the confusion to make sure of his death with
revolvers and hand-grenades. A detective unravelled
the plot. A secret and special train was provided to
take him from HarrisL-urg, through Baltimore, at an
unexpected hour of the night. The train started at
half-past ten ; and to prevent ahy possible communi-
cation on the part ot the Secessionists with their Con-
federate gang in Baltimore, as soon as the train had
started the telegraph-wires were cut. Mr. Lincoln
reached Washington in safety and was inaugurated,
although great anxiety was felt by all loyal people.

In the selection of his cabinet Mr. Lincoln gave
to Mr. Seward the Department of State, and to other
prominent opponents before the convention he gave
important positions.

During no oilier administration have the duties
devolving upon the President been so manifold, and
the responsibilities so great, as those which fell to
the lot of President Lincoln. Knowing this, and
feeling his own weakness and inability to meet, and in
his own strength to cope with, the difficulties, he
learned early to seek Divine wisdom and guidance in
determining his plans, and Divine comfort in all his
trials, both personal and national Contrary to his
own estimate of himself, Mr. Lincoln was one of the
most courageous of men. He went directly into the
rebel capital just as the retreating foe was leaving,
with no guard but a few sailors. From the time he
had left Springfield, in 1861, however, plans had been
made for his assassination, and he at last fell a victim
to one of them. April 14, 1865, he, with Gen. Grant,
was urgently invited to attend Fords' Theater. It
was announced that they would Le present. Gen.
Grant, however, left the city. President Lincoln, feel-
ing, witn his characteristic kindliness of heart, that
it would be a disappointment if lie should fail them,
very reluctantly consented to go. While listening to
the play an actor by the name of John Wilkes Booth
entered the box where the President and family 'were
seated, and fired a bullet into his brains. He died the
next morning at seven o'clock.

Never before, in the history of the world was a nation
plunged into such deep grief by the death of its ruler.
Strong men met in the streets and wept in speechless
anguish. It is not too much to say that a nation was
in tears. His was a life which will fitly become a
model. His name as the savior of his country will
live with that of Washington's, ils father; his country-
men being unable to decide which is the greater.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

•*••

SEVENTEENTH PRESIDENT.

NDREW JOHNSON, seven-
teenth President of the United
States. The early life of
Andrew Johnson contains but
the record of poverty, destitu-
tion and friendlessness. He
7 was bom December 29, 1808,
in Raleigh, N. C. His parents,
belonging to the class of the
"poor whites " of the South, were
in such circumstances, that they
could not confer even the slight-

o

cst advantages of education upon
their child. When Andrew was five
years of age, his father accidentally
lost his life while herorically endeavoring to save a
friend from drowning. Until ten years of age, Andrew
was a ragged boy about the streets, supported by the
labor of his mother, who obtained her living with
her own hands.

He then, having never attended a school one day,
and being unable either to read or write, was ap-
prenticed to a tailor in his native town. A gentleman
was in the habit of going to the tailor's shop occasion-
ally, and reading to the boys at work there. He often
read from the speeches of distinguished British states-
men. Andrew, who was endowed with a mind of more
than ordinary native ability, became much interested
in these speeches ; his ambition was roused, and he
was inspired with a strong desire to learn to read.

He accordingly applied himself to the alphabet, and
with the assistance of some of his fellow- workmen,
learned his letters. He then called upon the gentle-
man to borrow the book of speeches. The owner,

pleased with his zeal, not only gave him the book,
but assisted him in learning to combine the letters
into words. Under such difficulties he pressed on-
ward laboriously, spending usually ten or twelve hours
at work in the shop, and then robbing himself of rest
and recreation to devote such time as he could to
reading.

He went to Tennessee in 1826, and located at
Greenville, where he married a young lady who pos-
sessed some education. Under her instructions he
learned to write and cipher. He became prominent
in the village debating society, and a favorite with
the students of Greenville College. In 1828, he or-
ganized a working man's party, which elected him
alderman, and in 1830 elected him mayor, which
position he held three years.

He now began to take a lively interest in political
affairs ; identifying himself with the working-classes,
to which he belonged. In 1835, he was elected a
member of the House of Representatives of Tennes-
see. He was then just twenty-seven years of age.
He became a very active member of the legislature,
gave his adhesion to the Democratic party, and in
1840 "stumped the State," advocating Martin Van
Buren's claims to the Presidency, in opposition to those
of Gen. Harrison. In this campaign he acquired much
readiness as a speaker, and extended and increased
his reputation.

In 1841, he was elected State Senator; in 1843, he
was elected a member of Congress, and by successive
elections, held that important post for ten years. In
1853, he was elected Governor of Tennessee, and
was re-elected in 1855. In all these res]K>nsible posi-
tions, he discharged his duties with distinguished abiK

ANDREW JOHNSON.

I

ity, and proved himself the warm friend of the work-
ing classes. In 1857, Mr. Johnson was elected
United States Senator.

Years before, in 1845, he had warmly advocated
the annexation of Texas, stating however, as his
reason, that he thought this annexation would prob-
ably prove " to be the gateway out of which the sable
sons of Africa are to pass from bondage to freedom,
and become merged in a population congenial to
themselves." In 1850, he also supported the com-
promise measures, the two essential features of which
were, that the white people of the Territories should
be permitted to decide for themselves whether they
would enslave the colored people or not, and that
the free States of the North should return to the
South persons who attempted to escape from slavery.

Mr. Johnson was never ashamed of his lowly origin:
on the contrary, he often took pride in avowing that
he owed his distinction to his own exertions. "Sir,"'
said he 0:1 the floor of the Senate, " I do not forget
that I am a mechanic ; neither do I forget that Adam
was a tailor and sewed fig leaves, and that our Sav-
ior was the son of a carpenter."

In the Charleston- Baltimore convention of 1860, he
ffa.s the choice of the Tennessee Democrats for the
Presidency. In 1861, when the purpose of the South-
ern Democracy became apparent, he took a decided
stand in favor of the Union, and held that " slavery
roust be held subordinate to the Union at whatever
cost." He returned to Tennessee, and repeatedly
imperiled his own life to protect the Unionists of
Tennesee. Tennessee having seceded from the
Union, President Lincoln, on March 4th, 1862, ap-
pointed him Military Governor of the State, and he
established the most stringent military rale. His
numerous proclamations attracted wide attention. In

1864, he was elected Vice-President of the United
States, and upon the death of Mr. Lincoln, April 15,

1865, became President. In a speech two days later
he said, " The American people must be taught, if
they do not already feel, that treason is a crime and
must be punished; that the Government will not
always bear with its enemies ; that it is strong not
only to protect, but to punish. * * The people
must understand that it (treason) is the blackest of
crimes, and will surely be punished." Yet his whole
administration, the history of which is so well known,
was in utter inconsistency with, and the most violent

opposition to, the principles laid down in that speech.

In his loose policy of reconstruction and general
amnesty, he was opposed by Congress ; and he char •
acterized Congress as a new rebellion, and lawlessly
defied it, in everything possible, to the utmost. In
the beginning of 1868, on account of "high crimes
and misdemeanors," the principal of which was the
removal of Secretary Stanton, in violation of the Ten-
ure of Office Act, articles of impeachment were pre-
ferred against him, and the trial began March 23.

It was very tedious, continuing for nearly three
months. A test article of the impeachment was at
length submitted to the court for its action. Il was
certain that as the court voted upon that article so
would it vote upon all. Thirty-four voices pronounced
the President guilty. As a two-thirds vote was neces-
sary to his condemnation, he was pronounced ac-
quitted, notwithstanding the great majority against
him. The change of one vote from the not guilty
side would have sustained the impeachment.

The President, for the remainder of his term, was
but little regarded. He continued, though impotently,
his conflict with Congress. His own party did not
think it expedient to renominate him for the Presi-
dency. The 'Nation rallied, with enthusiasm unpar-
alleled since the days of Washington, around the name
of Gen. Grant. Andrew Johnson was forgotten.
The bullet of the assassin introduced him to the
President's chair. Notwithstanding this, never was
there presented to a man a better opportunity to im-
mortalize his name, and to win the gratitude of a
nation. He failed utterly. He retired to his home
in Greeaville, Tenn., taking no very active part in
politics until 1875. On Jan. 26, after an exciting
struggle, he was chosen by the Legislature of Ten-
nessee, United States Senator in the forty-fourth Con-
gress, and took his seat in that body, at the special
session convened by President Grant, on the 5th of
March. On the 27th of July, 1875,1116 ex-President
made a visit to his daughter's home, near Carter
Station, Tenn. When he started on his journey, he was
apparently in his usual vigorous health, but on reach-
ing the residence of his child the following day, was
stricken with paralysis, rendering him unconscious.
He rallied occasionally, but finally passed away at
2 A.M., July 3 1, aged sixty-seven years. His fun-
eral was attended at Geenville, on the 3d of August,
with every demonstration of respect

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

I •

EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT.

LYSSES S. GRANT, the
eighteenth President of the
United States, was born on
the 2gth of April, 1822, of
Christian parents, in a humble
home, at Point Pleasant, on the
banks of the Ohio. Shortly after
his father moved to George-
town, Brown Co., O. In this re-
mote frontier hamlet, Ulysses
received a common-school edu-
cation. At the age of seven-
teen, in the year 1839, he entered
the Military Academy at West
Point. Here he was regarded as a
solid, sensible young man of fair abilities, and of
sturdy, honest character. He took respectable rank
as a scholar. In June, 1843, he graduated, about the
middle in his class, and was sent as lieutenant of in-
fantry to one of the distant military posts in the Mis-
souri Territory. Two years he past in these dreary
solitudes, watching the vagabond and exasperating
Indians.

The war with Mexico came. Lieut. Grant was
sent with his regiment to Corpus Christi. His first
battle was at Palo Alto. There was no chance here
for the e*hibition of either skill or heroism, nor at
Resacade la Palma, his second battle. At the battle
of Monterey, his third engagement, it is said that
he performed a signal service of daring and skillful
horsemanship. His brigade had exhausted its am-
munition. A messenger must be sent for more, along
a route exposed to the bullets of the foe. Lieut.
Grant, adopting an expedient learned of the Indians,
grasped the mane of his horse, and hanging upon one
side of the aninvil, ran the gauntlet in entire safety.

From Monterey he was sent, with the fourth infantry,
to aid Gen. Scott, at the siege of Vera Cruz. In
preparation for the march to the city of Mexico, he
was appointed quartermaster of his regiment. At the
battle of Molino del Rey, he was promoted to a
first lieutenancy, and was brevetted captain at Cha-
pultepec.

At the close of the Mexican War, Capt. Grant re-
turned with his regiment to New York,, and was again
sent to one of the military posts on the frontier. The
discovery of gold in California causing an immense
tide of emigration to flow to the Pacific shores, Capt.
Grant was sent with a battalion to Fort Dallas, in
Oregon, for the protection of the interests of the im-
migrants. Life was wearisome in those wilds. Capt.
Grant resigned his commission and returned to the
States; and having married, entered upon the cultiva-
tion of a small farm near St. Louis, Mo. He had but
little skill as a farmer. Finding his toil not re-
munerative, he turned to mercantile life, entering into
the leather business, with a younger brother, at Ga-
lena, 111. This was in the year 1860. As the tidings
of the rebels firing on Fort Sumpter reached the ears
of Capt. Grant in his counting-room, he said, —
"Uncle Sam has educated me for the»army; though
I have served him through one war, I do not feel that
I have yet repaid the debt. I am still ready to discharge
my obligations. I shall therefore buckle on my sword
and see Uncle Sam through this war too."

He went into the streets, raised a company of vol-
unteers, and led them as their captain to Springfield,
the capital of the State, where their services were
offered to Gov. Yates. The Governor, impressed by
the zeal and straightforward executive ability of Capt.
Grant, gave him a desk in his office, to assist in the
volunteer organization that was being formed in the
State in behalf of the Government. On the ieth of

ULYSSES S. GRANT.

I

June, 1 86 1, Capt. Grant received a commission as
Colonel of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Vol-
unteers. His merits as a West Point graduate, who
had, served for 15 years in the regular army, were such
that he was soon promoted to the rank of Brigadier-
General and was placed in command at Cairo. The
rebels raised their banner at Paducah, near the mouth
of the Tennessee River. Scarcely had its folds ap-
peared in the breeze ere Gen. Grant was there. The
rebels fled. Their banner fell, and the star and
stripes were unfurled in its stead.

He entered the service with great determination
and immediately began active duty. This was the be-
ginning, and until the surrenderor Lee at Richmond
he was ever pushing the enemy with great vigor and
effectiveness. At Belmont, a few days later, he sur-
prised and routed the rebels, then at Fort Henry
won another victory. Then came the brilliant fight
at Fort Donelson. The nation was electrified by the
victory, and the brave leader of the boys in blue was
immediately made a Major-General, and the military
District of Tennessee was assigned to him.

Like all great captains, Gen. Grant knew well how
to secure the results of victory. He immediately
pushed on to the enemies' lines. Then came the
terrible battles of Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and the
siege of Vicksburg, where Gen. Pemberton made an
unconditional surrender of the city with over thirty
thousand men and one-hundred and seventy-two can-
non. The fall of Vicksburg was by far the most
severe blow which the rebels had thus far encountered,
and opened up the Mississippi from Cairo to the Gulf.

Gen. Grant was next ordered to co-operate with
Gen. Banks in a movement upon Texas, and pro-
ceeded to New Orleans, where he was thrown from
his horse, and, received severe injuries, from which he
was laid up for months. He then rushed to the aid
of Gens. Rosecrans and Thomas at Chattanooga, and
by a wonderful series of strategic and technical meas-
ures put the Union Army in fighting condition. Then
followed the bloody battles at Chattanooga, Lookout
Mountain and Missionary Ridge, in which the rebels
were routed with great loss. This won for him un-
bounded praise in the North. On the 4th of Febru-
ary, 1864, Congress revived the grade of lieutenant-
general, and the rank was conferred on Gen. Grant.
He repaired to Washington to receive his credentials
and enter upon the duties of his new office.

Gen. Grant decided as soon as he took charge of
the army to concentrate the widely-dispersed National
troops for an attack upon Richmond, the nominal
capital of the Rebellion, and endeavor there to de-
stroy the rebel armies which would be promptly as-
sembled from all quarters for its defence. The whole
continent seemed to tremble under the tramp of these
majestic armies, rushing to the decisive battle field.
Steamers were crowded with troops. Railway trains
were burdened with closely packed thousands. His
plans were comprehensive and involved a series cf
campaigns, which were executed with remarkable en-
ergy and ability, and were consummated at the sur-
render of Lee, April 9, 1865.

The war was ended. The Union was. saved. The
almost unanimous voice of the Nation declared Gen.
Grant to be the most prominent instrument in it.; sal-
vation. The eminent services he had thus rendered
the country brought him conspicuously forward as the
Republican candidate for the Presidential chair.

At the Republican Convention held at Chicago,
May 21, 1868, he was unanimously nominated for the
Presidency, and at the autumn election received a
majority of the popular vote, .and 214 out of 294
electoral votes.

The National Convention of the Republican party
which met at Philadelphia on the 5th of June, 1872,-
placed Gen. Grant in nomination for a second term
by a unanimous vote. The selection was emphati-
cally indorsed by the people five months later, 292
electoral votes being cast for him.

Soon after the close of his second term, Gen. Grant
started upon his famous trip around the world. He
visited almost every country of the civilized world,
and was everywhere received with such ovations
and demonstrations of respect and honor, private
as well as public and official, as were never before
bestowed upon any citizen of the United States.

He was the most prominent candidate before the
Republican National Convention in 1880 for a re-
nomination for President. He went to New York and
embarked in the brokerage business under the firm
nameof Grant & Ward. The latter proved a villain,
wrecked Grant's fortune, and for larceny was sent to
the penitentiary. The General was attacked with
cancer in the throat, but suffered in his stoic-like
manner, never complaining. He was re-instated as
General of the Army and retired by Congress. The
cancer soon finished its deadly work, and July 23,
1885, the nation went in mourning over the death of
the illustrious General.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

NINETEENTH PRESIDENT.

UTHERFORD B. HAYES,
the nineteenth President of
the United States, was born in
Delaware, O., Oct. 4, 1822, al-
most three months after the
death of his father, Rutherford
Hayes. His ancestry on both
the paternal and maternal sides,
was of the most honorable char-
acter. It can be traced, it is said,
as far back as 1280, when Hayes and
Rutherford were two Scottish chief-
tains, fighting side by side with
Ealiol, William Wallace and Robert
Bruce. Both families belonged to the
nobility, owned extensive estates,
and had a large following. Misfor-
tune overtaking the family, George Hayes left Scot-
land in 1680, and settled in Windsor, Conn, His son
George was born in Windsor, and remained there
during his life. Daniel Hayes, son of the latter, mar-
ried Sarah Lee, and lived from the time of his mar-
riage until his death in Simsbury, Conn. Ezekiel,
son of Daniel, was born in 1724, and was a manufac-
turer of scythes at Bradford, Conn. Rutherford Hayes,
son of Ezekiel and grandfather of President Hayes, was
born in New Haven, in August, 1756. He was a farmer,
blacksmith and tavern-keeper. He emigrated to
Vermont at an unknown date, settling in Brattleboro,
where he established a hotel. Here his son Ruth-
erford Hayes the father of President Hayes, was

born. He was married, in September, 1813, to Sophia
Birchard, of Wilmington, Vt, whose ancestors emi-
grated thither from Connecticut, they having been
among the wealthiest and best famlies of Norwich.
Her ancestry on the male side are traced back to
1635, to John Birchard, one of the principal founders
of Norwich. Both of her grandfathers were soldiers
in the Revolutionary War.

The father of President Hayes was an industrious,
frugal and opened-hearted man. He was of a me-
chanical turn, and could mend a plow, knit a stock-
ing, or do almost anything else that he choose to
undertake. He was a member of the Church, active
in all the benevolent enterprises of the town, and con-
ducted his business on Christian principles. After
the close of the war of 1812, for reasons inexplicable
to his neighbors, he resolved to emigrate to Ohio.

The journey from Vermont to Ohio in that day,
when there were no canals, steamers, nor railways,
was a very serious affair. A tour of inspection was
first made, occupying four months. Mr. Hayes deter-
mined to move to Delaware, where the family arrived
in 1817. He died July 22, 1822, a victim of malarial
fever, less than three months before the birth of the
son, of whom we now write. Mrs. Hayes, in her sore be-
reavement, found the support she so much needed in
her brother Sardis, who had been a member of the
household from the day of its departure from Ver-
mont, and in an orphan girl whom she had adopted
some time before as an act of charity.

Mrs. Hayes at this period was very weak, and the

RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.

subject of this sketch was so feeble at birth that he
was not expected to live beyond a month or two at
most. As the months went by he grew weaker and
weaker, so that the neighbors were in the habit of in-
quiring from time to time " if Mrs. Haves' baby died
last night." On one occasion a neighbor, who was on
familiar terms with the family, after alluding to the
Iwy's big head, and the mother's assiduous care of
him, said in a bantering way, '; That's right! Stick to
him. You have got him along so far, and I shouldn't
wonder if he wo.ild really come to something yet."

" You need not laugh," said Mrs. Hayes. " You
wait and see. You can't tell but I shall make him
President of the United States yet." The boy lived,
in spite of the universal predictions of his speedy
death; and when, in 1825, his older brother was
drowned, he became, if possible, still dearer to his
mother.

The boy was seven years old before he went to
school. His education, however, was not neglected.
He probably learned as much from his mother and
sister as he would have done at school. His sports
were almost wholly within doors, his playmates being
his sister and her associates. These circumstances
tended, no doubt, to foster that gentleness of dispo-
sition, and that delicate consideration for the feelings
of others, which are marked traits of his character.

His uncle Sardis Birchard took the deepest interest
in his education ; and as the boy's health had im-
proved, and he was making good progress in his
studies, he proposed to send him to college. His pre-
paration commenced with a tutor at home; b:;t he
was afterwards sent for one year to a professor in the
Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Conn. He en-
tered Kenyon College in 1838, at the age of sixteen,
and was graduated at the head of his class in 1842.

Immediately after his graduation he began the
study of law in the office of Thomas Sparrow, Esq.,
in Columbus. Finding his opportunities for study in
Columbus somewhat limited, he determined to enter
the Law School at Cambridge, Mass., where he re-
mained two years.

In 1 845, after graduating at the Law School, he was
admitted to the bar at Marietta, Ohio, and shortly
afterward went into practice as an attorney-at-law
with Ralph P. Buckland, of Fremont. Here he re-
mained three years, acquiring but a limited practice,
and apparently unambitious of distinction in his pro-
fession.

In 1849 he moved to Cincinnati, where his ambi-
tion found a new stimulus. For several years, how-
ever, his progress was slow. Two events, occurring at
this period, had a powerful influence upon his subse-
quent life. One of these was his marrage with Miss
Lucy Ware Webb, daughter of Dr. James Webb, of
Chilicothe; the other was his introduction to the Cin-
cinnati Literary Club, a body embracing among its
members such men ?s Chief Justice Salmon P. Chase,

Gen. John Pope, Gov. Edward F. Noyes, and many
others hardly less distinguished in after life. The
marriage was a fortunate one in every respect, as
everybody knows. Not one of all the wives of our
Presidents was more universally admired, reverenced
and beloved than was Mrs. Hayes, and no one did
more than she to reflect honor upon American woman-
hood. The Literary Cluu brought Mr. Hayes into
constant association with young men of high char-
acter and noble aims, and lured him to display the
qualities so long hidden by his bashfulness and
modesty.

In 1856 he was nominated to the office of Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas; but he declined to ac-
cept the nomination. Two years later, the office of
city solicitor becoming vacant, the City Council
elected him for the unexpired term.

In 1861, when the Rebellion broke out, he was at
the zenith of his professional life. His rank at the
bar was among the the first. But the news of the
attack on Fort Sumpter found him eager to take up
arms for the defense of his country.

His military record was bright ard illustrious. In
October, 1861, he was made Lieutenant-Colonel, and
in August, 1862, promoted Colonel of the 79th Ohio
regiment, but he refused to leave his old comrades
and go among strangers. Subsequently, however, he
was made Colonel of his old regiment. At the battle
of South Mountain he received a wound, and while
faint and bleeding displayed courage and fortitude
that won admiration from all.

Col. Hayes was detached from his regiment, after
his recovery, to act as Brigadier-General, and placed
in command of the celebrated Kanawha division,
and for gallant and meritorious services in the battles
of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, he was
promoted Brigadier-General. He was also brevetted
Major-General, "forgallnnt nnd distif guished f-trvices
during the campaigns of 1864, in West Virginia." In
the course of his arduous services, four horses were
shot from under him, and he was wounded four times.

In r864, Gen. Hayes was elected to Congress, from
the Second Ohio District, which had long been Dem-
ocratic. He was not present during the campaign,
and after his election was importuned to resign his
commission in the army ; but he finally declared, " I
shall never corne to Washington until I can come by
the way of Richmond." He was re-elected in 1866.

In 1867, Gen Hayes was elected Governor of Ohio,
over Hon. Allen G. Thurman, a popular Democrat.
In 1869 was re-elected over George H. Pendleton.
He was elected Governor for the third term in r875.

In 1876 he was the standard bearer of the Repub-
lican Party in the Presidential contest, and after a
hard long contest was chosen President, and was in
augurated Monday, March 5, r875_ He served his
full term, not, however, with satisfaction to his party,
but his adminWration was an average OP"

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY Of ILLINOIS

TWENTIETH PRESIDENT.

95

i^ \ I> TA

liAKr

1

AMES A. GARFIELD, twen-
tieth President of the United
States, was born Nov. 19,
1831, in the woods of Orange,
Cuyahoga Co., O His par-
ents were Abram and Eliza
(Ballon) Garfield, both of New
England ancestry and from fami-
lies well known in the early his-
tory of that section of our coun-
try, but had moved to the Western
Reserve, in Ohio, early in its settle-
ment.

The house in which James A. was
born was not unlike the houses of
poor Ohio farmers of that day. It
wus about 20x30 feet, built of logs, with the spaces be-
tween the logs filled with clay. His father was a
hard working fanner, and he soon had his fields
cleared, an orchard planted, and a log barn built.
The household comprised the father and mother and
tneir four children — Mehetabel, Thomas, Mary and
James. In May, 1823, the father, from a cold con-
tracted in helping to put out a forest fire, died. At
this time James was about eighteen months old, and
Thomas about ten years old. No one, perhaps, can
tell how much James was indebted to his biother's
toil and self- sacrifice during the twenty years suc-
ceeding his father's death, but undoubtedly very
much. He now lives in Michigan, and the two sis-
ters live in Solon, O., near their birthplace.

The early educational advantages young Garfield
enjoyed were very limited, yet he made the most of
them. He labored at farm work for others, did car-
penter work, chopped wood, or did anything that
would bring in a few dollars to aid his widowed
mother in he' struggles to keep the little family to-

gether. Nor was Gen. Garfield ever ashamed of his
origin, and he never forgot the friends of his strug-
gling childhood, youth and manhood, neither did they
ever forget him. When in the highest seats of honor,
the humblest friend of his boyhood was as kindly
greeted as ever. The poorest laborer was sure of the
sympathy of one who had known all the bitterness
of want and the sweetness of bread earned by the
sweat of the brow. He was ever the simple, plain,
modest gentleman.

The highest ambition of young Garfield until he
was about sixteen years old was to be a captain of
a vessel on Lake Erie. He was anxious to go aboard
a vessel, which his mother strongly opposed. She
finally consented to his going to Cleveland, with the
understanding, however, that he should try to obtain
some other kind of employment. He walked all the
way to Cleveland. This was his first visit to the city.
After making many applications for work, and trying
to get aboard a lake vessel, and not meeting with
success, he engaged as a driver for his cousin, Amos
Letcher, on the Ohio & Pennsylvania Canal. He re-
mained at this work but a short time when he went
home, and attended the seminary at Chester for
about three years, when he entered. Hiram and the
Eclectic Institute, teaching a few terms of school in
the meantime, and doing other work. This school
was started by the Disciples of Christ in 1850, of
which church he was then a member. He became
janitor and bell-ringer in order to help pay his way.
He then became both teacher and pupil. He soon
" exhausted Hiram " and needed more ; hence, in the
fall of 1854, he entered Williams College, from which
he graduated in 1856, taking one of the highest hon-
ors of his class. He afterwards returned to Hiram
College as its President. As above stated, he early
united with the Christian or Diciples Church at
Hiram, and was ever after a devoted, zealous mem-
ber, often preaching in its pulpit and places where
he happened to be. Dr. Noah Porter, President of
Yale College, says of him in reference to his religion :

•>

JAMES A. GARFIELD.

" President Garfield was more than a man of
strong moral and religious convictions. His whole
history, from boyhood to the last, shows that duty to
man and to God, and devotion to Christ and life and
faith and spiritual commission were controlling springs
of his being, and to a more than usual degree. In
my judgment there is no more interesting feature of
his character than his loyal allegiance to the body of
Christians in which he was trained, and the fervent
sympathy which he ever showed in their Christian
communion. Not many of the few 'wise and mighty
and noble who are called' show a similar loyalty to
the less stately and cultured Christian communions
in which they have been reared. Too often it is true
that as they step upward in social and political sig-
nificance they step upward from one degree to
another in some of the many types of fashionable
Christianity. President Garfield adhered to the
church of his mother, the church in which he was
trained, and in which be served as a pillar and an
evangelist, and yet with the largest and most unsec-
tarian charity for all 'who loveour Lord in sincerity.'"

Mr. Garfield was united in marriage with Miss
Lucretia Rudolph, Nov. 1 1, 1858, who proved herself
worthy as the wife of one whom all the world loved and
mourned. To them were born seven children, five of
whom are still living, four boys and one girl.

Mr.Garfieldmadehis first political speeches in 1856,
in Hiram and the neighboring villages, and three
years later he began to speak at county mass-meet-
ings, and became the favorite speaker wherever he
was. During this year he was elected to the Ohio
Senate. He also began to study law at Cleveland,
and in 1861 was admitted to the bar. .The great
Rebellion broke out in the early part of this year,
and Mr. Garfield at once resolved to fight as he had
talked, and enlisted to defend the old flag. He re-
ceived his commission as Lieut.-Colonel of the Forty-
second Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug.
14, 1861. He was immediately put into active ser-
vice, and before he had ever seen a gun fired in action,
was placed in command of four regiments of infantry
and eight companies of cavalry, charged with the
work of driving out of his native State the officer
(Humphrey Marshall) reputed to be the ablest of
those, not educated to war whom Kentucky had given
to the Rebellion. This work was bravely and speed-
ily accomplished, although against great odds. Pres-
ident Lincoln, on his success commissioned him
Brigadier-General, Jan. ro, 1862; and as "he had
been the youngest man in the Ohio Senate two years
before, so now he was the youngest General in the
army." He was with Gen. Buell's army at Shiloh,
in its operations around Corinth and its march through
Alabama. He was then detailed as a memberof the
General Court-Martial for the trial of Gen. Fitz-John
Porter. He was then ordered to report to Gen. Rose-
crans, and was assigned to the " Chief of Staff."

The military Hstory of Gen. Garfield closed with

his brilliant services at Chickamauga, where he won
the stars of the Major-General.

Without an effort on his part Gen. Garfield was
elected to Congress in the fall of 1862 fiom the
Nineteenth District of Ohio. This section of Ohio
had been represented in Congress for sixty years
mainly by two men — Elisha Whittlesey and Joshua
R. Giddings. It was not without a struggle that he
resigned his place in the army. At the time he en-
tered Congress he was the youngest member in that
body. There he remained by successive re-
elections until he was elected President in 1880.
Of his labors in Congress Senator Hoar says : " Since
the year 1864 you cannot think of a question which
has been debated in Congress, or discussed before a
tribunel of the American people, in regard to which
you will not find, if you wish instruction, the argu-
ment on one side stated, in almost every instance
better than by anybody else, in some speech made in
the House of Representatives or on the hustings by
Mr. Garfield."

Upon Jan. 14, 1880, Gen. Garfield was elected to
the U. S. Senate, and on the eighth of June, of the
same year, was nominated as the candidate of his
party for President at the great Chicago Convention.
He was elected in the following November, and on
March 4, 1881, was inaugurated. Probably no ad-
ministration ever opened its existence under brighter
auspices than that of President Garfield, and every
day it grew in favo.' with the people, and by the first
of July he had completed all the initiatory and pre-
liminary work of his administration and was prepar-
ing to leave the city to meet his friends at Williams
College. While on his way and at the depot, in com-
pany with Secretary Elaine, a man stepped behind
him, drew a revolver, and fired directly at his back.
The President tottered and fell, and as he did so the
assassin fired a second shot, the bullet cutting the
left coat sleeve of his victim, but indicting no further
injury. It has been very truthfully said that this was
" the shot that was heard round the world " Never
before in the history of the Nation had anything oc-
curred which so nearly froze the blood of the people
for the moment, as this awful deed. He was smit-
ten on the brightest, gladdest day of all his life, and
was at the summit of his power and hope. For eighty
days, all during the hot months of July and August,
he lingered and suffered. He, however, remained'
master of himself till the last, and by his magnificent
bearing was teaching the country and the world the
noblest of human lessons — how to live grandly in the
very clutch of death. Great in life, he was surpass-
ingly great in death. He passed serenely away Sept.
19, 1883, at Elberon, N. J , on the very bunk of the
ocean, where he had been taken shortly previous. The
world wept at his death, as it never had done on the
death of any other man who had ever lived upon it.
The murderer was duly tried, found guilty and exe-
cuted, in one year after he committed the foul deed.

T

ilBKARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

TWENTY-FIRST PRESIDENT.

HESTER A. ARTHUR,
twenty-first Presr-'lwiii of the
United States was born in
P ranklin Cour ty, Vermont, on
thefifthofOdober, 1830, and is
the oldest of a family of two
sons and five daughters. His
father was ths Rev. Dr. William
Arthur, a Baptist c> ,rgyman, who
emigrated to tb'.s country from
the county Antrim, Ireland, in
his 1 8th year, and died in 1875, in
Newtonville, neai Albany, after a
long and successful ministry.

Young Arthur was educated at
Union College, S< henectady, where
he excelled in all his studies. Af-
ter his graduation he taught school
tj in Vermont for two years, and at
the expiration of that time came to
New York, with $500 in his pocket,
and entered the office of ex- Judge
E. D. Culver as student. After
I being admitted to the bar he formed
a partnership with his intimate friend and room-mate,,
Henry D. Gardiner, with the intention of practicing
in the West, and for three months they roamed about
in the Western States in search of an eligible site,
but in the end returned to New York, where they
hung out their shingle, and entered upon a success-
ful career almost from the start. General Arthur
soon afterward irv,rr<jd the daughter of Lieutenant

Herndon, of the United States Navy, who was lost at.
sea. Congress voted a gold medal to his widow in
recognition of the bravery he displayed on that occa-
sion. Mrs. Arthur died shortly before Mr. Arthur's
nomination to the Vice Presidency, leaving two
children.

Gen. Arthur obtained considerable legal celebrity
in his first great case, the famous Lemmon suit,
brought to recover possession of eight slaves who had
been declared free by Judge Paine, of the Superior
Court of New York City. It was in 1852 that Jon.
athan Lemmon, of Virginia, went to New York with
his slaves, intending to ship them to Texas, when
they were discovered and freed. The Judge decided
that they could not be held by the owner under the
Fugitive Slave Law. A howl of rage went up from
the South, and the Virginia Legislature authorized the
Attorney General of that State to assist in an appeal.
Wm. M. Evarts and Chester A. Arthur were employed
to represent the People, and they, won their case,
which then went to the Supreme Court of the United
States. Charles O'Conor here espoused the cause
of the slave-holders, but he too was beaten by Messrs.
Evarts and Arthur, and a long step was taken toward
the emancipation of the black race.

Another great service was rendered by General
Arthur in the same cause in 1856. Lizzie Jennings,
a respectable colored woman, was put off a Fourth
Avenue car with violence after she had paid her fare.
General Arthur sued on her behalf, and secured a
verdict of $500 damages. The next day the compa-
ny issued an order to admit colored persons to ride
on their cars, and the other car companies quickly

100

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.

followed their example. Before that the Sixth Ave-
nue Company ran a few special cars for colored per-
sons and the other lines refused to let them ride at all.

General Arthur was a delegate to the Convention
at Saratoga that founded the Republican party.
Previous to the war he was Judge-Advocate of the
Second Brigade of the State of New York, and Gov-
ernor Morgan, of that State, appointed him Engineer-
in-Chief of his staff. In 1861, he was made Inspec-
tor General, and soon afterward became Quartermas-
ter-General. In each of these offices he rendered
great service to the Government during the war. At
the end of Governor Morgan's term he resumed the
practice of the law, forming a partnership with Mr.
Ransom, and then Mr. Phelps, the District Attorney
of New Yoik, was added to the firm. The legal prac-
tice of this well-known firm was very large and lucra-
tive, each of the gentlemen composing it were able
lawyers, and possessed a splendid local reputation, if
not indeed one of national extent.

He always took a leading part in State and city
]K)litics. He was appointed Collector of the Port of
New York by President Grant, Nov. 21 1872, to suc-
ceed Thomas Murphy, and held the office until July,
20, 1 87 8, when he was succeeded by Collector Merritt.

Mr. Arthi'.r was nominated on the Presidential
ticket, with Gen. James A. Garfield, at the famous
National Republican Convention held at Chicago in
June, tS8o. This was perhaps the greatest political
convention that ever assembled on thecontinent. It
was composed of the leading politicians of the Re-
publican party, all able men, and each stood firm and
fought vigorously and with signal tenacity for their
respective candidates that were before the conven-
tion for the nomination. Finally Gen. Garfield re-
ceived the nomination for President and Gen. Arthur
for Vice-President. The campaign which followed
was one of the most animated known in the history of
our country. Gen. Hancock, the standard-bearer of
the Democratic party, was a popular man, and his
party made a valiant fight for his election.

Finally the election came and the country's choice
was Garfield and Arthur. They were inaugurated
March 4, 1881, as President and Vice-President.
A few months only had passed ere the newly chosen
President was the victim of the assassin's bullet. Then
came terrible weeks of suffering,— those moments of
anxious suspense, when- the hearts of all civilized na-

tions were throbbing in unison, longing for the re-
covery of the noble, the good President. The remark-
able patience that he manifested during those hours
and weeks, and even months, of the most terrible suf-
fering man has often been called upon to endure, was
seemingly more than human. It was certainly God-
like. During all this period of deepest anxiety Mr.
Arthur's every move was watched, and be it said to his
credit that his every action displayed only an earnest
desire that the suffering Garfield might recover, to
serve the remainder of the term he hud so auspi-
ciously begun. Not a selfish feeling was manifested
in deed or look of this man, even though the most
honored position in the world was at any moment
likely to fall to him.

At last God in his mercy relieved President Gar-
field from further suffering, and the world, as never
before in its history over the death of any other
man, wept at his bier. Then it became the duty of
the Vice President to assume the responsibilities of
the high office, and he took the oath in New York,
Sept. 20, 1881. The position was an embarr.issing
one to him, made doubly so from the facts that all
eyes were on him, anxious to know what he would do,
what policy he would pursue, and who he would se-
lect as advisers. The duties of the office had been
greatly neglected during the President's long illness,
and many important measures were to be immediately
decided by him ; and still farther to embarrass him he
did not fail to realize under what circumstances he
became President, and knew the feelings of many on
this point. Under these trying circumstances President
Arthur took the reins of the Government in his own
hands ; and, as embarrassing as were the condition of
affairs, he happily surprised the nation, acting so
wisely that but few criticised his administration.
He served the nation well and faithfully, until the
close of his administration, March 4, 1885, and was
a popular candidate before his party for a second
term. His name was ably presented before the con-
vention at Chicago, and was received with great
favor, and doubtless but for the personal popularity
of one of the opposing candidates, he would have
been selected as the standard-bearer of his party
for another campaign. He retired to private life car-
rying with him the best wishes of the American peo-
ple, whom he had served in a manner satisfactory
to them and with credit to himself.

LIBRARY

OF THE

DIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

t

1

TWENTY-SECOND PRESIDENT.

to3

3&

TEPHEN GROVfiR CLEVE-
LAND, the twenty- second Pres-
ident of the United States, was
horn in 1837, in the obscure
town of Caldwell, Essex Co.,
N. J., and in a little two-and-a-
half-story white house which is still
standing, characteristically to mark
the humble birth-place of one of
America's great men in striking con-
trast with the Old World, where all
men high in office must be high in
origin and born in the cradle of
wealth. When the subject of this
sketch was three years of age, his
father, who was a Presbyterian min-
ister, with a large family and a small salary, moved,
by way of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, to
Fayetteville, in search of an increased income and a
larger field of work. Fayetteville was then the most
straggling of country villages, about five miles from
Pompey Hill, where Governor Seymour was bom.

At the last mentioned place young Grover com-
menced going to school in the "good, old-fashioned
way," and presumably distinguished himself after the
manner of all village boys, in doing the things he
ought not to do. Such is the distinguishing trait of
all geniuses and independent thinkers. When he
arrived at the age of 14 years, he had outgrown the
capacity of the village school and expressed a most

emphatic desire to be sent to an academy. To this
his father decidedly objected. Academics in those
days cost money; besides, his father wanted him to
become self-supporting by the quickest possible
means, and this at that time in Fayetteville seemed
to be a position in' a country store, where his father
and the large family on his hands had considerable
influence. Grover was to be paid $50 for his services
the first year, and if he proved trustworthy he was to
receive $coo the second year. Here the lad com-
menced his career as salesman, and in two years he
had earned so good a reputation for trustworthiness
that his employers desired to retain him for an in-
definite length of time. Otherwise he did not ex-
hibit as yet any particular " flashes of genius " or
eccentricities of talent. He was simply a good boy.
But instead of remaining with this firm in Fayette-
ville, he went with the family in their removal to
Clinton, where he had an opportunity of attending a
high school. Here he industriously pursued his
studies until the family removed with him to a point
on Black River known as the " Holland Patent," a
village of 500 or 600 people, 15 miles north of Utica,
N. Y. At this place his father died, after preaching
but three Sundays. This event broke up the family,
and Grover set out for New York City to accept, at a
small salary, the position of " under-teacher " in an
asylum for the blind. He taught faithfully for two
years, and although he obtained a good reputation in
this capacity, he concluded that teaching was not his

I

•t.

104

S. GROVER CLEVELAND.

calling for life, and, reversing the traditional order,
he left the city to seek his fortune, instead of going
to a city. He first thought of Cleveland, Ohio, as
there was some charm in that name for him; but
before proceeding to that place he went to Buffalo to
ask the advice of his uncle, Lewis F. Allan, a noted
stock-breeder of that place. The latter did not
speak enthusiastically. " What is it you want to do,
my boy?" he asked. "Well, sir, I want to study
law," was the reply. " Good gracious ! " remarked
the old gentleman ; " do you, indeed ? What ever put
that into your head ? How much money have you
got?" "Well, sir, to tell the truth, I haven't got
any."

After a long consultation, his uncle offered him a
pla.ce temporarily as assistant herd-keeper, at $50 a
year, while lie could "look around." One day soon
afterward he boldly walked into the office of Rogers,
Bowen & Rogers, of Buffalo, and told them what he
wanted. A number of young men were already en-
gaged in the office, but Graver's persistency won, and
he was finally permitted to come as an office boy and
have the use of the law library, for the nominal sum
of $3 or $4 a week. Out of this he had to pay for
his board and washing. The walk to and from his
uncle's was a long and rugged one; and, although
the first winter was a memorably severe one, his
shoes were out of repair and his overcoat — he had
none — yet he was nevertheless prompt and regular.
On the first day of his service here, his senior em-
ployer threw down a copy of Blackstone before him
wilh a bang that made the dust fly, saying "That's
where they all begin." A titter ran around the little
circle of clerks and students, as they thought that
was enough to scare young Grover out of his plans ;
but in due time he mastered that cumbersome volume.
Then, as ever afterward, however, Mr. Cleveland
exhibited a talent for executiveness rather than for
chasing principles through all their metaphysical
possibilities. " Let us quit talking and go and do
it," was practically his motto.

The first public office to which Mr. Cleveland was
elected was that of Sheriff of Erie Co., N. Y., in
which Buffalo is situated; and in such capacity it fell
to his duty to inflict capital punishment upon two
criminals. In 1881 he was elected Mayor of the
City of Buffalo, on the Democratic ticket, with es-
pecial reference to the bringing about certain reforms

in the administration of the municipal affairs of that
city. In this office, as well as that of Sheriff, his
performance of duty has generally been considered
fair, with possibly a few exceptions which were fer-
reted out and magnified during the last Presidential
campaign. As a specimen of his plain language in
a veto message, we quote from one vetoing an iniqui-
tous street-cleaning contract: "This is a time for
plain speech, and my objection to your action shall
be plainly stated. I regard it as the culmination of
a mos bare-faced, impudent and shameless scheme
to betray the interests of the people and to worse
than squander the people's money." The New York
Sun afterward very highly commended Mr. Cleve-
land's administration as Mayor of Buffalo, and there-
upon recommended him for Governor of the Empire
State. To the latter office he was elected in 1882,
and his administration of the affairs of State was
generally satisfactory. The mistakes he made, if
any, were made very public throughout the nation
after he was nominated for President of the United
States. For this high office he was nominated July
n, 1884, by the National Democratic Convention at
Chicago, when other competitors were Thomas F.
Bayard, Roswell P. Flower, Thomas A. Hendricks,
Benjamin F. Butler, Allen G. Thurman, etc.; and he
was elected by the people, by a majority of about a
thousand, over the brilliant and long-tried Repub-
lican statesman, James G. Elaine. President Cleve-
land resigned his office as Governor of New York in
January, 1885, in order to prepare for his duties as
the Chief Executive of the United States, in which
capacity his term commenced at noon on the 4th of
March, 1885. For his Cabinet officers he selected
the following gentlemen: For Secretary of State,
Thomas F. Bayard, of Delaware ; Secretary of the
Treasury, Daniel Manning, of New York ; Secretary
of War, William C. Endicott, of Massachusetts ;
Secretary of the Navy, William C. Whitney, of New
York ; Secretary of the Interior, L. Q. C. Lamar, of
Mississippi; Postmaster-General, William F. Vilas,
of Wisconsin ; Attorney-General, A. H. Garland, of
Arkansas.

The silver question precipitated a controversy be-
tween those who were in favor of the continuance of
silver coinage and those who were opposed, Mr.
Cleveland answering for the latter, even before his
inauguration.

I

I

LIBRARY

OF THE

WtVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

HADRACH BOND, the first
Governor of Illinois after its
organization us a State, serving
from 1818 to 1822, was born in
Frederick County, Maryland,
in the year 1773, and was
raised a farmer on his father's
plantation, receiving only a plain
English education. He emigrated
to this State in 1794, when it was a
part of the "Northwest Territory,"
continuing in the vocation in which
he had been brought up in his native
State, in the " New Design," near
Eagle Creek, in what is now Monroe
County. He served several terms as
a member of the General Assembly
of Indiana Territory, after it was organized as such,
and in 1812-14 he was a Delegate to the Twelfth
and Thirteenth Congresses, taking his .seat Dec. 3,
1812, and serving until Oct. 3, 1814. These were
the times, the reader will recollect, when this Gov-
ernment had its last struggle with Great Britain.
The year 1812 is also noted in the history of this
State as that in which the first Territorial Legislature
was held. It convened at Kaskaskia, Nov. 25, and
adjourned Dec. 26, following.

While serving as Delegate to Congress, Mr. Bond
was instrumental in procuring the right of pre-emp-
t on on the public domain. On the expiration of his
term at Washington he was appointed Receiver of
Public Moneys at Kaskaskia, then the capital of the
Territory. In company with John G. Comyges,

Thomas H. Harris, Charles Slade, Michael Jones,
Warren Brown, Edward Humphries and Charles W.
Hunter, he became a proprietor of the site of the
initial city of Cairo, which they hoped, from its favor-
able location .at the junction of the two great
rivers near the center of the Great West, would
rapidly develop into a metropolis. To aid the enter-
prise, they obtained a special charter from the Legis-
lature, incorporating both the City and the Bank of
Cairo.

In 1818 Mr. Bond was elected the first Governor
of the State of Illinois, being inaugurated Oct. 6,
that year, which was several weeks before Illinois
was actually admitted. The facts are these: In
January, 1818, the Territorial Legislature sent a peti-
tion to Congress for the admission of Illinois as a
State, Nathaniel Pope being then Delegate. The
petition was granted, fixing the northern line of the
State on the latitude of the southern extremity of
Lake Michigan ; but the bill was afterward so amend-
ed as to extend this line to its present latitude. In
July a convention was called at Kaskaskia to draft a
constitution, which, however, was not submitted to
the people. By its provisions, supreme judges, pros-
ecuting attorneys, county and circuit judges, record-
ers and justices of the peace were all to be appointed
by the Governor or elected by the Legislature. This
constitution was accepted by Congress Dec. 30. At
that time Illinois comprised but eleven counties,
namely, Randolph, Madison, Gallatin, Johnson,
Pope, Jackson, Crawford, Bond, Union, Washington
and Franklin, the northern portion of the State be-
ing mainly in Madison County. Thus it appears
that Mr. Bond was honored by the naming of a

i 112

StiADRACH BOND.

county before he was elected Governor. The present
county of Bond is of small limitations, about 60 to 80
miles south of Springfield. For Lieutenant Governor
the people chose Pierre Menard, a prominent and
worthy Frenchman, after whom a county in this State
is named. In this election there were no opposition
candidates, as the popularity of these men had made
their promotion to the chief offices of the> Slate, even
before the constitution was drafted, a foregone con-
clusion.

The principal points that excited the people in
reference to political issues at this period were local
or "internal improvements," as they were called,
State banks, location of the capital, slavery and the
personal characteristics of the proposed candidates.
Mr. Bond represented the " Convention party," for
introducing slavery into the State, supported by Elias
Kent Kane, his Secretary of State, and John Mc-
Lean, while Nathaniel Pope and John P. Cook led
the anti-slavery element. The people, however, did
not become very much excited over this issue until
1820, when the f im KIS Missouri Compromise was
adopted by Congress, limiting slavery to the south
of the parallel of 36° 30' except in Missouri. While
this measure settled the great slavery controversy,
so far as the average public sentiment was tempor-
arily concerned, until 1854, when it was repealed
under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas, the issue
as considered locally in this State was not decided
until 1824, after a most furious campaign. (See
sketch of Gov. Coles.) The ticket of 1818 was a
compromise one, Bond representing (moderately) the
pro-slavery sentiment and Menard the anti-slavery.

An awkward element in the State government
under Gov. Bond's administration, was the imperfec-
tion of the State constitution. The Convention
wished to have Elijah C. Berry for the first Auditor
of Public Accounts, but, as it was believed that the
new Governor would not appoint him to the office,
the Convention declared in a schedule that " an
auditor of public accounts, an attorney general and
such other officers of the State as may be necessary,
may be appointed by the General Assembly." The
Constitution, as it stood, vested a very large appoint-
ing power in the Governor; but for the purpose of
getting one man into office, a total change was made,
and the power vested in the Legislature. Of this

^ provision the Legislature took advantage, and de-
_i i ^m

clared that State's attorneys, canal commissioners,
bank directors, etc., were all " officers of the State "
and must therefore be appointed by itself independ-
ently of the Governor.

During Gov. Bond's administration a general law
was passed for the incorporation of academies and
towns, and one authorizing lotteries. The session of
1822 authorized the Governor to appoint commis-
sioners, to act in conjunction with like commissioners
appointed by the State of Indiana, to report on the
practicability and expediency of improving the navi-
gation of the Wabash River; also inland navigation
generally. Many improvements were recommended,
some of which have been feebly worked at even till
the present day, those along the Wabash being of no
value. Also, during Gov. Bond's term of office, the
capital of the State was removed from Kasknskia to
Vandalia. In 1820 a law was passed by Congress
authorizing this State to open a canal through the
public lands. The State appointed commissioners
10 explore the route and prepare the necessary sur-
veys and estimates, preparatory to iis execution;
but, being unable out of its own resources to defray
the expenses of the undertaking, it was abandoned
until some time after Congress made the grant of
land for the purpose of its construction.

On the whole, Gov. Bond's administration was
fairly good, not being open to severe criticism from
any party. In 1824, two years after the expiration
of his term of office, he was brought oat as a candi-
date for Congress against the formidable Joim I'.
Cook, but received only 4,374 votes to 7,460 for th_-
latter. Gov. Bond was no orator, but had maue
many fast friends by a judicioas bestowment of his
gubernatorial patronage, and these worked zealously
for him in the campaign.

In 1827 ex-Gov. Bond was appointed by the Leg-
islature, with VVm. P. McKee and Dr. Gershom
Jayne. as Commissioners to locate a site for a pe.ii-
tentiary on the Mississippi at or near Alton.

Mr. Bond was of a benevolent and convivial dis-
position, a man of shrewd observation and clear ap-
preciation of events. His person was erect, stand-
ing six feet in height, and afier middle life became
portly, weighing 200 pounds. His features were
strongly masculine, complexion dark, hair jet and
eyes hazel ; was a favorite witli the ladies. He died
April ii, 1830, in peace and contentment.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

t

DWARD COLES, second
Governor of Illinois, 1823-
. 6, was born Dec. 15, 1786,
in Albemarle Co., Va., on
the old family estate called
" Enniscorthy," on the
Green Mountain. His fath-
er, John Coles, was a Colonel in the
Revolutionary War. Having been fit-
ted for college by private tutors, he
was sent to Hampden Sidney, where
he remained until the autumn of 1805,
when he was removed to William and
Mary College, at Williamsburg, Va.
This college he left in the summer of
1 807, a short time before the final and graduating
examination. Among his classmates were Lieut.
Gen. Scott, President John Tyler, Wm. S. Archer,
United States Senator from Virginia, and Justice
Baldwin, of the United States Supreme Court. The
President of the latter college, Bishop Madison, was
a cousin of President James Madison, and that cir-
cumstance was the occasion of Mr. Coles becoming
personally acquainted with the President and re-
ceiving a position as his private secretary, 1809-15.
The family of Coles was a prominent one in Vir-
ginia, and their mansion was the seat of the old-
fashioned Virginian hospitality. It was visited by
such notables as Patrick Henry, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, the Randolphs, Tazewell, Wirt, etc. At the
age of 23, young Coles found himself heir to a plant-
ation and a considerable number of slaves. Ever
since his earlier college days his attention had been
drawn to the question of slavery. He read every-

thing on the subject that came in his way, and
listened to lectures on the rights of man. The more
he reflected upon the subject, the more impossible
was it for him to reconcile the immortal declaration
"that all men are born free and equal " with the
practice of slave-holding. He resolved, therefore, to
free his slaves the first opportunity, and even remove
his residence to a free State. One reason which de-
termined him to accept the appointment as private
secretary to Mr. Madison was because he believed
that through the acquaintances he could make at
Washington he could better determine in what part
of the non-slaveholding portion of the Union he would
prefer to settle.

The relations between Mr. Coles and President
Madison, as well as Jefferson and other distinguished
men, were of a very friendly character, arising from
the similarity of their views on the question of slavery
and their sympathy for each other in holding doc-
trines so much at variance with the prevailing senti-
ment in their own State.

In 1857, he resigned his secretaryship and spent a
portion of the following autumn in exploring the
Northwest Territory, for the purpose of finding a lo-
cation and purchasing lands on which to settle his
negroes. He traveled with a horse and buggy, with
an extra man and horse for emergencies, through
many parts of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri,
determining finally to settle in Illinois. At this time,
however, a misunderstanding arose between our
Government and Russia, and Mr. Coles was selected
to repair to St. Petersburg on a special mission, bear-
ing important papers concerning the matter at issue.
The result was a conviction of the Emperor (Alex-

EDWARD COLES.

I

ander) of the error committed by his minister at
Washington, and the consequent withdrawal of the
the latter from the post. On his return, Mr. Coles
visited other parts of Europe, especially Paris, where
he was introduced to Gen. Lafayette.

In the spring of 1819, he removed with all his
negroes from Virginia to Edwardsville, 111., with the
intention of giving them their liberty. He did not
make known to them his intention until one beautiful
morning in April, as they were descending the Ohio
River. He lashed all the boats together and called
all the negroes on deck and made them a short ad-
dress, concluding his remarks by so expressing him-
self that by a turn of a sentence he proclaimed in
the shortest and fullest manner that they were no
longer slaves, but free as he was and were at liberty
to proceed with him or go ashore at their pleas-
ure. A description of the effect upon the negroes is
best desciibed in his own language :

" The effect upon them was electrical. They stared
at me and then at each other, as if doubting the ac-
curacy or reality of what they heard. In breathless
silence they stood before me, unable to utter a word,
but with countenances beaming with expression which
no words could convey, and which no language
can describe. As they began to see the truth of
what they had heard, and realize their situation, there
came on a kind of hysterical, giggling laugh. After
a pause of intense and unutterable emotion, bathed
in tears, and with tremulous voices, they gave vent to
their gratitude and implored the blessing of God
on me."

Before landing he gave them a general certificate
of freedom, and afterward conformed more particu-
larly with the law of this State requiring that each
individual should have a certificate. This act of
Mr. Coles, all the more noble and heroic considering
the overwhelming pro-slavery influences surrounding
him, has challenged the admiration of every philan-
thropist of modern times.

March 5, 1819, President Monroe appointed Mr.
Coles Registrar of the Land Office at Edwardsvil:g:
at that time one of the principal land offices in the
State. While acting in th's capacity and gaining
many friends by his politeness and general intelli-
gence, the greatest struggle that ever occurred in
Illinois on the slavery ques ion culminated in the
furious contest characterizing the campaigns and
elections of 1822-4. Jn tne summer of 1823, when a
new Governor was to be elected to succeed Mr.
Bond, the pro-slavery element divided into factions,
putting forward for the executive office Joseph
Phillips, Chief Justice of the State, Thomas C.
Browne and Gen. James B. Moore, of the State Mil-
itia. The anti-slavery element united upon Mr.
Coles, and, after one of the most bitter campaigns,
succeeded in electing him as Governor. His plural-
ity over Judge Phillips was only 59 in a total vote of

over 8,000. The Lieutenant Governor was elected
by the slavery men. Mr. Coles' inauguration speech
was marked by calmness, deliberation and such a
wise expression of appropriate suggestions as to
elicit the sanction of all judicious politicians. But.
he compromised not with evil. In his message to
the Legislature, the seat of Government being ihen
at Vandalia, he strongly urged the abrogation of the
modified form of slavery which then existed in this
State, contrary to the Ordinance of 1787. His posi-
tion on this subject seems the more remarkable, when
it is considered that he was a minority Governor, the
population of Illinois being at that time almost ex-
clusively from slave-holding States and by a larg'j
majority in favor of the perpetuation of that old relic
of barbarism. The Legislature itself was, of course,
a reflex of the popular sentiment, and a majority ol
them were led on by fiery men in denunciations of
the conscientious Governor, and in curses loud and
deep upon him and all his friends. Some of the
public men, indeed, went so far as to head a sort of
mob, or " shiveree " party, who visited the residence
of the Governor and others at Vandalia and yelled
and groaned and spat fire.

The Constitution, not establishing or permitting
slavery in this State, was thought therefore to be
defective by the slavery politicians, and they desired
a State Convention to be elected, to devise and sub-
mit a new Constitution ; and the dominant politics
of the day was "Convention" and "anti-Conven-
tion." Both parties issued addresses to the people,
Gov. Coles himself being the author of the address
published by the latter party. This address revealed
the schemes of the conspirators in a masterly man-
ner. It is difficult for us at this distant day to esti-
mate the critical and extremely delicate situation in
which the Governor was placed at that time.

Our hero maintained himself honorably and with
supreme dignity throughout his administration, and
in his honor a county in this State is named. He
was truly a great man, and those who lived in
this State during his sojourn here, like those who
live at the base of the mountain, were too nearto see
and recognize the greatness that overshadowed them.

Mr. Coles was married Nov. 28, 1833, by Bishop
De Lancey, to Miss Sally Logan Roberts, a daughter
of Hugli Roberts, a descendant of Welsh ancestry,
who cam t to this country with Wm. Penn in 1682.

After the expiration of his term of service, Gov.
Coles continued his residence in Edwardsville, sup-
erintending his farm in the vicinity. He was fond
of agriculture, and was the founder of the first agri-
cultural society in the Stnte. On account of ill
health, however, and having no family to tie him
down, he spent much of his time in Eastern cities.
About 1832 he changed his residence to Philadel-
phia, where he died July 7, 1868, and is buried at
Woodland, near that city.

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•jrVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

II9

INI AN EDWARDS, Governor
from 1827 to 1830, was1 a son
of Benjamin Edwards, and
was born in Montgomery
County, Maryland, in March,
& 1775. His domestic train-
ing was well fitted to give
his mind strength, firmness and
honorable principles, and a good
foundation was laid for the elevated
character to which he afterwards
attained. His parents were Bap-
tists, and very strict in their moral
piinciples. His education in early
youth was in company with and
partlyunder the tuition of Hon. Wm.
Wirt, whom his father patronized,
and who was more than two years
older. An intimacy was thus
foruud between them which was lasting for life. He
was further educated at Dickinson College, at Car-
lisle, Pa. He next commenced the study of law, but
before completing his course he moved to Nelson
County, Ky., to open a farm for his father and to
purchase homes and locate lands for his brothers and
sisters. Here he fell in the company of dissolute
companions, and for several years led the life of a
spendthrift. He was, however, elected to the Legis-
lature of Kentucky as the Representative of Nelson
bounty before he was 21 years of age, and was re-
elected by an almost unanimous vote.

Jn 1798 he was licensed to practice law, and the
following year was admitted to the Courts of Tennes-
see. About this time he left Nelson County for
Russellville, in Logan County, broke away from his
dissolute companions, commenced a reformation and
devoted himself to severe and laborious study. He
then began to rise rapidly in his profession, and soon
became an eminent lawyer, and inside of four years
he filled in succession the offices of Presiding Judge
of the General Court, Circuit Judge, fourth Judge of
the Court of Appeals and Chief Justice of the State,
— all before he was 32 years of age! In addition, in
1802, he received a commission as Major of a battal-
ion of Kentucky militia, and in 1804 was chosen a
Presidential Elector, on the Jefferson and Clinton
ticket. In 1806 he was a candidate for Congress,
but withdrew on being promoted to the Court of
Appeals.

Illinois was organized as a separate Territory in
the spring of 1809, when Mr. Edwards, then Chief
Justice of the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, received
from President Madison the appointment as Gover-
nor of the new Territory, his commission bearing date
April 24, 1809. Edwards arrived at Kaskaskia in
June, and on the i ith of that month took the oath of
office. At the same time he was appointed Superin-
tendent of the United States Saline, this Government
interest then developing into considerable proportions
in Southern Illinois. Although during the first three
years of his administration he had the power to make
new counties and appoint all the officers, yet he always
allowed the people of each county, by an informal '

f

T2O

NINIAN EDWARDS.

vote, to select their own officers, both civil and mili-
tary. The noted John J. Crittenden, afterward
United States Senator from Kentucky, was appointed
by Gev. Edwards to the office of Attorney General of
the Territory, which office was accepted for a short
time only.

The Indians in 1810 committing sundry depreda-
tions in the Territory, crossing the Mississippi from
the Territory of Louisiana, a long correspondence fol-
lowed between the respective Governors concerning
the remedies, which ended in a council with the sav-
ages at Peoria in 1812, and a fresh interpretation of
the treaties. Peoria was depopulated by these de-
predations, and was not re-settled for many _years
afterward.

As Gov. Edwards' term of office expired by law in
1812, he was re-appointed for another term of three
years, and again in 1815 for a third term, serving
until the organization of the State in the fall of 1818
and the inauguration of Gov. Bond. At this time
ex-Gov. Edwards was sent to the United States
Senate, his colleague being Jesse B. Thomas. As
Senator, Mr. Edwards took a conspicuous part, and
acquitted himself honorably in all the measures that
came up in that body, being well posted, an able de-
bater and a conscientious statesman. He thought
seriously of resigning this situation in 1821, but was
persuaded by his old friend, Wm. Wirt, and others to
continue in office, which he did to the end of the
term.

He was then appointed Minister to Mexico by
President Monroe. About this time, it appears that
Mr. Edwards saw suspicious signs in the conduct of
Wm. H. Crawford, Secretary of the United States
Treasury, and an ambitious candidate for the Presi-
dency, and being implicated by the latter in some of
his statements, he resigned his Mexican mission in
order fully to investigate the charges. The result
was the exculpation of Mr. Edwards.

Pro-slavery regulations, often termed "Black Laws,"
disgraced the statute books of both the Territory and
the State of Illinois during the whole of his career in
this commonwealth, and Mr. Edwards always main-
tained the doctrines of freedom, and was an important
actor in the great struggle which ended in a victory
for his party in 1824.

In 1826-7 the Winnebago and other Indians com-
mitted soive depredations in the northern part of the

State, and the white settlers, who desired the lands
and wished to exasperate the savages into an evacu-
ation of the country, magnified the misdemeanors of
the aborigines and thereby produced a hostility be-
tween the races so great as to precipitate a little war,
known in history as the "Winnebago W?r." A few
chases and skirmishes were had, when Gen. Atkinson
succeeded in capturing Red Bird, the Indian chief,
and putting him to death, thus ending the contest, at
least until the troubles commenced which ended in
the " Black Hawk War " of 1832. In the interpre-
tation of treaties and execution of their provisions
Gov. Edwards had much vexatious work to do. The
Indians kept themselves generally within the juris-
diction of Michigan Territory, and its Governor,
Lewis Cass, was at a point so remote that ready cor-
respondence with him was difficult or impossible.
Gov. Edwards' administration, however, in regard to
the protection of the Illinois frontier, seems to have
been very efficient and satisfactory.

For a considerable portion of his time after his re-
moval to Illinois, Gov. Edwards resided upon his
farm near Kaskaskia, which he had well stocked with
horses, cattle aud sheep from Ke.itucky, also with
fruit-trees, grape-vines and shrubbery. He estab-
lished saw and grist-mills, and engaged extensively
in mercantile business, having no less than eight or ten
stores in this State and Missouri. Notwithstanding
the arduous duties of his office, he nearly always pur-
chased the goods himself with which to supply the
stores. Although not a regular practitioner of medi-
cine, he studied the healing art to a considerable ex-
tent, and took great pleasure in prescribing for, and
taking care of, the sick, generally without charge.
He was also liberal to the poor, several widows and
ministers of the gospel becoming indebted to him
even for their homes.

He married Miss Elvira Lane, of Maryland, in
1803, and they became the affectionate parents of
several children, one of whom, especially, is well
known to the people of the '' Prairie State," namely,
Ninian Wirt Edwards, once the Superintendent of
Public Instruction and still a resident of Springfield.
Gov. Edwards resided at and in the vicinity of Kas-
kaskia from 1809 to 1818; in Edwardsville (named
after him) from that time to 1824; and from the lat-
ter date at Belleville, St. Clair County, until his
death, July 20, 1833, of Asiatic cholera. Edwnrds
County is also named in his honor.

T

LIBRARY

OF THE

'JC'VERSITY Of ILLINOIS

VERKORS OF ILLINOIS.

"3

OHN REYNOLDS, Governor 1831-

'i;s* 4. W;1S korn m Montgomery Coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, Feb. 26, 1788.
His father, Robert Reynolds and
1 1 is mother, »?<? Margaret Moore,
were both natives of Ireland, from
which country they emigrated to
I he United States in 1785, land-
ing at Philadelphia. The senior
Reynolds entertained an undying
hostility to the British Govern-
ment. When the subject of this
sjcetch was about six months old,
his parents emigrated with him to
Tennessee, where many of their
relatives had already located, at the base of the
Copper Ridge Mountain, about 14 miles northeast of
the present city of Knoxville. There they were ex-
posed to Indian depredations, and were much molest-
ed by them. In 1794 they moved into the interior
of the State. They were poor, and brought up their
children to habits of manual industry.

In 1800 the family removed to Kaskaskia, 111., with
eight horses and two wagons, encountering many
hardships on the way. Here young Reynolds passed
the most of his childhood, while his character began
to develop, the most prominent traits of which were
ambition and energy. He also adopted the principle
and practice of total abstinence from intoxicating
liquors. In 1807 the family made another removal,

this time to the " Goshen Settlement," at the foot of
the Mississippi bluffs three or four miles southwest
of Edwardsville.

On arriving at his 2oth year, Mr. Reynolds, seeing
that he must look about for his own livelihood and
not yet having determined what calling to pursue,
concluded first to attend college, and he accordingly
went to such an institution of learning, near Knox-
ville, Tenn., where he had relatives. Imagine his
diffidence, when, after passing the first 20 years of
his life without ever having seen a carpet, a papered
wall or a Windsor chair, and never having lived in a
shingle-roofed house, he suddenly ushered himself
into the society of the wealthy in the vicinity of
Knoxville! He attended college nearly two years,
going through the principal Latin authors ; but it
seems that he, like the rest of the world in modern
times, had but very little use for his Latin in after
life. He always failed, indeed, to exhibit any good
degree of literary discipline. He commenced the
study of law in Knoxville, but a pulmonary trouble
came on and compelled him to change his mode
of life. Accordingly he returned home and re-
cuperated, and in 1812 resumed his college and
law studies at Knoxville. In the fall of 1812 he was
admitted to the Bar at Kaskaskia. About this time
he also learned the French language, which he
practiced with pleasure in conversation with his
family for many years. He regarded this language
as being superior to all others for social intercourse.

•4*

, IZ4

JOHN REYNOLDS.

From his services in the West, in the war of 1812,
he obtained the sobriquet of the " Old Ranger." He
was Orderly Sergeant, then Judge Advocate.

Mr. Reynolds opened his first law office in the
winter and spring of [814, in the French village of
Cahokia, then the capital of St. Clair County.

In the fall of 1818 he was elected an Associate
Justice upon the Supreme Bench by the General
Assembly. In 1825 he entered more earnestly than
ever into the practice of law, and the very next year
was elected a member of ihe Legislature, where he
acted independently of all cliques and private inter-
ests. In 1828 the Whigs and Democrats were for
the first time distinctively organized as such in Illi-
nois, and the usual party bitterness grew up and
raged on all sides, while Mr. Reynolds preserved a
judicial calmness and moderation. The real animus
of the campaign was " Jackson " and " anti-Jackson,"
the former party carrying the State.

In August, 1830, Mr. Reynolds was elected Gov-
ernor, amid great excitement. Installed in office, he
did all within his power to advance the cause of edu-
cation, internal improvements, the Illinois & Mich-
igan Canal, the harbor at Chicago, settling the coun-
try, etc.; also recc mmended the winding up of the
State Bank, as its affairs had become dangerously
complicated. In his national politics, he was a
moderate supporter of General Jackson. But the
most celebrated event of his gubernatorial admin-
istration was the Black Hawk War, which occurred
in 1832. He called out the militia and prosecuted
the contest with commendable diligence, appearing
in person on the battle-grounds during the most
critical periods. He was recognized by the President
as Major-General, and authorized by him to make
treaties witli the Indians. By the assistance of the
general Government the war was terminated without
much bloodshed, but after many serious fights. This
war, as well as everything else, was materially re-
tarded by the occurrence of Asiatic cholera in the
West. This was its first appearance here, and was
the next event in prominence during Gov. Reynolds'
term.

South Carolina nullification coming up at this time,
it was heartily condemned by both President Jackson
and Gov. Reynolds, who took precisely the same
grounds as the Unionists in the last war.

On the termination of his gubernatorial term in
1834, Gov. Reynolds was elected a Member of Con-
gress, still considering himself a backwoodsman, as
he had scarcely been outside of the Slate since he
became of age, and had spent nearly all his youthful
days in the wildest region of the frontier. His first
move in Congress was to adopt a resolution that in
all elections made by the House for officers the votes
should be given viva voce, each member in his place
naming aloud the person for whom he votes. This
created considerable heated discussion, but was es-

sentially adopted, and remained the controlling prin-
ciple for many years. The ex Governor was scarcely
absent from his seat a single day, during eight ses-
sions of Congress, covering a period of seven year^,
and he never vacillated in a party vote; but he failed
to get the Democratic party to foster his " National
Road" scheme. He says, in "My Own Times" (a
large autobiography he published), that it was only
by rigid economy that he avoided insolvency while in
Washington. During his sojourn in that city he was
married, to a lidy of the place.

In 1837, while out of Congress, and in company
with a few others, he built the first railroad in the
Mississippi Valley, namely, one about six miles long,
leading from his coal mine in the Mississippi bluff to
the bank of the river opposite St. Louis. Hiving not
the means to purchase a locomotive, they operated it
by horse-power. The next spring, however, the com-
pany sold out, at great sacrifice.

In 1839 the ex-Governor was appointed one of the
Canal Commissioners, and authorized to borrow
money to prosecute the enterprise. Accord1 ngly, he
repaired to Philadelphia and succeeding in obtaining
a million dollars, which, however, was. only a fourth
of what was wanted. The same year he and his
wife made at our of Europe. This year, also, Mr.
Reynolds had the rather awkward little responsibility
of introducing to President Van Buren the noted
Mormon Prophet, Joseph Smith, as a " Latter-Day
Saint!"

In 1 846 Gov Reynolds was elected a member of
the Legislature from St. Clair County, more particu-
larly for the purpose of obtaining a feasible charter
for a macadamized road from Belleville to St. Louis,
a distance of nearly 14 miles. This was immediately
built, and was the first road of the kind in the State.
He was again elected to the Legislature in 1852, when
he was chosen Speaker of the House. In 1860, aged
and infirm, he attended the National Democratic
Convention at Charleston, S. C , as an anti-Douglas
Delegate, where he received more attention from the
Southern Delegates than any other member. He
supported Breckenridge for the Presidency. After
the October elections foreshadowed the success of
Lincoln, he published an address urging the Demo-
crats to rally to the support of Douglas. Immedi-
ately preceding and during the late war, his corre-
spondence evinced a clear sympathy for the Southern
secession, and about the first of March, 1861, he
urged upon the Buchanan officials the seizure of the
treasure and arms in the custom-house and arsenal
at St. Louis. Mr. Reynolds was a ratlur talkative
man, and apt in all the Western phrases and catch-
words that ever gained currency, besides many cun-
ning and odd ones of his own manufacture.

He was married twice, but had no children. He
died in Belleville, in May, 1865, just after the close
of the war.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY Of ILLINO/S

t

GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

I27

ILLIAM LEE D. EWING,
Governor of Illinois Nov. 3
to 17, 1834, was a native
of Kentucky, and probably
of Scotch ancestry. He had
a fine education, was a gentle-
man of polished manners and
refined sentiment. In 1830 John Rey-
nolds was elected Governor of the State,
and Zadok Casey Lieutenant Governor,
and for the principal 'events that followed,
and the characteristics of the times, see
sketch of Gov. Reynolds. The first we
see in history concerning Mr. Ewing, in-
forms us that he was a Receiver of Public
Moneys at Vandalia soon after the organization of
this State, and that the public moneys in his hands
were deposited in various banks, as they are usually
at the present day. In 1823 the State Bank v/as
robbed, by which disaster Mr. Ewing lost a thousand-
dollar deposit.

The subject of this sketch had a commission as
Colonel in the Black Hawk War, and in emergencies
he acted also as Major. In the sumtner of 1832,
when it was rumored among the whites that Black
Hawk and his men had encamped somewhere on
Rock River, Gen. Henry was sent on a tour of
reconnoisance, and with orders to drive the Indians
from the State. After some opposition from his
subordinate officers, Henry resolved to proceed up
Rock River in search of the enemy. On the igth of
July, early in the morning, 'five baggage wagons,

camp equipage and all heavy and cumbersome arti-
cle.; were piled up and left, so that the army might
make speedy and forced marches. For some miles
the travel was exceedingly bad, crossing swamps
a :d the worst thickets; but the large, fresh trail
give life and animation to the Americans. Gen.
Dodge and Col. Ewing were both acting as Majors,
and composed the "spy corps " or vanguard of the
army. It is supposed the army inarched nearly 50
miles this day, and the Indian trail they followed
became fresher, and was strewed with much property
and trinkets of the red-skin'; that they had lost or
thrown awaj to hasten their inarch. During the
following night there was a terrific thunder-storm, and
the soldiery, with all their appurtenances, were thor-
oughly drenched.

On approaching nearer the Indians the next day.
Gen. Dodge and Major Ewing, each commanding a
battalion of men, were placed in front to bring on the
battle, but the savages were not overtaken this day
Forced marches were continued until they reached.
Wisconsin River, where a veritable battle ensued,
resulting in the death of about 68 of Black Hawk's
men. The next day they continued the chase, and
as soon as he discovered the trail of the Indians
leading toward the Mississippi, Maj. Ewing formed
his battalion in order of battle and awaited the order
of Gen. Henry. The latter soon appeared on the
ground and ordered a charge, which directly resulted
in chasing the red warriors across the great river.
Maj. Ewing and his command proved particularly-
efficient in war, as it seems they were the chief actors
in driving the main body of the Sacs and Foxes, in-

1 '

I

WILLIAM L. D\ ElVING.

eluding Black Hawk himself, across the Mississippi,
while Gen. Atkinson, commander-in-chief of the ex-
pedition, with a body of the army, was hunting for
them in another direction.

In the above affair Maj. Ewing is often referred to
as a "General," uhich title he had derived from his
connection with the militia.

It was in the latter part of the same year (1832)
that Lieutenant Governor Casey was elected to Con-
gress and Gen. Ewing, who had been elected to the
Senate, was chosen to preside over that body. At
the August election of 1834, Gov. Reynolds was also
elected to Congress, more than a year ahead of the
time at which he could actually take his seat, as was
then the law. His predecessor, Chailes Slade, had
just died of Asiatic cholera, soon after the elec-
tion, and Gov. Reynolds was chosen to serve out his
unexpired term. Accordingly he set out for Wash-
ington in November of that year to take his seat in
Congress, and Gen. Ewing, by virtue of his office as
President of the Senate, became Governor of the
State of Illinois, his term covering only a period of
15 days, namely, from the 3d to the iyth days, in-
clusive, of November. On the lyth the Legislature
met, and Gov. Ewing transmitted to that body his
message, giving a statement of the condition of the
affairs of the State at that time, and urging a contin-
uance of the policy adopted by his predecessor; and
on the same day Governor elect Joseph Duncan
was sworn into ofnve, thus relieving Mr. Ewing from

the responsible situation. This is the only time that
such a juncture has happened in the history of Illi-
nois.

On the ZQth of December, 1835, Gen. Ewing was
elected a United States Senator to serve out the
unexpired term of Elias Kent Kane, deceased. The
latter gentleman was a very prominent figure in the
early politics of Illinois, and a county in this State is
named in his honor. The election of Gen. Ewing to
the Senate was a protracted struggle. His competi-
tors were James Semple, who afterwards held several
important offices in this State, and Richard M.
Young, afterward a United States Senator and a
Supreme Judge and a man of vast influence. On
the first ballot Mr. Semple had 25 votes,' Young 19
and Ewing 18. On the eighth ballot Young was
dropped ; the ninth and tenth stood a tie ; but on
the 1 2th Ewing received 40, to Semple 37, and was
accordingly declared elected. In 1837 Mr. Ewing
received some votes for a continuance of his term in
Congress, when Mr. Young, just referred to, was
elected. In 1842 Mr. Ewing was elected State
Auditor on the ticket with Gov. Ford.

Gen. Ewing was a gentleman of culture, a lawyer
by profession, and was much in public life. In person
lie was above medium height and of heavy build,
with auburn hair, blue eyes, large-sized head and
short face. He was genial, social, friendly and
affable, with fair talent, though of no high degree of
originality. He died March 25, 1846.

\

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OF ILLINOIS

.,*" , ••• «~-

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

4-

131 MJ

OSEPH DUNCAN, Governor
[834-8, was born at Paris,
Ky., Feb. 23, 1794. At the
tender age of 19 years he en-
listed in the war against Great
Britain, and as a soldier he
acquitted himself with credit. He
was an Ensign under the daunt-
less Croghan at Lower Sandusky,
or Fort Std'phenson. In Illinois
I e. first appeared in a public capa-
city as Major-General of the Militia,
a position which his military fame
had procured him. Subsequently
he became a State Senator from
Jackson County, and is honorably
mentioned for introducing the first bill providing for
a free-school system. In 1826, when the redoubt-
able John P. Cook, who had previously beaten such
men as John McLean, Elias Kent Kane and ex-
Gov. Bond, came up for the fourth time forCongress,
Mr. Duncan was brought forward against him by his
friends, greatly to the surprise of all the politicians.
As yet he was but little known in the State. He was
an original Jackson man at that time, being attached
to his political fortune in admiration of the glory of
his milita'.y achievements. His chances of success
against Cook were generally regarded as hopeless,
but he entered upon the campaign undaunted. His
speeches, though short and devoid of ornament, were
full of gond sense. He made a diligent canvass of
the State, Mr. Cook being hindered by the condition of
his health. The most that was expected of Mr.
Duncan, under the circumstances, was that he would

obtain a respectable vote, but without defeating Mr.
Cook. The result of the campaign, however, was a
source of surprise and amazement to both friends
and foes, as Mr. Duncan came out 64r votes ahead!
He received 6,32 r votes, and Mr. Cook 5,680. Un-
til this denouement, the violence of party feeling
smoldering in the breasts of the people on account
of the defeat of Jackson, was not duly appreciated.
Aside from the great convention struggle of 1824, no
other than mere local and p.enonal considerations
had ever before controlled an election in Illinois.

From' the above date Mr. Duncan retained his
seat in Congress until his election as Governor in
August, 1834. The first and bloodless year of the
Black Hawk War he was appointed by Gov. Rey-
nolds to the position of Brigadier-General of the
volunteers, and he conducted his brigade to Rock
Island. But he was absent from the State, in Wash-
ington, during the gubernatorial campaign, and did
not personally participate in it, but addressed circu-
lars to his constituents. His election was, indeed,
attributed to the circumstance of his absence, be-
cause his estrangement from Jackson, formerly his
political idol, and also from the Democracy, largely
in ascendency in the State, was complete; but while
his defection was well known to his Whig friends,
and even to the leading Jackson men of this State,
the latter were unable to carry conviction of that fact
to the masses, as mail and newspaper facilities at
that day were far inferior to those of the present
time. Of course the Governor was much abused
afterward by the fossilized Jackson men who re-
garded party ties and affiliations as above all
other issues that could arise; but he was doubtless

•fa

JOSEPH DUNCAN.

i

sincere in his opposition to the old hero, as the latter
had vetoed several important western measures
which were dear to Mr. Duncan. In his inaugural
message he threw off the mask and took a bold stand
against the course of the President. The measures
he recommended in his message, however, were so
desirable that the Legislature, although by a large
majority consisting of Jackson men, could not refrain
from endorsing them. These measures related
mainly to banks and internal improvements.

It was while Mr. Duncan was Governor that the
people of Illinois went whirling on with bank and in-
ternal improvement schemes that well nigh bank-
rupted the State. The hard times of 1837 came on,
and the disasters that attended the inauguration of
these plans and the operation of the banks were mu-
tually charged upon the two political parties. Had
any one man autocratic power to introduce and
carry on any one of these measures, he would proba-
bly have succeeded to the satisfaction of the public;,
but as many jealous men had hold of the same plow
handle, no success followed and each blamed the other
for the failure. In this great vortex Gov. Duncan
was carried along, suffering the like derogation of
character with his fellow citizens.

At the height of the excitement the Legislature
" provided for " railroads from Galena to Cairo, Alton
to Shawneetown, Alton to Mount Carmel, Alton to the
eastern boundary of the State in the direction of
Terre Haute, Quincy via Springfield to the Wabash,
Bloomington to Pekin, and Peoria to Warsaw, — in all
about 1,300 miles of road. It also provided for the
improvement of the navigation of the Kaskaskia,
Illinois, Great and Little Wabash and Rock Rivers ;
also as a placebo, $200,000 in money were to be dis-
tributed to the various counties wherein no improve
ments were ordered to be made as above. The
estimate for the expenses for all these projects was
placed at a little over $10,000,000, which was not
more than half enough ! That would now be equal to
saddling upon the State a debt of $225,000,000 ! It
was sufficient to bankrupt the State several times
over, even counting all the possible benefits.

One of the most exciting events that ever occurred
in this fair State was the murder of Elijah P. Love-
joy in the fall of 1837, at Alton, during Mr. Duncan's
term as Governor. Lovejoy was an "Abolitionist,"
editing the Observer at that place, and the pro-
i y slavery slums there formed themselves into a mob,

L edil

i y slav

r

and after destroying successively three presses be-
longing to Mr. Lovejoy, surrounded the warehouse
where the fourth press was stored away, endeavoring
to destroy it, and where Lovejoy and .his friends
were entrenching themselves, and shot and killed the
brave reformer!

About this time, also, the question of removing the
State capital again came up, as the 20 years' limit for
its existence at Vandalia was drawing to a close.
There was, of course, considerable excitement over
the matter, the two main points competing for it be-
ing Springfield and Peoria. The jealousy of the lat-
ter place is not even yet, 45 years afterward, fully
allayed.

Gov. Duncan's term expired in 1838. In 1842
he was again proposed as a candidate for the Execu-
tive chair, this time by the Whig party, against Adam
W. Snyder, of St. Clair County, the nominee of the
Democrats. Charles W. Hunter was a third candi-
date for the same position. Mr. Snyder, however, died
before the campaign had advanced very far, and his
party substituted Thomas Ford, who was elected,
receiving 46,901 votes, to 38,584 for Duncan, and
909 for Hunter. The cause of Democratic success
at this time is mainly attributed to the temporary
support of the Mormons which they enjoyed, and the
want of any knowledge, on the part of the masses,
that Mr. Ford was opposed to any given policy en-
tertained in the respective localities.

Gov. Duncan was a man of rather limited educa-
tion, but with naturally fine abilities he profited
greatly by his various public services, and gathered
a store of knowledge regarding public affairs which
served him a ready purpose. He possessed a clear
judgment, decision, confidence in himself and moral
courage to carry out his convictions of right. In his
deportment he was well adapted to gain the admira-
tion of the people. His intercourse with them was
both affable and dignified. His portrait at the Gov-
ernor's mansion, from which the accompanying was
made, represents him as having a swarthy complex-
ion, high cheek bones, broad forehead, piercing black
eyes and straight black hair.

He was a liberal patron of the Illinois College at
Jacksonville, a member of its Board of Trustees, and
died, after a short illness, Jan. 15, 1844, a devoted
member of the Presbyterian Church, leaving a wife
but no children. Two children, born to them, had
died in infancy.

LIBRARY

OF THE

MfYERSITY OF ILLINOIS

—•H*

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

'35

i

gSHOMAS CARLIN, the sixth
Governor of the State of
Illinois, serving from 1838
to 1842, was also a Ken-
tuckian, being born near
Frankfort, that State, July
1 8, 1789, of Irish paternity.
The opportunities for an education
being very meager in his native
place, he, on approaching years of
judgment and maturity, applied
himself to those branches of learn-
ing that seemed most important,
and thus became a self-made man ;
and his taste for reading and
study remained with him through
life. 'In 1803 his father removed
lo Missouri, then a part of " New Spain," where he
died in 1810.

In 1812 young Carlin came to Illinois and partici-
pated in all the "ranging" service incident to the
war of that period, proving himself a soldier of un-
daunted bravery. In 1814 he married Rebecca
Huitt, and lived for four years on the bank of the
Mississippi River, opposite the mouth of the Mis-
sc^ri, where he followed farming, and then removed
to Greene County. He located the town site of Car-
H/r.ton, in that county, and in 1825 made a liberal
donation of land for county building purposes. He
was the first Sheriff of that county after its separate
organization, and afterward was twice elected, as a
Jackson Democrat, to the Illinois Senate'. In the
Black Hawk War he commanded a spy battalion, a
po>t of considerable danger. In 1834 he was ap-
pointed by President Jackson to the position of
Receiver of Public Moneys, and to fulfill the office

more conveniently he removed to the city of Quincy.

While, in 1838, the unwieldy internal improvement
system of the State was in full operation, with all its
expensive machinery, amidst bank suspensions
throughout the United States, a great stringency in
the money market everywhere, and Illinois bonds
forced to sale at a heavy discount, and the " hardest
times" existing that the people of the Prairie State
ever saw, the general election of State officers was
approaching. Discreet men who had cherished the
hope of a speedy subsidence of the public infatua-
tion, met with disappointment. A Governor and
Legislature were to be elected, and these were now
looked forward to for a repeal of the ruinous State
policy. But the grand scheme had not yet lost its
dazzling influence upon the minds of the people.
Time and experience had not yet fully demonstrated
its utter absurdity. Hence the question of arresting
its career of profligate expenditures did not become
a leading one with the dominant party during the
campaign, and most of the old members of the Leg-
islature were returned at this election.

Under these circumstances the Democrats, in State
Convention assembled, nominated Mr. Carlin for the
office of Governor, and S. H. Anderson for Lieuten-
ant Governor, while the Whigs nominated Cyrus Ed-
wards, brother of Ninian Edwards, formerly Governor,
and W. H. Davidson. Edwards came out strongly
for a continuance of the State policy, while Carlin
remained non-committal. This was the first time
that the two main political parties in this State were
unembarrassed by any third party in the field. The
result of the election was: Carlin, 35,573 ; Ander-
son, 30,335; Edwards, 29,629; and Davidson, 28,-

715-

Upon the meeting of the subsequent Legislature

(1839), the retiring Governor CDuncan*) in his cues-

136

THOMAS CARLIN.

sage spoke in emphatic terms of the impolicy of the
internal improvement system, presaging the evils
threatened, and uiged that body to do their utmost
to correct the great error ; yet, on the contrary, the
Legislature not only decided to continue the policy
but also added to its burden by voting more appro-
priations and ordering more improvements. Although
the money market was still stringent, a further loan
of $4,000,000 was ordered for the Illinois & Mich-
igan Canal alone. Cn'cago at that time began to
loom up and promise to be an important city, even
the great emporium of the West, as it has since in-
deed came to be. Ex-Gov. Reynolds, an incompe-
tent financier, was commissioned to effect the loan,
and accordingly hastened to the East on this respons-
ible errand, and negotiated the loans, at considera-
ble sacrifice to the State. Besides this embarrassment
to Carlin's administration, the Legislature also de-
clared that he had no authority to appoint a Secretary
of State until a vacancy existed, and A. P. Field, a
Whig, who had already held the post by appointment
through three administrations, was determined to
keep the place a while longer, in spite of Gov. Car-
lin's preferences. The course of the Legislature in
this regard, however, was finally sustained by the
Supreme Court, in a quo warranto case brought up
before it by John A. McClernand, whom the Gov-
ernor had nominated for the office. Thereupon that
dignified body was denounced as a " Whig Court!'
endeavoring to establish the principle of life-tenure
of office.

A new law was adopted re-organizing the Judici-
ary, and under it five additional Supreme Judges
were elected by the Legislature, namely, Thomas
Ford (afterward Governor), Sidney Breese, Walter B.
Scales, Samuel H. Treat and Stephen A. Douglas —
all Democrats.

It was during Cov. Carlin's administration that the
noisy campaign of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too " oc-
curred, resulting in a Whig victory. This, however,
did not affect Illinois politics very seriously.

Another prominent event in the West during Gov.
Carlin's term of office was the excitement caused by
the Mormons and their removal from Independence,
Mo., to Nauvoo, 111., in 1840. At the same time
they began to figure somewhat in State politics. On
account of their believing — as they thought, accord-
ing to the New Testament — that they should have

"all things common," and that consequently "all
the earth " and all that is upon it were the" Lord's "
and therefore the property of his " saints," they
were suspected, and correctly, too, of committing
many of the deeds of larceny, robbery, etc., that
were so rife throughout this country in those days.
Hence a feeling of violence grew up between the
Mormons and "anti-Mormons." In the State of
Missouri the Mormons always supixrted the Dem-
ocracy until they were driven out l>y the Democratic
government, when they turned their support to the
Whigs. They were becoming numerous, and in the
Legislature of 1840-1, therefore, it became a matter
of great interest with both parties to conciliate these
people. Through the agency of one John C. Ben-
nett, a scamp, the Mormons succeeded in rushing
through the Legislature (both parties not daring to
oppose) a charter for the city of Nauvoo which vir-
tually erected a hierarchy co-ordinate with the Fed-
eral Government itself. In the fall of 1841 the
Governor of Missouri made a demand upon Gov.
Carlin for the body of Joe Smith, the Mormon leader,
as a fugitive from justice. Gov. Carlin issued the
writ, but for some reason it was returned unserved.
It was again issued in 1842, and Smith was arrested,
but was either rescued by his followers or discharged
by the municipal court on a writ of habeas corpus.

In December, 1841, the Democratic Convention
nominated Adam W. Snyder, of Belleville, f>r Gov-
ernor. As he had been, as a member of the Legisla-
ture, rather friendly to the M.mnons, the latter
naturally turned their support to the Democratic
narty. The next spring the Whigi nominated Ex-
Gov. Duncan for the same office. In the meantime
the Mormons began to grow more odious to the
masses of the people, and the comparative prospects
of the respective parties for success became very
problematical. Mr. S.iyder dieJ in May, and
Thomas Ford, a Supre ne Judge, was substituted as
a candidate, and was elected.

At the close of his gubernatorial term, Mr. Carlin
removed back to his old home at Carrollton, where
he spent tha remainder of his life, as before his ele-
vation to office, in agricultural pursuits. In 1849
he served out the unexpired term of J. D. Fry in the
Illinois House of Representatives, and died Feb. 4,
1852, at his residence at Carrollton, leaving a wife
and seven children.

LIBRARY

OF THE

yt!!VERSITY OF ILLINOIS

GO VEKNOKS OF ILLINOIS.

139

^

JHOMAS FORD, Governor
from 1842 to 1846, and au-
thor of a very interesting
history of Illinois, was born
at Uniontown, Pa., in the
year 1 800. His mother, after
the death of her first hus-
band (Mr. Forquer), married Rob-
ert Ford, who was killed in 1802,
by the Indians in the mountains
of Pennsylvania. She was conse-
quently left in indigent circum-
stances, with a large family, mostly
girls. With a view to better her
condition, she, in 1804, removed to
Missouri, where it had been cus-
tomary by the Spanish Govern-
ment to give land to actual settlers; but upon her
arriv;il ;it St. Louis she found the country ceded to
the United States, and the liberal policy toward set-
tlers changed by the new ownership. After some
sickness to herself and family, she finally removed to
Illinois, and settled some three miles south of Water-
loo, but the following year moved nearer the Missis-
sippi bluffs. Here young Ford received his first

schooling, under the instructions of a Mr. Humphrey,
for which he had to walk three miles. His mother,
though lacking a thorough education, was a woman
of superior mental endowments, joined to energy
and determination of character. She inculcated in
her children those high-toned principles which dis-
tinguished her sons in public life. She exercised a
rigid economy to provide her children an education ;
but George Forquer, her oldest son (six years older
than Thomas Ford), at an early age had to quit
school to aid by his labor in the support of the family.
He afterward became an eminent man in Illinois
affairs, and but for his early death would probably
have been elected to the United States Senate.

Young Ford, with somewhat better opportunities,
received a better education, though limited to the
curriculum of the common school of those pioneer
times. His mind gave early promise of superior en-
dowments, with an inclination for mathematics. His
proficiency attracted the attention of Hon. Daniel P.
Cook, who became his efficient patron and friend.
The latter gentleman was an eminent Illinois states-
man who, as a Member of Congress, obtained a grant
of 300,000 acres of land to aid in completing the
Illinois & Michigan Canal, and after whom the
county of Cook was named. Through the advice of

140

THOMAS FORD.

this gentleman, Mr. Ford turned his attention to the
study of law; but Forquer, then merchandising, re-
garding his education defective, sent him to Transyl-
vania University, where, however, he remained but
one term, owing to Forquer'.-; failure in business. On
his return he alternated his law reading with teach-
ing school for support.

In 1829 Gov. Edwards appointed him Prosecuting
Attorney, and in 1831 he was re-appointed by Gov.
Reynolds, and after that he was four times elected a
Judge by the Legislature, without opposition, twice a
Circuit Judge, once a Judge of Chicago, and as As-
sociate Judge of the Supreme Court, when, in 1841,
the latter tribunal was re-organized by the addition
of five Judges, all Democrats. Ford was assigned to
the Ninth Judicial Circuit, and while in this capacity
he was holding Court in Ogle County he received a
notice of his nomination by the Democratic Conven-
tion for the office of Governor. He immediately re-
signed his place and entered upon the canvass. In
August, 1842, he was elected, and on the 8th of De-
cember following he was inaugurated.

All the offices which he had held were unsolicited
by him. He received them upon the true Jefferson-
ian principle, — Never to ask and never to refuse
office. Both as a lawyer and as a Judge he stood
deservedly high, but his cast of intellect fitted him
rather for a writer upon law than a practicing advo-
cate in the courts. In the latter capacity he was void
of the moving power of eloquence, so necessary to
success with juries. As a Judge his opinions were
"ound, lucid and able expositions of the law. In
practice, he was a stranger to the tact, skill and in-
sinuating address of the politician, but he saw through
the arts of demagogues as well as any man. Fie was
plain in his demeanor, so much so, indeed, that at
one time after the expiration of his term of office,
during a session of the Legislature, he was taken by
a stranger to be a seeker for the position of door-
keeper, and was waited upon at his hotel near mid-
night by a knot of small office-seekers with the view
of effecting a " combination ! "

Mr. Ford had not the "brass" of the ordinary
politician, nor that impetuosity which characterizes a
political leader. He cared little for money, and
hardly enough for a decent support. In person he
was of small stature, slender, of dark complexion,
with black hair, sharp features, deep-set eyes, a
pointed, aquiline nose having a decided twist to one
side, and a small mouth.

The three most important events in Gov. Ford's
administration were the establishment of the high
financial credit of the State, the " Mormon War "and
the Mexican War.

In the first of these the Governor proved himself
to be eminently wise. On coining into office he found
the State badly paralyzed by the ruinous effects of
the notorious "internal improvement" schemes of

the preceding decade, with scarcely anything to
show by way of "improvement." The enterprise
that seemed to be getting ahead more than all the
rest was the Illinois & Michigan Canal. As this
promised to be the most important thoroughfare,
feasible to the people, it was well under headway in
its construction. Therefore the State policy wa;
almost concentrated upon it, in order to rush it on tu
completion. Tne bonded indebtedness of the Sta;-j
was growing so large as to frighten the people, and
they were about ready to entertain a proposition for
repudiation. But the Governor had the foresight to
recommend such measures as would maintain the
public credit, for which every citizen to-day feels
thankful.

But perhaps the Governor is remembered more for
his connection with the Mormon troubles than for
anything else; for it was during his term of office
that the " Latter-Day Saints " became so strong at
Nauvoo, built their temple there, increased their num-
bers throughout the country, committed misdemean-
ors, taught dangerous doctrines, suffered the loss of
theirleader, Jo Smith, by a violent death, were driven
out of Nauvoo to the far West, etc. Having been a-
Judge fov so many years previously., Mr. Ford of
course was no i-committal concerning Mor.non affairs,
and was therefore claimed by both parties and also
accused by each of sympathizing too greatly with the
other side. Mormcnism claiming to be a system of
religion, the Governor no doubt was "between two
fires," and felt compelled to touch the matter rather
" gingerly," and doubtless felt greatly relieved when
that pestilential people left the State. Such compli-
cated matters, especially when religion is n.ixed up
with them, expose every person participating in
them to criticism from all parties.

The Mexican War was begun in the spring of
1845, and was continued into the gubernatorial term
of Mr. Ford's su xessor. The Governor's connection
with this war, however, was not conspicuous, as it
was only administrative, commissioning officers, etc.

Ford's " History of Illinois " is a very readable and
entertaining work, of 450 small octavo pages, and is
destined to increase in value with the lapse of time.
It exhibits a natural flow of compact and forcible
thought, never failing to convey the nicest sense. In
tracing with his trenchant pen the devious operations
of the professional politician, in which lie is inimit-
able, his account is open, perhaps, to the objection
that all his contemporaries are treated as mere place-
seekers, while many of them have since been judged
by the people to be worthy statesmen. His writings
seem slightly open to the criticism that they exhibit
a little splenetic partiality against those of his con-
temporaries who were prominent during his term of
office as Governor.

The death of Gov. Ford took place at Peoria, 111.,
Nov. 2, 1850.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLIHO/S

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

'43

us c. French

AUGUSTUS C. FRENCH,
Governor of Illinois from
1846 to 1852, was born in
the town of Hill, in the
State of New Hampshire,
Aug. 2, 1808. He was a
descendant in the fourth
generation of Nathaniel
French, who emigrated from England
'in 1687 and settled in Saybury, Mass.
In early life young French lost his
father, but continued to receive in-
struction from an exemplary and
Christian mother until he was 19 years
old, when she also died, confiding to
his care and trust four younger broth-
ers and one sister. He discharged his trust with
parental devotion. His education in early life was
such mainly as a common school afforded. For a
brief period he, attended Dartmouth College, but
from pecuniary causes and the care of his brothers
and sister, he did not graduate. He subsequently
read law, and was admitted to the Bar in 1831, and
shortly afterward removed to Illinois, settling first at
Albion, Edwards County, where he established him-
self in the practice of law. The following year he
removed to Paris, Edgar County. Here he attained
eminence in his profession, and entered public life
by representing that county in the Legislature. A
strong attachment sprang up between him and Ste-
phen A. Douglas.

In 1839, Mr. French was appointed Receiver of
the United States Land Office at Palestine, Craw-
ford County, at-which place he was a resident when

elevated to the gubernatorial chair. In 1844 he was
u Presidential Elector, and as such he voted for
James K. Polk.

The Democratic State Convention of 1846, meet-
ing at Springfield Feb. 10, nominated Mr. French
for Governor. Other Democratic candidates were
Lyman Trumbull, Tohn Calhoun (subsequently of
Lecompton Constitution notoriety), Walter B. Scales,
Richard M. Young and A. W. Cavarly, — an array of
very able and prominent names. Trumbull was per-
haps defeated in the Convention by the rumor that
he was opposed to the Illinois and Michigan Canal,
as he had been a year previously. For Lieutenant
Governor J. B. Wells was chosen, while other candi-
dates were Lewis Ross, Win. McMurtry, Newton
Cloud, J. B. Hamilton and W. W. Thompson. The
resolutions declared strongly against the resuscita-
tion of the old State Banks.

The Whigs, who were in a hopeless minority, held
their convention June 8, at Peoria, and selected
Thomas M. Kilpatrick, of Scott County, for Governor,
and Gen. Nathaniel G. Wilcox,' of Schuyler, for
Lieutenant Governor.

In the campaign the latter exposed Mr. French's
record and connection with the passage of the in-
ternal improvement system, urging it against his
election ; but in the meantime the war with Mexico
broke out, regarding which the Whig record was un-
popular in this State. The war was the absorbing
and dominating question of the period, sweeping
every other political issue in its course. The elec-
tion in August gave Mr. French 58,700 votes, and
Kilpatrick only 36,775. Richard Eells, Abolitionist
candidate for the same office, received 5,152 votes.

, , 144

AUGUSTUS C. FRENCff.

By the new Constitution of 1848, a new election for
State officers was ordered in November of that year,
before Gov. French's term was half out, and he was
re-elected for the term of four years. He was there-
fore the incumbent for six consecutive years, the
only Governor of this State who has ever served in
that capacity so long at one time. As there was no
organized opposition to his election, he received 67,-
453 votes, to 5,639 for Pierre Menard (son of the
first Lieutenant Governor), 4,748 for Charles V.
Dyer, 3,834 for W. L. D. Morrison, and 1,361 for
James L. D. Morrison. But Wm. McMurtry, of
Knox County, was elected Lieutenant Governor, in
place of Joseph B. Wells, who was before elected
and did not run again.

Governor French was inaugurated into office dur-
ing the progress of the Mexican War, which closed
during the summer of 1847, although the treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo was not made until Feb. 2,
1848. The policy of Gov. French's party was com-
mitted to that war, but in connection with that affair
he was, of course, only an administrative officer.
During his term of office, Feb. 19, 1847, the Legisla-
ture, by special permission of Congress, declared that
all Government lands sold to settlers should be im-
mediately subject to State taxation; before this they
were exempt for five years after sale. By this ar-
rangement the revenue was materially increased.
About the same lime, the distribution of Government
land warrants among the Mexican soldiers as bounty
threw upon the market a great quantity of good
lands, and this enhanced the settlement of the State.
The same Legislature authorized, with the recom-
mendation of the Governor, the sale of the Northern
Cross Railroad (from Springfield to Meredosia, the
first in the State and now a section of the Wabash,
St. Louis & Pacific) It sold for $100,000 in bonds,
although it had cost the State not less than a million.
The salt wells and canal lands in the Saline reserve
in Gallatin County, granted by the general Govern-
ment to the State, were also authorized by the
Governor to be sold, to apply on the State debt. In
1850, for the first time since 1839, the accruing State
revenue, exclusive of specific appropriations, was
sufficient to meet the current demands upon the
treasury. The aggregate taxable property of the
State at this time was over $100,000,000, and the
population 851,470.

In 1849 the Legislature adopted the township or-
ganization law, which, however, proved defective,
and was properly amended in 1851. At its session
in the latter year, the General Assembly also passed
a law to exempt homesteads from sale 0:1 executions.
This beneficent measure had been repeatedly urged
upon that body by Gov. French.

In 1850 some business men in St. Louis com-
menced to build a dike opposite the lower part of
their city on the Illinois side, to keep the Mississippi
in its channel near St. Louis, instead of breaking
away from them as it sometimes threatened to do.
This they undertook without permission from the
Legislature or Executive authority of this State ; and
as many of the inhabitants there complained that
the scheme would inundate and ruin much valuable
land, there was a slight conflict of jurisdictions, re-
sulting in favor of the St. Louis project ; and since
then a good site has existed there for a city (Easl St.
Louis), and now a score of railroads center there.

It was in September, 1850, that Congress granted
to this State nearly 3,000,000 acres of land in aid of
the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad,
which constituted the most important' epoch in the
railroad — we might say internal improvement — his-
tory of the State. The road was rushed on to com-
pletion, which accelerated the settlement of the in-
terior of the State by a good class of industrious citi-
zens, and by the charter a good income to the State
Treasury is paid in from the earnings of the road.

In 1851 the Legislature passed a law authorizing
free stock banks, which was the source of much leg-
islative discussion for a number of years.

But we have not space further to particularize
concerning legislation. Gov. French's administra-
tion was not marked by any feature to be criticised,
while the country was settling up as never before.

In stature, Gov. French was of medium height,
squarely built, light complexioned, with ruddy face
and pleasant countenance. In manners he was
plain and agreeable. By nature he was somewhat
diffident, but he was often very outspoken in his con-
victions of duty. In public speech lie was not an
orator, but was chaste, earnest and persuasive. In
business he was accurate and methodical, and in his
administration he kept up the credit of the State.

He died in 1865, at his home in Lebanon, St
Clair Co., 111.

LIBRARY

OF THE

yrVEHSITY OF ILLINOIS

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

"47

i:OEL A. MATTESON, Governor
1853-6, was born Aug. 8, 1808,
in Jefferson County, New York,
to which place his father had re-
moved from Vermont three years
before. His father was a farmer
in fair circumstances, but a com-
mon English education was all
that his only son received. Young
Joel first tempted fortune as a
small tradesman in Prescott,
Canada, before he was of age.
He returned from that place to
his home, entered an academy,
taught school, visited the prin-
cipal Eastern cities, improved a farm his father had
given him, made a tour in the South, worked there
in building railroads, experienced a storm on the
Gulf of Mexico, visited the gold diggings of Northern
Georgia, and returned via Nashville to St. Louis and
through Illinois to his father's home, when he mar-
ried. In 1833, having sold his farm, he removed,
with his wife and one child, to Illinois, and entered
a claim on Government land near the head of An
Sable River, in what is now Kendall County. At
that time there were not more than two neighbors
within a range of ten miles of his place, and only
three or four houses between him and Chicago. He
opened a large farm. His family was boa/do£ /"

miles away while he erected a house on his claim,
sleeping, daring this time, under a rude pole shed.
Here his life was once placed in imminent peril by
a huge prairie rattlesnake sharing his bed.

In r83S he bought largely at the Government land
sales. During the speculative real-estate mania which
brokeout in Chicago in 1836 and spread over the State,
he sold his lands under the inflation of that period
and removed to Joliet. In 1838 he became a heavy
contractor on the Illinois & Michigan Canal. Upon
the completion of his job in 1841, when hard times
prevailed, business at a stand, contracts paid in State
scrip; when all the public works except the canal
were abandoned, the State offered for sale 700 tons
of railroad iron, which was purchased by Mr. Mat-
teson at a bargain. This he accepted, shipped and
sold at Detroit, realizing a very handsome profit,
enough to pay off all his canal debts and leave him a
surplus of several thousand dollars. His enterprise
next prompted him to start a woolen mill at Joliet,
in which he prospered, and which, after successive
enlargements, became an enormous establishment.

In 1842 he was first elected a State Senator, but,
by a bungling apiiortionmeiit, John Pearson, a Senator
holding over, was found to be in the same district,
and decided to be entitled to represent it. Mat-
teson's seat was declared vacant. Pearson, however,
with a nobleness difficult to appreciate in this day of

148

A. MATTESOti.

\

greed for office, unwilling to represent his district
under the circumstances, immediately resigned his
unexpired term of two years. A bill was passed in a
few hours ordering a new election, and in ten days'
time Mr. Matteson was returned re-elected and took
his seat as Senator. From his well-known capacity
as a business man, he was made Chairman of the
Committee on Finance, a position he held during
this half and two full succeeding Senatorial terms,
discharging its important duties with ability and faith-
fulness. Besides his extensive woolen-mill interest,
when work was resumed on the canal under the new
loan of $r, 600,000 he again became a heavy con-
tractor, and also subsequently operated largely in
building railroads. Thus he showed himself a most
energetic and thorough business man.

He was nominated for Governor by the Demo-
cratic State Convention which met at Springfield
April 20, 1852. Other candidates before the Con-
vention were D. L. Gregg and F. C. Sherman, of
Cook ; John Dement, of Lee ; Thomas L. Harris, of
Menard; Lewis W. Ross, of Fulton ; and D. P. Bush,,
of Pike. Gustavus Koerner, of St. Clair, was nom-
inated for Lieutenant Governor. For the same offices
the Whigs nominated Edwin B. Webb and Dexter A.
Knowlton. Mr. Matteson received 80,645 votes at
the election, while Mr. Webb received 64,408. Mat-
teson's forte was not on the stump; he had not cul-
tivated the art of oily flattery, or the faculty of being
all things to all men. His intellectual qualities took
rather the direction of efficient executive ability. His
turn consisted not so much in the adroit manage-
ment of party, or the powerful advocacy of great gov-
ernmental principles, as in those more solid and
enduring operations which cause the physical devel-
opment and advancement of a State, — of commerce
and business enterprise, into which he labored with
success to lead the people. As a politician he was
just and liberal in his views, and both in official and
private life he then stood untainted and free from
blemish. As a man, in active benevolence, social
rirtues and all the amiable qualities of neighbor or
citizen, he had few superiors. His messages present
a perspicuous array of facts as to the condition of the
State, and are often couched in forcible and elegant
diction.

The greatest excitement during his term of office
was the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, by Con-

gress, under the leadership of Stephen A. Douglas in
1854, when the bill was passed organizing the Terri-
tory of Kansas and Nebraska. A large portion of
the Whig party of the North, through their bitter op
position to tlie Democratic party, naturally drifted
into the doctrine of anti-slavery, and thus led to what
was temporarily called the " Anti-Nebraska " party,
while the followers of Douglas were known as " Ne-
braska or Douglas Democrats." It was during this
embryo stage of the Republican party that Abraham
Lincoln was brought forward as the "Anti-Nebraska "
candidate for the United States Senatorship, while
Gen. James Shields, the incumbent, was re-nom-
inated by the Democrats. But after a fewballotings
in the Legislature (1855), these men were dropped,
and Lyman Trumbull, an Anti-Nebraska Democrai,
was brought up by the former, and Mr. Matteson,
then Governor, by the latter. On the nth ballot
Mr. Trumbull obtained one majority, and was ac-
cordingly declared elected. Before Gov. Matteson 's
term expired, the Republicans were fully organized
as a national party, and in 1856 put into the field a
full national and State ticket, carrying the State, but
not the nation.

The Legislature of 1855 passed two very import-
ant measures, — the present free-school system and a
submission of the Maine liquor law to a vote.of the
people. The latter was defeated by a small majority
of the popular vote.

During the four years of Gov. Matleson's admin-
istration the taxable wealth of the State was about
trebled, from $137,818.079 to $349,957,272; the pub-
lic debt was reduced from $17,398,985 to $12,843,-
144; taxation was at the same time reduced, and the
State resumed paying interest on its debt in New
York as fast as it fell due; railroads were increased
in their mileage from something les,s than 400 to
about 3,000 ; and the population of Chicago was
nearly doubled, and its commerce mare than quad-
rupled.

Before closing this account, we regret that we have
to say that Mr. Matteson, in all other respects an
upright man and a good Governor, was implicated
in a false re-issue of redeemed canal scrip, amount-
ing to $224,182.66. By a suit in the ISangamon Cir-
cuit Court the State recovered the principal and all
the interest excepting $27,500.

He died in the winter of 1872-3, at Chicago.

UBRARY

OF THE

'JK.'VERSITY OF ILLINO/S

GO VEKNORS OF ILLINOIS.

-*—*<-

I

I LLIAM H. BISSELL, Gov-
ernor 1857-60, -was born
3 April 25, 1811, in the
State of New York, near
Painted Post, Yates County.
His parents were obscure,
honest, God-fearing people,
who reared their children under the daily
example of industiy and frugality, accord-
ing to the custom of that class of Eastern
society. Mr. Bissell received a respecta-
ble but not thorough academical education.
By assiduous application he acquired a
knowledge of medicine, and in his early
manhood came West and located in Mon-
roe County, this State, where he engaged in the
practice of that profession. But he was not enam-
ored of his calling: he was swayed by a broader
ambition, to such an extent that the mysteries of the
healing art and its arduous duties failed to yield him
further any charms. In a few years he discovered
his choice of a profession to be a mistake, and when
he approached the age of 30 he sought to begin
anew. Dr. Bissell, no doubt unexpectedly to him-
self, discovered a singular facility and charm of
speech, the exercise of which acquired for him a
ready local notoriety. It soon came to be under-

stood that he desired to abandon his profession and
take up that of the law. During terms of Court he
would spend his time at the county seat among the
members of the Bar, who extended to him a ready
welcome.

It was not strange, therefore, that he should drift
into public life. In r84o he was elected as a Dem-
ocrat to the Legislature from Monroe County, and
was an efficient member of that body. On his re-
turn home he qualified himself for admission to the
Bar and speedily rose to the front rank as an advo-
cate. His powers of oratory were captivating. With a
pure diction, charming and inimitable gestures,
clearness of statement, and a remarkable vein of sly
humor, his efforts before a jury told with irresistible
effect. He was chosen by the Legislature Prosecut-
ing Attorney for the Circuit in which he lived, and
in that position he fully discharged his duty to the
State, gained the esteem of the Bar, and seldom
failed to convict the offender of the law.

In stature he was somewhat tall and slender, and
with a straight, military bearing, he presented a dis-
tinguished appearance. His complexion was dark,
his head well poised, though not large, his address
pleasant and manner winning. He was exemplary
in his habits, a devoted husband and kind parent.
He was twice married, the first time to Miss James,

152

WILLIAM H. BISSELL.

of Monroe County, by whom he had two children,
both daughters. She died soon after the year 1840,
and Mr. B. married for his second wife a daughter
of Elias K. Kane, previously a United States Senator
from this State. She survived him but a short time,
and died without issue.

When the war with Mexico was declared in 1846,
Mr. Bissell enlisted and was elected Colonel of his
regiment, over Hon. Don Morrison, by an almost
unanimous vote, — 807 to 6. Considering the limited
opportunities he had had, he evinced a high order of
military talent. On the bloody field of Buena Vista
he acquitted himself with intrepid and distinguished
ability, contributing with his regiment, the Second
Illinois, in no small degree toward saving the waver-
ing fortunes of our arms during that long and fiercely
contested battle.

After his return home, at the close of the war, he
was elected to Congress, his opponents being the
Hons. P. B. Fouke and Joseph Gillespie. He served
two terms in Congress. He was an ardent politician.
During the great contest of 1850 he voted in favor
of the adjustment measures; but in 1854 he opposed
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise act and
therefore the Kansas-Nebraska bill of Douglas, and
thus became identified with the nascent Republican
party.

During his first Congressional term, while the
Southern members were following their old practice
of intimidating the North by bullying language,
and claiming most of the credit for victories in the
Mexican War, and Jefferson, Davis claiming for the
Mississippi troops all the credit for success at Buena
Vista, Mr. Bissell bravely defended the Northern
troops ; whereupon Davis challenged Bissell to a duel,
which was accepted. This matter was brought up
against Bissell when he was candidate for Governor
and during his term of office, as the Constitution of
this State forbade any duelist from holding a State
office.

In 1856, when the Republican party first put forth
a candidate, John C. Fremont, for President of the
United States, the same party nominated Mr. Bissell
for Governor of Illinois, and John Wood, of Quincy,
for Lieutenant Governor, while the Democrats nomi-
nated Hon. W. A. Richardson, of Adams County,
for Governor, and Col. R. J. Hamilton, of Cook
County, for Lieutenant Governor. The result of the

election was a plurality of 4,729 votes over Richard-
son. The American, or Know-Nothing, party had a
ticket in the field. The Legislature was nearly bal-
anced, but was politically opposed to the Governor.
His message to the Legislature was short and rather
ordinary, and was criticised for expressing the sup-
posed obligations of the people to the incorporators
of the Illinois Central Railroad Company and for re-
opening the slavery question by allusions to the
Kansas troubles. Late in the session an apportion-
ment bill, based upon the State census of 1855, was
passed, amid much partisan strife. The Governor
at first signed the bill and then vetoed it. A furious
debate followed, and the question whether the Gov-
ernor had the authority to recall a signature was
referred to the Courts, that of last resort deciding in
favor of the Governor. T\vo years afterward another
outrageous attempt was made for a re-apportionment
and to gerrymander the State, but the Legislature
failed to pass the bill over the veto of the Governor.

It was during Gov. Bissell's administration that
the notorious canal scrip fraud was brought to light,
implicating ex-Gov. Matteson and other prominent
State officials. The principal and interest, aggregat-
ing $255,500, was all recovered by the State except-
ing $27,500. (See sketch of Gov. Matteson.)

In 1859 an attempt was discovered to fraudu-
lently refund the Macalister and Stebbins bonds and
thus rob the State Treasury of nearly a quarter of a
million dollars. The State Government was impli-
cated in this affair, and to this day remains unex-
plained or unatoned for. For the above, and other
matters previously mentioned, Gov. Bissell has been
severely criticised, and he has also been most shame-
fully libelled and slandered.

On account of exposure in the army, the remote
cause of a nervous form of disease gained entrance
into his system and eventually developed paraplegia,
affecting his lower extremities, which, while it left
his body in comparative health, deprived him of loco-
motion except by the aid of crutches. While he was
generally hopeful of ultimate recovery, this myste-
rious disease pursued him, without once relaxing its
stealthy hold, to the close of his life, March 18,
1860, over nine months before the expiration of his
gubernatorial term, at the early age of 48 years. He
died in the faith of the Roman Catholic Church, of
which he hart been a member since 1854.

T

tIBRARY

OF THE

Mf'VERSITY OF ILLINOIS

-W

VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

'55

iiOHN WOOD, Governor 1860-1, and
the first settler of Quincy, 111.,
was born in the town of Sempro-
nius (now Moravia), Cayuga Co.,
N. Y., Dec. 20, 1798. He was
the second child and only son of
Dr. Daniel Wood. His mother,
nee Catherine Crause, was of
German parentage, and died
while he was an infant. Dr.
Wood was a learned and skillful
physician, of classical attain-
ments and proficient in several
modern languages, who, after
serving throughout the Revolu-
tionary War as a Surgeon, settled on the land granted
him by the Government, and resided there a re-
spected and leading influence in his section until his
death, at the ripe age of 92 years.

The subject of this sketch, impelled by the spirit
of Western adventure then pervading everywhere,
left his home, Nov. 2, 1818, and passed the succeed-
ing winter in Cincinnati, Ohio. The following sum-
mer he pushed on to Illinois, landing at Shawneetown.
and spent the fall and following winter in Calhoun
County. In 1820, in company with Willard Keyes,
he settled in Pike County, about 30 miles southeast
of Quincy, where for the next two years he pursued
farming. In 1821 he visited "the Bluffs" (as the
present site of Quincy was called, then uninhabited)
and, pleased with its prospects, soon after purchased
a quarter-section of land near by, and in the follow-
ing fall (1822) erected near the river a small cabin,

18 x 20 feet, the first building in Quincy, of which
he then became the first and for some months the
only occupant.

About this time he visited his old friends in Pike
County, chief of whom was William Ross, the lead-
ing man in building up the village of Atlas, of that
county, which was thought then to be the possible
commencement of a city. One day they and others
were traveling together over the country between the
two points named, making observations on the com-
parative merits of the respective localities. On ap-
proaching the Mississippi near Mr. Wood's place,
the latter told his companions to follow him and he
would show them where he was going to build a city.
They went about a mile off the main trail, to a high
point, from which the view in every direction was
most magnificent, as it had been for ages- and as yet
untouched by the hand of man. Before them swept
by the majestic Father of Waters, yet unburdened by
navigation. After Mr. Wood had expatiated at
length on the advantages of the situation, Mr. Ross
replied, " But it's too near Atlas ever to amount to
anything!"

Atlas is still a cultivated farm, and Quincy is a
city of over 30,000 population.

In 1824 Mr. Wood gave a ?iewspaper notice,
as the law then prescribed, of his intention to apply
to the General Assembly for the formation of a new
county. This was done the following winter, result-
ing in the establishment of the present Adams
County. During the next summer Quincy was se-
lected as the county seat, it and the vicinity then
containing but four adult male residents and half

•»

JOHN WOOD.

that number of females. Sinoe that period Mr.
Wood resided at the place of his early adoption un-
til his death, and far more than any other man was
he identified with every measure of its progress and
history, and almost continuously kept in public posi-
tions.

He was one of the early town Trustees, and after
the place became a city he was often a member of
the City Council, many times elected Mayor, in the
face of a constant large opposition political majority.
In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate. In 1856,
on the organization of the Republican party, he was
chosen Lieutenant Governor of the State, on the
ticket with Wm. H. Bissell for Governor, and on the
death of the latter, March 18, 1860, he succeeded to
the Chief Executive chair, which he occupied until
Gov. Yates was inaugurated nearly ten months after-
ward.

Nothing very marked characterized the adminis-
tration of Gov. Wood. The great anti-slavery cam-
paign of 1860, resulting in the election of the honest
Illinoisan, Abraham Lincoln, to the Presidency of the
United States, occurred during the short period
while Mr. Wood was Governor, and the excitement
and issues of that struggle dominated over every
other consideration, — indeed, supplanted them in a
great measure. The people of Illinois, during all
that time, were passing the comparatively petty strifes
under Bissell's administration to the overwhelming
issue of preserving the whole nation from destruction.

In 1 86 1 ex-Gov. Wood was one of the five Dele-
gates from Illinois to the " Peace Convention " at
Washington, and in April of the same year, on the
breaking out of the Rebellion, he was appointed

Quartermaster-General of the State, which position
he held throughout the war. In 1864 he took com-
mand as Colonel of the I37th 111. Vol. Inf., witli
whom he served until the period of enlistment ex-
pired. '

Politically, Gov. Wood was always actively identi-
fied with the Whig and "Republican parties. Few
men have in personal experience comprehended so
many surprising and advancing local changes as
vested in the more than half century recollections of
Gov. Wood. Sixty-four years ago a solitary settler
on the "Bluffs," with no family, and no neighbor
within a score of miles, the world of civilization away
behind him, and the strolling red-man almost his
only visitant, he lived to see growing around him,
and under his auspices and aid, overspreading the
wild hills and scraggy forest a teaming city, second
only in size in the State, and surpassed nowhere in
beauty, prosperity and promise ; whose people recog-
nize as with a single voice the proverbial honor and
liberality that attach to the name and lengthened
life of their pioneer settler, "the old Governor."

Gov. Wood was twice married, — first in January,
1826, to Ann M. Streeter, daughter of Joshua Streeter,
formerly of Salem, Washington Co., N. Y. They had
eight children. Mrs. W. died Oct. 8, 1863, and in
June, 1865, Gov. Wood married Mrs. Mary A., widow
of Rev. Joseph T. Holmes. Gov. Wood died June 4,
1880, at his residence in Quincy. Four of his eight
children are now living, namely: Ann E., wife of
Gen. John Till son; Daniel C., who married Mary J.
Abernethy; John, Jr., who married Josephine Skinner,
and Joshua S., who married Annie Bradley. The
last mentioned now resides at Atchison, Kansas, and
all the rest are still at Quincy.

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

'59

ICHARD YATES, the "War
Governor," 1861-4, was born
Jan. 1.8, 1818, on the banks of
the Ohio River, at Warsaw,
Gallatin Co., Ky. His father
moved in '1831 to Illinois, and
afier stopping for a time in
Springfield, setiled at Island
Grove, Sangamon County. Here,
after attending school, Richard joined
the family. Subsequently he entered
Illinois College at Jacksonville,
where, in 1837, he graduated with
first honors. He chose for his pro-
fession the law, the Hon. J. J. Har-
din being his instructor. After ad-
mission to the Bar he soon rose to distinction as an
advocate.

Gifted with a fluent and ready oratory, he soon
appeared in the political hustings, and, being a
passionate admirer of the great Whig leader of the
West, Henry Clay, he joined his political fortunes to
the party of his idol. In 1840 he engaged with great
ardor in the exciting "hard cider" campaign for
Harrison. Two years later he was elected to the
Legislature from Morgan County, a Democratic
stronghold. He served three or four terms in the
Legislature, and such was the fascination of his ora-
tory that by 1850 his large Congressional District,
extending from Morgan and Sangamon Counties
n jrth to include LaSalle, unanimously tendered him
the Whig nomination for Congress. His Democratic
opponent was Maj. Thomas L. Harris, a very pop-
ular man who had won distinction at the battle of
Ccrro Gordo, in the Mexican War, and who had
beaten Hon. Stephen T. Logan for the same position,

two years before, by a large majority. Yates was
elected. Two years later he was re-elected, over
John Calhoun.

It was during Yates' second term in Congress that
the great question of the repeal of the Missouri Com-
promise was agitated, and the bars laid down for re-
opening the dreaded anti-slavery question. He took
strong grounds against the repeal, and thus became
identified with the rising Republican party. Conse-
quently he fell into the minority in his district, which
was pro-slavery. Even then, in a third contest, he
fell behind Major Harris only 200 votes, after the
district had two years before given Pierce 2,000
majority for President.

The Republican State Convention of 1860 met at
Decatur May 9, and nominated for the office of Gov-
ernor Mr. Yates, in preference to Hon. Norman B.
Judd, of Chicago, and Leonard Swett, of Blooming-
ton, two of the ablest men of the State, who were
also candidates before the Convention. Francis A.
Hoffman, of DuPage County, was nominated for
Lieutenant Governor. This was the year when Mr.
Lincoln was a candidate for President, a period re-
membered as characterized by the great whirlpool
which precipitated the bloody War of the Rebellion.
The Douglas Democrats nominated J. C. Allen of
Crawford County, for Governor, and Lewis W. Ro?s,
of Fulton County, fdr Lieutenant Governor. The
Breckenridge Democrats and the Bell-Everett party
had also full tickets in the field. After a most fear-
ful campaign, the result of the election gave Mr.
Yates 172,196 votes, and Mr. Allen 159,253. Mr.
Yates received over a thousand more votes than did
Mr. Lincoln himself.

Gov. Yates occupied the chair of State during the

f.

It

1 60

RICHARD YATES.

most critical period of our country's history. In the
fate of the nation was involved that of each State.
The life struggle of the former derived its sustenance
from the loyalty of the latter; and Gov. Yates
seemed to realize the situation, and proved himself
both loyal and wise in upholding the Government.
He had a deep hold upon the affections of the
people, won by his moving eloquence and genial
manners. Erect and symmetrical in person, of pre-
possessing appearance, with a winning address and a
magnetic power, few men possessed more of the ele-
ments of popularity. His oratory was scholarly and
captivating, his hearers hardly knowing why they
were transported. He was social and convivial. In
the latter respect he was ultimately carried too far.

The very creditable military efforts of this State
during the War of the Rebellion, in putting into the
field the enormous number of about 200,000 soldiers,
were ever promptly and ably seconded by his excel-
lency ; and the was ambitious to deserve the title of
"the soldier's friend." Immediately after the battle of
Shiloh he repaired to the field of carnage to look
after the wounded, and his appeals for aid were
promptly responded to by the people. His procla-
mations calling for volunteers were impassionate
appeals, urging upon the people the duties and re-
quirements of patriotism ; and his special message
in 1865 to the Democratic Legislature of this State
pleading fur material aid for the sick and wounded
soldiers of Illinois regiments, breathes a deep fervor
of noble sentiment and feeling rarely equaled in
beauty or felicity of expression. Generally his mes-
sages 0:1 political and civil affairs were able and com-
prehensive. During his administration, however,
there were no civil events of an engrossing character,
although two years of his time were replete with
partisan quarrels of great bitterness. Military ar-
rests, Knights of the Golden Circle, riot in Fulton
County, attempted suppression of the Chicago Times
and the usurping State Constitutional Convention of
1862, were the chief local topics that were exciting
during the Governor's term. This Convention assem-
bled Jan. 7, and at once took the high position that
the law calling it was no longer binding, and that it
had supreme power; that it represented a virtual
assemblage of the whole people of the State, and was
r/;vcreign in the exercise of all power necessary to
effect a peaceable revolution of the State Government

and to the re-establishment of one for the " happiness,
prosperity and freedom of the citizens," limited only
by the Federal Constitution. Notwithstanding the
law calling the Convention required its members to
take an oath to support the Constitution of the State
as well as that of the general Government, they
utterly refused to take such oath. They also as-
sumed legislative powers and passed several import-
ant "laws!" Interfering with the (then) present
executive duties, Gov. Yates was provoked to tell
them plainly that " he did not acknowledge the right
of the Convention to instruct him in the performance
of his duty."

In 1863 the Governor astonished the Democrats
by " proroguing " their Legislature. This body, after
a recess, met June 2, that year, and soon began to
waste time upon various partisan resolutions ; and,
while the two houses were disagreeing upon the
question of adjourning sine die, the Governor, having
the authority in such cases, surprised them all by
adjourning them " to the Saturday next preceding the
first Monday in January, 1865 !" This led to great
excitement and confusion, and to a reference of the
Governor's act to the Supreme Court, who decided in
his favor. Then it was the Court's turn to receive
abuse for weeks and months afterward.

During the autumn of 1864 a conspiracy was de-
tected at Chicago which had for its object the liber-
ation of the prisoners of war at Camp Douglas, the
burning of the city and the inauguration of rebellion
in the North. Gen. Sweet, who had charge of the
camp at the time, firs', had his suspicions of danger
aroused by a number of enigmatically worded letters
which passed through the Camp postoffice. A de-
tective afterward discovered that the rebel Gen.
Marmacluke was in the city, under an assumed
name, and he, with other rebel officers — Grenfell,
Morgan, Cantrell, Buckner Morris, and Charles
Walsh — was arrested, most of whom were convicted
by a court-martial at Cincinnati and sentenced to
imprisonment, — Grenfell to be hung. The sentence
of the latter was afterward commuted to imprison-
ment for life, and all the others, after nine months'
imprisonment, were pardoned.

In March, 1873, Gov. Yates was appointed a Gov-
ernment Director of the Union Pacific Railroad, in
which office he continued until his decease, at St.
Louis, Mo., on the 2yth of November following.
^

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY Of IU.INO/S

r

GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

Rwhard J; Ogles

SSii^lCHARl) J. OGLESBY, Gov-
ernor 1865-8, and re-elected
in 1872 and 1884, was born
July 25, 1824, in Oldham Co.,
Ky., — the State which might
be considered the " mother of
Illinois Governors." Bereft of
his parents at the tender age
of eight years, his early education
was neglected. When 12 years of
age, and after he had worked a year
and a half at the carpenter's trade,
he removed with an uncle, Willis
Oglesby, into whose care he had
been committed, to Decatur, this
State, where he continued his ap-
prenticeship as a mechanic, working six months for
Hon. E. O. Smith.

In 1844 he commenced studying law at Spring-
field, with Judge Silas Robbins, and read with him
one year. He was admitted to the Bar in 1845, and
commenced the practice of his chosen profession at
Sullivan, the county seat of Moultrie County.

The next year the war with Mexico was com-
menced, and in June, 1846, Mr. Oglesby volunteered,
was elected First Lieutenant of Co. C, Fourth Illinois
Regiment of Volunteers, and participated in the bat-
tles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo.

On his return he sought to perfect his law studies
by attending a course of lectures at Louisville, but
on the breaking oat of the California "gold fever " in
1849, he crossed the plains and mountains to the
new Eldorado, driving a six-mule team, with a com-

«•

pany of eight men, Henry Prather being the leader.

In 1852 he returned home to Macon County, and
was placed that year by the Whig party on the ticket
of Presidential Electors. In 1856 he visited Europe,
Asia and Africa, being absent 20 months. On his
return home he resumed the practice of law, as a
member of the firm of Gallagher, Wait & Oglesby.
In 1858 he was the Republican no.uinee for the
Lower House of Congress, but was defeated by the
Hon. James C. Robinson, Democrat. In 1860 he
was elected to the Illinois State Senate ; and on the
evening the returns of this election were coming in,
Mr. Oglesby had a fisticuff encounter with " Cerro
Gordo Williams," in which he came out victorious,
and which was regarded as " the first fight of the
Rebellion." The following spring, when the war
had commenced in earnest, his ardent nature
quickly responded to the demands of patriotism and
he enlisted. The extra session of the Legislature
elected him Colonel of the Eighth Illinois Infantry,
the second one in the State raised to suppress the
great Rebellion.

He was shortly entrusted with important com-
mands. For a time he was stationed at Bird's Point
and Cairo ; in April he was promoted Brigadier Gen-
eral ; at Fort Donelson his brigade was in the van,
being stationed on the right of General Grant's army
and the first brigade to be attacked. He lost 500
men before re-inforcements arrived. Many of these
men were from Macon County. He was engaged in
the battle of Corinth, and, in a brave charge at this
place, was shot in the left lung with an ounce ball,
and was carried from the field in expectation of im-

t.

164

RICHARD J. OGLESBY.

mediate death. That rebel ball he carries to this
day. On his partial recovery he was promoted as
Major General, for gillantry, his commission to rank
from November, 1862. In the spring of 1863 he
was assigned to the command of the i6th,Army
Corps, but, owing to inability fro n the effects of his
wound, he relinq lished this command in July, that
year. Gen. Grant, however, refused to accept his
resignation, and he was detailed, in December follow-
ing, to coart-martial a id try the Surgeon General of
the Army at Washington, where he remained until
May, 1864, wli.n he returned home.
The Republican, or U lion, State Convention of

1864 was held at Springfield, May 25, when Mr.
Oglesby was nominated for the office of Governor,
while other candidates before the Convention were
Allen C. Fuller, of Boone, Jesse K. Dubois, of Sanga-
mon, and John M. Palmer, of Macoupin. Wra.
Brass, of Chicago, was nominated for Lieutenant
Governor. On the Democratic State ticket were
James C. Robinson, of ('.lark, for Governor, and S.
Corning Judd, of Fulton, for Lieutenant Governor.
The general election gave Gen. Oglesby a majority
of about 31,000 votes. The Republicans had also a
majority in b.xli th,j Legislature and in the repre-
sentation in Congress.

Gov. Oglesby was duly inaugurated Jan. 17, 1865.
The day before the first time set for his installation
death visited his hj ne at Decatur, and took from it
his only son, an intelligent and sprightly lad of six
years, a great favorite of the bereaved parents. This
caused the inauguration to be postponed a week.

The political events of the Legislative session of

1865 were the election of ex-Gov. Yutes to the
United States Senate, and the ratification of the 13111
amend. nent to the Constitution of the United States,
abolishing slavery. This session also signalized
itself by repealing the 'i >torious " black laws," part
of which, although a dead letter, had held their place
upon the statute books since 1819. Also, laws re-
quiring the registration of voters, and establishing a
State Board of Equalization, were passed by this Leg-
islature. But the same body evinced that it was cor-
ruptly influenced by a mercenary lobby, as it adopted
some bad legislation, over the Governor's veto, nota-
bly an amendment to a charter for a Chicago horse
railway, granted in 1859 for 25 years, and now
sought to be extended 99 years. As this measure
was promptly passed ov~r his veto by both branches
of the Legislature, he, deemed it useless further to
attempt to check their headlong career. At this
session no law of a general useful character or public
interest was perfected, unless we count such the
turning over of the canal to Chicago to be deepened.
The session of 1867 was still more productive of
private and special acts. Many omnibus bills were
psoposad, and some passed. The contests over the
location of the Industrial College, the Capital, the

Southern Penitentiary, and the canal enlargement
and Illinois River improvement, dominated every
thing else.

During the year 1872, it became evident that if
the Republicans could re-elect Mr. Oglesby to the
office of Governor, they could also elect him to the
United States Senate, which they desired to do.
Accordingly they re-nominated him for the Execu-
tive chair, and placed upon the ticket with him for
Lieutenant Governor, John L. Beveridge, of Cook
County. On the other side the Democrats put into
the field Gustavus Koerner for Governor and John
C. Black for Lieutenant Governor. The election
gave the Republican ticket majorities ranging from
35,334 to 56,174, — the Democratic defection being
caused mainly by their having an old-time Whig and
Abolitionist, Horace Greeley, on the national ticket
for President. 'According to the general understand-
ing had beforehand, as soon as the Legislature met
it elected Gov. Oglesby to the United States Senate,
whereupon Mr. Beveridge became Governor. Sena-
tor Oglesby 's term expired March 4, 1879, having
served his party faithfully and exhibited an order of
statesmanship beyond criticism.

During the campaign of 1884 Mr. Oglesby was
nominated for a "third term" as Executive of the
State of Illinois, against Carter H. Harrison, Mayor
of Chicago, nominated by the Democrats. Both
gentlemen " stumped " the State, and while the peo-
ple elected a Legislature which was a tie on a joint
ballot, as between the two parties, they gave the
jovial " Dick" Oglesby a majority of 15,018 for Gov-
ernor, and he was inaugurated Jan. 30, 1885. The
Legislature did not fully organize until this date, on
account of its equal division between the two main
parties and the consequent desperate tactics of each
party to checkmate the latter in the organization of
the House.

Gov. Oglesby is a fine-appearing, affable man, with
regular, well defined features and rotund face. In
stature he is a little above medium height, of a large
frame and somewhat fleshy. His physical appear-
ance is striking and prepossessing, while his straight-
out, not to say bluff, manner and speech are well
calculated favorably to impress the average masses.
Ardent in feeling and si rongly committed to the pol-
icies of his party, he intensifies Republicanism
among Republicans, while at the same time his jovial
and liberal manner prevents those of the opposite
party from hating him.

He is quite an effective stump orator. With vehe-
ment, passionate and scornful tone and gestures,
tremendous physical power, which in speaking he
exercises to the '.it most; with frequent descents to
the grotesque; and with abundant homely compari-
sons or frontier figures, expressed in the broadest
vernacular and enforced with stentorian emphasis,
he delights a promiscuous audience beyond measure.

T

LIBRARY

OF THE

DIVERSITY OF ILLIMOIS

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

n,7

J O UN M. PA L HER

->! 4-

•:OHN Me AULEY PALMER, Gov-
ernor 1869-72, v/as born on
Engle Creek, Scott Co., Ky ,
Sept. 13, 1817. During his in-
fancy, his father, who had been
a. soldier in the war of 1812, re-
moved to Christian Co., Ky.,
where lands were cheap. Here
the future Governor of the great
Prairie State spent his childhood
and received such meager school-
ing as the new and sparsely set-
tled country afforded. To this
he added materially by diligent
reading, for which he evinced an
His father, an ardent Jackson man,
was also noted for his anti-slavery sentiments, which
he thoroughly impressed upon his children. In 1831
he emigrated to Illinois, settling in Madison County.
Here the labor of improving a farm \vas pursued for
about two years, when the death of Mr. Palmer's
mother broke up the family. About this time Alton
College was opened, on the "manual labor " system,
and in the spring of 1834 young Palmer, with his
elder brother, Elihu, entered this school and remained
1 8 months. Next, for over three years, he tried
variously coopering, peddling and school-teaching.

During the summer of 1838 he formed the ac-
quaintance of Stephen A. Douglas, then making his

ea.ly aptitude.

first canvass for Congress. Young, eloquent and in
political accord with Mr. Palmer, he won his confi-
dence, fired his ambition and fixed his purpose. The
following winter, while teaching near Canton, he be-
gan to devote his spare time to a desultory reading
of law, and in the spring entered a law office at Car-
linville, making his home with his elder brother,
Elihu. (The latter was a learned clergyman, of con-
siderable orginality of thought and doctrine.) On
the next meeting of the Supreme Court he was ad-
mitted to the Bar, Douglas being one of his examiners.
He was not immediately successful in his profession,
and wou!d have located elsewhere than Carlinville
had he the requisite means. Thus his early poverty
was a blessing in disguise, for to it he now attributes
the success of his life.

From 1839 on, while he diligently pursued his
profession, he participated more or less in local
politics. In 1843 he became Probate Judge. In
1847 he was elected to the State Constitutional Con-
vention, where he took a leading part. In 1852 he
was elected to the State Senate, and at the special
session of February, 1854, true to the anti-slavery
sentiments bred in him, he took a firm stand in op-
position to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise;
and when the Nebraska question became a party
issue he refused to receive a re-nomination for the
Senatorship at the hands of the Democracy, issuing
a circular to that effect. A few weeks afterward,

168

JOHN MC AULEY PALMER.

however, hesitating to break with his party, he par-
ticipated in a Congressional Convention which nomi-
T. L. Harris against Richard Yates, and which
unqualifiedly approved the principles of the Kansas-
Nebraska act. But later in the campaign he made
the plunge, ran for the Senate as an Anti-Nebraska
Democrat, and was electe I. The following winter
he put in nomination for the United States Senate
Mr. Trumbull, and was one of the five steadfast men
who voted for him until all the Whigs came to .their
support and elected their man.

In 1856 he was Chairman of the Republican State
Convention at Bloomington. He ran for Congress in
1859, but was defeated. In 1860 he was Republican
Presidential Elector for the State at large. In 1861
he was appointed one of the five Delegates (all Re-
publicans) sent by Illinois to the peace congress at
Washington.

When the civil conflict broke out, he offered his
services to his country, and was elected Colonel of the
141)1 111. Vol. Inf., and participated in the engagements
at Island No. ro; at Farmington, where he skillfully
extricated his command from a dangerous position ;
at Stone River, where his division for several hours,
Dec. 31, 1862, held the advance and stood like a
rock, and for his gallantry there he was made Major
General ; at Chickamauga, where his and Van Cleve's
divisions for two hours maintained their position
when they were cut off by overpowering numbers.
Under Gen. Sherman, he was assigned to the i4th
Army Corps and participated in the Atlanta campaign.
At Peach-Tree Creek his prudence did much to avert
disaster. In February, 1865, Gen. Palmer was as-
signed to the military administration of Kentucky,
which was a delicate post. That State was about
half rebel and half Union, and those of the latter
element were daily fretted by the loss of their slaves.
He, who had been bred to the rules of common law,
trembled at the contemplation of his extraordinary
power over the persons and property of his fellow
men, with which he was vested in his capacity as
military Governor; and he exhibited great caution in
the execution of the duties of his post.

Gen. Palmar was nominated for Governor of Illi-
nois by the Republican State Convention which met
at Peoria May 6, 1868, and his nomination would
probably have been made by acclamation had he not
persistently declared that he could not accept a can-

didature for the office. The result of the ensuing
election gave Mr. Palmer a majority of 44,707 over
John R. Eden, the Democratic nominee.

On the meeting of the Legislature in January,
1869, the first thing to arrest public attention was
that portion of the Governor's message which took
broad State's rights ground. This and some minor
points, which were more in keeping with the Demo-
cratic sentiment, constituted the entering wedge f >r
the criticisms and reproofs he afterward received
from the Republican party, and ultimately resulted
in his entire aleniation from the latter element. The
Legislature just referred to was noted for the intro-
duction of numerous bills in the interest of private
parties, which were embarrassing to the Governor.
Among the public acts passed was that which limited
railroad charges for passenger travel to a maximum
of three cents per mile ; and it was passed over the
Governor's veto. Also, they passed, over his veto,
the "tax-grabbing law" to pay r^ilror.i subscriptions,
the Chicago Lake Front bill, etc. The riew State
Constitution of 1870, far superior to the old, was a
peaceful " revolution" which took place during Gov.
Palmer's term of office. The suffering caused by the
great Chicago Fire of October, 1871, was greatly
alleviated by the prompt responses of his excellency.

Since the expiration of Gov. Palmers 's term, he has
been somewhat prominent in Illinois politics, and
has been talked of by many, especially in the Dem-
ocratic party, as the best man in the State for a
United States Senator. His business during life has
been that of the law. Few excel him in an accurate
appreciation of the depth and scope of its principles-
The great number of his able veto messages abun-
dantly testify not only this but also a rare capacity to
point them out. He is a logical and cogent reasoner
and an interesting, forcible and convincing speaker,
though not fluent or ornate. Without brilliancy, his
dealings are rather with facts and ideas than with
appeals to passions and prejudices. He is a patriot
and a statesman of very high order. Physically he is
above the medium height, of robust frame, ruddy
complexion and sanguine-nervous temperament. He
has a large cranial development, is vivacious, social
in disposition, easy of approach, unostentatious in his
habits of life, democratic in his habits and manners
and is a true American in his fundamental principles
of statesmanship.

•*.

UBRARY

OF THE

UK!VEflSITY OF ILLINOIS

•Mr-*

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

• ; i1 .' i1 ; v ; i1 ; V ; v ,•,' ..•.,'..• i'.;'y..' ,' .- .< ;v ;:.:/! •..', •.',•.', •, ', •,.•, •. ', •. <,: •, :>, v, •. v. ',••..', •. •

t)*"5*""

OHN LOWRiE BEVER-
IDGE, Governor 187 3-6, was
born in the town of Green-
wich, Washington Co., N. Y.,
July 6, 1824. His parents
were George and Ann Bever-
idge. His father's parents, An-
drew and Isabel Beveridge, be-
fore their marriage emigrated
from Scotland just before the
Revolutionary War, settling in
Washington County. His father
was the eldest of eight brothers, the
youngest of whom was 60 years of
age when the first one of the num-
ber died. His mother's parents,
James and Agnes Hoy, emigrated
from Scotland at the close of the
Revolutionary War, settling also in
Washington Co., N. Y., with their
first-born, whose " native land "was
the wild ocean. His parents and
grandparents lived beyond the time
allotted to man, their average age
being over 83 years. They belonged to the "Asso-
ciate Church," a seceding Presbyterian body of

America from the old Scotch school ; and so rigid
was the training of young Beveridge that he never
heard a sermon from any other minister except that
of his own denomination until he was in his igth
year. Later in life he became a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, which relation he still
holds.

Mr. Beveridge received a good common-school ed-
ucation, but his parents, who could obtain a livelihood
only by rigid economy and industry, could not send
him away to college. He was raised upon a farm,
and was in his i8th year when the family removed
to De Kalb County, this State, when that section was
very sparsely settled. Chicago had less than 7,000
inhabitants. In this wild West he continued as a
farm laborer, teaching school during the winter
months to supply the means of an education. In the
fall of 1842 he attended one term at the academy at
Granville, Putnam Co., 111., and subsequently several
terms at the Rock River Seminary at Mount Morris,
Ogle Co., 111., completing the academic course. At
this time, the fall of 1845, his parents and brothers
were anxious to have him go to college, even though
he had not money sufficient; but, n it willing to bur-
den the family, he packed his trunk and with only
$40 in money started South to seek his fortune.

t . 172

JOHN L. BEVRRIDGE.

Poor, alone, without friends and influence, he thus
entered upon the battle of life.

First, he taught, school in Wilson, Overton and
Jackson Cos., Tenn., in which experience he under-
went considerable mental drill, both in book studies
and in the ways of the world. He read law and was
admitted to the Bar, in the South, but did not learn
to love the institution of slavery, although he ad-
mired many features of Southern character. In De-
cember, 1847, he returned North, and Jan. 20, 1848,
he married Miss Helen M. Judson, in the old Clark-
Street M. E. church in Chicago, her father at that
time being Pastor of the society there. In the spring
of 1848 he returned with his wife to Tennessee,
where his two children, Alia May and Philo Judson,
were born.

In the fall of 1849, through the mismanagement
of an associate, he lost what little he had accumu-
lated and was left in debt. He soon managed to
earn means to pay his debts, returned to De Kalb
Co., 111., and entered u[>on the practice of his pro-
fession at Sycamore, the county seat. On arrival
from the South he had but one-quarter of a dollar in
money, and scanty clothing and bedding for himself
and family. He borrowed a little money, practiced
law, worked in public offices, kept books for some of
the business men of the town, and some railroad en-
gineering, till the spring of 1854, when he removed
to Evanston, 12 miles north of Chicago, a place then
but recently laid out, under the supervision of the
Northwestern University, a Methodist institution.
Of the latter his father-in-law was then financial
agent and business manager. Here Mr. Beveridge
prospered, and the next year (1855) opened a law
office in Chicago, where he found the battle some-
what hard; but he persevered with encouragement
and increasing success.

Aug. 12, 1861, his law partner, Gen. John F.
Farnsworth, secured authority to raise a regiment cf
cavalry, and authorized Mr. Beveridge to raise a
company for it. He succeeded in a few days in rais-
ing the company, of course enlisting himself along
with it. The regiment rendezvoused at St. Charles,
111., was mustered in Sept. 18, and on its organiza-
tion Mr. B. was elected Second Major. It was at-
tached, Oct. n, to the Eighth Cavalry and to the
Army of the Potomac. He served with the regiment
iintil November, 1863, participating in some 40 bat-

tles and skirmishes : was at Fair Oaks, the seven days'
fight around Richmond, Fredericksburg, Chancellors-
ville and Gettysburg. He commanded the regiment
the greater part of the summer of 1863, and it was while
lying in camp this year that he originated the policy
of encouraging recruits as well as the fighting capac-
ity of the soldiery, by the wholesale furlough system.
It worked so well that many other officers adopted
it. In the fall of this year he rec/uittd another com-
pany, against heavy odds, in January, 1864, was
commissioned Colonel of the i7th 111. Cav., and
skirmished around in Missouri, concluding with the
reception of the surrender of Gen. Kirby Smith's
army in Arkansas. In 1865 he commanded various
sub-districts in the Southwest. He was mustered
out Feb. 6, 1866, safe from the casualties of war and
a stouter man than when he first enlisted. His men
idolized him.

He then returned to Chicago, to practice law, with
no library and no clientage, and no political experi-
ence except to help others into office. In the fall of
1866 he was elected Sheriff of Cook County, serving
one term; next, until November, 1870, he practiced
law and closed up the unfinished business of his
office. He was then elected State Senator; in No-
vember, 1871, he was elected Congressman at large;
in November, 1872, he was elected Lieutenant Gov-
ernor on the ticket with Gov. Oglesby ; the latter be-
ing elected to the U. S. Senate, Mr. Beveridge became
Governor, Jan. 21, 1873 Thus, inside of a few
weeks, he was Congressman at large,. Lieutenant
Governor and Governor. The principal events oc-
curring during Gov. Beveridge 's administration were:
The completion of the revision of the statutes, begun
in 1869; the partial success of tli : "farmers' move-
ment;" " Haines" Legislature " and Illinois' exhibit at
the Centennial.

Since the close of his gubernatorial term ex-Gov.
Beveridge has been a member of the finn of Bever-
idge & Dewey, bankers and dealers i,i commercial
paper at 7 1 Dearborn Street (McCormick Block),
Chicago, and since November, iSSi, lie has also been
Assistant United States Treasurer: office in the
Government Building. His residence is still at Ev-
anston.

He has a brother and two sisters yet residing in
De Kalb County — James 11. Beveridge, Mrs. Jennet
Henry and Mrs. Isabel French.

f

LIBRARY

OF THE

DIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

t

GO VERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

i7S , L

M. CULLOM.

HELBY M. CULLOM, Gover-
nor 1877-83, is the sixth child
of the late Richard N. Cullom,
and was born Nov. 22, 1829,111
Wayne Co., Ky., where his fa-
ther then resided, and whence
both the Illinois and Tennessee
branches of the family originated. In
the following year the family emi-
grated to the vicinity of Washington,
Tazewell Co., 111., when that section
was very sparsely settled. They lo-
cated on Deer Creek, in a grove at
the time occupied by a party of In-
dians, attracted there by the superior
hunting and fishing afforded in that
vicinity. The following winter was
known as the " hard winter," the snow [being very
dee)) and lasting and the weather severely cold; and
t'ue family had to subsist mainly on boiled corn or
hominy, and some wild game, for several weeks. In
the course of time Mr. R. N. Cullom became a prom-
inent citizen and was several times elected to the
Legislature, both before and after the removal of the
capital from Vandalia to Springfield. He died about

'873-

Until about 19 years of age young Cullom grew up
to agricultural pursuits, attending school as he had
opportunity during the winter. Within this time,
however, he spent several months teachim* «chool,

and in the following summer he "broke prairie "with
an ox team for the neighbors. With the money ob-
tained by these various ventures, he undertook a
course of study at the Rock River Seminary, a
Methodist institution at Mt. Morris, Ogle County;
but the sudden change to the in-door life of a stu-
dent told severely upon his health, and he was taken
home, being considered in a hopeless condition. While
at Mt. Morris he heard Hon. E. B. Washburne make
his first speech.

On recovering health, Mr. Cullom concluded to
study law, under the instruction of Abraham Lincoln,
at Springfield, who had by this time attained some
notoriety as an able lawyer ; but the latter, being ab-
sent from his office most of the time, advised Mr.
Cullom to enter the office of Stuart & Edwards.
After about a year of study there, however, his health
failed again, and he was obliged to return once more
to out-door life. Accordingly he bought hogs foi
packing, for A. G. Tyng, in Peoria, and while he re-
gained his health he gained in purse, netting $400 in
a few weeks. Having been admitted to the Bar, he
went to Springfield, where he was soon elected City
Attorney, on the Anti-Nebraska ticket.

In 1856 he ran on the Fillmore ticket as a Presi-
dential Elector, and, although failing to be elected as
such, he was at the same time elected a Representa-
tive in the Legislature from Sangamon County, by a
local coalition of the American and Republican par-
ties. On the organization of the House, he received
the vote of the Fillmore men for Speaker. Practicing

,76

SHELB Y M. CULLOM.

law until 1860, he was again elected to the Legisla-
ture, as a Republican, while the county went Demo-
cratic on the Presidential ticket. In January follow-
ing he was elected Speaker, probably the youngest
man who had ever presided over an Illinois Legis-
lature. After the session of 1861, he was a candidate
for the State Constitutional Convention called for
that year, but was defeated, and thus escaped the
disgrace of being connected with that abortive party
scheme to revolutionize the State Government. In
1862 he was a candidate for the State Senate, but
was defeated. The same year, however, he was ap-
pointed by 'President Lincoln on a Government
Commission, in company with Gov. Boutwell of
Massachusetts and Cnarles A. Dana, since of the
New York Sun, to investigate the affairs of the
Quartermaster's and Commissary Departments at
Cairo. He devoted several months to this duty.

In 1864 he enteied upon a larger political field,
being nominated as the Republican candidate for
Congress from the Eighth (Springfield) District, in
opposition to the incumbent, John T. Stuart, who had
been elected in 1862 by about 1,500 majority over
Leonard Swett, then of Bloomington, now of Chicago.
The result was the election of Mr. Cullom in Novem-
ber following by a majority of 1,785. In 1866 he
was re-elected to Congress, over Dr. E. S. Fowler, by
the magnificent majority of 4,103! In 1868 he was
again a candidate, defeating the Hon. B. S. Edwards,
another of his old preceptors, by 2,884 votes.

During his first term in Congress he served on the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Expenditures in
the Treasury Department; in his second term, on
the Committees on Foreign Affairs and on Territories ;
and in his third term he succeeded Mr. Ashley, of
Ohio, to the Chairmanship of the latter. He intro-
duced a bill in the House, to aid in the execution of
law in Utah, which caused more consternation among
the Mormons than any measure had previously, but
which, though it passed the House, failed to pass the
Senate.

The Republican Convention which met May 25,
1876, nominated Mr. Cullom for Governor, while the
other contestant was Gov. Beveridge. For Lieuten-
ant-Governor they nominated Andrew Shuman, editor
of the Chicago Journal. For the same offices the
Democrats, combining with the Anti-Monopolists,
placed in nomination Lewis Steward, a wealthy

farmer and manufacturer, and A. A. Glenn. The
result of the election was rather close, Mr. Cullom
obtaining only 6,800 majority. He was inaugurated
Jan. 8, 1877.

Great depression prevailed in financial circles at
this time, as a consequence of the heavy failures of
1873 and afterward, the effect of which had seemed
to gather force from that time to the end of Gov.
Cullom's first administration. This unspeculative
period was not calculated to call forth any new
issues, but the Governor's energies were at one time
put to task to quell a spirit of insubordination that
had been begun in Pittsburg, Pa., among the laboring
classes, and transferred to Illinois at Chicago, East
St. Louis and Braidwood, at which places laboring
men for a short time refused to work or allow others
to work. These disturbances were soon quelled and
the wheels of industry again set in motion.

In May, 1880, Gov. Cullom was re-nominated by
the Republicans, against Lyman Trumbull, by the
Democrats; and although the former party was some-
what handicapped in the campaign by a zealous
faction opposed to Grant for President and to Grant
men for office generally, Mr. Cullom was re-elected
by about 314,565, to 277,532 for the Democratic State
ticket. The Greenback vote at the same time was
about 27,000. Both Houses of the Legislature again
became Republican, and no representative of the
Greenback or Socialist parties were elected. Gov.
Cullom was inaugurated Jan. 10, iSSi. In his mes-
sage he announced that the last dollar of the State
debt had been provided for.

March 4, 1883, the term of David Davis as United
States Senator from Illinois expired, and Gov. Cul-
lom was chosen to succeed him. This promoted
Lieutenant-Governor John M. Hamilton to the Gov-
ernorship. Senator Cullom's term in the United
States Senate will expire March 4, 1889.

As a practitioner of law Mr. C. has been a member
of the firm of Cullom, Scholes & Mather, at Spring-
field ; and he has also been President of the State
National Bank.

He has been married twice, — the first time Dec.
12, 1855, to Miss Hannah Fisher, by whom he had
two daughters; and the second time May 5, 1863,
to Julia Fisher. Mrs. C is a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church, with which religious body Mr.
C. is also in sympathy.

LIBRARY

OF THE

-.''."VCRSITY OF ILLINOIS

GOVERNORS OF ILLINOIS.

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OHN MARSHALL HAMIL-
TON, Governor 1883-5, was
born May 28, 1847, in a log
house upon a farm about two
miles from Richwoud, Union
County, Ohio. His father was
Samuel Hamilton, the eldest son
cf Rev. Wm. Hamilton, who, to-
gether with his brother, the Rev.
Samuel Hamilton, was among the
early pioneer Methodist preachers in
Ohio. The mother of the subject of
this sketch was, before her marriage,
Mrs. Nancy McMorris, who was
born and raised in Fauquier or Lou-
doun County, Va., and related to the
two large families of Youngs and Marshalls, well
known in that commonwealth; and from the latter
family name was derived the middle name of Gov.
Hamilton.

In March, 1854, Mr. Hamilton's father sold out
his little pioneer forest home in Union County, O.,
and, loading his few household effects and family
(of six children) into two emigrant covered wagons,
moved to Roberts Township, Marshall Co., 111., being
2 1 days on the route. Swamps, unbridged streams
and innumerable hardships and privations met them
on their way. Their new home had been previously
selected by the father. Here, after many long years
of toil, they succeeded in paying for the land and
making a comforta^1* home. John was, of course,

brought up to hard manual labor, with no schooling
except three or four months in the year at a common
country school. However, he evinced a capacity
and taste for a high order of self-education, by
studying or reading what books be could borrow, as
the family had but very few in the house. Much of
his study he prosecuted by the light of a log fire in
the old-fashioned chimney place. The financial
panic of 1857 caused the family to come near losing
their home, to pay debts ; but the father and two
sons, William and John, " buckled to '' and perse-
vered in hard labor and economy until they redeemed
their place from the mortgage.

When the tremendous excitement of the political
campaign of 1860 reached the neighborhood of Rob-
erts Township, young Hamilton, who had been
brought up in the doctrine of anti-slavery, took a zeal-
ous part in favor of Lincoln's election. Making special
efforts to procure a little money to buy a uniform, he
joined a company of Lincoln Wide-Awakes at Mag-
nolia, a village not far away. Directly after the
ensuing election it became evident that trouble
would ensue with the South, and this Wide-Awake
company, like many others throughout the country,
kept up its organization and transformed itself into a
military company. During the ensuing summer they
met often for drill and became proficient ; but when
they offered themselves for the war, young Hamilton
was rejected on account of his youth, he being then
but 14 years of age. During the winter of 1863-4 he
attended an academy at Henry, Marshall County;

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, i8o

JOHN MARSHALL HAMILTON.

and in the following May he again enlisted, for the
fourth time, when he was placed in the 1415! 111.
Vol. Inf., a regiment then being raised at Elgin, 111.,
for the loo-day service. He took with him 13 other
lads from his neighborhood, for enlistment in the
service. This regiment operated in Southwestern
Kentucky, for about five months, under Gen. Paine.

The following winter, 1864-5, Mr. Hamilton taught
school, and during the two college years 1865-7, he
went through three years of the curriculum of the
Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. The
third year he graduated, the fourth in a class of 46,
in the classical department. In due time he received
the degree of M. A. For a few months he was the
Principal of Marshall " College " at Henry, an acad-
emy under the auspices of the M. E. Church. By
this lime he had commenced the study of law, and
after earning some money as a temporary Professor
of Latin at the Illinois Wesleyan University at
Bloomington, he entered the law office of Weldon,
Tipton & Benjamin, of that city. Each member of
this firm has since been distinguished as a Judge.
Admitted to the Bar in May, 1870, Mr. Hamilton
was given an interest in the same firm, Tipton hav-
ing been elected Judge. In October following he
formed a partnership with J. H. Rowell, at that time
Prosecuting Attorney. Their business was then
small, but they increased it to very large proportions,
practicing in all grades of courts, including even the
U. S. Supreme Court, and this partnership continued
unbroken until Feb. 6, 1883, when Mr. Hamilton
was sworn in as Executive of Illinois. On the 4th
of March following Mr. Rowell took his seat in Con-
gress.

In July, 1871, Mr. Hamilton married Miss Helen
M. Williams, the daughter of Prof. Win. G. Williams,
Professor of Greek in the Ohio Wesleyan University.
Mr. and Mrs. H. have two daughters and one son.

In 1876 Mr. Hamilton was nominated by the Re-
publicans for the State Senate, over other and older
competitors. He took an active part " on the stump "
in the campaign, for the success of his party, and was
elected by a majority of 1,640 over his Democratic-
Greenback opponent. In the Senate he served on
the Committees on Judiciary, Revenue, State Insti-
tutions, Appropriations, Education, and on Miscel-
lany ; and during the contest for the election of a
U. S. Senator, the Republicans endeavoring to re-
\ i ^_

elect John A. Logan, he voted for the war chief on
every ballot, even alone when all the other Republi-
cans had gone over to the Hon. E. B. Lawrence and
the Democrats and Independents elected Judge
David Davis. At this session, also, was passed the
first Board of Health and Medic.al Practice act, of
which Mr. Hamilton was a champion, agair'1: . ,
much opposition that the bill was several times
"laid on the table." Also, this session authorized
the location and establishment of a southern pe^
tentiary, which was fixed at Chester. In the sessior
of 1879 Mr. Hamilton was elected President pr o tern.
of the Senate, and was a zealous supporter of John
A. Logan for the U. S. Senate, who was this time
elected without any trouble.

In May, 1880, Mr. Hamilton was nominated on
the Republican ticket for Lieutenant Governor, his
principal competitors before the Convention being
Hon. Wm. A. James, ex-Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Judge Robert Bell, of Wabash
County, Hon. T. T. Fountain, of Perry County, and
Hon. M. M. Saddler, of Marion County. He engaged
actively in the campaign, and his ticket was elected
by a majority of 41,200. As Lieutenant Governor,
he presided almost continuously over the Senate in
the 32d General Assembly and during the early days
of the 33d, until he succeeded to the Governorship.
When the Legislature of 1883 elected Gov. Cullom
to the United States Senate, Lieut. Gov. Hamilton
succeeded him, under the Constitution, taking the
oath of office Feb. 6, 1883. He bravely met all the
annoyances and embarrassments incidental upon
taking up another's administration. The principal
events with which Gov. Hamilton was connected as
the Chief Executive of the State were, the mine dis-
aster at Braidwood, the riots in St. Clair and Madison
Counties in May, 1883, the appropriations for the
State militia, the adoption of the Harper high-license
liquor law, the veto of a dangerous railroad bill, etc.

The Governor was a Delegate at large to the
National Republican Convention at Chicago in June,
1884, where his first choice for President was John
A. Logan, and second choice Chester A. Arthur; but
he afterward zealously worked for the election of Mr
Elaine, true to his party.

Mr. Hamilton's term a* Governor expired Ja;:. 30,
r885, when the great favorite " Dick " Oglesby was
inaugurated.

ZZinois.

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COLES COUNTY.

183 t ,

INTRODUCTORY.

OLES COUNTY, prior to its
organization, which occurred
in 1830, had been attached
to Clark. It was christened ,
in honor of Edward Coles,
who was elected Governor
of Illinois in 1822, and who
was one of the most noble and worthy
men who ever occupied that high po-
sition. Gov. Coles was a Virginian by
birth and a large slave-owner, and when
he emigrated to Illinois he brought his
slaves with him. Upon becoming a
citizen of this State he liberated all of
them and gave each head of a family
among them 160 acres of land. At the time of the
organization of Coles it embraced the territory
now forming Douglas and Cumberland Counties.

Coles County is situated in latitude 40 north, and
longitude 11 west from Washington, embracing
about 500 square miles, and divided into thirteen
townships. Its general surface is undulating, but
there are some parts of it which are broken, yet not
to that extent as to be regarded hilly. Its eleva-
tion is about 800 feet above the level of the Gulf
of Mexico. The soil, which is rich, especially the
prairies, is well drained by the Embarras, Kaskaskia
and Kickapoo Rivers, and numerous other little
water courses. The county is liberally timbered
and contains many flue groves.

Like most of the counties of Illinois, Coles' first

inhabitants were Indians. At one time in the his-
tory of the State their wigwams were numerous
and their camp-fires left but a few groves unlighted
by night. The first white people to settle in the
county, who came in 1824, were John Parker and
Samuel Kellogg with their families, in all fourteen.
John Parker erected the first cabin, which was lo-
cated in what is now Hutton Township, on the east
bank of the Embarras, and opposite to where
Blakeman's Mill was in after years set up. These
pioneers were soon followed by many others and it
was not long before the county had quite a re-
spectable population.

Among the early settlers in Coles County were
Thomas Lincoln, father of President Lincoln, and
Dennis F. Hanks, who was first cousin to Abraham
Lincoln's mother. They moved here from Macon
County in the fall of 1831, and located near Goose
Neck Prairie, in what is now Pleasant Grove Town-
ship. The early life of Abraham Lincoln is well
known by the settlers here. His father erected a
cabin on his claim, where he lived until his death,
Jan. 15, 1851, and was buried in the little Garden
Churchyard near Farmington, where a few years
ago a monument was erected to his memory, by his
grandson, Robert T. Lincoln. His second wife,
who survived him several years, was buried by his
side. Dennis Hanks took up a farm near Mr.
Lincoln's, where he lived for about two years when
he moved to Charleston. He became quite con-
spicuous in the country at one time as the companion

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184

COLES COUNTY.

of young Abraham Lincoln and one who taught him
to read, and subsequently (in 1876) as the exhibitor
of the celebrated Lincoln log cabin. He is a man of
the old type, honest and positive in his nature, and
has many interesting remembrances still held by his
good memory of the great President. He lives at
Charleston, surrounded by his children and grand-
children, in' his eighty ninth year, and remarkably
preserved in all his faculties.

In 1831 the county seat was located and the
name was called Charleston. Here a good court-
house was completed in 1835, which has since been
remodeled. What is an unusual thing for counties,
Coles has had no county seat contests, nor any
change in its county seat location.

The early settlers of Coles did not lack for re-
ligious instruction, and that of a solid, substantial
character. Its pioneer was a preacher and of the
"hard-shell" Baptist order. This society was fol-
lowed by many others, and the people now are well
supplied with places of worship. Schools were early
established in the county, but the buildings were
rude structures and the system was imperfect.
When the present free school system was adopted,
the people of Coles earnestly interested themselves
in providing for the education of their children,
which resulted in the establishment of good schools
throughout the county. The people were alive to
the benefits of railroad transportation and early in-
terested themselves in having the county traversed
by good lines. The first to complete its track
through the county was the St. Louis, Alton &
Terre Haute (now forming part of the Bee Line),
which was during the latter part of 1855. Aboutthe
Istof January, 1856, the Illinois Central ran its first
passenger train through Mattoon, from Chicago to

Cairo. It would be a great error to think of those
lines as we would of the present almost perfect
system of railroads. The tracks were laid with
strap iron, the coaches were crude in construction,
and the locomotives were weak in power. Often
the neighboring farmers were 'called on to assist
with fence rails, a weary train up a grade. Other
lines have since been completed — the Toledo, St.
Louis & Kansas City, the Peoria, Decatur &
Evansville and the Illinois Midland — which give
to the county splendid transportation facilities.

Coles is chiefly an agricultural county, its prin-
cipal products being corn and broom corn. In the
latter product it stands ahead of any county in the
United States. Considerable attention is also paid
to stock, and some splendid pure blooded stock can
be seen in the county.

Underlying the surface at different depths are ex-
tensive coal beds of a very good quality of bitumi-
nous coal, some of which have been opened and are
being worked with profit.

There are three thriving towns in the county —
Charleston, Mattoon, and Oakland. There are sev-
eral other little villages, some of which are grow-
ing slowly. The population of the county is now
about 30.000, and it is steadily increasing. The
northern portion of the county is under splendid
cultivation, and a more desirable farming country
could hardly be found, while the southern part con-
tains many fine and well cultivated farms.

The original settlers were chiefly from Kentucky,
Virginia and Indiana. The present population' is
composed of these and their descendants, those
coming in since from the Northern States, and some
from foreign lands. They are, in the main, an in-
telligent, industrious and thrifty people.

LIBRARY
OF THE

'JKfVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

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COLES COUNTY.

187

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RLANDO B. FICKLIN, one
of the most prominent and
useful citizens who ever
honored Coles County, and
one who in many respects
did more in its behalf than
anj' other man, was born Dec. 16,
1808. He was the son of William
and Elizabeth Kenner (Williams)
Ficklin, natives of Virginia, but who
removed to Kentucky, where their
son Orlando was born. He received
a practical education in the schools
of Kentucky and Missouri, whither
his parents subsequently removed, and passed one
year in Princeton College, Calclwell Co., Ky. tie
commenced the study of law at Potosi, Washing-
ton Co., Mo., and during the winter of 1829
and 1830, prosecuted his legal studies in Transyl-
vania University, and in the law office of Gen.
Robert Karris, at St. Louis. In the spring of 1830
he was admitted to the bar at Belleville, St. Clair
Co., 111., and commenced the practice of law in
Mt. Carmel, Wabash Count}'.

In 1832 Mr. Ficklin entered Capt. Jordan's com-
pany, and went to the Black Hawk War, serving as
Quartermaster, and in the following year he was
elected Colonel of the militia of Wabash County,
and shortly afterward began his political career,
which was one of the most honorable and brilliant
enjoyed by any of his contemporaries. In August,
1834, he was elected to the Lower House of the
Legislature, and chosen by that body as States At-

torney for the Wabash Circuit. In 1837 he removed
to Charleston, and the ensuing year represented
Coles County in the Legislature. In 1842 he was
again elected to the Legislature, and the following
year was made the Member of Congress from the
Wabash District, and was re-elected in the years
of 1844 and 1846. At the close of this long public
career he resumed the practice of law in Charleston,
but his services were considered too valuable to the
public to be permitted to lead a quiet life, and in
1850 he was returned to Congress. In 1856 he was a
member of the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati,
which nominated James Buchanan for President, and
in 1860 was a member of the National Convention
held at Charleston, S. C. In 1864 he was'a delegate
to the National Convention held at Chicago, which
nominated Gen. George B. McClellan for President,
and in 1869-70 represented the counties of Coles,
Monltrie and Douglas in the State Constitutional
Convention. In 1 878 he was elected to the House of
Representatives in the State Legislature. He was
Elector for the State at large three terms; the last
was when Cleveland was elected President.

The Hon. O. B. Ficklin was faithful in the dis-
charge of his public duties, which were heaped upon
him, and possessed the respect and esteem of his
political constituents. He devoted his time and
talents to the service of the State, with a rare, spirit
of devotion and unselfishness. After a long and
useful life, chequered by many national vicissitudes,
he passed away from the busy scenes of earth
May 5, 1885. It is with pleasure that the publish-
ers place the portrait of this lamented and honored

188

COLES COUNTY.

citizen on an accompanying page, the first in the
volume, a fitting place for the man represented.

Mrs. O. B. Ficklin, Postmistress of Charleston,
and the widow of the late Orlando B. Ficklin, is the
daughter of W. T. and Nancy (Lane) Colquitt; the
former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Geor-
gia. Her paternal grandparents, Henry and Nancy
(Holt) Colquitt, were natives of Virginia and of
English descent. They removed to Georgia when
her father was two years of age. Her maternal
grandparents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Hill)
Lane; the former was a native of North Carolina,
and the latter of South Carolina, and her great-
grandfather, Richard Lane, was a native of Virginia.

Henry Colquitt, who was a slave-holder under
the old regime, owned an extensive plantation in
Virginia, as well as one in Georgia after his re-
moval to that State. A family of three children
was born to him, as follows: Sarah H., the wife of
Edmond Randell, a resident of Georgia ; W. T. and
John. W. T. Colquitt was born in 1807, and grad-
uated with' honors from Princeton College before
he attained his majority. He subsequently studied
law in Georgia, where he was admitted to the bar.
He was brilliant and successful in his profession and
was made Judge of the Circuit Court before reach-
ing the age of twenty-five. He was interested in
all affairs of national importance, and served several
years as Member of Congress. He was enterprising
and successful in business, and became an extensive
land-owner. His death occurred in 1857, and his
wife died in 1840. Only three children of their
family are now living, whose record is as follows:
Alfred H., who was the Governor of Georgia eight
years, and is now United States Senator from that
State ; Mrs. O. B. Ficklin, the subject of this sketch ;
Emily L., the wife of Samuel Carter, a wealthy
planter of Dalton, Ga., and Payton H., who was a
Brigadier General in the Civil War, and was killed
at Chattanooga.

Mrs. Ficklin has a family of three children now
living, whose record is as follows : Alfred C., an
attorney, residing at Tuscola, Douglas Co., 111., and
who married Miss Emma Weiss, has three sons —
Orlando B., Otto W. and Walter C. ; Joseph C., an
attorney, residing at Paris, Edgar Co., 111., married
to Miss Susan Thomas, of Chicago, and has one

son, James R. ; Orlando B., an attorney, residing in
Charleston, married to Miss Mary Wright, has three
children — Joseph C., Mary C. and Samuel W. Mrs.
Ficklin, as the wife of a distinguished politician,
has had much experience in public affairs. She
possesses tact, good judgment and rare business
ability, which render her well fitted for the position
she holds, which was one of the first appointments
made by President Cleveland in 1885. Mrs. Fick-
lin is a member of the Episcopal Church, and an
accomplished lad}-, and enjoys the highest esteem
of the entire community in which she lives, and of
which she is a very important factor.

REEN ARTERBURN. The farm owned by
this gentleman forms one of the prettiest
spots in the landscape of Ashmore Town-
ship. The dwelling with its out-buildings, is located
on a rise of ground, and the pasture and grain
fields stretch away on either side forming a picture
which is delightful to look upon. The grounds
around the residence, which are ample and well
kept, are planted with choice shade trees, and in
the rear is a fine carp pond fed by living springs,
and stocked with an abundance of the finny tribe
procured from the Government in 1886. The
farm contains 160 acres, finely cultivated, and the
residence is one of the most elegant in the town-
ship, while the barn and stables correspond in every
respect with the main building.

•Mr. Arterburn is a native of the Prairie State,
his birth taking place in Edgar County, Dec. 26,
1834. His parents, John and Mahulda (Watkins)
Arterburn, were natives of Jefferson County, Ky.
The former, born Feb. 28, 1804, is still living and
a resident of Edgar County, where he owns a fine
property and is one of the prominent men of that
section. He votes with the Republican party and
is one of the pillars of the Christian Church. The
mother, who was born Jan. 22, 1808, departed this
life at the homestead in Edgar County in the spring
of 1875. She was a lady greatly beloved by her
family and friends, a faithful and loving wife and
mother, and one who performed all her duties in
life with a conscientious fidelity which has left its

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COLES COUNTY.

189

impress upon the hearts of all who knew her. The
household circle included eight children, namely,
James, John, Allen, Green, Ann, Norben, Henry,
and Mary, now deceased.

The Arterburn family is of German descent, the
earliest representatives in this country settling first
in the Blue Grass regions, where they built up for
themselves good homes and a name of which their
descendants may justly be proud. Green, of our
sketch, remained a member of the parental house-
hold until twenty-two years of age, and was then
united in marriage with Miss Isabella Kester, a
native of his own county, who was born
June 16, 11S38. Their wedding took place on
Christmas Day in 1S55, and they began life
together amid the surroundings of a neat little
home in Kansas Township, Edgar County. After
the birth of four children, the wife and mother de-
parted this life in the summer of 1878. Their
eldest child, Alice A., was born Dec. 9, 1856, and
married David Ross, a merchant of Kansas; Lyman
T., born Feb. 3, 1859, married Miss Clara Boyer;
John A. was born June 13, 1867, and Mariam E.
in November, 1869.

Mr. Arterburu was the second time married,
March 10, 1880, to Miss Katie Epperson, a native
of this county, born in 1847, and the daughter of
Green and Tkirza (Woods) Epperson, of Kentucky.
Mr. Epperson was born in 1803 and died in 1855,
after having spent his entire life as a farmer and
stock-dealer. His wife, Thirza, born in 1807, is
still living, a member of the Christian Church and
a resident of Ashmore Township. The nine chil-
dren of the parental household were named re-
spectively, Burtis C., Cassius, Clemens, Sidney,
Rhodes, Green L., Martha, Joseph and John G.
The latter is a practicing physician of the old
school, and a resident of Edgar County; he was
well educated, and graduated from the medical de-
partment of San Francisco College. Our subject by
this latter marriage has one child, a bright little
daughter, Jessie T., born Feb. 16, 1885.

Mr. Arterburn keeps himself well posted upon
current events. As soon as old enough to exercise
the rights of a free American citizen, lie identified
himself with the Republican party, in whose princi-
ples he still thoroughly believes, and which he

honestly supports by his voice and vote as oppor-
tunity occurs. Both Mr. and Mrs. Arterburn are
connected with the Christian Church, in the doc-
trines of which Mr. A. was reared from early child-
Flood by his excellent parents. He is filling worth-
ily his niche in life, and in all respects deporting
himself as an honest man and a ood citizen.

OHN B. BEAVERS and his twin brother,
Samuel M., were the eldest children of John
W. and Mary A. (Madden) Beavers, a sketch
of whose lives appears elsewhere in this
ALBUM. The brothers were born in Hampshire
County, Va., Nov. 3, 1842, and have continued to
live together since that time.

During his childhood and youth our subject, with
his brother, attended the district schools, and as
soon as his services could be made available they
were utilized on the farm. His limited education
was completed in Washington, Iowa, where he
attended the public schools six months, and con-
tinued to reside on the home farm until thirty-four
years of age. On the 4th of March, 1877, he was
united in marriage with Miss Catharine J. Bruce,
who was born in Fulton County, Ohio, in 1845,
and was the youngest child of James and Elizabeth
(King) Bruce, natives of Ireland. Mr. Beavers
after his marriage, continued two years on the old
homestead and then purchased eighty acres of land
on section 27, Humbolt Township, which he occu-
pied two j'ears, when he sold out and purchased
another eighty acres on section 2. Four years
later he removed to the house of his brother on
section 35, renting his own land. On the 5th of
July, 1879, his wife, Catharine, after having been
his companion but a little over two short years,
passed away, leaving him with two children —
Frederick and Blanche. Mrs. Beavers was a lady
greatly esteemed by her friends and acquaintances,
and had been a consistent member of the Presby-
terian Church from childhood. Her parejits were
of Scotch- Irish ancestry and the descendants in a
direct line from the family of Sir Robert Bruce ol
Scotland. Mrs. Beavers was proud of her ancestry
as she had a right to be, and her father's family in-

t.

190

COLES COUNTY.

eluded some of the most worthy representatives of
the great patriot and King of Scotland. Mr.
Beavers is a highly respected citizen, unobtrusive
in his character and mostly engaged with his own
concerns. Although never taking any active part
in politics and especially declining to become an
office-holder, he keeps himself well posted upon
current events and is an earnest supporter of Dem-
ocratic principles.

* ARRIET BUCKLER, the widow of John
Buckler, who was formerly one of the
prominent farmers and stock-growers of
East Oakland Township, resides on her late
husband's estate on section 4. She was born Oct.
15, 1842, in Clark County, 111., and was the daugh-
ter of Thomas and Clarinda (Craig) Davis. Her
father was born Dec. 30, 1817, in Kentucky. He
was a farmer possessed of excellent business quali-
fications and had acquired considerable wealth.
During his life lie was interested in promoting the
welfare of the Baptist Church, of which he was a
member. His first marriage took place in 1841,
and his death occurred March 11, 1872. His wife
was born in 1826, and died in 1848. By the first
marriage there were born three children : Harriet ;
Eliza J., who married Mr. D. Campbell, and Isabell,
who died in 1848. Thomas Davis was united in
marriage a second time, to Miss Elizabeth Lamb.
Of this marriage there were seven children born —
Martha E., George R., Julia A., Emma F., Susan
C., Evalin and James W.

Harriet, the subject of this biography, was mar-
ried to John T. Buckler, April 6, 1862. The
ceremony was performed by the Rev. John Shields,
pastor of the Baptist Church. Her husband, Mr.
Buckler, was born June 22, 1838, in Marion
County, Ky., and died Feb. 26, 1883, after an ill-
ness of about six weeks. He was brought up on
his father's farm in Kentucky, and attended the
common school there until he was sixteen years of
age, when he removed to Illinois, and first located
in Edgar County. He was active and energetic,
and worked so successfully by the month until his
marriage, that he was then able to purchase eighty

acres of land. He afterward sold this property
and purchased the estate of 200 acres where
his widow now resides, and where he became
one of the leading men of the township until his
death. He was interested in educational affairs
and held the office of School Director. For thir-
teen years prior to his death, he had been a mem-
ber of the Baptist Church, and was in every respect
a true Christian gentleman, a kind and affectionate
husband, beloved by his neighbors and respected
by the entire community. In politics he was a
Democrat. He left a family of five children to
mourn their loss, namely : Rosaua, born May 8, 1863,
married William Ilanner; Richard T., born Oct.
27. 1865; Emily J., Sept. 18, 1869; Lorenzo D.,
Dec. 29, 1871, and Nettie V., May 27, 1878.

Mrs. Harriet Buckler is highly esteemed by a
large circle of friends and acquaintances. She is a
member of the Baptist Church, in which she is
actively interested. Her eldest son, who now rep-
resents the head of the family, assists his mother
in the management of the farm. He is a Demo-
crat.

;ILLIAM M. BARR, deceased, was a native
of Loudoun County, Va., born Aug. 17,
1829, and was the son of Lot and Nancy
Ann (Chin) Barr. His parents removed from the
Old Dominion to Janesville, Ohio, when he was but
six months old.

William M. Barr was a painter by trade and fol-
lowed his occupation in Ohio until his removal
therefrom, in the spring of 1850. Then, accom-
panied by two brothers, he migrated to Terre
Haute, Ind., where he worked at his trade success-
fully for a number of years. There also he met
and married Miss Sarah Ann, youngest child of
Enoch and Harriet (Dexter) Dole, who settled in
Terre Haute at a very early day. The young
people continued their residence in that city, and
there the death of William M. Barr occurred May
11, 1876.

During the progress of the late war Mr. Barr en-
listed in Co. I, 16th Ind. Vol. Inf., serving until
the close and being promoted Orderly Sergeant.
In 1863 he was mounted at New Orleans and from

t.

COLES COUNTY.

191

that time on served in the Mounted Infantry. He
passed through the Vicksburg and Red River cam-
paigns, escaping injury although participating in
some of the hardest fought battles of those cam-
paigns. After the surrender of the confederate
army he was mustered out with his comrades, and
returning to Terre Haute took tip his trade again
and remained a resident of that city until his death.
He was Republican in politics but took no part in
public affairs, otherwise than to perform the duties
of an American citizen at the polls. Mrs. Barr,
after the death of her husband, came to Illinois and
purchased 120 acres of improved land in Mattoon
Township, this county, upon which she located,
with her family of nine children. These were
Charles H., Joseph L., Harriett A., Frank D.,
Fannie M., Chattie D., Sarah, Carrie G. and Edith
W. All are living and are at home with their
mother. Her three sons, who are carrying on the
farm, are principally engaged in grain-raising.
The homestead thus built up is one of the most
comfortable in Mattoon Township, and the family
are held in the highest respect. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Barr identified- themselves with the Universalist
Church years ago.

J~~ F. REEL, of the firm of Curtis & Reel, deal-
ers in general merchandise in Oakland, is a
native of this county, born in Hickory
' Township, Oct. 12, 1856. His parents were
Dr. Samuel A. and Elizabeth (Adams) Reel, the
former a native of Gibson County. Ind., born April
22, 1836, and the mother, of Coles County, 111.,
born April 21, 1836. J. F. Reel, of this sketch,
spent his youth and boyhood on the farm of his
father in Coles County, and attended the common
schools chiefly during the winter seasons, until at-
taining his majority.

Our subject began early in life to form his plans
for the future, and after he had laid the founda-
tions for a home of his own, was married Oct. 15,
1885, to Miss Antoinette Hackett. Mrs. R. is
also a native of this county, born Dec. 13, 1859,
and the daughter of George F. and Angeline Ilack-
ett. She is a lady of high culture and rare accom-

plishments, and a great favorite among the social
circles of Oakland. The one child born of this
union is a daughter, Lyda J., who came to the
household on the 28th of June, 1887.

Mr. Reel is numbered among the enterprising
business men of Oakland, is high-minded and hon-
orable in his dealings with his fellow-men, and by
his courteous manner and straightforward business
methods has built up an extensive and lucrative
trade. He became the partner of Mr. Curtis, Jan.
1, 1886. The firm is a strong one, and there is a
prospect of a future before them, which in its re-
sults can hardly fail to be satisfactory. Mr. Reel,
politically, is a stanch supporter of Republican
principles, and socially belongs to the Masonic fra-
ternity. Messrs. Curtis & Reel carry a well-selected
stock of dry -goods and groceries, and their business
is conducted after the most approved methods.

C. BARN US, a fanner and

stock-grower, residing on section 25, Ash-
more Township, belongs to one of the old
fcjjpioneer families of the county, and was
born in the township in which he now lives, Aug.
9, 1836. He is the son of Enos and Nancy (Col-
lett) Barnes, and his parents were natives of Ken-
tucky and North Carolina respectively. Enos
Barnes was of Scotch and Irish extraction, born in
1785, and inherited the enterprise and courage char-
actistic of both nationalities. Previous to his
marriage, which occurred in 1830, he removed to
Indiana and subsequently to Coles County, 111.,
where he entered Government land, and engaged
in farming. He bravely encountered the difficul-
ties and privations of pioneer life, cultivated and
improved his land, and made a comfortable home
for his family on the western frontier. The wife
who had shared his trials through many years, died
in 1855, at the age of fifty. He survived her
seventeen years, his death occurring in 1872. A
family of nine children was born to them and the
record is as follows: Roann Maria, deceased, was
formerly the wife of L. F. Smith; Temple Ann,
deceased, was formerly the wife of W. S. Childress;
Granville A. married Miss Sarah Welch, and both

f

192

COLES COUNTY.

are deceased ; Milton W. was twice married ; his
first wife was Mary S. Goodnight, and after her
death he married Miss Mattie Hoffman. Fountain
H. inarrred Miss Mary Sackett; Elizabeth is the
wife of John B. Zimmerman; Randolph C. is the
subject of this sketch; Emeline is the wife of
Arthur Welch; Huston M. died of fever while
serving in the Civil War, at Alexandria, Va

Randolph Barnes was married, Oct. 19, 1870, to
Miss Louisa Ashmore. Mrs. Barnes is the daughter
of Robert and Mary (McClure) Ashmore. Her
parents were natives of Tennessee and are both
deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have two interest-
ing children: Gallic J., born May 19, 1874, and
Alvin M., Jan. 23, 1877.

In response to the call of his country, Mr.
Barnes enlisted as a private in Co. F, 1st Minn.
Vol. Inf. He served three years in the Army of
the Potomac and fought in the battles of Bull Run,
Fair Oak, and in the deadly conflict at Antietam.
where the slain were numbered by thousands. He
also took part in many other minor engagements,
and was but slightly wounded during his entire
service. After the close of the war he engaged in
farming, and owns a fine tract of well-cultivated
land containing 140 acres. Mr. Barnes possesses
good business qualifications, and is a highly
esteemed citizen of Jiis township. He is a member
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In poli-
tics he votes for the success of the Republican
party.

AVEY, one of the most thorough
and progressive farmers of Coles County,
owns -and occupies a quarter section of
valuable land in Humbolt Township, where
he is principally engaged in raising grain and
broom corn, and gives considerable attention to
the breeding of fine stock. The farm buildings
and machinery are of first-class description, and
everything about the premises denotes the super-
vision of the enterprising agriculturist. Like many
of the men who have assisted in the development
of Northern Illinois, the early years of Mr. Avey
were spent on the other side of the Atlantic in
County Suffolk, England, where his birth took

place Aug. 19, 1837. He was the fourth in a fam-
ily of six children, born to Richard and Mary
(Wing) Avey, natives of the same county, the
father a son of Robert Avey, who was familiarly
known as the popular inn-keeper at Kentford, where
ho had long lived, and where he sp"nt his declin-
ing years. The mother of our subject was also
born in Sussex County, where her father followed
farming all his life.

Mr. Avey received a good education, completing
his studies in the academy at New Market, where
he finished his classical course at the age of eight-
een years. Soon afterward, in 1855, he embarked
from London on the ship Oregon, an English sail-
ing-vessel, accompanied by several of his acquaint-
ances. After -a fair voyage of seven weeks they
landed in New Orleans, where a few days late/ all
proceeded North to Ottawa, 111., and our subject
for two years thereafter was principally engaged in
gardening. In the meantime he had purchased
forty acres of prairie land in Humbolt Township,
this county, of which he took possession in the
spring of 1858. He built a house and made other
improvements, and on the 31st of May, 1858, was
united in marriage with Miss Celia Oakland, and
not long afterward introduced his bride to the
home which he had prepared for her.

Mrs. Avey was the fourth child of Guner A. and
Celia (Oakland) Oakland. The real name of her
father, however, was Norton, and he was a native of
Norway. He emigrated to America with his wife
at an early day, and coming to Illinois they lo-
cated on a tract of land on Indian Creek, in La
Salle County, where Mr. O. built up a good farm,
and where he died, July 5, 1887; his wife, well ad-
vanced in years, still occupies the home place.

Mr. Avey proceeded with the improvements he
had begun, and continued the. cultivation of the
soil until he was enabled to exhibit some of the
finest crops in the Prairie State. The household
was in due time enlarged by the birth of eight
children, of whom seven are now living, namely,
Mary J., William T., John L., Maude 1., Newton
R., Martha C. and Oscar L. William T. married Miss
Minnie McBride, and is a resident of Charleston,
where he officiates as Deputy Circuit Clerk; he is
a well-educated man and fully competent for his

COLES COUNTY.

193

responsible position ; Mary is teaching school in
Socorro, N. M., where she went for her health in
1882, and is being greatly benefited by the milder
climate of that region. The others are at home
with their parents.

Mr. Avey has been prominently identified with
local affairs for many years serving as Road Com-
missioner, School Trustee and School Director, and
is one of the most active promoters of those meas-
ures tending to the moral and intellectual advance-
ment of the people. He meddles little with politics,
although casting his vote regularly with the Demo-
cratic party. His children have been carefully
reared in the doctrines of the Episcopal Church5
with rwhich nearly all the members of the family
are connected, and with which Mr. A. officiates as
Warden. The family is highly respected wherever
known, and enjoys the society of the best people of
Hum bolt Township.

ffi AMES ANDERSON is the owner of a fine
estate, containing 155 acres of land, located
on section 20, Pleasant Grove Township.
He was born in Montgomery County, Md.,
Dec. 25, 1825, and is the son of James and Mary
(Rodgers) Anderson, natives of Pennsylvania. His
paternal grandfather, Andrew Anderson, was a na-
tive of England, and emigrating to the United
States early in life, settled in Pennsylvania. His
maternal grandparents were natives of the North
of Ireland, who, after their arrival in this country,
were likewise among the early settlers of Pennsyl-
vania. After his marriage, James Anderson, Sr..
removed to the State of Maryland, and engaged in
farming in Montgomery County. In about 1832,
the family removed to Gueruesey County, Ohio.
It was before the days of railroads, and they made
the long and weary journey overland, camping
out for the night in the open country, when the
weather was not too rough, and sometimes seeking
the friendly shelter of the neighboring farm houses.
In the pioneer days, each one was obliged to do
whatever work presented itself, and James Ander-
son was engaged in teaming and farming until
about the year 1837, when he removed to Knox
County, of the same State, and was there engaged

in farming nearly twenty years; he then removed
to Morrow County, where the remaining years of
his life were passed. He was industrious and enter-
prising in business, and his death occurred at Iowa
City, Iowa, whither lie had gone to enter land. He
was a successful farmer, and at his death was en-
abled to leave his children some property. His
wife's death occurred at the homestead in Ohio,
several years prior to his own. Mr. Anderson was
a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, but
never sought political preferment. He was for
many years a prominent member of the Methodist
Church. They had a family of nine children, all of
whom grew to maturity, the record being as fol-
lows: Ann Eliza, deceased, formerly the wife of
Charles Osborn; Samuel, a resident of Monroe
County, Ohio ; Lydia, deceased, formerly the wife of
Daniel Knowles; James, the subject of this sketch;
Mary E., deceased ; William, a resident of Mahaska
County, Iowa; Elizabeth, deceased; Charles W., a
resident of Mattoon, and Maria, the wife of Anson
Conklin, a resident of Mahaska County, Iowa.

James Anderson, Jr., grew to manhood in Ohio,
where he was reared on his father's farm. His edu-
cational advantages were necessarily limited to the
district log school-house of the pioneer days.
Nevertheless, he obtained much practical know-
ledge, and early learned the details of systematic
farming. Dec. 27, 1847, he was married to Miss
Lucinda Knight, the daughter of Rena and Sarah
(Hall) Knight. Her parents were natives of Maine,
where their marriage occurred. They subsequently
removed to Ohio and located in Licking County,
where they engaged in farming, and made their
permanent home there during the remainder of
their lives. Their family consisted of sixteen chil-
dren, of whom Mrs. Anderson was the youngest.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson had a family of eight chil-
dren born to them, one of whom died in infancy.
The record is as follows: Mary Ann, the wife of
Joseph Dornblazer; Columbia, the wife of Luther
Lander; William H.; Sarah P., the wife of Clarence
Ferguson ; Emma, the wife of William D. Horton ;
Martha, the wife of Ralph Jeffris, and Charles
W. married Leulla Brown.

After his marriage, Mr. Anderson gave his atten-
tion exclusively to agricultural pursuits in Ohio,

\ • 194

COLES COUNTY.

until 1854, when he removed to Illinois, locating in
Cumberland County. He purchased land there and
remained seven years. He then decided to change
his location, and in the spring of 1862 came to
Coles County, where he rented land near Mattoon.
After remaining there five years, he purchased 133
acres of his present farm. The land was all im-
proved, but he has erected substantial buildings,
and the appointments of his farm are all comfort-
able, and in good order. He has added some land
to his first purchase, and now owns a tract contain-
ing 155 acres.

In early life, Mr. Anderson served one year in
the Mexican War. He was a member of the Demo-
cratic party until after the Civil War; he then be-
came a Republican, and adhered to that party
twenty years, and has since affiliated again with the
Democrats. He has no taste for public life, and
when requested, has always refused to become a
candidate for any local office. He is interested in
educational affairs, and at one time was School
Director. His family were formerly connected
with the Methodist Church, but Mr. and Mrs. An-
derson have been for several years members of the
Cumberland Presb3'terian Church.

WILLIAM Z. ALLEN. The name of this
gentleman is familiar throughout East Oak-
land Township as that of an enterprising
and wide-awake citizen, whose determination to set-
tle down in this section of the country, was one of
the best things that could have happened to said sec-
tion, as he brought to it his resolution and industry,
and has built up within its borders one of the finest
farms which has assisted so largely in the embellish-
ment of the landscape. The history of Mr. Allen,
who may be most properly termed a self-made man,
is essentially as follows:

The first twelve months of the life of William Z.
Allen were spent in South Carolina, where his birth
took place on the farm of his father, Oct. 16, 1821.
His parents, John and Delilah (Clauton) Allen,
were natives of the same locality, whence they re-
moved when their son was a year old, to East
Tennessee, where they remained eleven years, and

then coming North, located in Edgar County, this
State, of which they were residents for thirty years
following. They finally sold out the old homestead
in Edgar County, and became residents of Douglas
County, where the death of the father took place
in 1865. The mother survived her husband twenty-
one years, dying in 1886. Both parents were born
in 1796. Their ten children were named respect-
ively, Jane, Martha, William Z., Elizabeth, Mary,
Dorcas, Margaret, James B., Francis M. and John.
The latter died in childhood. John Allen was a
man of deep piety, and a prominent member of the
United Brethren Church, in which he was one of
the chief pillars, and to whose support he always
contributed liberally and cheerfully.

The subject of this notice received the advant-
ages of a common-school education, came to Illi-
nois with his parents, and remained with them on
the homestead in Edgar County until his marriage.
He then purchased forty acres of land and set to
work with the intention of accumulating a fortune.
How well he has succeeded in his determination,
the broad acres which constitute his farm, and the
fine improvements which lie has made upon it, are
silent but forcible witnesses. When starting out in
life he was thrown entirely upon his own resources,
even having to borrow the $1.12£ with which to
buy his license to be married. The young lady who
had consented to unite herself with these doubtful
fortunes, was Miss Amanda Ervin, who became his
wife on the 14th of May, 1840, the wedding taking
place in Edgar County. Mrs. Allen was born in
Fayette County, Ky., in 1823, and is the daughter
of Elias and Martha (Eaton) Ervin, natives re-
spectively of Maryland and Kentucky. Both par-
ents were born and died in the same year, being
each eighty-four years of age. The children of Mr.
and Mrs. Allen, were John I., who died in child-
hood ; William H., Delilah E., Martha A. ; Sarah E.
became the wife of James Lowler, and died in Kan-
sas in 1886; James C., Charles W. and Job; the two
latter died in infancy.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Allen worked
in harmony with the one purpose in view, of estab-
lishing a home and a worthy position, both socially
and financially. They lived economically, and each
year added to the snug sum which was invested in

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COLES COUNTY.

195

i

a wise and judicious manner. After a residence of
thirty-four years in this county, they can • look
back with satisfaction and the consciousness of a
well-spent life, in which they have sought to render
kindly offices to those in need, and to rear their
children in a manner best calculated to make of
them worthy and honorable citizens. Mrs. Allen
never attended school a day in her life, and after
she was fifty years old learned the art of penman-
ship, in which she is quite proficient. She has devel-
oped into a fine reader, and spends a large portion
of her time with her books and periodicals, from
which she has gained a valuable fund of informa-
ation, and by reason of which she is a lady of more
than ordinary intelligence, and one extremely
pleasant to converse with.

Both our subject and his wife, at an early day
identified themselves with the United Brethren
Church, of which Mr. A. has been a Trustee for
thirty years, and since 1H57 has officiated much of
the time as Class-Leader and Steward. He con-
tributed largely to the erection of the first church
of that denomination in this county. Ho has been
greatly interested in the success of the temperance
movement, and politically, is a stanch Republican,
upholding his principles with all the energy of his
character, and during the late war was the uncom-
promising foe of rebellion and secession.

AVID REPLOGLE, deceased, was a resi-
dent of this county for over thirty-seven
years, during which time he identified him-
self largely with its agricultural interests,
and built up a good home on section 33, in Charles-
ton Township. This consisted of 240 acres of land,
which he improved and cultivated with marked
success, and where his death took place, Jan. 17,
1878. Mr. Replogle was born in Rockbridge
County, Va., April 19, 1806, and remained a resi-
dent there until reaching his majority. He then
migrated to Ross County, Ohio, where not long
afterward he was united in marriage with Miss
Eliza Beckham, who was a native of that county,
and born in about 1812.

Our subject and wife afterward sought the far-

ther West, and coming to this county, in August,
1841, permanently located and remained the bal-
ance of their lives. Mrs. Eliza Reprogle, after be-
coming the mother of four children, departed this
life at the old homestead in Charleston Township in
1845. One child afterward died when about two
months old. Elizabeth is the wife of Daniel T.
Fields, of Charleston Township; Rose Ann married
Peter G. Redman, and is a resident of Holt County,
Mo. ; Matthias is the youngest, a sketch of whom
appears on this page.

The second wife of David Replogle was formerly
Miss Maria White, who became the mother of three
children: Loisa, who married John C. Red wine;
Phebe E., the wife of J. Nathan Nees, and Mar-
garet, the wife of Nathan Bales. She is still living,
making her home in Shelby County. David Re-
plogle in early manhood belonged to the old Whig
party, but upon its abandonment he identified him-
self with the Republicans, with whom he remained
the balance of his life. He was a quiet and un-
obtrusive citizen, attending strictly to his own con-
cerns, and performing the duties of life in a worthy
and creditable manner.

ATTIIIAS REPLOGLE, proprietor of 300
acres of fine farming land on section 33, in
Charleston Township, is a gentleman in the
prime of life, and in the midst of a success-
ful career. He is the son of David and Eliza (Beck-
ham) Replogle, natives respectively of Rockbridge
County, Va., and Ross County, Ohio, a sketch of
whom will be found just preceding this, and is
a native of this county, his birth taking place
on his father's farm, in Charleston Township, Nov.
8, 1841. His early education was conducted in the
pioneer schools, and his childhood and youth were
spent after the manner of most farmers' sons, his
service being utilized around the homestead as
soon as they could be made available.

Our subject received careful home training, and
was reared to principles of honor and integrity, and
upon the breaking out of the Civil War volun-
teered his services as a Union soldier. He became
a member of Co. I, 123d 111. Vol. Inf., and for three

196

COLES COUNTY.

4

years following experienced all the vicissitudes of
a soldier's life, and participated iu many of the im-
portant battles of the war. With his comrades he
met the enemy at the battles of Chickamauga,
Chattanooga, Perry ville, Farmington, and Kennesaw
Mountain, and at the battle of Big Shanty received
a gunshot wound in the right thigh, which disabled
him for three months, and from which he has never
fully recovered. On account of this he now receives
a pension from the Government. At the close
of the Rebellion he was mustered out at Nashville,
Tenn., and receiving his honorable discharge, re-
turned home and prepared to enter upon the more
quiet scenes of a farmer's life. He was married
Dec. 27, 1866, to Miss Virginia Roberts, a native of
Pleasant Grove Township, and born Nov. 25, 1850.
Mrs. R. is the daughter of Charles and Matilda
Roberts, who were natives of Virginia, and have
been residents of this county since 1843.

The young people after their marriage located
in Charleston Township, and became the parents of
nine children — Ella May, John A., William M.,
Elmer S., Charles, Leona, Maggie, Clara, and one
daughter who died at the age of two years, two
months and two days. The homestead is finely
located, provided with good buildings, and all the
requisite farm machinery. Mr. Replogle has con-
fined his attention principally to his business mat-
ters and farm operations, and has meddled very
little with public affairs, although he casts his vote
with the Republican party upon occasions of im-
portant elections.

RS. EMMA REAT, widow of Robert C.
Reat, and daughter of Jesse and Maria
(Johnson) Veach, was born in 1833. Her
parents, who were natives of Kentucky, be-
came residents of Coles County in 1831. They
were married in Crawford County, 111., in 1827,
and settled first about four miles west of Charleston,
where Mr. Veach took up a tract of Government
land and became an extensive farmer. He first
settled on a timber tract which he had cleared, and
to which he added until his estate embraced 400
acres, 180 of which he occupied until his death, in

1884. In the meantime he had put up handsome
and substantial farm buildings, and was always fore-
most in the march of progress, doing everything in
his power to assist in encouraging immigration, and
the settlement of one of the most desirable portions
of the Prairie State. He became prominent among
his fellow-citizens as a man possessing admirable
traits of character, honest and upright in his trans-
actions, and in all respects a sincere and liberal-
minded Christian. He was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and
politically, gave his influence to the support of
Democratic principles. Mrs. Veach is still living,
and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Palmer.
The household included seven children, of whom
but three are now living, namely, Emma, of our
sketch; Harriet, Mrs. Palmer, of Humbolt Town-
ship, and Melissa, Mrs. Brown.

Mrs. Reat spent her childhood and youth with
her parents, and when twenty-six years of age was
united in marriage, Dec. 28, 1859, with the gentle-
man whose name she has since borne. Robert C.
Reat was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, Nov. 2,
1828, and was the son of James and Susan (Rodg-
ers) Reat, who were also natives of the Buckeye
State. They came to Northern Illinois in 1840,
and located in this county on a farm three miles
west of Charleston, which they occupied until 1857,
and then removed into town. Of their eleven chil-
dren only three are now living — Mary, James L
and Susan. The father died at Charleston in 1857.
The mother afterward removed to Douglas County,
where her death took place in the spring of 186"6.

Robert Reat was reared on the farm and received
a liberal education, completing his studies in the
common schools. After reaching his majority, he
proceeded to California, and spent seven years in
the mining districts, where he met with fair success
in searching for the yellow ore. Upon his return
from the Pacific Slope he purchased ninety-five
acres of land lying adjacent to the city limits of
Charleston, which he occupied and cultivated until
resting from his earthly labors. His death took
place on the 7th of March, 1871, and he is remem-
bered as a man of excellent Christian character,
who exerted a good influence upon all around him.
He was for many years connected with the Method-

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COLES COUNTY.

199

ist Episcopal Church, both as a layman and an of-
ficial, and contributed cheerfully of his means to
those measures which tended to the general welfare
of the people around him.

Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Reat there are
three children, namely, Clyde, born Jan. 10, 1864;
Charles, Dec. 27, 1868, and Jessie, July 4, 1871.
All are at home with their mother. Mrs. Reat is a
lady of many excellent qualities, a devoted mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a
worker in the missionary society of the W. C. T. U.
She also belongs to the Royal Templars. Since the
death of her husband, she has conducted the inter-
ests of her farm and her children with judicious
care, and has kept up the homestead in the same
creditable manner for which it was distinguished
during his lifetime.

AN1EL W. HONN, Su., occupies a little
more than a quarter of section 16, in Ash-
more Township, where he has lived for
nearly thirty years. During the long per-
iod of his residence here he has fully established
himself in the esteem and confidence of the people
of Coles County, and has built up one of its most
substantial homesteads. The fine dwelling standing
in a prominent position, is the admiration of the
passing traveler, while the well-filled barns and well-
kept stock denote the thrift and enterprise of the
proprietor.

Mr. Honn is a native of Kentucky, born in
Nicholas County, Oct. 4, 1822, and is the son of
Daniel and Annie (Everman) Honn, also natives of
the Blue Grass State. Daniel Honn, Sr., was a man
of excellent Christian character, and a member of
the Reform Church, in which he officiated as Dea-
con for many years, and also as a local preacher.
His brother Peter was also noted for his talents as
a minister, to which he devoted the greater part of
his life. The father of our subject did not live to
old age, dying when about forty years of age, on
the 25th of June, 1826. He always had a love for
country life and was the owner of a good farm in
Nicholas County, where he spent the greater part
of his time. He was twice married, his second wife
being the mother of our subject, and who died when

sixty years of age, on the 26th of August, 1857.
The children bom of this union were Hezekiah
B., Peter K., Andrew E., Sarah A., Samuel D.,
Absalom C., Daniel W., of our sketch, and Mary
E., who died in infancy.

Our subject was reared on his father's farm and
attended the common schools, remaining a member
of the parental household until about twenty-four
years of age. He was then married, Aug. 26,
1846, to Miss Nancy E. Hook, a native of his own
county, and born June 10, 1828. Her parents,
Mathias and Matilda (Huddleson) Hook, were also
natives of Kentucky. The mother died in Ken-
tucky, March 2, 1851. The parental household in-
cluded but two daughters, twins. Mary A., the
sister of Mrs. Honn, married Harrison Parker, and
died at the home of her husband in Nicholas
County, Ky., Aug. 11, 1851; her only child also
died the same year.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Honn, eleven in
number, are recorded as follows: Clarinda F. be-
came the wife of S. D. Watts, and lives in Doug-
las County, 111. ; Eliza A., the wife of John H.
Schulse, is a resident of Rails County, Mo. ; Mary
E. married William M. McConnaha, and is living
in Edgar County, 111.; Amanda E. was married
Dec. 24, 1879, to William F. Schulse, who died of
consumption on the 4th of June, 1884, at the age
of thirty-seven years, having been born Nov. 7,
1847; their two children were Rolla N., born in
January, 1882, and died Aug. 10, 1884, and Jessie
A., born May 31, 1883; Mr. Schulse was a farmer
by occupation and a member in good standing of
the Christian Church. The next child of Mr. and
Mrs. Honn was John B. ; George D. married Miss
Emma R. Geyer, Feb. 16, 1882; she is a native of
Illinois, born in 1864;"she has. become the mother
of two children, Lilly W., born July 5, 1883, and
Leonard O., June 24, 1886; they live on a good
farm in Ashmore Township. Andrew J. Honn was
born April 16, 1860, and died June 12, 1865;
Sarah R., born Sept. 18, 1862, died June 12, 1865;
Daniel W., Jr., was born Sept. 2, 1864; Matilda M.,
bora May 10, 1867, died July 11, 1868; Jesse A.,
born July 12, 1868, was married Sept. 9, 1886, to
Miss Mary E. Kearns, and they have one child,
William J., born June 6, 1887.

I

, , 200

COLES COUNTY.

Mr. Honn left his native State in 1858, coming
directly to this county, and soon afterward locating
upon the land which constitutes his present home-
stead. He first purchased 1 20 acres, to which he
afterward added forty-five, and in addition to gen-
eral farming is breeding Poland-China hogs of the
very best quality. He has held the office of School
Director in his township, is a stanch Democrat po-
litically, and religiously, a prominent member of
the Christian Church. He has officiated as Elder
for a period of fourteen years, and has always been
greatly interested in Sunday-school work, giving to
it his time as Superintendent for many years. He
has also been Clerk, and is one of the chief pillars
among the brethren, who would scarcely know how
to do without him.

Daniel W. Honn, Jr., the son of our subject, is a
gentleman of fine education and a minister of the
Christian Church, occupying the pulpit in Dana and
Hazel Dell. He is still, however, pursuing his
studies in the college at Irvington. He was united
in marriage with Miss Gertrude Wood, daughter of
C. C. and Delila F. (Barnett) Wood, Aug. 31, 1887,
at the home of the bride's parents in Tuscola, 111.

Portraits of Daniel W. Honu, Sr., and his wife
are presented in this ALBUM in connection with this
personal sketch.

J1 OSEPH ARMSTRONG, a prosperous farmer
and stock-grower, residing in Pleasant Grove
Township, has been a resident of this county
since 1844. He was born Aug. 11, 1823, in
Highland County, Va., and is the son of Jarred and
Agnes (Hiner) Armstrong. His paternal ancestors
had been for many years residents of Virginia, and
his mother's family was of German extraction.

In early life Jarred Armstrong was occupied at
the shoemaker's trade and also owned a distillery
and mill, but subsequently he engaged quite largely
in farming and stock-raising. He passed his life in
Virginia and died there at the advanced age of over
eighty years. His wife also reached the age of
fourscore years. The family on each side is noted
for longevity, some members having attained over
one hundred years. Mr. and Mrs. Jarred Arm-

strong had a family of four sons and five daugh-
ters born to them, whose record is as follows:
Matilda became the wife of P. J. Edman, and after
his death married Charles Roberts, with whom she
came to Coles County, where her death occurred
at the age of seventy-two years ; Mahala became
the wife of Jacob Edman, whom she accompanied
to this county, where her death occurred in Sep-
tember, 1853; Abel H. died in his native county in
Virginia; Martha, who became the wife of Solomon
Hedrick, died in West Virginia; John T. is a
farmer and stock-grower, residing in Highland
County, Va. ; Mahulda became the wife of Joseph
Hiner, and resides in West Virginia; Allan resides
on the old homestead in Virginia; Joseph, the sub-
ject of this sketch, and Lucinda, the wife of George
Hiner, a farmer residing in West Virginia.

Joseph Armstrong was reared on the old home-
stead in Virginia, where he acquired a practical
knowledge of the details of systematic farming and
stock-growing. When twenty-one years of age, he
was married to Miss Elizabeth Leitch. Mrs.
Armstrong was born May 23, 1824, in Pendleton
Count}', Va. Immediately after his marriage, Mr.
Armstrong resolved to seek his fortune an the
West, and with his young wife, bravely started
out on the long and perilous overland journey
from Virginia to this State, with a team of strong
horses and a substantial wagon. After passing
through many trials and adventures, they reached
their destination in safety, and with hopeful and
courageous hearts began the world together on the
Western frontier. Mr. Armstrong settled in Coles
County, and in 1847 entered forty acres of his
present farm, which he has made the homestead.
He erected a log cabin in the primitive fashion,
which his wife, with her womanly tact and good
judgment, rendered as comfortable and homelike as
the circumstances would permit. Mr. Armstrong
marked off the land and cleared and cultivated his
farm, and being industrious and economical, and
aided by the housewifely thrift of a devoted wife,
has advanced steadily on the road to success.

Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong had a family of four
children born to them, one of whom died in in-
fancy, and a daughter named Margaret J. died in
the spring of 1885, at the age of thirty-four. The

COLES COUNTY.

201

two children living arc, Charles E. and Abel T.
Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are both members of the
Methodist Church. Mr. Armstrong is interested
in educational affairs, and has served many years
as School Director. He is a Republican in politics.
In 1862, at the call of his country, Mr. Arm-
strong left his home and business and enlisted in Co.
I., 123d 111. Vol. Inf. He took part in all the
principal engagements of the war, and served until
its close, proving himself throughout his military
career, a brave and efficient soldier. After his re-
turn home, Mr. Armstrong resumed farming, and
now owns over 300 acres of valuable land, with an
excellent residence and appropriate farm buildings.
He gives special attention to stock-raising, in which
he has been very successful.

OSES ELLISON has been for more than
twenty years a prominent citizen of North
Okaw Township, his fine estate containing
240 acres of well-improved land, being
located on section 7. He was born Jan. 30, 1808,
in Adams County, Ohio, and is the son of Robert
and Rebecca (Lockhard) Ellison. Robert Ellison
was born Jan. 28, 1770, in County Tyrone, Ireland,
and in 1787 accompanied his parents to the United
States. Thej' left their native land, which has
been for so many centuries the battle-ground of
conflicting Governmental policies, to seek a home
and heritage for their children in this land of free-
dom, where a welcome has ever been extended to
all who come. Mr. Ellison landed at Philadelphia,
and with his family made the journey to Pitts-
burgh by wagon. He there embarked on a float
and went down the river to Maysville, Ky., and
thence to Manchester, Ohio, where he made his per-
manent home. The early settlers of Ohio were
greatly disturbed by the Indians at that time, and
his brother Andrew was once captured by a band
of fierce savages who spared his life, but sold him
to a Frenchman for a quart of whisky. After a
few months of captivity, he made his escape and
returned home in safety.

Mr. Ellison had the advantage of a good com-

mon-school education, and possessed excellent bus-
iness qualifications. He was for several years em-
ployed by a company of surveyors in Ohio, and
subsequently became a large land-owner himself,
having at one time over 1 ,000 acres. When he
was about thirty years of ago his marriage to Miss
Rebecca Lockhard took place, Oct. 11. 1802. Mrs.
Ellison was born Sept. -7, 1781, near Philadelphia.
After their marriage, they settled near Manchester,
Ky., and passed the remainder of their lives there.
Mrs. Ellison died June 7, 1829, leaving her beloved
husband under sad circumstances. He had shortly
before received a stroke of paralysis, and was an
invalid for about twelve years prior to his death,
which occurred May 13, 1839. Their family con-
sisted of ten children, as follows : Mary, born Feb.
20, 1804, became the wife of James Hood, and
died May 9, 1 838, leaving three children ; Marga-
ret, born April 7, 1805, died at the age of eighty
years; John, born Aug. 18", 1806, died at the age
of seventy-one years; Moses, the subject of this
sketch; Isabel, born Aug. 14, 1809, married James
Hood, her deceased sister's husband ; Robert, born
April 5, 1811, married Ann Work; Elizabeth, born
Jan. 11, 1812, married Thomas Huston, and both
are deceased ; Catherine, born July 30, 1814, be-
came the wife of Hanson Newell, and both are also
deceased; Cyrus, born Aug. 24, 1816, was twice
married; Thomas, born June 6, 1819, married Miss
Mary A. Wilson, and both are deceased.

Moses Ellison passed his boyhood and youth on
the homestead, and was about fifteen years of age
when his father was stricken with paralysis. His
educational advantages were very limited, he
never having either the time or opportunity to
attend school, but about fifteen months in his life.
He lived on the homestead, taking charge of his
father's farm until he was about thirty years of
age, when his marriage to Miss Mary A. Lockridge
took place April 6, 1839. Mrs. Ellison was born
April 16, 1809, in Adams County, Ohio, and was
the daughter of William and Margaret (Anderson)
Lockridge. Her parents were natives of County
Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrated to the United
States at an early day, making their home in Ohio.
After his marriage, Mr. Ellison was engaged for
some time in farming in his native county, on

202

COLES COUNTY.

4

property he inherited from his father. Desiring to
move farther westward he disposed of his prop-
erty there in the winter of 1863, and came to
North Okaw Township. In the following spring
he purchased 240 acres of improved land and forty
acres of timber. He was active and enterprising in
business, and on coming to his new home identified
himself successfully with the interests of the com-
munity, by whom he is held in high esteem.

His family consisted of seven children : Robert,
born Feb. 18, 1838, married Miss Ann Siberl, and
resides in Nebraska; Margaret, deceased, born Oct.
20, 1839, was the wife of C. Mowery; Mary, born
Aug. 19, 1841, is the wife of Hugh Cook, and re-
sides in Missouri; William, born June 26, 1843,
married Miss Mary Moore, and after her death
married the second time; he resides in Kansas;
Theodore, born Nov. 20, 1845, married Miss Jane
Gallion, and resides in this county; Emma, born
Feb. 28. 1848, is the wife of Madison Hunt; Cyn-
thia, born June 20, 1852, is the wife of Samuel
Jackson.

May 11, 1870, Mr. Ellison's happy household
was darkened by the death of his wife. With her
husband she had been for many years a member of
the Presbyterian Church, and her daily life bore
witness to the sincerity and earnestness of her
Christian faith. She was beloved by a large circle
of friends, and deeply mourned by her family and
all who knew her. In politics, Mr. Ellison is a Re-
publican, and has held several of the township
offices, giving satisfaction to the people in the
faithful discharge of his public duties.

ARK S. ASH WORTH owns and occupies
a finely cultivated farm of 120 acres on
section 24, in North Okaw Township,
where he ranks as a first-class agriculturist,
and beside manipulating the soil to profit and
advantage, is giving much attention to the raising
of graded stock. Mr. Ashworth is a native of
Mercer Count}', Va., born March 1, 1838, and is
the sixth in a family of twelve children, the off-
spring of Cornelius C. and Hannah (Mooney) Ash-
worth, also natives of the old Dominion. Cor-

nelius Ashworth followed farming the greater part
of his life, to which he had been reared by his
father, Samuel. The latter in eaily manhood
married Miss Vandusen, and it is supposed that
both were also natives of Virginia.

The father of our subject, after his marriage,
removed with his family from his native State to
Shelby County, this State, in about 1854. A year
later he came to Coles County, which was then
almost a wilderness, and where Mark S., our sub-
ject, herded cattle upon land which he would not
have accepted to the amount of ten sections, as a
gift. The mother of our subject was the daughter
of John and Mary (Stoneman) Mooney, the for-
mer a soldier of the Revolutionary War. After
the conflict was ended, he settled down in his native
State of Virginia, and both parents there spent
their declining years.

The subject of this sketch remained a member
of his father's household until twenty-one years of
age. His early education was exceedingly limited,
but he felt the necessity of more learning, and
accordingly set about the study of useful books
and also preparing himself to give instructions to
others. In due time he had succeeded admirably
and attended the first school in what is now the
city of Mattoon. He followed the profession of a
teacher for nine years in this county, and then, de-
sirous of establishing a permanent home, aban-
doned teaching and purchased the land which
constitutes his present homestead. He was married
Oct. 20, 1870, to Miss Ann M., third and youngest
child of John and Maria (Mallinson) Thornton,
natives of England, who emigrated to the United
States and settled in Illinois during the pioneer
days. Mrs. Ashworth was born in Cook County,
Nov. 21, 1844. Her father owned a small piece of
land, but was mainly engaged as a cabinet-maker
and a carpenter.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth
located on the land which they now occupy, and
Mr. A. in course of time erected a neat frame
residence in place of the humble dwelling in which
they first set up housekeeping. He was successful
in his farming operations, and has accumulated a
fair competency. The household circle was com-
pleted by the birth of six children, all living, and

t

COLES COUNTY.

203

named respectively, Elmer, Bertie, Ralph, Leila,
Flora and George. All are at home with their
parents, and with them are members in good stand-
ing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
Mr. Ashworth lias served as Trustee, and has been
a liberal and cheerful contributor to its support.

Politically he has been identified with the Dem-
ocratic party since exercising the right of suffrage,
and has held the various local offices, being Town
Clerk five years, Assessor four years, Collector two
years, and representing the township in the County
Board of Supervisors. The farm stock, which
comprises one of the most attractive features of
the homestead, consists of throughbred English
draft horses, full-blooded Short-horn cattle and
Poland-China hogs, among which Mr. Ashworth is
able to exhibit some fine specimens.

GUIS A. ASHWORTH, Supervisor of North
Okaw Township, is a prominent and influ-
ential citizen, residing on section 22, where
he carries on an extensive business in farming and
stock-raising. He was born Dec. 22,1839, in Mer-
cer County, Va., and is the son of C. C. and Han-
nah (Mooney) Ashworth, natives of Virginia, as
were also his paternal grandparents, Samuel and
Rebecca Ashworth. Virginia has ever been distin-
guished for the patriotism of her sons, and Samuel
Ashworth in his early life served as a private in the
War of 1812. He possessed rare mental abilities,
which had been cultivated and improved by an ex-
cellent education, and was engaged in teaching
throughout his entire life, in which profession he
was very successful, and at the age of eighty-four
had charge of a class in mathematics in Greenbrier
College. He had full possession of his mental fac-
ulties at the age of eighty-seven, when his death
occurred. The preferences of C. C. Ashworth led
him to follow the occupation of agriculture. Late
in the autumn of 1853 he emigrated to Illinois,
making his first settlement in Shelby County, but
soon after changed his location to this county,
where he made his permanent home in Mnttoon, and
there passed the remaining years of his life.

Louis Ashworth passed his boyhood and youth

on the homestead, assisting his father in cultivating
| and improving the farm during the summer, and
attending the district school in the winter, where
the educational advantages at that time were very
limited. At the age of twenty-three he started out
in life for himself, and engaged in farming on
rented land. At the expiration of two years,
passed in energetic application to business, his mar-
riage to Miss Eliza A. Rice took place, July 1C,
18C3. Mrs. Ashworth is the daughter of Amos and
Sarah (Compton) Rice, the former a native of New
York, and the latter of Ohio. After his marriage,
he engaged in farming on rented laud belonging to
Harrison Smith, located on section 23. At the ex-
piration of one year he rented the property where
he now resides, and after carrying on a successful
farming business for five or six years, he moved to
section 24, and, associated with his brother Mark,
purchased 1 28 acres of land. A year later he sold
his interest to his brother and returned to section
22, where he had previously rented, and within
three or four years purchased 160 acres of that
property, making his permanent residence there.
He has since made additional purchases, and now
owns a fine estate containing 200 acres, all of which
is well improved and well stocked. He has erected
a tasteful farm residence, and is rapidly bringing
his entire property into a fine state of cultivation.

Mr. and Mrs. A. had a family of eleven chil-
dren born to them, all of whom, with one exception.
are now living — Mary Elizabeth, Job A., Walter
E., James L., William A., Annetta, Sarah Belle,
Jessie L., John Arthur and Clinton C. Their first
born, named George Allison, died in infancy.
Mary Elizabeth married Dr. Albert Hamilton, the
son of ex-Sheriff Hamilton. The remainder of the
children reside on the homestead with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth are members of the Mis-
sionary Baptist Church at Pleasant Grove, in which
the former has been a member for twenty-five years,
and Deacon twenty-two years ; he has also served ten
years as Clerk. With his wife he is an active
worker in both the church and Sunday-school, hav-
ing held the positions of Superintendent and Assist-
ant Superintendent in the latter for many years.

Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth are influential members
of society, possessing the respect and affectionate

r

204

COLES COUNTY.

regard of a large circle of friends. Mr. Ashworth is
actively interested in politics, and has been elected
to several official positions by the Democratic party,
of which he is a warm supporter: he has served as
Justice of the Peace for two terms, and is now
serving his eighth term as School Director, and his
third term as Supervisor of the township, giving
general satisfaction to the people in the discharge of
his duties.

J"~?OHN H. BLEVINS came to this State in
1840, when a youth of eighteen years, and
j to this county in 1854, locating in Oakland
' Township. He has been engaged in farming
the greater part of his life, but is now retired from
active labor and is living in the village in ease and
comfort, upon the competency which he accumu-
lated by years of industry and a wise investment of
his savings. Mr. Blevins was born in Knox
County, Ind., Oct. 2, 1822, and "is the son of John
and Sarah (Hunt) Blevins, natives respectively of
Kentucky arid Indiana. John Blevins, Sr., wag
born in 1766, and upon becoming a young man
learned the trade of a shoemaker. He left his
native State after his marriage, in 1819, and
located for a time in Knox County, then in 1842
removed to Vermillion County, Ind., where his
death took place in 1856. He was a man of much
force of character, and greatly respected for his
integrity and high moral character. The mother,
who was born in 1772, came to Indiana with her
husband in 1819, and died the year following her
husband's decease, in 1857. She was of German
descent, a devoted wife and mother, and a con-
sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The nine children of the parental household were :
Elizabeth, James, Henry, William, Mahala, Matilda,
Cynthia, Amelia and John H.

The youth and childhood of Mr. Blevins were
passed under the parental roof, and on coming to
this State he located in Edgar County, and com-
menced working on a farm. Afterward he spent
three years in Shelby County, and upon coming to
Coles County purchased 187 acres of land in East
Oakland Township, where he carried on fanning,
and lived until retiring from active labor, in 1885.

He has a fine residence in the village, is surrounded
by hosts of friends, and is one of the pillars of the
Christian Church, in which he has officiated as
Deacon, and occupied other important positions for
a period of twelve years. His connection with this
church dates from the spring of 1851.

Our subject before reaching his twentieth year,
was united in marriage with Miss Harriet, daugh-
ter of Samuel and Amelia (Groff) Blevins, their
wedding taking place Feb. 9, 1841. Mrs. B. was
born in Jefferson County, Ky., Jan. 2, 1825, and
by her union with our subject became the mother
of fifteen children, ten now living. These were
named respectively, Thomas W., Francis J., Isabel,
Louisa E., Amelia, James G., Martha K., John S.,
Sarah E., Mahala and George (twins), Berry,
Marion and Hamilton (twins), and Maggie E.
Thomas W., the eldest son, was killed in an en-
gagement at Atlanta, Ga. He was a soldier in Co.
H, 79th 111. Vol. Inf.

RS. OLIVE A. ADAMS, widow of Capt.
William E. Adams, is well known through-
out Charleston Township as having been
the close friend and helpmeet of one of its
most highly respected citizens. Capt. Adams was a
native of Bedford County ,Tenn., born Oct. 15, 1830,
and the son of John J. and Martha (Gammill) Ad-
ams, who became residents of Coles County in
December, 1830. They located in what is now Pleas-
ant Grove Township, and became the parents of a
family of seven children, of whom the record is as
follows : Elizabeth is the wife of R. P. Brown, of
Hillsbbro; Eliza married Dr. S. A. Reel, of Oak-
land ; Martha is the wife of Thomas West, a mer-
chant of Western Texas; Margaret, Mrs. John
Grimes, is a resident of Kansas, where her hus-
band is conducting a good farm; David married
Miss Hannah Harris, of this county, and is farming
in Benton County, Ark. ; John A., who served as a
Union soldier, died in the army of typhoid fever;
William E., of our sketch, was the eldest.

John J. Adams engaged in farming all his life,
and gave his children an excellent practical educa-
tion. William E. remained steadily at home until

/

T

COLES COUNTY.

205

fifteen years old, and early in life distinguished
himself as an ambitious boy of more than ordinary
intelligence. At the age mentioned, he commenced
buying and herding stock, and driving to Wiscon-
sin. In the meantime he occupied his leisure mo-
ments in the reading of law, and made such profi-
ciency, that in 1857 he was admitted to the bar,
receiving his credentials at Madison, Wis. He at
once commenced the practice of his chosen profes-
sion at Mattoon, this county, which he continued
until after the outbreak of the Rebellion. After
watching the fruitless struggle until August, 1862,
he could content himself at home no longer, and
accordingly enlisted in the 123d Illinois Infantry,
being at once chosen 'as Captain of Company I. He
was engaged in the battles of Perry ville, Ky., Chat-
tanooga, Chickamauga and Farmington, Tenn.,
during which he received three wounds and de-

O

ported himself as a brave and unflinching soldier.
He possessed in a remarkable degree the respect
of his superior officers and the affection and esteem
of his subordinates. After the surrender of Lee,
he returned with his comrades to Springfield, 111.,
and was mustered out as Major.

Upon his return to civil life, Capt. Adams was
destined to play an important part in the affairs of
Coles County. He soon became Clerk of the
Court, and at the expiration of his first term, was
re-elected. He was chosen to the position of
County Judge in 1873, and served with marked
ability until 1877. Besides being entrusted with
other important matters he was a member of the
City Council for three years, and Secretary of
Coles County Old Settlers' Society. Everything
pertaining to the moral and intellectual welfare of
the people around him uniformly received his con-
siderate attention. He was one of the pillars of
the Presbyterian Church, in which he served as an
Elder for many years, and was also connected with
the Board of Education. At his death, which oc-
curred on the 21st of September, 1884, the Coles
County Bar passed resolutions of respect, as did
also the Knights of Honor, the I. O. O. F., and
Charleston Post No. 271, G. A. R.

The marriage of Capt. Adams and Miss Olive A.
Ilolton, of Blue Mound, Wis., took place at the
home of the bride's parents in Blue Mound, in 1859.

Mrs. Adams was the daughter of David and Olive
(Green) Ilolton, natives of Vermont, who emi-
grated to Wisconsin from Bedford in 1853. They
located upon a tract of land in Blue Mound Town-
ship, engaged in farming, and were numbered
among the most highly respected residents of
that section. They possessed the kindly and relia-
ble traits of an excellent English ancestry, and
reared a family of six children, as follows: Sarah,
the eldest daughter, became the wife of V. M.
Fairbanks, a farmer of Minnesota; Mary, Mrs. W.
Sawyer, continues to reside in her native State of
Vermont; Maria, who was the wife of Samuel
Clarke, died in Springfield, Mass., several years
'ago; Harriet is the wife of J. Jameson, a carpenter
of Mattoou; Olive, Mrs. Adams, was the fifth child ;
Jane, Mrs. E. B. Needham, is sojourning in De-
light, Neb., where her husband is engaged in the
hardware trade. David Ilolton departed tins' life
at Madison, Wis., on the 17th of January, 1870.
The mother survived her husband over six years,
her death occurring at Charleston, Dec. 17, 1876.
She was a member of the Congregational Church.
and a lady held in high regard for her many esti-
mable qualities.

The children of Capt. and Mrs. Adams, five in
number, were John H., Jennie M. ; Sarah S., the
wife of S. M. Leaitch, and the mother of one child,
Marion ; William E. and Olive E. Mrs. Adams has
a fine home in the southern part of the city, and is
surrounded by all the comforts of life, while enjoy-
ing the affection of her children and a large circle
of friends.

F. BURGNER. The snug home-
stead of this thrifty and well-to-do resident
of Humbolt Township is finely located on
section 36, and forms one of the attractive spots
in the landscape of that region. His estate includes
100 acres of highly cultivated land in the home
farm, eighty acres on section 25, fifty-five acres in
Hickory Township, and ten acres of limber in La-
fayette Township. Mr. Burgner has distinguished
himself as :ui active and enterprising agriculturist
and a worthy citizen, and enjoys in a marked de-

T

206

COLES COUNTY.

gree the esteem and confidence of his neighbors and
fellow-citizens.

The farm of Mr. Burgner is chiefly devoted to
stock-raising. He makes a specialty of high-grade
Short-horn cattle, and has three very valuable ani-
mals, registered in the American Herd Book. His
stables contain some fine Clydesdale mares, and he
has several colts and trotters, which have attracted
considerable attention in this section. He also
breeds choice Poland-China hogs. The farm build-
ings are tastefully and substantially built, combin-
ing beauty with utility, and indicating the taste
and means of the proprietor.

The subject of this narrative is a native of the
wealthy and populous State of Ohio, and drew in
with the air of his native hills the independence of
spirit and the substantial qualities of character which
marked his course in life. His birth took place in
Fail-field County, Sept. 28, 1850. His parents were
Conrad and Nancy (Whitesell) Burgner, natives re-
spectively of Lebanon County, Pa., and Pickaway
County, Ohio. Conrad Burgner was born Dec. 13,
1822, and spent his boyhood and youth in his na-
tive State. He was there married and reared his
family, and removing further westward in the fall
of 1854, located in Lafayette Township, this coun-
ty, where he still resides with his estimable wife.
The latter was born Oct. 3, 1822, the same year as
her husband.

George F. Burgner was the second in a family
of seven children. His brothers and sisters were
Allen C., a resident of Charleston Village; Louisa
J., of this township ; James E. and Mary E., de-
ceased; Joseph M., a resident of Lafayette Town-
ship, and Rhoda L., the wife of A. Newby. Young
Burgner remained with his parents until twenty-
six years of age, and on the 20th of September,
1876, was united in marriage with Miss Dillie A.,
daughter of Christopher and Tabitha (Tipton)
Booze. Mrs. B. was born April 10, 1856, at Mar-
tinsburg, Ohio. Her parents were natives respect-
ively of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and came to Illi-
nois in the spring of 1864. They located in Whit-
ley Township, Monltrie County, where the mother
died Dec. 2, 1881. Her father is still living and
occupied with farm pursuits. The four children of
the parental family were Dillie A., Solomon T.,

George C. and Charles J. Mr. and Mrs. Burgner
have one child, a daughter, Nina M., born July 20,
1878.

Mr. Burgner has given most of his attention to
his private business, and has had little time to mix
with politics or local affairs. He gives his support
however, to Republican principles. He and his
wife are members in good standing of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, ^nd socially Mr. B. belongs
to the I. O. O. F., being connected with the En-
campment No. 94, and Lodge No. 609. He has
fulfilled all the obligations of a good citizen, and
much credit is due him for his assistance in build-
ing up and developing the resources of his adopted
county.

ENRY C. BARNSBACK, a descendant of one
of the pioneer families of Madison County,
HI., is the owner of a fine estate containing
320 acres of valuable land located on sec-
tion 29, North Okaw Township. He was born July
17, 1838, in Edwardsville, Madison Co., 111., and is
the son of Julius L. and Mary M. (Gonterman)
Barnsback. His grandfather, Ludwig lleinrich
Julius Barnsback, was born at Salzliebenhalle. He
passed his childhood at home with his parents, and
was confirmed in the Lutheran Church at (irossen-
heere. While a boy he was sent to his uncle, Mr.
Seideiisticker, at Lautenthal, Hanover, for the pur-
pose of learning the mining and smelting business
there. His uncle was very faithful and judicious
in his training, requiring him to work for a time as
a common laborer in all the different departments
of the works, in order that he might acquire a
practical, as well as theoretical knowledge of that
difficult occupation. After several years of dili-
gent application, he was promoted to the place of
Huetten, master of the silver mines at Lautenthal.
Soon afterward he married the daughter of Mayor
Brauns, of Zellerfeld, and was appointed over-fac-
tor and agent of the saltpeter works there. His
death occurred in 1806, from the effects of nervous
fever. His family consisted of four children:
Julius Louis Hans, born Aug. 6, 1800, Augusta

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LIBRARY
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t.

COLES COUNTY.

209

Minna, born June 6, 1803, now deceased, and two
sons who died in infancy.

Julius L. Bamsback was born in Lautenthal, in
the Kingdom of Hanover, and was six years of age
at the time of his father's death. His mother's
death soon followed, and he was educated by his
aunt, Hannah Bomtrager. At the age of nineteen
he began his business career in the mining districts
of the Hartz Mountains. But his health was not
sufliciently robust to enable him to continue long
at that very laborious occupation, and in company
with William Ernst, he emigrated to the United
States in 1820. On his arrival he came directly to
Illinois, where his Uncle George was then residing.
He purchased land here and was engaged in farm-
ing until 1836. But this occupation also proving
unfavorable on account of his delicate physique,
he then made a voyage to Germany for his health,
returning in the autumn of 1837. Unable to re-
sume the active duties of farm life, and having the
command of some capital, he entered upon the
mercantile business at Edwardsville, making his
home there. Mr. Barnsback lived an active, stir-
ring life, during his residence in America. In
1832 he was Captain of a company of mounted
riflemen, and served four months in the campaign
against Black Hawk. He also embarked in many
different enterprises, having been engaged in min-
ing, surveying, and various agencies. Although a
foreigner, he was interested in the public affairs of
the county, and was elected Justice of the Peace
iii Edwardsville, four times.

The marriage of Mr. Barnsback, Sr., to Miss
Mary M. Gonterman, took place in March, 1827.
Mrs. Barnsback was born March 29, 1807, in Chris-
tian County, Ky., and is the daughter of Jacob and
Hannah (Ball) Gonterman. Her father's family
are of German descent. She became the mother
of seven children, as follows : Elizabeth M., bom
Jan. 28, 1828, was married Nov. 4, 1847. to John
A. Prickett, a resident of Madison County, 111.;
Louis J., born Jan. 7, 1830, died Sept. 7, 1831;
George M., born July 21, 1832, died Feb. 4, 1847;
Minna C., born Nov. 12, 1834, was married Oct. 8,
1855, and is the widow of David Gillespie; she re-
sides in Edwardsville; Henry C., the subject of this
sketch; Julius G., born April 26, 1841, married

Miss Mary O. Smith, June 22, 1865, and resides in
Edwardsville; Mary E., deceased, born Oct. 20,
1845, was married June 30, 1864, to John Arm-
strong; her death occurred Nov. 4, 1886.

During their residence in this country, the or-
thography of the family name has been slightly
altered, owing to the difficulty which Americans
found in giving it the correct pronunciation. The
original name is Berensbach, and the history of
their family was compiled by Maj. August Berens-
bach in Hoyershausen, in 1818, and was translated
into English in 1842. When George Frederick
Julius Berensbach came to the United States he
found it was very difficult for the people to pro-
nounce the last syllable of his name properly, and
rather than attempt it, the neighbors frequently
called him Barns. Not wishing to lose his name
entirely, he found himself compelled to alter the
final letter of his name to lik," and the name finally
became Barnsback, and he has since used that
form of orthography, entering his land and execut-
ing his papers with that signature.

Henry C. Barnsback was reared and educated in
the early pioneer days of Illinois. His parents
were anxious to give him all the advantages possi-
ble, and he attended the subscription school dur-
ing nine months of the year. He made the best
use of his opportunities there, and in 1857 contin-
ued his studies one term at McKendree College,
Lebanon, St. Clair Co., III. On his return he en-
tered a printing-office and resided at home until
the spring of 1861. He then entered the service
of his country, and enlisted in Co. I, 9th III. Vol.
Inf., under the command of Capt. Joseph G. Rob-
inson. This company was the first one organized
in Edwardsville, and was composed principally of
the old Madison Guards. He enlisted for tliree
months, and was sworn in April 23, 1861, and mus-
tered out at Cairo, July 27 of the same year. On
his return home he entered the field of journalism,
and, associated with James R. Brown, established
the Edwardsville Intelligencer ', the publication of
which is still continued.

In 1862 Mr. Barnsback, who is active and enter-
prising in business, sold out his interest in the
paper and joined a company on the overland jour-
ney to California, attracted by the mining interests

t

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210

COLES COUNTY.

of that State. He remained there, however, but
one year, and on his return home purchased the
interest of J. A. Prickett, who was associated with
his brother, Julius G., in a general mercantile busi-
ness at Edwardsville, which was then carried on
under the firm of Barnsback <te Bros. After re-
maining in this business twelve years they closed
out, and Mr. Barnsback passed one year of leisure
in order to recruit his health. In the spring of
187G they resumed business under the same firm,
and continued the partnership until 1880, when
Henry Barnsback sold out his interest to his
brother, and in the autumn of the same year moved
to North Okaw Township. He owns 320 acres of
improved land, and built a pleasant frame resi-
dence and other substantial farm buildings. There
is a good tenant house on his place, and Mr. Barns-
back is chiefly engaged in supervising the work,
having retired from active labor.

Mr. Barnsback's marriage to Miss Mary M.
Montgomery took place Jan. 17, 1877. Mrs. Barns-
back was born Aug. 2, 1844, in Madison County,
111., and is the daughter of Nelson and Eleanor
(Kinder) Montgomery. Her parents were likewise
natives of this State. Mr. Barnsback is essentially
a self-made man, and has acquired his property
through industry and close application to business.
He has always been a member of the Democratic
party and cast his first presidential vote for Ste-
phen A. Douglas. He belongs to the Masonic fra-
ternity; and in 1867 became a member of Ed-
wardsville Lodge No. 99, of which he has been
Secretary for five years.

' i

'

MORRIS BURGNER, a rising young far-
mer of Lafayette Township, this county 5
was born Nov. 15, 1860, and here developed
into manhood. He is the youngest sou of
Conrad Burguer. Mr. Burgner, Sr., gave his
children all the educational advantages possible,
and J. Morris was trained in his childhood at the
district schools, and subsequently attended Lee's
Academy at Loxa, and the Normal School at Val-
paraiso, Ind. He also assisted his father and gained
a practical insight in the duties of farming.

Sept. 15, 1885, our subject was married to Miss
Anna Hancock. Mrs. Burgner is the daughter of
Richard J. Hancock, a resident of Loxa. She was
born in Coles County, Aug. 9, 1868, an'd com-
pleted her education at Lee's Academy. She is
an accomplished and charming young lady, and
upon the close of her studies was for a short time
engaged in teaching. After his marriage, Mr.
Burgner settled upon the farm where he now
resides, which was the gift of his father, and con-
tains 150 acres of valuable land. He has erected
a pleasant resid-ence and appropriate out-buildings,
and his prospects for future prosperity and success
are promising.

Mr. and Mrs. Burgner have a beautiful little girl
named Maud. Both himself and wife are members
of the Methodist Church, and in politics Mr. Burg-
ner votes with the Republican party.

R. O. W. FERGUSON, who for many years
has been prominent among -the intelligent
and progressive farmers of Mattoon Town-
ship, is the proprietor of a fine estate in-
cluding 320 acres of land, embellished with hand-
some and substantial buildings, and supplied with
all the requirements of a modern country home.
The Doctor, who is still a young man, is a native of
this county, and was born six miles south of Mat-
toon, on the 19th of August, 1859. He is the third
of four children, the offspring of Myron J. and
Martha (Williams) Ferguson. His father, a native
of Pennsylvania, came to this State with his parents
in about 1830. He settled in the southern part of
Coles County, and not long after ward was united
in marriage with Miss Martha Williams, and estab-
lished himself with his young wife, upon a tract of
land, where he continued farming the greater part
of his life. He dealt extensively in stock of all
kinds, but, while having upon his mind and
hands large business interests, kept in mind at
the same time the welfare of his children, and
finally removed to the city of Mattoon in order to
give them the benefit of a good education. His
death occurred there in 1876, at which time he was
interested in the Mattoou Bank, and when it became

t.

COLES COUNTY.

211

necessary to settle the estate, the crippled condition
of that institution swept away all the property
which he had accumulated.

Our subject completed his education in tlie city
schools of Mattoon, and at an early age entered
Bellevue College Hospital, in New York City, and
at the age of twenty-one secured his degree of
M. D. He commenced practice in partnership
with Dr. J. W. Dora, of Mattoon, with whom he
had formerly studied, and continued until 188o.
He then moved to the country upon the farm which
he occupied until the fall of 1887, when he again
resumed practice in the city, his office being on the
corner of First street and Broadway.

The marriage of Dr. O. W. Ferguson and Miss
Jennie Joseph, was celebrated at the home of the
bride's parents on the 17th of May, 1882. Mrs.
F. is the eldest child of Harrison and Vashti (Ham-
rick) Joseph. Her father was a native of Ohio,
where his -daughter, Jennie, was born in 1860. He
now carries on the trade of a jeweler in Mattoon,
111. The one child of Dr. and Mrs. Ferguson is a
daughter, Vesta, born June 8, 1883. They are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
the Doctor uniformly votes with the Republican
party. He purchased his farm six years ago, and
has superintended its operations since, while at the
same time practicing moderately, although not en-
deavoring to extend his territory.

AVID C. DAVIS owns and occupies a
snug farm of 170 acres of fine land in
Ashmore Township, pleasantly located on
section 14. Here for the last seven years
he has given his principal attention to the various
pursuits of farm life, including the breeding of
fine stock, his favorites being Short-horn cattle and
Clydesdale horses. As a thorough business man
and enterprising inhabitant of the rural districts,
he has become one of its most important factors,
and could not well be spared from its farming or
financial interests.

Mr. Davis first drew breath Sept. 10, 1839, in
Lawrence County, Ind., at the home of his parents,
Bin ford G. and Mary (Edwards) Davis, who were

among the most highly respected residents of that
section. They were natives respectively of Ken-
tucky and North Carolina. The father, born in
179G, followed farming all his life, and died on the
homestead in Illinois in 1871, after having arrived
at the good old age of seventy-four years. Mary,
his wife, who was born in 1817, is still living. The
seven children of the parental household were
Ellen, Angeline, David C., of our sketch, Mary J.,
Adaline, Alexander and Matilda. Most of these
were born in the same county as our subject, and
are living, some in Indiana and some in this State.

Mr. Davis continued with his parents in his native
county until a youth of sixteen years, then started
out in life to do for himself. He first worked for
eighteen months on a farm for very moderate wages,
but having been trained to habits ef economy by his
excellent parents, spent none of his money foolishly,
and after a few years was enabled to purchase forty
acres of land. Of this he took possession in 18G3,
and proceeded with its cultivation and improve-
ment. He was prospered in his honest labors and
wisely invested his surplus capital in more land.
He climbed up steadily on the social and financial
ladder, and now presents the picture of a self-made
man, who has arisen to a good position in the com-
munity and in the business world, solely by his
own unaided efforts. The farm is supplied with
good buildings, and our subject and his family are
surrounded by all the comforts of life. About the
time of purchasing his first land, Mr. Davis very
wisely secured unto himself a counselor and help-
mate in the person of Miss Mary McLaughlin, to
whom he was married in Lawrence Count3', Aug.
19, 1862. Mrs. Davis, a native of Indiana, was
born Dec. 22, 1843, and of her union with o:;r sub-
ject, became the mother of five children. The
eldest, George M., married Mrs. Ema Lowden.

Mr. Davis takes an honest pride in the result of
his stock-breeding operations, and his stables con-
tain some very fine animals. Among these is the
stallion named Tom, which is one-half pure blood
Clydesdale, four years old, and weighs 1,400
pounds; he is sixteen hands high; and in color, a
rich red roan. Although giving most of his at-
tention to his farm and family, Mr. Davis has
kept an eye upon the welfare of his neighbors and

*1t*

[., 2,

COLES COUNTY.

assisted them in their efforts to maintain the dis-
trict school in a creditable manner, giving to it his
services as Trustee and his moral support in carry-
ing it on creditably. Although not meddling much
in politics, he believes in Democratic principles, and
expresses his opinions decidedly at the polls.

-,, LON/O J. FUNKHOUSER, County Super-
(@lLJI intcndent of public schools, is a prominent
citizen of Pleasant Grove Township. He
is the son of Wilson L. and Susanna
(Thomas) Funkhouser, and was born Nov. 24,
1800, in this county. His parents spared :io pains
in affording their son an excellent education, and
until the age of sixteen, Alonzo attended the com-
mon schools, also assisting his father in the lighter
duties of farm labor. He then attended Lee's
Academy at Loxa, where he was graduated in
1878. He passed the tirst year after his graduation
in teaching in the public schools, and in the fall of
1879 entered the Wesleyan University at Bloom-
ingtou, 111., taking the law and literary course.
After giving three years of close application to
study he was graduated by the law department of
the University in 1882. Mr. Fnnkhouser is deeply
interested in the cause of education, and his incli-
nations led him to pursue that line of work, rather'
than the practice of law, and after leaving the Uni-
versity at Blooming-ton he spent four years in
teaching school and farming alternately. In 1880 he
was elected to his present office by a large majority.
It was his first experience in being a candidate for
any office, and resulted successfully.

Mr. Funkhouser is a very efficient and fluent
public speaker, and has evidently chosen the voca-
tion best adapted to his mental abilities, which are
of a high order. He is now engaged in arranging
and perfecting a systematized plan of work for the
county schools, by which it is proposed to establish
a uniform course of study for the ungraded schools.
When he first began teaching he received $28.50
per month for his services, but his rare ability in
imparting instruction was soon recognized, and his
salary was increased until he finally received $70 per

month for teaching county schools. Mr. F. recog-
nizes the importance of moral training as an ad-
junct of intellectual culture. He is a lecturer and
earnest worker in the Sunday-schools, and is also
actively interested in the- Methodist Church, of
which he is a member. His influence in educational
affairs has already been widely felt throughout the
county, 205 teachers attending the county institute
in July, 1887, which is three times the number of at-
tendance in any previous year, and is an evidence of
the deep interest onr subject has awakened among
the teachers. Mr. F. is a member of the order of
Knights of Pythias, and is a Royal Arch Mason,
having been made Senior Warden at the age of
twenty-three, and Master the following year.

AMES T. BROWN, a native of this county,
is located in Seven Hickory Township on
section 30, where he took up his abode in
1878. His birth took place Nov. 12, 1838,

X? — rs

on the Kickapoo River, south of Charleston. He is
the son of Abner and Edie J. (Glassco) Brown, the
former born in Tennessee, in 1821, and the latter in
Hardin County, Ky., the year after. The paternal
grandfather of our subject was a native of North
Carolina, and joined his children later in this State,
where his death took place in Brown County, in
about 1852.

The children of Abner and Edie Brown, nine in
number, are recorded as follows: James T.. of our
sketch, was the eldest; Martha died when not quite
two years of age; Mary R., born in Missouri, be-
came the wife of George W. Gideon, of Lafayette
Township, and the mother of nine children, all
living; John married Miss Susan A. Martin, and
they have four children, and are residing on a farm
in Humbolt Township; Robert R., born in Brown
County, married Miss Elizabeth Blue, of Indiana,
who died in early life, and he then went South, and
married Miss Hattic Whittakcr, of Arkansas, in
which State they are now living, and have two chil-
dren; Enoch O. married Miss Maggie Reed, who
became the mother of a son. and departed this life
in Coles County, while a young woman; lie after-
ward marrried the sister of his brother's wife, a

COLES COUNTY.

213

Miss Whittaker, of Arkansas, and is now a resident
of Boliver County, Miss.,; Margaret, born in this
county, became the wife of George N. Todd, of
Ohio, and is now a resident of Mattoon, being the
mother of two children; Alice S., also a native of
this county, became the wife of Jerome W. Miller,
and the mother of two children; they are now liv-
ing in Boone County, Neb. ; Linton, bcy-n in this
county, died when a lad of seven or eight years old.
The parents of our subject cam'e to this county
each with their fathers' families, and were here
reared and married. They located south of Charles-
ton, where the elder Brown engaged in farming,
and where his son has succeeded to the homestead.
The latter, with the exception of four years spent
in the grocery trade at Charleston, has passed
nearly the whole of his life on the farm which he
now occupies.

The wife of our subject, to whom he was married
in Charleston Township, Oct. 25, 1860, was in her
girlhood Miss Melissa Veach, a native of this
county, and has remained a resident of the county
since. Her parents, Jesse and Maria' (Johnson)
Veach, were natives of Kentucky, and had a family
of seven children, including four sons and three
daughters. Mr. V. lived to the advanced age of
seventy-seven years, departing this life at his
home in Charleston, in the spring of 1884. The
mother is still living, and a resident of Ilnmbolt
Township, making her home with her daughter.

The seven children of our subject and his wife
are recorded as follows: Edna C., born Sept. 2,
1862, was naturally studious, and perfected herself
as a teacher, which calling she has followed some
time in Nebraska; Eugene W., born Sept. 13, 1865,
married Miss Venie Goff, of this county, and is car-
rying on farming in Seven Hickory; Carrie May
was born in 1868, and died in March, 1869, when
about one year old; Harry L., born March 31,
1870; Walter, Dec. 4, 1872; Lillic A., Jan. 7, 1874,
and Georgie, Nov. 29, 1879, are all at home with
their parents.

Mr.. Brown has been prominently identified with
local affairs since reaching his majority. He cast his
first vote for Stephen A. Douglas, and has always
been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party.
He was the candidate of his party for Circuit Clerk

in 1868, but the Democrats being in the minority
he was "counted out" with the balance of his
ticket. This was the year of the Presidential elec-
tion, and Grant carried the county by a majority of
411. The fact that Mr. Brown was only 280 votes
behind his competitor, indicates the position which
he occupies in the popular mind. He was Town-
ship Clerk from 1862 to the fall of 1868, and has
represented the township in the County Board of
Supervisors two years. Mr. and Mrs. B., witli their
eldest daughter, are members in good standing of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the family en-
joy the society and friendship of the best people in
the section.

E. RAY, proprietor of a' large livery and sale-
stable in Charleston, under the firm name of
S. E. Ray & Son, is one of the active, en-
terprising business men of the city. He
was born Aug. 5, 1833, in Montpelier, Vt., and is
the son of George G. and Betsy (Billingsley) Ray,
the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of
New York. George Ray was a farmer in his na-
tive State, and came West in 1833, settling in Lake
County, Ohio. That State is noted for its agricult-
ural resources, and Mr. Ray successfully engaged
in farming there, making it his home for life. He
belongs to a substantial old New England family
and served in the Revolutionary War. In politics,
he was a member of the Henry Clay Whig pnrty.
Himself and wife were members of the Methodist
Church, and actively interested in promoting the
cause of religion. Mrs. Ray, who has attained the
advanced age of ninety years, is still living in Ohio.
They had a family of twelve children born to them.
.S. E. Ray was reared on his Lather's farm, receiv-
ing a good common-school education and acquir-
ing a practical knowledge of the details of farming.
He remained at home until he was fifteen years of
age, and was then employed by the Geauga Iron
Company as Collector, and traveled for them two
years. He was next employed by Luce & Co.,
blank-book manufacturers at La Fayette. Ind., and
traveled for that firm six years, selling and collect-
ing through Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota,
lie then accepted the same position for Culver,

214

COLES COUNTY.

Page & IToync, of Chicago, and was employed by
that firm five and one-half years. In 1 862 Mr. Ray
came to Illinois and engaged in the grocery busi-
ness in Charleston, but soon sold out and started a
livery stable. He built his barn in 1866, and con-
tinued in that occupation until 1875, when he sold
out again and engaged in the dry-goods line. In
six years he sold out again and re-entered the livery
business, in connection with which he has engaged
in buying and shipping horses. He keeps a fine
stock of horses and carriages and his former estab-
lishment was the oldest in Charleston.

March 31, 1863, Mr. Ray was married to Miss
Josephine Bunne.ll, of this city, but their married
life was of short duration. Mrs. Ray died Sept.
18, 1867, leaving one child, Henrietta, since de-
ceased. He was married the second time, Dec. 10,
1867, to Mrs. ..Elizabeth J. Wilhoit, of Edgar Coun-
ty, 111., the sister of his first wife. They have
one son, Samuel A. William Bunnell, Mrs. Ray's
father, was a native of Kentucky. In 1835 he came
to Illinois and engaged in farming in Edgar County,
but subsequently removed to Charleston, where he
was for ten years proprietor of a hotel.

Mr. Ray is interested in municipal affairs, and
was President of the Board of Education four years,
and also served two terms as Alderman. He is a
Democrat in politics, a member of the I. O. O. F.,
and the Knights of Honor.

yiLLIAM L. R. FUNKHOUSER is a public-
spirited citizen of Coles County, and his
farm, containing 100 acres of well-im-
proved land, is located on section 4, Pleasant Grove
Township. He is the son of Wilson L. and Mary
(Henry) Funkhouser, and was born Jan. 14, 1854,
in- the township where he now resides. He was reared
on his father's farm, and in the meantime received
a good common-school education, and was also
trained in the various branches of farm labor, an
education requisite to success in agricultural pur-
suits.

Mr. Funkhouser was married, April 23, 1876, to
Miss Alice Raines. Mrs. Funkhouser is the daugh-
1 ter of George and Harriet (Maize) Raines, and was

:

born in Lafayette Township, Coles County, Dec. 1,
1858. After his marriage, Mr. F. settled upon the
farm he now occupies, and has since carried on an
extensive farming business there, bringing his land
to a high state of cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Funk-
houser had a family of seven children, four of
whom died in infancy; those still living are Alice
L., Mary H. and George W.

In politics Mr. Funkhouser is a Republican, and
is always read}' to assist in promoting the interest
of his party. He has served as Township Collector,
giving general satisfaction to the people in discharg-
ing the public duties of that position, With his
wife he is a member of the Methodist Church. He
is a member of Muddy Point Lodge No. 396, of
which he is a Warden, and also a member of the
A. F. & A. M., Mattoon Chapter No. 85, R. A. M.

ERVEY FOWLER, deceased, closed his
eyes upon the scenes of earth at his home
in Charleston Township, on the 20th of
December, 1877, while still in the prime of
life, being little past the age of forty-six j'ears.
His birth took place in Tennessee, Sept. 24, 1831.
His parents were Joseph and Sarah (Speer) Fowler,
natives of the same State, whence they removed
when their son was a boy of seven years. Coming
to Illinois they located in this county, where the
death of both parents took place, the father dying
in 1845, and the mother in 1885, the latter reach-
ing the advanced age of ninety -two years.

Hervey Fowler was the seventh of a family of
eight children, and spent his childhood and
youth amid the scenes of rural life. He became ex-
pert in all the employments of the farm, and
after reaching manhood was united in marriage,
Thursday, Nov. 8, 1855, to Miss Harriett, daughter
of Isaac and Cathrin Craig. Mrs. Fowler was born
on her father's farm in Charleston Township Jan.
4, 1837. She remained under the parental roof
until her marriage with Mr. Fowler, and they
located on a farm of eighty acres owned by the
latter. He was prospered in his labors, invested his
surplus capital wisely, and added 'to his landed area
until he had become the possessor of 1 90 acres. He

COLES COUNTY.

215

became prominent among his townsmen as a man
capable of representing their interests, and held
the various offices at different times. Mr. and Mrs.
Fowler became the parents of seven children, of
whom only one survives, a son, Isaac, now a resi-
dent of his mother's home.

Mrs. Fowler after the death of her husband con-
tinued on the homestead, and in 1880 became the
wife of Luther C. Mitchell, the wedding being cele-
brated March 17, at the home of the bride. She is
a lady greatly respected for her excellent qualities
and is the center of a large circle of warm friends.

HILLIP ASHBY, an extensive stock-
grower and dealer, owns a flue estate con-
taining 300 acres of valuable, well-im-
proved land located on section 4, Hutton
Township. Mr; Ashby is a prominent citizen, and
represents an old and honored pioneer family of
this county. He is the son of John and Elizabeth
(Redding) Ashby, and was bovn in this township,
April 24, 1832., His paternal grandparents, Joseph
and Abecca/.(McGinnis) Ashby, were natives of
New York, and soon- after their marriage removed
to Halifax County, Va.» where they passed the
remainder of their lives. His father, John Ashby,
was born there in 1778. The early years of the
colonists in Virginia were greatly disturbed by
Indian wars and at a later period that State took
a prominent part in the French wars and the Rev-
olution, and during John's boyhood society there
was in a crude and formative state. The educa-
tional advantages were very limited, and with his
wife, he learned to read and write after their
marriage. Mrs. Ashby was born in 1780, in Hali-
fax County, Va., and was the daughter of Joseph
and Rachel Reddiug, who were likewise natives of
the same cou.i\ty. During his boyhood. Mr.
Ashby had learned the blacksmith's trade, and im-
mediately after his marriage he removed with his
young wife by wagon to Tennessee, where he pur-
chased land near Columbus, and was for three years
engaged in fanning there and also working at his
trade.

At the expiration of that time Mr. A., Sr., sold
out and removed to North Carolina, and after re-

maining there a short time went to Crawford
County, 111. He remained there one year and then
came to Coles County, being one of its earliest
pioneers. Here he entered forty acres of timbered
land on section 9, Hutton Township, the property
now owned by Joshua Johns. During the years
1830, 1831 and 1833, he entered 160 acres of land
on section 4, where he built a log house in the
primitive fashion and settled with his family. He
opened the first blacksmith-shop in Hutton Town-
ship, not far from the present village of Salisbury.
The county was at that time an almost unbroken
wilderness, and many settlers who came prior to
1832 often lived in their wagons until they could
erect a cabin, in the meantime cutting the timber
from the forests for that purpose, near which the
early settlements were usually made. He cultivated
and improved his land, carrying on a successful
business there, and in the year 1855 manufactured
the brick and erected a fine residence. -Iwhich his
son Phillip now occupies. ' His death occurred on
the homestead in Hutton Township, in 1864, and
his widow who survived him two years, died at the
same place in 1866.

John Ashby was a generous, kind-hearted man,
conspicuous for his hospitality to all. With his
wife he was an active member of the Christian
Church, in which for thirty years he was an Elder
and Deacon, and his house was ever open for the
entertainment of ministers representing any de-
nomination, interested in building up the cause and
establishing the faith of our common Lord and
Master. He was beloved and respected by the
entire community, where the uprightness and in-
tegrity of his character exerted a wide and benefi-
cent influence. His family consisted of sixteen
children, as follows: Henry, born in Tennessee,
deceased; Wijliam, born in Tennessee, married
Miss Sarah Ann Beaver, and is a resident of Coles
County-; Miry, born in Tennessee, was the wife of
Alexander Baker; both are deceased. John, de-
ceased, was born in Tennessee, and married Mis.s
Mary M. JJarrick; his widow resides in Kansas.
Nancy, born in Tennessee, was the wife of George
Lamb, but is now deceased; Eliza, born in North
Carolina; died in childhood. Rebecca, born in
North Carolina, was the wife of Isaac Wilson ; both

4

216

COLES COUNTY

are deceased. Joseph, born in North Carolina,
married Miss Samantha Gardner; his wife is now
dead; James, born in Crawford County, 111.,
married Miss Margaret Goodman, and resides in
Kansas; Robert, born in Crawford County, III.,
married Miss Elizabeth Hodge, and both are de-
ceased; Eleatha Ann, born in Coles County, 111.,
was the wife of George W. Brooks; both are
deceased. Phillip, the subject of this sketch;
Nathaniel, born in Coles County, married Miss
Abaslia Riggins, and resides in Cumberland County,
111. ; Stephen was born in this county, where he
now resides, and is married to Miss Mary Smith ;
Martha, born in Coles County, is the wife of John
Cartright, and resides in California, and Edwin,
likewise born in this county, married Miss Cor-
nelia Wright, and resides in Charleston.
X Phillip Asliby was reared in the early pioneer
days of this county, and the only educational
privileges afforded him were those found in the
subscription schools of that period, which he
attended about three months during the winter
season, and in the summer time assisted his father
on the farm and in the shop. He lived at the
homestead until his marriage wijth Miss Margaret
L. Smith, which occurred May 9, 1852. Mrs.
Ashby was born Jan. 16, 1834, in Hutton Town-
ship, and was the daughter of John and Catherine
(Goodman) Smith. Her parents were natives of
Indiana. After his marriage, Mr. Ashby purchased
forty acres of partly improved land of his father,
and also engaged in farming on rented land for
about eight years. In the meantime he cultivated
and improved his own land, and purchased two
farms containing fifty acres each, one of which is
known us the Gilbert farm and the other as the
Harmon Smith farm. He subsequently exchanged
the two latter purchases with his brother Stephen,
for ninety acres of the old homestead. He has
made some additional purchases and his estate now
contains 300 acres of well- improved land, with sub-
stantial and well-appointed residences and farm-
buildings; 160 acres of this property is the land
which his father entered during the years 1830,
1831 and 1833, and Mr. Ashby has in his posses-
sion the sheepskin his father received from the Land
Commissioner of Palestine, Crawfoid Count}-,

bearing the signature of Andrew Jackson, which
he prizes highly as a relic of the early days. He
recollects seeing the Indians about their home,
fierce with war paint and feathers, bearing little
resemblance to those now seen at times in Western
towns and villages. The land entered by John
Ashby has remained intact in the family since that
time, and has never been encumbered with a mort-
gage.

Mr. and Mrs. Ashby have had a family of nine
children born to them: Elizabeth C., born Aug.
18, 1853, died in infancy; John H., born Sept. 4,
1855; Nellie J., born June 13, 1857, died in infancy;
Stephen A. D., born May 20, 1858, married Miss
Dosia Brooks; Sarah E., born in 1861, married J.
A. Colby; Mattie B., born in 1865, married Willie
Griffin; Nora, born in 1864, died in child-hood;
Walter C. married Elizabeth Scott, and Joseph N.,
born in 1867. The home circle was broken by the
death of Mrs. Ashby in 1871.

Mr. Ashby is active and enterprising in business,
and deals extensively in stock, buying cattle, sheep
and hogs, shipping mostly to Chicago and Indian-
apolis. He is a public-spirited man, and is inter-
ested in all measures relating to the interests of the
county which has been the home of his family for
so many years. He was one of the first Commis-
sioners of Highways, and with Messrs. D. Brooks
and E. R. Connelly laid out the town in roads and
districts, and has served several terms in that posi-
tion. He was elected Supervisor by the Dem-
ocratic party of which he has always been a warm
supporter, serving one term, and has also served
several terms as School Director. His first vote
was cast for James Buchanan. Mr. Ashby is a
self-made man, having earned all the property he
now owns by industry and energy. He belongs to
the Masonic fraternity, and is a member of Hutton
Lodge No. 698, of Diona.

yiLLIAM H. ROBERTS, a successful stock-
grower of East Oakland Township, is
located on section 9. He was born Oct.
17, 1840, in Muskingum County, Ohio, and re-
moved to Illinois with his parents, Thomas and
Alice (Mock) Roberts, both natives of Virginia,

COLES COUNTY.

21?

the father born Oct. 12, 1802, and the mother Nov.
8, 1808, in Londouii County, where their marriage
took place, and from which State they removed to
Ohio in 1830, and remained there until they migra-
ted to Illinois iu I860. They purchased a farm of
2G5 acres of improved land in East Oakland Town-
ship, and passed the remainder of their lives here.
The parents of Thomas Roberts possessed but lit-
tle wealth, save their intelligence and integrity of
character. His father was a weaver by trade, and
Thomas, when a boy of thirteen, bravely bore his
share of the burdens, hiring out by the mouth to
do farm work in order to assist his parents. He
also attended the common school and applied him-
self diligently in the short intervals that could be
spared from toil, and thus acquired a good practi-
cal education. He cut his way through the snow-
drifts in the winter to the old school-house, and in
the summer worked on the farm" a happy "bare-
foot boy," though deprived of many of the pleas-
ures incident to childhood and youth, and grew up
to manhood strong and self-reliant, prepared to
battle with the world.

February 7, 1828, Thomas Roberts was united
in marriage to Miss Alice Mock, daughter of Jacob
and Elizabeth Mock. Her family were of German
extraction. The life of Jacob Mock, her father,
was brought to a sudden close by a sad tragedy.
One night in August, 1837, he failed to return
home at the usual time. As the night wore on, the
family grew alarmed and listened anxiously to
every sound in the hope of hearing his accustomed
step. As soon as the first ray of morning dawned,
inquiries were made and a search instituted, which
resulted in a ghastly discovery. His hat was found
in a tree, pierced by some instrument, and his body
in the creek, which ran through his own farm, his
head also bearing evidences of having been cut by
something sharp. It is supposed that he was mur-
dered and robbed, as he sometimes carried large
sums of money with him, but no clew was ever
found to the perpetrators of the terrible deed, and
it has remained one of the unsolvable mysteries of
life. He left a family of nine children, as follows:
John 1)., George, Joseph, James T., Isaac F.,
Phu'be, Susan, Mary E. and Alice.

Thomas and Alice Roberts had a family of

twelve children born to them, named as follows:
Jacob A., born Nov. 3, 1828, died at the age of
five years; Mary E., born Jan. 19, 1833, married
George Geyer; Matilda A., born June 26, 1834,
married Peter Gobert; Stephen, born Nov. 22,1838,
died in November, 1840; William H., born Oct.
17, 1840; Caroline, born April 27, 1842, married
J. W. Titus; Isaac N., born Jan. 6, 1846, married
Miss Almeda Davis; Castara, born March 6, 1844,
married B. F. Taylor; John D., born March 5, 1850,
married Miss Mary Prather; Sarah J., born March
11,1848, married Francis Parker; Sherman W.,
born Jan. 1 1, 1852, married Miss Sarah Dollar, and
James B., born Oct. 9, 1854, died Aug. 22, 1872.
The death of the father occurred Aug. 6, 1879.
He was for many years a Trustee and Class-Leader
in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His religious
faith, which was practical and earnest, was illus-
trated by his daily life, and in politics he was a
warm supporter of the Republican party.

William H. Roberts was united in marriage with
Miss Mary E. Reed, April 24, 1866. She was
born Feb. 20, 1844, in Edgar County, 111., and is
the daughter of John W. and Elizabeth (Lamb)
Reed. John W. Reed is a retired farmer and was
born in Kentucky, Sept. 30, 1817. He has been
for many years a member of the Baptist Church,
and although not actively engaged in business, he
is interested in all the current affairs of the day. He
was thrice married, his first wife dying when Mrs.
• Roberts was a child, and there has been no record
of her family preserved. She was the mother of
three children: Francis M., who married Miss
Anna Lumbrick; John, who died in infancy, and
Mary E., the wife of our subject. Mr. Reed was
married the second time to Miss Mary J. Ashmore,
who died within a year, leaving no children. His
third wife was Eliza C. Moffett. To our subject
and wife there have been born three children, re-
corded as follows: Arminta A., born Dec. 28,
1867; James B., July 6, 1875, and an infant un-
named, who died Jan. 15, 1872.

When the Civil War broke out, William H. Rob-
erts enlisted in the defense of his country Aug. 8,
1862, as a private in Co. H., 79th 111. Vol. Inf.,
and served three years. He belonged to the Army
of the Cumberland, and on Dec. 31, 1862, was

4

t . 218

COLES COUNTY.

severely wounded at the battle of Stone River by
a minie ball, which passed through the calf of the
left leg. While he lay wounded in the hospital,
inflammatory erysipelas set in, and one night the
attending nurse gave him by mistake a tablespoon-
ful of nitric acid, which proved a more dangerous
dose than the cold lead of the enemy, and would
have cost him his life but for the prompt and effi-
cient remedies that were administered. He was
compelled to swallow three army-tinfuls of sweet
oil to neutralize the acid, followed by copious
draughts of warm water, which acted as an emetic
and saved his life. He remained in the hospital
until the following May, when his strength was re-
stored, and he was permitted to rejoin his regiment.
He was engaged in the stubborn fight at Resaca
and in the brilliantly fought battle of Dallas, where
Gen. Logan so signally distinguished himself. He
took part in the battle of Rocky Face, and was also
in many skirmishes during the progress of the war,
and at its close was mustered out of service and
discharged at Springfield, 111., June 23, 1865.

Mr. Roberts owns 160 acres of valuable land,
which is highly cultivated, and improved with
pleasant and substantial farm buildings. He owns
fifty head of Hereford and two head of full-blooded
cattle. His family are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and he has been one of its Trust-
ees for the last two years.

t

ILLIAM H. DRISH, the son of one of the
earliest pioneers of Illinois, was born in
Greene County, Feb. 26, 1844, and is the
fifth child of John W. and Martha L. (Adams)
Drish, of Loudoun County, Va. His father was a
practicing physician, and after following his pro-
fession a few years in his native State emigrated to
Illinois in about 1836, locating in Greene County
when there was not a settlement within fifty miles
of his pioneer home. He was possessed of some
means and became an extensive land-owner. He
continued his practice but superintended the culti-
vation and improvement of his land, and was the
original projector of the town of White Hall, which
he platted, and was instrumental in its settlement

and progress. This has become one of the im-
portant towns of Greene County, and where the
wild creatures of the prairie formerly roamed is now
located a flourishing community. Mr. Drish also
secured the establishment of schools and churches,
one of the first teachers being Stephen A. Douglas,
who acted as pedagogue in a little log school-house
on the prairie. That structure long since gave
place to an ample frame building and everything
about it has been in keeping.

The father of our subject was a man of broad
culture and widespread influence, and possessed a
ready command of language. He was largely in-
terested in mercantile business, and was instrumen-
tal in the building up of many enterprises calcu-
lated for the good of the people and the enlarge-
ment of the town. Politically he was a stanch Whig
until the abandonment of the old party, and then
cordially allied himself with the Republicans. He
was tin extensive reader and kept himself well in-
formed upon current events. His death took place
Oct. 10, 1861, about the time when the mutterings
of rebellion presaged the coming on of the late
Civil War. The wife and mother survived her
husband about twenty-four years, her death taking
place in 1885, after she had arrived at an advanced
age.

The subject of this history received his education
mostly in the common schools, and early in life be-
gan to lay his plans for the future. When sixteen
j'ears of age he enlisted in the United States service,
becoming a member of the 91st Illinois Infantry,
from which, however, he was soon transferred to
the 122d. With him also was his brother, who held
the rank of Lieutenant Colonel Young William,
with his comrades, was under the immediate com-
mand of Gens. Smith and Thomas in the Army of
the West, which eventually constituted the right
wing of Gen. Sherman's command. He first saw
active service at Trenton, Tenn., against the rebel
General, Forrest, and was captured, but afterward
paroled. He was exchanged about fifteen months
later, and joined his regiment at Ft. Blakely, Miss.
He followed the campaign in the same company as
an Orderly, at regimental headquarters, meeting
with many hairbreadth escapes, and at the close of
the war was mustered out unharmed, Oct. 25, 18G5,

COLES COUNTY.

219

at New Orleans. His journeyings through the South
and his opportunities for sight-seeing form a chap-
ter in his history with which he would not willingly
part.

After his return to civil life Mr. Drish resumed
his old life in his native county and engaged as
clerk in a general store at White Hall. He after-
ward became connected with a drug-store in the
same capacity, but nine months later on account of
ill-health was obliged to abandon indoor pursuits.
Afterward he engaged in teaming two years. On
the 28th of March, 1871, he was united in marriage
with Miss Mary E. Neece, a native of Greene
County, 111., born Feb. 22, 1844, and the daughter
of Henry H. and Elizabeth (Barring) Neece, na-
tives of Middle Tennessee. The young people be-
gan life together on a farm in Greene County. He
soon afterward purchased 120 acres partially im-
proved in Paradise Township, which he occupied
until 1879. Then selling this he took up his resi-
dence near the village of Humbolt, for two years,
and engaged in harness-making, where he is still
employed. Mr. and Mrs. Drish have one child, a
son, Frank W., now (1887) a lad of fifteen years.

Mr. Drish uniformly votes with the Republican
party, although not taking any active part in politics
or desiring office. He has served the citizens of
the village as an Alderman several terms, and is a
man of excellent judgment, who is frequently called
into the counsels of his fellow-citizens upon matters
pertaining to the general welfare, Both he and his
estimable lady are members in good standing of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

'NDREW FEAGAN is located in the
northwestern part of Charleston Township,
where he first settled in March, 18G5. He
in former years owned quite a body of
which he has reduced to 145 acres and
brought to a fine state of cultivation, erecting a
brick residence, a large barn, and all other neces-
sary and convenient out-buildings. He has of late
years given much attention to stock-raising, and
one of the finest features of the place is a hand-
some herd, including thirty head of thoroughbred

land,

Hereford cattle. The homestead is notable for
the air of plenty which surrounds it, and the indi-
cations of good taste and enterprise displayed on
every hand.

Our subject is a native of Bracken County, Ky.,
where his birth took place on the farm of his father,
Sept. 20, 1827. His parents, Richeson and Martha
(Dunn) Feagan, were natives respectively of Vir-
ginia and Pennsylvania, tlie former born in 1801.
His ancestors had been residents of the Old Do-
minion for several generations. When sixteen
years of age he became the main support and stay
of his widowed mother, the family having been de-
prived by death of a father's care and protection.
Our subject remained on the homestead with his
mother, and after reaching manhood was united in
marriage with Miss Martha Dunn, who had re-
moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky with her
parents when a young girl.

Mr. Feagan was a strong anti-slavery man, and
carried on his plantation with the assistance of hired
help, refusing to avail himself of slave labor. His
estate included 250 acres of land, and both parents
remained in Kentucky until the death of the
mother, which took place in 1866. Of their seven
children but four lived to mature years, viz., Will-
iam T., now a resident of Coles County ; James F.,
who is occupying the old homestead in Kentucky ;
Nancy Jane, the wife of John R. Norris, a farmer
of Charleston Township, and Andrew of our sketch.
After the death of his wife Richeson Feagan, in
1869, came to Illinois, and made his home with his
children until his death, which took place in 1884.
He was reasonably successful in his struggle with
the world, acquiring a fair amount of property,
and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

Andrew Feagan was reared to farm pursuits, and
received the advantages of the common schools.
One of the most important events of his life took
place on the 10th of November, 1853, namely, his
marriage with Miss Hadassah Best, a native of Pen-
dleton County, Ky., born May 20, 1825. She is the
daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Best, natives of
Kentucky, who departed this life at their home in
that State. Mr. Feagan after his marriage contin-
ued farming, and became the owner of 150 acres

I

4

, . 220

COLES COUNTY.

of land in Bracken County, Ky., which he occu-
pied until 1865. He then sold out, and coming to
this State became associated in partnership with
David Teel, and the two purchased 290 acres of
land on section 6 in Charleston Township. A year
later William T. Feagan came to Illinois and pur-
chased the interest of Mr. T., and the Feagan Bros,
operated the land together for a period of six years.
William T. then sold out his interest, but our sub-
ject continued to occupy the homestead which he
had labored to build up and beautify.

Mr. and Mrs. Feagan have no children of their
own. but have performed the faithful and affection-
ate office of parents to an adopted son, Charles H.
Both are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, with which Mr. F. became connected in
1844, when a youth seventeen years of age. He
has been a liberal and cheerful giver to the cause
of the Master, and it was largely through his influ-
ence and assistance that New Salem Chapel was
erected and the society kept up. The edifice is a
fine brick structure, and an ornament to that part
of town. Mr. F. has officiated as Steward and
Trustee, and his cool head and clear judgment are
often called into requisition by his brethren in
their counsels for the welfare and advancement of
the church.

R. J. C. BROOKS, dental surgeon, Charles-
ton, is a native of this State, born in Ed-
gar County, Aug. 28, 1838. His parents,
Thomas M. and Sarah B. (Chenoweth)
Brooks, were natives respectively of Pennsylvania
and Ohio. They were married in Ohio and came
to this State in about 1818, locating in Edgar
County, being among its earliest settlers. Later
they removed to Iroquois County where the mother
passed away in 1865. Mr. B. survived his wife
until Aug. 28, 1881, and died after reaching the
advanced age of seventy-six years. Of the thir-
teen children which gathered around the family
hearth, the subject of this sketcli was the seventh
in order of birth. Of these but five are now living.
Thomas M. Brooks was a very prominent man in
Edgar County, being most of the time an incum-

bent of some office. He was well educated and
taught school for a number of years. During the
existence of the old Whig party he was one of its
stanch supporters and later, a Free-Soil Abolitionist.
Upon the abandonment of the old party he cordially
endorsed Republican principles and was one of the
first in Edgar County to cast his vote for its con-
templated measures and its candidates. He was
also interested in the establishment of educational
and religious institutions, assisted in organizing the
Presbyterian Church in Edgar County, and officiated
as Elder in the same for a number of years.

Dr. Brooks during his early years attended school
in the winter season and later took a full course in
the academy at Paris, being there about the time
of the breaking out of the late war. In the fall of
1861 he enlisted in Co. E, 66th Illinois Western
Sharpshooters, and served as a soldier for three years
and four months, holding all the positions from
Private to Second Lieutenant, and participating
with his regiment in manj' of the important battles
of the war. He escaped comparatively unharmed,
receiving only a slight wound in a skirmish with
the enemy while in Georgia. He was at the siege
and capture of Ft. Donelson, Shiloh and Corinth,
and went through the Atlanta campaign, sharing
bravely and uncomplainingly the vicissitudes of a
soldier's life, and receiving his honorable discharge
and the approval of his superior officers at the close.

Upon returning from the army our subject, in
company with E. Blake, established a book-store at
Mattoon but subsequently withdrew, and returning
to his father's farm in Edgar County, engaged in
the nursery business until the following year. Not
quite satisfied with the results of this, and having
a taste for dentistry, he entered the office of Dr.
W. Bradley, under whom he studied for a year, and
then placed himself under the instruction of Dr.
Richardson, of Mattoon, where he perfected him-
self in his chosen profession. He commenced prac-
tice in Charleston in the spring of 1867, opening a
neat office and securing ere long the patronage of
the best people of that city and vicinity. Circum-
stances, however, induced him to change his loca-
tion, and in 1871 he moved to Sullivan, Moultrie
County, where he practiced successfully nine years.
Thence he returned to Mattoon and two years later

I-

COLES COUNTY.

221

to Charleston, of which he has since been a resident.
The home of himself and family is pleasantly lo-
cated on West Washington street, and besides this
he has other good property in the city.

The marriage of Dr. Brooks and Miss Lottie,
daughter of Simeon Blake, formerly of Charleston,
took place Oct. 17, 1804. Of this union there are
three children, Frank A., born in 1865; Essie F., in
1868, and Clare W., in 1880. Both the Doctor and
Mrs. B. are prominently connected with the Presby-
terian Church. He is a stockholder in the Loan
and Building Association, and politically is a Prohi-
bitionist of the first water, giving to the subject of
temperance much of his time and attention, and as-
sisting in the organization of the party. He also
belongs to the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., G. A. R.
and R. T. of T.

R. W. S. DUNCAN, a well-known resident
JlJ of Hutton Township, spent his childhood
and youth in Greene County, Ind., where
he was born Feb. 26, 1825. He comes of
worthy ancestry, his grandfather having been Isaiah
Duncan, an enterprising Southern farmer, who was
born, reared and spent his entire life in South Car-
olina. He married and became the father of a
family, including five sons and two daughters.
The sons were Isaiah, George, John, Eli and Joshua.
Of these, the father of our subject was next to the
youngest. He received a common-school educa-
tion, and remained with his father on the farm until
reaching manhood. He then migrated North, and
locating in Greene County, Ind., was married to
Miss Rebecca Stevens in the spring of 1 822. Mrs.
Duncan was born Feb. 28, 1801, in Kentucky, and
was the daughter of William Stevens, who emi-
grated from the Blue Grass regions to Harrison
County, Ind.

After marriage Mr. Duncan rented a tract of
land and carried on farming until the spring of
1835. He then came to Edgar County, this State,
and secured possession of forty acres of timber
land, a part of which he cleared and occupied until
the spring of 1853. He then removed with his
family to Laclcde County, Mo., and died there in

1856, leaving a family of seven children. While a
resident of Indiana he and his wife had become
members of the Dunkard Church, but after coming
to Illinois united with the Christian Church. The
mother survived her husband about twenty-three
years, making her home with her children, and
died Dec. 10, 1881. The parental family included
the following children : Isaiah, who died in infancy ;
W. S., of our sketch; John, who died in infancy;
George, now a minister of the Christian Church at
Arkansas; Joshua; Marion, who died when twenty
years of age; Obadiah, a resident of Piatt County,
111.; Jane; Elizabeth, a widow, now residing in
Marion County, and Polly A., who has carried on
a millinery establishment in Bement, III., for the
last twenty years.

Dr. Duncan was the second child of his parents,
and received but a common-school education.
When eighteen years of age he commenced work-
ing in a tanyard, where he continued three j'ears,
and then enlisting in Co. H, 4th 111. Vol. Inf.,
started on the 16th of June, 1846, by wagon to
Springfield, 111., bound for Mexico. After reach-
ing the seat of war he found that the precarious
state of his health would prevent him from con-
tinuing in the ranks, and in December received his
discharge on account of disability, the result of
measels contracted at Matamoras, Mex. Upon re-
turning to Edgar County he began teaching school,
which he followed during the winter season and
worked on the farm in summer, in the meantime
employing his leisure moments in the study of
medicine. He finally placed himself under the in-
struction of Dr. Harris Meeker, of Edgar County,
and in about 1853 began practicing in Coles
County.

The marriage of Dr. Duncan and Miss Charlotte
W. Elsbury, was celebrated at the home of the
bride, Dec. 3, 1847. Mrs. Duncan was born March
13, 1826, and is the daughter of John and Char-
lotte (Winters) Elsbury, natives of Indiana. Dr.
Duncan continued teaching for about three years
after his marriage, and then abandoning this, lo-
cated at Slringtown. where he followed his profes-
sion until 1860. In the spring of that year he took
up his residence at Sidney, Champaign County.
In January, 1864, during the progress of the Civil

4s

, , 222

COLES COUNTY.

War, he enlisted in Co. I, 10th 111. Vol. Cav., and
was appointed Assistant Surgeon, receiving his com-
mission from Gov. Yates on the 18th of March.
He held this appointment until October 13 follow-
ing, when he resigned, and returning to Sidney
continued his practice until 1868. His health,
however, which had become seriously impaired
during his experience in the army, compelled him
to leave the prairie country, and he accordingly
moved to Farmersburg, Ind., where there was
more timber and clay. He remained there until
August, 1884, then returned to Sidney, and thence
removed to Hutton Township, in October, 1886,
where he has since followed his practice success-
fully, and receives ample patronage from the best
people of the community.

Mrs. Charlotte Duncan departed this life at
Farmersburg," Ind., in October, 1874. .She was a
lady of many estimable qualities, and a faithful
member of the Christian Church. Of her mar-
riage with our subject there were born nine chil-
dren, recorded as follows: Minerva P., born Oct.
3, 1848, is the wife of John W. Payne, of Evans-
ville, Ind.; Melissa C., born June 11, 1850, is the
wife of Alfred Duncan, of Fulton County, Mo. ;
Mary E., born Sept. 12, 1852, died thirteen da3rs
later; Minnie C., born May 10, 1854, is the wife
of Joab Patton, of Indiana; Laura B., born Jan.
14, 1857, died when eighteen months old; Jose-
phine F. P., born May 15, 1860, is the wife of
Dr. George H. Bogart, of Indiana; Rebecca D.,
born July 12, 1863, died August 15 following;
her twin brother, William M., died August 5 fol-
lowing. Nora, born July 10, 1865, became the
wife of Lester E. Foulke, and is a resident of
Champaign County.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was
married Jan. 5, 1875, was formerly Miss Elizabeth
Johns, a native of Boone County, Ind., and born
June 29, 1846. She is the daughter of Hardin W.
and Charlotte T. Johns, natives of Kentucky. Of
this union there were two children: William O.,
born Sept. 25, 1875, and who died Sept. 15, 1878,
and Blach G., born April 16, 1883. The Doctor
and Mrs. Duncan are members of the Seventh-
Day Adventist Church. While a resident of Indi-
ana, Dr. Duncan identified himself with the Sullivan

County Medical Association, and socially, belongs
to Fairbanks Lodge No. 373, A. F. & A. M., at
Fairbanks, Ind., Chapter No. 11, R. A. M., at
Terre Haute, and is also connected with the I. O.
O. F. He votes with the Republican party, and
keeps himself well posted on current events.

RS. HANNAH DUTRO, widow of George
W. Dutro, occupies a fine homestead on sec-
tion 29, in Ashmore Township, which was
built up by the industry and thrift of her
late lamented husband. Mr. Dutro was a native of
Ohio, born April 24, 1836, and was the son of
Reuben and Maria (Neff) Dutro, natives of Mary-
land, and of German descent. Mr. Dutro spent
his childhood and youth in his native State under
the careful training of his excellent parents, and
became fully acquainted with the employments of
farm life. After reaching manhood he was united
in marriage with Miss Hannah Moore, April 15,
1858. They came to Illinois, and Mr. D. pur-
chased 280 acres of land in Ashmore Township.
He afterward sold a quarter section of this so that
the home farm comprises now but 120 acres.

Mr. Dutro proceeded with his farming operations
in an intelligent and skillful manner, and by his
upright and worthy life established himself in the
confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He
was a Class-Leader of the Methodist Episcopal
Church for many years, and by his consistent
Christian character adorned his profession, and was
greatly beloved by the brethren. The death of
Mr. Dutro, which occurred under very painful
circumstances, took place on the 31st of October,
1884. The remains were interred in the cemetery
at Ashmore, and followed to their last resting-
place by most of the people of that section, and
who had held the deceased in universal respect.
Mr. D. was an intelligent man, Republican in politics,
and one who always took an interest in the welfare
and prosperity of his fellow-men.

Mrs. Hannah Dutro was born in Butler County.
Ohio, April 10, 1838, and is the daughter of Lev!
and Abigail (Fleuner) Moore, natives of Pennsyl-
vania, who died in their native State some years

1

*

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COLES COUNTY.

223

ago. The mother survived her husband about
twenty years. The parental household included
twelve children, who were carefully reared in the
doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in
which both parents were consistent members for
many years, and of which Mrs. Dutro has been a
member since early youth. The offspring of
George W. and Hannah Dutro were as follows:
Frank, the eldest, was born Jan. 23, 1859; Laura,
Oct. 23, 1800; Emma, Dec. 24, 1864; Leonard,
Dec. 24, 1869; Earnest, Sept. 26, 1873, and Hattie,
June 1, 1875. All are at home, and members of
the same church as their mother.

\f]EROME A. BROWN is one of the leading
citizens of Ash more Township, residing on
section 5. He was born Dec. 21, 1838, in
Edgar County, 111., and is the son of Job
W. and Martha E. (Archer) Brown. Job Brown
was a native of Connecticut, and during the early
part of his life was engaged in farming. His edu-
cational advantages had been very limited, but he
possessed an active mind and good native business
capacity, which always secured him success in finan-
cial affairs. He commenced in the world with noth-
ing, and at his death was worth over $20,000. His
family was of English extraction, and he possessed
that invaluable heritage, a fine physique, being
five feet and nine inches in height and weighing
195 pounds. He was a man of progressive spirit,
enterprising character, and a liberal supporter of
every measure calculated to benefit his fellow-citi-
zens. In his daily life he always evinced the char-
acter of a true Christian. For many years he was
a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but
aferward united with the United Brethren Church,
in which he was an earnest worker, affording it sub-
stantial aid in many financial difficulties.

Job Brown came to Illinois in 1824 and located
in Walnut Grove, Edgar County, where he re-
mained until 1840, and then removed to this coun-
ty, where the closing years of his life were passed.
His wife was born March 4, 1808, in Maryland, and
thence moved to Monroe County, Ind., witli her
parents, where her father remained until his death.

Their marriage took place in January, 183 '.. She
was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
but with her husband joined the United Brethren
Church, and was sincere and earnest in her Chris-
tian life. The following is a record of their chil-
dren : Warren E. married Miss Hettie A. Bradfield ;
Mary E. married Nelson Green ; Eliza J. married
W. P. Green; George A. married Miss Ardin
O'Brien; Jerome A.; Lucy A. married Adon Wy-
ley, and is now deceased ; Sarah R. married James
Wyley; Caroline A. married A. J. Waters; Mahala
H. married Richard Waters, and Susan M. married
T. Sublett.

Jerome Brown was united in marriage, Nov. 1,
1860, to Miss Margaretta Potteng-er. She was born
•Feb. 27, 1838, in Preble County, Ohio, and is the
daughter of Dennis R. and Elizabeth (Fort) Pot-
tenger. Her father was born Nov. 15, 1805, in
Ohio, and his death occurred Sept. 20, 1845, in his
native State, where he had passed his entire life en-
gaged in farming. His wife was born Sept. 20,
1808, in New Jersey and died Aug. 11, 1859, on
the homestead in Ohio, where her married life be-
gan. She was a member of the New-Light Church,
and was much beloved by all who knew her. Six
children were born to them, whose names are as
follows: Mary F., Hiram, Margaretta, Grand ville,
Hester F. and Cecelia.

Mr. Brown is the owner of a fine estate, contain-
ing 295 acres of valuable land, all under a high
state of cultivation. His residence is commodious
and tasteful, and his farm buildings are excellent
in all their appointments. He engaged in farming
and stock-raising in 1860, and is especially success-
ful in breeding high grades of cattle and horses.
In 1864 he joined the Masonic fraternity, and has
filled various offices in his lodge. He was elected
Justice of the Peace, but ne\'er qualified for the of-
fice. His entire family are devoted to the service
of Christ, and are members of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, in which he has been for
many years an Elder.

An elder brother of Mr. Brown died recently in
Nodaway County, Mo., where he had been for many
years a successful physician. He was an active,
energetic man and had gained a wide reputation
for skill in his profession. He was a liberal-minded,

I

224

COLES COUNTY.

earnest, consistent Christian, and beloved by a
large circle of friends. He had no children, and at
the death of his widow his property, consisting of
$30,000, is willed to the church.

J~~ ESS-E HUDSON, the owner of a fine estate
of valuable, well-improved land, resides on
section 7, Morgan Township, where he car-
ries on an extensive business in farming and
stock-growing. He was born June 27, 1840, in
Jessamine County, Ky., and is the son of Leander
M. and Sophia (Racier) Hudson. Leander Hudson
was born Sept. 5, 1 809, in Carter County, Tenn.,
and remained at home until twenty-four years of
age. when his marriage to Miss Sophia Rader took
place, Oct. 23, 1833. Mrs. Hudson was born July
22, 1808, in Virginia. Her family originally came
from Germany and settled in Virginia at an early
day.

Mr. and Mrs. Hudson had a family of five chil-
dren : Lemuel, a resident of Douglas County, has
been twice married, and is the father of two chil-
dren, a| son and daughter; Minerva, the wife of
J. W. Powers, a resident of Douglas County, has
three children, one daughter and two sons; Jesse is
the subject of this sketch; John, a resident of Kan-
sas, was married and his wife died, leaving a fam-
ily of six children; Mary J., the wife of F. M.
Stark, a resident of Iowa, has six children. After
the death of his wife, which occurred Feb. 13, 1866,
Mr. Hudson was married, September 15 of the same
year, to Miss Delilah J. Rutherford. Mrs. Hudson
was born Dec. 6, 1836, in Dubois County, Ind.
In 1851 Mr. Hudson came to Coles County, 111.,
and purchased 200 acres of land in East Oakland
Township, where he engaged in farming and passed
the remainder of his life. He died on the homestead,
Dec. 19, 1879, at the age of seventy years. lie
was a highly esteemed citizen of the township, and
with his wife was a member of the Christian
Church.

Jesse Hudson came with his parents to this
county in the autumn of 1851, when eleven years
of age. He attended school until he was eighteen,
and remained at home until he was twenty, assist-

ing his father in the farm labor, receiving one-third
of the crops in return for his services. In 1864 he
engaged in business for himself on rented land, and
in 1868 purchased eighty acres of the estate he
now owns. In 1877 he erected his frame residence
and a large, well-appointed barn. In the interven-
ing time from 1872 to 1882, he purchased on differ-
ent occasions forty, sixty and twenty acres of land,
increasing his estate to 200 acres. There is a fine
grove of walnut-trees growing on his place, which
was planted thirty years ago, some of the trees
being from twelve to sixteen inches in diameter,
and there is likewise a grove of maples on the
farm, nearly as large in growth as the former.

On the 10th of October, 1861, Mr. Hudson was
married to Miss Harriet Stark. Mrs. Hudson was
born Nov. 15, 1842, in Vigo, Ind., and is the
daughter of Simeon and Lucetta (Heron) Stark.
Mr. and Mrs. Stark's family consisted of fourteen
children, whose record is as follows: Eliza J., the
wife of James Craig; Harriet, the wife of our sub-
ject; Francis M. is married, and has a family of six
children; Bell, the wife of Nelson Branch, has a
family of six children; James A. is married, and
has a family of six children; Ann is the wife of
Bruce Lee. a resident of Douglas County, and has
a family of seven children; William H. is a drug-
gist in Edgar County, and has a family of five
children ; Melinda married T. D. Davis, and has
four children ; Rosa L. is the wife of Robert Stark,
and has one daughter; Mary E., the wife of Isaac
Davis, has two children ; Effie, the wife of Stanley
Burget, a resident of Douglas County, has one
child ; Lillian ; Eugenia and Simeon. Mrs. Stark
died in 1867, and Mr. Stark subsequently married
Miss Mary Devars. By his second marriage three
children were born. In 1887 Mr. Stark sold out
his property and moved to Pulaski Count}', Mo.

Mr. Hudson's residence is surrounded by a pleas-
ant lawn, shaded in front by a large ash, which is
probably over sixty years old. A view of the
place is shown in connection with this sketch. His
land is high and rolling, and the soil is very pro-
ductive. He is engaged in stock-raising, and owns
about sixty-five head of Short-horn cattle; lie de-
votes most of his farm to the cultivation of corn
and grass, to furnish feed for his cattle and hogs.

LIBRARY
OF THE

OF ILLINOIS

t.

COLES COUNTY.

227

t

Mr. Hudson is an active, enterprising citizen of the
township, and holds the office of Justice of the
Peace, having been elected to that position for four
successive terms. In politics he is a Democrat.

[AMES W. WOODSON is one of the self-
made men of Coles County who commenced
life without means, and by his own industry
and perseverance has attained to a good po-
sition among his fellow-men, and become the owner
of a valuable property. His fine farm of 370 acres,
a view of which appears on an adjoining page, is
located on section 27, in Charleston Township, and
is supplied with a commodious dwelling, a large
barn, and all the other out-buildings required by
the progressive modern farmer. He has of late
years turned his attention largely to stock-raising
and wheat, and from these realizes a handsome in-
come.

Mr. Woodson commenced life with a cash capi-
tal of $2.50, and possessed but $250 at the time of
his marriage. In looking upon his broad acres and
the buildings and machinery of the farm, with all
the evidences of ample means and the comforts and
luxuries of life, it is hardly necessary to say that
our subject presents a fine example of what may
be accomplished by sensible economy and a judi-
cious disbursement of funds. He has always made
it a point to live within his income, and the result
has been what we have already described.

Our subject is a native of the Hawkeye State,
born in Lima County, Sept. 22, 1851. His father.
Jemison Woodson, was born in Kentucky, whence
he emigrated when a young man to this State, and
afterward crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, where
he married Miss Cintha Davis. She was born in
Indiana about 1833, and removed with her parents
to Mower County, Minn., where they still reside,
Jemison and Cintha Woodson became the parents
of nine children, of whom James W. was the eldest.
He remained under the home roof until eighteen
years of age, and then started out for himself.
Coming to this county he began as a farm laborer
at $16 per month, and afterward rented a tract of

land in Charleston Township, which he occupied
until 1871.

In the spring of the latter-named year our sub-
ject was united in marriage with Miss Margaret,
daughter of John and Lucy Hall, who was born in
Charleston Township, this county, in 1852. Mr.
Hall for a consideration of $2,000 deeded to his
son-in-law 160 acres of land which he had entered
from the Government fifty-four years ago. The
young people "pulled together," labored industri-
ously, lived economically, and in due time the farm
was paid for, and they had a home which they
proudly called their own. Mr. Woodson thereafter
invested his surplus capital in more land, which he
brought to a fine state of cultivation, and upon
which he erected the present commodious farm
house for $1,200. He has been remarkably suc-
cessful in his farming operations, and ranks among
the representative agriculturists of Central Illi-
nois.

The five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wood-
son were named respectively, Mary, Ida, Florence,
Elsie and Alvah. Mr. Woodson has been promi-
nent in local affairs, serving as School Director nine
years, and also officiating as Township Trustee.
He is a man of upright principles and excellent
judgment, and is held in universal respect. In
politics he has always been identified with the Re-
publican party.

•" * Va 1&*

yiLLIAM BURGESS, Supervisor of Mattoon
Township, and a resident of Mattoon, has
been engaged there in the boot fMid shoe
business since the spring of 1 860, when he estab-
lished a factory and gave employment to eight men.
He has of late years almost abandoned the manu-
facture of this article of wearing apparel, and turned
his attention to the sale of ready-made work, in
which he has built up a good patronage, and real-
izes an income which provides comfortably for him-
self and family. Mr. Burgess, in common with a
large proportion of the successful business men of
this county, spent his early years on the other side
of the Atlantic. He was born in North Moulton,
Devonshire, England, Oct. 12, 1827, and is the son

t.

228

COLES COUNTY.

of Henry and Elizabeth (Parkins) Burgess, natives
of the same country, where the father followed the
business of a builder and contractor the greater
part of his life. Both parents spent their entire
lives in their native country, the mother dying in
1881, and the father in 1884.

Henry Burgess was a man of tonsiderable promi-
nence in his native county, and carried on a large
business, giving employment to from eight to
twelve men, and was Secretary of the Old Union of
North Moulton. Both parents belonged to the
Church of England. Of the eleven children of the
parental family, eight grew to mature years and
seven are now living, namely: Ann, Mrs. Kerslake;
Henry, William, Francis, John. Michael, and Eliza-
beth, Mrs. Frayne.

Our subject spent his younger years mostly in
school, and when ten years of age commenced to
drive a team on a farm, and afterward engaged in
hauling goods for a store which was kept by his
mother. At fourteen years of age he was appen-
ticed to learn the boot and shoe trade, at which he
served six years. Ilis employer then gave him his
time, and going to South Moulton he hired out for
one year, receiving one shilling per week and his
board. During the six years of his apprenticeship
he had only received his board, and his parents fur-
nished his clothes. In 1849 he started to do for him-
self, and determined to try his fortunes on another
continent. Bidding adieu to his friends, on the 3d
of May, 1849, he embarked on a sailing-vessel from
Liverpool, and after a voyage of four weeks found
himself in New York City. From there he proceeded
to Syracuse, where he worked at his trade a year,
and the.u, in company with others, engaged in the
co-operative boot and shoe business. After the first
year, the two foremen stole the proceeds, and the
concern was forced to suspend operations.

Qur subject then went to Courtland County,
N. Y., and worked as a journeyman shoemaker five
weeks, and after being employed at various other
places in the Empire State, in 1855 decided to re-
cross the water and visit the home of his childhood.
After a stay of thirteen months, he returned,
greatly refreshed in body and spirits, and took up
his residence in Wellsburg, Pa. After seven weeks
he proceeded to Corning, N. Y., thence to Dundas,

Canada, and from the Dominion to the State of
Michigan, and thence to Indiana, finally arriving
in Decatur, 111., in 1857, and was variously em-
ployed until May, 1860, when he made his first
permanent entrance into this county.

Mr. Burgess after getting a good foothold in busi-
ness, and feeling justified in establishing Domestic
ties, was united in marriage, Nov. 26, 1862, to
Miss Agnes Evans, of Mattoon. Mrs. B. was born
in London, England, and is the daughter of S. R.
and Mary Ann (Scully) Evans, also natives of En-
gland. Of her union with our subject there are two
children living, Mary E. and Emma F. The fam-
ily residence is a tasteful structure, pleasantly lo-
cated, and is the resort of many friends of our »ub-
ject and his estimable wife.

Mr. Burgess, after becoming a naturalized citi-
zen, identified himself the Republican party, and
has been prominent in local affairs since coming to
Mattoon Township. In 1875 he was chosen Alder-
man of the Second Ward, and in 1883, having re-
moved, was elected Alderman of the Fourth Ward,
and is now serving his third term in that position,
having been for four years Chairman of the Com-
mittee on Streets, Alleys and Drainage. He was
elected Township Supervisor in 1887, and in the
discharge of his public duties has acquitted himself
with credit, and to the satisfaction of his fellow-
townsmen. He is a stockholder and one of the Di-
rectors of the First National Bank of Mattoon. His
wife and daughter are members and regular attend-
ants of the Congregational Church.

_^'_'.l/ «.'.• -^ >•—'-•• .

AMUEL J. JACKSON, Postmaster, mer-
chant, and manufacturer of tile and brick
at Fuller's Point, in North Okaw Township,
is operating not far from the scene of his
birthplace, he having been born in this township
March 7, 1859. The family history of our subject
is in its main points as follows: Bernard Jackson,
his grandfather, was born near Alexandria, Va.,
in 1770, and carried on the trades of a cabinet-
maker and carpenter in connection with farming
for many years. Later in life he abandoned active
labor at his trades and confined his attention to the
quiet pursuits of a country life. He was married

t.

COLES COUNTY.

229

in his native county, and a few years later removed
to Stanton, now Ripley, Brown County, Ohio.
There the wife and mother died, Oct. 3, 1814,
aged forty-one years and fifteen days. This was
the first de'ath which occurred in the town of Rip-
ley, and the funeral sermon was preached at the
grave by Rev. John Collins, who happened to be
passing through the neighborhood, and falling in
with the funeral procession, repaired to the bury-
ing-ground and kindly proffered his services. His
text was taken from the Gospel of St. John.
Up to this time her husband had been an avowed
infidel. The solemnity of the occasion had great
effect upon his mind, and then and there renouncing
his skepticism, he became an earnest inquirer after
the way of salvation. In after years the Rev.
Collins formed his acquaintance and often heard
him relate how he was brought out of darkness
into light. He united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church and remained an active member until his
death. His remains were laid to rest at Stone
Chapel, in West Union Circuit, Adams Co., Ohio.
He has two sons who are engaged in the ministry,
namely, Rev. William H., of Indiana, and Rev.
Andrew B., located in Southeastern Kansas. Both
are members of the Conference of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.

The family of the grandparents included ten
children, there being besides those above men-
tioned, William, deceased; Samuel, deceased;
James, a resident of Louisiana; Polly, deceased;
George, Juliet, Harriet and John, the latter resi-
dents of Williamstown. Ky. After the death of his
first wife, Bernard Jackson was married, in 1815,
to Miss Elizabeth Whistner, who was born in Mary-
land in 1793. Her parents afterward removed to
Kentucky. Fifteen years later Mr. and Mrs.
Jackson took up their abode on a farm in Ripley
County, Ohio, where the grandfather spent his last
years. His wife, Elizabeth, subsequently came to
this county, and made her home with her son,
Madison B., until her death. Of this marriage
there were born ten children: William, a resident
of Indiana; Jerome M. died at Memphis, Tenn. ;
Maria, Andrew B., Wesley, Newton J., Malinda
(deceased), Susan J., Milton M., the father of our
subject, and Madison 1>.

Milton M. Jackson was born in Adams County,
Ohio, Jan. 31, 1833. He received a common-
school education and remained on the homestead a
few years after his father's death. He and his
brother, Madison, worked together and supported
their mother, and in the fall of 1855 Milton re-
solved to seek his fortunes in the Prairie State. He
located in North Okaw Township, this count}', and
that same winter was united in marriage with Miss
Emeline Fuller, a native of this county and born
Nov. 28, 1838. Her parents, Henry and Mary
Fuller, were -natives of Virginia. After his mar-
riage, Mr. Jackson purchased a tract of land ad-
joining the homestead of his father-in-law, and in
connection with the latter carried on farming until
the fall of 1861. The young men of the country
were then called upon to prove their loyalty to the
Union, and in common with many of his acquaint-
ances he volunteered his services, by enlisting in
the 123d Illinois Infantry, and served nearly three
years. In the meantime he was promoted Corporal
and then on account of failing health was obliged
to accept his discharge. He returned home and
died a few days later.

The four children of the parental family are re-
corded as follows: Henry, born April 19, 1857,
died eleven days later; Samuel J., of our sketch,
was the second child ; William W. was born July
26, 1861, and was cut down while still young, his
(tenth taking place Feb. 7. 1887. His education
was completed in the common school, and when
old enough he assisted his widowed mother on the
farm. Subsequently he purchased land for him-
self adjoining that of the parental homestead, but
always made his home with his mother. He was
a young man upon whom were centered great hopes,
and was universally respected by all who knew
him. He served as Assessor five terms and
possessed more than ordinary ability and good
judgment in connection with his farm labors, and
in deliberating upon matters connected with the
welfare of the township. He suffered greatly with
typhoid fever for three weeks before his death.
Milton M. was born April 19, 1863, and died when
about four years of age. Milton M. Jackson and
his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and the former, politically, cast his in

230

COLES COUNTY.

Huence with the Democratic party. His widow
subsequently married William Gilmore, and is now
living in Nurth Okavv Township.

The subject of this sketch was about seven years
of age when his father died. His education was
begun and completed in the common schools, and
he remained with his widowed mother until her
marriage. When he was eighteen years old his
mother had given him forty acres of improved
land, and to this he subsequently added, and has
since been industriously engaged in its improve-
ment and cultivation. This, in connection with
his operations in brick and tile occupies his time
fully. In the spring of 1887 he opened a store
near the factory, where he keeps a full line of
general merchandise and also attends to the duties
of his position as Postmaster.

The wife of our subject, to whom he was mar-
ried June 14, 1881, was formerly Miss Cynthia A.
Kllison, a native of this county and the daughter
of Moses and Mary A. (Lockridge) Ellison. She
was born June 20, 1852, and remained with her
parents until her marriage and afterward, for Mr.
Jackson took up his abode with his father-in-law,
and has since been a member of the family. His
wife was the youngest daughter, and is the only one
of their children at home. In the fall of 1886
Mr. Jackson became the partner of his brother-in-
law, Madison Hunt, and they established their
present, factory, which they have since operated
successfully under the firm name of Jackson <fe
Hunt. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. J.
died in infancy.

| OSEPH E. BOYD, Supervisor of Lafayette
Township, is the owner of a tine estate con-
taining 154 acres of valuable land, lie was
born July 3, 1849, in Rush County, Iiid.,
and is the son of John A. and Rebecca (Maze)
Boyd. John Boyd was born in Harrison County,
Ky., Oct. 12, 1805, and is the son of Arthur Boyd.
About the year 1817 his parents removed to Fay-
ette County, Ind., and subsequently to Rush
County, where his marriage to Miss Rebecca Maze
took place. Mrs. Boyd was likewise a native of

Harrison County, Ky., and was born Aug. 25, 1810.

In 1851 John Boyd removed with his family to
Illinois, settling in Hutton Township, Coles County.
They remained on a farm there nine years, and
then removed to North Okaw Township, where Mr.
Boyd operated a sawmill one year, and subse-
quently changed his residence to Humbolt Town-
ship. While operating the sawmill in North Okaw
Township, he met with an accident which crippled
his hands so seriously as to render him unfit for
manual labor, in consequence of which he opened
a boarding-house at Humbolt. After managing
the house five years he was obliged to relinquish
active business, and is now passing the closing
3'ears of his life in the home of his son, Joseph E.
Boyd. He was blest with a vigorous physique,
and although eighty-two years of age is still hale
and hearty. He has recently been bereaved of the
beloved companion, who shared the joys and sor-
rows of a long life with him, her death occurring
in December, 1886. They had a family of nine
children, five of whom grew to maturity. Their
record is as follows: William A., deceased; Mary
E., deceased, was formerly the wife of Dr. V. R.
Bridges; Fannie, deceased, was formerly the wife
of David S. Junkin; Robert T., a resident of
Mattoon, and Joseph E., the subject of this sketch.

At the age of fourteen years, Joseph Boyd com-
menced mercantile life as a clerk, and has been en-
gaged more or less in that business throughout the
greater part of his life. Feb. 6, 1872, he was mar-
ried to Miss Alice B. Nabb. Mrs. Boyd is the
daughter of Hamilton and Martha E. Nabb, and
was born Feb. 2, 1854, at Lawrenceville, 111. Mr.
Boyd was engaged in mercantile pursuits until the
first year after his marriage, when his health began
to fail, on account of hemorrhage of the lungs. By
advice of his physician, he left the store and carried
on a farm six years. At the expiration of that
time his health seemed apparently restored, and he
again entered upon mercantile life. His abilities
and inclinations both led him in that direction,
rather than toward agricultural pursuits, but after
a trial of six months, his health again failing he
found himself compelled to relinquish the mercan-
tile business and return to farming.

Mr. and Mrs. Boyd had a family of six children

T

COLES COUNTY.

231

born to them, only three of whom arc now living —
Flora R., John II. and William V. Mr. Boyd is a
public-spirited man, interested in all the affairs of
the county. He has held many minor offices of his
township, serving- as Collector for seven terms,
and is now serving his third term as .Supervisor,
being faithful in the discharge of his duties, and
giving satisfaction to the people, whose interests he
is ever careful to promote. Mr. B. is a highly
esteemed member of the Presbyterian Church, and
in politics is a stanch supporter of Democratic
principles.

J"l OIINSON ELLISON is a native of Adams
I County, Ohio, where his birth took place
I May 14, 1811, and where he lived with his
' parents until 1862. He comes of an ex-
cellent family, which originated in Ireland, his
grandfather having been John Allison, who was
born in County Tyrone. He learned the trade of
a wheelwright and was married in his native Ire-
land, where his four sons and one daughter were
born. These were John, James, Andrew, Robert
and Margaret. All grew to mature years, married
and reared families of their own, and all emigrated
to America with their father in about 1790. Grand-
father Ellison _ located in Kentucky, whence he
afterward removed to Manchester, Ohio, where his
wife died first and himself afterward, he being
seventy-six years of age at the time of his decease.
His sons all settled in Adams County, Ohio. The
daughter married John Clark and reared a family.
Late in life she and her husband removed to Indi-
anapolis, Ind., where the decease of both took
place, that of Mrs. Clark when she had attained an
advanced age.

James Ellison, Sr., the father of our subject, was
the second child of his parents, and born in Coun-
ty Tyrone, Ireland. He received a common-school
education, and was married to Miss Givcns, a na-
tive of his own county, and they became the parents
of four children — Mary, Isabel, Jane and George.
The mother of these died after emigrating to
America. The children grew to mature years and
all died in Ohio. The second wife of James Elli-
son was Miss Sidney McClanahan, a native of his

own country. They were married in Kentucky,
and afterward removed to Adams County, Ohio,
where Mr. E. purchased a tract of land and opened
up a fine farm which he occupied until his death,
when about seventy-three years of age. The wife
and mother survived several years and also died
on the old homestead. They were people greatly
respected in their community, and active members
of the Presbyterian Church. Their children are
recorded as follows: Elizabeth died when an in-
teresting young lady twenty years of age; James
is unmarried, and makes his home with our subject;
John was twice married, and is now deceased ; Sid-
ney died when about thirty years old; Margaret,
the wife of Jiimes Baldridge, is deceased, as is also
Rebecca, who died at the age of fifty years; John-
son of our sketch was the youngest of the family.

Mr. Ellison was but five years of age when his
father died. He received a common-school educa-
tion and assisted his mother on the farm until his
marriage, which took place in Adams County,
Ohio, July 26, 1837. The maiden of his choice was
Miss Elizabeth Boyle, a native of Cumberland
County, Md., and born June 17, 1817. Her par-
ents, John and Mary (Winow) Boyle, were also na-
tives of Maryland. After his marriage Mr. Ellison
and his brother James carried on farming for a
number of years in Adams County, then selling out,
moved in the fall of 1862 further westward, locat-
ing in N. Okaw Township, this county. James about
ten years before had entered 320 acres of land for
our subject, but no improvements had been effected.
As Mr. Ellison viewed the task before him of
bringing the soil to a good state of cultivation he
anticipated years of arduous and continuous labor.
He lost no time, however, IH contemplating a dif-
ficult task, but set about the improvement and
cultivation of his land, and in due time was richly
rewarded. He at one time was the owner of 600
acres, but divided with his children as they became
old enough to settle in life, and now occupies but
forty acres. On the 26th of October, 1878, he met
with a great affliction in the loss of his wife who
had been his kind companion and counselor for a
period of forty-one years. The family history of
this estimable lady is substantially as follows:

Mrs. Elizabeth Ellison was born in Maryland

232

COLES COUNTY.

1

June 17, 1817, and removed with her parents to
Ohio when a child of about four years old. She
was thoughtful beyond her years, and at the age of
sixteen united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church, of which she remained a consistent mem-
ber until her death. Her marriage to our subject
took place in Adams County, Ohio, July 26, 1 837,
and she accompanied him to this county with her
family in 18G2. After coming to Illinois she identi-
fied herself with the Quinn Chapel Class, on the
Humbolt Circuit, and was numbered among its
most useful and valued members. The kindly
Christian influence which she sbed around her was
the means of great good to both old and young,
and her "name is held in affectionate remembrance
by hosts of friends. Johnson and Mrs. Elizabeth
Ellison became the parents of eight children, who
are recorded as follows : Mary Ann, born Sept. 1,
1840, is the wife of William Seaman, a prosperous
fanner of Humbolt Township; Margaret, born
March 1, 1843, is living at home; James II., born
April 12, 1845, first married Miss Rachel Wilson,
who died leaving one child; he afterward married
Miss Hattie Gibbs, and farms in North Okaw Town-
ship; Rebecca J., born Oct. 20, 1847, is the wife
of Wilson Fleming, of North Okaw Township;
John, born March 9, 1850, married Miss Maggie A.
Miller; she became the mother of two children,
and departed this life March 20, 1887. William A.,
born April 13, 1853, married first Miss Mollie
Checkley, who died leaving two children ; he was
afterward married to Miss Elizabeth Miller, Sept. 2,
1884, and they are living in North Okaw Township;
Susan A., born Sept. 30, 1856, is the wife of John
C. Ellis, a resident of Thomas County, Kan. ;
George F., born July 80, 1859, died on his father's
homestead in 1872.

Mr. Ellison and his brother James still continue
together, their household affairs being managed by
Margaret, the daughter of our subject. The latter,
although mostly engaged in business affairs, having
little time to meddle with politics, performs his
duty at the polls and assists in perpetuating the Re-
publican party.

James Ellison, our subject's brother, whose school
days, like those of his brothers, were of brief dura-
tion, was a youth of eighteen years when the family

was deprived of a father's care, and he was charged
with the responsibility of assisting his mother in
looking after the farm and family. At the age of
twenty-four years, when he could be spared from
home, he went into Kanawha County, now W. Va.,
and engaged in making salt, having charge of the
works at Kanawha, and being paid three cents per
bushel, with coal and water found. He was thus
employed about seven years, up to 1833, and then
returning to Ohio operated the old homestead un-
til about the time of the Jackson administration;
he then came to this county and entered a tract of
land, and for the following fifteen years made
several trips to and fro.

James Ellison has been the close companion of
his brother since settling in this county, and their
fraternal regard for each other is often made a sub-
ject of remark. As stated above, he has never
married. He is a quiet and unobtrusive citizen
and has been no unimportant factor in the building
up of this section of country. He still owns the
land he entered from the Government, and has a
valuable property embracing 1,000 acres in Illinois,
mostly in Coles County. He cast his first presi-
dential vote for Gen. Jackson, and since that time
has been an active member of the Republican party.
During the war he was a stanch supporter of the
Union cause.

EVERIIARTY, proprietor of a meat-mar-
ket on West Broadway, now serving his
fourth term as Alderman of the Second
Ward, is one of the prominent German
citizens of Mattoon. He was born in Prussia, June
28, 1833, and is the son of Matthias and Margaret
(Kemmer) Everharty, the former a native of
France and the latter of Prussia. The father of
our subject was a weaver by trade, and was among
the first of his countrymen who emigrated to
America. He came in 1837 and settled in Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, the first employment he procured
beino; on the White Water Canal. He was indus-

O

trious and frugal, but unfortunately placed the
money received for his services in a bank, which
went down during a financial crash, sweeping with

IH

COLES COUNTY.

233

i

it fill of his hard-earned savings. He next engaged
in the business of market gardening near the city,
and was one of the first Germans who undertook
that work in Cincinnati. He had a small farm and
kept an excellent garden, supplying the city market
with fresh fruits and vegetables, by this means
making himself quite independent until his death,
which occurred in 1 866.

When Mr. E. emigrated to America he was ac-
companied by his aged father, who was a soldier
in the French army and had served seven years
under Napoleon Bonaparte. He made his home
with his sons until his death, which occurred in
1850. Five years later his widow died in her
native land. Matthias Everharty had a family of
nine children, five of whom are now living, and
whose names are as follows: Mtthias, the subject of
this sketch; Jacob, a resident of Los Angeles. Cal. ;
Josephine, the wife of Mr. Papp, a resident of
Leaven worth, Kan.; Agnes, the wife of Mr. Haag,
and Peter, both of the latter residents of Leaven-
worth, Kan. Mr. Everharty was a Democrat, and
with his family belonged to the Roman Catholic
Church.

Our subject was brought up at home, assisting
his father in the labor of the farm and garden until
1 848, when he spent two years learning the butch-
er's trade, and was engaged in that business several
years in Cincinnati. In 1860 he changed his occupa-
tion, and embarked in a variety show under the firm
name of Everharty & Palmer. Two seasons sufficed
for this employment, and he then obtained a posi-
tion as beef agent in the Commissary Department
of the army. He purchased and supervised the
slaughter of the cattle, and also had charge of. the
distribution of rations to the soldiers. He served
in that position three years, and was once shot by
a party of bushwhackers in Tennessee, receiving a
flesh wound in the arm, arid was taken prisoner, but
detained only a short time. After his return from
the war, he came to Mattoon and engaged in his
present business. In 1874 he purchased fift}' feet
of land fronting on West Broadway, and erected a
substantial brick business house. He also pur-
chased five acres on West First street, where he
resides. He owns a share in the fair ground, and
an interest in the Natural Gas Company, and also

in the Real-Estate and Loan Association of Mat-
toon.

In 1854 Mr. Everharty was married to Miss
Elizabeth Horn. Mrs. Everharty is the daughter
of John Horn, and was born in Havre de Gras,
France, coming with her parents to America in
1836, and settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. They have
a family of four children, all of whom are residents
of this city. Their names are as follows : Cather-
ine, the wife of Mr. Mead; John; Annie L., the
wife of Mr. Cleveland, and Maggie, the wife of
Mr. Timmans. Mr. Everharty and his family are
members of the Roman Catholic Church. In poli-
tics he is a Democrat.

ZEKIEL EASTON, a carpenter by trade, is
the owner of a fine estate containing about
seventy-seven acres, located on section 18,
Hutton Township, where he resides. He was born
April 6, 1831. in Clark County, 111., and is the son
of Daniel and Mary (York) Easton. His paternal
grandparents, Richard and Betsy Easton, were na-
tives of Kentucky. Richard Easton was a success-
ful farmer in his native State, and when about sixty
years of age removed to Clark County, 111., where
he rented land, and after remaining a few years re-
7noved to Pleasant Grove Township, this county,
where his wife died. Mr. Easton subsequently
married Miss Celia Waltrip, and his death took
place about six years after his second marriage.
A family of eleven children was born by the first
marriage — Jackson, Delia, Daniel, Zachariah, Nancy,
Washington, Wesley, Betsy, Harmon, Silas and
Arena. All married but Silas, and all are deceased
with the exception of Harmon and Wesley.

Daniel Easton was born in Kentucky in 1807,
and received a common-school education, living on
the old homestead with his parents and assisting in
the farm labor until his marriage with Miss Mary
York. Soon after that event he left his native
State and came to Crawford County, 111., where he
was engaged in farming on rented land for about
six years. At the expiration of that time he re-
moved to Clark County, and after remaining a few
years, came in 1833 to Coles County and made his

234

COLES COUNTY.

1

permanent home in Hutton Township. He bravely
encountered the difficulties of pioneer life, and
made a home in the wilderness for himself and his
family. His death occurred at the homestead in
March, 1882, at the age of seventy-five years. His
widow is still living, and makes her home with her
son Stephen, in this county.

Mr. and Mrs. Easton were highly esteemed mem-
bers of the Christian Church. They had a family
of twelve children, whose record is as follows:
William died at the age of twenty-six; Betsey
Jane, deceased, was the wife of George Wilson,
and left eight children; Isaac N. married Miss
Julia Tucker; his wife died leaving five children.
Ezekicl is the subject of this sketch ; James O. mar-
ried Miss Lucy Darling, and died leaving six chil-
dren; Archie married Miss Mary Turner, and is the
father of two children; Harriet is the wife of A.
Winternute; Mary A. died at the age of twenty-
one; John S. married Miss Rissa Johnson; Stephen
resides near Stockton, with his mother; Charles
married Miss Emma Pansier, and resides in Dan-
ville, 111.; Marion A. married Miss Rebecca A.
Rounds.

Ezekiel Easton was brought up in the early pio-
neer days of this county, and his education was
necessarily very limited. During his boyhood he
resided on the homestead and learned the carpen-
ter's trade, in which he has been occupied through-
out the greater part of his life. In 1872 he pur-
chased his farm as a pleasant home residence, and
his sons have charge of the place, and do most of
the work. His marriage to Miss Rebecca J. Or-
chard took place July 12, 1853. Mrs. Easton was
born Jan. 3, 1834, in Hntton Township, this county,
and is the daughter of William and Jane (Richard-
son) Orchard. Her -parents were natives of Ken-
tucky, and removing to Illinois, were among the
early settlers of Coles County. Her father was
born July 26, 1801, in Kentucky, and died Dec. 4,
1870, at his home in this county. His widow, who
survived him several years, was born March 31,
1804, and died Oct. 18, 1879.

Mrs. Easton's grandfather, Alexander Orchard,
was a Baptist minister and had charge of a church
in Madison County for forty years. His wife was
Miss Sally Owens, and they had a family of five

children — William, Levi, James, Nancy and Josie.
None of the family are now living. James served
in the Mexican War; AVilliam married Jane Rich-
ardson, and a family of five children was born to
them: Mary A. was the wife of Samuel Smith, and
both died leaving two children; Sally, the wife of
David Martin; Fannie Ann, the wife of C. R. Mar-
tin; Rebecca J., and Nancy J., who died at the age
of seventeen. Mr. and Mrs. Orchard were both
members of the Christian Church and endeavored
to instill into the minds of their children, the pure
and holy principles of that faith.

Mr. and Mrs. Easton had a family of seven chil-
dren, as follows: Melissa E., born May 14, 1854,
was married, Jan. 27, 1876, to William Tippy ; Will-
iam R., born Sept. 8, 1861, married Miss Sally
Neese, and his wife died, leaving one child, Mary;
Rosetta, born May 14, 1866; James C., Nov. 14,
1869; Charles O., Sept. 1, 1876; Elder, June 11,
1879, and one who died in infancy. After his
marriage Mr Easton was successfully engaged at his
trade, in which he is still occupied. With his wife,
he is a member of the Baptist Church, and in poli-
tics belongs to the Democratic party, having cast
his first presidential vote for Zachary Taylor.

RILEY is the owner of a fine farm
containing 120 acres of valuable land, lo-
cated on section 15, Pleasant Grove Town-
ship. He was born March 16, 1827, in Kentucky,
and is the son of James and Delila (Gibson) Riley.
His paternal grandfather, Patrick Riley, emigrated
from Ireland at an early day, and settled in Vir-
ginia, where his son James was born. Delila Gib-
son was likewise a native of Virginia. She was the
second wife of James Riley. Their marriage took
place in Kentucky, and they afterward removed to
Boone County, Ind., making a permanent home
there. Their family consisted of eighteen children,
of whom Nimrod was the eighth in order of birth.
There are only three now living — William and
Jacob, residents of Ottawa County, Mo., and Nim-
rod, the subject of this sketch.

Nimrod Riley passed his boyhood in Indiana,
where the advantages for education were ex-
., ,

LIBRARY

OF THE

WVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

COLES COUNTY.

237

tremely limited in the pioneer days; however, lie
gained all the knowledge posssible and learned much
from practical experience. On the -26th of May
1840. he married Miss Martha Saxson. Mrs. Riley
was born Jan. 15, 1 !•>•>?, in Marion County, Ind.,
and is the daughter of Lemuel and Martha (Davis)
Saxson. Her parents were natives of Kentuck}1,
but subsequently removed to Indiana, where her
mother's death occurred. Her father died in Ot-
tawa County, Mo. Their family consisted of six
children, four of whom are now living. Their
names are as follows: Betsy, the wife of Mr. Mc-
Bride, a resident of Missouri; Permelia, the wife of
MV. Combs, a resident of Ottawa County, the same
State'; John, a resident of Cass County, Mo., and
Martha, the wife of Mr. Riley.

After his marriage Mr. Riley gave his attention
to farming, remaining, in Boone County until 1801,
when he came to Illinois, and settled in Coles
Count}'. He first located on the borders of the
Kickapoo River, and in 1804 purchased his present
farm, where he has since resided. He owns 120
acres, all of which, with the exception of twenty
acres, is well improved.

Mr. and Mrs. Riley had a family of eight chil-
dren born to then, whose record is as follows:
John, James; Mary, the wife of John B. Sapp;
William ; Sirena, the wife of James Ransdell; Irene,
deceased; Nannie, deceased, and George W. Mr.
Riley is not actively interested in politics, but
always votes with the Democratic party.

bL. SILVKRTHORN, M. D., one of the most
, prominent and successful physicians of
, Charleston, and whose portrait is shown on

the opposite page, has been a resident of this coun-
ty for many years, building up a good practice,
accumulating a competency, and thoroughly identi-
fying himself with the interests of the people. He
comes of excellent ancestry, and the first representa-
tives of his family in this country located in Penn-
sylvania, which was the birthplace of his father,
Nicholas Silverthorn, who was born May 12, 1787,
and there passed his early life.

Dr. Silverthorn was born in Stroudsburg, Mon-

roe Co., Pa., Oct. -21, 1830. His mother, Margaret
(Linn) Silverthorn, was a native of New Jersey,
and was of Scotch and German ancestry. She mar-
ried Nicholas Silverthorn in or near Belvidere, N.
J., June 23, 1810, and in 1833 they became resi-
dents of Blairstown, N. J., where they remained
until 1 843, and thence removed to Orange County,
N. Y. The elder Silverthorn was a tailor by trade,
but was fond of country life and followed farming
in connection with his trade. In 1848, he migrated
from New York to Rock County, Wis., where he
purchased 160 acres of unimproved land, and in
connection with his trade, proceeded to build up a
home. He erected a plank house, set out fruit and
shade trees, and occupied the homestead thus es-
tablished until his death, in 1874, after he had ar-
rived at the advanced age of eighty-seven years.
The mother survived her husband until the 29th of
August* 1884, being within fourteen days of ninety-
five years.

The parental household included twelve children,
of whom our subject was the youngest, and seven
still survive : Oliver is a resident of Iowa; Lewis,
of Albany, Wis., and Mary M., Daniel, Jehial, and
Finley are residents of Rock County, Wis. Our
subject made his home on the farm of his parents,
receiving, in common with his brothers and sisters,
careful training and a good education in the dis-
trict school. Early in life, however, he began to work
away from home, and was variously employed un-
til eighteen years of age, when he commenced
teaching in Rock County, being thus employed
four successive winters, and during the summer
worked at farming and carpentering. This kind of
life, however, did not satisfy his ambition. He
had always taken an interest in medical works, and
commenced to read medicine regularly at Fond du
Lac, under the instruction of Dr. Olds, with whom
he remained several months, turning his attention
principally to diseases of the eye. In 1854 he
went to Paris, Edgar County, where he entered
upon the practice of his chosen profession alone,
making a specialty of treating the eye and meet-
ing with fine success. He was convinced, however,
that it would be to his advantage to still pursue his
studies in this direction, and coining to Charleston
gave his attention to his books and placed himself

T

f.

238

COLES COUNTY.

under the instruction of Dr. T. B. Trovver. In tin-
winter of 1855-56 he entered the Jefferson College,
where he took a thorough course, and after his
return commenced a general practice which he has
since continued.

Dr. '•'ilverthorn has wisely invested his surplus
capital in real estate, becoming largely interested
in mineral lands in Clear Creek, Summit, and
Chaffee Counties, Col. His mines contain gold, sil-
ver, copper and lead, and are being developed, as
rapidly as possible. In connection with these far-
away interests, however, he has not forgotten the
city where he makes his abiding-place, but has
assisted to build up both its business and residence
portions, especially the latter. He has one business
block on the east side of the public square, and
several tenements which he rents to good advantage.
While having many interests to look after he neg-
lects none, and his clear head and cool judgment
are indicated in his successful management of both
his practice and his finances. He is a prominent
member of the American Medical Association, the
Illinois Medical and the Esculapian Societies of the
Wabash Valley. Politically he alliliates with the
Democratic party, and socially is a Royal Arch
Mason.

The marriage of Dr. Silverthorn and Miss Ame-
rial Trower was celebrated at the home of the bride's
parents in Charleston, Oct. 8, 185G. Mrs. S. is
the daughter of Dr. T. B. Trower, a native of Vir-
ginia, who. came to this State in 1830, locating first
in Shelbyville. Thence six years later he removed
to Charleston, where he became prominent as a suc-
cessful physician, and where his death took place
in April, 1878. His family included five children,
of whom the wife of our subject was the eldest.

ELI FOSTER, one of the most influential and
respected citizens of Seven Hickory Town-
ship, is an extensive stock-grower, and the
owner of a fine estate containing 370 acres of val-
uable land. He was born Aug. 12. 1827, in Law-
rence Count}', Ind., and is the son of William and
Sarah (McCormic) Foster. His family were among
the early English settlers of Virginia, and William

Foster was a successful farmer in'that State, but
attracted by the superior advantages which the
opening of a new country offers, he came to
Indiana at an earl}' day and made his permanent
home there. His wife was born about 1799, just
at the close of the eighteenth century, and died
Sept. 4, 1873. Her family was of Scotch and Irish
extraction, from which nationalities many among
the shrewdest and most intelligent citi/.ens of the
country have descended.

Mr. Foster was a man of great intelligence and
uprightness of character. He was actively inter-
ested in promoting the cause of religion in the
West, and for nearly forty years was a Deacon in
the Christian Church, of which his wife was also a
member. He was ever ready to forward any meas-
ures tending to promote thu welfare of the commu-
nity and held several of the township offices. His
death occurred at the homestead in Indiana Oct. 5,
1874. The following is the record of their family:
James died in childhood ; Ann Jemima, deceased,
was the wife of Hyrutn Guthrey; Emarsetta is the
wife of Hamilton Dixon; Susanna was married to
Lemuel Proctor; Samuel, deceased, married Miss
Lida Beasley; Eli is the subject of thrs sketch;
John married Miss Catherine Beggs; Henrietta, de-
ceased, was the wife of William Hill; Jane was mar-
ried to Rapin Newkirk; Elizabeth and Nixon are
single and at home.

Eli Foster married Miss Harriet Armstrong in
August, 1855. Mrs. Foster is the daughter of
Cummings and Elizabeth (Goodman) Armstrong.
Her parents were natives of Kentucky, but subse-
quently moved to Indiana, where their daughter
Harriet was born, Sept. 2, 1831, in Clark County.
Mr. Armstrong was a farmer, and passed the clos-
ing years of his life in the latter-named State,
where his death occurred about forty years ago.
He left a family of five children — Harriet, Thomas,
Elizabeth, Rebecca and James.

In 1858 Mr. 'Foster carne to Illinois with his
young wife. The only capital that he possessed ex-
isted in his shrewd business qualifications, energy
and enterprise, and through the exercise of these,
aided by the good judgment and housewifely skill
of a devoted wife, he has acquired a fine property,
and is numbered among the wealthy men of the

i

COLES COUNTY.

239

township. He carries on an extensive business in
stock-raising, and his residence and farm buildings
are commodious and well appointed.

Mr. and Mrs. Foster have had a family of seven
children : Horace B. died at the age of four years;
Ida 15. is now Mrs. VanVoorhees; William K.,
Homer L., Rosina, and two who died in infancy.
Mr. Foster, with his wife and daughters, has been a
member of the Christian Church for many years, in
which they are all earnest workers. lie is interested
in educational affairs, and has held the ottice of
School Trustee.

— •>— ^t —i :

<ji? AMES II. CLARK, who is engaged in rcal-
estate and loan transactions, including in-
vestment securities, is a representative busi-
ness man of Mattoon, where he has been
located since the spring of 1859. He first drew
breath in Putnam County, I ml., Feb. 2G, 1836, and
is the son of John and Eliza (Newman) Clark,
natives of Virginia. They removed with their
parents to Kentucky early in life, and after roach-
ing manhood John Clark engaged extensively in
farming, remaining in the Blue Grass regions until
1 s-28. He then sold out and emigrated to Putnam
County, Ind., where he occupied himself as before
until the fall of 1868, when he sold out there and
came to Mattoon, and now lives with his son,
Frank T. Both parents were members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother de-
parted this life in January, 1885, going to her rest
sustained by the hope and faith which had been her
stay and support through a long and worthy life.
The house of John Clark and his wife had often
served as a place of worship in the early days, and
the services were not infrequently conducted by
Bishops Simpson, Ames and Bowman, who after-
ward became famous in connection with this
Church. Bishop Bowman was a close friend of the
family, and often visited them in Indiana. John
Clark was one of the first men to subscribe $100
for a scholarship in Greencastle College, lie was
a man of great force of character and delighted in

encouraging the establishment and maintenance of
educational and religions institutions.

The household circle of John Clark and his wife
was -completed by the birth of ten children, of
whom six are now living, and recorded as follows:
Alexander N. is carrying on merchandising at
Clayton, Ind. ; Joseph H. is engaged in buying and
selling real-estate at Indianapolis; he was formerly
a resident of Mattoon and organized the National
Bank there, of which he was President for a num-
ber of years; James H., of our sketch, was the
third son; Elijah M., a resident of Mattoon, is
traveling for the firm of Roberts <k Allison, of In-
dianapolis; Margaret E., the wife of J. Harrison, is
the mother of one child, a daughter, Katie; Frank
T. is living in Mattoon.

The subject of this biography received his early
education in the log school-house among the tim-
ber of Putnam County, Ind. The temple of learn-
ing was a rude structure with puncheon floor and
home-made seats and desks. For the window a
log was left out and the aperture filled with glass,
which was considered quite stylish and an improve-
ment upon greased paper, which was often used in
those days. The school was conducted mainly in
the winter season, and our subject attended from
two to four mouths each year until twenty-two
years old. He made good use of his opportunities,
however, and at the expiration of this time entered
Greencastle College, where he pursued a thorough
course of study for two years. He located in Mat-
toon in 1859, and engaged first in general mer-
chandising, in which he was occupied until 1869.
Being then appointed Postmaster by President
Grant, he sold out his stock of goods and entered
upon the duties of his office, which he held for a
period of sixteen years. Upon the change of ad-
ministration he found it convenient to withdraw
and engaged in his present business.

Mr. Clark was married in Forest Port, Oneida
Co.,N. Y., in the spring of 1864, to Miss Samautha
Tyler, a native of said county. She is the daugh-
ter of Amos and Elizabeth (Lawtou) Tyler, natives
of Vermont and New York respectively. Her
father was a successful farmer of the Green Mount-
ain State, and both parents are now deceased
Our subject and his wife have no children. Their

t

240

COLES COUNTY.

pleasant and attractive home is located at No. ;V.)
Essex street, and they enjoy the friendship of the
best people of Mattoon. Mr. Clark, politically, is
a straight Republican, a member of the Masonic
fraternity, and he and his estimable lad}- are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

eOMMODORE D. GREEN, a prosperous
young farmer and stock-grower of Ashmore
Township, is a native of the township where
he now lives, and was born March 2, 1861. He is
characterized by that energ3' of character so essen-
tial to success, and although comparatively young
in years, has already attained to a good position
among the substantial farmers and business men of
Coles County. He comes from a good family, his
parents being John and Mary T. (Patenger) Green,
natives of Ohio. The former. was born in 1820,
and the latter in 1835, and they became residents
of this county in 1860. Mr. Green, who is now
well advanced in years, 'is a large property-holder
in this section, and occupies one of the most im-
posing homesteads in Ashmore Township. It is
finely located on section 5, and includes a hand-
some and commodious residence with barns, out-
buildings, valuable machinery and stock, and every-
thing appertaining to the modern country estate.
The parents of our subject are both members iu
good standing of the Christian Church, and John
Green is one of the stanchest adherents of the Re-
publican party. Their children are, William S.,
who* married Miss Urmina Goble; Granville D.,
/who married Miss Prudence C. Mack; Commodore
D., of our sketch; Seymour, Walter S., Mayer,
Norman, Earnest, Otis and Oris; the latter are
twins.

The subject of our sketch remained under the
home roof during his childhood and youth, and
gained a good insight into farming and business
transactions. He began early in life to lay his
plans for the future, and when twenty-two years of
age formed domestic ties by his marriage with
Miss Mary Miller, their wedding taking place Dec.
20, 1883. Mrs. Green was born in Ohio, in 1864,
and is the daughter of Christian and Mary (Shift-

(Mihullem) Miller, of German descent and parentage.
They emigrated from the Fatherland in the spring of
I860, and two years later took up their abode in
Ashmore Township, where the father of Mrs. Green
engaged in farming and milling. Their children,
six in number, were named respectively, Amel,
Christian, George, Mary, Emma and Lenora. •

The one child of Commodore D. and Mary
Green is a daughter, Belva, who was born Oct. 18,
4884. The farm of Mr. Green is stocked with
good grades of horses and cattle, and everything
about the place is neatly kept and in good order.
Politically, he follows in the footsteps of his father,
giving his support to Republican principles, and is
a rising young citizen of whom the community ex-
pects much in the future.

fif/ ESSE K. ELLIS, located on section 7, North
Okavv Township, commenced many years
ago to build up a .homestead, succeeded
admirably with his first plans, and is now
spending his declining years in ease and quiet, the
farm being carried on by his sons, who are enter-
prising and industrious men, and are keeping up
its reputation as did their father before them.

Our subject was reared to farming pursuits, and
began life iu Lincoln County, Tenn., on the 20th of
February, 1817. He received a good education in
the common schools, talcing readily to his books,
and remained a member of his father's household
until twenty-three years of age. After leaving
home he traced his steps to this county, where he
commenced working by the month. He was thus
content to " paddle his own canoe," and in due
time received from his father a deed to 200 acres
of land, which is now included in the Ellis home-
stead. Upon this he operated successfully with the
result already indicated.

When iu his thirtieth year Jesse K. Ellis was
united in marriage with Miss Nancy Fuller, the
wedding taking place at the home of the bride in
North Okaw Township, Aug. 20, 1846. Mrs. Ellis
was born in Russell County, Va.. Dec. 23, 1822,
and is the daughter of Henry and Jennie (Jesse)
Fuller, natives of South Carolina. They emigrated

I

'4

COLES COUNTY.

241

to'Virginia after their marriage and subsequently,
in the fall of 1834, came to this county and took
up their residence on a- farm in North Okaw Town-
ship, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
Mr. Ellis after his marriage invested his surplus
capital in additional land, which he divided among
his children, reserving to himself the home farm of
120 acres. This is highly cultivated and supplied
with good buildings, neat and substantial fences,
and all the farm machinery required by the modern
agriculturist.

Mr. Ellis has been prominent in township affairs,
.and in the fall of 1 857 was elected Justice of the
Peace, which oflice, with the exception of two and
one-half years, he has held to the present time.
He was Collector for four years and School Treas-
urer fifteen years. He cast his first presidential
vote for Martin Van Buren, and since exercising
the right of suffrage, has been an uncompromising
Democrat. His estimable wife is a highly respected
lady and a member in good standing of the
Separate Baptist Church. The ten children born
to this worthy pair are recorded as follows :
James W., born May 2, 1847, married Miss Helen
Button and is farming in N. Okaw Township; Eliza-
beth J., born May 15, 1849, is the wife of Jackson
Hearn, and is a resident of Mattoon; Henry W.,
born Jan. 27, 1851, resides with his parents;
William, born Feb, -8, 1852, married Miss Amanda
Blythe, and is employed in the pottery business in
Mattoon; Samuel F., born Dec. 18. 1853, is
clerking for his brother, a grocer in Mattoon;
Stephen D., born Sept. 16, 1855. married Mi>s
Rosa J. Fuller, and is engaged on the street car
line at St. Louis, Mo.; Mary H., born Sept. 16,
1857, is the wife of John Votaw, who is farming
in Osage County, Kan. ; Willis C., horn' Nov. 23,
1859, married Miss Katie J.- Luce, and is assisting
in the management of the farm; David J., born
Dec. 25, 1861, married Miss Amanda Luce, and is
living at Mattoon; Nancy I., born May 10, ISfii;,
died in infancy.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, James
Ellis by name, is supposed to have been born in
New Jersey. It is certain at least that he passed
his early years there and subsequently removed to
Jefferson County. Tenn., and afterward to Lincoln

County, which is now a part of Moore County,
where he spent the remainder of his days. He was
married in early manhood to Miss Sarah Riggs,
who also died in Tennessee. Their seven children
were named respectively, Jesse, William, Hulda
N., Elizabeth, Mary, Delilah and James. Delilah
died when about twenty years of age, but the
others reached years of maturity, married and
reared families of their own. All are now deceased.
Mary, the wife of James Curry, together with her
husband, died in this county. William died in
Shelby County, this State, and James in Tennessee.
Grandfather Ellis became a large land-owner in
Tennessee, and was engaged in the pursuit of
agriculture his entire life.

Jesse Ellis, the father of our subject, was born
in Jefferson County, Tenn., in 1784. He received
a limited education and remained under the paren-
tal roof until his. marriage. The maiden of his
choice was Miss Jennie Elliott, a native of his
own county, and who became his wife in 1804.
She was born in October, 1782. After their mar-
riage they continued on a farm in Jefferson
County for about three years, and then Mr. Ellis
entered a tract of land in Lincoln County, upon
which he operated until March, 1836. He then
sold out, and coming North entered land in what
was Shelby but is now Moultrie County, 111., and
proceeded with its improvement and cultivation
until the fall of 1853, when his earthly labors ended.
Mrs. Jennie Ellis had died in the fall of 1839.
She was a member of the old-school Baptist
Church, and was the mother of the following-
named children: James, John, William, Clisbe,
Margaret, Pleasant M., Wiley C.. Jesse K., and
Willis H. (deceased). Of this family but three
are living.

The second wife of Jesse Ellis, Sr., was Mrs.
Isabel (Elliott) Curry, the sister of his first wife.
She only lived about three years after her marriage.
I Her only child was a daughter named Sarah Min-
erva, now the wife of William A. Hendricks. The
third wife of Mr. Ellis was Mrs Nancy (Chowning)
Owens. She died in 1840, and he was then mar-
ried to Mrs. Maria (Curry) Bennett, in 1S47. Of
this marriage there were born five children, two of
whom died in infancy. There are living two sons

T

242

COLES COUNTY.

and a daughter, namely, Joseph B., married, and a
practicing physician in Carbondale, Kan.; Mary
A., a resident of Tennessee, and Nathan C., whojs
married and farming in North Okaw Township,' this
county.

ARTIN FLENNER, a well-known and
highly respected citizen of Ashmore Town-
ship, has a good farm of 200 acres on sec-
tion 28, and is one of the important fac-
tors in the agricultural interests of Central Illi-
nois. He comes of an excellent family, being the
youngest son of Isaac and Hopy A. (Holl ings-
worth) Flenner. Isaac Flenner was born in Butler
County, Feb. 25, 1825, and was the son of Daniel
and Hannah (Andrews) Flenner, natives respect-
ively of Maryland and Ohio, the latter a descend-
ant of an old Pennsylvania family. Daniel Flen-
ner emigrated from his native State to Ohio in
ISO!), during its early settlement. He served in
the War of 1812, and was a prominent citizen,
holding many offices of trust in his county.

Isaac Flenner was reared in his native State, and
came to Central Illinois in 1856, his father also
coming to Clark County at the same time. The
former purchased 200 acres of land and engaged
quite extensively in farming and stock-raising,
making a specialty of thoroughbred Short-horn cat-
tle and Berkshire hogs. He built up one of the
finest homesteads in Coles Comity, and being a man
of rare intelligence and cultivated tastes, erected a
beautiful residence and surrounded it with evergreen
shrubbery and other choice trees. In the rear was
one of the finest fruit orchards in that section and
the homestead, standing upon a rise of ground, com^
manded a fine view of the surrounding country.
After a life of usefulness and honor, during which
by his upright course and kindly disposition he had
made hosts of friends, Isaac Flenner was gathered
home to his fathers on the 6th of June, 1886,
mourned by his family and the entire community.
He was a consistent member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church and contributed liberal!}- and cheer-
fully to every enterprise calculated for the moral

and intellectual advancement of the people alxjut
him.

Isaac Flenner was first married, Sept. 30, 1847,
to Miss Rachel A. Hughes, who was a native of
Maryland, but removed with her parents in early
childhood to Butler County, Ohio. Of her union
with Isaac Flenner there were born two children, of
whom only one, Albert W., is living. This lady
died in 1852, in Ohio. The second wife of Mr.
Flenner was a native of Illinois, and was married
to him on the 12th of January, 1858. The one
child of this union was Martin, of our sketch. Mrs.
Flenner is still living and continues on the home-
stead which is now managed by her son, our subject.
The remains of Isaac Flenner were laid to rest in
the cemetery at Ashmore, and a fine monument
erected by his wife and son marks the spot where
rests all that is mortal of the kind husband and
father, and the man who in all the walks of life was
faithful to his duties. Mr. V. was a stanch Repub-
lican, politically, and at the time of his death Vice
President of Coles County Agricultural Association.

Martin Flenner was born on the homestead which
he now occupies, Jan. 27, 1859. He received a
good education, and earl}' in life was made ac-
quainted with th§ various employments of the farm,
being an apt scholar under the excellent instruction
of his father. Since the death of the latter he has
kept up the reputation of the estate in a worthy
manner, and for years has cheerfully labored with
his parents to build uf> and beautify the homestead.
He has been the worthy son of most excellent par-
ents, and has profited well from his early teachings
and the example so constantly set before him.

ffi OHN G. CRAWFORD, formerly a prosperous
farmer and stock-raiser of East Oakland
Township, is spending his latter days in ease
and retirement in the village, where he has
a fine residence and two acres of land, and is sur-
rounded by all the comforts of life. He has been
a resident of this county since I860, and has nearly
all his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. His
property includes his home in Oakland and 700 acres

COLES COUNTY.

2-13

of valuable land in the .township, the hitter compris-
ing- a fine farm which is now operated by tenants,
and from which the owner receives a handsome in-
come.' lie is a fine representative of the thrifty and
prosperous element of Central Illinois, and lias
contributed his full share toward bringing it to its
present condition.

The early home of our subject was in Martins-
ville, Ind., where his birth took place on the farm
of his father, James Crawford, Aug. 10, 1837. His
mother, Delilah (Gray) Crawford, a native of Penn-
sylvania, was born June 10, 1802, and is still living,
being eighty-five years of age. James Crawford
was born Jan. IS, 171)8, on the James River in Vir-
ginia, and departed this life at his home in Wash-
ington County, Ind., on the 12th of April, 1872.
The parents were married in the latter-named
county in 1822, and early in life became members
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, in which
the father was an Elder at Marti nsvi lie for many
years. He was a man ol intelligence and exerted
much influence in the local and political affairs of
his adopted State. He was identified with the Whig
party until it was abandoned, and then cordially
endorsed the principles of the Republicans.

The children of James and Delilah Crawford are
as follows: William, who married Miss Sophia Day,
died a year later at his home in Martinsville, Ind. ;
George and James A. are also deceased ; Mary is
the wife of William R. Harrison, and Sarah A., the
wife of George W. Cramer, both residents of Mar-
tinsville, Ind. ; Joseph B. and Robert H. are de-
ceased. The latter during the late war enlisted in
the 72d Indiana Infantry, in which he served two
years and until the close, and afterward enlisted in
the United States Regulars. His regiment was
stationed at Monroe, La., where he died in August,
1868.

The subject of this biography spent his boyhood
and youth after the manner of most country boys,,
and after reaching his majority and laying his plans
for the future, was united in marriage with Mis.-
Virginia Valodin, the wedding taking place in Ports-
mouth, Ohio, on the 10th of January, 1806. This
lady was born in ?sTew Madrid. Mo., Nov. 2, 1838,
and died at the home of her husband in Oakland
Township, July 30, 1882, after being ill with con-

sumption one year. Her two children, were John
F., born Aug. 9, 1874, and Roscoe V., Aug. 11,
1881. Mrs. Crawford was a lady of deep piety, and
united with the Methodist Episcopal Church when
a young girl fourteen years of age. Her parents
were Frank and Temperance (Burt) Valodin, the
former a native of Paris, France. The mother was
born in Ohio and both were connected with the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. V. died in New
Orleans in the spring of 1839.

Mr. Crawford came first to Illinois in 1 860, and
purchased land in Sergeant Township, Douglas
County, where he carried on farming eight years,
and thence removed- to this county. He was re-
markably successful in his agricultural operations,
and devoted much attention to the raising of fine
stock. He identified himself with the Masonic fra-
ternity in 1872, and is also a member of the I. O.
O. F. He united with the Methodist Episcopal
Church in 1870, and politically is a Republican of
the first water. During the war he was the stanch
enemy of rebellion and secession, and although not
actively engaged in the field, contributed of his
means and influence to the encouragement of the
Union sentiment. He served as Supervisor of Oak-
laud Township, and has in all respects fulfilled tile
obligations of a good man and worthy citizen.

ENRIE CHAMBERS, a gentleman in the
prime of life and in the midst of his useful-
ness, is numbered among the worthy resi-
dents of Morgan Township, where he has
built up a good homestead on sec. 19, and has fully
kept pace with his neighbors in thrift and enter-
prise, tilling the soil and marketing annually some
of the choicest products of the Prairie State. Our
subject has spent the greater part of his life in this
county, having been born and reared in Charleston.
His birth took place Sept. 16, 1842. His parents,
Thomas G. and Olivia (Monroe) Chambers, came
to Central Illinois in 1838, and for nearly fifty
years have watched with interest and satisfaction
the development and growth of the Prairie State.
They experienced all the hardships and vicissitudes
of pioneer life and have reaped their reward in the

I

244

COLES COUNTY.

accumulation of a competency and the profound
respect and confidence of all who know them. They
are residing in Charleston. •

The father of our subject was born in Harrison
County, Ky., Jan. '2'2, 181 G. and is the son of James
and Sallie (Rankin) Chambers, who descended re-
spectively from Irish and Scottish ancestry. He
emigrated from his native State in about 1838, and
after locating in Charleston, this county, was mar-
ried to Miss Monroe, March 12, 1840. Of this
union there were born eleven children : Alice, the
eldest, is the wife of J. A. Parker, a farmer of
Charleston Township; Henrie, of our sketch, is the
second child; John was married and died in about
1869; Lucy died in infancy; Belle is the wife of
D. II. Calvert, a druggist of Charleston, and they
have one child ; George R. is a merchant at Charles-
ton, and the father of three children ; Maggie is the
wife of Charles Rickets, who is employed in the
Census Department at Washington, D. C.; Nannie
married W. E. Hill, who is engaged in the grocery
trade at Charleston; William M. is a resident of the
latter-named place; Alfred is study ing law; Thomas
G. died in 1874.

Our subject spent his childhood and youth under
the parental roof, pursuing his primary studies in
the schools of Charleston, and completed his edu-
cation at Jacksonville, 111. The next important
step in his life was his marriage, Dec. 31, 1867,
with Miss Clara R. Conditt, the adopted daughter
of Mrs. M. G. Braddock, formerly of Charleston,
but now of Humbolt Township. Mr. and Mrs.
Chambers became the parents of six children,
namely: Edwin, born Nov. 19, 1868. and now at
home with his parents; Mary E., born June 12,
1871, and who died Feb. 25. 1872; Francis B., born
Nov. 3, 1872, and died July 25, 1874; Olivia B.,
born Dec. 5, 1874, at home with her parents; Nan-
nie May, born June 21, 1877, and Ralph M., Jan. 1,
1880.

In 1872 Mr. Chambersjnirchased 100 acres of
his present farm, and afterward added twenty acres.
He is engaged to a considerable extent in the
breeding of graded stock, including Clydesdale
horses and Durham cattle, and he carries on gen-
eral farming. He built his present residence in
about 1874. The house which first stood on the

place was burned in 1874, together with most of
its contents. Our subject and the various members
of his family are connected with Salem Baptist
Church, of which Mr. C. has been a member for
the last twelve years, and his estimable wife for
twenty-three years. He is a stockholder in the
Coles County Agricultural Fair Grounds, and has
been identified with many of the enterprises calcu-
lated to advance the prosperity of the county.

During the late war, Mr. Chambers fulfilled
faithfully the duties of a loyal citizen by proffering
his services for the preservation of the Union, en-
listing in Co. C, 54th 111. Vol. Inf., in the fall of
1861, and enduring the vicissitudes of a soldier's
life for a space of three years and eleven months.
He marched by the side of his comrades over the
greater part of the South, and met the enemy in
the siege of Vicksburg, at the capture of Little
Rock, Ark., and in many other important battles of
the war. He went out under the command of Col.
Harris and came back with the troops of Col.
Mitchell, now Warden of the State Penitentiary at
Chester.

OHN W. GWIN, the proprietor of a good
farm on section 31, Hutton Township, has
been favorably known to the people of this
locality since the spring of 1877. He then
commenced as a young man to build up his present
homestead, in which he has succeeded admirably,
and is also carrying on a good business at black-
smithing in the shop erected on his land. He has
a fine family, a comfortable home, and enjoys the
esteem and respect of his neighbors.

Our subject spent his early 3'ears in Highland
County, Va., where his birth took place Aug. 7,
1853. His parents, John and Margaret (Friel)
Gwin, were natives of Bath County, Va., and after
their marriage continued on a farm in their native
State until 1871, when they removed with their
family to this county and located in Hutton Town-
ship, where they have since resided. The parental
household included nine children: Rhoda A., now
deceased ; Charles II., John W. ; Luella S., deceased ;
James, George II., Warwick II., Nannie J. and

f

COLES COUNTY.

247

Elizabeth I. With the exception of the youngest
daughter :ill married and had families.

John W. Gwin during his youth and childhood
attended the subscription schools of his native
county, and when a youth of seventeen migrated
northwest, and coining to this county engaged on
a farm by the month and afterward rented land, in
the meantime saving what he could of his earnings
until he was enabled to purchase eighty acres on
section 1. where he now resides. He was married,
Oct. 15, 1871, to Miss Martha I., daughter of
Redick and .Susan (Parker) Cartwright, who was
born in Coles County, March 1, 1854. Her father
was a native of South Carolina, and her mother of
Illinois. The latter is still living, but the former
is deceased. Mr. Gwin after his marriage operated
the farm of his father-in-law until 1877. Of his
union with Miss Cartwright there have been six
children, namely, Sarah A., who was born July 30,
1873, and died August 24 of the same year;
Eddie O., born Jan. 25, 1875, and died Sept. 7,
1878; Mary L., born Jan. 14, 1876; Pleasant E.,
burn April 13, 1878, and died Sept. 3, 1879;Zoa
Aner was born Jan. 20, 1880, and Smith E., May
24, 1883. Mr. Gwin has served as Constable of
his township three years, and belongs to the I. O.
R. M., Minneliaha Tribe No. 19, at Ashrnore.
Mrs. Gwin is a member of the United Brethren
Church.

The paternal grandfather of uur subject, Robert
(<win by name, was a native of Virginia, where he
remained during his childhood and youth, and
where he was married to Miss Sarah Lookridge,
also a native of the Old Dominion. Their eight
children were Joseph, Andrew; Samuel, the only
one surviving; Robert, Jane, Margaret, Molly and
William. His first wife died in middle life, and he
was then married to Miss Betsey McCraig, of Vir-
ginia, who became the mother of six children,
namely, Sarah, Renwick, Catherine, David, Black-
burn and John. The youngest son and David are
the only children living of this marriage. Grand-
father Gwin died in Virginia in about 1840. His
last wife survived him several years.

The father of our subject was the youngest child
of his father's second marriage, and was born in
Bath County, which is now a part of Highland

County, Va., Ma}' 1, 1827. He was bred to farm
life and received a limited education. After the
death of his father he remained on the homestead
with his mother during her lifetime, both parents
having, died before he was twenty years of age.
Soon after reaching his majority he was united in
marriage with Miss Margaret Eriel, the wedding
taking place Dec. 14, 1848. Mrs. Gwin was a
native of the same county as her husband, and was
born Nov. 16, 1826. Her parents, William and
Jane (Stewart) Eriel, were also natives of Bath
County. Her father died in 1843, when fifty-seven
years of age, and the mother, who was born Jan. 1 ,
1796, survived him for a period of thirty-three
years, her death taking place in Upshnr County,
W. Va., March 16, 1876. John Gwin after his
marriage continued farming in his native State un-
til becoming a resident of Putnam Township, this
county, to which he removed in 1871. Here he
has carried on agriculture successfully and is num-
bered among the highly respected citizens of Coles
County.

The father of Mrs-. Gwin of our sketch, was born
in South Carolina, Sept. 25, 1793, and was three
times married. His last wife was formerly Miss
Susan Parker, a native of this State, born Jan. 1,
1823. She is still a widow, and lives with her
brother, John Parker, in North Okaw Township.
Of her union with Redick Cartwright there were
born six children, namely, Rachel H., who died in
infancy; Martha I., the wife of our subject; Ed-
mund, a resident of North Okaw Township; Willis
B., Amanda M. and Maudilla. The three youngest
died in infancy.

TERLING P. CURTIS, senior member of
the firm of Curtis & Reel, who are success -
I. fully engaged in general merchandising at
Oakland, is well known to people of the
village, as he has lived here all his life, and this also
was his birthplace. He was born June 19, 1858,
and is the son of Philander and Elizabeth (Mod-
rell) Curtis, natives respectively of Ohio and Ken-
tucky. Philander Curtis was born in Somerset
County in October, 1825, came to Illinois when a

t

f

248

COLES COFNTY.

small hoy and resided in Coles County : he followed
fanning nearly all his life. He was a good man in
even sense of tlif word, and a consistent member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Although
quiet and unobtrusive in his life, mixing but little
in public matters, he uniformly voted with the
Republican party, and was a stanch believer in its
principles. He served in the Civil War, and after
that spent his declining years in Oakland, this State.
and rested from his earthly labors in February,
1879.

The mother of our subject was born Sept. 12,
IM'.'i. the same year as her husband, and died in
.Inly, 1*711, six months after his decease. She also
was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Of their six children the record is as fol-
lows: Carlos C. married Miss Abigail Fickett, and
is a resident of Wellington, Kan.; Belle J. is the
wife of A. N. Chapman, of Oakland: Catherine
married E. C'. Brown, of Tuscola. 111., who died
leaving two children: her second husband was E.
A. 1'earce, and thev reside in Lamont, 111. Orcelia
was married in Iowa to John Glasburuer, who died
leaving one child, and she then married Dr. Elmer
Booth, of Waynetown, Incl. ; Walter A. married
.Miss Estella Strange, and lives in Oakland, 111.;
Sterling P.. of our sketch, married Miss Susan
Taber. in August, 1879.

Mr. Curtis was educated in the common schools
and worked on the farm part of the time until four-
teen years of age. He then began clerking in a
store, and was variously employed until 1881, when
he became a member of the firm of Lippincott &
Curtis, which continued until January. ls*(l. and
our subject then became associated with Mr. Reel.

The firm of Curtis <k Reel carries a stock of dry-
goods, boots and shoes, and everything pertaining
to the needs of a family either in the town or
country. The}' occupy two large storerooms, a
part of which is devoted to drugs and groceries,
and probably transact the largest amount of busi-
nc»s of any tirm of the kind in the county, their
sales averaging annually about $50, 000. They are
live business men. and valued members of the com-
munity. Contributing their full share toward its
trade interest* and its progress and advancement
morally and intellectually.

The wife of our subject was born in Edgar
County, in March. 1 S."»S. and is the daughter of
James C. and Hester A. (.Norton) Taber. natives
respect! velv of Indiana. Of her marriage with
Mr. Curtis there has been one child, a sou. Herbert,
who was born in March, issl. ami died in July
following. Mr. Curtis is a member in good stand-
ing <>f the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has
taken much interest in Sunday-school work, having
officiated as Superintendent for some years. He
has also served as Alderman, and upon becoming
of suitable age identified himself decidedly with
the Republican parly. He is one of the valued and
enterprising young citizens of Oakland, from whom
much is expected in the future.

LEXANDER TINCH. This self-made man
and independent agriculturist of Hum bolt
Township, is the possessor of a snug farm
of seventy-nine acres under a fine state of
cultivation, with good buildings and all the appur-
tenances of a first-class country estate. He com-
menced life in a humble manner, receiving his
education in a log school-house in Tennessee, and
by the exercise alone of his own industry and -reso-
lution, has attained to a good position, socially and
financially, among his fellow-men.

Mr. Tiuch first drew breath near the city of
Knoxville, Tenn., on the ICth of February. l*'2.~>.
It is hardly r.eces>ary to state that Knoxville. sixty
years ago. was scarcely to be compared with the
present town, which has shice gained a national
reputation. The parents of our subject, George
and Mary (Norman) Tiuch, were natives respect-
ively ot Virginia and South Carolina. They spent
the greater part of their lives in Tennessee. They
are now deceased and buried near Kuoxville.

Mr. Tinch remained a resident of his native
State until 180-J. in the meantime having been
married, and then removed North to Indiana.
Three years later he came to this county, and (irst
purchased forty acres of laud, which is included in
his present homestead. To this -he afterward
added thirty-nine acres, and has carefully culti-
\ated the entire area, utili/.ing every rod and sut-

*-•

t

Cdl.KS COUNTY.

249

fi-ring untiling to go t" waste. Hi- -tuck and
machinery are of tirst-elass description and well
cured for. and the farm in till its departments incli-
CateS tin- thrift :tnd industry of it- pioprietor.

The first wife of our Miliject was in her girlhood
Mi-- Isabel Davis, to whom lie was married in
Tennessee in earlv manhood, and who became the
motlier of six children, namely, Josiah A., Richard,
Levi, Asia, Chesle}- and Erie. Mrs. Isabel Tinch
departed this life Feb. 2C. isiil. Mr. Tinch was
the second time married, June 1, 1804, to Miss
MartUa .Jones, of Tennessee, and their seven chil-
dren were : Ettie, burn May •>'.). |sc,7: Nancy.
June 1<>. isini; .Julian, Aug. 2!». 1X71 ; Nettie, Feb.
23, 1873: Rhoda. .Ian. 21, 1875; James. June 17,
l*7i'>:and Kinma, Oct. 1, 18*:!. Ettie was married
to Allen Bensley, Dec. l(i, IKX.'i: they have one
ehilil — Franklin Alexander, who was born .bin.
30, l-s>7.

During the progress of the late war Mr. Tinch
enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. K, 22d Ind. Vol.
Inf., serving one vear and to the close. He is a j
Republican of the first water, and never had any
sympathy with rebels or secessionists. Mr. and ,
Mr-. T. are members and attendants of the Baptist
Church.

JOHN S. GOOD YEAR. County Clerk, became
a resident of Charleston in 1887, and has
been incumbent of his present oilice since
December, 1886. His hi-tory is one of re-
markable interest, illustrating the career of a bright
and ambitions tem[>erainent, which led its pos-e--or.
early in life to attempt that which many older men
would have shrunk from as impossible.

Mr. Goodyear was born in the city of St. Louis.
Mo., June 27, 1844, and is the son of Antoine and
Catherine A. (Shibley) Goodyear, natives respect-
ivelv of France and Virginia. Our .-ubject, being
the first grandchild of John and HIi/.a .shibley. was
taken bv them at an early age, and brought to this
State, where he wa- reared on a farm and received

a L' 1 education, completing hi- studies in the

academy at Winchester. At the outbreak of the
war. in I sill, he was one of the first to offer his
i services in behalf of the I'liioii. and attempted to

enlist in the I 1th Illinois Infantry. He was re-
jected, however, on account of his youth, but, man-
aged to follow his grandfather who was a sutler,
and whenever there wa- any prospect of a battle
young John would sei/e a gun and go out with the
14th into battle, where he was permitted to do
guard duty and go with the soldiers foraging. In
this manner he succeeded in being present at the
siege and capture of Vickshurg. and took great
pleasure in drawing his gun on the enemy, stand-
ing guard and gathering in provisions. His grand-
father finally disposed of the ship which hud car-
ried his stores as a sutler, and returned home in
the summer of 1803.

Our subject, however, was not prepared to be-
come a civilian, and once more attempted to eu-
list, this time with success, becoming a member of
Co. F, 33(1 III. Vol. Inf., in March, 1HC4, and re-
mained thereafter in service until the close of tin-
war. He formed one of the guard posted on the
route from New Orleans to Brazier City, and was
afterward at the capture of Spanish Fort, the city
of Mobile, jFt. Illakesley, Montgomery, and Selma,
Ala. The war had now practically ended, and our
hero proudly marched with his comrades along the
streets of Springfield, 111., where lie was paid off
and received his honorable discharge, Dec. 7. 1865.

Upon returning from the army Mr. Goodyear
worked at the tinner's trade in Elkhart, 111., for
about six months, after which he olliciated as clerk
in a dry-goods store until ISiI.x. Soon afterward
he crossed the Mississippi, and was similarly occu-
pied in a store at Humboldt, Kan., in which he
subsequently purchased an interest, but continued
his connection with the business only about eight
months. Afterward he engaged in the sale of
books and stationery until 1873, then came hark to
Illinois, locating for a time at Winchester. After
another trip to Kansas, we find him in Columbus.
Ohio, where he was engaged in clerking until the
spring of 1*71. and then returning to Winchester,
taught school until the following spring. He
clerked awhile at .Mattoon. and then purchased a
book-st'ire with which he occupied him-elt until
his election to his present otlice. In the meantime
he had served as City Clerk of Mattoon four terms
and was Town Clerk five years. He represented

*-»^H

250

COLES COUNTY.

the township in the County Board of Supervisors
one year, which office, with that of City Clerk, he
resigned to enter upon his duties as County Clerk.
He has been well and favorably known throughout
the county for many years, and in locating in
Charleston only took up his residence among his
old friends.

Mr. Goodyear was married, on the 6th of No-
vember, 1868, to Miss Mary E., daughter of Einan-
uel and Mary Poston, of Ohio. Of this union
there has been born one child, a daughter, Maude
K. Our subject's maternal grandfather was a na-
tive of Amsterdam, Holland, where his birth took
place April 18, 1796. He emigrated to America
with his parents at an early age. They located in
New York City, and when eighteen years of age
their son removed to Charleston, 8. C.. and thence
to Churlottesville, Va., where he married Miss Eliza
Bacenstowe. After marriage, they located at Chil-
licothe, Ohio, afterward removing to Cincinnati,
and from there to St. Louis in April, 1833, where
they remained for twelve years following.

Mr. Shibley became a resident of Winchester,
III., in 1847. At the breaking out of the war, in
1861, he went as a sutler with the 14th Illinois In-
fantry, until the following jrear, when he returned,
and moving into the city, practically abandoned
active labor, and lived retired until his decease,
Sept. 20, 1881. His wife, the grandmother of Mr.
G., died in December, 1876.

The mother of Mr. Goodyear died at the resi-
dence of the family in Winchester, 111., in January,
1887, when about fifty-two-years of age. Mr. 'and
Mrs. Goodyear are members of the Presbyterian
Church. Politically, Mr. G. is a pronounced Re-
publican, and socially is a member of the G. A. K.
and various other orders.

J"jOHN HILDRETH, who for the past ten
I years has been identified with the farming
I interests of Charleston Township, occupies a
' good homestead located on section 6. He
is the owner of 400 broad acres, under a fine' Mate
of cultivation, stocked with excellent grades of

domestic animals and supplied with good buildings
and all the other appurtenances of a first-class coun-
try estate.

The earlv years of our subject were spent in Suf-
folk County, L. I., where his birth took place Jan.
ID, 18'23. His paternal grandfather. John llildreth,
was a sea captain, and his father, Nathan llildreth,
also followed a seafaring life, being commander of
a whaling-vessel for many years. The mother of
our subject, who in her girlhood was Miss Katnra
Payne, was also born in Suffolk County, and by
her marriage with Nathan llildreth became the
mother of six children: Maria, the wife of Watson
Payne; Henry is living in Wisconsin: Phebe, de-
ceased ; John, of our sketch, was the fourth child :
Albert, a sea captain, died in the Sandwich Islands;
Ann is also deceased.

The parents of John Hildreth died when he was
I but a boy and he was left dependent upon his own
; resources. He possessed much of his father's love
of the water and when sixteen years of age em-
barked as a sailor and for five years crossed to and
fro over the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans on mer-
chant and whaling vessels, visiting the ports of
Japan and many islands in the Pacific Ocean. Af-
ter attaining his majority he quit the sea and joined
some of his brothers and sisters who had married
and located in Wayne County, N. Y. He was
afterward engaged at farm labor for a time, and
finally going into Onondaga County, learned the
trade of a carpenter, which he followed several
years, when he again resumed agricultural pursuits.
In 1872 he went up into Green Lake County, U'is.,
where he remained most of the time until 1877.
In the meantime he had also staid considerably
with friends in this county, and in 1877 settled
here permanently upon a part of the land which
he now occupies. His first purchase consisted of
185 acres, and he industriously cultivated the soil,
adding such improvements as his means would
allow and invested his surplus capital in more land.
Of late years he has been remarkably prosperous,
and is numbered among the wealthy and influential
agriculturists of Central Illinois.

The wife of our subject, who has been his close
counselor and friend for more than thirty years,
was in her girlhood Mi*s Cordelia Amidon, a

COLES COUNTY.

251

native of Onondaga, N. Y.. and the daughter of
Cheny and Polly (Ruuels) Aniidon. Their wed-
ding took place in the spring of 1854, and they
went to housekeeping on the farm in New York.
The household was in due time enlarged liy the
birth of six children, two of whom died in child-
hood and four are now living. The latter are:
Lura, the wife of Charles Gramslj; Albert; Fannie,
the wife of John Snyder, and Henry. Mr. Hil-
dreth is Republican in politics and in all respects
is fulfilling the obligations of a good citizen, form-
ing one of the most important factors in the agricult-
ural interests of his township.

T

,1. MAN ROE. No finer farming
country is to be found in the Prairie State
than much of that in the northern part of
Coles County, notably in North Okaw
Township. Mr. Manroe for the last twenty years
has been a resident of that township and owns 280
acres of valuable land on section '21. This is well
improved, thoroughly drained with tile, and em-
bellished with a handsome frame residence, stand-
ing in the midst of a beautiful grove, and forming
one of the attractive features of that locality.
There is also a fine orchard, two good barns and all
the other accessories of a modern country home.
In addition to his farming interests Mr. Manroe has
also given much attention of late years to bee cult-
ure, keeping on an average about 150 stands of
Italians, and being very successful in his operations
in this line. He also has seven ponds stocked with
German carp, some of which will now weigh from
three to four pounds. This enterprise, it is hardly
necessary to state, is attracting much attention and
its projector is sanguine of success.

The main points in the family history of our
subject are as follows: His grandfather, John
Manroe, was a native of Maryland, where he was
married in early manhood and became a minister
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Subsequently
he removed to C'lermont County, Ohio, where he
resided a number of years, and then removed to
Allen County. A few years later he took up his
abode in Shelby County, hid., where he spent the

remainder of his days. His wife, Mary, also a
native of his own State, preceded him to the silent
land. They had reared a large family and lived
together harmoniously for the unprecedented period
of sixty-five years. Among their sons was Samuel,
who became the father of our subject. He was the
eldest child of his parents and was born in Cumber-
land County, Md., in 1798. He was educated in
the common schools and remained a resident of his
native county u.itil twenty-five years of age. In the
meantime he had engaged somewhat in surveyings
and after removing to Rush County, Ind., learned
the trade of a tanner, which he followed there and in
Shelby County a number of years. He was there
also married, in 1825, to Miss Dorcas Hay man, and
they spent the remainder of their days in Shelby
County, where Mr. Mauroe had several years pre-
viously entered a tract of land and upon which he
built up a permanent homestead. He rested from
his earthly labors in the spring of 1880. The wife
and mother survived five years, dying in 1885.
The parental household included eight children.

The subject of this history was educated in the
common schools of his native county, and worked
with his father in the tannery until reaching his
majority. He then took up. the carpenter's trade,
which he followed for about ten 3rears and subse-
quently, with the capital thus accumulated, pur-
chased land in Richland County, 111., which he
occupied with his family twelve years and u'ntil the
spring of 18G6, when he took possession of his
present farm. His marriage with Miss Julia Hoff-
man took place in Shelby County, Ind., April 11,
1849, and they became the parents of two children —
Nathaniel, who married Miss Martha Leggitt and is
a resident of Douglas County, 111., and Amanda
J., the wife of James Moore, of Osage County,
Kan. The mother of these children departed this
life in 1807, the second year of their removal to
this county.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he 'was
married April 27, 1*69, was formerly Miss Mjiggie
Kitchens, a native of Clark County, this State, and
who removed with her parents to this county in
1859. Of this union there are two children — Mary
E., born July 21, 1871; and Alfred, March 17,
1877. Air. M. is a member of the Methodist Epis-

252

COLES COUNTY.

copal Church, while his wife is connected with the
Baptist. Our suhject is Republican in politics and
while in Richland County served as Assessor. He
lias for the last thirty years officiated as School
Director and Trustee, and in all respects has been a
warm supporter of those measures calculated for
the welfare of the community.

J^OIIN FOREMAN, of Seven Hickory Towu-
| ship, and a native of the District of Columbia^
I early in life emigrated West to seek his for-
' tune and build up a permanent home. His
birth took place March 17, 1823, and he remained
in liis native township until eleven or twelve years
old, when his parents removed to Lexington, Ky.
His father, Joseph Foreman, a native of England,
was born in July, 1797, and crossed the Atlantic
in 1819. He was first married in his native land,
the lady dying and leaving no children. About
two years after coming to America he married the
mother of our subject, Miss Chloe Payne. Of this
union there were born nine children, of whom our
subject was the eldest; Catherine was born in 1825
and died in infancy; Julia was born in September,
182li, and is still living at Lexington, Ky., unmar-
ried; Jane B., born in July, 1828, became the wife
of Hugh L. Webb, a printer by trade, and is
living in Richmond, Ind., having become the
mother of three children; Catherine (2d) was born
in 1830, and became the wife of Henry V. Barrin-
ger, and the mother of two children; her son Earn-
est A. is United States Pension Agent at New Or-
leans, and was married in 1886; Johanna was born
in September, 1832, and married James Srugham,
a printer, who died in Lexington, Ky. ; they had
two children, both now deceased; Mary, born in
January, 1835, married Milton G. Thompson, of
Lexington. Ky., who is a banker and a dealer in
hardware, and has amassed a fortune; they have
five children; James died in infancy in the fall of
1836; Thomas, born in September, 1838, is the
partner of his brother-in-law, M. G. Thompson, at
Lexington; he married Miss Sax ton, who died not
long afterward, and he then married Miss Marsh,
of Dayton, Ohio, who tlied in 1885; by the first

marriage there were three children, and two by the
second, ai^d only two survive.

The maternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob
Payne, was a native of Fairfax County, Va., and
married a Miss Glover, by whom he became the
father of seventeen children, of whom they reared
twelve. He was the son of Henson Payne, also of
the Old Dominion. His grandfather Foreman, to-
gether with two uncles, were soldiers under the
great Napoleon, and participated in the battle of
Waterloo. Joseph Foreman, while a resident of
the District of Columbia, engaged extensively as a
farmer and gardener, being especially fond of hor-
ticulture. After removing to Kentucky he fol-
lowed the same business.

John Foreman, our subject, was married, Oct. 10,

1842, to Miss Harriet E. Richardson, a native of
Franklin County, Ohio, where she grew to woman-
hood, remaining a member of her father's house-
hold. The latter then decided to take up his resi-
dence in Kentucky, and after her marriage with
John Foreman they remained in the Blue Grass
regions until the fall of 1853. They then decided
to seek the Prairie State, and coming to this county
located at Charleston, while Mr. F. proceeded with
the cultivation of a tract of land which his father-
in-law had entered in Seven Hickory Township.
This included 200 acres, and he proceeded indus-
triously with its cultivation and improvement,
turning his attention largely, as before, to the rais-
ing of fine fruits. He fenced the land, put up good
buildings and established a comfortable homestead.

He became the father of seven children, of whom
the record is as follows : William T., born Dee. 30,

1843, married Miss Jane McNutt, who died in Au-
gust, 1881; of this marriage there were eight chil-
dren, five of whom are living: John R. was born
in November, 1845, and married Miss Minerva
Nichols, of Coles County; they have three children.
Joseph married Miss Cynthia Buckley, of this
county, and is engaged in farming in Hutton Town-
ship; I. P. born Jan. 16, 1852, married Laura
OTIair; David B., born in Charleston, March 1 1,
1853, married Miss Sella Shriver, and they have
two children; Thomas, born in February, 1862,
died at his father's house in September, 1880; Ed-
ward P., born May 8, 1X60, is unmarried and liv-

f

t.

COLES COUNTY.

253

ing at home. , Mrs. Harriet Foreman departed this
life at the homestead in February, 1881. She was
a lady greatly respected for her sterling worth of
character, and a member in good standing 6f the
Baptist Church of Charleston.

The subject of our sketch was the first Justice of
the Peace elected in Seven Hickory Township, and
in 1 865 represented the township in the County
Board of Supervisors. He has served as Road
Commissioner and School Trustee, and was elected
a Director at the time of the organization of Dis-
trict No. 2. He has always been interested in
those measures calculated for the advancement of
the people, and has fulfilled his duties in life in an
honest and highly creditable manner. His prop-
erty includes 100 acres of good land on section 16,
Seven Hickory Township, and twenty acres of
timber.

WILLIAM H. GALBREATH, SK., one of the

honored pioneers of Ashmore Township,
came to Coles County in March. 1831,
locating on section 23, which he has since made his
home. He has resided fifty-six years in this town-
ship, and during the long period of resilience in
this county has identified himself with the in-
terests of its people. His kindly Christian char-
acter commended him to their respect and esteem
long years ago, and his straightforward method of
doing business has placed him among the represent-
ative citizens of Central Illinois.

Our subject was born in Nichols County, Ky.,
Aug. 17, 1809, and is a descendant of excellent
Scotch-I.isli ancestry. His parents, William and
Phebe (Foreman) Galbreath, were both natives of
Pennsylvania, and the father served as Captain of
a pack-horse company in the Revolutionary War,
for a period of seven years. He was one of the
guards placed over Cornwallis at Valley Forge and
most of the time was under the immediate com-
mand of Gen. Washington. In consequence of
the exposure and hardships which he endured, he
contracted a disease from which he never fully
recovered, but lived, however, to the advanced
age of eighty-three years. After the independence
of the Colonists had been established, he retired to

the rural districts of Berks County, where he en-
gaged in farming, and where his death took place
in 1833. William Galbreath, Sr., was married in
the city of Philadelphia in about 179(5, his wife
being but sixteen years of age. She was born in
1781, and reared in the Quaker City, was of ex-
cellent Scotch-Irish ancestry, and with her husband
was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Her
death took place in Coles County, in 1849. The
children of William and Phebe Galbreath were
named respectively, Fannie, John, Mary A., Sarah,
Phebe, William, Robert, James, John and William.
The two latter died in infancy.

William H. Galbreath was born in Berks County,
Pa., and received a common-school education in
the Keystone State. Early in life he began to
make himself useful around his father's homestead
and as soon as possible went into the cornfield and
held the plow. He removed to Kentucky and not
long afterward to Indiana, whence in 1829 he came
to Edgar County, 111., and engaged in farming, and
two years later came to this county where he
established his permanent home.

Among the other important arrangements which
Mr. Galbreath was perfecting, in order to complete
the outfit of his future abode, was the securing
unto himself a wife and helpmeet, to assist him in
his dilficulties and rejoice with him in his pros-
perity. The maiden whom he had chosen for this
important position was Miss Louisa Lashbrooks, to
whom he was married at her home in Scott County,
Ind., Nov 4, 1830. This wedding was one of the
notable events of that section, as were all weddings
and births at that period, when life flowed on in an
uneventful manner and there was little to amuse
the settlers besides their own private and personal
affairs. Mrs. Galbreath was born in Spencer
County, Ky., June 14. 1-S1 1, and like her husband
wa& of Scotch-Irish blood. She came from an ex-
cellent family, her mother having been Miss
Flliott. a first cousin to the noted Gen. Lee, late of
the Southern Confederacy.

William II. and Louisa Galbreath became the
parents of eleven children, viz.: Sarati E.. who
married John Newberry, of Tennessee; they have
two children — Mary L. and William B. ; Thomas,
now deceased; John, who married Miss Paulina

254

COLES COUNTY.

'Clark; George \V., who married Miss Fiette Icen-
hour; Phebe F., Mrs John C. Mitchell; Gideon F.,
who married Miss Frances II. Brooks, and William
B., deceased; Millird, Ann, James H., Pembrook,
also deceased. William B. possessed more than
ordinary ability and became .prominent in the
political affairs of Central Illinois. In 1884 he
was elected to the State Senate on the Democratic
ticket, but had only served one session when his
death took place.

Mr. Galbreath has a snug farm of eighty acres,
which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation
and provided with convenient and substantial
buildings. He assisted his children in their settle-
ment in life, and has always possessed that large
heart and liberal disposition which have induced
him to lend a helping hand to the needy whenever
it was in his power. He cast his first Presidential
vote for Gen. Jackson, in 1832, and since that time
has been a stanch adherent to the Democratic
party. He was one of the Trustees of Ashmore
Township for a period of twelve years, and no
man in this count}' has been more deeply interested
in noting its advancement and welfare. Mrs. Gal-
breath has been a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church since 1850. Mr. Galbreath
never connected himself with any church, but has
aimed to shape his life in accordance with the prin-
ciples of the Golden Rule, and in which, those
who know him best claim that he has succeeded
admirably. .

FLORER, a successful and extensive stock-
farmer of Morgan Township, owns and oc-
cupies a fine homestead on section 29, and
for a period of seventeen years has been
largely identified with the agricultural interests of
Central Illinois. He first drew breath in New-
port, Vermillion Co., Ind., March 29, 1839, and is
the sou of Alexander B. and America A. (Herbert)
Florer, both natives of Kentucky, the father born
in 1801, and the mother in 1816. They were of
German and French extraction, respectively.

Alexander B. Florer was one of the earliest pio-
neers of Indiana, and became prominently con-
nected with public affairs in Vermillion County.

He was the second clerk of the County Court.
which office he held for fourteen years, and was
also Recorder, holding the office at different times
for a long period. He had educated himself, and
was well informed in regard to legal matters, in
due time becoming one of the most eminent law-
yers of the day, while also exercising no small in-
fluence in the Republican part}', of which he was
one of the most earnest supporters. He held office
for a number of years, his services terminating only
with his death, which occurred in Vermillion
1 County, Aug. 9, 1865.

The mother of our subject was but sixteen years
of age when she became the wife of Alexander
Florer. She was a lady in all respects eminently
fitted to be his companion through life, and sym-
pathized with him in all his worthy ambitions and
undertakings. Her childhood was spent in Ken-
tucky, whence she removed with her parents to In-
diana before her marriage. She became the mother
of five children, of whom the record is as follows:
William J. grew to manhood in his native State of
Indiana, and became a man of property in Wa-
basha County, Minn., where he finally engaged in
banking, and departed this life July 20, 1881, leav-
ing a wife and three children, who are now resi-
dents of Greencastle, Ind.; our subject was the
second son ; Elizabeth is the widow of F. M. Odell,
and lives at Oakland, this county; Ellen died in
infancy ; Bruce when twenty-one years of age en-
gaged in banking with his brother in Minnesota,
and was subsequently elected Auditor of the coun-
ty on the Republican ticket by a majority of 700;
he was cut down in the midst of his usefulness, dy-
ing one year after his election, leaving a wife and
one child, who are now residents of Wabasha
County, Minn,

The subject of this history was reared in Vermil-
lion County, Ind., and when fourteen years of age
commenced clerking for the firm of Jones. Cnlbert-
son & Co., and three years later was appointed
Deputy Auditor of the county under Henry D.
Washburn. Afterward he was Deputy Clerk and
Recorder, when but twenty years of age. At the
beginning of the late war he enlisted in Co. C, 18th
Ind. Vol. Inf., serving three years and being occu-
pied much of the time as private messenger for Col.

i-IBRARY
OF THE

OF ILLINO/S

COLES COUNTV.

257

Tom Patterson and Gen. II. D. Washburn. lie
served until the close of his term of enlistment,
and then receiving his honorable discharge, came
in September, 1864, to this county, joining his
mother ;it Milton Station, where he engaged in
general merchandising, and carried on business suc-
cessfully until October, 1870. lie then removed
to his mother's farm in Morgan Township, where
he now resides.

The father of our subject purchased the land
which the latter now occupies, in 1853, and after
making some improvements upon it, returned, in
1854, to Indiana. The later embellishments have
been effected by our subject, who was married
June '24, 186G, to Miss Louisa A. Hawkins, a na-
tive of Rush County, Ind., born March 7, 1846.
She came with her parents to this county when a
child four years of age, and was deprived by death
of the affectionate care of her mother while still
young in years. She has one brother, Frank M.,
who is now engaged in the real-estate business at
Indianapolis.

Mr. and Mrs. Florer settled down upon the farm,
and in due time became the parents of six children,
five daughters and one son : William B., born in
1867, died in 1871 ; Laura A., born in 1868, died
in 1869; Elizabeth, born May 13, 1876, is at home
with her parents; Katie and Clara, twins, were
born June 11, 1878; Jessie Ellen; in 1884. Mr.
Florer is also proprietor of a sorghum factory
which he operates profitably each year, turning out
some seasons as many as 13,000 gallons. He also
raises a large amount of broom corn, and in addi-
tion to this, gives much attention to the breeding
of fine stock, lie is accounted among the thorough
and enterprising farmers of Morgan Township, and
has built up a homestead which forms one of its
most attractive features.

Mr. and Mrs. Florer are members in good stand-
ing of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, while
our subject is also connected with the Knights of
Honor, and the I. O. O. F. Encampment, at Paris,
Edgar County. Mrs. America Florer, the mother,
is still living, making her home with her son, on
the home place, which is mainly her own property.
She was born in September, 1 81 6, and is consequently
seventy-one years of age, but retains her former

energy and activity in a remarkable degree. Her
mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Mc-
(•ruder, lived to be eighty years of age, and finally
came to her death by accident, falling downstairs.
The McGruders were Democrats of the strongest
type, and our subject has adhered largely to the
teachings and beliefs of his honored mother, being
Democratic in politics, although not strictly radical.

BURGNER is a well-known and
wea^uy ci1'2611 °f Lafayette Township, who
was born Dec. 13, 1822, in Lebanon County,
Pa. He is the son of Conrad and Elizabeth
(Shaffer) Burgner, who were likewise natives of
Pennsylvania. When Mr. Burgner was about six
years of age his family removed to Ohio, and
located in Fail-field County, where they were among
the early settlers. He passed his childhood and
youth with his parents there, and was taught the
carpenter's trade.

On the 5th of March, 1846, Mr. Bnrguer was
married to Miss Nancj' Whitesel. Mrs. Burgner is
the daughter of George and Mary (Sidener) White-
sel, and was born Oct. 2, 1822, in Pickaway County,
Ohio. After his marriage, Mr. Burgner worked at
the carpenter's trade several years, and then en-
gaged in farming. In the autumn of 1854 he
removed with his young family to Illinois, and the
following spring settled in Lafayette Township,
Coles County. With a capital of about $5,000 he
invested in land, first purchasing 200 acres, and sub-
sequently adding to this he became the owner of
1,200 acres of valuable land. He gave his atten-
tion exclusively to farming, in which he has been
very successful.

Mr. Burgner is a man of great activity and
energy, and applied himself so closely to business
that his health began to fail, and he has recently
been obliged to relinquish it altogether. His farm
is supplied with all the modern improvements, a
commodious brick residence, and appropriate farm
buildings. lie has for many years been an active
member of the Methodist Church, giving liberally
of his means to its support. He is generous, both
in public and private life, and has given each of

t.

258

COLES COUNTY.

his children about 160 acres of land. Mr. and Mr>.
Burgner had a family of seven children born to
them, five of whom are now living-. Their names
are as follows : Allen C., George F., Louisa J.,
the wife of Thornton Ashbrook; J. Morris, and
Rhoda L., the wife of Alfred S. Newby. It is with
pleasure that we present the portrait of Mr. Burg-
ner in this connection as being that of a worthy
and honored resident of Lafayette Township, and
a representative citizen of the county.

DOLE, deceased. During the early
») history of the American Colonies Stephen
/I' — ^ Dole (or McDole as some claim), a native
of Scotland, settled in Massachusetts, where he
reared a family. Among his children was Stephen,
Jr., who, after reaching manhood, married and be-
came the father of Col. Stephen Dole, one of the
first settlers of Bedford, N. H., where he took up
his abode in 1779. Col. Dole was the father of
nine children, namely, Richard, William, Jane,
Joseph G. ; Enoch, of our sketch; Anna, Friend,
Betsey and Sallie.

The fifth child of the family above named is the
subject of this sketch. He was born in Bedford,
N. H., in 1788. and was reared tinder the home
roof, and during early manhood learned the cabi-
net-maker's trade, but afterward followed carpenter-
ing and plastering, lie left his native State while
a young man, migrating first to Ohio, and thence
to Terre Haute, Ind. He located on a farm near
the latter city, and was content to follow the life of
an agriculturist until resting from his earthy labors,
his decease occurring March 30, 1855.

The marriage of Enoch Dole and Miss Harriett
P., daughter of .Stephen and Prudence (Sumner)
Dexter, was celebrated at the home of the bride in
Danville, Vt., in 1809. Stephen Dexter operated
the first scythe factory in the United States, and
spent the greater part of his life in the Green
Mountain State, where his remains were finally laid
to rest.

Three sons and one daughter of Enoch Dole set-
tled near Mattoon, 111., namely, Joseph C., Charles
M., Stephen Dexter and Sarah Ann. The latter is

the widow of William M. Barr, a sketch of whom
appears elsewhere in this volume. Stephen de-
parted this life at his home March 17, 1885. The
household included ten children, and the four men-
tioned came to this State while the country was
practically a wilderness. Their names are familiar
among the pioneers who still survive, and with
whem they labored in common to develop the re-
sources of Central Illinois. They proved themselves
self-sacrificing, industrious and enterprising, and as
having inherited in a marked degree those traits of
character which distinguished their honored father.
Those who knew Enoch Dole entertained for him
the profoundest respect, and found in him a man of
great kindness of heart, and always willing to serve
his friends or his community. One of the sons,
William P., also a native of Vermont, is a resident
of Washington, and was Commissioner of Indian
affairs under the administration of President Lin-
coln. He has, by a life of industry and a wise in-
vestment of funds, secured a competency, and the
latter years of his life are being spent in ease and.
comfort. He married Miss Elizabeth Gordon,
daughter of the late Daniel Gordon, of Beloit, Wis.

f; OHN CUNNINGHAM, attorney at law, and
engaged in the real-estate and insurance
business at Mattoon, is the son of the late
James T. Cunningham, widely and favor-
ably known throughout Coles County as a gentle-
man of more than ordinary ability and largely
identified with the agricultural and business inter-
ests of Central Illinois. Our subject was born
in Grayson County, Ky., Jan. 0, 1828. His parents
were natives of the same county, and his mother
before her marriage was Miss Elizabeth C. Yocum.
The elder Cunningham engaged in farming first
in his native county, but after his marriage emi-
grated to Central Illinois, where he became owner
eventually of 4,000 acres. of land. He served as a
member of the Illinois Legislature three terms and
was a man of fine business capacities, contributing
his full quota toward the development and prog-
ress ol this county. The children of his first
marriage, five in number, were John, our subject;

j^m

COLES COUNTY.

251)

William, wjio (Ued when seventeen years of age;
James, who died when three years old; Mary, now
the wife of Capt. llinckle, of Mattoon, and James
H., Jr.

The subject of this biography was reared on his
father's farm and completed his education in Tran-
sylvania University, at Lexington, Ky. He re-
mained a member of his father's household until
after reaching his majority, and then engaged in
merchandising at Richmond, three miles southwest
of Mattoon. His partner at that time was Charles
W. Nabb, and after the first year the father of our
subject purchased the interest of Mr. N., and with
his son, John, opened a store in Paradise, which
they operated four years under the firm name of
Cunningham & Son. Afterward they removed
their goods to Mattoon, and the firm became True,
Cunningham & Co. ; they operated about two years,
and then sold out.

Afterward Mr. C., with four other gentlemen,
Messrs. Marshall, Cunninghnin, True and O. B.
Ficklin. organized the Mattoon Bank, which was
operated about two years. Our subject at the
same time engaged in merchandising with G. M.
Mitchell-at Mattoon, and at the same time ran a
grain warehouse for about four years. Mr. Mitchell
then sold his interest, and the firm became Cun-
ningham <fe Craig. This firm remained in existence
ten months, and our subject theu engaged in the
merchandise and live-stock trade with E. P. Allen
and M. B. Able, the firm name being Cunningham,
Alien it Able. Two years later Messrs. Allen and
Able sold their interest to Mr. C., who carried on
business two years longer, then closing out com-
menced to read law, and a few years later entered
upon the practice which has now become extensive
and successful. Mr. C. has held the office of City
Attorney two years, and was Master in Chancery six
years. He was appointed Postmaster in 1885,
holding the office two years. He is Democratic in
politics, and lias aided materially in building up
the business interests of the city.

Mr. Cunningham was first married to MissHallie
B. Allen, of Kentucky, and they became the parents
of one ohild, Ella, the wife of Joe McCrorey, of
Charleston, and the mother of one child, a daugh-
ter, Hallie. Mrs. Hallie Cunningham departed

this life at the home of her husband in Mattoon,
June 24, 1863. The present wife of our subject,
to whom he was married in 186G, was formerly
Miss Sarah Ilinkle., Of this union there have been
born two sons, James and Walter, who learned the
printing business and are now engaged at it in
Mattoon.

Mr. Cunningham, politically, is an uncompromis-
ing Democrat, and as a citizen and business man, is
held in high regard among his fellow-townsmen.
Besides being a gentleman well informed and of
good education, he possesses considerable literary
talent, and has often been a correspondent of Chi-
cago and other papers.

ILLIAM GUEST, one of the honored pio-
neers of Seven Hickory Township, came to
Central Illinois while it was yet a wilder-
ness, and while assisting in the development of its
resources has noted with pride and satisfaction the
growth and progress of his adopted county.

Mr. Guest was born in Hawkins County, Tenn.,
Oct. 30, 1809, and from his earliest boyhood has
had little experience with anything other than farm
life. His father, Bay.il. was a native of Maryland,
and his mother, Rachel (Crews) Guest, was a na-
tive of Virginia. The five children of the parental
household are recorded as follows : Rebecca, born
in Tennessee, became first the wife of D. Shiplet,
and the mother of five children; her second hus-
band was John Woodall, now living in Douglas
County. 111. Of this marriage there were born two
children. The mother died in about 1840. Mr. W.
was afterward married twice, first to Rachel Miner,
of Ohio, by which union two children were born,
both dying young, and then to Miss Lucy Miner,
who became the mother of five children, three of
whom are now living in Douglas County ; Mary,
who was born in Tennessee, was the first wife of
John Woodall; she became the mother of one child,
both mother and child passing away soon afterward ;
Jacob, born in Tennessee, Feb. 7, 1802, married
Miss Polly Welsh, of Virginia, and they had three
children, and died in Kentucky, the former at the
| advanced age of eighty-five years; Nathan, born

260

COLES COUNTY.

in 1807. came to this county and improved a farm,
occupying it until his death i« 1854; William, of
our sketch, was the youngest of the family.

The subject of our sketch spent his youth and
boyhood in Kentucky, and after reaching his ma-
jority, Feb. 20, 1834, was married to Miss Chris-
tiana James, of that .State. She was the daughter
of John and Margaret James, natives of Virginia.
While still single they moved to Ohio County, Ky..
on the home farm, and in 1 838 came to Central
Illinois, locating first iu Douglas County, whence
he removed to Morgan Township, and then to a
point near Oakland, where he resided until 1879.
He then purchased the land which is included in
his present homestead. During the early days he
entered with zest into the employments and pleas-
ures of the early pioneers, and with the aid of one
yellow dog and two white greyhounds, largely as-
sisted in clearing the wolves from the northern
part of Coles County.

Mr. and Mrs. Guest became the parents of one
child only, John Bazil, born at Crab Orchard, Ky.,
Jan. 12, 1835. He was a small boy when his par-
ents came to this county, and with the exception of
several years which they spent at Oakland, has
always lived with his parents. He married Miss
Anna Galbraith, a native of this county, whose
parents were born in Kentucky, and emigrated to
Illinois at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. John Guest
had three children, of whom only two are living —
William Avis, who was born March 17, 1869, and
John Oscar, March 8, 1872. Both are promis-
ing young men, and reside with their parents at
home.

HILIP GARVKll, who has been a resident
)V/ of this county for over thirty years, has
been engaged the greater part of the time
ll\ iu farming pursuits. He took possession
of the land which he now owns and occupies iu
about 1«G7. His first purchase consisted of eighty
acres, which he brought from wild prairie to a good
state of cultivation and which constitutes a part of
his present homestead, where he is engaged in gen-
eral farming and stock-raising.

Upon coming to this county, Mr. Garver, for

about two and one-half years, was employed in
getting out Lies for the I. it St. L. It. It. He com-
menced in life without means, and by the exercise
of his own industry has attained to his present po-
sition and accumulated a goodly amount of prop-
erty, his farm containing 240 acres. Hjs birth
took place on the other side of the Atlantic, in the
Kingdom of Prussia, April 27, 1831, 3:15 P. M.,
and he continued with his parents in his native
Province until about 1836, and then the latter de-
cided upon emigrating to the New World. _ They
embarked upon a sailing-vessel, and after a voyage
of nine weeks landed in New Orleans, whence they
proceeded to Cincinnati, reaching the Queen City
during the week between Christmas and New Year.
Peter Garver, the father of our subject, and his
wife, who was formerly Miss Mary Koeler, were
both natives of Prussia and were occupied in farm-
ing pursuits. This lady was the second wife of
Mr. Garver.

By Peter Garver's first marriage there was born
one child, a son, John. By the second there were
three children, of whom the eldest died when three
years of age. The youngest, Jacob, was born in
Germany, and is now a man of considerable promi-
nence, being Sheriff of Franklin Comity, Ind. He
married Miss Phronia Shrunk, a native of Ger-
many, and. they had four children, two now de-
ceased. The mother of our subject died when her
son Jacob was about three weeks old. Peter
Garver was the third time married to a lady of
his own country, and there were born twelve
children, including two sets of twins, all boys.
John is now a resident of Crawford County,
Kan. One son, Peter, who, during the late war
enlisted as a Union soldier in an Indiana cavalry
regiment, was drowned while crossing a pond, his
horse becoming entangled in weeds or brush.
Michael is a liquor dealer in t'onnersville, Ind.;
Kate died when about sixteen years of age, and
another daughter, Frances, died when thirteen years
old ; Youst is a resident of Arkansas.

The subject of our sketch, while a resident of

Franklin County, Ind., was married, Jan. 28, 1857,

. to Miss Barbara Kmerine, a native of Cincinnati,

who was the sixth in a family of nine children born

to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. G. became the

(ft

COLES COUNTY.

261

I

parents of five sons and four daughters: Mary
Susan was born Dec. 9, 1857, and died Aug. 28,
1 87 1 ; Sallie became the wife of Clarence H. Horsey,
and lives in Charleston; Rosa was married to Nich-
olas Mead, and died April 3, 1884; Louis is a resi-
dent of tliis township; Jacob and Louisa a.re at
home with their parents. The younger children
were Laura, Joseph, John, now deceased, and
Kdward.

EORGE R. HALLOCK, a native of this
county, still honors it by remaining in it,
and is a resident of section 19, Ashmore
Township. He has a valuable farm of eighty acres,
finely cultivated, and in addition to ordinary farm
duties, is engaged in breeding high-grade cattle and
horses, and makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs.
He also operates a steam threshing-machine of ten-
horse power, being engineer himself, and from
which he has realized a handsome little sum an-
nually for the last eight years. He is genial and
companionable in disposition and besides being a
favorite among his fellow-citizens, is 'considered a
first-class agriculturist.

Mr. Hallock was born in Charleston Township
Sept. 12, 1847, and is the son of Thomas W. and
Elizabeth M. (Clarke) Hallock, the former a na-
tive of New York, and the latter of Kentucky.
Thomas Hallock and his wife are still living on the
homestead in Ashmore Township, which they have
occupied for many years, and where Mr. H. has
been extensively engaged in farming and stock-
growing. They are highly respected members of
the community, and belong to the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church. Mr. Hallock was born in
New York, in 1817, and his wife Elizabeth was
born in Kentucky, in 1820. Their eight children
were George, Charles, Elizabeth, James, Thomas,
Eldora, William and Alice.

The subject of this biography remained on the
home farm until his marriage, Sept. 30, 1809. His
chosen bride was Miss Virginia B. Gover, a native
of Leesburg, Va., born June 22, 1850, and the
daughter of Edward R. and Ellen R. (Hammer ley)
Gover. also natives of the Old Dominion. Mr. G.
was born in 1818, and died Sept. 17, 1881. He

was a saddler by trade and also engaged in the
lumber and grocery business. He was one of the
leading members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, a man of fine education, and a singer of
marked talents. During the late war he enlisted as

j a Union 'soldier with the Loudoun County Inde-
pendent Rangers, and served four years, in the
meantime being taken prisoner by the rebels. He

j was promoted First Lieutenant. He yielded
up his life in Ashmore Township in 1881, after
having suffered many weeks with typhoid fever.
The mother of Mrs. Hallock was born in 1820, and
became the wife of Edwin Gover on the 18th of
April, 1849. Of this union there were born five
children, namely, Virginia B., Hannah H., Fannie
and Carrie, deceased, and Rachel. Mrs. G. was a
member of the same church as her husband. The
latter also belonged to the I. 0. O. F., and was a
Mason of many years' standing.

Mr', and Mrs. Hallock became the parents of
seven children, namely, Elizabeth, Welling, Edwin,
now deceased, Emory, deceased, Charlie, Louis and
Platt. The parents are members in good standing
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically
Mr. H. uniformly votes with the Republican party.

LIVER D. HAWKINS, a prominent member
of the agricultural community of Ashmore
Township, owns and occupies a fine home-
stead on section 36. of which he has been in pos-
session since the spring of 1873. He came to this
county when a youth nineteen years of age, with
his parents, and for a period of forty -six years has
been closely identified with its progress and ad-
vancement. The essential points of his history are
as follows :

The Hawkins family is of excellent origin, being
of Irish and German on the paternal and Scotch
and Welsh on the maternal side. The first repre-
sentatives of the family in this country settled in
the Southern and Middle States. Oliver D. was
born in Fleming County, Ky., Feb. 28, 1822, and
is the son of Gregory and Elizabeth (Ballar) Haw-
kins, natives respectively of Maryland and Ken-
tucky. Gregory Hawkins was born May 10, 1789,

I

262

COLES COUNTY.

and died in this county, Nov. 9, 18G9. He came
here with his family in the spring of 1841, and lo-
cating on section 33, range 10 east, in Ashmore
Township, engaged in farming until his earthly la-
bors ended. The wife and mother was born Jan.
17, 1793, and survived her husband but four years,
dying at the homestead in Charleston Township,
May 12, 1873. The parents were married in Ken-
tucky on the 8th of June, 1809, the ceremony tak-
ing place near the home of the bride under a large
sugar-maple tree. They lived harmoniously during
the many years they were permitted to pass together
and were buried side by side in Ashmore Cemetery.
The father of our subject was a man of more than
ordinary ability and at one time possessed a large
property, which was lost on account of his going
security for friends. He possessed extreme kind-
ness of heart, was remarkably indulgent and affec-
tionate in his family and beloved by all who knew
him. He was very strong, physically, and of fine
personal appearance, being five feet nine inches in
height, and weighing 180 pounds. He was promi-
nent in the local affairs of his native county in
Kentucky, serving as Sheriff and being otherwise
identified with its public interests. The mother
was a lady of attractive personal appearance, pos-
sessing dark hair and eyes, and of good stature and
weighed 150 pounds. They became the parents
of fifteen children, viz., Harvey H., born April 15,
1810; Ashel J., Oct. 9, 181 I ; George B., April 12,
1813; John C., Nov. 30, 1814; July A., Nov. G,
1816; Felix A., June 24, 1820; Oliver D., Feb. 28,
1822; Louisana L., Feb. 13, 1825; Polly C., Sept.
29, 1827; Gregory R., Dec. 11, 1829; James C.,
April 11, 1832; Elizabeth C'., Aug. 13, 1834;
Laura, born in 1836, and Lorenzo E., May 1,
1839. Of these five are now living, namely, Felix
A., Oliver D., Polly C., Gregory II. and Lorenzo E.
Mr. Hawkins removed from Kentucky to Indiana
with his parents in 1829, when a boy of seven
years, and from there in 1841, to this county.
After reaching his majority he commenced working
out by the month, receiving at first &G, and finally
$10 per month. Money was very scarce in those
days and our subject partly secured his marriage
license by the sale of a coon skin. lie had but
twenty-five cents in cash and the price of the li-

cense was sixty-two and one-half cents. While he
was deliberating as to. what course to pursue, his
dog one night treed a coon, which Oliver captured,
and with the proceeds was enabled to get the permit
to be married. The maiden of his choice was M iss
Mary Latter, and they were made husband and wife
March 21, 1844, by II. C. Dunbar, Justice of the
Peace, the wedding taking place in Ashmore Town-
ship, at the home of the bride. Mrs. Hawkins was
born in Wayne County, Ohio, Jan. 0, 1823. and
made the most of her advantages at the common
school, in due time becoming a teacher, which pro-
fession she followed for many years. Her parents,
John and Mary (Hurd) Lafler, were natives of
New York State. Her father was born April 19,
17^9, and came to this county in 1837. He lo-
cated on a tract of land in Ashmore Township,
where he carried on fanning until seized with the
fatal illness which terminated in his death, Jan. 3,
1844. His wife, Mary, was born in 1798, and died
at the homestead in Ashmore Township, ten years
after the decease of her husband, her death taking
place in 1854. Both had united with the Method-
ist Episcopal Church in their native State. The
parental family included eleven children, who were
born as follows: George, Oct. 22, 1818; Am}-,
Oct. 7, 1820; Mary, Jan. 6, 1823; Jane, Nov. 9,
1824; John, Dec. 5, 1826; William, Nov. 8, 1828;
James, March 11, 1831 ; Lyman, April 27,1833;
Edward, April 19, 1836; Aquilla and Priscilla,
twins, March 9, 1840.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins went
to housekeeping in a modest dwelling constructed
of split hickory logs, and " pulled together " in
their efforts to establish a comfortable home and
secure something for a rainy day. The}- finally
met with the reward of their labors, and have now
an estate consisting of 365 acres of valuable land,
with shapely and substantial farm buildings and the
best fencing in the county. The farm is supplied
with streams of living water, which add to its
value by hundreds of dollais. Mr. Hawkins has
been a man prominent among the agricultural in-
terests of Central Illinois, and his excellent judg-
ment in public matters was long ago recognized by

his fellow-townsmen, lie served first as Constable

•

nine years, and in the spring of I860 was elected

COLKS COUNTY.

263

Justice of the Peace, which office he held for a
period of twenty-five years. He was the first Po-
lice Magistrate in Ashmore Township, and has been
School Treasurer and Director for many years. In
the spring of IS(il) lie was elected to represent the
people of Ashmore on the County Board of Super-
visors, and his careful attention to the duties of this
responsible position secured him the approval of
his townsmen. In the meantime he was appointed
Chairman of the Finance Committee, during which
time the county purchased the grounds for the Poor
Fani;, of which he was Superintendent for three
years. He was also County Coroner for two years.
Mr. Hawkins is the only surviving charter mem-
ber of Ashmore Masonic Lodge No. 390, which
was organized in 1861. He has voted the Repub-
lican ticket since the organization of the party, and
is one of the stanchest supporters of its principles.

J"~ OSHUA YOUNG. One of the most attract-
ive homesteads of North Okaw Township,
and the property of the gentleman above
' mentioned, is pleasantly located on section
12, and embraces 250 acres of land. The fields are
well fenced, the buildings convenient and substan-
tial, and one of the attractive features of the place
is the choice stock, including Norman and Clydes-
dale horses of superior quality, besides the other
farm animals, which are well cared for, and present
a healthy and thriving appearance.

Mr. Young on coining to Illinois, located first in
Mattoon Township, where he engaged in farming.
Soon afterward, however, he repaired to Monroe
County, Ind., and located one and one-half miles
east of Bloomington, where he resided for ten
years, and until after the outbreak of the late war.
He watched the progress of the Rebellion for ;i
time and seeing no prospect of its immediate sup-
pression, concluded that it was his duty to assist in
the preservation of the Union, and accordingly in
1864, enlisted in an Indiana Infantry regiment, and
was mustered in at Indianapolis. The regiment
was sent to Bridgeport, Ala., and arrived there just
in time to be present at the battle of Brush Creek.
From this <>ur subject escaped unharmed, and then

going to Chattanooga was assigned with his com-
rades to guard duty, and thus continued until the
expiration of his term of service. Then, returning
to his old haunts near Indianapolis, he continued
farming until 1884. In the spring of that year he
came back to Illinois, and with his family located
on the old Hopper homestead, where they now re-
side.

Joshua Young was born in Monroe County, Ind.,
Jan. 10, 1844, and was the youngest of a family of
nine children, the offspring of Joseph and Barbara
(Whisman) Young, natives of Virginia. Joseph
Young was a farmer by occupation, and after his
marriage pursued his chosen calling in Indiana,
with the exception of a short time, continuously
until his death. He spent his last days at the home
of his son Joshua. His widow still survives and is
living with our subject, having reached an ad-
vanced nge. The latter was the last child to leave
the parental roof and remained unmarried until
thirty years of age. His union with Miss Talitha
Hopper was celebrated at the home of the bride in
North Okaw Township, Oct. 7, 1873. Mrs. Young
was born in that township, Sept. 9, 1852, and is the
daughter of Dudley and Jane (Dixon) Hopper, na-
tives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia, and a
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this AUU:.M.

The children of Mr. Young, five in number,
were born as follows: Dudley, Sept. 4, 1876; Wil-
bur, born July 21, 1878, died July 3, 1879; Homer
was born July 9, 1880; Rebecca, Oct. 24, 1883, and
Grace. Aug. 2, 1886. Mr. Young is carrying on
his stock-raising in company with his father-in-law,
Mr. Hopper, and the firm has built up quite a repu-
tation in this locality. Our subject, politically, is
decidedly Democratic, and takes quite an active
part in local politics.

NEWMAN. Mr. Newman, one
i substantial citizens of Coles Coun-
ty, is a retired farmer residing in Charles-
ton. He was born April 3, 1813, in Jefferson
County, E. Tenn..and is the son of John and Nancy
(Franklin) Newman, natives of Virginia. John
Newman removed to Tennessee and passed his entire

T

264

COLES COUNTY.

life there engaged in farming. He was twice mar-
ried and had a family of seventeen children born
to him, all of whom grew to maturit}-. He was an
active, energetic man, and for eight or ten years
held the office of Collector. His death occurred
Oct. 9, 1865.

Madison Newman was reared on his father's farm,
attending school and assisting in the farm labor.
until he reached the age of twenty-two, when he
began the world for himself. He first tried the
experiment of farming on rented land, and then
purchased a farm on credit, which he conducted
sixteen years. At this time he became involved in
financial difficulties by going security for other par-
ties, which obliged him to sell off his property in
order to pay his debts. He subsequently purchased
another tract of land containing 500 acres, where
he carried on an extensive farming business four-
teen years. In 1865 he came to Charleston and
rented a place nine miles southwest of the city,
where he lived four years. He then purchased 187
acres of land for which he paid 15,850, and where he
spent twelve years, in the meantime adding sixty-
two and one-half acres to his estate. In 1882 he
purchased his present place of residence in Charles-
ton, and also another house and two lots adjoining.

Mr. Newman's marriage to Miss Mary A. Nichol-
son took place March 5, 1835. She was a native
of Tennessee and the daughter of Joseph and Ann
(McGuire) Nicholson. The former is a native of
North Carolina and the latter of Pennsylvania.
Their family consisted of seven children, of whom
Mrs. Newman was the third in order of birth. She
was born Aug. 21, 1*13. Mr. and Mrs. Newman
had a family of eleven children born to them, seven
of whom are now living. The record is as follows:
George W. married Miss Emma Enlow; Matilda
E., now Mrs. Johnson; Nancy J., now Mrs. Rankin,
has two children, Ida and William P.; James M.
married Miss Caroline Freeman, and has a family
of four children — Claud, Mary, Ellen and Jessie;
Thomas J. married Miss Margaret M. Nicholson;
Henry D. married Miss L. Q. Thompson, and has a
family of five children — Olive G., Bertram M.,
Clyde P., Myrtle E. and Carl E.; Andrew J. mar-
ried Miss Rosa Perisho, and has a family of three
children — Olive P., George M. and Ruby R. ; Jo-

seph J.. deceased, married Miss Minerva Carr, and
had a familj' of three children — Sarah A., William
F. and Jessie B. The deceased are, William F.,
who died Aug. 23, 1863; Patrick L. died Sept. 27,
' 1866, and John J. died Feb. 29, 1876.

Mr. Newman is a progressive, public-spirited man.
While living in Tennessee he was Captain of the
State Militia, and also held the office of School
Director there. Since his residence in Coles County
he has served as Road Commissioner, giving entire
satisfaction in the discharge of his duties. Both
himself and his wife are highly esteemed members
of the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. New-
man is a Democrat.

\|?SAAC NEWTON VANNATTA, residing on
section 34, Lafayette Township, is the descend-
ant of one of the pioneer families of the count}'.
He is the son of Samuel and Lucy (Gibbs). Van-
natta, and was born at Mock's Point, Cumberland
Co., 111., June 16, 1844.

Samuel Vannatta was a native of Fail-field, Ohio.
He was the son of Aaron and Nancy Vannatta, and
in 1816 his parents emigrated to the Territory of
Illinois. They made their home in Lawrence County,
and were among the earliest pioneers of the State.
They encountered many privations and trials in
those early days. The country was almost an un-
broken wilderness; there were no school advantages
for the children, and the neighboring families were
separated by wide stretches of lonely prairie, or
desolate woodland. Samuel assisted his father in
breaking the new land, burning brush and cutting
timber, finding little time or opportunity for men-
tal cultivation. In 1827 his marriage with Miss
Lucy Gibbs took place. Mrs. Vannatta was born
Jan. 5, 1809, in New York, and came to Illinois
with her father, Klijah Gibbs, who was among the
pioneers of Coles County, having settled there in
1827.

•Mr. Yannatta was engaged in farming in Cum-
berland County until 1853, when he removed
to Coles County and settled in Lafayette Township.
lie passed the remainder of his life there, and died.

LIBRARY
OF THt

:"i:!VERsiiY OF ILLIMOIS

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COLES COUNTY.

267

May o, 1881, having long survived his wife, whose
death occurred Jan. 5, 1865. The}' had a family of
ten children horn to them, eight of whom grew to
maturity.

Isaac Vannatta was reared on his father's farm,
where he acquired a practical experience in the de-
tails of farm labor, and also learned the carpenter's
trade. In September, 1871, he was married to Miss
Nancy Mary Frakes. Mrs. Vannatta is the daugh-
ter of James and Elizabeth Frakes, and was born in
Indiana, June 16, 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Vannatta
have nine children, all of whom, with one exception,
are now living. Their names are as follows: Dan-
iel Voorhees, Robert Allen, Benjamin Franklin,
Homer Gibbs, John Milton, Elijah Hubbard, George
Elmer and Lucy. Mr. Vannatta is a Democrat in
politics, and was elected Justice of the Peace by
that party. His wife and himself are members of
the hard-shell Baptist Church.

-*-

ffiOHN S. SARGENT, one of the most ex-
tensive farmers of Hutton Township, is the
owner of nearly 600 acres of land, two-
thirds of which is under a high cultivation
and the balance in valuable timber land. He has
one of the finest residences iu his locality. It was
erected in 1884, and is situated on a gentle rise of
ground which commands a fine view of the sur-
rounding country. Mr. Sargent has given much
aitentioi. to the raising of fine stock, and is in all
respects a model agriculturist and citizen, and has
materially assisted in the development of the re-
sources of Central Illinois, and has had much to
do in shaping its moral and educational welfare.

Our subject is the descendant of an excellent
family. His father, Stephen Sargent, was born in
Candia, N. H., July 1, 1797, and when thirteen
years of age traveled with his father to a point in
New Jersey, near the New York line, where the
parent left the child and was never seen or heard
from afterward. The boy, after recovering from
his dismay and astonishment, set out to look for
work, in which he was successful, and maintained
himself in that locality for the following three years.
He then traveled on foot to Ohio, remaining one year

in the Buckeye State, then, going to Louisville, Ky.,
he learned the trade of a stonemason. There he also
purchased an interest in a flatboat, with which he
made a few trips to New Orleans and back, and in
1836 migrated to this State, locating at New Rich-
mond, now Weste'rfield, in Clark Count}'. There
he engaged in general merchandising, and some
years later purchased a farm upon which he re-
moved and remained until his death. He pros-
pered greatly and became the owner of 600 acres
of land, a portion of which was willed to his son,
our subject.

Stephen Sargent was married late in life to Nancy
(Chenoweth) Ilarland, daughter of John and
Rebecca (Rose) Chenoweth. and the widow of
Jacob Harland, the wedding taking place Oct. 18,
1842. Mrs S. was born March 25. 1805, in Jeffer-
son County, Ky., and is still living on the old
homestead. Her parents were natives respectively
of Virginia and Kentucky, and by her union with
: Mr. Sargentshe became the mother of two children :
i Margaret R., and John S., of our sketch. The for-
mer, who is now deceased, married Charles II. Rice
and became the mother of six children, of whom
only two are living — Carrie E. and H. C. The
death of Stephen Sargent took place at his hOme
in Hutton Township, Nov. 30, 1878, after he had
reached the advanced age of eighty-one years, four
months and thirty days. He had been widely and
favorably known in Coles County and the funeral
services were attended by a large concourse i-f
people, who gathered to pay their respects to one
of the most highly valued citizens of the county.
We have already detailed the incidents of his
early life. He. was married when forty-five years
of age and up to that time had taken but little
interest in religious matters.. He then became
interested in the theories of Swedenborg and was
satisfied that his doctrines the most nearly coin-
cided with his ideas upon these important subjects,
and to these he adhered thereafter. Upon being
compelled by failing health to abandon active
labor, he devoted the funds which afterward
accumulated from various sources in assisting men
without means to secure homes, and seldom closed
an interview with anyone without touching upon
religious subjects and endeavoring to impress the

r

f.

268

COLES COUNTY.

truth he held dear upon others. lie entertained pecu-
liar views in regard to woman suffrage, arguing
that as husband and wife were one, their names
should be received only as one vote. He would
require intelligence and respectability, and that the
Legislative proceedings should be attended and
watched over by the wives of the Legislators. He
sincerely believed that these measures would in
due time become necessary for the preservation of
the nation. He left to his son and daughter the
duty of distributing each year where they were
likely to do the most good, $100 worth of books
pertaining to Swedenborgian doctrines.

The first husband of Mrs. Stephen Sargent,
Jacob Ilarland by name, was born in Warren
Count}', Ohio, Feb. 18, 1799, and was married to
Miss Chcnoweth, Nov. 7, 1822. Ilis death took
place iu Clark County, 111., Aug. 7, 1830. The
five children of this marriage were Burns; Louisa,
who married John Short and is a resident of
Charleston; Amanda, who died in October. 1830:
George, who died in Springfield, 111., after serving
as a Union soldier, and Martin C., a resident of
Outline County, Iowa. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in Kentucky and emigrated to Vin-
ceunes, Ind., with her parents when a young lady,
riding on a pack saddle the greater part of the way.
The family afterward removed to Clark County,
this State, where she was married to and resided
with Mr. Harlaud until his dentil. John Chenoweth,
the father of Mrs. S., was born March 15, 1780,
and died in Clark County, 111., March 18, 1855.
Ilis wife, Rebecca, was born Jan. 18, 1785, and
died July 17, 1846. They were buried in the old
family cemetery on the homestead in Clark County.

John S. Sargent received a common-school edu-
cation and remained with his parents until after the
outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Co.
C, 68th 111. Vol. Inf., and was assigned to patrol
duty around Washington and Alexandria. He was
then but sixteen years of age, and remained in the
army until the close of the war. After receiving
his honorable discharge he returned home and took
charge of his father's farm, and on the 24th of
March, 1870, wns married to Miss Mann A. Turner.
.Mrs. Sargent was born June 3, 1848, and is the
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth J. Turner,

natives Of Kentucky. Of her union with our sub-
ject there have beeji eight children born, namely :
Margaret P., born Jan. 28, 1871; Jessie R., April
23, 1873; Ernest, born Feb. 20, 1874, and died
Aug. 23, 1876; Ada O., born Sept. 15, 1875;
Coral T.. Jan. 15, 1878; Paul T., July 23, 1880;
St. John, March 23, 1 884, and one who died in in-
fancy unnamed.

Mr. Sargent has been prominently connected
with township matters since reaching manhood,
holding the offices of School Director and Trustee,
and casting his influence upon the side of prohibi-
tion. He was a candidate for State Senator on the
Prohibition ticket in 1884, and is at present Chair-
man of the County Committee. With his family
he belongs to the New Jerusalem Church. Mr.
and Mrs. Sargent removed to Urbana, Ohio, to
educate their children at the university. This
being accomplished they returned to the farm,
where our subject experiences no greater pleasure
in life than watching the products of the seasons
and embellishing his homestead as his 'means and
tastes may dictate.

OHN STOKES, an aged and retired farmer,
now a resident of -Oakland Village, came to
Illinois in the spring of 1840, and located in
Edgar County, where he purchased fifteen
acres of land and engaged in farming. In 1849 he
moved to near the Edgar and Coles County line,
where he engaged in brick-making and general farm-
ing one season.

Mr. Stokes commenced life in a humble manner,
and when setting out for himself possessed a cash
capital of twenty-five cents. He labored hard,
lived economically, and is now one of the prosper-
ous property holders of Coles County, who is en-
abled to live comfortably upon the fruits of his
early industry. Our subject is a native of Halifax
County, Va.. was born Sept. 2, 1799, and is conse-
quently advanced a long distance on the journey of
life. His parents, Samuel and Mary (Gentry)
Stokes, were also natives of the Old Dominion,
whence they removed to North Carolina, where the
death of both took place. The children of the par-

t

COLES COUNTY.

209

'ental household, eight in number, were named re-
spectively, John, Richard. Elizabeth, Henry, Will-
iam, Samuel, James and Mary.

John Stokes remained under the home roof until
reaching his majority, and was subsequently occu-
pied in farming. When thirty years of age he was
united in marriage with Miss Lntitia Allen, the
wedding taking place in Wayne County, Ind., in
1829. Mrs. Stokes was born in South Carolina,
June 22. 1810, and by her union with our subject
became the mother of eleven children : Richard
was married three times, and is now living in Edgar
Count}' ; George W. died when eighteen months
old; Samuel, when four weeks old ; Mary A. be-
came the wife of Benjamin Timmons, and departed
this life at the home of her husband in Edgar
County, in 1877; John W. married Miss Rosa E.
Slater, and lives in Oakland ; Susan, the wife of
Ambrose Bandy, lives in Oakland; James K. P.
married Miss Meliuda Wright, and is living near
Oakland; Lev! is deceased; Ellen is the wife of
Charles Gobart, of this county, and Alma married
Mr. Sherman, of Moultrie County. Mr. Stokes re-
moved from his native State to Indiana, and thence
to Illinois in 1X40. He meddles very little in pub-
lic affairs, but usually votes the Democratic ticket.
Mrs. Stokes is a worthy member of the Baptist
Church, with which she became connected sixteen
years ago.

John W. Stokes, the second son of our subject,
owns seventy acres of land in Oakland Township,
where he is engaged in the breeding of tine horses.
He received the advantages of a common-school ed-
ucation, spent a few months in teaching, and after-
ward engaged in farming on eighty acres of land,
ten of which he afterward sold. He was married,
Dec. 10, 1874, to Miss Rosa E. Slater, who was born
in Loudoun County, Va., Nov. 18, .1854, and is
the daughter of John G. and Ann (Rush) Slater,
natives of Loudoun County, Ya. They have three
children: Flora M., born May 7, 1870; Bertha E.,
Jan. 18, 1878, and Wrillis V., Nov. 13, 1879. Mr.
Stokes, in 1880, spent two months in Florida on a
business speculation, but meeting with better results
in Illinois concluded to abandon Southern enter-
prises and remain in the Prairie State. lie has a.
line assortment of draft horses and mules, and is

quite successful in his present calling. He has been
School Director for several years, is a member of
the United Brethren Church, and, like his father, is
a stanch Democrat.

yiLLIAM II. THORNTON, deceased, well
known to the agricultural community
of Humbolt Township for a period of
twenty-five years, where he engaged in farming and
stock-raising, was a native of Huddersfield, York-
shire, England, born Nov. 20, 1837, and departed
this life at his home in Humbolt Township, Oct.
29, 1879.

Mr. Thornton was the eldest in a family of three
children born to John and Maria (Mallinson)
Thornton, natives of England, who emigrated to
America in 1842, and settled in Cook County, this
State, where the father followed carpentering and
cabinet-making. He also purchased a tract of land
where William II. was reared. The latter received
a good education, completing his studies in
the schools of Chicago. He remained at home
until nearly twenty-one years of age, then returned
to England and spent six months visiting among
his old friends and acquaintances. After coming
back to the United States he engaged in mercan-
tile business in a suburb of Chicivgo for a short
time, but this being uusuited to his tastes lie sold
his stock of goods and coining to Coles County,
purchased sixty-four acres of wild iand of the
Illinois Central Railroad, and for seven years
thereafter was industriously engaged in its improve-
ment an.d cultivation.

Mr. Thornton was married rather late in life on
the 8th of June, 1809, to Miss. Mary G. Jaquess,
third child of Ashhury C. and Jane (Ashworth)
Jaquess, natives respectively of Kentucky and
Tennessee, and they became the parents of ten
children. They removed from the South to Indi-
ana during its early settlement, their daughter
Mary being bom in Posey County, Jan. 30, 1842.
She came to Coles County to visit friends and
there met our subject. After their marriage they
took up their residence on the farm of Mr. Thorn-
ton. lie had never been robust in health and not

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L > 270

COLES COUNTY.

long after liis marriage found his strength unable
to meet the hard demands of labor on the farm.

>

He had added eighty acres to his original purchase,
but in 1877 rented the entire farm, and crossing
the Mississippi settled down in Wichita, Kan.,
where, with his wife who had accompanied him, he
resided nearly two years. The change at first
seemed beneficial but a severe attack of measles
shattered his constitution beyond its power to re-
cover. He returned lo his old home in Illinois
and there closed his eyes upon the scenes of earth.
The life and character of Mr. Thornton had
been such as commended him to the good-will and
affection of a large circle of friends. He was up-
right and conscientious in his dealings, and for many
years prominently connected with the Methodist
Episcopal Church as Class- Leader and Trustee. lie
built up for himself a good record and his name is
held in kindly remembrance by all who knew him.
lie left a widow and three children, the latter named
respectively, James, Wilbur and Nellie. Their
second child, a little daughter named Flora, died
at the age of five years while her parents were
residents of Wichita. Mrs. Thornton continues
on the farm with her family, and with the aid of
her sons carries it on in a commendable and
profitable manner. She 1s carrying out as far as
possible the wishes and plans of her late lamented
husband, carefully superintending the cultivation
of the soil, and giving her attention to stock-rais-
ing. She also is a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church and an active worker therein.

BIJAII D. NEAL, a well-to-do farmer of
llulton Township, is comfortably located
on section 23. and carrying on the various
departments of his chosen calling with in-
telligence and success. He is a native of the lilne
Grass regions, born in Bourbon County, Ky., Pel).
11, 1822, and is the descendant of Jacob Neal,
well known in that section, where he built up a good
home and spent the greater part of his life as a
carpenter and powder-maker. He was born March
24, 1747, and died in his native county, at an ad-
vanced age. His wife was formerly Miss. Ann

«•

Yeamin, who was born Nov. 11, 1751, and they
were married Dec. 4, 1772. They became the
parents of a line family of sons aild daughters, all
of whom reached maturity and among whom was
John T., the father of our subject.

John T. Neal was the youngest son of Jacob and
Ann (Yeamin) Neal, and was born Sept. o, 1795,
in Bourbon County, Ky. His younger days were
spent at home with his parents and his schooling
was very good for those days. After reaching
manhood and making his preparations for the estab-
lishment of a home he was united in marriage with
Miss Nancy Darnels, who was born April 18. 17U(!,
and was the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth
(Rohie) Darnels, natives of Maryland. The young
people after their marriage continued in Bourbon-
County until 1827, then came to Crawford County,
this State, where the death of the father occurred

;. in 1832, when he was but thirty-seven 3'ears of age.
lie had improved his opportunities for gaining in-
formation and taught school several seasons after
coming to Illinois. The mother survived her hus-
band over forty years, her death taking place Sept.
27, 1874, at the home of Lowery, in Clark County,
Illinois.

The six children of the parental family were:
Crauville D., who died May 26, 1880; James, who
also died young; Mary; A. D., of our sketch;

! Joseph T. and Elizabeth. Our subject was the
sixth child of_the family, and with his brothers and
sisters received simply a common-school education,
lie was but eleven years of age when his father
died and continued with his mother until his mar-
riage, which occurred when he was twenty. The
maiden of his choice was Miss Eveline Reed, and
the wedding took place at the home qf the bride
Jan. 27. 1842. Mrs. Neal was born Dec. 20, 1820,
in Kentucky, and was the daughter of Samuel and
Hannah Reed, natives of Virginia. The young
people after marriage settled in Hutton Township,
and in the spring of 1844 removed to the place
which they now occupy. Mr. N. in the spring of
1839, had entered eighty acres of timber land and
now commenced opening up a farm, cutting down
a large quantity of timber, and after much labor had
prepared the greater portion for cultivation. The
change since that time has indeed been great. The

i

COLES COUNTY.

271

household was gradually enlarged by the birth of
children, of whom the record is as follows: Owen
C., born Feb. 19,' 1843, when a youth of nineteen
years, during the progress of the Civil War, en-
listed in Co. K, 123d 111. Vol. Inf., and was killed
at the battle of Perry ville, Oct. 8, 1862; Mary E-,
born Dec. 19, 1844, .became the wife of Chris
Stanbury, and is residing with her husband in Hut-
ton Township; John T. was born Aug. 17, 1847;
Samuel D.,Dec. 3, 1849 ; Vincent T., Feb. 10, 1852;
.Martin P., Oct. 11, 1854; Hannah. M., the wife of
Napoleon Phipps, Oct. 26, 1856, and James E., May
21, 1860. "In about 1864, Mr. Neal met with a
serious and almost fatal accident by a wagon up-
setting with a log upon it, pinning him to the
ground and nearly crushing the life out of him.
He was laid up a year on account of this, but has
now mostly recovered from its effects.

Our subject meddles very little with politics and
has repeatedly declined office, although consenting
to serve his township in local matters. He votes
the straight Republican ticket. Mrs. Neal is a
member in good standing of the Baptist Church.

, EV. SAMUEL MILLS, one of the well-known
figures passing in and out among the peo-
ple of Hutton Township, has been a resi-
Ident of Central Illinois for the past twenty-
one years, and is proprietor of one of the finest
homesteads in Coles Caunty. His residence stands
upon the highest point of land between the Wabash
and Mississippi Rivers and commands a line view
of the surrounding country, which comprises a
beautiful landscape, stretching away fifteen' miles
to the south over the Parker Prairie, including a
delightful valley with just enough of wood and
water to make one of the fairest pictures ever pre-
sented to the eye. The farm has been brought to
a good state of cultivation and the buildings in-
clude a handsome dwelling, a substantial barn, and
all the other appliances of a first-class country
estate. Mr. Mills has been largely instrumental in
effecting these improvements and deserves great
credit for the taste and enterprise which have char-
acterized his labors.

Our subject is the descendant of an excellent

Southern family, his grandfather, Ethelbert Mills,
having been a native of Virginia, where he obtained
a classical education, and for many years afterward
carried on the trade of a hatter. He married the
daughter of Capt. Charles Wells, and there were
born four children, a daughter, Mary, and three
sons. Two of the latter served in the War of 1812,
and one died at Pueblo, Mex. Hiram was a
Christian preacher, and Nicholas a blacksmith by
trade. Samuel C. was the father of our subject,
and Charles, a minister of the United Brethren
Church, and traveled in its interests for a period
of twenty-five years.

Grandfather Mills left his native State in about
1812, or during the war of that period, and emi-
grating to Perry County, Ind., bought a tract of
heavily timbered land, a part of which he cleared
and occupied a few years, then removed to Dubois
County, where he passed the last years of his life.
He survived his wife several years, and both were
buried in the cemetery at Huntingburg. The
Mills family were of English origin, and the pa-
ternal grandmother was of German descent. Her
son. Samuel C., the father of our subject, was born
in Virginia, Feb. 2, 1792, and received a common-
school education. While a young man he learned
the hatter's trade of his father, which, however, he
only followed for a brief time, his tastes inclining
him to a more active life. When twenty-two years
old he entered the army as a substitute, receiving
for his services two laud grants. 'After serving
out his term of enlistment, he returned to his
father's for a time, but re-enlisted in the regular
army and was detailed to duty, running on the
Mississippi River. After serving his time and being
discharged, he purchased a boat and began trading
with the settlers up and down the Father of Waters,
and was thus employed until his marriage. The
lady of his choice was Miss Lucinda Main, who
became his wife in 1818, the wedding taking place
at Cannelton, Perry Co., Ind. Mrs. M. was born
in Lu/erne County, Pa., Aug. 30, 1802. Her
parents, also natives of the Keystone State, re-
moved to Perry County, Ind., during the early
settlement of the State, and were numbered among
its most honored pioneers. After marriage, Mr.
Mills followed his trade at Cannelton a few years,

4

•272

COLES COUNTY.

1

tlii-n purchased a tract of heavily limbered land in
Duhois County and began opening up a farm. He
erected a comfortable house with a good barn and
engaged in the cultivation of the soil for ten years
thereafter. Then, selling out, he removed to a
point near Vincennes in order to give his children
the better advantages of the schools of that section.
This proved his final home and where his death
took place, Nov. 18, 1871.

The father of our subject fought in the noted
battle .of New Orleans, Jan. 8, 1815, and for his
bravery during his whole career as a soldier, re-
ceived the approval of his superior officers and the
respect of his comrades. Notwithstanding his some-
what changeful life, he preserved the high moral
principles in which he had been trained from child-
hood, and for a period of thirty-five years was a
consistent member of the United Brethren Church.
He was reared a Catholic and debarred from read-
ing the Bible, but determined that he would pro-
cure a copy, and for this purpose rode from Dnbois
County to Troy, in Perry County, a distance of
over forty miles, returning with the coveted prize.
This book is now preserved by his son as one of
the most precious relics of the past. The home of
Samuel Mills, Sr., was the abiding-place of the
traveling ministers journeying through that sec-
tion, and his support and influence were uniformly
given to the encouragement of the Gospel. In
early manhood he belonged to the old Whig party,
but afterward cordially endorsed the principles of
the Republicans. The wife of his youth died in
May, 1 858, while they were residents of Knox
County, Ind. She was a lady highly esteemed in
her. community, and the active sympathizer of her
husband in his religious views, belonging with him
to the United Brethren Church. Their thirteen
children were Mary Ann, Allatha. John C., Nicho-
las, Lucinda, Samuel, of our sketch, Rachael, Sarah,
Hannibal, Charles, Harriet and James (twins), and
Martha Jane. The second wife of Samuel Mills,
Sr.. was formerly Miss Mary Overby, who survived
him about five years. Hannibal and Charles Mills
served in the late war under the command of Gen.
Grant in Missouri, and were present at the siege of
Vicksburg. Their regiment was captured by the
rebels, but the Mills boys .made their escape.

James marched with Sherman in his famous cam-
paign from Atlanta to the sea.

Samuel Mills was born in Dubois County, Ind.,
June 13, 1831, and was the third sou of his father
by his first marriage. He received only the advan-
tages of the pioneer schools and remained under
the parental roof until reaching his majority, be-
coming familiar with the various duties of farm
life. Soon after attaining manhood, March 25,
1852, he- was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter
of William Carpenter, of Kentucky. She was born
in Indiana. The young people, after their mar-
riage, located on a tract of land near the Mills
homestead, where our subject had purchased forty
acres, which, added to the same amount which his
father had given him, constituted a snug farm
which he occupied until the spring of 1858. The
work, howevei, was performed by employes, while
our subject engaged in teaching and studying for
the ministry. Upon this place his two oldest chil-
dren were born, and here the mother died March
25, 1858. His eldest son, Sylvester II. , born Jan.
2, 1853, married Miss Parker, of Crawford County,
111., and is farming in Elk County, Kan.; Erminda,
born Oct. 10, 1854, is the wife of James Boyer. a
farmer of Clark County, III.

After the death of his wife, Mr. Mills began the
life of- an itinerant minister, but in due time was
located where he continued until the spring of
1861. He was here married to Mrs. Sarah (Mason)
Cummings, March 14, 185i). Mrs. M. was born in
Knox County, Ind., April 7, 1830, and is the
daughter of Bennett and Mary Mason, natives of
Kentucky. Her father was born in June, 1790,
and died May 12, 1873. The mother, born Feb.
14, 1795, died Sept. 29, 1872. Both were buried
in Maple Bluff Cemetery, in Knox County, Ind.
Mr. Mills was for some time afterward employed
in mission fields, and in the spring of 18C3 was
I elected Presiding Elder and became agent for
; Westfield College, in the interests of which he has
I since labored. From 1 804 until the fall of T881,
| he was a resident of Westfield. Then, his sons,
having become old enough to employ their time
profitably on a farm, he purchased ninety-six and
one-half acres, which constitutes the homestead,
and which the boys have since managed with ex-

f

C'OLKS COUNTY.

eellcnt judgment. Mr. Mills also has eighty acres
five miles distant from the home farm.

The children of our subject and his wife, nine in
number, are recorded as follows: I via E., imni
Dec. 21, 18.3'.), is the wife of Rev. K. Il.Shuey, and
the mother of two children: they are residents of
Clark County, Mr. S. having charge of Shiloh Mis-
sion. Alexander H., born Oct. 23, l.siJl, died when
not quite three years old; Charles W. was born
March 20, 1864; Jennie ,1., born Sent. 5, 1866, be-
came the wife of J. Pickrell, and died Feb. 1 2.
1886; Willie N. was born Nov. 3. 1868; Samuel,
born July 23, 1870, died Feb. 23, 1871 ; Franklin
A. was burn Feb. 24, 1872: Marsh K., March 2,
1875, and Harry Pearl, April 22, 1877.

Mr. Mills has been a member of the Board of
Trustees of Westfield College for a period of
twenty-three years, being much of the time Presi-
dent, which office he now holds. He has been one
of the most aetive laborers for that college, which
is under the supervision of the United Brethren
Church. During the General Conference, which
meets once in four years, he is usually delegated to
legislative duties, and possesses the ability which
has rendered him almost indispensable in connec-
tion with Westfield College and the Church at
AVestfield. He has always supported Republican
principles, and is one of those citizens whose place
in the community could scarcely be filled as well
bv anv other man.

ANIEL CAMPBELL, of Oakland Town-
Ij ship, made his; advent into this State nearly
forty-four years ago, when a young child,
with his parents, who came by team to
Edgar County in 1844. His father entered eighty
acres of land from the Government, and afterward
purchased enough to make a farm of 150 acres,
upon which he has continuously resided since that
time. The homestead proper is pleasantly located
in Oakland Township, on section 28, where, of late
years, in addition to general fanning, he has given
much attention to the breeding of fine; stock, in
which he has met with more than ordinary success.
During his long residence in this section he has

fully established himself in the esteem and confi-
dence of his fellow-citizens, and has become one
of the landmarks whose place can scarcely be filled
when he shall have been gathered to his fathers.

Our subject was born near Fletcher, Miami Co.,
Ohio, Aug. 10, 184-1, -and is the son of Abram and
Martha (Luce) Campbell, natives respectively of
Virginia and Ohio. Abram Campbell was born in
1813, and the mother in 1815. Both are now in
Edgar County. The parental family included
eight children, five of whom are living. Elizabeth
and Ann are deceased ; the latter was the wife of
I. N. Ward, and dierl in Edgar County, 111.; Judia
became the wife of Ezekiel Brading; Daniel, of
our sketch, was the fourth child ; Hester became
the second wife of I. N. Ward, and lives in this
county; Sarah married Ezra Bear; Clara Jane
married John Hodge; Benjamin L. was killed
when about sixteen years of age by being thrown
from a horse.

Daniel Campbell came with his parents to this
State when but an infant, and remained on the
farm of his father until reaching his majority. He
was then united in marriage with Miss Eliza J.
Davis, their wedding taking place on Christmas
Day, in 1862, Rev. William Shields, a Baptist
clergyman of Edgar County, officiating. Mrs.
Campbell was born near Martinsville in Clark-
County, 111., Jan. 24, 1844, and is the daughter of
Thomas and Clarinda (Craig) Davis, natives of
Kentuck3r. They removed from the Blue Grass
regions to this State during its early settlement, be-
fore their marriage. After this event Mr. Davis
purchased a tract of land, from which he built up
a good farm, and which he occupied until the death
of his second wife. He afterward married Mrs.
Lamb, of Edgar County, and with her took up his
residence in that county, where his death occurred
in the spring of 1871. He was a member in good
standing of the Baptist Church, and both parents
possessed those qualities which secured them the
profound respect of those who knew them.

Mr. Campbell became a resident of Oakland
Township in 1H75, and located upon a tract of
eighty acres, where he has since followed mixed
husbandry and become a valued addition to the
farming Community, The household of our sub-

T

4

27.4

COLES COUNTY.

ject and his estimable lady was completed by the
birth of tun children, namely, Sarah K., now de-
ceased; Thomas A., Benjamin L., Martha A.,
William A. and Harriet A., deceased, Estella E.,
Susan C., Lawrence C., and a twin brother of the
latter who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. C. united with the Baptist Church
about fourteen years ago, and are among its most
valued members. Our subject is a Jeffersonian
Democrat, fearless in the expression of his opinions,
and uniformly upholding that which he esteems to
be just and right.

AMES H. WILLIAMS, a prominent farmer
and stock-grower of Paradise Township,
, was born June 12, 1828, in Culpeper Coun-
ty, Va., and is the son of William and Eliza-
beth (Templer) Williams, natives of Virginia.
William Williams was the son of John and Eliza-
beth (Whitescaver) Williams, who were likewise
natives of Virginia. Elizabeth Templer was the
daughtep of James and Martha Templer, both of
whom belonged to old Virginia families.

In early life William Williams enlisted as Captain
and served during a greater part of the War of
1812. He left his native State, and turned west-
ward, when about fifty-two years of age, and set-
tled in Knox County, Ohio. After passing twelve
years there he resolved to push still farther West,
and accordingly removed to Illinois, and settled in
Coles County, where he passed the remainder of
his life. He was an active, energetic man, closely
identified with political affairs, and a stanch Demo-
crat.

When about nineteen years of age, James Will-
iams left his father's house to begin in the world for
himself. He engaged in the first employment that
offered itself — that of breaking prairie in the central
part of the State. After continuing in this business
a few years, he. sold his teams, and went overland
to California to hunt for gold. The journey was
toilsome and hazardous, and required nearly four
months for its accomplishment, but he reached his
destination iu safety, and remained four years in
Nevada City, and that vicinity, engaged in mining.

He was quite successful in this enterprise, and had
it not been for ill-health would have returned in
the possession of a fortune; however, he did well
under the circumstances, and returned to Illinois
in 1854, where he engaged in farming. He con-
tinued in that occupation until May 12, 1862, and
then at the call of his country, enlisted in Co. D,
123d 111. Vol. Inf., under the command of Capt.
James L. Hart and Col. James Monroe. He was
mustered in at Mattoon and ordered to Louisville,
Ky.., and thence to Perry ville, where they encoun-
tered the rebel forces under Gen. Brag-o;, and en-

oo

gaged in one of the hottest battles of the war. He
served throughout the entire war, taking part in
the battles of Selma,. Chickamauga, Milton Hill,
Farmington and many others. At the close of the
war he returned home, and settled on the farm on
section 14, Paradise Township, where he now re-
sides. He first purchased sixty acres and sub-
sequently added 100 more to this.

April. 14, 1880, Mr. Williams was married to Miss
Mary Newcomb. Mrs. Williams is the daughter of
Oliver and Vina (Strovle) Newcomb. Her parents
were natives of Pennsylvania, but removed to Illi-
nois, where their daughter, Mary, was born and
educated in Mattoon. Mr. Newcomb, who was a
carpenter and builder by trade, was engaged in the
employ of the I. & St. L. It. R. Co., for eight years
as a coach builder.

Mr. Williams has erected a fine residence Dn his
property, with other commodious and appropriate
farm buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Williams are both
earnest Christians, although differing in the out-
ward form of their religious views, the former be-
ing a member and Trustee of the Methodist Church,
and the latter a member of the Baptist Church.
They have one son — Oliver. In public affairs, Mr.
Williams has served as Commissioner thirteen years,
and in politics always votes with the Republican
party.

ILLIAM A. COMBS, one of the honored
P'oneers °f this county, was born in Ash-
more Township, July 21, 1837. His parents
were John and Dorcas (Cox) Combs, of Ten-
nessee, who emigrated north during the early set-

*

COLES COUNTY.

275 ^

tlemeut of Illinois. .John Combs was ;i tnilhvriglit
by trade, but also followed fanning and the prac-
tice of medicine; lie only lived to middle age, be-
ing eut~do\vn in his prime when onr subject was a
lad seven years of age. After his death the widow
purchased forty acres of land in Ashmore Town-
ship, to which she removed with her family, and
five years later contracted a second marriage.

When about ten years of age our subject left
home and took up his abode with his brother-in-
law, with whom he remained three years. He then
began life practically for himself, engaging at what-
ever he could find to do, working by the month on
a farm. He had learned no trade, nor had he re-
ceived the advantages of an education. He was
industrious and economical, however, and when
about twenty-five years of age purchased eighty
acres of wild land in Hmnbolt Township, of which
he took possession and proceeded with its cultiva-
tion and improvement for twelve years following.
In the meantime, in 1865, he took unto himself a
wife and helpmeet, namely, Miss Susan Orcutt, a
native of Ohio, and the daughter of Samuel W. and
Roxy (Kellogg) Orcutt, of Massachusetts.

Our subject and his bride located on a farm on
section 35, in Humbolt Township, where they
lived the first 3*ear, and then took possession of his
own land. He is now the owner of 227 acres,
finely improved, with a handsome and substantial
set of buildings, where the proprietor and his fam-
ily are surrounded by all the comforts and conven-
iences of a well-regulated modern homestead. . He
is giving much attention to the raising of graded
stock, including Canadian and Clyde horses, Po-
land-China hogs and Short-horn cattle. His only
son and child remains with him find assists in the
management of the farm.

Of the four children born to William A. and
Susan Combs but one is now living, namely,
Dwight M. He was married, in 1886, to Miss
Annie, daughter of .lohn and Julia Bowman, of
Ohio, and born in Solono County, Cal., in 1866.
The first wife of William A. Combs departed this
life on the 9th of August, 1876, amid the sorrow and
regret of all who knew her. She was a lady pos-
sessing many excellent qualities, and had fulfilled
in an admirable manner the duties of wife and

mother. Mr. Combs was married the second time,
Nov. 6, 1883, to Miss Julia Chambers, a native of
Ohio, and the daughter of Till and Eliza J. (Trot-
ter) Chambers, natives of the same State, who re-
moved first to Illinois and then to Kansas, where
they died several years ago. Of this marriage
there have been no children. Mr. Combs is a Dem-
ocrat politically.

ENRY WRIGHT, foreman of the paint shops
of the I. & St. L. R. R. at Mattoon, has been a
resident of this city since March, 1872. He
has charge of a force of from ten to twenty
men, and from his long experience in matters un-
der his supervision has become fully qualified for
the duties of his responsible position.

Mr. Wright was born on the other side of the
Atlantic, in Stony Stratford, Buckinghamshire, En-
gland, Nov. 22, 1833, 'and is the son of John and
Ann (Baldwin) Wright, also of English birth and par-
entage. John Wright was Superintendent of a large
stable in Calverton, England, which position he held
many years, and died at the advanced age of eighty-
four y ears. The wife and mother lived to be
eighty -seven years old.

Our subject is the youngest of twelve children
born to his parents. He attended school until he
was fourteen years of age. He was then bound
out to serve an apprenticeship of seven years at
painting, and at the expiration of this period,
worked as a journeyman in his native shire until in
July, 1869, when he was nearly thirty- six years of
age. He had in the meantime been married, and
seeing little prospect in his own country for his ad-
vancement or the desired welfare of his family he
decided to emigrate to the New World. Lauding
in Boston he located first at St. Louis and for a
year was engaged with the North Missouri Railroad,
then went to Jefferson City on the Missouri
Pacific, following his trade until 1872. In April of
that year he became connected with the I. & St. L.
R. R. at Mattoon as foreman of the paint depart-
ment, and the length of time which he has been
with the company is sufficient indication of the re-

COLES COUNTY.

spect in which he is held and the value of his
services.

Mr. Wright was married in Stony Stratford, En-
gland, in I860, to Miss Martha Downing, also a
native of Buckinghamshire, and the daughter of
John and Elizabeth (Babbing) Downing, who are
now deceased. Of this union there have been born
seven children, namely, Ada C., Annie, John D.,
Harry, Joseph S., Catherine E. and Thomas A'. Our
subject with his wife and five of their children are
members of the First Congregational Church, and
possessing unusual musical talent have been promi-
nent in this feature of the Church service for the
past seven years. The eldest son, John D., learned
painting of his father, and now has charge of the
paint shops of the C., R. I. & P. R. K. at Keokuk;
Harry is rapidly becoming an expert machinist in
the I. & St. L. shops; Joseph S. is in the shop with
his father.

Mr. \Vright, after becoming a naturalized citizen,
identified himself with the Republican party, and
socially is connected with the Knights of P3'thias.

?1LLIAM M. CHETTLE, manager of the
Western LJiiion Telegraph office at Mat-
toon, is an interesting example of the self-
made man who began early in life to "paddle his
own canoe," and has persevered until he has gained
a position with which any reasonable man should
be satisfied. The early life of our subject until he
was sixteen years old was spent on the other side
of the Atlantic, in Nottingham, England, where his
birth took place Oct. 1(5, 1853.

William M. Chettle is the son of George and Ann
(England) Chettle, also natives of the British Em-
pire, born not far from the birthplace of their son.
The father died in the Crimea of fever in 1855.
He had been a soldier in the English army a greater
part of his life. While away upon his duties his
wife and three children made their home at Notting-
ham. Of these but two are now living, o:ir subject
and his sister, .Mrs. Carrie Thompson, of Hyde
Park, C'ook County, this State. The paternal grand-
father of our subject, George M. Chettle. followed
a soldier's life nearly all hi* day.- and was color- bearer

in an English regiment. The maternal grandfather,
Barnes by name, also served in the Life Guards.

The subject of this sketch was in the military
school at Nottingham from the time he was seven
years old until fifteen. He then went into a print-
ing-office, where he spent ten months, and then
started for the United States. After landing in
New York he proceeded to Indianapolis and was
employed in a telegraph office one year, becoming
quite proficient as an operator. Soon afterward, in
1870, he was sent to Chicago to take charge Qf a
* branch office for the Pan Handle Railroad, and from
there to Stanford, Ky., on the line of the Louisville
& Nashville Railroad. He was for some time after-
ward employed at the different points on this road,
and finally repaired to New Albany, Ind.. where he
became assistant in the Union Telegraph office,
and remained until 1873. Thence he went to
Water Valley^ Miss., where he became Train Dis-
patcher for the Illinois Central. He came to Mat-
toon in 1875, and has held his present position
since that time. He has discharged his duties in a
faithful and efficient manner, and has proved him-
self capable and equal to all emergencies.

Mr. Chettle was married, in 1874, to Miss Emma
Edwards, of New Albany, Ind;. and they are the
parents of two children — Harry and Gertie. Their
residence is located on Broadway. It is in all re-
pects the home of taste and refinement, and is the
resort of a large circle of warm friends. Mr. Chet-
tle, politically, is Democratic, and socially, belongs
to the K. of P.

I/ J. CRAIG, who is located on section 1 1,
Seven Hickory Township, is a native of
Morgan Township, this county, where his
birth took place on the farm of his father,
Isaac Craig, Sept. 11, 1840. He is consequently a
gentleman in the prime of life, and by his industry
and enterprise years ago, became an important
factor among the agricultural and business inter-
ests of this part of Illinois.

Mr. Craig remained a resident of his native
township until a boy nine j'ears of age, when his
parents removed to Edgar County, where he lived

COLES COUNTY.

until reaching his majority, being engaged mostly
in the labors of the farm. In the meantime he had
also acquired a good education and taught school
for six months. This occupation, however, had
little attraction for hinij and desiring a more act-
ive life he returned to this county and located on
a tract of land which is now included in his pres-
ent homestead. He commenced with energy the
task of its improvement and cultivation, and was
greatly prospered in his labors, in due time adding
to his real estate until he was the possessor of 440
acres. He has of late years been largely engaged
in the breeding of fine horses, the head of his sta-
bles being a magnificent Clyde stallion which he
and his brother Lafayette own together, and which
has already become a favorite in this part of the
county.

The subject of this history is one of fourteen
children born to Isaac and Elizabeth (Bloyer)
Craig. The former was a native of Kentucky,
born near West Liberty, Sept. 25, 1810, and re-
mained a resident of his native county until his
removal to this State. He first located in Edgar
County, subsequently coming to this county, then
returned to Edgar, and finally retraced his steps to
this section, locating in Charleston, where he is still
living, retired from active labor but still compe-
tent to look after his banking and real estate inter-
ests.

The first wife of Isaac Craig became the mother
of six children, namely, Lafayette, Robert, Eliza-
beth, Harriet, William R., now deceased, and one
who died young. Mrs. Craig died at the home-
stead in Coles County. He was subsequently mar-
ried to Miss Elizabeth Bloyer, a nutive-of Lancas-
ter, Pa., who had come to this State with her
parents and located in Morgan Township. Of this
union there were born eight children, of whom the
record is as follows: Catherine is married, and a
resident of Charleston Township; her first husband
was T. Beatty, who died while a soldier in the late
war, and she was afterward married to Robert
McMullen; of her first marriage there were born"
two children, and of her second, five. The second
child, James, was born June 29, 1844, and is en-
gaged in the practice of law at Mattoon; he mar-
ried Miss Mary E. Chilton, and they have five

children. Andrew J., born Sept. 11, 1846, married
Miss Sarah Zinks, a native of Edgar County; she
was born Aug. 9, 1848, and is the daughter of
Emanuel and Delilah (Wright) Zinks, natives re-
spectively of Kent. Pa., and North Carolina. They
were the parents of eight children, Mrs. C. being
the youngest. Of this marriage there are three
sons: Luther, born April 19, 1873; Frank H., Aug.
9, 1875, and Arthur E., March 8, 1877. Ellen
Craig was born in April, 1848, and became th<e
wife of Newton .Swaugo, a native of Kentucky,
where his parents are still living; Mr. and Mrs. S.
j had six children, of whom two are deceased; they
are residents of Charleston. Isaac B. Craig, Jr.,
was born in 1850, and married Miss Helen Has-
brook ; he is engaged in the practice of law in Mat-
toon ; they have no clnldren. Benjamin F., born
in 1852, died at home in the fall of 1873. Thomas
J., born in 1865, married Miss Martha Mountjoy;
they have no children, and are residing with the
father in Charleston; Mary F. died when young.

Andrew J. Craig since locating in this county
permanently, has been prominently identified with
its local affairs, and in June, 1874, was elected to
represent Seven Hickory Township on the Count}'
Board of Supervisors and re-elected two years
thereafter. He has of late been largely engaged in
stock-raising, feeding large numbers of cattle and
shipping them to Chicago and other Eastern mar-
kets. He takes a genuine interest in the welfare of
his community, uniformly votes the Democratic
ticket, and is a member in good standing of the
Christian Church.

C. LAYTON, of North Okaw Town-
ship, located on section 28, is a native of
Garrard County, Ky., where his birth took
place April 9, 1822. His family history in
its main points, is briefly as follows: Stephen Lay-
ton, the grandfather of our subject, was a native
of France, under whose sunny.skies he remained
until reaching manhood, and was there married to
Miss Martha Anderson. He emigrated to the
United States in 1774, and settled in South Caro-
lina two years previous to the breaking out of the

278

COLES COUNTY.

Revolutionary War. In this he engaged, as did
his famous countryman. La Fayette, on the side of
the Colonies, fighting in their behalf until they had
secured their independence. He then returned to
his farming interests, and spent the remainder of
his life in the State that he had first selected for
his residence. His wife, the year following his
death, removed to Garrard County, Ky., accom-
panied by her three sons and four daughters. She
remained there the balance of her life, passing
away at the ripe old age of eighty-three years.
Her ten children were named respectively. James,
Annie, Elizabeth, Thomas, John, Stephen, Martha,
William, Lydia and Jennie. All of these, with the
exception of the two latter, became men and
women, and were all married. The parents were
people of the highest moral principles, and mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Among the sons of Stephen and Martha Layton
was William, who became the father of our subject.
He was born in Spartanburg District, S. C., April
9, 1783, and received his education in the schools
of his native county. He was quite young at the
time of his father's death, and removed with his
mother to Garrard' County, Ky.. remaining with
her while she lived. He was married in 1805, to
Miss Mary A. Yator. This lady was born in Ken-
tucky in 1787, and was the daughter of Henry and
Nancy Yator, the former a native of Germany and
the latter of Ireland; both are now deceased. Af-
ter his marriage, William Layton followed boating
on the Mississippi for about fourteen years, and
then learned the trade of a stonemason. This he
pursued several years, and then purchased a farm
in Garrard County, upon which was a gristmill and
a sawmill. These he operated several yetirs, and
then selling out, removed to Butler County, Ky..
where he continued farming until his accumulated
years obliged him to abandon active labor. His
death took place in March, 186(i, when he was
eighty-four years of age. The wife and mother
had died thirty-three years before, March 14, 1833,
while the family resided in Garrard County. The
remains of both were laid to rest in the family
burying-ground of her father. They were mem-
bers of the Baptist Church. William Layton
served in the War of 1812, receiving a Major's

commission, and participating in the battle of New
Orleans. Their children, thirteen in number, were
named respectively, N:mcy, now deceased ; Susan,
Elizabeth. John J. ; Henry C., of our sketch;
Amanda, Margaret, James, Thomas, Mary A.,
Martha; William, who died young, and Abraham,
who died in Tennessee in about 1808.

Henry C. Layton received his education princi-
pally from his wife after they were married, his
early advantages having been extremely limited.
The country around his father's homestead was
thinly settled, and the nearest school-house was at
least four miles distant, the path to it being marked
by blazed trees. He remained a member of the
parental household until twenty-four years of age,
and was then united in marriage with Miss Martha
J. Logan, the wedding taking place at the home of
the bride, Dec. 3, 1844. Mrs. Logan was born in
Garrard County, Ky., Sept. 29, 1827, and is the
daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Layer) Logan,
natives respectively of North Carolina and Virginia.
Her paternal grandfather. Timothy Logan, went to
Kentucky with Daniel Boone, of whom he was a
close associate, and his nearest chum during the
Revolutionary days. After his marriage Mr. Lay-
toij purchased land in Garrard County, upon which
he operated until 1853, then sold 'out and moved
to Macon County, 111., in the fall of the year.
There he purchased 150 acres of land, which he oc-
cupied thirteen years and then sold out, and with
the proceeds came to this cqunty and purchased
120 acres near Fuller's Point in North Okaw Town-
ship. Here he resided eleven years and then
leased the northeast quarter of section 28, of which
he has since retained possession. He has brought
about many improvements upon his later purchase,
and has become one of the familiar figures of this
section, whose place it would be difficult to supply.
He and his estimable wife are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically, Mr.
L. uniformly upholds the principles of the Demo-
cratic party. He served as Assessor one term, and
has been School Director a number of years. The
thirteen children of our subject and his wife are
recorded as follows: Elizabeth, born March 5,
1847, is the wife of Henry McDaniel, a resident of
Nebraska; William T., born April 24, 1848, mar-

COLES COUNTY.

279

ried Miss Lucy Ross, and is living in Coles County;
Mary A., liorn Jan. 19, 1850, is the wife of Mai-tin
V. Kllis, of Gage County, Neb.; .1. Hugh, born
Sept. 24, 1851, married Miss Louisa Rightsell, and
is living in Stoddard Count}-, Mo.; John .)., born
May 31, 1853, died Sept. 12,- 1854; James M.,
born May 14, 1855, died on the 24th of Scpten ber
following; Amanda, born April 4, 1857, died Dec.
0. 1858; Margaret A., born June 23, 1859, died
Sept. 29, 1800; Laura, born June 4, 1802, is living
with her parents; Frances M., born April 16, 1804,
is a resident of Kansas; Andrew J., born May 31,
1800, is at home; Louis C., born April 16, 1808,
died in July following; Charles was born Oct. 27,
1869.

Stephen and William Layton, the grandfather
and great uncle of our subject, were the only mem-
bers of their family who came to the United States.
They both settled in South Carolina, but William,
becoming dissatisfied, started for Vermont, and
was never afterward heard from.

yiLLIAM H. COMBS, located on section 19,
Morgan Township, is the son of William
and Margaret (Myers) Combs, and was
born in Clark County, Ind., Dec. 20, 1844. The
father of our subject was born near Pittsburgh,
Pa., and died in Clark County, Ind., when forty-
five years of age. He had emigrated to that State
in earlv manhood during its first settlement, when
man}- of the people took refuge in the forts as a
protection against the Indians.

The father of William Combs, Sr., was a native
of Wales. The maternal grandfather of our sub-
ject was of German parentage and born in Penn-
sylvania. He grew to manhood in his native State,
and going to Spencer County. Ky., located there,
reared a family, and remained a resident until quite
old. He then went to Clark County, Ind.. where
he died at the home of his son-in-law, William
Combs, Sr., at the age of ninety-three years.
Grandmother Myers had died in Kentucky when
seventy-six years of age. Their family consisted
of nine children, all now deceased, and two of
whom spent their last days in Indiana, Grand-

father Myers was a cabinet-maker by trade, with
which he occupied himself in Pennsylvania and
Kentucky, and being fond of country life also pur-
chased a farm and carried on agriculture. There-
is in the family of Mrs. Cofer, a sister, a large side-
board which vvas made by Grandfather Myers and
is greatly valued as a relic of the past.

William Combs, Sr., learned the trade of a shoe-
maker when a young man, which he followed dur-
ing the early part of his life, principally in the
winter seasons, and manufactured the shoes for his
family after he was married. Miss Margaret Myers
became his wife in the spring of 1823, in Spencer
County, Ky.. whence they afterward migrated to
Clark County, Ind., where they remained until
June 1. 1853. They then came to this county and
located on a part of the land which is the present
home of our subject. William Combs, Sr., first
purchased 352 acres of land for which he paid $10
per acre. Of this eighty acres were fenced, and
there had been built a log house, which the family
occupied for a number of years. In about 1855,
Mr. C. put up the dwelling which is now occupied
by his son, our subject, and the lumber for which
was hauled by teams from Terre Haute, Ind. Mr.
Combs finally became the owner of 618 acres of
land, but had parted with considerable of it at the
time of his death. At the settlement of the estate,
his son William received forty-five acres.

William Combs, Sr., died on the homestead
which he had established in this county, Sept. 1 ,
1874, being in the seventy-second year of his age.
The children of the parental family were nine in
number, viz., Sarah Ann, Mary J., Jessie, Nancy
B., Catherine, Maggie J., William II., Rachel E.
and John. The mother of these children departed
this life on the 2d of July. 1881, having survived
her husband nearly seven years. She had been a
devoted member of the Christian Church for a
period of forty-one years, and with her husband
had trained up her children in the same faith. The
father of our subject had been a Deacon in this
Church from 1854 to the time of his death. He wns
social and genial in his nature, and delighted to
talk about one adventure in his life when he joined
twenty or thirty of his neighbors and Marled on a
bear hunt. Tradition does not state how many

280

COLES COUNTY.

:iiiiin:ils they found or killed, but there is no doubt
but that the honest old pioneers made of it a very
enjoyable occasion.

The subject of this sketch owns 175 acres of good
land which was a part of the old homestead of his
father, and where he has resided since a boy of nine
years old. Here he developed into manhood and
was married, Oct. 9, 1874, to Miss Marietta Lip-
pincott, of Morgan Township. The wedding oc-
curred at the home of the bride's parents, and the
happy pair took a trip to the capital of the State,
making an examination of the public buildings and
visiting other points of interest. I'pon their return
they settled contentedly down to housekeeping, and
since then have been living quietly and contentedly,
rearing their children and enjoying the confidence
and esteem of their neighbors. Of their union
there were born five children, viz., Ollie May, who
died when an interesting little girl of four years;
Clara Williams; Freddie 15., Nellie and Elmore.

Mr. Cotnbs and his family occupy a substantial
and commodious dwelling, and the barns and out-
houses are in keeping with the general thrift and
enterprise of the proprietor. Our subject, politi-
cally, is a reliable Republican, and with his wife, a
member in good standing of the Christian Church,
in which he was reared. He keeps himself well
posted upon current events, is interested in the wel-
fare of his community, and has served as School
Director for the past five or six years.

US. SARAH E. CUNNINGHAM, widow of
the late Hon. James T. Cunningham, comes
iS of a family widely and favorably known in
this section of Illinois, being the daughter
of Rev. Thomas and Martha (Patterson) Threlkeld,
natives of Scott County, Ky. Her paternal grand-
parents were Jesse and Lucinda (Campbell) Threl-
keld, natives of Virginia, who removed to Owen
County, Ky.,atan early period in its history. They
engaged in agricultural pursuits, and became the
parents of nine children, of whom Thomas, the
father of our subject, was the eldest born.

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Cunninghiini

were Matthew and Margaret (Mcllatten) Patterson,
natives of Pennsylvania, whence they removed
early in life to Scott County. Ky., and there spent
the remainder of their days. Martha, the mother of
Mrs. C., was their eldest child. Mr. Patterson was a
surveyor, and acquired a good property in Kentucky.
Uev. Thomas Threlkeld was a minister of the Bap-
tist Church, and commenced preaching in Ken-
tucky when twenty-two years old. lie served in
the War of 1812, and came to Illinois in 1830, set-
tling in Coles County on a tract of land in Lafay-
ette Township, where he fanned and administered
to the spiritual wants of the people until arriving
at the advanced age of seventy-one years. He
preached his last sermon in" the Baptist Church at
Mattoon, when so feeble that he was unable to
stand, and survived but three weeks afterward,
dying at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Cunning-
ham, in the village of Mattoon, April 1'J, 1805.

Mr. Threlkeld was a man singularly gifted with
those qualities of character which obtained for him
the universal respect and esteem of all who knew
him. He possessed more than ordinary ability, and
represented Coles County in the Legislature of Illi-
nois in 1841. His amiable and estimable wife
l>assed to the better land in 1862. Of their nine
children but two are now living, namely, Mrs. Cun-
ningham, and Nancy, the wife of Gen. Milton
True, of Sevvard County, Neb.

The marriage of Miss Sarah E. Threlkeld and
John T. Hendricks was celebrated at the home of
the bride's parents in Lafayette Township, in 1839.
Mr. H. was a native of Cynthiana, Harrison Co.,
Ky., born in 1811, and the son of John and Cyn-
thia (Wilson) Hendricks, natives of the same place.
John Hendricks, Sr., came to Illinois at an early
day, and locating in Moultrie County, formerly
Shelby County, engaged in farming and merchan-
dising until his decease. Of his marriage there
were born two children, John T. and Poll}' A. The
latter became the wife of Charles W. Nabb, and
both are now deceased. The son, John T., after
arriving at suitable years, also engaged in farming
and merchandising, like his father before him, and in
1839 was appointed Postmaster at Whitley's Point.
He was stricken down in his prime, however, dying
in the spring of 1841. By his marriage he

T

f

COLES COUNTY.

281

was the father of two children : Cynthia A., who
married Ira James, of Mattoon, and had three chil-
dren— John <J., Frank P. and Justin C. John C^.
married Miss Mattie 1). Stubbing, and they have
two children; Frank 1'. married Harrietts Watt;
Justin C. married Miss Florence K. Weaver. Mrs.
Cynthia James died in 1872. Martha 1C. Hendricks
became the wife of J. W. Doran, of Mattoou, and
has three children, namely, Thomas T., who mar-
ried Miss Emma Casey, of Boston, Mass., and is
the father of one child, Thomas J., a resident of
Washington, D. C. ; the others are Laura B. and
Nellie R. Mr. Hendricks was a Democrat, politi-
cally, and a prominent member of the Christian
Church.

Mrs. Hendricks was the second time married, in
1852, to Hon. James T. Cunningham, who was born
in llardin County, Ky., in 1802, and was the son
<>f Wright and Nancy (Taylor) Cunningham, of
the same State, where they were numbered among
the most highly respected members of the agricult-
ural community, Mr. Cunningham came to this
State in 1880. He had formerly been married to
Miss Elizabeth C. Yocum, of Kentucky, who de-
parted this life in September, 1848. After his
marriage he continued farming in Coles County,
became possessor of a large area of valuable land,
and also purchased and sold cattle extensively. He
was elected to the Illinois Legislature six times
from Coles Count}', and served as Justice of the
Peace a number of years. He was largely identi-
fied with the business interests of Mattoon Town-
ship, and was instrumental in the organization of
the first bank. In 1800 he was the Congressional
nominee of the Republican party, but defeated with
the balance of his ticket. Mr. and Mrs. Cunning-
ham became the parents of two children: Nancy T.,
now deceased, and Elizabeth C. Mason, of Mattoon,
who is the mother of two children — Bertha and
Burton.

Mrs. Cunningham is passing her declining years
among her children and the friends who gathered
around her many years ago. and to whom she be-
came endeared by her amiable and excellent quali-
ties. She is blest with an abundance of this world';-
goods, and is kind and hospitable, always mindful
of the comfort of those less fortunately situated.

She united with the Baptist Church in 1H43. but
became connected with the Christian Church in
1865, and is an active member of the Home and
Foreign Missionary Societies.

AMUEL E. CHAPMAN, who has followed
farming a large part of his life, is at pres-
ent engaged in the manufacture of brick
and tile within the town limits of Oakland,
with whose business and industrial interests he has
been identified for the past forty-five years. He is
a fine illustration of the self-made man, who com-
menced life at the foot of the ladder, and by his
energy and perseverance has made of it a gratifying
success. Besides his property in Oakland he owns
one of the finest farms in Douglas Count}', which is
under a high state of cultivation, and said to be
excelled by none in the State in point of quality.

Mr. Chapman is a native of Brown County,
Ohio, born May 8, 1821, and is the son of Benja-
min and Indiann (Ellis) Chapman, natives of the
same State. The father followed farming, and died
in his prime, when forty years of age, in 1835. The
mother, who was some years younger than her hus-
band, survived him fifteen years, dying in Illinois
in what is now Douglas County, in 1850. The rec-
ord of their children is as follows: Henry married
Miss Black, and is a resident of Douglas County ;
Samuel, of our sketch, was the second son; Eliza-
beth E. died many years ago; Adam F. married
Miss Porter, who died after a few years, and his
second wife was Miss Ramsey, of Bracken County,
Ky.; Mary died in Brown County, Ohio, when a
child of six years, and Benjamin F. died some years
ago in New Mexico.

When' Mr. Chapman set out in life for himself he
embarked in merchandising, carry ing a stock of dry-
goods, groceries and jewelry, and also furnished
undertakers' materials. After a successful trade of
six years he was burned out, in 1880, and only re-
covered about $1,700 insurance on a building and
stock worth *7,500. He had become a prominent
factor in the business interests of Oakland, and this
misfortune was a severe blow, but he lost no time
in repining, and not long afterward established his

i

282

COLES COUNTY.

present business. He has_ worked hard and been
very successful, and is now running tbe largest fac-
tory in the township. His product is of first-class
quality, and he burns about -200,000 tile per year.

Mr. Chapman has been President of the Town
Board for man}" years, and School Director for fif-
teen years. He served as Constable in Douglas
County four years, and acquitted himself creditably
in the duties of a position which called for careful
work and cool judgment. Politically he is a true-
blue Republican and socially has been identified
with the Masonic fraternity for a period of twenty
years.

The lady who has been the worthy and estimable
companion of our subject for more than thirty
years, was formerly Miss Charlotte ,1. Coleman, to
whom he was married in September, 1855. Mrs.
Chapman is a native of Indiana, born in Vermillion
County, in March, 1832, and removed with her
parents to Vermilion County, III., and afterward to
Douglas County. Of this union there was born one
child only, a son, Alfred N., who married Miss
Belle Curtis, and is following the trade of a car-
penter in Terre Haute, Ind.

JLLIAM CLARK, a native of Greene Coun-
ty, Pa., was born Feb. 14, 1814, and was
the ninth in a family of thirteen children,
the offspring of Samuel and Lydia (Strong) Clark.
His father was a shoemaker by trade, but strongly
inclined to a country life, and occupied a farm in
Greene County, while at the same time carrying on
his trade as time and opportunity afforded. He
removed from his native State to Ohio while still a
young man, and thence to Harrison County, Ind.,
where he continued to pursue his farming opera- -
tions and shoemaking until resting from his earthly
labors, at the ripe old ago of eighty-seven years.
In the meantime he had served in the War of
1812, and frequently related many interesting in-
cidents of army life, the remembrance of which
contimi.'d with him until his last days. He was a

man of much intelligence and kept pace with cur-
rent events.

The mother of William Clark died when her son
was too young to remember her. He continued on
the farm with his father until thirteen years old,
and in the meantime worked considerably at cabi-
net-making. At the age of fourteen he went to
learn the hatter's trade, and followed this nine
years, afterward engaging in the dry-goods trade
at Cynthiana, Ind. From there he removed not
long afterward to Portland, this State, transport-
ing his stock and settling up his business there.
His next removal was to Brandywine, and thence
to Beard's Mill, where he ran a country store one
year, and then traded his stock of goods for eighty
acres of land. It had been partially improved and
he at once began its cultivation, occupying it just
thirteen years to a day. In the meantime, on the
29th of November, 1839, he was united in mar-
riage with Miss Sarah A., daughter of Ephraim and
Winnifred (Hood) Tucker, and who was the third
in a family of eight children. Mrs. Clark was born
in Preble County, Ohio, July 6, 1818. Her father
had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, but
soon after entering the army was disabled from act-
ive service.

Mr. and Mrs. Clark soon after their marriage lo-
cated on the eighty-acre farm first purchased by
our subject. After selling this Mr. C. came to this
county and purchased 150 acres of improved land
on section 32, in Mattoon Township, taking posses-
sion on the 1st of September, 18.03. With the ex-
ception of two years spent in Mattoon for the pur-
pose of completing the education of their children,
this has been the home of our subject and his wife
for the last thirty-four years. He developed into
one of the best farmers in this section, and in-
vested his surplus capital in additional land until
he became the owner of about 800 acres, embrac-
ing some of the choicest soil in this locality. Ili>
residence and other farm buildings are tasteful and
substantial structures, and the entire premises has
the air of peace and plenty, while the stock and
pasture lands each year yield a handsome income
to the proprietor. lie and his estimable wife are
now passing down the hill of life, but the}" have
made for themselves a good record, and one of

LIBRARY
OF THE

OF ILLINOIS

.< - .: ..." 1-: ±. ' :'

RESIDENCEOFT. A.BENSLEY,5Ec.2l.(R.10.E)HuTTON TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCEANO BARN OF F.VAIL, JACKSON ST., CHARLESTON, ILL.

RESI DEMCE OF GEO.L. MILLER, SEC. 23. NORTH OKAW TOWNSHIP.

7

COLES COUNTY.

285

which their descendants wiH never he ashamed.
Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Clark one died in infancy. The survivors are
Mary Angeline. Eliza Jane, William Henry, Martha
Ann, Samuel Ephraim, Kmma Kli/abcth and .lames
Calvin.

N. COFER is the owner of a fine
estate containing 320 acres of land, located
on section 29, Seven Hickory Township,
where he carries on a large business in fanning and
stock-growing. He was born July 20, 1839, in
Hardin County, Ky., and is the son of Col. John
and Eleanor (Magill) Cofer. His boyhood and
youth were passed on the homestead in his native
township until 1854, when his parents removed to
Illinois. Their family located six miles west of
Oakland, and their house was the last dwelling on
the western borders of that settlement until the
belt of timber was reached, at the extreme* western
limits of the county. They purchased land, and
during the first year devoted 25(1 acres to corn and
seventy-five to oats, but nearly all of their crops
were lost, owing to the unusually dry weather which
prevailed during that season. Mr. Cofer had pur-
chased 130 head of cattle, and was obliged to drive
them to the head of Lake Fork, northwest of Ar-
cola, to -furnish feed for them until spring. They
resided on this place three years, and then returned
to their old home, where after two years they were
burned out, losing all of their household property.
On the 23d of November, 1870, Thomas Cofer
was united in marriage with Miss Rachel E. Combs,
by Elder Samuel Miller, Pastor of the Christian
Church, who is still living, and has reached the age
of seventy years. Mrs. Cofer was born July 29,
1846, in Clark County Ind., and is the daughter of
William and Margaret (Myers) Combs. Her par-
ents removed to Illinois in 1853, and settled in
Morgan Township, where they passed the remain-
der of their lives. Mr. and Mrs. Cofer have an
interesting family of four children: Thomas N. .1..
born Sept. 1, 1871; William E., Dec. 10, 1872;
John C., Feb. 17, 1874, and Margaret E., March

2X, 1X80.

Mr. Cofer is active and enterprising in business,

and has brought his farm to a fine state of cultiva-
tion. His residence is .substantial and comfortable,
and all of his farm buildings are well appointed
and kept in excellent order. His genial disposition
and integrity of character in all the relations of
life have won a large circle of friends both in busi-
ness and in social life. Mr. and Mrs. Cofer differ
in the outward form of their religious faith, the
former belonging to the Methodist and the latter
to the Christian Church at Rural Retreat. Mr. and
Mrs. Cofer are members of the Grange and active
in promoting its interests.

[/AMES \V. CRAIG, attorney and counselor
at law, and a resident of Mattoon, was born
in Morgan Township, this county, June 29,
1844. He is the offspring of a well-known
and highly respected family, being the son of Isaac
N. and Elizabeth (Bloyer) Craig, natives of Ken-
tucky and Pennsylvania respectively. The pater-
nal grandfather of our subject. Robert Craig, a na-
tive of Virginia, removed to Kentucky when a
young man, and located on the Licking River,
where he became one of the most prosperous far-
mers of that region. Desiring, however, to come
North, he, in 1828, removed to Clark County, 111.,
where he followed his former occupation, and be-
came prominent among the well-to-do and reliable
citizens of that locality.

The Craig family is of Scotch ancestry, and the
great-grandfather of our subject served as a soldier
in the Revolutionary War, and religiously, was a
Scotch Presbyterian of the old school. His son,
Robert, served in the War of 1812. His grandson,
Isaac N., the father of our subject, was in the Black
Hawk War,1 a part of which was fought on the soil
of Illinois. On the maternal side of the house the
Bloyers were from Switzerland, whence they emi-
grated at an early day and- settled in Lancaster,
Pa. After the death of Grandfather Bloyer, the
mother came with her family to this county, and
located at Charleston, where she resided until her
death. Isaac N. Craig made farming his business
<luring the early part of his life, but retired from
active labor many years ago, having accumulated

i

t

COLES COUNTY.

a fine property, and is now living in Charlestun,
surrounded by all tlie comforts of life. His biog-
raphy will be found elsewhere in this volume.

The parental family of our subject included nine
children, and James W., of our sketch, was the fifth
of the family. He remained on the farm with his
parents until twenty years of age, and received a
practical education at the country schools, being
fond of his books and ambitious to excel. Before
reaching his majority he entered the office of Col.
O. B. Ficklin, where he engaged in reading lavv
from July, 1864, to the fall of the following year.
Afterward he entered the law department of the
Michigan University at Ann Arbor, from which he
was graduated in 1867. Soon afterward he formed
a partnership with Col. Ficklin, and commenced
the practice of his profession in Charleston. He
removed to Mattoon in 1868, but continued in
partnership with the Colonel several years. His
progress has been steadily onward. In 1872 he was
elected States Attorney for Coles County, which
office he held four years, and aside from this has
built up a profitable and extensive practice. At
the s:une time he has been interested in the moral
and intellectual welfare of the community around
him. interesting himself in the city schools, and is
at this time President of the Board of Education.

The marriage of James \V. Craig and Miss Mary,
the daughter of James and Lavina (Dore) Chilton,
was celebrated at the bride's residence, June 17,
1868. Mr. and Mrs. Chilton were natives of Mary-
land and Maine respectively, whence they both
emigrated West in their youth, and were married
in Scott County, this State. Mr. C., during his
early manhood, engaged in merchandising, but in
1860 sold out his stock of goods and repaired to a
farm north of Charleston.

Our subject and wife have become the parents of
four children, namely, Lizzie I., Edward C., James
\V.and Donald B. They occupy :i handsome home
in the western part of Mattoon, and number among
their friends the most cultivated people of the city.
Mr. Craig, politically, is a stanch adherent of the
Democratic party, and socially a member in good
standing of the Masonic fraternity. As a citizen
and business man he ranks with the prominent and
successful element of Central Illinois.

Isaac B. Craig, who is the junior of his brother
by nearly eleven years, was born on the farm in
Morgan Township, April :!8, 1855, and remained
there, attending the district school during the win-
ter season, until a youth of eighteen years. He then
entered the High School at Charleston, where he
was graduated, and later commenced studying law
under the instruction of Col. O. B. Ficklin <fe Co.
He completed his legal education in the University
at Ann Arbor, and commenced practice at Mat-
toon in 1870. That year also he was united in mar-
riage with Miss Helen, the daughter of Abram and
Susan (Smith) Hasbronck, of Mattoon. He bids
fair to follow in the footsteps of his brother, who
has attained to such success and popularity, and is
a worthy representative of one of the finest families
in the State.

f AMES KANE owns eighty acres of good
laud on section I-'-, in Humbolt Township,
where he has built up a good home and is
surrounded by all the comforts of life, lie
commenced life without means and his accumula-
tions are the result of his own perseverance and
energy. His birthplace was on the other side of the
Atlantic in the city of Belfast, Ireland, in about
December, 18.'H, and he is the only survivor of ten
children born to his parents, Patrick and Eliza
(O'Harry) Kane. The parents also died in their
native Ireland many years ago. Their children
were named respectively, Mary, Rosanua, Eliza,
Sarah, Ellen, Margaret, John Patrick, Robert and
James, our subject being the youngest. Mr. Kane
spent his boyhood and youth in his native city,
and after beginning to think of the future, saw
little in that part of the world to induce him to
remain. Accordingly in 1854, he secured passage
on a sailing-vessel, and after a voyage of seven or
eight weeks, found himself in the city of New
York. From there he proceeded to Philadelphia
and Pittsburgh, and commenced in earnest the later
battle of life. The year following his arrival in
this country he was united in marriage with Miss
.Mary Brady, their wedding taking place in Madison,
Ind., on the 15th of May, 1S5G. Mrs. K. is a
native of the same country as her husband, born '

COLES COUNTY,

287

in County Math, in 1836, and is the only child of
James and Rosanna (Riley) Brady, also natives of
Ireland. Her father died in the county of his
birth, and her mother, emigrating to this country,
departed this life in the city of New Orleans in
about 1850.

The eleven children of Mr. and Mrs. Kane are
Eliza, John, Patrick, Robert, James, Rosanna;
Ellen, the wife of John Stewart, of Indiana; Sarah.
Mary, Margaret and Daniel C. All are members
of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Kane, politically,
votes with the Democratic party. During the late
war he enlisted as a Union soldier in the 22d
Indiana Infantry, participating in many important
battles, and being wounded at Pea Ridge in both
feet by a piece of shell. He was mustered in in
1861 and discharged in 1863.

EDMAN is a substantial farmer, re-
siding in the eastern part of Pleasant Grove
Township, his land adjoining the Em ban-as
;lliver, where his father located in 1853. He
is the sou of Jacob and Mahala (Armstrong) Ed-
man, his maternal grandparents being Jarred and
Agnes (Hines) Armstrong (see sketch of Joseph
Armstrong.). Jacob Edman was born Jan. 30^
1807, in Highland County, Va., and passed his early
life in his native State, where his marriage to
Miss Mahala Armstrong took place in 1831.

In 1852 Mr. Edman removed with his family to
Illinois, and settled in Coles County, where he
passed the remaining years of his life engaged in
agricultural pursuits. His wife did not long sur-
vive the removal from her Southern home to the
harsh climate of Illinois, but died soon after their
arrival here, leaving a family of seven children,
whose record is as follows: Abel and Welling-
ton1, deceased ; the latter served in the Civil War in.
the 8th Illinois Infantry, and was killed at the
battle of Shiloh. The names of those living are :
Joseph, Martha. Alary, Kenny and Jacob. Mr.
Edman was married the second time, to Miss
Frances Rodgers. Several children were born to
thi> marriage, three of whom are now living —
Robert, Anna and John. Mr. Edman's death

occurred Feb. L'S, 1883. He was a consistent
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church until a
few years previous to his death, when he attached
himself to the United Brethren Church. He left an
e>t:ite of 188 acres of land and his widow still sur-
vives him.

Kenny Edman was born Feb. IS), 1841), in High-
land County, Va., and was a child when his parents
left their native State and removed to Illinois. He
has been a resident of this county since that period,
where he was reared on his father's farm. In 1871
he married Miss Eliza Hughes. Mrs. Edman is the
daughter of William and Ellen Hughes, and is a
native of this county. After his marriage Mr. Ed-
man engaged in farming on rented land until 1884.
He then purchased a tract of land containing 168£
acres, to which he has since added seventy-one,' all
of which is well' cultivated and improved. Mr.
Edman is industrious and energetic in business, and
courteous and hospitable in his home.

Mr. and Mrs. Edman have a family of live chil-
dren— Fred, Charles, Fannie, Minnie and Wesley.
Mr. Edman, deeply regretting the limited educa-
tional advantages of his own boyhood, is very desir-
ous of affording his children the inestimable
privileges of a liberal education. He is a member
of the Methodist Church, and in politics always
votes with the Republican part}'.

|7 ENRY EYERSOLE, a prominent farmer
and stock-grower of Seven Hickory Town-
ship, is the owner of a fine estate contain-
ing 240 acres of valuable land, located

^^x

on section •>•!. He was born Oct. 2, 1831, in Fair-
field County, Ohio, and is the son of David and
Elizabeth (Miller) Eversolc. His great-grandfather
was a native of Germany, who emigrated to this
country and settled in Pennsylvania. His grand-
father was born in that State, but subsequently
removed to Virginia, where his father, David
Eversolo, was born, and where his marriage to Mi:-s
Elizabeth Miller took place. She was likewise :t
native of Virginia. A family of ten children was
born to them, all of whom, with one exception, are
now living. Maria is the wife of Joseph Graham,

t.

288

COLES COUNTY.

and they live in Fail-field County, Ohio; Lizzie
died of measles at the age of eighteen; .Jacob is
married and resides in Shelby County, 111.; Eman-
uel is married and lives in Iroquois County, this
State; David is married, and residing in Van Wert
County, Ohio; John P. is married and a resident
of Fairfield County, Ohio; Lydia is the wife of N.
Peters, and they live in Fairfield, Ohio; Nancy is
the wife of Abrain Turner, and resides in Woodford
County, 111.; Martha, the wife of Jacob Tidd, also
resides in Fail-field County. Ohio; Henry is the
subject of this sketch.

Henry Ever-sole lived on the homestead until the
age of twenty-eight, then in 1854 came to Coles
County. His marriage to Miss Sarah J. Work took
place Oct. 21, 1858. Mrs. Eversole is the youngest
daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Henley) Work,
and was born Oct. 10, 1836, in Clark County, Ind.
Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and her
mother of North Carolina. Mrs. Work's family
were among the earliest settlers of Indiana. Her
parents made the long, toilsome journey from North
Carolina to that State by team, and their daughter
Elizabeth walked a great part of the way. Mr.
and Mrs. Work's family consisted of ten children,
four of whom are deceased. Jesse resides in
Missouri; Campbell C. is married, and lives in
Texas; Samuel resides in Hot Springs, Ark.;
Louisa is the wife of John Beggs, and resides in
Clark County, Ind.; Elizabeth is the wife of
James Wheatly, an extensive farmer residing in
Seven Hickory Township, and Sarah J. Mr. and
Mrs. Eversole had a fain i [3- of five children born
to them. Lula L., born Jan. 16, 18(iO, resides at
home; McClellan, born Aug. 25, 1861 ; Henley,
July 31, 1863; John H., Feb. 17, 18G7, and Bert,
born Nov. 30, 1872, died Sept. 13, 1873. The
latter was a beautiful child, the pride of the family,
and his death was a great blow to his parents. The
children all reside at the homestead, and the two
eldest sons, who are talented, well-educated j'oung
men, teach school during the winter and assist
their father on the farm in the summer. They are
all bright and intelligent, and their parents may
well take a justifiable pride in them.

Mr. Eversole came to Coles County in isfil.and
lived for one year on what is known as Greedy

Point, and bought a quarter of a section of land,
the part of section 23 that now belongs to Ely
Foster. After selling his property to Mr. Foster
he returned to Ohio, but came back soon after, and
in 1858 settled on the farm where he now resides.
His pleasant and commodious residence is located
in a fine grove, and his farm buildings are all sub-
stantial and well appointed. He also owns 400
acres of excellent land in Butler County, Kan.
With his wife and family. Mr. Eversole is a mem-
ber of the Christian Church at Rural Retreat. In
politics he is a Republican.

I/OHN W. B. GROVE, a valued member of
the farming community of Charleston, came
to this State in the spring of 1864, and com-
menced operations on a tract of rented land
in Douglas Count}-. A year later he removed to a
point about four miles from the town of Charleston,
where he rented a farm one year, and then pur-
chased 181 acres, which lie occupied six years.
This he afterward sold and took up his residence
at Charleston, where he engaged in the hotel busi-
ness two years, and afterward spent a year in Kan-
sas. Then returning to Illinois, he leased the place
which he now occupies, and upon which he has
since remained.

Mr. Crove is a native of Fayette County, Pa.,
his birth taking place Aug. 15, 1817. His parents,
Parry and Mary (Sprinkle) Grove, were also na-
tives of the Keystone State, where the father en-
gaged both in farming and trading in grain until
his removal to Ohio, in 1844. There he located in
Fairfield County, where he pursued farming until
removing to Champaign County,, in that State,
when he changed his occupation somewhat, aiid
conducted a hotel until resting finally from his la-
bors. He was a man of great energy and industry,
which qualities he preserved until the close of a
long and eventful life, his death taking place July
2, 1H81, after he had arrived at the age of eighty-
live years. 11 is wife, Mary, had preceded him to
the silent land, her death taking place May 21,

t

COLES COUNTY.

1

1872, lu-r age sixty-nine years and eight months.
Their children were named respectively, John W.
B., Mary M., Henry, Matilda.. Elizabeth, Shepard,
William, Maria and Sarah I,. With the exception
of Henry and Maria, who died when young, these
are all living. The father descended from Knglish
ancestry, and the mother from the German. Parry
Grove was a genuine Jacksonian Democrat, a great
admirer of " Old Hickory," a man of decided
views, and fearless in the expression of them.
Both parents were connected with the Presbyterian
Church, and reared their children to strictly observe
the rules and regulations laid down for the govern-
ment of its members.

The subject of this history, in common with his
brothers and sisters, was trained in early life to
habits of industry, and when but fifteen years old
could drive a four-horse team and take a large
Pennsylvania wagon-load of grain safely to its des-
tination many miles away. He continued a mem-
ber of the parental household until twenty-three
years of age, in the meantime having been married.
After this event he fanned twelve years in his na-
tive State, and in 1854 emigrated with his family
to Champaign County, Ohio. He first located on
a farm near Urbana. which he rented five years,
and afterward leased a hotel which he conducted
three years. In 1804 he desired to proceed further
westward, and came to Douglas County, this State.
His subsequent career we have already indicated.

The wife of our subject, to whom he was mar-
ried in the spring of 1840, was formerly Miss Jane
Gettys, a native of his own county, and who be-
came the mother of nine children. These were
named respectively. Ashbel M., William H., Sam-
uel K., Shepard B., James H., Isaac N., Anna .M.,
Parry W. and John E. Mr. Grove is, as was his
father before him. Democratic in politics, and pos-
sesses in a marked degree the same substantial
traits of character which distinguished Parry Grove
during his early manhood, and which did not leave
him as his years multiplied. Mr. Grove has served
as Assessor of Hickory Township, and has been
School Director besides occupying other important
offices among his townsmen. He has been for
many years identified with the Masonic fraternity
and the I. O. O. F., and is in all respects a reliable

citi/.cn \vlio is held in high regard b}' his friends
and neighbors.

The parents of Mrs. Grove were Samuel and
Annie (Gettys) Gettys, natives of Ireland, the
former coming to this country when a lad twelve
years of age, and the latter being brought by her
parents when a babe of three months. Their an-
cestry had been crossed by the excellent Scotch
element, which had made of them honest and up-
right citizens, and both became residents of Fay-
ette County, Pa., where they were reared and mar-
ried, and where their twelve children were born.
Of these eleven lived to be men and women; Mrs.
Grove was the fifth in order of birth. Samuel
Gettys departed this life in Fayette County, Pa.,
in the spring of 1850. The mother afterward re-
moved to Meigs Co., Ohio, where she resided one
year, then went to Champaign County, and thence
returned to her old home in Pennsylvania, where her
death took place in 1873. Both parents were
members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr.
Grove officiated as Elder for many years. But
four of the children are now living, viz., John,
Sarah. Ma 1-3% and Jane, the wife of our subject.

J JOSEPH CARTER, who for the last twenty -
| four years has been located on section 33. in
Morgan Township, is the son of John and
' Mary (Templeton) Carter, of Tennessee,
and was born Aug. 6, 1827. John Carter, a native
of Tennessee, was born in 1784, and departed this
life at his home in Ashmore Township, July 19,
1841, when fifty-seven years of age. He requested
that his funeral services be conducted on the fol-
lowing Sabbath by James Ashmore. He had been
a resident of this county for eleven years, residing
near Ashmore. The mother was a native of East
Tennessee; she died about the year 1857. Both
parents belonged to the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, of which the father had been a member
since earl3T manhood. His parents had reared a
large family of children, of whom only John came
to this locality.

The children of John and Mary Carter, nine in
number, arc recorded as follows: Susan became

200

COLES COUNTY.

1

the wife of John Austin, ami died in Ashinoiv;
Shelton is married, and lives there; Nancy is the
wife of Robert Boyd, of Kansas; Bailey was mar-
ried, and died in 1847, leaving a wife and two chil-
dren; Tlienia married Solomon Collins of Morgan
Township, and died in 1856; Jane, the wife of
» Caleb Reed, is living at AshmoreT Joseph, of our
sketch, was the seventh child; Betsey married
James Cox, of Ashmore, and is now deceased ;
Catherine became the wife of George Young, and
died in Oregon.

Joseph Carter remained a member of the parental
household until twenty-one years of age, and early
in life began to make himself useful about the
homestead. He was a bright and intelligent boy,
and when but fifteen years of age partially took
charge of his father's farm. Soon after reaching
his majority he was married to Miss Martha J.
Collins, of Morgan Township. Our subject then
located on section 32, where they lived until 1863.
Mrs. Carter was the daughter of Aaron and Mar-
garet (Campbell) Collins, of North Carolina, and
became the wife of our subject Oct. 18, 1848, the
wedding being celebrated at the home of the bride.
She is a native of this county and was born March

2, 1831.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Carter resulted in
the -birth of the following children: William J.
was born Oct. 1, 1849, is married, has one child,
and is living in Oakland: Thomas B., born Nov.

3, 1851, is married, has two children living, and is
farming in Douglas County, 111. ; David W., born
Oct. 2, 1855, died Sept. 11, 1858; Mary Jane, born
April 23, 1858, is the wife of J. K. Brown, a
farmer of Edgar County; Alice, born Jan. 7, 18(11,
is at home with her parents; John A., born June
3, 1863, died Sept. 15, 186!); Delilah B., born Sept.
30, 1865, died Nov. 5, 1866; Jacob S., born Sept.
14, 1867, died Sept. 19, 1869; Margaret K., born
May 26, 1870, became the wife of David Carna-
han. and is living with her parents.

Mr. Carter took possession of his present home-
stead over twenty-four years ago, and has since
given the greater part of his time and attention to
its improvement and cultivation. The land is
largely devoted to grain-raising, and the proprietor
keeps a goodly assortment of live-stock. While

having plenty to engage his attention about his
premises, he has still maintained a proper degree
of interest in the welfare of his community, and
I'm- some years has been a member and Klder of
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, together with
his wife and three daughters, attending at Rardin.
He was one of the first supporters of this religious
institution at its organization, and ten years previ-
ously had been connected with the Union Church
in the northern part of the township. Politically
he is a stanch Democrat, a free-trade man, and a
member of Hazel Dale Grange No. 1,322.

.Mr. Carter was born in Wayne County, Ky.,
whence his parents removed when he was a child
not quite three years of age. They made the jour-
ney overland to Central Illinois, and .1 little
daughter was added to the family after they located
in C'oles Count}'. His father had led quite an ad-
venturous life in his manhood, being engaged in
the fight with the Creek Indians under Gen. Jackson.
Joseph, our subject, served in the Mexican War.
. He did not, however, remain with the army many
months, as he was-taken ill soon after crossing the
Gulf, and confined in the hospital, from which he
was discharged Nov. 20, 1846, and also from the
army on account of physical disability.

Mr. Carter, in 1852, like a great many others at
that period, was seized with the California gold
fever, and joined the caravan moving toward the
Pacific Slope. The journey was made with an ox-
team-and consumed five months and eighteen days.
He was gone from home twenty-nine months, re-
turning to this State in August, 1854, but aside
from his opportunities to see the country, the ad-
venture proved of but little benefit, as his labor in
; the mines yielded but small returns. He came
1 back by way of the Isthmus and New York City,
and has never regretted the opportunity which he
had for witnessing the strange sights connected with
life in the wild West at that early period.

Mr. Carter has been prominently identified with
local affairs since coming to Morgan Township, •
having been School Director for a period of
twenty-one years and Road Commissioner eight
years. He is the oldest settler in the county now
living in the township, and is accorded that pecul-
iar reverence and respect due those who have so ma-

1 •

V

f.

COLES COUNTY.

21)1

tonally assisted in redeeming the soil of Central Illi-
nois from its original condition. His f nrm includes
200 acres of finely cultivated land, with :i good
residence and all necessary out-buildings, awl every-
thing about the premises is creditable to the taste
and industry of the proprietor. The lowland has
been drained with 800 rods of tile, and Mr. Carter
has operated in a marked degree after the methods
of the intelligent and progressive fanner.

KV. JOHN GILBERT SAWIN, of the firm
of ,1. G. Sawin & Co., general merchants,
and of the firm of I. W. Sawin & Co.,
grain and hay dealers at Loxa, was born on
the farm of his father in Bartholomew County, Ind.,
March 1, 1838. He is the son of .Tames II. and
Carolina (Harvey) Sawin, the former a native of
New York State and the latter of New Jersey.
James H. Sawin located in Bartholomew County,
Ind., after his marriage, where he engaged success-
fully in farming pursuits, and spent the balance of
his life, his death taking place in the spring of 1871.
He left an estate including 200 acres of land and
its buildings, which constituted a comfortable
homestead. There the wife and mother still resides.
She was born in 1808, and has consequently
attained to the advanced age of nearly fourscore
years. The parental family included nine children,
all of whom attained their majority and five are
now living.

The subject of this history, who is a gentleman
of excellent education and more than ordinaiy
ability, was reared on the farm and received briefly
the advantages only of, the common schools, his at-
tendance there being limited to six months. He
was fond of his books, however, and did not aban-
don them after leaving school, but kept up a course
of reading by which he secured a good fund of
information and which enabled him to cultivate his
literary tastes, which were developed largely in after
years. He resided in his native State until after
reaching his majority, and in 1S(>2 came to this
county, settling in Lafayette Township, on the farm
where he still resides, and which comprises a fine
body of eighty-five acres, adjacent to the town

limits and upon which is a good set of frame build-
ings. Mr. S. became connected with his present
business in 1870, and has been engaged in me'rchan-
dising for the past twenty years. He was married
in this county, in 18C>2, to Miss America L., daugh-
ter of Dumas and Lucy (King) Jones, and who was
born in Coles County, May 2(5, 1846. Of this union
there are four children — Ida F., the wife of J. I'.
Stout; Lucy C., Clara V. and William ft.

Mr. Sawin has been identified with the old-school
Baptist Church since 1860. The year following he
WHS ordained as a minister, and for twenty-seven
years thereafter officiated in various places, travel-
ing one year 11,000 miles in the prosecution of
his pious duties. His health, however, gave way,
and he was obliged to abandon his arduous labors
and choose something'less active, although he still
officiates in the pulpit of the church near Loxa and
occasionally in other places. He represented La-
j fayette Township on the County Board of Super-
visors five years, and since becoming a voter has been
the stanch supporter of Republican principles.

Mr. Sawin is a natural linguist, a fluent speaker
and writer, and an excellent penman. He never
studied grammar in his life but has been the author
of many interesting articles, and his manuscript
has always been highly complimented by the "in-
telligent compositor." His tastes have been literary
in a large degree, and in 1881 he founded the
"Youth's Home Journal," a sixteen-page monthly,
which he published at Loxa with success for two
years. His strength then gave out, and he was
obliged to abandon for a time anything which re-
quired the exercise of labor, either mental or manual.

*RAY BROTHERS comprise Samuel B., Da-
j, vid I), and Matthew S. Gray, who are asso-
ciated together in conducting an extensive
stock farm, containing 668 acres, located on sec-
tions 2!) and 30, Lafayette Township. Their par-
ents were Robert and Martha (l)unwiddie) Gray.
Robert (Tray was born Feb. 16, 1790, in Tennessee.
His father was a farmer in that "State, and Robert
was reared at home, where he received a practical
training in the various departments of agriculture.

t

i

2!) 2

COLES ( Ol'NTY.

When the W:ir of '1812 broke out lie enlisted, and
received the commission of Lieutenant, serving his
country faithfully until peace was restored. At the
close of the wiir lie returned to his native State,
and resided there until 1830, when he removed to
Illinois, and for a short time made his home in
Paris, Edgar County. In the spring of 1831 he
changed his location, and became an early settler
of Coles County, spending one season near Charles-
ton, and during his residence there Charleston was
first laid out as a city. In the spring of 183-2 he
entered land in Pleasant Grove Township, and made
his permanent home there, giving his attention to
agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of
his life.

Robert Gray was twice married. His first wife
was a Miss Fain, who died leaving six children,
only two of whom are now living — John M., a resi-
dent of Concordia, Kan., and Mary J., now Mrs.
McCord, a resident of New Enfield, 111. On the
21st of October, 1828, Mr. Gray was married to
Miss Martha Dunwiddie; she was born Dec. 25,
1800, in Tennessee, and her death occurred March
(I, 18-73. B}' this marriage eight children were
born, six of whom attained maturity : Samuel B.
was born Oct. 27, 1829, in Washington County,
Tenn.; David I)., Dec. 23, 1831, in Charleston, 111.;
Robert R., July 18. 1833, in Pleasant Grove Town-
ship, and his death occurred Nov. 30, 18f>8; Mat-
thew S. was born Oct. 18, 1835, in Pleasant Grove
Township ; Ellen J. was born June 4, 1 837, and died
at the age of ten jrears; Margaret A. was born Nov.
8, 1839, and is now the wife of Thomas N. Means,
making her home at Paris, 111. : Franklin N. was
born Jan. 15, 1842, and died at the age of nine
years; Martha C. was born March 10, 1845, and
died Dec. !), 1880. Robert Gray's death occurred
Feb. 7. 1805.

The Gray brothers have always been associated
together in business, although at one time several
of them held clerkships in Charleston for a number
of .years. When the Civil War broke out Samuel
B.. John M. and Matthew S. enlisted Aug. 1, 18(52,
and were all mustered into service with Co. I, 123d
III. Vol. Inf. Samuel B. was severely wounded in
the engagement at Milton, Tenn., and was conveyed
to the hospital, at the end of eighteen months re-

ceiving his discharge on account of physical disa-
bility; Matthew was wounded in the last battle of
the war at Selma, Ala., and John returned home
unscathed ]>y shot or shell.

It is not often that so pleasant an instance of fra-
ternal regard can be recorded as that existing be-
tween Gray brothers. In their childish sports and
school days they were ever together, and the
sterner duties of manhood found them side by side
and shoulder to shoulder in the defense of their
country, and in the duties of business life. They
settled on their present place of residence in the au-
tumn of 1 8U9, and have since kept '• bachelor's hall "
on that estate. Only two members of their family
ever married. In politics they are all supporters of
the Republican party, and have occasionally held
local offices.

Samuel Gray is one of the Directors of the Na-
tional Bank of Mattoon, and the brothers own a gro-
cery store in that city, which is conducted by their
nephew, P. B. Linn. Samuel Gray, although not a
church member, is one of the Trustees of the First
Presbyterian Church of Mattoon, and with his
brothers is a supporter of that religious body.
There is now a Methodist Church in process of
erection on their farm, of which Samuel is a mem-
ber of the building committee. The Gray brothers
are among the substantial and highly esteemed citi-
zens of this county. In business transactions their
signature is S. B. Gray & Bros.

YRON J. FERGUSON, deceased. The sub-
ject of the following narrative was a native
of Bradford County, Pa., born May. 7,
1828, and the youngest son of Stephen and
Mary (Atwood) Ferguson, who were born in the
same county. He was reared on a farm and edu-
cated principally in the common schools. When
he was ten years of age his parents removed from
the Keystone State to Illinois, settling on a farm in
Pleasant Grove Township, this county, where they
spent their declining years.

Our subject was reared as a farmer's boy, and
after reaching his majority was seized with the
California gold fever which, in 1850, was attract-

•i

COLES COUNTY.

293

ing many young men from the East to the Pacific
Slope. Young Ferguson joined the caravan mov-
ing westward, and after reaching California engaged
in mining, in which he was fairly successful. After
some years he recrossed the Father of Waters and
engaged in farming on the old homestead. The
mountain air had greatly benefited his health, and
he entered with vigor upon the duties which lay
before him, having in view the establishment of a
home and domestic ties. Soon after his return he
was married, Dec. 20, 1853, to Miss Martha G., the
youngest child of William L. and Catherine (Kel-
lar) Williams. Her parents were natives respectively
of Maryland and Virginia, but after their marriage
took up their abode in Kentucky, whence they re-
moved to Illinois, locating in this county in the
pioneer days. Their (laughter, Martha G., was born
April 24, 1835.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson con-
tinued on the old homestead for a period of thir-
teen years, and then Myron J. put up a dwelling
for himself and family near by, and practically
breaking loose from the active labors of the farm,
began to deal in stock, and as a natural conse-
quence required additional land. At the end of
fifteen years, during which he had been remarkably
prosperous, he found himself the owner of about
1,000 acres. This comprised a valuable and fertile
tract and the large fields were alive with the finest
of stock, embracing horses, cattle and hogs. In
1872, however, in order to carry on the education
of his children he retired from the farm and moved
to Mattoon. He had been already somewhat inter-
ested in business there, but continued the super-
vision of his farm and dealt in stock until failing
health compelled him to set aside worldly interests.
His death occurred on the 24th of May, 1876. He
had purchased a fine residence property in Mattoon
where his widow now resides, and is remembered
as a wide-awake and enterprising citizen who con-
tributed his full quota toward developing the re-
sources of his adopted county. His straightfor-
ward business methods had secured him the esteem
and confidence of his fellow-citizens, and his genuine
kindness of heart drew around him a large circle of
warm friends.

Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fergu-

son, three are still living. Catherine is the wife of
Joseph Glenn, an attorney of Mattoon ; Oscar is a
practicing physician in the latter-named place;
Cyphora is the wife of Charles Lindley; Leroy
died when four years of age, and an infant died
unnamed.

OSEPH ALLISON, deceased, was one of the
I pioneers of Coles County, his residence here
dating from 1833. His father, Andrew Al-
lison, was born in the North of Ireland, and
was seven years of age when his parents left their
native land and emigrated to the United States.
They were probably the descendants of a Scottish
family who took refuge in the North of Ireland
during the religious dissensions by which Scotland
was disturbed during the latter part of the seven-
teenth century. They settled in North Carolina,
where Joseph Allison was born in 1796. He passed
his early life in that State, and his marriage to
Miss Margaret Ann Cathey took place there. Mrs.
Allison was the daughter of Henry and Margaret
Cathe3r. . Her parents were natives of Scotland,
who came to the United States and settled in Car-
olina, where their daughter Margaret was born.

After his marriage, Joseph Allison removed to
the State of Tennessee, where he remained about
twelve years. The successful close of the Black
Hawk War at that time, resulted in attracting many
Eastern settlers to Illinois, and Mr. Allison resolved
to move with his young family, and brave the per-
ils and hardships of pioneer life on the Western
frontier. He came to Illinois in 1833, and settled
in Coles County, where his influence in political,
religious and moral questions, was of great advan-
tage in the formation of society in a new country.
He assisted in organizing the New-School Presby-
terian Church, of Pleasant Grove Township, of
which he was an active member and one of the
first Elders. He was a strong advocate of temper-
ance, and in the early days belonged to the Whig
party in politics, becoming a stanch Republican
after the organization of that party. His convic-
tions in regard to all subjects of National or social
importance were very pronounced, and previous to
the war he was a warm Abolitionist. With the

•

294

COLES COUNTY.

consent and approval of his wife, he made use of a
sum of money which she had received from her
father's estate in North Carolina, to assist the slaves,
who endeavored to escape from the galling chains
of bondage to Canada, over the Underground Rail-
road, and in 1861 circulated a petition containing
a large number of names, in behalf of the emanci-
pation of the slave, which was sent to President
Lincoln at Washington.

Mr. and Mrs. Allison had a family of seven chil-
dren born to them whose record is as follows: Sa-
rah, Andrew, Rebecca and John are deceased ;
Frances is now the widow of Rufus Allison, who
served in Co. I, 123d 111. Vol. Inf., and died at
Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1863; Nancy T., now Mrs.
Nicholson,) and Mary, Mrs. Grimes. Mr. Allison
never aspired to political preferment, but was in-
terested in educational affairs, and served as School
Director; he was Treasurer eighteen years. His
death occurred in August, 1862. His widow sur-
vived him many years, and died in October, 1877.

Mr. Allison was distinguished for his strict ad-
herence to honor and principle in all the affairs of
life, and his influence was ever exerted on the side
of truth and justice, qualifications which rendered
him a man of great value in a new community,
where a strong element of law and order-loving
people is necessary to restrain the license resulting
from a crude state of society.

^ILLIAM M. CHAMBERS, M. D., the old-
est resident physician of Charleston, came
to this county in the fall of 1855, from
Covington, Ky., where he had successfully followed
the practice of his profession for a period of ten
years. He was born in Cynthiana, Ky., April 11,
1814, and is the son of James and Sallie (Rankin)
Chambers, the former a native of Pennsylvania
and the latter of Kentucky. His grandfather,
James Chambers, was born in Scotland, whence he
emigrated to the United States while a young man,
and settled near Chambersburg, Pa., where he fol-
lowed his trade as a stonemason. He also married
there and reared a family, and his son, James, Jr.,
learned the same trade.

James Chambers, Jr., the father of our subject,
served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He came
to Illinois in 1850 and settling near Charleston, re-
mained a permanent resident until his death, which
took place in the summer of 1873, after he had at-
tained the age of eighty-three years. He was a man of
much force of character, a stanch member of the old
Whig part}', and signalized his belief in the Chris-
tian religion early in life by becoming a member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he
continued until his death. The mother departed
this life at the old homestead, near Charleston, in
1855. She also belonged to the same church as
her husband, and was in all respects his suitable and
worthy helpmeet. The parental household included
eight children, five now living, namely, William
M., of our sketch, Thomas G., Mary A., Hannah
A. and Sarah B.

Dr. Chambers was reared in his native town and
attended school there until seventeen years old.
There also he commenced the study of medicine in
1833, and three years later began the practice of
his chosen profession in Harrison County. He still
continued his close application to his books, and in
due time entered the medical department of Tran-
sylvania University at Lexington, from which he
graduated in 1843. His practice while a resident
of Kentucky was mostly in Covington and vicinity.
After coming to this county and soon after the
outbreak of the Rebellion, Dr. Chambers was ap-
pointed by President Lincoln Brigade Surgeon in
the Union army, serving in the division of the
Cumberland until in July, 1865. The fidelity with
which he fulfilled the duties of that position was
rewarded with the brevet of Lieutenant Colonel
and afterward Colonel. In his mangement of the
hospitals under his charge, he displayed most excel-
lent judgment and introduced many features which
proved of great benefit to both patients and attend-
ants.

After an absence of four years Dr. Chambers re-
turned to Charleston and resumed his practice as a
private citizen, and became connected with the va-
rious important medical societies of the Mississippi
Valley. He was President of the Kentucky State
Medical, the Illinois Medical, and the Esculapian
Societies of the Wabash Valley, and in 1877 was

COLES COUNTY.

295

appointed by Gov. Cullum a member of the Health
Association of the United States. He is now
Examining Surgeon for Pensions.

The marriage of Dr. William M. Chambers and
Miss C. A. Porter, of Harrison County, Ky., took
place in Pulmansville, Ky., in the spring of 1837.
After remaining the companion of her husband but
three short years Mrs. Chambers departed this life
in the spring of 1840, leaving one child, a son,
Charles 8., who now a resident of Hopkinsville, Ky.
Dr. Chambers -was subsequently married to Miss
Mary B. F. Ingals, of Kentucky. This lady was a
lineal descendant of Daniel Boone. and died on the
30th of December, 1876, at her home in Charles-
ton, leaving two children. These were Mollie M.
S., now the wife of Dr. C. A. Payton, surgeon of
tin; Sac and Fox Indian Agency in Indian Terri-
tory, and T. Gavin, who is an attorney and a resi-
dent of Kansas. The Doctor is a stanch supporter
of the Democratic party, and a Royal Arch Mason.

IMLLIAM H. DODDS is a prosperous farmer
residing on section 16, Hutton Township.
He was born Nov. 8, 1811, in Rockbridge
County, Va., and is the son of John and Harriet
(Thompson) Dodds, the former a native of Penn-
sylvania and the latter of Virginia. The family
of John Podds removed to Virginia during his
boyhood, and his marriage subsequently took place
there in Bath County. In 1842 he removed to
Fayette County, Ohio. He was a stonemason by
trade, but engaged in agriculture in Ohio, and re-
mained tnere six years. In 1848 he came West
and settled in Fulton County, 111., where he passed
the remainder of his life. Mr. Dodds, with his
wife, was a member of the Presbyterian Church,
and was interested in promoting the cause of
religion in the West. In politics he was a Dem-
ocrat. His first wife, who became the mother of
thirteen children, died in Virginia. The following
is the record of their family: Mary; William, the
subject of this sketch; Alexander, Margaret, Jane,
John, Franklin, Charles, Isaac and Robert; three
died in infancy ; Margaret and Charles are also
deceased. The others are married and have fami-

lies. Mr. Dodd's second wife was Mrs. Elizabeth
Thomas; their marriage took place in Fayette
County, Ohio. Mr. Dodds died at the homestead
in Fulton County, where his widow is still living.
William Dodds remained at home until he was
about twenty-two years of age. During his boy-
hood the educational advantages of the country
were vei-3r limited, and he attended the subscription
school of the pioneer days, acquiring such edu-
cation as its restricted privileges afforded. When
about twenty-two years of age he engaged in busi-
ness for himself, and was married, Oct. 12, 1835, to
Miss Frances Deverick. Mrs. Dodds is the daugh-
ter of Thomas and Annie (Ewing) Deverick, and
was born Aug. 3, 1819, in Virginia. Her parents
were natives of Virginia, and Mr. Dodds resided
in that State wheir his marriage took place. He
purchased a small tract of land there and was en-
gaged in farming for about nine years. He then
disposed of his interests there, and in 1844 re-
moved to Fayette County, Ohio. He carried on a
farming business there for about five years, and in
the autumn of 1849 came to Coles County, 111.,
and purchased eighty acres of partly improved
land, which he has since brought to a high state of
cultivation. Mr. Dodds is active and energetic in
business, and has added to his property until he
now owns 120 acres on which ho resides, and 120
acres in Union Township, Cumberland County.
He rents his farm in the latter place, about 100
acres of which is farming land, and is supplied
with a house and farm buildings. He made the
purchase at different times as he was prospered in
business. In conducting his farm, Mr. Dodds
gives special attention to raising the cereals — corn,
oats and wheat.

Mr. Dodds has been twice married. His first
wife was the mother of ten children. She was a
member of the Methodist Church, and a sincere
Christian, devoted to the interests of her home
and family. Her death occurred Nov. 4, 1861.
The following is the record of their family : Mary
Jane, deceased, was the wife of John Gossett, and
left a family of six children ; Harriet, the wife of
I S. Giflln, resides in Coffey County, Kan.; John W.
married Miss Almira Wood worth; his wife died in
1886; Martha, the wife of William H. Berkley,

-I

296

COLES COUNTY.

resides in this county ; James married Miss Mary
Marrs, and resides in Coffey County, Kan.; Vir-
ginia died in childhood; Louisa, the wife of W. S.
Cooper, resides in Cumberland County. 111.;
Margaret, the wife of Urias Bonnet, lives in Hutton
Township; Sally, the wife of Frank Rowe, is a
resident of Pleasant Grove Township; Alma is the
wife of John McMorris.

July 15, 1862, Mr. Dodds was married the sec-
ond time, to Mrs. Catherine (Beery) Berkley.
Mrs. Dodds is the daughter of Samuel Beery, and
was born Sept. 3, 1833, in Rockingham County,
Ya., of which State her parents are natives. By
the second marriage there were five children :
William Logan, born July 19, 1863; Charles S.,
Nov. 9, 1866; Clara M., Jan. 11, 1868; Robert E.,
May 27, 1870; Dora H., born Feb. 16, 1873, died
Dec. 2, 1875. With his wife Mr. Dodds is a mem-
ber of the United Brethren Church. In politics he
is a Republican, and cast his first vote in the early
days for Harrison.

Mrs. Dodd's father was born April 3, 1803, in
Virginia. His marriage took place there, and he
subsequently removed with his family to Ohio,
where his death occurred in Hocking Count}' ;
his wife likewise died in Ohio, in Perry County.
Their family consisted of thirteen children — Anna,
Milly, David, Catherine, Barbara, Mary F.. Joseph,
William H., Betsy Jane, John, Margaret and two
who died in infancy. Milly, Anna, Catherine,
John and Barbara are now living and have fami-
lies.

-*-

ONATHAN SHAVER, a gentleman of fine
education and more than ordinary intelli-
gence, has been a resident of this county
since the spring of 1866, and is located on a
fine farm of 180 acres in Ashmore Township, his
property occupying a part of the east half of sec-
tion 29. The farm is embellished with first-class
improvements, and is chiefly devoted to stock-
growing, and in all respects indicates the super-
vision of a proprietor skilled in his calling, and one
who has taken advantage of the most approved
methods of modern agriculture. The dwelling is a

neat and tasteful residence, handsomely furnished,
one of its most attractive features being a library
containing the best literature of the day. Mr. Shaver
is an extensive reader, and devotes all his leisure
moments to the perusal of the subjects treated by
the best authors, and thus has kept himself well
informed upon current events, as well as the his-
tory of times gone by.

Mr. Shaver is a native of Indiana, his birth tak-
ing place in Montgomery County, July 22, 1 836.
His parents, Jonathan M. and Susan. (Cook) Shaver,
were natives of Virginia. The father, who was
born July 10, 1805, followed farming and was also
a bricklayer by trade, and spent his last years in
Indiana, his death taking place in February, 1866.
He had received but limited school advantages,
but through his own efforts obtained a good fund
of general information, and being a natural math-
ematician, became master of arithmetic and .geom-
etry. He was also well versed in the Scriptures
and a devoted member of the Lutheran Church at
Ladoga, Ind. The church building at that place
was put up mainly through his exertions, and he
was always a cheerful and liberal supporter of the
institution, giving his means and influence to ad-
vance its prosperity. He was a man of decided
views, Democratic in politics, and by his energy
and industry secured a good homestead for his
family and a competence. The mother of our sub-
ject was born in 1802, and became the wife of Jon-
athan M. Shaver in 1826. Their twelve children
were Mary, David C., Daniel, Sarah J., Susan S.,
Jonathan, John, Francis M., Martha W., Martin L.,
James M., and Eliza A., who died in infancy.

The Shaver family is of German ancestry, and it
is supposed that the first representatives in this
country located in Pennsylvania. Our subject
came to Illinois in 1866, and for more than twenty
years has been a resident of this county. He first
purchased 1 40 acres, to which he afterward added
forty more, and has now one. of the finest farms in
Ashmore Township. His marriage with Miss Mary
J. Stratton was celebrated at the home of the
bride's parents in Ladoga, Ind., Sept. 31, 1856.
Mrs. S. was born in Greene County, Ohio, July 19,
1834. She departed this life, leaving two children:
Rozella is married and a resident of Bloomington,

<h

COLES COUNTY.

297

Ind.; Emma J. married John Perry, and died in
April, 1887. The present wife of our subject, to
whom he was married in 1866, was formerly Miss
Angeline Trickey, a native of Indiana, born in
1846. Of the ten children which blest this union
but seven are living, viz., Laura V., John H., Ivan
H., Grace, Hugh, Lovina and Kyle.

Mr. Shaver is Democratic in politics, and a mem-
ber in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which he is Superintendent of the Sun-
day-school, and also officiates as Steward and
Trustee. Mr. and Mrs. S. number among their
warmest friends the most cultivated people of this
section, and their home is in all respects a model
one, the admiration of the passer-by and a hospita-
ble resort for a large circle of acquaintances.

/ OSEPH M. FERGUSON is one of the promi-
nent farmers and stock-growers of Pleasant
Grove Township, and an honorable repre-
\UB*// sentative of one of. the pioneer families of
Illinois. He was born July 17, 1825, in Bradford
County, Pa., and is the son of Stephen and Polly
Ann (Atwood) Ferguson. His paternal grand-
father, likewise Stephen Ferguson, was a native of
England, and a member of the British army. He
emigrated from the mother country at an early day,
and settled in Pennsylvania, where he married a
Miss Foster, who came from one of the Eastern
States. His maternal grandfather, Myron Atwood,
was a native of Wales, and served as a teamster in
the Revolutionary War. His marriage took place
in this country.

Stephen Ferguson, the father of our subject,
passed his boyhood and youth on his father's farm
in Pennsylvania. His marriage to Miss Polly Ann
Atwood took place there. She was likewise a na-
tive of that State. In 1836 he moved to Illinois,
and settled in Coles County. He was an active,
enterprising man, and carried on a large and suc-
cessful business here during the remainder of his
life. He was endowed with excellent mental abili-
ties, possessed a vigorous physique, and lived to the

advanced age of eighty years. His death occurred
July 5, 1868. His widow survived him ten years,
and died Feb. 19, 1878, at the age of eighty-three.
They were actively interested in promoting the
cause of religion on the Western frontier, and were
prominent members of the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church. Three children have been born to
them, whose names are as follows : William, a resi-
dent of Washington Territory ; Joseph M., and
Myron, deceased.

Joseph Ferguson was eleven years of age when
his family settled in Illinois. He was reared on his
father's farm, and gained much practical experience
in assisting in the various branches of farm labor.
He also attended school, making good use of the
limited advantages afforded in the pioneer days.
In 1849 he married Miss Phoebe Ann Brown, a na-
tive of Kentucky. Their married life was of short
duration. She died within two years, leaving two
children, Mary M. and Stephen, both of whom are
deceased. On the 9th of March, 1852, Mr. Fergu-
son was married to Miss Sarah Alexander. Mrs.
Ferguson was born May 30, 1832, in Coles County,
and is the daughter of Robert and Jemima (How-
ard)'Alexander. Robert Alexander was a native
of Hardiu County, K}'. His wife was likewise a
native of that State, and their marriage took place
there. They came to Illinois in the pioneer dnys
and settled in Coles County in 1831, making their
home here until 1854, and then moved to Sullivan
County, Mo., where Mr. Ferguson's death occurred
in the autumn of the same year. His widow died
Nov. 21, 1878. They had a family of ten children
born to them, all of whom grew to maturity. Mrs.
Ferguson is the eldest child.

Mr. Ferguson located on his present farm in
1858, and in the meantime has given his attention
exclusively to farming and stock-growing. He
owns 170 acres of valuable land, and has given 200
acres to his children. Eleven children were born
to him, only six of whom are now living, as fol-
lows: William A., Clarence A.; Clarissa, the wife
of Hugh McFadden; Ettie, the wife of Charles
Landers; Alice and Joseph W.

In earl}1 life Mr. Ferguson was a Whig, but be-
came a Republican after the organization of that
party. He does not aspire to political preferment,

1

f

298

COLES COUNTY.

but is interested in educational affairs and has
served as School Director. He is also active in
promoting the cause of religion, and for twenty-
five years has been a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.

OELSON R. GREEN, a prominent and wealthy
I farmer of Coles County, is now practically
) retired from active labor and is enjoying

the comforts of one of the most elegant homes in
Charleston Township. This is located outside the'
city limits and comprises eighty acres of highly
cultivated land, with one of the most handsome
and substantial residences in the county. Besides
this property Mr. Green owns a farm of 303 acres
in Ashmore Township, on which is a commodious
farm house and other modern improvements. It is
well stocked with the best grades of domestic
animals, and Mr. Green, while occupying the farm,
makes a specialty of raising Poland-China hogs, im-
porting probably the first animals of the kind in
Coles County. He commenced life without means,
working much of the time as a farm laborer, and
the position which he now occupies in his com-
munity, amply indicates the perseverance and in-
dustry with which his years have been employed.

Mr. Green has been a resident of this county
since the spring of 1849. His boyhood years were
spent in Miami County, Ohio, where his birth took
place on Christmas Day, 1830. His father, James
Green, was a native of AVest Virginia, in which
State various representatives of the family have
resided for several generations. The father of our
subject remained in the Old Dominion until reach-
ing manhood and was there married to Miss Eliza-
beth Hemingway, who was born in the western
part of the State, in that portion which remained
loyal to the Union during the late Civil War.

After marriage, James Green and his bride
migrated to Ohio and located in Hamilton County,
amidst the timber, where the father of our
subject opened up a farm upon a. portion of the
present site of the city of Cincinnati. After a few
.years spent in that region they pushed on further
westward into Miami County, where the elder

Green proceeded as before, clearing away the tim-
ber, erecting a log cabin, and the second time
assuming the role of a pioneer settler. After a few
years spent there he became uneasy and desirous
of setting forth on another pilgrimage. He accord-
ingly loaded his worldly effects into wagons and
with his family started to cross the Mississippi and
located in Missouri. While journeying through
Coles County, this State, they met some of their
old neighbors who were returning from Missouri
to their former homes. The distressing account
which these people gave of matters in that State,
persuaded Mr. Green from continuing his journey
and he concluded to locate where he was, namely
in Coles County. He accordingly settled upon a
tract of land in Hutton Township, which he occu-
pied four 'years and then decided to return to Ohio.
Locating in Darke County he again cleared away
the forest, broke the virgin soil and put up the
cabin of the pioneer. His residence there, how-
ever, was of short duration, and we next find him
in Randolph County, Ind., where he entered a large
tract of land, platted a town, built several houses,
and effected many other improvements which in-
duced people to repair there for settlement. He
also fitted up a building for a hotel and was press-
ing rapidty along the road to wealth when he made
the mistake of so many generous-hearted men, that
of going security for a large sum of money in order
to accommodate friends. As is too often the case,
when the obligations became due Mr. Green was
obliged to meet them, and by this means lost the
larger part of his fortune. He finally removed
from Randolph to Grant County, and located upon
100 acres of land which he'cultivated to the best of
his ability until in 1848, when, greatly broken in
health and spirits, he was obliged to abandon active
labor and died in the fall of the year. Mrs. Green
after the death of her husband resided one year in
Randolph County and then returned again to Grant
County. Finally, at the request of her children, she
came to this county and passed her remaining
years, her death taking place at the home of her
son in Morgan Township.

The household of James and Elizabeth Green in-
cluded fourteen children, all of whom lived to be-
come men and women, and the parents lived to

COLES COUNTY.

'299

witness the marriage of each. Nancy, the wife of
Nelson Reddick. and Arthusia whu married Nelson
McCoy, are now deceased ; Katie is the wife of
Andrew Frazier, of Union City, Ind.; Andrew is
deceased ; Zachariah is a resident of Logansport,
Ind. ; Hester is the wife of Branson Anderson, of
Randolph County, Ind. The younger members
were: James, John H., William P.; Mary, the wife
of A. Wiggs; Nelson R. of our sketch; Henry H.,
and Hannah J., the wife of G. W. White. The last
two are numbered among the dead.

James Green was a man of great force of char-
acter and when becoming entitled to the right
of suffrage identified himself with the Whig
party. When this party was abandoned by
the organization of the Republicans, he rallied
to the support of the latter and continued their firm
adherent to the end of his life. He was strongly
opposed to slavery and was one of the most active
members of the Abolition party whenever the
question of human freedom was agitated. His son,
our subject, is imbued with the same principles and
affiliates with the same party to which his father
belonged at the time of his death.

Nelson R. Green was a youth of eighteen years
at the death of the father, and a year later came to
Central Illinois and commenced work as a farm
laborer at $10 per month. In 1853 he was em-
ployed in a sawmill at $16 per month. He had
been trained to habits of industry and economy,
however, and saved his earnings, so that by June,
1854, he had a cash capital of $300, and a good
team of horses. This was considered a fair start in
those days and he felt fully justified in beginning
to think about a home of his own and some one to
share his fortune. The maiden of his choice was
Miss Mavy E., daughter of Job W. and Martha
(Archer) Brown, and they were married at the
home of the bride's parents in Ashmore Township,
Jan. 19, 1854. Mr. Brown was one of the earliest
pioneers of -Illinois and located first in Edgar
County, where the wife of our subject was horn on
the 7th of September, 1 835. After the marriage
of Mr. Green his employer offered him $20 per
month and a house to live in if he would continue
in the mill, but he was obliged to decline on ac-
count of his health which would not permit con-

tinuous indoor employment. He accordingly
i rented a tract of land and the first season sowed
fifteen acres of wheat, forty acres of oats, and
planted sixty acres of corn. He labored early and
late, but the season proved unfavorable and at the
i end he harvested but 225 bushels of wheat, eleven
bushels of oats and 200 bushels of corn. This was
rather discouraging to begin with, and during the
following winter he was glad to work for his father-
in-law at fifty cents per day. In the spring, how-
ever, he determined to try farming again on his
own account, and leased another tract of laud. He
was fairly successful this year but begrudged the
paying of rent, and in 1860 managed to secure
possession of seventy-three and one-half acres of
land, for which he contracted to pay $1,400, $1.000
in cash down. Eighteen months later he cancelled
his indebtedness and had a home which he could
call his own. His property lay on section 11, in
Ashmore Township, and he occupied the home-
stead thus established for more than twenty-five
years and until Jan. 25, 1886, when he took
possession of the place he now occupies. He still
retains possession of his farm, which is operated by
a tenant, and from which he realizes annually a
handsome income.

The first agricultural fair ever held in Coles
County occupied a strip of pasture then owned by
Nathan Ellington, but which is now a portion of
the site of Charleston. Mr. Green and his father-
in-law attended, the latter exhibiting stock and re-
ceiving a goodly share of the premiums. Each
year since then Mr. Green has been actively identi-
fied with the agricultural society, and is uniformly
found in attendance. One year he exhibited a
three-year-old that "tipped the beam" at 1,000
pounds.

Mr. Green during his youth received very lim-
ited ad vantages and has been painfully aware of the
difficulties encountered by those but imperfectly
versed in the common branches of education. In
order that his children should not labor under this
difficulty, he determined to leave the farm and re-
move to a point where they could avail themselves
of competent instructors. The household circle
was completed by the birth of eleven children, of
whom two died when young and nine are still

T

i

300

COLES COUNTY.

living. Jonathan W. and George A. are prosper-
ous farmers of Edwards Count}', Kan.; Lulu is the
wife of Maiden Conelly, and a- resident of Hodge-
man County, Kan. Those unmarried and at home
are William A., Leonard, Carrie, Claude ()., Charles
N. and Eugene D. They have all inherited the
worthy qualities of both parents, and form a family
group of which Mr. and Mrs. Green have reason to
be proud.

\|/ ONATHAN N. SNAPP, after many years
spent iii honorable toil, is now enjoying the
fruits of his early labors, and on a fine home-
stead in Mattoon Township lives at his ease,
amid the affection of his children and the good-
will of his neighbors. His history briefly recorded
is in its main points as follows: His birth took
place in Washington County, Teun., March 6, 1832,
and he is the son of Jacob and Hepzibah (Waddill)
Snapp, his father of German ancestry, but born on
the ocean while his parents were coming to this
country. The mother was born in Tennessee near
Jonesboro.

Our subject remained with his parents, who had
moved at an early day to this county, until the
death of his father, which took place when he was
a young child, and as soon as of suitable years was
made acquainted with honest and useful labor, so
that upon reaching his majority he was fully com-
petent to "paddle Lhis own canoe." After three
years spent in California he purchased seventy acres
of land on section 30, in Mattoon Township. He
was married, Sept. 4, 1856, to Miss Eliza J. Clarke,
whose parents. William and Sarah Ann Clarke, are
treated of elsewhere in this book.

The young people first located on a farm adjoin-
ing their own land, and thence removed to section
32, on laud owned by the brother of our subject.
After a sojourn there of eighteen years, they re-
moved across the Mississippi into Barton County,
Kan., where our subject purchased a quarter sec-
tion, which he occupied four years. From there
he emigrated to Bates County, Mo., and three
years later eastward across the Mississippi, until
reaching the old homestead in Illinois, where he

took up his abode and where he has since remained.
Here he has reared his children, and desires noth-
ing better than to spend the remainder of his days
amid the scenes of his early youth. While watch-
ing the development of his adopted State with
interest and satisfaction, he has meddled very little
with public affairs, simply casting his vote with the
Republicans upon occasions of general elections.

Mr. and Mrs. Snapp are members in good stand-
ing of the Methodist Protestant Church, and have
carefully reared their three children in the same
faith. These are Mary H., now the wife of B. F.
Bell, a prosperous farmer of Mattoon Township;
Jonathan E. and William H. are unmarried. Aside
from his services as Constable, Mr. Suapp has de-
clined becoming an office-seeker, content to remain
as a private and unobtrusive citizen, and priding
himself upon attending strictty to his own business.

W. WOODS, a well-known mer-
chant and insurance agent in Humbolt, is
now Postmaster of the place, having been
appointed to that position Sept. 1, 1885, by Presi-
dent Cleveland. He was born Feb. 22, 1837, in
Rush County, Ind., and is the son of John and
Lucy (Pitts) Woods. John Woods was a native
of Kentucky, but removed from that State and be-
came one of the early settlers of Rush County,
Ind. He had been brought up to the hatter's
trade in his native State, but preferring an agricult-
ural life, relinquished his trade and purchased a
farm in Rush County. His wife, Lucy Pitts, was
a native of Virginia.

George Woods received his education at the
common schools of his native county, and made
good use of the limited advantages there provide,!.
At the age of twenty he left home and began the
world for himself. He was occupied in farming
two years, and Sept. 1, 1859, married Miss
Sarah Junken. Mrs. Woods is the daughter of
James and Catherine (Wilson) Junken. Her
family were natives of Kentucky, but removed
to Indiana at an early day, where their daugh-
ter Sarah was born Feb. 19, 1830. They
subsequently removed to Illinois, at the same

LILIVU Y

OF THE

W.VERSIIY tf ILLINOIS

RESIDENCE OF DAVID SANDERS. SEC. 19. HUTTON TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF JOS.H.WATKINS.SEC.S. SEVEN HICKORY TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OFDR.W.D. MORGAN, RARDLN JLU.

COLES COUNTY.

303

time that George Woods came to this State, and
settled on a farm in Coles County. Immediately
after his marriage, Mr. Woods rented a farm, which
he conducted two years, and then, upon the divis-
ion of his father-in-law's estate, located on section
8, and took possession of the home place. This
property contained nearly a section ol valuable
land of which he secured eighty acres which he
cultivated and improved about five years, and then
removed to Humbolt, where he has since resided.

Mr. Woods had previously been engaged in mer-
cantile pursuits, and his residence ou the farm was
occasioned by the death of his wife's mother. She
was an only daughter, and her father felt so keenly
the death of his wife and the loneliness of the home-
stead deprived of her beloved presence, that Mr.
and Mrs. Woods relinquished their own plans in
order to cheer _his solitude and afford him com-
panionship. After spending five years on the farm
Mr. Woods returned to town and resumed his
former business. His father-in-law accompanied
the family, and passed the declining years of his
life in their home, and died there in November,
1874.

Mr. Woods was successfully engaged in the mer-
cantile line about twelve years, during which time
under the credit system he found himself cramped,
and further desiring a change of occupation for
rest from the duties in which he had been for so
many years engrossed, he sold out, and engaged in
the insurance business. At that time he was
elected Justice of the Peace, and served in that
capacity about seven years, although his time was
given more exclusively to the insurance business.
Since Sept. 10, 1885, he has served as Postmaster,
giving general satisfaction in the discharge of the
responsibilities of that position. He is a public-
spirited man, has served as Treasurer on the Board
of Highway Commissioners, and also as Town
Clerk three terms and Collector two terms.

Our subject and wife have a family of five chil-
dren, whose names are as follows: Elbert J.,
James C., John A., Ellis H. and Katie May. El-
bert married Miss Annie Sayer, and lives on a farm
near town. Mr. Woods was educated as a teacher
and has hitherto been engaged in that vocation,
but his natural inclination leads him to perfer

agricultural pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Woods are
members of the Old-School Presb3'terian Church, in
which the former serves as Trustee. In politics
Mr. Woods is an old-line Democrat, and a stanch
adherent to the principles of his party, although he
is liberal in political affairs, and strictly partisan in
none. He is, however, strictly of the belief that
the Democrats never make mistakes in their nom-
inees.

ADISON GLASSCO, deceased, formerly a
prominent citizen of Charleston, was born
in Hardin County, Ky., July 21, 1824.
His parents, Enoch and Rachel Glassco,
were among the pioneers of Coles County. They
removed from Kentucky to thisStatein 1830, when
the county was a wilderness, and the Indian tribes
in the vicinity, which had not then been wholly
subdued, rendered life on the Western frontier a
perilous enterprise. However, they settled here,
and it was not long before peace was established
and the prosperity of Illinois began. They passed
their lives in this county, and died leaving a family
of ten children.

Madison Glassco was a child when his parents
settled in Illinois, and grew up inured to the priva-
tions and hardships of pioneer life. Struggling
with difficulties and trials, however, developed that
energy and strength of character which fitted him
to take a leading part in the building up of a new
country. He was married, Dec. 24, 1846, to Miss
Anna Frost. Mrs. Glassco is the daughter of Will-
iam and Sarah Frost, and was born June 4, 1828,
in Virginia. Her father was a native of Virginia
and her mother of Pennsylvania. They were like-
wise among the pioneers of Illinois, having moved
to this State in 1829. The death of both occurred
in this county, and Mrs. Glassco is now the only
survivor of her father's family.

After his marriage Mr. Glassco settled on a farm,
and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits with
so much energy and skill that he met with marked
success. He commenced life a poor boy, and by
his own exertions acquired a fine property, but
during the panic of 1873 he met with reverses,

304

COLES COUNTY.

caused by the failure of a business house in Charles-
ton, for which he had become security. He lost
$31,000 in money and some of his valuable land
was sold by the sheriff at &50 per acre. The
trouble which these losses involved probably hast-
ened his death, which occurred March 19, 1876.

Mr. Glassco was a very successful dealer in live-
stock, and notwithstanding his losses, at his death
left an estate containing 700 acres of valuable land.
He had served as Supervisor of the township, and
in politics always voted with the Republican party.
Mr. Glassco was a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, and was a man whose up-
rightness and integrity of character won the respect
of all who knew him. A family of eight children
was born to him, only three of whom are now liv-
ing— Emmet T., Ella and Elizabeth, all of whom
are married.

/ILLIAM II. COCHRAN, a farmer residing
on section 14, Seven Hickory Township,
has the misfortune to be afflicted with blind-
ness, occasioned by disease contracted while serving
his country in the Civil War. He was born Sept.
4, 1837. in Floyd County. Ind., and is the son of
William and Louisa (Anderson) Cochran. His
grandfather was a, native of Scotland, whose family
settled in the United States; in his early life he
served in the War of 1812. His parents were both
natives of Kentucky, although his wife's family was
originally from Virginia. Louisa Anderson was an
only child, and her mother died at the time of her
birth. Her marriage to William Cochran took
place in Kentucky, and soon after they removed to
Indiana, and were among the early settlers of Floyd
County, where they made their permanent home.
Mr. Cochran died in the prime of life at the age of
forty-six years. His widow survived him many
years, and her life went out with the closing days
of the year 1869. She was buried on the first day
of the New Year.

A family of nine children was born to William
and Louisa Cochran, whose record is as follows:
Sarah died in childhood; Mary was the wife of
George K. Erwin, of Floyd County, Ind.; both are

deceased; the former died in 1859, in Indiana, and
the latter in 1880, in Kansas; they had a family of
five children. Susanna became the wife of Alex-
ander Brocard, a resident of Floyd Count}', by
whom she had a family of six children; in 1871 she
was left a widow, and subsequently married Will-
iam L. Wright, of which union two children were
born. William H. is the subject of this sketch;
Maria, the wife of Alva E. Hodge, resides in Floyd
County, Ind., and has a family of eight children;
Samuel, a carriage manufacturer, also residing in
Floyd County, has a family of eight children; Har-
riet E. has been three times married; her first hus-
band, Green H. Neeled, by whom she had three
children, died in 1879; her second husband. Lee
Onan, died in 1883; she is now the wife of B. H.
Bacon. Julia and Preston died in childhood.

William H. Cochran remained at home with his
widowed mother, assisting her in carrying on the
farm, and also attending the common schools until
he was twenty-two years of age. Sept. 4, 1859, he
married Miss Catherine Roberts. Mrs. Cochran is
the daughter of John and Rachel (Kenoyer)
Roberts, and was born in Washington County, Ind.
Her father was a native of Virginia, and her
mother of Ohio. They had a family of eight chil-
dren, two of whom died in infancy ; the names of
the remaining six are : Mary Ann, deceased ; Eliza-
beth; Nelson, deceased; Catherine, Simpson and
Maria Jane. Her parents now reside in Dade
County, Mo.

After his marriage Mr. Cochran lived at home
until 1862. He then enlisted in Co. K, 93d Ind.
Vol. Inf. While in camp he was stricken down
with typhoid fever, and during his illness erysipelas
set in, which resulted in blindness, and all means to
restore his sight 'have hitherto proved unavailing.
Mr. Cochran bears this affliction with great fortitude,
and he is able to some extent to supervise the work
on his farm, assisted by his sons. In the autumn of
1863 Mr. Cochran first came to Coles County and
purchased the place where he now resides in Seven
Hickoiy Township. He is engaged in general
farming and stock-raising.

Mr. and Mrs. Cochran had a family of six sons
born to them : John William died in infancy ;
Charles N., born Jan. 25, 1865, was married Dec,

•.

t.

COLES COUNTY.

305

16, 1886, to Miss Sarah Harris, of Cumberland
County, and resides in Morgan County ; Frederick
A., born Aug. 8, 1870; Dudley S,, Oct. 30, 1873;
Clarence McDonald. Sept. 22, 1876. and Jesse E.,
Feb. 16, 1879. Frederick, Dudle}>- and Jesse reside
at the homestead. Mr. Cochran is a stanch Repub-
lican.

ET. GLASSCO, one of the leading citizens
and substantial farmers of Coles County,
resides on section 9, Charleston Township.
He is the only surviving son of Madison and Anna
E. (Frost) Glassco, and was born Sept. 27, 1852,
in this township. He was reared at the homestead,
where he acquired a practical knowledge of farm-
ing and also received an excellent common-school
education. On the oth of September, 1882, Mr.
Glassco was married to Miss Lizzie Birch. Mrs.
Glassco is the daughter of George and Parthenia
Birch, and was born July 7, 1859, in Clark County,
111. After his marriage Mr. Glassco leased his
father-in-law's farm, which he cultivated two
seasons, and in the meantime erected a tasteful and
commodious farm residence on his own farm, which
ranks among the best in the county. He owns 173
acres of valuable land, and in stock-growing gives
special attention to raising Polled-Ang'us cattle.

Like his father, Mr. Glassoo is very successful
in all of his business enterprises, and his integrity
of character and genial disposition have won a
large circle of friends by whom he is held in high
esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Glassco have one son liv-
ing, Walter E. Two other sons were born to them,
who died in infancy. Mr. Glassco is a Republican
in politics.

eOL. JOHN COFER, deceased, formerly a
prominent citizen of Rural Retreat, Doug-
las Co., 111., was born July 9, 1804, in Cane
Spring, Bullitt Co., Ky., and was the son of Thomas
and Sarah Winn (Griffin) Gofer, the former a na-
tive of Virginia and the latter of Maryland. Thom-
as Gofer was born in 1781 at Old Limestone Fort,
Va., and his father, William Cofer, emigrated from
that State to Kentucky. Mrs. Sarah Griffin, iiee

Winn, was born in Maryland, and her marriage to
Thomas Cofer took place in Kentucky, where she
was at the time residing.

Col. Cofer was reared to agricultural pursuits,
and his early advantages for education were very
limited, but his native mental abilities were of a
high order. He possessed a thoughtful, inquiring
mind, and took advantage of every opportunity to
satisfy his craving for knowledge, and readily ac-
quired a vast fund of general information, He was
a profound thinker on all subjects of National. and
social importance, a ready reasoner, and an apt and
forcible writer. From his early youth he was a
stanch Whig, and warmly sustained the principles
of political and social economy advanced b3' that
party. He represented Hardin County, Ky., in the
Lower House of the Legislature in 1838-39 and
from 1841. to 1848. His superior ability in the
management of public affairs was then recognized
by his election to the Senate, where he represented
Hardin, Meade and La Rue Counties until 1850.
He warmly advocated economy in public expendi-
tures, and an improved system in the general edu-
cational and charitable institutions of the State.

Col. Cofer originated and aided in drafting and
passing the bill chartering the Louisville & Nash-
ville Railroad Company, which is now the most
prosperous corporation in Kentucky. At the time
when railroad enterprises were unknown in that
State, he was one of a committee sent to investi-
gate the operations of the Eastern and Western
Roads, with a view to securing similar advantages
for Kentucky, and his earnest and eloquent appeals
to the people along the line of the proposed road
aided largely in inducing them to offer voluntary
subscriptions of the stock, which secured to them
the building of their first railroad. After retiring
from the Senate in 1854, he disposed of his interest
in Kentucky and moved to Rural Retreat, which at
that time was in Coles County. He was soon
chosen Postmaster of the place, and in 1856 was
one of the Electors on the Fillmore ticket, and in
I860 was an Elector on the Bell and Everett ticket.

During the Civil War Col. Cofer was rigid in his
adherence to the Union cause, and from 1 860 was
independent in politics, voting for the man whom
he considered best fitted for the position, without

f

4 > 306

COLES COUNTY.

regard to party. He usually sustained the Demo-
cratic party, however, but was firmly opposed to
nullification and secession; his views of emancipa-
tion favored the gradual colonization policy. In
1871-72 he represented Douglas County in the
General Assembly with his accustomed zeal and
ability, which closed his career as a representative
law-maker of Illinois.

Col. Gofer's marriage to Miss Mary Eleanor Ma-
gill took place Dec. 1, 1825. Mrs. Gofer was born
Feb. 7, 1807, in Annapolis, Md., and is the daugh-
ter of Robert and Helen (Stockett) Magill. Her
parents were natives of Maryland, and her great-
grandfather, Rev. James Magill, was the first minis-
ter ordained to preach in America, of the Church
of England. He was a faithful worker for the Mas-
ter in the old Colonial days from 1730 to 1736.
Her grandfather's name was John Magill. Mrs.
Cofer's mother was the daughter of Dr. Thomas
(Noble) Stockett, a prominent physician of An-
napolis.

Col. Gofer was a man of temperate habits, and by
his industry and enterprise acquired a fine property,
which enabled him to provide all of his children
with comfortable homes. His family consisted of
ten children: Elvira Ann, deceased, was the wife of
William D. Martin, a resident of Kentucky; she
left a family of four children. Thomas N., deceased ;
Robert A., deceased ^married Miss Catherine A. Du-
vall; John S., deceased, married Miss Sarah K.
Wyeth; Charles F., deceased; Mary H. married
David T. Shirley, and resides in Texas; she had a
family of eight children, one of whom, David T.,
died March 5, 1881, in Cook County, Tex. Thom-
as N. (2d) married Miss Rachel E. Combes, and re-
sides in Seven Hickory Township, Coles County:
William Henry married Miss Margaret Daily, of
Lerna;they have a famil}' of four children, and re-
side in Gainesville, Tex. Henrietta M., deceased,
married Thomas Midwinter, and left one daughter,
who resides in Arcola, Douglas Co., 111.; Susan A.
married H. M. McCrory, and lives in Hardmau
County, Tex.

Col. Cofer and his wife were members of the
Methodist Church. They were both earnest, sin-
core Christians, and were actively interested in
building up the cause of Christ on the Western

frontier, giving liberally both of their time and
means, in that labor of love. Col. Cofer died Feb.
| 12, 1881, in Cook County, Tex., at the home of
j his youngest daughter, Mrs. McCrory, where he
had gone for his health. His widow still survives
him, and has now reached the advanced age of
eighty years. She possesses a fine physique, and is
well preserved, hale and hearty. She resides with
I her son, Thomas N. Cofer. Col. Cofer was a wise
counselor in public affairs, and in every relation of
life bore the character of a thorough Christian
gentleman. In his home he was a kind and loving
husband and father, and courteous and hospitable
to all. During his later years he devoted a great
deal of his time to the compilation of an autobi-
ography, to leave to his children, and had reached
the proof sheets when his work was cut short by
death.

f AMES WALLACE is a farmer .and one of
the leading citizens of Ashmore Township,
residing on section 22. He was born April
||P 6, 1849, in Edgar County, 111., and is the
son of William and Ellen (Davis) Wallace. His
parents were both natives of Ohio, and his mother
is still living, having reached the age of seventy-
six years. His father's death occurred in 1856.
He had been a farmer in Ohio, and died when
James was but seven years of age. The family
were members of the Methodist Church. The par-
ental household included the following children:
Thomas, who is living in California; Nancy J., a
resident of Indiana; Margaret, who is residing in
Kansas; William H., deceased; George, a resident
of Illinois; Eliza A., who makes her home in Mis-
souri; Elizabeth, a resident of Illinois; one died at
four years of age ; James, the subject of this biog-
raphy; Jessie, who lives in Kansas, and Pamelia,
deceased.

James Wallace was engaged in farming by the
month until his marriage, when he began business
for himself, and purchased a small farm with one
horse. He now has a fine farm of fifty-nine acres,
and eight valuable horses of Clydesdale extraction,
sixteen head of steers, and five cows and heifers.
His marriage to Miss Margaret Childress took place

COLES COUNTY.

30?

Jau. 12, 1873. She is the daughter of John and
Catherine (Hogue) Childress, and was horn in this
township in 1854. Her father is a farmer and a na-
tive of Tennessee. He is one of the pioneers of
this township, and formerly held the office of Com-
missioner of Highways. He is still living, but his
wife's death occurred in March, 1884. Mr. and
Mrs. Wallace have three children : Elizabeth, born
Oct. 26, 1873; Permelia C., June 28, 1877; John
W., Dec. 6, 1878.

Mr. Wallace is a man of excellent business quali-
fications, and is actively interested in all the public
affairs of the county. He has been School Director
for the last six years, and Constable of the town-
ship four years, and has been re-elected to the lat-
ter office. He is a member of the Christian Church,
in which his family take au active interest. He is
a wide-awake, energetic, progessive man, and re-
cently spent five months traveling through the States
of Kansas, Missouri and Indiana. He is a Repub-
lican in politics, and socially belongs to Kansas
Lodge No. 633, I. O. O. F.

J'~1OHN JOHNSON. The early home of the
| subject of this history was on the other side
] of the Atlantic, in County Fermanagh, Ire-
• land, where his father carried on a small
farm. He is the son of John and Anna (Bell)
Johnson, natives of the same country but of Scotch
descent, and was the eighth child in a family of ten.
Our subject early in life bore a strong resemblance
to his father, but afterward his features seemed to
change and he grew like his mother. John John-
son, in 1850, accompanied by all his family with
the exception of one son, emigrated to the United
States, leaving the shores of his native Island on
the loth of May. The voyage was made on a sail-
ing-vessel, and after landing in New York, the elder
Johnson proceeded shortly to Peru, 111., then to
Moultrie County, where he located and followed
farming until his death, which occurred in 1864.

The subject of this sketch was a lad twelve years
of age when he sailed with his father's family for

America, and remembers many of the incidents
connected with the preparations .and the voyage.
He was reared on his father's farm, and received a
limited education in the district schools. The father
had purchased 120 acres of land wholly on credit,
but met his payments promptly and became a man
of means, so that he was enabled to assist his sons
to a good start in life. Upon becoming of suitable
age our subject and his five brothers engaged to-
gether in raising stock, feeding each year hundreds
of cattle and hogs. They also purchased land to-
gether, and owned in the aggregate about 1,800
acres. One of the brothers, James, was killed on
the 26th of May, 1883, by the explosion of a port-
able boiler. Two others since then have partially
withdrawn from the partnership, and the two re-
maining, John and Fred, still continue together.

The vvife of our subject, to whom he was mar-
ried Jan. 22, 1868, was formerly Miss Martha E.
Smith. Mrs. J. is the daughter of William Harri-
son and Mary (Osborne) Smith, natives of Ohio
and Tennessee respectively. Her paternal grand-
parents were Jesse and Elizabeth (Willis) Smith.
After their marriage our subject and wife settled
on a farm in North Okaw Township, where they
lived about ten years, and thence removed to their
present residence in Humbolt Township. The
homestead embraces 300 acres of valuable land,
and is supplied with a substantial set of frame
buildings. The industry and enterprise of Mr.
Johnson are displayed on every hand, in the ar-
rangement of the farm, the care of the stock, and
the neatness and good order which prevail in every
department.

The six children born to Mr. and Mrs. J. are
all living and at home with their parents. They
were named respectively, William, Alice, John,
Walter, Clarence and May. Their father, realizing
the disadvantages of a limited education, is do-
ing all in his power to advance the interests of
his children in this direction. The elder ones are
taking a collegiate course, and the others will fol-
low if their inclinations are in that direction. Mr.
and Mrs. J. are prominently connected with the
Methodist Episcopal Church, to the support of which
they have always contributed liberally and cheer-
fully. Mr. Johnson meddles very little with politi-

t . 308

COLES COUNTY.

i

cal matters, but usually votes with the Democratic-
party.

The farm of our subject is largely devoted to the
raising of fine stock, including horses, cattle, hogs
and sheep. At the head of his stables is a magnifi-
cent animal named John I., valued at $5,000. On
account of the diseases incident to hogs and sheep
in this section, he has somewhat lost his interest in
these. Of late he has interested himself in bee-
keeping, and has bred up his hives to a very high
grade with choice Italian queens. In partnership
with Dr. James McDougal, of Humbolt Township,
Mr. Johnson is largely engaged in the breeding of
Norman horses, of which they usually keep about
thirty-five head in hand, ranging in value from
about $200 to *1,000.

HARLES CURTIS is an extensive farmer
and stock-grower, residing on section 1,
East Oakland Township. He is the sou of
Nicholas and Sarah (Hunt) Curtis, and was born in
this township, Dec. 15, 1841. His parents were
natives of Ohio, where they were engaged in farm-
ing. Attracted by the advantages for farming and
stock-raising offered by the fertile State of Illinois
they moved here in 1839. Nicholas Curtis died in
middle life, and his widow is still living.

Charles Curtis has been twice married, first in
1864, when he was united to Miss Martha J. H.-.n-
nar. The home circle was broken by her death,
which occurred in January, 1874. She had become
the mother of five children, two of whom died in
infancy. They were as follows: Sarah R., William,
James William, Lucinda, who is the wife of Mr. J.
Eads, and Roddy Ellsworth. Mr. Curtis was
united in marriage the second time, to Miss Mar-
garet Yearger, the daughter of John Yearger. Her
family is of German descent, and her parents were
natives of Pennsylvania. Like many other citizens
of foreign extraction Mr. Yearger cheerfully left
his home and business to serve in the Civil War in
defense of his country, and while thus engaged
contracted a disease from exposure and hardship
which resulted in his death. His widow is still liv-
ing, and in consideration of her husband's services

in the war. she is drawing a small pension. Six
children were born of the second marriage of our
subject — Alfred, O., deceased ; John S., Lulie, Ella
S., Alva, and an infant unnamed.

Mr. Curtis enlisted during the late war in Co. K,
63d 111. Vol. Inf., and served his country faithfully
for over three years. He was mustered in at Jones-
boro, 111., and proceeded at once to Cairo, where he
remained three mouths and was then ordered to Cor-
inth. He was engaged in several important battles.
He fought at the memorable siege of Vicksburg,
and took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge,
where the cannon thundered and the musketry rat-
tled like hail around him. He was with the army
at Huntsville, Ala., preparing for the siege at At-
lanta, and he there obtained a thirty days' fur-
lough. It was on this occasion that he returned
home and married his first wife. But he was at his
post again, leaving the comforts and pleasures of
home at the call of duty, for the hardships and pos-
sible death of the battle-field. He marched with
Sherman to the sea and on to Washington, from
thence to Louisville, Ky., and celebrated the 4th of
July at home. He afterward returned to his regi-
ment and was mustered out at Springfield, 111. Ex-
hausted by hardship and exposure he was an in-
valid most of the time for two years after his re-
turn. and now suffers greatly from rheumatism. He
is a member of the G. A. R. Oakland Post No.
188, and is a Republican in politics.

Mr. Curtis owns a fine estate of 170 acres of val-
uable, improved land, upon which in 1844 he
erected a substantial farm residence. His house
has a large and commodious cellar, and all of its
appointments are adapted to home comfort. In
stock-growing he has been especially successful in
raising the finest breed of hogs.

RODERICK JOHNSON, one of the reliable
and substantial farmers of North Okaw
Township, spent his earliest years on the
other side of the Atlantic, where his birth took place
in County Fermanagh, Ireland, Feb. 29, 1840. He
was the ninth child of John and Annie (Bell) John-
sou, also natives of County Fermanagh, and a

"4

I

COLES COUNTY.

309

sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this
work. His education was begun in the common
schools of his native county, and he came with his
parents to the United States in 1850, completing his
studies in the subscription schools of Moultrie
County, 111. He was twenty-three years of age
when his father died, and up to this time had re-
mained a member of the household, which was now
somewhat broken up by the death of the remaining
parent. About this time he purchased 320 acres
of wild land in North Okaw Township, this county,
and a few years later, accompanied by his two
sisters, Christiana and Margaret, took possession
and has since occupied it.

The present farm of our subject bears little re-
semblance to the land that he first took possession
of. It is now laid off conveniently, and supplied
with good fences and buildings, among the most
prominent of which is a handsome, substantial
frame building, put up in the summer of 18G8, and
a large barn, erected in 1882. The brothers and
sisters have lived continuously together, our sub-
ject being still unmarried, this being the only in-
stance in which he has failed to perform his whole
duty as an enterprising and naturalized American
citizen.

The Johnson brothers are widely and favorably
known throughout North Okaw Township. Fred-
erick and John operate largely together in lands
and stock, being the owners of over 1,0*00 acres,
the largest part of which lies in Coles County.
They also still retain an interest in the homestead
in Moultrie County, which their father built up
from the uncultivated prairie, that also comprises a
valuable tract of land, which with its appurten-
ances, constitutes one of the most desirable home-
steads in that section. The dwelling stands back a
short distance from the road and is surrounded with
a natural grove of oak and hickory trees. There are
also handsome evergreens artistically trimmed and
which, in winter especially, serve to greatly em-
bellish the place.

Our subject and his brother John are at present
giving their attention to the breeding of fine
horses, the former having two valuable imported
stallions, and from which are being produced some
of the finest animals in this section. Frederick is

taking life easy and aside from the general man-
agement of his property, engages little in active
business. He is genial and hospitable in his home,
which forms a pleasant 'resort for the many friends
of himself and his estimable sisters, Christiana and
Margaret. Mr. J. is plain and unostentatious in his
manner, but impresses all with whom he comes in
contact as a man whose word is to be relied upon
and whose friendship and honor are of the highest
order. The warm and generous characteristics of
his forefathers are broadly apparent, and have lent
to him that simple and attractive mien, which at .
once secures the confidence of both friends and
strangers. Mr. Johnson has never been connected
with any religious organization, but presents the
example of the Christian impulse which constrains
a man to do unto others as he would have others
do unto him. This principle, closely followed, has
gained him an enviable reputation among his
fellow-townsmen and the friendship of the best
people in this locality. Politically, he is Demo-
cratic, and has served two terms as Township Com-
missioner.

ENJAMIN D. TURNEY, the owner of a
fine estate containing 36G acres of land, is
I the descendant of a pioneer family of Coles
County. He was born June 2, 1819, in
Harrison County, Ky., and is the son of John and
Sarah (Jones) Turney (see sketch of John Turney).
His family came to Illinois in 1834* and settled in
Coles County. During the first two weeks of their
residence here they lived on the land now occupied
by Benjamin Turney. They came at a period in
the history of the Northwest when frontier life
was a hazardous enterprise, making heavy demands
upon the courage and hardihood of those who were
daring enough to encounter its trials. Mr. Tur-
ney's family occupied a log cabin comprising but
o^ie room, and all around their dwelling stretched
the broad prairie, scattered here and there with iso-
lated cabins like their own. Mr. Turney, Sr., pur-
chased a large tract of land at that time in Lafay-
ette Township, for which he paid 13.50 per acre.
The same property in now worth $50 per acre.
Benjamin Turuey was reared on his father's farm,

I

I
• . 310

COLES COUNTY.

4

1

and learned in early life to endure hardship and
privation, which is an important lesson in life, lie
assisted his father in clearing the land, and in cul-
tivating and improving the farm, and the imple-
ments with which they had to work rendered this
a difficult task in the early days. Mr. Tnrney set-
tled on the place where he now resides in 1853, and
the following year his marriage took place, .July
29. His wife, Mrs. Amanda Compton, was born
in Harrison County, Ky., Sept. 4, 1838. They had
a family of eleven children born to them, nine of
whom are now living: Elizabeth, the wife of George
B. Baker; John, Benjamin, William J., Franklin.
Sally, James, Martha and Isabell. Daniel and one
unnamed died in infancy.

Mr. Turney had been previously married to Miss
Sally Munson, who was born in Nicholas County,
Ky., Oct. 4, 1824, and died Dec. 1, 1846. In pol-
itics, Mr. Turney is a Republican, and has served
as Road Commissioner and School Director, giving
general satisfaction to the people in the discharge
of his public duties. Mr. Turuey has fine sulphur
springs on his farm which he is contemplating open-
ing as a health resort. Hundreds of barrels of this
water have been hauled away daily, and yet the
spring continues to flow with equal strength.

»HOM AS E. WYETH is the owner of one of the
largest and finest estates of Seven Hickory
Townshi-p, located on sections 22 and 23.
He is the descendant of an old New England fam-
ily, and was born in Franklin Count3T, Mass., June
21, 1833. His grandfather, Gad Wyeth, was a na-
tive of Massachusetts, and served in the Revolu-
tionary War under Gen. Washington. He subse-
quently removed to Licking County, Ohio, where
his death occurred in 1849. The parents of our
subject, Nathan and Hannah (Kellog) Wyeth, were
also natives of the Bay State, where the former was
born May 16, 1801, and the latter in 1800. They
were married Nov. 15, 1824. and left Massachu-
setts and removed to Ohio about 1.H37, when their
son Thomas was four years of age, and remained
there twelve or fifteen years, engaged in fanning
in Licking County. In the autumn of 1850 Mr.

Wyeth visited Illinois and purchased land in Coles
County, whither he removed with his family in the
following spring. Mr. Wyeth's death occurred in
Tuscola, Douglas Co., 111., Aug. 1 1, 1864, at the
age of sixty-three years, and his wife died Feb. 6,
1866. Their family consisted of nine children, six
of whom are now living, namely: Leonard, a banker
residing in Tuscola, who is married and has a fam-
ily of two children ; Joseph, a resident of Douglas
County, is married and has a family of five chil-
dren ; Albert is a money loaner, and resides near
his brother Thomas in Seven Hickory Township;
he is married and has a family of two children.
Samuel (see sketch); Thomas E. ; Ellen, deceased,
was the wife of Oliver Hacket; she died in 1869,
in Douglas County, leaving a large family of chil-
dren ; and Marj7, the widow of John Coffer, who
has a family of six children.

Thomas Wyeth has been twice married; his first
wife was Miss Nancy Combs, of Clarke, Iiid., and a
family of three children was born to them; Maggie,
who was born Dec. 9, 1861, married Stephen A. D.
Harry, a Professor in Normal College, Covington,
Ind.; she has one child, Allie, born Feb. 1, 1863, who
was married to Emery Bradford in December,
1886; Charles, born Jan. 10, 1868, resides at home.
Mrs. Wyeth, the mother of these children, was re-
moved from her home and family by death, in Sep-
tember, 1872. May 12, 1875, Mr. Wyeth married
Miss Julia Price, who 'was born Aug. 21, 1849, and
educated in Meigs County, Ohio. They have one
child, Percy, born May 29, 1878.

Mr. Wyeth's estate contains 906 acres of valua-
ble, well-improved land, 320 of which formerly be-
longed to the homestead, and was a gift from his
father. He is liberal and enterprising in all his
dealings, and his farm is managed with perfect
system and exactness, the results of which are ap-
parent in all its appointments. His farm buildings
are substantial and commodious, and the grounds
around his tasteful residence are ornamented witli
a variety of shade trees, and offer a pleasing ap-
pearance. There is a walnut grove on the place
containing 1,000 trees, and he has a fine orchard
of excellent fruit-bearing trees planted twenty
years ago. There is a well of natural gas on the
place, which is eighty feet in depth, and will throw

*

t'.oM.a Y
OF ThE

III::VEHSIIY of ILLIMOIS

COLES COUNTY.

313

a stream of water to the height of twenty feet. He
used the gas of this well a year for the purpose of
lighting his house, and also for fuel, but the appa-
ratus that belongs to it is now out of repair. His
farm is supplied with 2,000 rods of tiling, and he
owns about 250 head of high-grade cattle and
twenty-five head of horses.

Both in public and private life, Mr. Wyeth does
honor to his New England ancestry. He is courte-
ous and dignified, and although enjoying social
recreation, always attends rigorously to business en-
gagements. With his wife he is a member of the
Christian Church, in which he is a Deacon. In
politics he is a Republican.

€ORNELIUS PRALL, a successful stock-
grower of Seven Hickory Township, honor-
ably represents one of the self-made men of
the West. He was born Jan. 25, 1834, in Morgan
County, Ohio, and is the son of Asa and Asaneth
(Botkin) Prall. His family was originally from
Germany, although Asa Prall was born in New
Jersey in 1803. Mrs. Prall was born in Greene
County, Pa., in 1807. Her father, Robert Botkin,
was a native of Ireland, and her mother was of
English birth; their families had emigrated to the
United States at an early day, seeking to avail
themselves of the many privileges offered by this
liberal Goverment to men of all nationalities.

Asa Prall's famity removed to Pennsylvania when
he was a boy, and he passed his early life in that
State. Coming to Ohio in 1831 he engaged in
farming there, and remained a few years. In 1844
he resolved to move still farther westward, and ac-
cordingly came to Indiana and settled in Clark
County, and thence in 1851 to Van Bnren County,
Iowa. In the latter place he made his permanent
home, and passed the remainder of his life there.
His death occurred in about 1875. The following
is the record of their family: Thomas, born in
1831, in Pennsylvania, is married and resides in
Iowa; Robert, born in 1832, in Ohio, also resides in
Iowa; Cornelius is the subject of this sketch; Sarah
was born in 1835, in Ohio; she has been twice mar-
ried and twice made a widow ; her first husband was

Anthony Bradford, and her second husband was
Hafford Bradford, each bearing the same name al-
though not related to each other; her home is in
Schuyler County, Mo. Matilda, now Mrs. Colum-
bus Fowler, was born in Ohio, and resides in Har-
per County, Kan. ; Euphronius, deceased, was'born
in Ohio, and died in Iowa, in 1881, leaving a wife
and two children; John, who died in childhood,
was born in Ohio; Amanda, deceased, was born in
Indiana, and became the wife of George Brooks, a
resident of Iowa; Charles C. was born in Indiana,
and is a resident of Iowa.

Cornelius Prall remained in Indiana when his
father removed to Iowa, but his marriage occurred
soon after and he took his young wife there on their
wedding trip, to visit his family and see the coun-
try. After remaining four or five months they de-
cided to return to Indiana, and in 1853 located in
Monroe Township, now in Clark County, and were
engaged in farming on rented land three years.
Mr. Prall then removed to Edgar County, 111., and
soon after his arrival there his wife was stricken
down and died, leaving a little child five months
old, who soon followed its mother to the grave.
In February of the following year, Mr. Prall married
Miss Amelia D. Thompson. Mrs. Prall's father was
a native of New York and her mother of North
Carolina.

In the winter of 1859 Mr. Prall came to Coles
County, making his home in Seven Hickory Town-
ship, only about two and one-half miles from then-
former residence. For three years he rented land,
and at the expiration of that time was enabled to
buy forty acres of his present estate. Proud in
the possession of a home he could call his own, he
cultivated and improved his land, and by hard work
and the exercise of due economy, in a few years
added forty acres more to his farm. He was pros-
pered in business and added forty acres successively
in the years 1867, 1872 and 1881, and in 1886
made a purchase of eighty acres; he now owns 240
acres of land, all of which is under good cultiva-
tion.

In 1883 Mr. Prall was again bereaved of his
wife, who died on the 27th of April, leaving a
family of eight
record : Louisa

ht children. The following is their
lisa M., born Feb. 1, 1858, married

'» JT*

4

314

COLES COUNTY.

Thomas Todd, a relative of Abraham Lincoln's
family, and lives in Scotland County, Mo. ; William
A., born Aug. 1, 1859, married Miss Mary Pen-el,
and lives in Cornanche County, Kan.; Florence,
born Aug. 8, 1861, married John W. Watkins, and
is a resident of Seven Hickory Township; Alice,
born Nov. 25, 1863; Mary, Sept. 1, 1865; Charles,
June 20, 1869; Josephine, Jan. 14, 1871, and Wal-
ter, July 11, 1874; the four latter reside at home.

In conducting his farm Mr. Prall gives special
attention to stock-growing, raising the best breeds
of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs, and dealing to
some extent in graded stock. Mr. Prall is deserv-
ing of great praise for his persevering efforts in
overcoming obstacles. When he came to Coles
County he possessed but 13 in money and a broken-
down team, but with untiring courage and energy,
he has battled successfully with the world, and made
a comfortable home for himself and family. He
belongs to the Charleston Lodge of the Odd Fel-
lows' Association. In politics he is a member of
the Republican party, and in 1880 received the ap-
pointment of Drainage Commissioner, holding the
position until 1885, when he resigned.

The portrait of Mr. Prall, which is presented in
connection with this personal narrative, will be
looked upon with pleasure by his many friends, and
forms a valuable adjunct to the Coles County
ALBUM.

GEYER, a successful farmer and
stock-grower, residing on section 9, Oak-
land Township, and whose portrait is shown
in this connection, was born May 8, 1832, in Mus-
kingum County, Ohio. He is the son of Henry and
Elizabeth (Cooper) Geyer, the former a native of
Pennsylvania, and the latter of Virginia. Henry
Geyer came to Ohio in 1815 with his parents, and
was reared on his father's farm, receiving a com-
mon-school education. He was married in 1825,
and remained in Ohio throughout his life. He held
several local offices in the township where he lived,
but was not actively interested in public affairs,
giving his attention more exclusively to the duties

of private life. His death occurred Nov. 11, 1863.
His wife was born in 1804, and survived him sev-
eral years, her death occurring in 1870, at the
homestead in Ohio. They were for many years
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of
which Mr. Geyer was a Trustee. The following is
a record of their children : Violinder is the wife of
Harrison Taylor; Cassandra was married to E. J.
Crane; Samuel H. married Miss Julia A. Thomp-
son; George is the subject of this sketch; James
i W. first married Miss Martha Winn, and after her
death married Melissa F. Fell ; Washington M. mar-
ried Miss Melinda Jennings; Catherine, and three
boys (triplets) died in infancy.

George Geyer was married, Jan. 5, 1854, to Miss
Mary E. Roberts, Rev. J. M. Bray, Pastor of the
Methodist Church, officiating. Mrs. Geyer is the
daughter of Thomas and Alice (Mock) Roberts.
Her parents were natives of Virginia, where her
father was born Oct. 12, 1802. Thomas Roberts
was possessed of remarkable energy and force of
character; he was industrious and hard working,
and by the exercise of these qualifications acquired
success in life. He removed from Virginia in early
life, and became a resident of Highland Township,
Muskingum Co., Ohio, where he settled in 1830,
the year following his marriage to Miss Alice
Mock. He became a member of the Methodist
Church in 1832, and was a Class-Leader for several
years at Bethel Church, in Highland Township.

In the autumn of 1860 Mr. Roberts moved with
his family to Illinois, and purchased a valuable
farm in the eastern part of this county, where he
lived until the spring of 1879. His children all
having married and left home, and feeling the ad-
vancing infirmities of age, he built a house on the
farm of his oldest son, William, where, with his
aged wife, he couid pass the closing years of his
life free from business cares, but on August 6 of
the same year he was seized with paralysis, and
passed away after a short illness. Eight children
were by his bedside at the time of his death. His
daughter, Mrs. James Titus, a resident of Missouri,
was not able to reach there in time. He had thirty-
two grandchildren, nearly all of whom were present
at the funeral, which was one of the largest ever
witnessed in the place. He possessed the respect

•fr-

COLES COUNTY.

315

and affection of a large circle of friends, who were
sincere in the expression of their grief.

His widow, Alice (Mock) Roberts, was born in
Loudoun County, Va., Nov. 8, 1808. Her mar-
riage to Thomas Roberts took place Feb. 7, 1828,
and in 1 830 she moved with her husband to Mus-
kingum County, Ohio. She was converted in 1833,
and united with the Methodist Church, living a
consistent Christian life until her death. After the
death of her husband she resided witli her son-in-
law, George Geyer, where her death occurred Mny
10, 1887. She was a woman of deep religious con-
victions, and did much work for the Master. As
the result of her wise instructions and godly exam-
ple, most of her children are useful members of the
church. At her death her family, relatives, neigh-
bors and church, all felt that one of God's best
children had been taken from among them.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Roberts had a family of
twelve children born to them, nine of whom are
still living; the record is as follows: Jacob A. was
born Nov. 3, 1828; Mary E., Jan. 19, 1833; Ma-
tilda A., June 26, 1834; Stephen B., Nov. 27, 1838;
William H., Oct. 17, 1840; Caroline, April 27,
1842; Castara, March 6, 1844; Isaac N., Jan. 6,
1846; Sarah J., March 11, 1848; John D., March
5, 1850; Sherman W., Jan. 11, 1852; James M.,
Oct. 9, 1854.

George Geyer came to Illinois in 1 857. When
he left his native State his possessions consisted of
$100 and a team, of which one of the horses was
not yet paid for. He made a partial payment upon
a small tract of land in this township, which he cul-
tivated and improved five years, and then sold for
$500. With this capital he purchased 111 acres,
paying $500 down and going in debt for the rest.
He has been industrious and energetic in business,
and now owns 290 acres of valuable land, with a fine
residence and appropriate farm buildings. In stock-
raising he has given special attention to raising
Short-horn cattle.

Mr. and Mrs. Geyer had a family of nine chil-
dren born to them, five of whom are now living.
The following is their record : The first-born died
in infancy; Oliver B., born March 6, 1856, died
Nov. 17, 1856; Miranda C., born May 1, 1858;
Emma R., July 18, 1860; an infant daughter, born

Sept. 16, 1862, is deceased; Elizabeth I. A. was-
born May 27, 1864; Arietta A., March 16, 1868;
William F., May 1, 1870; an infant daughter born
July 22, 1873, is deceased.

Mr. Geyer is interested in the public affairs of
the township, holding the offices of School Trustee
and* Justice of the Peace; in the discharge of his
duties, in the latter position, his decisions have
never been reversed when sent to the higher courts.
He is a man of excellent business capacity and good
judgment. In 1854 he united with the Methodist
Episcopal Church, in which he has been for many
years a Class-Leader and one of the Trustees. His
wife united with the same church in 1848. Like
her beloved mother she is sincere and earnest in
religious convictions, and has endeavored to instill
the precepts of the Master in the minds of her chil-
dren. Mr. Geyer is a prominent Republican in
politics.

ffi ACOB H. WIBLE is the owner of a fine es-
tate containing 163 acres of valuable land,
located on section 23, Lafayette Township.
He was born April 17, 1845, in Sullivan
County, Ind., and is the son of Benjamin V. and
Hannah Wiblc. The father was a native of Ken-
tucky, and in 1858 removed with his family from
Sullivan County, Ind., to Illinois, where he settled
in Lafayette Township, Coles County. He was en-
gaged in farming and passed the remainder of his
life here. His family consisted of nine children,
all of whom grew to maturity, and the record is as
follows: Mary F., the wife of Mr. Odell; Adam,
deceased; Cyrena Ann, deceased; Samuel; Jane,
the wife of Uriah Sellars ; Joseph, William ; Eliza,
deceased, and Jacob H.

Jacob H. was a young lad in his thirteenth year
when the family removed to Illinois, and since that
time has grown up with the township. He at-
tended school in the winter and assisted his father
in the various branches of farm labor during the
summer. In 1869 he was married on the home-
stead, to Miss Plina Fisher Hurst, the daughter of
John and Elizabeth Hurst. Mrs. Wible was born
in Johnson County, Ind., Feb. 18, 1852. Mr.
Wible resided at home until twenty-five years old,

I

' 316

COLES COUNTY.

and soon after his marriage settled on his present
farm, which contains 162 acres of land, all of which
is under cultivation.

Mr. and Mrs. Wible have three children — Mary
E., Elizabeth and Bertha May. Although not act-
ively interested in politics, Mr. Wible is a stanch
supporter of the Democratic party. Himself and
wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

,OBERT J. McCALLISTER, a successful
farmer residing on section 28, Seven Hick-
ory Township, is the descendant of a
^pioneer family of the Northwest, distin-
guished for enterprise and mental ability. He was
born Feb. 12, 1836, in Madison County, Ind., and
is the son of Thomas and Margaret (McGrady) Mc-
Callister. His parents were natives of Virginia, and
removing to Indiana at an early day were among the
pioneers of Madison County in that State. Thomas
McCallister was actively interested in building
up the interests of the community where he resided,
and represented the county eleven years as a mem-
ber of the State Legislature. He was subsequently
elected Senator, and after serving two or three
terms, his ability in public affairs was recognized
by a re-election in the autumn in which his death
occurred. His marriage to Miss Margaret Mc-
Grady took place in 1818. Mrs. McCallister is the
daughter of James and Mary (Neal) McGrady, the
former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Vir-
ginia. Mr. and Mrs. McCallister removed to Mad-
ison County, Ind., in 1831. After her husband's
death, Mrs. McCallister removed with her family,
in 1870. to Illinois, and they settled in Coles
County, where she is now living, although in feeble
health, with her daughter. Their family consisted
of eleven children, only four of whom are now
living, three in Illinois and one in Hancock
County, Ind.

Robert J. McCallister passed his youth and early
manhood at home until the breaking out of the
Civil War. He then enlisted in Co. K, 8th Ind.
Vol. Inf., Aug. 20, 1861, and during his service
proved himself a brave and efficient soldier, taking
part in eighteen of the most prominent engage-

ments of the war. He passed through the terrible
siege of Vicksbnrg entirely uninjured, and never
shrank from either the post of danger or duty. He
was discharged Sept. 21, 1865, and soon after his
return from the war was married to Miss Martha
SoLiierville. Her parents were natives of Mason
County, W. Va., where their daughter, Martha, was
born, and removed to Indiana in about the year
1862.

Mr. and Mrs. McCallister had a family of nine
children, as follows: Otis C., born Dec. 19, 1866;
Ardella, Feb. 11, 1868; William A., Aug. 16,1869;
Robert B , Feb. 15, 1871 ; Leota O., July 21, 1872;
Minnie, Feb. 27, 1874; Thomas, deceased, born
June 22, 1876; Martha E., deceased, born Oct. 29,
1877, and one who died in infancy. The home
circle was broken by the death of Mrs. M.cCallister,
May 22, 1880. She was beloved by all who knew
her, and deeply mourned by her own family and a
large circle of friends. Mr. McCallister is a mem-
ber of the Christian Church and in politics is a
Democrat.

ffi SAAC N. MOORE, one of the prominent citi-
zens of Ashmore Township, residing on section
111 35, was born Aug. 24, 1836, in Butler County,
Ohio, six miles east of Hamilton. He is the son
of Levi and Abigail (Flenner) Moore, both natives
of Ohio, where his father was engaged in farming
until his death, which occurred in 1859 at the age
of forty-one. His mother survived the death of
her husband several years. They were members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The follow-
ing is the record of their children: Ursula, the
wife of J. B. Flenner; Isaac N., the subject of
this sketch; Hannah, the wife of George W. Dutro;
Drusilla, the wife of William Mock; Daniel F.
married Miss Emily Wright; his wife died and he
afterward married Emily Hill. Harriet, the wife
of John Willhoit; Solomon, who died at nine, and
Levi at the age of six years.

Vanderbilt, when once asked the secret to success

in acquiring wealth, replied^ '• Keep at work and

say nothing about it." The remark is very appli-

cable to the course pursued by the subject of this

1 biography. Isaac Moore began to build up his

.,/-

COLES COUNTY.

317

fortune when a lad, by mending pocket knives for
his schoolmates on the way to school, and in re-
turn for his workmanship received from two to
five cents apiece. He carefully saved his earnings
until he hml acquired the sum of sixty cents.
This he invested in pine lumber, from which he
manufactured quilting-frames and launched into a
more extensive business, receiving fifty cents per
pair for his frames. After he had accumulated
$12.50 in this way, (he came to Illinois and pur-
chased a pair of young steers, which he broke and
kept until they were three years old, when he sold
them for $85. From these small beginnings he has
steadily continued to advance up the rounds of the
ladder to prosperity.

Isaac Moore was married, Aug. 24, 1856, to
Miss Effie Conley. Mrs. M. was born in Coles
County, March 9, 1832, and her death occurred
Sept. 26, 1873. She was a devoted wife and
mother and a sincere Christian, having been for
many years a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Our subject was subsequently twice mar-
ried. His second wife was Miss Mary White, but
their married life was of short duration, her death
occurring Sept. 1, 1878. She was also a member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His marriage
to Miss Sarah Bancroft took place Dec. 10, 1878.
She was born May 23, 1845, in Clark County, this
State, and is the daughter of William and Lydia
(Gulp) Smith. Her parents were both natives of
Fail-field, Ohio, where her father was born in 1812,
and her mother in 1814. They are both now liv-
ing in Clark County. When the Civil War broke
out in 1861, her father enlisted in Co. G, 54th 111.
Vol. Inf. He served three years and six months,
and throughout his career proved himself a brave
and efficient soldier. The record of their children
is as follows: Elizabeth, Mary, Louisa, David,
Sarah, Jacob, Rebecca and William.

Mr. Moore has a family of seven children, five
of whom were born to the first marriage, one to
the second and one to the last. Their names are
as follows: Levi, Lincoln, Ardilla E., Charles E.,
Albert, Nellie and William M. Mr. Moore joined
the Masonic fraternity in 1873, and is a member of
Ashmore Lodge No. 390. He is ardently devoted
to the principles of the order, in which he is held

in high esteem. He has held several official posi-
tions in the order of the Blue Lodge, has acted as
W. M. three terms, and represented the lodge three
terms at the Grand Lodge at Chicago.

Mr. Moore came to Illinois in 1854 and first
located in Clark County, but removed to this
county in the same year. His educational advan-
tages were somewhat limited, but his native quali-
ties of mind and heart make ample amends for the
deficiency. He owns a fine farm containing forty-
two acres of valuable, well-improved land, with a
pleasant residence and excellent farm buildings.
He has held several official positions in the town-
ship, and is a member and Trustee of the Method-
ist ^Episcopal Church. In politics he is a warm
adherent of the Republican party. Mr. Moore
possesses the esteem of the entire community,
among whom he has a large circle of warm friends.
He is a kind father, an affectionate husband, and is
faithful in the discharge of all duties, both public
and private, devolving upon him.

R. CANDY, division clerk of the I. & St.

L. R. R., is one of the prominent residents
li\ of Mattoon. He was born March 7, 1844,

in Lexington, Ky., and is the sou of John
and Celeste F. (Robert) Candy. His father, John
Candy, was a native of England, and came to
America when twenty years of age. He was a pro-
fessional musician and settled in Boston, where he
was engaged in teaching music. He was a Demo-
crat in politics and a member of the New Jerusa-
lem Church. His wife was a member of the Epis-
copal Church ; her death occurred Jan. 17, 1849.
Her husband survived her many years, and died in
1885. There were four children in their family,
whose names are as follows : Theodore J. ; Laura
V., now Mrs. S. Miller; A. R. and Edward B.

A. R. Candy passed his boyhood in Lexington,
Ky., whither his family had removed from Boston.
He received an excellent education, both at the
public and private schools of that place, and at-
tended the University at Urbana, Ohio. He learned
the printer's trade, but finding no suitable business
opening, took a position as watchman and second

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COLES COUNTY.

mate with a steamboat line plying on the Ohio and
Mississippi. When the Civil War broke out he
enlisted as a private in Co. D., 38th Ind. Vol. Inf.,
and was engaged in the battles of Perry ville, Stone
River and Chiekamanga, besides numerous skir-
mishes. At Chickamauga, Sept. 19, 1863, he was
taken prisoner and conveyed to Richmond, thence
to Andersonville, thence to Savannah, Milieu and
Blackshear. From the latter place he escaped with
two other prisoners. Through many difficulties
they made their way to one of the blockade ships,
named Diaching, off the head of Cumberland Isl-
and, and were taken on board Dec. 14, 1864,
grateful to find themselves once more under tlie
protection of the "Stars and Stripes," after being
held prisoners for nearly fifteen months. Of the
seven others who were taken prisoners with Mr.
Candy, one was exchanged after eleven months,
and he was the only one who survived to reach
home.

Mr. Candy suffered severely from scurvy, the
result of his long imprisonment, and his limbs were
so swollen for a long time as to render it impossi-
ble for him to turn over while lying down without
assistance. After his return home he received the
appointment of Assistant United States Revenue
Assessor of the First District of Ohio. He retained
that position one year, and in 1867 went to Urbana,
where he took charge of a printing-office for three
years. He next went to Kansas, and entered a
homestead there, but after remaining three years
was driven out by the grasshopper scourge, which
at that time overran the country. He returned to
Ohio, and in a short time obtained employment on
the Cleveland Leader, remaining there eighteen
months. He then obtained a position as store-
keeper for the C. C. C. & I. R. R. Co. at
Cleveland, where his excellent business qualifica-
tions were recognized, and he was variously pro-
moted until he received the appointment of Assist-
ant Chief Clerk in the general mechanical office.
In 1882, when the C. C. C. & I. R. R. came in pos-
session of the I. & St. L. R. R., he was sent to
Mattoon, 111., to take charge of the locomotive and
car department, and to change the old system of
account of that department to correspond with the
system in use on the C. C. C. it 1. R. R. He has

since retained this position and become identified
as a citizen with the interests of Mattoon, where he
has twice been elected a member of the School
Board from the First District.

In 1869 Mr. Candy was married to Miss Sarah
E. Armstrong, the daughter of Snover Armstrong.
Mr. Armstrong is one of the prosperous farmers of
Northern Ohio, where his daughter, Mrs. Candy,
was born. Mr. and Mrs. Candy have one child
living, Maie. Mr. Candy is a member of the G.
A. R., the Masonic fraternity and Knights of Pyth-
ias. In politics he is not restricted by party spirit,
but always votes for the man whom he considers
best adapted to successfully fill the position. His
residence is located at No. 86 Charleston street.

1'

OHN HURST, a retired farmer residing in
Lafayette Township, Coles County, is a
native of Harrison County, Ind., where he
was born Oct. 28, 1809. His family was of
German extraction, and his parents, Abraham and
Polly (Dunn) Hurst, were jiatives of Tennessee.
They subsequently removed to Indiana, and died
in Spencer County, that State. They reared a
family of eleven children, of whom John, the sub-
ject of this sketch, was the fifth in order of birth.

John Hurst passed his boyhood and youth on
the homestead, assisting his father in the various
duties of the farm, and attending the log school-
house of the primitive days. His marriage to Miss
Elizabeth Woodruff occurred in 1833. After this
event he engaged in farming, and carried on a suc-
cessful business until 1864, when he sold out his
interests in Indiana, and moved to his present home
in Illinois. On his arrival here he purchased 320
acres of land, which he managed successfully for
many years, but the evening of life is now closing
around him. and desirous of release from business
cares, he has given the greater portion of his land
to his children.

Mr. Hurst has been twice married ; his first wife
died Sept. 10, 1874, leaving five children: Anna,
John and Rhoda Jane are deceased ; Plina is the
wife of Jacob H. Wible, and Jackson. Mr. Hurst
\va.- married the second time in December, 1875, to

J

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COLES COUNTY.

319

Mrs. Sarah Mock. She was the mother of a large
family of children by her first marriage.

Mr. Hurst has been a successful man through
life. He possessed excellent business qualifications,
and acquired his prosperity through the exercise of
industry and energy. At the time of his marriage
he only possessed $115 in capital. His life is an
example of what enterprise and integrity of char-
acter, united with industrious and temperate habits,
can accomplish. Mr. Hurst has been for many
years a member of the Methodist Church. In poli-
tics he is a Democrat.

OHN WILSON, Postmaster and merchant of
Cook's Mills, is one of the prominent Ger-
man citizens of North Okaw Township. He
was born March 8, 1840, in Wurtemberg,
Germany, and is the son of Frederick and Fredrica
(Schafer) Zeppelin. His parents were natives of
Wurtemberg, and his father was engaged in the
manufacture of gas at the town of Heilbronn,
which place derives its name from the spring that
supplies the town with water, signifying " fountain
of health." He held the commission of First
Lieutenant in the army but resigned some time be-
fore his death, which occurred at the town of Stutt-
gart. His mother's death occurred about two years
ago in Germany. Three children of their family
emigrated to America.

John Wilson was adopted in infancy by a distant
relative, in whose household there were no children,
and from that family obtained the name of Wilson.
His relative died while John was still a child and he
then returned to his own home where he remained
until he was sixteen years of age. In the meantime
he had been preparing himself in college for mercan-
tile life and after leaving school entered a book-
store. At the death of their father the children
were left without resources to care for themselves,
and after remaining in the book-store a short time,
John resolved to come to the United States. De-
cember 12, 1856, he stood with his elder brother,
Charles, on board the Helvetia, a passenger bound
for 'America. The brothers standing together on
deck looked, perhaps regretfully, backward toward

the fast receding shores of their native land, but
1 hopefull3' forward over the vast expanse of blue
| water, stretching far away to the Western Conti-
nent, which has been the goal of so many hearts
j since the days when Spanish cavaliers and Italian
navigators dreamed of a marvelous land beyond
j the sea, where the setting sun dipped its burning
disk in the cool waters of the Atlantic. After a
stormy voyage, during which two dangerous gales
were encountered, they landed safely at Castle Gar-
den on Feb. 22, 1857, strangers iu a strange land.
John Wilson apprenticed himself to a cabinet-
maker and spent three yenrs learning the trade, and
at the expiration of that time worked one year as
a journeyman. The long smouldering fires preced-
ing the Civil War broke out at that time, and he
entered the service of his adopted country, enlisting
March 12, 1861, in the 4th United States Cavalry,
under the command of Capt. Crittenden and Col.
Sedgwick. He was mustered in at New York and
sent to Carlisle Barracks and placed in Company
A. The regiment was then dispatched to Ft. Leaven-
worth, Kan., and soon after to Independence, where
it drove out a body of rebel troops. Thence they
were ordered to Springfield, Mo., and there joined
the Army of the West under Franz Seigel, com-
manded by Gen. Lyons. Their regiment then at-
tacked the rebels at Duck Springs and defeated
them, following them up to Wilson's Creek, where
Gen. Lyons was killed and Gen. Sturgess succeeded
him. A retreat was then conducted to Springfield,
Mo. They continued to retreat three days until
they reached Rolla, and the rebels abandoned the
pursuit.

The company then returned to Springfield, and
joining Company D were appointed body-guard to
Gen. Fremont. They conducted him to Sedalia,
Mo., and making that place their winter quarters
passed the time until spring, engaged in scouting
and harrassing the enemy. They then made a dash
down to Black Water and captured 1,200 rebel re-
cruits with all their provisions, intercepting them
as they were moving on to reinforce Gen. Price.
After conveying their prisoners to Sedalia, they
joined Fremont in his trip to Springfield, which,
proving abortive, they returned to the north of the
river. There they were placed under Pope and

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COLES COUNTY.

aided in the capture of New Madrid and Island
No. 10, where they took 6.000 prisoners. They
then embarked for Vicksburg, but were stopped at
Memphis and sent to the aid of Gen. Grant, who
was engaged in the memorable battle of Shiloh.
They did not arrive until the day after that con-
flict, but took part in the battles following at Farm-
ington and Corinth, accompaning Buell to Hunts-
ville, Ala. and to Louisville, Ky., in pursuit of
Gen. Bragg, who moved on to Perryville, where a
desperate struggle took place and the Union forces
were victorious. Not being able to follow him
over the mountains on his retreat to Murfreesboro,
they moved to Nashville and passed around to his
right, making their attack at Stone River, where a
hard fought battle of three days took place.
Rosecrans had then taken command of the Union
forces, and Mr. Wilson was a member of his body-
guard.

The force to which Mr. Wilson was attached next
moved to Middleton, surprising the rebels under
Gen. Bragg, and thence to Chickamauga, whence
they were forced to retreat, to Chattanooga. They
then followed Wheeler through Tennessee for seven
days, keeping up a running fight nearly all the time.
Mr. Wilson was then sent to Memphis as orderly
for Gen. Smith, and joined his raid through Mis-
sissippi. On the third day out he was taken pris-
oner at Black Water by Gen. Forest, and sent to
Cahaba, Ala. After remaining in prison there two
months he was transferred to Andersonville, where
he remained until September, and was then con-
veyed to Florence, S. C. On the 22d of February,
1865, he was liberated on parole and taken to the
hospital at Annapolis, Md. After remaining there
a month he obtained a furlough of thirty days, and
in the meantime went to Indiana, and thence to
Camp Chase, Ohio, where he reported again for
duty, and was sent to join his regiment at Gravelly
Spring, Miss. His time had expired nearly a year
prior to this, and he was discharged March 7, 1865,
having served within five days of four years. After
being paid off at Louisville, Ky., he went to Indi-
ana, near Bedford, where, April 2, 1865, his mar-
riage with Miss Sarah A. Prince took place. Mrs.
Wilson is the daughter of John and Ann Prince.
Her parents were natives of North Carolina, but

had removed at un early day to Indiana, where their
daughter Sarah was born.

Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Wilson came
to Illinois and engaged in farming in Cumberland
County. He remained there seven years and then
came to Coles County, where he purchased land in
North Okaw Township, and carried on a successful
farming business twelve years. In the autumn of
1881 he entered upon mercantile life at Cook's
Mills, purchasing a residence and store in that vil-
lage. He is now associated vvith Mr. Hoots in
business, under the firm- name of Wilson & Hoots.
He was elected to the offices of Constable and Town
Clerk by the Democratic party, of which he is a
member, and Aug. 21, 1885, received the appoint-
ment of Postmaster at Cook's Mills.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had two children, both
of whom died, leaving the household desolate;
their names were Mary and Louisa. Mrs. Wilson
is a highly esteemed member of the Baptist Church,
in which she is actively engaged in all good works.
Mr. Wilson has never fully recoved from the ef-
fects of his imprisonment at Andersonville. He
was afflicted with scurvy and other troubles result-
ing from the horrors of that place, and has never
received either bounty or pension from the Govern-
ment for his services or sufferings.

ANIEL BOONE WINKLEBLACK, one of

the rising young men of Coles County, is
a farmer and stock-raiser residing on sec-
tion 25, Seven Hickory Township. He
was born in this county, in Morgan Township,
April 11, 1858, and is the son of John and Cather-
ine (Weaver) Winkleblack. The father was born
in Ohio, where his early life was spent. He subse-
quently removed to Illinois, and became one of the
leading men of this county in the early days. He
was successful in business enterprises, and after a
long life of usefulness died in 1886, at the age of
eighty-two years.

The parental family consisted of twelve children,
whose record is as follows: William H.,Jjorn Aug.
16, 1841, is married and resides on the old home-
stead; Milton, born July 27, 1842, is married and

LIBRARY
OF THE

OF ILLINO/S

RESIDENCE OF M.E.O HAIR SEC. 36 .SEVEN HICKORYTOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF MR.&.MRS.WM A.GILMER.SEC.S.NORTH OKAW TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF I. N.ROBERTS, SEC. 16. (WJ.NSLR.H.w.) ASHMORETOWNSHI p.

t.

COLES COUNTY.

323

lives in California: Robert A., born Jan. 1, 1844,
is married, and resides in Morgan Township, Coles
County; Mason F., born Sept, 12, 1845, is married,
and also makes his home in Morgan Township;
Nancy J., born Oct. 3, 1847, is the wife of William
Griggs, and resides in Seven Hickory Township;
Thomas T., born March 20, 1849, lives on the
homestead; Mary E., born July 30, 1851, became
the wife of S. Clark, and died July 4, 1887, leaving
a family of two children; John, born Aug. 20,
1853, is married, and resides in Morgan Township;
Victoria Sophia, born March [20, 1855, is the wife
of Isaac Walter, and lives in Ashmore Township;
she is the mother of one child ; Daniel Boone is the
subject of this sketch; Susanna, born July 24, 1861,
died in childhood; Jacob Henry was born Jan. 13,
1864, and lives on the homestead where he was
born ; he is married and hag a family of four chil-
dren. John Winkleblack was an extensive farmer
in this county, owning from 800 to 1,000 acres of
land. He gave his attention chiefly to raising the
different varieties of cereals, and was very success-
ful in business.

Daniel Winkleblack passed his boyhood and
youth on the homestead, where he acquired a prac-
tical knowledge of sytematic farming, receiving at
the same time a good education in the common
schools. Feb. 9, 1881, he was married to Miss
Mary Ann Myers. Mrs. Winkleblack is the daugh-
ter of James and Emeline (Smith) Myers, the for-
mer born Feb. 12, 1834, and the latter Nov. 27,
1839. Their family consisted of ten children:
Mary Ann, born June 19, 1859; Charles, March 18,
1861; John, born Aug. 20, 1863, died Aug. 12,
1864; Elisha, born Nov. 28. 1866, died Oct. 12,
1880; Nettie, born June 20, 1871; Nannie and
Julia (twins), were born Aug. 20, 1876; the latter
died at two years of age, and the former makes her
home with her sister, Mrs. Winkleblack. Katie,
born Dec. 12, 1878, resides at home; Carrie and
Harry (twins), were born March 12, 1881; the
former died at fi ve years of age. The family came
to Coles County in 1860, and reside in Bushton,
Morgan Township, Coles County.

On Thanksgiving Day of 1883, Mr. Winkleblack
brought his young wife to the home where they
now reside, and celebrated the festivities of the

day with due ceremony. In conducting his farm,
Mr. Winkleblack is engaged to some extent, but
not exclusively, in stock-raising. His farm was a
gift from his father. In politics Mr. Winkleblack
is a Republican; his wife belongs to the Baptist
Church, having become a member of Salem Church,
Morgan Township, when fifteen years of age.

AMES HAMILTON, ex-Sheriff of Coles
County, and now engaged in farming and
stock-raising on section 13, North Okaw
Township, spent his childhood in Adams
County, Ohio, where his birth took place May 1,
1826. He was the eleventh child in a family of
twelve born to John and Isabel (Smith) Hamilton,
natives of Ireland, but of Scotch descent. They
came to America with their parents when mere
children, and settled in South Carolina, whence
both families removed, first to Kentucky and then
to Ohio. The paternal grandfather of our subject
was John Hamilton, Sr., who married Miss Mary
McClure; both were natives of Ireland and of
Scotch-Irish descent. The mother of our subject
was the daughter of Samuel and Isabel (Brown)
Smith, of the same country and descent as the
Hamilton family.

The father of our subject carried on farming in
Adams County, Ohio, and served as a volunteer in
the War of 1812. In 1853 he emigrated to Illi-
nois with the expectation of remaining in the West,
but two years later returned to Ohio, where his
death took place in about 1868. James, of our
sketch, was bred to farm pursuits and received a
limited education in the district schools. When
twenty-three years of age he left home, and for two
years thereafter engaged in farming on his own
account in his native county. Subsequently he
cauie West and engaged in teaching in Coles
County, which he followed for about a year and a
half, and then located on a tract of rented land,
which he occupied one j'ear. In the meantime he
purchased eighty acres of wild prairie, which ho
fenced and settled upon, and in due time had made
it ready for the reception of his bride. The lady
chosen for this position of honor and trust was

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COLES COUNTY.

Miss Margaret L. Hoskins, who became his wife
Nov. 16, 1853. Mrs. Hamilton was born in Mor-
gan County, 111., July 19, 1832, and is the daugh-
ter of Lowry and Martha (Prewett) Hoskins, na-
tives of Kentucky, who emigrated from the Blue
Grass regions to Illinois during its early settlement.
They located in Coles County in 1835, while it was
still a wilderness, with no settlement within a
radius of sixteen miles and no mill nearer than
Springfield.

Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins became the parents of
eleven children, of whom Margaret L. was the sec-
ond. The mother departed this life at the home-
stead in North Okaw in 1847. Lowry Hoskins is
still living, and a resident of Nebraska. Although
having reached the advanced age of eighty-four
years, he is still active and capable of managing his
business affairs. The experience of the Hoskins
family in Illinois during the pioneer days was
marked by many hardships and trials. At one
time a band of robbers took away four head of
horses, escaping with them to Kentucky. Mr. H.
overtook the thieves, but could not .satisfactorily
prove that the animals belonged to him, and was
obliged to relinquish his claim. This for the time
crippled his farming operations, as he had no other
horses left, and he went to work at twenty-five
cents per day, cutting rails, until enabled to start
again. Afterward he followed trading principally,
and accumulated a fine property in Coles County,
owning at one time nearly 800 acres of land. He
was particularly fond of pioneer life, and delighted
in overcoming the difficulties set before him.

Mr. Hamilton occupied his first purchase of land
about four years, and then in the fall of 1859 pur-
chased eighty acres on section 13, where he now
resides. He put up a fine residence in 1872,
together with good barns and other necessary out-
buildings, and added to his first purchase so that
he has now 260 acres, the whole, with its buildings,
constituting one of the most attractive features in
the landscape of Coles County. He has been pros-
perous in his farming operations and fortunate in
his investments, and is looked upon as a man pos-
sessing more than ordinary ability and good judg-
ment, both in farming and finance.

Mr. Hamilton, after the outbreak of the Re-

bellion, although having large interests to look
after, considered it his duty to aid in the preserva-
tion of the Union, and accordingly, on the 4th of
September, 1862, enlisted in the 12Sth Illinois In-
fantry, which was soon afterward consolidated with
the 26th and 130th. The soldiers were mustered
in at Camp Butler, and soon afterward ordered to
the scene of conflict, with headquarters at Mem-
phis. Tenn. The}' participated in the siege and
capture of Vicksburg, and Mr. Hamilton in the
meantime was attacked with typhoid fever, from
the effects of which he was slow to recover, and
finally received his discharge for disability on the 7th
of May, 1863. He then returned to his home and
farm pursuits, but for a period of twelve years
thereafter was able to do but very little active la-
bor. He finally began to improve, however, and is
now quite strong again.

Mr. Hamilton always voted the Republican
ticket, and in 1880 was the successful candidate for
Sheriff of Coles County, being elected by a hand-
some majority. He served two years, and in 1882
was re-elected for four years, discharging the
duties of the office with credit to himself and satis-
faction to his constituents. He encountered some
unpleasant duties during his term of office, but
never swerved from the line of rectitude, and re-
ceived much praise for his fideHty to duty and his
bravery in times of difficulty and danger. During
the last three years of his term he had his family
with him at his headquarters at Charleston, and
upon relinquishing the office retired to his farm,
leaving his son, John R., as Deputy under McClel-
land, the present incumbent.

Mr. Hamilton has also served the people in
minor offices and has thoroughly identified himself
with the growth aud progress of his adopted
county. Of. the children of Mr. and Mrs. II.,
eleven in number, four, Mary E., Thomas, Arthur
and Lulu, have been laid to rest in the quiet coun-
try burying-ground. Those surviving are John R.,
William H. and James L. (twins), David \V., Al-
bert Grant, Samuel L. and Margaret I. John has
been mentioned above; Albert married Miss Mollie
E. Ashworth, and is a practicing physician ; he re-
sides on the homestead; he was graduated at the
Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati. David read

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COLES COUNTY.

325

law at Charleston in the office of States Attorney
Leitch, and was admitted to the bar. The others
are at home with their parents. Our subject is a
member of the Missionary Baptist Church, in which
he serves as Deacon and Trustee. Socially he be-
longs to the Knights of Honor and the I. O. O. F.
The farm stock of Mr. Hamilton includes Short-
horn cattle, Clydesdale horses and Poland-China
hogs. The land is largely devoted to the cultiva-
tion of broom corn and grain, and yields each year
a bountiful supply of the richest products of the
Prairie State.

<¥/ OHN W. MURPHY, a prosperous farmer and
stock-grower of this county, residing on sec-
tion 33, Seven Hickory Township, was born
April 13, 1841, in Kentucky, and is the son
of Miles and Sibbie (O'Hair) Murphy. His great-
grandparents were natives of Ireland, who emi-
grated to this country at an early day, and settled
in Kentucky, making their permanent home there.
Miles Murphy was born in Kentucky in 1818,
and was the son of William and Matilda (Biles)
Murphy, who were the parents of twenty-two chil-
dren, sixteen sons and six daughters. Those now
living reside in Kentucky, where there are about
500 descendants. One son, who removed to Indi-
ana with his family, was killed by the falling of a
tree while at work cutting timber in the forest.

In 1856, Miles Murphy removed with his wife
and family of thirteen children, to Coles County,
and settled in Seven Hickory Township, making
his permanent home here. Several years prior to
this removal he had come to Edgar County, and
after remaining three years, returned to Kentucky.
Mr. Murphy was a member of the Christian Church
and a highly esteemed citizen of the township. He
was industrious and energetic in business, and lived
peaceably with all men, attending exclusively to
his own affairs, and never becoming involved in
difficulties with his neighbors. During the Civil
War he was taken prisoner, and conveyed to
Springfield, where he died. The family record
is: William H., a resident of Texas; John W.,

the subject of this sketch; Calvin C., a resident of
Kansas; Michael A., a resident of Seven Hickory
Township; Benjamin F. died at the age of four-
teen; James T., Miles T., Leander B. and Hilton
N., all reside in Kansas ; Eliza C., who died in 1880,
was the wife of Martin McCallister, and left a
family of three children; Matilda E. is the widow
of John Erwood, and has a family of three chil-
dren; Nancy I. is the wife of William Grimes, and
has a family of three children; Diana E. is single,
aud resides with her widowed sister, Matilda, in
Elizabethtown, Ind.

John W. Murphy was a child when his parents
came to Edgar County, 111. He returned with the
family to Kentucky, and accompanied them again
to Illinois when they came the second time, and
settling permanently in this county, has since re-
mained here, engaged in farming and stock-raising.
His first purchase of land was 200 acres, located on
section 36, Seven Hickory Township, which was
part of the original homestead, bought of the Illi-
nois Central Railroad ; he owns it in partnership
with his brother, Michael A. Murphy. He now re-
sides on section 33, where he owns a fine estate,
containing eighty acres of well-improved land. He
is engaged in general farming, raising all the
cereals, and also giving his attention to stock-
growing'.

Dec. 28, 1864, Mr. Murphy was married to Miss
Rebecca Wells. Mrs. Murphy was the daughter of
William and Sail}' Wells, residents of Kentuck.y.
Their married life, which opened with every pros-
pect of future happiness, was doomed to a sudden
close; on February 11 of the following year, Mrs.
Murphy died at her husband's home in Seven Hick-
ory Township. April 5, 1867, Mr. Murphy was
married to Miss Rachel Pittinger. Mrs. Murphy
is the daughter of Smith and Eliza Pittinger. Her
parents were natives of Kentucky, who removed to
Illinois, where their daughter, Rachel, was born in
Clark County. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy had a family
of eight children. Their first-born died in infancy,
unnamed; Lola G., born April 5, 1870; Nelson M.,
June 7, 1872; Maud E., Feb. 22, 1875; John T.,
Oct. 2, 1878; Anna E., June 24, 1880; Corsa A.,
born Feb. 22, 1882, died at the age of eleven
months, and Jessie P., born July 14, 1885.

\

326

COLES COUNTY.

Mr. Murphy, with his wife, belongs to the Chris-
tian Church at Rural Retreat. He is an active and
enterprising citizen of this county, and in 1885
was elected Commissioner of Seven Hickory Town-
ship by the Democratic party, of which he is a
member; he has been delegate to the County Con-
ventions, and served as School Director several
terms, giving general satisfaction to the people in
the discharge of his public duties.

JCHAKL A. MURPHY, a prosperous far-
mer of Seven Hickory Township, is the
owner of a fine estate containing 200 acres,
located on section 36. He was born Aug.
10, 1844, in Morgan, now Wolfe County, Ky., and
is the son of Miles and Sibbie (O'Hair) Murphy.
His great-great-grandfather was a native of County
Down, Ireland, who emigrated to this country at
an early day and settled in Kentucky. His wife
was a native of Bourbon County, that State. His
grandfather, William Murphy, was born in 1792, in
Morgan County, Ky., and married Miss Matilda
Miles, who was born in 1801, in the same county.
Miles Murphy was born in 1818, in Morgan
County, Ky., and remained on the homestead with
his parents until his marriage with Miss Sibbie
O'Hair, which took place at Hazle Green, Ky. The
ceremony was performed by Elder Joseph Nichols,
pastor of the Christian Church at that place. After
his marriage he was engaged in farming a few years
in his native State, and in 1847 removed to Edgar
County, 111. After remaining there one year he re-
turned to Kentucky, but in 1856 came again to Illi-
nois, and settled on section 36, Seven Hickory Town-
ship, where he carried on a successful farming busi-
ness until the Civil War broke out. With his sons,
Michael A. and John W., he was taken prisoner
during the war and conveyed to Springfield, where
he died April 14, 18(!4, as it was then supposed,
from the effects of poison administered while in
prison.

The following is the record of the family of

Miles Murphy: William H., a resident of Parker
County, Tex., is married and has a family of four
daughters; John W. ; Calvin C., a resident of
Greenwood County, Kan., is married and has a
famity of four children; Michael A., the subject of
this sketch; Eliza C., deceased, was the wife of
Martin McCallister; she died in February, 1881,
leaving a family of three children. Matilda E.
is the widow of John Elrwood, and resides in
Bartholomew County, Ind., with her family of
three children; Nancy J., the wife of William
Grimes, has a family of three children, and likewise
resides in Bartholomew County, Ind. ; Miles T., a
resident of Greenwood County, Kan., has been
twice married, and is the father of one child by
each marriage; Benjamin F. died on the homestead
in the autumn of 1856, at the age of fourteen;
James E., a resident of Cherokee County, Kan., is
married and has one child ; Diana E. resides in Bar-
tholomew Count}', Ind., with her sister; Leander
B. resides in Cherokee County, Kan., with his
brother; Hilton N. is married, and likewise resides
in Cherokee County, Kan. ; he has one child. Miles
Murphy and his wife were highly esteemed mem-
bers of the Christian Church; the latter survived
her husband many years, and died Feb. 2, 1882, in
Charleston, 111.

Michael A. Murphy was twelve years of age
when his parents removed from Kentucky to Coles
County, 111. He attended the common schools in
his native State, and after coining to Illinois studied
one year at Kansas Station in Edgar County. At
the age of twenty-one he began to work for himself
on the home farm, and in the spring of 1866 went
to Kentucky, and married Miss Sarah J. Powers.
Mrs. Murphy was born Nov. 14. 1849, in Morgan
County, Ky., and is the daughter of Louis and
Emily J. (Cox) Powers, also natives of Kentucky.
Their family consisted of four children — Sarah J.,
James P., Martha E. and William H. James P.
served as Deputy Marshal in Kentucky eight years;
Martha E. is the wife of Wiley Perkins, and resides
in Wolfe County, Ky., and William H. resides in
Howard, Dak.

Mr. Murphy's marriage took place March 3,
1866, and the ceremony was performed by Elder
Joseph Nichols, Pastor of the Christian Church at

t

COLES COUNTY.

327

I

Ilazle Green, Ky. Mr. Nichols had the reputation
of having conferred the blessing of matrimony
upon a greater number of people than other minis-
ter in the State. He performed the marriage rite
for the parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Murphy, and
in 1860 married over 300 couples. On one occa-
sion he is said to have united fifteen couples before
leaving the church. Mr. Nichols was a native of
Morgan County, Ky. He possessed a fine physique,
and his hair had never turned gray, although he
died at the advanced age of ninety-one years.

After his marriage Mr. Murphy returned to Coles
County, 111., and engaged in farming on the home-
stead. In 1868 he added to his property by pur-
chasing forty acres of land of the Illinois Central
Railroad, and in 1868 built his present residence.
He has on his farm six acres of walnut trees and
10,000 maples, besides a large growth of nearly
ever}' variety of native trees. His farm is well
cultivated and improved, and is supplied with over
2,000 rods of tiling. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy have
an interesting family of three children : Herschel
S., born Jan. 22, 1868, is now a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church; Emily J., born Dec.
12, 1869, and Harlan A., Sept. 2, 1883. Mr. Mur-
phy, with his wife and daughter, is a member of
the Christian Church. In politics he is a Demo-
crat, and was elected by that party to the local
office of Constable, and has held that position nine
years.

On Sept. 2, 1881, Mr. Murphy was struck by light-
ning while hauling a load of broom corn from the
field on his farm. He had reached the yard with
his team, and his wife, with Miss Lacy, a lady
friend from Kentucky, was assisting him in cover-
ing up the load to protect it from the rain which
was fast approaching, when the shock occurred. The
current struck his right shoulder and passed down
the right leg to the load of broom corn, tearing his
clothing in its course, and searing the flesh from
his shoulder to his feet, from which the boots were
torn and literally riddled. Parts of his pocket-
knife and the strap-iron on the wagon box were
melted. His wife was also stricken down, and re-
mained in a state of paralysis for several hours. The
lightning set fire to the load, and but for the timely
aid of Miss Lacy, who was uninjured, lie would

have been cremated on his wagon. Mr. Murphy
has preserved the boots and clothing as mementos
of his terrible experience, from the effects of which
he will suffer throughout the remainder of his life.
He oversees the work on his farm as usual, but is
not in sufficiently robust health to perform active
labor himself.

ADISON HUNT, manufacturer of and
dealer in tile and brick, owns 160 acres of
land on sections 6 and 7, in North Okaw
Township, where for the last year he has
been prosecuting his chosen calling extensively and
profitably. He is considered one of the rising young
business men of the northwestern part of Coles
County, and much is expected of him in the future.
Mr. Hunt was born of a good family, first open-
ing his eyes to the light in Jasper County, this
State, Aug. 30, 1858. His grandfather, Joseph
Hunt, a native of Ohio, was born Sept. 29, 1805,
and was engaged in farming and carpentering all
his life. In early manhood he married Miss Nancy
McCalip, who was born June 21, 1806, in Ohio,
and became his wife July 27, 1824. Seventeen
years later they emigrated with their family to this
State, arriving in Jasper County. Nov. 19, 1841,
where they took up their residence, and where the
death of Joseph Hunt occurred May 20, 1857.
His wife, Nancy, survived him until Sept. 26, 1868.
Their nine children were Zimiriah, who died when
fifty-five years old ; Elisha, a resident of Douglas
County ; Alfred, of Coles County ; Elizabeth, the
wife of John McComis, of Kansas; Leann, the wife
of Jacob Dettimore, of Kansas; John, deceased,
also Sarah; Joseph, a resident of Washington Terri-
tory, and James T., of Kansas. The grandparents
were buried in the Hunt Cemetery in Jasper
County.

The father of our subject was born Jan. 20, 1831,
and remained under the parental roof until reach-
ing manhood. His school advantages were ex-
tremely limited. He was but eleven years of age
when his parents came to Jasper County, and soon
after reaching his majority he was united in mar-
riage with Miss Nancy Harris, of Ohio. His father
presented him with a wedding gift of forty acres

f

i . 328

COLES COUNTY.

of land in Jasper County, which, however, he sold
not long afterward, and dealt in land in that local-
ity for some time thereafter. Upon coming to this
county in the spring of 1859, he rented a tract of
land in Lafayette Township, upon which he oper-
ated until he purchased the land which constitutes
his present farm. This he has brought to a fine
state of cultivation, the lowland being thoroughly
drained with tile, and has brought about all the im-
provements required by the progressive, modern
farmer. Of the six children born to Alfred and
Nancy Hunt, Joseph and the two following died in
infancy; Elisha died when an interesting lad
nine years of age ;.Ardilla became the wife of Willis
Hand, and is a resident of Coles County; Madison,
of our sketch, was the youngest of the family.

Our subject attended the primary school during
his childhood and completed his studies in Lee's
Academy, at Loxa, where he took a full course of
instruction. After leaving the academy he com-
menced teaching, which he followed a short time,
then rented a tract of land in Coles County, and
carried on farming. He was united in marriage
with Miss Emma Ellison, of North Okaw Township,
on the 21st of January, 1880, the wedding taking
place at the home of the bride. Mrs. Hunt was
born in Ohio, Feb. 28, 1848, and is the daughter of
Moses and Mary A. (Lockridge) Ellison, natives
of the same State. After his marriage Mr. Hunt
rented land in Hurnbolt Township, and a year later
removed to the place where he now resides. Dur-
ing the fall of 1886, he became associated with his
brother-in-law, S. J. Jackson, in the manufacture of
tile and brick, the business being carried on under
the firm name of Jackson & Hunt. Both are wide-
awake and energetic men, and are building up a
prosperous and lucrative business, receiving orders
from all parts of the county and beyond.

Mr. Hunt usually votes with the Democratic
party, although having but little time to give to
political matters. His wife is a member in good
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The
household circle was completed by the advent of
five children, namely, Ellison, born June 23, 1882;
Louis A. and Luella, twins, May 30, 1883; Maggie,
July 31, 1884; Claude, Aug. 11, 1886; Luella died
in infancy.

OELSON S. FREEMAN, M. D., a retired phy,
sician of Pleasant Grove Township, is a
resident of Farmington, and Postmaster at
that place. He is the son of Thompson and Cath-
erine (Kelso) Freeman, and was born Feb. 17, 1833,
in Orange County, Ind. His paternal grandparents
were natives of England, who emigrated to the
United States and settled in Virginia. The mar-
riage of our subject's parents took place in Vir-
ginia. Mrs. Freeman had been previously married,
and was the mother of one child, John Smith, now
a resident of Vigo County, Ind. After his mar-
riage, Mr. Freeman removed to Orange County,
Ind., and thence to Putnam County, making the
latter place his home. He was a carpenter by trade,
but possessed considerable business talent, and was
proprietor of a hotel, and also engaged in the
mercantile business, dealing in furniture.

Mr. and Mrs. Freeman had a family of ten chil-
dren born to them, all of whom attained maturity,
but only three are now living: Nelson S., the sub-
ject of this sketch; Sarah, Mrs. Simpson, a resident
of Crawford County, Kan., and Elizabeth, who is
married, and a resident of Westfield, 111. When
the home circle was broken by the death of his
wife, Mr. Freeman desired a change of scene, and
removed to Clark County, 111., where he passed the
closing years of his life, and died at the advanced
age of eighty-six years.

Dr. Freeman wa's an infant when his family
moved to Putnam County, Ind., and his early life
was passed on the homestead there. He received
a good common-school education, and studied
medicine, preparator}- to entering the medical pro-
fession. His marriage to Miss Mary F. Carman
took place there in 1851. Mrs. Freeman is the
daughter of Isaac H. and Elizabeth (Beers) Car-
man, and was born April 2, 1832, in Pennsylvania.
In 1855 Dr. Freeman removed with his young fam-
ily to Coles County, 111., and engaged in the prac-
tice of medicine. After remaining a short time,
he changed bis residence to Clark County, and re-
mained there until August, 1857, and then, return-
ing to Coles County, settled in Campbell.

When the Civil War broke out, Dr. Freeman was
among the first to offer his life in the defense of
his country. He enlisted in the autumn of 1861,

i -

f

COLES COUNTY.

t

.and was mustered into service with a company of
Western Sharpshooters, which afterward composed
Co. F., of the 66th Illinois Infantry. Within fif-
teen days he was promoted to the rank of Assistant
Surgeon, and served in that capacity until Feb. 20,
1862. He never possessed a vigorous physique
and the hardships of war told so severely upon his
health, that on account of physical disability, and
by the advice of Gen. Grant, he then left the regi-
ment for home to recruit his strength. But, re-
luctant to leave the service when so much assist-
ance was needed, he stopped at Mound City, near
Cairo, and engaged to do hospital duty there.
During the June freshet it became necessary to
move the hospital from that locality, and Dr. Free-
man then went to Springfield, where he recruited a
company of men, who were mustered in with the
123d Illinois Infantry. During the winter of
1862-63, he was engaged in hospital duty at Cor-
inth, Memphis and President's Island, and in Au-
gust, 1863, received the commission of Captain of
Co. I., 63d U. S. Col. Inf. His regiment was stationed
on guard duty in Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisi-
ana, and was at one time encamped on the planta-
tion belonging to Jefferson Davis. The Doctor has
a chair in his possession which was brought from
there as a memento of the war. He served until
the close of the war, and his regiment was mus-
tered out Jan. 9, 1866, and disbanded under gen-
eral order.

Dr. Freeman is the owner of his pleasant resi-
dence in P'armington, and also other town property.
He has been Postmaster for many years, and while
in the enjoyment of good health, was very active
and energetic, besides attending to a large medical
practice ; he was also interested in mercantile pur-
suits and other enterprises. On account of his
health he has been obliged to relinquish the prac-
tice of medicine entirely.

Dr. and Mrs. Freeman had a family of six chil-
dren born to them, all of whom, with one excep-
tion, are now living: Caroline, the wife of James
M. Newman; Charles E., Lizzie A., Wilbur F. and
Frank F.

.Dr. and Mrs. Freeman have been for many years
active members of the Methodist Church. In pol-
itics the Doctor is a Republican, and cast his first

329

vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. He has been
Postmaster at Farmington for many years, and has
also held several other local offices, and in the dis-
charge of his public duties, both civil and military,
he has won the respect of his colleagues and the
confidence of the people. He is a member of the
Masonic fraternity and of the G. A. R.

m

OHN E. PERISHO is the owner of a fine
farm containing 160 acres, located on section
1, Seven Hickory Township, where he is
chiefly engaged in stock-growing. He was
born Feb. 20, 1850, in Edgar County, 111., and is the
son of Isaac and Rosana (O'Hair) Perisho. Isaac
Perisho was born May 2, 1818, in Washington
County, Ind., and was about eight years of age
when he came with his parents, Joseph and Barbara
(Zink) Perisho, to Edgar County, 111. The former
was a native of North Carolina, and the latter of
Kentucky.- Their family consisted of seven chil-
dren : Harvey, a resident of Edgar County ; Isaac,
a resident of Coles County ; Daniel, a resident of
Clark County ; Joseph, deceased ; Emanuel, a re-
sident of Clark County, 111. ; John and James, res-
idents of Edgar County.

Isaac Perisho resided with his parents until his
marriage with Miss Zimmerly, a native of Edgar
County, which took place when he was eighteen
years of age. Mrs. Perisho died within a few years,
leaving three children, only one of whom is now
living, Jacob, who is married and resides in Edgar
County ; he has a family of seven children. Mr.
Perisho was married the second time, to Miss Pur-
lee, a native of Washington County, Ind. Only
one child was born to this marriage, Hiram, who is
now married, and a resident of Edgar County. Mr.
Perisho's married life was again of short duration,
and after the death of his second wife, he married
Miss Rosana O'Hair. Mrs. Perisho is the daughter
of Michael and Rose (Wells) O'Hair. Her parents
were natives of Kentucky, where their daughter
Rosana was born. Five children were born to this
marriage : Emily J., the wife of O. C. Bower, a res-
ident of Morgan Township, is the mother of one
son, Arthur E. ; Ella died at the age of fifteen;

t,

-m-

t , 330

COLES COUNTY.

John K. is the subject of this sketch; Mary E., the
wife of G. O. Davis, a resident of Charleston, 111.,
has a family of three daughters — Minnie, Lulu and
Pearl; Rosana ('., the wife of A. J. Newman, re-
sides in Seven Hickory Township, and has a family
of three children — Olive P., George M. and
Ruby R.

September 24, 1874, our subject married Miss
Aurelia Alice Miller. Mrs. Perisho is the daughter
of Samuel F. and Bethany J. (Jean) Miller, and
was born Feb. 7, 1852, in Jefferson County, Ky.
Her paternal grandfather, Michael Miller, was a na-
tive of Pennsy vlania, but removed from that State
at an early day and settled in Kentuckjr, where he
died at the advanced age of ninety-one years. He
was twice married, and Samuel Miller, the father
of Mrs. Perisho, was a son of the second wife.
There were five children born to the second mar-
riage— Elizabeth, Susan, Samuel, William and
Amanda. Samuel Miller's marriage took place March
13, 1836, and his family consisted of twelve chil-
dren : Mary E., died in childhood ; Catherine M. is
the wife of James W. Mulliken. a native of Indi-
ana; they live in Arcola, Douglas Co., 111., and
have a family of eight children — Edgar, Lola, Ira,
Lorena, Gertie, Myrtle, Ruth and Pearl. John S.
is married and lives in Hoopeston, 111.; he is the
father of one child — Cora. Jane C. is the wife of
E. L. Frazier, a native of Indiana, and they have
four children — Bertha C., Otis O., Maud M. and
Bessie B; William A. died when a young man;
Robert E. died in childhood; Maynard P. is mar-
ried and resides at Hoopeston; he is the father of
two sons — J. S. and Walter. Aurelia A. is the wife
of our subject; Michael is married and lives in
Charleston; he has a family of three children —
Frederick, Charles and Grace. Ara and Ira are
twins; the former married Miss Lottie Long, and
lives in Charleston, they have one child — Ethel;
the latter died in infancy. Oscar is single and re-
sides in Champaign, 111.

Mr. and Mrs. Perisho have resided in this neigh-
borhood for many years. They passed one year
in Arcola, and the following year in Charleston,
where Mr. Perisho opened a meat-market. In 1875
they built their present residence, and have since
made their home here. Mr. Perisho is chiefly en-

gaged in stock-raising. His farm is well improved,
and supplied with about 1,000 rods of tiling, all
of which is on sections 1 and 12. Mr. and Mrs.
Perisho have only one child, a daughter, Edith E.,
born Nov. 4, 1875.

With his wife, Mr. Perisho is a member of the
Christian Church, at Rural Retreat. Mrs. Perisho
became a member of the church in Seven Hickory
Township at the age of eighteen, and her husband
at the age of twenty-two. In politics Mr. Perisho
is a Democrat.

<iF ALPH DOLLAR, proprietor of 300 acres of
valuable land on section 6, East Oakland
Township, has been connected with the ag-
ricultural interests of that locality since
early manhood, and has been a member of the com-
munity since first being introduced to life and its
responsibilities, as he was born in this township,
Feb. 15, 1861. Our subject is of excellent Scotch
ancestry, being the son of John and Sarah (Hunt)
Dollar, the former born in Scotland, July 1, 1807,
and the latter a native of Ohio, born in Clarke
County, Aug. 19, 1822. Both parents were mem-
bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and
carried out in their daily lives the principles of the
religion which they professed.

John Dollar emigrated from his native country
in 1833, and sojourned in Northern Illinois until
1840. After a brief time spent in Chicago he came
to this county, arriving here on the 4th of July,
that same year, and located on eighty acres of land
on section 2, East Oakland Township. He was a
man of great industry, and while engaged in the
improvement of his farm, occupied his spare time
in ditching for the neighbors around him. By close
economy he managed to save something each year,
and in time became one of the wealthiest men in
the eastern part of Coles County. His honesty
and integrity secured him hosts of friends, and no
man was more straightforward in his business trans-
actions. As time progressed he accumulated more
land, and engaged largely in stock-raising. After
becoming a naturalized citizen he identified him-
self with the Republican party, and during the war

COLES COUNTY.

331

sympathized warmly with the Union cause. After
building up a good record as a man and citizen, he
was gathered to his fathers at an advanced age, his
death taking place Jan. 16, 1883.

The mother of our subject was the daughter of
James D. and Nancy (Jones) Hunt, of Clarke Coun-
ty, Ohio, and became the wife of John Dollar on the
8th of April, 1847, their wedding taking place in
this county. She had been previously married to
Nicholas Curtis, in February, 1840, and Mr. C.
died four years later, on the 2d of June, 1844.
He was born in 1818, and followed farming all his
life. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis had three children —
Charles, Ophelia and Samantba.

The three sisters and the brother of our subject
were Margaret, Nancy, Sarah and James B. The
latter died in childhood. Ralph, of our sketch, was
married three days after reaching his twenty-fifth
year, to Miss Josie M. Harmon, Feb. 18, 1886.
Mrs. D. was born in Clermont County, Ohio, June
13, 1862, and is the daughter of Arthur and Re-
becca (Gregg) Harmon, who are now living in this
township. They have one child, John Arthur.
Mr. Dollar is Republican in politics, like his father
before him, and is in all respects the peaceable, law-
abiding, industrious and enterprising citizen who,
like his compeers, has followed in the footsteps of
the pioneer fathers and mothers, and carried on the
work which they began half a century ago. But
for their labors, the great State of Illinois would
not have attained its present importance, and it is
gratifying to observe how well the sons of the old
settlers are carrying the mantle which descended
upon them from their fathers.

?RANK F. FREEMAN, the youngest son of
Dr. Nelson Freeman, a sketch of whom ap-
pears in this work, was born June 24, 1862,
in this county. He received an excellent business
education, and at the age of seventeen perfected
himself in the art of telegraphy. He was first em-
ployed as telegraph operator on the T. & P. R. II..
and subsequently held the position of Station
Agent for the T., St. L. & K. C. R. R. at Edwards-
ville. He returned home March 15, 1885, and has

since carried on a general mercantile business at
Campbell.

The marriage of our subject to Miss Mary A.
Andrews took place Aug. 26, 1883. Mrs. Freeman
is the daughter of Thomas and Caroline Andrews.
She was born in Fayette County, 111., and at the
time of her marriage resided in McLean County.
Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have two beautiful children —
Ernest M. and Francis Fay. In politics Mr. Free-
man is a Republican, and holds the position of
Town Clerk.

Mr. Freeman is a young man whose career in
life is just opening. He is popular among his
friends, honorable and upright in his business deal-
ings, and is one of whom all may reasonably pre-
dict a successful future.

J. GANNAWAY, who for fifty-eight
years has been numbered as one of the
worthy residents of Paradise Township,
first drew breath in Grayson County, Ky.,
20, 1826. He was the son of John and
Elizabeth (Williams) Gannaway, whose household
included eighteen olive branches, ten of whom
lived to maturity.

John Gannaway, Sr., a native of Virginia, born
in November, 1789, was the son of William and
Sallie (Gaunaway) Gannaway, and when a young
man learned the trade of a carpenter, which he
followed in his native State until 1829. He then
removed with his family to Illinois, locating first
at Muddy Point, this county, whence he soon
afterward removed to Paradise Township, where
he remained until his death, Feb. 27, 1875. He
bought sixty acres of wild land on section 13,
which is now occupied by his son, our subject.
He was a quiet and unobtrusive citizen, highly
respected by his neighbors, and with his wife, a
consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

Our subject was a youth of eighteen years when
he came with his parents to the farm which has
since continuously been his home. He has added
to the original area, and is now the proprietor of
400 acres. When twenty-seven years of age he

4

332

COLES COUNTY.

was married, Dec. 1, 1853, to Miss Sarah L., daugh-
ter of Samuel and Margaret (Love) Williams, of
Hardiu County, Ky. Samuel Williams was the
son of William and Elizabeth Williams, and his
wife, Margaret, was the daughter of William and
Mary Love. Mr. and Mrs. G. became the parents
of five children, all living and named respectively,
Samuel, Margaret E., Artemesia M., Abraham L.
and John. The eldest son, Samuel, married Miss
Mary, daughter of John and Ruth Jones, and is
occupied in farming near the homestead of his
father; they have two children — Sarah and Willard
Earl. Margaret M. is the wife of Simeon Horsley,
and is living with her husband on a farm in
Mattoon Township; they have four children — John,
Landie Lee, Homer and Josephine.

Mr. Gannaway has been prominent in the local
affairs of his township, serving as School Director
and Commissioner, but takes no further part in
politics than to cast his vote at important elections,
witli the Republican party. He is a member and
Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has
in all respects fulfilled his duties as an honest man
and a good citizen.

OSEPH F. GREEN, who worthily represents
the legal profession at Oakland, is a native
of Miami County, Ohio, born in the town of
Troy, April 7, 1857. His parents, Stephen
D. and Hannah (French) Green, were natives of
the same State, the father born in September, 1823,
and the mother in May of the same year. The
latter died at the homestead in Troy, Ohio, Aug.
19, 1883. The father is still living, and remains in
the home where he settled when first married, and
where his children were born.

Stephen D. Green was fairly educated, com-
pleting his studies in the High School at Pickaway,
Ohio, and being reared to manhood in Miami
County. During the progress of the Civil War he
engaged in the commission business with a partner,
under the firm name of Huddleson, Green & Co.,
making his headquarters at Cincinnati and dealing
principally in live stock. In 1866 he took up his
residence in Berea, and engaged in the real-estate

business there, his transactions also extending into
Mason County, 111. The record of Stephen D.
Green's children is as follows: Asa T., Zelora,
Glenn; Eli/.a, who married Alonzo Thackery, and
Joseph F.

The subject of this notice came to Illinois in
1879, and taking up his abode in Oakland spent a
part of his time here and the balance in Ohio,
where he was interested in teaching school. He
had completed his classical course of study in the
Lebanon Normal University in 1873, but continued
at his books thereafter four years, finally taking a
regular course in the college at Vermilion, giving •
his attention principally to the dead languages and
the sciences. Afterward he was engaged in teach-
ing for several years. He finally engaged in the
grain trade at Oakland, having offices likewise at
Hinesboro, Lake City and Hervey City, operating
with his brother under the firm name of Green
Bros. They subsequently added lumber, in which
they transacted quite an extensive business, and
continued four years, there and at Lebanon, Ohio.
In 1882 the brothers commenced the manufacture
of tile at Oakland, turning out annually about
$10,000 worth.

Our subject, however, desired a different kind of
life, and felt that he had talents which might be
better employed. Accordingly, in 1884, he en-
tered the Cincinnati Law School, where he studied
a year, and being still athirst for learning, repaired
to Valparaiso, Ind., and studied civil engineering,
in which he perfected himself, and has followed it
for the last two years. In 1885 he entered the
Union Law School at Chicago, where, after closely
applying himself two terms he was admitted to
the bar, in 1886, and soon afterward entered upon
the practice of his profession, which he has since
followed.

The marriage of Joseph F. Green and Miss Jennie
Sausser, was celebrated at the home of the bride's
parents in Lebanon, June 2, 1881. Mrs. Green
was born in Lebanon, Warren Co., Ohio, in 1858,
and is the only daughter of Col. C. E. and Mary
(Fay) Sausser, natives of Ohio. Her father served
as Colonel of an Ohio regiment of infantry during
the late war, being commissioned for his bravery
and fidelity in the Union cause. Mr. and Mrs. '

•» •

COLES COUNTY.

333

Green have one child, a daughter, Annie E., who
was born Oct. 9, 1884. Mrs. G. is well connected,
being second cousin to Senator Payne of Ohio.
Our subject and wife are members in good stand-
ing of the Old-School Presbyterian Church, and
Mr. G. is a stanch Republican, politically, although
a second cousin to Jefferson Davis, of Confederate
fame.

McCRORY, one of the pioneers of
Illinois, is a well-known and substantial
farmer, residing in Lafayette Township on
(Kg)// section 2, town 12, range 8. He was born
Nov. 16, 1814, in Bourbon County, Ky. His
father, James McCrory, Sr., was born in the North
of Ireland, whither his family had fled from Scot-
land to escape the persecutions which disturbed
that country during the latter part of the seven-
teenth century. He emigrated to the United
States when a young man, and settled in Kentucky,
where he engaged in farming, his marriage to
Mrs. Sarah Vance taking place there. Mrs. Mc-
Crory was a native of Virginia. Both parents
died before reaching the prime of life, leaving a
family of three children, whose names are, Jane,
Elizabeth, and James, our subject. Jane became
the wife of James Gray, and Elizabeth the wife of
William Kendall. The two daughters are now
deceased, leaving James the sole survivor of the
family.

James McCrory was a young lad when he had
the misfortune to lose both of his parents, and
resided with his brother-in-law until he was twenty-
one years of age. At that time, while on a visit
to some friends in Missouri, he engaged as clerk in
a store at Palmyra, retaining the position several
months. He then returned to Kentucky and
opened a dry-goods house, but the panic of
1837 compelled him to leave Kentucky, and con-
sequently he removed with his goods to Charleston,
this county, where he closed out his stock. In
1839 he returned to Kentucky, and for a short
time he resumed the mercantile business in
Harrison County, and subsequently engaged in
various employments there, until the spring of 1850.
He then returned to Coles County, and was en-

gaged in the mercantile business three years in
Charleston. In 1853 he was elected County
Clerk, and retained the position eight years, having
been elected the second time. At the expiration
of this time he resumed the mercantile business,
and in 1867 sold his stock and purchased the farm
upon which he now resides, which contains 160
acres of laud, all brought to a fine state of cultiva-
tion. After passing through many business vicissi-
tudes he is now spending the evening of life in com-
parative tranquility and retirement.

His marriage to Miss Mary E. Chambers took
place in Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky., March 20,
1838. She is the daughter of James Chambers,
and was born in Harrison County, Ky. Mr. and
Mrs. McCrory had a family of nine children, as
follows: William E., Henry M., Frank, Joe,
Charles D., Sarah E., Elizabeth; one daughter died
in childhood, and one son, James T., died at the
age of nineteen. Sarah became the wife of Luke
F. Wilson, and Elizabeth the wife of J. W. Neal,
M. D.

Mr. McCrory was faithful in the discharge of his
public duties while holding office, and is a highly
esteemed citizen of the township. Although not
actively interested in politics, he votes with the
Democratic partj'.

LEXANDER MONTGOMERY, deceased.
LM The name which heads this sketch is

worthy of honorable mention among the
self-made men of whom the State of Illi-
nois may well be proud. Mr. Montgomery was
born Ma}' 5, 1808, near Huntsville, Ala. When a
young man his parents removed to Indiana, and
settled near Rockville. He accompanied them, and
remained there until 1829, and then removed to
Coles County, 111., where he first settled near
Charleston, but subsequently changed his location
to Lafayette Township. He commenced life a
poor man, and when he came to Illinois his wife
and himself rode on the same horse, which was
their only possession. However, he was possessed
of excellent business qualifications, and engaged in
stock-dealing, which enterprise proved very sue-

I

334

COLES COUNTY.

cessful. He purchased cattle and drove them to
the Terre Haute market, and began building up his
fortune on this foundation. He made money rap-
idly, and became the owner of about 700 acres of
land, all^of which was well improved and cultivated,
with the exception of 100 acres of timber.

In 1871 Mr. Montgomery moved with his family
to Texas, in order to afford his children the ad-
vantages for advancement in life, which were very
promising in that State. While there he resided
three years near Sherman and two years in the
vicinity of Denison. He was successful in business,
and became the owner of 2,000 acres of land in
that State. At the expiration of five years he re-
turned to Coles County, having retained his prop-
erty hen;, but unknown to himself his life was fast
drawing to a close, and the mysterious curtain of
death was very soon to be drawn over the last
scene of his busy, useful life. He died in 1877,
the year following his return home. Mr. Mont-
gomery became a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church at the age of eighteen, and
continued his relation with that religious body
throughout life. In politics he was a stanch sup-
porter of the Democratic 'party.

Mr. Montgomery was thrice married, his first
marriage to Miss Margaret McCollister taking place
in Indiana. She died leaving three children, two
of whom are now living — Eliza J., now Mrs. Ew-
ing, and Margaret, the wife of W. W. Puriton.
Both are residents of Texas. His second wife was
Miss Martha Ann Glass, who died leaving one child,
Elizabeth, now Mrs. Cochran, who is also a resi-
dent of Texas. His third wife, Mrs. Lucinda
(Miller) Abbott, was born in Kentucky in 1812,
and died two months prior to the death of Mr.
Montgomery. A family of six children were born
to them, whose names are Mary E., Leander Frank-
lin, Mattie M., Robert D., William M. and Benton.
Mary E. became the wife of C. P. Sites, and resides
in Texas; Leander is a resident of El Dorado, Kan. ;
William M. married Alice P. McPheron and resides
on the old home place, and owns 300 acres of land,
and Benton died in infancy. By her former hus-
band Mrs. Montgomery had one child, Nancy, who
married Fletcher Miller and resides in Mattoon.

Robert D. was born in Coles County, May 6,

1850, and now represents the family here. He was
reared on his father's farm, and accompanied the
family to Texas when they removed to that State,
remaining there six years. Like his father he has
been prosperous in business, and is the owner of a
fine estate containing 300 acres of land. His sis-
ter Mattie resides with him, and has an interest in
the property. In politics Mr. Montgomery is a
Democrat.

T I. COLEY is a farmer and stock-
raiser residing on section 1, East Oakland
Township. He is the son of William and
Elizabeth (McClain) Coley, natives re-
spectively of Virginia and Kentucky, and was born
Nov. 30, 1825, in Mason County, Ky. His father
served as a private in the War of 1812, and was
stationed at Norfolk, Va. He was a carpenter by
trade and also engaged to some extent in farming.
He moved from Kentucky to Greencastle, Ind., in
about the year 1831, where he followed his trade
for one year. He then entered a tract of land and
turned his attention more exclusively to farming.
He remained in Indiana until 1851, when he re-
moved to Pike County, 111., settling near Pittsneld,
where he spent the last days of his life. His death
occurred Aug. 5, 1874. He was born in 1799, and
was married in about the year 1823. For many
years he was a Deacon in the Christian Church, and
was actively engaged in promoting its interests.
His wife was born Oct. 10, 1802, and died Nov. 16,
1878. She also was a member and earnest worker
in the Church of Christ.

The following is the record of their family of
twelve children : Three died in infancy ; Robert 1. ;
Nancy A. married William Brown, and is now de-
ceased ; Albert G. married Miss Southerland, and
resides in Pike County, 111.; Lewis J. married
Miss Rooks, and is deceased; Eliza E. married
Jesse Crow ; Thomas H. married Martha Goodin;
he was formerly a well-known teacher, and in 1868
was elected County Treasurer of Pike County, 111.
John L. married Miss Mary Weaver; Ann E. is the

COLES COUNTY.

335

wife of William Duffleld; Mary F. married Will-
iam Goodin, and is now deceased.

Robert I. Coley, the subject of this biography,
was married Nov. 25, 1851. in Hendricks County,
Ind., to Miss Elizabeth R. Kennedy, the ceremony
being performed by Rev. John Edwards, Pastor of
the Methodist Church. Mrs. Coley was born Oct.
13, 1829, in Hendricks County, Ind., and is the
daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth (Dodson) Ken-
nedy. Her father, Jesse Kennedy, was a native of
Virginia, where he was born in 1792. In 1853 he
moved to Newtown, Iowa, where he passed the re-
mainder of his life, his death occurring Sept. 27,
1874. He was married three times; the first time
in March, 1817; the second, April 29, 1841, and
the third Jan. 1, 1855. His children were all by
his first wife, and the following is the record : Ma-
ria, born March 27, 1818, was married to Isaac
Kelly, in 1836; Mary, born Feb. 1.8, 1820; Stock-
ton D., Dec. 25, 1821 ; Catherine A. Dec. 18, 1823;
Leonard D., Dec. 28, 1825; Olive J., Sept. 4, 1827;
Elizabeth R., Oct. 13, 1829; Jessie R., June 9, 1831;
Thomas T., Dec. 8, 1834; Solomon E., born May
21, 1836, is deceased; Simeon, born Dec. 25, 1837,
deceased; Joseph C., born March 19, 1839.

Robert I. Coley came with his family to this
township in October, 1858, where he first purchased
eighty acres of land. He has constantly added to
this until he now has a fine estate of 114 acres. He
was brought up to the printer's trade, in which he
was very successful during the early part of his
life, but since his removal to this township he has
given his attention more exclusively to farming
and stock-raising. In the latter pursuit he gives
special attention to the breeding of Poland-China
hogs.

The family of our subject and wife comprises
nine children, whose names and dates of birth are
as follows: Laura E., born Dec. 30, 1852, is the
wife of James W. Leitch; Origen V.. born Sept. 5,
1854; Henry C., May 4, 1856 ; Horace B., March
7, 1858; Charles D., May 6, 1860; May J., Feb. 8,
1862; Carrie E., April 21, 1866; Jessie F., June 21,
1870; Albert L., Feb. 28, 1872.

Mr. Coley is a Deacon in the Christian Church,
in which organization himself and wife have been
active members for many years. In politics he is

an ardent supporter of the Republican party. His
property is mostly invested in his farm and stock.
His family has long been well known and highly
respected in the community, and six of his children
are or have been school teachers.

G. TILEY, General Yardmaster for the I.
& St. L. R. R., is one of the leading men of
Coles County and a prominent citizen of
Mattoou. He was born April 29, 1847, in
Liverpool, England, and is the son of Samuel G.
a«d Eliza (Owen) Tiley. His parents were also
natives of Liverpool, England, where their mar-
riage took place. They emigrated to America
about the year 1852, and settled at Lillie's Station,
in the Alleghany Mountains, where, in connection
with his brother William, the father was exten-
sively engaged in the coal works for a number of
years. He then sold out his interest there and
moved to Johnstown, Pa., and was there appointed
Superintendent of the Cambria Iron Works. He
subsequently removed to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he
became connected with the public works of that
city. In 1860, he changed his location to Ports-
mouth, Ohio, and there accepted the position of
Superintendent of the gas works and city im-
provements.

When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in
the pioneer corps under Gen. Buell, and served un-
til 1864. He was twice taken prisoner \>y Morgan,
but only detained for a short time, and returned
from the army broken in health, from disease con-
tracted while in the service. He engaged in taking
contracts on the East Division of the I. & St. L.
R. R., and afterward engaged in coal-mining at
Carbon, Ind. He had never recovered from the
ravages of the disease contracted during his service
in the Civil War, and his death occurred in 1880.
His widow is still living, and resides at Terre
Haute, Ind. The family consisted of twelve chil-
dren, seven of whom are living, as follows: John
S., the engineer and book-keeper at Snoddy's Mills,
Ind. ; Rose, the wife of Mr. Folk, a resident of Terre
Haute, Ind.; S. G., the subject of this sketch;
Annie, the wife of Mr, Dickerson, a resident of

T

336

COLES COUNTY.

rf

Seelyville, Ind., and one. of the leading men of
Vigo County; William, the proprietor of a black-
smith shop at Fontanet, Ind.; Thomas W., operator
of the coal shaft at Snoddy's Mills, Ind.; and
James, a resident of Raton, N. M., engineer on the
A., T. <fe S. F. R. R.

S. G. Tiley received a practical education, and
remained at home until seventeen years of age, and
when the last call was made for troops he enlisted
at Terre Haute, but his father thinking him too
tender in years to undergo the hardships of the
service, entered his objection to the recruiting
officer, and the boy was accordingly dismissed.
But he was active and ambitious, and later in tlje
autumn started out in search of work, which he
succeeded in obtaining on a farm, near Farmers-
•burg, Ind., where he remained until the fall of
1866, when he journeyed overland to Arcola, 111.
He there assisted a farmer, N. J. Wall, in gather-
ing corn, and when this work was completed, went
on foot to Mattoon, arriving there with only $2
in money, having sent the rest of his earnings to
his parents.

Our subject next accepted a position in the
Water Supply Department of the I. & St. L. R. R.,
and aided in boring for water in a large well near
Capen's implement house, and afterward assisted
in sinking wells at Dorsey and Sandford. In 1869
he was promoted to the position of night baggage-
man, and in 1871 assumed the duties of night yard-
master, and served in that capacity for two years ;
he was then appointed night and day baggageman,
and was thus engaged for three years, and in June,
1876, again had charge of the night yards and con-
.tinued until the following September, when he was
appointed to his present position. Mr. Tiley is re-
liable and energetic, and during his services on the
I. <fe St. L. R. R., although there have been many
changes in its management, his position has always
been secure. The capacity of the yards has
grown from 150 to 1,000 cars, and while he could
at first manage that department alone, he now has
no less than 150 men under his supervision, and so
universally honorable are his dealings with his em-
ployes, that all hold him in the highest esteem.

Three times he came near losing his life in the
discharge of his duties; the first time by a brake

giving way, he was thrown from the top of a car to
the ground, and besides sustaining other injuries
his foot was broken. The second and third times
by a draw-bar giving way in coupling cars, and the
last time he was so seriously hurt that he was taken
home, as it was supposed, lifeless, but after a pro-
tracted illness was restored to health and vigor.
In 1868 he was married to Miss Sue Rowley.
Mrs. Tiley is the daughter of William and Nancy
(Dillon) Rowley, of Sciotoville, Ohio. Mr. and
Mrs. Tiley have a family of four children, all liv-
ing, as follows: William G., Lillie I., Harry and
S. G., Jr.

Mr. Tiley forms a notable example of a mechanic
and laboring man, who commenced life engaged as
a wage- worker by the day, at any honorable, honest
occupation that presented itself, and by his indus-
try and integrity has worked his way up to a high
and responsible position, thereby illustrating what
industiy, coupled with ability and integrity, can
accomplish in this country of freedom, where such
qualities are sure of their reward. In every posi-
tion in which he has been called upon to act, he has
proved himself worthy of the trust reposed in him.
He was Assistant Supervisor of Mattoon during
the years 1884-85, and at all times considered the
best interests of the people, his official acts bearing
the closest investigation. Mr. Tiley is a stanch
supporter of the Democratic party ; he is a member
of the Masonic fraternity and also of the Knights
of Pythias. In 1886 he was candidate for the
position of County Sheriff, but was defeated by the
small majority of seventy-six votes, the entire
Democratic ticket being defeated.

W. GILBERT. As a fair representative
of the farming interests of Oakland Town-
ship, this gentleman deserves more than
passing notice in a volume which will doubt-
less be perused with interest by a large proportion
of the intelligent people of Central Illinois. His em-
ployment has been principally farming and stock-
growing, in which he lias attained a fine reputation
as having operated with more than ordinary suc-
cess. His real estate embraces a valuable farm of

COLES COUNTY.

337

200 acres of highly cultivated land, with a hand-
some and convenient residence, and all the out-
buildings required in this age of progress and im-
provement. He located on his present homestead
in 1882, and has become one of the important fac-
tors in the agricultural interests of his section.

Mr. Gilbert is a native of Jackson County, Ind.,
and was born Sept. 19, 1840. He is the son of
Aniasa and Nancy N. (Baldwin) Gilbert, natives
respectively of New York and Indiana. The par-
ental family included four children, namely, Meecly
of our sketch, Toss, Tipton S. and Mary. The
mother departed this life Dec. 16, 1881, while the
family were residents of this township. Amasa Gil-
bert, for his second wife, married Miss Elizabeth
Redman, and is still living, a resident of Oakland.
He came to this State in the spring of 1872, lo-
cating in Oakland, and has since resided there,
retired from active labor, and enjoying the accu-
mulations of industry as a prosperous farmer of
Jackson County. Ind.

The subject of our sketch continued on his
father's farm until after reaching his majority, and
on the 26th of March, 1862, was united in marriage
with a lady of his own county. Miss Mary E. Will-
iams, who was born in January, 1839, and is the
daughter of James and Julia (Bobo) -Williams, also
natives of that State, where the death of both oc-
curred several years ago. Mr. and Mrs. G. came
to this State shortly after their marriage, locating
first in Oakland Township, which remained their
residence until their removal to their present farm.
Their household includes three bright children —
Lenny C., Grace M. and Meedy B. Mr. Gilbert
identified himself with the Masonic fraternity in
1866, and at present belongs to Oakland Lodge
No. 219. Politically he is a stanch Republican,
and religiously a member of the Free Baptist
Church.

Mr. Gilbert may be termed a self-made man, and
his career presents an illustration of resolution and
energy which the faint-hearted will do well to fol-
low. He has met with many reverses, having lost
all his property at one time in Indiana, and being
totally without means upon coming to this county.
He lost no time, however, in bewailing his fate, but
immediately set about to retrieve his fortunes, and

in the space of fourteen years, beginning with noth-
ing but his willing heart and strong hands, has be-
come in reality a capitalist. His farm is well
stocked with good grades of the domestic animals,
, including horses, cattle and hogs, fattening 150 of
the latter annually. His horses will bear fair com-
parison with anything of the kind in this sectioi^
and as a ^breeder he has alreadj" made for himself
an enviable reputation. He has now (1887) on his
farm three carloads of very fine fat cattle, which he
will ere long ship to the Eastern markets, and
which, if no misfortune happens to them, will bring
to the enterprising owner a handsome sum of
money. Those who know Mr. Gilbert best agree
that he deserves his prosperity, and that as an hon-
est man and a good citizen his rightful place is in
the front ranks.

\f] OSEPH S. WRIGHT, a farmer and one of the
leading citizens of Ashmore Township, was
born May 14, 1831, in Butler County, Ohio.
He is the son of Robert and Catherine

x-a=S-'

(Mell) Wright, the former a native of Kentucky,
and the latter of Virginia. Robert Wright was
born Eeb. 2, 1798. in Bracken County, Ky., and
was a cooper by trade. He came to this State in
1851, settling in Coles County, where his death
occurred the following October. His wife, who was
born in 1806, died eight days previous to her hus-
band. They were members of the Methodist
Church, and he was for many years a Class-Leader.
Eleven children were born to them, whose names
are as follows: John, Joseph S., Elizabeth M.,
Catherine J., Robert, Sarah H., Patience A., George
W., Wesley, Emma and William.

Joseph Wright came to Illinois in 1851, where
his marriage to Miss Diadarnia P. Brooks took
place Feb. 7, 1856. She is the daughter of Archi-
bald and Nancy (Powell) Brooks, and was born in
Illinois, Feb. 29, 1836. Her parents were natives
of Ohio. On his arrival in this township Joseph
was engaged for two years in farming by the
month, and also found employment at the carpenter's
trade, in which he was vei'3' skillful. He succeeded
so well in business, that hi 1870 he was enabled to

I

i

«*»-

t , 338

COLES COUNTY.

purchase a farm of forty acres, which he cultivated
and improved, and subsequently added twenty
more. He had received an excellent education, and
taught school for two years. He is much interested
in educational affairs, and was for many years
School Trustee, and is now Treasurer, having
served as Supervisor of the township two terms,
and acted as Chairman of the Board for some time.
Since 1864 he has held the office of Justice of the
Peace, and his decisions have never been reversed
when carried to the higher courts. He is a man
possessing great executive ability, good judgment
and tact, and has faithfully discharged all the du-
ties committed to his trust.

Our subject and wife became the parents of the
following children : Charles A. married Miss Mar-
tha E. Wicker, who died leaving one child, Tenie
O. ; Mary H., deceased, formerly the wife of John
A. Frazer; George A., deceased; Benjamin A. and
Stephen A. His sons are all teachers. Mr. Wright
has been for many years a member, and one of the
Elders of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he
is an ardent supporter of the Republican party.

ON. AZARIAH JEFFRIS, a prominent citi-
zen of Coles Count}', is an extensive farmer,
stock-raiser and dealer, residing in Pleasant
Grove Township. He is the son of Thomas
and Patsey (Shelton) Jeffris, and was born April 29,
1836, on the farm he now owns. Thomas Jeffris
was born in 1796, in Hanover County, Va., and was
of Scotch parentage. In his infancy his family re-
moved to Grayson County, Ky., where his father
engaged in farming, and made his permanent home.
Thomas was reared on the farm, and passed his
early life in that State, ^where his marriage to Miss
Patsey Shelton took place. She was born in 1794,
in Tennessee. After his marriage, Mr. Jeffris with
his young wife left his home in Kentucky, and in
the autumn of 1830 came to Coles County. He
purchased forty acres of land in Pleasant Grove
Township, and at the same time entered a tract of

Government land. Brave hearts and willing hands
were required to face the perils and hardships of
pioneer life in Illinois at that early day, but, aided
by his devoted wife, he successfully encountered
and overcame the difficulties and obstacles inci-
dental to the settlement of a new country. Mr.
Jeffris was a poor man when he came to the county,
and by his industry and enterprise acquired a fine
estate, containing about 400 acres of valuable land,
where he carried on an extensive business in gen-
eral farming. As soon as he had acquired suffi-
cient means, he erected a pleasant residence, with
excellent, well appointed farm buildings, requiring
so many of the latter to accommodate the various
branches of his extensive business, that his place
wore the appearance of a small village.

Thomas Jeffris possessed remarkable executive
ability and a rare knowledge of human nature. Dur-
ing his residence in Kentucky he served as Justice
of the Peace, and after coming to Illinois was
elected to that office in 1831. After serving twen-
ty-seven years, he declined to hold that position
any longer, the duties of which had been arduous.
At that time Cumberland and Douglas Counties
were included in Coles County, necessarily throw-
ing a large amount of legal work within the juris-
diction of the latter place. In judicial affairs he
was always inclined to promote a peaceful solution
of vexed questions, wherever such an adjustment
could be made, and frequently succeeded in effect-
ing a reconciliation between adverse parties, with-
out resorting to a lawsuit. He was a Democrat in
politics, and never allowed business engagements
to interfere with his attendance at the polls to cast
his vote.

Mr. Jeffris was a member of the Old-School Bap-
tist Church, and his daily life bore witness to the
sincerity of his Christian faith. For many years
he was an Elder in the Church, and no matter how
unfavorable the weather, through rain and snow,
summer's heat and winter's cold, he was never
known to be absent from the service. He was
kind and generous in his home, and devoted to the
interests of his children, giving them as good an
education as it was possible to obtain at that time,
and also assisting each one to start in life. After
a long life of usefulness, lie died Aug. 4, 1866. His

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•

RESiDENctorA.H .HUCKABA , DEC./. (R.10.E.) CHARLESTON TOWN SHIP

RESIDENCE orT. J .DULL. S EC'S .12 &13. As HMO RE TOWNSHIP

RESIDENCE OF W-. MORGAN , SEC. 4. MORGAN TOWNSHIP.

COLES COUNTY.

341

widow survived him a number of years, her death
occurring in 1875. They had a family of nine
children, whose record is as follows : Sallie mar-
ried Blaine Matthews, and after his death became
the wife of George Diehl; George lived to be sev-
enteen years old ; James married Matilda Johnston,
and lives in this township; Mary, deceased, was the
first wife of George Diehl; Ann was the wife of
Jacob Dornblazer, but is now deceased ; Harriet,
deceased, was the first wife of I. H. Johnston ;
John married Mary F. Vandeveer; Isaac, deceased,
and Azariah, of this sketch.

Azariah Jeffris was a boy of unusual intelligence,
possessing ready powers of observation, combined
with good judgment. He was reared on his father's
farm, and received the foundation of his education
at the subscription school, which was the only sys-
tem of instruction the pioneer days afforded. He
did not lay aside his books, however, upon leaving
school, but continued his studies, and by close ap-
plication acquired a practical business education.
March 10, 1860, he was married to Miss Ann Mary
Hackley. Mrs. Jeffris is the daughter of John and
Susan (Thomas) Hackley, and was born in Gray-
son County, Ky., March 2. 1841. After his mar-
riage, Mr. Jeffris and his wife commenced house-
keeping at once.

Our subject commenced business for himself
with 180 acres of land, but has increased his prop-
erty until he now owns a a fine estate containing
600 acres. In conducting his farm he gives special
attention to stock-raising, and has for several years
past also been engaged in stock-dealing. Like his
father, in politics he is a stanch Democrat, and has
served as Supervisor and held all the minor offices
of the township. In 1870, in recognition of his
superior ability in the management of public affairs,
he was chosen to represent the Twenty-seventh
District in the General Assembty.

Mr. and Mrs. Jeffris had a family of three chil-
dren— Zavala, Shelton and Laura. Shelton died at
the age of eighteen, and his death, just on the
verge of manhood, was a crushing blow to his
parents. Mrs. Jeffris is a member of the Cumber-
land Presbyterian Church, but Mr. Jeffris has never
connected himself with any religious body or secret

society, but is not opposed to them ; on the con-
trary he has given liberally of his means toward
all religious denominations of this community.

J~~ OSEPH A. DAVIS. The history of this
worthy resident of Hutton Township, al-
though not characterized by any thrilling
' details, is that of the life of an honest man
and a good citizen, who has performed his part
worthily and established himself in the esteem and
confidence of his fellow-citizens. He is a native of
Fountain County, Ind., born Oct. 2, 1840, and is
the son of Samuel and Rachel (Mitchell) Davis,
natives respectively of West Virginia and Ohio.
His father was a farmer by occupation, and after
his marriage located in the Buckeye State, where
two children were born, and where the mother died
five years later. The two sons of this union were
James, now a resident of Kansas, and John, who
died in infancy. A few years after the death of his
wife, Samuel Davis was again married, to Miss
Rachel Colvert. a native of Somerset County, Md.,
and the daughter of Isaac and Alsey Colvert, who
were born in the same State. Soon afterward Mr.
Davis went back to Ohio.

Of the second marriage of Samuel Davis, there
were born ten children, viz., Mary, Minerva, Rob-
ert, David, Emily, Nancy, Armanda, Samuel, Jo-
seph and Alice. With the exception of Samuel,
who died young, all lived to become men and
women. Samuel Davis finally removed to Foun-
tain County, Ind., and from there in 1850, to
Charleston Township, this county, where he carried
on farming some years, and then removed to Cum-
berland County, returning to this county five years
later; he died in Hutton Township in 1875. He
was a man of high moral principle, and while in
early youth connected himself with the Methodist
Church, later becoming an exhorter. After his
death Mrs. Davis became the wife of John Scott,
and still survives.

Joseph Davis received an ordinary education,
and was but a youth at the breaking out of the
late Rebellion. He could not then go into the
army on account of his boyish appearance, but was

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342

COLES COUNTY.

permitted to enlist before the close, which he did
in March, 1865, when nineteen years old, becoming
a member of Co. B, 54th 111. Vol. Inf. He was not
permitted to participate in any very serious en-
gagements with the enemy, his regiment being de-
tailed on the railroad between Little Rock and
Devall's Bluff, and was in a skirmish with Quantrel
and the James boys. The latter finally got away,
and the war being then practically ended, young
Davis was mustered out a few months later.

After becoming a civilian Mr. Davis returned to
Coles County, where he engaged in farming until
the spring of 186f!, and on July 16 following, was
united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bennett.
This lady, a native of Ohio, was born May 24,
1849, and is the daughter of Hiram and Polly
Bennett, natives of Ohio. The young people lo-
cated on a tract of land in Hutton Township, where
our subject operated until the spring of 1885, then
going to Union Center, learned the blacksmith's
trade, and is now carrying on business for himself.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Davis, eight in num-
ber, are recorded as follows: Daisy, born Dec. 4,
1867, died Jan. 5, 1868; Sarah was born March 8,
1869; Ozetta, Dec. 5, 1870; Lyda, -Dec. 1, 1872;
Sora, Oct. 28, 1874; Joseph, June 20, 1878; Eliza-
beth, May 24, 1879; Jess, Feb. 21, 1885. Our sub-
ject and his wife are members in good standing of
the Christian Church, and Mr. Davis uniformly
votes with the Republican party.

The paternal grandfather of onr subject, Walter
Davis by name, was a native of France, and came
to this country as a soldier with Gen. LaFayette,
under whom he served during the Revolutionary
War. After the independence of the Colonies had
been established, he located near Wheeling, Va.,
where he purchased a tract of land and carried on
farming. He married Miss A. Tracey, a native of
his own country, who came over with Count De
Gras. They became the parents of fifteen chil-
dren, twelve sons and three daughters, namely,
Joseph, Archibald^ Walter, Luther, William, James,
David, Samuel, John, Arthur, Polly and two others.
Two bo}rs died young. Joseph served under Gen.
Harrison in the Indian War, and was killed on the
Wabash River in Indiana. Archibald, a seafaring
man, while hunting pirates, was captured by the

Turks, and held a prisoner twelve months. After
escaping he returned to the United States and lo-

i cated in Virginia, where he died.

Grandfather Davis finally left Virginia and emi-
grated to Ohio, settling near Chillicothe, where he
purchased a tract of land and became one of the
most successful farmers in that region. His death
took place there in 1858, His wife survived a few

i years, and died upon the old homestead. Both were
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

MINOR, a successful fanner and
stock-grower of East Oakland Township,
owns and occupies a fine homestead on
section 8, which possesses all the requirements of a
first-class country estate. He has been a resident
of Illinois since 1832, when he was a boy fourteen
years of age, and since that time has been closely
identified with the agricultural and business
interests of Coles County.

Our subject was born in Brown County, Ohio,
Aug. 16, 1818, and is the son of Ephraim and
Rachel (Lamb) Minor, natives respectively of Vir-
ginia and Maryland. Ephraim Minor was born in
1775, and died at his homestead in Douglas County,
in 1835, when about sixty years of age. He re-
moved from the Old Dominion to Kentucky in
early manhood, and was variously employed until
his marriage in 1797. He continued in Kentucky
ten years afterward, and then migrated with his
family to Brown County, Ohio, where he purchased
100 acres of heavily timbered land and proceeded
to build up a homestead in the wilderness. In this
he succeeded admirably, clearing a fine and fertile
farm which, however, he sold, and then went to
flat-boating on the river to New Orleans. He
followed this occupation for two years, making
considerable money and being quite prosperous
until upon his last trip. While on the steamer
between New Orleans and Natchez on his return
home, his money, $1,800, was stolen from him, and
this ended his river operations. In 1832 he came
with his family down the Wabash to Darwin, thence
to this county, where he purchased 100 acres of wild

t.

COLES COUNTY.

343

land and followed farming until unfitted for active
labor. Bfith parents were members of the Christian
Church./ The mother was born in 1781, and died
at the Uomestead in Coles (now Douglas) County
in 18£4. She was the daughter of William and
Sarah (Wood) Lamb, her father being the first man
elected to the Legislature from Mason County,
Ky., and in which he served for many years.

Our subject remained with his parents during
his childhood and youth, in the meantime receiv-
ing a good common-school education, and after the
death of his father assisting his mother in the
management of the homestead. Upon setting out
for himself he was married to Miss Nancy Powers,
Nov. 25, 1847. Mrs. M. was born near Cincinnati,
Ohio, Aug. 30, 1830, and was the daughter of Daniel
D. and Maria (Runnels) Powers. She departed
this life at the home of her husband in East Oak-
land Township, March 30, 1884. She was a lady
of deep piety, greatly beloved by her family and
friends. Her kindness of heart and amiable char-
acter endeared her to all with whom she associated,
and she is greatly missed and mourned by those
who knew her best. She left one child, a son,
George A., who was born in April, 1849. He
married Miss Malinda Willison, and is a resident
of this county.

The farm of Mr. Minor includes 200 acres of
valuable land under a high state of cultivation.
He has been prominent in local affairs and has held
the various township offices, being elected Super-
visor in 1869-70, and acting as Chairman of many
important committees. Politically he is a stanch
Democrat.

P~ RANCIS M. McCARTNEY is Postmaster,
and proprietor of the largest drug-store at
Lerna, Pleasant Grove Township. He was
born Jan. 5, 1847, in Cumberland County, 111., and is
the son of John and Susan (Powell) McCartney. He
is of Scotch and Irish extraction, from which
nationalities many of the most enterprising and
successful citizens of Illinois have descended. His
paternal grandparents, Jacob and Sarah McCartney,
were natives of Ireland. Soon after their marriage
in that country they emigrated to the United

States and settled in Virginia. His maternal
grandparents, Jacob and Elizabeth Powell, were
natives of Scotland, and upon their arrival in this
country likewise settled in Virginia.

When John McCartney was eighteen 3rears of i
age, his father's family left their home in Virginia
and moved to Ohio, whither he accompanied them.
In 1831 he resolved to push still farther westward,
and consequently moved to Illinois, which State
was at that time attracting many settlers from the
East. He settled in Cumberland County, making
his permanent home there, and passed the evening
of life at his old home in that county, of which he
had been a citizen for half a century, dying on
the 14th of August, 1887. He was born in 1804,
and had reached the advanced age of eighty-three
years. The wife who shared with him the trials
and privations of pioneer life, died Feb. 1(>, 1883,
at the age of sixty-seven. A family of seven
children was born to them, all of whom grew to
maturity. Their record is as follows : Elizabeth,
the wife of Bennet Cline; Jacob; Peter, deceased;
George; Nancy, the wife of Ira Parker; John W.
and Francis M.

Francis M. McCartney was reared on his father's
farm, and received a good common-school educa-

. tion. He possessed an unusual degree of intelli-
gence and made the best use of his limited
advantages. In 1867 he was married to Miss
Celeste Floatonett Swingle. Mrs. McCartney is
the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Welver) Swin-
gle, and was born in Bartholomew County, Ind.,
Oct. 23, 1859. Mr. McCartney, being of a studi-
ous and reflective mind, was not inclined to engage
in agricultural pursuits, and accordingly after his
marriage purchased stock and engaged in the drug
business at Neoga, in the meantime educating him-
self in pharmacy. He was successful in his enter-
prise, and remained at Neoga until Feb. 2y, 1886,
when he moved to Lerna, and established his pres-

| ent business. He carries a fine stock of drugs,
paints, oils, and druggists' sundries, and although
a recent citizen ol the place, is carrying on a suc-
cessful trade.

Mr. and Mrs. McCartney have three children —
Lura Idola, Sidney Erburt and Oscar Theodore.

; Mr. McCartney is a Democrat in politics, and re-

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[• ' 344

COLES COUNTY.

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ceived his appointment as Postmaster, Sept. 20,
1886. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and his
wife and himself are members of the Methodist
Church.

<if OHN B. TURNEY is the owner of a fine
estate containing 120 acres of land in Lafay-
ette Township, and represents one of the
old pioneer families, their residence dating
from Oct. 1, 1834. He was born June 18, 1834,
in Harrison Count}', Ky., and is the son of John
and Sarah (Jones) Turney, also natives of Ken-
tucky, the former born about 1795 in Bourbon
County, and the latter April 5, 1800, in Harrison
County. The family removed to Illinois in the
autumn of 1834, bravely facing the perils and hard-
ships of pioneer life. Cold weather was rapidly
approaching, and the first necessity being to provide
shelter for his family from the rude blasts of win-
ter, as well as protection from the wild animals,
which roamed at will over the broad and desolate
prairies. Mi1. Turney purchased 400 acres of land
and erected their primitive dwelling. The success-
ful close of the Black Hawk War two years previ-
ous having been followed by a great increase in
the number of settlers from the East, confidence
was restored, and the early dawn of the future
prosperity of Illinois had begun to gild the hori/on.
Mr. Turney cultivated and improved his land,
and aided by the housewifely thrift of his wife,
made a comfortable home for his family in the heart
of the wilderness. He passed the remainder of his
life here, and died Oct. 15, 1851. His widow sur-
vived him many years, her death occurring May
22, 1870. Their family consisted of ten children,
eight of whom grew to maturity. Their names
are, Benjamin D., Sarah A. ; Susan, deceased ; Daniel
M. ; Nancy V., deceased; Louisa M.; William J.,
Franklin J., John B. and Thomas G. are also de-
ceased. Sarah is now Mrs. Fisher; Susan M. was
the wife of Hiram Cox, and Louisa M. is now Mrs.
W. L. Hayden.

John B. Turney was an infant when his parents
came to this State, and he grew up under all the
educational disadvantages of pioneer life. How-
ever, he attended the district schools in his boy-

hood, and acquired all the education possible from
those primitive halls of learning. As soon as he
was old enough, he assisted his father in the various
branches of farm labor, burning brush, rolling logs,
hunting wolves, and many other pursuits in which
a bright and active boy finds amusement as well as
work.

In 1855 our subject was married to Miss Mary
1). Jones, a native of Virginia, and the daughter
of Richard and Lucy Jones. Their married life
was of brief duration, for her death occurred the
following j-ear, in this State. On the 1 3th of De-
cember, 1859, Mr. Turney married Miss Cyrena
A. Wible. His second wife was the daughter of
Benjamin and Hannah Wible, and was born in In-
diana. Feb. 23, 1865, his home was again invaded
by death, his beloved wife being taken, leaving
the household desolate, and his three children
motherless. The names of the latter were, John
F., Mary E. and Charles, all of whom are now de-
ceased. Mr. Turney's third marriage took place Jan.
6. 1876. Mrs. Tnrney is the daughter of James H.
and Caroline Sawin. Her parents were residents of
Indiana, where their daughter, Caroline, Mrs. Tur-
ney, was born July 31, 1846, in Bartholomew
County. Mr. and Mrs. Turney had a family of
five children born to them, three of whom are now
living — Clara A., Harvey and George W. Since
his marriage Mr. Turney has given his attention to
agricultural pursuits, and with his wife, he is a mem-
ber of the Old-School Baptist Church. In politics
he is a Republican.

I MOS RICE, deceased, formerly a prominent
farmer and stock-raiser of North Okaw
Township, was one of the pioneers of the
Northwest, and an early settler of this
county. He was born Oct. 15, 1787, in New York
State and was the sou of Abraham Rice. His
parents were likewise natives of New York, and
his father served in the Revolutionary War. Amos
Rice was reared on his father's farm, where he
|ia>scd his youth and early manhood and to which
he was much attached. He was twice married.
His first wife was Mrs. Martha (Hatton) Davies,

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COLES COUNTY.

345

and by this marriage three children were born —
Catherine, Mary Jane and Frank. Mrs. Rice's
death occurred soon after the death of her young-
est child, and in later years, Mr. Rice was married
to Miss .Sarah Compton. Mrs. Rice was the daugh-
ter of John and Lucinda Compton. Her parents
were natives of Ohio, where their daughter Sarah
was born. Her father served in the Black Hawk
War in the early days.

Mr. Rice emigrated to Indiana in 1H10, where he
settled in Vigo County, and aided in laying out the
city of Terre Haute. He purchased land there,
and was engaged both in farming and boating,
during his residence making fifty-two trips on flat-
boats from Terre Haute to New Orleans, and also
serving as a pilot on the river. In the War of
1812 he was engaged under Gen. Andrew Jackson
in the defense of New Orleans, and immediately
after his discharge from the service, settled in Terre
Haute where he remained until 1852. He then
removed to Illinois, where he purchased land of
the railroad company and settled in Coles County,
making his permanent home here. During the re-
mainder of his life he carried on a successful busi-
ness in farming and stock-raising.

The early settlements in the county were made
almost entirety along the borders of the timber, and
for some time it was not supposed that the prairies
could be utilized for farming purposes; the grass
and weeds by which they were overgrown were so
rank and tall that the prospects of their ever fur-
nishing rich pasturage for flocks and herds, or wav-
ing with harvests of golden grain, was something
scarcely dreamed of. Deer, wolves and wild game
abounded, and during the summer season, the
prairie fires were extremely troublesome. When
Mr. Rice arrived, there was not a single dwelling
on the site of the city of Mattoon, and he saw the
first house placed there, which was an old building
moved in. The wild game provided an abundant
supply of meat for the settlers, but the wolves were
troublesome, and often made the night hideous
with their bowlings, besides carrying off chickens,
young lambs and pigs.

By his last marriage Mr. Rice had a family of
ten children — Abram, William, Nancy L., John,
Amos, Job C., Sarah, Eliza, Arthur and Walter;

four now deceased. Three brothers and one sister
reside in this county, and also one half-sister, but
the family have been scattered by business interests,
and another brother and sister are residents of
Kansas.

Mr. Rice was actively interested in public affairs,
and was ever ready to promote all measures tend-
ing to advance the political and social welfare of
the community. He never sought political pre-
ferment, but occasionally served in the local
Offices, always giving satisfaction in the discharge
of his duties. In politics he was throughout life
an old-school Jacksonian Democrat. lie was a
member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

Mr. Rice lived to see the flourishing city of
Mattoon spring up as if by magic on the site where
the lonely old house had stood in the early days,
and the prairie grass that seemed almost unconquer-
able, give place to fertile fields of wheat and com.
After a long and useful life his death occurred
Aug. 10, 1872, at the age of eighty-five j'ears.

,,.,, J. FINN ELL, a retired farmer, and a
(@/L]|| prominent resident of Charleston, first
opened his eyes to the light in the Blue
Grass regions, his birth taking place in
Old ham County, Ky., Jan. 14, 1821. He is the son
of Edward and Nancy (Ross) Pinnell, the former
a native of Culpeper County, Va., and the mother
born in the same county as our subject. The birth
of Edward Pinnell took place March 23, 1795, and
his youth and boyhood were passed amid the stern
scenes of conflict with the mother country, himself
engaged in the War of 1812, and receiving after-
ward for his services a pension for the balance of
his life. He was but twenty-one years of age when
he became a resident of Kentucky, and engaged
there in agricultural pursuits until the fall of 1830.
He had in the meantime been married, and at this
date determining to try his fortunes in the West,
came to Edgar County, and commenced farming
on 260 acres in Kansas Township. He was a man
of great energy, and at the same time established a
store of general merchandise in connection with his
farm.

Through his own efforts Edward Pinnell had be-

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346

COLES COUNTY.

come fairly well educated, and his deep piety con-
strained him to devote a part of his time to the
spread of the Gospel. He commenced preaching
in the Christian Church in 1832, and for a series of
years rode through Edgar, Coles and Clark Coun-
ties, establishing societies, building up the faint-
hearted, and in every sense of the word " doing
good as he had opportunity." His influence was
also exerted in the establishment and maintenance
of schools, and every other measure which had for
its object the moral and intellectual welfare of the
people. These traits he had inherited in a large
measure from his father, John Pinnell, who de-
scended from substantial Scotch ancestry, and who
settled in Virginia at an early day, where John
Pinnell was born and reared his family.

The children of Edward ami Nancy Pinnell were
five in number, three only now living, viz.: An-
drew J., of our sketch; Rachel M., the wife of J. K.
Boyer, of Kansas, 111., and Margaret M., Mrs. T.
Atkins, of Dakota. The mother departed this life
at the homestead in Edgar County, Nov. 19, 1864.
Mr. P. survived his wife several years, dying March
16, 1879.

Our subject came with his parents to Edgar
County, 111., when a boy nine years of age, and
continued on the farm until reaching his majority.
In the meantime he had pursued his primary stud-
ies in the common schools, and later returned to his
native county, where, after a thorough course in
the school near Brownsboro, Ky., he graduated in
the common branches, and commenced teaching
when nineteen years of age. Later he returned to
Kansas Township, and followed teaching there for
a year, after which he resumed farming with his
father, receiving for his labors a part of the pro-
ceeds. Four years afterward he invested his sav-
ings in eighty acres of good land in Ashmore
Township, this county, upon which he effected good
improvements and occupied five years. Then, de-
ciding to change his location he sold out, aban-
doned farming for the time, and engaged as clerk
in the dry-goods store of J. K. and W. F. Boyer,
with whom he remained until the fall of 1862.

Resolving now to try country life once more Mr.
Pinnell purchased a quarter section of land in
Hickory Township, of which he took possession,

and to which in due time he added 125 acres, de-
voting the whole to the raising of grain and stock.
He retained possession of this farm until the fall of
1865, then sold out and purchased 220 acres in
Charleston Township, two miles east of the city.
After occupying this several years, and instituting
good improvements, he engaged in merchandising,
first as a clerk in Charleston, then on his own account,
in connection with others, in Kansas, Edgar County,
his stock consisting of hardware and agricultural
implements, in which he built up a good trade and
continued four years. He did not, however, feel
entirely at ease until he once more came in posses-
sion of real estate in the country, and accordingly
purchased back the old farm in Charleston Town-
ship, upon which he moved, and which he occupied
until 1883. The flight of years had now admon-
ished him that it was time to rest, and, as much per-
haps through the influence of friends as his own in-
clinations, he rented his farm, purchased a fine
house in Charleston, and repaired thither, where he
has since remained. Adjoining his properly were
two desirable houses and lots, of which he has se-
cured possession, and from the rents of which he
realizes a good income.

• The lady who has presided over the houshold
affairs of our subject, and been his closest friend
and counselor for a period of over thirty years, was
formerly Miss Eliza A., the daughter of John Poul-
ter, who located in Edgar County in 1830. Mr.
P. was a native of Jefferson County, Ky., and passed
his youth and boyhood in the Blue Grass regions,
where he married, and whence he came with his
young wife to this State. Of the nine children born
to Mr. and Mrs. Pinnell only two survive: James
H. married Miss Ella H. Clement, of White Hall,
Greene Co., 111., and is farming in Charleston Town-
ship; they have four children — Lulu, Mary, Otto
and George. Winfleld S. married Miss Sarah H.
Whitney, of Charleston, and is engaged in the
hardware and agricultural implement trade in Kan-
sas, Edgar County ; their three children are named
respectively Flavie, Frederick and Bessie.

While a resident of Hickory Grove Township
Mr. Piunell represented his fellow-citizens on the
County Board of Supervisors, and served as School
Treasurer. Since becoming a resident of Charles-

COLES COUNTY.

347

ton he has officiated as Assessor; he was Township
Trustee while in Kansas. Both he and his estima-
ble wife are members in good standing of the Chris-
tian Church. Mr. P. is a stockholder in the First
National Bank of Kansas, and in all respects has
distinguished himself as one of the industrious and
enterprising citizens to whom Coles County is in-
debted for its growth and prosperity.

NDREW A. HONN is a substantial farmer
residing on section 31. Seven Hickory
Township, his farm comprising eighty acres.
He was born Feb. 12, 1852, in Nicholas
County, Ky., and is the son of Absalom and Mi-
randa (Moler) Honn. His parents, who were na.
tives of Bourbon County, Ky., came to Illinois in
1858, and in 1861 settled in Coles County, where
they now reside. The following is the record of
their family: Peter D. married Miss M. Snyder,
and has a family of three children ; he resides in
Mattoon, 111. Isaac F. married Miss Cornelia
Wright; he resides in Coles County, and has a fam-
ily of six children. John D. married Miss Zarilda
Gibbs; he resides in Seven Hickory Township, and
has a family of three children. Mary J. was twice
married, and is now the wife of William Lewis, a
resident of Moultrie County, 111. ; by her first mar-
riage she became the mother of three children
Joseph resides at the homestead, and Andrew A.
our subject. There were four deceased.

Andrew A. Honn resided at the homestead and
assisted his father in conducting the farm until he
was twenty-five years of age. He was married to
Miss Maliala J. Kerns, Oct. 22, 1874, at Ashmore,
and he then began the world for himself. Mrs.
Houn was the daughter of Henry T. and Angelina
(Mills) Kerns, natives of North Carolina. Their
family consisted of nine children, six of whom are
living, as follows: Mary E. was twice married, her
present husband being Mr. Flemming, and by this
marriage she is the mother of seven children, and
resides in Oswego, Kan. ; Elizabeth J., the wife of
Ezra Whipple, a resident of this count}', is the mother
of two children; Loretta J., the wife of Joseph

Davis, a resident of this county, is the mother of
six children; Mahala J. ; James W. is married
and resides in Minnesota; his family consists of five
children. Ella J. was twice married, her present
husband being Mr. Hann, a native of Germany;
she has one child by her first marriage, and they
reside in Kansas.

Our subject and wife became the parents of
seven children: Maranda A., horn Oct. 26, 1875;
Hattie May, March 5, 1877; Sarah E., Sept. 12,
1878; Mary, May 7, 1880; Absalom J. Aug. 16,
1882: Andrew Lee, Jan. 3, 1884, and William P.,
Aug. 14, 1886. Mr. Honn purchased the land
where he now resides Nov. 1, 1880, and took pos-
session of the place with his family in the following
year, and has since carried on a successful business
in farming there. With his wife he is a member
of the Christian Church. In politics he always
votes with the Democratic party.

-i Ǥ**- -v-

R. SAMUEL D. GARDNER, who for

many years has been farmer and physician
combined, and in each department more
than ordinarily successful, first opened his
eyes to the light near Bowling Green, Warren Co.,
Ky., on the 27th of March, 1822. He is the sec-
ond child of Asa B. and Amelia (Bowles) Gardner,
natives of Virginia. His paternal grandparents
were Thomas and Sarah (Ford) Gardner, also na-
tives of the Old Dominion. The parents of his
mother died when he was a child. The Gardner
family, as well as the Fords, were of Scotch- Irish
ancestry, and located in Kentucky during an early
period in its history. Asa B. Gardner occupied a
farm in Warren County, and was engaged mostly
in raising tobacco. The mother died in 1843, and
the father, after his second marriage, lived to a
good old age, passing away in 1877.

The subject of this history pursued his early
studies in a log school-house in his native county,
and began teaching when eighteen years of age.
This, however, he followed only a short time, but
afterward clerked in a dry-goods store. When
twenty-six years of age he began the study of

i . 348

COLES COUNTY.

1

medicine under the instruction of Dr. John Austin,
of Morgantown, with whom he remained three
years, and subsequently entered the office of Dr.
Withers at Dripping Springs, about seven miles
from the Mammoth Cave. Here he commenced
practice, and a year later, in 1 853, came to Illinois.
He located first in Paradise Township, where he
taught school and practiced medicine, and also
made the acquaintance of Mrs. Margaret Clarke,
to whom he was married in July, 1855. This lady-
is the widow of Willis H. Clarke, and the daughter
of Dr. John and Sydney (Hanson) Apperson, na-
tives of Virginia. They lived for two years fol-
lowing in Paradise Township, near the limits of the
town, where the Doctor had secured possession of
:i snug home, and where he taught school when the
community was healthy, and practiced medicine
in the sick season. In 1857 Dr. Gardner, desirous
of changing his location, purchased 1 44 acres of
improved land in Mattoon Township while it was
inhabited principally by wolves and other wild ani-
mals. . This purchase was brought about on the
occasion of a hunting expedition, which led him
into that section and which has remained his resi-
dence until the present.

During the progress of the Mexican War, Dr.
Gardner was anxious to distinguish himself as a
Federal soldier, but on account of the loss of an
eye occasioned by the bursting of his gun in a deer
hunt during his visit to his home in 1845, he was of
course rejected. He has now almost entirely given
up his practice, and confines himself to superin-
tending the labors of his farm, where he raises
roadster horses, of Lexington and Eclipse blood.

Dr. Gardner, "upon first beginning to exercise the
right of suffrage, voted with the old-line Whigs,
but upon the abandonment of that party cast his
lot with the Democrats. In former years he was
connected with the Baptist Church, but there be-
ing no church of that denomination in this locality,
is not identified with any religious denomination.
Mrs. Gardner belongs to the Methodist Episcopal
Church. They became the parents of five children,
three now living, namely, John Asa, Harry and
Margaret. The Doctor _has been a man of note in
his community, and one interested in the moral
and intellectual welfare of its people. He has

served as Road Commissioner and School Director,
and while in his native State was Circuit Clerk
and Deputy County Clerk.

MOS RICE, a prominent farmer and stock-
grower, resides on the old Rice homestead,
located on section 22, North Okaw Town-
ship. He was born in Vigo County, Ind.,
and is the son of Amos and Sarah (Compton) Rice.
(For history of parents see sketch of Amos Rice.)
Our subject passed his early life at home, where he
was associated with his father and brother in con-
ducting the farm, each receiving one-third of the
profits. One of the strong characteristics of the
family is their attachment to home ties and home
interests, and Amos Rice never worked away from
home at any period of his life, living on the home-
stead at the time of his father's death. He then
divided the land and stock with his brother, and the
old homestead fell to his lot. It includes 240 acres
of improved land and twelve acres of timber in the
vicinity.

After the death of his father, Amos Rice was
married, Dec. 24, 1867, to Miss Sarah C. Checkley,
the sister of his brother's wife. Of this union
there are five children, all of whom reside at home.
Their names are, Lucinda Isabell, William G., Sarah
C., Clara Josephine and Jennie Letitia. Mr. Rice
is strongly attached to the old homestead, and car-
ries on a successful business in farming and stock-
raising there, giving special attention to graded
Short-horn cattle, Norman horses, and Poland hogs.
In politics Mr. Rice is a Democrat of the Old
Jacksonian school. He never seeks official prefer-
ment but is interested in educational affairs, and
serves as School Director most of the time.

ALPH JEFFRIS, a resident of Pleasant
Grove, is one of the rising young men of
Coles County, and the sou of one of its
i pioneers. He was born Jan. 30, 1860, in
Coles County, and is the son of John and Mary
(Vandeveer) Jeffris. John Jeffris was born in
Coles County, Jan. 6, 1831, and is the son of

^^^

COLES COUNTY.

351

Thomas and Patsey (Shelton) Jeffris. He was
reared on his father's farm, enjoying such privileges
as the pioneer days offered, and in the spring of
1859, was united in marriage with Miss Mary Van-
deveer. She was born March 1, 1836, in Orange
County, Ind., and is the daughter of Lovel and
Mary Yandeveer.

After his marriage, Mr. Jeffris settled on the
place where he now resides, on section 10, Pleasant
Grove Township. His estate contains over 320
acres of valuable land all of which is well improved.
He carries on an extensive farming business, giving
special attention to stock-raising. Mr. and Mrs.
John Jeffris have a family of five children : Ralph ;
Bell, the wife of William Walker; Herschel, Isaac
and Abbie; Isaac married Miss Alice McCartney,
and lives in Kansas. Mr. Jeffris is a Democrat in
politics, and has served as School Director.

Ralph Jeffris passed his boyhood and youth at
home, receiving in the meantime, an excellent edu-
cation at the common schools and at Lee's Academy.
Jan. 17, 1882, he was married to Miss Martha E.
Anderson. She is the daughter of James and Lu-
cinda Anderson, and was born in Coles County,
Jan. 28, 1863. After his marriage, he located on
section 15, Pleasant Grove Township, where he now
resides. His estate contains 100 acres of valu-
able land.

Mr. Jeffris is an active, enterprising young man,
being interested in the public affairs of the com-
munity, and has already served as Supervisor, Col-
lector and School Treasurer. His wife and himself
are both members of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church. They have two beautiful children — Stella
and Roscoe. In politics, Mr. J. is a Republican.

W. PHILHOWER, a member of the firm
f/U\\ of D. N. Harwood, Son & Co., dealers in
hay and seeds, is one of the substantial
business men of Mattoon. He was born
October 17, 1836, in Clermont County, Ohio,
and is the son of William and Lucinda (Snj'der)
Philhower, the former a native of Hunterdon
County, N. J., and the latter of Seneca County, N.
Y. His great-grandfather, Adam Philhower, in

about the year 1745, at twelve years of age accom-
panied an elder brother to America, running away
from his home and parents in Germany, to encoun-
ter an adventurous life in the New World. He set-
tled in New Jersey, where he married, and sub-
sequently, with his son John, eighteen years of age,
served seven years in the Revolutionary War, un-
der Gen. Washington, and during the entire period
of his service never received the slightest wound.
After passing through many adventures and vicissi-
tudes in Colonial life he died in New Jersey. His
son, Jacob, emigrated to Clermont County, Ohio,
iu 1815, accompanied by hiswif^and eight chil-
dren. They passed the remainder of their lives in
that county, engaged in farming.

William Philhower made the journey to Ohio
with his parents, and passed his early life on his
father's farm, assisting in the farm labor, and re-
ceiving a common-school aducation. He was born
April 16, 1811, and his wife was born April 11, of
the same year. His marriage occurred in 1830, at
Clermont. He carried on an extensive farming
business there, owning 100 acres and also renting
additional land. In 1854 he removed with his
family to Richland County, 111., and there purchased
476 acres of land. His death occurred two years
later, while on a visit to the old home and friends
in Ohio. His widow survived until in April, 1882,
when her death occurred.

There were fourteen children in the parental
family, ten of whom grew to maturity, and. of.
whom the following is a record : Paulina, the wife
of Mr. Finn, of Richland County, 111. ; Eliza, the
wife of Mr. Hiskey, a resident of Gibson County,
Ind.; Sarah J., the wife of Mr. Baldwin, a resident
of Greene County, Mo. ; A. W., the subject of this
sketch; Mary A., the wife of Mr. Turney, a resi-
dent of Clinton County, Ohio; Catherine, the wife
of Mr. Clark, a resident of Gibson County, Ind.;
Jacob W., a resident of Shelby County, 111.; Dewy
M., a resident of Pekiu, 111.

A. W. Philhower was reared on his father's farm,
where he remained, receiving a practical education
and assisting in the various departments of farm
labor, until twenty-five years of age. He then en-
gaged in railroading in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas
and Iowa, being employed in the construction

de- T

*=f

352

COLES COUNTY.

partment. He was also contractor for laying sixty
miles of railroad, which is now a part of the W.i-
bash road. He was occupied in this business four-
teen years, and then for eight years was proprietor
of a hotel in Windsor, Shelby County. During the
latter part of his residence in Windsor, Mr. Phil-
hower was engaged in the hay business. He then re-
moved to Mattoon and formed his present partner-
ship. The capacity of the barn belonging to their
establishment here is 1,000 tons, and the firm is en-
gaged in shipping to Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Tennessee and many other points.

In 1860 Mr. Philhower was married to Miss Han-
nah McKinney, the daughter of James McKinney,
of Clennont County, Ohio. In 18(J1, Mr. Phil-
hower served as Deputy Sheriff of Richland Coun-
ty, and since his residence in Mattoon has served
as Assistant Supervisor, and also Alderman, rep-
resenting the Fifth Ward. He is a Republican in
politics and belongs to the Masonic fraternity and
the Knights of Honon

In presenting portraits in this volume of leading
and representative citizens of Coles County, we are
pleased to include that of the gentleman whose life
is briefly outlined above. He is a man who enjo.ys
the esteem of a multitude of the best people of
the county, and one whose business judgment and
sagacity are unquestioned.

;ILL1AM D. JONES honorably represents
one of the early pioneer families of Coles
County, owning an estate containing 165
acres of well-improved land located on section 29.
Lafayette Township. He is the son of William R.
and Eliza P. (Threlkeld) Jones, and was born Nov.
21, 185(5, in this township. William R. Jones was
the son of John Dumas and Sarah (Blackburn)
Jones, and was born Aug. 12, 1808, in Harrison
County, Ky. His boyhood and youth were passed
in his native State, but possessing an enterprising
and active temperament, lie came to Illinois in
1831, but did not remain. He returned, however,
in 1837 and settled in this county. Ele came with
no capital, save willing hands and a brave heart,
and applied himself closely to hard work, and his

struggle with the perils and hardships of the wil-
derness was for a time arduous in the extreme, but
he was industrious and economical, and gradually
acquired some capital with which to purchase more
land and increase his business facilities. His efforts
were crowned with success, and he became the
owner of over 600 acres of well-improved land, and
erected a substantial two-story brick residence,
which was one of the best in the vicinity.

Mr. J. always exercised a generous hospitality in.
his home, and during the Civil War evinced his loy-
alty by affording material assistance to the families
of the soldiers who had left their wives and little
ones at home to lay down their lives in the defense
of the "Old Flag." In early life he was a Whig,
but subsequently became a stanch supporter of the
Republican party. He never made a public
profession of his religious faith by becoming a
member of the church, but was strictly moral and
upright in his daily life, never forgetting in his
business dealings and social relations the brother-
hood of man and the precepts of the "Golden
Rule."

Mr. Jones was married twice. His first wife,
Miss Eliza P. Threlkeld, was the daughter of Elder
Thomas Threlkeld, and was a native of Kentucky.
Their marriage took place in 1853, and after three
brief-years she died Dec. 31, 1856, leaving two
sons, Thomas T. and William D. In 1862 Mr.
Jones was married to Miss Elizabeth Ewing. Mrs.
Jones is the daughter of William and Louisa Ew-
ing. One daughter was born to them, Sarah
Louisa. Mr. Jones died April 6, 1879. and lies
buried in Bethel Cemetery. His funeral services
were attended by a large concourse of sympathiz-
ing friends, who thus evinced the high esteem in
which their departed neighbor and fellow-citizen
was held. His widow still survives him, and re-
sides in Mattoon.

W. D. Jones has grown up with this township,
where he was reared on his father's farm and re-
ceived a good common-school education, and was
also taught the practical details of farming by his
father, who was active and diligent in all enter-
prises. Before his final settlement in Illinois in
1837, he had frequently made trips to this State,
purchasing hogs, which he drove to .Kentucky to

•

COLES COUNTY.

353

fatten and feed for the market, one horse serving
to convey him on thirteen trips. He has inherited
his father's good judgment in business, and owns a
fine farm containing 165 acres of well-improved
land.

Mr. Jones was married, Oct. 1, 1879, to Miss
Cynthia A. Williams. Mrs. Jones is the daughter
of Robert Elliott Yates Williams, and was born
June 10, 1859, in Coles County. Mr. and Mrs.
Jones have two interesting children, Franklin R.
and Claude D. In politics Mr. Jones is a Repub-
lican.

EPHRAIM HARWOOD, a prominent farmer
and stock-grower, resides on section 22. in
the eastern portion of Pleasant Grove Town-
ship, where he settled in the spring of 1865. Mr.
Harwood was born April 20, 1827, in Franklin
County, Ind., and is the son of John and Elizabeth
(Carroll) Harwood, natives of Indiana, where his
father died in 1 827, soon after the birth of Ephraim,
leaving his widow with two little children : Leah,
deceased, formerly the wife of Reuben Johnson,
and Ephraim, the subject of this sketch. His
widow subsequently married John R. Dickerson,
her second marriage taking place in Franklin
County, Ind., where, after several years the home
circle was again broken, Mr. Dickerson dying, leav-
ing his widow with four children — Clarinda, Ezra,
Sarah Jane and Elizabeth A., all of whom are
living. Their widowed mother is still living, at the
advanced age of seventy -nine years, and makes her
home with her children.

Ephraim Harwood, who was an infant at the time
of his father's death, remained with his mother, and
passed his early life on the farm. At the age of
seventeen he commenced to work at the carpenter's
trade, meeting with excellent success in that line of
employment. March 23, 1852, he was married to
Miss Hannah M. Teetor, who was born Feb. 29,
1836, in Butler County, Ohio, where the wedding
took place. Mrs. Harwood is the daughter of Isaac
and Mary (Moore) Teetor. Isaac Teetor was a
farmer, born Jan. 7, 1809, in the State of New
York. He was brought up to the tanner's trade,
but has given his attention especially to agricult-

lire, and is now a substantial farmer of Butler
County, Ohio, where he has resided for more than
forty years. Mr. Teetor has been twice married.
His first wife, Mrs. Mary (Moore) Teetor, was born
in 1813, in Butler County, Ohio, and died in 1847,
leaving six children. His second wife, with whom
he is now living, was Miss Mary J. Clawson, and
by this marriage eight children were born. After
his marriage Mr. Harwood resided in Hendricks
County, Ind., where he was occupied at the car-
penter's trade until 1 865. He then came to Illinois,
and settled in Pleasant Grove Township, where he
now resides, being engaged both at his trade and
farming, and also giving special attention to stock-
raising. His estate contains 218 acres of well-im-
proved land, and is supplied with a good farm resi-
dence.

Mr. and Mrs. Harwood had a family of thirteen
children, nine of whom are living, as follows:
Mary E., the wife of A. J. Whisennand ; John Wes-
ley, a resident of Fullerton, Neb. ; Charles F., a
resident of Cumberland County; Frank L., a resi-
dent of Coles County; Jesse L., a resident of
I Cowley County, Kan.; James Allen, residing at
home ; Isaac C., and Lillie Florence and Caroline
Matilda, twins. Mr. and Mrs. Harwood are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which
they are actively interested. The former has been
a Class- Leader and has held several official positions
on the Church Board. In politics Mr. Harwood is
a Democrat and has served as School Director. He
is one of the self-made men of the county, having
commenced life a poor man, and has acquired his
property by his industry and energy in applying
himself to business.

J" OHN JOHNSON, deceased, father of John,
Irvin, William and Frederick Johnson, well
and favorably known throughout North
Okaw Township, was a gentleman of fine
character, whose excellent personal traits had en-
deared him to a large circle of friends and acquaint-
ances. He was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland,
Jan. 7. 1793, and departed this life at the home-

I

354

COLES COUNTY.

stead in East Nelson Township, Moultrie Co., 111..
Aug. 17, 1864. This family, who formerly spelled
their name "Johnston," is of English ancestry. In
about the seventeenth century, one branch of it
emigrated to Scotland and thence to Ireland. The
great-grandfather settled upon land in Fermanagh
County, which was owned and occupied by three
successive generations, the last representative being
John Johnson, of our sketch, who sold it in 1850,
and came with his family to the United States.

The subject of this history was the son of James
Johnson, also a native of Ireland, who farmed ex-
tensively in his native county, where he spent his
entire life. He married Miss Christiana Irwin, a
native of the same county and the daughter of
David and Jennie Irwin. She also continued with
her husband a resident of County Fermanagh,
where the remains of both were laid to rest in what
is called Castle Archdall burying-ground. Their
lives were ordered after the strictest principles of
honor and morality, and they were for many years
prominently connected with the Methodist Episco-
pal Church. Their six children were recorded as
follows: Margaret, who became the wife of James
C. Woods, died leaving four children — Jane. John,
James and Anna; Man7 became the wife of John
Johnson, and both died leaving five children —
Arthur, Margaret, James, Irwin and Sidney;
Jennie died when fifty years of age, and David in
infancy ; John, of this sketch, was the fifth child ;
Sidney married John J. Scott, and is living in
Australia.

John Johnson was educated in the common
schools of his native county, and was principally
engaged in farming, while a resident there. He
was a man of more than ordinary business capacity,
and established a country store about thirty miles
north of Londonderry. He purchased his supplies
in the fall of the year, and dealt largely in oats
which he would buy, and, kiln drying them, would
store them away for sale during the summer follow-
ing. In about 1820 he purchased a set of looms
and established a linen manufactory which he
operated successfully several years. When twenty-
seven years of age he was united in marriage with
Miss Annie Bell, July 2, 1820, who was a native of
the same count}' as her husband, and born June 1,

1800. Her parents were William and Margaret
(Johnson) Bell, who also were born and spent their
entire lives in County Fermanagh.

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson became the parents of
nine children, five sons and four daughters, and
then, not being satisfied with their condition or their
prospects, determined to emigrate to the New World.
After making due preparations they sailed on the
13th of May, 185C and after a voyage of thirteen

| weeks landed in New York City. They staid there
with friends a short time, and then continued their
journey by steamer to Albany, thence by canal to
Buffalo, and thence by steamer again to Chicago,
and then ' proceeded by canal to Peru, 111. A
friend of Mr. Johnson had already located in
Moultrie County, and thither Mr. J. determined to
proceed. At Peru, however, no one could give
him any information as to the whereabouts of
Moultrie County, so he concluded to remain there
until he could hear from his friend. He dis-
patched a letter, to which he soon received an
answer, and started at once with his family by
wagons, in due time reaching his destination. As
may readily be supposed the country was wild and
practically uninhabited.

Mr. Johnson rented 120 acres of improved land
in East Nelson Township, upon which stood a house
that had been used as a hotel and store, and
which, with the land around it, was known as
Juliann. This he operated upon one year, and then
purchased and built up a comfortable homestead,
which the parents occupied until their earthly labors
were ended. The wife and mother departed this
life, Feb. 19, 1863. The father survived about
eighteen months. Their remains lie side by side
in the Sullivan burying-ground. They had lived
worthily and uprightly, and were sadly missed by
a large number of friends and acquaintances who
had regarded them as pillars of the church and
members of the community whose places it would
be difficult to fill. John Johnson was a man sin-
gularly gifted with those characteristics which have
kept his memory green in the hearts of all who
knew him. As a husband and father he was rarely

, affectionate and indulgent, as a friend, generous to
a fault, and as a citizen, kind, hospitable and charit-
able, generous to the poor and a liberal and cheer-

COLES COUNTY.

355

ful contributor to the support of religious and
educational institutions. The property in Moultrie
County is still retained by his children.

The household circle of John and Annie Johnson
was completed by the birth of eleven children, of
whom the record is as follows: Arthur, born Sept.
15, 1821, married Miss Rebecca J. Caldwell, and
emigrated with his family to the United States in
1875, twenty-five years after the arrival of his
father here ; he is now the owner of a farm in North
Okaw Township. William is made the subject of a
biography on another page in this work; Christiana,
born Aug. 15, 1825, is living with her brother,
Frederick; Isabella, born in 1827, is the wife of
John A. Warren, a resident of Texas; James, born
Jan. 19, 1831, was killed by the explosion of a
boiler, May 26, 1883; Irvin was born March 26,
1832, and the principal points of his history are
given in his sketch on another page; Margaret,
born in 1837, is living with her brother, Fred-
erick ; John and Frederick are treated of elsewhere
in this ALUVM; Jane, who was born in 1845. died
Sept. 28, 1855, and one child died unnamed in
infancy.

R. J. S. GARNER, who for the last twenty-
two years has been a successful practicing
physician of the village of Salisbury, owns
a well-improved farm of sixty acres ad-
joining the village, and is a prominent citizen of
that locality. He is a native of Russell County,
Ky., born Oct. 14, 1831, and comes from an ex-
cellent North Carolina family. The paternal
grandfather of our subject, Paris Garner by name,
was a native of North Carolina, and spent the
greater part of his life in his native State. He
was there married to Miss Lydia Ann Curtis, a
native of the same State, and they became the
parents of seven children, namely, Francis; Paris,
Jr., the father of oar subject; Curtis, Nancy, Per-
melia, Lilly Ann and Henry. These are all deceased.
Grandfather Garner was active and enterprising in
character, and previous to the War of 1812, visited
Pulaski County, Ky.. where he purchased a tract
of land. Upon the coming on of the war he
shouldered his musket and served as u soldier all

through the conflict, and died when within three
miles of his home, while on his return there after
receiving his honorable discharge. His wife had
died three years before.

Their son, Paris, Jr., the father of our subject,
was the second born, his birth taking place in
North Carolina in 1801. He left his native State
with his parents and located with them in Pulaski
County, where he was reared to manhood and re-
'ceived a good common-school education. He was
but twelve years old at the time of his father's
death, and was then taken by his uncle, Vincent
Garner, with whom he remained until his marriage.
The maiden of his choice was Miss Sarah L.
Pierce, who was born in 1806, and became his wife
in 1822. Her parents were James and Elizabeth
Pierce, natives of Kentucky. The elder Garner
after his marriage purchased a tract of land in
Russell County, Ky., which he occupied and culti-
vated with marked success until 1840, then selling
out purchased 800 acres in Wayne County, and be-
came the owner of twenty slaves, by which means
his land was cultivated and improved. He put up
one of the finest residences in that section, also a
grist and saw mill and a large distillery, and re-
mained a resident there until 1860. That year he
purchased a valuable farm in Grayson County,
which remained his final residence.

While on a visit to his son-in-law. Charles King,
of Hart County, Paris Garner was seized with
fatal illness and passed away in February, 1866.
His wife survived him for a period of nineteen
years, her death taking place in Wayne County,
Ky., in 1885. Both were devoted members of the
Baptist Church. Paris Garner held the various
offices of his county, including those of Sheriff and
Assessor, and was in all respects prominently
identified with the business and agricultural inter-
ests of the Blue Grass State. The children of the
parental household were named respectively, Curtis,
James P., Lettice B., Sarah A. ; J. S., of our
sketch; Mary Elizabeth, Martha F., John P., Sarah
and Jane. The latter two are deceased.

The subject of our history, who was the fifth
child of his parents, remained under the home
roof until nineteen years old, receiving the benefits
of the common school and gaining a good insight

356

COLES COUNTY.

into the labors of the farm. His taste, however,
lay in a different direction, and he commenced the
study of medicine under the instruction of J. S.
Pierce, of Lancaster, Ky., with whom he remained
two years and then attended a course of lectures
at Louisville. He commenced the profession as
the partner of his tutor, and six months later,
going into Wayne .County, practiced there until
1860. Thence he removed to Grayson County
and purchased a farm of eighty acres. He did
not abandon his practice by any means, but ex-
tended his professional duties into Breckinridge
County, where he also purchased another tract of
land, comprising 120 acres.

Dr. Garner was a strong Union man, and during
the summer of 1863, while the Rebellion was in
progress, recruited Co. K, 48th Keutuclcy Mounted
Infantry, of which he was tendered the commission
of Captain, but preferred that of First Lieutenant,
and served with this rank about eighteen months.
He was subsequentl}' appointed .Surgeon of the
regiment. He did not hide himself from danger
behind his professional duties, but was present
with the balance of the regiment at the various
battles and skirmishes encountered by the Army of
the Cumberland, and at the surrrender of Lee
received his honorable discharge, and was mustered
out in December, 1864. After the war ended Dr.
Garner returned to Breckinridge County, Ky.,
and during February, 1865, sought the Prairie
State and began practice at Salisbury, where ho has
since remained. His life has been one of energy
and activity, and he has witnessed with unabated
interest the growth and development of one of
the most promising of the Western States.

The marriage of Dr. Garner and Miss Minnie E.
Roberts was celebrated on the 24th of April, 1854,
in Wayne County, Ky., at the home of the bride's
parents. Mrs. Garner was born in the latter-
named county, and is the daughter of Squire and
Penelope Roberts, also natives of the Blue Grass
State. Her father died in Wayne County, in 1861,
and the mother in 1883. They were members of
the Baptist Church and the father was Justice of
the Peace for a number of years in his township.

The record of the seven children of Dr. and
Mrs. Garner is as follows: Marietta, born Aug.

11, 1858. was married to John D. Muncy, a farmer
of Finney County, Kan. ; Emma A., born Aug.

12, 1859, is the wife of G. M. Roberts, of Meade
County, Kan.; John P. L., born Feb. 21, 1861,
married Miss May C. Davis, and is engaged in farm-
ing in Ashmore Township; Minnie M., born Dec. 27,
1866, is at home; Viola B., born March 9, 186!) ;
Edwin M. S., July 9, 1871, and Lulu M., Oct. 5,
1873, are at home with their parents. The Doctor
and his wife are regular attendants of the Baptist
Church at Salisbury. He is a stanch Republican,
politically, and socially, a member of the Masonic
fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 698, at Diona.

F OHN M. MOFFETT is one of the substan-
tial farmers and stock-growers of Ashmore
Township, located on section 28. He was
born Sept. 20, 1835, in Augusta County,
Va., and is the son of James and Sarah (Mitchell)
Moffett, natives of Virginia. James Moffett was
born July 13, 1809. He came to Illinois in 1838
and engaged in farming. His death occurred in
1880. He had received a superior education in his
native State and spent several years of his early
life in teaching. He was married four times, his
first marriage occurring March 13, 1831. His wife
was born March 3, 1808, and her death occurred
April 7, 1844. Five children were born to them,
whose record is as follows : Betsy A. married John
Wright; Harvey C. died at the age of twenty-five;
John M., our subject; Sarah V. married Robert
Wright; Cynthia J. married C. C. Howerton.
The family were all members of the Presbyterian
Church. Harvey C. belonged to that branch called
the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. James was
married the second time, to Miss Margaret J.
Mitchel, but their married life was of short dura-
tion. Not long after her death he married Miss
Sarah Shumaker, who died leaving no children. His
last marriage was to Miss Eva A. Walters, and three
children were born to them — George V., Burley S.
and Amanda B.

John M. Moffett lived with his parents and passed
his childhood and youth in attending the common
school during the winter season, and in the summer

COLES COUNTY.

357

assisting his father in the various branches of farm
labor. His first purchase of land was made in 1863.
when he invested in a small farm of forty acres.
He has gradually added to this, until he now owns
a fine estate containing 150 acres of valuable laud.
His attention has been especially given to raising
graded stock.

Our subject was married, Jan. 26. 18(10, to Miss
Lydia J. Brooks. She is the daughter of Archibald
and Nancy (Powell) Brooks, and a native of this
county, born Jan. 25, 1834. (For the history of
her parents see sketch of Archibald Brooks.) Mr.
and Mrs. Moffett had a family of seven children,
only three of whom arc now living. Their record
is as follows: Kate A. died at the age of eight-
een years; James A., Joseph A., Diadama and
Maria J., twins; the latter died at the age of ten
weeks. Nancy P. died at the age of eighteen
months, and Benjamin M., at the age of two years.

Mr. Moffett is interested in all affairs calculated
to benefit the township and county, and has for
two years held the office of Commissioner of High-
ways. He is prudent in business affairs and holds
a life policy for $2,000 in the Temperance Order of
Royal Templars. His life has been consecrated to
the service of Christ from boyhood, he becoming
a member of the Presbyterian Church when nine-
teen years of age, and is now one of its Elders.

iNDREW J. WHISENNAND, a prominent
farmer and one of the self-made men of
Coles County, resides on section 20, Pleas-
ant Grove Township, near Campbell. He
was born April 3, 1839, in Monroe County, Ind.,
and is the son of John and Lucinda Whisennand.
John Whisennand was born Nov. 10, 1810, in Vir-
ginia. When a boy his parents left their Eastern
home and moved to Indiana, where his earl}' life
was passed, and his marriage to Miss Lucinda
Wright took place. She was a native of that State,
born in 1817. Late in the autumn of 1848, Mr.
Whisennand removed with his family to Illinois,
and purchasing land in Cumberland Conntj', he
was engaged in farming there until 1855, when he

sold out his interests and removed to Collin Coun-
ty, Tex., where they passed the winter and were
well pleased with the country. But circumstances
caused them to change their plans, as Mr. Whisen-
nand had sold his property in this State on time,
and a financial panic was threatening, so he returned
with his family to Illinois in order to attend to his
business interests. In the adjustment of affairs, he
finally decided to remain, and made his permanent
home in Cumberland County, near the limits of
Coles. Mrs. Whisennand was removed from her
home and family by death Oct. 15, 1865. She was
the mother of four children, two now living — An-
drew J. and Semilda, the wife of James E. Phipps.
Mr. Whisennand subsequently married Mrs. Sus-
anna (Bradford) Matthews, and by this marriage
four children were born, two of whom are living —
John C. and James. After the death of his second
wife Mr. W. was married to Mrs. Sarah Russell.

In politics, Mr. Whisennand was a stanch sup-
porter of the Democratic party, and filled several
local offices, giving general satisfaction to the
people in the discharge of his public duties. He
was a member of the Methodist Church, and his
death occurred at the homestead in 1881.

Andrew Whiseunand was a child when his family
removed to Illinois. He was reared on his father's
farm in Cumberland County, where he acquired a
practical knowledge of agriculture, and also re-
ceived a good common-school education. Feb. 4,
1869, he was married to Miss Mary A. Best, and
subsequently removed to Coles County, and settled
in this township, on the farm where he now resides.
Within a few years after his marriage, the home
circle was broken by the death of his wife, who
died June 8, 1877, leaving four children — Cora,
Lizzie, Willie and Mary. Jan. 19, 1878, Mr.
Whisennand married Miss Mary E. llarwood, the
daughter of Ephraim and Margaret Hai wood. Mrs.
Whisennand was born Dec. 18, 1852, in Butler
County, Ohio. They have no children.

Mr. Whisennand has acquired his property
through his own exertions, and is the owner of
nearly 200 acres of well-improved land, with ex-
cellent farm buildings. He gives special attention
to stock-raising, in which he has been very success-
ful. In politics, he is a Democrat, and has served

T

358

COLES COUNTY.

in some of the local offices. Mr. and Mrs. Whisen-
uand differ in the outward form of their religious
faith, the former being a member of the Cumber-
laud Presbyterian and the latter of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.

THOMAS T. JONES was born Oct. 12, 1854,
in Lafayette Township. He is the only
brother of William D. Jones, a sketch of
whom appears elsewhere in this volume; they re-
side near each other, and a strong fraternal regard
exists between them. Thomas was reared at home,
where he received a good common-school educa-
tion, and assisted his father in the various branches
of farm labor. He was married, Sept. 11, 1878, to
Miss Rosa Clark. Mrs. Jones is the daughter of
G. P. Clark, and was born in 1860, in Lafayette
Township. They have an interesting family of
four children — Robert, Estelle, Carrie and Earnest.
Mr. Jones is the owner of a fine estate containing
250 acres of land, all of which is well-improved
and cultivated. In conducting his farm he gives
special attention to stock-raising.

RS. MARY S. TRAVER, the widow of
William Henry Traver, late of Charleston,
is pleasantly located on a fine farm of 114
acres, a part of which lies in the city limits,
and which through the industry and excellent judg-
ment of her late husband, comprises a valuable and
beautiful homestead and assists largely in embellish-
ing the landscape of Charleston Township.

Mr. Traver, a native of Schenectady County, N.
Y., was born June 11, 1843, and was the son of
William and Maria (Reese) Traver. also natives of
the Empire State. William Traver was a farmer
by occupation but later engaged in mercantile pur-
suits at Brooklyn. The son, Henry, was reared on
the farm until fifteen years of age, in the mean-
time receiving a fair education in the common
schools. He then engaged as clerk in a wholesale

grocery store in Brooklyn, where he remained two
and one-half years, after which his employer sent
him to Canada to sell fruit. He remained in the
Dominion one year, and returning to New York
engaged as clerk in a jewelry house. Subsequently
he returned to the fruit business and also dealt in
flowers.

Upon the outbreak of the Rebellion Mr. Traver
enlisted in the 176th New York Infantry, and fol-
lowed the life of a soldier for over three years.
His career in the army was creditable in the ex-
treme, and he fortunately escaped injury and im-
prisonment by the rebels. After receiving his
honorable discharge he returned to his native
State, where he engaged in business for a short
time, but in 1865 decided to make his home in the
West. He first located in Clark County, this State,
near the town of Marshall, and engaged in the rais-
ing of broom corn, which he shipped East at a good
profit. Two years later he came to this county
and engaged in the manufacture of brooms at
Charleston, which he followed the remainder of his
life. His death occurred at the family homestead
on the 7th of August, 1878.

The marriage of William H. Traver and Miss
Mary S. Parker, of Charleston, took place in the
spring of 18G8, at the residence of the bride's par-
ents in Charleston Township. Mrs. T. is the daugh-
ter of Daniel and Dorcas (Heath) Parker, who were
natives respectively of this county and North Caro-
lina. Mr. Parker engaged in fanning the greater
part of his life and was County Surveyor for many
years. His father, Benjamin by name, was one of
the pioneers of Coles County, and owned a large
portion of the present site of the city of Charleston.
He met his death while on his way to Texas in
1869, being killed by the Indians. The parents
were married in 1845, and there were three chil-
dren— John H., Mary S., and Martha, now Mrs. J.
P. Phillips. The farm of Mr. Parker in Charleston
Township embraces 360 acres. The mother re-
mained on the homestead seven years after the
death of her husband, and passed away in 1876.
Both parents were devout members of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church, and greatly respected for
their excellent qualities of mind and heart.

Mr. and Mrs. Traver early in life united with the

f

LIBRARY

OF THE
:>!:'VF-RSITY OF ILLirO'S

RESIDENCE OF 1 . W.SAI N -,SEC. 6. MORGANTOWNSHIP.

',;

RESIOINCE or

LLiAMs.SEc.6. MUTTON TOWNSHIP.

f

COLES COUNTY.

361

Presbyterian Church, with which the former con-
tinued until his death, and with which the latter is
still connected. Socially Mr. T. belonged to the
Odd Fellows, and Mrs. T. is a member of the Royal
Templars Society. They became the parents of
three children — Lelia, Ortoii, and Guyella. The lat-
ter is deceased ; the others are at home.

ELLIOTT YATES WILLIAMS, a
worthy descendant of one of the early pio-
neer families of Coles County, and a promi-
citizen of Lafaj'ette Township, was
born March 1, 1815, in Grayson County, Ky., and
is the son of William L. and Mary (Gannavvay)
Williams, natives of Virginia, who removed to
Kentucky at an early day and thence to Illinois in
1829, and were among the earliest settlers of Lafay-
ette Township, which, at the time of their adVent
was a primeval wilderness, surrounded by tribes of
hostile Indians; its vast, lonely prairies, covered
with tall, rank grass, abounded with wolves and
deer, and beasts of prey lurked within the shade of
its forests. It was a hazardous enterprise to face
the perils of frontier life at that early day, and the
few settlers who were hardy enough to venture
there were widely separated and almost entirely
isolated during the long cold winters.

William L. Williams was twice married. His first
wife died in Kentucky, leaving a family of twelve
children, all of whom, with one exception, attained
maturity. Only two, however, are now living —
Robert, the subject of this sketch, and Louisa, now
Mrs. William Ewing. His second wife was Mrs.
Catherine (Keller) Van Meter, their marriage taking
place in Coles County, and three children were born
to them, one of whom is now living- — Martha, the
wife of Myron Ferguson.

Robert Williams was about fourteen years of age
when his father moved to Illinois, and while there
is much to interest and employ a boy of that age
in pioneer life, it is a period when he can ill afford
to forego the advantages of education, and Mr.
Williams has keenly felt in later life his depriva-
tions in that respect. He possesses, however, an

intelligent, progressive mind, and by close applica-
tion, and the improvement of every opportunity
within his reach, keeps himself well informed in re-
gard to all the topics of the day, and is especially
well-read in history. His elder brother, John,
served in the War of 1812, and as Robert was born
in 1815, he was named after the Captain under
whom his brother served, and from that incident
received the appellation of " Captain," which has
clung to him through life, and he is generally
known as '• Capt. Williams."

Mr. Williams was married, May 31, 1831), to
Miss Mary A. Van Meter. Mrs. Williams is the
daughter of John and Catherine Van Meter, and
was born July 10, 1817, in the State Of Kentucky.
Our subject and wife have a family of six chil-
dren— John W.. Leagon, Robert E., Melissa C.,
Thomas and Cynthia C. Melissa is the wife of
Samuel W. Balch, and Cynthia is the wife of Will-
iam D. Jones. Mr. Williams has given his atten-
tion to agricultural pursuits throughout his life,
and was the owner of a fine estate containing 400
acres of valuable land, until it was divided among
his children. Mr. Williams was a Whig ii4*fearly
life, but has been a stanch Republican since the or-
ganization of that party. He is a public-spirited
man, and has held many local offices in the town-
ship, giving general satisfaction in the discharge of
his duties. He became a member of the Methodist
Church at the age of twenty-five, and through life
has been an earnest worker within the fold of that
religious body.

JOSEPH McNEEL, who is occupying a good
farm on the northeast quarter of section 28,
is comparatively a young man, and accounted

I/ one of the most worthy citizens of Seven
^=^>

Hickory Township. He was born on the home-
stead of his parents, Dec. 18, 1848, and remained
under the parental roof until the death of his father.
March 23, 1862. Afterward he continued with his
mother, and remained her support and counselor,
taking upon himself the management of her affairs,
and performing with great credit the filial duties as-

362

COLES COUNTY.

signed him. The mother is still living, making her
home with her sou Joseph.

Our subject received a common-school education,
and after reaching his majority was united in mar-
riage, March 30, 1881, with Miss Rosa L. Cook, a
native of Monroe County, Ind. The wedding took
place at the residence of the minister, Rev. Louis
Lauman, east of Charleston. Mrs. McNeel came
to Illinois with her parents when a young girl, and
they settled at Mattoon, whence they afterward re-
moved to Hutton Township. Her father, John
Cook, was a native of Germany, and his wife, Har-
riet (Wiseman) Cook, of Monroe Co., Ind. The chil-
dren of the parental household were Rosa, George
M., Emma, Elizabeth, Kittie B., Hattie, Hannah,
and one child, Jacob, who died in infancy. The
children of Mr. and Mrs. McNeel are: John Benja-
min, born March 25, 1883, and a babe, which did
not live to receive a name. The farm of our sub-
ject embraces 200 acres of good land, and is largely
devoted to stock-farming, including Clydesdale
horses and fine grades of Short-horn cattle.

The parents of our subject, Benjamin and
KleaiHl: (Fowler) McNeel, were natives respectively
of Ohio and Tennessee. After marriage they set-
tled in Coles County, 111. Joseph, of our sketch,
was their eldest son; Albert was born Aug. 9, 1850;
Daniel Webster, Jan. 15, 1852; Irwin was born in
1854. and died in 1855; William S. is a resident of
this township; Elizabeth May became the wife of
A. R. Bridges, and is also a resident of this town7
ship, being the mother of two children — Ethel and
William; Benjamin H., born April 4. 1862, was
married to Miss Anna Baulch, and is now engaged
in teaching in this county.

M. JENKINS, who for a number of years
was one of the most successful merchants
of Charleston, is now retired from active
business and enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life,
in a handsome home on Washington street, of which
he has been in possession since 1861. The family
residence is a fine brick structure, and its surround-
ings are those of a prosperous, refined and intelli-
gent citizen.

Mr. Jenkins was born in Putnam County, Ind.,

July 1. 1832, and is the son of J. M. and Nancy
(Martin) Jenkins, natives of Lexington, Ky. The
paternal grandfather of our subject, Elijah Jenkins,
was a native of Virginia, of German descent, and
followed agricultural pursuits. He became a resi-
dent of Kentucky at an early period in its history,
and was there married and reared a fine family of
sons and daughters. He died in Putnam County,
Ind., at the age of ninety- three years. Among his
children was the father of our subject, who, follow-
ing in the footsteps of most of his ancestors, took
naturally to farming, and also perfected himself
as a business man, engaging for a number of years
as a builder and contractor. He was but a child
when his parents became residents of Indiana, and
remained there the balance of his days, his death
occurring after he had reached an advanced age. in
1883. The parental family of our subject included
seven children, four now living, namely, Mary J.,
Mrs. Parks, of luka, Kan.; William M., of our
sketch; Elijah A., a resident of Charleston, and
Samantha, the wife of William H. O'Neal, and a
resident of Putnam County, Ind. The wife and
mother passed to the other life in the spring of
1848.

William M. Jenkins remained with the family on
his father's farm until twenty years of age, in the
meantime receiving a practical education. He
commenced teaching when eighteen years old,
which occupation he followed three years, then en-
gaged as a clerk at Putnamville, Ind., one year.
He then resumed teaching for a brief time, after
which he entered the store of T. W. Williamson, of
Greencastle, with whom he continued five years
and gained a good insight into general merchan-
dising.

Mr. Jenkins became a resident of Charleston in
the fall of 1859, and in company with his brother
Elijah A., and T. W. Williamson, established a
business in general merchandise, in which the three
continued for two years following. Mr. William-
son then withdrew, and our subject and his brother
continued the business until 1865. They then sold
out to Wilson Bros., and in two weeks re-estab-
lished with a new stock and continued until the
summer of 1880. William M. then sold out to
his brother and the son of the latter, and retired

T

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COLES COUNTY.

363

from business to enjoy his justly earned compe-
tency.

Mr. Jenkins since taking up his residence in
Charleston has been one of its most energetic citi-
zens, and has identified himself with the interests
best calculated to build up the city and minister
to the welfare of its people. Me is still one of the
stockholders of the Second National Bank, also a
Director, and was identified in former years with
the First National as a stockholder. His influence
and means assisted greatly in the establishment of
the Charleston Hotel, and the plank road, which
runs ten miles into the country, and was of great
assistance to travel, would scarcely have been com -
pleted to its present distance without his material
aid. He has also an interest in the Charleston
Creamery, and in the Narrow-Gauge Railroad, and
is one of the moving spirits in the stock company
which has been engaged in developing the coal
mines north of the town. Charleston hopes in time
to be lighted by natural gas, and Mr. Jenkins, in
compaii}7 with other enterprising citizens, has
risked considerable in this venture.

The lady who has been the worthy sharer of the
home and fortunes of our subject since the spring
of 1857, was formerly Miss Elizabeth, the daugh-
ter of Benjamin and Catherine (Skelton) Jenkins,
natives of Kentucky. The father of Mrs. J. for
many years engaged in farming in Indiana, and
then removed to Illinois. He resided, however,
but a short time in the Prairie State, then returned
to Indiana, whence he afterward moved across the
Mississippi to Nebraska, where he now resides. He
and his estimable lady reared a family of seven
children, five now living, namely, Sarah, Mrs.
Ward, of Louisville, Neb. ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Jen-
kins; Elijah, of Greenwood, Neb.; Emily, Mrs.
Bias, of Missouri, and Columbus, of Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins were not blest with chil-
dren, but reared two belonging to a sister of Mr. J.
His sister Elizabeth became the wife of Rev. B.
Garten, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and at present a member of the Indiana
Conference. Of their daughters, Myra became an
inmate of the home of our subject when a little
girl two and one-half years of age, and continued
there until her marriage with S. M. Tooke, of

Charleston; she had three children — Stella; Will-
iam, deceased, and Lizzie. Stella went to live with
Mr. and Mrs. J. when a child of eighteen months,
and remained with them until her marriage with
J. M. Davis, of Omaha, Neb.; she has one daugh-
ter, Myra.

Mr. Jenkins has always given his undivided sup-
port to Republican principles, and socially belongs
to the Knights of Honor. He and his wife are ex-
emplary members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.

The great-grandfather of our subject, David
Martin, was born in the North of Ireland about
the year 1725 or 1728, and married a Miss Allison,
by whom he had seven children, four sons and three
daughters. He emigrated to this country, and
served as a minute-man in the Revolutionary War,
being in a number of battles. His son William, our
subject's grandfather, married Mary Ann Cook, a
daughter of William Cook. The latter in the time
of the war between France and England, was on a
vessel of marque and reprisal, which captured a
great many merchant vessels belonging to France.
At the close, of this war he came to the United
States and served seven years in the Revolutionary
War, under Washington. He then returned to the
old country, and it is uncertain when or where he
died. Grandfather Martin and wife were born in
Augusta County, Va., where they were married,
and in the fall of 1805 moved to Kentucky, thence,
in 1826, to Putnam County, Ind.

1J. MONFORT, deceased, formerly a leading
citizen of Pleasant Grove Township, was one
of the pioneers of 1836. He was born May 11,
1812, in Henry County, Ky., and subsequently re-
moved to Owen County, where :he was married
June 13, 1833, to Miss Mahala A. Marston, a native
of Shelby County, Ky., born Oct. 11, 1813. In
1836 Mr. Moufort moved with his young wife to
Illinois and settled in Coles County, near the head-
waters of the Kickapoo River, and a few years later
located on section 1 , Pleasant Grove Township, and
gave his attention to farming.

Prior to his removal to Illinois, Mr. Monfurt had

4*

364

COLES COUNTY.

suffered financial losses from fire, and on his arrival
in Coles County was the owner of only about $100
worth of property. He had received a fair educa-
tion for the early days, and engaged in teaching-
school at IIC per month. He always shouldered
his gun, and on his way to and from the log school-
house shot the prairie chickens, which were very
abundant. These served for food, and his econom-
ical wife saved the feathers, and thereby procured
some pillows and a feather-bed, which added ma-
terially to the household comfort. Mrs. Monfort
was a most industrious and careful .housewife,
making the best use of her time and the meager
opportunities within her reach, to aid her husband
in all the duties and trials of pioneer life. She was
skillful in the use of the spinning-wheel and loom,
and manufactured a large amount of cloth. Be-
sides supplying her own family with clothing, she
sold 150 yards of jeans each year, during a period
of twenty-five years. Mrs. Monfort looked well to
the ways of her household, while her husband in-
vested his money in land, which he cultivated and
improved.

Their first abode was a log cabin, and the rude
couch upon which they rested at night, wearied
with the toils of the day, was a bedstead made of
poles, and the cradle in which the babies were
rocked to sleep, was manufactured from a log split
lengthwise and hollowed out. Their industry and
energy, however, were rewarded with success, and
in about the year 1 855 the log cabin gave place to
a comfortable frame house. This was subsequently
destroyed by fire in 1859, and Mr. Monfort then
erected a substantial two-story brick residence,
which was the first of its kind in the neighborhood.
Mr. and Mrs. Monfort had a family of ten chil-
dren born to them, six of whom are living, as fol-
lows : Eliza Jane, the wife of J. D. Karris, Sr. ;
Martha M., the wife of John P. Harrah; William
H., John N.; Mary A., the wife of William R.
Robinson, and Joseph A. The children were all
born in Coles County with the exception of the
eldest.

Mr. Monfort was very successful in business and
became the owner of nearly 700 acres of valuable
land. The family continued to reside on the farm
until 1 ss;5, when, desirous of resting from the cares

of business, they removed to the city of Charles-
ton, to pass the closing years of their lives in the
enjoyment of ease and prosperity. In June, 1883,
they celebrated their golden wedding, at which an-
niversary nearly every member of the family was
present, besides a large circle of friends, who took
pleasure in offering their congratulations, and also
numerous valuable presents, to a family so beloved
and respected. This happy reunion was a fitting
scene for the closing years of a long life of honor
and usefulness. Mr. Monfort died Jan. 13, 1885,
and his bereaved widow did not long survive him,
her death occurring May 13, 1886.

Mr. and Mrs. Monfort were active in promoting
the moral and religious interests of the community ;
they were members of the Presbyterian Church, in
which Mr. Monfort was an Elder, and for more than
forty years the teacher of the Bible class. On his
removal from the place the class presented him with
a gold-headed cane, in token of their affection and
respect. In politics, Mr. Monfort w?.s an active
supporter of the Democratic party, and was for
some years a prominent member of the Patrons of
Husbandry.

Tw, OHN W. DOTY, the owner of a fine estate
containing 155 acres of valuable land in
Charleston Township, was born March 7,
1832, in Lafayette Township, Coles County,
and is the son of James and Mary (Teel) Doty.
(For history of his parents, see sketch of James
Doty.) He was reared on his father's farm and re-
mained at home, assisting his parents until he was
twenty-three years of age. July 12, 1855, he was
united in marriage with his cousin, Miss Melinda
Doty, the daughter of Levi and Matilda Doty.

After his marriage our subject purchased forty
acres of his present farm and with his young wife
moved into the log cabin, which stood there await-
ing its new occupants. Thej' were rich in courage,
hope and good health, if not in this world's goods,
and happy in beginning the world together '' for
better or for worse." He subsequently added to
his farm as he was prospered in business, until he
acquired his present fine property. There were
some minor improvements on the original purchase,

^ '

t

COLES COUNTY.

365

and with the exception of a few acres of timber
land it is now all under good cultivation, and he
carries on an extensive business in general fanning.
His wife died in 1857, leaving one son, James
Marion, who married Miss Emma Parker, of West-
field, this State, Dec. 24, 1879, and to whom two
sons were born: Clarence A., born Dec. 5, 1880,
and Lyman L., April 8, 1880.

Sept. 1, 1858, our subject was married the second
time, to his cousin, Miss Amanda Doty, the sister of
his first wife. Five children were born to them,
only two of whom are now living: Sylvia E., now
the wife of Joseph Monfort, and Candiee A. Mr.
Doty is interested in the public affairs of the com-
munity; he has been School Director twenty-five
years, and is now serving his fourth term as Justice
of the Peace. He is a Democrat in politics, and
has always given satisfaction to the people in the
discharge of his public duties.

CT=7?OLLICOFFER O'HAIR. The subject of
the following history has been identified with
the farming interests of Central Illinois for
a period of twenty-three years, and has assisted in
building up a homestead creditable to himself as
an industrious and enterprising agriculturist, while
it has also added greatly to the farming interests
of this section, and enters largely into the embel-
lishment of the rural district. He assists in carrying
on the home farm for his mother. Mr. O'Hair was
born on the homestead, Oct. 5, 1863, whence his
parents removed shortly afterward to Simms Town-
ship, five miles south of Paris, in Edgar County,
where they remained about seven years. At the
end of that time they came back, remaining three
years, and then returned to PZdgar County, residing
there three years, finally returning to the homestead
where they still live.

James Sylvester O'Hair, the father of our sub-
ject, was born in Morgan County, Ky.. Aug. 22.
1822. and came with his parents to this State when
a small boy. He was the eldest of their ten chil-
dren, and when coming here the country was practi-
cally unsettled. His father entered a tract of land
from the Government, but on account of ill-health,

not long afterward sold out and took possession of
a tract which had been partially cultivated, remov-
ing with his family into one of the first houses built
in the township and which was replaced by the
present more modern dwelling. He was first mar-
ried July 5, 1846, to Miss Minerva Ann Ellidge,
of Kentucky, and they became the parents of three
children, namely, Sylvanus S., who died Nov. 22.
1876; Arminta Ellen, a resident of this county,
and Cynthelia Jane, who lives in Clark County, 111. ;
she is the wife of Mahlun Beunst. The mother of
these children died of typhoid fever, Dec. 8, 1860.
Mr. O'Hair was again married, April 18, 1861, to
Miss Polly Ann Frazier. a native of Clark County,
111., where she was reared and educated. Her father,
Thomas Frazier. a native of Kentucky, was married
in carty manhood to Miss Anna Stark, and they
became the parents of nine children, three sons and
six daughters, as follows: Louisa M., John, James
William, Polly Ann, Catherine, Emily Jane. Re-
becca E., Emetine and Thomas R.

Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. O'Hair there
were born three children, namely, Zollicoffer, Will-
iam Pierce and James Frazier. William is farming
near Eureka, Kan., and James is occupied on the
home farm with his brother, our subject. This is
the property of Mrs. O'Hair, and the boys live
with their mother and assist her in the manage-
ment of the farm. The father died at their farm
in Edgar County, 111.. April 16, 1875, at 8 o'clock
in the morning. He is buried in the old family
graveyard on his father's homestead. Mr. Zollicof-
fer O'Hair met with a serious accident on the 5th
of April, 1887, having his leg broken just above
the ankle which laid him up for some time, but
from which he now bids fair to recover.

JOSEPH A. MONFORT is the youngest son
of I. J. Monfort, a sketch of whom appears
elsewhere in this volume, and resides on the
old homestead in Pleasant Grove Township.

He is one of the rising young men of the county,

and well represents an old- and honorable family.

He is a native of this county, and was born Jan.

22, 1850. He was reared on his father's farm,

366

COLES COUNTY.

where he learned the practical details of systematic
farming, and also received an excellent education
at the common schools of the neighborhood, and at
Lee's Academy.

Mr. Monfort was married, March 7, 1878, to Miss
Sylvia E. Doty. Mrs. Monfort is the daughter of
John W. and Amanda Doty, and is likewise a na-
tive of Coles County. Mr. and Mrs. Monfort have
one child, a beautiful daughter named Candice.
He is the owner of 210 acres of land, and carries
on a successful business in agriculture.

TIOMAS T. SHOEMAKER, one of the most
prominent farmers and stock-growers of
Humbolt Township, has a fine estate located
on section 24, of, which he has been in possession
since the spring of 1879. His property consists of
a handsome and substantial residence, and all the
out-buildings required by the progressive and in-
telligent agriculturist. The fields are conveniently
laid off, enclosed with good fencing, and the out-
buildings are finely adapted for the storing of grain
and the shelter of stock.

Mr. Shoemaker usually keeps about seventy-five
head of Short-horn cattle, which include calves,
cows and breeding bulls, comprising one of the
finest herds in this section of the country, all the
animals which are of the required age being regis-
tered in the American Herd Book. At the head is
" Antiquarian," a two-year-old, who with his mate
" Acklen Geneva" (Rose of Sharon), form a couple
of which their owner is proud. Mr. S. has 100
head of Poland-China hogs and the same number
of fine wool Southdown sheep, acd in both depart-
ments has distinguished himself as a breeder of
more than ordinary success. He also feeds cattle
to a considerable extent, and each year ships a car-
load of choice animals to the Eastern markets.
The farm of Mr. Shoemaker embraces 632 acres of
valuable land in a fine state of cultivation. He is
provided with the latest and most improved ma-
chinery, and has five fine barns which are all util-
ized in the shelter of his grain and stock. The
water necessary on so large an estate is carried to

the places required by a force pump, operated by
wind power.

The subject of our sketch is a native of this
county, born in Lafayette Township, Sept. 14,
1847, and the son of Samuel and Martha (Woods)
Shoemaker. His parents were natives respectively
of North Carolina and Kentucky. Samuel Shoe-
maker was born in 1812. and removed from his
native State with his parents when a small boy to
Virginia, where he was reared on his father's farm
until reaching manhood. He came to this comity
in 1 834, locating on a farm near Charleston, and
became one of the most highly respected citizens
of this locality, esteemed as much for his kindness
of heart as for his admirable business qualities.
He departed this life at his home in Lafa3'ette
Township in December, 1867, amid the universal
regret of the community. The mother had pre-
ceeded her husband to the silent laud, her death
taking place in 1863, when she was forty-five years
of age, having been born in 1818.

Thomas Shoemaker was the fourth of a family
of six children, his brothers and one sister being
Franklin, James O., Lilburn D., Mary and Charles.
He spent his early years on the farm of his parents,
and when twenty-four years of age was united in
marriage with Miss Emma Reat. Their wedding
occurred at the home of the bride's parents in
Charleston Township. Aug. 31, 1871. Mrs. Shoe-
maker is a native of this county, born Oct. 18,
1850, and is the daughter of John W. and Sarali
(Liuder) Reat, natives respectively of Ohio and
Virginia. Mr. R. came to this county in 1837, and
engaged in farming on the homestead where his
death took place in 1883. The mother makes her
home with Mr. and Mrs. Shoemaker. Our subject
and his wife have become the parents of seven
children — Estella, Harry R., Theodora, John E.,
Joseph T., Katie, and an infant who died un-
named.

As an important factor of the agricultural com-
munity, Mr. Shoemaker has been identified with its
interests for many years, serving as President of
the Coles County Agricultural Board, and giving
his experience and influence for the benefit of his
co-laborers in a field whose success largely influ-
ences the welfare of the entire country. Both he

V

COLES COUNTY.

307

\

and his estimable wife are connected with the
Methodist Episcopal Church at Wesley Chapel, and
socially, Mr. S. belongs to Elwood Lodge No. 299,
A. F. & A. M. His homestead is one of the most
attractive spots in the landscape of this county,
and forms no unimportant adjunct to its reputation
and prosperity.

i EV. SILAS WHITE, who for the last thirty-
five years has worthily officiated as a min-
ister of the Church of God, in connection
) with agricultural pursuits, in the vicinity
of Charleston, is widely and favorably known in
this section as an individual possessing all the ele-
ments of a kindly Christian character, whose days
have been filled with industry and usefulness. He
is now passing down the hill of life — a life that has
had many sorrows, but has also held many joys and
pleasures. His history, briefly narrated, is in sub-
stance as follows:

Mr. White was born in Wayne County, Ind.,
March 3, 1818. and is the son of Asa and Polly
(Lewis) White, natives respectively of North Car-
olina and Kentucky. The parents were married in
the Blue Grass State and not long afterward be-
came residents of Indiana, being among the first
settlers of \Vayne County, where they engaged in
farming pursuits. In 1840 they set out for Illi-
nois, and coming to this county the elder White
rented a tract of land which he occupied until 1861.
He then removed to Douglas County, where his
death took place during the war. Both parents
were devoted members of the Baptist Church, and
reared a family of eight children.

Rev. Silas White was reared on the farm, receiv-
ing such education as is afforded in the district
school, and remained under the parental roof until
seventeen years of age. His father then gave him
his time, and he learned the carpenter's trade, at
which he worked in connection with farming, and
gave to his father a portion of his earnings. He
thus followed the life of an exemplar}' and dutiful
son, and when twenty-two years of age took the
first step toward establishing a home and domestic
ties of his own. This was his marriage with Miss

Mary J., daughter of Solomon Boone, and whom it
is supposed was the grairl -niece of the famous
Kentuckian, Daniel Boone, who so delighted in
fighting the Indians during the pioneer days. Mrs.
White was born at Pickaway Plains, Ohio, in about
1822. -

After their marriage the young people located
upon a farm in Wayne County which our subject
rented for one year, and from which he removed in
1842, to this county. Here he entered 120 acres
in Hutton Township, and having saved quite a
sum of money from his former earnings, was en-
abled to purchase the land when it came into mar-
ket. He occupied this until the spring of 1844, in
the meantime laying off the grain fields and pasture
lands, building neat and substantial fences, and im-
proving the property with good farm buildings.
Upon the homestead thus established he continued
a resident for over forty years, and was then ad-
monished by declining strength that he must rest.
He accordingly rented his farm, and purchasing a
snug home at Charleston, repaired to it with his
estimable wife. Mr. White added to his first pur-
chase of land until he became the possessor of 250
acres, which constitutes one of the finest farms in
that section of country.

The children of Rev. Silas and Mrs. Mary J.
White included five sons and five daughters, of
whom only two sons survive. The elder of these,
Monroe, married Miss Mary Hall, and they have
six daughters — Sarah F., Hannah A., Millie H.,
Lucy E., Sarah J. and Charity E. Isaac married
Miss Josephine Sandoe, and is the father of three
children — Zat'cheus Boone, Emma M. and Effie E.

When Mr. White caine to this county he settled
in the timber, and the howling of wolves and
panthers was often heard in the night around their
cabin home. There were plenty of deer and wild
turkey, and the family always enjoyed the luxury
of wild meat. The first dwelling was a hewed-log
house, 22x18 feet, which was well built and consid-
ered very fine for those days. , Of this Mr. White
was the main carpenter and builder, getting out his
lumber by means of a whip-saw, by which he also
manufactured his flooring, doors and window cas-
ings. The next business was to clear the ground
around it, and the first year he succeeded in get-

i

, . 368

COLES COUNTY.

ting ten acres in a good state of cultivation. The
next spring he put in a crop of corn and wheat, the
former of which brought but fifteen cents per
bushel and the latter thirty-seven and a half cents.
He pursued the even tenor of his way thus year
after year, welcoming with pleasure the little faces
that came one by one to the household circle, and
bending with sorrow over the many graves which
contained the forms of his loved ones, most of
whom died in early childhood.

Mr. White commenced his labors as a Christian
minister in 1850, and was ordained two years later.
He often recalls the time when lie traveled through
the country from one appointment to another, and
the kindly manner in which he was treated by the
pioneers, who, living partially isolated, were always
rejoiced to welcome the face of a friend. He re-
ceived a rich reward for his labors in witnessing
the salvation of souls, and was the humble instru-
ment in turning many from the errors of their
ways. For these services he required not money,
glad if lie could accomplish something for the
Master, and now while nearing the close of a long
and useful life he has the satisfaction of being able
to look back upon his years as well spent, and upon
a life which has not been in vain.

S. McDONALD, manufacturer of
tile and brick near Lerna, is a prominent
citizen of Pleasant Grove Township, and an
honorable representative of one of the pioneer
families of Illinois. He is the son of Rev. John and
Nancy (Means) McDonald, and was born Aug. 1,
1849, in this county. Rev. John McDonald was
born near Wheeling, W. Va., and in early manhood
removed to Ohio, where he studied theology, and
was ordained to the ministry of the Presbyterian
Church. At an early day. in about 1830, he be-
came oneof the pioneer ministers of Illinois, count-
ing it no loss in the service of the Master to leave
behind all the comforts of civilization, and en-
counter the hard, rough life of an early settler on
the Western frontier. The temples of worship at
that period were usually the log cabins, used as
school-houses; these were used as chapels during

the winter season, and in the summer time divine
worship was held in the groves, arched by the blue
dome of heaven.

Mr. McDonald was untiring in the work of pro-
moting the cause of Christ in the wilderness; he
preached at Urbana, Charleston, Paris, and had
charge of many minor points, establishing churches
wherever it was practicable. As nearly all of the
settlers at that time were poor, the pioneer minister
was obliged to provide for his own necessities, and
like St. Paul, who was engaged in tent-making as
well as preaching the Gospel, Mr. McDonald en-
tered land in Pleasant Grove Township, and has
by his industry and energy made a comfortable
home for himself, at the same time pursuing earn-
estly his work in the ministry, to which cause his
time and talents were devoted until old age. Mr.
McDonald was interested in all the vital questions
of the period in which he lived, being earnest and
pronounced in his opposition to slavery, and never
hesitating to express his views on that subject. He
was a loyal and conscientious citizen, and always
attended the general elections, easting his ballot in
favor of such measures as his judgment deemed
right.

Mr. McDonald was called home from his earthly
labors in 1866, having reached the age of sixty-nine
years. His wife was born in Adams County, Ohio,
but her parents had removed to Illinois at an early
day, and her marriage took place in Edgar Count}'.
She was a faithful, devoted wife, and a true compan-
ion to her husband in his life-work of self-sacrifice
and toil. Her death occurred in 1880 at the age of
sixty-seven 3*ears. Rev. and Mrs. McDonald were
the parents of thirteen children, nine of whom at-
tained maturity. The following is their family
record: William N., deceased; Mary E., the wife
of Rev. R. G. Ross; Eliza, the wife of George
Coen; Ann, the wife of Hon. Joseph Ewing: Eliza-
beth, the wife of John Paisley ; Newell S., the sub-
ject of this sketch; Sarah, the wife of R. L. Ew-
ing; Chalmers and John. William N. was a volun-
teer in the Civil War, and served as First Lieuten-
ant of Co. I, 123d III. Vol. Inf., until the close of
the war.

Newell S. McDonald was reared on the farm,
affording his father assistance during his boyhood, < •

•VB

COLES COUNTY.

369

and receiving such education as the common
schools at that early day afforded. He was thought-
ful and intelligent, making the best use of his lim-
ited advantages, and was subsequently a graduate
of Lee's Academy at Indian Point. In the autumn
of 1869 he left the farm, and for a period of five
years was a faithful and trusted clerk in the em-
ploy of the Wabash Railroad Company, at Attica,
Ind. On account of failing health he was then
obliged to relinquish his position, and accordingly
returned to Coles County, and engaged in farming
and grain-dealing. However, the five years of his
residence at Attica proved an important epoch in
his life, for he there made the acquantance of his
future wife, Miss Mattie Love. Their marriage
took place Dec. 23, 1873. Mrs. McDonald is the
daughter of Calvin and Abigail Love, and was born
in Miami County, Ind., May 25, 1853. Left an
orphan at ran early age she was reared by kind
friends, and when a young girl of seventeen,
learned the art of telegraphy, at Peru, Ind., not
wishing to be dependent longer upon others for sup-
port, and subsequently became the operator at At-
tica. She is an accomplished lady, an affectionate
wife and devoted mother. Their family consists of
four interesting children — Nellie, Charles, Louis
and Birdie.

In 1882 Mr. McDonald engaged in his present
enterprise, which proved successful, and as the
business increased he formed a partnership with his
brother, John T.. under the firm name of McDon-
ald Bros. Mr. McDonald owns a well-improved
farm of eighty acres, on which he resides, and in
politics is a stanch supporter of the Republican
party, having served five terms as Supervisor of the
township, and performing his public duties credita-
bly to himself, and giving general satisfaction to
his constituents. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and
by a dispensation from the Grand Master of the
State, his lodge elected him Master before he had
ever served as Warden, a distinction rarely con-
ferred. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald are active mem-
bers of the Methodist Church. They are courteous
and hospitable in their home, which is supplied with
all the comforts of life, and are deeply interested
in the education of their children, in whom they
may justly take great pride.

IN. GIBBS, proprietor of a flourishing sale and
livery stable at Mattoon, is a gentleman in the
prime of life, and carrying on a successful busi-
ness. He has been buying horses and mules since
1861, shipping to the Eastern markets, besides to
New Orleans, La., and Natchez, Miss. He has
dealt largely in horses for cavalry and artillery use,
and is an excellent judge of this noblest of animals.

Mr. Gibbs is a native of this county, born in
Pleasant Grove Township, Jan. 8, 1841, and is the
son of Homer and Laura (Meedham) Gibbs, natives
of Kentucky, who came to this State before their
marriage, their wedding taking place in this county.
The paternal grandparents of our subject, Elijah
and Elizabeth Gibbs, were natives of Virginia,
whence the former removed at an early day to
Ohio, and from there to Illinois in about 1825. He
served as a soldier in the Mexican War, holding a
Captain's commission, and afterward purchased a
large tract of land in this county, where he spent
the remainder of his life, being located near the
Kickapoo Church, about seven miles southeast of
Mattoon.

Homer Gibbs learned the carpenter's trade early
in life, but afterward engaged in farming, and de-
parted this life at his home in the spring of 1879.
The mother's death took place seven years previ-
ous, in 1872. The parental household included
nine children, eight living: I. N., of our sketch, and
his brother John M. (twins), William, Elijah;
Catherine, Mrs. Ferryman, of Missouri; Margaret,
Mrs. Edson, of Missouri; Elizabeth and Martin, of
Memphis, Tenn. The parents were members of
the Baptist Church, in which the father was an
Elder. He was prominent in the local affairs of his
township, and Supervisor while living in Moultrie
County.

The subject of this biography spent his boyhood
and youth in the rural community, receiving a
practical education in the district school. He re-
mained a member of the parental household until
twenty-two years of age, and then coming to Mat-
toon engaged in the livery business, in which he was
successful from the first, and now has the largest
stable in the city. This covers an area of 107^x55
feet, and is a brick structure, erected in 1871.
The greater part of it was destroyed by fire eight

f

i

370

COLES COUNTY.

years later, involving a loss to Mr. Gibbs of $1,200
beyond the insurance. He recovered from this
disaster, however, and besides his rolling stock and
fifteen to thirty horses, has a fine farm embracing
220 acres in Monltrie County.

Mr. Gibbs was married in Moultrie County, 111.,
in 1862, to Miss Sarah, daughter of Joseph H. and
Orena (Davis) Munson. Mrs. G. was born in the
latter-named county. Her parents were natives of
Kentucky and early settlers of Moultrie County,
where they engaged the greater part of their lives
in agricultural pursuits. They are now deceased.

LBERT H. HUCKABA, proprietor of 134
acres of good land on section 7, Charles-
ton Township, has been a resident of this
county over thirty years, coming here
when a youth of seventeen. He is a native of the
Prairie State, and was born in Clark County, Feb.
21, 1835. His parents, Lewis and Margaret J.
(Evans) Huckaba. were natives of North Carolina,
whence they removed after their marriage to
Orange Count}', Ind., at an early period in the set-
tlement of that region. They did not tarry there
long, however, but soon afterward came to Illinois,
locating on a tract of land in Clark County, where
they were engaged industriously in building up a
home for themselves and their children, and where
they remained for a period of thirty-five years.
The death of both took place near Martinsville,
and they left quite a valuable estate, which was di-
vided among their children. Of these there were
nine, namely, Miles; Nancy, the wife of John Brad-
bury; Lucinda, now the widow of Robert Landon;
Clariuda, the wife of S. Spraker, deceased ; Rachel,
the wife of Morris Meeker, of Clark County, 111. ;
Martha, the wife of A. C. Landon; Lewis R;. a
member of the 5(Jth Illinois Infantry, and who died
at Nashville, Tenn., from wounds received in bat-
tle, and Alfred, who has been connected with the
Medical Institute at Indianapolis for a period of
twenty-five years.

The subject of this history, in common with his
brothers and sisters, received a common-school
education, and followed railroading from 1852 to

1854. He was married in the spring of the latter
year to Miss Mary J., daughter of Samuel Lum-
brick, the wedding taking place at the home of the
bride in Charleston Township. Mrs. H. is also a
native of this county. After their marriage the
young people located first in Charleston Township,
and two years later Mr. Huckaba purchased eighty
acres of laud there, to which he subsequently added
until he became the owner of 134 acres. He has
given forty acres each to two children and has
fifty-four left. His land was unimproved when he
took possession of it, but is now under a good state
of cultivation and supplied with substantial frame
buildings. A view of the place is shown on another
page of this work.

The children born to our subject and wife are
Samuel L., James A. ; Ida M., the wife of Alex
Conley; Daniel, B. M., Margaret E., Dora E., Al-
bert O., Edward O. and Clarence H. The parents
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. H. has served as Assessor ten terms, and has
also officiated as Constable and Deputy Sheriff. He
is an uncompromising Democrat, politically, and
has unswerving faith in the correctness of the prin-
ciples of his party.

OHN RUTHERFORD, sou of one of the old
and honored pioneers of East Oakland
, Township, is Cashier of the Oakland Na-
'((g;// tional Bank, and a gentleman of good busi-
ness abilities, now in the prime of life, and
occupying a good position among the people who
have known him since a boy. Oakland is his
native town, and the date of his birth June 21,
1844. His parents were Hiram and Lucinda
(Bowman) Rutherford, natives of Pennsylvania.
His father was born Dec. 27, 1815.

Mr. Rutherford remained a member of the
parental household until twenty-three years of
age, and after completing his education in the
common schools, embarked in the mercantile busi-
ness at Oakland, in which he was employed for five
years, and then becoming a stockholder and Direc-
tor of the Oakland National Bank, was elected Cash-
ier, and has held the position since 1874. He was

COLES COUNTY.

371

married, April 4, 1882, to Miss Kate Nash, a native
of Rappaliannock County, Va., and born Sept.
2, 1844. She is the daughter of Henry and Susan
(Nethers) Nash, both also natives of the Old
Dominion. Henry Nash was born in 1795, and
died in his native State in 1852. Mrs. Rutherford
was the youngest of her father's family, he having
been married three times. The mother of Mrs.
R. was his second wife, and was formerly Mrs.
Nethers. Of this union there were born John,
Henry C. and Kate. The children of Mr. and
Mrs. Rutherford are Eva L., born June 16, 1883,
and Hiram J., Jan. 27, 1887.

Our subject and wife occupy a fine residence in
the village, and Mrs. Rutherford is a member in
good standing of the Presbyterian Church. Mr.
R. has been identified with the Masonic fraternity
for a period of eighteen years, and has 1'epresented
the fraternity in the Grand Lodge at Chicago
many times. Politically he is a Republican of the
first water, and both in business and social circles
is held in high regard by the best people of Oakland.
He fulfills the duties of his responsible position
with credit to himself and satisfaction to all con-
cerned.

H. RECORD, a senior member of the firm
of Record & Co., manufacturers of drain
tiling, is one of the prominent business
men of the county, and a leading citizen
of Charleston. The history of his life is specially
instructive, inasmuch as it throws some light upon
the vexed question of " how to get on in the
world." Mr. Record shrewdly foresaw the demands
for tiling in the present improved methods of farm-
ing, and ingeniously turned his attention to its
manufacture. To be able to discern the golden
opportunity leading to success, and to grasp it at
once, is a rare faculty, and one much to be desired.
S. H. Record is the son of William S. and Mar-
tha (Said) Record, and was born Dec. 16, 1847,
near Falmouth, Ky. His father was a native of
Tennessee and his mother of Ohio, their marriage
taking place about 1840, in Kentucky, where he
was engaged in farming. In 1857 they removed
from Kentucky to Illinois and purchased a farm in

this township, where they passed the closing years
of life. His father retired from active business in
1863, and resided in Charleston until his death,
which occurred in 1868. His mother died in 1864.
Their family comprised nine children.

S. H. Record was brought up on his father's farm,
receiving a practical education, until he was twenty-
one years of age. He had been trained to no
special trade or profession, and after leaving the
home roof, engaged for a time in whatever employ-
ment he could procure. In 1871 he was employed
as clerk in the drug-store of Andrew Moore of
this city, and remained in the business six years.
In 1877, in company with his wife and sister, he
embarked in his present manufacturing enterprise,
commencing in a small way. Their works, which
consisted of one kiln and a building 20x80 feet,
were located in the northwestern part of the city.
The business has proved very successful, and they
now operate four kilns; their buildings are 30x500
feet and they employ fifteen men in the works,
turning out $15,000 worth of stock per annum,
half of which is shipped, and a ready market is
found for the remainder in the vicinity of Charles-
ton within a radius of eight miles.

In 1874 Mr. Record was united in marriage
with Miss Lizzie Emerson, the daughter of Judge
Charles and Nancy (Herrold) Emerson, of Decatur.
They have an interesting family of seven children,
whose names are as follows: May, Clara, Myrtle,
Frank, Lou, Belle and Florence. Mr. Record is a
Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic
fraternity and of the Knights of Honor.

>ILLIAM A. G1LMER, who, with his fam-
ily, resides on section 8, in North Okaw
Township, has been a resident of this
county for the last seventeen years. His first
recollections are of Russell County, Va., where his
birth took place April 22, 1843. His father and
grandfather had always been residents of that
region, where both were born. The latter spent
his entire life in Russell County engaged in farming
pursuits, and departed this life the same year that
our subject was born. He was three times married.

I

f

372

COLES COUNTY.

The first wife became the mother of six children,
and after her death, Grandfather Gilraer made a
division of his land among his four sons, giving
the daughters their portion of the property in hard
cash. lie was at that, time the owner of 1,440
acres of land and a large number of slaves. Of
his second marriage there were born five children,
and at the death of his second wife he made
another division of his property, thus wisely settling
his estate so there could be nothing for his heirs to
quarrel over. Of his third marriage there were no
children. His son William, by the first wife, be-
came a minister of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Isaac, the third child, became the father
of our subject.

Isaac Gilmer was born in Russell County, Va.,
in December, 1800. He was educated in the sub-
scription schools of his native county and remained
under the parental roof until the death of his
mother. He received for his share of the property
the home farm, the father removing to another
part of the county. Isaac Gilmer did not marry
until forty years of age, and then took for his wife
Miss Mary Hendricks, their wedding taking place
in the spring of 1840. Mrs. Gilmer was also born
in Russell County, Va., and was the daughter of
Anderson and Elizabeth (Scott) Hendricks. Isaac
Gilmer spent his entire life on the homestead where
he was born, his death taking place in 1876. The
mother still lives and occupies the old homestead.
She is now well advanced in years and has retained
her mental faculties remarkably. For many years
she has been an active and devoted member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. The twelve children
born of the parental union were: Martha, Will-
iam A., of our sketch; Elizabeth; James K. P., who
died when nine years of age; Anderson, Thomas,
Mary, Rebecca, Isaac A., Annie, George and Carrie.
All are residents of the Old Dominion with the ex-
ception of our subject and his sister Mary ; the
latter is the wife of McCagha Philips, and resides
in Kansas. Three of the daughters are at home
with their mother.

Our subject was educated in the common schools
of his native county and remained with his parents
until eighteen years of age. Then, upon the out-
break of the Rebellion, he enlisted in Co. G, 29th

Va. Vol. Inf., under command of Gen. Longstreet,
serving three years and until the close of the war.
Afterward he returned to his father's house and
assisted in the farm work on the homestead until
the fall of 1867. He then turned his steps north-
westward, and taking up his residence in North
Okaw Township, this county, worked one year by
the month. He was married in September, 1870,
to Mrs. Emeline Stewart, who was born in this
county, Nov. 28, 1838, and is the daughter of
Henry and Jane (Jesse) Fuller. Her parents were
born in Russell County, Va., her father April 1,
1792, and her mother April 19, 1796. They were
reared in their native county and married there
Jan. 20, 1814. Eighteen years later they emi-
grated to this State, and taking up their residence
in North Okaw Township, continued here the re-
mainder of their days.

Mr. and Mrs. Fuller were people who enjoyed
the highest respects of the community and were
among the warmest supporters of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Henry Fuller was Justice of
the Peace for several years, and took a genuine in-
terest in the various enterprises having for their
object the welfare and progress of the people at
large. The household circle included eleven chil-
dren, namely, Samuel, Rebecca, Mary, Abraham,
Catherine, Nancy, Archer, Wilson V., Leah, David
H. and Emeliue. With the exception of Mrs.
Gilmer, all were born in Virginia. All lived to
years of maturity, but only three are now living —
Nancy, Leah and Emeline. At the time of her
marriage with our subject Mrs. Gilmer owned
ninety acres of land and a set Of farm buildings
which she occupied, and which had been the
property of her second husband and her father's
estate. She was first married to Milton Jackson,
of Coles County, and became the mother of four
children — Henry B., Samuel J., William W. and
Milton M. Her second husband was Anderson
Stewart; of this union there were no children.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Gilmer presents a
picture of plenty and comfort. The residence,
which is a substantial frame structure, and a view
of which is presented in this work, stands back
from the road in the midst of a fine natural grove,
which affords delightful shade in the summer and a

COLES COUNTY.

373

shelter from the cold winds of winter. The house-
hold has been brightened by the birth of five chil-
dren, as follows: Mary .T. was born July 19,
1872; Nancy C., Feb. 14, 1874; Charles II., born
Oct. "21, 1876, died Jan. 9,1879; Emma M. was
born Nov. 2, 1878, and Albert R. A., Nov. 10,
1883. Mr. Gilmer is a stanch adherent to the
Democratic party, has represented his township in
the County Board of Supervisors two terms, has
been Assessor one term, and School Director for
the last twelve years.

eHARLES M. DOLE, a highly respected resi-
dent Of Mattoon, is a native of Terre Haute,
Ind., where his birth took place May 24,
1826. He is the seventh in a family of ten chil-
dren born to Enoch and Harriett P. (Dexter) Dole,
a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this
volume. Our subject spent the greater part of his
time during his childhood and youth on the farm
of his father in Indiana, and came to Illinois in

1851, when about twenty-five years of age. He first
engaged with his two brothers trading in cattle and
hogs, which he followed quite successfully until

1852, having no permanent residence. In the fall
of the yea,r mentioned they all settled on section 7,
Mattoon Township, • where they kept "bachelor's
hall," and lived together until the marriage of the
brother, Stephen D. In 1874 or 1875 the brothers
divided their land and farmed separately.

Charles M. Dole was one of the original platters
of the town of Mattoon, and at the close of the
war engaged there in banking. He was President
of the First National Bank for a period of ten years
and was otherwise identified with the most im-
portant business interests of the place. In company
with his brother he built the "Dole House," the
largest hotel there, besides the Dole Opera House
and many other prominent buildings in the city.
He was thus engaged industriously until the fall of
1880, when advancing years admonished him that
it would be wise to retire to a more quiet life. He
accordingly moved to his farm on section 4, Mat-
toon Township, where he has since been a resident

-4*

and is farming, enjoying all its comforts and the
esteem and confidence of many friends.

The marriage of Charles M. Dole and Miss Mary
Palmer, of Clinton, Ind., took place at the home of
the bride in 1849. This lady fell a victim to the
cholera scourge one year later, leaving an infant
son, Frank D., who now occupies a farm near that
of his father. At the time of his sad affliction Mr.
Dole was living in Terre Haute, where he and his
brother wore engaged in the livery business. Our
subject several years later, in 1861, was again mar-
ried, Miss Charity A. Blackman becoming his wife.
This lady is the daughter of Remember B. and
Lois Blackman, who were among the pioneer set-
tlers of Edgar County, this State, and were num-
bered among the most highly respected members
of the farming community. To Mr. and Mrs. Dole
there were born two children, Charles E. and Mary
B., both still at home with their parents.

R. HIRAM RUTHERFORD, of Oakland,
has been a resident of the Prairie State for
over forty-five years, and soon after com-
ing within its borders located on the spot
which he now calls his home. As a physician he
was remarkably successful in his practice, which he
abandoned about fourteen years ago, having ac-
cumulated a fortune, and is now the owner of 1,100
acres of some of the finest land in Central Illinois.
He has for many years been prominently identified
with the prosperity of Coles County, and has con-
tributed his full share toward bringing it to its
present condition.

The early home of our subject was in Dauphin
County, Pa., where his birth took place Dec. 27,
1815. He is the son of William and Sarah (Swan)
Rutherford, also natives of Dauphin County, Pa.
The father, born Aug. 4, 1776, was married to the
mother of our subject March 17, 1801. He followed
the occupation of a farmer all his life, accumula-
ting a fair competency, and departed this life at
the homestead in Pennsylvania, Jan. 17, 1850. The
mother, who was born Dec. 25, 1779, survived her
husband but two years, dying in 1852. Their ten

•fc»

.374

COLES COUNTY.

children lived to become men and women, and
were named as follows : John P. ; Martha, now de-
ceased; Dr. William W., a graduate of Jefferson
Medical College at Philadelphia; Margaret; Sam-
uel, who died in 1872; Sarah, the wife of Daniel
Kendrick; Abner; Hiram, of our sketch; Mary,
who died in infancy, and Cyrus G.

The youth and childhood of Dr. Rutherford were
spent on the farm in Pennsylvania, and his educa-
tion was received in the common schools during
the winter season. When eighteen years of age he
took up the study of medicine, under the instruc-
tion of his brother William, at Harrisburg, at which
he continued three years, and afterward pursued
his studies at Jefferson Medical College, from which
he was graduated in 1838. His certificate dates
back further than any physician's in Coles County.
He commenced the practice of his profession in
Likens Valley, on the Susquehanna, in 1838, whence
he removed West two years later, and has since
been a resident of this county. Since first coming
here he has been identified with the local interests
of Oakland, representing the township in the
County Board of Supervisors seven years, officia-
ting as School Director for several years, and being
Township Treasurer thirty-five years. With this
record further words are not necessary to illustrate
the status of his position among his fellow-towns-
men and the county at large. He was prominent
in the organization of the bank at Oakland, of which
he has been a Director for some years.

Dr. Rutherford was bred by his excellent parents
to principles of freedom and equal rights, and when
old enough to exercise the rights of an American
citizen, indicated his opposition to slavery by har-
boring fugitives, for which, at one time (1847) he
was sued for damages to the amount of'$2,500;
this was non-suited, and another suit respecting the
liberty of the slaves, resulted in a decision favora-
ble to the _Doctor, who espoused their cause. Abe
Lincoln was engaged in this case as opposing coun-
sel. O. B. Ficklin and Judge Constable were the
Doctor's attorneys. He began to vote when the
old Whig party was in existence, casting his ballot
with its followers, and upon the abandonment of
the old party cordially identified himself with the
Republicans, with whom he has since remained. In

all the relations of life he has acquitted himself
creditably, and is accounted as one of the finest
representatives of the business and social element
of that section.

IASIL B. REDMAN has been a prominent
figure among the farmers and stock-growers
of Ashmore Township since the spring of
1859. He then located upon an uncultivated
tract of land where is now his valuable farm of 160
acres, which he has brought to a fine state of culti-
vation. He deals largely in high-grade Short-horn
cattle and Norman horses. He has a handsome
residence and other buildings, and is in all respects
one of the representative men of an intelligent
community. The farm is located on section 33, in
the southern part of the township, and from its lo-
cation and natural surroundings is one of the most
desirable in that section.

Mr. Redman is a native of the Prairie State, and
first drew breath in Edgar County, Jan. 12, 1832.
He is the son of Joseph and Lucy (Bennett) Red-
man, the former a native of Virginia and the latter
of Kentucky. Joseph Redman was born about 1785,
and came to Illinois in 1831. He lookup his abode
in Edgar County, followed farming, and became a
man highly respected among his fellow-citizens.
He was a member of the Old Baptist Church, and was
noted for his integrity and kindly Christian charc-
ter. He served as School Trustee during the
establishment of the first school in the county, and
in all his dealings bore the reputation of an honest
and straightforward citizen. He died in 1850, upou
the homestead which he had built up in Edgar
County. The mother survived her husband about
four years, and was sixty years of age at the time
of her death. She was a lady in every respect fit-
ted to be the companion of her husband, and was a
member of the same church. Their children were
John, Vincent, Amanda; Solomon, now deceased;
Harrison, Warder, Hilton, Eli, Lucy, Lancaster;
Basil B., of our sketch; Mary, Emily and Joseph.

Our subject was reared on the farm in Edgar
County, attended the district schools during his
cliildhood and youth, and early in life made himself

T

COLES COUNTY.

375

useful around the homestead. After passing his
twenty-third birthday he married Miss Eliza J.
Kester, the wedding taking place at the home of
the bride's parents in Edgar County, 111., in Octo-
ber, 1858. This lady died after becoming the
mother of one child, Orson, who after reaching
manhood was married to Miss Mary Corty, and is
now fanning in Edgar County.

Mr. Redman was the second time united in mar-
riage, to Miss Matilda Cornwell, the ceremony tak-
ing place at the home of the bride, Nov. 8, 1859,
Rev. P. K. Honn, of the Christian Church, officiat-
ing. Mrs. Redman, a native of Kentucky, was
born May 11, 1837, and is the daughter of Hiram
and Lucy (Toler) Cornwell, the former a native of
Kentucky and the latter of Virginia. Hiram Corn-
well was born in January, 1812, and his wife in
1820. He has followed farming all his life, and
both parents are living, making their home in Ash-
more Township. They are worthy members of
society, and belong to the Christian Church. Their
ten children were Ann, Mary, James, Bennett,
Susan, George, Lucy, William, Dora and Missouri.

Mr. and Mrs, Redman after their marriage, located
on their present farm, which was then but a tract
of uncultivated prairie. The wife has labored
equally with her husband to build up the attractive
homestead which now greets the eye of the passer-
by, and where their children were born. Their
eldest daughter, Annie, born in 1860, is now
a resident of Ashmore Township; Emma, born
July 31, 1861, was taken from the household circle
by death on the 17th of April, 1876, when an in-
teresting young girl fifteen years of age; Olive,
born in 1862, died Aug. 7, 1877; Willie, born Sept.
27, 1866, married Miss Laura N. Zink, and is farm-
ing in Ashmore Township; Alva, born Oct. 9, 1869,
is still a member of the parental household.

ENRY MOHLENHOFF owns and occupies
a fine homestead in Humbolt Township, on
section 22, of which he took possession in
the spring of 1871. He has eighty acres of
good land, thoroughly drained with tile, and im-
proved with substantial fences and good buildings.

He is regarded as a skillful and enterprising farmer,
and a man taking a genuine interest in the welfare
of the people around him. He has served as
School Director for fifteen years, and Overseer of
Highways eight 37ears. Politically he affiliates with
the Democratic party.

The subject of our sketch was born May 6, 1841,
in the Kingdom of Hanover, which is now a
Province of Germany, and was the fourth child of
his parents, John G. and Anna Adaline (Linnder-
niann) Mohlenhoff, also natives of the Fatherland,
where they were married and reared a family. In
the fall of 1871 they embarked on a sailing-vessel
from Bremen, and after a tedious ocean voyage
landed in New York City. Thence shortly after-
ward they proceeded westward, and taking up their
abode in this county, purchased forty acres of im-
proved land on section 15, Humbolt Township,
where they spent the remainder of their lives. The
father only survived about six years, his death tak-
ing place in June, 1876. The mother died a few
years later. Both were active members of the
Lutheran Church, and are remembered by their
children as people of the highest moral worth and
entitled to their entire respect and affection. The
household circle included William, Mary E. ; Henry,
of our sketch; Anna and Elizabeth ; the eldest child
died in infancy. The paternal grandfather of our
subject, John Mohlenhoff, was also a native of
Hanover, where he married and spent his entire life.
His five children were named respectively: Henry;
John G., the father of our subject; Elizabeth, Diet-
rich and Catherine; all are now deceased. John G.
was the only member of the family who emigrated
to America.

Our subject, in accordance with the laws of his
native country, received the advantages of the
common school, pursuing his studies continuously
until he was fourteen years of age. Much of this
time was spent at the home of his uncle, Dietrich
Mohlenhoff, and at the age of fifteen he commenced
working on the farm for himself, being thus em-
ployed four years, and until embarking for the
! United States. He landed in New York City in the
spring of 1869, and thence proceeded south to
Nashville, Tenn., where he engaged with his brother
William in market gardening, for two and one-half

^^p

376

COLES COUNTY.

years. In the meantime he had accumulated a
small sum of money, and in company with a part-
ner, engaged in the grocery trade under the firm
name of Peoples & Co. They continued together
nearly two years, and then Mr. M. sold out his in-
terest to his partner, to engage in the liquor trade.
This, however, he also sold out shortly afterward,
and then became clerk in a hotel at Nashville, where
he continued until near the close of the late war. In
1865 he engaged as sutler's clerk in the 8th Kan-
sas Infantry, until the regiment was mustered out
of service. The following spring he rented a tract
of land in Humbolt Township, of which he has
since remained a resident. He has been greatly
prospered in his farming transactions, and is ac-
counted a reliable man and responsible citizen.

Mr. Mohlenhoff was united in marriage in this
county, with Miss Mary B. Steelbarr, the wedding
taking place at the home of the bride April 1, 1869.
Mrs. M. was born May 2, 1852, in Adams County,
Ohio, and is the daughter of Charles and Mary
(Copes) Steelbarr, the former a native of Germany
and the latter of Ohio. The four children of this
marriage were Anna; Charles W., who died in in-
fancy ; Frederick and Mary. Mr. M. and his eldest
daughter, Anna, are members of the Lutheran
Church.

J. RICKETTS, a practical printer,
publisher and editor of the Ashmore Repub-
lican, bears the distinction of being the
youngest editor in the State. He was the founder
of this journal, which was established March 27,
1886. The experiment of starting a newspaper in
Ashmore after so many others had failed in the
attempt, was one which required considerable
nerve, and to be undertaken by a young man, even
though his experience had been considerable in this
line, indicated that he possessed more than ordi-
nary self-reliance, and also a confidence in the re-
spect of the people around him. He assured his
friends in the business and social world that the
Republican would continue as long as their pat-
ronage would warrant.

It was his aim to publish a clean and reliable
journal, and a glance now at the flies of the Repub-

lican would convince the casual observer that the
expectations of its projector had been fully real-
ized, for he believed in the intelligence of the com-
munity around him, and that nature had provided
him with the tact and genius to administer to their
wants in this direction. The Ashmore Republican
was originally a four-column quarto, from which it
grew in the space of less than six months to a
seven-column folio. It steadily advanced in pop-
ular favor, and its circulation increased so rapidly
that it was found necessary to add a new cylinder
press to the already ample office outfit. The paper,
in May, 1887, was again enlarged, and is now a
five-column quarto.

The subject of our sketch is a native of this
county, born near the village of Loxa, July 14,
1868, and is the son of Joshua and Melvina (Jones)
Ricketts. He shared the advantages of the com-
mon schools during his boyhood days, and after-
ward attended the Shenandoah Normal College, at
Middlctown, Va., where he received special literary
training. At an early age he manifested great
interest in the profession of journalism, becoming
a regular reader of the weekly newspaper before
he had reached the age of ten years. There were
few public questions, especially of a political na-
ture, which he could not discuss in an intelligent
manner, and he became a regular contributor to
the newspapers when scarcely fourteen years old,
writing short sketches-and stories which were often
published in the periodicals devoted to young peo-
ple. One in particular, a short story entitled, "My
Recollections," which was written in 1884, for the
Northern Star, a literary paper of Chicago, at-
tracted considerable attention.

The first newspaper venture of Mr. Ricketts was
the Prairie Youth, which he published a short time
in May, 1884. Later he connected himself with
the Free Lance, a literary and story paper pub-
lished at May wood, 111. In June, 1884, he began
to acquaint himself with the art of printing, in the
office of the Ashmore Citizen, and on the 1st of
September following, assumed editorial manage-
ment of the paper, and conducted it during the
Presidential campaign. He received great praise
for the manner in which he dealt with his adver-
saries, and for the high moral tone of his journal.

LIBRARY

OF THE

•Jlf'VERSITY GF ILLIf'0'8

RESIDENCE^ RICE BRO'S ,SEc.22.NoRTH OKAW TOWNSHIP.

RESIDENCE OF Louis W.M.PFOFER.SEC. 20. SEVEN

COLES COUNTY.

379

Mr. Ricketts was next connected with the
Charleston Herald, and in March, 1 886, returned
to Ashmore and founded the Republican. He is a
natural born journalist, a rapid and versatile
writer, and whether upon social or political ques-
tions, gives expression to his opinions in a forcible
manner, to which no sensible person can take
offense, or fail to be convinced. Of late he has
occupied himself principally with discussions upon
the tariff, to which he has given deep study, view-
ing the questions connected therewith in all their
bearings upon the business elements of the coun-
try. There is predicted for Mr. Ricketts a pros-
perous future and an enviable position among the
journalists of the West.

WILLIAM D. SNOWDEN is one of the ris-
ing 37oung men of Pleasant Grove Town-
ship, and a descendant of one of the pio-
neer families of Illinois. He was born Aug. 20,1858,
and is the son of John F. and Maria L. (Glenn)
Snowden. The former was born Feb. 19, 1819, in
Overton County, Tenn. When he was about nine-
teen years of age his parents, James and Elizabeth
Snowden, left their Eastern home and moved to
Illinois, settling in Cumberland County. He had
been trained from boyhood in the details of farm-
ing, and Illinois was at that time giving promise of
her future success as an agricultural State. He
purchased land in Coles County, and in 1846 be-
came a permanent citizen there. On the 3d of
September, 1848, he was married to Miss Maria
Glenn. Mrs. Snowden was born in Hardin Coun-
ty, Ky., Jan. 23, 1825, and is the daughter of James
and Lydia (Harris) Glenn.

After his marriage, Mr. Snowden carried on a
successful farming business in Pleasant Grove
Township, where he passed the remainder of his
life. He began the world poor, and by his own ex-
ertions acquired a fine estate, containing over 400
acres of valuable land, all of which is under culti-
vation. But the hardships and privations of pio-
neer life wore upon his physical constitution, and
his life went out in the prime of manhood, his
death occurring May 10, 1865. Mr. Snowden was

a man of great intelligence and force of character,
and was interested in promoting the welfare of the
community. He was a stanch supporter of the
Democratic party, and had held at different periods
several official positions in the township. He was a
Baptist in religious belief, although not outwardly
connected with the church. His widow was early
left to take the place of both mother and father to
her young family of seven children, and well has
she fulfilled the trust. She is still living, and re-
sides on the old homestead. The names of her chil-
dren are as follows : James F., Alvin C. ; Joseph W.
died at the age of twenty-two years ; prior to his
death he was a telegraph operator. Harriet E. is the
wife of Thornton Gilman; William D., Thomas J.
and Anna.

William D. Snowden received a thorough edu-
cation at the common schools and graduated from
Lee's Academy, June 22, 1882. Immediately after
his graduation he began the study of law, and is
now a student with Stevens, Lee & Horton, of
Peoria, 111. He is a young man of promising abili-
ties in his profession. Life with all its possibilities
yet lies before him, and he is one for whom all may
predict a bright and prosperous career.

ANIEL MCCARTHY, retired farmer, and
at present a resident of Charleston, was
born on the other side of the Atlantic, in
Ireland, in 1829. His parents, Patrick
and Catherine (Shay) McCarthy, were natives of
the same country, where they spent their entire
lives. Patrick McCarthy was a farmer in easy cir-
cumstances, and the parental household included
eight children, of whom but three are now living,
namely, Cornelius, a resident of Mattoon ; Daniel,
of our sketch, and Jeremiah, also a resident of
Charleston.

Our subject attended school until fourteen years
old during the winter season, while in summer his
services were utilized on the farm. After reach-
ing his majority, not being satisfied with his pros-
pects in his native land, he boarded a sailing-vessel
at Liverpool, and after a voyage of over five
weeks, landed at New Orleans, Dec. 20, 1851. He

*-•-«.

380

COLES COUNTY.

remained in the Crescent City about six weeks,
waiting to be joined by his brother, who had pre-
ceded him to America, and was employed on a
steamboat on the Mississippi. After they met,
both proceeded up the river to Cincinnati, whence
they made their way to Chillicothe, Ohio, working
on the railroad, at which they continued until the
fall of that year, and then returned to Cincinnati,
where, however, they remained but a short time,
going to Terre Haute, Ind., where they were em-
ployed first on the railroad and afterward in the
Park House. In the spring of 1854, Mr. McCarthy,
accompanied by his brother, came to Paris, Edgar
County, and for five months thereafter they were
employed on the I. <fe St. L. R. R. Afterward
they engaged on a farm east of the city of Charles-
ton, and the following year were similarly employed
near Mattoon and Charleston, in the latter a year.

Mr. McCarthy, although having no capital but
his strong arms and his resolute will, decided to
establish a home of his own, and was accordingly
married, in 1856, to Miss Mary Downey, a native
of his own county, and then a resident of Terre
Haute, Ind. Mrs. McC. was the daughter of Dan-
iel and Mary (O'Connor) Downey, and came with
her parents to this country when a young woman.
Mr. and Mrs. McC. became the parents of twelve
children, eight now living, namely, Michael, Jere-
miah; James, who married Miss Ella Kinney; Cor-
nelius, Daniel, Katie, William and Ella.

Our subject after his marriage, continued to
work on the railroad, in the meantime living eco-
nomically and saving what he could of his limited
earnings. In 1858, he was enabled to obtain pos-
session of a moderately sized farm near Seven
Hickory Township, on which he remained four
years with ordinary success. Soon afterward he
purchased the tract of laud in Seven Hickory
Township, which is now included in his present
t'arm. This land was unimproved when it came
into his possession, and for several years he was in-
dustriously engaged in its cultivation, and in insti-
tuting those conveniences and improvements re-
quired by the modern and progressive farmer. He
invested his surplus capital in more land, until he
became the owner of 320 acres, upon which he ex-
pended $2,000 in tiling alone.

Upon deciding to abandon the farm, our subject
placed it in the hands of tenants, and moved to a
fine brick house on Washington street, in Charles-
ton, which he had purchased, and which stands
about two blocks from the county court-house.
Here, amid the society of his children and friends,
he is passing his declining years, enjoying the re-
ward of his early industry, and the respect of all
who know him. While in Hickory Township he
served as School Trustee and Superintendent of
road work, and since becoming a naturalized citi-
zen, has uniformly given his support to the Demo-
cratic party. He was born and reared in the Cath-
olic Church, and with his wife still adheres to his
early faith.

AMUEL F. LOGAN, the owner of a fine
estate of 100 acres, located on section 25,
Ashmore Township, is a native of Lincoln
County, Ky., where he was born Oct. 4,
1830. He is the sou of Allen and Martha (Givens)
Logan, both of whom are natives of that county.
He belongs to the famous Ben Logan family of
Kentucky. Allen Logan was a blacksmith by trade,
but was also a successful farmer. Kentucky has a
high reputation as an agricultural State, 'its wheat,
wool, cattle and thoroughbred horses having a
world-wide reputation for their excellence.

Allen Logan was born in 1790, and his death oc-
curred in 1862 after a long and useful life of sev-
enty-two years. He was a member of the Old-
School Presbyterian Church. His first wife died in
1834, and he was united in marriage the second
time, with Mrs. Green,- a widow, who was also a na-
tive of Kentucky. By both marriages there were
fifteen children, whose record is as follows: Sa-
rah J., Rachael, James A., Alfonzo, Hugh, William
P., Francis M., Hugh G., Martha A., Samuel F.,
Mary D., Pleasant W., M. D., Harriet E. and Ma-
hala D.

Samuel F. Logan was twice married, first to
Miss Martha A. Kevins, Feb. 4, 1858, who was
born June 5, 1841, and died Oct. 7, 1870, leaving
three children — William N.; Lizzie W., now .Mrs.
Mc.xliam, and Minnie, the wife of Albert Rice. lie

t

COLES COUNTY.

381

was married the second time in August, 1871, to
Miss Armilda Gal breath. T,o this last marriage
three children were born — James A., Hugh T. and
Robert N.

Samuel Logan came to Illinois and purchased
his farm in this township in 1864, and in the mean-
time brought his land to a high state of cultiva-
tion, his residence and farm buildings being among
the best in the township. He is interested in pub-
lic affairs, and has twice been elected Assessor of
the township, giving entire satisfaction in the dis-
charge of his duties. He 'is a member of the Cum-
berland Presbyterian Church, and a warm advocate
of temperance principles. In politics he belongs
to the Democratic party.

MORGAN, a resident of the town-
ship which bears his name, is the son of
David and Jane Morgan, of Kentucky,
and was born in Sullivan County, Ind., in 1827, re-
moving with his parents to Central Illinois in the
spring of 1835. They located on what is now
known as Greasy Creek, a tract of bottom land
which the elder Morgan entered from the Govern-
ment at $1.25 per acre. He first improved 160
acres, then doubled the amount of his real estate,
and at the time of his death was the owner of 360
acres. As one of the pioneer settlers of Coles
County he was accorded that peculiar reverence
and respect due those who came with courage into
the wilderness and marked out a track for the later
civilization.

The family of David Morgan was the third which
settled in what is now known as Morgan Township.
He died, however, before the county was organized
into townships, the one in question being named
after him on account of his sterling worth of char-
acter, and the efforts which he made to build up a
homestead creditable to himself and his descendants.
His nearest neighbor for many months was Mr.
Parker, who had settled upon a tract of land now
one-half mile from Charleston, which was a distance
of twelve miles from the Morgan land.

The parents of our subject were married in Ken-
tucky, and there was born to them one child in the

Blue Grass regions. The next one, David Mor-
gan, born in Indiana, married Miss Catherine J.,
daughter of James Rodman, of Kentucky. The
latter was a native of Ireland and emigrated to this
country when a young man. He spent the balance
of his life in the Blue Grass State, living to the ad-
vanced age of ninety years. Of his first marriage
there were born three daughters and one son. By
his second wife there were no children. He lived
to see his children married and settled in good
homes of their own, and was prominent among the
affairs of his adopted county, where he followed
the trade of a carpenter.

Our subject remained under the parental roof
until twenty-one years of age, and soon afterward
was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Shirra,
a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who came~to Amer-
ica with her parents when a child ten years of age.
They soon afterward came to Central Illinois and
located upon the place which is now occupied by
our subject and his wife. Here the death of the
parents took place, that of the father in 1851, and
the mother in 1880. The former was fifty-one
years old and the latter seventy-five. Mrs. Morgan
was their only child. Of her union with our sub-
ject there have been born seven children, three now
deceased: William D. is a physician, practicing
largely in Morgan Township; Ralph Dollar is farm-
ing, as is also Alexander J., in this township; Josie
Clay is at home with her parents.

Upon starting out in life Mr. Morgan received
$50 in cash from his father, with which he made the
first payment on a tract of land in Morgan Town-
ship, which he owned until 1849, and then, selling
out, purchased the land included in his present
homestead. To this he added until he had 825
acres under his control, but after dividing among
his sons and daughter there remained 320 acres,
from which he receives a handsome income annu-
ally. A lithographic view of Mr. Morgan's resi-
dence and surroundings is shown in this work.

Mr. Morgan has been a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church at Rardin since 1852, in which
he has officiated as Elder for more than twent}'
years, and is Trustee at the present writing. His
wife and daughter, Josie, belong to the same. Mrs.
Morgan first united with the Methodist Episcopal

382

COLES COUNTY.

Church during her girlhood. Our subject has usu-
ally voted with the Democratic party, but reserves
his right to vote for the candidate whom he con-
siders best fitted for office, irrespective^ of party.
His father, Dave Morgan, was also prominently
identified with the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, iu which he officiated as Elder, and to the
support of which he contributed according to his
means.

Jn OHN A. McCONNELL, editor of the Charles-
ton Plaindealer, is a native of Cadiz,
I Harrison Co., Ohio, and was born Dec. 26,
' 1826. His parents, Michael and Susan
(Galligher) MeConnell, were natives of Maryland
and Ireland respectively. His grandfather, Alex-
ander MeConnell, was a native of Ireland, who
emigrated to America when a young man, settling
in Steubenville, Ohio, afterward removing to Jeffer-
son County, where his death took place on the
homestead. He was married and reared a family
of six children. He possessed much mechanical
genius, and was a very industrious man, and for a
time was Deputy Sheriff of Jefferson County. He
invested his accumulations in a good farm, of which
he took possession and occupied the latter part of
his life. His son, Michael, the father of our sub-
ject, learned house-painting and chair-making,
which he followed for several years, and later en-
gaged in the grocery business at Cadiz, Ohio, where
he spent the last years of his life, and passed to his
final rest in the summer of 1872. The mother sur-
vived her husband about three years, dying in
November, 1875.

The subject of this sketch was the eldest of ten
children born to his parents, and early in life ex-
hibited unusual brightness, being able to read quite
well when but four years of age. At this time he
was afflicted with a disease of the eyes, and for four
years was not allowed to look into a book, and iu
the meantime forgot nearly all he had learned,
being obliged to begin over again at his letters.
He remained at home during his childhood and
youth, and for six or seven years was occupied in
teaching, remaining under the parental roof until

his marriage, in 1861. The lady destined to share
his future life was Miss Mary (Juest, of Hummels-
town, Pa., and their wedding took place in Janu-
ary, 1861. Our subject then engaged in the
grocery trade at Cadiz, Ohio, for ten years follow-
ing, then selling out, engaged in company with
Hersey W. Kinsey, in the tannery business. They
operated together until 1877, then sold out, and
the following year Mr. MeConnell came to Charles-
ton and assumed his present position on the Plain-
dealer.

On the 14th of March, 1883, he met with a great
affliction in the loss of his estimable wife, who died
lamented by a large circle of friends and acquaint-
ances. He was afterward married to Miss Martha
A. Kennedy, daughter of M. H. and Catherine
(Snider) Kennedy, of Ohio. They occupy a snug
home on Washington street, and number among
their friends and associates a large proportion of
the refined and educated people of Charleston.
Mr. MeConnell writes and fights for Republican
principles, and with his wife, is a member in good
standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The
Plaindealer under his excellent management has
become a paper much sought for by the people of
Coles County, and exerts no small influence in the
molding of public opinion.

W) D. MOUNTJOY is proprietor of a meat-
market and one of the prominent business
w „ men of Charleston. He was born Aug. 28,
1841, in Anderson County, near Frankfort, Ky.,
and is the son of George and Francis M. (Stout)
Mountjoy, natives of that State. George Mount-
joy passed his entire life in Kentucky, engaged in
farming and stock-raising, and his death occurred
there in 1864. His wife died in the autumn of 1886.
They had a family of five children born to them.

W. D. Mountjoy was the eldest child, and
passed his bo3'hood and youth on his father's farm,
where he received a practical education. When the
country became involved in the Civil War lie re-
linquished all other plans, and enlisted Aug. 13,

COLES COUNTY

383 1

1862, in Co. M, 9th Ky. Vol. Cav. He fought
bravely at the battle of Perry ville. and in the au-
tumn of that year had the misfortune to be taken
prisoner in a skirmish on the Cumberland River at
Horse-Shoe Bend. He was conveyed to Libby
prison at Richmond, and confined there thirty-five
days. During his incarceration he was allowed only
two pints of bean-soup twice daily, and on this diet
he lost thirty pounds of flesh. The cruel treatment
of Northern prisoners during that period will ever
remain a dark shadow upon the escutcheon of
Southern chivalry.

After his release, young Mountjoy went to
Annapolis, Md., and thence to Camp Chase,
where he was exchanged and mustered out, having
enlisted for twelve months. After his return to
Kentucky, he was drafted, but had suffered so
severely through his previous experience that he
paid $800 for a substitute. At this time he engaged
quite extensively in buying and selling cattle and
hogs, shipping hfs stock to Louisville, Ky. He con-
tinued this business several years, and in 1871 in-
vested in land near Terre Haute, Ind., where he
was engaged in farming until 1881. He then came
to Charleston, and engaged in the grocery business,
with T. J. Hutton, under the firm name of Hutton
- <fe Co. They continued this partnership two and a
half years, when Mr. Mountjoy disposed of his in-
terest in the firm and engaged in his present busi-
ness. Mr. Mountjoj- is a practical judge of stock,
and his market is one of the best in the county.

In 1864 Mr. Mountjoy was married to Miss Vir-
ginia Scott. She is the only child of John and
Martha (McCall) Scott, and was born in Kentucky,
of which State her parents are natives, and where
Mr. Scott is extensively engaged in the mercan-
tile business. Mr. and Mrs. Mountjoy have a
family of six children, whose names are as follows:
Molly, Martha, Scott, Isabell, Gertie and Virginia.
Molly, who married Oscar Kruzan, resides near
Terre Haute, Ind., and has one child, George W.
Martha married Thomas J. Cragg, and resides in
Charleston.

In 1886 Mr. Mountjoy was elected to the office
of School Director by the Democratic party, of
which he is a stanch supporter. In 1864 he became
a Mason and holds the office of Junior Deacon in

that fraternity. Mr. Mountjoy is one of the liberal-
minded and progressive men of the county, and is
interested in all measures tending to promote its
welfare. His residence is on Jackson street.

WILLIAM SHOEMAKER, W'LO has one of

the best appointed stock farms in the cen-
tral portion of Coles County, is located on
section 36, of Humbolt Township, where he has 358
acres, including sixty of choice timber, a shapely
and substantial farm residence, good barns and out-
houses, and everything required for the successful
prosecution of his calling.

Our subject is a native of Wythe County, Va.,
and was born Nov. 17, 1822. His parents, John
and Anna (Brown) Shoemaker, were natives of
North Carolina, born near Gifford Court-House,
where they were reared and married. They
settled first in Wythe County, Va., where they re-
sided until the spring of 1829, and thence removed
to Washington County, Va. In the fall of 1834,
they migrated to this county, where the father still
followed his old-time occupation of farming, and
where his death took place in 1843. The mother
survived her husband thirteen years, dying iu 1856.

Both parents were members of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, in which John Shoemaker
occupied a prominent position. In all the relations
of life he was distinguished by his uprightness and
kindliness of heart, and when finally gathered to
his fathers, was mourned as one whose place could
not easily be filled. His family included nine
children: Benjamin, Aaron, Susanna, Samuel, John
and Elizabeth A. are all deceased ; the three living
are Matilda, the widow of Parker Woods, and a
resident of this county; William of our sketch, and
James, whose home is in this township.

Our subject passed his youth and boyhood after
the manner of most farmer's sons, and when start-
ing out in life for himself was married, May 20,
1846, to Miss Lucinda, daughter of Samuel and
Mary (Highsmith) Woods. The parents of Mrs.
S. were also natives of the Carolinas, whence they
emigrated first to Kentucky and then to Illinois,

384

COLES COUNTY.

coming to this county in about 1825. Of this
marriage there were born three children — James
O , Dovy and Thornton. The first and last named
are deceased, and the mother departed this life at
the home of her husband, on the 1st of April
1869.

Mr. Shoemaker was afterward married to Mrs.
Elizabeth Webster, tire widow of Lawson Webster,
of Kentucky, and daughter of William and Jane
(Mitchell) Mason. Mrs. S. by her first husband
became the mother of two children, Alice J., and
William L., both now deceased. Of her marriage
with our subject there are no children. Mrs.' Shoe-
maker was one of seven children born to her
parents, namely, John K., deceased ; Elizabeth,
William, Killis M., Charles R., Tabitha I. and
Mary J.

Mr. and Mrs. S. are members of the Cumber-
land Presbyterian Church, and our subject, politi-
cally, affiliates with the Democratic party. He has
held the office of Road Commissioner, and is a man
of intelligence, whose opinions are generally re-
spected.

UCIAN DUNBAR, one of the proprietors of
the Charleston Courier, is a native of this
town. He was born Nov. 4, 1842, and is
the son of Alexander P. and Susan F. (Mason)
Dunbar, his father, a native of Kentucky, born in
Flemingsburg, July 4, 1810, of Scotch ancestry,
and his mother, a native of Harrisburg, Va., born
Nov. '23, 1812, of English ancestry. They were
married at Shelby ville, 111., in 1836. Prior to his
marriage with the mother, of our subject, Alexander
Dunbar had been married to Miss Ella Monroe, of
Charleston, who lived but a short time after her
marriage. She was a sister of Mrs. T. G. Chambers
and John Monroe. The parents of our subject
had a family of four sons and four daughters,
namely, Mason A., Mary E., Imogene, Luciau,
Albert P., Belle, Charles U. and Sue. Of these but
three are living: Mary E., now Mrs. Lawrence, of
Charleston, 111. ; Charles, also a resident of Charles-
ton, and Lucian, of our sketch. The parents died
in 1883, the mother on the 22d of February, and
' ' the father on the 22d of April.

1

Lucian Dunbar began attending school at an
early age, and when thirteen years old entered the
office of the Charleston Courier to learn the printer's
trade. He remained there four years and then for
a time engaged as a compositor on the Gazette, in
Mattoon. Subsequently he returned to Charleston,
and afterward visited the cities of Terre Haute, St.
Louis, and Sullivan, 111., occupying himself at his
trade. In the latter place he engaged with the Ex-
press for a year, and then returning to Charleston
purchased, in company with his brother Albert, the
Plaindealer, becoming its proprietor in 1866. They
continued the publication of the paper until the
death of his brother in 1875, and for three years fol-
lowing Mr. D. conducted it .alone. In 1878 he
sold out to M. A. McConnell & Co., and for two
years afterward was engaged in the grocery busi-
ness. He seemed out of his element, however, in
this branch of the business world, and finally re-
turned to the "art preservative."

Mr. Dunbar was married, Oct. 27, 1875, to Miss
Mary L., daughter of David L. and Elvira (Sites)
Stowers. of Kentucky, the wedding taking place at
the home of the bride's grandfather at Palmyra,
Mo., the parents of Mrs. D. being dead. The four
children born of this union are, Imogene, Stowers,
Cadet and Christina, all at home. Mr. Dunbar is
liberal in his religious views, and in politics,
strongly Democratic. He has held the office of
City Treasurer two terms, and his paper has be-
come one of the indispensable features of his town.
He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a mem-
ber of Charleston Lodge No. 35, and is also a K.
of P., identified with Syracuse Lodge No. 143. He
stands high in both societies, and as a business man
and citizen, enjoys the unqualified respect of his
fellow-townsmen.

WILLIAM D. BUSBEY, a retired farmer,
now a resident of Oakland Village, and
whose portrait is shown in this connection,
is a native of the Buckeye State, and was born in
Clarke County, Dec. 28, 1820. He is the son of
Hamilton and Sophia (Lewis) Busbey, natives of
Virginia, whence the former emigrated to Ohio in
1815, and farmed there until 1839. He then came

LIBRARY

Of THE

yi."VERsnv OF

COLES COUNTY.

overland to this county with horse-teams, and lo-
cating in East Oakland Township, experienced all
the vicissitudes of pioneer life, and labored with his
neighbors to build up a comfortable homestead.
For several 3rears after he came here, he was obliged
to transport his farm produce by teams to Terre
Haute, Ind. He did not live to old age, but died
in his prime, Dec. 16, 1847. The mother died
in April, 1855.

The parental family included the following chil-
dren: Thomas C., Susan M., Almira, Hamilton,
Hiatt, Ann, John, Samuel, Maria. Eveline, Wash-
ington, Henry C., and William D., our subject. Of
these, nine are still living. In 1882, there was a fam-
ily reunion at Arcola, Douglas County, in which
eleven of the sons and daughters participated.
Two have since died. It was a memorable event,
both for the family and for the people who knew
them.

Our subject came to this county with his parents
in 1839, and remained under the home roof until
reaching his majority, in the meantime acquiring a
limited education in the district schools. He was
studious, however, and fond of his books, and fit-
ting himself, for a teacher, followed this employ-
ment two years. In 1845, when twenty --four years
of age, he formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss
Letitia Black, who was a native of Indiana, born in
1824, and came to Illinois with her parents in 1828,
After becoming the mother of three children she
departed this life in the spring of 1855, and her re-
mains were laid to rest in the cemetery at Oakland.
The children of this marriage were: Josiah H.,
now a resident of Oakland ; Milton T., in Wyoming
Territory, and William L.,who is engaged at farm-
ing in Oakland. Josiah H. Busbey entered the
army in 1863, and participated in many of the bat-
tles of the late war. He marched with Sherman
from Atlanta to the sea. and up through the Caro-
linas, and when the war was ended received his
honorable discharge, as one who had performed his
duties as a soldier in a brave and creditable man-
ner.

Mr. Busbey was the second time married, Feb.
23, 1860, to Mrs. Margaret (Newman) Milholland,
widow of Allison Milholland, and daughter of Alex-
ander and Margaret Newman. Her parents came

from Tennessee to this county when she was a child
of seven years, and located on a tract of land in
East Oakland Township, where they built up a
good home and spent the remainder of their lives.
Mrs. B. was born in Tennessee, Dec. 18, 1826, and
by her union with our subject became the mother
of three children, of whom only one, a son, Francis
M., survives. Eveline died in infancy, and Carlton
when about twelve years of age, in 1878.

Mr. Busbey, in about 185 9, em barked in the har-
ness business, which he followed for nearly thirty
years. During this time he lived on a farm of
eighty acres near the village of Oakland, where he
still resides, surrounded by all the comforts and
many of the luxuries of life. With his estimable
wife he is a member in good standing of the Cum-
berland Presbyterian Church, in which he has offi-
ciated as Elder since 1848. He was a great Sunday-
school worker in his more active days. Politically,
he votes the Republican ticket.

OHN POORMAN, one of the honored pio-
| neers of Coles-County, is passing the sunset
of life in peace and plenty at his home in
the village of Humbolt, surrounded by the
care and affection of the friends who have known
him for so long as a man worthy of their respect
and esteem. The history of this long and worthy
life, necessarily brief in a work of this kind, is es-
sentially as follows:

. Mr. Poorman, a native of Lycoming County, Pa.,
was born Oct. 4, 1806, and was the third child in
a family of eleven, the offspring of Peter and Jane
(Sturges) Poorman. Peter Poorman, also a native
of the Keystone State, was a shoemaker by trade,
and at the same time being fond of rural life, car-
ried on a farm in Lycoming County. The mother
was the daughter of Amos Sturges, a native of En-
gland, who married and reared a family in his na-
tive countiy. He emigrated to this country and
located on the Susquehanna. After the marriage
of his daughter, he moved to Canada, and there
spent the remainder of his life.

John Poormau, in common with his brothers and
sisters, was reared on the farm, his education being
conducted mostly during the winter season in the

388

COLES COUNTY.

district school. At twenty-three years of age, as
the first step toward starting out in life for himself,
he was married, Feb. 4, 1830, to Miss Sarah Dunn,
the wedding taking place at the home of the bride
in Ly com ing County, Pa. Mrs. P. was the daugh-
ter of William and Lydia (Baird) Dunn, also na-
tives of -the Keystone State. The young people
located first upon a rented farm, which they occu-
pied six years, and then decided to emigrate West.
Coming into this county, our subject" purchased a
large tract of land, embracing about 502 acres. He
located here in the spring of 1836, when the coun-
try around was thinly settled, there being but five
or six families within as many miles. The nearest
markets were at Chicago, St. Louis and La Fayette.
Ind., which were reached overland with teams.
Even five years later, in 1841, money was so scarce
that people seldom saw a dollar, and much less
thought of handling money in the course of their
business transactions. Of the settlers of that time
not one now remains to keep our subject company,
and while he has marked with intense interest and
satisfaction the development and progress of his
adopted State, he sometimes heaves a sigh of re-
gret for the old scenes, the ol'd faces, and the old
friends, who, in common with him, labored to build
up a home and make for themselves a position of
which their children should not be ashamed.

Mr. Poorman cultivated his farm to the best of
his ability until the Illinois Central Railroad was
completed, which made things better for every-
body, for farmers as well as travelers. Transport-
ation was now cheaper and more rapidly effected,
and the stock and produce repaid better the efforts
of the husbandman. Our subject had been pros-
pered in his labors, and in 1 872 wisely resolved to
retire from active life and give place to younger
and stronger men. He purchased a snug home in
the village of Humbolt, where he has since resided.
His_wife, the faithful companion of his toils and
the sympathizer in all his plans and undertakings,
departed this life in August, 1877. Their union
had been blest by the birth of seven children, viz.,
Daniel, born Dec. 10, 1830; Lydia Ann, July 31,
1832; Peter M., June 30, 1834; Jane Ellen, Aug.
27, 1836; Rebecca Amanda, Nov. 16, 1839;. Will-
iam Allison, March 7, 1842; John Franklin, Oct. 1,

1851. Of these only two survive — William A., a
farmer of Mattoon Township, living not far from
his father, and John F., who is a minister of the
Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Poorman was married the second time, in
December, 1879, to Mrs. Margaret J. McClaren,
daughter of James and Hannah S. (Vauada) Sav-
age, and widow of William McClaren. Mrs. P.
was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 12, 1839,
and came with her parents to Indiana when that
State was almost a wilderness, and wolves and other
wild animals were plenty. She remained under the
parental roof until .her first marriage, and with her
husband became a resident of Indiana.

Mr. Poorman was early recognized as a man of
more than ordinary ability, and soon after coming
to Mattoon Township was appointed to the various
positions of trust within the gift of his fellow
townsmen. He has held nearly all the local offices
in the county, and there are few enterprises tending
to the good of his community in which he has not
taken an active and leading part. When a young
man he identified himself with the old Whig party,
but after its abandonment cast his lot with the
Democrats. Mr. and Mrs. Poorman are members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they
have been earnest workers for many years. The
life of our subject presents the pleasant picture of
a man whose days have been well spent, and whose
record will be perused by his descendants with
pride and satisfaction.

It is with pleasure we give his portrait in this
work, knowing that it will be welcomed by all who
know him, and will, in connection with this per-
sonal narrative, serve as a means of perpetuating
his memory when he shall have been gathered to
his fathers.

R. W. D. MORGAN, a rising young phy-
sician of this county is the descendant of
a prominent pioneer family, and resides
in the village of Rardin, Morgan Town-
He was born Oct. 8, 1856, in this township,
which received its name in honor of his grand-
father, David Morgan, one of the early settlers of
this county in 1835. Diivid Morgan was a farmer

ship.

COLES COUNTY.

389

and stock-grower in Indiana prior to his removal
to Illinois. He was active and enterprising in busi-
ness, and identified himself with the new and rap-
idly developing community into which he moved,
and with his family aided in building up the politi-
cal and social interests of the township. His death
occurred here in 1860.

Dr. Morgan is the son of William Morgan, who
was born Dec. 13, 1827, in Sullivan County, Ind.
He was eight years of age when his parents re-
moved to Illinois. The country was then little
more than an unbroken wilderness inhabited by Indi-
ans, and the home of the wolf, deer and other wild
animals, and from his home in the northern part
of what is now Morgan Township to within a half
mile of Charleston, a distance of twelve miles, there
was not a single habitation. William Morgan mar-
ried Miss Margaret Shirrs, Sept. 6, 1850. Mrs.
Morgan was born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 28,
1835. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Morgan
engaged in farming for himself, in which he has
been very successful. The homestead contains 320
acres in other parts of the township.

Dr. Morgan passed his boyhood and youth at
home, assisting his father on the farm in the sum-
mer and attending school in the winter until he
was twenty years of age. His father, who was
brought up in the pioneer days and suffered from
£he limited educational advantages of that period,
spared no pains in the education of his family-
Dr. Morgan attended school two years at Oakland
and in 1874 studied one year at the Iowa Univer-
sity in Keokuk. In 1 875 he commenced the study
of medicine with Dr. Peak, who was graduated by
a medical college in Philadelphia and one in St.
Louis. In the autumn of the following year he
entered the Chicago Medical College, where he re-
mained three years, applying himself closely to the
study of his chosen profession, and was graduated
in 1879.

Immediately after his graduation Dr. Morgan be-
gan the practice of medicine in Rardin, and on the
Christmas Day following, his marriage to Miss Flor-
ence Jeffrey took place. Mrs. Morgan was born in
Rockford, and is tin; daughter of John and Mary M.
(Lonbaker^Jeffrey. She is a charming and accom-
plished lady, and a graduate of the Rockford Sem-

inary. Her only brother, Arthur, is engaged in
the lumber business in Chicago. Mr. Jeffrey's fam-
ily is of English extraction. He was a skillful
machinist and had charge of the machine-shops at
Rockford for twenty-six years. His wife died in
1880, and after the marriage of his daughter he
came to Rardin to live with her, but after remain-
ing a year missed the home scenes and faces and
returned to Rockford, where his death occurred in
1886, at the age of seventy-four. He was a highly
esteemed member of the Methodist Church, and
had been a Deacon for five years prior to his death.
In politics he was a Republican.

Dr. Morgan owns his residence and office in Rar-
din. He keeps a full line of drugs for his own
use in the practice of his profession, and has a val-
uable medical library, comprising all of the best
authors. He is a constant student and reader,
keeping himself well informed in regard to all the
recent discoveries in medical science and the cur-
rent literature of his profession, recognizing the
great fact that to excel one must always keep
learning. By his energy and skill he has built up
a fine and constantly increasing practice in Rardin
and throughout the surrounding country. He is a
member of the Coles County Medical Association,
and with his wife is a prominent member of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. A view of the
handsome residence of Dr. Morgan is shown else-
where in this work.

G~ REEN BERRY MARTIN. The history of
this worthy resident of Humbolt Township
is substantially as follows : He is a native
of Vaiiderburg County, Ind., and was born Nov.
26, 1 8-20, being the fifth of a family of eleven chil-
dren, the offspring of Berry and Deborah (Cook)
Martin, natives of South Carolina. The paternal
grandfather of our subject, William by name, was
a farmer by occupation, and served in the Revolu-
tionary War. After the independence of the
Colonies had been established he located in Georgia,
where he carried on agriculture successfully and
raised a fine family of sous and daughters. Among
these his son Berry removed first to Georgia and

I

f

< , 390

COLES COUNTY.

4

thence to Indiana, where he continued a resident
of Vanderburg County the remainder of his life.
The mother of our subject was the daughter of
Thomas and Elizabeth Cook, of South Carolina,
where she was born and reared. Her marriage to
Berry Martin took place in Georgia.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm
in the wilds of Vanderburg County with no ad-
vantages for education. He was trained, however,
to habits of industry, and when twenty-two years
of age set out in life for himself, the most im-
portant step being his marriage with Miss Elizabeth
Barrett. Mrs. M. was the fourth child of Isaac
and Lucy (Fowler) Barrett, of Alabama, who in
their youth removed with their parents to Indiana
and were married in Warrick County. Our subject
and his young wife began life together on a farm
in Vanderburg, whence he afterward removed to
Warrick County and thence to Gentry ville, Spencer
County, where he engaged to learn tanning and
shoemaking. Of these trades he became master,
and followed them in that locality for sixteen
years. He invested his surplus capital afterward
in 120 acres of land with several town lots. He
also engaged in merchandising, but this not proving
successful soon abandoned it.

After the outbreak of the late war Mr. Martin
enlisted with the three-months' men, but on ac-
count of an overplus of volunteers his regiment
was sent home without seeing any active service.
In the fall' of 1861, he sold out his property in
Spencer County, and coming to this county pur-
chased eighty acres of railroad land on section 34,
in Humboit Township, where he took up his abode
with his family. A year later, however, he sold
his property and purchased a farm in the southern
part of the county. He had occupied this about
eight years, and then discovered a flaw in the title.
In seeking to correct the error he lost the land en-
tirely. Afterward he farmed on rented land seven
or eight years, and then, in company with his son,
purchased eighty-one and one-half acres on section
32, in Humboit Township, where he has since re-
sided. He has meddled very little with politics,
but casts his vote in support of Republican prin-
ciples.

Mr. and Mrs. Martin became the parents of ten

children, of whom one, Benjamin F., is deceased.
Rachel married Franklin Lozier, and is residing on
a farm in Humboit Township; Eliza is the wife of
John Morgan, a farmer residing in Iowa; Lucy,
the wife of Louis Mullen, is a resident of Phillips
County, Kan. ; Caroline married Silas Morgan, and
lives in Logansport, Ind. ; Elizabeth married John
Donnelly, a farmer of Humboit Township; Deborah
Ann, Newton Jasper, Caroline and William are at
home with their parents; Newton Jasper is farming
on his own account in Humboit Township. The
parents and children are all members of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church.

F. PURTILL, of the firm of Woods
& Ptirtill, publishers of the Mattoon Jour-
nal, is a practical printer and has been con-
nected with the Journal in various capacities for
eighteen years, working first at the case, then be-
coming associated with Mr. Woods as equal partner.
He has principal charge of the mechanical depart-
ment, and the Journal under their management has
attained to a creditable position among the news-
papers of Central Illinois.

Mr. Purtill was born in Chicago, 111.. Nov. 19,
1848, and is the son of Richard and Ann (Fowler)
Purtill, the former a native of Limerick, Ireland,
and the latter of Jersey City, N. J. Richard Pur-
till left his native Erin in 1840, and settled first in
Toronto, Canada, where he followed the trade of a
boot and shoe maker, which he had learned of his
father, Henry, on the other side of the water. He
was one of two children born to his parents, the
other child being a daughter, Matilda, who was
married in Ireland, to William Kasan, and they
afterward removed to Chicago, where her death
took place in 1859.

Richard Purtill followed his trade in Canada un-
til 1841, then, going to Chicago, engaged in pork-
packing with his brother-in-law, Mr. Kasan. The}'
continued together until 1855, and then Mr. Purtill
engaged in the boot and shoe business at Middle-
port, until 18G3, meeting with signal success. In
the spring of the latter year he moved to Mattoon,
but three years later took up his residence at Wat-

COLES COUNTY.

391

seka. where he remained until his death, in 1872.
The mother is still living in the latter-named town.
They were the parents of seven children, namely,
Henry, William, Edward, James, Katie and Annie
(twins,) and Mattie.

The younger days of our subject were spent
mostly in school at Midclleport, 111., and when fif-
teen years of age he went into the office of the
Middleport Press to learn the printer's trade.
After eighteen months he took up his residence in
Mattoon, where he became connected with the
Gazette office, in which he continued until 1867.
In the spring of that year he went into the Journal
office as a journeyman, remaining until 1872, then
returned to the Gazette, continuing until 1875, and
five years later, in 1880, became connected with the
Journal, with which he has since remained.

The marriage of W. F. Purtill and Miss Lizzie,
daughter of John Owens of Mattoon, took place at
the home of the bride, Oct. 19, 1881. Mr. and
Mrs. P. have two children — Carl and Florence.

1 AMES R. HONN is one of the rising young
farmers of Coles County, residing on sec-
tion 8, Oakland Township. He was born in
this county Nov. 20, 1860, and is the son
of Samuel I), and Hannah (Shrout) Honn. His par-
ents were natives of Kentucky, where his father
was born in 1819, and his mother in 1816. They
are living in Kansas, Edgar County, where his
father is now a retired farmer. They have always
been interested in promoting the cause of religion
and are members of the Christian Church. A
family of nine children was born to them, whose re-
cord is as follows: Andrew E., deceased in infancy;
Sarah E., the wife of Thomas J. Kiskadon ; George
A., married to Miss Florence A. Childers; Anna J.,
married James M. Ashmore; William K. married
Miss Meliuda Childers; Melissa H. married James
E. Steel; John D. married Miss Ida A. Geyer;
James R., the subject of this sketch, and Samuel J.,
who died at the age of twelve years.

James R. Honn passed his boyhood and youth on
his father's farm, receiving an excellent common-
school education, and is now conducting a farm

containing ninety acres, belonging to his father.
The rising generation who are enjoying the im-
proved methods of agriculture can hardly imagine
or realize the hardships and disadvantages under
which their predecessors labored in the pioneer days.
Our subject was married, Oct. 13,1886, to Miss
Mary L. Zimmerman. Mrs. Honn is the daughter
of John B. and Elizabeth (Barnes) Zimmerman,
and was born in this State Feb. 17, 1861.

Mr. Honn is just beginning his career in life,
with every promise of prosperity and success. He
has been a member of the Christian Church nine
years, and his wife is a member of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church. In politics he uniformly
casts his vote with the Democratic party.

?ILLIAM MYERS has been a resident of
Coles County since the spring of 1863,
when he emigrated with his father's family
from Hendricks County, Ind. He was born in
Miami County, Ohio, April 30, 1844, and is the son
of Amos Myers, a native of Hamilton County.
His mother, Lydia (Sutphon) Myers, was a native of
New Jersey, whence she removed early in life to
Northern Ohio, where her parents were among the
earliest settlers. The parents of our subject con-
tinned residents of the Buckeye State until 1849,
and then emigrated to Hendricks County, Ind.,
when they followed farming until 1863. Amos
Myers then determined to push still further West-
ward, and coming to this county purchased 152
acres of land in Charleston Township, which he
operated upon until the fall of 1878. Being then well
advanced in years he wisely determined to abandon
active labor, and removing to the city of Charles-
ton, lived there in retirement until his death, which
occurred in January, 1 884, after he had passed his
seventy-third birthday. The wife and mother had
preceded her husband to the silent land in 1865,
leaving seven children, of whom the record is as
follows : Irvin M. is engaged in the grocery busi-
ness at Indianapolis; Catherine, and Elina, now
Mrs. Feagan, are residents of Charleston ; William
is living in Charleston Township ; Mary is deceased ;
Henry is farming in Osage County, Kan. ; Sarah, the

t.

392

COLES COUNTY.

wife of David W. Hall, is a resident of Sangamon
County, 111.

William Myers was a child of five years when
his father removed from Ohio to Indiana. He re-
mained a member of the parental household, com-
ing with the family to Illinois in 1863, and assisted
his father and brothers in tilling the soil. Later he
varied his occupation for a couple of years, and
engaged in butchering. He continued on the
homestead after the parents had retired to Charles-
ton, and is now the possessor of 153 acres under a
good state of cultivation. Of late years he has
dealt quite extensively in live-stock, and is con-
sidered one of the representative and enterprising
farmers of this locality.

The marriage of William Myers and Miss Pris-
cilla B., daughter of David and Harriett C. Stites,
took place at the home of the bride in Charleston
Township, Sept. 26, 1882. The result of this union
has been two children — Walter A. and Mary C.
Our subject, politically, is a genuine Republican
and has held the local offices of his township. He
was brought up in the Methodist faith, which was
the faith of his parents, and has been connected
with that denomination since eighteen years of age.
In all the relations of life, as a husband, father,
citizen and business man, his course has been credit-
able in the extreme and worthy of imitation.

¥ WILLIAM H. PULESTON, deceased. The
early home of this gentleman was across
the sea in Carmarthen, South Wales, where
his birth took place on the 28th of March, 1849.
He was the son of John and Sarah (Phillips)
Puleston, the former an Englishman by birth, who
followed the sea from early youth. During one of
his voyages he formed the acquaintance of Miss
Sarah Phillips, who was a native of his own town,
where they were married.

The subject of this sketch was the third child of
his parents, and when he was about eighteen months
old they removed to London. When three and
one-half years of age he went upon the streets of
London as a newsbo}', following this until ten years
1 old. His father was still on the water and his

mother kept a news stand in the great city. At
this time John Puleston, becoming wearied of his
arduous duties, decided to emigrate to America.
One fine morning in the spring of 1858, he em-
barked with his family on a sailing-vessel at
Liverpool, and after a voyage of twelve weeks,
landed in New York City. Thence they proceeded
directly westward, and settled in Odin, Marion
County, 111., where the father purchased a tract of
land and where he farmed for many years. He
was successful in his New World adventure, and is
now retired from active life, living at his ease in
the little city of Odin, lie still retains possession
of his farm property.

William Henry Puleston remained on the farm
with his parents until nineteen years of age, in the
meantime having pursued quite a thorough course
of study in the public schools. He was now sent
to the Normal School at Carbondale, and being
fond of his books and ambituous to excel, soon
qualified himself for the duties of a teacher. This
he pursued until his marriage, July 19, 1870. The
lady chosen to share his fortunes was Miss Rebecca,
the sixth child of Elisha and Rebecca (Sawyer)
Linder, a sketch of whom will be found on another
page in this volume. The young people located
on a farm in Mattoon Township, upon which Mr.
Puleston labored in the summer season and
followed his profession in the city schools in
winter.

In 1871 our subject took up his residence near
Dalton City, in Macon County, where he purchased
eighty acres of land which he occupied for nearly
five years, managing as before, teaching in winter
and pursuing agriculture the balance of the year.
He sold this property in 1876, and returned to
Coles County, locating upon eight}' acres which he
had purchased in Mattoon Township. Here he put
up a neat cottage, and prepared to establish a per-
manent home, being employed as heretofore.
Failing health, however, forced him to leave the
farm and seek a different climate. In June, 1885,
he crossed the Mississippi and going into Colorado,
located at a point near the Greenhorn Mountains,
in Pueblo County. Here he began his favorite
old occupation as a teacher, and his family joined
him after harvest. A few months later his '

COLES COUNTY.

393

weakened condition obliged him to abandon his
school, which, however, was carried on by his ex-
cellent wife. He fought hard for his life, but con-
sumption had seized upon him with its relentless
grasp and he passed away on the 6th of January,
1886. The bereaved wife at once prepared to re-
turn to Illinois, and brought his remains to be laid
at rest near his old Borne in Dodge Grove Ceme-
tery.

Mr. and Mrs. Puleston were members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the former
had been an active Sunday-school worker and effi-
cient Superintendent for several years. He is
greatly missed in his family and in his neighbor-
hood, where his kindly dispositiou and excellent
qualities of heart had endeared him to all. His
three living children are Elisha Thomas, John
Samuel and William Henry, all at home with their
mother. The only daughter, Mary Rebecca, died
when one month old.

i

4'

TEPHEN DEXTER DOLE, deceased. The
name which stands at the head of this
sketch is that of a prominent and deeply
lamented citizen of Mattoon, Coles County.
Mr. Dole was the son of Enoch and Harriet (Dex-
ter) Dole, whose personal history appears elsewhere
in this work. He was born Dec. 23, 1813, in New
Bedford, N. H., and when a child went with his
parents to Terre Haute, Ind., where he grew to
manhood, and with his two brothers engaged in
the livery business. This subsequently led to their
engaging in stock-dealing, after their removal to
Illinois, and still later, the three brothers became
land-owners in this county, where Mr. Dole per-
manently settled in about the year 1850, on section
7, Mattoon Township. The" three brothers lived
together, and were successful in business, sharing
their prosperity, and holding their possessions
in common, until about 1875. The property was
then divided, and the old homestead fell to Ste-
phen Dexter's lot, and he occupied it until his
death.

November 23, 1853, Stephen Dexter was mar-
ried to Mrs. Emily J. Ogden. Mrs. Dole was the

widow of Michael Ogden, by whom she had three
children — Nancy A., James P. and Sarah E. James
is now dead, and the daughters are both married —
Nancy A. the wife of Dr. Lloyd, and living in
Missouri, and Sarah E. the wife of William A.
Rush, a farmer residing near Mattoon. Mrs. Dole
is the daughter of Daniel and Nancy (Orchard)
Tipton, natives of Kentucky, where their daughter
Emily was born, near Mt. Sterling, March 8, 1823.
Her parents removed to Illinois in about 1832, and
were among the early settlers near Mattoon. Mr.
Tipton was identified with the early history of the
State, and served in the Black Hawk War. He re-
sided in the eastern part of the State during the
remainder of his life, and died in 187.1, in his
seventy-fifth year.

After his marriage, Mr. Dole settled on section 7,
of this township, where his widow now resides.
The land at that time was all wild, uncultivated
prairie, no fences even having been made between
their farm and the town. Mr. Dole was distin-
guished for activity and enterprise, and was among
the first to aid in establishing the city of Mattoon.
Fie became the principal owner of its banking in-
stitutions, and with his brothers assisted in the
erection of the public buildings which bear their
name. Mr. Dole was the fortunate possessor of a
vigorous physique, and pushed his business enter-
prises with as much earnestness at the age of sev-
enty-two as at any period of his life. Mr. and
Mrs. Dole had a family of four children, only two
of whom are now living. Their names are as fol-
lows : Mary, Frances, Joseph E. and William C.
Joseph and William both died in childhood. Since
her father's death, Mary has become the wife of D.
H. Oblinger, a druggist of Mattoon. She spends
every summer at the homestead, in order to cheer
the loneliness of her widowed mother.

Mr. Dole's death occurred March 18, 1885, at
his country residence, leaving it indeed desolate
and sorrowful. His death east a gloom over the
business and social circles of the city, where his
uprightness, integrity of character, and genial cour-
tesy had won a large circle of friends. In private
life he was a faithful friend, a kind father and de-
voted husband, and will be mourned by his family
until the home circle is reunited beyond the grave.

394

COLES COUNTY.

Mr. Dole was a member of the Universalist Church,
and in his daily life practiced the precepts of his
faith. His widow resides at the homestead and
conducts the farm, with the aid and counsel of her
daughters. Her home is tasteful and elegant,
and she is passfng the closing years of her life sur-
rounded by the comforts acquired by a long life of
activity and usefulness.

<\w)OHN HENDRIX, a prosperous farmer re-
| siding in Paradise Township, is a worthy de-
scendant of one of the pioneer families of
Illinois. He was born Nov. 28, 1809, in
Bath County, Ky., and is the son of Jacob and
Catherine (Thompson) Hendrix. His paternal
grandfather was Abraham Heudrix. He was a na-
tive of Pennsylvania, and married a Miss Goodwin,
of Virginia. The maternal grandparents were na-
tives of Virginia.

Jacob Thompson was born in Pennsylvania, but
his family left their home in that State, and re-
moved to Kentucky in the early days, when Dan-
iel Boone established himself there, and was fol-
lowed by many hardy and adventurous pioneers
from the Eastern States. Mr. Hendrix was en-
gaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his entire
life, and struggled successfully with the many priva-
tions and disadvantages of frontier life. He be-
came the owner of a fine farm, which by industry
and energy he finally brought to a high state of
cultivation, and was one of the leading citizens of
the county where he resided. He subsequently
moved to Ohio, and after remaining there two
years came West again to Indiana. He made the
latter place his home until 1842, and thence moved
to Iowa, where his death occurred soon after. His
widow returned to the old home and friends in
Indiana, where she died in 1846.

John Hendrix remained at home until he was
twenty-one years of age, assisting his father on the
farm during the summer and attending the old log
school-house of the primitive days during the long,
cold winters. The educational advantages of that
period were exceedingly limited, but John was a
bright, intelligent boy, and acquired much general

information and practical knowledge. On begin-
ning the world for himself he obtained his first
work among the farmers in the vicinity of his home,
and remained in that neighborhood until he was
twenty-eight years of age. at which time his mar-
riage with Miss Nancy Goar took place. Mrs.
Hendrix was the daughter of Clement and Eliza-
beth (Hart) Goar. Her parents were natives of
Hardin County, Ky., but removed from that State
at an early day. and settled in Illinois, where Mr.
Goar still lives near Jacksonville, having reached
the advanced age of ninety-one years. Mrs. Hen-
drix died Oct. 23, 1854, leaving a family of seven
children, whose names are as follows: George W.,
Miles H., Iredell W"., Samuel S., Martha E., Hiram
H. and William C., all of whom are living with the
exception of George, who lost his life in the serv-
ice of his country during the Civil War.

In 1855 Mr. Hendrix was again married, taking
for his wife Miss Eliza Ann Hart, the daughter of
Miles H. and Catherine (Yokum) Hart, the former
a native of North Carolina and the latter of Ken-
tucky. Three children were born to them — Eliza-
beth P., Thomas S. and Nancy C., all of whom are
living. Their children with one exception are all
married. Miles married Miss Georgiana Hayes;
Iredell W. married Miss Jane Pay ton; Samuel mar-
ried Miss Sally E. Love; Martha E. became the
wife of James R. Boone. Mr. Boone is a prosper-
ous farmer residing in Utica, Seward Co., Neb. He
and his wife are mutes, but are well educated and
intelligent, and have two bright, interesting chil-
dren. Hiram H. married Miss Laura A. Groves:
William married Miss Alice Spellman ; Elizabeth
became the wife of Wilson G. Hart, and Nancy is
the wife of William Surber.

April 26, 1837, ,Mr. Heudrix made his first
landed investment in Illinois, purchasing 170 acres
of wild land on section 10, Paradise Township, to
which he subsequently added thirty acres, upon
which he has resided for the past fifty years. The
first settlement of the county had been made but a
few years previous, and brave hearts and willing
hands were required to struggle successfully with
the hard, rough life of the pioneer days. Cold
ar.d hunger were not the least of the difficulties to
be encountered, and fathers and mothers bitterly

COLES COUNTY.

395

regretted the educational privileges of which their
childrenjwere deprived. School-houses were few
and ^remotely scattered over the vast stretches of
prairie, and their children were often compelled to
straggle through the bitter cold and heav3' snow of
winter for several miles before reaching the nearest
log school-house, where the barest rudiments of ed-
ucation could be obtained. But among the pio-
neers of the earlv days were brave men and noble
women, who accepted patiently and courageously
the hardships and trials of frontier life. Mr. Hen-
drix having come here at so early a day, has had
the pleasure of witnessing the development of the
country from an almost unbroken wilderness to its
present state of prosperity ; he has aided in making
its history, and the trials and struggles of those
early days now

'•shine at last

Through memory's sunset air.
Like mountain ranges overpast
In purple radiance fair."

Mr. Hendrix and his family have always been
interested in promoting measures calculated to im-
prove the political and moral status of the county.
With his wife he is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, in which he has served for many
years as a Trustee. They have both been earnest
workers in the church, and the Christian influence
of their daily lives has extended throughout the
community. Mr. Hendrix lias never sought politi-
cal preferment, but always votes with the Repub-
lican party.

/1LLIAM F. HORTON, a prominent farmer
and stock-raiser, residing in Pleasant Grove
Township, and an honorable representative
of one of the pioneer families of the State, was
born on the 31st of January, 1824, in Bradford
County, Pa. His father, Isaac J. Horton, was a
native of Maryland, born March 11, 1792. Early
in life he left his Eastern home and removed to
Pennsylvania where he engaged in farming, and
where his marriage to Miss Ruthem Ferguson took
place. In 1836 he resolved to emigrate to Illinois,
and accordingly procured a team, and with his wife
and young family started 'on the long overland
journey. The roads were rough, and in many

«•

places almost impassable, and there were vast
stretches of lonely prairie to be traversed before
their destination should be reached. The Black
Hawk War had been successfully closed a few years
previously, but fear still lurked in the hearts of
many white settlers, and they frequently shivered
with dread at the thought of Indian atrocities,
which had been committed so recently on the
Western frontier. But the little band arrived safely,
worn by the wearisome journey, but in good health
and prepared to encounter the perils and privations
of pioneer life. They entered land in Coles Coun-
ty, but resided in Edgar County until the spring of
1837, when they settled in Pleasant Grove Town-
ship, where they passed the remainder of their
lives.

To Isaac Horton and his wife a family of eight
children were born, all of whom, with one excep-
tion, grew to maturity. Their record is as follows:
Mary Ann, the wife of Jesse Beals; Amanda, the
wife of Oliver Beals; Isaac died Aug. 23, 1850)
while crosssing the plains on his way to California;
Richard and William (twins) ; Ruthem, the wife of
Mr. Gray, a resident of Randolph County, N. C. ; Mi-
ner, deceased, served as a soldier in the 5th Illinois
Cavalry; Richard was a soldier in the 5th Illinois
Cavalry, and died at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., in
1863. Isaac Horton was a Democrat in politics,
but his wife belonged to a Whig family, and was so
imbued with the doctrines of that party that all of
her sons concurred with her political opinions, rather
than those of their father. They were members of
the Presbyterian church. The father died June 9,
1863, and his wife, who was born Aug. 10, 1795,
died Aug. 1, 1859.

William Horton was reared on his father's farm,
and although the advantages for education were
limited in the pioneer days, he gained a practical
education, which has served him through life. Feb.
1, 1849, he was married to Miss Emeline Dryden,
the daughter of William and Abigail (Henderson)
Dryden. Mrs. Horton was born Sept. 15, 1821, in
Bedford County, Tenn., and was ten years of age
when she came with her parents to Coles County, in
1831.

After his marriage Mr. Horton entered laud in
Cumberland County, and was there engaged in

r

396

COLES COUNTY.

farming twelve years. He then returner) to Coles
County, and settled on the homestead, where he has
since resided. His farm contains over 200 acres of'
valuable, well-improved land. Mr. and Mrs. Horton
had a family of seven children, four of whom died
in childhood. One daughter, the wife of Lewis
McGinnis, died leaving two little girls. The names
of those living are, Mary, who became the wife of
Lewis McGinnis, her deceased sister's husband, and
William D.

Mr. Horton was formerly a Republican. He is
not actively interested in politics, and does not as-
pire to any official position.- He is interested in
the temperance cause, and is now a Prohibitionist.
He possesses excellent business qualifications, and
was one of the first engaged in the manufacture of
molasses from sorghum in Coles County, carrying
on an extensive business in that line. He is an Elder
in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is an
earnest worker, both in the church and Sunday-
school.

OHN W. KING, proprietor of a popular res-
taurant located at No. 46 East Broadway,
Mattoon, is a descendant of one of the pio-
neers of Illinois. He was born Dec. 26,
1848, and is the son of William T. and Nancy
(Hightower) King, the former a native of North
and the latter of South Carolina. His great-grand-
father served in the Revolutionary War. His pa-
ternal grandparents, Andrew S. and Hannah (Gad-
dess) King, were natives of North Carolina.

In earl}' life Andrew King served in the War of
1812. He was a farmer, and in the year 1814,
moved with his family to Shelby County, Tenn.,
where he remained engaged in farming until 1832,
then coming to Montgomery County, 111., entered
Government land, which he cultivated and im-
proved, and, together with his brave and self-sacri-
ficing wife, encountered the perils and hardships of
pioneer life on the Western frontier. He made this
farm the homestead, and remained there until his
death, which occurred in 1856, at the age of sev-
enty-two. His wife died in 1852. His maternal
grandparents, Sterling and Beersheba (Davis) High-
tower, were natives of South Carolina. Mr. High-

tower was a teacher, and the family subsequently
left their native State, and removed to Shelby
County, Teun., where they passed the remainder of
their lives.

William T. King was born Aug. 13, 1805, and
was nine years old when his parents moved to
Tennessee. He received a practical education, and
remained at home assisting his father in conduct-
ing the farm until he was twenty-six years of age.
His marriage then took place, and the following year
he came with his young wife to Illinois, where they
were among the early settlers of Montgomery
County, near Hillsboro. Mr. King entered Gov-
ernment land, which he cultivated and improved,
and while struggling with the wilderness to advance
the material prospects of his family, did not forget
the higher interests of spiritual and mental culture.
He was a member of the Methodist Church, and
with his wife was an earnest worker in building up
the cause of Christ in his Western home. He took
a deep interest in educational affairs, and served
several terms as School Director.

Mr. and Mrs. William King had a family of
twelve children born to them, six of whom grew to
maturity, but only three sons are now living. Their
record is as follows: James A., a carpenter resid-
ing in Montgomery County, 111. ; John W., the sub-
ject of this sketch, and Thomas H., the proprietor
of a restaurant in Champaign County, 111. Will-
iam King died at the old homestead where he had
lived for more than a half a century, respected by
all who knew him. His widow is now living at the
home of her son, John W., in Mattoon, having
reached the advanced age of seventy-four years.
She has passed through many trials and vicissi-
tudes, but her faith has ever rested upon Him who
will not forsake her now that her head is crowned
with gray hairs, and her life with many years.

John King attended school from the age of seven
to fifteen, in the meantime assisting his father in
conducting the farm. He remained at home until
he reached the age of eighteen, and then for a time
obtained employment on the neighboring farms.
In 1871 he was married to Miss Melinda E.
Hume. Mrs. King is the daughter of William and
Elizabeth (Mason) Hume, and was born in Pike
County, 111. Mr. Hume was a fanner in this State,

r

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COLES COUNTY.

397

and at the call of his country left his business and
family to serve in the Civil War. He belonged to
the 116th Illinois Regiment, and in 1864 died at a
hospital in Chicago, of illness resulting from wounds
and exposure while in the army.

Mr. King left his native county in 1873, and re-
moved to Jacksonville, where he took charge of the
farm and fine stock belonging to Mr. Goltrie.
But his inclinations and business abilities did
not lie in the direction of agricultural pursuits,
and after remaining there two years he came to
Mattoou, where he was employed by the I. & St. L.
R. R. as fireman, for four years and six months.
He was then promoted to the position of locomo-
tive engineer, and remained with them until 1884,
when he opened his present business, in which he
has met with marked success. In 1886 Mr. King
was elected Assistant Supervisor by the Democratic
partj7, of which he is a member. He belongs to the
Knights of Pythias and Brotherhood of Locomotive
Engineers. Mr. and Mrs. King are members of the
Methodist Church, in which the former has been a
Steward since 1886.

) DWIN W. BROWN, one of the successful
farmers and stock-raisers of Ashmore Town-
ship, residing on section 11, was born July
4, 1855, in this township. His parents were Will-
iam H. and Emily (Buck) Brown, natives of New
York. William H. Brown was born in Onandaga
County, N. Y., March 23, 1813. His parents moved
to Kentucky when he was about four years of age,
but not feeling satisfied there caine to Lawrence
County, 111., a few years later. In 1825 they
changed their location to Edgar County, 111., and
William H. was a mere boy when he assisted in
building their log cabin out on the broad, lonely
prairie, covered with long, rank grass and brilliant
wild flowers, and scantily populated except by deer
and wolves. He afterward became one of the early
pioneers of this township, having come here in
about the year 1839. Nov. 4, 1835, he was mar-
ried to Miss Elizabeth McGahin. She was of Irish
descent, and a native of Clark County, 111., but
their married life was of brief duration, the be-

loved wife and mother being taken from her home
by death in 1838, at the age of twenty-five, leav-
ing one son, William, born Jan. 10, 1837. When
the smouldering flames of the Civil War broke out,
this son, then grown to manhood, enlisted in the
service of his country as Orderly Sergeant, and
was killed Sept. 11, 1863, near Little Rock, Ark.

June 13, 1839, William H. Brown was united in
marriage the second time, to a widow lady, Mrs.
Emily (Olmstead) Buck. The following is the rec-
ord of their family: John, Elizabeth; Harriet,
who married James Bull; George W., who died at
the age of seventeen ; .Charles F., who married Miss
Elizabeth Timmons; Emma A., who died at the age
of nineteen ; James H. ; Edwin W., who is the sub-
ject of this biography, and Francis A., who married
Miss Maggie Myers. John, the first born of this
family, also served in the Civil War, and although
his life did not fall a sacrifice, he has since suffered
severely from disease contracted while in the army,
and is now at Saylor Springs for his health.

Mrs. William II. Brown died in October, 1886.
She was a member of the Baptist Church, and -was
greatly beloved by her family and a large circle of
friends. William H. Brown has always been much
interested in promoting the growth of the township.
He has held the offices of School Director and Road
Commissioner for fifteen years. He has been for
many years a member of the Missionary Baptist
Church, and has held several official positions in the
organization.

Edwin W. Brown, while a boy, attended the
common schools of the county, and afterward fin-
ished his education at Westfield College. Dec. 28,
1881, he was married to Miss Alice Reinoehl, a na-
tive of Illinois, born in 1862, and the daughter of
George and Henrietta Reinoehl. Her parents, both
living, are natives of Pennsylvania. Her father is
a carpenter and joiner by trade. The names of
their children are : Clinton, who married Miss Mat-
tie Sutherland; Alice, the wife of Edwin Brown;
Emma, Charles and Lulu. Mr. and Mrs. Brown
have two bright little girls, Vivian May and Hen-
rietta F., who resemble their mother.

Mr. Brown is the owner of a fine farm comprising
100 acres of valuable land, on which there is a
spring of living water, which renders it especially

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398

COLES COUNTY.

adapted to stock-raising, and is well stocked with
high grades of cattle. He has a pleasant farm resi-
dence erected in 1881. Mr. Brown and his wife are
members of the United Brethren Church. In poli-
tics he has always been a Republican, but is a Pro-
hibitionist on the temperance question.

i

eG. PECK, one of the proprietors of the Mat-
toon Gazette, became connected with the
office in November, 1884. He is of New
England birth, first opening his eyes to the light in
Brookfleld, Conn., March 17, 1853. His parents
were Game M. and Sarah T. (Ruggles) Peck. The
maternal grandparents were Samuel and Nancy
Ruggles, the latter being Miss Wells in her girlhood,
and a niece of Gov. Trumbull, of Connecticut, who
occupied this high office during the Revolutionary
War. The great-grandfather of our subject, John
Ruggles by name, served as a Major in the Revo-
lutionary War. The family is of English origin, the
first representatives settling in this country in about
1640. Samuel Ruggles and his wife. Nancy, in
about 1819, went to the Sandwich Islands as mission-
aries and there their daughter, Sarah T., the
mother of our subject, was born. She was married
to Garrie M. Peck in 1 848, and they located in
Dunkirk, N. Y., where the death of the father took
place in December, 1852.

Four years later the mother, with her family, re-
moved to Ft. Atkinson, Wis., where our subject
spent his childhood and youth, and when sixteen
years of age was apprenticed to a jeweler, with
whom he remained until the summer of 1872. He
then visited Chicago, remaining, however, only
about six months, and returning to Wisconsin went
into a newspaper office where he learned the print-
er's trade, and continued until February, 1874.
Then coming to Mattoon, he became the employe
of C. B. Bostwick of the Gazette, until Sept. 12,
1879. Afterward he repaired to Indianapolis and
was connected with the daily Journal until March
1, 1881. Soon afterward he returned to Mattoon
and re-entered the Gazette office where he contin-
ued until Nov. 10, 1884, when he became associa-

ted with the paper, which has since been operated
under the firm name of C. B. Bostwick & Co.

Mr. Peck was married at Mattoon, Jan. 2, 1 878,
to Miss Nancy J. Con way of the same place. Of
this union there have been born three children —
Ida Frances, Howard Leon and Clara Louise. Mr.
Peck, politically, is an uncompromising Republican,
loving liberty and believing in equal rights for all.
These qualities were transmitted to him in a direct
line, his grandfather, Samuel Ruggles, having been,
a strong Abolitionist and giving the best years of
his life to the cause of human freedom.

Our subject in 1874 joined the Knights of Pythias
and became identified with the Uniform Rank, K.
of P., in November, 1885. He has passed the chairs
in this order and is Commander of the Division, be-
ing a great admirer of the principles of the order.
He joined the Knights and Ladies of Honor in
April, 1883, and has served three terms as Protector.

J" AMES F. SNOWDEN, M. D., is a young-
physician of Pleasant Grove Township,
whose ability and skill are rapidly placing
' him in the foremost ranks of his profession.
He was born Aug. 23, 1849, and is the son of John
F. and Maria (Glenn) Snowden, a history of whom
is given in the sketch of William D. Snowden.
Dr. Suowden was reared on his father's farm, and
received an excellent common-school education.
Fjpm boyhood he possessed a studious and
thoughtful mind, which was expanded and de-
veloped by judicious self-instruction at home. He
is one whom Nature has apparently chosen .to serve
in her temple of healing, and those only make the
truest and best physicians.

Our subject was married, Feb. 14, 1869, to Miss
Elizabeth Hackley. Mrs. Snowden- is the daugh-
ter of John R. and Susanna Hackley, and was born
April 25, 1849, in Grayson County, Ky. It was
not until after his marriage that Dr. Snowden de-
cided to enter the medical profession. He first
purchased land and engaged in farming until 1879,
and then yielding to his inclinations, began the
study of medicine, applying himself closely to his
chosen work at home, under the instruction of Dr.

LIBRARY
OF THE

OF ILLlt'OIS

COLES COUNTY.

401

P. A. Kemper. In 1882 he entered the medical
college at Indianapolis, and was graduated in 1884.
In order to perfect himself still more in his pro-
fession he has recently taken a physician's course at
one of the medical colleges in Chicago. He makes
a specialty of treating diseases of the eye and ear,
and his practice extends over a large area.

Dr. Snowden has never connected himself with
any society or order. He is a member of the
Democratic party in politics, but since entering the
medical profession has given little attention to
public affairs. Formerly he served in several local
offices, but his time and interests are concentrated
upon the professional duties of a large practice.
Dr. and Mrs. Snowden have an interesting family
of four children — John H., Luella, Delia and
Emma.

R. A. C. BUTLER, physician and surgeon,
residing at Diona, is a native of Logans-
port, Ind., his birth taking place May 26,
1837. He prosecuted his medical studies
under the instruction of Dr. John Williams, of Rose
Hill, and commenced practice at Diona in the fall
of 1866. During a residence of more than twenty
years among the people of that section, he has built
up a good practice and fully established himself in
their esteem and confidence.

Dr. Butler grew to manhood in his native town,
receiving a very limited education, and after reach-
ing his majority was married, Oct. 12, 1856, to
Miss Elizabeth J. Howrey. Mrs. Butler was born
in Shelby County, Ind., Oct. 11, 1841, and is the
daughter of Jacob and Alvira Howrey. After mar-
riage our subject continued on his mother's home-
stead until 1857. Then, coming to Jasper County,
111., he purchased forty acres of improved land in
Crooked Creek Township, where he carried on
farming- until the outbreak of the Rebellion. In
the meantime he had become the father of one
child, Malinda Jane. The wife and mother closed
her eyes to earthly scenes Dec. 9, 1859, a little
over three years after her marriage. Their little
daughter was reared by her grandparents, Mr. and
Mrs. Howrey.

Upon the call for volunteers made immediately

after the firing upon Ft. Sumter, Dr. Butler was one
of the first to respond, enlisting in May, 1861, in
Co. K, 21st 111. Vol. Inf., and served throe years
under command of Gen. Grant. He was in many
of the important battles of the war and endured
with bravery and fortitude all the vicissitudes of
a soldier's life. With his comrades he met the enemy
at Frederickstown, Corinth, Perryville, Stone River,
Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Resaca, Kennesaw
Mountain, Jonesboro, Franklin and Nashville. After
serving out his term of enlistment he re-entered
the ranks, becoming a member of Co. G, 50th 111.
Vol. Inf., and at the battle of Nashville, Dec. 15,
1864, was wounded in the left arm, which since
then has been useless and on account of which he
draws a pension of 130 per month.

Dr. Butler completed his medical studies after
returning from the army, and on the 5th of Decem-
ber, 1866, was united in marriage with Mrs. Eliza-
beth (Houts) Rundell. She was born Oct. 19, 1839,
and is the daughter of Jacob and Suquinda Houts,
the former a native of Pennsylvania and of Ger-
man ancestry. His wife was born in Kentucky,
and they came to this county during the pioneer
days, locating in Hutton Township. They had but
three children : Mary M., the wife of Joseph Tay-
lor, of Gibson County, Ind.; Jacob D., who mar-
ried Miss Sarah Williams, and is a resident of Ar-
kansas, and Elizabeth, Mrs. Butler, who was the
eldest. Of her marriage with J. W. Rundell there
were born three children : Florence E., the wife of
Robert Edmond, of Charleston; Mary B., who only
lived seven days, and Hester A., the wife of Henry
Cecil, of Pleasant Grove.

Dr. and Mrs. Butler became the parents of ten
children: Ida May. born Aug. 1, 1867, is the wife
of James Smith, of Diona; Edmond A., born in
1868, died in infancy; Etta V.,born July 11, 1869;
John O., born Feb. 18, 1872, died Dec. 10, 1881;
Minnie T., born Dec. 31, 1873; Albert L., Nov.
10, 1875; Owen C., Oct. 18, 1877; Carrie M., Jan.
1, 1879; Odessa B., Jan. 27, 1882; Frank O. was
born Dec. 31, 1883, and died Oct. 5, 1886. They
occupy a pleasant home in Diona which is the resort
of a large circle of warm friends. The Doctor is
a member of the Medical Academy at Charleston,
111., and socially belongs to J. J. Adams Post No.

f.

402

COLES COUNTY.

548, G. A. R., at Janesville, 111. Politically, " he
votes the way he shot."

The paternal grandparents of our subject lived
on a farm in South Carolina for a time after their
marriage, and then removed to a point near Lex-
ington, Ky., where the}' spent the remainder of
their lives. They were the parents of a son and
daughter only: Annie married a Mr. Royal, of
New York City, who was editor of a paper there
entitled the Huntress. Mrs. R., who was finely
educated, died in about 1857. James, the father of
our subject, was born Oct. 18, 1787, in Lexington,
Ky., and with his sister, received a more than or-
dinarily good education. The parents died when
the children were young, and the advantages which
• the father of our subject received were due to
the exertions of his sister. -After completing
his studies he learned the saddler's trade, which
he followed mostly through life. He was mar-
ried at Connersville, Ind., in the spring of 1832,
to Miss Elizabeth Hamilton. She was born Jan.
1 , 1 800, and was the daughter of James and Mary
(Caldwell) Hamilton, who were natives of South
Carolina. Shortly after their marriage they re-
moved to Connersville, Ind., and thence to Logans-
port, where Mr. Butler died Oct. 1, 1845. His I
widow became the wife of Nathan Moore, June 11, «
1848. Mr. M. died in 1852, and the mother of our i
subject, Aug. 9, 1862. She was a lady highly re-
spected in her community and an active member of !
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

James Butler was a man of more than ordinary
ability and served one term in the Indiana Legis-
lature during 1840. He served as Justice of the
Peace a number of years, and was a prominent
member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to
Connersville Lodge No. 15. Our subject has in his
possession a card issued to his father by this lodge,
dated Oct. 22, 1836, and signed by John Wiley,
W. M.. and John D. Ross, Secretary. The parental
household included five children: Samuel S. per-
fected himself in the study of law and built up a
good practice at Mt. Ayr, Iowa, where his death
took place May 10, 1863; A. C., of our sketch, was
the second child; Philip M. died when a lad of five
years, and Margaret when eleven years of age.
Warren C., during the late war enlisted in Co. C,

97th 111. Vol. Inf.,. where he served two years.
Afterward he commenced teaching, which he fol-
lowed the remainder of his life. He married Miss
Ella Furry in 1876, and died in Pleasant Grove
Township, Feb. 4, 1881. He left one child named
Byron. His widow is still living in this county.

Portraits of Dr. A. C. Butler and his wife are
shown on an adjoining page.

H. BIDLE, senior member of the firm of
Bidle & Co., merchants in Lerna, 111.,
was born Oct. 12, 1861, in Campbell,
Coles County, and is the son of Gottlieb
and Sophronia (Walker) Bidle. During his boy-
hood and youth he attended the common schools
of the county and the college at Westfield, 111.,
and received an excellent business education. He
was reared on his father's farm, but evinced no
taste for agricultural pursuits, and in 1881 engaged
as clerk in the grocery store of W. A. Snyder, at
Westfield, 111. He remained with them two
years, an'd then returned to the home farm, where
he remained until 1887. He then purchased an
interest in the business of R. H. Osborn, at Lerna,
in which he is now engaged. On the 6th of
March, 1883, Mr. Bidle was married to Miss Nellie
Horner, of Kokomo, Howard Co., Ind. They have
one son, George A. Mr. Bidle is one of the
rising young men of the county, and his excellent
business qualifications and genial disposition have
won a large circle of friends. He is interested in
public affairs, and has already served as Clerk and
Commissioner of Highways. In politics he is a
Republican. His career in life is but just opening,
and he is one of whom all may reasonably predict
prosperity and success.

G. PATTERSON, a prosperous farmer
residing on section 3, Mattoon Township,
is numbered among the most enterprising
citizens of this county. He was born Oct. 31,
1835, in Dearborn County, Ind., and is the eldest
sou of Alexander and Sarah (Burkani) Patterson

,n, '

t

COLES COUNTY.

403

the former born April 6, 1807, a native of Penn-
sylvania, and the latter of Virginia. His paternal
grandparents were Robert and Rachel (Roberts)
Patterson, the former a native of Germany and the
latter of Ireland, and both emigrated to America
with their parents in childhood. His maternal
grandparents were Absalom and Mary (Crisswell)
Burkam. They were natives of Virginia and
emigrated at a very early day to Indiana.

Absalom Burkam enlisted and served as a sol-
dier in the Revolutionary War when a young man.
He was proprietor of a hotel in Connersville, Ind.,
in the pioneer days, and at that time the early
settlers were greatly disturbed by Indians, of which
there were many hostile tribes in the Northwest.
On one occasion several of them who had been
partaking too freely of liquor, came into the hotel,
and one of them seized a little son of Mr. Burk-
am, and before airy one could restrain him, delib-
erately pitched the. boy into the fire. Others pres-
ent saved the child's life, and the Indian fled.
Mr. B. subsequently met the Indian, and a per-
sonal encounter ensued, during which the former
was 'severely; wounded on the head with a toma-
hawk; the Indian again escaped, but never re-
turned.

Alexander Patterson was a farmer, and began
life for himself in Dearborn County, Ind., where
he passed the greater part of his life. He was a
public-spirited man, and was always actively
interested in promoting the progressive ideas of
the day. For many years he served as Alderman
in Lawrenceburg. the county seat of Dearborn
County ,Jnd., where he resided. In 1874 he re-
moved to this county, where the closing years of
his life were spent, his death occurring Sept. 24,
1877, at the age of seventy.

Ezra Patterson received a practical education at
the public schools, and resided at the homestead
until he attained the age of twenty-two, when his
marriage with Miss Sarah Hill took place, Oct. 18,
1857. Mrs. Patterson is the daughter of Robert
and Letitia (Orr) Hill. Her parents were natives
of Ohio, where their daughter Sarah was born, Oct.
31, 1835, on the same day of the month and year
as her husband. This coincidence likewise occurs
with her sister and his brother. After his marriage,

Mr. Patterson settled in Dearborn County, Ind.,
where he remained eleven years engaged in farm-
ing. He then removed with his family to Illinois,
and purchased 172 acres of improved land in
Coles County, locating on section 3, Mattoon
Township, where he made his permanent home.
Mr. and Mrs. Patterson had a family of five chil-
dren— Mary, Ida, Alexander, Cora and Grace. 'The
two elder children are dead ; Mary was the wife
of Pinkney Jefferson, of this county, and the
others reside on the homestead.

Mr. Patterson's farm is well stocked with a fine
assortment of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. He
is a systematic, enterprising farmer and carries on
an extensive and successful business. He is an
active member of the Grange and is interested in
politics, voting always with the Democratic party,
by which he has been frequently elected to the
office of Road Commissioner. He does not seek
political preferment, his business affairs occupying
his time and attention almost exclusively.

ONATHAN J. PEMBERTON, retired mer-
chant, and a resident of the village of
Oakland, first drew breath in Washington
Count}', Va., Nov. 5, 1814. He was bred
to farm pursuits, and received his education in the
common schools, remaining under the home roof
until twenty-four years of age, when he commenced
business for himself as a merchant. His course
through life has been marked by more than ordinary
business capacity, and he was happily given those
elements of character which have always con-
strained him to the manly course in life whereby he
has secured the esteem and confidence of his fellow-
citizens.

Our subject is the son of Stanton and Sarah
(King) Pemberton. also natives of Virginia, where
they were reared, and married in 1804. Stanton
Pemberton was born in 1776, the year distin-
guished by the declaration of American independ-
ence, and was trained to those qualities of industiy
and enterprise which made him a successful busi-
ness man. He was a farmer by occupation, and
also ran a flouring and carding mill in his native

f

i . 404

COLES COUNTY.

State. He emigrated with his family to Illinois in
the fall of 1831, and locating in East Oakland
Township, spent the remainder of his days, his
death taking place in 1841. At the time of his
death he was the proprietor of a good farm, and
had established a comfortable home for his family.
The mother of our subject was born in 1780, and
survived her husband about nine years. With the
exception of one, their ten children all grew to ma-
ture years. They were named respectively, Alfred
D. ; John, who died in infancy; Harvey G., Eliza
A., Claybourne C., Sarah A.; Jonathan J., of our
sketch; Susan A., Henry A., and Edna A., all de-
ceased excepting the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Pemberton, after becoming established in
business, was united in marriage with Miss Clarinda
Davis, a native of his own State, born near Nor-
folk, Va., in 1816. In the meantime he had been
interested in the building of the Narrow- Gauge
Railroad from Toledo to St. Louis, and had become
security for the company to the amount of about
111,000, the half of which he lost. He was elected
Justice of the Peace, which office he has held for a
period of two terms, and also served as Assessor
and occupied other positions of trust. During the
war he was appointed Internal Revenue Assessor
for the north half of Coles County, in which capac-
ity he served about four years. In 1852 he was
appointed Postmaster of Oakland, under the ad-
ministration of Millard Fillmore, and held the office
during Pierce's administration. He has also been
a member of the Town Council, and is at present
one of the Directors of the Bank at Oakland.

Mr. Pemberton was remarkably fortunate in
merchandising, and while in business carried the
largest stock of goods of any house in this part of
the county. He has considerable real estate in the
town, and occupies a fine residence provided with
all the comforts and conveniences of modern life.
He has a valuable fruit orchard of six acres near
San Jose, Cal., which contains the choicest varieties
of cherries, prunes, apricots, etc., and for which he
paid $1,000 per acre. This is provided with a good
dwelling and outhouses and everything convenient
for the gathering in and shipping of the products of
the orchard.

Mr. Pemberton, politically, is a Republican of

the first water. He was reared in the doctrines of
the Old-School Presbyterian Church, his parents
having been devoted members of that organization,
but Mr. P., in 1838, connected himself with the
Cumberland Presbyterians.

ICHAEL E. O'HAIR is the proprietor of
582 acres of land on sections 36 and 1, in
Seven Hickory and Morgan Townships, all
of which is connected. He was born in
the Blue Grass regions, Feb. 22, 1829, being a
native of Morgan County, Ky., and the son of John
and Eliza (Hardwick) O'Hair, natives of the same
State. They grew up together in the same
locality, and were married in 1828. They con-
tinued in their native State a number of years
after their marriage, and in 1842 emigrated to
Illinois, where the father of our subject engaged
extensively in farming, and rested from his earthly
labors in September, 1886, at the age of ninety-one
years, six months and eight days. The mother
had passed to the other life the previous year.

The parental family included eight children, of
whom the subject of our sketch was the eldest.
The record is as follows: Polly, born in 1832, be-
came the wife of J. W. Frazier, a native of Spencer
County, Ky., and they are now living in Seven
Hickory Township; William H. married Jane
Frazier, and is farming and stock-raising in Kan-
sas; John H. married Miss Eveline Swango, of
Kentucky, and died iu Edgar County, in the fall of
1873-; he was a man of much ability, and was
elected Sheriff of Coles County in the fall of 1860,
serving two terras. He was the owner of a good
farm and carried on agriculture successfully. His
widow is now a resident of Edgar County. James
married Miss Diana Dougherty; he died in 1866,
and his widow is living in Edgar County. Sarah
died when a child of eleven years, and Calvin
when about four years of age; Sarah (2d) married
William Elledge, who accidentally killed himself in
about 1876; she resides in Edgar County.

The subject of this sketch passed his childhood

»df

r1

COLES COUNTY.

and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons,
receiving a limited education in the subscription
schools. He remained under the parental roof un-
til reaching his majority, and then joined the
caravan bound for the gold fields of California.
The overland journey was accomplished after the
space of five months, and young O'Hair entered the
mines, where he was engaged a part of the time in
searching for the yellow ore, and also kept a hotel
and a store, passing between two and three years on
the Pacific Slope. He was very successful, and started
homeward with quite a little fortune. He made
the return trip by water, crossing Central America
to Havanna, where he remained two weeks, and
then proceeding to New Orleans, came up the
river to Evansville, Ind., and from there to Edgar
County, 111. He spent two or three weeks in
Central America, crossing from the Pacific to the
Gulf on a mule, and describes the country as being
the finest he ever saw. After locating in Edgar
County he engaged in the stock business, and in
1853-54 purchased the homestead, upon which he
operated two or three years and then, moving into
the village of Kansas, engaged in general merchan-
dising four years, during which time he built up an
extensive and lucrative] trade. In the meantime
he had taken in as partner Mr. J. Hanks, and in
1860 sold out to his partner and removed to Paris,
in Edgar County.

Later Mr. O'Hair was elected Sheriff, serving
two terms, and afterward became the Deputy of
his successor. In the spring of 1865 he removed !
from Edgar to this county, locating on his present
homestead, whereOhe had already put up a hand-
some and substantial residence and had raised one
crop of corn. After taking possession of his farm
he engaged largely in buying hogs and driving
them to Terre Haute, Ind., in which speculation
he realized a handsome sum of money. At one
time he transported 4,000 head of swine in this
manner, driving them in the winter season, making
about eight miles per day. He now keeps from
100 to 200 head, mostly of Poland-China but some
Berkshires.

Mr. O'Hair was married on the 6th of June,
1856, to Miss Catherine R. Zink, who was born in
Edgar County, Sept. 26, 1836, and died at the home

of her husband in Seven Hickory Township, Dec.
7, 1873. Mrs. O'Hair was the daughter of Emanuel
and Delilah (Wright) Zink, natives of Pennsyl-
vania, and the parents of the following children :
David W., Jane, Mary, Harvey, Ellen and Cath-
erine. The parents died in Edgar County in 1873.
The children of Michael E. and Catherine O'Hair
are recorded as follows: Calvin L. married Miss
Lizzie Stott, who died four years after, leaving two
children — Almeda and Lizzie. His second wife
was Miss Martha Tichenor, by whom he has a
daughter, Rebecca E. ; this son is farming on sec-
tion 36, in Seven Hickory Township. Laura B. is the
wife of Isaac P. Foreman, of Seven Hickory Town-
ship; Nettie T. is the wife of H. V. Thompson, of
Edgar County, and they have three children —
Estella, Elvin and an infant; Harvey Z., unmarried,
is at home with his parents; Gladys V. married
George Williams, of Morgan Township, in Decem-
ber, 1886; an infant, born Sept. 12, 1871, and died
the same day; another infant, born Nov. 16, 1873,
also died the same day ; Alvaretta C. is at home
with her father.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was
married Oct. 14, 1875, was formerly Miss Sarah E.
Bryant, born in Edgar County, July 29, 1851, and
the daughter of Elisha and Francina (Roberts)
Bryant, natives of Kentucky. The mother died in
Coles County, this State, March 2, 1874; the father
is still living there. This union resulted in the
birth of five children — Charles, Francina D., Reba,
an infant who died unnamed, and Oather.

Mr. O'Hair has distinguished himself as an in-
telligent and progressive farmer, and takes pardon-
able pride in the fact that he has 260 acres of
Kentucky blue grass, the seed for which he obtained
from his native State and which is thriving finely
on the soil of Central Illinois. He at one time
sent across the line for fifteen bushels, and from
which has sprung one of the most valuable
products of his farm. The homestead in all re-
spects reflects great credit upon the skill and en-
terprise of the proprietor. He has taken a
genuine interest in the development and prog-
ress of his adopted county, and represented his
township in the Board of Supervisors for four
years. He has been Commissioner of Highways

4

1 406

COLES COUNTY.

for many years, and is a "member of the Christian
Church at Rural Retreat. He votes the straight
Democratic ticket, and socially belongs to the
Masonic fraternity, Lodge No. 288, in Kansas,
Edgar County.

R. J. P. UECKARD, physician and surgeon
at Paradise, is a native of this county, and
was born in Paradise Township, Dec. 6,
1856. He is one of the rising practitioners
of this section, where he is securing the patronage
of the best people of the community and long ago
established himself in the -confidence and esteem of
his fellow-citizens. The family of our subject origi-
nated in Germany, of which his great-grandfather,
Peter Deckard, was a native, and where he was oc-
cupied in farming pursuits until emigrating to the
United States. He had married in his native coun-
try, and after reaching American shores proceeded
to Pennsylvania, where he remained a few years
and then purchased a tract of land near Wheeling,
W. Va., upon which he built a permanent home-
stead, and which he occupied the remainder of his
life. His family consisted of eight children, namely :
John, Jacob, Peter, Joseph, William ; Anna, the
wife of a Mr. Douglas ; Polly, the wife of a Mr.
Newel, and Peggy, the wife of a Mr. Grimes. Of
these William is the only survivor and is a resident
of Hard in County, Ky.

Jacob, who became the grandfather of our sub-
ject, remained on his father's farm in Pennsylvania
until th<Mr removal to Virginia, which took place
when he was a- young man. When twenty-eight
years of age, he was united in marriage with Miss
Jane Sutton, a native of South Carolina, whence
she moved with her parents to West Virginia,
probably when a child. After a time, Jacob Deck-
ard purchased a tract of land in Grayson Co., Ky.,
where he farmed a few years, and then engaged in
merchandising until his removal to this .State, in the
fall of 1856. He then purchased a tract of im-
proved land in Paradise Township, this county, in
the cultivation of which he was engaged until called
hence, his death taking place in the spring of 1878.

His wife survived him about four years, dying in
about 1882. Both were members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Their three children were
William, Josiah and John, all born in West Vir-
ginia, and the eldest and youngest, deceased.

Josiah Deckard, the father of -our subject, re-
moved with his parents to Kentucky when a boy,
where his education was completed in the common
schools of Grayson County. He was married when
twenty years of age to Miss Martha Hart, Nov. 17,
1844. The mother of our subject was born in
Hardin County, Ky., March 4, 1827, and was
the daughter of Jacob and Matilda (Goar) Hart,
also natives of the Blue Grass State. Mr. D. after
his marriage, purchased a tract of land in Grayson
County, upon which he operated until his removal
to Illinois in the fall of 1856. Coming to this
county he purchased a tract of improved land in
Paradise Township, which he has since successfully
cultivated and where he now resides, with his
estimable wife. Both are active members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Deckard has
been a Mason for a period of thirty years. He is
now identified with Wabash Lodge No. 179, at
Etna. Politically, he is a supporter of Democratic
principles and has served as School Director for
several years. The children of the parental house-
hold were named respectively: Mary J., now the
wife of Col. Fellows, of Springfield, Mo.; Preston,
who died young; Jacob; Annie, the wife of O. C.
Rominger; Aaron W., deceased; John P., of our
sketch; William; Josiah, who died young; Joseph,
who died when twenty years of age; Ella, the wife
of Ed. Ferguson, and James, who died in infancy.

Dr. Deckard commenced his education in his na-
tive count3% and when sixteen years of age went
down into Southwestern Missouri and attended
Drury College one year, returning home in the fall
of 1872. He then took up the study of medicine
under the instruction of Dr. G. W. McGlashou, at
Paradise, and in the winter of 1877 entered Rush
Medical College of Chicago. Later he attended the
University of Kentucky, where he was graduated,
and then commenced the practice of his chosen
profession at Paradise, first in partnership with Dr.
J. O. Wheat. They continued together for a few
years following, when the partnership was dissolved

• -

. LIBRARY
OF THE
WVERSHY OF HUM'S

COLES COUNTY.

409

by the death of Dr. Wheat. Since then Dr. D. has
practiced alone.

The marriage of Dr. Deckard and Miss Melissa
Thompson, took place at the home of the bride in
this township, Nov. 17, 1877. Mrs. D. was born
in Indiana, Aug. 6, 1860, and is the daughter of
Edward and Lovina Thompson, also natives of
that State, both now deceased. Of this union there
were born five children, namely, Mary, Anna, Stella;
Joseph, now deceased, and Bessie. The Doctor is
Democratic politically, and with his estimable wife
is a member in good standing of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. Socially, he belongs to Wabash
Lodge No. 179, A. F. & A. M., at Etna.

<ii7 ARBIA KELLY, a prosperous farmer and
II (^ stock-grower residing in Pleasant Grove
jiL^i Township, is an honorable representative of
the early pioneers of the county, and of the self-
made men of Illinois. He was born in September,
1826, in Washington County, Ind., and is the son
of James and Elsie (Listham) Kelly. In 1827
the family came to Illinois and settled in Coles
County, on the eastern branch of the Embarras
River, near the present site of the Charleston water-
works. The country at that time was an almost un-
broken wilderness. The Indian tribes in the vicinity
were hostile, and the white settlers were limited to
a few widely scattered families. Wolves, deer, pan-
thers and bears roamed over the lonely prairies and
made their homes in the forests, but, undaunted by
the perils of the wilderness, James Kelly entered
land and established himself with his young family
on the Western frontier. They came poor, and for
many years the struggle with poverty, hardship
and privation was a bitter one, but it was bravely j
met, and Mr. Kelly was subsequently enabled to
purchase more laud, finally becoming the owner of
over 300 acres, which he improved and cultivated.
James Kelly was a man of genial disposition,
and, like Abraham Lincoln, enjoyed a good joke,
which characteristics doubtless served to soften
many of the asperities of pioneer life. Mrs. Kelly's
more delicate organization was not able to endure
the discomforts and privations to which she was

exposed, and she died soon after their settlement
in this county, le.aving a family of nine children —
Rebecca, :Matilda, Lucinda, Thomas, Spencer, James,
Ebenezer, Larbia and Catherine. The four elder
children are dead. Mr. Kelly subsequently mar-
ried Miss Rhoda Ta3-lor, and by this marriage three
children were born — Nancy, Sabrina and Henry
Claj' ; of these the latter only is living. Mr. Kelly
was a Whig in politics. His death occurred about
the year 1849.

Larbia Kelly was an infant when his parents re-
moved to Illinois, and he grew up inured to the
hardships of pioneer life, but almost entirely de-
prived of educational advatages. He passed his
boyhood and youth at home, assisting his .father in
the various duties of farm labor, and when twenty
years of age began the world for himself. Going
to AVisconsiu he engaged in hauling ore from the
lead -mines, and continued in that business several
seasons. In the spring of 1850 he crossed the
plains to California with an ox-team, which was a
perilous and adventurous journey, and during an
absence of about three years was variously occu-
pied in milling and teaming. He saved some
money out of this enterprise, and returned home
via the Isthmus and New Orleans, and has since
given his attention exclusively to farming, and now
owns over 300 acres of land, supplied with a sub-
stantial two-story brick residence and appropriate
farm buildings.

Mr. Kelly possesses excellent business qualifica-
tions, and has acquired his property by the exercise
of energy and industry. He was thrice married,
his first marriage occurring when he was twenty-
one years of age. His wife was Miss Marilda Sul-
livan, who died leaving two little girls — Sarah and
Laura. The former became the wife of Benjamin
Parker, and the latter the wife of George Bates.
His second wife, Miss Sarah Lemons, died leaving
five children — Susan, Elsie and Larbia, and two
deceased ; Susan became the wife of John W. King,
and Elsie the wife of Noah Hackett. The maiden
name of his present wife was Miss Millie Catherine
Carter, and this marriage has been blest with one
child, Ellen.

In conducting his farm Mr. Kelly gives special
attention to stock-raising, in which he has been

mm

COLES COUNTY.

very successful. He is not actively interested in
public affairs, his own business requiring his almost
exclusive attention. " With his wife he is a member
of the Baptist Church, and in politics belongs to
the Republican party. As one of the pioneers of
Coles County and a worthy representative of its
farming element, we present the portrait of Mr.
Kelly in connection with this brief personal narra-
tive.

Vf) AMES W. LEITCH, the owner of a fine es-
[ tate containing 1 60 acres, located on section
18, Pleasant Grove Township, belongs to
one of the pioneer families of the county.
He is the son of Robert and Jane (Erwin) Leitch,
and was born in this township, Sept. 17, 1839. His
grandfather, John Leitch, was a native of Ireland,
and at the time of the Revolutionary War came to
America with the British troops to fight for the
King, but availing himself of that prerogative of a
wise man, the privilege of changing his mind, he
deserted, joined the federal troops, and fought for
the Republic throughout the war instead of the
King. He [subsequently twice visited his native
country in disguise.

James Leitch was taught the practical details of
agriculture on his father's farm, and received as
good an education as the limited advantages of the
pioneer days afforded. Jan. 19, 1860, he was united
in marriage with Miss Nancy J. Hughes, the daugh-
ter of William J. and Ellen J. Hughes. Mrs.
Leitch was born in the State of Ohio, and died May
18, 1880, leaving three children: Alice, the wife of
John Allison ; Robert U. and Samuel E. After his
marriage Mr. Leitch engaged in farming in the
vicinity of Farmington, but in 1872 sold out his
interest there and removed to Dade County, Mo.,
where he was successfully engaged in fanning until
1878. The climate of Missouri proved unfavora-
ble to the health of his wife, and by her physician's
advice he then returned to Coles County; his wife,
however, did not survive her removal home many
years.

March 18, 1885, Mr. Leitch was married the sec-
ond time, to Miss Laura E. Coley, the daughter of
Robert and Elizabeth R. Coley. Since his return

to Illinois he has been engaged in agriculture, and
is the owner of a fine farm containing 160 acres of
valuable land. Mr. Leitch is a Republican in poli-
tics, is actively interested in promoting all measures
calculated to benefit the community, and has held
the offices of Assessor, Collector and Justice of the
Peace. He is an active worker in the Methodist
Church, of which he is a member, and for many
years has been Superintendent of the Sunday-school,
and one of its most valued teachers. In educating
his family he has spared neither pains nor expense.
His oldest son, the graduate of a homeopathic
medical college, is now successfully practicing medi-
cine in Willow Lake, Dak.

|ASIL BAKER, manufacturer and dealer in
tile, also has a little farm comprising forty
acres of finely cultivated land, located on
section 4, Hutton Township. He is a gen-
tleman in the prime of life, and in his farming and
manufacturing operations has met with success. He
has one of the most desirable homesteads in the
southeastern part of Coles County, including an
elegant residence, which was put up in 1886. His
thrift and energy have met with their deserved re-
ward, and he is numbered among the enterprising
and reliable business men of Coles County.

Mr. Baker was born in Coshocton County, Ohio,
April 9, 1841, and is the descendant of an excellent
old family which originated in England. His pa-
ternal grandfather, Basil Baker, Sr., was born in
England and emigrated to the United States in the
Colonial days before the outbreak of the Revolu-
tionary War. He married a lady of his own coun-
try, and they became the parents of ten sons and
one daughter, most of whom grew to mature years.
Of these Abel, the father of our subject, was the
sixth child. He was born in Coshocton County,
Ohio, Nov. 23, 1810, and spent his younger years
on his father's farm and in attendance at the dis-
trict school. After reaching manhood he followed
rafting and boating a few years, and in 1833 was
married to Miss Isabel Endsley, a native of Ohio,
and the daughter of Andrew and Isabel Endsley,
of Pennsylvania. Upon starting out in life together

COLES COUNTY.

411

the young people first located on the farm of his
mother, where they continued until the spring of
1848. Our subject then decided to seek a perma-
nent home in the West, and making the journey
overland by team to this county, entered forty
acres from the Government and purchased another
forty of timber land. Upon this he took up his
abode with his family, and continued its cultivation
and improvement until 1875. He had now become
quite well advanced in years, and selling out, pur-
chased a house and lot in Stringtown, where he
passed the remainder of his days, his death occur-
ring in January, 1885. The mother of our subject
died in 1880, and is remembered by her children
as a lady possessing all the womanly virtues. She
was for a long period a member of the Presbyterian
Church. The nine children of the parental family
were Aaron, Cassandra, Basil, Andrew, Nancy Jane,
Sarah E., Isabel, James and Mary A.

Basil Baker spent his youth and childhood under
the parental roof, receiving the advantages of the
common schools and being trained to habits of in-
dustry and principles of honor. After the break-
ing out of the Civil War he enlisted in Co. K, 123d
111. Mtd. Inf., and for 'a period of three years as-
sisted as best he could in the preservation of the
Union. He participated in many important battles,
including Perryville, Chickamauga, the siege and
capture of Atlanta, and in all of the engagements
with the enemy by the Army of the Cumberland.
He was wounded at Milton, also at Selnia, Ala.,
being shot through the shoulder, but refused to go
into the hospital and continued on duty. His
health was preserved to a remarkable degree, and
after the surrender of Gen. Lee, he was mustered
out at Springfield, 111.

After being transformed from a soldier to a civil-
ian, Mr. Baker returned to this county and engaged
in farming on a piece of land given him by his
father, which he occupied a few years, and then
sold and rented a quarter section in Hutton Town-
ship. Upon this he operated three years, then pur-
chased the land which constitutes his present home-
stead. Mr. Baker, in 1881, put up the buildings
connected with his business as a tile manufacturer,
and in his operations in this line was successful
from the beginning. He turns out from 8,000 to

9,000 rods per year, the products of his factory
being mostly disposed of in his own township.

The marriage of Basil Baker and Miss Elizabeth
Rennels was celebrated at the home of the bride's
parents in Hutton Township, on the 25th of Janu-
ary, 1866. Mrs. B. is the daughter of William and
Susan (Ingrum) Rennels, natives of Kentucky,
who were married in Indiana and came to Illinois
in 1838, being among the early settlers of Coles
County. Their family included seven children,
and Elizabeth was born Sept. 4, 1840. Of her
union with our subject there are the following
children: William R., born May 30, 1867; Curtis
W., Nov. 6, 1868; Mary E., Nov. 17, 1871, and
Leonard W., Jan. 9, 1875. They are all at home,
and constitute a fine group of which their parents
may reasonably be proud.

Our subject and his wife are members in good
standing of the Baptist Church in Hutton Town-
ship, and politically Mr. B. affiliates with the Re-
publican party. He has been Township Collector
and served twelve years as School Director. He
was a charter member of Omega Lodge No. 775,
A. F. <fe A. M., at Charleston, and also belongs to
Charleston Post No. 271, G. A. R.

H. GREEN, one of the prominent far-
mers and citizens of Ashmore Township, re-
siding on section 5, is a native of Ohio,
where he was born Oct. 27, 1826, in Miami
County. He is the son of James and Elizabeth
(Hemenway) Green. His parents were both na-
tives of Virginia. His father, who was a progres-
sive, energetic man, emigrated to Illinois in 1840.
The country was then little more than a wilder-
ness, and feeling dissatisfied with his surroundings
he removed to Darke County, Ohio. He possessed
excellent business qualifications, and was successful
in his undertakings, but during the latter years of
his life was seriously afflicted with rheumatism,
which interfered with his business and obliged him
to spend nearly all he possessed. He was born in
1784, and his death occurred in Randolph County,
Ind., Dec. 29, 1849, at the age of sixty-five.

James Green -was a man of prominence in the

_mm

dn.

412

COLES COUNTY.

community where he resided, and a member of the
New-Light Church. His widow survived him many
years. She was born in 1786, and died Feb. 2,
1872, at the advanced age of eighty-six. She was
a devoted Christian and a member of the Method-
ist Church. Fourteen children were born to them,
whose record is as follows: Arthusa, deceased, was
formerly the wife of N. R. Reddick; Nancy be-
came the wife of N. McCoy, andjboth are deceased ;
Andrew married Miss Elizabeth Coble; Sarah was
married to Jephthah Parker; Catherine is the wife
of A. Frazier; Hester was married to B. Anderson;
Zachariah married Miss C. Wiggs; James "W. mar-
ried Miss Maria Wysong ; John H. is the subject
of this sketch; William P. married Miss Eliza
Brown; Nelson R. married Miss Mary Brown;
Henry J., who died in 1883, was married to Miss
S. G. Walker; Hannah J. was the wife of George
White, both of whom are now deceased.

In October, 1852. John H. Green was united in
marriage with Miss Mary Pottenger, by Rev.
Thomas Brannon, pastor of the New-Light Church.
She was born Aug. 1, 1834, in Preble County, Ohio,
and is the daughter of Dennis R. and Elizabeth
(Fort) Pottenger. Her father was a native of Ohio,
and died at the early age of thirty-nine. Her
mother was a native of New Jersey, and her death
occurred in 1859. She was a devoted Christian,
and a member of the New-Light Church, in which
she was for many years an active worker.

Mr. and Mrs. Green had a family of thirteen
children born to them, all of whom, with one ex-
ception, are living. The following is their re-
cord: Alice E., the eldest child, is the wife of L.
Bates, and resides in St. Louis, Mo. ; William S.,
born March 21, 1854, married Miss Urmina Goble;
Granville D., born Sept. 7, 1857, married Miss Pru-
dence Mack; Commodore D., born March 2, 1860,
married Miss Mary Miller; Hester C., born May 11,
1862; S. A., Dec. 27, 1864; Walter S., Feb. 23,
1866; Mayer, June 24, 1 868 ; Norman, May 2,1870;
Mary E., Sept. 16, 1872; Ernest, Sept. 10, 1875;
Oris and Otis (twins), Aug. 3, 1879.

Mr. Green came to Illinois Nov. 1, 1856, and
purchased 120 acres of land at $18 per acre. He
gradually added to his purchase, and is now the
owner of a fine estate containing 607 acres of val-

uable land. He is an active, energetic, hard-work-
ing man, and has brought his farm to a fine state of
cultivation. His family are all members of the
Christian Church, in which he is one of the Elders,
and also an eloquent speaker. In 1871 he joined
the Masonic fraternity, and is an ardent advocate of
its principles ; he is a member of Ashmore Lodge
No. 390. In politics Mr. Green is an active sup-
porter of the Republican party.

R. WILLIS J. PEAK, physician and sur-
geon, has been a resident of Oakland Vil-
lage for twenty years, where he has built
up a good practice, and established himself
fully in the confidence and esteem of the people.
The essential points of his history are as follows :
Dr. Peak was born in Gallatin County, Ky., April
3, 1836, and is the son of Grigg and Susan (Crow)
Peak, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania re-
spectively. His father was born in 1796, and fol-
lowed farming nearly all his life, making a specialty
of cattle-raising, by which means he accumulated
a fortune. He died of yellow fever in the city of
New Orleans in the fall of 1838.

The Peak family were formerly slave-holders in
Virginia, and the paternal grandparents of our
subject removed to Kentucky, carrying with them
their slaves. Grandfather Peak was a soldier in
the Revolutionary War for three or four years, and
was murdered by the Indians. The Peak family
was a very prolific race, and the male members,
almost without exception, Democratic in politics.
Grigg Peak became a resident of Kentucky in early
manhood, and was there married to the mother of
our subject, in about 1824. She was born March
15, 1802, and died in Warrensburg, Mo., in March,
1863, and had for many years been a devoted
member of the Presbyterian Church. The elder
Peak was not connected with any religious denom-
ination. After the death of her first husband, Mrs.
Peak was married the second time, to Sanford Rose,
who was murdered by some of Quan troll's men in
Missouri, in 1863. The children of the first mar-
riage were Elizabeth, Albert, David, Jordan, James,
Joseph, Charlotte and ''Willis, and of the second

T

COLES COUNTY.

413

marriage, Wallace, Henry, Richard and Riley. The
latter were all in the Union army, and members of
a Missouri regiment.

Our subject began the study of medicine under
the instruction of Dr. Adolphus Sayer, of Warsaw,
Ky., and was graduated by St. Louis Medical
College in 1861. He commenced practice in John-
son County, Mo., and at the breaking out of the
war was the owner of six slaves, and located near
Kansas City. In order to save his property, he
took them down into Texas, and to avoid being
conscripted into the rebel army, entered as a vol-
unteer, and served in Col. Caldwell's regiment un-
til discharged, whereupon he entered the Union
service in February, 1863, as Assistant Surgeon,
14th Kansas Cavalry. In 1864 he was commis-
sioned as Surgeon, and was mustered out June 17,
1865, at Lawrence, Kan.

The marriage of Dr. Willis J. Peak and Miss
Lucinda Howard, took place in Johnson County,
Mo., March 17, 1861. This lady died three years
later at the home of her husband in the same
county. Of this marriage there was born one
child, a daughter, Ella, who received a fine educa-
tion, and for several years engaged in teaching; she
is now the wife of Colin Bell, of Holden, Mo. The
present wife of our subject was formerly Miss Mary
A. Burr, to whom he was married Dec. 2, 1869.
She was born in Momence, 111., Aug. 6, 1852, and
is the daughter of Rev. Samuel P. and Elmira J.
(Evans) Burr, also natives of this State. Samuel
P. Burr departed this life at his home in Madison,
Neb., Nov. 19, 1881. The mother is still living,
making her home in Dane, Dak. Their children
were George, Laban, Mary, Jessie, Maude and
Louisa. Dr. Peak, by this later marriage, became
the father of another child, a daughter, Maude,
born Nov. 19, 1871, and died on her birthday, in
1879.

In 1884, Dr. Peak associated himself in partner-
ship with P. L. Garvey. The firm constitutes a
strong one, and the Doctor has accumulated a fine
property, including seven houses and lots in the
village, and 100 acres of valuable land near the
town limits. Politically, he is a straight Democrat,
and as a business man and citizen, occupies a place
in the front ranks among his fellow-townsmen. The

Doctor is a member of the Esculapian Society of
the Wabash;alsoof A. F. <fe A. M., I. O. O. F.
and K. of P.

eC. REYNOLDS, Chief Train Dispatcher of
the I. <fe St. L. R. R., and stationed at Mat-
toon since 1881, is a fine illustration of a
gentleman who has risen to a responsible position
through his own efforts, and whose fidelity to duty
has gained him the good-will of the great corpora-
tion by which he is employed, as well as the respect
and confidence of his fellow-citizens.

Mr. Reynolds was born in Jennings County, Ind.,
May 1, 1859, and is the son of Curtis T. and Dru-
silla F. (Ray) Reynolds, natives of the same State.
His father, early in life, was occupied with farming
pursuits, but for the last thirty-three years has been
engaged in construction work on railroads as fore-
man. The paternal grandfather of our subject,
William L. Reynolds by name, a native of the
Green Mountain State, was reared to agricultural
pursuits, and after reaching his majority emigrated
to Indiana, being among the pioneer settlers of the
State, where he married and reared a family of
children, among them being Curtis, the father of
our subject.

Curtis T. Reynolds was reared to manhood in
Jefferson County, Ind., where he was married to
the mother of our subject, and they became the
parents of four children, three now living, viz.,
William L., Byford E., and Charles C. of our sketch.
The eldest son is engaged in railroading in Indiana,
and Byford is foreman of construction on the T., St.
L. & K. C. R. R., in the same State.

Our subject attended school at Shelbyville, Ind.,
until thirteen years of age, where he learned teleg-
raphy, which he followed one year in that place, and
in the meantime employed his leisure hours with his
studies at the public school, then after spending a
few months on a farm he went to Indianapolis, Ind.,
where he was engaged as clerk at a book and news
stand, and then secured a position as night opera-
tor at the same place, on the I. & St. L. R. R.,
which position he held for two years. Mr. Reyn-
olds came to Mattoon in 1881, and was engaged for

414

COLES COUNTY.

six months as telegraph operator. He then went to
Indianapolis, where he was similarly occupied for
six months, and then transferred back to Mattoon
as Assistant Train Dispatcher. A year later he
was promoted to the position which he now holds.
While a resident of Mattoon, Mr. Reynolds was
married to Miss Agnes A. Henderson, a native of
Elora, Ontario, Canada, and daughter of John and
Jeanette (Wilkinson) Henderson, natives of Scot-
land, who emigrated to Canada in about 1850.
Their family included two^childrenjonly, Mrs. Reyn-
olds and her brother Morris. Mr. and Mrs. R.
have two children — Ray W. and Alice. Both are
members of the Presbyterian Church, and number
among their warmest friends the cultivated people
of Mattoon. Their residence is pleasantly located
at the intersection of Wabash and Fifth streets.
Mr. Reynolds votes the Republican ticket, and
socially, is connected with the Knights of Pythias.

j>ILLIAM B. ZIMMERMAN, a retired far-
mer, and at present residing in Oakland
Village, has been one of the prominent
figures in the agricultural districts of Coles County
for the past thirty-five years. He cannot by any
means be called an old man although he has retired
from active labor and has wisely set aside a portion
of his means as a source of comfort and ease in his
declining years. His early industry and economy
have fully justified him in thus retiring from the
active employments of life, and his upright course
has secured for him the confidence and esteem of
his fellow-citizens.

Mr. Zimmerman was born in Augusta County.
Va., Feb. 4, 1826, and is the son of Martin and
Sarah (Griever) Zimmerman, natives of the same
county. They were there reared, growing up as
playmates together, and were united in marriage in
about 1823. The mother departed this life in 1852,
of a disease which then prevailed in this part of
Illinois, and the father followed one week later.
The parents of our subject after their marriage re-
mained in the Old Dominion until 1837, then com-
ing to Illinois located first in Edgar County, where

the father raised one season's crops and removed in
the fall to Oakland Township, this county. He
commenced life without means, but his willing
hands, stout heart and fine constitution, served him
well, so that he was enabled to secure a comfortable
living and provide properly for his famity. It was
hard pulling at first, and William B. when fourteen
years of age was compelled to commence workaway
from home, and by this means add to the family
income.

Our subject was thus occupied until nineteen
years of age, and then commenced to do for him-
self. He received for his labors $10 per mouth,
but lived economically and saved what he could.
His first proceeds were invested in a horse, and
thus equipped he rented a tract of land, the owner
of this furnishing him another horse, and with his
team he commenced to till the soil. After two
years' labor in this manner he considered that he
was justified in establishing domestic ties, and was
united in marriage with Miss Louisa J. Black, of
Oakland Township, the wedding taking place at the
home of the bride's parents, March 1, 1848. Not
long afterward he was enabled to make a payment
on eighty acres of land, which was provided with
a log cabin, sixteen feet square, and with his
young wife commenced housekeeping. In due time
the family was enlarged by the birth of three chil-
dren, and in 1856 Mr. Z. erected a frame house, into
which the family proudly removed and which he
occupied until 1881.

Mr. Zimmerman in the meantime had been pros-
pered in his farming operations, and had wisely in-
vested his surplus capital in additional land. He
thus operated until he became the owner of 800
acres, the whole of which he brought to a good state
of cultivation and provided with excellent frame
buildings. At the date mentioned he concluded
to retire, and accordingly rented the farm and erect-
ed a fine dwelling in Oakland Village. This con-
sists of two stories with a basement, and stands in
the midst of a hickory grove, covering one and
one-half acres, and constituting a most attractive
and valuable homestead. Of the children born to
Mr. and Mrs. Z., James M. died when two years
old; Elizabeth P. at about the same age, as also did
John Y. ; Sarah L. became the wife of Quince Kin-

COLES COUNTY.

415

zel, of Oakland ; Florence J., the youngest daughter,
is the wife of L. J. Norton, of Oakland.

Mr. Zimmerman is one of the Directors of the
National Bank of Oakland, and has been identified
with many of the enterprises set on foot to build
up his township. He is a straight Republican,
politically, and uniformly casts his vote in support
of the principles of his party. He and his estimable
wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

RCHIBALD BROOKS. The name of
ij/LJ|| Archibald Brooks is prominent among the
pioneers of Ashrnore Township. He was
born Dec. 7, 1807, in AVashington County,
Pa., and is the son of Robert and Mary (Little)
Brooks. Robert Brooks was born June 8, 1773,
and died July 12, 1844, at the age of seventy-one.
His wife was born June 13, 1776, and died Oct.
28, 1851. The following is the record of their
children: JMaria J., born Dec. 27, 1800; Alfred,
Jan 3, 1802 ; Thomas M., in 1811 ; Margaret, Archi-
bald; John, June 7, 1810; Elizabeth, March 29,
1812; Robert A., June 21, 1815, and William S.,
Sept 10, 1818.

Archibald Brooks was twice married. His first
marriage, to Miss Nancy Pownell, took place Sept.
30, 1830. She died Jan, 12, 1850, leaving a family
of five children, as follows : Mary A., born June
22, 1832, married Benjamin F. McPheters; Lydia,
born Jan. 25, 1834, married J. M. Moffett; Dia-
1 1 -i ma P., born Feb. 29, 1836, married Joseph S.
Wright; Robert W., born Jan. 22, 1844; and
Benjamin A., born Aug. 27, 1846, married Mary E.
Squire. Our subject was married the second time, to
Mrs. (Cheesman) Scott, April 23, 1853. She was born
Nov. 21, 1824, in Adams County, Ohio, and the
following is the record of their children : Kate E.,
born April 11, 1854, died in infancy; Hannah F.,
born July 23, 1856, married Gideon Galbreath;
Tarleton, born March 22, 1859, married Miss Rosa
E. Galbreath; Archibald J., born Jan. 28, 1862,
married Miss Mary Cutler, and Mattie E., born
March 30, 1867, married W. O. Kimball.

Mr. Brooks came to Illinois and settled in Ash-
more Township in 1827. He vividly recollects

many incidents of the Black Hawk War, which is
memorable for being the last conflict with the
Indians in this part of the United States. The
winter previous was noted for an unusually deep
fall of snow, which lay on the ground from Decem-
ber to March. It was a period of great privation,
and even many wild animals died from starvation
while it lasted. The few families of the township
were isolated and unprotected, and lired in great
fear of Indian depredations; deer and wolves
roamed over the prairies in vast numbers, and
panthers and bears were not unfrequently found.
But a new era was dawning for this unbroken
wilderness, and the prosperity of Central Illinois
dates from the successful close of the Black Hawk
War.

Mr. Brooks began life on the Western frontier
with no capital, save courage, energy and integrity
of character, and his career in life has been
rewarded with exceptional prosperity. Although
he has been one of the prominent men of the town-
ship for many years, he has never desired political
preferment, and has refused any office offered him
by the people. He has always been interested in
educational affairs, and together with his family, is
a member of the Old-School Presbyterian Church.
His first Presidential vote was cast for Henry Clay,
and he warmly sustains the Republican party in
politics. The homestead comprises 160 acres of
fine prairie land, and forty acres of timber.

^jl AMES WILEY is pursuing the even tenor
of his way as a prosperous and intelligent
farmer of Morgan Township, where he
(glP located in the spring of 1865. He is the
proprietor of 295 acres of valuable land, with a
fine residence, a good barn and other out-build-
ings, and deals largely in graded stock, including
Short-horn cattle and Clydesdale horses. The
residence is a frame structure, which was built in
1870, and the main barn was put up in 1887.
Everything about the premises is kept in good
order, and displays on all sides the thrift and
enterprise of the proprietor.

Mr. Wiley first drew breath in Bracken County,

4

416

COLES COUNTY.

Ky., July 24, 1825, and is the son of John A. and
Ruth (Wells) Wiley, '[also natives of the Blue
Grass State. John Wiley was born in Bracken
County in~U799, and was the son of Eli and
Elizabeth (Coles) Wiley, who reared a large family
of children, of whom John'was the eldest. The
others were named respectively, James, Reason,
Adam, Dow, Darius, Asa, Hannah, Mary, Dorcas,
Susan, Nancy and Lettie. Nancy is the wife of
Michael Whalen, of Charleston, and Lettie, the
widow of James Sublet, of the same place. It is
supposed that these are the only ones living.

John Wiley grew to manhood in his native State,
and was there married. Four or five 3-ears later
in about 1830, he came with his family to Illinois,
remaining one summer in Edgar County. He then
purchased a tract of land in Ashmore Township,
this county, which he occupied until the spring of
1851, then sold out and purchased a farm in what
is now Douglas County, upon which he spent the
remainder of his days, his death taking place in
April, 1874. He was considered a good man in
every sense of the word, and for many years was
prominently connected with the Christian Church.
The children of the parental family, six in num-
ber, were, James, of our sketch; Louis, now de-
ceased; Sallie, the wife of James Arterbeon, a
farmer of Edgar County; Aden, a resident of
Chester, 111. ; Elizabeth and Amos, who died in
childhood. The wife and motherjpassed away in
December, 1846. John Wiley was then married
to Mrs. Lucy (Williams) Rout, and of this union
there were also born six children, who are re-
corded as follows: Ruberta, Mrs. Haines, became
the mother of two children, and died in 1886;
Hester Ann is the widow of]George Richmond,
who died in 1877, and left four children, of whom
Townsend and Mary Frances (twins) are the only
ones surviving, and with their mother, are residents
of Douglas County; Eli, a blacksmith by trade,
and William, are at home.

The subject of our sketch was bat five years of
age when his parents came to this county. He was
bred to farm life and completed his education in
the district schools of Ashmore Township, and
after reaching manhood was married, in March,
1866, to Miss Sarah Brown, who was born in this

county, and is the daughter of J. W. and Martha
Brown, natives of Kentucky, who became the
parents of eight sons and three daughters. The
four children of Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are recorded
as follows: John W., born Nov. 19, 1867, died
July 2, 1869; Millie Susan, born Oct. 27, 1869;
Minnie, Jan. 26, 1874, and Grace A., Oct. 22, 1882,
remain with their parents.

Mr. Wiley is one of the most reliable members
of the Republican party, although meddling little
with politics, and uniformly casts his vote with it
upon occasions of important elections. He has
been the encourager of those enterprises calculated
for the best good of his community and is properly
classed among the worthy and valued citizens of
Morgan Township, who have aided in developing
its resources and bringing it to a good position
among the surrounding communities.

ISAAC TAYLOR. How like the perfect day is the
period of full life — birth, manhood and death.
Life, like the day, may commence in sunshine
and then become clouded, through which the sun-
light will come at times only in rifts; and then
some lives may be like the days on which the sun
shines all the time, and others may begin with
clouded skies and close in the beauty of a full sun-
set. No matter how dark the beginning, nor how
cloudy the day may be, the glorious sunset through
all the ages has presaged clear skies for the follow-
ing days. So with life; the clear sky at its sunset
is its own prophecy of a beautiful life in the Be-
yond, where the sun rises in a cloud-burst of glory
never to set again, but to shine and illumine the sky
for all eternity. These reflections in this place are
not inappropriate, for the good people, the events
of whose lives are herein sketched, resemble the
simile of the day which began cloudy and remained
so until after the meridian line of time was passed,
and then became more beautiful in its full sunlight
as the horizon is reached, and will close with a glo-
rious sunset.

Among the excellent people of whom Pleasant
Grove Township possesses many, Isaac Taylor
stands eminent, and is a ^descendant of one of the

LIBRARY

OF THE

lirVERSITY OF ILLirO'S

COLES COUNTY.

419 i

families who were pioneer settlers of Illinois. He
was born on the 16th of March, 1829, in Rutherford
County, Tenn., and is the son of Michael and
Elizabeth (Patterson) Taylor, natives of North and
South Carolina respectively. When Michael Taylor
attained to manhood he removed to Tennessee. In
early life he served in the War of 1812, and was a
participant in the battle of New Orleans. While
serving in the army, and being but illy provided
for comfort, his health became impaired, which
doubtless led to his comparatively early death. He
descended from long-lived ancestors, but died at the
age of fifty-five. In 1830 he removed with his
family to Illinois, when the subject of this sketch
was but a year old, and for one year resided near
the Kickapoo River ; he then changed his residence
and passed one year in the northern part of Cum-
berland County, but not being satisfied with the
outlook there removed to Coles County.

Mr. Taylor was twice married ; by the first mar-
riage there were born four children, none of whom
survive. Their names were Elijah, Stephen, Polly
and Jane. By his second marriage Mr. Taylor be-
came the father of ten children, and their record
is as follows : Temperance is the wife of Mansfield
Patterson, and a resident of Oregon ; Cynthia, de-
ceased, was formerly the wife of Charles Powers;
Matilda was the wife of Morton Anderson, and is
now deceased ; William A. resides in Pleasant Grove
Township, with his brother Isaac, the subject of
this sketch; Polly, deceased, was the wife of Pres-
ley Highland ; James is deceased ; Susan was the
wife of Levi Enyard, and is now deceased ; Michael
is a resident of Cumberland County, 111.; Eliza-
beth is the wife of John J. Hall. Mr. and Mrs.
Michael Taylor were members of the Baptist
Church, in which they were actively interested, the
former having been a frequent exhorter during his
residence in Rutherford Township, Tenn. Mr. Tay-
lor's death occurred in 1838, and his widow, who
survived him many years, died in 1865. Mr. Tay-
lor left 120 acres of land and some other property,
which in that early day was considered quite a
fortune.

Isaac Taylor, our subject, passed his boyhood
days in Coles County, in the neighborhood where
he now resides. His early education was limited

to such as could be procured at the old log school-
house of pioneer days. These rude structures,
through the cracks and apertures of which the wind
whistled and played at will, were the only halls of
learning where the children of the pioneers could
obtain the scant rudiments of education. The
spaces used for windows were tacked over with
white homespun cloth, or oiled paper in lieu of
glass, and the benches were constructed of split
logs supported by rude wooden pegs. His patri-
mony consisted of eleven acres of land from his
father's estate, and upon this foundation he began
his career in life.

His first marriage was with Miss Sarah E. Ryan,
a native of Illinois, the event occurring in 1856.
Their married life was of but brief duration, for her
death occurred in the following year. In 1860 Mr.
Taylor was again married, this time to Miss Eliza
Erwin, the daughter of James S. and Margaret E.
Erwin. She was born on the 5th of October, 1841,
in Coles County. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have had
a family of ten children born to them, one of
whom was accidentally burned to death when a
child six years of age. The names of the others
are as follows; Marion W., Willie E., Oscar A.,
Margaret Elizabeth, Perry S., Isaac V., Carrie O.,
Minta E. and John Y.

Mr. Taylor has ever been deeply interested in
promoting the moral and religious welfare of the
community, and for the last thirteen years has been
engaged in preaching the Gospel in the Baptist
Church, and stands high in the esteem and respect
of the members of that denomination. His life is
a beautiful exemplification of Christianity. Mr.
Taylor has served as Assessor in Pleasant Grove
Township, and for man3r years held the office of
School Director. His estate consists of 800 acres
of valuable land. His farm buildings are excel-
lent, and he carries on a successful business in gen-
eral agriculture. In politics Mr. Taylor votes with
the Democratic party.

In the winter of 1886 Mr. Taylor revisited his
birthplace and old home in Tennessee, but time
had changed the scenes of his childhood, to which
he was now a stranger, and others were equally
alien to him. There were few faces which he could
recognize by sight, or even recollection. While

4

420

COLES COUNTY.

1

there he met many relatives whom he had never
seen or known of before. The greater number had
become scattered over the world, or were quietly
resting in the churchyard. Four cousins were
living who had reached the age of fourscore years.
Mr. Taylor, having passed over the summit and
now on the journey down the other side of the hill
of life, can look back over his pilgrimage with the
satisfaction of one who has been faithful to every
trust and duty, never evading any obligations as a
citizen. Most esteemed by those who know him
best, nil join in wishing that his sunset days may be
his happiest, surrounded by all that makes old
age blessed, the love and reverence of children, and
the respect and esteem of neighbors and friends.
Beginning on nothing at a time when the West was
sparsely settled he has seen Illinois become an em-
pire, himself aiding in building it up, a work which
he can now contemplate with both pride and pleas-
ure. As pioneers and highly esteemed citizens of
Coles County we present the portaits of both Mr.
and Mrs. Taylor, and also a view of their admira-
ble home and its most cheerful and comfortable
surroundings.

J JACOB WINKLEBLACK, of Morgan Town-
I ship, was born and reared on the homestead
which he now occupies, and which includes
_ a fine body of land, lying on section 30.
This has been his home during his entire life, and
includes 230 acres under a good state of cultiva-
tion, enclosed, and supplied with substantial build-
ings, and in all respects presenting a pleasant pic-
ture of rural life in the midst of peace and plenty.
Besides this property he has eighty acres on sec. 25,
Seven Hickory Township. His landed possessions
now embrace 310 acres, 180 of which are under
cultivation, and the balance in valuable timber.

Our subject was born Jan. 13, 1864, and is the
son of John and Catherine (Weaver) Winkleblack.
His father was born in Dauphin County, Pa.,
March 4, 1805, and remained there until a youth
of fifteen years, where he learned the tanner's
trade. Subsequently he engaged at his trade at
Harrisburg until 1829, and then going to Northern

Ohio, was employed at Cleveland, Massillon and
Janes ville, until the fall of 1835. He then came
to this State, and entered 160 acres of land in
Morgan Township, to which he afterward secured
his title and added until he became the possessor
of 1,500 acres, the result of his own industry and
perseverance.

The parents of our subject were married March
4, 1841. Mrs. Catherine Winkleblack was born in
York County, Pa., Oct. 23, 1822, and died Jan. 23,
1866, two years after the birth of her son, our sub-
ject. The father survived until Sept. 28, 1886, and
was then the father of twelve living children. The
paternal grandfather of our subject, Adam Winkle-
black by name, was born and died in Pennsylvania,
his decease taking place Nov. 10, 1837. He had
married, and reared a large family, the mother
passing to her final rest Oct. 9, 1831. The chil-
dren of John and Catherine Winkleblack are re-
corded as follows: William H., born Aug. 16,
1841, married Miss Lizzie Davis, and they are res-
idents of Seven Hickory Township, being the
parents of two children — Charles and Gary. Mil-
ton C., born July 27, 1842, married Miss Caroline
Coon and has two children; they live in California.
Robert A., born Jan. 1, 1844, married Miss Matilda
Hullin, and they have three children — Willis, Mag-
gie and Lawrence; Mason F., born Sept. 12, 1845,
was married three times, his last wife having been
Mrs. Anna (Walters) Rowe, who became the mother
of two children— John and Bertie Alice; Nancy J.,
born Oct. 3, 1847, is the wife of William Gregg, of
Seven Hickory Township, and the mother of three
children — John, Lulu and Lonney (twins) ; Thomas
T., born March 20, 1849, married Miss Rose Han-
cock, of Seven Hickory Township, and they have
one child — Vina V.; Mary E., born July 30, 1851,
became the wife of William Camp, who was killed
by the Indians in Kansas, while hunting buffalo, in
1884; of this marriage there were two children —
Thomas and Lilly. Mrs. C. was married the sec-
ond time, to Shannon Clark, and of this union there
was one child, Dora, who died July 4, 1887; they
are living in Morgan Township. John, born Aug.
20, 1853, married Miss Luellan Ratliff, and they
have one child, Franklin; Victoria S., born March
20, 1 855, is the wife of Isaac Walters, and has one

"4

-4

421 1

COLES COUNTY.

child, John; Daniel Boone, born April 10, 1858,
married Miss Anna Myers, and is farming in Seven
Ilickor}1- Township; Susanna, born July 24, 1861,
died in childhood; Jacob, of our sketch, was the
youngest of the family.

Our subject received a fair education, and after
reaching manhood was married, March 4, 1884, at
the home of the bride, to Miss Catherine, the
daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Carl) Beck.
Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and mem-
ber of a large family. Mr. and Mrs. W. have be-
come the parents of two children, namely, Lillie
Ellen, born Feb. 13, 1885, and Otto, Oct. 28, 1886.
Our subject is a stanch Republican politically, and
socially, belongs to Lodge No. 609, I. O. O. F., at
Charleston.

-"*> *%>"l:f:* <f~~

JF^OBERT W. WRIGHT, who is well and
\£\ favorably known in Morgan Township, of
cii Mi\ which he has been a resident since the fall
*^)of 1872, was born in Hocking County, Ohio,
Aug. 26, 1838. He is the son of Joseph and Lo-
vina W. (Carver) Wright, the former a native of
the same county, born Sept. 17, 1806. He died in
his native county June 17, 1860, aged fifty-three
years and nine months. The paternal grandparents
of our subject were Thomas and Barbara (John-
son) Wright, the former born in Ireland, July 4,
1773. He emigrated to America when a young
man, and was afterward married to Miss Johnson,
who was of German parentage, and born in the
Fatherland, Feb. 18, 1777. After his marriage,
Thomas Wright located upon a tract of land on the
Hocking River and followed farming thereafter to
the close of his life, and was buried within seven
miles of where he had lived.

The family of Thomas Wright included the chil-
dren recorded as follows: John B., born March
21, 1801, was married, and at his death left a family
of seven children; Sarah C., born Nov. 16, 1802,
was married, and became the mother of a family,
dying at a ripe old age; Joseph was the father of
our subject; Robert, born June 2, 1809, married
and became the father of five children, and is now
living in good health in Logan County, Ohio;

Catherine was born Sept. 14, 1811, and died in
Hocking County; William, born Sept. 10, 1816,
died in Ohio, leaving a family; Charles, born June
13, 1814. married and reared a family, and died
near Pittsburgh, Pa.; Mary, born May 1, 1819,
was first married to Irin Calhoun ; her second hus-
band was Isaac Weeks.

The father of our subject, after his marriage set-
tled in Hocking County within eight miles of where
he was born, where he engaged in farming and con-
tinued until his death. He had ten children, of
whom the record is as follows: Lucinda, born
Feb. 24, 1828, is married, and lives in Douglas
County; Albert C., born July 1, 1829, is married,
has a family, and is living in Hocking County,
Ohio; Presley 0., born Nov. 8, 1830, is married
and living with his family in Cromwell, Iowa; Her-
man K.. born Sept. 1, 1832, is married and living
in Ohio; Mary, born Sept. 29, 1834, became the
wife of George Bond, and died in India; Catherine,
born Oct. 30, 1836, married Samuel Sherry and
lives in Ohio; Robert W., of our sketch, was the
sixth child; Barbara, born Oct. 10, 1840, was mar-
ried in Ohio to Samuel Johnson, is the mother of
nine children, and now resides in this county; Irvin
C., born June 16, 1845, was graduated from the
medical college at Springfield, Ohio, and is practic-
ing in Logan County, Ohio; Emily L., born July
3, 1848, was the wife of Daniel F. Moore, and died
in 1885, leaving three daughters. The children all
received H good education, and the most of them
engaged in teaching before they were married.
Presley O. served four years in the Union army
during the late war, and suffered greatly in health,
from the effects of which he never recovered. Mrs.
Lovina (Carver) Wright was born in Ohio, Sept.
18, 1806, and was the only daughter of Albert
Carver, a native of Ohio. Her brother Albert
died when a young man, and the mother died in
middle life. The father was married the second
time, and reared another family.

Robert W. Wright remained under his father's
roof until twenty-three years of age, engaged in
farming pursuits, and receiving a fair education in
the district schools. Upon starting out in' life for
himself he was married, May 10, 1861, to Miss
Nancy J. Roverscraft, who was also a native of the

•*•

4

422

COLES COUNTY.

Buckeye State, born Jan. 17, 1845. Her parents
were John and Isabel (Riggs) Roverscraft, the for-
mer a native of Maryland, and the latter of Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. R. had four children, namely, Nancy,
Willie, Noah and Elizabeth.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wright are re-
corded as follows: John W., born May 23, 1862;
Ulysses Grant, born March 8, 1864, in Union
County, Iowa, is engaged in gardening; Etta Bell,
born Aug. 23, 1868, died Feb. 6, 1870; Charles,
born April 26, 1870; Albert W., April 5, 1872;
Alma L., Dec. 25, 1875; Jesse O., Feb. 1, 1878;
Willie P., April 27, 1881, and Harry S., Feb. 13,
1 885 ; all are at home with their parents. Mr. W.
is Democratic politically, and with his estimable
lady has been a member of the Cumberland Pres-
byterian Church for many years.

Mr. Wright located in this county in 1865,
and soon afterward settled in Ashmore Township,
where he remained until 1872. and then took pos-
session of his present homestead. He has labored
industriously and with excellent results. He car-
ries on general farming and stock-raising, and is in
all respects fulfilling the obligations of a good
citizen.

J~ OSEPH W. BITNER, who owns a good
farm of 133 acres on section 13, in Ashmore
Township, has been a resident of this State
since a lad twelve years of age. He was
born in Perry County, Pa., Aug. 11, 1834, and is
the fifth child of William and Rebecca (Trostle)
Bitner, also natives of the Keystone State, and of
substantial German ancestry. Both parents iden-
tified themselves with the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church early in life. William Bitner fol-
lowed farming and came to Illinois in 1846,
when in middle life, having been born in 1791. He
was not permitted, however, to carry out his
plans in relation to a homestead in the Prairie
State, as he was stricken down the following
year by the hand of death. His remains were laid
to rest in the cemetery in Ashmore Township. He
is remembered as a bright example of the Chris-
tian gentleman, fulfilling all his duties in life in a
most praiseworthy manner and leaving behind him

a record of good deeds. The mother, who was
born June 22, 1804, is still living and in good
health. She was eminently fitted to be the com-
panion of such a man as her husband, and has been
a faithful member of her church for the last sixty
years. The eleven children of the parental house-
hold were: Henry, now deceased; Isaiah, Susan,
Martha, Angeline, Rebecca, Robert, Eliza, Amanda,
and two who died in infancy unnamed.

The subject of our sketch passed Jiis childhood
and youth after the manner of most country boys,
spending a few weeks each winter in the district
school, and laboring with the balance of the house-
hold on the homestead in summer. When twenty-
four j'ears of age he was united in marriage with
Miss Sarah E. Jarvis, their wedding taking place at
the home of the bride's parents in the spring of
1858. This lady died on the 22d of November,
1873, at the home of her husband in Ashmore
Township, after having become the mother of five
children. These were John, Mary; Melissa, who
became the wife of Robert Reedus, and is now de-
ceased ; Sarah and Annie. The second wife of our
subject, to whom he was married Nov. 26, 1874,
was formerly Miss May A. Franklin. Her death
took place on the 10th of May, 1883, and she left
four children — Susan, Lydia, Martha and Joseph.
Both these ladies were members of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.

The present wife of our subject was formerly
Miss Mary A. Williams, and they were married
Nov. 6, 1883. Mrs. C. was born in Knox County,
Ohio, in 1840, and is the daughter of William and
Elizabeth (McCarty) Williams, who were natives
of Virginia, born near Culpeper Court-House,
and in early life removed to Ohio, where they es-
tablished a comfortable farm homestead, and where
the decease of both occurred. Mrs. Williams was a
devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
while her husband, although a true Christian in life
and character, never identified himself with any
Church. They were the parents of the follow-
ing children : Daniel, Sarah, James, Albert, Martha,
Elizabeth, Lewis, John and Mary. Of the last
marriage of Mr. Bitner there were born no chil-
dren.

Our subject is a stanch Democrat, politically.

*^V-

COLES COUNTY

423

and one of the pillars of the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church in Ashraore, where he has held the
office of Deacon for many years. He has labored
faithfully, and contributed generously to insure the
maintenance and welfare of the church of his
choice, and at one period in his existence was its
main prop. He is a great admirer of the principles
of Masonry, and identified himself with the frater-
nity many years ago.

R. CORNELIUS B. RUDDELL owns and
occupies a fine farm of 240 acres on sec-
tion 8, in Seven Hickory Township. He
put up a handsome residence in the fall of
1881, taking possession of the place the following
year, and since then has devoted the greater part of
his time to the cultivation of his land and the em-
bellishment of one of the finest homesteads in
Coles County. He has also eighty acres within the
limits of Fair Grange, which is well improved and
quite valuable. The principal events in the life
history of our subject are mainly as follows :

Dr. Ruddell first drew breath in Clark County,
Ind., June 23, 1830, and is the son of William and
Rebecca (Tucker) Ruddell. His father, a native
of Maryland, was born in 1794, and emigrated from
his native State in about 1820, to Clark County,
Ind., where he engaged in general merchandising
and also carried on farming to a considerable ex-
tent until 1840, then removed to Jefferson ville.
The mother was born in Kentucky in about 1800,
and both parents were of Scottish ancestry. The
record of their children is as follows : Alexander
T. married Miss Catherine Haymaker, and is a
resident of Clark County, Ind. ; Sarah E. is the wife
of M. W. Robertson, and resides in La Porte
County, Ind. ; Rebecca is the wife of Jacob Harbi-
son, of Clark County, that State; Stephen R. died
when an interesting youth of sixteen years, and
Charles B., when about three and one-half years of
age.

The subject of this narrative was the second
child of his parents and spent his early daj's after
the manner of most country boys, pursuing his
studies in the winter season at the district school

and making himself useful around the parental
homestead. He came with his parents to Madison
County, 111., in 1842, where the latter died soon
afterward, when he was but a boy twelve years of
age. Two uncles then came and took the orphaned
children back to Indiana, and our subject lived with
his uncle Robertson until completing his ordinary
school studies. He then decided to become a phy-
sician, and going to Louisville, entered the medical
university where, after a course of two years, he
was graduated in 1857. He commenced practice
at Oregon, Ind., but continued, however, only
eighteen months, finding that the profession neither
accorded with his tastes nor his health. He then
purchased a stock of goods and engaged in mer-
chandising at the same place until 1862. In 1865
he located at Charleston, Ind., and sold goods there
until 1881. Then, selling out, he purchased 240
acres of land in Seven Hickory Township, which
constitutes his present homestead.

Dr. Ruddell was married in the spring of 1859,
to Miss Julia A., the daughter of Jesse and Malinda
(Drummond) Coombs, natives of Indiana, and the
father a successful farmer and miller of Clark
County. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. R. were :
Sarah, who is now the wife of William P'erris, and a
resident of Clark County, Ind. ; James, who died
young; Madison R., telegraph operator and Station
Agent at Memphis, Ind.; John Lee, who married
Miss Lydia Deitz, and lives in Clark County;
Thomas, who married Miss Hannah Carr, and lives
in Kansas ; David B., who married Miss Emma Gurn-
sey, and is a resident of Louisville, Ky. ; Campbell
H., who married Miss Clara Deitz, and is milling
in Clark County, Ind. ; and Mahlon, who married
Miss Susan Bower.

The wedding of our subject and his wife was
celebrated at the home of the bride, Rev. Reason
Hammond, of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
officiating. Of this marriage there have been the
following children: William C. died April 11,
; 1863, in infancy; Sallie M., was born Jan. 29,

1862, and married O. L. Gurnsey, of Clark County,
Ind., who is now in the employ of a railroad
company in Texas; Charles M., born May 7,

1863, married Miss Estella Coombs, of Clark
County, Ind., and is Station Agent at Fair Grange,

424

COLES COUNTY.

being also engaged in general merchandising; Wal-
ter H. was born Nov. 28, 1865, and is a telegraph
operator at Jeffersonville, Ind. ; Albert, born Oct.
11, 1868; Jessie G., Oct. 18, 1870; Fannie L., Dec.
17, 1874, and Benson, Nov. 8, 1876.

The Doctor keeps himself well posted upon cur-
rent events, and is a stanch supporter of the Re-
publican party. He is a strong Prohibitionist, and
has watched with deep interest the success of the
temperance movement. In 1876 he became identi-
fied with the A. O. IT. W. at Charlestown, Ind., and
still retains his connection with the order. He has
contributed his full quota toward the building up
of his county, and his beautiful farm, with its
appurtenances, forms one of the most attractive
features in the landscape.

H. WALLACE, M. D. Dr. Wallace has
retired from the practice of his profession,
and is the owner of a fine farm in Humbolt
Township, containing 500 acres of valuable land.
He is the eldest son of Robert and Martha (Row-
land) Wallace, and was born Oct. 11, 1840, in Rip-
ley County, Ind., of which State his parents were
also natives. His paternal grandparents, David and
Jane (McKittrick) Wallace, were natives of Ken-
tucky. David Wallace was a tanner by trade, and
removed to Ripley County, Ind., where he was en-
gaged in that occupation for many years. His ma-
ternal grandparents were Philip and Rebecca (Per-
lee) Rowland, the former a native of New Jersey,
and the latter of Ohio. Philip Rowland was a
weaver by trade, but entered land in the early days
in Dearborn County, Ind., and engaged in farming.
He was a soldier in early life and was presented
with a sword in recognition of his services rendered
to the country. His family on both sides are noted
for longevity, and Dr. Wallace distinctly remem-
bers on one occasion seeing his two grandmothers
and one great-grandmother enjoying a social visit
together. His grandfather was the parent of nine
children and grandparent of forty-seven, among
whom not a single death had yet occurred.

Robert Wallace, like his father, was a tanner by
trade, and in early life was engaged in that business

in Ripley County, but he subsequently removed to
Lawrenceburg, Dearborn County, and there engaged
in the leather business. He received an excellent
education in boyhood, and when a young man took
a classical course in Wilmington College, in Indi-
ana. He passed the remainder of his life in Law-
renceburg, where his death occurred in 1844. His
widow, thus early deprived of the strong arm upon
which she had leaned, soon removed with her little
family to the old homestead, where she subsequently
was married the second time, to James Vandolah.
After this marriage, the family removed to Hills-
boro, where her son W. H., received his education
in the common schools. He made his home partly
with his grandfather Rowland, assisting him on the
farm during the summer season, and attending
school in the winter. When about nineteen years
of age he obtained employment with his stepfather
in a shingle factory, in Lawrence County, Ind.

After leaving the factory our subject taught
school one term, and then enlisted in Co. F, 37th
Ind. Vol. Inf., under the command of Col. Hazzard
and Capt. Markland. He was mustered in at Law-
renceburg and served three years. He was ap-
pointed Regimental Paymaster, and was soon after
promoted to the position of Division Paymaster,
and removed with the retreat to Louisville, where
he took charge of the military mail. Chaplain
Lozier was actively interested in procuring his
rapid promotion. He was also employed as book-
keeper until the close of the war. In the autumn
of 1864 he was mustered out of service at Indian-
apolis. Having had a little experience as drug
clerk he then determined to study medicine, and
entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati,
where he was graduated in March, 1867. He first
engaged in the practice of his profession at Miami,
Hamilton Co., Ohio, and after remaining there four
years removed to New Haven in the same county,
and there formed a partnership with Dr. Bartlett,
which continued five years.

On the 22d of February, 1872. Dr. Wallace mar-
ried Miss Albina Scott, the daughter of Andrew
and Maria (Sefton) Scott, of Ohio. Her father's
family was of Scotch descent and her mother's of
Irish. Two years after his marriage, Dr. AVallace
moved with his young wife to Humbolt, in this

COLES COUNTY.

425

county, where his father-in-law had previously en-
tered a section of land. He purchased this tract of
the heirs, gave up the practice of his profession,
and has since devoted himself exclusively to agri-
cultural pursuits. In conducting his farm he was
at one time extensively engaged in raising broom
corn, but is now giving his attention to growing
fine breeds of stock. He makes a specialty of
raising English draft horses, and in cattle has a
pedigreed Short-horn and a graded Polled-Augus
as a cross. His hogs are bred from choice Poland
males, which has given him a fine stock.

Dr. and Mrs. Wallace had a family of five chil-
dren born to them, three of whom died in infancy.
Those living are Harry H. and William G. Dr.
Wallace is not actively interested in politics, but
always votes with the Republican party. The Doc-
tor and his wife are both members of the Presby-
terian Church, in which the former is an Elder and
also an earnest worker in the Sunday-school.

T V. MILLAR, a substantial and
prosperous farmer of Lafayette Township,
is located on section 4, and is also engaged
in the manufacture of tile. He had been a resident
of the Prairie State since a youth seventeen years
of age, when he came with his father's family from
Hampshire County, Va., where he first opened his
eyes to the light on the 1st of February, 1837. His
parents, William and Sarah (VanMeter) Millar. emi-
grated from the Old Dominion to Illinois in 1854,
and located in Lafayette Township, where the elder
Millar still carries on farming. (See sketch on
another page.)

Our subject spent his childhood and youth under
the parental roof, and under the training of his
father, who was a thorough farmer, became inti-
mately acquainted with the best methods of tilling
the soil and carrying on general agriculture. After
reaching his twenty-fifth year, he was married, in
September, 1862, to Miss Mary Knowles, the wed-
ding taking place at the home of the bride in
Homer, Ohio. Mrs. M. is the daughter of William

and Mary Knowles, and was born in Licking
County, Ohio, June 9, 1839.

Mr. and Mrs. Millar, when startingjrout in life
together, located upon a part of the land which
they now occupy. Our subject was prospered in
his farming operations, and in due time became the
possessor of 342 acres, which is thoroughly drained
with fifteen miles of tiling, the product of his own
manufacture, and is furnished with a good set of
farm buildings. He set up his tile factory mainly
for his own benefit, it was the second one estab-
lished in Coles County. Afterward there seemed
to be such demand for this commodity that he con-
tinued his operations, at the request of the neigh-
boring farmers, and now manufactures large quan-
tities for outside parties annually, turning out dur-
ing the season of 1886, ninety miles of tile, varying
in size from three to twelve inches.

Mr. Millar followed stock-raising fora number of
37ears, but now gives his attention mostly to grain.
Of the ten children born to this household the
eldest daughter, Mary, died in 1886, when an in-
teresting young lady of twenty years. The nine
living are Edwin, Garrett, Charles, Sadie, Harry,
Vause, Fannie, Bertha and Ruth.

Mr. and Mrs. Millar identified themselves with
the Presbyterian Church many years ago, and po-
litically, our subject usually votes with the Demo-
cratic party, although by no means confining him-
self to party candidates. He has held the local
offices of his township, but would much prefer to
follow the life of a private citizen, and give his en-
tire attention to his family and his farm.

FRANCIS A. BROWN is a farmer and stock-
grower residing on section 10, Ashmore
Township. He was born Feb. 1, 1859, on
the place where he now resides. (For history of
the parents see sketch of P>lwin W. Brown.) June
25, 1882, Francis A. Brown was united in marriage
to M iss Maggie Myers. She is the daughter of
Frederick and Mary (Johns) Myers, and was born
in Illinois, Nov. 3, 1861. Her parents are natives
of Virginia, but are now living in Coles County,
111. Her father is a man of fine business qualificn-

426

COLES COUNTY.

tious, and is one of the leading stock-dealers in the
county. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have a beautiful lit-
tle girl named Nettie P., born Sept. 11, 1885.

Mr. Brown owns a fine stock farm of 1 25 acres,
on which he resides. He is a young man of energy
and enterprise, and is successfully engaged in rais-
ing high grades of cattle and hogs. He is inter-
ested in public affairs, and like all the other mem-
bers of his family is a Republican and Prohibition-
ist. His grandfather was a Mason.

N LIVER C. BOWER, a well-known and highly
respected citizen of Morgan Township, spent
his early years in Clark County, Ind., where
his birth took place July 25, 1846. He is the son
of Absalom and Nancy (Hostetter) Bower, and his
paternal grandfather was Adam Bower. The
latter's children were Joseph, Solomon, Absalom,
Elizabeth, Thomas Jefferson and Barbara, and the
male members of the family became prominent in
public affairs, being men of more than ordinary
ability.

The father of our subject was born in North
Carolina in 1804, to which State his father had re-
moved from Pennsylvania. Absalom was 'a boy of
five years when his parents removed to Louisville,
Ky., and two years afterward took up their resi-
dence in Clark County, Ind. Adam Bower pur-
chased about 600 acres of land, in the cultivation
and improvement of which he was engaged the
balance of his life, and at his death had a fine
estate to divide up among his children. Absalom
Bower after reaching manhood married and settled
in Clark County, where he continued until his
death, which occurred in November, 1870. His
share of his father's estate was about 100 acres,
to which he added as time passed on, and finally
became the owner of nearly 600 acres, with a large
area of valuable timber. A part of this he cleared
and improved, and built up a homestead which was
a credit to himself and formed one of the attractive
features of Clark County, Ind. He was a man of
more than ordinary business ability, kindly in his
character and disposition, and had for about forty

years been prominently connected with the' Chris-
tian Church, being one of the pillars of the organi-
tion at Olive Branch, in which he officiated as
Deacon for many years. He was liberal in his con-
tributions to the Church and to objects of charity,
and with his excellent wife, trained his children in
the faith which sustained him in his old age.

Adam Bower was a preacher of the Dunkard de-
nomination, with which he identified himself when
a young man and carried on his pious administra-
tions during the greater part of his life. His
funeral was attended by people from all parts of the
county, the procession extending over one mile in
length. He was greatly missed from the commun-
ity, which had learned to respect him for his
excellent traits of character, and with whose agri-
cultural interests he had been identified for over a
quarter of a century. His son Joseph was for
twelve years the Recorder of Clark County, and
his brother Daniel a Colonel of militia. He served
in the Black Hawk War at the time when the pres-
ent site of the city of LaFayette was an untrodden
wilderness, and endured with true pioneer courage
and manly fortitude the dangers and difficulties of
settlement in a new country.

The main points in the history of the children of
Absalom and Nancy Bower are given briefly as
follows: William E., a practicing physician of
Sullivan, Ind., was more than ordinarily successful,
building up a large practice and a fine reputation ;
Elizabeth became the wife of Jesse Coombs, who
died shortly afterward, and she then commenced
studying medicine; she was graduated from the
same college where her brother had studied, and
practiced successfully a number of years. By her
first marriage she became the mother of one child,
which died young. Her second husband was John
C. Barnes, a farmer of Jefferson County, Ind.,
where they resided five years and then moved to
Rural Retreat, thence to their present home. They
have three sons — Elmer, Omer and Calmer. Sol-
omon L. Bower married and located in Clark
County, Ind., on land given him by his father, to
which he has added and is now the possessor of 200
acres; he has no children. Adam died when two
years of age ; Emma, when twenty-one years old
was accidentally killed by being thrown under a

LIBRARY

OF THE

UK5VERSJTV OF ILLIMO'S

1

COLES COUNTY.

429

wagon while riding on horseback. She was highly
gifted and a natural poetess, and her writings are
carefully preserved. She seemed to have a pre-
sentiment that she would meet an accidental death,
and expressed a belief that she would not live to
be twenty-two years old. In consequence of this
she refused to be married to her betrothed until
after her twenty-second birthday. Her death took
place when she was twenty-one years and six
months old. Abraham H. was graduated at the
Cincinnati Medical College in 1862; he was subse-
quently drafted and furnished a substitute. Daniel
died when eight years of age.

The subject of our sketch remained at home dur-
ing the early part of his life, and was married soon
after reaching his majority. He had received a
good education, completing his studies at the
Northwestern University at Indianapolis. There
he was only permitted to attend O7ie year on ac-
count of the illness of his brother, returning home
to take care of the latter until his death. He was
married, Dec. 29, 1869, to Miss Emily J. Perisho, a
native of Coles County, born April 10, 1846, and
the daughter of Isaac and llosana (O'Hair) Perisho,
who were natives of Washington County, Ind., and
became prominent in Coles County, where they
spent the greater part of their lives. The biography
of Isaac Perisho will be found on another page in
this ALBUM.

Mr. and Mrs. Bower became the parents of two
children: William Perisho died when an infant of
six months; Arthur E. is at home with his parents.
Mr. Bower came to this county in 1871, arriving
here on the 20th day of January. He had already
purchased the farm to which he now removed his
family, and proceeded industriously with its im-
provement and cultivation. It includes 265 acres,
and is intersected by the T., St. L. & K. R. R. He
has given much attention of late years to the breed-
ing of fine stock, and buys broom corn in large
quantities, which he ships to Eastern markets, his
transactions in this line yielding him annually a
handsome sum of money. Included in the farm
is a timber tract of 110 acres lying along the Em-
barras River, and the lowland has been drained
with 2,500 rods of tiling. His live-stock includes
horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. Mr. Bower, politi-

cally, is an uncompromising Democrat, and in 1886
came within two votes of receiving the nomination
for Sheriff. He has occupied various local offices,
and been prominent among the counsels of his
townsmen in matters concerning the general welfare,

JOHN NEFF, widely and favorably known
throughout North Okaw Township, and a
portrait of whom is shown on the opposite
page, operates a fine body of land compris-
ing 240 acres under cultivation, and sixty acres of
timber on section 32. The improvements are first-
class, and Mr. N. of late years has given consider-
able attention to the raising of fine stock. His
early days were passed in Wythe County, Va.,
where his birth took;place Sept. 20, 1813. He re-
ceived a limited education, and when eighteen
years old started out in life for himself, tracing his
footsteps first to Fountain County, Ind., to which
place a married sister had preceded him, and where
he worked for two years following on a farm, at
$100 per year." His father then coming to Indiana
on a visit to his son-in-law, our subject returned
with him to Virginia, and remained at home sev-
eral years thereafter.

In 1838 Mr. Neff returned to Indiana, and for
two years thereafter had charge of a farm near
Shakertown. In the meantime he had been united
in marriage with Miss Mary Bumgardner, the wed-
ding taking place in July, 1833, in Virginia. This
lady was a native of the same county as her hus-
band, and after becoming the mother of one child,
a son, William F., departed this life at the home of
her husband in Virginia. Mr. Neff afterward re-
turned to Indiana, where he was engaged as we
have stated, and in 1835 went back to the Old
Dominion, and was there married in 1836, to Miss
Susan Nelson. He remained in his native county
several years thereafter, and in the fall of 1849
came with his family to this State, locating in
North Okaw Township. He had learned the black-
smith's trade in his native State, and now rented a
tract of land which he cultivated, and upon which
he erected a shop, and worked at his trade as time
and opportunity permitted. In 1859, he removed

r

430

COLES COUNTY.

to Texas, of which State he was a resident one
year, and then repaired to a point near Kansas
City, where he farmed several years, and then pur-
chased a tract of land in Johnson County, Kan.

The children of John and Susan Neff, eleven in
number, were Mary, James, Fannie, Franklin, Car-
oline, Nancy, Henry, Harvey, Cora, Sarah C., and
an infant who died unnamed. Cora died when
about fifteen years of age ; Sarah C. died in Coles
County, and Mary died in Kansas. The wife and
mother departed this life at their home in Kansas,
in 1861, and for a time after this affliction the
household was broken up. Mr. N. did not engage
in anything for a time, and the children were cared
for by Fannie Lewis. In February, 1863, Mr.
Neff was united in marriage with Mrs. Nancy
(Stineman) Osborn, daughter of Kudolph and Mary
Stineman, and widow of William Osborn, who died
in North Okaw Township, in 1861 ; he was a thrifty
farmer, and left his widow a fine property. The
Stineman family is of German ancestry.

The parents of Mrs! Neff had a family of five
children, namely : John, Mary, Harriet, Nancy and
Phoebe. Mr. and Mrs. Stineman spent their last
years in Indiana, where the mother died Feb. 18,
1838, and the father in 1840. Mrs. Neff is the only
one of their children living. Rudolph Stineman
was born Oct. 3, 1793, and his wife, formerly Miss
Mary Hawkins, Dec. 3, 1797. Their marriage
took place in Ohio, Jan. 11, 1815, of which State
Mrs. Neff is a native, born Jan. 5, 1825. Her
parents afterward moved to Fountain County, Ind.,
where they spent their last 3rears. The paternal
grandparents of Mrs. Neff, who were natives of
Germany, spent the latter part of their lives in
Ohio, dying near the town of Oxford, where their
remains were laid to rest. Mrs. Neff was carefully
reared, receiving a common-school education, and
remained with her sister until her first marriage.
There were no children by either marriage.

The father of our subject, George Neff by name,
was born in Pennsylvania, and was of German an-
cestry. He became a resident of Wythe County,
Va., while a young man, and was there married to
Miss Catherine Etter. Soon afterward he pur-
chased a farm in Wythe County and followed farm-
ing continuously during his life. He served as a

soldier in the War of 1812, and "died on his farm
not long after the late Civil War. The mother had
passed to her final rest several years previously.
They were conscientious people, and consistent
members of the Lutheran Church. The parental
household included ten children, namely : Hettie,
Elizabeth and Samuel, who were married, and are
now deceased; Christina, the widow of Stephen
Cormany, and now a resident of Wythe County,
Va. ; Rachel, who died young, and Lydia, who be-
came the wife of Joseph Flory, both now deceased:
John, our subject; Martin, who occupies the old
homestead in Virginia; Hiram, who died in Texas,
and David, who died in Virginia two years after
marriage.

Mr. Neff is now approaching the sunset of life.
He has lived worthily and gained the respect of his
neighbors and acquaintances, and has been content
to follow the course of a quiet and unobtrusive
citizen, attending strictly to his farming and stock-
raising, and performing, to the best of his ability,
the duties set before him. He has had but little to
do with politics, aside from casting his vote at
general elections, and uniformly upholding the
principles of the Democratic party. Mrs. N. is a
lady highly esteemed in the community, and a
member in good standing of the Baptist Church at
Fuller's Point. It is with pleasure that we present
her portrait beside that of her husband as a fitting
accompanying picture.

pILLIAM D. ROBERTS, a prosperous and
prominent farmer located in the northeast-
ern part of the county, has been a resident of
Morgan Township for over thirty years, the greater
part of this time being spent on the body of land
which constitutes his present homestead. His first
purchase consisted of forty acres of timber, to
which he has added by degrees, until he is now the
possessor of 243 acres, the greater part under a
high state of cultivation. His farm buildings are
convenient and substantial, and bear comparison
with those of his neighbors. The soil is fertile, and

COLES COUNTY.

431

that which needed draining has been underlaid with
about 300 rods of tile. He has a good assortment
of live stock, and has devoted his land mostly to
the raising of grain. He came to Central Illinois
when the country was practically unsettled, and
while watching with interest the development and
progress of the Prairie State, has contributed his
full share toward bringing it to its present proud
position among the commonwealths of the West.

The earliest years of our subject were spent in
Hendricks County, Ind., where his birth took place
April 4, 1829. He is the son of Isaac and Nancy
Roberts, who were natives of Scott County, Ky.
His paternal grandparents, Azariah and Lucy
(Smith) Roberts, it is supposed were of Southern
birth. This branch of the family originated from
one of the three brothers who came to America
from Wales at an early day; one located in the
South, one went North, and the whereabouts of the
other was lost track of. One was employed as a
blacksmith and another as a ship carpenter, the one
locating in the North having no particular trade.
Azariah, the grandfather of our subject, was a min-
ister. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Roberts
were natives of the Old Dominion, and had a fam-
ily of nine children, of whom but two are now liv-
ing. One sister is in California; she married Jacob
Boots, who was a farmer by occupation and is now
deceased. She became the mother of six children.

Azariah Roberts was one of a large family, and
was married in Kentucky, where he engaged in
farming, and also officiated as a Baptist preacher.
He and his estimable wife reared a fine family of
sons and daughters, and finally removed to Jen-
nings County, Ind., where his death took place in
1857. The grandmother did not long survive her
husband. Their children had all married and left
home before they removed from Kentucky, some
of them having gone to Indiana, where they were
joined by their parents, who lived among them the
balance of their lives. Rev. Roberts was a man of
much force of character, and a faithful servant in
his religious calling.

Isaac Roberts emigrated to Indiana in 1 828,
where he followed his trade of a blacksmith in
riendrick.* County. He had received but a limited
education, b.ut had been trained to habits of indus-

try and economy, and always succeeded in provid-
ing comfortably for his family, which included six
sons and three daughters, of whom the record is as
follows: William D., of our sketch, is the eldest;
John Louis was married in this county when twen-
ty-one years old, and died soon afterward; his
widow is still living and a resident of Moultrie
County ; Aratus, a resident of Morgan Township,
where he is carrying on farming, owns a good
property and is the father of five children; Anna
Elizabeth died in this county in 1853; Margaret
Jane died in childhood ; Martha Susan died in in-
fancy, and Thomas after he hud become a young
man ; Isaac Milton, a resident of Charleston, where
he is following blacksmithing, is married and has a
family of four children; Alpheus, the father of
three children, is living on a farm in Morgan Town-
ship.

William D. Roberts spent his early life in his
native county engaged in blacksmithing and farm-
ing until 1852, when he came to this county, and
made his first purchase of land in Morgan Town-
ship. He has been prominent in local affairs since
coming here, was Road Commissioner nine years,
School Director the same length of time, and
Township Collector one year. He united with the
Salem Baptist Church many years ago, and has
been one of its most liberal contributors. The
name of this church was taken from the Scriptures.
He has officiated as Deacon for a period of twenty-
one years, and been Clerk and Trustee. His wife
and four of his children belong to the same, and
the church building which he once owned is located
on his land.

The marriage of William D. Roberts and Miss
Ann Douglass, of Hendricks County, Ind., took
place at the home of the bride, March 14, 1852.
Mrs. R. is the daughter of Isaac and Margaret
(Reed) Douglass, whose family included eleven
children, the greater part of whom are still living.
They emigrated from Ohio to Indiana in about
1827, making the journey overland in a two-horse
wagon. The. children of Mr. and Mrs. Roberts
were Josephine, now the wife of Joseph Shafer, of
Morgan Township; Ada Margaret Jane, born Sept.
1«, 1859, died Nov. 26, 1863; Mary E. is the wife
of William Shafer, a prosperous farmer of Ash- ,

••

-4«-
432

COLES COUNTY.

more Township; Isaac Thomas, born Feb. 13, 1866,
remains at home on the farm. The wife and mother
departed this life Feb. 25, 1866.

Mr. Roberts was married the second time, June
13, 1866, to Miss Cynthia Lanman, and the chil-
dren of this marriage were Spurgeon, born April
18, 1867; Oscar, born March 26, 1869, died in in-
fancy; William A., born April 15, 1870; Rosanna,
Oct. 3, 1872; Nancy L., Sept. 25, 1875. These
four are at home, and Omega, who was born Dec.
20, 1878, died in infancy. Mrs. Cynthia Roberts
departed this life Dec. 27, 1878.

Mr. Roberts uniformly votes the Democratic
ticket, and has been largely interested in the many
enterprises set on foot for the building up of his
community. He has filled his niche in life worth-
ily, and ranks among the representative men of his
township.

ON. H. A. NEAL, a leading local attorney
of Charleston, is a native of the Old Granite
State, born in Tuftonboro, Dec. 13, 1846.
He is the son of Nathaniel and Mary E.
(Folsom) Neal, natives respectively of Maine
and New Hampshire. The elder Neal has followed
farming from his boyhood, and is still living in the
town where his son, our subject, was born. He has
been a man prominent in the affairs of his county,
holding the various local offices, and serving as
Captain of the State Militia for several years. Both
parents are prominently connected with the Method-
ist Episcopal Church, of which Nathaniel Neal is a
chief pillar in Tuftonboro, and active in all en-
terprises calculated for the well-being of his com-
munity. He is a radical Prohibitionist, and has
watched with keen interest the workings of the tem-
perance movement in both New England and the
West.

The parental family included four children, only
two now living, namely : Lydia A., tMrs. L. A.
Orue, of New Hampshire, and Henry A., of our
sketch. The latter spent his younger years mostly
in attendance at the public schools, and when six-
teen years old entered the seminary at Effingharn,
where he remained studying six months. The
Civil War being then in progress he enlisted, in the

fall of 1864, in Co. K, 1st N. H. Heavy Artillery,
and continued in the service until June, 1865.
Upon returning home he resumed his studies in a
school at Efflngham, and from there went to Pough-
keepsie, N. Y., and after attending the Eastman
Commercial College three months, was graduated
with honors in the class of I860. Upon coming
to Illinois he located for a time in Charleston, this
county, where he taught school until the fall of
1867. He then took charge of a grammar school
at Paris, Edgar County, and in the fall of 1868 be-
came Principal of the city schools of Watseka, the
county seat of Iroquois County, which position he
retained for three years following, and the duties
of which he discharged with great credit.

Mr. Neal had always felt an inclination for the
profession of law, and while a resident of Paris had
employed his leisure time in such works as would
best inform him upon legal questions. He now
commenced reading in earnest under the instruc-
tion of Gen. George Hunt, and in the fall of 1871
repaired to Ann Arbor, Mich., and after a thor-
ough course in the university was graduated in the
spring of 1873. His studies, however, did not stop
here, but he pursued them industriously until fully
qualified for admission to the bar, which was ef-
fected that same year. He chose Charleston for his
maiden efforts, becoming the partner of Messrs.
Wiley & Parker, with whom he continued until
1876. Mr. Parker then withdrew, and the firm of
Wiley & Neal has continued to the present. Their
office is on the east side of the public square, and
they have charge of many of the important cases in
litigation in this section.

The talents of Mr. Neal received recognition
many years ago. He was elected a member of the
State Legislature in 1876-78, and as a faithful ex-
ponent of the principles of the Republican party
has represented its interests in various capacities in
his township and outside. The business interests
of Charleston have received his due attention as an
enterprising and liberal-minded citizen, and he is
now a stockholder in the .Second National Bank and
the Loan and Building Association. He has been
a Director in both of these institutions, being con-
nected with the latter in such capacity for three
years. He is also general solicitor for the Toledo,

I;

COLES COUNTY.

433

St. Louis & Kansas City Railroad Co., for the
State of Illinois, and local attorney for the Indian-
apolis & St. Louis and the Peoria, Decatur & Ev-
anston Railroad Go's, in Coles County. Socially he
is a prominent Mason, and a member in good stand-
ing of the G. A. R. and the K. of H.

eHARLES F. BROWN, residing on section 10,
Ashmore Township, first opened his eyes to
the light on the farm which he now owns
and occupies, and where for several years he has
been carrying on farming and stock-breeding. He
is yet com para lively young in years, but has already
established himself upon a firm basis, and ranks
among the representative men of Coles County, and
one closely identified with its agricultural interests.
The birth of our subject took place Sept. 7, 1848.
His parents, William H. and Emily (Olmstead)
Brown, were natives of New York State. The for-
mer was born in 1813, and came to this township in
1837, locating upon a tract of timber land, where
he opened up a good farm, which he occupied and
cultivated until 1882, when he retired from active
labor. The mother was some years the junior of
her husband, and died Oct. 12, 1886, passing to
her final rest after a long and painful illness. She
was a lady of amiable Christian character, and her
memory is held most sacred in the hearts of her
children and friends. Her death took place Oct.
12, 1886, and her remains were laid in the ceme-
tery at Enon Church.

Young Brown remained under the parental roof,
assisting his parents until after reaching his major-
ity, receiving a fair education, and becoming thor-
oughly acquainted with the duties of farm life.
One of the most important events of his early man-
hood was his marriage with Miss Elizabeth A. Tim-
mons, which took place at the home of the bride's
parents in Ashmore Township, Feb. 29, 1871. Mrs.
Brown was born in Madison County, Ohio, Nov.
4, 1854, and is the daughter of Thornton A. and
Mary A. (Kendall) Timmons, natives respectively
of Fayette and Madison Counties, Ohio. They
' were of German ancestry, and possessed in a marked

degree the reliable and substantial characteristics of
the people of the Fatherland. Thornton A. Tim-
mons was born Oct. 12, 1832, and his wife, Mary,
Dec. 30, 1835. They were married, Nov. 17, 1853,
in Madison County, Ohio. Mr. Timmons now owns
a fine farm of 130 acres in Ashmore Township.
Five of his brothers served as Union soldiers in the
late war, all being members of Co. A, 123d 111. Vol.
Inf. They enlisted in 1862, and served during the
entire war, in which, although participating in most
of its important battles, none ever received a
wound. They were all about five feet and ten
inches in height, and when standing in a row made a
group of fine-looking men. One brother, Battle H.,
was taken ill at Murfreesboro, Tenn.,and died there
in the fall of 1863. Mr. Timmons had nine brothers
and two sisters, namely, Salathiel, George B., Har-
rison, Leroy, Laban, John, Isaac, William, Cor-
nelius, Sallie M. and Lucinda Jane. The children
of Mr. and- Mrs. Timmons were: Elizabeth; Mar-
garet, now deceased ; Frederick I. and Peter A.

Mr. and Mrs. Brown became the parents of four
children: Amy was born Feb. 10, 1873; Ora, Nov.
4, 1875; Mary E., born May 3, 1884, died in Feb-
ruary, 1885; Hattie E. was born in 1886. The
homestead includes ninety-five acres, thirty-four of
which is in valuable timber, and the balance care-
fully cultivated. The stock and farm implements
are of the best description and well cared for, and
the premises are kept in good shape. Mr. and Mrs.
Brown enjoy in a large degree the respect and es-
teem of their neighbors, and for some years have
been actively connected with the Missionary Bap-
tist Church, of which our subject is a Trustee and
one of the chief pillars. He is a strong temperance
man, favoring prohibition measures, and politi-
cally, since exercising the right of suffrage, has
uniformly cast his vote with the Republican partyk

AMUEL DOTY, the owner of a fine estate
in Charleston Township, containing 106
acres of valuable land, nearly all of which
is in a good state of cultivation, has grown
up with the township, having been born here March
4, 1834, and belongs to one of the substantial old

I

434

COLES COUNTY.

pioneer families of the county. He is the son of
James and Mary (Teel) Doty (see sketch of James
Doty), and was raised on his father's farm until
twenty-one years of age. He then began the world
for himself, and earned his first money on the road
to independence as a wage-worker. He obtained
employment on farms in the vicinity, receiving for
his services $15 per month in the summer, and 113
in the winter. He was faithful, industrious and
economical, and at the end of five years had saved
$300 from his hard-earned wages.

Our subject then purchased fifty acres of his
present property, which was unimproved and cov-
ered with a dense growth of underbrush, but he
worked hard, and soon cleared the land and also
the indebtedness incurred in making the purchase.
He then increased his possessions by an addition of
forty-six acres, and subsequently purchased ten
acres more, all of which comprises his present fine
farm. The soil is rich, producing excellent crops
every year, and he is energetic and industrious,
cultivating and improving it to the utmost.

April 24, 1864, Mr. Doty was united in marriage
with his cousin, Mrs. Cynthia (Doty) Parker, who
was likewise a native of this township, born Aug.
26, 1834, and the daughter of Levi and Matilda
(Phipps) Doty. By her first marriage she had a
family of three children : Melinda, now the wife
of N. B. Hill; Levi D. and Eldorado E. Mr. and
Mrs. Doty have no children.

In 1884 Mr. Doty established a mercantile busi-
ness at Lerna, in partnership with his stepson, El-
dorado, which they continued until the autumn of
1886. His stepson having decided to enter school
for the purpose of preparing himself for the minis-
try, they sold off the stock, although Mr. Doty still
owns the property. He is a Democrat in politics,
and Mrs. Doty is a consistent member of the Mis-
sionary Baptist Church.

JHOHN T. MONTGOMERY, M. D., well
I known throughout Coles County as one of
its most skillful and successful physicians, is
' still a young man, with a prospect of many

years of usefulness, both as a citizen and practi-

tioner. He has already made his mark in his pro-
fession, and has fully established himself in the
confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends
and acquaintances. Dr. Montgomery is a native
of Greenfield, Mo., born Oct. 18, 1852, and the son
of Rev. George W. and Sarah A. (Rankin) Mont-
gomery, natives of Tennessee. His paternal grand-
father, Samuel Montgomery, was born in the North
of Ireland, and was brought when an infant to this
country by his parents, who located in North Car-
olina. He was reared to farming pursuits, and
moved across the Mississippi, where his death took
place in Greenfield, Mo., in 1858. He had in the
meantime married, and reared a family of eleven
children. Two of the sons are yet living, namely,
Rev. George W. and Nelson. The former com-
menced his labors as a Christian minister in 1 849,
identifying himself with the Cumberland Presby-
terians. His first charge was in Greene County,
Mo., whence he came to this county in 1 866, set-
tling in Oakland, where he remained until 1872,
and then became a resident of Ashmore, where he
has a charge and continues his pious mission in the
same intelligent and able manner for which he was
distinguished at the outset.

In the household of Rev. George and Mrs. Sarah
Montgomery were twelve children, of whom John
T. was the eldest. The father had wisely invested
his surplus funds in a medium sized farm, which
provided a comfortable home for his children, and
where our subject was reared until seventeen years
of age, pursuing his studies in the district schools.
Afterward he attended Mt. Zion Seminary, the
Decatur High School and the Illinois State Normal
School, finishing his studies in the latter institution.
He commenced reading medicine under the in-
struction of Dr. W. J. Peak, of Oakland, after
which he entered Chicago Medical College, where
he graduated with honors on the 21st of March,
1876.

Dr. Montgomery commenced the practice of his
chosen profession as partner of his former pre-
ceptor, Dr. Peak, with whom he continued six
months at Oakland. He then removed to Bushton,
where he practiced five and one-half years. He
took up his residence in Charleston in the spring of
1882, and in the comparatively brief time as a

COLES COUNTY.

485

physician here, has made really remarkable headway.
He is a close student and an extensive reader, and
has availed himself of every opportunity to ad-
vance in the knowledge of his profession. He has
identified himself with the American Medical As-
sociation, the Esculapian Medical Society of the
Wabash Valley, and the Coles County Medical
Society of Surgery and Medicine.

Dr. Montgomery was married, Oct. 12, 1876, to
Miss Mary A. Gerard, a native of Ohio, and the
daughter of Jackson Gerard. Of this union there
have been born four children — Sarah E., Mack G.,
Mary M. and John T. The family is pleasantly
located in a snug home in the central part of the
city, and enjoy the society of its refined and culti-
vated people. The Doctor is Republican in poli-
tics, and socially belongs to the Masons, the I. O.
O. F. and the K. of P. He was one of the orig-
inal Directors of the Charleston Home and Loan
Association, and in 1884 was United States Exam-
ining Surgeon of the Fourteenth Congressional
District. He is at present a member of the City
Board of Education, and a man who uniformly
takes an interest in every enterprise calculated for
the welfare and progress of his fellow-citizens.

WILLIAM MILLAR became a resident of
Lafayette Township, this county, in March,
1854, and for a period of over thirty years
has walked in and out among its people in a worthy
and creditable manner, and has contributed his
share toward the farming interests of this section
by building up a homestead which forms one of the
most attractive features of the landscape. This in-
cludes 346 acres on section 3, in Lafayette Town-
ship, and is provided with shapely and substantial
buildings and all the accessories of the modern
rural home. The history of this honored pioneer,
who is now passing down the sunset hill of life,
comprises an interesting array of facts which are
substantially as follows:

Mr. Millar was born in Hampshire County, now
West Virginia, Aug. 10, 1811. His ancestors for
several generations resided in the Old Dominion,
his grandfather, Isaac Millar, having been Surveyor

of the State, and received his commission from
Lord Dunmore of England in 1774. The books
containing his notes in relation to his calling, are
in the possession of his grandson, our subject, and
are treasured as one of the priceless relics of the
past. Isaac Millar was married, and reared a family
in the Old Dominion, among his sons being Michael,
the father of our subject, who was born in Hamp-
shire County, March 30, 1785. He followed farm-
ing, and dealt largely in live stock. There were
then no railroads, and stock had to be driven from
the place where it was raised, to Baltimore, Phila-
delphia or New York City, the trip frequently con-
suming thirty days' time.

Michael Millar spent nearly all his life in his na-
tive State, with the exception of a short time spent
near Columbus, Ohio, after his marriage. About
that time he built a flatboat, loaded the same with
bacon, and went down with it to New Orleans, his
boat being the first to make the trip to the Crescent
City. Upon the return he traveled on horseback
through the Indian Territory, and not long after-
ward settled down permanently in his native State,
where his death took place Nov. 10, 1872. The
mother of our subject was formerly Miss Hannah
Decker, who was born in Hampshire County, Va.,
Jan. 23, 1790, and became the wife of Michael
Millar in 1808 or 1809. Her death occurred at the
homestead in Virginia, Aug. 9, 1860. The parental
household included four children, namely, Eliza-
beth, who became the wife of James Parsons, and
is now deceased; William, of our sketch; Sarah,
who married Francis Murphey and is now deceased,
and John D., who is in possession of the old home-
stead.

William Millar received the advantages of a
common-school education, obtaining further in-
struction in a private school. He assisted his father
and brothers around the homestead, and frequently
traveled the long distance required in driving his
stock to market. Soon after reaching his majority,
he was married, Dec. 26, 1832, to Miss Sarah,
daughter of David and Hannah (Cunningham) Van
Meter, a native of Hard}' County, Va., born July
15, 1817. The father of our subject owned a large
tract of land, and after his marriage, William lo-
cated upon a portion of this and carried on farming

436

COLES COUNTY.

4

in his native State until 1853. He had now be-
come the father of ten children, and desiring for
them better advantages than could be obtained in
the South, came to this State to seek for a perma-
nent location, in which plan his excellent wife and
helpmeet cordially co-operated. The face of the
country in Central Illinois pleased him greatly, and
he soon afterward purchased 640 acres of land in
Lafayette Township, to which he removed his family
the following spring. Like his father before him,
he had turned his attention largely to stock-raising,
and after becoming permanently settled here, his
great herds of cattle grazed on the site now oc-
cupied by the flourishing little city of Mattoon. It
was all open prairie at that time, and the neighbors
were few and far between.

William Millar, upon coming to this section, had
enough money to pay for his land, and brought
with him good horses from his native State. His
farm underwent rapid improvement, and he added
to his first purchase until he became the owner of
1,200 acres in one body in Lafayotte Township,
besides 970 acres in Piatt County, and afterward
purchased other land in different places. Soon
after coming to this State he imported two head of
Short-horn cattle from Ohio, being one of the first
to introduce this breed into Coles County. His
uncle, William Millar, Sr., was one of the first im-
porters of fine cattle from England, as will be seen
by examination of the American Herd Book.

Mr. Millar was always wide-awake and enterpris-
ing, keeping his eyes open to what was going on
around him, and was one of the original members
of the Coles County Agricultural Society, in which
he served as President, with the exception of two
years, for thirty consecutive years. The society
under his management became self-sustaining and
prosperous, and was one of the four county socie-
ties in the State whose treasury was sufficiently
well-filled to meet the'demands upon it. Mr. Mil-
lar finally found that the duties were too great for
his advancing age, and resigned the position amid
the regrets of all who had been interested in its es-
tablishment and maintenance.

The household circle of Mr. and Mrs. Millar was
completed by the birth of thirteen children, of
whom one died in infancy, and three others were

laid in a country churchyard since their residence
in Illinois. The remaining nine are living, and all
married, being settled with their families in com-
fortable homes of their own. Mr. M. and his wife
feel quite proud of the fact that they are grand-
parents to upwards of thirty children, and great-
grandparents to seven. One Sabbath Day there
were representatives of four generations of the
Millar family seated in one pew at the church at
Mattoon. The living children of our subject and
his wife are, Hannah, the wife of Edwin W. Vause,
of Lafayette Township ; Garrett V. ; Adam ; Eliza-
beth, the widow of Dr. T. B. Dora; Michael; Je-.
mima, the wife of James Vause; Sarah M., the
wife of William Parsons, of Kansas City, Mo. ;
Mary Frances, the wife of John I. Van Meter, of
Harper County, Kan., and William E. With the
exception of the two daughters residing in the
West, all are located near their parents in Lafayette
Township. They have been well educated, and
form a family group of which the parents may well
be proud.

Mr. Millar has been a good father to his children,
giving each of them a goodly amount of personal
property and land, so that they were enabled to
start out in life in a manner creditable to their po-
sition, as sons and daughters of a wealthy and in-
fluential citizen. He still retains 500 acres of his
original farm, the proceeds of which yield him a
handsome income. He has held the various offices
of the township, and although independent of party
lines, usually casts his vote with the Democratic
party. He lias been an active member of the Pres-
byterian Church for over half a century, officiating
as Elder for over forty years. He was a member
of the Building Committee which erected the
church edifice at Charleston, and afterward assisted
materially in the erection of the church at Mattoon.
and has always been interested in the measures set
on foot for the moral and intellectual welfare of
the community.

Our subject and his estimable lady have lived
together harmoniously for a period of over fifty-
five years. They celebrated their golden wedding,
Dec. 20, 1882, and were visited by a large circle of
children and friends. It was the special request of
the aged pair that no presents should be given, but i -

i

COLES COUNTY.

437

i

nevertheless the friends could not refrain from fur-
nishing some slight token of their respect and es-
teem, and accordingly among other gifts, presented
a large and elegantly bound Bible, which was the
offering principally of the members of the church.
Mr. and Mrs. M. are well-preserved, sociable and
happy old people, and have so lived that their
children heartily unite in speaking of their home
as the spot which has been immortalized in song,
and which will probably be sung as long as the
sentiment reigns within the human heart, that
" There is no place like home."

ETER GOBERT, one of the extensive land-
owners of East Oakland Township, is finely
located on sections 19 and 31, where he has
a valuable farm of 240 acres, a handsome
and commodious dwelling, and all the appurtenances
of a first-class country estate. He also has a tract
of equal size in Douglas County. It is a notable
fact, that a large proportion of the early settlers of
Central Illinois came from across the sea to seek a
home in the New World, at a time when their native
land seemed to offer them but little inducement as
citizens, and but little reward for their labors as
agriculturists, or in the industrial department of
business and trade. Of these, our subject is a
striking example. His early home was in the de-
partment of Murthe and Province of Lorraine,
France, where his birth took place at the home of
his father, Oct. 17, 1821. He is the only child of
John C. and Ann (Gazin) Gobert, who were na-
tives of the same Province as their son, and be-
lieved to be of pure German ancestry.

John C. Gobert was born June 26, 1799, at the
time when France was a Republic, and emigrated
to the United States with his family in 1832. His
decease occurred at his home in East Oakland
Township, Oct. 29, 1864, on Saturday, and he was
buried the following day in the cemetery near his
home. He was born and reared in the Catholic
Church, but for the last thirty years of his life
seldom attended religious services. His early life
was spent in the vineyards of his native France,

but after coining to this country, he turned his
attention to farming, and accumulated a fair com-
petency. As a man, he was generous and free-
hearted, and made many friends.

The marriage of the parents took place Oct. 10,
1820, at 10 o'clock A. M., being thus recorded on
the parish register of the village of Dombasle.
Twelve years later he and his wife set sail for
America and landed in New York City, whence
they at once proceeded directly to Buffalo, which
remained their home for five years following. The
elder Gobert, in the meantime, maintained his
family working by the day, and by this means laid
the foundation for his future home. On the 4th of
May, 1837, he started for the West, reaching Chi-
cago on the 10th of June, remaining until Novem-
ber. Thence he came to this county, and entering
forty acres of land in East Oakland Township,
erected a log cabin for the shelter of his family,
which they occupied for five years, while the father
proceeded with the cultivation and improvement
of his land. At the expiration of this time he
put up a hewed-log house which in those days was
considered very fine indeed. There, with their
only child, our subject, they continued to live un-
til the death of the mother, in February, 1861.
She was a lady of many estimable qualities, and
the junior of her husband by about three years.

The subject of our sketch remained a member
of the parental household for about a year after
reaching his majority, and began the establish-
ment of a home of his own by his marriage with
Miss Melinda R. Ashmore, which took place
at the home of the bride's parents in this township
on the 8th of June, 1843. This lady was a native
of Kentucky, born March 22, 1824, and after becom-
ing the mother of nine children, five of whom are
now living, she departed this life at the home of her
husband in East Oakland Township, Feb. 21, 1861.
Their family included Samuel, Charles, Louis.
Lafayette and Virginia, living, and Elizabeth A.,
Mary J., Albert and John C., deceased. The pres-
ent wife of our subject, to whom he was married
Oct. 17, 1861, was formerly Miss Matilda A.
Roberts, a native of Ohio, born June 26, 1836.
The children of this union are Alice, born Aug. 1,
1862; Thomas, June 11, 1864; Napoleon, born

f

. > 488

COLES COUNTY.

Jan. 18, 1866, died Aug. 25, 1885; Frank, born
Sept. 23, 1870; Willis P., born March 18, 1877,
died Aug. 19, 1878.

The parents of our subject reared their son in
the Catholic faith. He has, however, not connected
himself with any Church organization, being a free-
thinker and esteeming the Golden Rule the sum
and substance of true religion. He has been
prominent in the affairs of the township and there
are few enterprises set on foot for the good of the
community in which his townsmen have not solic-
ited the aid of his discreet and temperate judg-
ment. In 1861 he served as Township Collector,
and was Commissioner of Highways six years, also
School Director for a number of terms. Politically,
he casts his vote with the Democratic party, and
is greatly pleased with the present administration.

i AMES DOTY, one of the pioneers of Coles
County, is the owner of a fine estate of 150
acres of valuable land in Charleston Town-
ship. He was born Jan. 15, 1810, in Butler
County, Ohio, and is the son of John and Anna
(Mann) Doty (see sketch of Levi Doty). With
his widowed mother he came across the Wabash
River to Coles County, 111., in 1826, and first
settled near the headwaters of the Kickapoo Creek,
where he assisted his mother and worked for the
neighboring farmers.

Our subject's marriage to Miss Mary Teel took
place in 1831. She was born Sept. 28, 1812, in
Tennessee, and is the daughter of Samuel and
Isabelle Teel. Her parents were likewise among
the early settlers of this county. After his mar-
riage, he purchased land, which he successfully
cultivated and improved, adding to it as his cir-
cumstances improved, until, by industry and
energy, he acquired his present fine property.

Mrs. James Doty, who for so many years had
shared with her husband the joys and sorrows of
pioneer life, was removed by death in 1880. She
left a family of eleven children, whose record is as
follows: John W., Samuel T., George W., James
T., Emsley T., Riley; Vienna, the wife of Charles

Briggs; Sarah, Mrs. H. L. Briggs; Mary, Mrs.
William Wade; Almeda is also married, and
Harriet E., Mrs. Alex Streeter.

RTHUR D. SUITT, proprietor of a general
mercantile establishment at Loxa, and one
of the rising young men of the place, was
born Oct. 9, 1857, in Guernsey County,
Ohio, and is the son of William and Matilda (Cow-
an) Suitt. William Suitt was born Jan. 23, 1824,
in Maryland, and was there taught the carpenter's
trade. Early in life he left his Eastern home and
removed to Ohio, where his marriage to Miss Ma-
tilda Cowan took place, in 1847. Mrs. Suitt was
born in 1826, in Pennsylvania. After his marriage
Mr. Suitt remained in Ohio for some time, and then
removing to Illinois with his famity, settled in the
city of Mattoon. After remaining there two years
he went to Lafayette Township, and there com-
menced farming, and the following year removed
to Loxa, where he still lives, and continues work-
ing at his trade, although quite advanced in years.
Mr. and Mrs. William Suitt had a family of six
children, whose record is as follows: Philip C., a
resident of Leotia, Kan. ; Arthur ; Emma, the wife
of John Gaines, a resident of Douglas County, 111. ;
John, Frank, and Matilda, the wife of George E.
Shinn. Mr. and Mrs. Suitt are members of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr.
Suitt sustains the Republican party, although he
never aspires to office, and is not actively interested
in political affairs. John and Frank are residents
of Douglas County, 111.

Arthur Suitt was a boy when his family removed
to Coles County. He received a practical, com-
mon-school education, and attended Lee's Academy
at Loxa for a short time. After leaving school he
worked 'at the carpenter's trade with his father, but
his inclinations and business abilities led him to
prefer mercantile life, and in July, 1883, he estab-
lished a general mercantile business at Loxa, asso-
ciated with his brother, Philip C., under the firm
name of P. C. Suitt <fe Bro. They were success-

COLES COUNTY.

ful, and continued the partnership until Decem-
ber, 1885, when Arthur Suitt purchased his broth-
er's interest in the store, and has since been sole
proprietor of the business.

Arthur Suitt was married on the 31st of August,
1887, to Miss Nettie Dornblaser. Mrs. Suitt is "he
daughter of P. H. and Mary (Jeffris) "Dornblaser,
and was born Nov. 28, 1864, in Paradise Township,
Coles County.

' AMES M. PHILLIPS, a gentleman in the
prime of life and in the midst of his useful-
ness, is a native of this State, and was born
in Moultrie County Feb. 8. 1848. He was
bred to farm pursuits, and purposes following these
in the future. He comes of a good family, whose
first representatives upon coming to this country
settled in the South. His great-grandfather, Rob-
ert Phillips, was a native of Tennessee, where he
grew to manhood and was married. He emigrat-
ed to Moultrie County, 111., in about 1846, and
subsequently took up land in this countj', where he
established a good homestead, and spent the re-
mainder of his days. His death occurred in about
1859, his wife having died some years previously.
They reared a large family of children, and ex-
perienced all the hardships and privations of pio-
neer life, contributing their full quota toward the
development of a new section of country.

Among the sons of Robert Phillips was McCagha,
who was born in Tennessee, and educated in the
schools of his native county. He left home when
quite young, and commenced working by the
month, continuing thus occupied until his marriage.
His wife was also a native of Tennessee, and they
became the parents of five children, all born in that
State. In about 1844 they came north to Moultrie
County, this State, and settled upon a tract of land
in East Nelson Township, where the father spent
the remainder of his life, resting from his earthlv
labors in October, 1876. When about sixty-six
years of age, he was stricken with blindness, and
for a period of nearly twenty years never saw the
light of day. He bore his affliction with remark-
able patience and courage, never complaining of

his misfortune, but accepting it rrom the hand of
Providence, as the dispensation of a Power wiser
than ourselves. lie lived to be eighty-five years of
age, and was a man of many excellent qualities. He
had served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and
took part in the battle of the Horse Shoe.

The paternal grandmother of our subject was
born, married and died in Tennessee, and with her
husband, lived the life of a devoted Christian, both
being members of the Baptist Church. Her death
took place in about 1840. Their five children
were, Malinda, now the wife of J. W. Vaughn, of
Mattoon ; Calvin, the father of our subject ; Emeline,
who married her cousin, William Phillips, of
Tennessee; William, who died young, and Martin
I K., now living in Coles County. After the death

• of his first wife, Grandfather Phillips was married a
! second time, in about 1845, to Miss Sarah Cropper,

in Moultrie County, 111. Their three children were
Andrew J., now living in this county; Pauline, the
wife of Joseph Weiley, of Moultrie County, 111.,
and Benjamin, who died when four years of age.
This lady survived her husband, and is still a resi-
dent of this county. She also possesses many estim-
able qualities, is a devoted Christian, and a con-
sistent member of the Baptist Church.

Calvin Phillips, the father of our subject, was
born in Tennessee, Oct. 20, 1825. He remained
under the home roof until his marriage, and was
bred to farm pursuits. He possessed more than
ordinary ability, and after his marriage came to
Moultrie County, this State, and entered sixty acres
of wild land upon which lie made good improve-
ments, and which he occupied for several years. In
I 1856 he sold out, and going across the Mississippi,
I purchased 320 acres of wild land in Adair County,
i Mo., where he resided eight years. He put up a good
house on his land, and made some improvements,
i but finally came back to this State and purchased

• 120 acres in North Okaw Township. This he oc-
cupied ten years, in the meantime having accumu-
lated a competency, and then abandoning farming,
purchased property at Mattoon, where he took up
his residence and spent the remainder of his life,
retired from active labor. His death took place on
the 26th of August, 1881. amid the tears and re-
grets of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

•4

-t.

4

440

COLES COUNTY.

1

He had built up the iecord of an honest man and a
good citizen, and served his township in the various
minor offices, discharging his duties in a faithful
and conscientious manner. In politics, he uniformly
cast his vote with the Democratic party.

The mother of our subject was formerly Miss
Ruth M. Chowning, a native of Kentucky, and
born Feb. 8, 1829. She was the daughter of Charles
and Mary (Owens) Chowning, and was married to
Calvin Phillips in Moultrie Counly, this State, July
6, 1846. She was the earnest sympathizer with her
husband in his plans and labors in life, and with
him was a member in good standing of the Baptist
Church. Her death took place May 25, 1877, at
the homestead in Mattoon. The household circle
was completed by the birth of six children, of whom
the record is as follows: James M., of our sketch,
was the eldest of the family; Nancy E. became
the wife of W. A. Hoots, and is now a resident
of this county; Mary A. is living in Mattoon;
McCagha married Miss Ada Gilmer, and is farming
in Butler County, Kan. ; two died in infancy.

The subject of this history remained a member
of his father's household until his marriage. He
was educated in the common schools of Coles
County, and early in life began his plans for the
future. He accumulated some money, and pur-
chased fifty acres of land, and was thus prepared
to introduce his bride to a comfortable home.
This lady was Miss Nancy E. Wade, a native
of this county, and born March 3, 1854. Her par-
ents, William A. J. and Mary (Stineinan) Wade,
were natives of Ohio, the father being born in
Adams County. They came to Coles County in
the pioneer days, and suffered the privations and
hardships of life in a new settlement. The mother
died when her daughter, Nancy E., was an infant
of eleven mouths, in 1855. The death of the father
took place in this county, some years later. Miss
Wade became the wife of our subject Oct. 10,
1872. Soon afterward they commenced housekeep-
ing on a farm which Mr. Phillips had previously
purchased, and which they occupied seven years.

Mr. Phillips took possession of his farm in North
Okaw Township in the spring of 1881. It com-
prises one of the most desirable homesteads in this
section and contains eighty acres under a fine

state of cultivation, with a handsome frame dwell-
ing in the midst of beautiful grounds, with a good
barn and other out-buildings, and a valuable orch-
ard in the rear. The improvements effected here
are the result of his own industry and good taste,
but he has thought best to make a change, and re-
cently sold this to purchase another farm on sec-
tion 18, also well-improved and supplied with good
buildings. It embraces 103 acres, and of this Mr.
Phillips purposes taking possession next year.

Mr. and Mrs. Phillips became the parents of four
children, two of whom were taken from the house-
hold circle by death: Ina, born Oct. 14, 1874, re-
mains at home with her parents: Calvin, born Feb.
10, 187G, died Jan. 6, 1877; Robert, born Oct. 22,
1878, died Feb. 10, 1879; Francis M., born May
12, 1881, is a bright little boy, and the darling of
the household. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are members
in good standing of the Baptist Church at Fuller's
Point, and politically, Mr. P. affiliates with the
Democratic party.

S| AMES TAYLOR CUNNINGHAM was boru

in Hardin County, Ky, July 11, 1802. He

I w

I

^_^ II was a very energetic boy but his father was
vjjjy) a cripple, and unable to work on the farm,
and as the children were all girls except his young
brother, Harrison, it was no easy task for James T.
to practically assume the role of head of the family,
and keep the wolf from the door.

On the loth of September, 1825, James T. Cun-
ningham was married to Elizabeth Cea Yocum.
They were both poor, but managed to secure a
little tract of land about four miles from Litch-
field, Ky., where they lived a short time, when
Ambrose Yocum and our subject conceived the
idea of building a flatboat, and taking the surplus
products to New Orleans. The rude craft was
launched on Rough Creek, whence it made its way
to the Crescent City, and the produce was disposed
of satisfactorily. This was really the first start in
James T. Cunningham's life. He and his brother-
in-law, Ambrose Yocum, (who were captains and
capitalists of this vessel) sold the ship and cargo
and worked their way home on a steamboat. In

t

If

COLES COUNTY.

441 -

October, 1830, Mr.. C. and his partner, Yocum,
moved to Illinois. Yocom settled on the Em-
barras River about two miles from Charleston,
and was the first Sheriff of Coles County, while
Cunningham settled four miles south of what is
now Mat-toon.

Mr. Cunningham never had the advantages of
an early education, but was endowed with brains
and energy never excelled by the pioneers of
Illinois. His accumulations of property were very
considerable, as he bought large tracts of land and
was the leading dealer in live-stock in Coles
County. He was elected Justice of the Peace, and
afterward served as a member of the Legislature
for three years, two of which sessions were held in
Vandalia.

During these sessions he formed the acquaint-
ance of some of the greatest men who ever lived;
W. L. D. Pawing, Speaker of the House, Gen. Will-
iam F. Thornton, Col. Ed. Baker (the brilliant poetic
orator), Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, O.
B. Ficklin, John J. Hardin (afterward killed in the
Mexican War), and a host of other great names
which would honor any country. At Vandalia,
Mr. C. formed a friendship for Abraham Lincoln,
which lasted through life.

One little incident would illustrate this: His
son-in-law, Col. Monroe, came home on a fur-
lough, and while here the 123d Illinois Regiment
was formed and organized at Mattoou. James
Monroe was elected Colonel, and while these
elections by raw recruits were not binding except
as a recommendation to Gov. Yates, yet they had
a voice, almost of authority, in dictating the com-
missions to be issued. The election of officers
occurred in the afternoon on the fair ground, and
seemed to delight the new regiment and the people
of Mattoon, but what was the surprise when the
Chicago papers of that day brought the news of
Secretary Stanton's order that all old officers hold-
ing positions in the Government service should not
be allowed to take places in the new regiments
forming at that time. This broke the slate. What
should be done! Maj. Connelly, Dr. Allen and
others who had been elected to places, were in
trouble. So it was agreed to send James T. Cun-
ningham to Washington to see Mr. Lincoln, and

see if some modification of Secretary Stanton's
order could not be made. When Mr. Cunningham
arrived at Washington he saw Mr. Lincoln who
had never even seen the order before. Mr. Lin-
coln said : "Well, I don't want to cancel my
Secretary's order, but I will write to Mr. Stanton
a card and see what he can do in the premises."
Then the President took a card and wrote in his
concise way :
"•SECRETARY OF WAR:

Admit the bearer, Mr. Cunningham, at once.
He is an old and tried friend of mine. He will not
deviate one hair'sbreadth from the truth. Do what
he wants done, if possible. A. LINCOLN."

Mr. Stanton promptly wrote to Gov. Yates to
waive the order in this case, which he was delighted
to do.

Mr. Cunningham was a proud man in many re-
spects, although plain. Never in his life did he
seem so pleased as when he brought this card home.
His cattle and his lands were matters of triumph as
the labor of his hands and head, but they, all of
them, seemed small to him compared with this en-
dorsement by the greatest man on earth, as he
regarded Mr. Lincoln.

Mr. Cunningham never belonged to any church
or society of any kind, but was a liberal donor to
Church purposes, giving of his substance freely.
Not tens cr hundreds, but thousands of dollars for
Church purposes. More than once he has given
$500 at a time for such uses.

Mr. Cunningham's children by the first marriage
were, in the order named : John, William, James,
Mary Jane and James Harrison. After his wife's
death, in 1849, he married Sarah E. Hendricks,
nee Threlkeld. By this marriage Nancy Taylor
and Elizabeth C. are the offspring.

Mr. Cunningham was the Republican candidate
for Congress in this District, when Abraham Lin-
coln was first elected President. The District was
overwhelmingly Democratic and he was of course
defeated, but he ran 1,000 votes ahead of the
Lincoln ticket, and considering the high party
strife, this was a great triumph, and showed the
people's confidence in the man.

When the war broke out the 21st Illinois In-
fantry (Grant's Regiment) was raised at Mat-
toon, and organized in the fair ground. The

t.

442

COLES COUNTY.

soldiers were pouring in according to the call, but
no provisions had been made for their support.
Then Mr. C. telegraphed to Gov. Yates the situa-
tion, and in reply the Governor said: "Take care
of the soldiers." So Mr. C. entered upon the duties
of Quartermaster, and took care of the regiment
until it left Mattoon. This was an odd, irregular
way of appointing a Quartermaster, but Mr. C.'s
accounts were audited with as much credit as if his
commission had been on parchment, the State of
Illinois paying his bills in full. Mr. Cunningham
died June 26, 1863.

OL. JAMES MONROE was born in GreenS-^'
burg, Ky., Jan. 4, 1832. His father, Dr.
Byrd Monroe, also a native of Kentucky,
was born at Glasgow, Oct. 8, 1807. His mother
was Margaret Linder, also of Kentucky. On his
^mother's side he was relate/1 t&Jjt16 Underwoods of
that State. His grand fatber^was a Virginian and
his great-grandfather was Dr. Alexander Monroe,
the celebrated Scotch Professor of anatomy, and
medical writer, who was born in 1732.

Dr. Byrd Monroe moved from Kentucky to
Charleston in 1834, when his son James was but
two years old, and here he was brought up among
pioneer scenes and times, and his schooling was
received here, his father, a scholarly man. teaching
him Latin, the classics, etc., giving him that taste
for letters and literature that made him through
life a great reader and student. He also received
from his father, who was rather more of a mercan-
tile than a professional man, a business training,
and early took to business .pursuits, in which he
soon won the respect and confidence of the people,
and in which that charity and public spirit with
which he was imbued, became manifest and con-
spicuous.

As early as 1854 he had charge of a general
store in Paradise, at that time the country-village
center of quite a scope of country. It was while
here, as a young business man of spirit and promise,
that lie formed the acquaintance of Miss Mary J.
Cunningham, daughter of Hon. James T. Cun-
ningham, which ripened into an ardent love. But

the course of true love never did run absolutely
smooth, and the young hero in embryo was re-
jected as a suitor for the hand'of his (at that time)
only daughter, by Mr. Cunningham, and, disap-
pointed, in a spirit of recklessness natural to a fiery
and adventurous soul like his, he started for Cen-
tral America, at that time the scene of Gen. Walker's
dream of military glory and power. An entry
from young Monroe's diary will serve to spice this
lover's episode. Under date of Jan. 28, 1855, he
wrote : " Tuesday, afloat on the dark and turbu-
lent waters of the Ohio, broken in health, with
nothing to make existence endurable; all the bright
and glorious visions of youthful enjoyment and
happiness crushed, withered and dead ; all the ties
which bound me to life severed and broken,
I am leaving home, wishing, hoping never to re-
turn to it again. And, oh! if this be so — if beneath
the burning sun of the tropics I shall find a name-
less and forgotten grave, grant this request, oh,
God, I ask nothing for myself, and care little, hut
grant to shield her from all harm, to guard and
protect her through life; suffer no dark clouds of
sorrow or misfortune to sully the pure horizon of
her life, or separate or alienate her from Thyself.
May she remember me in kindness, and suffer us
after death, purified from all stains of earthly sin
or corruption, to meet again in that world where
sorrow, disappointment and sin can never enter."
But, returning to Illinois, restored in health and
heart-mended, James Monroe again engaged in
mercantile pursuits, this time as one of the first
grain merchants in Mattoon, and as a dry-goods
merchant and partner with his brother, Byrd Mon-
roe, in the grocery trade, a live, active business
man. And Dec. 1, 1857, James Monroe and
Mary J. Cunningham were married. They had
also attached themselves to the Christian Church;
and the following reference thereto, written after-
ward, when as Major he was treading the red field
of war, reveals something of the spiritual side of
his brief, stormy life. Writing to his wife, he says :
" You speak in your last of the Church, etc., and
ask me some questions. It is very true that our
connection with the Church was very pleasant, and
I assure you I do not regret that part of our lives;
but really one has but little time in the field to think

I

COLES COUNTY.

443

of anything but our business. I do not think I
am growing worse, but rather better. I strive to
avoid all excess and to improve myself every
way." He was also one of the early Masons of
Mattoon.

James Monroe's sincere and fervent patriotism
and public spirit naturally called him to "early par-
ticipate more or less in politics and public affairs,
although not a politician. In the quadrangular
contest of 1860, in Illinois, James Monroe was the
nominee of the Bell and Everett party for the
office of Secretary of State, and the following
spring was elected President of the City Council
of Mattoon. But this was in the wild days of the
spring of 1861, when politics was chaotic — when, in
the language of Stephen A. Douglas, there were ''but
two parties, patriots and traitors;" and in a few
days, as the echo of the rebel Beauregard'sguns at
Ft. Suniter was heard rolling over the land and
thrilling it, under Gov. Yates' call of the 16th of
April, the young Major's career of military glory
and blood began, which was to cover his name
with lustre, and shed honor upon Mattoon and
Coles County in the service of his proud State and
the country. On the 17th of April, 1861, a meet-
ing was held at Mattoon, and Co. B, 7th 111. Vol.
Inf. (Mattoon Guards), was almost immediately
formed, and James Monroe elected Captain. The
company reached Springfield on the 19th, the first
one outside of that city to get into camp, Col. Cook,
of Springfield, tendering Company A. Soon the
7th Infantry was hurried to Cairo, where its ll three
months'[service " was put in, and then in Gen. John
Cook's Brigade of Gen. Paducah Smith's Division,
under Grant, the three years' service of the regiment
began. Its career of honorable and hard service
was commenced at Ft. Donelson, Capt. Monroe
commanding Co. B in this great engagement.
Col. John Cook, commanding the brigade, in his
official report to Gen. Smith, made special mention
of the bravery, devotion and efficiency of the 7th
Illinois Infantry, and of Capt. Monroe and his
Colonel.

Capt. Monroe was " promoted for meritorious
services rendered at the battle of Ft. Donelson,"
and was commissioned Major to date from March
21, 1862. As Major he went through the battle of

Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh, and the siege of
Corinth. Maj. Rowett, commanding the 7th
Illinois, at Shiloh, in his official report to Col.
Sweeney commanding the 3d Brigade, said : " I
am permitted only to mention the name of Acting
Major Monroe, who gallantly sustained his share of
the command of the regiment during the whole
engagement." He had his horse shot, and was
slightly wounded. After Shiloh, Maj. Monroe
wrote to his wife : " If I believed in special provi-
dences, I should expect to be killed in the next
battle. Dearly as I love my wife and babes, I
would cheerfully, willingly give up my compar-
atively worthless life to restore to their friends and
their country even one-tenth of the noble men
who so gallantly offered up their lives on Sunday
and Monday."

In August, 1862, the 123d Illinois Infantry went
into camp at Mattoon, and September 5 the
regiment was mustered into the service, James
Monroe having been elected (virtually unani-
mously) Colonel. Companies A, C, D, H, 1 and K
were recruited from Coles County. Many of the
men had known Col. Monroe as a citizen, and all
had marked and gloried in his soldierly record as
Captain and Major.

On the 19th of September, Col. Monroe left Illi-
nois for the front, with his new regiment, and was
assigned to Terrill's Brigade of Jackson's Division,
under Buell, and without ever having had battalion
- drill, started on the march to Perry ville, Ky., after
Bragg, and history records that '• the 123d behaved
with great gallantry," losing in less than one month
from the time they entered the service, thirty-five
killed, 119 wounded and thirty-five missing, and
losing both brigade and division commanders.
Then, under command of Col. Hall, of the 105th
Ohio, in a winter campaign, Col. Monroe chased Gen.
John Morgan through Kentucky and Tennessee,
finally engaging and whipping him in a gallant fight
at Milton, Tenn., March 20, 1863. This detached
and independent service, frequently performed with
his own regiment alone on expeditions and scouts,
fitted commander and command for the noted serv-
ice afterward performed by the First Mounted In-
fantry Brigade Jin the service, and the first com-
mand to secure the famed Spencer rifle

t

444

COLES COUNTY.

In the early spring of 1863, while the army lay
at Murfreesboro, organizing for the Chattanooga
campaign, Col. John T. Wilder, the hero of Mum-
fordsville, Ky., determined to organize a picked
command to march as cavalry and fight as infantry,
and to arm them with the Spencer repeating rifle.
Accordingly he chose the 17th and 72d Indiana
and the 92d, 98th and 123d Illinois Regiments, and
with the 18th Indiana Battery, led the advance of
Gen. J. J. Reynolds' division of the 14th Army
Corps through Hoover's Gap, and gaining the
name of the " Lightning Brigade " through a gen-
eral order from Gen. Rosecrans;; then to Manchester
and the railroads in the rear of Tallahoma, Col.
Monroe being charged with the task of destroying
the bridge over Duck River, over which he found
a division of Confederates moving, as he ap-
proached with his regiment. In command of the
123d Illinois and 17th Indiana, Col. Monroe also
made a raid west to Columbia and Center ville
capturing some prisoners and hundreds of horses
and mules. Then, with his regiment, Col. Monroe
led Gen. Hazen's gallant advance on Chattanooga;
and when Crittenden led his corps to Chicka-
mauga by way of Ringgold and Dalton, Col. Mon-
roe was with him, and then opened the fight at
Alexander's Bridge, over Chickaniauga Creek, and
with Wilder's Brigade harrassed the concentrating
Confederate hosts, held Longstreet's opening as-
saults in check, and finally, with their deadly kSpen-
cer rifles, aided Thomas to the last to save the
army from rout and disaster on that bloodiest field
of the war.

Immediately ivfter Chickamauga the rebel Gen-
eral, Wheeler, was sent to cut Thomas' communi-
cations north of the Tennessee, and Col. Monroe
went with the brigade on what is known as the
" Wheeler Raid," and fell in the cruel fight at
Farmington, Tenn., under Gen. Crook, Oct. 7,
1863, at the head of his devoted regiment.

The following letters, addressed to Col. Monroe's
wife, form only a fitting close to this brief sketch
of a brilliant military hero, cut down early in what
would otherwise have been a marked career of com-
mand and leadership:

CINCINNATI, OHIO, Jan. 15, 1863.
MY BEAR MADAM:

Nothing could afford me greater pleasure than to

testify my high appreciation of the modesty, gal-
lantry and soldierly enterprise of the late Col.
Monroe, who fell, gloriously leading his men in the
battle of Farmington, when one brigade of our
cavalry and Wilder's Mounted Brigade under his
command, whipped two divisions of rebel cavalry
under Gen. Wheeler. Gen. Crook, who commanded
our troops, speaks in the highest terms of the cool-
ness and gallantry of Col. Monroe on that occasion.
He had become known to me very soon after
1 assumed command of the Army of the Cumber-
land, for his prudence, sagacity and enterprise, dis-
tinguishing himself during the stay of our forces
at Murfreesboro, in an expedition in the direction
of Lebanon, wherein, with a small body of picked
men, he soundly whipped a regiment of rebel cav-
alry, who had thought to cut him off.

Very truly yours,

W. S. ROSECKANS.

NEW ORLEANS, LA., Feb. 26, 1864.
MADAM:

In your letter to Maj.-Gen. Reynolds dated 1st
ult., you ask for a testimonial as to services of Col.
James Monroe, late commanding the 123d Illinois
Regiment. As it was our pleasure to serve with him.
for several months during the war, we are able to bear
testimony of the valuable services rendered by him.
Col. Monroe commanded the 123d Regiment
Illinois Volunteers, serving in the 4th Division of
the 14th Army Corps in the Department of the
Cumberland, during the campaign of 1863, in Ten-
nessee, Northern Alabama and Georgia. The regi-
ment formed a part of Wilder's Mounted Brigade
of Infantry, which became famous by acts of mili-
tary skill and daring. This brigade was the only
one of its character in the Department of the
Cumberland. Its organization was effected after
much discussion as to the merits and capacities of
officers and regiments. It was determined that the
gallant Col. Monroe, with his no less gallant officers
'and men, should form a part of this corps of dis-
tinction and honor, from which much was to be
expected. Nor was the selection ever regretted by
the Division Commander, Maj.-Gen. Reynolds,
whose judgment dictated the choice.

In all the movements of the division this brig-
ade took the van, and in every achievement of the
Army of the Cumberland, it was among the fore-
most in the conflict. In the general movement from
Murfreesboro southward, Reynolds' Division with
Wilder's men in the advance, secured Hoover's Gap
by a bold dash and a hard struggle. Next, with a
celerity which astonished the enemy, they appeared
in their rear at Tallahoma, and contributed much in
compelling their precipitate evacuation of that
stronghold. After a short rest the advance upon

T

uFtiu.it:o«8

COLES COUNTY.

447

Chattanooga was determined upon. Again this
brigade of mounted heroes was in requisition.
They pressed forward over the mountains and sur-
prised the enemy before their presence was sus-
pected, or even dreamed of. Here by strategic
threatening they held the enemy in suspense and un-
certainty, until the main force of the army had
crossed the Tennessee River and almost secured
position in rear of the rebel horde, which compelled
another flight.

In the great battle of Chickamauga this brigade
was again in the advance, and gallantly fought the
enemy for hours before the engagement became
general, suffering heavy loss and inflicting no less
severe punishment than they received. They fought
with an endurance almost unequaled during that
protracted conflict, and with the division com-
manded immediately by Gen. Reynolds, formed a
part of the little band which held the field with a
stubbornness that resisted every shock, even after
the main portion of the army had yielded to the
tempest of battle.

The partial success of the enemy encouraged him
to throw forward all his available mounted force to
harrass the country and disturb our communica-
tions. Again this brigade was called upon, and
nobly did they respond and sustain themselves.
They met the enemy at every possible position,
fought and defeated him, foiling him in his efforts
and plans. In the battle of Farmington, Tenn.,
where our forces fought a superior strength of the
enemy's cavalry and artillery and defeated them,
Col. Monroe fell, and but few such sacrifices have
been made upon our Nation's altar.

In every movement of this famous brigade, Col.
Monroe contributed much in earning the fame to
which it is so justly entitled. Selected on several oc-
casions to take command of special expeditions, his
management and success always determined the
wisdom of the choice. Solicitous for the comfort
of his men and the general condition of his com-
mand, their wants were always supplied, and they
were always ready for duty.

As a soldier, Col. Monroe was faithful and fear-
less. He possessed a judgment which knew no flat-
tery, a patriotism which knew no compromise with

rebels.

*.'»*»

With great respect, yours truly,

JOHN LEVERING, Maj. and A. A. Gen.,
Chief of Staff to Maj. -Gen. Reynolds.

'• His steed is dust,

His sword is rust;"
But live his name,
And glow his fame.

When thus cut down in the pride of his young

manhood, Col. Monroe left two children, Margaret
in her fifth year, and Ruth, only a little more than
two years old. Growing to womanhood, Miss Mar-
garet was married, Feb. 14. 1883, to Mr. Noble
Gordon, a young merchant of Metamora, Ind., of
standing and influence, and, on the 9th of Jan-
uary, 1 884, Miss Ruth became the wife of Dr. Cor-
bin J. Decker, of Vineland, N. J., at present surgeon
in the United States Navy.

ENRY HAMILTON CECIL, a substantial
farmer and prominent citizen of Pleasant
Grove Township, is the son of Samuel W.
and Kasiah (Bryan) Cecil, and was born
Feb. 15, 1826, in Mercer County, Ky. Samuel W.
Cecil was a native of Maryland, where he was
brought up to the shoemaker's trade, but subse-
quently engaged in farming. When a young man
he removed to Kentucky, where his marriage took
place. Mrs. Cecil was born in Virginia, but her
family had removed to Kentucky in an early day.
After his marriage Mr. Cecil remained in that State
until 1830, and then removed to Putnam County,
Ind., making that place his home until 1849. At that
time he changed his residence to Davis County, Iowa,
where his death occurred in 1870, at the age of

» O

seventy-three. His wife died in 1 867, and was like-
wise seventy-three years old.

The family of Samuel W. Cecil and wife con-
sisted of nine children, eight of whom attained ma-
turity. Their record is as follows: William, a
farmer, residing in Davis County, Iowa; Harriet,
the wife of William Vallandingham, a farmer, also
residing in Davis County, Iowa; Henry H., our
subject; Andrew, a farmer, residing in Kansas;
Jemima, deceased, was the wife of Joseph Evans,
a farmer, residing in Kansas; Sally, the wife of
James Wilcox, a farmer, residing in Missouri ; John,
a farmer, residing in Davis County, Iowa, and
Mary. With his wife, Mr. Cecil was a member of
the Baptist Church. He took little active interest
in politics, but always voted with the Democratic
party.

Henry Cecil was four years of age when his par-
ents removed to Indiana. He passed his boyhood

I

f

448

COLES COUNTY.

and youth at his father's home in that State, and in
1847 was married to Miss Hannah Elizabeth Rob-
inson. Mrs. Cecil was born July 23, 1827, in Ken-
tucky, and is the daughter of Benjamin and Lydia
Robinson. After his marriage Mr. Cecil purchased
a small tract of land, and was engaged in farming
in Indiana until 1863. He then came to Coles
County, 111., and during the first year was occupied
in farming, and subsequently purchased a sawmill,
which he operated two years. His preferences,
however, inclined toward agriculture, and accord-
ingly he purchased land and settled on the farm
where he now resides. His estate contains 130
acres of well cultivated land, with good improve-
ments.

Mr. and Mrs. Cecil had a family of six children,
one of whom died in childhood. The record of the
remaining five is as follows: Fannie, the wife of
John Roberts; Margaret Jane, the wife of John
Baker ; Henry H. married Miss Hester A. Randel,
of this county: Mary, the wife of William Adkin,
and Daniel E., who married Miss Lena L. Greene.
Mrs. Cecil is a member of the Baptist Church. In
politics Mr. Cecil supports the Democratic party.

In presenting the portraits of leading and repre-
sentative citizens, none are more worthy of a place
than that of Henry H. Cecil, both as a farmer and
a leading resident of his township. We are pleased
to give as a companion picture that of his esteemed
companion. Both are shown on a preceding page.

J"~ T. HANLEY, a native of the Prairie State,
owns and occupies a comfortable homestead
in Hutton Township on section 11, and
since his residence here has identified himself
- .

thoroughly with the interests of the people of his

township. He was born in Edgar County, Sept.
15, 1824, and is a descendant of excellent Irish
ancestry, his grandfather, Samuel Hanley, having
been a native of Ireland. The father of the latter
died while he was young, and when about fifteen
years old he ran away from home, determined to
try his fortunes on this side of the water. He had
read considerably of America, and without bidding
his mother, brothers or sisters good-bye, embarked

on a sailing-vessel, and with the high hopes of
youth, made the tedious voyage from Liverpool to
New York. Thence he proceeded to Pennsylvania,
where he engaged to work on a farm, and was very
successful in his efforts in the New World.

Samuel Hanley married early in life, his bride
being Miss Mary Ripple, and they settled near
Louisville, Ky., where young Hanley established a
distillery and remained in business for fifteen years.
He finally sold out, and coming to this State
entered forty acres of land at $1.25 per acre in
Edgar County, and not long afterward started a
distillery there also, which he operated in con-
nection with farming until his death. He departed
from the scenes of his earthly labors in the spring
of 1852, when about seventy-eight years of age.
His wife had died three years previously, being
seventy-five years old. The fifteen children born
of this marriage were named respectively, Joseph,
Matthew, William, Lyda, Polly, Sytha. Michael,
Anthony, Samuel, Ephraim, John, David, Betsey,
Sallie and Savilla. Most of these are deceased.

Joseph Hanley, the father of our subject, was
the eldest child of his parents, and was born near
Louisville, Ky., June 9, 1803. He received a very
limited education, and upon becoming old enough to
labor declined to work in the distillery and was
allowed to confine his industry to the farm. Upon
reaching a marriageable age he chose for his bride
Miss Sallie Hendsley, who became his wife when a
maiden of fifteen years. Soon afterward he entered
forty acres of land in Edgar County, where he
lived twelve years, then selling out went into Pike
County and entered eighty acres. This also he
sold two years later, and after buying and selling
160 acres, took up his residence in Hutton Town-
ship, this county, in the spring of 1836. Here he
entered first eighty acres and afterward doubled
his landed area, and proceeded with the improve-
ment and cultivation of his property until his
death, which took place Jan. 11, 1880. He had
been a worthy and esteemed citizen, and a member
in good standing of the Baptist Church.

The young wife of Joseph Hanley only lived
four years after their marriage, dying while a
resident of Edgar County, Oct. 4, 1828, and being
only nineteen years of age. She possessed many

COLES COUNTY.

449

lovable qualities and was a member of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church. There were born of this
marriage four sons — AVilliam, John T., Samuel, and
a babe who died unnamed. Mr. Hanley, in 1832,
was married to Miss Sallie Bowen, and of this
union there were born eight children, viz. : Joshua,
Jacob R., Michael, Stanley, Mary Ann, David,
George and Louisa. The mother of these died at
the home of her husband in Hutton Township in
May, 1862, aged forty-six years. She was a lady
of many excellent qualities and a member of the
Baptist Church. The third marriage of Joseph
Hanley was with Miss Nancy Anderson, and took
place in Hutton Township, Oct. 22, 1864. The
only child of this marriage was a daughter, Nancy,
and the mother a few days after her birth was
taken with measles, and died Oct. 22, 1865. The
fourth* wife of Joseph Hanley was formerly Miss
Mary A. Bates, to whom he was married in April,
1866. Their four children were Joseph, Arvilla.
Marcus C. and Dennis. This lady is still living.

The subject of our sketch remained under the
parental roof during his boyhood and youth, re-
ceiving limited school advantages, and early in life
became useful around his father's homestead and
has spent but few idle days during his whole life.
After reaching his majority he went up into Grant
County, Wis., where he remained twelve years,
during the summer seasons, and spent his winters
with his father. He was married, Jan 28, 1850, to
Miss Nancy E., daughter of John and Nellie
Donelson, who was born May 26, 1831, in Penn-
sylvania. Her parents were natives of Scotland,
and her father was eighty years of age at the time
of his death. The mother lived to be nearly as
old.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hanley settled
on a farm in Pleasant Grove Township, this county,
where they lived one year, and Mr. H. then pur-
chased 105 acres now included in his present farm.
He has been remarkably prosperous, and is the
owner of 640 acres, comprising the home farm, be-
sides twenty-five acres in Edgar County and forty
on section 12, in Hutton Township. His residence
is a fine brick structure erected in 1874. The farm
is situated near the banks of the Embarras River,
five and one-half miles east of Charleston. Mr.

Hanley and his wife have no children. They are
members in good standing of the Baptist Church,
and politically our subject votes with the Dem-
ocratic party. He has given much attention to
diseases of horses, and for the last thirty years has
practiced successfully as a veterinary surgeon.

AMES SHINN, a retired farmer residing on
section 1 3, Lafayette Township, is the owner
of a fine estate, containing 435 acres of land,
all of which is well cultivated and improve,}.
It is divided into two farms, which are among the
best in the county. Mr. Shinn was born Nov. 10,
1825, in Montgomery County, Ohio, and is the son
of Ezra and Anna (Lane) Shinn. His grandfather,
likewise James Shinn, was a native of Scotland,
emigrating to the United States when a boy, and
settling in New Jersey, where he was engaged in
both the lumber and real-estate business. He was
possessed of great shrewdness and energy, and met
with remarkable success, becoming a very wealthy
man. At his death he left each of his children a
fortune of $60,000.

Ezra Shinn was born in New Jersey, and after he
had attained manhood he became a member of the
firm of Shinn, Kissarn & Cooper, a large mercantile
house in Philadelphia. He left his business to serve
in the War of 1812, and his partners taking advan-
tage of his absence, sold out and embezzled the
proceeds. Mr. Shinn was an unusually honorable
man in business dealings, which led him to place
too much confidence in others. He returned from
the War to find himself a poor man, stripped of ev-
everything. At that time he found a true friend,
Stephen Gerard, who allowed Mr. Shinn to use his
name in order to buy goods, and through this kindly
assistance he was enabled to settle up his business
affairs and pay off all the debts of the firm. After
this disastrous experience he resolved to come
West, and accordingly moved to Ohio. The family
resided there until about the year 1851.

After removing West Mr. Shinn never under-
took mercantile business again, but engaged in
farming. When the Civil War broke out, although
he was nearly seventy-seven years of age, he
•»

450

COLES COUNTY.

evinced his loyalty by going to Indianapolis and
offering his services once more in defense of his
country, but his friends interfered to prevent the
execution of this generous and patriotic impulse.
Mr. Shinn possessed a vigorous physique, and at that
age was hale and hearty in appearance, looking much
younger than his years. His death occurred in
1 864, after an illness of four days. His wife, whom
he married in Ohio, was a native of New Jersey,
and died in 1854. Their family consisted of
twelve children, of whom five are now living — Ben-
jamin, James, Lavina, Ezra W. and Thomas. La-
vina became the wife of William Kyle, and resides
in Edinburg, Ind. ; Ezra VV. is a banker, residing
in Lathrop, Mo., and Thomas is a farmer, also re-
siding in Missouri.

James Shinn passed his early life in his native
State, and was married in 1847, in Butler County,
Ohio, to Miss Eliza Ann Barklow. Mrs. Shinu is
the daughter of William and Anna (Lane) Bark-
low, and was born in Butler County, Ohio, Oct. 18,
1828. After his marriage Mr. Shinn was engaged
in farming in Ohio until 1851, and then removed
to Bartholomew County, Ind., where he owned
land. He carried on a successful agricultural business
there until 1865, when he sold out his interests and
came to Coles County, 111., where he has since re-
sided. He settled on the place where he now lives
in the early autumn of 1865. In the various
States in which he has lived he has given his atten-
tion exclusively to agricultural pursuits, and has
been to a marked degree successful in his business
enterprises. He is now quite advanced in years,
and desirous of rest and relief from the active du-
ties of the farm, has rented his land, and is passing
the closing years of his life in retirement and ease.
He commenced life without a dollar, but his en-
ergy has been crowned with success, and he has
acquired a fine property, enabling him to give his
children $30,000 to aid them in beginning life.
During his residence in Illinois he has been very
successful in dealing in real estate.

Mr. and Mrs. .Shinn have a family of three chil-
dren: Anna C., the wife of George East, a farmer
residing in Wilson County, Kan.; Aaron, a farmer
living in Lafayette Township, and George, a far-
mer, residing in Humbolt Township. Mr. Shinn is

fortunate in having his two sons near him in his de-
clining years. He is universally honorable in all
the relations of life, and has won the regard of all
who know him, both in business and social circles.
In politics, he is a stanch supporter of the Repub-
lican party, but is liberal toward those who differ
from him in their views. He has never aspired to
office, having no taste for public life, and being en-
grossed in his own business affairs. His wife is a
member of the Presb37terian Church, but Mr. Shinn
has never connected himself with any religious
body, although he is opposed to none.

RVIN JOHNSON has been a resident of North
Okaw Township for over twenty years, flaring
which time he has bnilt up one of the finest
homesteads within its limits. His property includes
320 acres of valuable land, highly cultivated, and
supplied with a handsome and substantial set of
frame buildings. The residence stands on a gentle
elevation, some distance from the roadside, and
invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler,
surrounded as it is by beautiful shade trees, with
well-kept grounds and the evidences of a refined
and cultivated taste. A beautiful grove occupies
a portion of the premises, and the whole comprises
a model country estate, evidently under the super-
vision of a proprietor whose taste and good judg-
ment are apparent in every detail.

Mr. Johnson spent his childhood and youth on
the other side of the Atlantic, in County Ferman-
agh, Ireland, where his birth took place on the 26th
of March, 1832. He remained in' his native coun-
try with his parents until the spring of 1850, when
they all emigrated to the United .States, and pro-
ceeding at once to Moultrie County, 111., located
upon a tract of land and engaged in farming. Our
subject had been fairly educated in the schools of
his native county, and remained with his parents
until his marriage, which took place on New Year's
Day, 1863. The maiden of his choice was Miss C.
A. M. Kleiver, who was born in Licking County,
Ohio, Jan. 12, 1825, and was the daughter of G.
M. and Elizabeth (Neibarger) Kleiver, natives re-

t

COLES COUNTY.

451

spectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia. The
young people commenced life together on the land
which our subject had previously purchased from
the Illinois Central Railroad, and which forms a
part of his present homestead. lie operated this in
company with his four brothers — William, John,
James and Frederick. They continued together
three years after his marriage, and then effected a
division of the property, since which time our sub-
ject has carried on fanning and stock-raising by
himself.

Mr. Johnson has been greatly prospered, and
wisely invested his surplus capital in more real es-
tate, which could not be stolen by a bank cashier.
The laud is mostly laid off in forty-acre lots, and
of late years has been devoted almost entirely to
stock and grain raising. He feeds large numbers
of animals annually, and ships principally to Chi-
cago. He has made a specialty of Poland-China
hogs, and has abundantly proved that fine stock is
far more profitable than the common grades. Mr.
Johnson has served his township several years as
School Director, and politically affiliates with the
Democratic party, which he has cordially supported
since the time of casting his first Presidential vote
for Stephen A. Douglas. His estimable wife is a
member in good standing of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church at Quinn Chapel. Their only child
died in infancy.

George M. Kleiver, the father of Mrs. Johnson,
was born in Northumberland Count}', Pa., Jan. 7,
1789, and his wife, Elizabeth, a native of Shenan-
doah County, Va., was born November 21, of the
same year. They were married in Licking County,
Ohio, Jan. 30, 1817. Mr. K. owned land in Ohio,
which he sold in 1856, preparatory to coming to
Illinois. After reaching this State, he took up his
residence in Moultrie County, where he carried on
fanning until his death, which took place Feb. 1,
1864. His widow survived until Nov. 25, 1879.
Both were buried in the cemetery at Sullivan. The
parental household included nine children, namely,
Rebecca, Mrs. O. P. Powers, of Dresden, Ohio;
Mary, the wife of Samuel McKinney, of Licking-
County, Ohio; Henry, who died in infancy; Eve-
lina, the wife of Thomas Leggitt, of Kansas; Eliza-
beth S., Mrs. Barrick, of Licking County, Ohio;

C. A. M., the wife of our subject; Catherine, Mrs.
V. C. Corkins; Willie J. and George J.

The paternal grandparents, Henry and Margaret
Kleiver, were natives of Germany, and. emigrating
to America, were among the earliest pioneers of
Pennsylvania, whence they moved to -Ohio, where
they spent the remainder of their lives. Their
children, all now deceased, were Henry, Frederick,
George M., Joseph, Elizabeth, Catherine, Mary and
Margaret.

EORGE L. MILLER is a prosperous farmer
and stock-raiser, residing on section 23,
North Okaw Township. He was born in Pleas-
ant Grove Township in this county, Oct. 27, 1852,
and is the eldest child of James L. F. and Rachel
E. (Gray) Miller, the former a native of Kentucky,
and the latter of Illinois. His paternal grandpar-
ents, George and Elizabeth (Antle) Miller, were
natives of Kentucky, and removed at a very early
day to Illinois, where they were engaged in farm-
ing and stock-raising. His maternal grandparents
were Richard and Rachel (Pugh) Gray, who were
likewise natives of Kentucky and pioneers of this
State.

James Miller was a child when his parents moved
to Illinois, and grew up with the country in the
pioneer days. After his marriage he settled in
Pleasant Grove Township, where he now resides on
the same estate which he then purchased, and1 car-
ries on an extensive business in farming and stock-
raising.

George L. Miller received a good education at
the common schools, and attended Lee's Academy
at Loxa for two years. He remained at home en-
gaged in farming, associated with his father and
brothers, until he reached the age of twenty-six,
when his marriage to Miss Mary Isabel Smith took
place, Oct. 31, 1878. Mrs. Miller was born Feb. 15,
1850, in this county, in one of the first log houses
in North Okaw Township, and is the daughter of
William H. and Mary (Osborn) Smith. Her par-
ents were among the pioneers of this count}7. After
his marriage Mr. Miller settled on a tract of almost
wild land located on section 23, North Okaw Town- ,

T

452

COLES COUNTY.

ship, and by industry "and close application to work
has succeeded in bringingjjhis farm.Jwhichjcontains
240 acres, to a high state of cultivation. His cot-
tage residence, a view of which is given in connec-
tion with this sketch, is one of the finest in the
county, and his other farm buildings are corres-
pondingly appropriate and well appointed. He also
owns forty Jacres.of timber land.

Mr. and Mrs. Miller had a family of five children
born to them — Allie, James Walter aud Harrison
S. (twins), E. Howard, and one who died in in-
fancy ; Harrison S. is also dead. Mrs. Miller is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at
Mattoon. Mr. Miller is one of the rising young
men of the county. He is a warm supporter of the
Democratic party, but does not seek political pre-
ferment and has never held office.

RS. P. A. TROWER is the widow of the
late Hon. T. B. Trower, and one of the in-
fluential residents of Charleston. Mrs.
Trower is the daughter of Judge Jacob and
Siuia (Clark) Cutler. Her grandfather, Benjamin
Cutler, was one of three brothers, who came from
England to America in the old Colonial days, the
other brothers being John and Jacob Cutler. John
came West, and no tidings ever returned of him ;
whether he met his death at the hand of some
treacherous Indian foe, was slain in battle, or per-
ished on the plains, was never known. Jacob settled
in Virginia, and Benjamin in Maryland, where he
became the owner of thirty square miles of land.
He subsequently removed to Virginia, and spent
the remainder of his life there. His family con-
sisted of five children.

Judge Cutler was born in Maryland, June 9,
1770. His wife, Sinia Clark, was born July 1. 1795.
She was the daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Fitz-
patrick) Clark, the former a native of England and
the latter of Scotland. They came to America in
early life, and their marriage took place in Vir-
ginia. Subsequently they removed to Kentucky
and thence to Indiana, where Mr. Clark carried on
an extensive farming business. They passed the

remainder of their lives in that State, and reared a
family of eight children, none of whom are now
living. Judge Cutler removed from Maryland to
Virginia, thence to Kentucky and thence to Indi-
ana. He was there engaged in the mercantile busi-
ness, and was for many years Judge of the Circuit
Court. He possessed great executive ability, and
was successful in all the enterprises he undertook.
He invested largely in real estate and became the
owner of thousands of acres of land. Fortune
smiled upon his pathwa}', at every step enabling
him to amass great wealth. But he regarded him-
self as a steward, who must give an account of his
possessions. He was generous to his friends and be-
nevolent toward the poor. He was warmly inter-
ested in promoting the spiritual and material wel-
fare of the Methodist Church, of which both
himself and his wife were prominent members. In
business and social circles he was respected and be-
loved by all who knew him.

Judge Cutler came to Illinois in 1828, and for a
time resided in Edgar County, and thence removed
to Shelbyville. His famity consisted of nine chil-
dren, four ol whom are still living, as follows:
Nancy, the wife of William Shaw, a resident of
Missouri; Polly Ann, now Mrs. Trower, the subject
of this sketch; Otway, a resident of Ft. Madison,
Iowa, and Rebecca, now Mrs. Barlow Espy, like-
wise a resident of Ft. Madison, Iowa. Her husband
was killed at Chickamauga during the Civil War.
The lives of all the children have been crowned
with prosperity and success. The death of Judge
Cutler occurred March 5, 1863, and that of his
widow Nov. 3, 1872.

Mrs. Trower's marriage to Dr. T. B. Trower took
place Dec. 21, 1833, at Shelby ville, Shelby Co., 111.
Dr. Trower was born Nov. 15, 1809, in Albermarle,
Va., and at the age of nineteen commenced the
study of medicine in Bloomfield, Ky., with Drs.
Beamiss and Merryfield, spending three years under
their instructions. In 1830, he came to Illinois
and practiced medicine six years in Shelbyville.
He then removed to Charleston, and was engaged
in the mercantile business three years, after which
he resumed his profession. His practice was large
and lucrative, extending throughout this county
and into several others. He was a member of the

I

COLES COUNTY.

453

Esculapian Medical Society and the Wabash Valley
and State Medical Societies. He was industrious
and untiring in the discharge of his professional
duties, and acquired a large fortune. His mental
endowments were of a high order, and skill in his
profession was united with rare business abilities.
He was President of the Moultrie County Bank, of
Sullivan, 111., and Vice President of the First Na-
tional Bank of Charleston.

During his residence in Shelbyville, Dr. T. rep-
resented the connty in the State Legislature, was a
delegate to the Constitutional Convention in 1847,
and likewise represented Coles County in the Legis-
lature one year. On coming to Charleston he pur-
chased a house and three lots on the northeast side
of the court-house square, and erected a brick block,
which is now used for the post-office, and also his
fine brick residence on the block adjoining. He was
also engaged in the real-estate business, and at the
time of his death was an extensive land-owner. He
possessed a broad and liberal spirit, and through-
out life his habits were temperate almost to ab-
stemiousness. He never made use of tobacco in any
form, nor drank any spirituous liquor, and was never
known to be idle. Such a life is more eloquent
than a thousand temperance lectures. He was a
member of the Presbyterian Church, but his gener-
osity in supporting the cause of Christ was not
limited by a narrow denominational spirit. He be-
longed to the Brotherhood of Christ, and wherever
the Master's work was to be done, he was ready
with a helping hand. He donated a lot, and gave
$1,000 toward the erection of the Methodist Church,
and was ever generous in affording aid to all worth}'
objects. He died April 15, 1878.

Dr. and Mrs. Trower had a family of eight chil-
dren, four of whom are now living, as follows:
Amerial, the wife of Dr. L. L. Silverthorn, a resi-
dent of Charleston; Sinia, the wife of Mr. Norfolk,
a resident of Charleston, is the mother of two chil-
dren— Mary and Thomas; Sally, the wife of Mr.
Sayer, a resident of Chicago, is the mother of two
sons — Rockwell and Edward ; and Dr. Xavier B., a
resident of Pana, Christian Co., 111., married Miss
Annie Pottenger. of Kentucky.

Mrs. Trower is a lady of culture and refinement,
and also bears the responsibility of possessing great

riches. She is the owner of several farms in Coles
and Sullivan Counties, a block of buildings in
Charleston, is a stockholder in the First National
Bank, and owns property in Chicago.

-*-

R. SMITH TAYLOR, a physician of good
repute, and who has been a resident of
North Okaw Township since the fall of
1860, is an extensive land-owner and has
carried on stock-farming with more than ordinary
success. His property includes 478 acres in the
home farm, 212 acres on section 31, in North Okaw
Township, and forty-five acres on section 13. The
family residence is a fine frame structure, which
was put up after the close of the war. The barn is
substantial and commodious, and in ordinary sea-
sons the entire area of land is generously supplied
with good water. Dr. Taylor has always been fond
of country life, and would not exchange it for the
King's palace in a crowded city. He has been
prominent in the affairs of North Okaw Township
since coming here, representing it on the County •
Board of Supervisors and serving it as Assessor.
He cast his first Presidential vote for Prank Pierce
in 1852, and since then has been a stanch advocate
of Democratic principles.

The first recollections of our subject are of his
father's farm in Niagara County, N. Y., where he
first opened his eyes to the light, Aug. 20, 1829.
His family was well known in that section. His
paternal grandparents were natives of New Jersey,
where they were reared and married, and whence
they afterward removed to New York State. The
Taylors are of German ancestry. The grand-
father was an extensive land-owner in New York
State, where he spent his last years. His family
included five sons and two daughters, all of whom
grew to mature years and were married. The sons
were named respectively, William, Christopher,
Henry, Jacob and Jeromus. The names of the
daughters are not known to any of the living de-
scendants.

Jeromus Taylor, the father of our subject, was
the fourth child of his parents and was born in
New Jersey. He grew to manhood in his native

i

454

COLES COUNTY.

township, and then going into Niagara County, N.
Y., entered a tract- of land in the Holland Purchase,
where he made considerable improvement, and after
a few years sold out and purchased on another sec-
tion in ttie same county. This also he sold after a
few years, and removing to Delaware County,
Ohio, purchased land in the Military Tract. There
he established a comfortable homestead, upon which
he remained the balance of his days. He was mar-
ried in Niagara County, N. Y., to Miss Wall, who
became the mother of four children — Jacob, John,
Mary A. and Elizabeth, of whom Jacob is the only
survivor. The mother died in New York.

The second wife of Jeromus Taylor was formerly
Miss Eliza Smith, to whom he was married in Ni-
agara Count}', N. Y., and -who became the mother of
eleven children, namely, George, Henry, Smith of
our sketch, Adam, Nancy J., Charles, Susanna,
Eliza, Elizabeth, Sarah and Jeromus. With the
ezception of one all grew to mature years and were
married. The mother died in the spring of 1885,
in Marion County, Mo. She was a highly esteemed
lady and a consistent member of the Baptist Church.

Young Taylor received a common-school educa-
tion and remained a member of the parental house-
hold until nineteen years of age. He was but three
years old when his parents removed from New
York to Ohio. After starting out for himself he
was employed on a farm at $12 per month during
the summer seasons, and in the winter made him-
self useful in the shop of a blacksmith in Niagara
County, N. Y. For his services at the latter place
he was to receive $6 per month, but only succeeded
in obtaining $13 for six mouths. The summer fol-
lowing he worked six months on a farm at $12.50
per montl), and in the fall returned to his parents
in Ohio.

The marriage of Smith Taylor and Miss Lucinda
Smith took place in Delaware County, Ohio, in 1851.
Mrs. Taylor was born in Franklin County, Ohio,
and is the daughter of Dr. Silas Smith. After his
marriage our subject took up the study of medicine
under the tutelage of his father-in-law, and two
years later commenced practice in Delaware County,
Ohio. After a few months he removed to Middle-
town, Champaign County, and thence two years
later to Grove City, Frankliii County. He then

crossed the Mississippi, and locating in Scotland
County. Mo., took possession of a tract of land and
carried on farming there in connection with his
practice until the -spring of 1856. He then re-
crossed the Father of Waters and purchased 160
acres of railroad land in Moultrie County, this
State, and during the period of his four years'
residence upon this, turned his attention entirely
to agriculture.

Dr. Taylor became a resident of North Okaw
Township in 1 860, and for several years carried on
farming and the practice of medicine. He then
purchased his present farm, and for several years
thereafter was entirely interested in agricultural
pursuits, giving but little attention to his profession.
He met with a severe affliction by the death of his
wife, on the 5th of March, 1874. Mrs. Taylor was
a lady of many estimable qualities, a faithful and
affectionate wife and mother, and her death was
deeph' mourned by her family and friends. Their
nine children are recorded as follows: Mary E.,
the wife of William Myers, is a resident of Coles
County; Jeromus L. married Miss Rosa Baley, and
is engaged in farming in this county; Samantha
was married to Leonidas H. Ellison, of North Okaw
Township; Jonah W. is at home with his father;
Elizabeth is the wife of William Deckard, who is
farming in Paradise Township; Charles is engaged
in agricultural pursuits in this county; George and
Walter S. are at home; Eliza died in infancy. The
present wife of our subject was formerly Mrs. Ma-
tilda Brannon, the daughter of 8impsoii Kinnery,
and widow of Thomas Branuon, who was formerly
a resident of Cumberland County, 111.

OHN G. SLATER, a prominent resident of
the northeastern part of Coles County, owns
a good farm on section 21, in East Oakland
Township, where he located in the fall of
1869. His property embraces 350 acres of finely-
cultivated land, a commodious brick residence,
erected in 1882, handsome and convenient out-
buildings, and a good assortment of live-stock. He

t.

COLES COUNTY.

455

has displayed excellent judgment in the manage-
ment of his farming operations, has been wise in
his investments, and uniformly successful in the
various branches of agriculture in which .he has
been largely interested.

Our subject is a native of Loudoun County, Ya.,
where his birth took place Aug. 11, 1830. His
parents, George and Sarah (Shu maker) Slater, were
natives of the Old Dominion, and both born in
1791. They died in their native State, George
Slater in 1865, and his wife, Sarah, in 1881. Their
marriage took place in 1829. The children of the
parental household were John G., James W.,
Thomas E., Ann Eliza, who is now deceased, and
Luther, who died in infancy. An infant died un-
named.

The father of our subject received a fair educa-
tion in the common schools, and upon reaching
manhood engaged in farming, which he followed
the remainder of his life. Both parents were mem-
bers of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, in which
the elder Slater officiated as a member of the
Board of Trustees many years. His farm was car-
ried on by slave labor, as he had been born and
reared amid the surroundings of the peculiar insti-
tution, and h'ad never questioned its justice and
propriety. The mother of our subject was of
French and German ancestry, but the Slaters were
of pure German blood.

John G. Slater spent his boyhood and youth on
the farm of his father in Virginia, and after reach-
ing manhood married a lady of his own county,
Miss Ann E. Ruse, their union taking place Dec.
9, 1852, Rev. Martin, of the German Reform
Church, officiating. Mrs. Slater was born July 5,
1832, and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Day) Ruse, also natives of Loudouu County, Va.,
where they spent the early part of their life, and
whence they finally removed to the Shenandoah
Valley, where the death of John Ruse occurred
Sept. 26, 1884. The mother is still living there.
They were among the most highly respected peo-
ple of the agricultural districts, and the mother be-
longed to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr.
R. was broad and liberal in his view.-., a free- thinker
and a man of more than ordinary intelligence.
Their family consisted of six children, namely,

Mary J., A. E., Edward S., Julia, John and
Lydia C.

Mr. and Mrs. Slater after their marriage contin-
ued in their native State until 1861, and then came
to Edgar County, 111., locating in Grand View
Township, whence they removed a year later to
Embarras Township, of which they remained resi-
dents until the fall of 1869. Mr. Slater then trans-
ferred his citizenship to this county, where he has
since remained. Politically, he is a true-blue Re-
publican, and during the late war illustrated his
principles in the most forcible manner of which he
was capable,, by enlisting as a Union soldier, be-
coming a member of Co. B., 54th 111. Vol. Inf. He
was content to serve in the capacity of a private
until the surrender of the Confederate army, en-
during bravely and cheerfully the vicissitudes of
war for the sake of the result, in which he had faith
from the very first. He was in the Trans-Missis-
sippi Department, and was at Little Rock and Ft.
Smith, Ark., and though quite ill at. one time, stur-
dily refused to be placed in the hospital, and finally
triumphed over his ailments. At Ft. Smith he was
detailed as Clerk in the Freedman's Bureau, in
which capacity he subsequently served until the
regiment was mustered out of the service.

The children of our subject and wife, eleven in
number, are recorded as follows: Rosa E. is the
wife of J. W. Stokes, of Oakland ; Edgar F. mar-
ried Miss Laura Braden, and is located iri East
Oakland Township; James S. married Elizabeth
Boggs; Julius S. married Ella Unangst, and is in
Ka,nsas; John G., Owen, Charles W., Paul A. and
Thomas D. (twins), and Luther A. are at home;
Grant died in infancy.

Mr. Slater has been prominently connected with
local affairs since coming to this township, and in
1887 was elected to represent East Oakland Town-
ship on the Board of Supervisors by a majority of
ninety-one ou the Republican ticket. He was also
appointed as ii member of the committee on roads
and bridges, and of the committee on the equaliza-
tion of personal property. He is liberal in his re-
ligious views, as is also his estimable lady. As a
representative of the wide-awake and thrifty ele-
ment of his township he stands second tononi'. and
has contributed his full share toward its business

- . 456

COLES COUNTY.

and industrial interests. He despises the idler, and
when his hands are not employed, his busy brain is
always devising some enterprise which will be of
benefit both to himself and his neighbors. He is
of the same stuff of which the earliest pioneers were
made, and without which the great commonwealth
of Illinois might have remained an uncivilized
tract of country, given over to wild beasts and
savages.

HOPPER, retired farmer, and at
iV present a resident of Mattoon, first opened
his eyes to the light in Knox County, Ky.,
Aug. 18, 1826. He is of Southern par-
entage, being the son of Jacob and Loviua (Gar-
land) Hopper, the former a native of Tennessee,
and the latter of Virginia. The Hopper family is
of Scottish ancestry, but the Garlands were of
English descent, the maternal grandfather of our
subject having been born in England. He came to
this country early in life, and served as a soldier in
the Revolutionary War. He was wounded in the
head and a half-dollar piece was beaten out and
placed over the fracture, where it remained until
his death. After the independence of the Colonies
had been established, Grandfather Garland settled
in Clay County, Ky., where his death occurred.
In the meantime he had married and reared a
family, among his daughters being Lovina, the
mother of our subject.

- Jacob Hopper was reared on a farm in Tennessee,
whence he removed to Kentucky while a young
man, and was there married to Miss Lovina Gar-
land. His parents remained in Tennessee and died
there. Jacob Hopper and his young wife located
on a small farm in Knox County, Ky., where in
addition to agriculture he carried on coopering
until 1837. He then emigrated with his family to
Illinois, and located on a tract of Government
land in North Okaw Township, Coles County,
where as one of the early pioneers he endured all
the vicissitudes of life in a new country. The first
dwelling of himself and his family was a log cabin,
covered with shakes, and furnished with a pun-
cheon floor and a door of clapboards. The huge
fireplace occupied nearly one side of the house,

and a chimney was^built outside of mud and sticks.
Within this humble dwelling their younger chil-
dren were_Jjorn. Jacob^Hopper was a man of in-
dustry and perseverance and took an intelligent
interest in what was going on around him. He en-
couraged the establishment of schools and churches,
serving in his district as Director, and identifying
himself with the First Baptist Church organization,
of which he remained a liberal supporter until his
death. The parental household included ten chil-
dren, eight now living, viz: Andrew J., Uriah,
William R., Dudley, Susan, Elizabeth, James F. and
Rhoda.

Dudley Hopper^was a_lad ten years of age when
his father emigrated to Coles County, and he was
occupied around the homestead until reaching his
majority, in the meantime receiving a common-
school education. After leaving home he enlisted
as a soldier in the Mexican War, becoming a mem-
ber of Co. G, 5th 111. Vol. Inf., and serving a term
of eighteen months. At the termination of this
conflict he returned to Illinois, laying a land war-
rant on 160 acres in North Okaw Township, upon
which he built a log house and proceeded with the
improvement of his farm from 1850 until 1884.
In the meantime he had brought about excellent
improvements and added to his first purchase until
he became possessor of 423 acres, all of which he
brought to a fine state of cultivation.

The marriage of our subject _and _Miss .Jane
Dixon took place in North Okaw Township, Jan.
17, 1850. Mrs. H. was the daughter of Nathaniel
and Elizabeth Dixon, of Virginia, and removed
with her parents to Illinois, becoming a resident of
this county in 1835. She departed this life at the
homestead in 1870, leaving three children: George
H., who married Miss Vina Jackson, and has three
children — Elsie M., Walter E. and Minnie D. ;
Telitha, Mrs. Young, who has four children —
Dudley, Homer, Rebecca M. and Eva G. ; Harvey
H. married Miss Etta Hitch, and has two children —
Rowley and Lulu.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was
married Dec. 16, 1870, was formerly Miss Margaret,
daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Ritchie) Easter.
Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and
farmers by occupation. Her grandfather, Nicholas

I

COLES COUNTY.

457

Easter, who was born in Cumberland County, Pa.,
descended from German ancestry. Mrs. Hopper
was born in Adams County, Ohio, in 1829. Her
father had emigrated to the Buckeye State in about
1825, and carried on farming there the remainder
of his life. Both parents died in Adams County.

As we have seen, Dudley Hopper was prospered
in his business and farming transactions, and as
declining years admonished him it was time to rest
from his arduous labors, he removed, in 1884, to
Mattoon and purchased ground at the intersection
of Fifth and Shelby streets, where he put up two
houses, one of which he occupies. This forms an
attractive home, where Mr. and Mrs. H., sur-
rounded by the friends whom they have made dur-
ing a long and worthy life, are enjoying their later
years in the ease and comfort so justly earned.

Mr. and Mrs. II. are valued members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, in which our subject
officiates as Steward and to the support of which he
has contributed liberally and cheerfully for many
years. He is Democratic, politically, and is a
citizen highly respected for his sterling worth of
character and the upright course which he has uni-
formly pursued through life.

JSAAC PERISHO came to this county over
thirty years ago and settled in Hickory Town-
ship, where he successfully cultivated the soil
and became the possessor of a fine estate, embrac-
ing 400 acres of land. After laboring industriously
and accumulating a competency, the passing years
and the decline of bodily strength warned him that
it would be wise to rest. He accordingly aban-
doned the more active labors of life, and repairing
to the village, has since lived in retirement in a
handsome home, where he is surrounded by all the
comforts of life.

Our subject is of French ancestry, his grand-
father, Joseph Perisho, having emigrated from
France and settled in North Carolina, forty miles
south of Norfolk, on the sea coast. There he em-
ployed himself as a fisherman, conducting quite an
extensive yard, and there remained until resting
from his earthly labors in about 1801. The grand-

mother in her girlhood was Miss Nancy Sanders,
also of French parentage. They reared a family of
sons and daughters, among whom was Joseph, Jr.,
the father of our subject, who was born Dec. 25,
1785, in North Carolina, and there spent his child-
hood and youth. Upon reaching manhood he en-
gaged in farming, and also operated a gristmill un-
til twenty-six years of age. He then removed to
Washington County, Ind., being one of the first
settlers there, and built one of the first houses in
the county. Here he was married in 1814. Six
years later he removed to Monroe County, near
Bloomington, settling in the timber, and clearing a
farm from the wilderness. This he occupied until
1825, then sold out and came to Edgar County,
this State, where he took up a tract of Government
land, and remained a resident until his death, in
April, 1838. He seemed to take pride in going into
the uncultivated portions of the country and build-
ing up from the virgin soil a fine and fertile farm.
He was prospered in his labors, and at the time of
his death was the owner of 640 acres.

The mother of our subject, who in her girlhood
was Miss Barbara Ziuk, was born July 25, 1 792,
and was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth
(Shelly) Zink, natives of Germany. Mr. Z. em-
igrated to America when a young man, and settled
in Washington County, Va., where he engaged in
milling on the Holston River. Thence he removed
to a point near Louisville, Ky., where he followed
milling and farming a number of years, and then
proceeding to Salem County, Ind., was similarly oc-
cupied there until becoming a resident of Monroe
County, in 1818. There he put up a saw and grist
mill, which he operated until 1827, then selling out,
came to Edgar County, 111., and continuing his for-
mer employments, remained a resident of Grand
View Township until his death, in 1841. His wife,
Elizabeth, had preceded ' him to the silent land
many years before, in 1819. They reared a family
of nine children, three now living: Rosa, aged
eighty-seven; Elizabeth, aged eighty, and Andrew
F., aged fifty-seven. Barbara, the mother of our
subject, died in her seventy-ninth year.

Isaac Perisho, our subject, w.is born in Monroe
County, Ind., May 2, 1818, and in common with
his brothers, was reared on his father's farm and re-

I

t

458

COLES COUNTY.

I

1

ceived a limited education. When not quite
twenty years of age he was married, Jan. 9, 1838,
to Miss Sarah Zimmerly, who was a native of Wash-
ington County, Va. This lady became the mother
of three children, of whom only one, Jacob W.,
survives. The wife and mother died in Jasper
County, 111., Dec. 25, 1842. Mr. Perisho was the
second time married, June 27, 1843, to Miss Lavina
Purlee. This lady was a "native of Washington
County, Ind., and after becoming the mother of one
child, a son, Hiram, died on the loth of October,
1 844. The present wife of our subject, who was
the widow of James Wells, was formerly Miss Ro-
sanua M. O'Hair, a native of Wolfe County. Ky.,
and they were married June 12, 1845. Of this
union there were born five children, four now liv-
ing, namely, Emily J., John E., Mary E. and
Rosa A.

Mr. Perisho came to Illinois with his parents aiid
all engaged together in farming in Grand View
Township until 1825. The two families continued
to live together until 1838, and then our subject
removed to a farm adjoining that of his father,
which he occupied until 1840. Thence he removed
to Jasper County, where he improved a farm and
remained three years. Then returning to Edgar
County he located on a tract of land in Simms
Township, which he cultivated until 1855, and
then took up his abode in Seven Hickory Township,
this county, where he became the possessor in due
time of 400 acres and also was widely known as
one of the most thorough and progressive agricult-
urists of that section. Since becoming a resident
of Charleston he has wisely given himself his
needed and well-earned rest, and in the companion-
ship of his family and friends is beginning to feel
that his last days are his best ones.

The record of our subject's children is as follows.
Jacob married Miss Nancy Breeding, and they
have seven children, viz., Allen, Ida, Elizabeth,
Viola, William, Everet and Nancy; they reside on
a farm in Edgar County. Hiram, who is farming
near Paris, married Miss Eveline Morris, of Edgar
County; Emily J. married O. C. Bower, a farmer
of Morgan Township, and they have one child,
Arthur E. ; John E., who is farming in Seven Hick-
ory Township, married Miss Aurelia Miller, and

they have one child, a daughter, Edith E. ; Mary E.
is the wife of Otis Davis, of Charleston, and the
mother of tin ee children — Minnie R., Llewellyn and
Mabel P. ; Rosa A., the wife of Andy J. Newman,
of Seven Hickory Township, is the mother of three
children — Oliver P., George M. and Ruby R. Mr.
Perisho is a stanch adherent of the Democratic
party, and with his wife and children is a member
and regular attendant of the Christian Church.

JOHN M. DOTY, a prosperous farmer and
stock-raiser of Charleston, is the owner of a
fine estate containing 155 acres of choice,
' well-improved land. He was born Dec. 20,
1844, in this township (for the history of his par-
ents see sketch of Levi Doty). He passed his
boyhood and youth on his father's farm, receiving
a good common-school education, and gaining
practical experience in the details of farming. His
marriage to Miss Mary E. D. Parker took place
Nov. 13, 1864. She is the daughter of Fielding
and Ph(ebe (Hughes) Parker, and was born July
1 8, 1 847, in Scott County, Ky. Her family is of
English extraction.

After his marriage Mr. Doty settled on the farm
where he now lives. His farm residence is pleasant
and commodious; his land is valuable and well im-
proved, and he gives special attention to the rais-
ing of high-graded stock. In 1866 he removed to
Scott County, Ky., on account of his wife's failing
health, and engaged in farming there until 1869,
when he returned to Coles County. His wife died
Aug. 30, 1884. She was the mother of five chil-
dren, three of whom are now living — Ludie M.,
Chauncy R. and Bertie. Mr. Doty, like his father,
is a Democrat in politics, and has served two terms
as Supervisor.

A Ml' EL LIPPINCOTT settled in Coles
County in October, 1855, at what is known
as Greasy Point, where he rented land for
a term of five years, and in the meantime
saved enough to make a purchase of forty acres in
the fall of 1859. This land is now included in his

T

COLES COUNTY

459

present homestead, which he took possession of in
1851. Afterward he purchased eighty acres which
his son now occupies, and in due time became the
owner of 215 acres, upon which he perfected the
improvements which had already been begun, so
that he now has one of the most desirable home-
steads in Morgan Township.

Mr. Lippincott is a forcible illustration of the
self-made man, who began life equipped only with
his strong hands and persevering disposition. At the
same time he was remarkably fortunate in his se-
lection of a life companion, his excellent wife hav-
ing worked hand in hand with him, encouraging
him under misfortune, and proving at all times a
wise counselor and his most faithful friend. Their
efforts in time were abundantly rewarded, and be-
sides reaping the substantial benefits of their in-
dustry, they secured the respect and esteem of all
who knew them. One feature of the homestead is
the blooded stock, which includes one imported
English Sliien and one Hambletonian horse, besides
a number of other fine animals.

Samuel Lippiucott is the son of William and Phebe
(Henry) Lippincott, the former a native of Penn-
sylvania, born in 1801, and the latter of Virginia,
born in 1805. The paternal grandfather of our
subject, Samuel B., a native of Pennsylvania, was
the descendant of an excellent old English family,
whose history has been preserved through the lapse
of more than 200 years, embracing 500 individuals,
and extending down to the grandchildren of our
subject. Grandfather Lippincott, one of a family
of three or four children, remained in his native
State until quite an old man, then emigrated to
Allen County, Ohio, during its early settlement,
himself and family being among the first to locate
there. He purchased a tract of Government land
in about 1827, upon which the town of Lima stands,
and which is now the county seat, and departed
this life in that county in 1 839. His wife was for-
merly Miss Elizabeth Morgan, to whom he was mar-
ried in Pennsylvania. She was of German ances-
try, and became the mother of seven children, viz.,
Morgan John, Samuel, Joseph, William, Henry,
Jane and Elizabeth. Jane married and reared a
large family ; Elizabeth died in her youth. The
boys were all married in Ohio and reared large

families; Henry, the youngest, became Sheriff of
Allen County ; William, the fourth son, was the
father of our subject, and removed with his parents
to Ohio, which journey was performed overland
with teams. Upon one occasion the tedious days
of travel were enlivened by the running away of
all the teams in the mountains. They were recapt-
ured, however, without serious injury to goods or
animals.

The father of our subject was twice married, his
first wife being Miss Lydia Waters, a native of his
own State. They located upon a farm in Cham-
paign Count}'. Ohio, where they remained for a
number of years, then removed to Allen County,
whence, after a residence of eight years, they re-
turned to Champaign County, where the father
died. Of the first marriage there were born a son
and daughter — John and Harriett. The former
engaged in wagon-making in the city of Newark,
and became the father of a large family ; Harriett,
the widow of James Daniels, is a resident of Wis-
consin, and the mother of seven children. The
second wife of William Lippincott was Miss Phebe
Hensey, of Virginia, who became the mother of our
subject.

Samuel Lippincott was born March 22, 1822, in
Logan County, Ohio, whence his father removed
not long afterward to Champaign County, where
he grew to manhood. He lived in Allen County
also with his parents, and after his marriage in
1847, followed farming in Champaign County un-
til his removal to Central Illinois in 1855. The
wife of our subject, formerly Miss Rachel John-
son, was born .Sept. 20, 1826, in Champaign Coun-
ty, and was the daughter of Thomas and Anna
(Heath) Johnson, natives respectively of Pennsyl-
vania and Virginia. Thomas Johnson was born in
1802, and was cut down in his prime, his death oc-
curring when he was but thirtj'-seven years of age.
The ' wife and mother survived until 1863. dying
in Champaign County, Ohio, when sixty-nine years
old. They were the parents of nine children, six
now living: Eliza, Mrs. Jenkins, is the mother >of
five children, and lives in Ohio; Lev! has a farm of
275 acres in Champaign County, Ohio; Emily mar-
ried Samuel Small, who died in April, 1887, and
left three children ; Mrs. S. is now living at the

460

COLES COUNTY.

home of our subject, in this county. Martha Ann
married Peter Baker, of Urbana, Ohio, and became
the mother of three sons and three daughters, two
of the former now deceased ; Rachel, Mrs. L., was
the youngest of the family; Minerva, unmarried, is
living with one of her sisters in Ohio. Levi. the
son of David Johnson, served as a Union soldier in
the late war, from 1861 to 1864.

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lippincott became the par-
ents of eight children, all living, as follows : George
William, born June 9, 1848, married Miss Mary
Montgomery, and is the father of seven children ;
they occupy a part of the homestead ; James Mil-
ton, born Oct. 4, 1850, married Miss Lulu Sumner,
has two children, and lives in Moultrie County;
Marietta, born Dec. 18, 1852, is the wife of Will-
iam Combs (see sketch) ; Martha Ann, born Sept.
18, 1856, is the wife of John Hornaday, of Morgan
Township, and the mother of two children; Rosella
Jane, born Feb. 24, 1859, is the wife of Matthias
Smith, of Seven Hickory Township, and the mother
of three children : LydiaCelia, born Feb. 3, 1863, is
the wife of James Smail, of Oakland, and has one
child living, one being deceased ; John Henry, born
April 6, 1866, is unmarried and at home; Edward
Theodore, born Nov. 30, 1868, was the last baby
of the household, and is now a bright lad not quite
nineteen years of age.

Mr. Lippincott in 1865 became a member of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and for a period
of twenty years has .been one of its warmest sup-
porters and most cheerful givers. During this time
he has officiated a long period as Elder, and has the
pleasure of knowing that all of his family are
gathered into the fold with him. He became con-
nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church in
1864, which had been organized at Union Point in
1845, by Mr. Ashmore, one of the early settlers of
the county, and one of its most highly respected
citizens, but afterward found it convenient to with-
draw. Mr. L. considers that the best sermon he
ever heard was preached in the early times in Ash-
more Township. He assisted in hauling the ma-
terial for the church edifice in which he now
worships from Newport, Ind., in the winter of
1855, and was one of the chief pillars in upholding
the organization amid discouragements and difficul-

ties. Politically he has been a stanch supporter of
the Republican party since its organization, al-
though only meddling in politics enough to deter-
mine the candidate best worthy to receive his sup-
port.

The brothers and sisters of our subject are re-
corded as follows: Jane, the wife of E. Smith, is a
resident of Licking County, Ohio, and has a -fam-
ily of two sons and five daughters; Lydia Ann
married George Smith, has six children, and lives
in Scotland County, Mo. ; George, a merchant of
Springfield, Ohio, was married and became the
father of only one child, who died young; he has
been a widower.. for several, years. Nancy died
when two years of age. George served as a soldier
through the late war. Soon after enlisting he was
sent home on account of disability, but employed
himself in recruiting a company, and going back
to the field was appointed Lieutenant, and after-
ward Captain, receiving in the meantime a ball in
the shoulder, which he still carries.

<jfl AMES S. YEARGIN. The history of this
gentleman, who is the founder and proprie-
tor of the Oakland Weekly Ledger, forms a
biography which will be read with interest
and which is in its main points as follows: The
paternal great-grandfather of our subject, William
Yeargin by name, was a native of Wales. He
married a Huguenot lady who emigrated with her
parents from France. They settled near Winyaw
Bay, S. C., and, further than that they reared a
family of sons and daughters, little is known of
them by their descendants.

The maternal great-grandparents were William
and Ellen (Tripp) Swafford, of Scotch ancestry.
This was said to have been a runaway match, but
proved a remarkably happy one. To them were
born seven sons, among whom was James, the
grandfather of our subject, and after whom the
latter was named. He served as a soldier in the
Revolutionary War, and was under the command
of Gen. Morgan at the battle of Cowpens. He
married, in early manhood, Miss Miriam Julian,

I

COLES COUNTY.

461

who was a native of North Carolina, and of Welsh
descent. She was one of the brave women of that
day who sympathized with the Colonists in their
struggle for liberty, and assisted in taking care of
the wounded at the battle of Guilford Court- House,
in her native State. Their son, Thomas, the grand-
father of our subject, was also a native of Virginia,
and served his country at the time that "tried
men's souls" for a term of six years. He officiated
as chief of the Commissary Department at York-
town, at the surrender of Cornwallis. His son
Peter, the father of our subject, was born in
Loudoun County, Va., in 1785, and when twenty-
lour years of age, emigrated with his father to
Randolph County, N. C. He was soon afterward
married to Miss Patience Swafford, with whom he
lived happily.

Peter Yeargin emigrated with his family to
Illinois in the spring of 1846, locating in Edgar
County while it was still a wilderness. He built
up a comfortable homestead and resided there un-
til his death, which occurred in 1863. He also,
following in the footsteps of his forefathers, was at
one period a soldier in the Federal army, and was
stationed at Norfolk, Va., under the command of
Col. Roderick C. Cotton, the hero of Craney
Island. He served one year and received his
honorable discharge.

James S. Yeargin, of this sketch, was born in
Randolph County, N. C., Feb. 1, 1833, and came
with his father to Edgar County, 111., where he was
reared and obtained his schooling in a log cabin,
attending three months in the year until eighteen
years old. His brother, Parmeno, having developed
into a physician, our subject engaged to catch and
saddle his horse, keep his office in order, make
fires and milk the cow, thus paying his board while
he kept on with his studies. He finally graduated
under the tuition of "Uncle James Evving," having
learned all that individual could teach him, and
then himself began the profession of a pedagogue,
by which he was enabled to obtain funds to enter
Wabash College. He took two terms in that institu-
tion,, and afterward taught school in Illinois and
Indiana until 1857. Then, desirous of settling
down in life, he was united in marriage with Miss
Elizabeth J. Koontz. They became the parents of

two sons and one daughter, and in 1 863 removed
from Edgar to Coles County, settling in Oakland,
where they still reside.

The early efforts Of Mr. Yeargin to obtain an
education form a chapter in his history greatly to
his credit. The people of East Oakland Township
at once recognized his ability and worth, and in
1865 he was elected County Surveyor of Coles
County on the Republican ticket, which office he
filled with satisfaction to all concerned for two
years, and then declined a re-election. In 1873
he was elected Police Magistrate of the village of
Oakland, holding the office four years, and was
then Clerk of the township for five consecutive
terms. He was appointed Postmaster in 1885. un-
der the administration of President Cleveland, not
only as a reward for services rendered the Demo-
cratic party, but for having fully established him-
self in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-
townsmen.

The Weekly Ledger, with which our subject con-
tinues to be connected as senior editor and man-
ager, is mainly edited by his son, Lyman T. The
history of this newspaper is peculiar and a little out
of the ordinary. It was established as a monthly
on the 6th of September, 1878, and in size was
about as large as a common-sized window-pane, it
being a folio and each page printed at a run.
Notwithstanding that at this time there was another
paper in the village of Oakland, the Ledger by its
strict attention to home matters, soon became the
popular paper, and was, after a few months, pub-
lished as a weekly, remaining the same size as be-
fore. Its proprietors possessed but limited means,
and were not able to purchase a mammouth print-
ing establishment, consequently were obliged to
enlarge their outfit by degrees. Their progress,
although perhaps slow, was sure, and in 1880 a
large power press was secured, and the paper en-
larged to a four-column quarto, set in nonpareil
type, and still containing the larger amount of
home news of the two papers in the village. This
same year the politics of the paper was changed
from Republican to Democratic, which it still re-
mains.

In 1882 the Ledger was enlarged to a five-column
quarto, its present size, and an entire new outfit

f

t

462

COLES COUNTY.

purchased. On the 28th of July, 1885, the elder
Yeargin, having received the appointment of Post-
master, took charge of the latter office, leaving the
Ledger practically in charge of his son, L. T. Year-
gin, better known as -'Nixie," a biography of whom
appears elsewhere in this volume. The Ledger is
accounted the leading local paper in Coles County,
and the generous manner in which it is patronized
by the people, is a sufficient indication of its in-
fluence and popularity.

/p?j)EORGE RAINES is proprietor of a black-
'II (=7 smith-shop, and also the owner of a farm
^^S containing forty acres of laud, located in
Lafayette Township. He is the son of George and
Susan (Bland) Raines, and was born March 22,
1829, in Pendleton County, W. Va. His father was
a farmer, and he was reared at home, assisting in
the various branches of agricultural labor. He
passed his early life in his native State and in 1852
name to Illinois, and settled in Lafayette Township.
After his arrival here he was engaged for three
years as a wage- worker in farm labor. But his
preferences were not inclined to agricultural pur-
suits, and he subsequently learned the blacksmith's
trade, which he has since successfully carried on.

In 1858, Mr. Raines was married to Miss Harriet
Maze. Mrs. Raines is the daughter of William and
Mahala (Coleman) Maze, and was born May 31,
1840, in Shelby County, Ind. A family of seven
children was born to them, six of whom are living:
Alice, now the wife of W. L. R. Funkhouser; Laura
Belle, the wife of George Hurst; George B. M. ;
Etta Viola, the wife of L. D. Eldridge ; Adeline
and Martha. Mrs. Raines is a member of the
Christian Church.

E. WOODS, editor of the Mattoon Journal,
a daily and weekly paper which has become
quite indispensable to the people of Coles
County, is also part publisher and proprietor of
the same, and has distinguished himself as a
practical journalist of sound sense, and with a fair

acquaintance of the needs of the people in this di-
rection. He is a gentleman well known in this sec-
tion of county, having been born in Lafayette
Township, this county, June 2, 1837, and being
consequently of the age when his capacities are in
their full vigor, and his judgment, sharpened by an
acquaintance with the world and human nature in
general, has given him broad and liberal views of
life.

The parents of our subject were Hiram and Mar-
garet (Threlkeld) Woods, natives of Kentucky and
highly respected members of the farming commu-
nity. They emigrated to this county in about
1833, and from the undeveloped soil built up a
good farm. During the late war, the father of our
subject enlisted in the 62d Illinois Infantry, and
gave three years to the service of his country. He
participated in various campaigns, and was once
captured by the rebels at Holly Springs, being,
however, retained as prisoner but a short time. It
is hardly necessary to say that he was a stanch Repub-
lican, and both parents were members of the Old-
School Baptist Church. The elder Woods became
more or less identified with the local affairs of the
township, being a man of cool and temperate judg-
ment, whose opinions were held in general respect.
He "possessed great enterprise and industry, and
was a sub-contractor on the I. & St. L. R. R.

The parental family of our subject numbered six
children, four now living, namely: Thomas E., of
our sketch; Harriet A., Mrs. Bridges, of Malvern,
Iowa; Winfield and Milton Y. The mother de-
parted this life in Mattoon, in the spring of 1859.
Hiram Woods survived until 1884, spending his
last years in Mattoon.

Thomas E. Woods remained on his father's farm
until he was a youth of eighteen years, in the mean-
time receiving a good education, and then com-
menced teaching school. A year later he engaged
as clerk in a general store at Mattoon, and also
officiated as Deputy Postmaster, being the second
man to fulfill the duties of Postmaster at Mattoon.
In 1858 he purchased the Mattoon Gazette, which
he conducted two and one-half years, and then re-
turning to the rural districts, engaged in farming
for a year. He now decided upon the study of
law, and going to Charleston entered the office of

i .U : V
0' li-.E

iu.iro'8

1=

COLES COUNTY.

465

Hon. H. P. H. Bromwell, where he read law and at
the same time officiated as editor of the Charleston
Courier. The war now coming on he enlisted, in
1862, in Co. A, 123d 111. Vol. Inf., and was soon
afterward made Quartermaster Sergeant. Eighteen
months later he became Sergeant Major, and the
last year commanded Company H, being mustered
out with a Captain's commission.

After returning from the army Capt. Woods pur-
chased the Mattoon Journal, and since that time
has had editorial charge. Under his supervision
the Journal has become very efficient and popular as
an exponent of Republican principles, while at the
same time it is a lively record of local and general
news.

Mr. Woods was married, in 1860. to Miss Lizzie
N., daughter of Dumas and Lucy Jones, of this
county. This lady died in 1866, and six years later
Mr. Woods contracted a second marriage, with Miss
Louie V. Powers, of Griggsville, 111., the daughter
of Rev. William R. Powers, a native of Vermont,
and now deceased. Of this union there have been
born four children — Eulalie, Percival, Margaret and
Hallie. Mr. W. belongs to the K. of H., the K. and
L. of H., and is a member in good standing of the
G. A. R.

OHN J. HALL, a substantial fanner and
stock-grower of Pleasant Grove Township,
resides in the dwelling erected and occupied
by Thomas Lincoln, father of the lamented
President. He is the son of Squire and Matilda
(Johnston) Hall, and was born in Spencer County,
Ind., April 12, 1829. His parents were natives of
Kentucky, where they were married, and removed
thence to Spencer County. In 1830 the family
came to Illinois, and were among the early settlers
of this county. Mr. Hall was a first cousin to
Abraham Lincoln's mother, and his wife was the
step-sister of Abraham Lincoln.

The Lincoln and Hall families moved from
. Spencer County, Ind., to Macon County, 111., in the
same wagon, and Abraham Lincoln drove the team.
Both families passed one year in Macon County,
during which period Abraham Lincoln split the
rails which afterward became historic, and proved

a successful factor in his political career. It was the
last work he ever did on the farm. In the following
year both families moved to Coles County, and
settled in Pleasant Grove Township. Mr. Hall's
death occurred Oct. 5, 1851. His widow survived
him many years, and died Feb. 20, 1878. They
had a family of nine children, all of whom are now
living, their record being as follows: John J. is
the subject of this sketch; Nancy Ann is the wife of
Miles Moore; Elizabeth J. married John Berry;
Alfred L. ; Louisa became the wife of Merrill Fox ;
Amanda is now Mrs. Robert Brown; Joseph;
Rachel and Harriet, twins ; the former is the wife of
Alfred Payne, and the latter married J. E. Landrus.
After the death of her husband Mrs. Hall married
Reuben Moore, by whom she had one child, named
Giles.

John Hall was reared on his father's farm in the
pioneer days of Coles County. He assisted his
father in the summer, and during the winter
trudged bravely three and a half miles through the
bitter cold and drifted snow to the nearest log
school-house, which, when reached, afforded but lit-
tle shelter from the sharp prairie winds, and the
learning dispensed there was of a very rudimentary
character. However, it was the best the times
afforded, and much shrewd wit and wisdom were
developed by observation and experience in those
early days, if not acquired from book-learning.

On the 10th of April, 1866, Mr. Hall was united
in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth (Taylor) Gaston.
Mrs. Hall was born Sept. 28, 1835, in Coles Coun-
ty, and was first married to Oliver B. Gaston, on
the 23d of October, 1856. Of this union there
were born three children, only one of whom is now
living, Ludlow Gaston. In 1851 Mr. Hall purchased
the estate of Thomas Lincoln, where he has resided
since his marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have a fam-
ily of six children, whose names are as follows:
Harriet, Squire, Nancy Ann, Matilda, Abraham Lin-
coln and Joseph.

Mr. Hall has acquired his property by industry
and energy. He owns an estate containing 325
acres of valuable land, and in conducting his farm
gives special attention to stock-raising. Our subject
possesses am pie means to erect a fine residence, and
will doubtless do so in the future, but so many rec-

I

, > 466

COLES COUNTY.

ollections cluster about the old homestead, that they
desire to retain it in a habitable condition as long
as possible. Mr. Hall cast his first vote for John
Fremont in 1856, and since that time has been a
stanch supporter of the Republican party.

A lithographic portrait of Mr. Hall is shown in
this connection, as a fitting adjunct to the above
brief sketch of his life, and as a companion picture
we are pleased to place beside it that of his estima-
ble wife.

fS AAC N. CRAIG, a wealthy and retired farmer,
has been a citizen of Charleston for nearly
jj^ twenty years, taking up his residence here after
his abandonment of farm life in 1869. His home-
stead consists of sixty-two and one-half acres of
valuable land adjacent to the city limits, and be-
sides this property he is the owner of 700 acres else-
where in Coles County. Since becoming a resident
of Central Illinois he has distinguished himself as a
wide-awake and enterprising citizen, identifying
himself with the interests of the people, and being
the especial encourager and supporter of the insti-
tutions pertaining to the intellectual and moral wel-
fare of the people. He is one of the pillars of the
Baptist Church, and has boen connected with the
Second National Bank as a stockholder and Director,
since its organization. His career illustrates in a
marked manner the influence which a man of wise
judgment and generous impulses may exert upon a
community, and the good which may be accom-
plished directly and indirectly by one, who, while
looking after his own property, has a thought also
for the interests of the community around him.

Isaac N. Craig is a native of Montgomery
County, Ky., his birth taking place Sept. 25, 1810.
His parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Nickel) Craig,
were natives of Virginia, but reared in Kentucky.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, also a na-
tive of the Old Dominion, was a blacksmith by
trade, and the son of Victor Craig, who was of
Scotch-Irish ancestry, and who settled in Virginia
early in life, and engaged in merchandising. Rob-
ert Craig was born in 1781, and was but a lad
when his parents moved to Kentucky. He was
reared on a farm and within the confines of Strode

Fort, to which his father at one time removed for
protection from the Indians. He received the ad-
vantages of a good English education, and remained
in the Blue Grass regions until 1828, in the mean-
time being bred to farming pursuits. He carried
on agriculture several years, then sold out, and com-
ing to Clark County, this State, purchased a quarter
section of Government land upon which he built a
log house, and proceeded with its improvement and
cultivation until 1842. Thence he removed to
Edgar County, where he remained until his death,
: in 1847. His wife also died the same year. Robert
Craig was a stanch Democrat, politically, and served
as a soldier in the War of 1812. He was one of
the first to identify himself with the Masonic fra-
ternity, and was also connected with the Universal-
ist Church. His wife, Elizabeth, was a Baptist.
They reared a family of eight children, of whom
only two survive, namely, Isaac N. and his sister,
Narcissa, Mrs. Thomas Davis, of Morgan Town-
ship, this county.

The subject of this history was reared on the
farm until about twenty-one years of age, receiving
a common-school education. One of the first steps
toward the establishment of a home, was his marriage
with Miss Catherine Henson, a native of Kentucky,
which, took place at the home of the bride, April
I 14, 1831. After their marriage, the young people
located upon sixty acres of land in Clark County,
| given them by the father of our subject, and of
'• which they retained possession for five years. Mr.
Craig then sold out and purchased 164 acres in
j Morgan Township, this county, which he occupied
1 thirteen years, and where his wife died, leaving five
children, three now living, namely, Lafayette;
Elizabeth, Mrs. Gregg, and Harriet, Mrs. Mitchell.
The second wife of our subject was in her girl-
hood Miss Elizabeth Bloyer, who was born in Penn-
sylvania, and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Harding) Bloyer, natives of Switzerland. They
emigrated to America in 1817, and located in Penn-
sylvania, where they became the parents of three
children, of whom Mrs. C. is the only one living.
Mr. Bloyer only lived seven years after coming to
America. The mother afterward came to this
county, and locating at Charleston, remained a
resident there until her death, in 1851. The union i

COLES COUNTY.

467

of Isaac N. Craig and Miss Elizabeth Bloyer re-
sulted in the birth of six children, namely, Cather-
ine, now Mrs. McMullen; James W., practicing law
at Mattoou; Andrew J., a farmer; L. E., Mrs.
Swange; Isaac B., an attorney at Mattoon, and
Thomas J.

AMUEL WYETH, a son of one of the
earliest pioneers of this county, is located
on the land entered by his father from a
Mexican land grant in 1853, and which he
purchased of the latter, in 1853. He is located
on section 27, in Seven Hickory Township, with
whose farming interests he has been identified for
the last thirty years. He is a New Englander by
birth, his native place being Franklin County,
Mass., where he was born Nov. 20, 1832. His
father, Nathan S. Wyeth, was born in Massachusetts
May 16, 1801, and his mother, formerly Miss
Hannah P. Kellogg, a native of the same State, was
born in 1800.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Gad
Wyeth by name, and a native of the Bay State,
was born July 27, 1763, and married Miss Mary
Kendall, also a native of Massachusetts, born Dec.
3, 1770, their wedding taking place at the home of
the bride in 1792. They became the parents of
six children, namely, Jonas Parker, born Oct. 27,
1793; Gad, Jr., July 4. 1795; Joseph S., Nov. 8,
1796; Mary, Sept 15, 1799; Nathan S., May 16,
1801, and David, Oct 3, 1802.

The eldest son of the grandparents' family, Jonas
P., emigrated to Illinois about 1 853, having been
married to Miss Margaret Files, July 25, 1825.
He located on a farm in Humbolt Township and
died there. His widow afterward removed to
Michigan, where her death took place after a few
years. Gad W. married Miss Elizabeth Chase,
May 18, 1823, and died in middle life in his native
State; Joseph S. married Miss Sallie Star, Oct. 11,
1823, and is a resident of Massachusetts; Mary
W. became the wife of Silas Stites, Feb. 9, 1825;
David married Miss Sallie Kellogg, Jan. 2, 1826,
and died in Ohio; his svidow is still living there.
Nathan S.. removed from Massachusetts to Ohio,
where he lived until 1851, then came to this county

and located in Seven Hickory Township, where he
became a large land-holder; he died Aug. 11,
1864; his wife, the mother of our subject, died
Feb. 6, 1866. Years ago he united with the Bap-
tists, but subsequently became a Methodist. His
wife was also a member of the latter church.

The parents of our subject were married Nov.
15, 1824, and to them were born the following
children: Nancy K., born Nov. 7, 1825; Leonard
J., born Jan. 13, 1827, married Miss Malinda
Northway, and is a resident of Tuscola, 111. ; they
have two children, a son and daughter, Clarence and
Emma. Joseph S., born Sept. 13, 1828, is a resident
of Douglas County; Albert B., born Dec, 22, 1829, is
married and a resident of Seven Hickory Township,
his wife being formerly Miss Angelina Carris;
their children are George and ^ora. Samuel K.,

| our subject; Thomas S., born June 21, 1833, has
been twice married, and is a resident of Seven
Hickory Township; Mary K., born Dec. 28, 1838,
is the widow of John F. Coffer and a resident
of Douglas County; Delilah, born June 7, 1841,
died the following year in Licking County, Ohio.
The father of our subject came to Illinois in 1851,
opened up a good farm in Seven Hickory Township,
and was engaged in agricultural pursuits. While
on a visit to Tuscola he died at the home of his

j son, Aug. 11, 1864. The wife and mother de-
parted this life in Seven Hickory Township Feb.
6, 1866.

The subject of our sketch was but a youth when
his father emigrated to Ohio, and received a
limited education, continuing under the parental
roof until reaching his majority. Soon afterward
he started out for himself, first farming on rented
land and then purchased 160,]acres of his father,
where several years later he engaged largely in the
cultivation of broom corn, and afterward turned
his attention to stock-rais'ing in addition to diversi-
fied farming. In 1879 he put up a commodious
frame residence, and is amply supplied with other
necessary farm buildings.

Samuel Wyeth was married, Oct. 27, 1857, to
Miss Catherine Combs, who was born in Clark
County, Ind., Aug. 29, 1838, and is the daughter
of William and Margaret (Myers) Combs, natives
respectively of Indiana and Kentucky. They

468

COLES COUNTY.

located in Coles County in 1853, where the mother
died July 2, 1880. The father is also deceased,
dying Sept. 1, 1874. Their children were, Mary
Jane, now a resident of Indiana; Nancy, deceased ;
Catherine, the wife of our subject; William and
Margaret, deceased; Rachel, the wife of Thomas
C. Coffer, and John, who died Nov. 22, 1 872. All
were members of the Christian Church. The
children of our subject and his wife are, William
Madison, James F., Thomas J., Mary J., John, who
died at the age of three, and Minnie when one year
old. The only daughter living became the wife of
Abraham Hard in, and resides fifteen miles east of
Louisville, Ky. The others are at home with their
parents.

Mr. Wyeth, politically, is one of the most re-
liable members of the Republicaji party, and with
his wife and children is connected with the Chris-
tian Church at Rural Retreat. The home farm of
Mr. Wyeth comprises 480 acres, which is one of
the finest and best improved in the county. Be-
sides the home place he has 160 acres across the
line in Douglas County, 200 acres in Morgan
Township, and 700 acres more in different locali-
ties in Seven Hickory Township, making a grand
total of 1,540 acres. Besides his farm property
he is a stockholder in the Arcola Bank in Douglas
County, and in all respects a representative citizen
of the progressive and enterprising Prairie State.

M. MOZ1ER, Trainmaster of the I. & St.
L. R. R. at Mattoon, an experienced rail-
road man, and who has occupied his pres-
ent position since the fall of 1882, is a na-
tive of Morrow County, Ohio, born near Mt. Gil-
ead, May 31, 1843. His parents, Luther D. and
Abbie L. (Harrison) Mozier, were natives respect-
ively of Vermont and New Jersey. The elder
Mozier when a young man emigrated from his na-
tive State to Knox County, Ohio, and being in pos-
session of a good education, entered upon the pro-
fession of a school teacher, which he followed for
many years. After abandoning thisjhe engaged in

farming, merchandising and railroading. He was a
man of great energy, and was prominent in the
local affairs of his county, being one of the stanch-
est adherents of the Republican party in that sec-
tion. He was also an Abolitionist, and raised his
voice whenever opportunity occurred in behalf of
human freedom. Both parents belonged to the
United Brethren Church. Luther Mozier and his
excellent lady lived to celebrate their golden wed-
ding, in 1882, which was a most interesting event
1 participated in by their six children, and a large
circle of friends and acquaintances.

The parental family of our subject consisted of
seven children, six now living, as follows: Joseph
W. was for many years engaged in farming in Ohio,
but is now retired, and a resident of Edison, that
State; William H., also retired from active labor, is
a resident of Van Wirt, Ohio; A. M., of our sketch,
was the fourth child ; George W. is a resident of
Kansas City, where he deals in real estate ; Mary
L., Mrs. Dodge, is a resident of Valparaiso, Ind.;
Charles R., residing in Edison, Ohio, is agent for
the Bee Line, Ohio Central & Mt. Gilead Railroad.
He is also interested in farming and other business,
being, like his father, a wide-awake and energetic
man who never spends any time in idleness.

The subject of this sketch remained under the
parental roof until after reaching his majority, in
the meantime receiving a good education and com-
pleting his studies in the High School. He also
learned telegraphy and was engaged at Delaware
and Crestline with the Bee Line Railroad Company,
in the capacity of telegraph operator . and ticket
agent for twelve years. In 1866 he engaged in
merchandising, but railroading seemed his natural
sphere, and going to Rochester, Pa., he engaged as
an operator with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com-
pany, remaining four years, and then being trans-
ferred to Dennison, Ohio, as train dispatcher. Not
long afterward he was made chief train dispatcher,
which position he occupied over ten years, in the
meantime having been appointed manager of the
telegraph department. In February, 1882, desiring
to come West, he accepted the position of chief
train dispatcher for the 1. & St. L. R. R. Co., at
Mattoon, in which position he was engaged eight
months and then appointed to his present place.

COLES COUNTY.

469

His long experience and natural adaptation to busi-
ness of this kind, have rendered him a valuable and
trusted employe of a great and responsible corpora-
tion.

The marriage of our subject and Miss Marianne,
daughter of William H. Boure, of Crestline, Ohio,
was celebrated at the home of the bride's parents,
July 11, 1865. Of this union there have been born
two children : M. Lee, now book-keeper and cashier
for George N. Buck, a dry-goods merchant of
Mattoon ; and Edna L., at home with her parents.
The family residence is pleasantly located on
Charleston street, and our subject with his estima-
ble lady, now enjoys the society of a large circle of
friends and acquaintances. They are members in
good standing of the Presbyterian Church, in which
Mr. Mozier has been Elder for some time. Politi-
cally, he is a Republican, and socially, belongs to
the Masonic fraternity and the Knights and La-
dies of Honor. He has some property in the city,
and is Vice President of the Mattoon Gas and Fuel
Company.

WILLIAM J. SHIELDS, a native of Coles
County, was born on the farm of his
father, in Oakland Township, May 5, 1844,
and at an early age became intimately acquainted
with the routine of "farm life, which he has since
followed as the vocation of his choice, and by
means of which he has built up a good home and
surrounded himself with all the comforts of life.
His property is pleasantly located on section 28, in
the township of his birth, and he has naturally be-
come identified with the interests of the people
around him, both socially and financially.

The parents of our subject were John and Sarah
(Sublet) Shields, the former born in Jennings
County, Ind., Oct. 1, 1814. The mother was a na-
tive of Kentucky, her birth taking place in Garrard
County, July 28, 1819. Both came to Illinois with
their parents when young people, and were married
in Charleston, this county, in October, 1835. In
due time they became the parents of eleven chil-
dren, of whom seven are still living: Klzina died

in infancy ; Susanna died when about five years of
age; Rebecca married John H. Patton and lives
near Hinesboro, 111. ; William J., of our sketch, was
the fourth child; James died young; Lucinda J.
became the wife of Justin H. Hanley, now Sheriff
of Edgar County ; Jessie M. is living near Camargo,
Douglas County; Daniel; Nancy B., who married
J. H. Comstock, and Sarah E., the wife of Wilford
Dean, are residents of Edgar County ; John M. died
in infancy. John Shields officiated for a period of
thirty years as a minister of the Predestinarian
Baptist Church, commencing his labors at Sugar
Creek Church, in 1843. His standing in the minis-
try was of the highest, and the number of persons
baptized by him ran up into the hundreds. He was
serving the Providence Church in Edgar County,
when death overtook him, May 13, 1873.

William J. Shields received but a limited educa-
tion in his youth, attending school only occasion-
ally during the winter season, his time being
otherwise employed on his father's farm. One of
the most important events of his early manhood
was his marriage, which took place Oct. 29, 1862,
his chosen bride being Miss Mary E. Buckler, and
the ceremony being performed by Rev. Coleman
E. Dawson, of the Baptist Church. Of this union
there were born three children — Jesse, John T. and
Alma A. The mother died Feb. 22, 1877.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was
married Jan. 23, 1879, Thomas Wyatt, of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, officiating, was for-
merly Miss Ann E. Spry. She was born in Ohio,
Feb. 8, 1850, and is the daughter of Isaac H. and
Catherine (Hunter) Spry, both also born in Ohio,
in about 1818. They were married in their native
State, and came to Illinois in 1857, locating near
Murdock, where they now reside. Mr. and Mrs.
Shields have one child, a daughter, Bertha. Mr. S.,
realizing the disadvantages of limited schooling, is
giving his children a good education, and fitting
them for intelligent and useful members of society.

The father of Mr. Shields left him forty acres of
land, which he afterward sold, and purchased his
present homestead of fifty acres, which he has brought
to an excellent state of cultivation, believing with
Horace Greeley, that a small acreage well tilled is
more advantageous than a large area partially neg- ^

J

470

COLES COUNTY.

lected. The farm buildings are convenient and
comfortable, and every thing about the premises de-
notes the industry and thrift of the proprietor.

RTHUR F. HARMON, a prosperous far-
mer and stock-raiser, residing on section
7, Oakland Township, was born Oct. 4,
1828, in Clermont County, Ohio, and is
the son of John and Martha (Vandyke) Harmoni
natives of Kentucky, the father born in 1800. His
parents removed to Ohio when he was two years of
age, and he passed his life there engaged in farming.
John Harmon was twice married. His first wife
was Elizabeth Chapman, who died four years after
their marriage, leaving two little children : Cath-
erine, who died at the age of nineteen years, and
Elizabeth, the wife of Samuel Wyse. By his sec-
ond marriage, which took place in 1826, six chil-
dren were born, whose record is as follows: Arthur
is the subject of this sketch; Susan is the wife of
George Gregg; Mary is the wife of Wyatt Barr;
John has been thrice married, the first time to Miss
Molly Carr; after her death he was married the
second time, to Miss Lida Burton, and his third
marriage was with Miss Maria Jennie Coswell;
Martha is the wife of Edward Dowden, and Eliza
E., the wife of James Barr.

Arthur Harmon was married, Feb. 4, 1852, to
Miss Rebecca Gregg. Mrs. Harmon is the daugh-
ter of Hiram D. and Elizabeth (Humlong) Gregg,
and was born May 12, 1834, in Clermont County,
Ohio. Mr. Gregg is of German extraction, and
belongs to one of the pioneer families of Bracken
County, Ky., where he was born in 1805; his wife
was also born there, in 1807. They subsequently
removed to Ohio, where they are now living. Mr.
Gregg possessed excellent business qualifications,
was prosperous and successful in farming, and ac-
quired independence and ease, in which to pass the
closing years of life. He is a public-spirited man,
and in his earlier life possessed great influence in
the public affairs of the community. He is one of
the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in
•ivliich he has been Class-Leader and Steward for
many years. In politics he is a stanch supporter of

the Republican party, and during the Civil War
was devoted to the Union cause. His wife has
been a noble. Christian woman throughout her life,
having always taken an active interest in church
work, and in her home has been an affectionate
wife and devoted mother. Their family consisted
of eleven children, whose names are as follows:
Aaron H., George H., Rebecca, Vincent H., Samuel
H., John H., -Hiram F. and Mary E., twins, and
three who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Harmon
have a family of ten children, whose record is as
follows : Mary E.. the wife of Milton Garrison ;
Mattie B., the wife of John Yenawine ; Luella ;
Josie M., the wife of Ralph D. Dollar; John A., Ed-
ward W., EfHe, Ida, Stanley H. and Nellie G.

In 1869 Arthur Harmon came to Illinois, and
located in Edgar County, remaining there six
years. He then removed to Douglas County, but
subsequently sold out, and in 1882 settled on his
present farm in this county, which consists of 236
acres. Mr. Harmon and his wife are highly es-
teemed members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and are actively interested in promoting
its interests. In politics Mr. Harmon is an ardent
supporter of the Republican party.

bHOMAS SENTENEY has been a resident of
Coles County for more than thirty years.
His estate, located on section 27, North
Okaw Township, contains eighty acres of choice
land. He was born May 16, 1819, near Maysville,
Ky., and is the son of Joab and Elizabeth (Doing)
Senteney. His great-grandfather, John Sentenej^,
was of German parentage, although born in the
United States. He married Miss Mary Hyde, a
native of England, and they made their home in
the East, dying in the vicinity of New York City.
His grandfather, John Senteney, was born in
1761, in New Jersey, and his marriage to Miss
Elizabeth Houghton took place there. She was
likewise a native of New Jersey. In the year 1790
he moved West with his young wife, and purchas-
ing land near Maysville, Ky., made his permanent
home there. After a long life of usefulness his
death occurred in 1835 at a ripe old age. His

COLES COUNTY.

471

widow survived him several years, and passed away
in 1845. Both are buried in the Lawrence Creek
Cemetery, near Maysville. Their family consisted
of seven children — Thomas, Joab, Nancy, Cather-
ine, Charity, Mary and Elijah, all of whom attained
maturity and married. John Senteney J; and his
wife were, during their lifetime, members of the
Baptist Church, and were actively engaged in pro-
moting its interests and building up the^cause of
Christ.

Joab Senteney was born in 1794, near Maysville,
Ky. At that early day the educational advantages
of the West were very limited, and he had little
opportunitj- for mental cultivation. Business af-
fairs required his father's absence from home most
of the time, and at the age of twenty-one Joab took
charge of the farm, and remained on the home-
stead until his father's death. His marriage to
Miss Elizabeth Doing took place in the year 1816.
Mrs. Senteney was the daughter of Thomas Doing,
and was born in Virginia.

At the time of his father's death Joab Seuteney
was forty-four years of age, and, taking his share
of the estate, went to Franklin Count}', lud.. where
he purchased eighty acres of timber land, which he
cleared and cultivated for about five years. He
then disposed of his interests in Indiana and re-
moved l,o Morgan County, 111. Renting land near
Jacksonville he carried on a successful farming
business there for about fourteen years, and in the
autumn of 1855 removed to that part of Coles
County which is now included in Douglas. He
there entered forty acres, which he improved and
cultivated, making that place his home for life.
Mr. Senteney was active and industrious in busi-
ness, and successfully passed through the hardships
and privations incident to pioneer life, in two dif-
ferent States. He was retiring in disposition, and
devoted to the interests of his home, never desir-
ing to mingle in public affairs. With his wife he
was a member of the Christian Church. Having
finished his life work he died in 1863. His widow
survived him several years and died in 1875, and
they both lie at rest in the old Humbolt burying-
ground.

The parental family consisted of nine children:
John, deceased, was married to Elizabeth Bobbet;

Thomas, the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, the
wife of Oliver Huckstep; Nancy died at the age of
sixteen; Robert married Miss Jane Fleming, and
resides in Guthrie County, Iowa; William married
Miss Minerva Christman, and both died, leaving a
family of six children; Jacob married Miss Eliza-
beth McNealy, and both also died, leaving a fam-
ily of four children; Peter G., deceased, was mar-
ried to Miss Ellen Hosteller; Alary is the wife of
Martin Lathrop, and resides in this State.

Thomas Senteney attended the subscription
schools in the early days, which afforded but mea-
ger advantages for education. He was a bright,
intelligent boy, and possessed a natural talent for
mechanical work. He had often worked with his
grandfather in his shop, and became very skillful
in the use of tools. Circumstances, however, led
him to follow the occupation of agriculture rather
than mechanics, and he remained on the homestead
assisting his father on the farm until his marriage
with Miss Ann Fleming, which took place April 27,
1842. Mrs. Senteney was born Sept. 8, 1824, in
Parke County, Ind.,and is the daughter of Stephen
and Jane (Kerr) Fleming. After his marriage Mr.
Senteney removed to Morgan County, 111., and en-
gaged in farming on rented land until 1847, when
he purchased forty-seven acres in that township.
In the autumn of that same year he accidentally cut
his foot while chopping wood, inflicting a severe
wound, which has ever since disabled him to some
extent. In 1853 he disposed of his property in
Morgan County, and entered eighty acres in North
Okaw Township, on the day after Franklin Pierce
was elected to the Presidency. He took possession
of the place with his family the February follow-
ing, and has since made his home here. He also
owns a small tract of timber land.

Mr. and Mrs. Senteney have a family of eleven
children, recorded as follows: George W., born in
July, 1843, enlisted in 1864 for 100 days' service
in the Civil War, and was stricken down with the
measles during his absence, and died Nov. 9, 1865,
soon after reaching home; Melissa died in infancy;
John T. married Miss Louisa Kelly, and resides in
Humbolt County, Cal. ; Martha died in infancy;
Sarah is the wife of William Beatty, and a resident of
Douglas County, 111. ; Mark married Miss Martha A-

472

COLES COUNTY.

Trout, and resides on the homestead, managing his
father's farm ; Joab died in infancy ; James L. mar-
ried Miss Ida Walker, and resides in this county ;
Julia, Samuel and Emma all reside at home.

Mr. Senteney's farm is well improved, and
mostly fenced in ten-acre lots. His farm is con-
sidered one of the best in the State. He has some
tiling on the place and a substantial frame resi-
dence with good farm buildings. With his wife he
has been throughout life a consistent member of
/the Christian Church. In politics Mr. Senteney is
a Republican, and is active in sustaining the prin-
ciples of that party. He is interested in educa-
tional affairs, and has been School Trustee for ten
years; he is also serving his second term as School
Director, and has been Assessor one term.

Z~" J. BAIRD, one of the early residents of
Coles County, is a prosperous farmer and
' stock-raiser, owning 240 acres of finely im-
proved land in Humbolt Township. He was born
Nov. 4, 1833, in Adams County, Ohio, and is the
son of John and Rebecca (Black) Baird. His par-
ents were natives of Ohio, where his maternal grand-
mother, Hester Council, died at the age of niuety-
seven. His paternal grandfather, John Baird,
served in the Revolutionary War. He was noted
for his musical talent, and the story is related of
him, that once, when stationed at a fort, he brought
out his violin and played a lively tune for the
young folks to keep time to. with their feet. That
night the Indians had planned to surround the fort
and destroy it, but, pleased and almost spellbound
by the marvelous strains of music, so new to them,
they became absorbed in listening, and finally with-
drew, their savage natures quelled and awed by the
power of music. John Baird was a farmer, but
during the lougj cold winters, he was engaged in
shoemaking and was successful in both branches of
business. He was active and industrious, and after
along and useful life died in his native State.

Z. J. Baird passed his boyhood and youth assist-
ing his father and attending the district school. At
the age of twenty-two, he engaged in farming for
-himself, and the following year, F.eb. 5, 18f>7, lie

was married to Miss Catherine Easter. Mrs. Baird
is the daughter of Jacob and Catherine (Ritchie)
Easter. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania,
of German descent, and are both deceased. In the
fall following his marriage, Mr. Baird came to Illi-
nois in company with John Moore, and settled in
Coles County, on a farm belonging to Mr. Moore,
which he rented for a term of seven years. He was
successful in this enterprise, and in 1863 purchased
eighty acres of wild land on section 20, in Hum-
bolt Township, on which he built a shanty in primi-
tive style and occupied it with his young family.
Mr. and Mrs. Baird have a family of ten children,
whose record is as follows : Eva N., Clara M., Will-
iam Henry, Franklin A., Thomas D., Maggie Belle,
Lida May, Bertie Almira, Lulu Maud and Mary F.
Eva N. married John S. Branham, and is now a
widow. The others all reside at home.

In conducting his farm, Mr. Baird gives special
attention to raising high-grade cattle. He owns
some of the finest Clydesdale and Norman horses
in the township and also a very fine assortment of
Poland-China hogs. Mr. Baird has never taken an
active part in politics, but is interested in educa-
tional affairs, and has served as School Director for
many years, and also as Road Commissioner. He
votes with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs.
Baird are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which the former has served several
terms as Trustee.

ACOB I. BROWN, publisher of the Charleston
Courier, is a native of Jonesboro, Washing-
ton Co., Teun., his birth taking place Oct.
12, 1819. His parents, John and Rachel
Brown, were natives respectively of Tennessee and
North Carolina, the former of English and the lat-
ter of German descent. John Brown was a farmer
by occupation, and in about 1822 took up his resi-
dence in Indiana, where his father departed this
life in November, 1823. The mother died in
Charleston, 111., April 24, 1867.

The subject of our sketch passed his early years
after the manner of most farmers' sous, going a

t.

COLES COUNTY.

473

barefoot boy to the district school, and early be-
coming acquainted with the various employments
of farm life. When fifteen years of age he went to
Bloomington, Ind., to learn the printer's trade, and
was in the office of Mark Deal about four years.
His first work as a journeyman was in Indianapolis,
where he remained during the winter of 1837. In
the spring he returned to the residence of his
mother in Bloomington, and occupied himself in a
printing-office there until the spring of 1840. Then,
in company with Ephraim Abbott, he came to
Paris, Edgar County, and they purchased the Illi-
nois Statesman, which they conducted two years.
Mr. Brown then purchased the interest of his part-
ner, and subsequently took in John B. Alexander,
and they operated together until the fall of 1844,
when Mr. Brown again assumed entire control, and
removed the plant to Charleston, where he com-
menced issuing a paper entitled the Investigator.
In connection with this he also published a relig-
ious periodical, edited by Rev. Richard Newport.

Mr. Brown, in 1845, was elected Assessor for
Coles County, and the following year sold a half
interest in his paper to W. D. Latshaw. The name
was changed to the Illinois Globe, a title which Mr.
A. had given ta another paper published by him
previously. This arrangement continued about
eight years, and Mr. Brown then sold his interest to
Mr. Latshaw, in order to enter upon his duties as
Postmaster of Charleston, which office he occupied
under the administrations of Polk, Pierce and
Buchanan. Mr. Brown also, in connection with
this office, carried on a grocery and drug business.
In the fall of 1861, having been succeeded by the
appointment of a Republican to the office, he was
elected Countj' Clerk on the Democratic ticket, in
which position he served four years, being subse-
quently defeated by the election of a Republican.
Upon retiring from this office he embarked in mer-
chandising, but this venture not proving satisfac-
tory, he became a candidate for Justice of the
Peace, to which office he was elected in 1868, and
which he still holds, receiving his first and last
commissions from Gov. Oglesby.

Mr. Brown, in the fall of 1881, purchased an in-
terest in the Courier, which he still holds, his part-
ner being Lucian Dunbar. The Courier, under the

supervision of Mr. Brown, has become one of the
indispensable features of Charleston, and is liberally
supported by the people of Coles County generally.
He is an old and experienced newspaper man, and
never feels so much at home as when conducting an
i institution of this kind.

The marriage of Jacob I. Brown and Miss Ann
E. Javins was celebrated at tin home of the bride's
uncle, in Charleston, on the 24th of June, 1845.
Mrs. B. was born near Alexandria, Va., and is the
daughter of John and Matilda Javins. They have
no children.

The politics of Mr. Brown is clearly indicated in
the columns of the Courier, which fearlessly advo-
cates Democratic principles, is the stanch sup-
porter of truth and justice, and in all its theories
and arguments keeps prominently in view the mat-
ters and things mostly concerning the welfare of
the general public.

C. RICE, a prosperous farmer and stock-
raiser, residing on section 22, North Okaw
Township, was born Oct. 15, 1840, in Vigo
County, Ind., and is the son of Amos and
Sarah (Compton) Rice. (For history of parents
see sketch of Amos Rice, Sr.) Mr. Rice is the de-
scendant of a pioneer family, and his early life was
passed under great educational disadvantages. The
old log school-houses of the early days in Indiana
and Illinois, were the only temples of learning
wherein the children of the pioneersjcould obtain
even the scant rudiments of education.

Our subject remained at home and assisted his
father on the farm until he was about thirty years
of age, when his marriage to Miss Martha J. Clieck-
ley took place, Oct. 6. 1870. Mrs. Rice was the
daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Crum) Check-
ley. Her father was a native of England, and
probably the only one of the family who ever came
to America, as none of their names are traceable
here. He was formerly a resident of Indiana, but
about the year 1854 came to Coles County, 111.,
where he passed the remaining years of his life.
Mrs. Rice was born in this county Oct. 11, 1

I

474

COLES COUNTY.

Immediately after his marriage Mr. Rice, with his
wife, settled on the homestead which had always
been her home.

After a happy married life of fourteen years his
beloved wife died, in December, 1884. Mrs. Rice
never possessed a very robust physique, and her
death resulted from quick consumption. She was a
devoted wife, an affectionate mother, and was be-
loved by a large circle of friends. She possessed a
lovely Christian character, and bore the constant
suffering of a year's illness with gentle, uncomplain-
ing patience. The home circle has been desolate
since her death, but Mr. Rice kept the little family
together at home, with the aid of his eldest daugh-
ter, and a half sister, who makes her home with
them, and has charge of the house. Their family
consisted of seven children, four of whom are liv-
ing. Ignatia, Elmer E., Thomas E., Lawrence E.,
Amos E., Job C., and one who died in infancy.

In stock-raising Mr. Rice gives special attention
to Clydesdale horses and cattle of the Durham
stock. He is industrious and energetic, and car-
ries on a successful business. He has been elected
to several official positions of the township by the
Democratic party, of which he is a loyal member,
and has served as Trustee four years, Collector
three years, and Constable two years, proving faith-
ful and efficient in the discharge of his public du-
ties, lie is a member of the Methodist Church.
A view of the homestead of Mr. Rice is given in
connection with this sketch.

RS. MARTHA P. KERN is the widow of
Ambrose Kern, formerly a prominent citi-
zen of Mattoon. She is descended from
New England lineage, from which source
so many noble women, faithful wives and self-sacri-
ficing mothers on the Western frontier, have sprung,
and is the daughter of Eliphalet and Amelia (Lem-
ons) Pearson, the former a native of Massachusetts
rind the latter of Indiana. Her grandfather, like-
wise Eliphalet Pearson, was a native of Boston.
Mass. Her father, Eliphalet Pearson, had received
:\ practical education in childhood, and when four-
teen years of age, he left home and went to Jeffer-

sonville, Ind.. where he married and engaged in the
grocery business, continuing in that occupation un-
til 1821. He then removed to Springville, Lawrence
County, and there opened a wholesale and retail
dry-goods house. He remained in this place until
his death, which occurred in 1862. His widow is
still living at Bedford, Lawrence County, having
reached the advanced age of eighty-two years.
They had a family of ten children, four now living.
In 1841 Mrs. Kern w;is married to Madison
Paugh, a native of Bloomington, Ind. Mr. Paugh
was a merchant in Springville, Ind., and died in
1 850. One son was born of this marriage — Walter
Paugh, a resident of Columbus Junction, Iowa.
He was married to Miss Kate Neeley, of Pitts
burgh, Pa., and has one son — Charles.

Mrs. Paugh's marriage to Ambrose Kern took
place in 1 858, in Springville, Ind. Mr. Kern, for-
merly a resident of Bedford, owned a large farm
at Fayetteville, where he had been extensively en-
gaged in stock-dealing. He was a man of excellent
business qualifications, and in 1862 came to Mat-
toon, and during his residence here was engaged
in the dry -goods business, identifying himself with
the interests of the city throughout the remainder
of his life, his uprightness in business, and
geniality in social life, endearing him to a large cir-
cle of friends. He erected several valuable build-
ings for mercantile purposes on Broadway, and was
a stockholder in the First National Bank. He
voted with the Republican party, and took an act-
ive interest in municipal affairs, serving on the
City Board several times, and also as Alderman.

By her last marriage Mrs. Kern had a family of
three children, two of whom are now living: Min-
nie, the wife of Robert Jordon, is the mother of
one child, Frank; Charles is a graduate of the Com-
mercial College at Terre Haute. Ind., and is now
a resident of Kansas City, engaged in business with
the firm of Abernethy & Co., wholesale furniture
dealers.

Mrs. Kern was deprived of her beloved husband,
by death, in 1879. She possesses a sincere Christian
character and cultivated mind, and is actively in-
terested in promoting the cause of Christ in tbe
Methodist Church, of which she is a highly esteemed
member. She is also warmly interested in the tern-

t.

COLES COUNTY.

475

perance cause, and is a member of the W. C. T. U.
Mrs. Kern is a stockholder in the First National
Bank, and manages her property and business affairs
with excellent judgment.

|] OHN SPITLER, a retired farmer living on
section 5, Hutton Township, is one of the
pioneer settlers of Coles County. He was
born July 12, 182G, in Fairfield County,
Ohio, and is the sou of John and Sarah (Caldwell)
Spitler. His paternal grandfather, whose name
likewise was John Spitler, was a native of Virginia,
and emigrated to Fairfield County, Ohio. His
marriage took place in Virginia, and a family of
seven children was born to them — David, Samuel,
John, Henry, Lydia, Rebecca, and a daughter who
became Mrs. Hoover. The grandparents lived to
a good old age, and died in Fairfield County.
The}' were members of the Baptist Church.

John Spitler, Sr., was born Sept. 25, 1805, in
Rockingham County, Va. He received only a
common-school education, and remained at home
assisting his parents on the farm until his marriage.
He was a young man when his parents removed to
Ohio, and his marriage to Miss Sarah Caldwell,
who was likewise a native of Rockingham County,
Va., took place after their removal to Fairfield
County. After this event Mr. Spitler passed a
few years engaged in farming on his father's
property. He then purchased a hotel, of which he
was the proprietor for twelve or fifteen years, but
in a hazardous business venture lost both his own
and his father's property by going security for.
other parties who failed. Crippled by these re-
verses he then rented land, and for two years was
engaged in farming. At the expiration of that
time he rented a hotel in Salem, which he managed
for two years. His health was then failing and he
only lived one year after leaving the hotel. His
death occurred Jan. 12, 1843, in Salem, Ohio.

The father of our subject had been twice mar-
ried. His first wife died Oct. 7, 1837, while he
was proprietor of the first hotel, in Pleasantville,
Ohio. After her death he married Mrs. Nancy
Mock. She survived him, and is still living in
Indiana. The record of the children by the first

marriage is as follows: Mary was born in Fair-
field County, Ohio, and became the wife of John
Fanning; she died, leaving three children, and her
husband resides in Iroquois County, III. John is
the subject of this sketch; Samuel R., born May
12, 1829, married Miss Mary A. Ball, and both are
deceased, leaving three children; Andrew J., born
Nov. 4, 1831, married Miss Mary Conner, who
died leaving five children; he married the second
time, and resides in Trenton, Mo. Elizabeth, born
in 1833, is the wife of William Knoke, resides in
Bellevue, Ohio, and has two childre.i. By the sec-
ond marriage one daughter was born, Rebecca,
who died at the age of eighteen.

John Spitler, Jr., was about seventeen years of
age when his father died. He had attended the
common schools during his boyhood, but was now
thrown upon his own resources, his father having
suffered from financial losses, and died possessed of
but little means. However, he resolutely set to
work and learned the trade of a woolen manufact-
urer. After his apprenticeship was over he was
occupied in that business for about fifteen years.
On the 3d of October, 1847, Mr. Spitler was married
to Miss Millie Beery. Mrs. Spitler was born Oct. 6,
1 829, in Rockingham County, Va., and is the
daughter of Samuel and Jemima (Spicer) Beery.
Her parents were both natives of Virginia, and a
few years after their marriage removed to Fairfield
County. Ohio, where Mr. Beery purchased land
and made his permanent home. After the death
of his first wife Mr. Beery married the second
time. By the first marriage thirteen children were
born: Annie is the widow of William Her; Millie
is the wife of our subject; David died in child-
hood; Catharine, the wife of W. H. Dodds, resides
in Hutton Township; Barbara K. is married, and
resides in Ohio; Mary Frances, deceased, was the
wife of Isaac Featheroff, a resident of Ohio;
William enlisted in an Ohio regiment for three
years' service in the Civil War, but in one year
was stricken down and died of fever; Joseph died
in childhood ; John is married and resides in
Florida; Margaret died in childhood, and three in
infancy.

A few years after his marriage Mr. Spitler left
the woolen-mills, and in the spring of 1 «,"><;

476

COLES COUNTY.

moved to Coles County, 111., making the long, and
toilsome overland journey with his wife and three
little children by team. On his arrival here he
settled in Hutton ToVnship, and in the intervening
time has bought and sold several farms. In 1877
he purchased the place where he now resides, and
in the following year took possession, with his
family. The farm contains 159£ acres, all of
which is well improved; he also owns twenty-four
acres of timbered land, located on section 7,
Hutton Township. Mr. Spitler has never enjoyed
vigorous health, and during the last twenty years
has not been actively engaged in farming, his sons
managing the farm work almost entirely. During
the last year he has suffered seriously from chronic
bronchitis, which has confined him to the house.
His family consisted of seven children. Their
first-born child died in infancy; Mary E., born
March 17, 1850, died Aug. 19, 1854; Ida E., born
July 26, 1851. married Arch Smith, and resides on
the homestead; William A., born Oct. 9, 1853,
died Sept. 11, 1854; Alva B., born May 26, 1855,'
was married, Jan. 20, 1884, to Miss Rosa Gilbert,
and resides in Hutton Township; Frederick I,.,
born on Christmas Day, 1858, was married, Dec. 7,
1879, to Miss Juda C. Martin, and resides on the
homestead; Benjamin F., born Feb. 8, 1863,, was
married Feb. 20, 1885. to Miss Catherine Scott,
and likewise resides on the homestead. With his
wife, Mr. Spitler is a member of the Christian
Church. In politics he affiliates with the Repub-
lican party.

EVI DOTY, deceased, formerly a resident
of Charleston Township and an early settler
of Coles County, is worthy of an honorable
place among the pioneers of Illinois. By native
force of character he struggled successfully against
disadvantages, and won from the wilderness of the
Western frontier a home for himself and a heritage
for his children. He was born in Butler Count}-,
Ohio, Jan. 26, 1806, and was the son of John and
Anna (Mann) Doty. His parents were natives of
Maryland, and in about the. yenr 1818 they re-
moved to Illinois, locating in Crawford County,

where his father's death occurred, and in 1826,
Levi removed with his widowed mother to Coles
County.

The parental family consisted of six children,
whose record is as follows: Levi, Samuel, James,
Sarah, Isaac and Anna; the three latter deceased.
Upon their arrival in Coles County, Levi Doty
assisted his mother in carrying on a farm, and also
worked by the month for the neighbors, when his
help was not required at home. There was stern,
uncompromising work to be done in those early
days, and done also through great inconvenience and
privation. Enough can hardly be said in praise of the
stout hearts and willing hands of those whose enter-
prise and courage subdued the wilderness, and made
a highway which has led to the present prosperity of
Illinois. There were neither school advantages nor
time for study, and Levi had no opportunity to
learn to read until after his marriage, when his wife
became his teacher.

April 20, 1829, our subject was married to Miss
Matilda Phipps, who was born in Lawrence Coun-
ty, Ind., Oct. 17, 1812. Previous to his marriage,
he had by hard work and economy, earned enough
money to purchase a farm containing forty-five
acres of unimproved land, and here in the wilder-
ness he built a log cabin, and with his young wife,
proud in the possession of land that he could call
his own, set resolutely to work upon his small king-
dom, trusting in God and his own right hand. He
was industrious and painstaking and with a care-
ful wife to share his burdens, it was not long before
he became the owner of 425 acres of land_.
• January 23, 1853, his wife, the companion of his
early pioneer life, was taken from the home circle
by death. She was the mother of nine children,
whose record is as follows: Harriet A., deceased,
formerly the wife of Alex. Ferris ; Mary J., deceased,
formerly the wife of Levi Watson; Cynthia A., the
wife of Samuel Doty; Melinda, deceased, formerly
the wife of John W. Doty; Amanda, who became
the wife of John W. Doty, her deceased sister's
husband ; Loisa, deceased, was formerly the wife of
M. T. Freeman; John M.; Sarah, deceased, and
Irvin A. Mr. Doty was married the second time,
to Mrs. Melinda White, the sister of his former
wife. She died Oct. 16, 1865, leaving four chil-

COLES COUNTY.

477

dren: James; Lavina and Samuel, deceased, and
Joseph. Oct. 30, 1866, Mr. Doty was married- the
third time, to Mrs. Lillis (White) Oillett. She had a
family of seven children by 'her first marriage, two
of whom are now living — John Ira and Alrneda.

Mr. Doty gave his attention closely to agricult-
ural pursuits until 1875, when he was obliged to
discontinue active business on account of rheuma-
tism, and since 1884 was confined to his bed, unable
to walk. He gave each of his children a portion
of his property, affording them a good start in life.
Mr. Doty voted for Andrew Jackson early in life,
and always sustained the Democratic party as long
as he was able to attend the polls. He served in
public affairs as Commissioner of Highways and
School Director, and for nearly half a century had
been a member of the Baptist Church, and after a
long life of usefulness and toil, of which his chil-
dren are reaping the benefits, feeble and worn in
the strife, he passed away July 14, 1887,'deeply re-
gretted by his family and numerous friends.

ISAAC N. ROBERTS is a farmer and prominent
resident of Ashmore Township, located on sec-
tion 16. He was born Jan. 6, 1846, in Muskin-
gum County, Ohio, andjs the son of Thomas and
Alice (Mock) Roberts. (For history of "parents see
sketch of William II. Roberts.) Isaac N. Roberts
was united in marriage with Miss Almeda Davis,
Feb. 3, 1867. She is the daughter of Jesse and
Elizabeth (Bowers); Da vis, and was. born Dec. 24,
1845, in Muskingum County, Ohio, of which State
her parents were both natives. Her family settled
there at an early day, and her father was one of the
substantial farmers of the county. He was born in
1813 and died in 1864. His wife, who was also
born in 1813, is still living. They were both mem-
bers and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which Mr. Davis was for many years
Class-Leader and Steward. They had a family of
nine children, whose names are as follows : Caroline,
Almeda, Cyrus, Azariah, Samuel, [Matilda, Mary,
Harriet and Bray.

Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Roberts had a family of
eight children born to them, whose names are as

follows: Jesse and Elizabeth (twins), the latter de-
ceased ; Thomas W., Tenette A., Leota, Harlin A..
Lnla J., and one who died in infancy. Mr. Roberts
owns 120 acres of valuable land, and ten acres of
timber land. In 1878 he erected a pleasant farm
residence, which he improved in 1883 by building
an addition. It is a commodious and tasteful two-
story dwelling, a view of which is given elsewhere
in this volume.

Mr. Roberts is actively interested in the affairs
of the county and in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which religious organization he has been
for several years Class-Leader and Steward. He
was Superintendent of the Sunday-school for three
years, and is now one of its most faithful teachers.
He holds the office of School Director, and in
politics, is a stanch Republican.

ELIAS MONROE, the County Treasurer, has
been for many years a well-known resident
of Charleston. He was born Feb. 7, 1842,
in Shelby County, 111., and is the son of David and
Elizabeth (Deeds) Monroe. His father was in
early life a resident of Ohio, where he was engaged
in milling. He removed to Illinois and settled in
Shelby County, where he successfully operated a
ttouring-mill for several years. Thence he went to
Moultrie County, where his death occurred. His
family consisted of three children, of whom Elias
is the only survivor.

Elias Monroe was reared on the farm, and after
the death of his parents worked for his uncle, Isaac
Monroe, a farmer residing in Moultrie Count}'. In
1801 he came to Coles County, and engaged in
farming. In 1863 he enlisted in Co. H, 59th III.
Vol. Inf., and served eighteen months. He was a
mere boy of twenty-one before whom life was just
opening, but he bravely offered it in the service of
his country, not knowing how costly the sacrifice
might prove. He was engaged in several impor-
tant battles, in one of which he received a shot
through the right shoulder, and in the battle of
Nashville, Dec. 15, 1804, he received a wound in
the right leg, which rendered amputation necessary.
This misfortune ended his career in the war, and he

478

COLES COUNTY.

returned to this county where he attended school
six months. His affliction debarring him from
phj'sical exertion, he turned his attention to mental
cultivation, and attended school at Fulton two
years, and on his return, was offered the position
of Postmaster at Ashmore, which office he re-
tained until Dec. 25, 1885, when he was elected
County Treasurer. During his residence in Ash-
more he held the offices of Town Clerk and Alder-
man, and purchased a farm of Sfty-two and
one-half acres in that township.

In 1881 Mr. Monroe was married to Miss N. E.
Lockridge, a native of Indiana, and they have a
family of three children — Chester A., Dessie E.
and Josie E. Mr. Monroe is a man of much in-
fluence in the county, and possesses the respect of
all who know him. He is a Republican in politics,
and a member of the G. A. R.

ETER K. HONN is a retired farmer, resid-
i] ing in the village of Ashmore. His life is

an example of what may be accomplished
by courage, enterprise[and industry, unaid-
ed by any other means. He was born July 22, 1814,
in Nicholas County, Ky., and is the son of Daniel
and Annie (Ebberman) Honn, the former a native
of Pennsylvania and the latter of Kentucky. Both
are now deceased.

Peter K. Honn is one of the early pioneers of
Illinois, having come to the State in 1835. He at
once located in Ashmore Township, and bravely
commenced a struggle with the wilderness without
a cent in his pocket, but possessed of a stout heart
and strong hand, by which he has successfully
carved his way to prosperity. He has given each
of his children a valuable, well-improved farm,
and is also the owner of one himself, although he
resides in the village. June 23, 1837, he married
Miss Matilda Woods, a native of Madison Count}',
Ky., born April 17, 1817. She is the daughter of
Adam and Mary (Kerby) Woods, natives of
Kentucky, where her father owned a fine farm.
He died in October, 1829, at the age of forty-five;
his widow survived him many years, and died in
1859, at the age of seventy-two. She was a lad}'

greatly beloved by her family and friends, and for
many years had been a member of the Baptist
Church. They had a family of nine children, the
record of whom is as follows: William first mar-
ried Miss Dorcas Gideon; he then married' Miss
Eliza Williamson, and is now deceased. Tirza,
who married Green Epperson, is now a widow.
Patsy became the wife of Fred Schaal; Nancy died
in girlhood; Matilda is the wife of our subject;
Mary A. is deceased ; Sarah was married to Mr.
William Gilmau, and is now deceased; Hawkins P.
married Julia A. Bull and is now deceased; Eliza
became the wife of Thomas C. Sherwood, and is
now deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Honn have a family of six children,
as follows : W illiam S. married Mary Noe ; Martha
A. is the wife of David R. Bane; Peter K. died in
manhood; Sarah E. married F. M. Shaver; Samuel
H. married Nellie Graham; Mary E. is now Mrs.
R. L. Tremble. Samuel H. Honn, the son of our
subject, early evinced a desire for professional life.
He studied medicine with Dr. Steel, in Ashmore,
and afterward graduated at Rush Medical College,
Chicago, and has been for several years success-
fully practicing medicine in Edgar County, 111.

Peter K. Honn is a man of much intelligence
and mental vigor. He is a close student of all the
topics of the day, social, religious and political,
and having a logical turn of mind has been in-
terested in investigating their various theories
during the last forty years, while occupying the
pulpit of the Christian Church. He became a
member of that religious denomination at the age
of fifteen and his wife united with the same church
when twenty years old. He is considered a reliable
authority in regard to all doctrinal matters, and is
also possessed of great • judgment and tact in
managing Church difficulties. From boyhood he
has been a faithful servant of the Master, and has
administered the rite of baptism to many who
have been led by him into the fold of Christ.

Mr. Honn has always been actively interested in
the public affairs of the township, and has held
several positions on the Official Board. In his
early life he served as Postmaster three years. He
was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors one
year, and Vice President of the Agricultural Society

COLES COUNTY.

479

three years, and has also been School Director and
Trustee for many years. He has been Foreman of
the Grand Jury for a number of years and was
Justice of the Peace four terms; during his entire
life he has been one of the most important factors
in the affairs of the township and county. Until
the Civil War broke out he had been an old
Kentucky Bourbon Democrat, but then he was a
strong Union man and subsequently joined the
Republican party, of which he is now a stanch
supporter. He is warmly interested in the temper-
ance cause, and has been a tetotaler for twenty-five
years. The life of Peter K. Honn is its own com-
mentary, expressive of what may be accomplished
in this favored land by courage, enterprise, econ-
omy and good principles.

N. McMORRLS is a merchant of Diona, and
a worthy descendant of one of the pioneer
families of Coles County. He was born
A"g- 31, 1845> in tnis township, on the
section where he now resides, and is the son of
Joseph and Martha (Leming) McMorris. His
grandfather, John McMorris, was a native of Vir-
ginia, and his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Kackley,
who was likewise a native of that State, took place
there. He came with his family to Coshocton
County, Ohio, in the early days, and was engaged
in farming there several years. In 1839 he re-
moved to Illinois, and entered a large tract of land
in Hutton Township, containing 160 acres, for
which he paid $1.25 per acre. He cleared and im-
proved his land, contending successfully with the
hardships and privations incidental to the pioneer
days. His death occurred in 1868, at the age of
sixty-eight; his wife died in 187H. Their family
consisted of ten children — Joseph, J. R., Thomas,
Samuel, James, William, Perry, Ellen, Jane, and
one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. John Mc-
Morris were members of the Separate Baptist
Church, and were actively interested in promoting
the cause of religion on the western frontier. They
are both buried in Hurricane Creek Churchyard.
Joseph McMorris was born in Virginia, Feb. 8,
1824, and was a boy of fifteen when he came with

his parents to Illinois. At that early da}' the
schools were few and scattered remotely over the
prairie, and consequently his educational advan-
tages were very limited. He remained at home
assisting his father in cultivating his farm, until his
marriage with Miss Martha Leming, which took
place in 1 844. Mrs. McMorris is the daughter of
Nicholas and Martha (Hackett) Leming, and was
born in Crawford County, 111. Her parents were
natives of New Jersey. Nicholas Leming left his
native State when a boy, and never returned. He
drifted to Ohio, and for several years was em-
ployed as a boatman on the Ohio River. In his
early life he served in the War of 1812, and carne
to Illinois when it was a Territory. He was twice
married. His first wife died leaving an only child,
Martha, and he was subsequently married to Miss
Judith McGahan.

After his marriage, which took place in Hutton
Township, Joseph McMorris took charge of his
father-in-law's farm for a few years, and then pur-
chased ninety-one acres on the same section. Soon
after making this purchase he entered forty acres
in Cumberland County, subsequently buying
eighty-four acres of partly improved land in the
same place. He afterward sold forty acres of his
property in Cumberland County, and has since
purchased 240 acres there. His entire estate now
contains 442 acres, all of which is valuable, well-
improved, and supplied with tiling and substantial
farm buildings. For the last twenty years he has
not been engaged in farming, but having learned
the carpenter's trade, has found successful employ-
ment as builder and contractor. He was employed
in the construction of a number of residences and
farm buildings in Coles and Cumberland Counties,
and in 1860 constructed the last wooden bridge
which spans the Embarras River at Blakeman Mills.

Joseph McMorris was a Whig until the Civil
War broke out, and has since been a member of
the Democratic party. His family consisted of
eleven children: J. N., the subject of this sketch;
Eliza Ellen, the wife of Elias Anderson, a resident
of Hutton Township; Elizabeth A. married A. A.
Neal, and resides in Union Township, Cumberland
County ; Judith, Mrs. Jasper Anderson, is it resi-
dent of Hutton Township; Samuel A. married to

480

COLES COUNTY.

Miss Jennie Hackett, and resides in Union Town-
ship, Cumberland County; George W., married to
Miss Leoata Schuyler, and resides on the home-
stead, where his wife is housekeeper for her father-
in-law; Thomas E., a resident of Grant County,
Kan.; Amanda G., Mrs. Valentine Nunmaker, is a
resident of Union Township, Cumberland County;
one son and two daughters died in childhood.

J. N. McMorris received a very rudimentary ed-
ucation, although it was the best which the early
days on the western frontier afforded. He assisted
his father on the farm, in the various branches of
agriculture, until he was about twenty-one years of
age, when his marriage to Miss Martha E. Gill
took place, Dec. 28, 1865. Mrs. McMorris was
born Jan. 1, 1846, in Cumberland County, and is
the daughter of James and Evaline (Neal) Gill.
Her parents were natives of Kentucky, and emi-
grating to Illinois, were among the early pioneers
of Union Township, Cumberland County. Both
are now deceased. Their family consisted of nine
children, of whom Martha was the youngest daugh-
ter.

After his marriage, Mr. McMorris, who was at
this time suffering from poor health, remained at
the homestead four years. In September, 1869,
his father, associated with his father-in-law, estab-
lished a mercantile business at Diona, of which
Mr. McMorris took charge, receiving one-third of
the profits. After the expiration of two years, his
father-in-law gave him his interest in the store and
110 acres of land. His preferences inclined more
toward mercantile life than agriculture, and he
carried on that business about two years associated
with his father. Having never possessed a robust
physique, and feeling worn with close application
to business, he closed out the store in 1882, and
spent the summer traveling with his wife and two
children. They made a long and enjoyable jour-
ney, passing through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado,
Nebraska and Wyoming Territory. After return-
ing home with renewed strength and vigor, he
turned his attention to stock-dealing, shipping
mostly to Indianapolis, and in 1886 settled with his
family on the farm. He remained there, cultivat-
ing and improving his property, until the spring of
1887, when he returned to Diona, and resumed

the mercantile business. He is now engaged in
supervising both branches of business. His oldest
son, Palmer, has charge of the store. Mr. McMor-
ris has stocked and rented the farm in Putnam
Township, which now contains 150 acres; he also
owns a farm in Grant County, Kan., containing
1 60 acres.

Mr. and Mrs. McMorris had a family of four
children: Palmer E., born Oct. 3, 1867; Carrie
B., born March 16, 1870, is an accomplished young
lady, and after completing her education, was en-
gaged in teaching one term; one who died in in-
fancy, and Charles E., born May 3, 1 876.

During the first term of Grant's administration,
Mr. McMorris was appointed Postmaster at Diona,
retaining the position until 1882, when he offered
his resignation. He belongs to the Masonic fra-
ternity, and is a member of Hutton Lodge No. 698,
of which he has recently been made Treasurer. He
is also a member of Kickapoo Lodge No. 90, I. O.
O. F., and Charleston Encampment, I. O. O. F.,
and was a charter member and First Dictator of
Lodge No. 1174, of the Knights of Honor. In
politics, he is a Democrat. Mrs. McMorris is a
highly esteemed member of the Baptist Church.

G. OWENS, freight agent of the I. & St. L.
R. R., is a resident of Mattoon and one of
the substantial, self-made business men of
^Illinois. He was born Feb. 14, 1856, in
Saline County, Mo., and is the son of Robert and
Julia R. (Davis) Owens. His parents were natives
of Missouri, where his father was engaged in farm-
ing until 1864. At that time he moved with
his family to St. Louis, where he was occupied in
stock-dealing until 1866; he then came to Kansas,
111., where he now resides, engaged in grain-dealing.
His family consisted of ten children — C. W., J. C.,
W. E., R. G., J. L., Laura O., F. B., Lula, Ida and
Thomas. Mr. Owens is active and enterprising in
business, and in politics, is a member of the Dem-
ocratic party.

R. G. Owens received a practical education, and
at the age of seventeen left home to begin the

LIBRARY

OF THE

UNIVERSITY OF IU.IHO'8

COLES COUNTY.

483

world for himself. He learned telegraphy in
Kansas, Edgar County, and obtained the position
of telegraph operator for the I. <fe St. L. R. R.
His prompt and reliable business habits gave satis-
faction to his employers, and for fourteen years he
was engaged in the same position at different
stations on the line of that railroad.

He was stationed at Carbon, Ind., for six years
as agent, and in August, 1883, was transferred to
his present position. Mr. Owens has for many
years been recognized by all the Officers of the road
as a man of exceptional reliability and accuracy in
business, and all the different companies, who have
in the meantime owned the road, have retained him
in their service. He is a Democrat in politics, and
a member of the Masonic fraternity.

R. EDWIN D. SCOTT, a gentleman of
education, and well versed in the in-
tricacies of his profession, has been going
in and out among the people of Oakland
Village for the past five years, during which he has
followed his profession and built up a large practice.
He is one of the foremost surgeons of the county,
and the possessor of a fine property including a
beautiful residence and office on North Pike street,
where he spends his leisure hours in application to
his books, and keeps himself well informed upon
current events. He is the encourager and sup-
porter of every enterprise calculated for the moral
and intellectual advancement of the people of his
community, being an earnest Sunday-school worker,
a strict temperance man, and the promoter of those
qualities in a community which tend to its credit
and advancement.

Dr. Scott was born in Como, Whiteside Co., 111.,
Nov. 15, 1849, and is the son of Josiah S. and Har-
riett (Coryell) Scott, the former a native of Ohio
and the latter of Pennsylvania. Josiah Scott was
born May 18, 1819, and his wife, Harriet, Sept. 28,
1828. Both parents are still living. The father
followed farming during the years of his active
life, and is now in the enjoyment of a competency.
The ten children of the parental household are re-
corded as follows: Walter H., who was graduated

from the classical department of Adrian College,
(Michigan) in 1869, married Miss Gertrude Wil-
cox, of Adrian, and they are residents of Mont-
morency Tp., Whiteside Co., 111.; Edwin D., of our
sketch, was the second child ; Celestia is the wife of
William Richardson, of Comanche, Iowa; Hiram
B. married Miss Mary Jarmin, of Bay City, Mich.,
and is now Professor of Rhetoric and Elocution in
Iowa College, at Grinnell; Eliza J. is the wife of
George Baker, of Muscatine, Iowa; Alice, Mrs. Hol-
lis, is a resident of Brough, Iowa; Freeman J., a
medical student, is pursuing his studies at Sterling,
111. ; Orange M. is engaged in teaching at Rock
Falls; Bertha L. is a teacher at Rock Falls, and
Hattie A. is unmarried, and at home with her par-
ents.

Dr. Edwin D. Scott was united in marriage to
Miss Alice Carolus, of Sterling, 111., Sept. 27, 1883.
Mrs. Scott is the daughter of I. S. and Amelia
(Burkley) Carolus. Her father, a native of Penn-
sylvania, is now living on a farm near Sterling.
Mrs. Scott was born near Chambersburg, Franklin
Co., Pa., April 8, 1862. She has been a successful
school teacher, being so engaged for several years
prior to her marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Scott have one
child, a daughter, Emma Amelia, born Sept. 11,
1887.

Dr. Scott during his youth and childhood
spent his time mostly upon the farm, and
availed himself of the advantages of the district
schools. He was ambitious to learn something use-
ful, and determined to secure an education. He
worked his own way and paid his expenses through
college, being graduated from the High School in
Sterling, in 1873, and completed a course in Mt.
Union College, Ohio, three years later. During
the summer of 1876, he visited the Centennial Ex-
position, and afterward engaged in teaching, hav-
ing charge of High Schools in various parts of Illi-
nois, for a period of ten years. After passing a
rigorous examination, he secured the State Teach-
er's diploma, and now determined to turn his at-
tention to the study of medicine. He studied three
j years under the instruction of Dr. F. W. Gordon,
of Sterling, and attended three courses at the
Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, from
which he was graduated in 1881, with first honors

- > 484

COLES COUNTY.

of the institution. During the last year he became
Institute Professor of Chemistry, and soon after-
ward commenced the practice of his profession
after the homeopathist theory in Andalusia, Rock
Island County. Thence he removed, in 1883, to
Oakland, where he has since remained.

Dr. Scott is still a young man, and considering his
rapid progress so far, there is reason to suppose that
he is destined to become one of the leading lights
of the medical fraternity in this section. He is
a close student, and keeps himself well posted upon
new theories of practice, and has already secured
the confidence of a large and lucrative patronage.
In politics the Doctor is Democratic. He is Presi-
dent of the Board of Trustees of Oakland. The
publishers of this ALBUM are pleased to present the
portrait of Dr. Scott to its patrons, as one of the
foremost men of the county.

LBERT B. NICHOLSON, a prominent citi-
zen of Pleasant Grove Township, is the
descendant of an old and honorable
pioneer family. He was born in this
township Jan. 11, 1850, and is the son of Patrick
and Elizabeth (Ashmore) Nicholson. Patrick
Nicholson was a native of Eastern Tennessee, where
he resided until twenty-one years of age. He then
came to Illinois, and located in Douglas County,
where his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Ashmore
took place in 1832. Mrs. Nicholson was likewise
a native of Eastern Tennessee, whose family had
removed to Illinois at an early day. In the autumn
of 1831 , he removed to Coles County and purchased
forty acres of land in Pleasant Grove Township, at
$1.25 per acre. He had no capital, and to pay for
his land he split rails at thirty-three and one-third
cents per hundred. He was industrious and
economical, however, and in a short time cleared
off this debt and purchased more land, which he
cultivated and improved. His efforts were attended
with success, and he finally became the owner of
460 acres of land, on which he erected a pleasant
residence with excellent farm buildings.

In his struggle with the material obstacles and
privations of pioneer life, Mr. Nicholson did not

«•

forget the claims of God, who rules over the seed-
time and the harvest, and sends His run alike upon
the just and the unjust. . He was a member of the
Presbyterian Church, and was deeply interested in
promoting the cause of religion in the community,
annually devoting $125 of his income to the
church, and for charitable purposes. For forty
years he was an Elder, and in that capacity repre-
sented his church at the National Assemblies, con-
vened on different occasions at Philadelphia,
Cleveland, St. Louis, Chicago, and other cities.
Mr. Nicholson possessed great native intelligence,
which was cultivated and improved by the habit
of thoughtful reading. He was well 'informed in
regard to all the important topics of the day, and
actively interested in promoting the general wel-
fare of society. He made several visits to his
native State, but always returned with feelings of
renewed attachment for his Western home. In
politics, he was a stanch supporter of the Repub-
lican party, and represented his township on the
County Board of Supervisors.

Mr. Nicholson died of a lingering disease, but
his mental faculties were clear, enabling him to
supervise his business affairs until the last. On
the day previous to his death, which occurred Aug.
15, 1886, he made a large sale of cattle and grain.
He was generous, both in public and private life,
and when his children attained their majority, he
gave each a portion with which to start in life.
His widow is still living. They had a family of
twelve children, six sons and six daughters, seven
now living, whose names are: Patience Ann,
William A., Sarah J., Harriet N., Albert B., Mar-
garet and Ella. Patience Ann is the widow of
James Balch ; Sarah J. is the wife of T. A. Endsley ;
Margaret is the wife of T. J. Newman, and Ella,
the wife of Alexander Newman.

Albert B. Nicholson is one of the rising young
men of this county. He was educated at the public
schools, and resided on the homestead with his
parents until his marriage, which occurred Jan. 21,
1875. His wife was Miss Rheuhama T. Allen, the
daughter of Benjamin F. Allen, a resident of New
Albany, Ind., in which city Mrs. Nicholson was
born, and where her marriage likewise took place.
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson have a family of five in-

COLES COUNTY.

485

teresting children — Amos E., May, Patrick F.,
Myrtle and Charles.

Mr. Nicholson is a Republican in politics, and
socially, belongs to the Masonic fraternity, of
Muddy Point. He owns seventy-five acres of well-
improved land, and his residence and farm buildr
ings are excellent and well appointed.

E M. PFEIFER, owner of a fine estate
containing 160 acres of valuable, well-im-
proved land, resides on section 20, Seven
Hickory Township. He was born Oct. 7, 1849, in
Germany, and is the son of Bernhardtand Barbara
(Bock) Pfeifer. Bernhardt Pfeifer was a tailor,
and during his early life was occupied at that trade;
he subsequently bought several tracts of land,
which he improved, and had three fine farms; on
his city property he erected a stone residence and
barn, and also a frame residence and barn on an-
other lot in Wallrabs, in Saxe-Meiningen, Germany,
where he resided and brought up his family. He
made his money in about two years by building
and contracting on the railroad, associated with two
of his sons. The eldest son, Casper, has been con-
nected with the road since 1854; he is very popular
with the railroad officials, and still retains his po-
sition, although now about sixty years of age. (For
further history of parents, see sketch of L. W. M.
Pfeifer.)

George M. Pfeifer received a practical education
at the public schools in Germany, and in May, 1 807,
he set sail for the United States, to seek his for-
tune in a new country. He arrived in New York
about the 1st of June, having been fifteen days on
the water, and found himself, a mere boy of seven-
teen, in that great city with but five cents left in
his pocket, speaking a foreign language, and un-
familiar with the customs of the country. The oc-
cupation to which he had been trained was that of
manufacturing meerschaum pipes, and at that time
there was but one factory of the kind in operation
in New York. The outlook was gloom}-, but he
bravely set himself to work, seeking for employ-
ment, which he finally obtained in a cooper's shop.
He remained there three weeks, earning about

enough to pay for his board, when one day, to his
surprise, a lady accosted him on the street and
asked if his name was not Pfeifer. She had been
well acquainted with his family in Germany, and
recognized his face, having known him when a
little boy. She took him to her home, and her
husband found employment for him in a tinshop.
He remained there until August, and then having
earned enough money for his traveling expenses,
came West and joined his brother Louis, who had
previously located in Coles County, 111. The
brothers lived together, and during the first
year, George was engaged in farming on shares.
The following year his father gave him $200, with
which to purchase a team, and this amount was all
the financial assistance he ever received from any
one, with the exception of $25, willed to him by
his god-father, when he was thirteen years of age;
it was placed on interest, and was used for part of
his fare to America, his father supplying the balance.

May 26, 1870, Mr. Pfeifer was married to Miss
Paulina Roser, also a native of Germany. There
were six children in her parents' family, all of whom
are living in Illinois and Indiana. Her father died
in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeifer were married
in Charleston by Judge E. M. Peterson. They
have an interesting family of five children : Emma
M., born April 6, 1871; Clara J., Feb. 17, 1873;
Edward, Dec. 5, 1876; Charles, July 14, 1880; and
Georgia. William Zehner, an adopted son residing
with the family, was born Sept. 10, 1871.

Mr. Pfeifer made his first purchase of land in
1878, buying eighty acres on section 29, just south
of his present residence. In 1880 he bought eighty
acres on section 20, where the following year he
erected a pleasant farm residence. There were no
improvements on either place when he purchased
them, except a house which was too small and old
to be of any practical use, and a well. Mr. Pfeifer
is industrious and untiring in cultivating and im-
proving his farm, on which he has about 500 rods
of tiling. He raises some broom corn, and also
corn and oats, but no wheat, and is to some extent
engaged in raising fine stock, Short-horn cattle,
Clydesdale and Norman horses, and also has some
mules.

Mr. Pfeifer has acquired his property by hard

. > 486

COLES COUNTY.

work and the judicious management of his re-
sources. In 1881 he had the misfortune to be
stricken down with pleura-pneumonia; the disease
was very prostrating, confining him to his bed for
a year, and he did not recover from the effects of
his illness until 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Pfeifer are
members of the Lutheran Church at Arcola. In
politics, Mr. Pfeifer is a stanch Republican.

J~1OSHUA RICKETTS, Superintendent of the
I Coles County Almshouse, and a gentleman
j who for the past thirty-eight years has been
' closely identified with the business interests
of Central Illinois, is a native of Muskingum
County, Ohio, his birth taking place March 13,
1821. He has consequently seen more than three-
score 3'ears. and has made the most of his opportu-
nities in life. He possesses more than ordinary in-
telligence and business capacity, and is a man
widely known and respected throughout this sec-
tion of country.

Our subject is the son of Joshua and Sarah
(Taylor) Ricketts, the former born in Maryland
Dec. 11, 1779, and the latter in Connecticut,
June 20, 1781. Joshua Ricketts, Sr., was a hatter
by trade, which he followed in his native State for
a few years during his early manhood, and thence
removed to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1813. After a res-
idence there of three or four years he purchased a
tract of land in the northern part of Muskingum
County, upon which he removed and was engaged
in its cultivation and improvement for a period of
six years ; he then sold out and purchased another
farm in the same county, where he remained until
his death, which occurred Jan. 2, 1833. The Rick-
etts family was of Welsh ancestry, and the mother
of our subject of English parentage. She survived
her husband twenty-one years, her death taking
place on the old homestead in Muskingum County,
in 1854. Both parents were devoted members of the
Christian Churrh. Their thirteen children included
nine sons and four daughters, who were named re-
spectively, James, Mary, Benjamin, John, Samuel,
Ruth, William, Calvin, Sarah A., Barnabas, Joshua,

Susan and Reason. Of these but four sons are now
living, the eldest being at this date (1887) eighty
years old. Joshua, Jr., of our sketch, is remarka-
bly strong and healthy for a man of his years, and
preserves the brightness of intellect which distin-
guished him in his youth.

The maternal grandfather of Mr. Ricketts, John
Taylor, served seven years and six months in the
Revolutionary War, a large portion of the time
under the personal command of Gen. Washington,
and was in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he
was wounded. He was several times wounded and
captured by the enemy.

Mr. Ricketts remained with his parents until thir-
teen years of age, and then going to Knox County,
Ohio, engaged in stud}' with a view of preparing
for the ministry. His religious belief, however,
met with a change, and he abandoned his first in-
tention and for a time engaged in fanning, after-
ward learning the trade of a marble-cutter. He
finally removed to Terre Haute, Ind., where he en-
gaged in the marble business, and thence removed,
in 1849, to Illinois. After spending a year in
Clark County he came to Charleston, and estab-
lished himself in the marble business, which he car-
ried on until the outbreak of the late war. He was
one of the firnt to respond to the call for troops,
and was soon promoted First Lieutenant. He
afterward took part in the capture of Island No. 10
and the siege of Corinth, where he acquitted
himself in such a manner as to secure the approval
of his superior officers and the admiration of his
comrades. He served until the expiration of his
term of enlistment, and then entered the 109th
Indiana Infantry, being commissioned by Gov.
Morton, Adjutant of the regiment. This regiment
was mustered out after Morgan's raid in Indiana,
but at the call for 100-days' men in 18C4, Mr.
Ricketts, not waiting for a commission, volunteered
in the 143d Illinois Infantry, serving as Sergeant in
Company A. After the close of the war he returned
to his business at Charleston, and was soon after-
ward appointed Superintendent of the Coles Coun-
ty Almshouse, which position he lias since held.
He has occupied the various local offices of his
township, serving as Assessor, and was four times
elected Justice of the Peace, the duties of which

f

COLES COUNTY.

487

office he discharged with more than ordinary dis-
cretion and good judgment.

The marriage of Joshua Ricketts and Miss Cath-
erine D. Roberts took place in Coshocton County,
Ohio, on the 29th of December, 1846. This lady
was also a native of the Buckeye State, born March
26, 1 825. They became the parents of three chil-
dren— Sarah M., William W. and Cornelia M. The
wife and mother departed this life Nov. 8, 1854.
Mr. Ricketts was the second time married, Sept. 4,
1855, in Clark County, 111., to Miss Malvina
Jones, of Lawrence County, Ohio, who was born
Oct. 24, 1834. Her parents were William and
Barbara (Biungardner) Jones, natives of Virginia,
but both now deceased. Mr. Ricketts, politically,
is a Republican of the first water, and was one of
the organizers of the party in thi's part of the State.
Religiously he is connected with the Universalist
Church at Charleston.

^RUCE ANDERSON. The family of Mr.
Anderson is well known among the promi-
nent citizens of Coles County. He was
formerly a farmer, but is now extensively
engaged in shipping cattle, sheep and hogs. He
was born March 29, 1840, in Clinton County, Ind.,
and is the sou of Jacob and Elizabeth (Stutsman)
Anderson, the former a native of North Carolina,
and the latter of Indiana.

In early life Jacob Anderson had been engaged
in milling in Indiana, but in the spring of 1849
disposed of his business interests there and came to
this State, locating at Charleston, where he pur-
chased a large tract of land containing about 3,000
acres, located east of the Roman Catholic Church,
and comprising the eastern portion of the city. He
laid out his first addition to the city in 1852, which
was followed later by six other additions covering
probably about eighty acres of land. When he
first came to the city he erected a substantial brick
house, which now stands facing the county road
and the I. & St. L. R. R. He passed an active and
useful life here, engaged extensively in fanning.
He was a public-spirited man, possessed of great
executive ability, and interested in every enter-

prise calculated to improve the city or promote the
welfare of those around him. He was original in
personal characteristics, strong in his likes and dis-
likes, generous and faithful in friendship, upright
and honorable in business, but not easily reconciled
to an enemy, or forgiving where he deemed wrong
or injustice had been done. He was a life-long
Universalist, and one of the founders of the church
in Charleston. His family consisted of eight chil-
dren, four now living, Sarah, now Mrs. A. Van
Sickle, a resident of Charleston ; Bruce, the subject
of this sketch; Henley, who occupies the old home-
stead ; Samantha, now Mrs. C. Calvert, a resident of
Tuscola, Douglas Co., 111.

Bruce Anderson was brought up to the milling
business, but after the removal of his parents to
Charleston, he engaged in farming until twenty-
three years of age. He then left home to see the
world, going to California, where he spent three
years engaged in various business enterprises.
On his return, he acquired a tract of land contain-
ing 240 acres of wild, unimproved prairie, where
he built a house and resumed farming, cultivating
and improving this place for five years. He then
left home for two years, and on his return again
engaged in farming for five years. At this time
he removed with his family to Little Rock, Ark.,
and there engaged in the milling business, buying
grain in Arkansas and Texas, but the climate prov-
ing unfavorable, within two years his family re-
turned to the farm in Charleston, but Mr. Anderson
remained and continued the business four years,
when he rejoined his family, and conducted the
farm for six years.

In 1883 our subject built a residence on a corner
lot belonging to him in the city, where he now re-
sides, and in 1886 removed with his family to the
city. The first house built in Charleston was
erected on this lot, the land at that time being
covered with heavy timber. A fine grove of eleven
native black- walnut trees now stands there, a pleas-
ant memorial of the old forest. This is the highest
point of land within the city limits north of the
town branch,

Our subject was married in November, I8t>2, to
Miss Emogene Dunbar, daughter of Col. 'A. M.and
Susan Dunbar, of Charleston. -They had three

488

COLES COUNTY.

children, two of whom are now living. Mr. and
Mrs. Anderson became the parents of two children
— Gay and Cathleen. Upon the death of .his^wife,
Mr. A. was married a second time, in 1868, to Mrs.
AlbenaMurry. Mr. Anderson, like his father, is a
stanch Democrat.

ETER FURRY, a substantial farmer resid-
ing in Pleasant Grove Township, is one of
the pioneers of Coles County, his residence
here dating from the year 1839. He was
born June 14, 1817, in York County, Pa., and is
the son of Peter and Barbara (Sherick) Furry. His
family is of French extraction, although its mem-
bers have for several generations been residents of
the United States. Peter Furry was born in Adams
County, Md., just adjoining the State ^of Pennsj'l-
vania. His wife's family were remotely of Swiss
ancestry, and her parents were residents of Lan-
caster County, Pa., where she was born. Mr.
Furry's marriage took place in Richland County,
Ohio, where they were engaged in farming until
1839, when he removed with his family to Illinois,
and settled in Coles County. Mr. and Mrs. Furry
were swept away by the scourge of cholera, which
prevailed in 1851, only four days intervening
between the death of each. They had a family of
nine children born to them, two of whom died in
infancy, seven grew to maturity, and three are now
living — Peter, Polly and George.

Peter Furry passed his boyhood and youth in the
States of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and accompanied
his parents to Illinois iu 1839, settling in Coles
County in the vicinity of his present residence.
In 1845 he purchased four yoke of oxen and re-
moved to Wisconsin, where he engaged in hauling
goods between the lead mines of that region and
the city of Milwaukee. He passed through Chicago,
which was then a small village with grass growing
in the streets. He did not continue in this busi-
ness long, however, and after his return home was
married, Jan. 27, 1850, to Miss Alvira White.
Mrs. Furry is the daughter of James D. and
Lucindn (Goldman) White. Her parents were

among the early settlers of Coles County and she
was born here Jan. 27, 1833. After his marriage
Mr. Furry purchased land in Pleasant Grove
Township, and in 1 860 located where he now re-
sides. Since making his first purchase he has given
his attention exclusively to farming, and now owns
121 acres of valuable, well-improved land.

Mr. and Mrs. Furry have become the parents of
ten children, two of whom died in infancy. Their
only son, George, a promising young man, died
Jan. 19, 1887, at the age of eighteen. The record
of the others is as follows: Lucy Ann is the wife
of Martin Brady; Amanda E. became the wife of
Warren C. Butler, and the mother of one son, Byron ;
her husband served in the Civil War, and his death
occurred in 1882. Mary A. is the wife of John V.
Summer; Ellena E. was married to Charles James;
Susan Florence is the wife of D. Gray; Allie and
Pearl E.

With his wife, Mr. Furry belongs to the Baptist
Church. He is not actively interested in politics,
and does not aspire to public office, but he always
sustains the Republican party, and lias served as a
member of the School Board.

AVIU MARTIN, one of the most enter-
prising citizens of Hutton Township, owns
and occupies 160 acres of improved land
on section 13, with about thirty-five acres
of valuable timber, and took possession of a part of
his present homestead in 1853. The improvements
which now invariably attract the eye of the passing
traveler have been brought about by his own in-
dustry and good judgment. He erected a fine
brick residence in 1875, and has two commodious
barns, with all other necessary out-buildings. The
land is neatly and substantially fenced, and the
proprietor is supplied with all the machinery for
carrying on his chosen vocation after the most
modern methods.

Our subject is a native of Jefferson Count}', Ky.,
born, March 29, 1825. He comes of excellent
Scottish ancestry, and the first representatives of
the family in this country are supposed to have lo-
cated in the Old Dominion. His grandfather, John

COLES COUNTY.

489

Martin, was born in Albemarle County, and was
there married. Soon afterward he removed to
Kentucky, making the journey overland by teams
to Jefferson County, where he entered about 600
acres of timber land, and after improving and liv-
ing on it for thirty-five years became involved in
litigation with his cousin, and lost the whole. He
died, however, before the suit was ended, but suf-
fered all the humiliation and inconvenience of
being reduced from plenty to comparative poverty.
His wife survived him a few years. Their seven
children were named Hudson, Charles R., Henry,
Wesley B., Mary, Judia and Amy. All lived to
mature years, and with the exception of Amy, who
died when twenty years of age, were married and
reared large families..

Wesley B, Martin, the father of our subject, was
the fourth child of his parents, and born in Vir-
ginia, Oct. 17, 1792. He was quite young when
his father removed to Kentucky, and remained at
home until the death of the latter, receiving a
limited education. He married Miss Lydia, the
daughter of Anthony and Catherine Snyder, whose
parents were natives of Germany, but emigrated
to this country when quite young, and settled with
their parents in Pennsylvania, in which State they
were married. After marriage they located on a
farm in Jefferson County, Ky., but in October,
1847, Weslej' Martin determined to seek his for-
tune iu the Prairie State. Coming into this county
he entered eighty acres of timber laud in Hutton
Township, which he cleared and improved, and upon
which he built up a comfo. table homestead, which
he occupied for thirty-five years. In 1863 he sold
out and purchased forty acres in Huttou Township.

Not long afterward Wesley Martin received a,
stroke of paralysis, from which he never recovered,
being helpless the remaining years of his life. His
death took place in 1860. He had been a man
highly esteemed among his neighbors and served as
a soldier in the War of 1812, being under the com-
mand of Gen. Jackson and participating in the
battle of New Orleans. His wife survived for about
twenty years, her death taking place Sept. 22, 1880.
The remains of both were laid to rest in the Har-
rington Church bury ing-ground in Hutton Town-
ship. The mother was blind for about seven years

before her death. Three days previously she ex-
pressed a desire that she might look upon the faces
of her children before closing her eyes forever
upon the scenes of earth. About twenty-four hours
before passing away the sight partially returned to
one eye, so that she could recognize her children
and called them by name. These, seven in num-
ber, were named respectively, George and Cather-
ine, both deceased; Charles R., David, of our
sketch; Wesley, deceased; Elizabeth, and one who
died in infancy unnamed.

David Martin was the fifth child of his parents,
and about thirteen years of age when they emi-
grated from Kentucky to Illinois. He received a
limited education, and after reaching his majority
purchased forty acres of timber land in Hutton
Township, where he built a log house and made
other preparations for the establishment of a home
of his own. One of his most important ventures
at that time was his marriage with Miss Sallie A.
Orchard, which took place Aug. 12, 1847. Mrs.
Martin was born in Madison County, Ky., Dec. 14,
1828, and is the daughter of William and Jane
(Richardson) Orchard, also natives of the Blue
Grass State, where they were reared and married.
They came to this county in about 1833, and built
up a farm in Hutton Township. They experienced
all the hardships and privations of pioneer life, and
lived to see the country around them built up and
settled with an excellent class of people.

Mr. Martin, after his marriage, commenced farm-
ing on forty acres in Hutton Township, which he
occupied two years, and then traded for eighty
acres of timber on the Kickapoo Creek in Charles-
ton Township. Here, in company with his brother,
he put up a sawmill, which they operated three
years, and then selling out our subject purchased
sixty acres on section 13, in Hutton Township, to
which he afterward added 100 more, and which
now constitutes his present farm. While running
the sawmill he learned the carpenter's trade and
brick masonry, and has built more barns than any
man in Coles County, besides several brick resi-
dences, school-houses and churches.

The twelve children of Mr. and Mrs. Martin are
as follows: George W., born June 20, 1848. is
still at home with his parents; Lydia J., bom Jan,

490

COLES COUNTY.

22, 1850, became the wife of John Keckley, and
lives in Hutton Township; Mary C., born Oct. 8,
1 852, became the wife of George Rhue, and died
. at her home in Cumberland County, Feb. 26, 1876 ;
Sarah F., born March 13, 1855, is the wife of John
Fesler, of Diona; Nancy E., born Jan. 24, 1857,
married B. Goben, and is a resident of Pleasant :
Grove; Luvina, born Dec. 17, 1858, married Sam-
uel Stephens, and is living in Charleston Township;
Rebecca, born Feb. 2, 1861, is the wife of R. E.
Hurt, of Shelby County; Charles W., born Oct. 17,
1862, married Miss Ida Walker, and is a resident
of Cumberland County; Mandeny, bom Aug. 12,
1 865, became the wife of Warrick Gwm. and lives
in Hutton Township; Laura B., born June 20,
1867, and Nelson T., Dec. 7, 1870, are at home
with their parents. An infant died unnamed.

Mr. Martin has labored on the farm but little,
although superintending its operations. His indus-
try and enterprise have become proverbial, and in
addition to his own private interests he has served
his township as School Director twelve years, Road ]
Commissioner three years, and held the office of
Deacon in the Baptist Church for ten years. To i
this Church his wife and children also belong, and
for years have been among its most cheerful and
liberal contributors. Mr. Martin, politically, is a
stanch supporter of the Democratic party.

JO. SILVERS, a retired farmer, residing in
Mattoon, was born Aug. 18, 1827, in Sulli-
van County, Ind., and is the son of Bletcher
and Elizabeth (Ingraham) Silvers, natives
of Washington County, Ky., where his father was
engaged in farming. His grandparents, John and
Nancy (Springer) Silvers, were natives of Kentucky ;
the family of the former was of German extraction.
He carried on an extensive farming business in his
native State, and owned quite a number of slaves.
In 1818 Bletcher Silvers removed with his family
to Sullivan County, where he passed the remainder
of his life. His wife died in 1856, and he did not
survive her many years, his death occurring in 1861.
They had a family of seven children, three of whom
are now living, as follows: Letitia, the wife of

W. P, McClure, a resident of Graham County.

•* » •

Kan. ; J. 0., the subject of this sketch, and Hester,
the wife of Mr. James French, also a resident of
Sullivan County. Mr. Silvers in early life served
in the War of 1812. He belonged to the Old Wh;g
party in .politics, but subsequently became a Re-
publican. Both himself and wife were members of
the Methodist Church, and in their daily lives ex-
emplified the sincerity of their religious faith.

J. O. Silvers was reared on his father's farm in
Indiana, and remained at home until eighteen
years of age; he was then sent to the DePauw Uni-
versity, and after three years of study was grad-
uated from that institution with honors. He then
taught school in Indiana two years, and in 1851
came to Cass County, 111., and was there engaged
two seasons as teacher in a seminary at Virginia.
But his tastes inclined him to prefer agriculture'
and he returned to Indiana and engaged in farming
in Vigo County until 1863, when he removed to
Illinois and settled in Mattoon. He had previously
been engaged in the mercantile business in Shelby-
ville, Shelby Co., 111., and on coming to Mattoon
was at first occupied in buying and selling real es-
tate. In 1870 he purchased eighty acres of land in
North Okaw Township, in this county, and engaged
in farming. The following 3'ear he purchased ten
acres on Western avenue, where he remained until
1877, and then returned to his other farm, passing
six years there. In 1883 he retired from the cares
of active business and returned to this city, where
he now resides on West First street.

Our subject's marriage to Miss Sarah F. Pugh
took place iu 1852. Mrs. Silvers was a native of
Terre Haute, and the daughter of Ishmael Pugh.
Three children were born to them, whose names are
as follows: Clara Belle, the wife of Mr. Thomas
Lytle, is the mother of four children — Howard,
Grace, Gertrude and Ralph; Hattie, the wife of
Charles N. Brown, has one child, J. Herbert; and
Frank. In 1871 the family circle was broken by
the death of Mrs. Silvers.

In 1876 Mr. Silvers was happily married the
second time, to Mrs. Sophia J. (Eggleston) Allen.
Mrs. Silvers is the daughter of David and Rebecca
(Judd) Eggleston, natives of New York. They had
a family of five children, of whom only two are

t

COLES COUNTY.

491

living — Mrs. Bartlett, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mrs.
Silvers. Mrs. Silvers' grandfather, Jonathan Eg-
gleston, was of English descent, and served in the
Revolutionary War. Mrs. Silvers' first marriage
occurred in 1842. Her husband, Samuel Allen,
was a native of Massachusetts. He came to Illi-
nois in 1863, and purchased a farm of 250 acres
adjoining the city of Mattoon. He was an enter-
prising business man, and invested in city property
to a considerable extent. His death occurred in
1874. He was a Republican in politics, and one of
the leading citizens of Mattoon.

Our subject and his wife, having no children,
have adopted four orphans, whom they have cared
for and educated. Their names are, Aaron and
Rebecca Wycoff, brother and sister, who were
brought here by Mr. and Mrs. Allen from Ohio;
Isaac Roby and Nellie V. Hyde. Mr. Silvers is a
member of the Republican party, and socially be-
longs to the I. O. O. F. He has also been for
many years a highly esteemed member of the
Methodist Church.

AMES HOOD, JR., one of the successful and
prominent farmers of Humbolt Township,
owns and occupies an elegant home on sec-
(KgP/ tion 19, a lithographic view of which apears
on page 266. He was born in West Union, Adams
Co., Ohio, Oct. 29, 1834, and is the son of James
and Mary (Ellison) Hood, natives of Pennsylvania
and Ohio respective^'. John Hood, the grandfather
of our subject, had a family of four children, two
sons and two daughters.

James, the father of our subject, came from his na-
tive State to Ohio when a lad four or five years old.
He there learned the tanner's trade, and subsequently
worked with the father of Gen. Grant, but aban-
doning this he engaged in merchandising, which he
successfully prosecuted for many years. His fam-
ily consisted of three children by his first wife,
namely: Rebecca, Mrs. Andrew Smalley, living in
Ironton, Ohio; Hannah, Mrs. Nathan Branson, liv-
ing in West Union, Ohio, and James, the subject
of our sketch. Jarnes Hood's second wife was a
sister of the first, named Isabelle Ellison, who died

in 1861, his first wife having died in 1838. He is
yet living, in the enjoyment of good health, at the
age of eighty-seven.

James Hood, Jr., from the time he could look
over the counter was obliged to stay in his father's
store, a task which always proved irksome to him.
Whenever an opportunity offered for visiting one
of his uncles in the country he gladly did so, and
anxiously looked forward to the time when he
could remain upon a farm. In the year 1853 he
left his home, going to Etna Furnace, near Iron-
ton, Ohio, where he had charge of the furnace store
a year, at a salary of $300. He then returned to
the assistance of his father for one year, afterward
resuming his charge at Etna Furnace at an increased
salary of $400, out of which he saved $365. With
this he went to Iowa in 1856 and entered a half
section of land in Butler County. Here he re-
mained until 1859r when he traded his land for 240
acres in the northeastern part of Coles, now Douglas
County. III. In the fall of the same year he had
140 acres of sod broken and sown in wheat, and
in the spring bought 112 head of yearling calveSj
which he herded near Milton Station, now Hum-
bolt. Six months later he sold his calves and wheat
and returned to West Union, where he rented a
gristmill owned by his father. During his employ-
ment in this new business he was united in mar-
riage with Miss Sarah E. Wilson, a resident of Mc-
Lean County, 111., the wedding taking place Jan. 1 ,
1861.

Mrs. Hood was the only child of Jarnes and
Susan (McKee) Wilson, natives of Kentucky and
Ohio respectively. She was born in Adams Coun-
ty, Ohio, Aug. 4, 1842. In the fall following his
marriage Mr. Hood again moved to Illinois, and in
the spring of 1862 built a shanty on his tract of
land located on section 29, Humbolt Township.
During the summer he broke forty acres and sowed
it in wheat, but becoming discouraged by reason
of sickness returned to Etna Furnace, and engaged
as assistant manager at a salary of $1,200 per an-
num. While thus occupied he rented his farm to
D. C. Thomas, for grain rent. His share of the
wheat marketed at $1.85 per bushel at Humbolt,
bringing him $20 per acre, which has never been
excelled in this part of the State. Elated by their

I

t.

492

COLES COUNTY.

success, farmers engaged largely in wheat-raising
the next year, only to meet a great failure.

In 1 805 Mr. H. again came to Illinois, where he has
remained until the present time. Although he
had been a farmer merely in name previously, he
now became one in fact, doing his first plowing that
spring with a plow he had purchased at a sale for
$1.50, which he used four years. The cutter
which was attached when he purchased the plow he
sold for $1, making his plow cost but fifty cents.

Mr. and Mrs. Hood have a family of eight chil-
dren, recorded as follows: John E., Mary S., Sarah
B., James W., Ann Eliza, Robert B., Clara D. .and
William H. Mr. Hood is a pronounced Repub-
lican in politics, having voted in 1856 for Fremont,
and has since voted for each of the mominees in
his party, save in 1 860, when by virtue of chang-
ing his place of residence he lost his vote. He is
an excellent citizen, a successful, painstaking
farmer, and a gentleman of refined tastes.

J~~l UDGE J. R. CUNNINGHAM, of Charleston,
is descended from a family distinguished for
intellect and character. He was born Sept.
' 19, 1831, in Litchfield, Grayson Co., Ky.,
and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Yates) Cun-
ningham, the ^former a native of Virginia and the
latter of Maryland. John Cunningham was a man
of prominence in the community where he resided.
He was at one time Sheriff of Breckinridge County,
and served one term as member of the State Legis-
lature. He passed the greater part of his life en-
gaged in agricultural and mercantile pursuits in
Grayson County, Ky. He was twice married, and
by his first wife had a family of ten children. His
second wife was Miss Harriet B. Wortham. and by
this marriage eight children were born.

The boyhood of Judge Cunningham was passed
on his father's farm until the age of seventeen,
when he was sent to St. Mary's College, in Marion
County, Ky. He there applied himself diligently
to study during three terms, and upon his return
home was engaged one year as book-keeper in his
father's store, and then deciding to enter one of .the
professions, went to Nashville. Tenn., where he

read medicine and attended medical lectures one
year. After his return home he read law three years
in the office of William L. Conklin,and in 1855 was
admitted to the bar, and practiced law in Litchfield
one year. In 1 857 he was engaged in his profes-
sion a few months in Mattoon, and then came to
Charleston, where he first commenced the practice
of law associated with O. B. Ficklin, and remained
with him about three years. His superior ability
as a lawyer and as a man suited to the successful
management of public affairs, soon became appar-
ent, and in 1 860 he was elected District Attorney
in the 4th Judicial Circuit of Illinois, holding the
office four years. He then resumed the practice of
law in Charleston, and in 1 865 was elected City
Attorney for a term of two years. After the ex-
piration of this office he served as City Clerk one
year and Alderman two years. He was then elected
Supervisor three years, and also Chairman of the
Board. In 1870 he was elected a member of the
State Legislature by a majority of 200, and in 1874
served again as Alderman. In 1878 he was elected
County Judge, and held the office five years.

The marriage of Judge Cunningham to Miss
Mary M. Smith, took place Jan. 9, 1862. She is
the daughter of William O. Smith, of Lexington,
Ky. They have an interesting family of eight
children — William S., Robert O., John, James W.,
Mary A., Charles, Clifford and Thomas.

Judge Cunningham is now engaged in the prac-
tice of law in this city, at his ollice on Jackson
street. During the incumbency of the various
offices to which he was elected, he discharged his
public duties faithfully, giving entire satisfaction
to the community. He belongs to the Democratic
party, and both socially and politically, is one of
the prominent men of the county.

AEAYETTE CRAIG, who has been promi-
nently identified with the farming commun-
ity of Morgan Township and vicinity for
the last fifty-two years, was born in Clark County,
111., March 27, 1832. His parents were Isaac X.
and Catherine (Hanson) Craig, whose ancestors
were of Southern birth and parentage. The grand-

COLES COUNTY.

493

father of our subject, Robert Craig by name, a na--
tive of Virginia, removed first to Kentucky and
then to Illinois, where his death took place about
1848. The family is of Scottish ancestry and the
great-grandfather of the present representative in
this section was driven from his country during the
Rebellion. His sou Robert reared a family of three
sous and five daughters, of whom but two are now
living, namely, Isaac N., a resident of Charleston,
and his sister, Narcissa, Mrs. Davis, who lives in
Morgan Township.

The father of our subject came to Clark County,
111., in 1828. where he was married and whence he
removed, in 1835, to this county, where he followed
farming until 1872, and then retired from active
labor. His wife, Catherine, was a native of Ken-
tucky, born near Lexington, where she was reared
and came with her parents, about 1828, to Central
Illinois. The father's family included fourteen
children. Robert, a merchant of Hickory, died in
1866, and left four children; Elizabeth, the wife of
Herman Gregg, of Moultrie County, is the mother
of six children ; Harriet first married Harvey Fow-
ler, now deceased, and subsequently married L. C.
Mitchell; Nancy and William R. died in early child-
hood. Mrs. Catherine Craig departed this life at
the home of her husband in Morgan Township,
May 1, 1841. Isaac Craig was married again the
same year to Miss Elizabeth Bloyer, of Pennsyl-
vania, and of German parentage. She caine to this
State in 1838. Of this union there were born
Catherine, now the wife of Robert McMullin, of
Charleston Township, and the mother of four chil-
dren ; James W., practicing law at Maltoon, married
and the father of four children; Audrey J.; Eliza
E., the wife of A. N. Swango; Benjamin F., de-
ceased; Isaac B., of the firm of Craig & Craig;
Mary F., who died when young, and Thomas J.,
married and at home farming with his father, near
Charleston.

The subject of our sketch remained at home
until after reaching his majority. He had improved
his advantages at school and now engaged in tench-
ing, which he followed several winters while em-
ployed on the farm during the summer season. He
was married, Jan. 3, 1856, to Miss Jemima, the
daughter of Joseph Fowler, who was bom in North

Carolina. Her parents were natives respectively
of North Carolina and Tennessee. Of this 'union
there were born three children, namely, James B.,
Alvin and Isaac E. The wife and mother departed
this life on the 26th of March, 1862. On the 12th
of Febuary, 1863, Mr. Craig was married to Miss
Margaret J. Woodfall, of Morgan Township, and
they became the parents of seven children, viz.,
Charles P., Willis N., Ida M., Elmer T., Robert IL,
Oscar A. and Thomas 1).

Mr. Craig, in 1855, purchased sixty acres of land
in Morgan Township, to which he subsequently
added until he became the possessor of 440 acres.
Upon this he has brought about fine improvements
and underlaid the low lands with 1,000 rods of tile.
The land is mostly devoted to the raising of corn,
wheat and oats, and the stock includes twenty-three
horses and forty cattle. There is a fine growth of
maples on the place, planted twenty years ago,
which forms one of its most attractive features.
Mr. Craig has been prominent in local affairs since
reaching manhood ; he was Collector the first two
years after the organization of the township, Su-
pervisor thirteen years, and also served as Assessor.
He assisted in taking the census in 1865, and in
1882 took a trip to England upon business con-
nected with the settlement of the estate of the
Woodfall heirs.

The father of our subject, during the winter of
1832 was engaged in the Black Hawk War. His
mother, who in her girlhood was Miss Catherine
Hanson, was born March 12. 1812, and was the
daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Coons) Han-
son, natives respectively of Virginia, whence they
removed to Kentucky. Robert Hanson and his wife
became the parents of nine children, namely. Sarah,
Susan, Mary Ann, George, Gideon, Robert, Cath-
erine, Permelia and Nancy, seven of whom are de-
ceased.

Mr. Craig is a stockholder in the County Fair
grounds, and has for years been greatly interested
in fine horses. He has been President of the Run-
ning and Trotting Society for a period of five years,
and connected with nearly every enterprise calcu-
lated for the advance of the farming interests of
Morgan Township. His genial disposition and
courteous manner to all, have secured him an ex-

t.

494

COLES COUNTY.

tended friendship among the people of his county,
while his good business capacities and judgment in
financial matters, as we have seen, have often been
called into requisition in township and county af-
fairs.

The good taste and industry of Mr. Craig are
perhaps the most forcibly illustrated in the home
which he has provided for himself and family, and
a view of which is given on page 266. It is cred-
itable alike to the proprietor and to Morgan Town-
ship.

^

ILISHA LINDER. The family history of
the subject of this sketch comprises an
interesting array of facts and figures, and
proves it to have been one of prominence in the
locality where the Linders first settled upon coming
to this country. Wherever located they have
made their mark, exerting a good influence upon
the minds and morals of those with whom they
have been connected, and have occupied positions
of trust and importance.

Mr. L. was born in Hardin County, Ky., Aug.
16, 1807, and was the eldest of four children born
to Isaac -and Nancy (Richardson) Linder. The
former was a native of Vermont, whence his
parents removed when he was a child to Kentucky.
They were Daniel and Rebecca (VanMeter) Linder,
the former reared and educated in the country and
a man of much force of character and great in-
dustry. His father was Lawrence Linder, a
brother of Simon and Anthony Linder, who were
natives of Germany. Daniel Linder, when the
Colonies began to struggle for their liberty, identi-
fied himself with them and distinguished himself
as a soldier of the Revolution. He then engaged
in his farming until he was of a good old age.

Isaac Linder, the father of our subject, was born
and reared among the stirring scenes of nearly a
century ago, and when a young man was actively
engaged in skirmishes with the'Indians, who made
life miserable for the early settlers of the Blue
Grass Regions. He spent the greater part of his
life in Kentucky and died there in 1814, while
still in the prime of life. After his death the

mother kept her children together until Elisha, our
subject, was old enough to assist her in caring
for them, and finally the entire support of the
family fell upon him. On the 10th of January,
1831, he came to this county, where he purchased
forty acres of wild land and erected a log cabin.
He staid there that season, raised one crop, and in
the fall returned to Kentucky and brought his
mother and her family to hi's home. The children
then consisted of two sisters and a brother. Elisha
had learned the bricklayer's trade in the ' South,
and followed it at times after coming to this county,
but gave most of his attention to farming and
stock-raising. He was very successful and invested
his surplus capital in additional land until he be-
came the owner of 2,000 acres, lying mostly in
the central part of this State.

In the meantime Mr. Linder had been mindful
of home comforts and domestic ties, and April 16,
1837, took unto himself a wife and helpmate in the
person of jMiss Rebecca Sawyer. Mrs. Linder is
the daughter of John and Hannah (Radley) Saw-
yer, who were natives of Kentuck}' but emigrated to
Illinois before the arrival of Mr. Linder. John
Sawyer was one of the first settlers of Central
Illinois after the State was admitted into the Union,
and became a prominent and successful farmer.

Mr. and Mrs. Linder have just passed the fiftieth
anniversary of their marriage. Their children are
Mary, Daniel, Martha, Nancy, John, Rebecca,
Lillie Ann, Louisiana, Flora, Sarah, Sidney Jane,
Isaac and Minta Elizabeth. Mary is the wife of
Levi Johnson, a farmer of Barton County, Kan. ;
Daniel married Miss Rebecca Hall, and is also a
resident of that county; Martha became the wife
of John Parr, and is now deceased ; Nancy is the
wife of William Champion, a farmer of Mattoon
Township, living near the Linder homestead;
John married Miss Bruuetta Mitchell, and is farm-
ing in Sumner County, Kan.; Rebecca became the
wife of William Puriston, who is now deceased ;
Mrs. P. occupies a farm on the Western Avenue
road. Lillie Ann is the wife of William A. Bell,
and lives near 'the old homestead; Flora is the
wife of George Howell, a railroad engineer of
Brazil, Ind.; Sarah married John H. Linder, and
lives near the homestead; Sidney, the wife of

COLES COUNTY

495

Henry Howell, is a resident of Mattoon; Isaac,
who manages the home farm for his parents, mar-
ried Miss Sarah Brotherton. All the children, with
their parents, are members of" the Methodist
Church..

The first Presidential vote of Mr. Linder was
cast for Andrew Jackson, but the second one
decidedly against " Old Hickory," as he considered
that he had good reason for changing his views.
Since then he has steadily opposed Democracy,
and although never taking any very active part in
politics, uniformly-avails himself of his privileges
as a free-born American citizen, in times of im-
portant elections.

If

ffi OCKARD SWISHER, the owner of a fine
estate containing 190 acres of valuable land,
located on section 21, (11, 9), Button
Township, is an honorable repiesentative of one of
the pioneer families of this county. He was born
July 29, 1833, and is the son of Samuel and Eliza-
beth (Wood) Swisher. His paternal grandparents
were natives of Maryland, and emigrated to Ohio
at an early day, where they were among the pio-
neers of Franklin County.

Samuel Swisher was born in Maryland, and ac-
companied the family to Ohio, remaining with his
parents until his marriage. The educational ad-
vantages offered by Ohio were at that time very
limited, but Samuel attended the district school
during the winter, and assisted his father on the
farm in the summer, acquiring some practical ex-
perience in the various branches of agriculture,
and a moderate amount of book-learning, as it was
dispensed in the early days. After his marriage
to Miss Elizabeth Wood, who was a native of
Franklin County, he engaged in farming for him-
self on the estate inherited by his wife. Their
happy home there was soon darkened by the death
of his wife. Her health began to fail soon after
the birth of their only child, Lockard, and she died
in the following February, 1834.

In 1835, Samuel Swisher married Mrs. Hester
(Fleming) Campbell, and in the spring of 1838 re-
moved with his family to Edgar County, 111. He

remained there until autumn, and after looking
about the country, changed his location to Hutton
Township, this county, and entered eighty acres of
timber land on section 12, on the banks of the Em-
barras River. He cleared and improved his land,
and was very successful in business. The arduous
task of settling in a new country, and the many
privations of a pioneer's life, wore upan his health,
and he died June 10. 1849, at the age of fifty-five
years. His widow survived him several years, and
died in the spring of 1858, on the homestead, leav-
ing two children — Martha and Jane, twins, born
Aug. 16, 1837, in Franklin County, Ohio. Martha
is the wife of Henry Freezener, and Jives in Iowa;
Jane is the wife of John A. Patterson, and lives in
Edgar County, 111.

Lockard Swisher was only sixteen years of age
when his father died, and he remained on the
homestead with his widowed mother until he was
twenty, assisting her in carrying on the farm. He
was a bright and intelligent boy, but could obtain
only a very limited education at the common
schools. Possessing an enterprising disposition, he
joined a company composed of eleven of his neigh-
bors, who had planned an overland expedition to
California by ox-teams. It was a difficult and per-
ilous journey to undertake at that early day, but
they started out full of hope and courage, April 4,
1854, and after a toilsome and adventurous pil-
grimage, arrived safely at Placerville, El Dorado
Co., Cal., Sept. 27, 1854. He found employment
there in the gold mines at $50 and $60 per month,
and remained until June 5, 1858, returning via the
Isthmus and New York. The death of his step-
mother occurred that spring, and he inherited the
homestead, where on his return he engaged in
farming, and purchased ninety additional acres.

November 25, 1860, Mr. Swisher was married to
Miss Louisa Allen. Mrs. Swisher was the daughter
of Jackson and Catherine Allen, and was born Feb.
2, 1840. Her parents were natives of South Car-
olina. Mr. and Mrs. Swisher had a family of eight
children born to them : Martha Jane died in in-
fancy; Mary C., the wife of Albert Bidle; Laura
A. died at the age of sixteen ; Phebe E., John E.,
Henry M., Polly V. and Charles C. all reside on
| the homestead. After twenty years of happy

I

i

t , 496

COLES COUNTY.

married life, Mrs. Swisher was taken from her be-
loved family by death, Dec. 2, 1880. She was a
devoted wife and loving mother, and her death
was deeply mourned by her family and a large cir-
cle of sympathizing friends. Sept. 3. 1883, Mr.
Swisher was married to his second wife, Mrs. Mary
(Woodruff) Scott, the widow of John Scott.

In the autumn of 1884, Mr. Swisher exchanged
farms with Mr. M. A. Walker. The estate he now
owns contains 190 acres of land, all of which is
well-improved, and supplied with a substantial
brick residence and commodious barn. With his
wife he is a member of the Christian Church. He
is interested in educational affairs, and has been
School Director for nine years. In politics, he is a
Republican.

" ^BS c~-a:— ;:;

SHOMAS J. PEPPER, an extensive land-
owner and breeder of fine stock, whose op-
erations for the last five years have attracted
much attention in Central Illinois, took up his
abode in North Okaw Township in the winter of
1880. purchased 600 acres of land, and proceeded,
with the aid of a carload of Short-horn cattle which
he had brought with him, to inaugurate a system
of stock-raising which should be worthy of imita-
tion by his neighbors. In this he succeeded ad-
mirably, and has realized from his transactions
each year a handsome sum of money. He has
lately sold 200 acres of his land, and purchased a
good property in the village of Humbolt. Mr.
Pepper possesses all the requisites of a desirable
citizen; he is interested in the welfare of the com-
munity around him, and is a member in good
standing of the Christian Church. Since becom-
ing a voter, he has been a warm supporter of Dem-
ocratic principles, and is a man of more than or-
dinary ability, as indicated by the position which
he occupies socially and financially.

The paternal great-grandfather of our subject
was a native of England, who emigrated to the
United States when a young man, and locating in
Virginia, married and reared a family, and it is
supposed, there spent the remainder of his days.
Among his sons was Jesse, a native of the Old Do-
minion, who in his youth removed to Mason Conn-

ty, Ky., during its early settlement. He engaged
in farm pursuits and was married to a Miss^Lamp-
kin. Both were members of the Baptist Church,
and Jesse served as Justice of the Peace for a num-
ber of years. They never left the Blue Grass re-
gions, but died in Mason County, and their
remains were laid to rest near the home which the}'
had occupied for nearly half a century. The five
children born of this marriage were, Eliza; James
S., the father of our subject; Peter A., a resident
of Kentucky; Abner, of Virginia, and William,
who died when young.

James S. Pepper, who was the second child of
his parents, was born in Mason County, Ky., in
1800. He was fairly educated, and remained with
his parents until reaching years of manhood. He
was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Worthing-
ton, in 1823. She was born in Mason County in
1805, and was the daughter of Thomas Worthing-
ton, a native of Maryland. After his marriage,
the father of our subject rented land in Mason
County until the death of his father. He then pur-
chased the home fann,^which remained his abiding-
place until he was called hence. He was a man of
much force of character, becoming prominent in
local affairs and serving as Justice of the Peace
for a number of years. He officiated as Captain of
the State Militia, and with his wife, was an active
member of the Christian Church. He departed
from the scenes of his earthly labors June 7, 1875.
The mother survived until Jan. 20, 1878, also dy-
ing at the old homestead. They were laid side by
side in the Minerva burying-ground, in Mason
County. Their twelve children were named re-
spectively, Elizabeth, Ann, Fannie, Mary, John E.,
Lydia, Maria C., Amanda J., Thomas J., Alice,
Vachel M. and William H. They lived to become
men and women, and most of them married and
had families of their own.

The subject of this history was born in Mason
County, Ky., Jan. 8, 1841. He received the ad-
vantages afforded by the district school, and re-
mained at home until his marriage, June 2, 1874.
The maiden of his choice was Miss Jennie Spencer,
a native of his own county, and born Feb. 15,
1858. Her parents, Thomas and Betty Spencer,
were natives respective!}' of Virginia and Ken-

COLES COUNTY.

497

tucky. After his marriage, Mr. Pepper commenced
buying and selling leaf tobacco, and was thus oc-
cupied for ten years following with excellent re-
sults. He came to Coles County in the winter of
1 880, and his subsequent life we have already in-
dicated. Mr. and Mrs. Pepper have no children.

—••->+<-» •%

R. FULLER. Among the descendants of
the early pioneers of Coles County, the
name of R. R. Fuller is worthy of an honor-
place. He is one of the partners in the
firm of Fuller Bros., dealers in lumber and manu-
facturers of wire and slat fencing in Charleston
Township. He was born Feb. 6, 1861, in this
county, and is the son of William N. and Phyneta
M. (Ellis) Fuller. The former is a native of Rus-
sell County, Va., and the latter of Tennessee.

The grandparents of our subject were Hawkins
and Phoebe (Nash) Fuller, natives of Russell
County, Va. They were the descendants of Scotch
and German ancestry, both of which nationalities
are noted for thrift and enterprise. Hawkins Ful-
ler was a farmer in Virginia and left his Eastern
home in 1834 to encounter the trials and privations
of pioneer life on the Western frontier. A tide of
emigration was then beginning to sweep in from
the East, and the vast lonely stretches of prairie
were more frequently broken by human habitations
than hitherto. The very early settlers had usually
located in or near the timber, hardly expecting that
the broad, wild prairies, covered with tall, rank
grass, over which the deer and wolves roamed un-
disturbed, would ever wave with rich harvests of
golden grain or become the safe pasture land of
vast herds of cattle and flocks of sheep. The first
necessity was to provide shelter for himself and
family, which was soon secured by erecting one of
the primitive houses of the early pioneer days,
which, though rude in construction, were yet made
very comfortable. He first settled in North Okaw
Township, of this county. Settlers began rapidly
to come in from the Eastern States, and the
prosperity of the county was greatly increased.
He was the first Justice of the Peace elected in the
county.

William N. Fuller, who was only three months

old when his father settled in North Okaw Town-
ship, was brought up on the farm, assisting his
father in subduing the wilderness and attending the
primitive school which the neighborhood afforded.
He acquired much practical knowledge of the de-
tails of farming, and was engaged in agricultural
pursuits throughout his life. Besides carrying on
an extensive farming business he was actively in-
terested in public affairs. He was County Com-
missioner, Assessor, and at the time of his death
was a candidate for Sheriff. In politics he was a
Democrat. His death occurred June 9, 1880. His
widow still survives, and is a resident of Charleston.
They had a family of five children, three of whom
are now living — H. H. and R. R., of the firm of
Fuller Bros., and Phoebe.

R. R. Fuller' was brought up on his father's farm,
receiving a good common-school education in the
township. After his father's death he assumed the
management of the farm. In 1882 his brother, H.
H., was elected County Treasurer, and served in
that office for four years, and R. R. was Deputy
County Treasurer. In 1886 the brothers pur-
chased the lumber business of W. S. Coon, now
deceased, in which they are carrying on a large
and extensive business. In 1880 H. H. Fuller
married Miss Belle Hitch, a native of Coles County,
and the daughter of Alexander and Permelia
Hitch. They have a family of three children —
Winnie W., Claude C. and Pearl. The brothers
belong to the Democratic party. R. R. is a mem-
ber of the Odd Fellows' Society, and also of the
K. of P.

E W. GRAY, a prominent citizen of
Hum bolt, is the leading merchant of the
village, and also the owner of an estate con-
taining 120 acres of fine farming land in the vicin-
ity. He was born June 3, 1827, in Greene County,
Pa., and is the son of John and Rhoda (Bane)
Gray. John Gray was likewise a native of Penn-
sylvania, and the son of David and Elizabeth (Bas-
ton) Gray. He was a farmer and miller by occu-
pation, and in 1830 left his native State, moving
further westward, and settled in Athens County,

•*-

i

. i 498

COLES COUNTY.

Ohio, purchasing a farm in Hocking Valley. Dur-
ing the summer he cultivated his farm, and in the
winter operated the Athens mill, for the firm of
Miles <fe Matheny. He was successful in both lines
of business, and passed the remainder of his life
there, his death occurring in 1848. His wife was
the daughter of Mordecai Bane, and was also a na-
tive of Pennsylvania.

George Gray was a graduate of the High School
at New Albany, Athens County, and at the close
of his studies there, determined to enter one of the
professions, and with this aim in view, began the
study of medicine at Hibbardsville, under the in-
struction of Dr. Dixon. At the close of the first
year his preceptor died, which event influenced
him to change his plans. He returned to the farm
and engaged in its various duties, and about a year
later his father's death occurred. This event
caused a change in family affairs, and he then de-
cided to come west. On his arrival in Illinois, he
first located at Jacksonville, and remained there a
year, engaged in stock-dealing with an uncle. He
then caine to Coles County, and operated a saw
and grist mill near Westfield, for the firm of Brown
& Hite. The business proved successful, and he
remained there seven years. At the expiration of
that time he took charge of the Westfield mill
for three years, and then moved to Charleston,
where he engaged in the grocery business with Mr.
1 1 nil 111:1 n. He remained there from 1860 to 1865,
and then left Charleston and opened a grocery store
at Humbolt. Five years later he enlarged his busi-
ness, making it a general store, and has since made
this place his home.

April 24, 1855, Mr. Gray was married to Miss
Mary E. Brown. Her parents, William and Clara
(Salmon) Brown, were natives of Ohio, but subse-
quently removed to Madison, Ind., where Mrs.
Gray was born. April 18, 1836. Mr. Brown was
an engineer and mechanic, and successfully carried
on his trade in Madison. Mr. and Mrs. Gray had
a family of eight children, only four of whom are
now living. The following is their record : Mari-
etta, Mary, Belle, Rhoda, Clara, William, Jennie
Maude and Jessie Blanche. Belle became the wife
of Thomas I. Smith, a farmer residing in this town-
ship ; Rhoda, Jennie and Jessie reside at home. The

daughters are accomplished young ladies, and
Rhoda is a graduate of the Oxford Female College,
of Ohio. She possesses a vigorous mind and en-
joys active employment. She is a fine musician,
and utilizes her talent by giving instructions in
music, and spends her leisure time assisting her
father in the store.

Mr. Gray has been successful in both of his busi-
ness enterprises. In conducting his farm he gives
special attention to stock-growing, and has com-
menced raising thoroughbreds. He possesses an
unusual degree of executive ability, supervising
his farm and store with equal facility. He was ap-
pointed Postmaster by Andrew Johnson, and re-
tained the office until the reins of Government
changed hands, filling the position ably and satis-
factorily. Mr. Gray has been a Deacon and
Trustee in the Presbyterian Church for many years,
and is always interested in promoting measures cal-
culated to benefit the community. He owns his
store and residence, besides several vacant lots in
town and other property. In politics, he is a
stanch Republican.

B. GRIFFIN, an extensive dealer in hay,
feed and grain, is one of the successful and
enterprising citizens of Charleston. He was
born June 27, 1847, in Licking County, Ohio, and
is the son of Asahel and Annie (Phelps) Griffin.
Asahel Griffin was engaged in the manufacture of
woolen goods in Ohio, which State Is noted for its
manufacturing facilities, possessing abundant water-
power, coal, wool, timber and other raw materials.
In 1851 his establishment was entirely destroyed
by fire — his stock, notes, books and papers, all be-
ing lost, except his home. This serious interrup-
tion to the progress of his business resulted in his
emigration to Illinois.

There were no railroads at that early day, and
Asahel Griffi'u brought with him the first steam-
engine ever used in Coles County. He came via
the Ohio and Wabash Rivers, by canal to Terre
Haute and thence by ox-teams to Charleston.
With this engine he engaged in milling and carding,

LIBRARY

»f iu.ir.of8

COLES COUNTY.

501

in company with James Kennedy, Si1. His death
occurred in 1854, soon after his arrival in the
township. His wife had previously died in 1852.
They had a family of five children, four of whom
are now living: Eunice, Mrs. S. M. Thrall, a resi-
dent of Cheney, Kan. ; Charles A., a resident of
Muscatine, Iowa; Cassius A., a resident of Indiana,
and G. B., the subject of this sketch.

The home life of G. B. Griffin was broken up by the
death of both his parents, and he was thrown upon
the world to begin the battle of life, when a mere
boy. Until 1857 he found a home with his uncle,
Lemuel Griffin, and then lived with his sister, Mrs.
Quimby, until 1860. He next made his home with
R. M. Parcels, now a resident of Denver, Col.,
where he remained until 1867, and subsequently
worked in the woolen factory until 1877. His next
business venture was to purchase an interest in a
house-furnishing store in company with R. F. & G.
T. McNutt, under the firm name of McNutt,
Griffin & Co. In 1881 Mv. Griffin disposed of his
interest in the store to George N. Gage, now a resi-
dent of Tombstone, Ariz. He then purchased
of Harry Jeffries, the partner of R. F. McNutt, his
interest in the hay press, and a little later bought
out the firm. He continued this business success-
fully until 1884, when he was visited by the same
calamity which had overtaken his father in Ohio.
His establishment was destroyed by fire, over 300
tons of hay were consumed, and his machinery
lost. The loss was $4,000, $3,000 of which was
fortunately covered by insurance.

Mr. G. next purchased a half interest in the
grocery store of R. F. McNutt, under the firm name
of McNutt & Griffin, and continued the business
until 1885, in the meantime, in the spring of 1885,
commencing the hay business at Ashmore. In
July, 1885, he sold out his interest in the grocery
store to Riley Reynolds, and in the same year built
a large hay barn, located west of the stockyards in
Charleston. In 1886 he purchased the grain ele-
vator of the Gage estate, and has since run both
of his hay presses in connection with the elevator.
He is now extensively engaged in shipping hay,
his trade extending to New York, Ohio, Pennsyl-
vania, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee,

Missouri and throughout Illinois. He pays to his
employes several hundred dollars per week in
wages.

Mr. Griffin was married, in 1868, to Miss Nora
Strickland, the daughter of Robeut Strickland.
The}' have an interesting family of four children:
Ora, who is attending school in Northampton,
Mass.; Clyde, a farmer residing in Kansas; Max
and Ina, who are at home with their parents.

Mr. Griffin has passed through manj- business
vicissitudes, from boyhood, and successfully en-
countered and overcome obstacles, which, if met
with less courage and energy, might have proved
disastrous. He is a Republican in politics, and
socially belongs to the Royal Templars. With his
wife and two eldest children, he is a member of
the Presbyterian Church, of which he is an Elder.

YMAN T. YEARGIN, editor of the Oak-
land Weekly Ledger, is the son of James S.
Yeargin, Postmaster at Oakland, and was
born in Edgar County, 111., March 9, 1859. For
ten years he resided with his father's family, then,
removing to Oakland with his father, he attended
the High School, and was graduated at the age of
thirteen. He then entered the law office of his
father, where he pursued a course of study twelve
months, and in 1875_went to Ithaca, N. Y., and
entered Cornell University, from the law depart-
ment of which he was graduated when eighteen
years old. Returning to Oakland, he engaged in
the practice of his chosen profession until his father
started the Oakland Weekly Ledger, which, by hard
work, economy and strict attention to business, he
has made the leading local paper in Coles County,
and probably in Central Illinois.

At different times, Mr. Yeargin has been con-
nected with papers at Chicago, St. Louis, and other
prominent cities, and thus gained a good insight
into the methods of newspaper management. He
became connected with the Ledger editorially in
1884. He is a clear and forcible writer, a first-
class journalist, and a favorite among the newspa-
per fraternity, as well as in the social circles of
Oakland. His marriage with Miss Minnie E. Lamb,

f

502

COLES COUNTY.

of Crawfordsville, Ind., was celebrated at the home
of the bride's parents Dec. 26, 1885. Mrs. Y. is
the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ross)
Lamb, and was born in Richmond, Madison Co.,
Ky., July 4, -1867. Her great-grandfather served
under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary War,
and was on duty at the time of the surrender of
Yorktown by the British.

Mr. and Mrs. Yeargin have become the parents
of one child, Cecil Potter, born Jan. 14, 1887.
They occupy a pleasant home in the western part
of the city, and number among their warmest
friends the best people of the place. With an at-
tractive home, a well-equipped newpaper office that
is doing a good business, and the consciousness
that he has the best wishes of the community in
his efforts to assist in its progress and advance-
ment, Mr. Yeargin has reason to be contented with
his lot and hopeful for the future. As a repre-
sentative young journalist, we take pleasure in pre-
senting the portrait of Mr. Yeargin on a preceding
page.

j^ILLIAM JOHNSON, farmer and stock-
raiser, section 28, North Okaw Township,
was born, reared and educated in County
Fermanagh, Ireland. He was born March 22, 1822,
and remained there until twenty-eight years of age,
when he came to the United States.

The parents of our subject, John and Annie
(Bell) Johnson, were born and married in County
Fermanagh., and after the birth of nine children
started with their family for the United States.
Their subsequent history is briefly given in a
sketch of John Johnson, which will be found
elsewhere in this volume. William Johnson, with
his parents, after a voyage of thirteen weeks on a
sailing-vessel, landed in New York City, whence
they started after a few days for Moultrie County,
111. Circumstances, however, detained them for a
while in Peru, and our subject took a contract for
burning a kiln of lime for which he was to receive
$44. After his work was completed, however, he

was enabled to collect but $9 for his labor, on ac-
count of a worthless employer. They went on to
Moultrie County, where the father rented a tract of
land, which became his by purchase the year fol-
lowing. William, in common with his brothers, as-
sisted in the building up of the homestead, and in
February, 1851, was united in marriage with Mrs.
Nancy (Curry) Ellis. After becoming the mother
of one child, a son, whom they named John W.,
she departed this life in December, 1853. Her lit-
tle son died when three years and six months old.
The present wife of our subject, to whom he was
married April 1, 1856, was formerly Mrs. Mary J.
(Miller) Drake. She was born in Lafayette Town-
ship, this county, July 22, 1834, and is the daughter
of Robert and Mary A. (Price) Miller, natives re-
spectively of Ireland and Pennsylvania. They
were married in Ohio and emigrated to this county
in 1827, settling in Lafayette Township. Mr. Miller
entered a tract of land, and with his family endured
all the hardships and vicissitudes of pioneer life,
and was remarkably prosperous in the cultivation
of the soil, becoming in time the owner of 500
acres. The mother departed this life in April,
1846. Mr. Miller survived until March, 1862.
The remains of both were buried in Bethel Church-
yard, and they are remembered as people worthy
of the highest esteem. Their seven children were
named respectively : William, now deceased ; Peter;
Sarah; Samuel, deceased; Henry, Mary J.,and Rob-
ert, the last mentioned also deceased. After the
death of his first wife, Mr. Miller was married, in
1846, to Mrs. Elizabeth (Bates) Martin. This lady
is still living with her son, Charles Martin, in La-
fayette Township. Of her marriage with Mr. Mil-
ler there were born three children : Thomas, Rachael,
and Scott, the latter being the only one living. Her
parents were members of the Baptist Church, the
father acting as Deacon for forty years. He was a
man of great enterprise and energy, and during the
latter years of his life occupied himself largely in
the raising of live stock, and was the first man to
introduce the better grades of the domestic animals
into Coles County. He at one time owned a Chero-
kee stallion for which he paid $1,500. He pur-
chased the first Durham introduced into the county
and in various other ways was the leader in the de-

f

COLES COUNTY.

503

velopmeut of its most important interests. He
served as Justice of the Peace for several years
and was also School Director and Trustee.

The parents of our subject were active members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His house was
the home of the ministers, in which they were al-
ways made welcome. In 1858 our subject pur-
chased the land which constitutes his present home-
stead, and on which he has resided continuously for
nearly thirty years. He has for a number of years
served as School Director and Trustee. With his
excellent wife he is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, in which he has served as Stew-
ard for fifteen years and Trustee for twelve years.

The children of William and Mary J. Johnson,
seven in number, are recorded as follows : Robert,
born Jan. 22, 1857, died Aug. 11,1859; John, born
June 29, 1859, died Sept. 19, 1866; Robert M.,
born June 3, 1861, was married Aug. 14, 1883, to
Miss Ella Crumm, and has charge of his father's
farm; Anna was born March 14, 1863; Jennie,
April 4, 1865, and Franklin A., Dec. 29, 1868; an
infant daughter, born Oct. 10, 1873, died Oct. 17,
. 1873.

The first husband of Mrs. Johnson was John
Drake, a native of Kentucky, and they became the
parents of one child, a son, John T., who was born
Feb. 24, 1853, and died Oct. 28, 1858. William
Miller, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. J., was a
native of Ireland, and was married in his native
county to Miss Rachael Art. He emigrated to the
United States and settled first in Pennsylvania,
whence he removed after a few years to Ohio, tak-
ing up his abode on the Miami River, where he
spent the remainder of his days. His widow and
children afterward came to Illinois and located in
Lawrence County, where Grandmother Miller died
in 1857, aged about one hundred years. Both she
and her husband were members of the Presbyterian
Church. Their seven children were named respect-
ively, Robert, John, Rachael, Elizabeth, Thomas
Samuel and Belinda.

From 1850 until about 1865 William Johnson
and his brothers, James, Irvin, John and Frederick,
operated together on a large tract of land, being
owners of nearly 1,000 acres and engaged largelj7
iu stock-raising. Irvin was the first to withdraw

and selected for his portion the farm which he owns
on section 24. In 1882 our subject withdrew, and
was also given his choice of the land left, which he
now occupies. Since the death of James, John and
Frederick have operated together. This is a re-
markable instance of a family of brothers who
worked together harmoniously for many years, and
of whom all are living witli the exception of James,
who was accidentally killed by the explosion of a
boiler. . They have done much toward the building
up of North Okaw Township, and their names will
be long remembered after they are gathered to their
fathers.

1* RWIN W. SAIN. On section 6, in Morgan
Township, lies a good farm of 210 acres, em-
bellished with a handsome and substantial set
of buildings, including one of the finest residences
in Coles County, a view of which appears on an-
other page. The homestead forms one of the most
attractive features in the landscape, being enclosed
with neat and substantial fences, well stocked with
good grades of the domestic animals, and kept in
first-class order. The thrift and enterprise of the
proprietor, who is the subject of the following
notice, is apparent on every hand, and is a fine il-
lustration of what may be accomplished by per-
severance, industry and ample means. The main
points in his career a-e noted as follows :

Mr. Sain, a native of the Buckeye State, was born
in Hocking County, Oct. 23, 1846, and is the son
of James Q. and Lucinda (Wright) Sain, natives
respectively of Fairfield and Vinton Counties, the
same State. The paternal grandfather of our sub-
ject was Philip Sain, who passed the greater part of
his life in Ohio, where his remains were laid to rest
near the town of Mt. Pleasant. The mother de-
scended from German ancestry, but her people had
been residents of Ohio for two or three generations.
To the grandparents of our subject there were
born eleven children, one of whom died in infancy.
The others are recorded as follows : James Q., a
resident of Douglas County, this State, and a man
of good education, is living retired on a com-

504

COLES COUNTY.

petency ; Samuel continues a resident of Ohio ; Allen
deals in fine horses at Indianapolis, Ind. ; Athelinda,
who was first married to a Mr. Kitchmiller, who was
killed in battle during the late war, subsequently
married Hiram Poole, and lives in El Dorado, Kan. ;
John is farming in Indiana; Isaiah F. is a resident
of Ohio; Lemuel, of Topeka, Kan.; Caroline, David
and Harvey are in Ohio, the first mentioned the
wife of George W. Johnson.

James Sain first came to Illinois in March, 1860,
and located at Kansas Station, Edgar County, but
did not make any purchase of land until four years
later, when he bought 120 acres which were im-
proved, and which he occupied until 1866. He
sold out and rented for two years, and in 1868
purchased 2! 6 acres, including some of the choicest
land in Seven Hickory Township, where he carried
on farming until February, 1886. Then deciding
to abandon active' labor for a time, he rented his
farm for $1,150 cash per year for three years, and re-
moved with his family to Arcola, Douglas County,
where he now resides. His marriage with Miss
Lucinda Wright occurred in the spring of 1844, at
the home of the bride in Seven Hickory Township.
Mrs. Sain is the daughter of Joseph and Lovina
Wright, of Ohio, who were the parents of thirteen
children, eight now living. Of these, one is now
in Iowa, two in Illinois, and the balance on the
homestead in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Wright are de-
ceased.

James Sain and wife became the parents of eight
children: Irwin W., the eldest, is the subject of
this sketch; Milton, a farmer of Douglas County,
111., is married and has one child ; Vinton, unmar-
ried, is dealing in real estate at El Dorado, Kan.;
Homer, a farmer and stock-trader, makes his head-
quarters on the home farm ; Richard Harvey, a far-
mer of Douglas County, is married, and has two
children living and two deceased ; Lovina Ann,
the wife of Joseph Harr, is living on a farm in Da-
kota, and is the mother of five children; Caroline
is living with her parents in Arcola; Mary, a teach-
er, is still at home. The parents are enjoying good
health, and are still regular attendants of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they have
been connected for a number of years. The father
identified himself with the Republican party at its

organization, and has been a stanch adherent of its
principles since that time.

Our subject remained under the home roof until
after reaching his majority, receiving a common-
school education and becoming acquainted with the
best methods of carrying on a farm. He was am-
bitious and industrious, and began early in life to
lay his plans for the future. His marriage took
place in Seven Hickory Township. June 16, 1870,
his chosen bride being Miss Eliza Belle, daughter
of James W. and Mary (O'Hair) Frazier, who are
treated of elsewhere in this work. Her grandfather
served all through the Revolutionary War, and the
family, wherever known, were people who uni-
versally enjoyed the respect of their community.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sain there were born[five children,
as follows: Cora, born in June, 1872; Lulu, born in
September, 1874, and died in November following;
Jessie, born in August, 1876; Louisiana, in Sep-
tember. 1879, and James Walter on Christmas Day
in 1886.

About the time of his marriage Mr. Sain pur-
chased forty acres of land in Morgan Township, to
which his father added an equal amount a short
time afterward. Our subject, in 1874. increased
his landed area to 160 acres, and the following year
purchased fifty acres more, so that he now has 210
acres which he has brought to a fine state of culti-
vation. The improvements which attract the eye
of the passer-by are mostly his own, which he has
brought about by a wise investment of funds and
the supervision of the work going on around him,
trusting little to other hands. He has been engaged
largely in raising grain and broom corn, and buy-
ing large quantities of the latter, of which, during
the past seventeen years he has shipped 1,700 car-
loads. Most of this has gone to Cincinnati, where
he has a brother-in-law dealing in this commodity,
and to whom of late years he has shipped from 200
to 250 carloads a year. He has also sent large
quantities to Philadelphia and Chicago. Mr. Sain
has raised fine cattle to some extent and has twenty
head of horses.

Our subject, although having plenty of private
business to engage his attention, has served as Com-
missioner of Highways in his township, and inter-
ested himself in the welfare of the Christian Church

11

,1=

COLES COUNTY.

505

at Rural Retreat. Socially, he belongs to the I. O.
O. F. at Charleston, has also been interested in the
Grange movement in Morgan Township, and polit-
ically, affiliates with the Democratic party, with
which his mother's people were identified, while his
father was a Republican.

I

VATRICK REILLY, Master Mechanic of the
P., D. <fe E. R. R. Co.. is one of the prom-
inent citizens of Mattoon. He is the son
)J\ of Edwin and Elizabeth (Mulligan) Reilly,
and was born March 9, 1833, in County Meath,
Ireland. Edwin Reilly emigrated to America in
1835, and settled in Utica, N. Y., but not feeling
satisfied with his surroundings there, he resolved to
move farther westward with his family, and came
to Toledo, Ohio, where he found a good opening
for employment, and made that city his home for
the remainder of his life. He was an active, ener-
getic man, and endeavored to give his children the
best education which the early days afforded. He
had a family of eleven children : Patrick, Bernard,
Edward, Margaret, Kate, Elizabeth, John, William,
James and Mary; Edward, John and an infant un-
named are deceased. The elder Reilly became a
patriotic citizen of his adopted country, and in
politics always voted the Democratic ticket.

Patrick Reilly was an infant when his parents
crossed the Atlantic to make their home in a new
country. He received a practical education, and
at the age of fifteen years found employment with
the Syracuse & Utica Railroad Co. Having gained
some experience in the railroad business, he ob-
tained a position as machinist on the Illinois Cen-
tral Railroad, in Chicago, which he retained several
years. He was then general foreman for the C., B.
& Q. R. R. for a long time, and in 1880 was offered
his present position on the P., D. & E. R. R. He
has the supervision of from seventy to ninety men
in the shops, and from thirty to fifty engineers and
firemen on the railroad. He is faithful and reliable
in the discharge of his important duties, and
possesses the entire confidence of the company by
whom he is employed.

In 1854, Mr. Reilly was married to Miss Mary

Duffy, the daughter of Christopher Duffy. Mr.
and Mrs. Reilly have a family of eleven children,
whose names are as follows: Lizzie, Mary, William,
Katie. Annie, Charles, Drusilla, Nellie, Lucy,
Emily and George. Drusilla is a graduate of the
High School of Mattoon. Mary became the wife
of Frank Flemming, who is book-keeper for a mer-
cantile house in Montana, where they now reside ;
she is the mother of one daughter, named Helen.
William is storekeeper for the P., D. & E. R. R. at
Mattoon, and chief clerk for his father; he was
elected Alderman of the Third Ward by the Dem-
ocratic party, and served two years in that capacity.
Charles is a mechanic in the P., D. & E. R. R. shops
in this city.

Mr. Reilly belongs to the Masonic fraternity and
is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. He
is a man of excellent business qualifications, and a
highly respected citizen of Mattoon.

;ILLIAM SHAFER, a retired farmer living
in the village of Ashmore, was one of the
gallant soldiers who offered his life in the
defense of his country, and although spared from
death on the battle-field, has been a sufferer all his
life. He was born Jan. 25, 1826, in Jefferson
County, Ky., and is the son of Joseph F. and Eliza-
beth (Evinger) Shafer, his father born in Germany,
and his mother a native of Kentucky.

Joseph Shafer was a successful farmer, possessing
that shrewdness in financial affairs characteristic of
his nationality. He was one of the early pioneers
of the State, having come to Illinois in the year
1836. where he identified himself with the interests
of his adopted country. His wife and himself
were members of the United Brethren Church, and
were actively interested in promoting the cause of
religion on the Western frontier. His wife died in
1850 at the age of 1'orty-two. He survived her
several years, and died in Tuscola, Douglas Co.,
111. Their family comprised sixteen children, four
of whom are deceased. Their names are: John;
William, the subject of this biography ; George,
Catherine, David, Samuel, Solomon, Mary, Henry,

506

COLES COUNTY.

Lewis, Alexander, Sarah, Nancy, Henry, and two
who died in infancy.

December 20, 1848, William Shafer was united
in marriage to Miss Catherine Skinner, by Rev.
William Brown, pastor of the United Brethren
Church at Westfield, Clark Co., 111. His wife was
born in Canada, July 6, 1824. Her family came to
the States when she was a child, and first located in
Indiana, where her father died. After the death of
Mr. Skinner, his widow came to Illinois with her
family of seven children, where her death occurred
in 1866. The names of her children are: Mary
S., Joseph, John, Sarah, Catherine, Lev! and Adam.

Mrs. Shafer is a lady of unusual mental ability
and force of character. She has reared a family of
eight children, in the training and education of
whom she has been obliged to some extent to take
the part of both father and mother, as her husband
has the misfortune to be totally blind, his eye-
sight having been permanently injured during his
service in the Civil War. The record of their chil-
dren is as follows: John, born Nov. 30, 1849.
married Miss Alice Holladay ; William, born Sept.
4, 1851, married Miss Mary Roberts: Hannah E..
born Nov. 24, 1853, married William King;
Joseph A., born Dec. 21, 1855, married Josephine
Roberts; Martha, born Nov. 23, 1858; Henry, born
April 13, 1860, married Susan Wilkins; Winfield
S., born July 19, 1862, died April 29, 1882; Elmer
E., born July 8, 1866.

On the breaking out of the Civil War, Mr.
Shafer enlisted, Aug. 1, 1862, in Co. F, 123d 111.
Vol. Inf., and was mustered in at Mattoon, 111.
He was encamped there about six weeks before
marching to the front, and thence was ordered to
Kentucky. He was engaged in the battle of
Hoover's Gap, after which his eyes began to
trouble him so severety that he was ordered to the
rear and sont to Chicago, where he remained in the
hospital from July 1, 1863, to March 6, 1865, when
he returned home. His .eyesight was finally lost
beyond the power of restoration, and this affliction
has, in a measure, unfitted him for the duties of
life. Besides his pleasant home in the village he
owns a farm of eighty-seven acres, which is in a
line state of cultivation.

Mr. and Mrs. Shafer are actively interested mem-

bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr.
Shafer is a man of much intelligence and influence
in the township, notwithstanding his affliction. In
politics he is a stanch Republican.

L. MAJOR, dealer in grain, including
corn, wheat and oats, for a Peoria firm,
Tyng, Hall & Co., is doing a flourishing
business at Mattoon, located near the P., D. & E.
R. R. track, where he has operated since 1 882, and
has become an important factor in the business
interests of the village. He is a fine illustration of
the self-made man, who has thus far in life paddled
his own canoe and deserves great credit for his in-
dustry and enterprise.

Mr. Major was born in Davis County, Ind.,
April 24, 1849, and is the son of John A. and
Mary J. (McAdams) Major, the former a native of
Indiana and the latter of Ohio. John Major
followed farming during his early manhood, and
for a year operated on the other side of the Mis-
sissippi in Keokuk County, Iowa, Not quite satis-
fied with his experiences in the Hawkeye State, he-
returned to Indiana and resuming his farming there,
remained until 1868. He then became a resident
of Lafayette Township, this county, and engaged
in fanning until 1870, then retired to the village
and spent the balance of his life in the ease and
comfort which he had so justly earned by a life of
industry. He departed from the scenes of his
earthly labors in 1875, leaving a wife and eight
children. These were India, Mrs. Craycraft, of
Mattoon; William L., of our sketch; Alice; Male,
who is clerking in the dry-goods store of George
N. Bucks at Mattoon ; John S. and Jennie, twins.
The former married Miss Cora Hughes, and is a
resident of Chicago, engaged as a messenger with
the American Express Company ; he and his wife
are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Jennie became the wife of George Gibler. of
Mattoon. The two youngest children are Mattie
and Grace. John Major was a member of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but the wife and
mother belongs to the Congregational Church.
Mr. Major spent his early years on his father's

COLES COUNTY.

507

farm, receiving the advantages of a common-school
education. After reaching his majority he went
into Kansas and farmed one year, then returning
to Mattoon, engaged in the corn-meal mill of I. <fe
D. D. James, with whom he remained about five
years. He then engaged on the railroad as car
builder one year, and established his present busi-
ness in 1881. He gives employment to from four
to eight men.

While a resident of Moultrie County Mr. Major
was married, in the spring of 1885, to Miss Allie
McCaig, of Sullivan, that county. Mrs. Major is the
daughter of William McCaig, a native of Ohio,
and by her union with our subject has become the
mother of one child, a daughter, Ruth. Their
residence is pleasantly located on Wabash street,
and is the resort of many friends. Mr. M. and his
wife are worthy members of the Congregational
Church, and politically, our subject is ajstanch
supporter of the Republican party. He became
connected with the Knights and Ladies of Honor
in 1882.

fl B. GRAY, whose name is well known among
1 the leading citizens of Coles County, has
retired from active business, and is spend-
ing the closing years of a long life of use-
fulness at his home in Charleston. He was born
April 7, 1816, in Greene County Pa., and is the son
of John and Rhoda (Bane) Gray, natives of Penn-
sylvania. His great-grandfather was a native of
Ireland, who emigrated to this country at a very
early day. and settled in Maryland. His grand-
father, Judge David Gray, was born in that State.
Early in life, David Gray removed to Pennsylvania,
where he entered an extensive tract of land in
Rich Hill Township, Greene County, and as soon as
the land came into market, he purchased this claim,
which made four large farms. In 1 832, his son
John removed to Athens County, Ohio, a leading
agricultural State, and at that period considered
the Far West. He passed the remaining years of
his life there engaged in farming, and was a man
of influence in the community, interested in pro-
moting all measures calculated to benefit the county.
He was a Republican in politics, and both himself

and his wife were prominent members of the
Presbyterian Church. A family of nine children
was born to them, five of whom are now living.
Their record is as follows: Sarah, the wife of
Francis Braddock, a Presbyterian clergyman; Jesse
B., Isaac P., John and George.

Jesse B. Gray lived at the homestead until he
was twenty-ope years of age, where he acquired
much practical experience in the details of system-
atic farming, and received a good common-school
education. He remained on the homestead en-
gaged in farming until 1865. He then disposed
of his property there and came to Illinois, whose
resources as an agricultural State were being
rapidly developed. He bought a tract of land con-
taining 240 acres in Seven Hickory Township, this
county, and was successfully engaged in farming
there until 1884, when he retired from business and
purchased his present residence in Charleston.

In 1847, Mr. Gray was married to Miss Sarah
Vorhees. Mrs. Gray was a native of Athens
County, Ohio, and the daughter of Peter Vorhees.
A family of six children was born to them, whose
record is as follows : Frank, a resident of Homer,
Champaign County, married Miss Mary Whaley,
and has a family of four children — Eva, John, Fred
and Queeney ; Rhoda, Mrs. Kerr, of Nebraska, has a
family of four children — Harry, Glen, Jesse and
Elsie; Ruth, Mrs. McNutt, is a resident of Seven
Hickory Township and has a family of three children
— Fred, Clifford and Cleta; Almira, Mrs. J. Ash-
brook, is a resident of Seven Hickory Township,
and has two children — Earl and Claud ; Sarah, Mrs.
Martin McConnell, is a resident of Charleston, and
George, single and at home.

In 1883 the family circle was broken by the
death of Mrs. Gray. The beloved wife and de-
voted mother was removed from the companion-
ship of those whose joys and sorrows she had
shared for so many years, but only to await the
home-coming of her loved ones, where parting
shall be no more. Mrs. Gray was a sincere and
earnest Christian, and had been for many years a
member of the Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Gray is a Republican in politics. He served
as School Director and Commissioner during his res-
idence in Seven Hickory Township, discharging his

508

COLES COUNTY.

public duties faithfully, and to the satisfaction of
the community. He became a member of the
Presbyterian Church at the age of seventeen, and
throughout a long life has honored and served the
Master, winning what is of more value than the-
most brilliant earthly success, the Divine approval.

,OL. R. H. McFADDEN, Justice of the
Peace, and solicitor of military claims at
No. 9 West Broadway, is one of the promi-
nent citizens of Mattoon. He was born Sept. 13,
1833, in Zanesville, Ohio, and is the son-of Robert
and Nancy (Barrett) McFadden, the former a na-
tive of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Culpeper
County. Va. Their marriage took place in Ohio,
where Mr. McFadden was occupied as a cabinet-
maker until 1853, when he emigrated to Illinois,
first locating in Shelby County. After remaining
there eighteen months, he came to Paradise, Coles
County, and in 1855 moved to Mattoon. He there
carried on a successful business in cabinet-making,
in which he was occupied most of the time until
his death, which occurred in 1880 at Dayton, Ohio.
His bereaved widow survived him only two years,
and died in 1882 at Mattoon. They had a family
of six children, five of whom are now living. Their
names are as follows : William W., a resident of
Mt. Victory, Ohio; Eliza, the wife of Mr. Clark, a
resident of Fulton County, III. ; Ann M., the wife
of Mr. Rutherford, a resident of this county; R.
H., the subject of this sketch, and David H., a res-
ident of Lamed.

Hugh McFadden, the paternal grandfather of
our subject, was a native of the North of Ireland,
and came to America at an early day, settling in
Carlisle, Pa. He was a skillful mechanic, and
worked at his trade there until 1818, when he re-
moved to Ohio, and there passed the remainder of
his life. His wife, who was a native of Wales, died
in 1846, and his own death occurred five years
later, in 1851. They had a family of six children,
of whom Robert was the youngest. Our subject's
maternal grandparents were Thomas and Nancy
(Thornton) Barrett, natives of Culpeper County,
Va. Mr. Barrett was a farmer in that State, and

subsequently removed with his family to Belmont
County, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming
until his death, which resulted from an accident in
1833. While riding, his horse stumbled and fell
upon him, crushing him so severely that he died in
a few days. His widow survived him many years,
and died in 1852. They had a family of fifteen
children, of whom Nancy was the youngest.

Young McFadden attended school until he was
thirteen years of age, when he began to work with
his father in the shop at the trade of cabinet-mak-
ing. He remained there until he was sixteen years
of age, and then came to Shelby County, 111., where

! he was engaged in cabinet-making about four
years. In 1853 .he moved to Paradise, Coles
County, and after passing two years there, changed
his location to Mattoon, where he worked at the
carpenter's trade until 1860. He then made an-
other change, and engaged in the livery business
until the spring of 1861. He then responded to
the call of his country, and enlisted as Second

! Lieutenant in Co. B, 7th 111. Vol. Inf., for three

| months. At the expiration of that time, he re-en-
listed in Co. D, 41st 111. Vol. Inf., as First Lieu-
tenant, and served in that position until Feb. 15,
1862, when he was promoted to the rank of Cap-
tain for his gallant conduct at the siege of Ft. Don-
elson, which was carried on during one of the
wildest storms of a severe winter. The gunboats
were ordered to shell the fort in front, while the
command marched to the rear, through sleet and
rain and cold of .such intensity that the hands and
feet of many of the soldiers were frozen. The sleet
fell heavily day and night, throughout the siege,
and the troops were entirely unprotected from the
fury of the storm. They were so near the fortifi-
cations that no fires could be lighted to warm
themselves by, and they had no food except the
cold cooked rations in their haversacks.

July 12. 1863, Capt. McFadden was promoted
to the rank of Major of the regiment, and served
iii that position until Dec. 23, 1864, when he was
made Lieutenant Colonel of the 53d Illinois Infan-

! try. July 14, 1865, he was promoted to the rank
of Colonel of that regiment, and during the latter
part of the same month they were mustered out of
service at Louisville, Ky., and discharged at Chi-

t

t

COLES COUNTY. 509

cago, 111. Col. McFadden was a brave and effi-
cient officer throughout his entire military career,
and passed through some of the hottest charges of
the enemy, receiving only a slight wound at the
siege of Ft. Donelson. After his return home, he
took a position as clerk in a dry-goods house one
year, and then worked at the trade of cabinet-mak-
ing until 1872. He was then elected Police Mag-
istrate and retained the position eight years, since
which time he has been Justice of the Peace for
the township. In 1871, he served one term as
Mayor of the city. He has been a member of the
Board of Education, Alderman, .School Director,
and served 'in several local offices.

In 1855, our subject was married to Miss Sarah
A. Norvell. She is the daughter of Grief and
Mary (Woods) Norvell, nativ.es of Kentucky. Col.
and Mrs. McFadden have a family of four chil-
dren, whose record is as follows: Mae I., the wife
of Mr. Godfry, a resident of Indianapolis, is the
mother of two children — Ruth M. and Nora; John
A. is a resident of Peoria, 111. ; Lizzie M. became
the wife of Mr. Lawrence M. McNair, of this city,
and is the mother of one child, Zillah ; her husband
died in September, 1886, while in Chicago; Eddie
is engaged in the jewelry business in this city.
Col. McFadden is a Republican in politics, a mem-
ber of the G. A. R., and the K. of H.

JOSEPH H. WATKINS is a prosperous far-
mer residing on section 5, Seven Hickory
Township, nine miles northwest of Charles-
1 ton. He was born March 1, 1828, in County
Wexford, Ireland. His father was also a native of
the same county, although the family came from
Wales. His mother., Margaretta Jackaberry, was
likewise a native of Ireland, but of Danish descent,
her family having come from Denmark to Ireland
at the time of the Revolution. Their family con-
sisted of eight children, six of whom are noiv liv-
ing: Thomas and Willie, deceased; John W. ;
Rebecca, the widow of James Steele ; Joseph H., the
subject of this sketch; Edward; Essie, Mrs. William
Powell, resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Hattie G.,
the wife of Andrew Porter, also resides in Cincin-

nati; all of the family were born in Ireland. His
parents died in their native country, the father in
1840, and the mother in 1848.

Joseph Watkins' marriage took place in his na-
tive county, and soon after, in the winter of 1850,
with his wife and his younger brother, Edward, he
sailed for the United States, seeking to build a
home and fortune for himself in this land of free-
dom, which offers, so many privileges for advance-
ment in life, to people of all nationalities. They
landed at New Orleans, Jan 22, 1851, and from
there went to Butler County, Ohio, where Mr.
Watkins found employment during the summer on
a farm, and in the winter operated an engine. In
the autumn of 1854, before the cold weather came
on, he removed to Coles County, 111., and engaged
in farming on rented land, near Charleston. He
remained there until August, 1862. when he en-
listed in Co. K, 1 23d 111. Mtd. Inf. After he had
been in the service a few months, he was stricken
down with a malignant form of typhoid fever,
and was sent to the hospital at Louisville, Ky.
The disease made such serious inroads upon his
health that he never recovered sufficiently to join
his regiment, and in March, 1863, was mustered
out of service at Gallatin, Tenu., on account of
disability. For five years he was a cripple and for
two years was confined to his bed by sciatic rheu-
matism, resulting from the attack of typhoid fever
from which he had suffered while in the army, and
which had settled in his hip. During his absence
i and long illness his wife and children bravely took
I up the burdens of life, and carried on the farm
quite successfully.

Mrs. Joseph Watkins died April 11, 18G4, leav-
ing a family of five children. William, the eldest,
was born in Ireland; he married Miss Marietta
Weaver, of Coles County, 111., and in December,
1863, left his home and business to engage in the
service of his adopted country. Soon after his en-
listment he was attacked with measles, which is
always a serious malady when occurring in adult
life, and especially so under the unfavorable en-
vironments of the camp. His health was never
restored to its former vigor, but he remained with
his regiment and took part in several battles. He
was mustered out in June, 1865. After his return

I

510

COLES COUNTY.

home he resumed farming, and passed the remain-
der of his life in this county, his death occurring
Feb. 14, 1881. Margaretta was born in Ireland,
and became the wife of Daniel B. Miller, who
resides in Clark County, 111.; Mr. and Mrs. Miller
have a family of six children. Robert K. was born
in Butler County, Ohio, and is now living in Min-
nesota; John W., also born in_But)er County, Ohio,
is married and resides in this county, and is the
father of one child ; Allen J. was born in Coles
County, where he now resides; he is married and
has a family of two children.

In the autumn of 1864, Mr. Walking was married
to Mrs. Martha Downey, of Westfield, Clark Co.,
111. After a happy married life of ten years, Mrs.
Watkins died in the spring of 1874. In June of
Ihe following year, Mr. Watkins married Miss
Eliza M. Carr, of Coles County. Two children
were born to them — Essie L. and Emma; the
former born May 14, 1876, and the latter March'
26, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Watkins are members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Mr. Watkins has acquired his property by in-
dustry and enterprise. On coming to this county,
his possessions consisted of $300 in money and a
team. In 1866 he purchased 120 acres of his
present homestead, a view of which is given else-
where in this volume, and as he was prospered in
business, added to his estate. He now owns 240
acres of valuable land, all of which is under good
cultivation. He is a patriotic citizen of his
adopted country, and in politics, is a member of
the Republican party.

WILLIAM WILLIAMS, one of the pioneers
of Coles County, is a retired farmer, resid-
ing on section 6 (11, 10), Hutton Town-
ship. He is Ihe son of Norris and Elizabeth (Mil-
ler) Williams, and was born Feb. 21, 1815, in
Breckinridge County, Ky. Norris Williams was a
native of Pennsylvania. He passed his early life
at the homestead there, and soon after his marriage
to Miss Elizabeth Miller, who was also a native of
that State, he removed with his young wife to Ken-
tucky, and was one of the early settlers of Breck-

inridge County, where he purchased land and was
successfully engaged in farming for many years.
and where his death occurred March 21, 1847.
Their family consisted of nine children: Delilah,
born in 1809, is the wife of It. Harley, and resides
in Breckinridge County, Ky. ; Mahala was the wife
of Enoch Waltrip, and both died leaving a family
of four children; Susan was married to John Wal-
trip, and both are also deceased, leaving a family
of three children; William, the subject of this
•sketch; Harrison, deceased, married Miss Lucinda
Hall, and one child of their family is now living;
Mealy, the widow of Hiram Nugent, has a family
of nine children and resides in Kentucky; Annie,
deceased ; Finis married Delilah Tucker, and both
died, leaving a family of seven children; John
married Miss Hannah Scott, who died leaving two
children.

William Williams remained at the homestead in
Kentucky until the autumn of 1836, when he came
to Coles County, 111. Although the country was
little more than a wilderness at that time, the suc-
cessful close of the Black Hawk War was already
attracting many settlers from the East, and there
were many indications apparent of the future pros-
perity of the State. Mr. Williams entered forty
acres in Hutton Township and purchased thirty-
nine more, where he has since resided. He cleared
and improved his land, and has brought it to a high
state of cultivation; it is well tiled, and his resi-
dence and farm buildings are excellent and well ap-
pointed. June 8, 1837, the year following his set-
tlement in this county, Mr. Williams was married
to Miss Mary A. Waltrip. Mrs. Williams was the
daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Waltrip, and
was born Dec. 11, 1822. After sharing the trials
and hardships of pioneer life with her husband for
twenty years, assisting him in building up their
home on the Western frontier by her housewifely
skill and good judgment, her death occurred Dec.
26, 1857.

July 15 of the following year, Mr. William Will-
iams married Miss Cassandra Baker. Mrs. Williams
i is the daughter of Abel and Isabelle (Endsley)
: Baker, and was born Sept. 5, 1837, in Coshocton
County, Ohio. Abel Baker, a native of the same
i place as his daughter, was born Nov. 20, 1810.

t.

COLES COUNTY.

511 t k

After his marriage he remained there for several
years engaged in farming, and in the autumn of
1848, he made the long and toilsome overland
journey to Illinois with his family, and on his arri-
val, entered forty acres of land in Hutton Town-
ship, Coles County, three-quarters of a mile north-
east of Salisbury. He subsequently purchased forty
acres in the same locality, and made his home here
about thirty years. Desiring to retire from active
business, he then sold his property and purchased
a home with two acres of land, in the village of
Stringtovvn, Hutton Township, and here passed the
closing years of his life. His wife died Feb. 16,
1879, and after surviving her a few years his death
occurred Jan. 12, 1885. Both are buried in Giffln
Cemetery. Mrs. Baker was a highly esteemed mem-
ber of the Presbyterian Church, and their family
consisted of nine children — Aaron, Cassandra,
Basil, Andrew, Nancy J., Sarah E., James, Isabelle
and Mary A. Aaron and James both died in child-
hood.

Mr. Williams, having had no children of his own, |
adopted a boy named Thomas N. Smith, whom he |
brought up and provided with the means to start
in life for himself. Mr. Smith married Miss Dilly
Garrison, and now rents the homestead of Mr.
Williams and carries on the farm, the latter having
desired to retire from the cares of active business.
Mr. Williams, with his wife, is a member of the Bap-
tist Church. In politics he is a Republican.

A lithographic view of Mr. Williams' handsome
farm residence and out-buildings is given on an-
other page.

-/ILLIAM A. PHILHOWER, general mer-
chant of Mattoon, dealing in groceries,
tinware and notions, and located in a com-
modious store building on South B street, enjoys
the patronage of the best people of his township,
and the respect and confidence of a host of friends.
The first representatives of the Philhowcr family
in America, were Adam, the great-great-grandfather
of our subject, and his brother, natives of Germany,
who ran away from home in about 1745, and sailed
for the United States. Adam settled in New
Jersey, where he married, and subsequently with

his son John, then a youth of eighteen, served seven
years in. the Revolutionary War under the imme-
diate command of Gen. Washington. During the
entire period of his service he never received the
slightest wound. After the independence of the
Colonies was established Adam Philhower returned
to New Jersey, where he spent the remainder of his
life. His son Jacob emigrated to Clermont Count}-,
Ohio, in 1815, accompanied by his wife and eight
children. He engaged in farming and died there.
Among his sons was William, the grandfather of
our subject, who made the journey to Ohio with his
parents, and passed his early life on his father's
farm, assisting in the labors around the homestead,
and being fairly educated in the common schools.
He was born April 16, 1811, and in 1830 was mar-
ried in Ohio, where he continued to reside, owning
100 acres of land which he industriously cultivated,
and also rented additional land upon which to
operate. In 1854, he disposed of his possessions in
the Buckeye State, and removing with his family
to Richmond County, 111., purchased 475 acres of
land, and continued there until the spring of 1856,
when he returned to Ohio on a visit and died at the
old homestead among the friends of his youth. His
widow survived him a number of years, her death
occurring April 18, 1882.

Of the fourteen children included in the grand-
father's household, ten lived to mature years, and
eight are now living, recorded as follows: Paulina
is the wife of a Mr. Finn, of Richmond County, 111. ;
Eliza, Mrs. Mickey, lives in Gibson County, Ind.,
Sarah J., Mrs. Baldwin, is a resident of Greene
County, Mo. ; A. W. is one of the prominent busi-
ness men of Mattoon ; Mary A., Mrs. Turney, of
Clinton County, Ohio; Catherine, Mrs. Clark, of
Gibson County, Ind.; Jacob W., residing in Shelby
County, this State, and Dewey M. of Pekin, 111.

Among the sons was Ira B., the father of our
subject, who spent his childhood and youth in his
native State, and after reaching manhood married
Miss Adelina Smith, a native of Clermont County,
Ohio, who became the mother of our subject. At
an early day he came to Gallatin Count}', this State,
and engaged in business as a dry -goods merchant.
He remained one year, and then removed to
Richland County, continuing the same business

1

512

COLES COUNTY.

until 1860, when he removed to Marion, and be-
came Station Agent of the railroad four years.
Afterward he returned to Richland County, and
for four years engaged in operating a flouring-inill.
Then selling out he engaged once more in merchan-
dising, locating in the town of Noble, where he con-
tinued until his death, in 1885. The three chil-
dren of the parental household were William A. of
our sketch ; Mary V., Mrs. C. Palmer, and Maggie,
at home. Ira B. Philhower was a man of much
force of character, and politically, a stanch Repub-
lican. He held the office of School Director, was a
member of the Village Board, and for many years
connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The subject of this biography was born in Rich-
land County, 111., Nov. 5, 1857. As soon as old
enough he was placed in school, and when not oc-
cupied with his studies, spent his time mostly in
his father's store, where he gained a good insight
into the general methods of transacting business.
He remained under the parental roof until after
passing his twenty- fifth year, and then coming to
Mattoon established his present business, in which
he has since engaged with excellent results. He has
been joined by his mother and sister, and the three
live together in a snug home. Like his father be-
fore him he uniformly votes the Republican ticket,
and takes an intelligent interest in current events,
being especially interested in the movements of the.
Knights of Labor, with which he became identified
soon after their organization.

\

S J. BULL is a prominent farmer of
Ashrnore Township, located on section 12,
and one of the leading men of the county.
He is the son of Henry and Jane (Simpson) Bull,
and was born March 25, 1837, in Edgar County,
111. His family is of English descent, his ancestors
having been among the early settlers of Virginia.
They located in the northeast part of Virginia, and
the stream known as Bull Run derived its name
from their family. The stream forms the boundary
between Fairfax and Prince William Counties, un-
til it enters the Occoquan River fourteen miles from
its mouth. It has been made memorable in history

by the two disastrous battles which were fought
there during the Civil War, the first on July 21,
1861, and the last Aug. -29 and 30, 1862.

This branch of the family had emigrated to Ohio
in the early days, where Henry Bull was born in
1809. He is now living in this State. His wife
was born in 1807, and her death occurred in No-
vember, 1855. She was a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, but her husband is a Presbyterian.
The names of their children are as follows : Thomas
J., William H., James M., Franklin R. and Mary E.
Thomas J. and James are the only members of the
family now living. Mr. Bull came to V,his county
Jan. 16, 1866, soon after the close of the Civil War.
in which he had an honorable career. In Sep-
tember, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. C, 5th
Iowa Vol. Cav., and served four years. He was
first promoted Seventh Corporal, and then First
Duty Sergeant, and took part in the sieges of
Atlanta and Nashville, passing through the entire
war unscathed by either wounds or disease.

Thomas J. Bull was united in marriage with Miss
Isabella Olmsted, Jan. 16, 1866. She was born in
1844, and is the daughter of John T. and Mary
(Sutherland) Olmsted, natives of Virginia, and
both now deceased. Her father was a man of great
wealth, and before his death made a generous set-
tlement upon each of his children. Mr. Olmsted
had been twice married. The names of the chil-
dren by his first marriage are as follows: Emily,
Mrs. Brown, died in October, 1886; Harvey married
Miss Graham, and Elizabeth married Dr. Steele.
The following are the names of the children by the
second marriage : Jane, deceased, formerly the wife
of William Fisher; Melissa, Mrs. Thomas Stoddard ;
Charles married Miss Margaret Tuttle; Bird mar-
ried Caudasy Wilson ; George married Mary Fleet-
wood ; Ann married a Mr. Shoot ; John died at the
age of seventeen; William, deceased; and Isabella.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bull have a family of five
children — Minnie R., Nellie M., Henry D., Molly L.
and Blanche I.

Mr. Bull has a fine estate comprising 240 acres of
valuable land, on which in 1875 he erected one of
the most elegant and substantial brick residences in
the township, a view of which appears on another
page of this work. He has inherited the Eii-

COLES COUNTY.

513

glish love for fine blooded stock and has built a
commodious barn, 34 x 60 feet, with eighteen-feet
posts, with all the necessary appointments, espec-
ially for the accomodation of his horses and cattle.
He owns a stallion of Clydesdale blood, and his
breeds of cattle and sheep are among the finest in
the county.

Thomas Bull's mother was a widow when she
married Henry Bull. Her first husband was Mr.
Jarvis, by whom she had five children, whose record
is as follows: G. M. Jarvis is a resident of Chicago,
where he has a wholesale store for the sale of Califor-
nia wines, at No. 39 North State street; John W.
is a resident of California, where he has a large
vineyard, and has been for a number of 3'ears suc-
cessfully engaged in raising grapes for the market,
and in the manufacture of wines; in the year 1886
he sold forty tons of grapes, and manufactuerd
41,000 gallons of wine, all of which was produced
from a vineyard of thirty acres; Margaret, now
Mrs. Moses, is also a resident of California, and
there were two children who died in infancy.

Mr. Bull is a man whose business and social
qualifications have gained for him a large circle of
friends. He is a member of the Old-School Presby-
terian Church, and for the last seven years has been
one of its Elders. He is a member of the G. A. R.
Post, at Charleston, and ardently sustains the Re-
publican party in politics.

AVID SANDERS, a prominent citizen of
Hutton Township, is an extensive farmer
and stock-dealer, residing on section 19
(11, 10). He is the son of David and
Susana (Wakefield) Sanders, and was born Jan. 15,
1836, in Seneca County, N. Y. His grandfather,
Henry Sanders, was a native of Holland, and left
his native country when a boy to seek his home
and fortune in the Western World. He made the
voyage across the Atlantic in a sailing-vessel, and
after a long and tempestuous voyage landed in
New York. After passing through many advent-
ures and vicissitudes, 'he made his permanent home
in Oneida County, N. Y., where his marriage to
Miss Farnsvvorth took place. With the thrift and

energy characteristic of his nationality, he engaged
in farming and carried on a successful business.
With his wife he reared a large family of children,
and lived to a good old age.

David Sanders, Sr., was born Aug. 1, 1810, in
Oneida County, N. Y. He received a good com-
mon-school education in his boyhood, and remained
on the homestead with his parents until his mar-
riage. He then began business for himself, and
was for a number of years employed in public
works. Subsequently he removed to Steuben
County, N'. Y., and was engaged in farming there
for about twelve 3'ears. He then determined to
emigrate West, and in the autumn of 1848 re-
moved to Portage County^ Wis., and entered 160
acres of wild land there. He cleared and improved
his farm and built a comfortable house, which in-
creased the value of his property, and when a good
opportunity offered sold out and again purchased,
and at one time owned 1,100 acres of land in that
count3'. His prosperity in business, however, was
clouded by the death of his wife who did not sur-
vive their removal to Wisconsin manj' years, dy-
ing in August, 1851.

The parental family consisted of eleven children:
Washington, born Sept. 13, 1830, married Miss
Mary A. St. Clair, who died leaving eight chil-
dren; he subsequently married again, and is now
living in Nebraska; Mary W., born June 28, 1833,
became the wife of Oliver Richmond, and her hus-
band dying, she afterward became the wife of Sam-
uel Post, and resides in Wisconsin; Elizabeth, born
Sept. 27, 1834, was the wife of R. M. Welsh, now
deceased; he left a family of five children. David,
the subject of this sketch ; Susana, born Nov. 1 4,
1837, is the wife of Harrison Miller, and resides in
Meeker County, Minn.; W. M., born Aug. 12,
1839, married Miss Mary Huttoii, who died leav-
ing a family of five children; for his second wife
he married Milly Johnson, and resides in Kansas.
Jackson, born June 28, 1841, married Miss Ruby
Johnson, and both are deceased; Stephen, born
March 25, 1843, married Miss Sarah Cutwright,
and resides in Southern Kansas; Cbauncy, born
July 6, 1845, is married, and resides in Minnesota;
Annie, born Aug. 6, 1847, is the wife of Stewart
Warren, also a resident of Minnesota, and Emma,

:l

. , 514

COLES COUNTY.

deceased, born July 22, 1849; her death occurred
soon after her marriage to Mr. Curtis. In July,
1856, Mr. Sanders married Miss Marinda Hart.
Mrs. Sanders was horn Sept. 19, 1806, in Oneida
County, N. Y., and died Feb. 20, 1885, having sur-
vived her husband three years; Mr. Sanders died
March 1 6, 1 882. With his wife, he was a promi-
nent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and was also a member of the Masonic fraternity
for forty years.

David Sanders lived with his parents until the
death of his mother, which occurred when he was
about sixteen years of age. Prior to this he had
only opportunity for the acquisition of a very lim-
ited education, and he then passed a few years at
the home of his married sister, and while there was
engaged in assisting in the farm labor. With his
brother-in-law, R. M. Welsh, he subsequently went
to the pineries, where he was employed one year
as a wage-worker by the month, and afterward
worked two years at hauling and shipping lumber
on the river. April 18, 1859, he started down the
river in charge of a raft, and while tying up at
Stevens' Point was caught in the cable, receiving
severe injuries, which resulted in laying him up for
abouta month. After his recovery from thisaccident
he returned to his post, and took charge of another
fleet, and on this occasion landed safely with his
lumber at Galena. Having had sufficient experi-
ence in that line of business he then left the river,
came to Coles County, 111., and engaged in farm-
ing in Mutton Township. Here he met his future
wife, Miss Sarah Lemtng, and their marriage took
place Aug. 12, 1860. Mrs. Sanders was the daugh-
ter of Nicholas and Judith (McGahan) Leming,
and was born Sept. 14, 1841, on the homestead
where she now lives. Nicholas Leming was born
April 25, 1791, in New Jersey, near Long Branch,
and his wife, June 25, 1806, in Pennsylvania, near
Philadelphia. They were married Dec. 24, 1835,
and had a family of three children : Elizabeth J.,
born Dec. 11, 1839; Sarah, and one who died in
infancy.

After his marriage Mr. Sanders had the manage-
ment of his father-in-law's farm for about fifteen
years. In the meantime he was prospered in busi-
ness, and had purchased a large tract of laud con-

taining 115 acres, in Cumberland County. He then
moved to this place, and after spending three years
there returned to his father-in-law's estate, which
in 1879 was transferred to him by deed. A few
years after this his father-in-law died, Feb. 3, 1883,
at the homestead, having survived his wife many
years. Her death occurred April 4, 1862.

Mr. and Mrs. Sanders had two sons — Nicholas
C., born Aug. 23, 1861, and George C., Oct. 29,
1864. Nicholas was married, Jan. 10, 1886, to
Miss Flora Lawyer; he is associated with his father
in business, and resides at the homestead, where a
beautiful grandchild is now the light of the house
and general manager of the family. George was
married, March 8, 1883, to Miss Lucretia Smith,
and resides in Dickinson County, Kan.

Mr. Sanders' estate is all well improved, and half
of it is supplied with tiling. In 1881 he erected a
substantial brick residence, and in 1886 a commodi-
ous and well-appointed barn. He deals quite ex-
tensively in cattle, buying, feeding and selling
them mostly at home. He is interested in educa-
tional affairs, and has served as School Director for
a number of years. With his wife Mr. Sanders is
a member of the Separate Baptist Church. He is a
member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to
Hutton Lodge No. 698, of Diona. In politics he
is a Democrat. A lithographic view of Mr. San-
ders' handsome residence appears on another page
of this ALBUM.

J. BRUNER, well known as a prominent
builder and contractor of Mattoon, has re-
Ji\ tired from active business and resides at
his home on Edgar street, in the enjoy-
ment of the ease and prosperity won by years of
toil and close application to business. He was born
May 9, 1830, in Breckinridge County, Ky., and is
the son of Abraham and Nancy (Penick) Brunei-,
the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of
Virginia. His grandfather, John Brunei1, was born
in Germany, and emigrated to the United States
when a young man. He was a farmer and distiller
in Kentucky, and became one of the early settlers
of Indiana, where he was successfully engaged in

T

COLES COUNTY.

515

farming. His wife was likewise a native of Ger-
many, whose family had emigrated to this country
at an early day. They had a family of seven chil-
dren, all of whom are now deceased, with one ex-
ception, Samuel Brunei1, a resident of Indiana.

Abraham Bruner passed his life in his native
State, of which he was a substantial and worthy
citizen. He was ever deeply interested in promot-
ing the moral and religious welfare of the commun-
ity where he resided. With his wife, he was a mem-
ber of the Methodist Church, in which both were
earnest workers. Fie was a strong advocate of the
temperance cause, and took an active part in all
measures tending to increase the educational ad-
vantages in his county. In politics he was a Jack-
sonian Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Bruner had a
family of ten children, eight of whom are now liv-
ing— Jefferson, Henry, Andrew, Martha, Elizabeth,
Lucinda, William and Abraham.

A. J. Bruner passed his childhood and youth on
his father's farm in Kentucky, and his marriage to
Miss Margaret E. Obannon took place there in
1851. Mrs. Bruner is the daughter of Rev. George
and Jane (Lewis) Qbannon, the former a native of
Kentucky and the latter of Virginia. Rev. George
Obannon came to Mattoon in 1858, where he re-
ceived the pastorate of the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church. He was of Scotch descent, and was
born in Woodford County, Ky., Oct. 1, 1800. His
wife was born Oct. 25, 1804, in Virginia, and is of
English parentage. Mr. Obannon died July 10,
1887, and his widow still makes her home in Mat-
toon. The following are the names of their chil-
dren now living — Margaret, Marion, William, Os-
car, Daniel and Taylor.

Shortly after his marriage, Mr. Bruner leased a
hotel in Caster. Breckinridge Co., Ky.. of which he
became the proprietor, and after a trial of four
months purchased it, with the design of carrying on
that business. He changed his plans, however, at
the close of the year, sold out his property, and
moved to Louisville. He commenced mercantile
business there, but after a few months sold out
again and returned to his former home. He then
opened a dry-goods house, which he carried on
about two years, and then sold out his stock and in-
vested in a wharf-boat.. Within 'a few months his

boat was lost in a severe storm, which disaster ter-
minated that enterprise. In 1859 he went to Louis-
ville, and thence in the same year, came to Illinois,
where he settled in Mattoon and engaged in build-
ing and contracting in masonry. This enterprise
proved successful. Many of the business blocks
and brick residences in the city have been erected
under his supervision. His business constantly in-
creased, extending into Cumberland and Moultrie
Counties. He kept a number of skilled hands in his
employ and carried on a profitable business until
1880. when he retired. He purchased the property
where he now resides in 1877, and is also the owner
of other city property, having a house on Essex
street, and also one on Marshall.

Mr. and Mrs. Bruner have a family of three chil-
dren now living — George H., Millard F. and Mag-
gie. The two sons have followed their father's line
of business and are both successful contractors and
builders. George H. married Miss Mattie E.
Stevens, and they have one child, Mabel ; Millard
F. married Miss Ada Ross, and they also have one
child, Esther; Maggie resides at home, the com-
panion of her parents. Mr. Bruner, with his wife,
is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and
in politics is a Republican.

HARLES E. LEITCH, a substantial farmer
residing on section 17, Pleasant Grove
Township, honorably represents one of the
pioneer families of this county. He is the son of
Robert and Jane (Erwin) Leitch, and was born
April 16, 1836, in Chillicothe, Ross Co., Ohio, his
parents removing to Illinois and settling in Pleas-
ant Grove Township, in the autumn of that year.

Charles Leitch passed his early, life on the home-
stead, where he acquired much practical knowledge
in agriculture, and attended the subscription school
of the pioneer days during the winter. But the
educational advantages of the county soon began
to improve, and during the last year of his school
days he enjoyed the privilege of the public school.

March 18, 1858, Mr. Leitch was married to Miss
Mahala Baker. Mrs. Leitch was the daughter of

i

> , 516

COLES COUNTY.

Jacob and Mary (Kdmond) Baker, and was born in
Highland County, Va., Dec. 19, 1837. Her family
^caine to Illinois and settled in Coles County in
1852. After his marriage, Mr. Leitch settled on a
rented farm in the northeastern part of Pleasant
Grove Township on the Embarrae River, and the
following year purchased the farm and resided
there until 1886. when he changed his locality, and
settled on the place where he now lives. His estate
contains 247 acres of valuable, well-improved land,
and is considered one of the best in the county.
He has a fine brick residence, and his farm buildings
are excellent and well appointed. He is chiefly en-
gaged in stock-raising, making a specialty of French
draft horses, Short-horn cattle, and Berkshire hogs-

His pleasant home has recently been darkened by
the shadow of death. January 11, 1887, the be-
loved wife and mother, who was apparently in good
health, died suddenly while standing in the door-
way of her house. The sudden death of Mrs.
Leitch was a crushing blow to her family, but she
was a sincere Christian, and was doubtless prepared
to go, when the Master summoned her without
warning to her home beyond the river. She left
a family of seven children: Elizabeth, the wife of
Joseph Hackett; Grant, John, Edwin, Jacob, Samuel
and Allen. Mrs. Leitch is buried in Mount Tabor
Cemetery, and is deeply mourned by a large circle
of friends.

Mr. Lietch has been a member of the Methodist
Church since 1860, and is active in promoting the
interests of that religions body. In politics he is a
Republican, and has served in several local offices,
having been School Director seventeen years, and
Commissioner of Highways nine years. He pos-
sesses excellent business qualifications and has given
general satisfaction to the people in the discharge
of his public duties.

ENLEY ANDERSON occupies a snug farm
of eighty acres on section 11, in Charleston
Township, of which he has been in posses-
sion since the spring of 1872. He is a gen-
tleman of good education, having attended Eu-
reka College, and one who has seen considerable of

the world, having, when a younger man, traveled
over a large part of the territory west of the Mis-
sissippi. He was variously occupied in his youth,
but finally decided that there was nothing better
or healthier than life in the rural regions, and
which he has thoroughly enjoyed since becoming
the possessor of his present farm. To this he has
given his careful attention, and with his family is
surrounded by all the comforts of life.

Our subject is a native of Indiana, born on the
farm of his father near Frankfort, Oct. 20, 1845,
and is the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Stutsman)
Anderson, natives of North Carolina and Indiana
respectively. Jacob Anderson removed with his
parents when a boy to Indiana, and was there mar-
ried in the southern part of the State. He after-
ward removed to a point near Frankfort, where he
became the owner of a flouring-tnill, which he op-
erated until the spring of 184SI. He then came to
Central Illinois and purchased about 3,000 acres of
land in Charleston and Seven Hickory Townships,
where he put up a substantial brick house, and in-
stituted many other admirable improvements.
Here the mother died in April, 1860.

Jacob Anderson survived his wife twelve years,
dying in April, 1872, at the age of seventy-six
years. Of their eight children, but four are now
living, namely, Sarah, Mrs. Van Sickle; Bruce,
Henley, a-nd Samantha, Mrs. Calvert. The father
of our subject was a man of many excellent quali-
ties, honest and upright in his dealings, decided in
his views, and an uncompromising supporter of the
Democratic party. He also belonged to the I. O.
O. F.

Henley Anderson remained a member of his
father's household until the death of the latter. In
the meantime he had been mostly engaged in ac-
quiring a good education, and after leaving Eureka
College, started in January, 1804, for the Pacific
Slope. He employed that year in traveling, and
then returning to this county, served three years at
the jeweler's trade at Charleston, where he contin-
ued until about 1867. Then going to Lexington,
Ky., he took a course of stud}7 in the Agricultural
and Mechanical College, after which he followed
farming until 1872. Two 3'ears later he estab-
lished a jewelry store at Charleston, which he con-

LIBRARY
OF THE
^ OF KIOTO'S

COLES COUNT V.

519

ducted until 1878, then determined to abandon all
trades and occupations, for the independent life of
a farmer. His labors in this direction have been
amply rewarded, and he is ranked among the well-
to-do and substantial agriculturists of Coles
County.

The lady who has been the sharer of the home
and fortunes of our subject since the spring of
1875, was formerly Miss Emma, daughter of Will-
iam and Susan Ricketts, of Charleston. She was
born in 1856, and remained under the parental
roof until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. A. have no
children.

B. BENEF1EL, one of the substantial citi-
zens of Mattoon, is proprietor of one of the
best meat-markets in the city, and also a
dealer in coal and grain. He is the son of
Dr. John S. and Eliza (Kackley) Beneflel, and was
born April 22, 1847, in Knox County, Ind. His
father was a native of Ohio, and his mother of
Kentucky. In about 1843 Dr. Beneflel graduated
from a Cleveland medical college, and commenced
the practice of medicine in Davis County. After
remaining there about five years, he removed to
Green County, Ind., where he also remained five
years, and then changed his location to Sullivan
County, Ind., and after remaining there for five
years, again decided to change his location, remov-
ing with his family to Mattoon, 111. After remain-
ing there six years, he removed in 1867 to Hope
County, Mo., where he has since made his perma-
nent residence, and is actively engaged in the du-
ties of a large practice. His family consisted of
five children, all of whom, with one exception, are
now living. Their record is as follows: J. B.,
the subject of this sketch; Lucius K.. a stock-dealer
residing in Kansas; Mattie, the wife of J. S. Baker,
who is the oldest conductor on the E. & T. H. R. R. ;
Jennie J., now Mrs. William Bradbury, a resident
of Dodge City, Kan.

J. B. Benefiel received a practical education in
his boyhood, and when about twenty years of age
obtained employment in the Union Express Com-
pany at Mattoon. After remaining with them one
year, he obtained a position with the American

Express Company at Terre Haute, where he passed
another year, and then changing his employment,
became foreman of a large farm in Coles County.
At the expiration of twelve mouths, he again ob-
tained employment with the American Express
Company at Mattoon, where he also staid one
year, and then acted as messenger fourteen months
for the C .& I. S. R. R. His next business enterprise
was the manufacture of* soap, in which he was en
gaged three years, and after relinquishing this busi-
ness was occupied as a butcher for six years. He
then engaged in stock-dealing until 1884, and has
since added coal and gram to the meat-market of
which he is now the proprietor. Notwithstanding
these business vicissitudes, he has acquired con-
siderable property ; besides a tine farm, containing
100 acres of land, located south of the city, he also
owns some property in the town, and has been to
some extent engaged in real-estate business. In
1879 he was Assessor, and subsequently was elected
Mayor of the city on the Prohibition ticket. He
had previously served as Deputy Collector in 1870,
•and in 1884 was again elected Assessor.

The marriage of Mr. Benefiel and Miss Ellen
.Aldridge, occurred in 1874. Mrs. B. is a native of
Arkansas, and the daughter of Freeland Aldridge,
of that State. Our subject and wife have two chil-
dren living — Winnie E. and Eva M. Mrs. Benefiel
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and although her husband is not connected with
the church, he affords material assistance in pro-
moting its interests. Mr. Benefiel is a Democrat in
politics, and a member of the Knights of Pythias.

In the pictorial department of this work the pub-
lishers present the portrait* of leading and repre-
sentative men, and among them may be found that
of Mr. Benefiel.

?ILLIAM STITES, a retired farmer, is a
prominent resident of Morgan Township.
He was born on Christmas Day, 1822, in
Columbia Township, Hamilton Co., Ohio, and is
the son of John F. and Fannie (Muchmore) Stites.
His grandfather, Benjamin Stites, a native of Vir-
ginia, was one of a party of sixteen, of which his

I

520

COLES COUNTY.

father was the leader, who first landed at Colum-
bia, Ohio, and he assisted in building the first
block-house in that place. He was sixteen years
of age when he accompanied his father on that ex-
pedition. The family settled in Ohio, and his
father passed the remainder of his life in that State.
Benjamin Stites was twice married, and a family of
several children was born to him by each mar-
riage. His death occurred near Lebanon, Ohio.

John Stites reared a family of ten children, of
whom the following is the record : William, the
subject of this sketch; Anna was the wife of David
Gerard, a resident of Butler County, Ohio, and
both are deceased ; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of
William Muchmore, a resident of Ohio; James, a
resident of Kansas, was twice married ; David died
on Christmas, 1885, in ColesjCounty, III.; his death
occurred very suddenly; he was found lifeless sit-
ting in his easy chair, as if he had fallen asleep. He
left a wife and four children. John M. is married
and resides in Missouri; he has a family of five
children living. Hiram, deceased, was a resident
of Butler County, Ohio, and left a family of three
children; Emily, the wife of J. Gerard, resides in
Morgan Township, and has a family of four chil-
dren living; Phoebe died at the age of seventeen,
and Franklin. John Stites was a successful farmer
in Ohio, where his life was passed. His death oc-
curred in Butler County, of that State.

William Stites was married, in March, 1845, to
Miss Edith Stites. Mrs. Stites was the daughter of
Joshua and Mary (Townsend) Stites. The families
bear the same name, but are not related. Her par-
ents were from Cape May County, N. J.. and came
to Ohio at an early day, making their permanent
home there. After his marriage, which took place
in Columbia Township, Butler County, Mr. Stites
remained in Ohio until 1872. He then came to
Coles County, and purchased a farm, which he cul-
tivated and improved. He has since made his
home here, and is retired from active business. He
passes his time, however, in supervising his general
business affairs, collecting rents, etc. He has only
two children — Nathaniel S. and Thomas J. His
wife died Aug. 29, 1884, of typhoid fever, at the
age of sixty-three, and is buried in Greasy Point
Cemetery. She had been for many years a mem-

ber of the Presbyterian Church, and in her daily
life evinced the sincerity of her Christian faith.
Her death was deeply mourned by her family and
a large circle of friends. Mr. Stites has been a
consistent member of the Methodist Church for
more than thirty years. In politics, he is a Re-
publican.

R. V. R. BRIDGES, physician and surgeon
at Mattoon, was born in Rockingham
County, Va., Jan. 4, 1832. His parents,
Thomas and Nancy (Wiltshire) Bridges,
were natives of the same county and the father a
miller by trade, which occupation he followed
through life. He left the Old Dominion in 1836,
and settled in Ross County, Ohio, where he lived
five \rears, then migrated farther westward to Jas-
per County, III. From there, in 1859, he came to
Mattoon, where he spent the remainder of his days,
his death occurring in 1872. During the war he
served as Overseer of the Poor and was a member
of the Board of Education for several years. Upon
first becoming a voter he had identified himself with
the Democratic party, but in 1856 joined the Re-
publicans, with whom he affiliated until his death.
Both parents were worthy members of the Baptist
Church. Their family included four children, three
now living, namely, our subject, Mary and Roe.

The younger days of Dr. Bridges were spent
mostly in school near Chillicothe, Ohio, and after
coming to this State he continued his studies until
seventeen years old, then commenced teaching in
Jasper Count}'. Afterward he worked for a time
at the carpenter's trade and also was clerk in a store.
In 1851 he began in earnest the study of medicine,
at Lawrenceville, and officiated as drug clerk in
order to pay his expenses, having his clothes
laundered at home forty miles away. After com-
pleting his studies he began the practice of his pro-
fession in Hutton Township, being associated with
Dr. Neal, and six years later came to Mattoon,
which has since remained his abiding-place. Dur-
ing the late war he was Assistant Surgeon of the
62d Illinois, and was subsequently promoted Sur-
geon of the 126th, remaining with this regiment

tjj-

COLES COUNTY.

521

until it was mustered out in August, 1865, after
which he returned to Mattoon, and since then has
practiced uninterruptedly, with excellent results.

Dr. Bridges was first married to Miss Mary B.
Boyd, in 1856. They became the parents of four
children, two of whom filled -early graves, and the
mother passed to her long home on the 15th of
February, 1881. The present wife of our subject,
to whom he was married Oct. 19, 1883, was for-
merly Miss Jannie Cushman, of Mattoon. They
have one child — Marion C. The Doctor has ac-
cumulated a comfortable property, including 100
acres of good land in Fafayette Township. He is
a Republican, politically, and has filled the offices
of Alderman, President of the School Board and
Mayor of the city. Socially he belongs to the
Knights of Honor.

son

H. McCLELLAND, Sheriff of Coles
County, and one of the prominent citizens
of Charleston Township, was born Jan. 13,
1834, in Fairfield County, Ohio, and is the
of Alexander and Minerva (Spangler) Mc-
Clelland. His grandfather, James McClelland, was
a "native of Pennsylvania, and afterward removed
to Fairfield County, Ohio, where he carried on an
extensive farming business, and passed the closing
years of his life. Alexander McClelland was born
June 3, 1807, on the old homestead iu Ohio, where
he still lives, his farm containing 400 acres of
valuable land. He was an active leading man in
the community, and held the office of Justice of the
Peace twenty-one years. The following are the
names of his children, all of whom are residents of
Ohio, with the exception of James H. : John A.,
James H., Samuel, Salem, Susanna, Enos and
Charles.

The boyhood and youth of James McClelland
were passed on his father's farm, where he acquired
much experimental knowledge in the various
branches of agricultural work, receiving at the
same time a good common-school education. He
remained at home until he was twenty-two years of
age, and in the year 1857 resolved to seek his
fortune in the West. Illinois was then advancing

on the road to that prosperity which has since been
so signally attained, and accordingly he proceeded
thither, and engaged in farming in llumbolt Town-
ship, Coles County.

After the Civil War broke out our subject re-
linquished his business and entered the service of
his country, enlisting in 1862, as Sergeant in Co. C,
123d 111. Mtd. Inf. He was promoted to the rank
of First Lieutenant and served three years, proving
himself on every occasion a brave and efficient
officer. He fought in the brilliantly contested
siege of Atlanta, and was engaged in the battles of
Perryville, Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, Farru-
ington, Milton and Selma, besides taking part in
numerous skirmishes. After the close of the war
he returned to Illinois, and engaged in farming
and stock-raising in Charleston Township. In
1876 he was elected to the office of Clerk and Re-
corder of the Circuit Court for a term of four
years, and was also Assessor and City Marshal,
serving one year in each offiee. In 1886 he was
elected Sheriff for a term of four years.

His marriage to Miss Zelda A. Hedges, a native
of Ohio, took place in 1858. She is the daughter
of William Hedges, of this city. They have a
family of five children — Salem W., Willis W.
Jessie B., Mary E. and Bertha B. Asa soldier and
civilian, Mr. McClelland has been faithful in the
discharge of his public duties, and possesses the re-
spect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. He is
a Republican, a member of the Odd Fellows'
Society, and also belongs to the G. A. R. and the
Knights of Honor. His residence is on Mechanic
street.

;ILLIAM GRANT, a worthy descendant of
one of the pioneer families of this county,
resides on section 6, Seven Hickory Town-
ship. He was born April 27, 1843, in Fountain
County, Ind., and is the son of John and Sophia
(Lively) Grant. His grandfather, Patrick Grant,
was a native of Ireland, born near Belfast, where
his sou. John, was also born, June 11, 1809.
Sophia Grant was born June 28, 1817, in Virginia,
and was the daughter of William and Mary (Mar-
tin) Lively, both of whom were born in Virginia

J^

522

COLES COUNTY.

the former in 1795, and the latter in about 1800.

Mr. and Mrs. John Grant had a family of eight
children. The following is their record : William,
born April 27, 1 843 ; Arthur, born in July, 1845, and
died in 1848; John F., born May 7, 1847, resides
in Seven Hickory Township, and has a family of
ten children, of whom six are girls and four boys;
Mary J., born March 29, 1849, is the wife of An-
drew Montz, a resident of Ashmore Township, and
has a family of five children; Cynthia Ann, born
Sept. 20, 1852, is the wife of I. W. Merritt, a resi-
dent of Hutton Township, and has two children
now living, two having died in childhood ; Thomas,
born April 11, 1854, died Dec. 28. 1879, leaving a
family of two children, one of whom is living;
Robert, born June 29, 1856, died Aug. 11, 1866,
and James, born April 22, 1859, lives in Hutton
Township on the old homestead ; he was twice mar-
ried, and has one child by his first wife, and two
(twins) by the second.

William Grant was an infant, not quite six
months old, when his parents settled in Hutton
Township, this county, in 1843. His father emi-
grated to America in 1832, landing at Montreal.
He went thence to New York State, and obtained
employment on the New York & Erie Railroad.
After remaining there about one year, he went to
Virginia, where his marriage took place. He lived
there several years engaged in operating on public
works, and also owned a boat on the James River
Canal, and then came West, ultimately settling in
Coles County. William remained on the home-
stead with his parents, assisting in cultivating the
farm, until he was twenty-nine years of age. His
marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wall took place Feb.
12, 1872. Mrs. Grant was born in Ireland, May
16, 1849, and is the daughter of John and Mar-
garet (Kehoe) Wall. Her parents came to this
country when she was an infant two years of age.
The}' had but two child ren— Elizabeth and John;
the latter resides in Humbolt Township. Mr. and
Mrs. Grant have a familj7 of seven children, five
sons and two daughters, as follows : William, born
Nov. 20, 1872; John F., March 26, 1874; Thomas
A., May 29, 1875; Margaret M., Sept. 28, 1879;
James A., Feb. 25, 1882; Joseph E., May 31, 1885,
and Francis O., Oct. 20, 1886.

Mr. Grant purchased his farm in 1875, and it is
well cultivated and improved. He is engaged in
general farming and stock-raising, giving his at-
tention in the latter exclusively to cattle and hogs.
Mr. Grant has successfully filled several of the
township offices. In 1872 he served as Collector,
and in 1876 as Assessor; he was also a member of the
Official Board at that time, both being Presidential
years. In 1885 and 1886 he again served as
Assessor and has been a member of the School
Board for more than twelve years. He was a
Trustee of the Roman Catholic Church at Humbolt,
of which he is a member. In politics, he is a Dem-
ocrat.

IH. JOHNSTON. Men who have risen from
the humbler walks of life, and by virtue of un-
tiring industry and close application to busi-
ness have become prominent amongst their fellows,
present in their experience examples worthy of
imitation. Of such is the subject of this sketch.
Isaiah Hugh Johnston was born April 24, 1827, in
Russell County, Va. His grandparents on the pa-
ternal side were Roderick and Elizabeth (Stewart)
Johnston, who were, as the names indicate, origin-
ally from Scotland, although it is quite certaui
they came to this country from England: His
grandparents on the maternal side were Stephen
and Mary (Gibson) Fuller, who were of German
descent. His father, Abner Johnston, a native of
Virginia, was born Oct. 10, 1798. His mother,
Polly (Fuller) Johnston, also a native of the Old
Dominion, was born June 13, 1803.

Abner Johnston and Polly Fuller were married
Feb. 10, 1820, and in 1830, with their five children,
emigrated to Coles County, III. They began work
in their new field of labor October 10, settling tem-
porarily in the southwestern part of the county, in
what was then called Muddy Point. In the early
part of 1831 they moved to Charleston, remaining
but a year, and then went to the northwestern part
of the county, now known as the town of North
Okaw. The mother died Oct. 10, 1835, leaving
six children, the eldest being fifteen and the young-
est two years of age. Abner Johnston, a carpenter
by trade, thinking he could could do better for the

COLES COUNTY.

523

helpless family, removed to Vandalia, 111., then the
capital of the State, where he held a position in the
laud-office. After remaining there four years he
went again to Muddy Point, remaining there until
his death, which occurred Sept. 18, 1848.

Abner and Polly Johnston were members in
good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
and their house was one of the headquarters of the
circuit preachers of that day. among whom were
Peter Cartwright, Barton Randel, Hiram Buck and
John Adams. In politics he was a Whig, and a
stanch supporter of Henry Clay. When the Black
Hawk War broke out and troops were about start-
ing from Charleston, a young man, Keithly by
name, volunteered to go in Ahner Johnston's place,
provided that a horse and overcoat be furnished
him. These he cheerfully gave, for circumstances
rendered it neccessary that he should remain at
home. Of the six children born to Abner and
Polly Johnston three are still living. Their record
is as follows; Leah, the eldest, was born Nov. 29,
1820, and died Aug. 10, 1839; Matilda Jane, born
Nov. 28, 1822; James Franklin, Feb. 10, 1825, died
in September, 1856; Isaiah Hugh, born April 24,
1827; Mary Gibson, June 17, 1829, died Feb. 9,
1859; Elizabeth Stewart, born Sept. 29, 1833. Ma-
tilda J. was married to James Jeffris, Oct. 6, 1842;
residents of Pleasant Grove, near the place where
both were reared. Elizabeth S. was married to
A. A. Walker; also residents of Pleasant Grove.

The subject of this biography passed his boy-
hood and youth in the pioneer fashion, pursuing
his studies in the winter in the log school-house,
and working at whatever he could in the spring and
summer months. Three 3'ears of this time found
him engaged in hauling lead to Galena and Mil-
waukee, with an ox-team, and receiving as a re-
muneration $10 per month. This he could not follow
continuously, the winter months being too severe
for traveling to suc.h an extent. Before the attain-
ment of his majority he was united in marriage
with Miss Harriet Jeffries, daughter of Thomas and
Patsey Jeffries, the happy event taking place Feb.
10, 1848. Of this union there were born two chil-
dren: Felix, born June 17, 1849, and Emily, June
i5, 1851. Harriet Johnston, first wife of our sub-
ject, passed to her eternal home April 14, 1853.

This occasioned a change in his programme, leading
him to leave the farm, upon which he had labored
so faithfully, and embarked in merchandising in
Springville, purchasing his stock of goods on credit.
While thus engaged he was appointed Postmaster,
under President Pierce's administration. Here he

{ remained about eighteen mouths, then removed to
Johnstown. Cumberland County, where he also
served as Postmaster, this time under President
Buchanan's administration. Here he also had charge
of a steam saw and grist mill, which he operated
successfully, and he now takes pleasure in looking
back ilpon this page in his life's history as being a
starting point in a prosperous business career.

In 1857 Mr. Johnston moved to Mattoon, where
he engaged in a similar business, which he pursued
three years. In 1858 he served as Alderman, and
in 1860 was elected Sheriff of Coles County, neces-
sitating his removal to the county seat (Charles-
ton) during that year. To this office he was nom-
inated by the Democratic party, July 27, 1860, and
after serving out his term, owing to some political
difficulty, continued in office part of his successor's
term of office. Upon the expiration of his term of
service, he re-engaged in merchandising, this time
in Charleston. In this he continued but a short
time, however, as he, in connection with John B.
Hill, and Thomas E. Stoddart, under the firm name
of Hill, Stoddart <fe Johnston, engaged in pork-
packing. Unable to compete with heavy concerns
in Chicago, the firm went out of business. Jan. 1,
1869, Thomas A. Marshall, John W. True and Mr.
Johnston engaged in banking, opening a private
bank under the firm name of T. A. Marshall & Co.,
which they continued until Aug. 1, 1871; at that
time the Second National Bank of Charleston was
organized, and bought the plant of T. A. Marshall
& Co. The first officers of the Second National

i Bank were John W. True, President; Charles Clary,

; Cashier, and Felix Johnston, Teller. In 1872 Mr.

j True tendered his resignation as President of the
bank, and George W. Parker was elected to fill the
vacancy; he, however, only served about one .year,
and on July 16, 1873, just before the panic, Mr.
Johnston was elected to the office, which he has
continuously filled since. The Second National

i Bank, under the wise administration of its present

T

524

COLES COUNTY.

Executive, has become one of the leading and in-
dispensable institutions of Charleston, and is fully
appreciated by the business portion of the com-
munity.

Felix Johnston, the eldest son of our subject,
went into the banking business upon the organiza-
tion of the firm of T. A. Marshall & Co., serving
first as book-keeper, then as teller, and is now cash-
ier. 0. E. Wilson, the husband of Mr. Johnston's
eldest daughter, is President of the Mattoon Na-
tional Bank. July 10, 1855, Mr. Johnston was a
second time married, the lady of his choice being
Miss Sarah A. Gray, the daughter of Richard and
Rachel Gray, and by this marriage he had six chil-
dren, as follows: George D., born Nov. 24, 1856,
died Feb. 20, 1864; Flora G., born Nov. 30, 1860,
died Dec. 30, 1861; Charles, born July 14, 1862,
died July 10, 1864; Martha, born Oct. 4, 1864;
Bertha, May 21, 1868. and Isaiah H., Jr., May 3,
1871.

Since becoming a resident of Charleston Mr.
Johnston has built quite a number of business
houses and residences, and in every way possible
has exerted his energies to build up the community
morally as well as numerically, aiding in the estab-
lishment and maintenance of schools and churches.
He has also studied to introduce those features
which would add to the size and value of its popu-
lation. He started in life with nothing but his
strong will and willing hands, and by pluck and
perseverance has become one of the chief factors
in business circles of this and adjoining counties.

J -JUDGE JAMES F. HUGHES, who presides
I over the Circuit Court of this district, has
I been a resident of Mattoon since 1869.
' His native place is Wayne County. Ohio,
where his birth took place Jan. 17, 1839, and he is
the son of John and Susan (Cavenee) Hughes,
natives respectively of Wayne and Harrison Coun-
ties, Ohio. The paternal great-grandfather of our
subject, John Hughes, Sr., was a native of Ireland,
born in the city of Dublin, and followed the occu-
pation of a weaver. He married Miss Mary
Hamilton, a native of Limerick, and they emigrated

to America, settling in Greene County, Pa., whence
they afterward removed to Westmoreland County.
His paternal grandfather, John Hughes, was a
native of Franklin County, Pa., where he was born
March 3, 1785. He emigrated to Wayne County,
Ohio, in 1816, and opened up a farm from the
wilderness, and established a good homestead upon
which he remained until his death, which took
place April 18, 1861, after he had reached the ad-
vanced age of seventy-six years. He married in
early life Miss Jane Flenniken, a native of Greene
County, Pa., and born Feb. 12, 1786. She only
lived to be middle aged, her death occurring at the
homestead in Ohio, July 23, 1835. The father of
Grandmother Hughes was James Flenuiken, a
native of Chambersburg, Pa., who followed farm-
ing all his life, and died Aug. 25, 1823, aged
seventy-six years. His wife was formerly Miss
Jane Dunlap, also a native of Chambersburg, and
who survived her husband about six years, dying
April 10, 1829, when eighty-two years old..

The maternal grandfather of our subject, William
Cavenee, was born May 17, 1781, in Sussex
County, N. J. He was a boot and shoe maker by
trade but was fond of rural life, and secured pos-
session of a small farm where he carried on agri-
culture to a limited extent. He became a resident
of Ohio at an early day and spent his later years
in Holmes County, where his death took place
after he was eighty-one years of age. He married
Miss Sarah Force, who was born Sept. 13, 1793, in
Huntingdon, N. J., and died in Holmes Count}',
Ohio, Oct 9, 1868, when seventy -five years of age.
William Force, the father of Mrs. Sarah Cavenee,
was born in Huntingdon, N. J., and learned the
trade of a millwright, which he followed all his
life. His death took place March 12, 1831. His
wife was Miss Sarah Anderson, also born at Hunt-
ingdon, N. J., and she died Dec. 5, 1842. The
maternal great-grandfather of our subject, Joseph
Cavinee by name, a native of Ireland, emigrated
to America when a young man and located in
Sussex County, N. J., where he married Miss
Abigail Critchfield. a lady of Welsh birth and
parentage. He lived to be eighty years of age
and his wife died at the age of seventy-eight.

John Hughes, the father of our subject, was born

T

COLES COUNTY.

525

i

Aug. 20, 1816, and his wife, Susan, was born May
2, 1818. The latter, prior to her marriage, was
engaged in teaching. They afterward settled upon
a farm in Franklin Township, Wayne Co.,
Ohio, where the elder Hughes engaged quite ex-
tensively in stock-raising. During the late war he
was in McGlaughlin's Squadron in Kentucky, under
command of Gen. James A. Garfiuld, but was dis-
charged in 1863, on account of disability. In
early manhood he] was a member of the old Whig
party and later identified himself with the Re-
publicans.

The parents of our subject were married in
Wayne County, Ohio, March 1, 1838. The record
of their nine children is as follows : James F. of
our sketch was the eldest; Sarah became .the wife of
Charles Miller, of Ohio, and the mother of one child,
a son, Alvah S., now of Akron, Ohio; she died in
Millersburg, Ohio, in 1876. Cephas and Jane
died in infancy; William was killed at the battle
of Antietam, Sept. 19, 1862; Janet, Mrs. James
Gibbon, lives on the battle-field of Seven Pines,
seven miles east of Richmond, Va., and has four
children — Grace, Ethel, Tobias and Hattie; John
W., of Decatur, 111., married Miss Flora Hill, of
Charleston, 111., and they have three sons — Victor,
Leroy B. and Otto; Alford L. married Miss Mary
Crawford, of Ohio, and they have one child, a
daughter. Edith; he is an attorney of David City,
Butler Co., Neb. Clara is the wife of Dr. Benja-
min F. Lang, of Weeping Water, Neb., and has
two children, daughters, Edith May and Grace.

Judge Hughes remained a member^of his father's
household until 1867. In the meantime he had
served as a soldier in the Union army, enlisting
first April 19, 1861, with the three-months' men in
Co. G, 16th Ohio Vol. Inf. At the expiration of
this term he re-enlisted, July 22, 1862, for three
years, in Co. F, 102d Ohio Vol. Inl., going in as
private and being promoted First Sergeant. He
served with his comrades in the States of Ken-
tucky, Tennessee and Alabama, until the close of
the war, when he received his honorable discharge.

After returning from the army our subject
entered the law department of the Michigan
University of Ann Arbor, in October, 186f>, and
was graduated in March, 1867. He then took up

his residence in Sullivan, Moultrie Co., 111., where
he commenced the practice of his chosen profession,
and in company with Capt. A. P. Greene became
the publisher of the Okaw Republican, under the
firm name of Greene & Hughes. Capt. Greene
was also a graduate of the Ann Arbor Law School.
The two gentlemen operated together fifteen
months, when Mr. Hughes turned over his interest
in the business to his partner, and removed to Van-
dalia. Three months later he repaired to Shelby -
ville and spent one year with Judge William J.
Henry, assisting the latter in the labors of his
office, and becoming familiar with the modes of
procedure and practice in the courts. In Decem-
ber, 1869, he came to Mattoon, and in company
with Judge Henry, opened an office and the two
continued together under the firm name of Henry
& Hughes until the spring of 1873. The junior
member of the firm then became associated in
partnership with Judge Charles B. Steele, and the
firm of Steele & Hughes continued until July 10,
1877, when it was dissolved by the death of Judge
Steele, who fell in his dooryard with a paralytic
stroke. After this Judge Hughes continued alone
in the practice.

The career of Judge Hughes from this time on
led steadily upward, and on the 1st of June, 1885,
he was elected Circuit Judge for a term of six
years, his field covering nine counties, namely,
Macon, Moultrie, Piatt, Champaign, Douglas, Coles,
Clark, Edgar and Vermilion. He cast his first
Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and from
the beginning of his public life has been a^thorough
Republican.

The law practice of Judge Hughes yielded him
a fair income and he has interested himself largely
in farming lands, being now the owner of 320 acres
i in Mattoon Township, all of which is under a
good state of cultivation and comprises some of
the best lands in the count}'. He also has three
dwelling-houses in Mattoon. His own residence is
a cottage home of convenience and comfort, and
is located in a pleasant part of -the city.

The marriage of James F. Hughes and Miss
Julia Chrisman was celebrated at the Methodist
Episcopal Church at Mattoon, on the 17th of Sep-
tember, 1874, the ceremony being conducted by,

i

526

COLES COUNTY.

Bishop R. S. Foster, of the Methodist Church,
assisted by Dr. W. R. Goodwin, in the presence of
the Illinois Annual Conference, then in session in
the city. Mrs. Hughes is the daughter of Edwin
L. and Emily E. (Keyes) Chrisman. Mr. Chrisman
was a native of Kentucky, and was married in
Edgar County, 111., March C, 1845. Mr. Chrisman
was born March 7, 1817, and his wife, Emily, Oct.
31, 1824. After marriage they located upon a
farm. The record of their four children is as
follows: Ingobo married Charles O. Stocklager,
and they had two children — ROJCOC and Ing.
Mrs. S. died in December, 1880, at Galena, Chero-
kee Co., Kan. Julia, the wife of our subject, was
the second child ; Frances became the wife of W.
I. Branin and the mother of four children. They
are residents of Columbus, Kan. The youngest
brother, Monroe, is also living at that place.

The children of Judge Hughes and his wife were
born as follows: Columbia, July 3, 1875; Arling-
ton, July 22, 1876; Florence, June 24, 1879.
The parents are members of the Methodist Epis-
copal t Church at Mattoon. Judge Hughes uses
neither tea, coffee, tobacco nor intoxicating liquors.
Born and raised upon the farm, his tastes and sym-
pathies incline him to rural life. He is in robust
health, is over six feet tall, and weighs 175 pounds.
His career upon the bench has been marked by a
vigorous enforcement of the laws against the pre-
vailing crimes of the day. especially such as the
illegal sales of intoxicating liquors, gambling, bet-
ting, lotteries, prize fighting and sparring matches,
election bribery, carrying concealed weapons, riot-
ing and rowdyisms of every kind. He has in-
augurated many reforms in the practice of the bar,
compelling respectful treatment of witnesses by
attorneys; enjoining courtesy and repressing ill-
natured sparring between opposing counsel; re-
stricting and limiting the argument of attorue3Ts
to the evidence introduced; requiring the prompt
attendance of jurors, parties and witnesses; con-
vening court at half past eight in the morning, and
closing at six in the evening; thus, and in many
other ways, facilitating the dispatch of business,
clearing the dockets and curtailing the expenses of
the courts. His decisions are prompt and expressed
in a few words. He seldom hears argument on

questions of the admissibility of testimony. His rul-
ing '-competent," "sustained," "overruled," follows
in rapid succession the words, " I object," of coun-
sel trying the case. The duties of his office re-
quire about nine months' labor in each year on the
bench, and that he might give to the performance
of those duties an undivided attention, he has laid
aside all other business. His salary is 13,500 per
year. If the law and order-loving people of this
circuit stand by him as they are likely to do, Judge
Hughes has the promise of a long and useful life
before him upon the bench.

OHN W. HANNA. Among the public-spir-
ited men of Mattoou, the name of John W.
Hanna is conspicuous for enterprise and en-
ergy. In connection with his business as
bookseller, he has had charge of Dole's opera
house for several years, and with his characteristic
executive ability, has done more to gratify the taste
of amusement-loving people than any other man
in the city. He was born Dec. 2, 1848, in Freeport,
Harrison Co., Ohio. His father, Rev. William
Hanna, is a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother,
Mary (Caldwell) Hanna, of Virginia.

Our subject, who was a boy of unusual intelli-
gence, attended the common schools until he was
thirteen years of age, when he began clerking in
his father's general mercantile establishment at
Deersville, Ohio. The best practical business edu-
cation that can be acquired, is gained through an
experimental knowledge of business at an early
age. Many boys come from college with a vast
amount of learning, but to their astonishment fre-
quently find themselves incapable of dealing suc-
cessfully with the world, and are often far out-
stripped in the race by some bright country lad
who has had his eyes about him, and made a good
use of limited advantages.

In the autumn of 1866 John Hanna came to
Mattoon for the purpose of studying, his brother-
in-law being Principal of the West Side school. A
year later he accepted a position in a book-store,
and has continued in that business until the present
time. On July 25, 1870, he was married to Miss

t.

COLES COUNTY.

527

Mary E. Henderson, who had been a teacher in the
West Side schools for several years, and five chil-
dren were born to them, all of whom with one ex-
ception, are living. Their names are, Gertrude,
Ethel, William, Clara, and Charles, deceased.

Mr. Hanna is a hard worker, and thoroughly un-
derstands the details of every business enterprise
in which he engages. He is a devoted adherent of
the Republican party, and in 1884 was elected
Alderman of the Fifth Ward, receiving 155 of the
200 votes cast, and is now serving his second term
in that office. In his public duties he is watchful
to promote the interests of the people, and is a close
and apt student, not only of affairs of National
importance, but also of municipal. The doors of
his handsome residence are frequently thrown open
to a large circle of friends, who enjoy partaking of
Mr. and Mrs. Manna's generous and courteous hos-
pitality.

OATHANIEL S. STITES, familiarly known
as " N. S. Stites," is a prosperous farmer
residing on section 25, Seven Hickory
Township. He was born April 28, 1850, in Ham-
ilton County, Ohio, and is the son of William and
Edith (Stites) Stites. William Stites was born
Dec. 25, 1822, in Columbia Township, Hamilton
Co., Ohio, and his wife Oct. 25, 1821, in Cape May
County, N. J. In early life, John Stites, the father
of William, served in the War of 1812, and soon
after came to Ohio, where he entered a claim and
engaged in farming, being one of the earliest set-
tlers. (For further history of parents, see sketch
of William Stites.)

There were but two children in the family of
William Stites — Nathaniel S. and Thomas J. ; the
latter, born Dec. 19, 1845, lives in Bushton. where
he is engaged in a general mercantile business, and
deals in grain.

Nathaniel S. Stites lived with his parents at the
homestead until he was twenty-one years of age.
He received a good education at the common
schools, and at the age of sixteen entered the High
School. His marriage to Miss Martha E. Gerard
took place April 23, 1871. Mrs. Stites was like-
wise a native of Hamilton County, Ohio. About

a year after their marriage Mr. Stites came to Illi-
nois with his young wife, and settled in Coles
County, on the place where he now lives. He re-
mained here three years engaged in farming, and
then removed to Morgan Township, where he re-
mained about eight years, and then returned to his
former place in Seven Hickory Township.

Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel S. Stites have a family
of seven children: Bertha O.. born Feb. 29, 1872,
in Butler County, Ohio; Flora G., Nov. 22, 1873,
in Coles County; Clinton B., Jan. 16, 1876; Al-
bert R., April 16, 1878; Willis A., Dec. 2, 1880;
Lulu H., Feb. 24, 1883, and Clara B., Jan. 14,
1885. Mr. Stites purchased his first tract of land
in 1875, in Morgan Township, and in order to ob-
tain well-located, valuable property, he paid $200
per acre for ten acres; it was located about four
miles from Hinesboro. (For further account, see
sketch of William Stites.) Mr. Stites has been a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for
about five years, in which he is also Class-Leader
and Steward. Mrs. Stites is a member of the Pres-
byterian Church. In politics, Mr. S. belongs to
the Republican party.

J "7 AMES GRANT, located in Hutton Town-
I ship, on section 20, is a worthy representa-
tive of the farming community, and gener-
_ ally respected by his friends and neighbors.
During his residence here, he has thoroughly iden-
tified himself with the agricultural and business
interests of his township. He occupies the old
homestead of his father, which was willed to him
by the latter, and which embraces a quarter section
of land, sixty acres being under cultivation and
the balance in timber, well watered.

Our subject is of Irish ancestry. His grand-
father, Patrick Grant, was born in County Down,
where he spent his entire life, was married, and
reared a family of seven Children, who were named
respectively, Arthur, John, Rosa, Thomas, Cather-
ine, William and Ann. Of these, Arthur, John,
Thomas, Catherine and Ann, emigrated to America,
and coming to this State, located in Coles County.
John, the father of our subject, was the second

I

-I

528

COLES COUNTY.

child, and was born June 9, 1809. His schooling
in Ireland was very limited, but he took up the
common branches after coming .to this country and
secured a practical education. This was after
reaching manhood. After setting sail from Liver-
pool, the vessel was delayed in its journey several
months by encountering a_storm, and our subject
finally landed at Montreal, Canada, where he re-
mained nine months engaged on public works.
From there he went to New York City, where he
worked for a time on the railroad, and thence went
to Nelson County, Va., also. engaging on Govern-
ment works there. He. was married there, also, to
Miss Sophia Lively, who was born in Virginia,
June 18, 1817, and was the daughter of William
and Cynthia Lively, natives of \rirginia, where
they spent their entire lives.

The father of our subject, after his marriage,
came with his young wife to this county, making-
the journey overland, and conveying their house-
hold goods in two carts. They located in Hutton
Township in October, 1841, and Mr. Grant traded
a cart and $5 in money for forty acres of timber
land. Upon this was a small house into which the
young people removed, and Mr. Grant entered
upon the improvement of his property. He was
successful in his labors, and in due time entered
120 acres of timber land, a part of which he cleared,
and in 1858 built upon it the residence which is
now occupied by his youngest son. They became
the parents of seven children, and the mother de-
parted this life at the homestead, Aug. 20, 1883.
John Grant died not quite two years later, on the
24th of May, 1885, and the remains of both were
laid to rest in the old family burying-ground on
the homestead. The children of the parental fam-
ily were Arthur, now deceased, William and John,
residents of Hickory Township, Mary, now living
in Ashmore Township, Cynthia, in Hutton Town-
ship, James, Thomas and Robert. The two latter
are also deceased.

The subject of this history was born in Hutton
Township, April 23, 1859. He remained with his
parents until their death, receiving a common-
school education and gaining a good insight into
the best methods of conducting a farm. He was
married, Dec. 14, 1881, to Miss Alice, the daugh-

ter of Robert and Lucy Neal, who were natives of
Missouri. This lady died not quite two years
later, Nov. 16, 1883.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was
married Feb. 2, 1886, was formerly Miss Sophronia
Myers, a native of Boone County. Ind., born Oct.
22, 1866. Her parents were William and Ursula
Myers, also natives of Indiana. Of this union
there have been two children — Orlena and Orla
(twins), born May 1, 1887. They were bright
babes, and it was a great grief to the parents to be
called upon to part with one of them, Orlena, who
died August G, when three months and five days
old.

\YF^ A. JENKINS, proprietor of one of the old-

best and most reliable houses for the sale of
dry-goods, carpets and wall paper in Charles-
ton, was born Aug. 30, 1834, in Putnam County,
Ind., and is the son of John M. and Nancy (Mar-
tin) Jenkins. His grandfather, Elijah Jenkins, was
a native of Pennsylvania, and when a young man
became one of the early settlers in Kentucky. His
maternal grandfather, William Martin, was of Scotch
extraction and was likewise an early settler in Ken-
tucky. His wife was of English descent, and her
father. Captain Coot, was a sailor in the British
service for many years.

John M. Jenkins was taught the trade of a brick
and stone mason, and afterward rose to the position
of builder and contractor. After his removal to
Indiana, he engaged in farming, and passed the re-
mainder of his life in that State. He died in 1884,
having long survived his wife, whose death occurred
in 1849. In early life he was an old-line Whig,
but upon^the organization of the Republican party
became one of its warm supporters. He was act-
ively interested in public affairs during his life,
and served in several of the county and township
offices. The family were members of the Method-
ist Episcopal Church, and were earnest workers in
that religious denomination.

E. A. Jenkins was reared on his father's farm,

where he attended school and assisted in the various

branches of farm labor until he reached the age of

i twenty-one. From home he went to Greencastle,

t.

ff

COLES COUNTY.

529

and there engaged as clerk in a general store, re-
taining the position four years. His business quali-
fications were better adapted to mercantile pursuits
than to agriculture, and in the autumn of 1859, in
company with his brother, William M., he came to
this county, and opened a dry-goods house in
Charleston. They conducted the business success-
fully until July, 1886, when William M. sold out
his interest to his brother and nephew, and the
business is now carried on under the firm name of
E. A. Jenkins & Son.

The marriage of Mr. Jenkins to Miss Amanda
A. Jeffries took place May 30, 1861. She is the
daughter of John and Martha Jeffries, who were
among the early settlers of Charleston. Mr. Jef-
fries is one of the old business men of the city,
and is engaged in manufacturing saddles and har-
ness. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have a family of six
children, namely : John E., a rising young physician
of Charleston ; William F., engaged in business
with his father ; Joseph, Gertrude, Fanuie and Katie.

Mr. Jenkins is recognized as one of the leading
men of the county, and his time and talents are
not exclusively given to the advancement of his
private interests. He served as School Director for
three years, and is a Trustee in the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, of which both himself and his wife
are active members. Socially, he belongs to the
I. O. O. F., the Knights of Honor and the society
of Royal Templars, and in politics is a Republican.

W. FARRAR, one of the prominent citizens

of Hum bolt, is the owner of a fine estate,

I containing 420 acres of valuable land, lo-
(Kgjjjl) cated on sections 20, 28 and 29, in this town-
ship. He was born March 4, 1827, near Charles-
ton, S. C., and is the son of Franklin and Mary
(Steele) Farrar. Franklin Farrar was a native of
South Carolina, and was there engaged both at the
carpenter's trade and farming. He moved to
Perry County, Mo., in about the year 1830, where
he purchased land and built a warehouse, at the
point where the Iron Mountain Range crosses the
river; his residence was situated nine miles from
town. He carried on a successful business and

made his permanent home there. His death oc-
curred at Lebanon, 111., while on a business trip to
that State. His wife was the daughter of Samuel
and Sarah (Crabtree) Steele, natives of Scotland,
where Mrs. Farrar was born. The family emi-
grated to America and settled in South Carolina.
Samuel Steele had been a State Physician in his na-
tive country, and was engaged in the practice of
medicine in South Carolina.

J. W. Farrar had the misfortune to be deprived
of his mother by death, when only a few weeks old.
His maternal grandparents took him to their home
and cared for him during his infancj' and child-
hood, but when he was about twelve years of age
his grandfather died, and he was then thrown upon
the world to begin life for himself, when scarcely
more than a child. It was difficult for so young a
boy to procure employment, but he finally suc-
ceeded in obtaining a situation on a farm near Mt.
Vernon, Ind., whither his grandmother had taken
him. After remaining there two years, he passed
three years with an uncle residing near New Har-
; mony, and then went to Stewartsville, where he ap-
i prenticed himself to the tanner's trade. He applied
himself to that occupation three years and a half,
and was then summoned to Perry County, Mo., to
assist in settling his father's estate, whose death
had occurred a short time previous. Upon com-
pleting this business, he went to St. Louis and
spent one winter working at his trade in that city.
After passing four years in this desultory fashion,
working at his trade in different localities, he en-
gaged in buying fowls in the country along the
river, and shipping them to the New Orleans mar-
ket. Four years later he went to Posey County,
Ind., near Poseyville, and was occupied in farming
there until 1861.

This experience developing a taste for agricult-
ure, our subject came to Coles County, 111., taking
charge of section 26, in this township, in the inter-
est of Jaques & Walker, extensive land-owners of
Evansville, Ind. The land was wholly unimproved,
and the only neighbors were a few scattered fam-
ilies residing on the outskirts of Mattoon, seven
miles distant. He immediately purchased a third
interest in the land, and began the work of ini-
; provement with renewed courage and energy, be-

530

COLES COUNTY.

ing fairly successful in his first crops, which were
of wheat. In 1 862 he decided to enter the service
of his country in the Civil War, and organized a
company for that purpose, but his home interests
compelled him to relinquish the plan. In 1864,
together with his partners, he sold out his farm, and
determined on returning either to Indiana or Mis-
souri, but having to some extent already estab-
lished himself in this State, and gained a favorable
foothold in the community, he reconsidered the
matter, and finally decided to make his permanent
home here. With this aim in view, he purchased
240 acres of land located on section 28, in Hum-
bolt Township, and erected a commodious resi-
dence. He has in the meantime added to his es-
tate 120 acres located on section 29, and sixty on
section 20, and also owns a tract of timber near by.

Mr. Farrar was married, Oct. 12, 1851, to Miss
Ann M. Talbot. Mrs. Farrar is the daughter of
Preston and Nancy (Sharpe) Talbot, natives of
Shelby County, Ky., of which State her paternal
grandfather, Ezekiel Talbot, was likewise a native.
Her maternal grandfather, Benjamin Sharpe, was a
native of Maryland. Mrs. Farrar's mother died
when she was an infant, and she was cared for by
her older brothers and sisters, with whom she
made her home until her marriage.

Mr. and Mrs. Farrar had a family of eight chil-
dren born to them, only two of whom are now liv-
ing. Their first born, Mary Roxana, died at the
age of one year and six days; five others also died
in infancy; Joseph F. and Lizzie A. are living.
Joseph married Miss Mary Grissom, and resides in
'this township; his farm is situated two miles from
the homestead. Lizzie became the wife of Oscar
Kinsel, a grain dealer and merchant, residing in
Piatt County, 111. Mr. and Mrs. Farrar have also
given a place in their hearts and home to six of
the>r brothers' children. Their names are as fol-
lows: Frederick Marstella, C'hauncy E., Anna L.,
John P., Kitty T. and Emma L. Mr. Farrar and
his wife have gi-ven both to their own and their
adopted children, the best educational advantages
attainable. It was Mr. Farrar's aim to fit his son
for professional life, but his inclinations led him so
strongly to prefer agricultural pursuits, that he de-
cided not to interfere. Four of the children still

remain under the fostering care of their adopted
parents.

Mr. Farrar has conducted his farm successfully
and has' given considerable attention to raising
Short-horn cattle, Clydesdale and Norman horses,'
and Poland-China hogs, the latter being his heavi-
est product in stock. He does not take a very
active interest in politics, but alvvays votes with
the Republican party. He has served as Road
Commissioner, School Director and Trustee for
many years. Mr. and Mrs. Farrar have always
been active among the foremost workers in all the
philanthropic movements of the neighborhood.
They are members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and were among the earliest supporters of
the cause of Christ in this community, having or-
ganized the first successful measure toward build-
ing a church in the township. Their influence, both
in public and private life, has ever been exerted to
promote the best interests of society.

AMUEL RARD1N. The essential facts in
the history of the gentleman whose name
stands at the head of this sketch, are mainly
as follows: He is a native of Morgan
Township, this county, his birth taking place on
the farm of his father, John H. Rardin, Jan. 2,
1850. The mother before her marriage, was Miss
Maliuda Clark. The parents came to this State
during the pioneer days, enduring bravely and
cheerfully, with their compeers, the hardships and
difficulties of life in a new country.

John H. Rardin was born in Rising Sun, Ind.,
whence he was conveyed by his parents when
about three months old, to Campbell County, Ky.
He was the sou of Samuel and Catherine (Light)
Rardin, natives of Campbell County, Ky., where
the father followed farming until about 1842, then
coming to this State, located in Morgan Township,
where he established a permanent home. The par-
ental household included twelve children, eight
now living.

The father of our subject was thrice married,
his second wife being Miss Rebecca Hurst, who be-
came the mother of one child, a daughter Malinda,

I

COLES COUNTY.

531

now the wife of J. Calhoun, of Rardin. Mrs. Re-
becca Hard in died in 1870.^ -The third wife was
Miss Nancy Campbell, who became the mother of
one son, John H., Jr. The children of the first
'marriage were, Mary Ann, Benjamin, Samuel,
James K., Willia.ro W. and Robert B. The father
is a retired farmer.

Samuel Rardin 'spent his childhood and youth
mostly on the homestead, and in attendance at the
district schools. His plans for the future included
the establishment of a home and family ties of his
own. and he was married in the spring of 1887, to
Miss Lucy Ryan, of Clark County, 111. She is the
daughter of Louis and Polly (McCrory) Ryan, na-
tives of Indiana, who became the parents of four
children: Roscoe, still at home with his mother;
Jennie, deceased; Lucy, the wife of our subject,
and Mattie, the wife of John Carper, of Clark
County.

Our subject was appointed Postmaster of Rardin
in 1875, which office he held until 1887, and in the
meantime also engaged in general merchandising,
carrying a stock comprising nearly everything re-
quired in the household and on the farm. Upon
withdrawing from this office he turned his atten-
tion principally to stock and grain raising, which
he has conducted on the farm of his father with
most satisfactory results. He is Democratic in
politics, and has held the offices of Collector and
Town Clerk. He received the advantages of a
good education, completing his studies at West-
field, and has kept himself thoroughly posted upon
current events.

Mrs. Rardin is finely educated, and was teacher
in the school at Martinsville, Clark County, for
three years. She is a great favorite, socially, nnd
a member in good standing of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church.

tAMES W. CRAIG, a farmer and stock-raiser
of this county, resides on section 20, Morgan
Township. He is the son of William Craig,
who was born in October, 1804, in Ken-
tucky. His paternal grandparents, Robert Craig
and Elizabeth Nichol, were natives of Virginia.

Robert Craig's father, William, was a gunsmith by
trade. He sold out his interest in his native State,
and settled in Kentucky at an early day, where he
built the third or fourth house that was erected in
Lexington, and took the first sheep there. He was
drafted for the War of 1812, and sent to Detroit.
While on the way the regiment stopped on the
Sandusky, and while there old Simon Kenton
came to him and made his acquaintance. Kenton
told him that his father had repaired his gun for
him (Kenton) many a time.

William Craig remained in Kentucky until he
was about twenty-four years of age, residing at the
homestead until he was nineteen. His marriage
took place on Christinas Day of 1823, an event
which was attended by great festivities. The house
was decorated for the occasion, and the young peo-
ple for miles around assembled to congratulate"
their young friends and partake of the old-time
Kentucky hospitality and cheer. The bride, Rosana
; Day, was born in 1809, in Greenbrier County, now
; West Virginia, and was the daughter of Peter Day.
Her parents came to Kentucky at an early day,
making their home in that State. James Day, a
brother, was drowned in 1867, leaving a large fam-
ily of children. Mr. and Mrs. Craig had a family
; of six children born to them : Lorenzo Dow, born
| in November, 1824, died at the age of sixteen;
Clarinda, born in July, 1826, died in January,
1848; she became the wife of Thomas Davis, and
left a family of three children. James W., born
April 26, 1829\ is the subject of this sketch; Isaac,
born in January, 1831, resides in Edgar County,
111., within a mile and a half of the place where he
was born ; he owns 300 acres, and also a large farm
in Douglas County ; he is married, and has a large
family. Andrew Jackson, who has been for several
years past a minister in the Baptist Church, resides
in Meridian, Miss., where he owns some property;
his eldest son is a successful physician in Louisiana.
Peter, born in December, 1834, was an invalid for
twenty-five years, and passed his life at the home-
stead, where his death occurred at the age of thirty-
three.

After his marriage William Craig cleared and
improved a tract of timber land, and engaged in
farming and stock-raising. The arduous work in-

. , 532

COLES COUNTY.

volved in this task proved too great a strain upon
his immature physical strength, and nearly resulted
in breaking down his health. After remaining on
this farm five years he sold out his property in
Kentucky and came to Illinois, where he purchased
eighty acres of timber land in Edgar County, five
miles south of Paris, at $1.25 per acre. He cleared
and improved this place, adding to his property as
he was prospered in business, until he acquired an
estate containing about 500 acres, and made his
home there, canying on a successful farming busi-
ness until 1854. He then sold this property and
moved to Donica Point. He met with an accident
while moving to this place which came veiy near
resulting fatally ; he was thrown from his wagon,
sacks of grain falling on him, and it was some time
before he was extricated, almost exhausted with cold
and suffering. He purchased a large farm, con-
taining 460 acres, and made his permanent home
there. His death occurred in February, 1874. His
wife died March 3, 1848. She was a kind mother
and loving wife. Mr. Craig was active and ener-
getic in business throughout his life, although never
strong physically. His health was injured by pri-
vation and exposure while serving in the Black
Hawk War, and still further impaired by an attack
of measles, and he was obliged to struggle against
much physical suffering and infirmity. He was a
leading member of the Old-School Baptist Church,
and was always active in promoting the best inter-
ests of the community. In politics he was a Dem-
ocrat. His last wife is living at the old home place,
aged seventy-five.

James Craig passed his boyhood and youth on
the homestead, assisting his father in the various
farm duties, and attending the common schools,
where he received a good practical education. At
the age of twenty-two his marriage with Miss Maria
L. Miller took place. Mrs. Craig was the daughter
of James M. and Mary Ann (Wayne) Miller, the
former born in 1791, in Scotland, and the latter in
the same year in Virginia. Mr. Miller's family
emigrated to this country, and settled in South
Carolina at an early day, where James passed his
early life. He subsequently removed to Kentucky,
where his marriage took place, and thence to Illi-
nois in 1830. He settled in Edgar County, just

below Paris. Mr. Miller was an intelligent, well-
educated man, and taught school in the pioneer
days, during the early part of his life, his future
son-in-law, James Craig, being one of his pupils at
the old log school-house. In later life he was en-
gaged in official business, and was serving as
County Clerk at the time of his death, which oc-
curred in 1853. His widow, who possessed an un-
usually vigorous physique, survived him many
years, and died in 1877, in Westfield, 111. Their
family comprised five children.

After his marriage Mr. Craig located on the farm
where he now resides, which was a gift from his
father, and contained 360 acres (now 700) of ex-
cellent land. He came to his new home in the
autumn of 1850, and began business for himself,
and has been successful, adding to his estate until
he owned at. one time over 1,400 acres. He now
has the management of about 1,000 acres, and car-
ries on his business of farming and stock-raising, all
of which is under his supervision and direction.
June 1, 1869, he met with an accident which has dis-
abled him from physical exertion. He was at that
time superintending the erection of his farm resi-
dence, and on a load of doors and window frames,
was driving in the barn. The load being too high
he was caught, receiving injuries to the spine, which
have rendered him powerless to use his lower limbs.
During the first two years he was under the care of
skillful physicians, but all means for restoration
have proved unavailing.

Mr. C. has been twice married; his first wife died
in the spring of 1 858. She was the mother of two
children, one of whom died at the age of sixteen
months; the other, Rosa C., is the wife of John Mc-
Gregor, a farmer residing in Morgan Township.
February 26, 1860, Mr. Craig was married to Mrs.
Eliza J. Randolph, a resident of Edgar County.
Mrs. Craig is the daughter of Simeon and Lucetta
(I-Iearn) Stark, residents of Illinois. They were
born in Indiana, and moved to Illinois in 1857.
Mr. Stark was a successful business man, acquiring
a good farm of 360 acres. His wife died in the
fall of 1866, leaving a large family. She was an
invalid for five years before her death. Mr. and
Mrs. Stark were consistent members of the Old-
School Baptist Church. She was a good mother

COLES COUNTY.

533

and loving wife. Mr. Stark now lives in Missouri.
Mrs. Stark's parents came to Illinois while it was
yet a Terrritory. His name was Dennis Hearn,
hers, Elizabeth Smith. She was a native of North
Carolina. Mr. Hearn, after his marriage, moved
from Illinois to near Terre Haute, Ind., before the
town was thought of. He died in 1867. His wife
still survives him, being eighty-seven years old.
She lives in Terre Haute with one of her daughters,
and is very active for one of her age. Mr. and
Mrs. Hearn were faithful members of the Old-
School Baptist Church. Mrs. Craig was the
mother of one son by her first husband, R. C.
Randolph, a farmer residing in Seven Hickory
Township. Mr. and Mrs. Craig had two chil-
dren born to them: Maria L., born Sept. 10,
1865, died in her eighteenth year; William S.,
born May 1, 1867, resides at the homestead, and
assists his father in business.

AMUEL A. REEL, physician and surgeon,
of Oakland, has been established there for
the past twenty years, during which time
he has built up a good practice and num-
bers among his friends and patrons the best resi-
dents of Coles County. Dr. Reel is a native of
Gibson County, Ind.. born May 3, 1829, and is the
son of Henry and Catherine (Neely) Reel, natives
of Kentucky, the former born forty miles south of
Louisville, Feb. 14, 1793. The paternal grand-
parents of our subject were John and Catherine
(Stooky) Reel, natives of New York State, where,
after serving as a soldier in the Revolutionary War
seven years, John Reel finally located, and carried
on farming the balance of his life. The maternal
grandfather, who was a native of Virginia, also
served on the side of the Colonists during their
struggle for liberty, as a commissioned officer. He
was under the immediate command of Gens. Wash-
ington and Marion. Both grandfathers died in
about 1808.

Henry Reel, the father of our subject, departed
this life in Gibson County, Ind., March 25, 1871.
The wife and mother, who was born Dec. 13, 1794.
was -the daughter of Joseph and Marietta (John-
son) Neely, natives of Virginia, who were numbered

among the most highly respected residents of the
farming community of their section of the State.
She was married to Henry Reel, May 7, 1815,
and departed this life Nov. 10. 1874. She became
the mother of fourteen children. Their eldest son,
John, was born Feb. 13, 1816; Eliza A., Aug. 15,
1817; Elizabeth. Feb. 13, 1819; Joseph, Oct. 31,
1820; David L., Aug. 31, 1822; Margaret A.,, May
6, 1824; Eleanor, Dec. 25, 1825; Martha J., Sept.
3, 1827 ; Samuel A., of our sketch, is already given;
Thomas J., Jan. 2 t, 1831; Henry C., Oct. 2, 1832;
Franklin M., Aug. 11, 1834; Catherine N.. Dec. 3,
1836; Nancy J., Sept. 17, 1838.

Samuel Reel was reared on his father's farm and
attended school in the winter until 1851, although
in the meantime having been employed as a teacher
in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Indiana. Dur-
ing the winter of 1850-51, he attended the medical
school at Cincinnati, Ohio, and after completing
his course of study proceeded westward, across
the Mississippi into Iowa. He remained there,
however, only about six months, and then returned
to Cumberland County, 111., thence to Gibson
County, Ind., in 1858, where he employed his time
in reading medicine until the' outbreak of the late
war. He then enlisted, in August, 1861, in the
58th Indiana Infantry, as private in Company K,
and after two months was detailed as Hospital
Steward. In crossing Barren River, near Bowling
Green. Ky., he was wounded in the right side, and
in September received his discharge on account of
disability. From this he has never full}' recovered,
and on account of it receives a pension from the
Government.

Upon returning from the army Dr. Reel lo-
cated in Douglas County, where he followed his
profession until 1866, and then took up his resi-
dence at Oakland. He is the only eclectic physician
in the town, and his labors have been attended with
great success, enabling him to accumulate a fine
property. This includes 540 acres of valuable
land, in a high state of cultivation, and the family
residence in Oakland is an imposing structure, and
a model of comfort and convenience.

The lady who has presided with grace and
dignity over the domestic affairs of our subject,
and was his earnest helper and sympathizer in his

534

COLES COUNTY.

efforts to sec n re a go 3d position in life, was formerly
Miss Eliza Adams, who became his wife May 19,
1853. Mrs. R. is a native of this county, to which
her parents came in the pioneer clays, and was born
April 22, 1836, in Pleasant Grove Township. She
is the daughter of John .1. and Martha (Gammel)
Adams, natives of Tennessee. Her father was a
farmer by occupation, and during the progress of
the Mexican War held the position of Second
Lieutenant in the Federal ranks. Afterward he
returned to his home in this county, where his
death took place Dec. 27, 1878, after he had
arrived at the advanced age of seventy-two years.
He was also First Lieutenant in an Illinois cavalry
regiment in the late war, serving three years, and
by his bravery and attention to duty secured the
approval of his superiors and the respect of his
subordinates. The seven children of Mr. and Mrs.
Reel were named respective^', Martha A., now de-
ceased ; John F., of the firm of Curtis & Reel, who
are carrying on general merchandising at Oakland;
Kate I., Lidie A.; Nancy C., who died when three
months old ; Lina M. and William E.

Dr. Reel from a youth was piously inclined, and
was ordained a minister of the Cumberland Presby-
terian Church in October, 1867, and for four years
occupied the pulpit in various places in this part
of the State. He finally withdrew from the Pres-
bytery, being fully occupied with his farming and
his practice. He is a member in good standing of
the Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to Oak-
land Lodge No. 545, I. O. O. F., in which he has
been Treasurer and High Priest. He is also con-
nected with the G. A. R. as Surgeon of the order.
He occupies a high position among his professional
brethren, and is a man whose judgment and in-
tegrity are unquestioned.

GUNTHER WEISS, senior member of the
firm of Weiss & Son, is, with the latter,
proprietor of the Charleston Woolen Mills,
located at the intersection of Factory and West
Washington streets. The history of this well-to-
do, substantial resident and business man, is briefly
as follows: Mr. Weiss was born in the little village

of Lentenberg. in the Province of Schwarzburg-
Rudolstadt, Germany, July 6, 1823. His parents
were Christopher and Phillipena Weiss, natives of
the same locality. His father was a manufacturer
of cotton goods, giving employment to many
operators and carried on a large mercantile business.

In accordance with the laws and customs of his
native country, Gunther Weiss was placed in
school at an early age, where he pursued his studies
uninterruptedly until fourteen years old. He then
employed himself in the mills and store of his
father until after reaching his majority. He was
always of a reflective and ambitious turn of mind,
and determined to seek his fortune on the other
side of the Atlantic. Embarking on a sailing-vessel
at Liverpool, he landed at Galveston, Tex., and
occupied his time in various ways until the year
following, when the breaking out of the war with
Mexico afforded a means of employment to many
who were idle. Young Weiss, in common with
many others, enlisted as a soldier at the first call
for volunteers, becoming a member of the 1st
Texas Infantry, and serving under the immediate
command of Gen. Zachary Taylor. His army ex-
perience, however, only occupied him for about
five months, when the struggle ended, and he re-
ceived his honorable discharge. Then, in company
with two other gentlemen, he proceeded to New
Orleans, and engaged in the sugar trade, which
proved a venture in no wise remunerative^ as when
they closed out their business some months later,
our subject had but $6 to show for his labor.

In the spring of 1848, Gunther Weiss took up
his abode in the city of Cincinnati, where he re-
mained until 1852, and then longing for a sight of
the faces of his old friends, he embarked on a
steamer for his native land, receiving his passport
from the hand of Daniel Webster. He spent six
months in his native Province, and then, encour-
aged and refreshed for the further labors of life,
returned to the New World. Proceeding to Terre
Haute, Ind., he was successfully engaged for a
period of twenty-two years. In the meantime,
however, he had in 1866 once more visited his
native land, and made a specialty of informing
himself in regard to the latest improvements in
connection with machinery for the manufacture of

4

LIBRARY
OF THE

IlLltvO'S

COLES COUNTY.

53?

cottons and woolens. Thus armed he returned to
the United States and prepared to follow the busi-
ness of his father before him. The Charleston
Woolen Mills had already been established, and of
these Mr. Weiss assumed the management, in 1873,
although he had been connected with the business
as a partner since 1869. These mills have now be-
come a leading feature in the industries of Coles
County, and under the wise supervision of Mr.
Weiss have made good progress each year, giving
employment to twenty-five persons, and disposing
of goods mostly at wholesale. His eldest son is
employed as a traveling salesman, and gives
indication of possessing the same business talent
as his father, by whom he has been admitted as an
equal .partner.

The marriage of Mr. Weiss took place in 1850,
the lady of his choice being Miss Caroline Newhart,
a native of his own country, who emigrated to the
United States with her parents. Of the eight
children now included in the household circle, the
record is as follows: Otto, the eldest, has been
referred to heretofore; Emma is the wife of Alfred
C. Ficklin, of Charleston, and the mother of three
children — Orlando, Otto and Walter. Louise,
Aurora, Helena, Harry and Mamie are at home
with their parents; Adolph, the sixth child, is a
lumber merchant at Los Angeles, Qal. Mr. Weiss,
since assuming the rights of citizenship, has been a
stanch supporter of Republican principles, and
with his family, is a regular attendant of the
Presbyterian Church.

LIVER H. AMES, a gentleman of cultivated
tastes and good education, owns and occu-
pies a homestead on section 23, in North
Okaw Township, his property including 160 acres
of good land. His early advantages in life were
somewhat limited, but he made the most of his op-
portunities, and by the perusal of good books, and
associating with well-bred and educated people, he
has attained to a high position in his community,
and is numbered among .the intelligent and pro-
gressive men of Coles County. His land is mainly
devoted to general agriculture, although he raises
thoroughbred stock.

Mr. Ames is a native of Wayne County, Pa., his
birth taking place there Nov. 16, 1840. He is the
eldest child of Nelson W. and Nancy (Hoadley)
Ames, natives of the same county as their son.
The father was born Feb. 9, 1817. His paternal
grandparents were Joseph and Gertrude (Schenck)
Ames, who were among the earliest settlers of the
Keystone State, and upon first locating in Wayne
County were obliged to go forty miles to mill.
Both the parents and grandparents spent their lives
in Pennsylvania, and their remains were laid to
rest beneath its soil.

Our subject when a lad of nine years, was de-
prived by death of the affectionate care of his
mother. His father afterward married Miss Susan
A. Cramer, and Oliver H. remained at home until
reaching his majority. Upon leaving the parental
roof he was engaged by the month on a farm, and
continued thus occupied for three years. He was
married, May 4. 1864, to Miss Susanna S., daugh-
ter of James and Elizabeth (Morton) Whitney, the
wedding taking place at Charleston, this county.
Mrs. Ames was the second in a family of seven
children born to her parents, and remained with
them until her marriage. Her maternal grand-
father, Charles Morton, was the original founder
of the city of Charleston, and the court-house now
stands on land which he deeded to the city for
that purpose. Mrs. Ames received a good educa-
tion, and for several years taught school in this
county, being thus employed until a few months
after her marriage. The second .year the young
people repaired to the farm of Mrs. Whitney, in
Mattoon Township, and the third year our subject
purchased eighty acres of land on section 36, in
North Okaw Township. He occupied this but a
short time, however, when he rented a quarter sec-
tion adjacent, and operated upon that until pre-
pared to purchase. In 1879 he bought 120 acres
on section 23, to which he removed his family and
where he has since resided. His first great afflic-
tion occurred on the 12th of August, 1886, when,
the affectionate wife aurl mother was called hence,
leaving four children. As a lady she possessed
many amiable and lovable qualities, and was deeply
mourned by her family and numerous friends.
Mrs. Ames was born in Charleston, 111., Feb. 4,
•»

538

COLES COUNTY.

1 842, and was consequently a little over forty-four
years of age. One child had passed away before
the death of the mother. Those remaining are,
Willie II., Foster C., Harry D., Nellie and Gertrude.
The deceased child was a little daughter named
Mary O. Mrs. Ames was never very strong, and
finding herself afflicted with heart decease, went to
Kansas to remain for a time with her sister, and
there closed her eyes upon the scenes of earth.
She had been educated by her stepfather, Rufus
Pierce, and was a more than ordinary lady. She
had been a great sufferer, but bore her afflictions
uncomplainingly, and presented a beautiful exam-
ple of patience and resignation. While a professed
Christian, she had not formally identified herself
with any religious denomination, although an act-
ive worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Ames is determined to keep his little family
together, and give them all the advantages possible.
Our subject usually votes the Republican ticket,
but has very little to do with politics, bis fanning
and business interests absorbing the most of his
time and attention. Whatever leisure he has is de-
voted to reading and study. He has added to his
first purchase of laud, and is now the owner of 300
acres, all under cultivation and yielding some of
the finest products of the Prairie State. It is with
pleasure that the publishers present the portrait of
Mr. Ames in this volume, as that of one of the
representative men^of ColesTJounty.

J'OHN HALL RARDIN, a retired farmer of
Morgan Township, and residing in the town
which bears his name, is a prominent citizen
of Coles County, and a descendant of one of

the pioneer families of Illinois. He was horn Feb.
24, 1818, and is the son of Samuel and Catherine
(Light) Rardin. Samuel Rardin was born in Penn-
sylvania, Nov. 1(>, 1790, and was the son of John
and M. (Hull) Rardin, the former a native of Pitts-
burgh, Pa.

The mother of our subject was the daughter of
Jacob and Catherine Light, and was born in Cler-
mont County, Ohio. Dec. 5, 1790. Of her union
•with Samuel Rardin there were born twelve chil-

dren, eight of whom are now living: Jacob, John,
Frank and Nancy are residents of Morgan Town-
ship, this county, and the others have been at-
tracted by business interests to different places in
Missouri and Kansas.

While John Hall Rardin was still an infant, his
father settled in Kentucky, remaining there with
his family until their removal to Coles County in
1 842. The death of his parents occurred soon after
their arrival here; the father dying in July, 1843,
while John was away from home in Kentucky, and
the mother two years later, in 1845. Our subject
in 1844 purchased forty-four acres of land and was
married March 6, 1845, to Miss Melinda Clark, of
Coles County. Mrs. Rardin was the daughter of
Benjamin and Sarah (Hammonds) Clark, natives
of Kentucky, whence they removed to Illinois in
1831, and were among the earliest settlers of this
county. They located in what afterward became
Morgan Township, and here passed the remainder
of their lives. There were eight children in Mr.
Clark's family at the time of his daughter's mar-
riage, all of whom settled in Coles County, with
the exception of his son, William, who is a resident
of Kansas.

Mr. and Mrs. Rardin became the parents of six
children, of whom the record is as follows: Mary
Ann was born Feb. 13, 1846, became the wife of
Porter Johnson, and is now deceased; Benjamin,
born June 28, 1848, died Aug. 17, 1860; Samuel
was born Jan. 2, 1850; James K., June 28, 1851;
Willie W., born May 19, 1853, died Aug. 17, 1882;
and Robert Bruce, born June 2, 1855, died Dec.
13,1871. Mrs. Melinda (Clark) Rardin died March
13, 1857. The second wife of our subject was
Mrs. Rebecca A. Hurst. She was born April 17,
1825, and died April 17, 1865. Of this marriage
there was one child, Melinda Jane, born May 15,
1862; she is now the wife of John Calhoun, a resi-
dent of Morgan Township, and is the mother of
two children. The present wife of our subject, to
whom he was married Dec. 18, 1873, was formerly
Mrs. Nancy Campbell. By this marriage one son
was born, Feb. 3, 1875, and was named John Hall,
after his father.

Mr. Rardin added to his first purchase of land
until he now owns a fine farm of 440 acres. He

COLES COUNTY.

539

has always been an active and influential citizen,
and was the founder of the town which bears his
name. Karelin has a population of 150 inhabitants,
and contains a church, two stores, a doctor's office,
a blacksmith and saddler's shop, and an elevator.

Mr. Karelin has rented his farm and retired from
the cares of active business, and is passing the clos-
ing years of a busy and useful life in the ease and
enjoyment justly his due. Miss Alma Callahan is
a member of their family. She is the daughter of
Frank and Mary Ellen Callahan, and was born May
9, 1875. She has received a home in Mr. Ilardin's
family since her father's death. Her widowed
mother resides in Clark County, 111. Mrs. Rardin
is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, and is actively interested in promoting its
welfare. We place the portrait of Mr. Karelin in
this volume, among those of other representative
men of Coles County.

I

-*-

P. ORLAND, master mechanic of the I. &
St. L. R. R. at Mattoon, was born in Cuy-
ahoga County, Ohio, Nov. 18, 1843, and
is the son of William and Eliza (Powers) Orlaiid.
His parents were of English birth and ancestry,
and his father during his entire life engaged in
merchandising. His death took place on his native
soil in 1856. The mother survived her husband
for twenty-eight years, her death taking place in
1884. They were the parents of three children
only: Harry, engineer in the fire department in
the city of Cleveland; Annie, Mrs. Middleton, also
a resident of that city, and W. P., of our sketch.

Mr. Orland completed his eelucation in the city
schools of Cleveland, and when a youth of seven-
teen years commenced learning the machinist trade
in the Globe Iron Works, where he served an ap-
prenticeship of three years. He was then on the
lakes as engineer a year, when he returned to terra
firma and entered the employ of the C. C. It. R. Co.
with whom he remained three years. Upon leav-
ing Ohio he migrated to this State, but subsequently
returned to Cleveland, in the meantime being em-
ployed at his chosen vocation, and then attained to
the position of foreman. In 1884 he accepted his

present position, where he has since remained and
acquitted himself with credit. He has the super-
vision of 200 men, and as may be supposed, un-
derstands fully all his duties.

The wife of our subject was formerly Miss Alice,
the daughter of Addison and Mary (Goss) Hyde,
and they were married in 1865-. Mrs. Orland was
born in Ohio in 1847, and by her union with our
subject has become the mother of four children —
Herbert, Fannie and Frank, twins, and Clarence.
They occupy a neat residence on Wabash street,
and enjoy the society of a large circle of friends.
Mr. and Mrs. O. are members in good standing of
the Christian Church. Our subject, politically, is
a decided Republican, and socially, belongs to the
Knights of Pythias.

<jfl OHN W. BEAVERS, deceased. The history
of this late and highly respected resident of
Humbolt Township, is in its main points as
follows: He was born in Hampshire Coun-
ty, Va., in 1814, and was the eldest of a family of
eight children. He was educated in the common
schools of his native county, and during his youth
followed boating on the Potomac River, which he
continued until 1836, and for two years thereafter
occupied himself in teaming. He migrated west-
ward in 1838, locating first at Bourbon, Douglas
County, this State, where he resided two years, ami
then returned to the Old Dominion to fulfill the
pledge which he had made to his betrothed wife,
Miss Mary A. Madden. This lady was the daugh-
ter of Samuel and Ruth (Price) Madden, natives
of Virginia, and the mother a sister of Gen. Sterling
Price.

After his marriage Mr. Beavers locateel with his
young wife two miles from Cumberland, Md., on
the Virginia side of the Potomac River, where he
followed farming two years, and whence he re-
moved to another farm in that vicinity, where he
remained six years. He came West in 1852,
settling at once in Humbolt Township, where he
purchased 160 acres of wild land, and entered
industriously upon its improvement and cultiva-
tion. Four years later he crossed the Mississippi

540

COLES COUNTY.

into Washington County, Iowa, where, however, he
remained but a short time, and returning to Hum-
bolt Township, purchased 200 acres on section 35,
where in due time he engaged extensively in farm-
ing and stock-raising, and where he established a
comfortable home and spent his last days. His
death occurred on the 13th of April, 1875, and he
is remembered as a citizen who identified himself
with the best interests of his adopted county,
doing all in his power to further the welfare of the
people around him. He was the second Supervisor
representing the township on the County Board
and served as Road Commissioner many years. In
politics he was a stanch Democrat.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. Beavers, six in
number, were named respectively, Samuel M., John
B., Richard R., George W., Marcellus S. and Mary
E. These are all living with the exception of
George W.

HOMAS W. GRIMES, a prosperous farmer
w»vi and stock-grower, is a resident of Pleasant
Grove Township, and represents one of the
self-made men of Illinois, who have aided in mak-
ing this State famous in the annals of history for
the patriotism and the courage of its citizens in
war, and for their enterprise and prosperity in
peace. He is the son of Hezekiah and Frances
(Wood) Grimes, and was born Nov. 24, 1839, in
E.lkhart County, Ind. His family is of Irish ex-
traction. His grandfather, a native of Ireland,
came to the United States when a boy and settled
in Ohio.

Hezekiah Grimes was born near Chillicothe, Ohio,
Dec. 15, 1816. He passed his boyhood and youth
at home, and after his marriage to Miss Frances
Wood, who was likewise a native of Ohio, he re-
moved to Elkhart County, Ind. He remained
there several years, and in 1849 came to Illinois,
making his home in Cumberland County, near Coles.
The year following their removal to Illinois, Mrs.
Grimes died, leaving her husband with six mother-
less children, one child having died in infancy —
John S., Mary, Thomas W., Sarah, Nancy E. and
E. M. Mary is the wife of Jackson Gill; Sarah
married Jonathan Brewer; Nancy was the wife of

Seneca Rariden, and is now deceased. Mr. Grimes
subsequently married Miss Nancy Wells, of Terre
Haute, Ind., and of this marriage there were born
the following children: Martha Ellen, deceased;
William Theodore and Levi. He is still living, and
resides in Marshall County, Kan.

Thomas Grimes passed his boyhood on his father's
farm until he was fourteen years of age. He was
then apprenticed to the saddler's trade in Charles-
ton, but that occupation proved so distasteful to
him that he only served about four months, and then
returned to the farm. At the age of sixteen he
started out to begin the world for himself, with only
$2.50 in his pocket, having agreed to pay his father
$60 for the privilege of leaving home while a minor.
He was first employed as a wage- worker on the farm
of Col. Adams at Farmingtou, receiving$15 a month
for his services during the summer, and in the win-
ter attended school and worked for his board. He
was faithful and industrious and remained with Col.
Adams three years, and at the expiration of that
time was employed by Rev. John McDonald for
two years, at $16 per month. Thus, working hard
and attending school he grew to manhood, and on
Feb. 21, 1861, was married to Miss Mary J. Alli-
son, the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Ann
(Cathy) Allison, and born June 18, 1841, in Coles
County.

After his marriage Mr. Grimes engaged in farm-
ing until the following j'ear, and then left his busi-
ness and home to serve in the Civil War. He en-
listed and was mustered into service with Co. I,
123d 111. Vol. Inf. He proved himself a brave and
faithful soldier, taking part in all the battles in
which his regiment was engaged except that of
Perry ville. He was in the field hospital one
month at Louisville, Ky.,andat the battle near Mil-
ton, Teuu., received a gunshot wound over the
right ear, which confined him in the hospital three
months. After his return from the war he resumed
farming, and in 1870 settled on his present estate,
which contains 220 acres of valuable land. In
conducting his farm Mr. Grimes gives special at-
tention to stock-raising.

Mr. and Mrs. Grimes had a family of eight chil-
dren born to them, and experienced a deep sense
of loss in the death of two. William H., their first

COLES COUNTY.

541

horn, died at the dawn of manhood, and the next
child, a daughter, died in childhood. Those now
living are — -Loren K., John A., Andrew R., George
F., Charles J., and an infant daughter.

Mr. Grimes is upright and honorable in all of
his business dealings. He has never tasted a drop
of intoxicating liquor in his life, and his energy
and industry have met with the success which usu-
ally attends the exercise of such qualities, when
accompanied with temperate habits, and integrity of
character. He has been a member of the Presby-
terian Church since 1860 and is a Ruling Elder in
the same. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and
has served six years as Justice of the Peace.

OUIS W. M. PFEIFER, the owner of a fine
stock farm, a view of which appears on an-
other page, resides on section 20, Seven
Hickory Township. He was born Dec. 14, 1833,
in Saxony, Germany,- and is the son of Bernhardt
and Barbara (Bock) Pfeifer. Bernhardt Pfeifer was
born April 5, 1801. There were but two children
in his parents' family, himself and his brother Will-
iam. The latter married and had five children.
Bernhardt married Miss Barbara Bock in 1824-
They lived in Germany until 1868, and then left
their native land to visit their children, some of
whom had come to the United States and settled in
Coles County several years previous. Two years
after their arrival in America, Mrs. Pfeifer died in
Arcola at the home of her daughter, who accom-
panied them from Germany, and a few years after
the death of his wife Mr. Pfeifer returned to Ger-
many. After remaining there about a year he re-
turned to Illinois, and passed the closing years of
his life with his son, George M. Pfeifer. His death
occurred in February, 1880.

The parental family consisted of twelve children,
four of whom died in infancy. The record of
those remaining is as follows: Casper, born Oct. 5,
1827. resides in Germany, and has a large family
of children and grandchildren; Louis W. M. is the
subject of this sketch; Mary K., bora in 1836, is the
wife of Carl Tuein, a resident of this county, and
the mother of a large family of children; Michael,

born in 1838, was twice married, and has a family
of two children by his first wife; Edward, born in
1840, resides in Germany, and has a family of five
children; Dorothea, born in 1843, was the wife of
Julius Zehner, and had a family of three children
— Barbara, Nina and William; Mrs. Zehner died in
1874, when her son was four years of age, and he
was then adopted by his uncle, George Pfeifer;
Barbara is married and lives in Mattoon, and Nina,
since the death of her mother, has made her home
in the family of John J. Chaney, in Humbolt
Township. Mr. Zehner resides in Texas. Bern-
bardt came to Illinois, but after remaining two years,
returned to Germany ; he has a family of four chil-
dren. George M. is a prosperous farmer residing
in Seven Hickory Township.

Louis W. M. Pfeifer was a printer in Germany,
and was engaged in a publishing office in which
there were 800 employed at printing, forty at stere-
otyping and forty book-binders. He had also
learned the carpenter's trade, and when he came to
Illinois engaged in that occupation. On his ar-
rival in the United States he spent some time in
New Orleans, then traveled in Mississippi, and
finally went to Ohio, where he remained about
seven months. Desirous of thoroughly investigat-
ing the Western country, he extended his travels
to California, spending six months there, stopping
in Douglas and Coles Counties, 111., on the return
trip.

In 1857 our subject came to Arcola, and re-
mained there until 1862, when he entered the army
in the service of his adopted country, enlisting in
Co.K, 79th 111. Vol. Inf., in July, 1862. His regi-
ment was with Gen. Sherman in the campaign
against Hood, and -he took part in the five engage-
ments preceding the final brilliant siege of At-
lanta, when Hood, surrounded by the masterly tac-
tics of Sherman's army, was obliged to evacuate,
after first blowing up his magazines. He was taken
prisoner Nov. 30, 1864, at the battle of Franklin,
Tenn., and confined at Andersonville, and gained
his freedom after the assassination of President
Lincoln, when all prisoners were released. While
undergoing the horrors of imprisonment :it Ander-
sonville he contracted a disease which seriously im-
paired his health, and -he now draws a pension on

f

542

COLES COUNTY.

account of disability resulting from that cause. He
was mustered out of service June 6, 1865, and dis-
charged at Camp Butler, Springfield, 111., on the
24th of the same month.

On his return from the war Mr. Pfeifer came to
Illinois and engaged in farming in Douglas Count}',
remaining there one year. He then came to Coles
County and in the following year, 1867, purchased his
first land here. His entire estate contains 325 acres,
165 of which is located in Coles, and 160 in Doug-
las County. His land is all of excellent quality,
well cultivated and improved. He gives some at-
tention to raising graded stock, having about
twenty head of cattle and seven head of horses. In
1873 he erected his pleasant farm residence, and in
1878 built a large and well-appointed barn.

Mr. Pfeifer's marriage to Miss Jennie R. Long
took place Feb. 20, 1866, the year following his re-
turn from the war. Mrs. Pfeifer was born and edu-
cated in Ohio, and met her future husband while
on a visit to her sister, residing in Arcola, Douglas
Count}'. There were three children in her father's
family, two daughters and one son. Neither of
her parents are living, her mother having died
when she was an infant, and her father in 1878.
Mr. and Mrs. Pfeifer have an interesting family of
five children: Laura, born Oct. 5, 1868; John, May
25, 1871 ; Lawrence, March 30, 1873; Ida, Aug. 12.
1875; Elmore, Feb. 17, 1881. None of the family
have yet left the home circle. Mr. Pfeifer belongs
to the Lutheran Church at Arcola, and the children
were baptized in that faith; his wife is a member
of the Methodist Church. In politics he a strong
Republican.

eORTEZ B. O'HAIR, an energetic young busi-
ness man of Fair Grange, is of Irish descent,
his great-grandfather, Michael O'Hair, being
a native of County Down, Ireland, who emigrated
to America in Colonial times, and served in the
Revolutionary War. At the close of the war he
settled in Virginia, and subsequently in Mont-
gomery County, Ky., where Michael O'Hair, Jr.,
the grandfather of our subject, was born, July 10,
1801. At an early age the latter moved to Mor-
gan County, Ky., and was married, Nov. 16, 1820,

to Miss Lucre tia Boyles. In October, 1825, with
his wife and two children, he made the long and
wearisome journey to Illinois, riding 250 miles on
horseback. Upon the 28th of the same month,
with four horses, two of them heavily laden with
pack-saddles, they reached their journey's end,
locating five miles south of Paris, Edgar County,
on a farm which he owned at the time of his death.
By his energy, decision of character and benevo-
lence, he soon became well known to the early
settlers of this county. He was twice elected
Sheriff of the county, and held offices voted him by
the people for over thirty years. He aided in
building churches, schools, and many other valu-
able improvements. His house was very appropri-
ately styled the "Preacher's Tavern.''

Jesse O'Hair, the father of our subject, was born
March 28, 1828. and was married, Jan. 22, 1851,
to Miss Ella Jane Swango, of HazeJ Green, Ky.
She was born Jan. 8, 1833, in Morgan County,
Ky., and was the daughter of Abram Swango, and
grand-daughter of Samuel Swango, of Virginia.
Abram Swango was a prominent farmer and stock-
raiser, and a veteran of the second war with En-
gland, in 1812. Jesse O'Hair is one of the oldest
pioneers of Seven Hickory Township, having
settled upon the farm where he now resides June 1,
1854. At that time the prairie was one vast
wilderness, and the neighbors were few and many
miles apart, but here, on the uncultivated prairie,
he built his home. The household included seven
children, whose record is as follows: Abram L.,
born Oct. 18, 1851. married Miss L. Sketon, of
this county, and to them have been born three chil-
dren— Arley, Stella and Elmer; W. C., born Aug.
16, 1857, is at home with his parents; Cortez Boon,
the subject of our sketch, was born Jan. 30, 1860;
Gallic, born May 24, 1863, was married to George
W. Gaines, of Edgar County, Dec. 23, 1884, and
departed this life. Aug. 9, 1885; Ron E. was born
June 10, 1871; Stephen .and Laura E. died in in-
fancy.

Our subject is a native of this county, and spent
his early years amidst the surroundings and dis-
advantages of a new country. Notwithstanding
the limited advantages of the pioneer days he ob-
tained a fair education at the district schools, and

f

COLES COUNTY.

543

completed his studies at EnBeld Academy. He
then began to prepare for the more serious duties
of life. He remained under the home roof until
he reached his majority, working on a farm in
the summer time and teaching school dur-
ing the winter. In the spring of 1882 he was
elected Town Clerk of Seven Hickory Township,
and has since been elected four times. May 24,
1883, he was appointed Postmaster, and besides his
official duties, Mr. O'Hair is engaged in general
merchandising and also deals in grain and stock.

February 26, 1884, our subject was united in
marriage with Miss Mary E. Craig, Rev. J. P.
Tandy officiating. Miss Craig was born in this
county Jane 20, 1860, and is the daughter of
Robert and Angeline (Springer) Craig, natives of
Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Graig were the parents
of four children: Laura, wife of I. H. Patterson,
was born Nov. 8, 1856; William R., born April 2,
1858, married Miss Gertie Neeld, of New Albany,
Ind.; Joseph Edward, born Feb. 13, 1866. Mr.
Craig departed this life in Coles County, Nov. 1 4,
1866, and Mrs. C. was subsequently married to
Joseph M. Story, of St. Joseph, Mo., who died
Feb. 26, 1882. By her second husband there were
seven children — January, Lucy, Ernma, John, Min-
nie, Erwin and Nellie.

The children of our subject and wife are :
Grover, born Jan. 10, 1885, and Cleveland, March
18, 1886. Thus it will be seen that the boys of
Mr, O'Hair 'serve to perpetuate the full name of
the President, Grover Cleveland.

TEPHEN EMHUFF came to this county
in the spring of 1861, with his family, with
a small amount of money in his pocket, and
purchased a tract of railroad land on time, in Seven
Hickory Township. Since then he has labored in-
dustriously to build up a homestead, and when we
contemplate the fact that he is now the possessor of
292 broad acres under a good state of improve-
ment, well stocked, and furnished with a substantial
set of farm buildings, we must admit that he has
succeeded most admirably in his undertaking. He

has one of the finest dwellings on section 33, and
the adjacent out-buildings correspond with the resi-
dence. The farm machinery is of that character
employed by the modern and progressive agricult-
urist, and everything about the premises indicates
the good management of its proprietor.

Our subject was born in Silver Creek Township,
Clark* Co., Ind., Oct. 18, 1826, and is the son of
Elijah and Hila (Allen) Emiiuff, the former a na-
tive of Virginia and the latter of New York State.
They were married about 1820, in Clark County,
Ind., where they had both moved with their parents
while single, during the pioneer days. Our sub-
ject remained under the parental roof until reach-
ing his majority, then going into Kock Island Coun-
ty. 111., was there engaged five years in farming.
He then returned to his native State, settling in
Sullivan County, where he was similarly employed
six years, then came to Coles County, of which he
has since been a resident. He had received but a
limited education, but made the most of his advan-
tages and kept his eyes open to what was going on
around him.

While a resident of Clark County, Ind., Mr. Em-
huff was married, April 3, 1851, to Miss Martha
Wilson, a native of his own county, and the daughter
of John and Margaret (Jackson) Wilson. Her
father was a farmer by occupation, and the parental
household included twelve children, six now living
and six deceased. The latter are Harvey, Thomas,
William, John, and two who died in infancy.
Those surviving "are Rhoda Charlotte, Deliah, Ruth,
Levi, Martha and Dorcas. The children of Mr.
and Mrs. Emhuff were as follows : Emily, born in
Rock Island County, 111., 1853, became the wife of
Albert McCallister, and is living in Madison County,
Ind.; her two children were born in Coles County,
and are still living. William, born in Crawford
County, Ind., in 1855, married Miss Frances Jef-
fers, of the same State, and they are living on the
old homestead with Mr. and Mrs. Emhuff; they
have no children. Margaret, born in Sullivan
County, Ind., in 1861, became the wife of James
B. Toland, and lives in Coles County; she has be-
come the mother of two children, one living. Leroy,
born in Sullivan County, Ind., in 1858, is an in-
valid, and remains at home with his parents. Withi

544

COLES COUNTY.

the exception of this son the family are all mem-
bers of the Christian Church. Mr. E. votes the
straight Democratic ticket, and may in all respects
be termed an honest man and a good citizen.

Elijah Emhuff, the father of our subject, departed
this life at his home in Clark County, lud., in the
spring of 1 865. The mother had preceded her hus-
band to the other life, her death taking place from
cholera in about 1851. The parental household
included twelve children, of whom four only are
supposed to be living. They were named respect-
ively, Elizabeth. Andrew J., Stephen, Lametta,
Manley, Amanda, Lucy, Winchester, Calista, Nancy,
Archibald, and one who died in infancy.

JOHN CHILDRESS, a retired farmer and res-
ident of the village of Ashmore, is num-
bered among the honored pioneers of this
' State, to which he came from Alabama, in
1831, with his parents. They located on the State
line between Indiana and Illinois, and a few years
later came to this county, where our subject has
since remained. He has watched with intense in-
terest the development and progress of the Prairie
State, and by his industry and enterprise has con-
tributed his full quota toward the development of
its agricultural resources.

Mr. Childress was born in Alabama, Nov. 10,
1821, and is the son of Richard and Rebecca
(White) Childress, the father a native of Alabama
and the mother born in Tennessee, in 1801. Rich-
ard Childress. who was a member of the Christian
Church, departed this life at the homestead in
Coles County, 111., in 1867. The mother died in
Ashmore, Sept. 2. 1887. Her second husband was
James D. White, who died in Ashmore, Aug. 10,
1887.

John Childress was the eldest of his father's
family, and was reared to farming pursuits, receiv-
ing a limited education. He remained under the
home roof until reaching manhood, and was first
married to Miss Catherine Hogue, a native of Ed-
gar County, 111., and born the same year as her
husband, 1821. She departed this life at the home
of hor husband in Ashmore, this county, March 14,

1884. after having become the mother of a large
family of children, five of whom are deceased.
Their names are as follows: Newton, James M.,
Margaret, Isaac, Emma, William, Annie, Charles
F., Martha, Addie, Mary, Catherine and John.

For his second wife, Mr. Childress married Mrs.
Lucinda (Medley) Chisler, July 15, 1884. This
lady was born in Knox County, Ind., Feb. 11,
1834, and is the daughter of Joseph and Rachel
(Steward) Medley, natives of Kentucky. Joseph
Medley was born in 1781, and died Sept. 14, 1872,
or 1873. He followed farming the greater part of
his life, and was a man of excellent education,
holding a good position in his communit3~, and be-
ing prominently- connected with the Baptist Church.
The wife and mother, a lady of much personal
beauty, was born in 1783, and died of consump-
tion, March 15, 1854, at her home in Vigo County,
Ind. She also was a member of the Baptist Church.
The seven children of the parental household were
Cynthia A., Samuel, John, George W., Sarah, Mar-
tha and Lucinda. Mr. Medley was married the
second time, to a widow by the name of Waldon,
and they had one son, James. This lady died
about twenty-nine years ago.

The first husband of Mrs. Childress, Frederick
Chisler by name, was a native of Pennsylvania,
bora in 1824, and a prominent man in his town-
ship, where he held its various offices. He came
to this State in I860, taking up his residence in
Clark County, where he remained until his death.
They were the parents of two children — Joseph,
who is farming in Clark County, and Charles N.,
pursuing the same occupation in this county. The
latter married Miss Mary Morton, and they have
three children. Mrs. Childress adopted three chil-
dren, one at the age of seven years, one five 3'ears,
and one she took when nine days old. The two
boys are now married, and the girl, Minnie Berry,
remains with her.

Mr. and Mrs. Childress are members of the
Christian Church, in which our subject has served
as an Elder for many years. He has held the va-
rious offices of his township, and in all respects has
been one of its most enterprising and reliable citi-
zens. He has been the encourager and supporter
of every enterprise calculated to benefit his fellow-

t.

COLES COUNTY.

545

citizens, and has been closely identified with the
business and agricultural interests of this section
since first coming here. His natural abilities qual-
ified him early in life to assume grave responsibili-
ties, and for seven years he was engaged as a stock-
dealer in the interests of Jacob D. Early, of Terre
Haute, Ind., handling large suras of money, and
one year paid out $80,000.

The property of Mr. Childress includes 700 acres
of some of the finest land in Coles County. The
farm buildings are of the best quality, and con-
veniently arranged for the storing of grain and the
shelter of stock. The fences and machinery are
kept in good repair, and the whole premises indi-
cate the supervision of the intelligent and progres-
sive agriculturist. Mr. Childress also owns his
town residence, which is pleasantly located, and
where he is surrounded by all the comforts of life,
and enjoys in a marked degree the esteem of his
fellow-townsmen.

eLARK ELK IN, farmer and carpenter, is
pursuing the even tenor of his way as a
thrifty and industrious citizen, making his
headquarters at a snug homestead on section 4, in
Humbolt Township. He has been a resident of
Illinois for over twenty years, and with the excep-
tion of two years, has spent his time mostly in
Coles County. He first opened his eyes to the
light in Kenawha County, Va., 011 the 8th of May,
1832, and was the fifth in a family of seven chil-
dren, the offspring of Edley and.. Frances (Toney)
Elldn, also natives of the Old Dominion.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, Richard
Elkin by name, wa» a farmer by occupation and a
native of the eastern part of Virginia. The mother
of our subject, who in her girlhood was Miss Frances
Toney, was the daughter of Poindexter and F ranees
Jane (Lilley) Toney, who were among the earliest
settlers of the Old Dominion. Grand father Toney
was also a farmer, and served in the War of 1812.
They settled in Kanawha County while it was a
wilderness, reared a family, and built up a com-
fortable homestead.

The subject of this history learned the carpen-

ter's trade at an early age, and after reaching his
majority, left the parental roof to care for himself.
He first began farming on a portion of his father's
land, and not long after his twenty-first birthday
was married, Dec. 1, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth, the
third child in a family of eleven, the offspring of
James and Elizabeth (Kinder) Barker, natives of
Virginia. Mr. B. engaged in farming in Kanawha,
where he still resides, being about eighty-six years
old. Mr. Elkin lived ten years on his father's farm,
and after the outbreak of the late Civil War, enlisted
Feb. 11, 1862, in Co. G, llth W. Va. Vol. Inf.,
under command of Capt. Young. He was mustered
in at Colesmoutli, now St. Albans, and first detailed
to detached duty in the Kenawha Valley, where he
remained with his regiment nearly two years, but
aside from a skirmish now and then \\itii the enemy,
saw little of the darker side of war. Afterward
the regiment was assigned to Cook's command, and
went southwest to capture the Tennessee & Vir-
ginia Railroad. During this raid our subject with
his comrades was engaged in several important bat-
tles, and subsequently went to the Shcnandoah
Valley and remained with the command of Gen.
Sheridan from June until September. In the mean-
time occurred the battle of Winchester, and other
important engagements with the enemy.

Mr. Elkin, after the term of his first enlistment
had expired, re-entered the ranks and was promoted
from private through the intermediate grades to
First Lieutenant. He served in this capacity until
his honorable discharge in February, 1865, being
compelled to leave the scene of conflict on account
of ill-health, brought on by exposure and hardship.
Returning to his home in West Virginia he re-
mained until April following, then eaine North with
his family, and located first at Tuscola, Douglas
County, where he followed carpentering and build-
ing for two years. In 1867 he came to Humbolt
Township, and purchased his home place in the
village of Humbolt.

Mr. and Mrs. Elkin became the parents of eleven
children, seven now living, namely, Dryden P.,
born July 4, 1855; Frances E., June 11, 185'J:
John C., Aug. 14, 1862; Mary J., Nov. 15, 1866;
James E., Jan. 14, 1871 ; George T., Oct. 10, 1872,
and Dora E., Oct. 20, 1875. Those deceased are

COLES COUNTY.

i

Edward I., who died in infancy; Charles, Benjamin,
and Edward. Frances became the wife of R. B.
Finch, a farmer, and a resident of Humbolt Town-
ship, but who is now deceased; she is living in
Humbolt; Mary married John McWilliams, a far-
mer of Humbolt Township; the others are at home
with their parents. Mr. Elkin has given his chil-
dren the advantages of as good an education as his
means would justify, and fitted them to take their
rightful position in an intelligent community. With
his estimable wife and children he is a member and
regular attendant of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Humbolt. in which he officiates as Trus-
tee. Politically he uniformly votes with the Re-
publican party. He was elected Police -Magistrate
in 1885, the duties of which office he has since dis-
charged with credit to himself and satisfaction to
all concerned.

'DOLF SUMERLIN, the accomplished
y/j\\ editor and proprietor of the Commercial,

is one of the leading citizens of Mattoon.

He was born Aug. 24, 1851, in Keosauqua,
Van Buren Co., Iowa, and is the son of Rufus and
Isabell A. (McBride) Sumerlin, the former a native
of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky.
The parents of Rufus Sumerlin removed in 1836 to
Van Buren Count}', Iowa, and on Nov. 16, 1850,
his marriage took place in Keosauqua, his wife's
family having likewise settled there, at nearly the
same period. He was there taught the printer's trade
and ultimately purchased the Democratic Union, the
paper upon which he had worked as an apprentice.
He continued the publication of that journal about
three years, and in 1856 removed with his family
to Scotland County, Mo. After remaining there
until 1859, engaged in farming, he moved to Mem-
phis, and resuming his former business, established
a paper called the Memphis Democrat, subsequently
edited under the name of the Memphis Dispatch.
During the war, his printing-office was seized by
the Union troops, who took possession of the ma-
terials, and took them into camp for the use of Col.
Moore, for regimental work, but in 1864 they were

restored, and the business was purchased by a syn-
dicate, and Mr. Sumerlin resumed the mangement
of the paper, and continued its publication until
1865. He then removed to Shelby ville, 111., and pur-
chased the SIteUty County Leader, of W. A. Trower,
which he published until 1870, when it was re-
purchased by Mr. Trower, who has since retained
its management. Mr. Sumerlin then changed his
place of residence to Springfield, Mo., and there
purchased an interest in the Springfield Leader.
After remaining there two years he came to Mat-
toon, and finding that the only paper representing
the Democratic party had been suspended for about
two months, he purchased it, and assumed the
editorial management, associated with his son,
Adolf. The first issue of the Commercial, under
the control of Sumerlin & Son, appeared Oct. 3,
1872.

As all previous efforts to establish a Democratic
paper in Mattoon had failed, it was the general pre-
diction that the Commercial could not possibly suc-
ceed. However, in the face of many discouraging
obstacles, they undertook the hazardous enterprise,
and after the first year of ceaseless toil, it became an
acknowledged fact that, with economy and proper
management, it was possible to maintain success-
ful^ a Democratic paper in a Republican strong-
hold. Mr. Sumerlin and his son continued the
publication of the paper in partnership until 1876,
when Mr. Sumerlin sold his interest in the business
to his son. Feeling that a change of climate would
prove beneficial to his health he moved to Florida,
and there engaged in orange culture and farming.
He remained there until 1883, and then came to
Toledo, 111., where, associated with his son, Leon,
he purchased an interest in the Cumberland Demo-
crat. In 1885 he sold his interest in the paper to
his son, having been appointed Postmaster at To-
ledo by President Cleveland, which position he now
holds. Mr. and Mrs. Rufus Sumerlin had a family
of ten children, whose names are — Adolf, Eugene,
Lelia. Leon, Carrie, Rufus, William D., Orville, Guy
and Annie E. Eugene and Rufus are both dead.

Adolf Sumerlin commenced learning the printer's
trade when nine years of age, and at the age
of sixteen was intrusted by his father with the
mechanical department of his publishing office.

t.

COLES COUNTY.

547

The following year he assumed local and editorial
control of the Shelby County Leader, and at the age
of eighteen delivered his maiden speech at Roundy's
Hall. The law was his chosen profession, which he
then commenced reading with Messrs. Thornton &
Hall. In 1870 he moved to Springfield, Mo., and
finished his course of reading with Gov. John S.
Phelps. He applied himself closely to study, and
after passing an examination was admitted to the
bar, and was licensed to practice law in the Supreme
Courts of Illinois, Missouri and California. After
engaging in the practice of law for some time, he
came to Mattoon, 111., arriving in August, 1872.
Circumstances then led him to engage in the publi-
cation of the Commercial, associated with his father,
and when he purchased his father's interest in the
paper in 1876 it became necessary for him to bor-
row money for that purpose. The amount requisite
was obtained on one year's time, with the positive
promise of its renewal at the end of the year, but
when the time for payment came, the note was sued
and judgment obtained. All efforts to borrow the
necessary amount were unsuccessful, although the
best of security was offered. In the autumn of
1877 he went to California, in the hope of obtain-
ing assistance from a relative residing in San Fran-
cisco, but failing to realize his anticipations in that
respect, he remained there and engaged in the
practice of law in Oakland, and was laying the
foundation for future success in that profession,
when word reached him that arrangements had been
made whereby all the time necessary would be
given to pay off the judgment and costs. In the
meantime the office had been seized by the sheriff
and was offered to G. E. Mason on condition that
he would assume the obligations, which proffer he
declined. On receiving this news, Mr. Sumerlin
decided to relinquish his flattering prospects in Cali-
fornia, and returned to Mattoon, again assuming
the entire management of the Commercial. At the
close of two years he had cancelled the judgment,
interest and costs, and all claims against the office
and himself personally were paid to the last cent.
On Oct. 15, 1878, he was married to Miss Lucy
Townley, a native of Moultrie County, 111.

Mattoon Township is Republican by 200 major-
ity, but in 1879 Mr. Sumerlin was elected Assistant

-*•

Supervisor by 250 majority. The following year
he was defeated by W. H. Lewis by eleven votes.
As candidate for the Legislature in 1882 he carried
the county by 197 majority over Ewing. He was
elected Supervisor over T. P. C. Lane by 170 ma-
jority in 1884, and the following year was re-elected
by a majority of sixteen. In 1884 he was elected
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, and re-
elected the following year. As an impartial Chair-
man he gained the respect of every member of the
respective Boards, and in discharging the duties of
his various official positions won the esteem of all his
colleagues. The only fault with which he was ever
charged was that of showing too much liberality to
the poor, yet in every instance where assistance
was given, it was proved to have been judiciously
done, and the relief afforded to have been an abso-
lute necessity to the recipients. He never exercised
generosity for display or political effect, and by his
careful investigation of every applicant for aid, the
county was protected from imposition, and the
worthy, who were in distress, received the assistance
necessary. June 28, 1886, he was a candidate for
the office of County Judge, and was defeated by his
opponent by a majority of 120, in a total vote of
6,180.

That Mr. Su merlin has made a wise disposition
of his time and talents may be judged by the
amount and quality of the work performed. He is
thoroughly acquainted with every branch of the
mechanical department of a printing-office, and as
an editor and business manager has met with ap-
proval and success. During a residence of fourteen
years in this county, so universally honorable have
been his dealings in all the relations of life, that he
has won encouragement and appreciation in both
business and social circles. Aside from what he has
accomplished in the wide field of journalism and
law, he has found time to take an active part in
conventions and every political campaign. He is
interested in all the social and political proulems of
the day, and in his newspaper and speeches has ad-
vocated the freedom of labor from the environments
which have been woven around it by shrewd
schemers, designing politicians, and soulless corpora-
tions. He abhors chicanery and detests intrigue.
The lectures lie has prepared upon various topics

548

COLES COUNTY.

have been highly commended by competent judges.
Mr. Sumerlin is a member of several secret
orders. He has passed through the chairs of Har-
mony Lodge No. 551, I. O. O. F., and represented
that body in the Grand Lodge; for three years he
has been Master of Circle Lodge No. 707, A. F. &
A. M., and is Eminent Commander of Godfrey
de Bouillon Commanclery No. 44, K. T., stationed
at Mattoon, 111.

<i|?OHN RANK1N, a farmer and stock-grower,
I residing on section 24, .Seven Hickory
Township, was born Nov. 25, 1832, in Floyd
County., Ind., and is the son of Robert and
Maria (Taylor) Kankin, the former a native of
North Carolina, and the latter of Indiana. 'Mrs.
Rankin died when John was about two years old,
leaving a family of three children, all of whom are
now living: Thomas, a farmer residing in Floyd
County, Ind., where he was born, has a family of
four children; John, the subject of this sketch, and
Elizabeth Jane, the wife of A. J. Stephenson, a'
brickmolder, residing in Hendricks County, Ind.
They have one child.

Robert Ratikin was thrice married. His second
wife was Miss Clarinda Matherly, and by this mar-
riage three children were likewise born, two of
whom are now living. Mr. Rankin's last marriage
was with Miss Rachel Knight, who became the
mother of one child. Mr. Rankin is still living in
Floyd County, Ind., and is over fourscore years of
age. In his younger life he possessed excellent
business qualifications, and was one of the leading
men in the community where he resided. He lived
in the early days when educational privileges were
very limited, and did not entertain a high opinion
of book-learning, giving his time and strength to
hard work, regarding that as the most important
factor of life, and bringing his children up accord-
ingly.

John Rankin left home when fifteen years of age,
and found employment at teaming, assisting his
father with his earnings until he was twenty-one,
iilthough lie did not live at home. He had no
school advantages whatever, and this privation has

been a source of keen regret to him throughout
life. At the age of twenty-five he was married to
Miss Elizabeth Roberts. Mrs. Rankin was born in
Washington County, Ind,, and is the daughter of
John and Rachel (Kenoyer) Roberts, the former a
native of Virginia, and the latter of Ohio. Mr.
Roberts' family removed to Kentucky when he was
a child, and after his marriage he went to Indiana.
Mr. and Mrs. Roberts' family consisted of seven
children, four of whom are living.

Mr. and Mrs. Rankin had a famity of six chil-
dren born to them, of whom Mary, Mintie and
Emma died in infancy ; Richard, a resident of Mor-
gan Township, married Miss Mary K. Steff, and
has one child ; Arthur and Nettie reside at home.
The three latter were born in this county. Mr.
Rankin takes great interest in the education of his
children, having felt so deeply his own lack of
privileges in that respect. In his bo3'hood he al-
ways desired to study and acquire knowledge, but
neither the time nor opportunity were afforded him
for that purpose, and it is now his especial en-
deavor to give his children all the advantages
within his reach.

Mr. Raukin came to Coles County in 1862, and
settled in Seven Hickory Township, working on
rented land until about 1882, when he bought forty
acres of excellent well-improved land, where he
now resides, and is engaged in general farming and
stock-raising. He has contended with, and success-
fully overcome, many obstacles in life, working his
way steadily upward. In politics Mr. Rankin al-
ways votes with the Republican party.

-iwjAMES M. HALL is the proprietor of 100
acres of good land on section 3G, in Hutton
Township, with a dwelling picturesquely
located on the banks of the Embarras

•cy—^x

River about four miles southeast of Charleston.
His early years were spent in Breckinridge County,
Ky., where his birth took place Feb. 2, 1 833, and
he came to this county when a young man twenty-
one years of age. He had remained with his
parents during these years, working on the farm
mid receiving no schooling whatever. He may

COLES COUNTV.

549 , .

thus be properly styled a self-made man, for he has
taken advantage of every opportunity to improve
his mind, and bears fair comparison with the in-
telligent and progressive men around him.

Sylvester Hall, the grandfather of our subject,
was a native of Virginia, whence he removed first
to Nelson County, Ky., and afterward to Breck-
inridge County. In the latter he purchased a
tract of laud, where he built up a comfortable
homestead and passed the remainder of his life.
He had married Miss Mary Hall, a native of Vir-
ginia, and they became the parents of the follow-
ing-named children : Preston, Michael, Frances,
Betsey, Mary, Susan, Sarah, Margaret, Powell.
William, Edward, Jane and James. The grand-
mother also died at the homestead in Breckinridge
County, Ky.

Among the sons of Sylvester and Mary Hall was
William, who became the father of our subject.
He was born in Breckinridge County, Ky., and
made his home with his parents until kis marriage,
receiving a common-school education. The maiden
of his choice was Miss Frances, the daughter of
William and Lucy (Stone) Gannaway, natives of
the Old Dominion, who emigrated to Breckinridge
County, Ky., during its early settlement. After
his marriage William Hall entered a tract of land
in his native county, where he followed farming
about eighteen years and in the meantime studied
medicine, becoming a successful practitioner. He
followed his profession until his death, which took
place in 1877. Both parents were active members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother
departed this life in 1842. Their nine children
were, Thomas J., Christian, William S. ; James M.,
of our sketch; Christopher C., Mary, Henry H.,
Lucy V. and Martha G. Lucy and Christopher are
the only ones living besides our subject. The
former is the wife of George Allgood, and they
are residents of Breckiuridge County, Ky.

After coming to this county our subject worked
as a farm laborer for about three years, and at the
expiration of this time was married, Dec. 24, 1857,
to Miss Nancy Hall, who was born in Coles County,
June 4, 1842. Her parents, Michael and Milly
(Glasscock) Hall, were natives respectively of
Fairfax County, Va., and Breckiuridge County,

Ky. Michael .Hall was born April 5. 1799, and
his wife, Milly, May 13, 1803. They were married
Aug. 2, 1821, and became the parents of ten chil-
dren, namely, John P., Eliza J., James, all de-
ceased; Amanda M.; Cordelia A., Mary and Min-
erva, deceased ; Lucinda, Wade and Nancy.
Wade served as a Union soldier in the late war, be-
longing to the 123d Illinois Infantry. He enlisted
for three years, on during the war, and died at
Munfordville, Ky., in December, 1863.

After his marriage Mr. Hall carried on the farm
of his father-in-law seven years. At the death of
the latter Mrs. H. inherited sixty acres, and with
the forty that Mr. Hall already owned they now
have one of the most comfortable homesteads in the
southeastern part of Coles County. Of their mar-
riage there have been the following children :
Lucinda E., born Oct. 14, 1858, and married Aug.
15, 1875, to Monroe Edwards, of Coles County;
William W., who was born Dec. 7, 1860, and mar-
ried Miss M. Bughers, now deceased; Mary Jane,
born Sept. 30, 1862, and the wife of William E.
Waltrip, of this county; Amanda M., born Aug.
26, 1864, and the wife of John Neese, also of this
county; Milly F., who was born Jan. 1, 1867,
married William Gillfinlen, and died at the home
'of her husband, March 11, 1883; Nancy A., born
Jan. 1, 1869, died July 4, 1872; Emma E., born
March 12, 1871, died the following September;
Catherine R. B'., born Nov. 23, 1872; Sarah L.,
Nov. 14, 1874; James S., Sept 12, 1877; Alice E.,
July 17, 1880, and Daisy O. Z., Sept. 9, 1883.

Mr. Hall cast his first Presidential vote for
Abraham Lincoln, and since exercising the right of
suffrage has uniformly supported the principles of
the Republican party.

GEORGE SANDOE, pastor of the
Church of God at Charleston, is a native
of Lancaster County, Pa., bom Dec. 31,
1826. and the son of Adam and Nancy
(Moore) Sandoe, also natives of the Keystone State,
where the father followed milling all his life. The
paternal grandfather of our subject, George Sandoe
by name, was a native of France, and emigrated to

I

t , 550

COLES COUNTY.

America in 1750, settling at the mouth of the Kas-
kaskia River, in this State, among the French colo-
nists, a history of whom is closely interwoven with
that of tbre southern part of Illinois. He finally
returned East to Pennsylvania, where his death
took place in about 1825.

Of the nine children born to Adam and Nancy
Sandoe, seven are now living, namely, Barbara,
Mrs. C. Doble; George, of our sketch; Mary, Mrs.
Buckwalter; Hannah, Mrs. Simons; Keziah; Eliza-
beth. Mrs. High, and Sarah. The wife and mother
departed this life at the family residence, in 1845.
Adam Sandoe survived until the spring of 1858,
and then joined his life companion on the other
shore. He never united with any religious denom-
ination, although a believer in Christianity. The
mother was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

The subject of this biography spent his boyhood
days on a farm, and also worked in the mill about
four years, becoming thoroughly acquainted with
the business. He was a thoughtful and studious
lad. and at an early age evinced the inclination of
his mind for pious things. In the spring of 1851
he was sent to Clark County, this State, by the
Board of Missions of the East Pennsylvania Elder-
ship of the Church of God, of which he had become
a member in 1848, to establish churches. This he
successfully accomplished, and was placed in charge
of the mission which extended into Macon County.
He was thus employed until the outbreak of the
late war, and in 1861 enlisted in Co. G, 123d Mtd.
Inf., as Sergeant of the company, becoming Chap-
lain of the regiment in 1865. He was also on de-
taehed duty as Ordnance Sergeant, and after a
faithful service of three years, retired from the
army with a good record, the respect of his supe-
rior officers, and the good-will of his subordinates.
He now took up his life work as a general evangel-
ist throughout the State, and for two years trav-
eled continuously. In 1883 he took up his resi-
dence at Charleston, and since that time has trav-
eled mostly throughout Cumberland and Edgar
Counties. He is now pastor of three churches,
which keep him busily employed. In 1884 he was
appointed as a delegate to attend the State Conven-
tion which nominated Richard . G. Oglesby for
Governor, and took an important part in the noin-

ination of the present State Executive. It is hardly
necessary to say. in view of this fact, that he be-
longs to the Republican party. He is also con-
nected with the G. A. R.

The marriage of Rev. George Sandoe and Miss
Mary Rupp, of Clark County, 111., took place in the
spring of 1854, and they first located in their snug
little home at Martinsville, Clark County, in the
year 1860. Their living children are Emma, Mrs.
H. Cunningham, of Martinsville; Effie, Mrs. B.
Cook, of Kansas, who has two children — Verney
A. and B. L. ; Bertie and George B. The oldest
child, Josie K. White, died on the 16th of Decem-
ber, 1886, and left three children— Zackey B., Em-
ma and Effa White.

The'property of Mr. Sandoe includes his fine lit-
tle farm of thirty acres in Clark County,, and his
present home at Charleston. He purchased the
four acres of land embraced in the latter in March,
1886, and put up a neat and substantial residence,
with the other buildings necessary for comfort and
convenience, and here lives respected by his friends
and neighbors, doing good as he has~ opportunity,
and making the;most of a life inclined. to industry
and usefulness.

A. BENSLEY is the owner of a fine estate
containing 360 acres of valuable, well-im-
proved land, located on section 21 (11. 10)>
Hutton Township, where he carries on an extensive
business in farming and stock-growing. He was
born Aug. 6, 1865, in Delaware County, Ohio, and
is the son of John and Tirzah (Knapp) Bensley.
His paternal grandfather, also named John, was a
native of Germany, where he was born July 6, 1706.
In 1776, when a boy only ten years of age, he ac-
companied his older brothers, William and Israel,
to the United States. They settled on the North
River in Delaware, and after remaining there about
one year, removed to Tioga County, Pa., where
they purchased laud and resided for several years.
John Bensley, Sr's., marriage to Miss Mary Wilson
took place there, and soon after this event Mr.
Bensley removed to Hamilton County, Ohio. After
remaining there a few years, he removed to Dela-

COLES COUNTY.

ware County, making that place his permanent
home. His death occurred Aug. 10, 1853, and his
widow, who survived him but a short time, died in
1856.

John Bensley, Sr., reared a family of ten children,
whose record is as follows: James, born Oct, 21,
1791, married Miss Kate Pope; both are deceased.
William, born Dec. 10, 1792, served in the War of
1812, and was in Hull's surrender; he died soon
after his return home. Anna, born Nov. 10, 1794,
married Philip Place, and after his death was mar-
ried to Daniel Carpenter, and both are now de-
ceased ; three children were born to the first mar-
riage, and five to the second. Betsy, born Jan. 17,
1797, was the wife of Samuel Alexander, and both
are deceased; Mary, born July 26, 1799, was the
wife of Nathan Taylor ; both are deceased. Cathe-
rine, born Aug. 3, 1802, was the wife of David
Skeels, and after his death she married Caleb Brun-
didge; three children were born to the second
marriage, and one to the first; she is now dead, and
likewise both husbands. Rachel, born Aug. 22, 1 804,
married John Pint; both died, leaving seven chil-
dren. John, the father of our subject, born Jan. 31,
1807; Israel, born Sept. 18, 1809, married Miss
Etfie Quinby, and died in the Indian Territory,
where his widow is now living; Thomas, born Nov.
5, 1815, married Miss Rebecca Martin.

John Bensley, father of our subject, was born in
Tioga County, Pa., and was six years of age when
his parents removed to Ohio. The school privileges
of that early day were very limited, and he received
only a rudimentary education. He lived on the
homestead with his parents until twenty-one years
of age, and at twenty-three his marriage to Miss
Tirzah Knapp took place, May 4, 1828, in Delaware
County, Ohio. Mrs. Bensley was born May 3, 1808,
in Tioga County, Pa., and is the daughter of Ed-
w.ard and Esther Knapp. Her parents were natives
of Vermont, and her father served in the Revolu-
tionary War and the War of 1812. After his mar-
riage, Mr. Bensley rented land in Delaware County,
Ohio, and was engaged in farming there about ten
years. At the expiration of that time, in the autumn
of 1 838, he removed to Hutton Township, Coles Co.,
111. He made the journey, which occupied several
days, by wagon, with his wife and four children.

On his arrival here he entered eighty acres of land
in Hutton Township, which 'was covered with a
growth of white oak timber. The country was al-
most a wilderness at that time ; cold weather was
approaching, and to provide shelter for his family,
Mr. Bensley built a log house in the primitive
fashion, which his wife endeavored to render as
cheerful and comfortable as 'possible. The few
settlers of that early day were separated from each
other by wide stretches of desolate prairie and
lonely .woodland, but heart}' good-will and gener-
ous feeling prevailed among them. Each was ready
to lend a helping hand to his neighbor in raising a
log cabin, lending a team, or some useful fanning
utensil, many times going five or six miles to render
these kindly services.

Mr. Bensley cleared and improved his land, and
purchased more until he acquired a fine estate con-
taining 180 acres. The nearest grain markets at
that time were Terre Haute, Chicago and St. Louis,
and he frequently conveyed his produce to either
one or the other of these points, purchasing gro-
ceries and provisions for his family and transporting
goods thence for the merchants at Charleston.
Sportsmen had ample opportunity to test their skill
on the wild fowls, deer and wolves, with which the
prairies abounded.

The family, which also included Grandmother
Knapp, moved in the year 1850 by ox-team to Jo
Daviess County, remaining there about one year.
On their return home, in fording a creek, the waters
of which were swollen by recent rains, the old
family Bible received a baptism in the floods, which,
however, did not injure its precious truths, the
bulwarks of all that is grand and true and noble in
the foundation of this great Western country.
The book has been carefully preserved and is in
Mr. Bensley's possession. He is now eighty years
of age, and is still hale and heart}', although he has
been a sufferer from asthma for the last forty years.
With his wife, Mr. Bensley was a member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and both were inter-
ested in promoting the "cause of religion on the
Western frontier. Mrs. Bensley died Sept. 24,
1877, and is buried in Hutton Churchyard. Their
family consisted of psix children: Mary, born
March 14, 1829, was married March 9, 1848, to

t . 552

COLES COUNTY.

Russell McMorris, and died June 7, 1857, leaving
two children; Stephen J., born Feb. 21, 1831, was
married Feb. 20, 1851, to Miss Mary E. Stull, and
resides in Cumberland County ; Charles K., born
June 28, 1833. was married Feb. 14, 1856, to Miss
Drusilla Anderson, and likewise resides in Cum-
berland County; Thomas A., the subject of this
sketch; Lavinia A., bom June 15, 1841, was mar-
ried in September, 1859, and died Dec. 12, 1860;
and Tirza A., born Feb. 16, 1844, was married Dec.
22, 1867, to Bennet House, and resides in Cumber-
land County.

Thomas A. Bensley received the best common-
school education which the pioneer days afforded,
and assisted his father in cultivating the farm, re-
maining at the homestead until his marriage with
Miss Eliza J. Black, which took place March 7,
1861. Mrs. Bensley was born Aug. 29, 1842, in
this county, and is the daughter of David and Tem-
perance (Stull) Black, the former born Feb. 20,
1823, in Alabama, and the latter Aug. 8, 1828, in
Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Black are members of the
Baptist Church and now reside in Huttou Town-
ship. Their family consisted of seven children;
Eliza J. ; Jonathan, deceased in childhood ; Permelia,
the wife of Leonard Wooleaver; William S. died
at the age of twenty-one; Serilda, the wife of John
W. Dunn, resides in Diona; John R. married Miss
Lillias Vantassel, and Harriett L., the wife of Louis
Hill. John R., Mrs. Wooleaver and Mrs. Hill are
residents of Cumberland County.

After his marriage, Mr. Bensley removed, Aug.
21, 1864, to Union Township, Cumberland County,
where he purchased eighty acres of improved land,
and carried on a successful business nine years. At
the expiration of that time his parents, who were
advanced in years, desired rest from the cares of
active business and he returned and purchased the
homestead, which contained 100 acres, paying the
other heirs their proportion of the estate. His
parents made their home with him, and his mother's
death occurred there a few years later. Mr. Bens-
ley possesses excellent business qualifications, and
now owns a large estate, where he is extensively
engaged in farming and stock-raising. There are
three excellent frame residences on his property,
and he has recently'built a commodious, well-ap-

pointed barn on the homestead, a view of which
appears elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. and Mrs. Bensley have three sons: Erastus
A., born Jan. 10, 1862, married Miss Miranda
Johnson, Nov. 23, 1885, and resides in Mutton
Township; George W., born March 14, 1861, mar-
ried Miss Lovitha J. Stull, Nov. 21, 1866, and re-
sides on a farm belonging to his father, and Daniel
O., born June 20, 1867, resides on the homestead.
Having no daughter in their family Mr. and Mrs.
Bensley reared in their household Miss Leota
Schuyler. She was born Feb. 16, 1868, and is the
daughter of William and Angelina Schuyler. Her
father died during her childhood and she subse-
quently made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Bensley
until her marriage with George McMorris, which
occurred Nov. 21, 1886.

Mr. Bensley had always resided with his parents
with the exception of the nine years passed in
Cumberland County, and in 1876 he disposed of
his property there. He is interested in educational
affairs, and in all measures tending to promote the
welfare of the community. In politics, he is a
Democrat, casting his first vote for James Bu-
chanan, and has been elected to the offices of Super-
visor and School Director by that party. With his
wife, he is a member of the Free Baptist Church.

ON. THOMAS L. McGRATH, of Mattoon,
was born in Boston, Mass., June 6, 1852,
and is the son of Michael and Margaret
(Farrell) McGrath, natives of Ireland. The
parents came to America in 1850, settling in Boston,
where the}' spent three years or more, and after a
brief residence at Lockport, N. Y., proceeded
westward to this State, locating about six milus
south of Lincoln, in Logan County, where they en-
gaged in farming until the death of the father,
which took place in 1863. The mother is still liv-
ing and a resident of Lincoln.

The sons and daughters of Michael and Margaret
McGrath, seven in number, were, Rebecca, now
Mrs. P. M. Smith, of Peoria; Patrick L., of Mt.
Pulaski; Thomas L., our subject; M. H. and D. E.,
physicians of Chicago; John J., a student at Rush

OF THE
:I:"I"-:RUITY OF ILLO'S

COLES COUNTY.

555

Medical College, and Margaret, also a resident of
the Garden City. Thomas L. attended the district
school until fifteen years of age, and afterward
pursued his studies in the State University at Nor-
mal. When sixteen years of age he commenced
teaching in Logan County, reserving his wages for
the purpose of continuing his studies in the Nor-
mal School and where, after another thorough
course, he was graduated in 1872. He afterward
taught in Montgomery County, and subsequently
became Principal of the public school at Equality,
111. In 1874 he occupied this position in connec-
tion with the High School at Butler, 111.

In the meantime Mr. McGrath occupied his
leisure hours in the study of law and was admitted
to the bar at Springfield, in January, 1876. He
began his practice at Sullivan, whence, in 1878, he
removed to Mattoon, where he has since remained
and acquitted himself in a most creditable manner
as an attorney and counselor. In 1879 he was
elected as City Attorney of Mattoon, serving two
years, and was re-elected in 1883. In 1886 he was
elected to represent the people of his district in
the State Senate, becoming an efficient member of
that body and introducing some valuable measures.
Besides thus educating himself he has assisted his
brothers and sisters in their pursuit of knowledge,
and has thus, by his example, been the encourager
of those elements of character most valued in an
intelligent community. Mr. McGrath has uni-
formly voted the straight Republican ticket, and
given -his time mainly to his practice.

ENNIS HANKS. One of the well-known
and familiar names of Coles County is
that of Dennis Hanks. He is noted, like
many other men are and have been, on ac-
count of his connections with the noblest character
of his generation, Abraham Lincoln. The two
passed their boyhood together, sleeping in the same
bed and engaging in the same labors and sport.
One arose from the humble position in which they
both lived to the most exalted station in the Nation,
while the other grew up only to be a respected
farmer in the community in which he has lived for
a half century, and to admire his companion and

to know that any trust reposed in him would never
be betrayed.

The Flankses and Lincolns were considerably
mixed up in their family relations. They came
from Indiana together, lived in the same house,
and Dennis Hanks married the daughter, Sallie
Johnston, of the second wife of Thomas Lincoln.
Dennis Hanks was born in Kentucky and lived,
prior to his removal to Indiana, in Hardin County.
In speaking of his removal to the latter-named
State, he says, "At that time Indiana was a desper-,
ately sickly place. Miasma poisoned the atmos-
phere. There was no doctor near. We were there
in the year 1825, when Jackson and Adams ran for
President. I was then but nineteen years of age,
yet I acted as Clerk of Election and actually voted
for Jackson, therefore I have voted for him three
times. There was a school in the neighborhood.
Sallie and Abe went to school. I first taught him
to spell and read and write. I made the first pen
that he ever had. I killed a buzzard and took his
wing feathers for pens, as there were no geese in the
settlement. We either used buzzard or wild turkey
feathers. Abe's first pen was made of a buzzard's
quill. Afterward he went one quarter to a sub-
scription school kept by Josiah Crawford, from
Kentucky, who lived about a mile away and taught
a school. He was a pretty good scholar."

Dennis Hanks became a pioneer of this county
at an early day, and has been an honest, hard-
working man for these many years, and now, in the
sunset period of life, he looks back with the pleas-
antest recollections, and well he may, to the days
when the man this Nation will always love to
honor was his constant companion. We take
pleasure in presenting the portrait of this friend of
our martyred President in this volume. He is a
worthy and highty respected citizen of the county
and one whose features the generations to follow
will be glad to look upon.

OTHER J. NORTON, a farmer, and dealer
in fine cattle and horses, has for many years
been a prominent figure among the business
and agricultural interests of East Oakland Town-
ship. He is a native of this State, born in Edgar

556

COLES COUNTY.

County, Feb. 1C, 1858, and the son of John A. and
Mary E. (Hanger) Norton, both natives of Ohio.
John Norton was born in Madison County, March
21, 1826, and departed this life in August, 1859,
meeting his death in a painful manner by being
thrown from a horse in front of his own door, and
dying three days later. The animal was young and
spirited, and the saddle-girth broke, throwing the
rider in such a manner that his" neck was fractured
and recovery impossible.

The mother was born in Fairfield County, March
30, 1 829, and after the death of Mr. Norton became
the wife of George W. Ashmore. The latter gentle-
man was killed by a runaway team, dying almost in-
stantly from the injuries received. He was a stock
trader, and had accumulated considerable property
in Oakland, where he was a prominent business
man. He was sixty-five years old at the time of
his death. This lady became the mother of six
children, three by Mr. Ashmore and three by Mr.
Norton. The latter included Clara L., who mar-
ried L. D. Carter, of this place; Laura A., who
died in infancy, and Luther J., of our sketch.

In 1878 Mr. Norton engaged in business with his
step-father, with whom he continued until 1885,
and then commenced the breeding of fine stock,
making a specialty of horses of different breeds,
but principally Kentucky and Hambletonian. He
is an excellent judge of horseflesh, and takes great
pride in exhibiting his fine animals, which are sec-
ond to none in this part of Illinois. His 300-acre
farm provides ample facilities for the carrying on
of his business in a first-class manner, and his ex-
cellent judgment uniformly insures him success in
this department.

The marriage of Luther J. Norton and Miss
Florence I. Zimmerman, a native of East Oakland
Township, was celebrated at the home of the bride
Oct. 25, 1882. Of this union there is one child,
Clara, born March 22, 1 887. The residence of our
subject and his family is a handsome and conven-
ient structure, pleasantly located, and forms a hos-
pitable and attractive resort for their many friends.

The Norton family is of English origin. One of
the early representatives in this country was Aaron
C., the grandfather of our subject, who was born
Sept. 21, 1798. He was the sou of Solomon Nor-

«• i

ton, who was born in 1751, and lived to be one
hundred and one years old. The family was quite
prolific, and the sons and daughters became highly
respected members of society. Mr. N. was reared
in the doctrines of the Methodist Church, but Mrs.
N. is connected with the Old-School Presbyterians.
The Zimmerman family were probably originally
Whigs, and the later members have been strong
Republicans. Mr. Norton is one of the stanchest
advocates of Democratic doctrines.

A. MARTIN, a worthy representa-
tive of the agricultural interests of Hum-
bolt Township for the last fifteen years, has
been successfully engaged in general agri-
culture and stock-raising on his finely cultivated
farm of forty acres, occupying the northeast quarter
of section 23. He is one of the most thorough
tillers of the soil in the northern portion of Coles
County, and every acre of his land is utilized to
the best advantage, nothing being allowed to go to
waste. His bujldings, fences and machinery indi-
cate the care and good judgment exercised in the
management of the farm, and the general air of
thrift and prosperity is all the recommendation
required to establish the intelligence and industry
of its proprietor.

Mr. Martin is a native of this county, and was
born on his father's farm in Lafayette Township,
Nov. 27, 1835. He is the son of Samuel and Eliza-
beth (Dates) Martin, the former a native of Ken-
tucky, born Dec. 26, 1811. His death took place
in this county in 1843. The mother, a native of
Hamilton County, Ohio, was born Dec. 25, 1811,
being just one day older than her husband.
They were married in 1830, and became the parents
of six children: Amanda E., who became the wife
of Benjamin Bolen, and Seth B., are deceased;
James A., of our sketch, was the third child ; Eliza
J. married Henry T. Miller, and is now deceased ;
Phebe died in childhood ; Charles D. married Miss
Sarah E. Whitney, and is farming in Lafayette
Township.

Mrs. Martin, after the death of her first husband,
was married Sept. 25, 1846, to Robert Miller, who

COLES COUNTY.

557

was a native of Dayton, Ohio, and born Sept. 4,
1801. Of this marriage there were four children,
the record of whom is as follows : Thomas M. N.
married Miss Sarah Jeffries, and Rachel became
the wife of John G. Jeffries; both are deceased.
Winfield Scott married in Douglas County, and is
a resident of Nebraska., Belinda died in early
childhood. Robert Miller died at his home in La-
fayette Township, April 29, 1862. The mother of
our subject is living on the old homestead.

James A. Martin in early life -became well ac-
quainted with the various employments of the
farm, and when contemplating the establishment of
a home of his own, decided to follow the occupa-
tion of his father. The first important step toward
this end was his marriage with Miss Rachel Wells.
which occurred at the home of her sister in Lafay-
ette Township, March 19, 1863. Mrs. M. was born
near Circleville, Ohio, Nov. 6, 1845, and is the
daughter of Elisha and Martha (Williams) Wells,
the former of whom died in Ohio in about 1857.
The mother is still living there. The parental
household included twelve children: Sarah A., a
resident of Ohio; Elizabeth married Isaac Kite, of
Perry County, Ohio; Reason married Miss Isabel
McDill, and is farming in Kansas; Martha is de-
ceased ; Nancy is the wife of Samuel Herman, a
farmer of Lafayette Township; Susanna; Rachel;
Margaret married A. T. Martin, of Lafayette Town-
ship, and died in 1872; Isabel and Joseph are de-
ceased ; Caroline is the wife of Elijah Hite, and a
resident of Perry County, Ohio; Louisa married
Thomas Cooper, and also lives in the Buckeye
State. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have no children.
Mr. Martin is a Democrat in politics.

\ LDER G. K. BERRY, pastor of the Chris-
tian Church, at Charleston, is the descend-
ant of an old Virginian family of Scotch-
Irish extraction. He was born Oct. 24, 1854, in
Washington County, Va., and is the sou of Nathan-
iel and Isabella (Keyes) Berry. The former passed
his entire life in his native State, where he was a
prosperous farmer. He belonged to the Dem-
ocratic part}' in politics, but was opposed to the

system of slavey. His death occurred in August,
185C. His family consisted of six children, four
of whom are now living, as follows: Martha, now
Mrs. Buford, a resident of Winfield, Kan.; Sally,
now Mrs. Jowney, a resident of the same place;
Rev. William B., a resident of College City, Cal.,
and Elder G. K., the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Berry was brought up on the farm in Vir-
ginia until 1867, when his widowed mother left the
old home with her family and came to Illinois,
settling in McDonough County. They rented a
farm in New Salem, which was conducted by her
oldest son. Their beloved mother did not long
survive her removal West, her death occurring
March 3, 1870. Our subject assisted his brother
on the farm, attending the district school for one
year, until he was eighteen years of age, and then
taught school during a term of four months in
Hire Township. He then attended Abingdon
College, Knox County, one term, after which he
resumed teaching in Hire Township for nine
months. The following summer he taught school
in Scotland Township. He then attended the
Normal school at Macomb for a few weeks, em-
bracing every opportunity offered for mental im-
provement. He made the best use of hi? time, and
then taught' school again several months in that
vicinity. He became a member of the Christian
Church at Macomb, and was immersed by Elder
G. W. Mapes. His religious convictions were deep
rooted, and he then resolved to become a minister
of the Gospel, and commenced the study of theo-
logy at Eureka College, Woodford County, 111.,
where he applied himself closely to his work for
one year, and then passed another year in teaching
school and preaching informally in Marshall County.

Our subject then returned to Macomb and was
ordained by Elder G. W. Mapes on the third
Sunday in June, 1878. His first clerical charge
was at Toulon, Stark Co., 111., where he remained
two years. The difficulties through which he bad
acquired his education were arduous, and feeling
the need of rest and recreation he passed a month
in visiting his old home in Virginia, and then
entered Butler University at Indianapolis, to pur-
sue his studies further. He remained there six •
I months, preaching at the same time in the Olive

I

558

COLES COUNTY.

Branch Christian Church. After spending several
months at Williamsville, Sangamon Co., 111., he
entered the Christian University at Canton, Mo.,
where he was graduated in June, 1882, and took
charge of the church at Memphis, Mo., for one
year. His next charge was at Youngstown, Ohio,
where he spent about one year. He was then
called to East Des Moines, Iowa, where he organ-
ized a church and built a parsonage. He remained
at Des Moines thirteen months, and then went to
California to visit his brother, and on his return
took charge of the Christian Church in Charleston
in 1886.

Elder Berry is a young man of unusual ability
in his profession and has exhibited a degree of
courage and energy in overcoming difficulties
which can hardly fail to win success in the arduous
calling he has chosen, which is one of self-sacrifice
and toil. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity
and is a Republican in politics.

'Ml R. TOBEY, a worthy representative of the
enterprise and intelligence of the little city
of Mattoon, during his younger years
served first as a soldier in the Union army,
and then coming to the West, engaged in the fur-
niture business at Mattoon, where he has since re-
mained and been closely identified with its
mercantile and industrial interests. He is a native
of West Alexandria, Preble Co., Ohio, where his
birth took place in 1839, and is the son of Rev.
Michael I. and Catherine (Rouher) Tobey, natives
of Maryland.

The father of our subject commenced his minis-
try in connection with the United Brethren Church
at Sharpsburg, Md., about 1836, and continued
preaching thereafter for a period of fifteen years.
In the meantime he had removed to Ohio, of
which he was a resident until 1854, when he came
to this county and settled at Mattoon in 1855. He
finally became associated with his son, our subject,
in the furniture business, and remained thus con-
nected until his death, which took place in 1869.
The mother is still living, making her home with
our subject. The parental family included five

children, of whom only two are now living, our
subject and his sister, Mrs. AV. F. Miller, of Mat-
toon. Michael Tobey was the first Mayor of
Mattoon, which was incorporated as a city about
1856. He served as Township Collector two terms
and was otherwise identified with city and town-
ship affairs. Politically he was in earlier years an
old-line Whig, and later identified himself with
the Republicans.

Our subject received a good education, complet-
ing his studies in the college at Westerville, Ohio.
Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted
in Co. B, 7th 111. Vol. Inf., serving two and one-
half years, and participating in many important
battles and skirmishes. He fortunately escaped
serious injur}' in his conflicts with the enemy, and
his acquaintance with the hardships of a soldier's
life, and after receiving his honorable discharge,
located at Mattoon and engaged in the furniture
business, in which he has continued now for a
period of twenty-three years. He has been a
member of the Board of Education eleven years
and is Treasurer of the Masonic Lodge.

Mr. Tobey was married in 1869, to Miss Cynthia
A. Woods, a native of this State, and the daughter
of Rev. J. W. Woods, of tho Cumberland Presby-
terian Church. Their two children are Florence
and Raymond P. They occupy a neat and comfort-
able home, and Mr. Tobey, true to his earl}' prin-
ciples, is a decided Republican, politic-all}-, and
socially a member in good standing of the G.
A. R.

ILLIAM G. WADDILL, of Mattoon Town-
ship, and the oldest living settler of Coles
County, was born in Washington County,
E. Tenn., Nov. 7, 1804, and was the eldest of
eleven children included in the family of Jonathan
and Hannah (Greenway) Waddill. The former,
also a native of Tennessee, was the son of John and
Rachel (Twee) Waddill, who were of Scotch and
Irish ancestry. They were among the early settlers
of East Tennessee, where they spent the last years
of their life, the grandfather dying at the advanced
age of ninety-seven years. The mother of our sub-

f

COLES COUNTY.

559

ject was the daughter of John and Elizabeth
(Humphreys) Greenway, natives respectively of
New Jersey and Tennessee. Both grandfathers
served in the Revolutionary War. Jonathan Wad-
dill was reared to farm pursuits, which he followed
all his life, with the exception of the time he served
as Captain in the War of 1812, being under the di-
rect command of Gen. Jackson. Afterward he re-
turned to his native State, where, with his worthy
wife, he spent the remainder of his days.

Our subject continued under the home roof un-
til nearly twenty-one years of age, and was married
on the 29th of June, 1825, to Miss Elizabeth Burg-
ner, a native of his own county, and the daughter
of Peter and Elizabeth (Cline) Burgner, of.Rock-
ingham County, Va. The young people located
on a farm which Mr. W. had purchased, and where
they remained eleven years. Mr. W. then sold
out with the intention of migrating to the North,
and coming to this county purchased eighty acres
of wild land in Mattoon Township. This he sold
not long afterward for a more desirable tract of
the same extent, and which included both prairie
and timber. Here in due time he established a
comfortable home, which he still occupies. Be-
sides general farming he has engaged considerably
in stock-raising and has been fairly prosperous in
his labors.

When Mr. Waddill first came to this section the
nearest mill was twenty miles away. Neighbors
were few and far between, and deer, wolves and other
wild game were plentiful. The wolves robbed
them of their fowls at night and frequently howled
close to their cabin door. Our subject, however,
was not dismayed by any of these things, but
fought his way bravely through difficulty and hard-
ship, and with very few changes of residence has
spent a lifetime in the same community, and occu-
pied his present dwelling fora period of forty-eight
years. His first great affliction occurred on the 4th
of September, 1854, when death deprived the home
circle of the faithful and affectionate wife and
mother, who departed hence and left a family of
eight children. These were named respectively
Jonathan, Hannah Pamelia, John B., Elizabeth
Caroline, Mary Sophia, William Henry, Elizabeth
Ann and Thomas Chaniberlin. Of these but four

are now living, namely, John B., William H., So-
phia and Pamelia.

Mr. Waddill after the death of the mother kept
his family together as well as he could for the year
following, and was then married, Aug. 26, 1855, to
Miss Julia A., the eldest child of Andrew and Sa-
rah (Moore) Bell, who were natives of East Ten-
nessee, and the parents of twelve children. Of this
union there. were born four children, two now liv-
ing— Charles T. and Andrew E. The eldest died
unnamed, and Dora passed away when an interest-
ing girl fourteen years of age. Andrew married
Miss Louetta Morris, and remains upon the home-
stead, which he manages for his father. Mr. Wad-
dill is a church member, and when a young man
affiliated with the Whig party. He now takes no
part in politics.

S. MINTON, who is prominently identified
with the business and trade interests of
Charleston, is at present engaged as an
active and enterprising lumber dealer, with transac-
tions extending over the whole of Central Illinois
and orders steadily increasing. His yards are lo-
cated at the crossing of the I. & St. L. R. R., the T.
& St. L., and K. C. Railroads, and for the six years
in which it has been under the management of Mr.
M., has been steadily growing in importance, until
it is now one of the fixed and indispensable institu-
tions of the thriving little cit)', within whose limits
are many industries, which, like this, have been
built up by its most enterprising men.

The subject of this biography is a native of
Washington County, Pa., born Jan. 10. 1830, and
the son of Thaddeus D. and Permelia (Squire) Min-
ton, natives of the same- county as their son. The
elder Minton, a miller by trade, followed his call-
ing the greater part of his life. His father, Philip
Minton, a native of New Jersey, emigrated to
Pennsylvania at an early day, and cleared a farm
from the wilderness, oponing up from the heavy
limber a comfortable homestead, where lie spent
the remainder of his days. In this home the father
of our subject was reared to manhood, and, marry -

560

COLES COUNTY.

ing a lady of his own county, established himself
near his father's house, where he remained for many
years, and reared a family of six children. These
were Rachel; Warren S., of our sketch; Annie L.,
Ruth, Philip and Austin. The mother departed
this life in Washington County in the summer of
1844, amid the mourning of her family and the re-
grets of a large circle of friends. Thaddeus Minton
survived his wife until in May, 1885, when he too
passed to his final rest, being well advanced in
years. Both parents were members of the Cumber-
land Presbyterian Church, and reared their chil-
dren to habits of industry and principles of honor.

Our subject remained on the farm until fourteen
years old, and even at that early age had gained a
good insight into business matters. He was an am-
bitious and wide-awake youth, and at the time his
father purchased a large mill property, he became
one of the night workmen and overseers, and con-
tinued thus employed for eight years. He then in-
vested his surplus capital in a stock of general
merchandise, locating in Washington County, and
carried on business prosperously for a period of
four years.

After disposing of his stock of merchandise,
young Minton invested the proceeds in 1,000
Merino sheep, and hired them driven to Vermilion
County, thid. State. Securing a large, rich tract of
pasture, he kept his flock for two years following,
which had increased in the meantime to the number
of 1,700 head, and the wool from which he sold at
forty cents per pound. The opportunity then pre-
sented itself for an advantageous trade, and part-
ing with the sheep he became possessor of a tract of
land in Bureau County, Iowa, which he lost, and
then returning to Illinois secured possession of a
valuable little farm, a part of which lay within the
corporate limits ol Charleston, and upon which he
operated profitably for three years following. !
Thence he removed to Clark County, and for three
more years followed agricultural pursuits near the
town of Westfield. From there he removed to '
Kansas, in Edgar County, and resumed the busi-
ness of a general merchant four years. Then sell-
ing out his stock, he came to Charleston, and, in
company with his brother-in-law, W. G. Wright,
purchased the first grocery store in town, which

they conducted for twelve years following, with
marked success. Mr. M. then disposed of his in-
terest in the business to Mr. Wright, who has
since continued it.

While engaged with his partner in the grocery
business, Mr. Minton and the other members of the
firm purchased the Linkey Mill, a gristmill run by
steam. They fitted it up with four run of stone,
and operated it two years, Mr. M. being mainly in
charge. At the expiration of this time, they sold
out to H. M. Ashmore for the consideration of 220
acres of land lying two and one-half miles north of
the city. Soon afterward they traded the land for
a stock of queensware, furniture, stoves and tin-
ware, and in connection with Mr. W. A. Bain,
operated in the same for two years. Mr. Min-
ton then sold his interest to his former partner,
Mr. Wright, and engaged with his son, Clarence H.,
in the boot and shoe trade at Charleston. Two
years later they traded the store for an eighty-acre
farm in Humbolt Township, and then, in company
with Messrs. Albey & Van Meter, put up the City
Mills at a cost of about $17,000. After operating
these successfully for two years, Mr. Minton sold
out to his partner, and again engaged in the grocery
business with his son for another two years. Then
with his son, Clarence H., and a son-in-law, Samuel
E. Grove, he purchased the lumber-yard of George
N. Gage <fe Davis, which he has since conducted
with such marked success.

The residence of Mr. Minton is a handsome
structure, finely located, and with its surroundings is
an attractive spot, the resort of many friends, and
the admiration of the passer-by. The lady who
lias presided over his household affairs, and been
the careful and affectionate mother to his children,
was formerly Miss Matilda R. Wright, of Indiana,
who became his wife in the spring of 1855. Mrs.
Minton was born in Indiana, and is the daughter of
Samuel and Ruth (Gordon) Wright, also natives of
that State. Of her union with our subject there
were born a son and daughter only — Evangeline
and Clarence H. The former is now the wife of
Samuel E. Groves, of Charleston, and has two chil-
dren— Gordon and John W. Clarence married Miss
Lilia Persils, who was born in Charleston, and is
the (laughter of John S. and Charlotte (Norfolk)

COLES COUNTY.

06 1

1

Persils, natives of the same place. They also have
two children — Robert P. and Ruth.

Mr. Minton and his estimable wife are members
in good standing of the Christian Church, and our
subject is a stanch Republican, who adheres to his
political faith with all the tenacity which character-
izes him in his other relations in life. Socially, he
belongs to the Knights of Honor, and as a business
man and citizen, exerts no little influence in shap-
ing the affairs of his community.

,»^A AMUEL R. DUNCAN. Among the success-
ful men of Humbolt Township, Samuel R.
Duncan takes a high rank, he having a rec-
ord in his special line second to that of no
one. He was born in Tennessee, Nov. 30, 1837,
and was the son of Joseph and Susan (Norwood)
Duncan, of the same State. The}' were the parents
of eleven children, five boys and six girls. Joseph
Duncan came to Illinois in 1844, locating in Craw-
ford County, where he lived the remainder of his
life, his death taking place May 6, 1863. The date
of his death is made memorable from the fact that,
though late in the season, the snow fell steadily
during the day. Mrs. Duncan still resides in Ar-
cola, as do also her daughters, Mrs. Mary Todd
and Mrs. Minerva Ritchey. Joseph and William
are residents of Iowa ; James, of Kansas : John is
in Carmi, 111., and Mrs. Mattie Burton resides in
Danville, 111.

Samuel R. Duncan was reared to farming pur-
suits, and is one of the numerous examples of pros-
perous men whose only education was obtained in
the log cabin common schools which abounded in
Southern Illinois forty years ago. Sept. 6, 1860,
he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret,
daughter of Jesse and Charity (McMichael) Kel-
lam. This happy event took place at the home of
the bride's parents in Richland County, this State.
In the near vicinity Samuel commenced the real
battle of life, renting land which he tilled for two
years, then moved to Crawford County, where he
again became a renter, and so continued five years:
He next went to Arcola, whence after three years'
residence, he rented land in Humbolt Township.

His leasehold continued eleven years, and at the ex-
piration of that time he purchased the farm of 400
acres. In 1881 he raised 101 tons of broom corn,
which he sold for $1.50 per ton, and with the pro-
ceeds bought the farm and yet had money remain-
ing. At the same time his proportion of corn
from renters occupying part of the land added
about twenty-four tons to his stock. This extra-
ordinary success won for him the appellation of
" Broom Corn King," which by perseverance, at-
tended by success, he has since held. To his ex-
tensive farming, Mr. Duncan combines the work
of dealing in broom corn, in which business he is
an expert.

Mr. and Mrs. Duncan are the parents of twelve
children, named as follows: Joseph; Harper mar-
ried Miss Elizabeth Grissom, and resides in Hum-
bolt Township; Charles married Miss Fannie Ash-
brook, and they are residents of Kansas; William,
Frank, Jennie, Minnie, Alice, Lavin, Nellie, Nettie,
j and Samuel, Jr. Politically Mr. Duncan is a pro-
, nounced and uncompromising Democrat.

ffi OHN A. MAJOR, deceased, was born Dec.
28, 1823, in Davis County, Ind. He was
the son of Robert D. and Susan (Allan)
Major. The father of our subject was a
successful farmer living near Cincinnati, where by
dint of industry and energy he accumulated a
large amount of property. They were the parents
of eight children, five sons and three daughters.

John A. Major was reared on the farm, receiv-
ing a common-school education, and obtaining a
practical knowledge of farming pursuits. May 8,
1845, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary J.
McAdams, daughter of John and Sarah (McCoy)
McAdams, who were of Scotch ancestry. Mrs.
Major was born July 20, 1825, in Jefferson Coun-
ty, Ohio, and by her marriage with our subject be-
came the mother of ten children, only eight of
whom are now living. Their record is as follows:
Anna, the wife of A. B. Craycroft; William L.,
Alice, May, John and Jennie (twins) ; the latter is
the wife of George Gibler; Mattie and Grace.
In 1854, Mr. Major with his family, three

r

562

COLES COUNTY.

yoke of cattle and two horses, made the long
journey from Indiana to Keokuk County, Iowa,
where he purchased 160 acres of land near Sigour-
ney. which he improved and cultivated until 1856,
when tiring of farm life, he bought property in
Sigourney, upon which he built a large hotel, and
also dealt in real estate, which investment proved
very successful, but in the depression of business
which afterward followed, he suffered great finan-
cial loss. In 1860 he returned with his family to
Indiana. The war then broke out, and he was
obliged to dispose of his property at a great sacri-
fice. He then purchased a small, but pleasant and
comfortable home in Indiana, where he resided
until 1868. He then came to Illinois, locating
upon a farm in Coles County, remaining there until
1871, at which time he removed into the city of
Mattoon, where he remained^until his death, which
occurred April 7, 1875.

Mr. Major possessed an upright, Christian char-
acter, and for many years was a devoted member
of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and a
faithful attendant of its prayer-meetings and Sab-
bath-school, endeavoring in every way to advance
the cause of Christ. He was a kind husband, an
affectionate father and loyal citizen.

. A. M. HENRY, a prominent member of
the Academy of Mc-dicine and Surgery of
Coles County, isjoue of the most reliable
practitioners of this section, and has been
a resident of Mattoon since 1866. His birth took
place in Henry County, Ky., Nov. 8, 1814, and he
is the son of Joseph and Mary (White) Henry, na-
tives respectively of Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The father of our subject was a brickmason by
trade, and early in life removed from his native
State to Kentucky, becoming a resident of the Blue
Grass regions about 1808. Later he migrated to
Illinois, and took up a tract of Government land
six miles east of the present city of Charleston,
where he improved eighty acres and established a
comfortable home, which he occupied until his
death, in 1833. The mother survived her husband
nearly thirty-four 3'ears, and died in 1867.

The Henry family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry,
and of the ten children born to the parents of our
subject, only two are now living, himself and his
brother, Judge John VV. Henry, of Los Angeles,
Cal. Joseph Henry was a man of much force of
character, a decided Democrat, politically, and a
devoted member of the Methodist Church, in
which he officiated as Class-Leader and Exhorter.
The mother was also a lady of deep piety, and a
member of the same church as her husband.

The early years of Dr. Henry were spent on a
farm, and he also worked with his father as a ma-
son. He was thirty years of age when he com-
menced the study of medicine at Platteville, Wis.,
and afterward attended the old Botanic College at
Cincinnati, Ohio. He commenced practice in Wis-
consin, from which he removed, however, in 1849,
to Jersey ville, this State, and after a short residence
there, practiced for a time at Charleston, and in
1866 came to Mattoou, where he has .since re-
mained. While in Charleston he had patients in
Edgar, Clark, Cumberland and Shelby Counties.
He at one time owned considerable land in Coles
County.

Dr. Henry was married, in 1839, to Miss Eliza-
beth Stoddard, at that time a resident of Charles-
ton, but who was born in Kentucky in 1821. They
became the parents of five children, who are lo
cated as follows: Mary A., Mrs. Hamilton, in
Portland, Ore. ; Ellen, Mrs. Tillison, in Mattoon;
Sarah M., Mrs. Matlock, in Chicago; Blanche is
married, and living in Portland, Ore.; Grace, Mrs.
Richmond, lives in Mattoon. The Doctor and his
estimable lady are members of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, and occupy a pleasant residence at
the corner of Charleston and Seventh streets. Dr.
II., politically, is a Republican, and socially, belongs
to the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F.

OSES H. LUCE became a resident of this
county in February, 1860, and is one of
its most enterprising citizens. He is located
in East Oakland Township on sec. 33, where
he has seventy acres of valuable land, and all the
improvements which indicate the intelligent and

t.

COLES COUNTY.

563

progressive agriculturist. Although his life, per-
haps, has not been distinguished by any thrilling
experience, he is one of those men necessary to the
well-being of any community, who form its bone
and sinew, and without whom the fabric of society
would become disjointed and lacking in its most
essential points.

Our subject is a native of the Buckeye State,
first opening his eyes to the light in Darke County,
in September, 1819. His parents, Moses and Cath-
erine (Perry) Luce, were natives respectively of
Virginia and South Carolina. Moses Luce, Sr., was
born in 1785, served as Captain in the War of
1812 for about three months, and afterward settled
in Ohio at an early period in its history. He came
to this county after his marriage, and to Oakland
Township in 1837, where his death took place the
following year. He was a man of deep piety, and
occupied the pulpit of the Baptist Church as a
preacher for about sixteen years, and was also an
Elder in the same. His wife, Catherine, was born
in 1788, and died 'in Indiana, Sept. 12, 1844. Their
children were Elizabeth, Dorcas A., John, Sarah,
Phebe, Silas; Catherine, Sophia, Moses H., William,
Robert and Benjamin. They all lived to become
men and women, and four at this date (July 19,
1887), are still surviving.

The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood and
youth under the parental roof, receiving careful
training from his excellent parents, and an ordinary
education in the common schools. Upon starting
out in life on his own account, he was married to
Miss Sarah J., daughter of Thornton and Collie
(Pace) Lansdown, their wedding taking place in
Edgar County, Feb. 8, 1844. Mrs. Luce was born
in Tennessee, May 23, 1823. Her parents were de-
voted members of the Missionary Baptist Church,
and reared a large family of children.

Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Luce there was
born but one child, a girl, who died in infancy.
The parental feeling has been strong within them,
and in the absence of children of their own, Mr.
and Mrs. L. have performed the offices of protector
and guardian to four orphan children whom they
raised as their own, and gave all the advantages
within their power.

Mr. L. has been connected with the Baptist

Church for a period of thirty-six years, during
which he has officiated as Deacon, and occupied
other prominent positions among the brethren. He
is a gentleman of excellent judgment, and one
whose opinions are generally respected. Politically
he is a Jacksonian Democrat, and believes that the
stanch old principles, strictly followed, are better
than any modern ones which could be introduced.
Mrs. Luce united with the Baptist Church at home
in May, 1866, and in all respects is the worth}' com-
panion of her husband, encouraging him in his
efforts, and proving a true helpmeet, as they
1 journey along the changing pathway of life.

I

•P

\w/OHN T. HUFFMAN is the senior member
of Huffman <fe Bro., manufacturers of brick
at Charleston. He is a native of Coles
County, and the son of John and Catherine
(Robinson) Huffman, who have been for years
well-known citizens of Coles County. Mr. Huff-
man's educational advantages were limited to the
common schools, and his life, until he attained to
manhood, was devoted to work upon the farm. At
the age of twenty-one years he associated himself
with his brother, Napoleon B., in the business of
manufacturing brick, which, on account of the
rapid improvement of Charleston, and the great
number of brick houses being erected throughout
Coles County, has been for many, years a staple
article of trade. They continued in the brick busi-
ness during a period of eleven years, and then sold
out to W. S. Coon. During the following six years
Mr. Huffman gave his attention to the duties of
public office and farming, and then again engaged
in the manufacture of brick, the firm being con-
stituted of himself and brother George, and during
the year 1887 the firm has manufactured 1,000,000
of brick, all of marketable quality, and which were
disposed of to good advantage.

Mr. Huffman is a successful and reliable business
man, and in addition to his manufacturing inter-
ests is the owner of fifty-seven acres of land, which
was first purchased by his father, and which adjoins
the city limits of Charleston on the west. On ac-
count of its close promimity to the city, und the

I

-I

564

COLES COUNTY.

fact that not many years hence it will be occupied
by buildings and streets, this land is considered
very valuable. Like his father, Mr. Huffman is
Democratic in his politics, and for sixteen consec-
utive years has held the office of Constable. He is a
member of the I. O. O. F., both of the Subordinate
Lodge and the Encampment, and also of the Pa-
triarchal Circle.

On the 1 4th of August, 1871, Mr. Huffman was
married to Amanda E. Redden, a native of Coles
County. She was the daughter of James and Mar-
garet L. Redden, who were pioneers in the settle-
ment and development of the county. Their
household has been blest with five children, whose
names are Nora B., Frank A., Eva E., Clarence and
Jessie. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are the center of a
large circle of friends, by whom they are highly
esteemed and with whom they take pleasure in
participating in social matters.

VKOMETHEUS M. DUVALL, M. D., is a
prominent surgeon of Pleasant Grove
Township, residing in Campbell. He is
the son of James W. and Melinda W.
(Colvin) Duvall, and was born July 23, 1853, in
Pendleton County, Ky. His family is of French
extraction, although his grandparents and parents
were born in Virginia. The family subsequently
removed to Kentucky, and from boyhood James
W. Duvall passed his life in that State. He was
a bridge-builder, and continued to follow that occu-
pation throughout the greater part of his life.
Mrs. Duvall was a native of Kentucky, but her
family was of English extraction; her mariiage
took place in that State. Their family comprised
five children, only two of whom are now living:
Prometheus M. and Daniel B. James Duvall died
in Kentucky at the age of sixty-two, and his widow
died in this county, in 1887, having also reached
the age of sixty-two years.

Dr. Duvall passed his early life in Kentucky,
where he received an excellent education at the
public schools, and also attended the Wesleyan
University at Millersburg. He was a remarkably
ingenious and thoughtful boy, always desiring to

thoroughly investigate every subject of importance
that came under his notice. He had been taught
the carpenter's trade, but his inclination for
scientific research led him in another direction, and
at the age of eighteen he commenced the study of
medicine, at the same time continuing to work at
his trade for support. It is frequently from such
minds that science develops her most worthy dis-
ciples. He applied himself closely to the study
of his chosen profession, and in 1877 was graduated
by the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville.
In 1875 Dr. D. became a resident of this county,
and after his graduation was associated in practice
with Dr. Freeman for two years. He then opened
an office, and has since commanded a large and
lucrative-practice. He makes a specialty of sur-
gery, and has met with marked success in that de-
partment of medical science, his practice extending
over a large territory. He is also a genius in some
other respects, and like Sir Humphrey Davy, some-
times manufactures his own tools. He owns some
valuable real estate, and his commodious residence,
barn and stables are all specimens of his own
handiwork. He is exact and systematic in his
habits, and everything he undertakes is well done ;
his surgical instruments are kept exquisitely clean
and in perfect order, and his carpenter tools like-
wise. He is fond of horses, and is to some extent
interested in raising them.

Dr. Duvall was married in 1880. to Miss Sarah
I E. Watson. Mrs. Duvall is the daughter of Joseph
M. and Hannah W. Watson, and was born Aug. 15,
1854, in Pendleton County, Ky. Two children
were born to them, both of whom died in infancy.
Dr. Duvall belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and
is a member of Charleston Lodge No. 35. In
politics he 'is a Democrat.

R. D. M. FALL, physician and surgeon,
and President of the Coles County Medi-
cal Society, has been a resident of Mat-
toon for a period of twenty-five years,
during which he has built up a successful practice
and has become one of its most prominent citizens.
He was born in Shelby County, Ind., July I, 1835,

t.

COLES COUNTY.

56$

i

and is the son of Thomas P. and Nancy A. (Miller)
Fall, natives of Botetourt' County, Va., where the
father engaged in farming and was married in 1822.
Ten years later the parents removed to Shelby
County, Ind., where they spent the remainder of
their lives, Thomas P. Fall passing to his final rest
in 1883. The mother had died many years before,
in 1852. The father of our subject was a Democrat,
politically, until within a 'short time before the
organization of the Republican party, and then
identified himself with the latter. Both parents
were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
in which the father served as Steward and Class-
Leader. Their family included five sons and one
daughter, and two sons only of the family are now
living, namely, our subject, and his brother,
Benjamin F., a lumber merchant of Pauldiug
County, Ohio.

The Fall family is of Irish and German ancestry.
Our subject was reared amid the scenes of farm life
until a youth of eighteen years, in the meantime
attending the district school during the winter
terms. He then went to Morristown in his native
county, and commenced the study of medicine un-
der the instruction of Dr. J. G. Wolf, with whom
he remained three years. In the meantime he
attended two courses of lectures at Rush Medical
College, Chicago, and completed his studies in
Jefferson Medical College, at Philadelphia, Pa.,
from which he was graduated as an M. D. Return-
ing West he commenced the practice of his pro-
fession at Cumberland, Ind., whence he removed
in the fall of 1862 to Mattoon, where he has since
remained. He belongs to the State Medical Society,
and by a steady course of reading keeps himself
well informed upon the important matters pertain-
ing to his profession.

The marriage of Dr. Fall and Miss Helen M.
Morrison was celebrated in 1856, and they became
the parents of three sons, the two eldest being also
practicing physicians. James A. married Miss
Mary F. Van Daren. The others are Howard M.
and Leslie. Mrs. Fall was born in Shelby County,
Ind., and is the daughter of George L. and Jane
(Allison) Morrison. Her father for several years
was engaged in the furniture business. In 1875
Dr. Fall purchased his present residence, which is

located at the corner of Charleston and East First
streets. It forms a pleasant and attractive home,
and is frequented by the cultivated residents of
Mattoon. The Doctor and his estimable lady are
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
our subject, politically, is a decided Republican.

OHN HOOTS, one of the earliest pioneers of
North Okaw Township, came to this sec-
tion of country when, as he says, "the prin-
cipal productions were wolves, rattlesnakes
and badgers." He purchased a tract of eighty
acres, and in connection with this also carried on
farming on land adjacent, which had been partially
improved. In the meantime he put up a house on
his own land, of which he and his young wjfe took
possession, and commenced in earnest the struggle
of life in a new country. This was long before the
advent of railroads, and the nearest milling facili-
ties were at Decatur and Terre Haute, Ind.
Charleston was then but an embryo village, and Mr.
H. was acquainted with every man in it. There
was no market for corn, and they consequently fed
it to their hogs. These were transported on foot
to market, to Chicago, Terre Haute and St. Louis,
and then they brought but $1.25 per hundred.

Those were days which truly "tried men's souls,"
and the changes which Mr. Hoots, in common with
his brother pioneers, has witnessed, might form the
thetne of a tale which would amply prove that truth
is stranger than fiction. Our subject was made of
the stern stuff common to the men of those days,
and persevered through every difficulty until he had
established a comfortable homestead where a bloom-
ing family grew up around him. He is now retired
from active labor, living perhaps as much in the
past as in the present, and many a time regales the
present generation with stories of the olden days.
He has lived worthily and enjoys the confidence
and respect of all who know him.

Mr. Hoots was born in Stokes County, N. C.,

Dec. 12, 1816, and is the eldest in a family of

eleven children, the offspring of David and Sarah

(Wright) Hoots, also natives of that State. David

j Hoots was a farmer by occupation, and spent his

f

-I

566

COLES COUNTY.

entire life in North Carolina. Our subject was
reared there on a farm in a region of country which
afforded very few facilities for learning, and his
education was consequently sadly neglected. Upon
reaching his majority lie began farming for himself,
which he sensibly pursued four years, unmarried,
and laid the foundations for a future home. He
was then united to Miss Sarah J. Fuller, Sept. 22,
1841. Mrs. Hoots is the daughter of Jesse and
Catherine (Webb) Fuller, natives of Virginia, who
emigrated to North Carolina at an early day.

Our subject removed from his native State to
Indiana with his parents, settling in Montgome-y
Count}' in 1824, where he remained three years,
and in 1837 took up his abode in this county, one
mile from his present homestead, and in this vicin-
ity he met the lady who afterward became his
wife. Of this union there were born thirteen chil-
dren, nine still living. The}' were named respect-
ively, William Augustus, Albert Henry, Sarah
Catherine, Mary Ann, David F., John J. and Robert
Jesse (twins), Rebecca J., Orlando B., Ida, Josiah,
Sidney J. and Miranda.

/REEDOM E. HOBART, whose home is on
section 21, Seven Hickory Township, has
been engaged in the occupations of both
farmer and school teacher. He was born on the
16th of September, 1847, in Nelson Township,
Portage Co., Ohio, his parents being John Sul-
livan and Margaret (Moore) Hobart. John S.
Hobart was the son of Benjamin and Mary
(Wheeler) Hobart, and was born on the 25th of
November, 1806, in New Hampshire, and with his
father and grandfather, William, moved from New
Hampshire to Ohio about 1814. He was a school
^eacher in his early days, but was afterward var-
iously employed in farming and merchandising.
He was married twice; the first time to Margaret
Moore, on the 10th of December, 1834, and she
had nine children: Thomas Moore, born Sept. 6,
1835; Benjamin Elmer, June 23, 1837; Mary
Elizabeth, born June 7, 1839, married Monroe W.

Seibert, of Fremont, Ohio; Jefferson R., born
Feb. 20, 1841, is a physician in Ashmore, 111.;
William Wallace, born April 20, 1 843, is a resident
of Miami County, Ohio; Marcene, born Aug. 10,
1845, resides in Pembcrville, Ohio; Freedom E.,
our subject, born Sept. 16, 1847; Hannah, born
Nov. 8, 1849, married James Thompson, and botli
are deceased; they lelt two children. Marcellus,
born June 15, 1852, is a resident of Fremont, Ohio.

The first wife of John S. Hobart died on the
29th of October, 1856, and he was again married,
this time to Mrs. A. C. Alton, on the 1st of March,
1858. By this marriage three children were born:
Addison and Allison, who are twins, and John S.,
Jr. His children, twelve in number, were all
fairly educated, and at some time in their life all
taught school. One child, Mary E., is a graduate
of Oberlin College, and three of the sons are grad-
ates of commercial colleges, and three of medical
institutions. One of the children, Thomas M., has
been admitted to the bar as a lawyer, but does not
engage in active practice. William Wallace Hobart,
brother of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier
in the war of the Rebellion for about three years
and three months, and participated in several. im-
portant engagements. Benjamin E. and Marcene,
two other brothers, were also in the Union army.

Benjamin Hobart, the grandfather, was the son
of William and Sallie (Taylor) Hobart, and was
born on the 12th of March, 1777, at Thornton,
N. H. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and
is buried at the Hurd burying-ground, in Nelson,
Portage Co., Ohio, where our subject's father,
mother and grandmother are also buried. The pa-
ternal great-grandfather, William Hobart, was a sol-
dier in the Revolutionary War, and his remains are
buried in Windhatn, Portage Co., Ohio.

Freedom E. Hobart was raised on a farm, and
availed himself of the opportunity to attend the
district school during the winter months until he
was eighteen years of age, when he went to Ober-
lin, Ohio, and attended school about three mouths;
then he commenced teaching school, and followed
that occupation in Ohio for two years, and in July,
1868, came to Illinois, where he taught a country
school during the winter, and farmed in the sum-
mer mouths. In the spring of 1870 he went to

r

COLES COUNTY.

56'

Kansas, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land,
and returned to Illinois to teach school during the
following winter. In the spring of 1871 he went
back to Kansas, and turned the homestead into a
pre-emption, receiving a deed from the Govern-
ment, and in the fall of the same year returned to
Illinois, where he again taught school during the win-
ter. In the spring of 1873 he attended school at
the Normal University at Normal, 111., and the fol-
lowing winter again taught school and conducted
a Teachers' Institute at Neoga, in the summer of
1 874. In the fall of that year he again attended
school at Normal, and remained until the following
June, this being the only winter in'which he omit-
ted teaching from the fall of 1866 to the spring of
1887. In the summer of 1875 he again conducted
a Teachers' Institute at Neoga, during which time
he was married to Miss Sarah Finley McNutt,
which event occurred on the 29th of July, 1875.
She was the daughter of James and Susan (McCul-
lough) McNutt, of Neoga.

James McNutt was born in Blount County, E.
Tenn., in 1808; Susan McCullough was born in the
same county, Aug. 20, 1814; they were married in
1833, and immediately moved to Edgar County,
111. Here were born to them eight children : Nar-
cissa E., born Aug. 27, 1834, was married to Jona-
than B. Morrison in September, 1 854, and is now
living near Neoga, Cumberland Co., 111.; Robert
was born Feb. 1, 1837, married Eliza H. Gale, Dec.
24, 1868, and is now living in Neoga, 111.; Frances
M., born Feb. 8, 1840, was married to John T.
Waller, June 8, 1865, and is now living in Louis-
ville, Ky. ; Asa was born Oct. 16, 1842, enlisted in
the 66th Illinois Infantry in the fall of 1861, and
died in March, 1862. from cold contracted by ex-
posure at the battle of Ft. Donelson ; Houston was
born April 1, 1845, and died in the spring of 1847;
Melinda was born Feb. 15, 1848, and was married
to Philip Welshimer Nov. 26, 1872, and is now liv-
ing in Neoga, III.; Florence was born Feb. 11,
1851, married to Louis A. Fairchilds Sept. 3, 1872,
and died at Smith Centre, Smith Co., Kan., Oct.
7, 1881. Sarah F. was born Oct. 17, 1853, and was
married to F. E. Hobart July 29, 1875. The fam-
ily moved from Edgar County to near Neoga,
Cumberland County, in the spring of 1854. James

McNutt died there in the spring of 1857; his wife,
Susa'n McNutt, is still living at Neoga, now aged
seventy-three.

Mr. Hobart followed teaching in the winter and
farmed at the McNutt homestead during the sum-
mer of 1876, when on account of the 'excessive
rains he did not raise anything and lost all the
money which he had. He again taught during the
winter and farmed rented land in the years 1877
and 1878, these farming operations being losing
ones. In the spring of 1879 Albert Wyeth, a
friend of his, furnished the money to purchase
fifty acres of land, where our subject's home is
now located. From that time on he was moder-
ately successful in his undertakings, and by means
of the farm and the money earned by himself and
wife, who was also a teacher, they succeeded in
meeting the payments on their little farm. In
1882 he was employed as Principal of the High
School at Charleston, where he remained one year,
during which time he was chosen as Principal and
Superintendent, and his wife as First Assistant of
the public schools at Oakland, 111. He remained
there one year, and was then elected to a similar
position in Casey, Clark County, and in this work
he was also assisted by his wife. This position was
retained for two years, and during that time he also
carried on his farming operations. In the spring
of 1883, while living at Charleston, he sold his Kan-
sas land, and in company with his brother, Dr. J. R.
Hobart, bought a stock of drugs at Ashmore. 111.,
which was taken charge of by his brother, and our
subject continued teaching. In 1886 he was elected
Superintendent and Principal of the schools at
Kansas, Edgar County, where he remained one year.
In the summer of that year Mr. Hobart was in-
structor at the Annual Institution at Oakland,
Coles County, and also at Marshall, Clark County.
In the summer of 1883 he carried off a prize at a
competitive examination in United States History
at Fremont, Ohio. In 1886 he sold his interest in
the drug store to his brother, Dr. J. R. Hobart. In
August, 1887, he took a position with Chapman
Brothers, of Chicago, as a biographical writer.

Mr. and Mrs. Hobart have had three children,
one of whom died in infancy ; the two living are
Mary Florence, born the 1st of June, 1876, and at

568

COLES COUNTY.

the age of ten entered the High School at Kansas.
111. ; she has dark eyes and brown hair. Maude
Finley, born May 24, 1880, has blue eyes and
golden hair. Mrs. Hobart has black hair and
brown eyes, and is of a pleasant disposition. She
is an excellent scholar and writes a good hand.

Mr. Hobart has a good education, and in his
conversation and writing sho-ws that he is master of
the English language. He was early imbued with
the doctrines of the Congregational Church, but
when he was about nineteen years of age he joined
the Missionary Baptist Church; upon coming to
Illinois he gave his letter from that denomination to
the Christian Church, of which he has been a member
ever since. He is about five feet and eight and one-
half incHes in height, rather heavily built, has au-
burn hair, gray eyes, and while naturally inclined to
be social, yet on account of the firmness required
in the school room has been termed reticent, and to
a certain degree unsocial. He has always been a
rigid temperance man, and although raised by a
Republican father, and' surrounded by Republican
relatives, he has always been a Democrat. He has
recently purchased the interest of half the heirs to
his father's estate in Ohio, all of which indicates
that his successes in later life are more nearly com-
mensurate with his deserts than in earlier life.

¥~;ILLIAM MILLER, deceased, a former
highly respected resident of North Okaw
Township, is kindly remembered as one of
its early pioneers. He came to this section of
country during its first settlement, and taking up a
tract of uncultivated land began its improvement
and cultivation, and bravely endured the hardships
and difficulties which were the common lot of those
venturesome spirits who entered the wilderness and
first opened a way for the advance of civilization.
Mr. Miller was born near Lexington, Ky., in
1822, and was the fifth child in a family of nine, the
offspring of James and Sarah (O'Hara) Miller, also
natives of the Blue Grass State. They came north
when their son William was but a boy, locating
first in Paris, Edgar County, where they spent the
remainder of their da3's. William was educated in

the common schools, and at an early age was made
acquainted with the various employments of farm
life, remaining under the parental roof until about
twenty-three years of age.

On the 25th of December, 1845, Mr. Miller was
united in marriage with Miss Rebecca G. Janes,
who was the fourteenth in a family of sixteen chil-
dren, born to William and Jane (Nichols) Janes,
natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky.
Mrs. Miller was born in Edgar County, Ky., De-
cember 25, 1829, and came with her parents to
Coles County, where her marriage took place. For
a time they resided in Edgar County on a small
farm, and upon coming to Coles County, Mr. Miller
entered 120 acres of wild land, which comprised
forty acres on three sections. He put his residence
on section 23, and the first field crop was three miles
from his home. Around the dwelling a crop of sod
corn flourished, and deer would come to the door-
yard and gaze at the unusual sight of human be-
ings. This little diversion from their usual monot-
onous life was valued by the family accordingly,
for their neighbors were few and far between, there
being then not a single house between their home
and Charleston, where they went twice a year to do
their trading. Mattoon was not yet thought of,
and when Mr. Miller went to mill his wife was
obliged to set a candle in the window as a beacon
light to guide him after dark.

The life of the father, however, was cut short in
his prime, his death taking place on the 3d of
March, 1 855. He was a prodigous worker, and the
exposure and hardships to which he was subjected
brought on inflammatory rheumatism, which proved
fatal not long afterward. The mother was thus left
a widow with five children, whom she kept together,
and struggled on until the dawn of brighter days.
Two of these died in infancy. Those living are
recorded as follows: Sarah was born Sept. 4, 1850,
and married Martin Wagoner, and they live near
the old homestead. Josephine was born Nov. 30,
1853, and became the wife of Craven E. Cole, who
is now deceased; she resides in Shelby County.
Joseph, who was born Jan. 10, 1855, was conse-
quently but an infant of a few weeks old at the
time of his father's death. He was reared to man-
hood and married Miss Nancy J. Crum. He re-

COLES COUNTY.

569

mains on the homestead with his widowed mother,
and is engaged in farming and stock- raising.

On the 9th of January, 1880, the family residence,
with all its contents, was destroyed by fire. In its
place now stands a neat little cottage occupied by
Mrs. Miller, her son Joseph and his family.

M. SCHULHOFF, of the firm of Bower &
Schulhoff, proprietors of the popular "Fair,"
formerly the Boston Variety Store, in Mat-
toon, is a native of the city of Nyireghyhaza, Hun-
gary, and was born on the 24th of December, 1861.
He is the son of Samuel and Fanny (Pavlovits)
Schulhoff, who were natives of the same place. The
father was engaged extensively in farming, and was
one of the influential citizens of the place. He was
a soldier and Captain in the Revolutionary War of
1848-49, and during that time was taken as a
prisoner of war and held for a considerable time.

The subject of this sketch was raised in the city
and received a good practical education. At the age
of twelve years he accepted a position in a gentle-
men and ladies' furnishing house, where he re-
mained for seven years, and during that time re-
ceived his first practical knowledge of business
affairs. In 1880 he emigrated to America, and first
settled in Nashville, Tenn., at, which place he com-
menced selling goods by sample on the road, and
in that business continued for two years. In 1883
lie came to Mattoon, and in connection with the
gentleman with whom he is now associated, began
the business which has grown to such dimensions
as to require the services of from five to ten sales-
men. He is practically a self-made man, and his
start in life was without assistance from others. In
his business affairs he displays a vast amount of
tact and energy, and leaves no stone unturned in
his efforts for success. The firm of which he is a
member is considered one of the most reliable and
energetic in Coles County, and it has already taken
its place in the front ranks of the mercantile firms
in that section of Illinois.

The father of Mr. Schulhoff died in 1865, the
supposed cause of his death being wounds which he
re.ceived while in the army. The mother is still

living in Hungary. They were the parents of six
sons, five of whom are now living: Jacob is en-
gaged in hotel-keeping in his native land; Paul is a
distiller in Hungary ; Maurice was born in 1859,
and died in 1865; Charles and Adolph came to
America in 1881 ; the former is in the tin business
in New York, and Adolph is engaged in railroading
in that State; Francis M. is the subject of this
sketch. The father and all the members of the
family were brought up in the faith of .the Hebrew
Church, of which they were all devoted members.
All the children who are alive have identified them-
selves with business affairs, and all of them have
been successful in their undertakings.

Mr. Schulhoff is a Republican in politics. He
takes great interest in the work of secret societies,
and is a Mason in good standing and a member of
the Knights and Ladies of Honor. In all his social
relations he is pleasant and affable, and has already
drawn to himself in Mattoon and Coles County a
large circle of friends.

AVID F. McMURTRIE, of the firm of Mc-
Murtrie & Goodman, contractors and
builders, of Charleston, is a native of Ly-
coming County, Pa., and was born on the
20th of January, 1836. He is the son of Samuel
and Elizabeth (Pensil) McMurtrie, who were na-
tives of Union County, Pa., the father being born
in 1796, and the mother in 1808. The name of the
grandfather was John, who was born in Scotland,
and came to America prior to the Declaration of
Independence, and was a soldier in the Revolution-
ary War, in which he was wounded in the left leg
by a sabre cut. The father of the mother of our
subject was Joseph Pensil, a native of England, who
came to America while it was yet a colony, and
was engaged as a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
The paternal grandfather had a family of seven
sons and three daughters, and the maternal grand-
father had a family of three sons and four daugh-
ters. Samuel McMurtrie, the father, was a boot
and shoe maker by trade, which occupation he fol-
lowed all his life. He died in 1883, and the mother

4-

± 570

COLES COUNTY.

in 1856; they were both members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, in which denomination he was a
Class-Leader. They were thejiarents of nine chil-
dren, seven of whom lived to attain man and
womanhood.

Until he was fourteen years of age, David F. Mc-
Murtrie attended school during the winter months,
and at that age went to work in a woolen factory in
Union County, Pa., where he remained for two
years. He then served an apprenticeship of three
years to the carpenter's trade in Milton, Northum-
berland County, and then worked in Union Coun-
ty, at his trade for two years. In 1861 he came to
Attica. Ind., where he engaged at the occupation of
a carpenter for seven years. In 1 869 he moved to
Charleston, III., where for two years he worked at
carpentering, and since that time has been engaged
as a contractor and builder.

In 1860 Mr. McMurtrie was married to Miss
Elizabeth Shrader, of Union County. Pa., a daugh-
ter of Daniel and Mary (Minder) Shrader. After
coming to Charleston, he purchased two lots in the
southwestern part of the town, upon which he built
a house, and in 1885 he purchased three lots upon
Jackson street near the I. & St. L. R. R., on which
he built the residence he now occupies. Since locat-
ing in Charleston. Mr. McMurtrie has been suc-
cessful in his business. He employs from two to
five men, and all the work he performs shows that
he is a master in the business. He is a member of
the Democratic party, the I. O. O. F., Masonic fra-
ternity, and a stockholder in the Loan and Build-
ing Association of Charleston; and in all of these
organizations he takes a lively interest. He is
looked upon as one of the worthy and substantial
citizens of Charleston.

I

^AMES A. .GOODELL, one of the largest
contractors and builders in the Northwest,
has been located at Mattoon for some years,
and gives employment to from fifty to 100
men. It will thus be seen at once that he is largely
identified with the business and industrial inter-
ests of Coles County and is valued accordingly.

Mr. Goodell was born in Erie County, Pa., 'Aug.
3, 1835, and is the son of Lay ton B. and Mary
(Goodell) Goodell, who were 'natives respectively
of Washington County, Pa., and Saratoga Springs,
N. Y. His father was born Aug. 8. 1808, and his
mother Nov. 12, 1809. Layton B. Goodell, besides
carrying on farming quite extensively, also con-
ducted a large carriage manufacturing establish-
ment in Erie County, where he had settled after
his marriage, and where he accumulated a fine
property. He retired^from business^ when about
sixty years of age. The mother departed this life
at the homestead in Erie County, June 15, 1877.
The parental household included five children, four
now living, namely, John W., surveyor of Chau-
tauqua County, Kan.; James]A., our subject; Mar-
tha B., Mrs. Waters, of Erie County, Pa., and
George S.. a merchant of Pennsylvania.

The father of our subject assisted in the organi-
zation of the State Normal School at Edinboro,
Pa., and was President of the Board for a number
of years. He was deeply interested in educational
matters and contributed a large amount of money
for the establishment and maintenance of the school
mentioned. He officiated as Justice of the Peace
for many years, and both parents were members of
the Presbyterian Church. Besides the larger edu-
cational institutions with which Mr. Goodell was
connected he never suffered himself to forget the
importance of the primary schools and the early
education of the young, and in the absence of
school funds, would often pay from his own pocket
the salary of the teacher for three months or more.

Under such influences our subject attained to
years of manhood and it is not surprising that he
stands where he does to-day, socially and financially.
He took kindly to his books at an early age, and
when a lad of twelve years was admitted to Water-
ford Academy, where he pursued his studies two
and one-half years and then entered Grand River
Institute in Ashtabula County, Ohio. He remained
there until nineteen years old, and after being
graduated continued two more years at the institu-
tion as teacher. He came to Beardstown, this State,
shortly afterward, and instituted the graded school
system under which he taught in the city one term
by subscription, before becoming connected with

COLES COUNTY.

571

the public schools. After a short visit at his old
home in the East he returned to Illinois, and at the
outbreak of the Rebellion enlisted as First Lieuten-
ant in Co. B, 97th 111. Vol. Inf. He was taken
seriously ill and after nine months' service was
obliged to resign. In the meantime, however, he
had met the enemy in the battle of Port Gibson
and participated in a number of minor engage-
ments and skirmishes.

After his retirement from the army Mr. Goodell
returned to Pennsylvania and engaged as a con-
tractor in Erie County until 1879. Upon returning
to the West he located in Cumberland County, 111. ;
a year later he came to Mattoon, and continued his
occupation as a builder and contractor until 1885.
In the spring of that year he crossed the Missis-
sippi into Missouri, spending one summer in Kan- i
sas City. A few years later he took up his resi- j
dence in Louisville, Ky.,and in company with Mc-
Dowell Bros, carried on a large business as builder
and architect, and in the meantime was employed
to superintend the construction of the Insane
Asylum at Marion, Va. He remained in the South
until the earthquake at Charleston, S. C., and then
secured the contracts as architect of the county
buildings and churches which were to be rebuilt.
He was within the city at the time of this great
disaster and upon hearing the first rumblings
bravely resolved to stay where he was, and not run
from clanger. When the women and children,
however, ran screaming from the houses, he admits
that he lost his head entirely and endeavored with
the others to seek a place of safety. He says that
the feelings of a person in the midst of an earth-
quake can be better imagined than described. He,
however, escaped injury and went on with his work.

Our subject was married, in 1857, to Miss Corinda
Webster, a native of Westfleld, N. Y.,and daughter
of Horace Webster. This union resulted in the
birth of four children — Elmer A., Edgar V., Mary
D. and Dora. The family residence is pleasantly
located on North First street, and is surrounded by
every evidence of cultivated taste and ample
means. Mr. and Mrs. G. are members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, politi-
cally, is a Republican, and socially, belongs to the
A. F. <fe A. M.

ffi OHN T. HUFFMAN, senior member of the

firm of Huffman & Bro., manufacturers of
brick, at Charleston, was born where he now
(SsW resides, the date of his birth being April
26, 1843. He is the son of John and Catherine
(Robinson) Huffman, natives of Kentucky, who
died within one week of each other, in January,
1870. Mrs. Huffman died Jan. 14, 1870, and her
husband, who was in good health at the time of
the funeral, expired one week from that day, and
was buried by the side of his wife in Cassel
Cemetery, near Charleston.

The educational advantages of our subject were
limited to the common schools, and soon after
reaching his majority he established himself as a
brick manufacturer in partnership with his brother,
Napoleon B. They continued together during a
period of two years, then sold out and for six
years following our subject was engaged in farming,
and also served as Constable, to which office he
was elected in 1871, and has served continuously
since that time. In 1872 he resumed his former
business in company with his brother, George W.,
and they now turn out about 1,000,000 annually.
The yard and buildings are equipped with all
modern improvements, and their transactions
steadily increase in number and importance. Both
members of the firm are reliable business men.

Besides his business and the interest above men-
tioned, Mr. Huffman owns fifty-seven acres of the
land first purchased by his father, which adjoins
the city of Charleston on the west and which is in
a high state of cultivation. The buildings are con-
venient and substantial, and form a comfortable
and enjoyable home. The lady who has for the last
sixteen years presided over the household of our
subject and been his closest friend and counselor,
was formerly Miss Amanda E. Redden, a native of
this county, born Sept. 14, 1853. Her parents,
James and Margaret L. Redden, were among the
pioneers and contributed their -full quota toward
developing the resources of Central Illinois. Mrs.
H. remained a member of the parental household
until her marriage with our subject, which took
place Aug. 16, 1871. Of this union there are five
children — Nora B., Frank A., Eva E., Clarence A.
and Jessie F.

572

COLES COUNTY.

Mr. Huffman, like his father before him, is Demo-
cratic in politics, and for sixteen consecutive years
has held the office of Constable, the duties of which
he has discharged with excellent 'judgment and to
the satisfaction of all concerned. Socially he is a
worthy member of the I. O. O. F. in both Subordi-
nate and Encampment Lodges, and also belongs to
the Patriarchal Circle.

OBERT N. LE1TCH, M. D.. was the first
physician to locate at Lerna, where he has
since practiced successfully and bitilt up a
od patronage. He has spent his entire
life in this county, having been born in Pleasant
Grove Township, Nov. 11, 1844. He is the son of
Robert and Jane (Erwin) Leitch, and was reared
on the farm, receiving such education as was fur-
nished by the common school. Upon leaving school,
however, he still applied himself closely to his
books, and thus gained a fund of general informa-
tion which has served him well. He was married
in 1866, before taking up the study of medicine, to
Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William J. and Ellen
Hughes, who was also a native of this county and
born Aug. 24. 1844.

After his marriage Dr. Leitch purchased a farm
and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1870.
He then sold out and moved across the Mississippi
into Dade County, Mo., where he invested a part
of his capital in eighty acres of land, which he cul-
tivated until 1878. He was not satisfied, however,
with his condition, and the year following com-
menced the study of medicine, and subsequently
removed to St. Louis, where he placed himself under
the instruction of Dr. P. G. Valentine, and in Sep-
tember of that year entered the St. Louis College
of Homeopathic Physicians and Surgeons, from
which he was graduated in March, 1882. During
the vacations in college he practiced in Paytonville,
Ark. Afterward he returned to his native town-
ship, where he entered in earnest upon the duties
of his profession, and where, he has since remained.

Dr. Leitch, in the interval after leaving home
and before his marriage, had been engaged as a
soldier in the Union arm)', in which he enlisted

soon after the outbreak of the Rebellion. As a
member of Co. C, 61st 111. Inf., he participated in

1 the battle of Selma, Ala., and met the enemy in
other minor engagements and skirmishes. His regi-
ment was afterward detailed to join the array of
Sherman at Atlanta, and about this time our sub-

1 ject was taken ill and obliged to retire. He was the
pioneer of homeopathy in this part of Coles Coun-
ty, and in addition to being a youug practitioneer,
labored under the disadvantage of the prejudice
which naturally attaches to a new system. He has
fortunately overcome this prejudice, and is as pop-
ular as he is successful. He meddles very little
with politics, but is decidedly Republican and uni-
formly casts his vote in support of that party. He
has been identified with the Methodist Episcopal
Church for many years, in which he officiates as
Class-Leader, and socially belongs to the Masonic
fraternity and the G. A. R. He was but a boy at
the breaking out of the war, but until the failure of
his health, performed his duties as a soldier among
the bravest. He had some difficulty in obtaining
permission to enter the ranks on account of his
youth, but his persistence and patriotism finally
won the da}'. As a citizen and physician no man
is more highly esteemed.

H. PARKER, a gentleman in the prime of
life, and familiarly known in Charleston
Township and vicinity, was born in this
township Sept. 29, 1845. His parents, Da-
vid and Dorcas (Heath) Parker, were natives re-
spectively of Illinois and North Carolina. His pa-
ternal grandfather, Benjamin Parker, came to this
State during its early settlement, in 1824, cut the
first tree in Charleston Township, and put up the
first log cabin in Coles County. lie crossed the
Mississippi into Texas, where he became owner
of a large area of land, and was murdered there by
the Comauche Indians while holding a conference
with them at Ft. Parker, in about 1835.

David Parker, the father of our subject, was a
small boy when he came to this county with his
parents, and was reared on the farm in Charleston
Township. He also learned carpentering and sur-

COLES COUNTY.

573

I

veying, and laid off into sections and town plats
much of the land in this locality. He dealt largely
in real estate, and engaged in the manufacture
of furniture, sash, doors, etc., for this purpose
conducting a lumber-yard. He was characterized
by his energy and industry, and rounded up a long
and useful life on the 20th of May, 1870, his death
taking place at his home in Charleston Township.
The parental household included three children —
John H., our subject; Mary S., Mrs. Yeaver, and
Martha, Mrs. Phillips.

Our subject spent his younger years on the farm,
and attended school in the village. He remained
under the home roof until twenty-five years of .age,
and then set about the establishment of a home for
himself. One of the important steps toward this
end was his marriage with Miss Martha 1). Moore,
which took place in 1870. Mr. Parker had
already secured 100 acres of land, and in a modest
dwelling the young people commenced life to-
gether, Mr. P. continuing farming until 1886. He
then sold out and purchased a smaller tract of
forty acres, of which he still retains possession, and
which has been brought to a fine state of cultiva-
tion. He purchased his present residence in the
city in 1879. It is pleasantly located on North
street, where the family, surrounded by all the
comforts, enjoy the society of many friends. The
three children of Mr. and Mrs. Parker are Daniel
R., Nellie E. and Willie F.

Mr. Parker, although having very little to do
with political affairs, uniformly votes the Demo-
cratic ticket, and with his estimable wife is a mem-
ber in good standing of the Presbyterian Church.
He has served his township as Road Commissioner,
and socially, belongs to the I. O. O. F.

IOHN HUFFMAN, deceased, who was num-
bered among the most honored and earliest
pioneers of Coles County, first drew breath
in Harrison County, Ky., Feb. 16, 1798,
where he remained during his youth and childhood
and until beginning to form his plans for a home
and domestic ties of his own. He became a resi-
dent of this State in 1832, locating in Vermilion

County, whence he removed in the fall of 1833 to
this county, and purchased eighty acres of land ad-
joining the city of Charleston. There the children
were born, and there the parents passed the remain-
ing years of their life. The death of Mrs. Huff-
man took place on the 14th of January, 1870, aged
over sixty-four years, and her remains were laid to
rest in Cassel Cemetery. Mr. Huffman was seem-
ingly in good health at the time, but just one week
from that da3' his funeral services were held, and all
that was mortal of him laid beside the wife whom
he had loved and honored in his lifetime. He was
over seventy-two years old.

The wife of our subject was in her girlhood
Miss Catherine Robinson, a native of Virginia,
born Feb. 11, 1806. Her father removed from the
Old Dominion with his family when she was about
ten years of age, to Harrison County, Ky., where
two daughters were born, and whence they re-
moved as we have stated, in 1832, to this State.
The parental household finally included eight sons
and four daughters, eleven of whom lived to reach
years of maturity. Joseph died when a lad of
eight years; Catherine became the wife of John
Heath, and Polly the wife of George Hunt; both
are now deceased. William, James, Napoleon B.,
and Sarah J., the wife of Samuel Lowe, were the
next in order of birth; Benjamin F. during the late
Civil War served in Co. C, 54th 111. Vol. Inf., and
now fills a soldier's grave at Cairo, where his death
occurred May 11, 1863; Henrietta is the wife of
Benjamin I. White, of Charleston; John T., George
W. and Daniel H. were the youngest sons. Daniel
H. lives in Missouri, George in Charleston and
John T. at the home place.

When Mr. Huffman began to exercise the right
of suffrage the principles of the Whigs coincided
most heartily with his views of political matters
and he accordingly identified himself with them,
being a great admirer of Henry Clay. In 1860, he
cast his ballot for Stephen A. Douglas, and after-
ward supported the Democratic party. He was
fairly successful in his business and farming opera-
tions and at his death, besides the homestead was
the owner of 200 acres of land unincninbered.
Both Mr. Huffman and wife identified themselves
with the Close Communion Baptists, and were i

f

574

COLES COUNTY.

greatly respected by the community where they
lived so long on account of their excellent traits of
character and uniform goodness of heart.

THOMAS W. TEMPLE, dealer in lumber and
operating a sawmill on section 2, North
Okaw Township, is one of the most useful
and enterprising citizens of Coles County. He is a
native of the Buckeye State, having been born in
Richland County, June 22, 1835. His father,
David Temple, a native of Center County, Pa.,
was born in the same month and the same day of
the month as his son, just fort}' years before, in
1795. David was left an orphan at an early age,
and was deprived of the advantages of education,
being permitted to spend but very little time in
school. When old enough he was bound out to a
farmer and continued occupied in agricultural pur-
suits the balance of his life. He was married at the
age of twenty-seven years to Miss Eliza Packer, a
native of Richland County, Ohio, and they located
in Knox County, that State, whence, a few years
later they removed to Delaware County, and from
there, in the spring of 1832, to Jasper County, 111.

David Temple, upon coming to this State, pur-
chased forty acres of improved land, and entered
forty more, having thus a snug farm of eighty
acres, which he cultivated and from which he built
up a good home, where he spent the remainder of
his days. The mother had departed this life in
1845, and her remains were laid to rest in what was
called the "Four-Corners burying-ground," in Del-
aware County, Ohio. She was a good woman and
a devoted member of the Baptist Church. David
Temple was afterward married to Mrs. Annie M.
Gorman. Of this union there were no children.
This lady lived about ten years, then passed away,
and he was subsequently married to Mrs. Audrey
Eaton, who only lived a few years. His death
took place in 1863.

The twelve children of the parental household
ware named respectively, Louis, Mary, Solomon,
Jonathan, Thomas W., Elmer M., Ruth, James S.,
Maria, Lynn M., Alexander and John W. Maria
.and Louis died in their youth. The others lived

to mature years and with the exception of James
M., were all married. The latter during the late
war enlisted fn Co. E, 25th 111. Vol. Inf., and after
participating in many of the important battles of
that struggle, was killed at the battle of Stone
River, Dec. 28, 1862. His remains were laid to
rest in the National Cemetery near Murfreesboro,
Tenn. Alexander served in the 54th Illinois In-
fantry three years, in the meantime being captured
twice by the enemy, but was paroled and ex-
changed, living to return home; Lynn M. served
first three months in the 8th Illinois Regiment, then
re-enlisted for three years longer, and took part in
many important battles, including the siege and
capture of Vicksburg; John W. served in the 63d
Regiment three years and was also in several
battles.

Thomas W. Temple came West with his parents,
and remained under the home roof until nineteen
years of age. He then gave his father a note of
$225 for his freedom, and started out in life for
himself. He commenced working on a farm at
$17 per month, and succeeded in taking up the note
which his father held the first year. When twenty-
one years of age he was married, Dec. 22, 1856, to
Miss Mary Ann Plew, the wedding taking place in
Charleston, 111. Mrs. T. was the daughter of Will-
iam and Rachel Plew, and after becoming the
mother of six children, departed this life, Nov. 3,
1870. Her remains were buried in Atkins' grave-
yard south of Charleston. Their children were:
Jonathan, Gregory ; Mary E., now the wife of
William White of this county; Norah B., Mrs.
Walter McNight; Charlie, and one who died in
infancy.

After his first marriage Mr. Temple rented land
and carried on farming until the outbreak of the
late war. He then enlisted in Co. E, 25th 111. Vol.
Inf., and participated in the battles at Pea Ridge,
Perrj ville, Stone River and Chattanooga, and after-
ward joined Sherman's army on its march to the
sea. At Stone River he was captured, the same
day that his brother, James M., was killed, but was
paroled the day following. He served three years
and escaped without a wjound, coming home well
and hearty.

In 1871 Mr. Temple took for his second wife

f

COLES COUNTY.

575

Mrs. Amanda E. Strain, their marriage taking place
on the 13th of April. Mrs. T. was born in this
county June 22, 1839, and is the daughter of
Charles G. and Nancy (Owens) Chowning, natives
of Kentuckj' and early pioneers of this county.
They have long since passed away. The house-
hold included eleven children, of whom Amanda
K. was the ninth. Mr. Temple carried on farming
until in April, 1884, then, in company with M.
Taylor, purchased a half interest in the mill which
he now owns, having bought his partner out in
1886. He is wide-awake and energetic, straight-
forward and upright, and is contributing his full
quota toward the business and industrial interests
of the county.

G* OTTLIEB F. BIDLE, a prominent German
citizen of Pleasant Grove Township, is a re-
tired farmer residing at Campbell. He is
the son of Albricht and Elizabeth Bidle, and was
born Jan. 21, 1835, in Essling, Austria. There
were five children in his father's family, and the
eldest son died in his native land at the age of
eighteen. The names of the remaining four are,
George, Louisa, Fredricaaud Gottlieb, all of whom,
after the death of their parents, emigrated to the
United States. George is now a resident of Hut-
ton Township, Coles Count}' ; Louisa was the wife
of Gottlieb Bowes; she died in Louisville, Ky., in
the spring of 1886, leaving several children. Fred-
rica is the wife of Jacob Weber, and resides in
Shelby County, 111.

Gottlieb Bidle was the youngest of the family,
and at the time of his father's death was an infant.
When a boy of eleven, his mother died also, leav-
ing him an orphan, but he found friends, however,
and was reared in a family by the name of Rice.
In 1852, when he had reached the age of seven-
teen years, he accompanied his brother George to
the United States. They carne in a sailing-vessel
from Bremen, and landed in New York after a pas-
sage of thirty-four days, during which they en-
countered some rough weather. They were young
and inexperienced, and after remaining in New
York City about ten days, strangers in a strange

land, unable to speak the language, or understand
what was said to them when addressed, they found
themselves with empty purses. The necessity of
earning money was apparent, and they obtained
employment for a time with the firm of Fisher &
Co., who sent them to a farm near Brunswick, N. J.

After working at the latter place two months at
110 and $12 per month, thej' concluded that they
had amassed enough capital to proceed further on
their journej' into the country. Accordingly they
turned their faces Westward and went to Louis-
ville, Ky., where some old acquaintances were liv-
ing. They passed two years in that city, where
Gottlieb learned the blacksmith's trade and his
brother worked at wagon-making, having learned
his trade in the old country. Gottlieb received
$40 per year while learning his trade, and the
young men now felt rich enough to go in search
of further experience. In July, 1854, they went
.to Terre Haute, Ind., where Gottleib was engaged
at his trade until January of the following year.
In the meantime his sister had recently arrived
from Germany, and settled in Westfield, Clark Co.,
111. George was taken very ill in Terrc Haute,
and needing care, left his brother there and went
to his sister's in Illinois. In the winter of 1855
Gottlieb also came to this State, and was engaged
at his trade in Decatur until June; he then came
to Coles County and established his business at
Campbell, thence' went to Farmington, where he
remained until 1862. At that time he threw down
the anvil, and offered himself in the service of his
adopted country.

Gottlieb Bidle was mustered in with Co. I, 123d
111. Vol. Inf., and served three years. He was
faithful in the discharge of his military duties, and
was with his regiment throughout the entire time,
with the exception of two months, when he was
lying ill iji the hospital at Nashville. In the spring
of 1863 his regiment became a part of Wilder's
Brigade, and took part in the battles of Perryville,
Milton, Hoover's Gap, Chattanooga, Chickarnauga,
New Hope Church, Atlanta, Selma, and numerous
minor skirmishes. After the close of the war, lie
returned home and resumed his trade, in which he
was successful, and in 1867 he purchased 100 acres
of laud near Campbell, lie then engaged in an

t.

576

COLES COUNTY.

extensive farming business, at the same time con-
tinuing in his trade. He was successful in both
enterprises, and now owns a fine estate containing
270 acres of land, nearly all of which is under cul-
tivation. His residence and farm buildings arp
pleasant and commodious, and he also owns prop-
erty in Campbell. In conducting his farm, he has
given considerable attention to raising draft horses
of Clyde blood.

Mr. Bidle was married, Oct. 30, 1856, to Miss
Sophronia Walker. Mrs. Bidle is the daughter of
Richard and Mary Ann (Starks) Walker, and was
born Sept. 13, 1838, in Coles County, III. A fam-
ily of ten children was born to them : John, de-
ceased in childhood; Albert, James; Mary, de-
ceased at the age of seventeen; David, George,
Louisa C., Joseph, Julia and Richard.

Mr. Bidle has acquired his property by his own
exertions. He is in independent circumstances,
and desiring rest from the cares of active business,
has rented his land, and is passing the closing years
of his life in the enjoyment of ease and prosperity.
In politics, Mr. Bidle is a Republican, and has
served as Justice of the Peace, and also held other
local offices, giving general satisfaction to the peo-
ple in the discharge of his public duties. He is a
member of the United Brethren Church, and of the
G. A. R.

KORGK W. HUFFMAN, junior member of
the firm of Huffman Bros., brick manufact-
urers at Charleston, was born in this coun-
ty March 6, 1846, and is consequently in the prime
of life. During his boyhood and youth he attended
the common schools and remained on the farm of
his father until twenty years of age. He then
rented a tract of land, to which he gave his atten-
tion for a period of four years, and in 1870 became
associated with his brother in the manufacture of
brick. This partnership continued about four
years, and then our subject served a year on the
Charleston police force. The following year he
was variously employed, and subsequently was

City Marshal of Charleston, and for two years
thereafter was assigned to night duty on the police
force. He afterward joined his brother again in
the manufacture of brick, in which he has since
continued with .fair success. .

Mr. Huffman, on the 10th of October. 18:33, was
united in marriage with Miss Mary L., the daugh-
ter of George and Jane Hutchinson, and who was
born in Cambridge, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1860. Her
father was a native of the same town, and in the
fall after the birth of his daughter Mary, came
West, and located at Charleston, where his death
took place in February, 1871. The mother is still
living.

Mr. and Mrs. Huffman are the parents of one
child, a daughter, Maude. They occupy a snug
home, and enjoy the esteem and confidence of
scores of friends. Mr. H., politically, is decidedly
Democratic, and socially a member in good stand-
ing of the I. O. O. F.

P. HACKETT, retired farmer and merchant
of Charleston, is a native of Coles County,
111., and' was born Nov. 8, 1838. He is the
\son of Levi and Sarah (Adkins) Hackett,
who were natives of Kentucky. The father was
born on the 14th of November, 1812, and the
mother Dec. 30, 1814. The grandfather was Peter
Hackett, who was a farmer and a soldier in the early
wars, and died in Kentucky. The father came to
Coles County, 111., in 1835, a single man. The
mother's father was James Adkins, and he came to
Coles County in 1835.

The father and mother were married in 1836.
two and one-half miles south of Charleston, and had
a family of twelve children, in which the number
seven predominated in several ways; there were
seven boys and seven girls; seven of them had black
eyes, and seven had blue. They all lived to be men
and women. Levi after marriage purchased a farm
in Charleston Township, four miles southwest of
the city, which consisted of forty acres; he was a

COLES COUNTY.

4-

577 , ,

blacksmith by trade and followed that occupation
in connection with his fanning. He lived in
Charleston Township until 1857, and then moved
into Ashrnore Township, purchasing '220 acres of
land. He remained there four years and then re-
moved to Douglas County in the fall of 1861,
where lie purchased a small farm of ninety acres,
upon which he resided until his death on the 2d of
March, 1886. He had a family of eight children,
of whom five boys are now living: R. P.; Le
Grand; Robert M. ; Josephns, and Richard H.

For many years the father was a Henry Clay
Whig, and at the dissolution of that party and the
organization of the Republican party he joined his
political fortunes with the latter. He was a member
of the Church of God, and was a man of lovable
traits of character, never speaking a wrong word of
a neighbor, or never doing anything that would
offend anyone. He was a happy man in his family
relations, and loved all church organizations. His
widow, the mother of our subject, is still living on
.the farm.

The subject of this biography was raised on a
farm and obtained his early education in the
school which was taught three miles from his
father's house. He lived at home until nineteen
years of age, at which time he was married to Miss
Ann N. Waltrip, who was the daughter of John
and Susan (Williams) Waltrip, natives of Breckin-
ridge County, Ky., who came to Coles County in
1835, and settled in Hutton Township. They pur-
chased 240 acres of land, and lived on the same for
forty 3'ears. He then came to Charleston and en-
gaged in the grocery business for two years, at the
end of which time he retired from business and
died in September, 1885. The mother died in
1 886. They had a family of eight children, three
of whom are now living : Mrs. Hackett, Alexander,
and William 8.

Mr. Hackett after marriage engaged in farming
on a rented farm, and purchased seventy-five acres
in Hutton Township, Coles Co., 111., in 1861, and
lived on this farm until 1862. On the 18th of
August, that year, he enlisted in Co. K, 123d 111.
Vol. Inf., and was in the service for three years,
during which time he participated in the battles of
Perry ville, Hoover's Gap, Chickamauga, Atlanta,

Milton, Tenn., Flat Sholes, Ga., Noonday Creek
and Selma, Ala., and many skirmishes, being under
fire altogether fifty-two times. He was on de-
tatched duty in the rebel lines, charged with the
care of a wounded Lieutenant Colonel for four
weeks. He was wounded at Milton, Tenn., in the
right groin with an ounce ball, and was in the
hospital about two months. He still carries the
ball. He also received a flesh wound in the
shoulder, from a bushwhacker.

After he returned from the war Mr. Hackett re-
sumed farming on his farm, on which he remained
until 1872, when he removed two and one-half
miles east of Charleston, on 160 acres of land, for
which he paid $4,000, to which at various times
he added 165 acres of land, and afterward sold
eighty; he then repurchased eighty-five acres. In

; 1884 he left his farm and moved to Charleston
where he engaged in mercantile business for three
years. He purchased two blocks in the city in the

! Anderson Addition, on which were a house and
barn, and paid therefor $2,500, and also bought
twelve acres southeast of the city, for which he

i paid $1,000.

Mr. and Mrs. Hackett have a family of nine chil-
dren: William J. married Miss Lizzie Lietch, and
they have one child named Neta; Eliza E. is now
Mrs. George Davis, and is the mother of three chil-
dren— Carrie B., Orrin and Charles; Noah M. mar-
ried Miss Elsie Kelley, and they have three chil-
dren— Zeffle G., Nioma, Ida E. ; Le Grand E. mar-
ried Miss Liza Eastman; Henry M., Ida J., Lula J.
F., Fay R., Reason A. Mr. Hackett is a member
of the Republican party, and a comrade of the G.
A. R. He and his wife are members of the Church
of God. He was converted at the age of eighteen
years, in what was known as the Separate Baptist
Church, and was a member of the same for seven-
teen years, and filled the office of Deacon for four
years. He then withdrew from that bodj' and
united with the Church of God, in which he held
the office of Deacon for six years. This church was
organized in 1877 at Mt. Pleasant on his farm, and
at his house. In 1879 a church was built on his
farm, to which he contributed half an acre of ground,
worth $50, and also $75 in cash, and has always

, been a liberal supporter of the same.

I

!

Adams, John 23 j

Adams, John Q 39 !

Adams, Mrs. Olive A 204

Allen. Wm Z 194

Allison, J 293

Ames, Oliver H 537

Anderson, Bruce .487

Anderson, H 516

Anderson, James 193

Armstrong, Joseph 200

Arterburn, Green .- 188

Arthur, Chester A 99

Ashby, Phillip ais

Ashworth, I.. A 203

Ashworth, Mark S 202

A vey, Richard •. . . 192

B

Baird, 2. J 472

Baker, Basil 410

Barnes, R . C 191

Barnsback, H. C 206

Barr, Wm. M 190

Beavers, John B 189

Beavers, J . W .539

Benefiel, J. B 5,o

Bensley, T. A 550

Berry, (J. K 557

Beveridge, John L 171

Bidle,G. F 575

Bidle, J. H 402

Bissell, Wm. H ,51

Bitner, J. W 422

Blevins, J. H 304

Bond, Shadrach in

Bower, O C 426

Boyd, Joseph E 230

Bridges. Dr. V . R 520

B rooks, A 415

Brooks, L>r- J - C 290

-~VV-«4=^<0>^3.^.-'V\/^

Brown, C. F... 433

Brown, E. W 397

Brown, F. A 425

Brown, Jerome A 223

Brown, J. I 472

Brown, J. T 212

Bruner, A. J 5'4

Buchanan, James. 75

Buckler, Harriet 190

Bull, T. J 512

Burgess, Wm 227

Burgner, Conrad 257

Burgner, G. F 205

Burgner, J. Morris 210

Busbey, William D 384

Butler, Dr. A. C 401

Campbell, Daniel 273

Candy, A. R 317

Carlin, Thomas 135

Carter, Joseph 289

Cecil, H. H 447

Chambers, H 243

Chambers, Dr. W. M 204

Chapman, S- E 281

Chettle, Wm. M 276

Childress, John 544

Clark, James H 239

Clark, Wm.... 282

Cleveland, S. Grover 121

Cochran, Wm. H 304

Cofer, Col. John 305

Cofer, Thomas N 285

Coles, Edward -...115

Coley, Robert 1 334

Combs, W. A 274

Combs, \\". H 279

Craig, A. J 276

Craig, Isaac N -• 466

Craig, James W 285

••••53*

492

.. ..242

'75

*58

Craig, James W

Craig, Lafayette

Crawford, John G

Cullom, Shelby M

Cunningham, John.....

Cunningham, J . T 440

Cunningham, Judge J. R 492 !

Cunningham, Mrs. Sarah E .280

Curtis, Charles... . 308

Curtis, S. P 247

D

Davis, David C an

Davis, Joseph A 341

Deckard. Dr. J. P 406

Dodd?, W. H 295

Dole, C. M 373

Dole, E 258

Dole.-S. D 393

Dollar. Ralph 330

Doty, J ames 438

Doty. John M 458

Doty', J. W 364

Doty, Levi 476

Doty, Samuel 433

Drish, Wm. H 218

Dunbar, Lucian .384

Duncan, Joseph 131

Duncan, S. R 561

Duncan, Dr. W. S 221

I) utro. Hannah. 222

Duvall, P. M 564

E

Easton, F.zekiel 233

Edman, Kenny 287

Edwards, Ninian 119

Elkin, Clark 545

Ellis, Jesse K 240

Ellison, Johnson 231

Kllison, Moses 201

EmhufF, Stephen 543

Everharty, M 232

Eversole, Henry 287

Kwing, Wm. L. D 127

F

Fall, D. M 564

Farrar,J. W $ag

Feagan, Andrew 219

Ferguson, J. M 297

Ferguson, M J 392

Ferguson, Dr. O. W anj

Ficklin, O. B 187

Fillmore, Millard. ' 67

Flenner, Martin 242

Florer, S ,254

Ford. Thoma» 139

Foreman, John 252

Foster, F.H 238

Fowler, H 214

Freeman, F. F 331

Freeman, N. S 3*8

French, Augustus C 143

Fuller, R. R 497

Funk ho user, A . J 210

Funkhouser, W. 1,. R 2i4

Furry, Peter 488

G

Galbreath, W. H BS3

Gannaway, J. J 3^1

Gardner, S. D --347

Garfield, James A 95

Garner, Dr. J. S 355

Garver, Philip .260

Geyer, George 314

Gibbs, I. N 369

Gilbert, M . \V 336

Gilmer, Wm. A 371

G lassco, F, . T 305

Glassco, M 303

Gobert, Peter 437

Goodell, J. A .' ...

Goodyear, John S..

Grant, James

••437

..570 |

249 '

*£lU

*=.

INDEX.

Grant, Ulysses S 77

Grant, Wm 521

Gray Bros... 291

Gray, George W 497

Gray, J. B 507

Green, C. D 240

Grocn, Joseph F 332

Green, J. H. 4'1

Green, N. R 298

Griffin, G. B 498

Grimes, Thomas W 540

Grove, J.W. B 288

Guest, Wm 259

Gwin, John W 244

H

Hackett, R. P 576

Hall, James M 548

Hall, John J 4°5

Hallock, George R 261

Hamilton, James 323

Hamilton, John M 170

Hanks, Dennis 555

Hanley, J. T 448

Hanna, J. W 526

Harmon, A. F 470

Harrison, Wm. H 51

Harwood, E 353

Hawkins, O. D 261

Hayes, R. B 91

Hendrix, John 394

Henry, Dr. A. M 562

Hildreth, John 250

Hobart, F. E 566

Honn, Andrew A... 347

Honn, D. W ..109

Honn, James R - 391

Honn, P. K 4?8

Hood, James 491

Hoots, John 565

Hopper, Dudley 456

Hurton, Wm. F 395

Huckaba,A. H 370

Hudson, Jesse . - -224

Huffman, George W 576

Huffman, John 573

Huffman, John T 571

Hughes, Judge J. F 524

H unt, Madison 327

Hurst, John 318

Jackson, Andrew 43

Jackson, Samuel J 228

Jefferson, Thomas .... 27

Jeffris, A 338

Jeffris, Ralph 348

Jenkins, E. A 528

Jenkins, W. M 362

Johnson, Andrew 85

Johnson, Frederick 308

Johnson, Irvin 450

Johnson, John 307

Johnson, John 353

Johnson, Wm 502

Johnston, J. H 522

Jones, T. T 358

Jones, W . D.. 353

K

Kane, James 286

Kelly, Larbia 409

Kerns, Mrs. M. P 474

King, John W 396

Laytr.n, H . C 277

Lcitch, C. E 515

Leitch, J. W 410

Leitch, R. N --572

Lincoln, Abraham 79

Linder, Elisha 494

Lippincoit, Samuel 458

Logan, S. F 380

Luce, Moses H 563

M

Madison, James 31

Major, J. A 561

Major, W. L 506

Manroe, A. J 251

Martin, David 488

Martin, G. B 389

Martin, James A 556

McCalHster, Robert J 316

McCarthy, Daniel 379

McCartney, F. M 343

McClelland, J. H 521

McConnell, John A.... 382

McCrory, James 333

McDonald, N. S 368

McFadden, R. H 508

McGrath, Hon, Thos. 1 552

McMorris.J. N 479

McMurtrie, D. F 569

McNeel, J ..361

Millar, G. V 425

Millar. Wm 435

Miller, George L 451

Miller, Wm 568

Mills, Rev. Samuel 271

M inor, Gideon 342

Minton, W. S 559

Moffett, J. N.. 356

Mohlenhoff, Henry 375

Monfort, I . J 363

Monfort, J - A 365

Monroe, Elias 477

Monroe, Col. James 442

Monroe, James 35

Montgomery, Alexander 333

Montgomery, Dr. J-T ... .434

Moore, Isaac N 316

Morgan, Dr. W. D 388

Morgan, Wm 381

Mountjoy, W. D 382

Mozier, A. M 468

Murphy, J. W 325

Murphy, M. A 326

Myers, Wm 391

N

Neal, A. D.. 270

Neal, H. A 432

Neff, John 429

Newman, M 263

Nicholson, A B 484

Norton, I.. J 555

O

Oglesby, Richard J 163

O'Hair, C. B 542

O'Hair, M. F. 404

O'Hair, Z 365

Orland, W. P 539

Owens, R. G 480

Palmer, John M 167

Parker, J . H 572

Patterson , E . G 402

Peak, W. J 412

Peck.C. G 398

Pemberton, J. J 403

Pepper, T . J .496

Perisho, Isaac 457

Perisho, J. K 329

Pfeifer, George M 485

Pfeifer, L. W. M 541

Philhower, A.W 351

Philhower, W. A 31.

Phillips, J. M 439

Pierce. Franklin 71

Pinnell, A. J 345

Polk, James K 59

Poorman, John 387

Prall, Cornelius 313

Puleslon, W. H 392

Purtill, W. F 390

R

Raines, George 462

Rankin, John 548

Rardin, J. H... x 538

Rardin, Samuel. .v. 530

Ray, S. E 213

Reat, Mrs. Emma 196

Record, S. H 371

Redman, B. B 374

Reel, J- F 191

Reel, Dr. S. A 533

Reilly, Patrick 5^5

Replogle, David 195

Replogle, M atthias 195

Reynolds, C. C 413

Reynolds, John 123

Rice, Amos, Jr 348

Rice, Amos,Sr .344

Rice, J. C 473

Ricketts, Joshua 486

Ricketts, Oscar J 376

Riley, Nimrod 234

Roberts, Isaac N 477

Roberts, Wm . D 430

Roberts, W. H 216

Ruddell, Dr. C. B 423

Rutherford, Dr. H 373

Rutherford, John 370

Sain, I. W 503

Sanders, David 513

Sandoe, George 549

Sargent, John S 267

Sawin, J . G 291

Scott, E. D 483

Schulhoff, F. M , 569

Senteney , Thomas 470

Shafer, William 505

Shaver, Jonathan 296

Shields, W. J 469

Shinn, Jdtnes 449

Shoemaker, T. T 366

Shoemaker, Wm 383

Silvers, J. O .. 49°

Silverthorn, Dr. L. L 237

Slater. John G 454

Snapp, J. N 3U3

Snowden, J. F 398

Snowden, W. D 379

Spitler,John 475

Stites, N. S 527

Stites, Wm 519

Stokes, John 268

Suitt, A. D 438

Sumerlin, Adolf 546

S wisher, Lockard 495

Taylor, Isaac 416

Taylor, Dr. Smith 453

Taylor, Zachary 63

Temple, Thomas W 574

Thornton, Wm. H 269

Tiley, S. G 335

Tinch, Alexander 248

Toby, J. R 558

T raver, Mrs. Mary S 358

f

fc

INDEX.

T rower, Mrs. P. A 452

Turney, B. D 309

Turney, J. B 344

Tyler, John 45

v

Van Buren, Martin 47

Vannatta, I . N 264

w

Wad.lill, W. G 558

Wallace, James 306

Wallace, W. H 425

Washington, George 19

Watkins, J. H 5<x,

Weiss, Gunther 534

Whisennand, A.J 357

White, Silas 367

Wible, J. H 315

Wiley, James 415

Williams, J. H 274

Williams, R. E- Y 361

Williams, Wm .510

Wilson, John 319

Winkleblack, Daniel B 320

Winkleblack, Jacob 420

Woods, G. W 300

Wood, John 155

Woods, T. E 462

Woodson, James W . .227

Wright, Henry 275

Wright, J, S 337

Wright, Robert W 421

Wyeth , Samuel 467

Wyeth, Thomas E 310

Yates, Richard 158

Yeargin, James S 460

Yeargin, Lyman T 501

Young, Joshua 263

Ziinmerm2n, W. B

Adams, John ., 22

Adams, John Q 38

A mes," O . H 536

Arthur, Chester A 88

Benefiel, J. B 518

Beveridge, John L 170

Bissell, Wm.-H 150

Bond, Shadrach no

Buchanan, James ' 74

Burgner, Conrad 256

Bushey, W. D 336

Butler, Dr. A. C 400

Butler, Mrs. A. C 400

Cecil, H. H 446

Cecil, Mrs. H. H 446

Cleveland, S. Grover ..102

Coles, Edward 114

Edwards, Ninian .118

Ewing, Wm. L. D 126

Ficklin, O. B iK6

Fillmore, Millard 66

Ford, Thomas 138

French, Augustus 142

Garfield, James A . .94

Geyer, George 312

Gram, U. S .. 68

Hall, J. J 464

Hall, Mrs. J. J 464

Hamiltop, John M 178

Hanks, D. F 554

Harrison, Wm. Henry 50

Hayes, Rutherford B 90

Honn,D. W 198

Honn, Mrs. D. W 198

Jackson, Andrew 42

Jefferson, Thomas v6

Johnson, Andrew 82

Kelly, Larbia 408

Lincoln, Abraham 78

Madison, James 30

Matteson, Joel A 146

Monroe, James 34

Neff, John ....428

Neff, Mrs. John 428

Oglesby, Richard J 162

Palmer, John M 166

Philhower, A. W --350

Pierce, Franklin 70

Polk, James K 58

Poorman, John 386

Pi all, Cornelius 312

Rardin,John H 536

Reynolds, John 122

Scott, Dr. E. D 4^2

Silverthorn, L. L 236

Silverthorn, Mrs- L. L 236

Taylor. Isaac 4*8

Taylor, Mrs- Isaac 4*8

Taylor, Zachary 62

Van Buren, Martin 46

Washington, George 18

Wood, John '54

Yeargin, L. T 5°°

Bensley, T. A

28i

Bull, T. J

. . . 266

Ed man, Kenny
Gilmer, Wm. A
Hood, Tames. .

208
322
;..266

H uckaba, A . H 340

Hudson, Jesse 226

Miller, George L 284

Morgan, Dr. W. D 302

Morgan, Wm 340

O'Hair, M. E 322

Rice Amos

378

Rice, J C

378

Roberts I N

Sain, I. W
Sanders, David

....302

Taylor, Isaac 208

Vail, F 284

Watkins, J. H 302

Williams, Wm - 360

Woodson, James 226

T