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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co.
1879
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1879 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
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Hutton Twp. -
ELIJAH ADAMS,
farmer; P. O. Diona; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Oct. 23, 1824;
in the year 1838, his parents, John Adams, who was a native
of New York, and Susanna Adams, a native of Maryland,
moved to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 17, where the son now
resides, having entered the land; both died there, his mother in
October, 1877, and his father, June, 1878. The subject of this
sketch has always resided in this county with the exception of the
years 1850 and 1851, when he was mining and prospecting in
California. He has held the office of School Trustee and
Director for fifteen years, and is such at the present time; was
also Supervisor five years, Assessor four years, and is at present
Commissioner of Highways. He owns 200 acres of land. He
married Miss Louisa Anderson, daughter of James Anderson;
her parents were natives of Virginia, and moved to Ohio,
and from there came to Coles Co. in the year 1839; they both died on
the farm adjoining that of Mr. Adams, upon which they had
settled Aug. 21, 1843; Mr. Adams was born May 15, 1822; they
had eight children, five living - John, born Aug. 17, 1847
(and who married twice, his first wife being Miss Henrietta Irwin,
whom he married in November, 1868, and who died April 25, 1873; his
second wife was Miss Martha E. Walters, whom he was married
to Jan. 16, 1874; they have three children - Wesley E., Mary E.
and Dora E.), Rachel E., (now Mrs. Levi Moore),
born March 11, 1850; James W., born Dec. 10, 1852, who
married Miss Emily Goodman; Anor L., born July 25,
1860, and David E., born Oct. 17, 1852, and three died -
Susanna (formerly Mrs. Reily Irwin), born July 21, 1844,
died Oct. 28, 1877; Mary A., born April 11, 1857, died May 7,
1858; and Seth D., born Jan. 18, 1855, and died April 29,
1858.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 607 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
JOHN JEFFERSON ADAMS, farmer, deceased, Sec. 17; P. O.
Campbell; owns 1,240 acres; Mr. Adams was one of the early
pioneers of Coles Co.; he spent nearly half a century in Coles Co.,
Ill., and was one of the men who helped to change it from a
wilderness waste to a land of fruitful fields, of bursting barns,
bending orchards and happy homes, and, therefore,deserves more than
a passing notice; he was born Sept. 30, 1806, in Williamson Co.,
Tenn. Was married to Martha Gamniil in 1829.
On the 26th of October, 1830, he, with his wife and first born child
(W. E. Adams, who was then 11 days old), emigrated to what
was then Clark Co., and after twenty four days march, pitched his
tent near the spot where he died; Mrs. Adams died in1844,
leaving six children - William E., of Charleston; the next
lived to be a soldier, who died in a hospital during the late
rebellion; Mrs. Brown of Hillsboro; Mrs. Dr. Reel, of
Oakland; Mrs. West, of Texas, and Mrs. J. S. Grimes,
now of Kansas. Mr. Adams was then married to Nancy
Caroline Dryden Jan. 29, 1845; she was born Jan. 23, 1821; died
Sept. 2, 1854; he was then married to Sarah E. Dryden Feb.
27, 1855; Sarah E. Dryden was born Jan. 14, 1827; the fruit
of this marriage was eleven children, six living, five dead; the
names of the living are William E., Elizabeth A., Eliza, Martha
J., Margaret M. and David; the names of the deceased are
Mary J., James H., Mary D., Unity E. and John W.
David Adams was born in Coles Co., Ill., June 26, 1849.
Was married to Hannah J. Harris May 6, 1873; she was born in
Coles Co., Ill., Oct. 10, 1853; the fruit of this marriage is two
children, one living and one dead; the name of the living is
Grace.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 582 |
Charleston Twp. -
CAPT. WM. E. ADAMS,
attorney at law, Charleston; was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., Oct.
15, 1830, being the son of John J. and Martha ( Gammell)
Adams, who came to Coles Co., in December, 1830, settling in
what is now Pleasant Grove Twp., on the farm where his father still
resides; he made his home at his father's until about 1855, when he
engaged in buying and herding stock, and driving it to Wisconsin; he
continued in this business until 1860. He was married in
August, 1859, to Miss Olive A. Holton, of Blue Mounds, Wis.,
and has a family of five children - John H., Jennie M., Sarah S.,
Willie and Helen. He has previously read law and
been admitted to the bar, and, in 1860, located in Mattoon and
entered upon the practice of his profession; in August, 1862, he
enlisted in the 123d Ill. Vols., and on the organization of the
regiment was chosen Captain of Co. I; he participated in the battles
of Perryville, Ky., Milton, Tenn., Chattanooga, and Chickamauga,
after which, his regiment, having previously been attached to
Wilder's Brigade of Mounted Infantry, pursued Gen. Wheeler,
who was then making a raid on the rear of Gen. Rosecrans'
army; his regiment had a severe engagement at Farmington, Tenn., in
which the Colonel was killed and fully half of Capt. Adams' company
either killed, wounded or taken prisoners, and where the Captain
himself was wounded; after participating in the capture of Atlanta,
his regiment was remounted at Louisville, Ky., and proceeded thence
to Selma, Ala., and, after the capture of that city, to Montgomery,
Columbus and Macon, Ga.; a portion of his command assisted in the
capture of Jeff. Davis, the President of the defunct
Confederacy. Returning in July, 1865, he was elected in the
fall of that year Clerk of the County Court of Coles Co., and
re-elected in 1869; on the expiration of his term of office in 1873,
he was elected County Judge, serving till 1877, since which he has
been engaged in the practice of law. He was for three years a
member of the City Council, and is the present Secretary of the
Coles County Old Settlers' Society.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 511 |
Paradise Twp. -
HENRY E. ALEXANDER, farmer; P. O.
Paradise; is
the son of Ebenezer and Dorcas Alexander; was born in Tennessee,
Obion Co., Sept. 2, 1827; moved with his parents to Coles Co. Dec.
20, 1828. It is the owner of 210 acres of land valued at or
near $8,000; School Director two or three terms. Was married
to Mary B. Curry, of Coles Co., June 10, 1852; names of
children - boys - James E., William D., George O. (Edward F.,
deceased); girls Mary D., Margaret J. (Nancy E., deceased);
Edward F. died June 16, 1865; Nancy E., Aug. 1, 1878;
his father, Ebenezer Alexander, died Jan 8, 1857, at 64 years
of age; his mother died April 12, 1871; his father was one among the
oldest settlers in this county, and was Justice of the Peace until
the time of his death.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 649 |
Charleston Twp. -
RANDALL ALEXANDER,
breeder and shipper of Poland-China swine, Charleston; about ten
years ago this gentleman, in company with S. M. Sheperd, made
his first start in the introduction and breeding of thorough-bred
swine in Coles Co. After having experimented thoroughly with
the various breeds of hogs, they became convinced that the
Poland-China possessed all the requisites of size, docility,
fertility, early maturity, aptitude for taking on flesh, and great
constitutional vigor, necessary to render it pre-eminently the hog
for the farmer. From a small beginning, the business has grown
to its present proportions. Mr. Alexander now one of
the most prominent breeders in the State; his trade extends to every
part of the country, to the Pacific Coast, Canada, the Southern
States, etc.; his farm, near Charleston, possesses all the
advantages of a perfect hog farm, such as pure running water,
sheltered location, shade, range, etc. Mr. Alexander
was born in Madison, Jefferson Co., Ind., Aug. 5, 1842; when about
10 years old, he removed with his parents to Tipton Co., Ind., at
14, he left home, and going to Louisiana, Mo., engaged as a
clerk in a dry goods store. In 1861 he went to Tuscola,
Douglas Co., Ill., and clerked one year; he then, with Mr. Robert
Beech, built the Beech House, the finest hotel on the
Illinois Central Railroad, from Chicago to Cairo; after running the
House one year he came in 1863 to Charleston, and continued clerking
till 1865, when he engaged in business for himself, continuing as a
member of different firms until about four years ago; he is at
present a member of the Board of Aldermen in Charleston. He
was married May 21, 1866, to Miss Nancy A. Compton, a
daughter of Albert Compton, of Charleston, and has four
children - Albert C., Edwin R., Rufus C. and Dora T.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 512 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
ANDREW ALLISON, farmer, deceased, Sec. 8; P. O. Campbell;
owned 300 acres of land, which was left to the heirs; was born in
Mecklenburg Co., Co., N. C., Sept. 20, 1823; came from Tennessee to
this county when 13 years of age, where he resided until his death,
which occurred Nov. 15, 1864. He was married to Eveline
Dryden Dec. 30, 1845; she was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., June
7, 1822; they have had eight children - Mary Ann, Emily Francis,
Thomas L., William D., Nancy C., John N., Henry C. and Andrew
B. Mr. Allison was School Director three yeas and Justice
of the Peace when he died. His father was in the war of 1812.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 583 |
Mattoon Twp. -
M. ALSHULER, staple
and fancy dry goods, Mattoon; was born in Bavaria, Germany, A. D.
1836; his early life was spent in school; having acquired a good
education, in February, 1852, he immigrated to America, and first
located in Danville, Ill., where he engaged as a clerk in a general
dry goods store. In 1854, he went to Chicago, and was employed
in a jewelry and fancy store, on Lake street; he next located with
the firm of Edsal & Co., in Terre Haute, Ind., and remained
with that firm seven years; with another firm he remained three
years longer, and, in 1865, came to Mattoon; here the dry goods firm
of Alshuler, Aaron & Co. was formed, and continued one
year; the firm of C. & M. Alshuler was next formed,
and existed eleven years. In the spring of 1876, the firm of
C. & M. Alshuler was dissolved, and that of M. Alshuler &
Co. formed. To Mr. Alshuler must be accorded, and
justly, too, the honor of opening up the first exclusively dry goods
establishment in the city; prior to his example, merchandising in
Mattoon had been conducted on the plan of "ye olden times," when
each carried in stock a line of dry goods, groceries, queensware,
drugs, hardware, etc., etc.; under his healthful example, business
soon became classified; by strict attention to business, fair
dealing, and the establishment of a "one price" system, strictly
adhered to, he has succeeded in building up a large and remunerative
business, and now operates the largest and most prosperous dry goods
establishment in the city. He was married Sept. 13, 1871, to
Fannie Frank, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio; have two
children - Cora and Damon T.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 539 |
North Okaw Twp. -
NELSON W. AMES,
farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mattoon; one of the most prominent
settlers; was born in Wayne Co., Penn., Feb. 9, 1817; he is the son
of Mr. Joseph Ames, now deceased, who was born in
Connecticut, and was one of the early settlers of Pennsylvania,
where he married Miss Gertrude Schenck, and where
Mr. N. W. Ames, the subject of this sketch, was
born. He was married Jan. 9, 1840, to Miss Nancy
Hoalley, who was born May 6, 1818, and who
died Oct. 1847. Mr. Ames removed from his
native State to New Jersey, where he remained several years.
On Apr. 12, 1849, he was married again, to Miss Susan A.
Cramer, who was born in New Jersey June 2, 1830; they have
seven children, viz, Oliver, George, Rutser, Newton, Louisa,
Sarah and John. Mr. Ames came to
this State and settled in Coles Co. in 1857; the farm which he owns,
and upon which he now resides, he purchased from the Railroad Co. in
the same year; it consists of 212 acres, valued at $8,500. George,
the second son of Mr. Ames, served as a volunteer
in the late war three years; he enlisted in the 123rd I. V. I., and
was discharged with honor at the close of the war.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 646
|
Hutton Twp. -
ELIAS ANDERSON,
farmer; P. O. Diona; is a native of Ohio, and was born in Champaign
Co. June 16, 1807; he remained with his parents until he was 32
years of age, his father having died about the year 1833; he
remained with his mother until her removal to Michigan, where she
died in the year 1844; Mr. Anderson, before his removal to
this county, married, Sept. 20, 1835, Miss Hannah Place, her
parents being natives of Pennsylvania; in the year 1839, they came
to this county and settled where he was ever since resided;
they had five children, four living - Thomas, born Sept. 6,
1839, Clarinda, Aug. 14, 1841, Eunice, March 6, 1843,
and Jasper, Dec. 28, 1847, and one deceased - Elias,
who died Sept. 25, 1868; his wife died March 19, 1851; he married
his second wife (the widow of Isaac Clark), April 1852; they
had four children, all living - Louisa, born Feb. 26, 1853,
Bartholomew, March 7, 1855, Rachel, Sept. 25, 1857,
and James, Jan. 30, 1862; his wife died Sept. 25, 1865, and
on Dec. 13, 1866, he was married to the widow of Henry Brant,
who was formerly Miss Margaret Tombs, of New Jersey.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 608 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
JAMES ANDERSON, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Mattoon; owns 133
acres; was born in Monroe Co., Md., Dec. 25, 1825, and lived with
his parents on the farm in Maryland until 7 years of age; then went
with them to Ohio, where he resided until the year 1816, when he
went to the Mexican war, and returned to 1855. He was married
to Lucinda Knight Dec. 29, 1847; she was born in Licking Co.,
Ohio, June 12, 1826; they have had eight children, seven of whom are
living, viz., Mary Ann, Columbia, William H., Sarah P., Emma,
Martha, Charles W. and one infant. Mr. Anderson
enlisted in 1846, and went with his regiment to Mexico; he was in
the service thirteen months, and was in the skirmish at Onnsford.
Mr. Anderson's father is a native of Maryland, and his mother
of Pennsylvania; the parents of Mrs. Anderson are natives of
Maine.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 583 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
JAMES M. ANDERSON, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O.
Charleston; owns 140 acres; was born in Lewis Co., Va., Jan. 27,
1835; engaged in farming until 22 years of age. He was married
to Dorothy A. Leitch Dec. 27, 1860; she was born in Coles
Co., Ill., Apr. 16, 1842; Mr. Anderson has five children
living and one dead; the living are named Sumner, Victoria,
Wesley, Emma J. and Fannie B.; deceased, infant.
Mr. Anderson has held the office of school Director eight
years, and Road Commissioner two years. Mr. and Mrs.
Anderson's parents are natives of Virginia.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 583 |
East Oakland Twp. -
J. V. W. ANNIN, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in
Somerset Co., N. J., July 29, 1841; he emigrated with his parents
when he was 9 years of age, and located in Wyoming Tp., Lee Co.,
Ill., in 1850, living there until January, 1852, when he removed
with his parents to East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., Ill., where he has
since continued to live; he, with his brother Samuel, own 400
acres of land, among which, is the old homestead upon which they
settled when they first located here nearly thirty years ago; while
they own the above property in company, each has a good set of
buildings of his own. He married Feb. 24, 1871, Martha A.
Boyle; she was born in New Jersey Aug. 1, 1846 (her parents were
among the early settlers of Coles Co.); they have five children by
this union, viz., Cora A., Albert A., Edward M., Robert A.
and Arthur C. Mr. Annin is the youngest son of Jacob
V. D. Annin, who located here in 1852, and whose biography
appears in this work, and in which appears the genealogy for the
past four generations of the Annin Family.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm.
LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 559 |
East Oakland Twp. -
JACOB V. D. ANNIN, farmer, deceased; in the
early part of the seventeenth century, there emigrated from their
native land of Scotland, one John Annin, with his family, and
settled in the beautiful State of New Jersey, where he erected a log
house, in which he and his family lived for many years; and if it be
asked, How came his lot to be cast in that fertile valley, far from
the land of his birth? the answer is to be found in the terrible
story of the religious persecutions that, in the latter part of the
seventeenth, and the early part of the eighteenth century, desolated
and depopulated the land of his birth; in the year 1766, William
Annin (son of John Annin) who emigrated with his parents
from Scotland, erected near the old log cabin, a stone house, the
history of which occupies a dear place in the hearts of the
descendants of its builder, who was a stern Whig patriot in the New
Jersey Legislature for a period of thirty years, and who furnished
all the aid and comfort in his power to the friends of free
government, during the dark days of the Revolutionary struggle; in
this house, he and his descendants lived for four generations; in
this house was born John Annin, son of William Annin,
the builder, and father of Jacob V. D. Annin, who was also
born in the old stone house, June 4, 1796; here he passed the days
of his youth; a description of the above house, is given in a work
entitled "Centennial Celebration of the Annin Family at the
Old Stone House, in Somerset Co., N. J., Aug. 15, 1866;" the
description is given as follows: The scene of this celebration
was an old stone house, some 50 feet front, by 40 in depth, with
substantial walls, wide hall, and large open stairway; it stands
embowered in trees in one of the prettiest little valleys of the
State, through which flows a small stream, a branch of the
headwaters of the Passaic; on the above date, the descendants of
John Annin, met in this venerable mansion to thank God, for
these, and all other blessings, which, during that century had
attended them and theirs; they came, representatives of every period
of life, from infancy to old age; they came in number 120, at the
invitation of the venerable owner and occupant, then in his 77th
year; they visited the basement, where, during the Revolution,
patriot soldiers had cooked their frugal rations, where, at other
times, schools had been kept, and the Word of God had been preached
to attentive audiences, convened from the neighborhood; here the
subject of this sketch, Jacob V. D. Annin, passed the days of
his youth; here he received his education, and labored upon the
farm, and continued to live in Somerset Co., N. J., until 1850,
when, seeking new fields of labor, he emigrated with his family
West, and located first in Lee Co., Ill., where he lived until 1852,
when he located in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., Ill., where he
engaged in farming until his decease. His marriage with
Letty Winne, was celebrated Dec. 27, 1821; ; she was born in
Bergen Co., N. J., Apr. 4, 1803; she died in Coles Co., Ill., Apr.
14, 1873, leaving four children now living - John, Martin W.,
Samuel A. and Jacob V. W. (the biographies of the last
three will be found in this work); Mr. Annin was one of the
most industrious, hard-working and successful farmers in the
township in which he lived, and was held in high esteem and great
respect in the community in which he lived; he died June 15, 1878,
upon the place where he had lived since his first settlement in
Coles Co.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm.
LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 558 |
East Oakland Twp. -
MARTIN W. ANNIN, carpenter and builder, Oakland; the subject
of this sketch is the son of J. V. D. Annin, whose biography
appears in this work, and whose genealogy is given for four
generations past; he was born in Somerset Co., N. J., Jan. 5, 1831,
where he engaged in farming until 15 years of age, when he went to
Brooklyn, N. Y., and learned until 20 years of age, when he
emigrated; with his parents, and located in Lee Co., Ill., in 1850,
remaining here a short time, when he went to Peoria Co., and worked
at his trade until January, 1852, when he removed to Oakland, Coles
Co., Ill., and engaged in contracting and building, which business
he has since successfully followed; he owns his residence in
Oakland, which he erected in 1877; also his shop, located at
Lauson's lumberyard, East Oakland Depot; his business card will be
found in the business directory of Oakland, in another part of this
work. He married Jan. 10, 1861, to Angeline T. Payne;
she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, July 27, 1833, and emigrated
with her parents to this county in 1835; they have one child by this
union - Ollie, born June 15, 1864.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm.
LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 558 |
East Oakland Twp.
SAMUEL ANNIN, farmer, S. 23; P. O. Oakland;
born in Somerset Co., N. J., Nov. 8, 1836, where he attended school
until 1850, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and
located in Wyoming Tp., Lee Co., where he assisted his father in
farming until January, 1852, when he located in East Oakland Tp.,
and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed, living
upon the old homestead where his father first located in 1852,
during a period of nearly thirty years; he, with his younger
brother, owns some 400 acrs of land, which is well improved, and
upon which, they have a good buildings. He married May 3,
1866, to Sarah M. Hall; she was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio,
Nov. 13, 1841; they have two children by this union, viz.: Winnie,
born Aug. 7, 1867; George, Aug. 5, 1869. Mrs. Annin
emigrated from Ohio and located in Illinois when 8 years of age;
Mr. Annin is son of Jacob V. D. Annin, whose biography
appears in the biographical sketches of this township.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm.
LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 559 |
Paradise Twp. -
WM. W. APPERSON,
farmer; P. O. Mattoon; was born March 19, 1834 in
Paradise Twp., Coles Co., Ill. Owns 240 acres of land all well
improved but 40 acres, probable value $9,000 or $10,000; public
offices held - Supervisor, one year, Commissioner of Highways, three
years. Maiden name of wife Barbara Ann Rhoads; names of
children - boys, George H., Frank B., William E., John J. and
Charley B.; girls, Selsworth; Wm. N. Apperson is the
son of Dr. John Apperson (deceased); was born in Culpeper
Co., Va., Jan. 8, 1794; moved to Coles Co., Paradise Twp., Oct. 14,
1829; died June 5, 1877; was father of Sidney, Thomas A., D. H.,
J. R., Wm. W., Margaret, Isabella E., Mary M. Apperson. Dr.
John Apperson was in the war of 1812; served as Sergeant Major.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 649 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
JOSEPH ARMSTRONG, farmer and stockdealer, Sec.
9; P. O. Charleston; was born in Pendleton Co., Va., Aug. 11, 1823;
he lived with his parents, assisting his father on the farm until 23
years of age, when he married Elizabeth Leitch, Sept. 22,
1844; Mrs. Armstron was born in Pendleton Co., Va., May 23,
1815; they have had four children, three living and one dead; their
names are Charles E., Abel T. T., Margaret J., and
Arametha L., who died. Mr. Armstrong has held the
office of Township Collector one term, Road Commissioner one term,
and School Director five years. He was in the late war;
enlisted in the year 1862 in Co. of Perryville, Farmington and
Chickamauga; served three years and was mustered out by general
order. Mr. Armstrong owns 320 acres of very fine river
bottom land.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 583 |
Ashmore Twp. -
HARVEY B. ASHMORE,
farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in this township
Nov. 1, 1849, being a son of Hezekiah
J. and Elizabeth Ashmore. When about 15 years old, he
engaged in mercantile business in Ashmore, in which he continued
about two years. He then engaged in dealing in stock, which he
has followed ever since. In 1871, he settled on his present
farm adjoining the village of Ashmore, containing 510 acres of land,
with fine improvements. He also owns another farm of 80 acres
two and a half miles northwest of the village. Mr. Ashmore
is largely engaged in stock raising, feeding not less than 500 hogs,
and from 100 to 200 cattle annually. He makes a specialty of
Poland-China hogs of which he ships a large number every year.
He was married Nov. 16, 1870, to Miss Emma J. Carter, a
daughter of John L. Carter, of Oakland. She is a native
of Gallia Co., Ohio. They have five children - Herbert
K., Leon B., Leftridge L. and Lloyd C. The youngest, a
daughter, is not named at the present writing.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 593
(Sharon's Note: The John L.
Carter family can be found at 1860 Census Springfield Twp., Gallia
Co., Ohio - Film Series M653 - Roll: 966 -
Page 39) |
Ashmore Twp. -
HEZEKIAH J. ASHMORE,
deceased, late of Ashmore, and for whom the township and village was
named, was born in Kentucky Sept. 30, 1802; he was a son of
Samuel and Letitia (Guthrie) Ashmore; his parents removed to
Murray Co., Tenn., when he was a child, and when he was about 12
years old to Illinois, settling on the Wabash River, about twelve
miles south of Terre Haute. He was married, May 24, 1825, to
Miss Elizabeth Black, a daughter of John Black; she
was born in Muhlenburg Co., Ky., Dec. 10, 1807, and came at the age
of 4 years to the Territory of Illinois. About the year 1828
he removed to Vermilion Co., where he remained till February 1831,
when he removed to Coles Co. His mother had died when he
removed to Coles Co. His mother had died several years before
in the Wabash country, and his father having married Miss Ruth
Cowan, had removed in 1829 to Coles Co. and settled in what is
now East Oakland Twp., where he died in 1836, and his wife some four
years afterward. Mr. Ashmore also located in the same
township, and putting up a log cabin as he had done twice before, he
began to open a farm; after a residence there of about five years,
he sold his farm, and removing to a point about two and a half miles
northwest of the present village of Ashmore; he purchased a large
tract of land, and became the largest land-owner in the township,
owning at one time some 1,600 acres; he engaged largely in
stock-raising, and continued that during his residence on the farm;
he laid off a part of the village of Ashmore in 1855; in 1866, he
retired from the farm and removing to the village, there resided
till his death, Dec. 9, 1872, at the age of 70 years; he left a
family of ten children, viz.: Samuel C. of Ashmore; James
M. of Charleston; Martha J., wife of Rodney A. Phelps,
of Kansas; Hezekiah M., of Charleston; Sarah C., wife
of Jacob Zimmerman, of Ashmore; Elizabeth S., wife of
I. N. Van Dyke, of Charleston; Rebecca, wife of
William P. Ferriss, of Decatur, Ill.;
Orlando F.
of Ashmore; Mary M., wife of Jacob Collom, of Paris,
Ill.; and Harvey B., of
Ashmore. Mr. Ashmore held several offices of public
trust, among which may be mentioned that of Justice of the
Peace, for several years, Constable and County Commissioner.
He was a man of enterprise and unusual business ability, and a
liberal supporter of churches, schools, and whatever pertained to
the public welfare.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 592 |
Charleston Twp. -
CAPT. JAMES M. ASHMORE,
Charleston, is a native of Coles Co.; he is a son of Hezekiah J.
Ashmore, one of the pioneers of the county, who was born in
Kentucky, Sept. 30, 1802, and came to Coles Co. with his family,
consisting at that time of a wife and two children, in 1830, and
settled in the northeastern part of the county, and for him the town
of Ashmore was named, as well as the village of that name, which he
laid out in 1855; he came to Coles Co. a poor man, with but
thirty-seven and a half cents in his possession, but went to work
and as fast as he accumulated a little money, he invested it in
land, owning at his death, which occurred in 1872, about 1,600
acres; he was for many years a Justice of the Peace, and one of the
Commissioners of the county. He left a family of ten children,
of whom James M. is the second in age. He was born
April 4, 1832; he remained at home on the farm until 1859, when he
engaged in merchandising in Charleston. In 1861, he entered
the Union army as Captain of Co. C, 8th Ill. Vols., for three
months, and on the expiration of his term of service, re-enlisted
with his regiment for three years; he was wounded at the battle of
Shiloh, upon which he resigned and returned home; upon the
organization of the 123d Ill. Vols., he was appointed Drillmaster,
and drilled that regiment for six months. In 1865, he located
at Ashmore, and followed mercantile business there two years, and
then engaged in shipping stock until 1876; he served six years as
Justice of the Peace, and seven years on the Board of Supervisors;
in 1876, he was elected Sheriff of Coles Co., holding the office two
years. He was married March 26, 1852, to Miss Lizzie March,
daughter of Thomas J. March, an old resident of Charleston.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 511 |
Ashmore Twp. -
ORLANDO F. ASHMORE,
son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth
Ashmore, was born about two and a half miles northwest of the
village of Ashmore, June 10, 1845. He was raised on the farm
until he was of age, and then engaged in the grocery business in
Ashmore, and has been engaged alternately in the grocery and dry
goods business until a short time ago. He was married Oct. 12,
1865, to Miss Margaret J. Barnett, a daughter of James
Barnett of Lincoln Co., Ky. She was born near Stanford, in
that county, Nov. 27, 1842. They have had five children, three
of whom are living, Ores L., Iva E. and Emma B.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 593 |
East Oakland Twp. -
S. H. ASHMORE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O.
Kansas; born in Butler Co., Ky., Jan. 29, 1822; he emigrated with
his parents when quite young and located in Clark Co., Ill., about
the year 1826, where he lived until about 1828, when he removed to
Coles Co., and located before the organization of the township in
what is now known as Ashmore Tp., where he lived until 1836, when he
located in East Oakland Tp., where he has since lived. He
lived with his parents until 23 years of age, at which time he
married, and renting a farm, commenced farming for himself; his
stock then consisted of a tam of ponies and two cows; after renting
two years he purchased eighty acres of land, for which he partly
paid at the time, the balance was paid within two years; he has
added since by purchase until he now owns upward of 600 acres in
Coles and Edgar Co., Oct. 4, 1827; she died Oct. 14, 1875, leaving
five children, two of which are since deceased; the names of the
living are William M., Nancy J. (now Mrs. James Buckler),
and Emanda E. Mr. Ashmore held the office of
School Director in his district for upward of twenty years.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm.
LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 559 |
Charleston Twp. -
W. J. ASHMORE, dealer
in boots and shoes (firm of Ashmore & Mitchell), Charleston;
was born in Coles Co., Ill., May 15, 1853; he is the youngest son of
Samuel C. Ashmore, who came to Coles Co. among the early
settlers, and entered a large tract of Government land, and when
Douglas Co. was formed, the line passed through the middle of his
land; he was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, and for many years
held the office of Justice of the Peace. He died in 1855; his
widow Sarah Ashmore and six children still surviving.
The son, W. J. Ashmore, when about 20 years of age, went to
Lebanon, Ohio, and spent one year as a student in the State Normal
School. In 1874, he came to Charleston and engaged as clerk
for B. M. Payne, and on the 1st of January, 1878, engaged
with A. M. Mitchell in the boot and shoe trade. He was
married Oct. 2, 1878, to Miss Belle Arterburn, of Kansas,
Edgar Co., Ill.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 512 |
Ashmore Twp. -
WILLIAM F. AUSTIN,
of the firm of Austin, Brown & Kimball, dealers in hardware,
lumber, agricultural implements, furniture, etc.; P. O. Ashmore; is
a native of Coles Co., being a son of John and Susan (Carter)
Austin; his father was born near Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 9,
1809, and came with his father's family to the county in about 1828;
his father, William Austin, took up a farm, comprising the
site of the present village of Ashmore. Mr. Austin was
married Oct. 15, 1835, to Miss Susan Carter, a daughter of
John and Mary Carter, both natives of East Tennessee; she was
born in East Tennessee, Sept. 24, 1815; removed with her parents to
Kentucky in early childhood, and came to Coles Co., in 1830, landing
in Ashmore April 10, where her father took up a farm east of and
adjoining the present village, and where Mrs. Austin still
resides; Mrs. Austin's father, John Carter, was born
in 1790, and died, July 19, 1841; her mother, Mary Carter,
was born Dec. 24, 1792, and died Nov. 11, 1857; Mr. Austin
remained a substantial and highly respected citizen till his
death, Sept. 9, 1845; he left five children - James M., born
March 13, 1837, and died July 23, 1866; Mary C., now Mrs.
Thomas White, of Ashmore, born Aug. 13, 1838; William F.,
born Nov. 12, 1840; Edith, born Sept. 22, 1842, married F.
M. Waters, of Ashmore, and died Jan. 4, 1862; Thomas,
born Oct. 10, 1844. William F. Austin, remained on the
homestead until the age of 22, and then engaged in the manufacture
of wagons and carriages, in company with A. J. Waters; this
he continued two years, after which he followed carpentering until
he entered upon his present business in 1872. Mr. Austin
has been a member of the village Council for the past five or six
years. He was married Nov. 10, 1864, to Miss Mary A.
Sousley, who was born in Ashmore Twp. Aug. 5, 1843; she is a
daughter of David and Lucinda (Groves) Sousley, who were
among the early settlers of the county; her father was born Sept. 1,
1816, came to Coles Co. with his parents in about the year 1832 and
died Nov. 26, 1847. Mr. Austin has two sons -
Alcephus L. and Thomas E.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 593 |
Mattoon Twp. -
J. L. AUBERT, County
Surveyor, Mattoon, was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Nov. 3, 1830; his
father was a tiller of the soil, and his early life was that of a
farmer's son; at the age of 18, he began work at the carpenter's
trade, and worked under instruction three years. In 1854, he
came West and settled in Moultrie Co., Ill., where he purchased
land, farmed some, but for the most part followed his trade.
In July, 1865, he located in Lebanon, St. Clair Co.; here he
remained three years, during which time he contracted and built the
public school buildings and the M. E. Church. In 1868, he
lived a short time in Shelbyville, and removed from there to
Jacksonville, Ill., where he was engaged on the Court House, the
East Centenary Church, and on improvements to be Christian Church;
he began the study of surveying many years ago, under the direction
of J. R. Anderson, his brother-in-law, formerly County
Surveyor in Ohio, and later of Moultrie Co., Ill. Mr.
Aubert was elected Surveyor of Coles Co., in November, 1875.
He was married in 1858 to Minerva R. Morgan, a native of
Licking Co., Ohio.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 539 |
Humbolt Twp. -
RICHARD AVEY, farmer
and stock-dealer; P. O. Arcola; the subject of this sketch was born
in Suffolk Co., Eng., Aug. 19, 1837. He married Miss Celia
Oakland May 31, 1858; she was born in Norway, Feb. 7, 1841; they
had eight children - John L., Maud I., Richard G. N., Martha C.
and Oscar L.; Leander R. died Sept. 25, 1866; he lived in
England about eighteen years, when he came to the United States, and
settled in LaSalle Co., Ill., where he lived about two years; he
then came to Cole Co.; this was in 1857; he settled on his present
place and has lived here since. He has held the office of
Commissioner of Highways two terms, and Collector and Treasurer of
Commissioners of Highways. He owns 125 acres in this township,
which he has earned by his own labor and management; he is a member
of the Episcopal Church, and has been connected with the same all
his life.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 633 |
Mattoon Twp. -
J. I. AYER, book and
music store, Mattoon; was born in Medford, Mass., Feb. 3, 1854.
In 1866, the family moved to Elizabeth, N. J.; in addition to his
common-school education, he enjoyed the advantages of a boarding at
Nazareth, Penn.; this school was of a military character, and he
here pursued a course in civil engineering; at the age of 15 years
he entered the firm of Roberts & Co. (dealers in books and
stationery), at Elizabeth, N. J., to take charge of his father's
interest, he being a member of the firm. In the fall of 1870,
he came West to Illinois, and settled in Mattoon, and engaged in
engineering on the Decatur, Mattoon & Sullivan and the Grayville &
Mattoon Railroads; he was thus employed about three years; in 1874,
he was employed as book-keeper in the Essex House, and remained till
March, 1878; in November, 1877, he purchased his present business,
and since March, 1878, has given it his personal supervision.
He was married in August, 1876, to Mary L. Cleveland, a
native of Melrose, Mass.; has one daughter - Mary L., born
Aug. 20, 1878. Mr. Ayer is a relative of the
world-renowned Dr. J. C. Ayer, of Lowell, Mass.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 540 |
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