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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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Humbolt Twp. -
J. W. FARRAR, farmer
and stock; P. O. Mattoon; the subject of this sketch was born in
South Carolina, near Charleston, March 4, 1827. He married
Miss Ann M. Talbot Oct. 12, 1851; she was born in Henderson Co.,
Ky., Oct. 9, 1832; they had eight children, two living, viz.,
Joseph F. and Lizzie A. He lived about eighteen
months in South Carolina, when, with his parents, he moved to Perry
Co., Mo., where he engaged in the warehouse and wood business; he
lived here with his parents about six months, when, with his
grandparents, he went to Illinois and settled at Lebanon, in St.
Clair Co., where he lived until he was 8 years of age; while here
his grandfather died, and his grandmother and he went to Mount
Vernon, Ind., where they lived with her son; he lived here three
yeas; he then went to New Harmony and engaged on a farm, where he
worked two years; he then went to Stewartsville and apprenticed to
the tanning business, remaining three and a half years; he then
returned to Perry Co., Mo., and engaged in tanning, following his
trade some four years; he then engaged in shipping fowls to New
Orleans, and followed the business about four years; he then
followed his trade for about four years; he then went to Posey Co.,
Ind., and engaged in farming, remaining until 1861, when he came to
Illinois and settled in Coles Co., about four miles east of his
present place, and then in 1864 he came to his present place and has
lived here since. He has held the office of Road Commissioner
three years, that of School Trustee some four years - also Director
for a number of years. He owns 310 acres of land in this
county, which he has earned by his own labor and management.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 635 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
JAMES FARIS, farmer and nurseryman, Sec. 1; P. O. Mattoon;
was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., Feb. 22, 1808; engaged with his father
in farming and nursery business until 30 years of age. He was
then married to Rachel E. McGahan Aug. 17, 1843; she was born
in Orange Co., Ind., Jan. 4, 1826; they have had ten children, four
living and six dead; the names of the living are Thomas C., John
D., Mary E. and Charles H.; the names of the dead are
William E., Sarah I., William W., George W., and Martha A.
and one infant. Mr. Faris commenced the nursery
business in the year 1840, and has carried it on ever since; he has
a good variety of trees on hand at present; he has also farmed quite
extensively and dealt considerably in cattle; he owns 588 acres of
fine farm land, and has accumulated nearly all this property in a
few years by industry, economy and perseverance.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 586 |
Ashmore Twp. -
B. J. FARRIS, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O.
Westfield; was born in Edgar Co., Ill., Mar. 24, 1831, being a son
of James and Nancy Farris, who were among the earliest pioneers of
that county. His father was born in Virginia, in the year
1785; received a liberal education, being designed for the
Presbyterian ministry, and leaving home at the age of 18, he went to
Warren Co., Ohio, where he married Miss Nancy Downs, a native
of South Carolina, born in 1799, and lived there till he came to
Edgar Co. He was a soldier of the war of 1812; fought at
Lundy's Lane and Chippewa, and was a witness of Perry's victory on
Lake Erie. Arriving in Illinois he took up 640 acres of land
in Edgar, Coles and Clark Counties. He was a man of the
strictest integrity, and dealt honestly with every man. He had
a powerful constitution and was a hard worker. Although the
son of a wealthy Virginia family, he never owned slaves; was a Whig
in politics and joined the Republican party on its
organization. He was a stanch Union man during our late war,
and the defeat of the Union army at the battle of Bull Run, which
occurred during his last illness, greatly affected him. He
died Sept. 27, 1861, leaving eight children; his widow died Dec. 9,
1877. the subject of this sketch continued to reside in Edgar
Co. until he was married, Aug. 12, 1852, to Miss Mary J. Bishop,
a daughter of John W. Bishop; she was born in Rush Co., Ind.,
Sept. 18, 1832, and first came to Clark Co., Ill., when 5 years of
age. They have eight children: James, Sarah A., John W.,
Florence, George Grant, Albert, Benjamin F. and Ida.
The year of his marriage, Mr. Farris removed to Coles Co.,
where he lived till March, 1876, and then removed to Nebraska.
At the end of three months, however, he returned to Coles Co., and
in 1877, purchased the farm of 120 acres where he now resides.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 597 |
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Pleasant Grove Twp. -
JOHN D. FARRIS, farmer and nurseryman, Sec. 2; P. O.
Charleston; owns 900 acres; was born in Edgar Co., Ill., Sept. 30
1827, and was engaged with his father in farming and nursery
business until 29 years of age. Was married to Eliza J.
Manfort Jan. 28, 1852; she was born in Henry Co., Ky., Mar. 16,
1833; the fruit of this marriage is eight children, viz., Caleb,
Mattie M., John N., Olive, Israel J. (deceased), William,
Anna and one infant. Mr. Farris' father started the
first mill to grind wheat and corn in this township; people came a
great distance to mill, this being the only one for miles around;
Mr. Farris has carried on faring and nursery business very
extensively, and has still a great variety of trees yet on hand; he
has put in over 4,000 rods of tiling on his own land in the last few
years; raised at one time 162 bushels of grain on one acre of land.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 586 |
Charleston Twp. -
AARON FERGUSON, M. D., deceased, late of
Charleston; was born in Wilkes Co., N. C., Dec. 11, 1802; he was a
son of Joel and Lydia (Chambers) Ferguson, and the oldest of
a family of nine children; when he was quite young, has parents
emigrated to Bloomington, Ind.; he obtained a collegiate education
in the Bloomington College, after which, he studied medicine under
Dr. Maxwell, of that place, and attended a course of medical
lectures in Cincinnati; in 1830, he came to Charleston and entered
upon the practice of his profession. He was married May 21,
1832 to Miss Susan P. Morton, daughter of Charles S.
Morton, the original proprietor of the city of Charleston; she
was born in Fayette Co., Ky., May 31, 1814, and came to Coles Co.
with her parents in 1829; all their children, three in number, are
still living; William C. resides in St. Louis; Irvin B.,
in Rockerville, Dakota Territory, and Aaronella L. is the
wife of G. W. Parker, of St. Louis. Dr. Ferguson,
is content with previous attainments, afterward pursued a course in
the Medical Department of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky.,
where he graduated about 1837; his practice was an extensive one,
extending a distance of thirty miles in all directions; he was a
close student all his life, retiring in his disposition, seeking no
notoriety, and accepting no public offices but devoting himself to
study and the duties of his profession. He was, however, an
earnest Republican, believing firmly in the principles of his party,
and ready to advocate them on all suitable occasions. For
about five years previous to his death, he was confined to his room
by paralysis; he died Apr. 10, 1876; as a physician, he occupied an
exalted position, and as a citizen was held in universal respect.
Mrs. Ferguson still resides in Charleston.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 520 |
Paradise Twp. -
WILLIAM B. FERGUSON,
farmer; P. O. Mattoon; is the son of William and Nancy Ferguson;
was born in Bradford Co., Penn., Dec. 8, 1828; moved with his
parents to Paradise Twp., Coles Co., Ill., Oct. 15, 1839; is the
owner of 601 acres, valued at or near $18,000. Was married to
Fanny M. Hart, of this county and township; she is the
daughter of Miles H. and Catherine Hart, and was born Dec.
13, 1837; married March 8, 1854; there are eight children by this
union, viz., Ed, Thomas, James, George, Ella, Ann and
Almira; (deceased) Mellissa, Deckard died Jan. 28, 1878.
His father, William Ferguson, was born in 1805, died in 1877,
in the 73d year of his age; his mother was born in 1805, died in
1877, in the 73d year of her age. He has held the office of
Supervisor two years, Assessor one year and School Trustee three
years.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 651 |
Charleston Twp. -
HON. ORLANDO B. FICKLIN, attorney at law,
Charleston; he was born in Kentucky Dec. 16, 1808, being the son of
William and Elizabeth Kenner (Williams) Ficklin, both of
Virginia. His early education was obtained in country schools,
in Kentucky and Missouri, except about one year, which he spent at
Cumberland College, located at Princeton, Caldwell Co., Ky., under
the auspices of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His
parents having removed to Potosi, Washington Co., Mo., he commenced
the study of law with Henry Shurlds of that place, who was
afterward elected to the Circuit Court bench, and at a later period
removed to St. Louis and engaged in banking until his death; Mr.
Ficklin spent the winter of 1829 and 1830 in the law office of
Gen. Robert Farris, of St. Louis; in March, 1830, he was
admitted to the bar at Bellville, St. Clair Co., Ill., having been
examined by Edward Cowles, then an old and well-established
lawyer of that place; from thence he went to McLeansboro, Hamilton
Co., Ill., meeting there with Chief Justice William Wilson,
who advised him to locate in Mount Carmel, Wabash Co., Ill.; Mr.
Ficklin attended the courts of that circuit commencing at Carmi,
and when the circuit closed, he located at Mt. Carmel. In
1832, he went to the Black Hawk war in Capt. Elias Jurdon's
Company, and at the organization of the regiments and brigades, was
appointed Quartermaster, and was attached to the brigade of Gen.
Milton R. Alexander, then of Paris, Ill.; in 1833, he was
elected Colonel of the militia of Wabash Co., under the old militia
system, long since exploded. At the election in August, 1834,
Mr. Ficklin was elected to the Lower House of the
Legislature, and was chosen by that body State's Attorney for the
Wabash Circuit. In 1837, he removed to Charleston, Coles Co.,
where he has ever since resided. At the election on the first
Monday of August, 1838, he was elected as Representative in the
Legislature from that county, and was again elected to the same
place in August, 1842; at the August election in 1843, he was
elected to Congress from the Wabash district; his colleagues were
Robert Smith, John A. McClernand, John Wentworth, Joseph P. Hoge,
John J. Harding and Stephen A. Doublas; he was
re-elected to Congress in August, 1844, and again in 1846, and
declining to be a candidate at the next election, he resumed the
practice of law in Charleston; in 1850, he was again a candidate for
Congress, and was elected at teh August election; on the expiration
of his term, March 4, 1853, he engaged again in the practice of law;
in 1856, he was a member of the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati,
that nominated James Buchanan for President; in 1860, he was
a member of the National Convention, held at Charleston, S. C., and
was present at the disruption of that body, and also attended the
adjourned meeting at Baltimore, where Stephen A. Douglas was
nominated; in 1864, he was a delegate to the National Convention,
held at Chicago, that nominated Gen. George B. McClellan for
President; he represented the counties of Coles, Moultrie and
Douglas in the State Constitutional Convention, in the winter of
1869-70; after which, he gave his attention to the practice of law,
and was not a candidate for any office in the gift of the people
until the fall of 1878, when he was elected to the Illinois House of
Representatives. While in Congress, he was married to Miss
Elizabeth H. Colquitt, a daughter of Senator W. H. Colquitt,
of Georgia, and has four children living.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 519 |
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Ashmore
Twp. -
ALBERT W. FLENNER, farmer and
stock-raiser; P. O. Kansas; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Mar. 17,
1850, being a son of Isaac and Rachel A. (Hughes) Flenner; in
1856, he came with his father's family to Coles Co., his mother
having died in 1852. He was raised on the farm, and on
arriving at his majority, he purchased the farm of his uncle, M.
B. Flenner, adjoining his father's place, and containing 160
acres of land, and he still resides there. He was married Jan.
17, 1871, to Miss O'Kalla Breeding, the fifth daughter of
Hutchinson and Elizabeth M. Breeding; she was born in Edgar Co.,
Ill., Mar. 16, 1850; her parents came to Edgar Co. about thirty-six
years ago; her father died there in 1866, and after his death her
mother removed with her family to Ashmore, and there lived till
1876, when she returned to Edgar Co. where she now resides.
They have two children - Rachel Annie and Isaac B.
Mr. Flenner has been a member and Clerk of the Baord of School
Directors for the past three years.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 598 |
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Ashmore
Twp. -
ISAAC FLENNER, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O.
Kansas; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 25, 1825; his father,
Daniel Flenner, was among the pioneers of that State, coming
from Maryland in 1809. He was a soldier in the war of 1812,
and was a prominent citizen, holding many offices of trust in his
county. His mother, Hannah (Andrew) Flenner, was a
native of Ohio, and a descendant of an old Pennsylvania family.
Mr. Flenner removed to Coles Co., in 1856; his father
removing to Clark Co., Ill., at the same time; he purchased 200
acres of land and engaged in farming and stock-raising, and during
the past five years has devoted his attention to fine stock, having,
at present writing, thirty-nine head of thorough-bred short-horn
cattle. He also makes a specialty of the breeding of Berkshire
hogs, of which he has seventy-five now on hand. He is one of
the most thorough and successful farmers in the township. From
the railroad, which passes a short distance in front of his
residence, the view is most beautiful. His fine buildings,
with the large yard set to evergreens and shrubbery, the orchards of
fruit of all kinds, the rolling prairie "Stretching in billowy
undulations far away," present a sight not surpassed in this
part of the country. Mr. Flenner was married Sept. 30,
1847, to Miss Rachel A. Hughes, who was a native of Maryland,
but removed in early childhood to Butler Co., Ohio. She died
in 1852, leaving two children, one of whom is living - Albert W.
Flenner. Mr. Flenner was married a second time Jan. 12,
1858, to Miss Hopy A. Hollingsworth, a daughter of Jacob
Hollingsworth. Her father came to Illinois in 1830 and
resided in Coles Co. till his death in 1875. They have one son
living - Martin Flenner.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 597 |
Hutton Twp. -
J. B. FLENNER, farmer and stockraiser; P. O. Westfield; was
born in Butler Co., Ohio, Nov. 18, 1829; up to the age of 24, he
remained engaged in farming with his parents; in 1853, they started
West, stopping in Clark Co. for five years, when they moved to Coles
Co., reaching here in August, 1858, and settled on a farm in Sec.
30, Hutton Tp., near "Otterbein Cemetery," where his mother died
Aug. I, 1859; shortly after, Mr. Flenner settled upon the
farm where he now resides, his father, since the death of his
mother, residing with him; his farm contains 570 acres, all
improved, upon which he has built what is considered the finest
residence in this section of the county; has been School Director
for three or four terms. He married Miss Ursula Moore
(daughter of Levi D. Moore, of Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 17,
1853; they had five children—three boys and two girls; two boys
living—Wilbur F. and Charles B., one dying in infancy;
and two girls both living—Alice F. (now Mrs. Albert
Connelly, of Hoopeston, Vermilion Co. Ill.), and Ella.
Mr. Flenner has been engaged in breeding Poland-China hogs
for nearly forty years, and was instrumental in developing and
establishing this breed of hogs in Coles Co.; he raises on an
average 250 hogs of this breed each year; one year the average
weight was 598 pounds, and average age 18 months. Mr.
Flenner's parents connected themselves early in life with the
Methodist Church, and were always consistent and upright members of
that denomination.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 614 |
Morgan Twp. -
SHEP FLORER, farmer; P.O. Oakland; born in
Newport, Vermilion Co., Ind., Mar. 29, 1839; he was the son of
Alexander B. Florer, of the early pioneers of that county, and
who was elected Second County Clerk, which office he held fourteen
years; was elected Recorder of the county several times, which
office he held for many years; he was also an eminent lawyer of that
part of the State of Indiana until his death, which occurred Aug.
9,1863; Shep Florer was raised in the above county, at the
age of 14, he commenced clerking for Jones, Culbertson & Co.,
and at 17 he was appointed Deputy auditor of the county under
Henry D. Washburn, and afterward as Deputy Clerk and Recorder at
20 years of age; he did a heavy grocery trade in that town; at the
beginning of the war, he enlisted in Co. C, 18th Ind. Vols., and
served his country three years as private messenger for ol. Tom
Patterson and Gen. H. D. Washburn. On Sept. 23,
1864, he located with his mother, A. A. Florer, at Milton Station,
Coles Co., Ill, where he sold general merchandise for five years,
and on the 11th day of October, 1870, he moved to his mother's farm
of 529 acres, situated in Morgan Tp., Coles Co., where he new
resides. He married June 24, 1866, to Louisa A. Hawkins
she was born in Rush Co., Ind., Mar. 7, 1846; she removed with her
parents to Coles Co., Ill., in 1850, where her father and stepmother
now reside; five children were the fruit of this union, two of whom
are deceased, the names of the living are Mary Elizabeth born
May 13, 1876, and Katie and Clara, twins, June 11, 1878.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 623 |
Seven Hickory Twp. -
JOHN FOREMAN, farmer; P. O. Charleston; the
subject of this sketch was born in the District of Columbia Mar. 17,
1823. He married Miss Harriet E. Richardson Oct. 10,
1842; she was born in Franklin Co., Ohio, Mar. 24, 1820; they have
seven children, viz., William T., John R., Joseph, Isaac P.,
David B., Thomas N. and Edward P. He lived
in the District of Columbia until he was 12 years of age; he then
moved to Fayette Co., Ky., with his parents, who engaged in farming,
and he remained until 1853, when he came to Illinois and settled in
Charleston, where he lived two years while improving his farm; he
then came on his present place, and has lived here since.
In1854, he was elected Supervisor of Seven Hickory Tp.; he was also
one of the first two Justices of the Peace of this township, being
elected in 1860, and served four years; he has also served as
Commissioner of Highways and Township trustee. He owns 260
acres in this county. His parents, Joseph and Mrs. Chloe
Payne Foreman, were natives of England and Virginia; they were
married in the District of Columbia; they moved to Fayette Co., Ky.,
in 1834, where his father died; his mother died in Lexington, Ky.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 642 |
Seven Hickory Twp. -
J. J. FOSTER, farming and stock; P. O. Arcola;
the subject of this sketch was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., May 18,
1831. He married Miss Catharine Beggs Jan. 31, 1859;
she was born in Clarke Co., Ind., May 10, 1838, and died May 14,
1866; they had three children, viz., Eugenia, Sarah M. and
Dela J.; his present wife was Miss Melinda C. Beggs; they
were married Dec. 18, 1867; she was a sister of his first wife; she
was born in Clarke Co., Ind., Sept. 3, 1839; they have three
children, viz., Orestes, Claudius B. and Ida C.
He was born on the farm and lived there for twenty-five years, when
he came to Illinois and settled in Coles Co., near his present
place, where he engaged in farming, and remained for seven years; he
then moved to his present place, and has lived here since. He
has held the office of School Trustee for eleven years, and is now
servicing his third term as Supervisor of this township. He
owns 310 acres of land in this township. His parents,
William and Mrs. Sarah McCormick Foster, were natives of
Virginia, where they were married; they moved to Clarke Co., Ind.
and remained two years, when they moved to Lawrence Co., Ind., where
they died; Mrs. Foster's parents were James and Mrs.
Matilda Drummond Beggs; they were natives of Clark Co., Ind.,
where he died; Mrs. Beggs is living there on the old
homestead.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 641 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
NELSON S. FREEMAN, M. D., practicing physician in Farmington;
P. O. Campbell; was born in Orange Co., Ind., Feb. 17, 1833, and
lived with his parents until 19 years of age. He was married
to Mary F. Carman Sept. 29, 1851; she was born in Tioga Co.,
Penn., Apr. 2, 1832; they have had six children - Caroline M.,
Charles E., Lizzie A., William F., Frank F., and Matthew S.,
deceased. Dr. Freeman has been practicing medicine
twenty-three years; his practice has been quite extensive and
attended with good success. Dr. Freeman was Assistant
Surgeon in the 63d I. V. I. for four months, and was a second time
appointed Assistant Surgeon in the army; he was Captain of a company
of colored troops, has been Postmaster in Farmington ten years, was
Township Trustee eight years and Township Treasurer two years, which
office he still holds. The Doctor's parents are natives of
Virginia, and MRs. Freeman's father a native of Pennsylvania,
her mother of Connecticut. The Doctor owns a house a lot in
Farmington.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 586 |
|
Charleston
Twp. -
FREDERICK FROMMEL, Charleston, of the firm of
Weiss & Frommel, proprietors of the Charleston Woolen-Mill;
was born in Ravensburg, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 5,
1825; at the age of 14, he was apprenticed in a woolen-factory to
learn the trade, and worked there until he came to this country in
1854; he spent several years in Philadelphia, New York, and
Connecticut; after which, he came West to Cincinnati, where he was
engaged in traveling for two of the principal woolen houses in that
city until 1869; he then removed to Charleston, and engaged with
Henry Weiss, proprietor of the Charleston Woolen-Mill. On
the death of Mr. Weiss, in the fall of 1869, he became a
member of the firm of Weiss, Ginther & Co., till 1874,
since which time it has been Weiss & Frommel; they employ
about thirty hands, and manufacture all kinds of woolen goods and
yarns. Mr. Frommel was a member of the City Council of
Charleston, from 1874 to 1878. He was married May 16, 1860, to
Miss Annie Stuber, of Cincinnati, and has five children
living - Emma K., Albert G., Ernst H., Minnie Ch. and Otto
H.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 520 |
North Oakaw Twp. -
THOMAS FURNESS,
farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Buller's Point; one of the early
settlers; was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 17, 1825; came to
this State and settled in Coles Co. in 1856, and with the exception
of five years' residence in Moultrie Co., his home has been in Coles
Co.; his farm, which is located in both counties, consists of 240
acres, valued at $7,200. He was married Dec. 25, 1848, to
Miss Mary Kepler, who was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 9,
1829; they have ten children, seven of whom are living, viz.,
Louisa, Francis and Johnny, deceased; Theodore, James,
Cornelia, Willie, Laura, Georgie, and Walter.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 646 |
. |
