Morgan Twp. -
ARIS GALBREATH, farmer, P. O. Rardin; was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., Jan. 20, 1812.  His parents removed to Scott Co., Ind., when he was 2 years of age, where he lived until 18 years of age, when he emigrated with his mother to Illinois and located in Edgar Co., in the Fall of 1830, where he engaged as farm laborer for two years at $8 per month; in 1832, he located in Ashmore Tp., Coles Co., Ill., working one year for $100, out of which he saved money to enter 40 acres of land, which he improved one year, when he sold out and purchased 240 acres, which he improved for ten years, which he then sold and entered 160 acres of prairie and purchased 40 acres of timber n Morgan Tp., upon which he lived until 1875, when he removed upon his present place, after renting his old homestead; he now owns 300 acres of land with three sets of buildings.  When Mr. G. located here, wolves and Indians were plenty, and to obtain quail, prairie chickens or other game, was only necessary to shoot from your door or window.  He married Dec. 8, 1835, to Jane Reed; she was born in Spencer Co., Ky., Oct. 9, 1817; they have three children, now living by this union - James T. born Oct. 9, 1836; William R., Nov. 4, 1838; Ann Elizabeth, born Jan. 5, 1841, Mrs. G., was a daughter of Thos. Reed, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Illinois in 1829; he died in Ashmore Tp., in the winter of 1845.  Mr. Galbreath has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been a member of the C. P. Church for fifteen years; his wife having been a member for twenty-five years.  He has held the offices of Assessor, Town Clerk and School Director; the latter office he now holds.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 623

Paradise Twp. -
R. GANNAWAY, farmer; P. O. Paradise; is the son of Wm. and Sadie Gannany; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., Oct. 23, 1810; moved with his folks to Coles Co., Ill., Mar. 27, 1828; is the owner of 131 2/3 acres of land, valued at or near $7,000.  Was School Director, Road Overseer for several years.  Was married to Elizabeth Gannaway, of Coles Co., Ill., Dec. 28, 1836; names of children - boys, Robert, Samuel, James W.,; deceased, John W., girls, Roda J., Susan; deceased, Louisa.  His father William Gannaway, was in the war of 1812, served as captain, came home and died Sept. 12, 1814.  His mother is still living in Des Moines, Iowa, in the 91st year of her age.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879

Hutton Twp. -
J. S. GARNER, M. D.; Salisbury; was born in Russell Co., Ky., Oct. 14, 1831; at the age of 18, he went to Lancaster, Garrard Co., Ky., where he studied medicine in the office of J. S. Pierce, M. D., for three years; after which, he attended a course of lectures in Louisville, Ky., and commenced the practice of medicine in Wayne Co., Ky., and continued there up to the year 1863, when, having recruited Co. K, 48th Regt. Ky. Vols., was elected its First Lieutenant, and, having served for eighteen months in our late civil war, moved to Salisbury, Coles Co., and has been practicing medicine there ever since.  He has held the office of Postmaster for ten years, and holds it at the present time.  He married in Wayne Co., Ky., April 24, 1854, Miss Minnie E. Roberts, daughter of 'Squire Roberts; they have seven children— Mary E., Emma A., John P. L., Minnie M., Viola B., Edwin M. S. and Lulu M.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 615

Mattoon Twp. -
FRANK GARTHWAIT, auction and commission merchant, Mattoon; was born in Terre Haute, Ind., Oct. 18, 1838; his father was a wholesale and retail groceryman, and was one of the pioneers of the city; Frank obtained his education at the city schools, and at the age of 15, began the life of a printer's devil in the Courier office; here he remained three years under charge of J. Canard, editor and proprietor of the paper; he next engaged in traveling and selling clocks for three years, and subsequently engaged in the sale of notions till 1861; he enlisted in the United States service in the fall of 1861, in Co. G, 43d Ind. V. I.; in this he served three years; he then raised a company, and served till the clo9se of the ear in the 149th Regt.; in this he went out as First Lieutenant, and was promoted to the Captaincy; on his return, he engaged in the grocery trade in Terre Haute; in the spring of 1871, he located in Springfield, and engaged in selling lightning-rods; in Oct. 1871, he came to Mattoon, and engaged in the sale of pumps and lightning-rods; in the spring of 1872, he operated a marble-shop; in January, 1874, he began his present line of business.  He was married in 1865, to Ella Saunders, a native of Indiana; she died in 1872; his second marriage, to Mrs. Laura Morgan, a native of Illinois, occurred in 1874; two children were born from his wedlock - Nettie, living, and NEllie, dead; one from second marriage - Daisy.  He was chosen Mayor of the city in the spring of 1877; owns real estate in the city.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 547

Morgan Twp. -
JACKSON GERARD, farmer; P. O. Hinesborough; was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, June 28, 1828; his grandfather was one of the early settlers of Ohio, locating in the above county about the year 1784, where he lived until his decease, which occurred about the year 1838.  The father of the subject of this sketch, William Gerard, was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the year 1785, and lived there until his death, which occurred in the year 1836; he served through the war of 1812, with the Frontier Rangers, being stationed during the winter of 1813 near Vincennes, Ind., guarding the frontier from the attacks of the Indians.  His mother was born in New Jersey, July, 1792, and emigrated with her parents to Ohio, in the year 1794; they did their trading in Cincinnati, when the building occupied as the P. O. was the only frame building there; Mrs. Gerard died July 7 1874, in Butler Co., Ohio.  The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until 7 years of age, when he made his home with an older brother until 21 years of age, when he located upon a farm in Butler Co., Ohio, where he lived twenty-four years; he emigrated to Illinois in 1874, and located up on Sec. 30, Morgan Tp., where he now resides; he owns 102 acres in his home farm, upon which he has erected good buildings; he also owns 140 acres in other parts of the county.  He married Nov. 3, 1850, to Emily Stites; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 20, 1834; they have four children now living, having lost two by death.  The names of the living are:  Eli, born July 4, 1854; Mary A., now wife of Dr. J. T. Montgomery, Feb. 18 1856; Charles W., born Apr. 11, 1859; Anna M., born Oct. 15, 1861.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 624

Morgan Twp. -
ELI GERRARD, farmer; P. O. Charleston; born in Butler Co., Ohio, July 4, 1854, where he attended school and engaged in farming until he emigrated West and located in Coles Co., in the fall of 1874; here he engaged in farming with his father until the spring of 1876, when he removed upon his present place, where he has since lived.  He is the oldest son of Jackson Gerard, whose biography appears in this work.  His marriage with Laura B. Smith was celebrated Aug. 31, 1875; she was born in Ohio Oct. 10, 1856; they have two children now living by this union, viz., Clara L., born June 8, 1876, and Elizabeth A., born Dec. 29, 1877.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 624

Mattoon Twp. -
J. M. GIBBS, livery and sale stable, Mattoon; was born near the South Kickapoo, in Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 28, 1841; his grandfather, Elijah Gibbs, was one of the early pioneers of this section, having come from Virginia, in an early day, to Ohio, and thence to Illinois; his father, Homer Gibbs, was here almost as early as the formation of the county; his father was a carpenter by trade; J. M. passed his early life on the farm, near Sullivan, Moultrie Co.; his education was obtained in the common schools; at the age of 20 years, he began life for himself; in 1861, he began trading in horses and mules, and for three or four years, during the war, shipped to St. Louis stock purchased for the cavalry and artillery services; after the close of the war, he engaged in shipping stock to the southern markets of New Orleans and Natchez; this he continues to the present time; during the summer, he ships to Boston, Mass., though he has always bought and shipped in connection with I. N. Gibbs, his twin bother, yet they have never been in partnership.  He was married Jan. 7, 1864, to Sallie Bridwell, a native of Louisville, Ky.; has five children - J. Emery, Carrie, Lewis, Martin W. and Isaac N.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 547

Hutton Twp. -
EZEKIEL GILBERT, farmer; P. O. Charleston; was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., Nov. 20, 1828; in the year 1830, his parents, Simon and Elizabeth Gilbert, who were natives of Kentucky, moved to Vermilion Co., Ill., and, in 1838, came to Coles Co., and settled on the farm now occupied by Joshua Johns, on Sec. 9, and six years afterward moved to the farm on Sec. 7, where their son Ezekiel now resides; Mr. Gilbert lived with them up to the time of their death.  He married Oct. 28, 1847, Miss Nancy H. Stone, daughter of Stephen Stone, a native of Kentucky, who settled in Coles Co. in 1832; she was born Dec. 26, 1831; they had thirteen children, nine living - Coleman, born Jan. 28, 1851; Edward H., born Jan. 24, 1853, who married Miss Emeline Strader, of Hutton Tp., Mar. 19, 1871; Sarah E. (now Mrs. H. Bennett), born Jan. 10, 1858; Amanda E. (now Mrs. H. L. Brandenburg) born Oct. 27, 1860; Emma J., born Oct. 4, 1862; Rosa B., Oct. 7, 1865; Susan E., Dec. 2, 1867; William O., Aug. 24, 1872, and one infant unnamed; four deceased - John W. born Feb. 27, 1849, died Feb. 14, 1863; Mary F., born Jan. 10, 1855, died July 28, 1855; Eliza J., born Oct. 9, 1856, died Nov. 5, 1856, and one unamed.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 615

Charleston Twp. -
WM. E. GINTHER, dealer in hardware and farm machinery, and general insurance agent, Charleston; was born in the province of Saxony, Prussia, May 2, 1834; his father was a wagon and carriage manufacturer, and he attended school and worked in his father's shop till he was 16 years old, when he came to this country, landing in New York on the 4th of July, 1850; coming to Chicago, he worked on a farm and on the old Galena & Chicago R. R. for awhile; afterward engaged in farming for himself; in 1861, he engaged as a traveling salesman for H. w. Austin of Chicago, his route lying through Central and Southern Illinois, and Missouri; in 1864, he removed to Charleston, and, until 1869, followed the hardware and lumber business, the firming being McGee & Ginther; he then became a partner in the firm of Weiss, Ginther & Co., proprietors of the Charleston Woolen-Mill; in 1874, he resumed the hardware business, and in September, 1877, started in the insurance business also; he represents fifteen first-class fire insurance companies, and three life and accident companies.  He represented a part of Cook Co. in the State Legislature i 1861 and 1862, his district comprising the West Division of Chicago and the western portion of Cook Co.; for four years previously, he had been a member of the Cook County Board of Supervisors; since coming to Charleston, he has abstained from political life, and with the exception of serving in the City Council, has held no public office.  He was married in 1853 to Miss Catherine Jacobs, of St. Charles, Ill., a native of Bavaria, Germany; she died in 1858, leaving one son - Francis W., now U. S. Postal Clerk from Pittsburgh, Penn., to New York City; Mr. Ginther was married again in 1859, to Miss Christina Schneider, of Oak Park, Ill.; they have five children - Emma L., Anna, Clara A., Minnie C. and William E., Jr.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 521

Pleasant Grove Twp. -
BENJAMIN GLENN, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Mattoon; owns sixty acres; was born in Lawrence Co., Ill., June 10, 1832, and lived with his parents until 23 years of age.  He was married to Elizabeth Jeffries Mar. 22, 1855; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., in 1834; died Feb. 19, 1862.  He was then married to Elizabeth Wheatstone Mar. 19, 1859; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., and has had six children, viz., Margaret E., Ethel L., Joseph J.; three infants (deceased).  Mr. Glenn was Justice of the Peace two years, Supervisor one term, and School Director six years.  He was in the later war eighteen months, his regiment being the 5th I. V. C.; he went out as private and was promoted to sergeant Major and Captain; his parents are natives of Kentucky.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 587

Paradise Twp. -
JOSEPH F. GOAR, farmer and stockraiser; P. O. Etna; (Paradise Twp); born in Parke Co., Ind., Jan. 8, 1832; he is a son of Clemme and Elizabeth (Hart) Goar; in 1836, his father came to Coles Co., and entered a large amount of Government land, returning for his family in 1837; he built the first steam mill in the county, and was a prominent citizen of Paradise Twp. until 1862, when he removed to Jacksonville, Ill., where he now resides; his mother died in this county in 1855.  Joseph F. was raised on the farm, and on the 2d of Oct. 1855, married Miss Mary L. Buckles, of Hardin Co., Ky.; they have three children - Robert C., Kate M. and Sarah E.;  Mr. Goar resides on a farm of 220 acres, adjoining the old homestead; he served six years as Constable, and resigned the office in August, 1862, to entered the Union army as a member of Co. D, 123d I. V. I., serving through the war; among the engagements in which he participated may be mentioned the battles of Milton, Tenn., Hoover's Gap.  Chickamauga, Farmington, Peach-Tree Creek, siege of Atlanta, battles of Jonesboro and Selma.  In 1867 he was elected Commissioner of Highways, and served three years; in 1874, he was chosen Collector of his township, and on the 6th of Nov., 1877, was elected County Treasurer of Coles Co., which office he now holds.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 651

East Oakland Twp. -
PETER GOBERT, farmer, and stock-raiser, S. 19; P. O. Oakland; one of the pioneers of Coles Co.; born in France Oct. 17, 1821, where he attended school until 11 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to America, landing in New York the spring of 1832; going to Buffalo, he assisted his father upon a farm until 16 years of age, when he emigrated West in the spring, coming by way of the lakes to Chicago, arriving there June 11, 1837; coming directly to Coles Co., they located in what is now known as East Oakland Tp., before the organization of the same; here he engaged with his father farming until 1860, when his father retired from active labor, and Mr. Gobert assumed the management of the farm; he owns his brick residence, with good stables and other buildings, and upward of 400 acres of land, all under cultivation except twenty- five acres of timber.  He married, June 8, 1843, Melinda R. Ashmore; she was born in Kentucky Mar. 22, 1824; she died Feb. 21, 1861, leaving five children now living, viz., Samuel, Charles, Louis, La Fayette, Virginia.  His marriage with Matilda A. Roberts was celebrated Oct. 17, 1861; she was born in Ohio, June 26, 1835; they have four children now living by this union, viz., Alice, Thomas, Napoleon, Frank.  Mr. Gobert drove an ox team from here to Chicago in 1842, taking up apples and bring back groceries.  In 1844, he drove his team to St. Louis, Mo., loaded with chickens and turkeys—the chickens selling at 75 cents and the turkeys at $3 per dozen.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 567

Mattoon Twp. -
O. W. GOGIN, Justice of the Peace, Mattoon; was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1820; his father came from New Jersey and settled in Cincinnati in 1800; the family was six  months making the journey, coming by teams to Pittsburgh, Penn., and thence floating down the Ohio in a keelboat to the point of destination; here the family remained some twenty-odd years; in the spring of 1841, his father came West, and settled in Crawford Co., Ill., where he began the labor of opening up a farm in the woods; O. W. was the youngest of the family, and remained at home till the death of his parents; they lived to enjoy the companionship of each other through a half-century of wedded life, and were consistent members of the M. E. Church for the same length of time.  'Sauire Gogin moved to Mattoon in the fall of 1862; here he engaged for some years in milling and in the fruit-growing business.  He was married in 1842, to Eliza Eurle, a native of Virginia; have four children - A. Dorr, Emma, Eola and Nellie.  Has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and transacts much business in the settlement of estates.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 547

Pleasant Grove Twp. -
ELI PERRY GORDON, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Campbell; owns eighty acres; was born in Coles Co., Ill., Mar. 30, 1839, and lived with his parents on the farm until married to Louisa Hays Nov. 28 1859; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., Apr. 26, 1841, and has had seven children, six of whom are living, viz., Charles W., Elme D., Byron R., Mary A., Clara B. and H. Clay; deceased - Cora E.  Mr. Gordon was Collector in this township two terms, Pathmaster two terms and School Director six years.  He was in Co. E, 5th I. V. I.,. and served nineteen months in the late war, when he was mustered out by general order.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 587

Pleasant Grove Twp. -
SAMES TILFORD GORDON, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Larna; owns seventy acres; was born in Coles Co., Ill., Oct. 14, 1832, and lived with his parents until 21 years of age.  He was married to Sarah Jane Rogers June 5, 1855; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., July 7, 1838; they have had nine children, viz, Mary M., Luella, Willie A., Sylvester, Lizzie, Laura M., Bundy and Maddora; deceased - H. A.  Mr. Gordon has been School Director eight years,  and Commissioners of Highways three years; his father is a native of Virginia and his mother of North Carolina; Mrs. Gordon's parents were natives of Alabama.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 587

Hutton Twp. -
ANDREW GOSSETT, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, Aug. 8, 1836; when he was 4 years of age, his parents, Luke and Jane, moved to Coles Co. and settled on Sec. 15, Hutton Tp., where they have resided ever since.  Mr. Gossett married Miss Polly Kiser (daughter of William Kiser, of Hutton Tp.) Nov. 1,1860.  The March following, they moved to his farm on Sec. 23, where he now resides, upon which he has made all its present improvements; he has been School Director five years; he owns 190 acres of land.  His wife was born July 4, 1842; they had seven children, five living—Jane, born Mar. 18, 1864; Emery S., Dec. 21, 1867; Clara, Dec. 29, 1872; Henry L., Nov. 13, 1875, and Edwin, June 14, 1878, and two deceased — William, born Mar. 10, 1862, died June 14,1868; Mary, born Mar. 7, 1870, died Jan. 2, 1873.  Mr. and Mrs. Gossett are members of the United Brethren Church.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 615

Hutton Twp. -
WILLIAM GOSSETT, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in this township June 3, 1850; he lived with his parents up to the age of 24, assisting them in farming, and teaching school for four winter terms, two of them in the northeast part of the township on Sec. 22, and two on Sec. 14.  While at home, he married Miss Martha Ingram (daughter of Arthur Ingram, of Hutton Tp.), Apr. 16, 1874; she was born Jan. 9, 1855; they had two children, one living—Elizabeth J., born Aug. 11, 1875, and one deceased—Jesse L., born Aug. 8, 1877, and died Aug. 18, 1878. Mr. Gossett owns 80 acres of land.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 615

Charleston Twp. -
CHARLES GRAMESLY, dealer in wines and liquors, Charleston; was born in Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 2, 1842; he is a son of William S. and Phebe J. (Hildreth) Gramesly; his father was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1809, and his mother in Bridgehampton, Long Island, Mar. 5, 1819; in 1857, his parents removed with their family to Coles Co., and settled in Charleston Tp., where his father now resides; his mother died in January, 1876, leaving two sons - Charles and Henry; on becoming of age, Mr. Gramesly engaged in teaching school, and followed it during three successive winters; in 1872, he entered the Charleston post office as deputy, under John A. Miles, and remained till December, 1873, when he left the office to attend to his duties as collector of the township, to which office he had been elected in the spring of that year; in the spring of 1875, he started his present business.  He was married Aug. 28, 1877, to Miss Katurah Hildreth, a daughter of John Hildreth, of South Onondaga, Onandaga Co., N. Y.; they have one child - Margaret.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 521

Pleasant Grove Twp. -
JAMES C. GRAY, farmer, deceased, Larna; was born in Washington Co., Tenn., Nov. 18, 1818; lived with his parents on the farm until 30 years of age, engaging with his father in farming until he married Mary A. Mitchell Nov. 9, 1848; she was born in Marshall County, Tenn., May 30, 1828; they have had nine children - Robert M., David L., Mary, Alexander D., William N., John H., Lizzie J., Naomi R., and Charles.  Mr. Gray held the office of Road Commissioner two terms, was Constable two years and Town Clerk one term.  Mr. Robert Gray is County Attorney, and held the office of City Attorney.  Mr. A. Gray is Collector in this township at present.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 587

Mattoon Twp. -
R. M. GRAY, attorney at law, Mattoon; was born in Pleasant Grove Tp., Coles Co., Ill., Dec. 27, 1848; his father, James C., was one of the early pioneers of this section; his early life was that of a farmer's son; in addition to his common school education, at the age of 19, he entered Westfield College, Clark Co., Ill., and remained one year; he next attended an academy in his native township, two years, under the supervision of Prof. T. J. Lee; in the fall of 1870, he entered the law department of Michigan University, from which he graduated in March, 1873; he then entered the office of Maj. James A. Connolly, in Charleston, Ill., and remained till the spring of 1875; he then came to Mattoon and entered upon the practice of his profession, in connection with H. W. Magee; soon after locating, he was appointed City Attorney, and held the office one year; in 1877, he formed a co-partnership with Charles Bennett which lasted one year; in 1876 he was elected State's Attorney for Coles Co., which position he now holds; since the spring of 1878, he has been practicing his profession alone, and though comparatively young in the work, has already shown himself "a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 546

Paradise Twp. -
ADAM B. GREEN, farmer; P. O. Mattoon; is the son of Ira and Mary Green of Washington Co., Tenn.., was born in Green Co., Tenn., April 17, 1827; moved to Paradise Twp., Coles Co., Ill., Feb. 12, 1867.  Was married to Caroline E. Peters, May 5, 1866; they are the parents of six children, viz.,  James B., Dora D., and Laura (deceased), George W., Amanda M. and Ida M.  Mr. Green  is the owner of 163 acres of land, valued at $6,500.  He was in the late war and served three years as servant,  His mother died Apr. 12, 1861, and his father Aug. 20, 1848.  Children deceased, George M., died May 27, 1870, aged 2 years 10 months, and 19 days; girls, Amanda M. Oct. 21, 1869, aged 1 month and 15 days.; Ida M., June 17, 1871, aged 2 months and 17 days; children living, girls Dora, born June 19, 1872; Laura, born Sept. 16, 1875; boy, born (James B.) April 27, 1878.  Florence A. Green is a niece of A. B. Green and makes her home with him; aged 18; born Dec. 25, 1860.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 651

Ashmore Twp. -
J. H. GREEN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Oct. 27, 1826; he is a son of James and Elizabeth (Heminway) Green, both of whom were natives of King and Queen Co., Va.; both removed to Kentucky when young, married and moved to Ohio; in 1840, his parents removed to Coles Co. but returned in a few years to Ohio; Mr. Green removed permanently to the county in the fall of 1855, and settled on his present farm; he purchased 120 acres of land, paying therefor $18 an acre; he owed on this place, $1,500; he now owns 513 acres of land, well improved, and is out of debt; he keeps usually about 100 head of cattle; he owes his success in life to the fact that he has always been a temperance man, never drinking a glass of whisky or beer; has always kept his agreements; and when he promised to pay a man money, has paid it on the very day agreed upon.  HE was married on the 12th of October, 1851, to Miss Mary F. Pottenger, a daughter of Dennis R. Pottenger, of Preble Co., Ohio; she was born there Aug. 1, 1834; they have had twelve children, eleven of whom are living - Alice E. (wife of Lafayette Bates, of Hutton Twp.), William S., Granville D., Commodore D., Hester S., Seymore, Sherman, May, Norman, Ettie and Ernest.  Mr. Green has served several terms as School Director.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 598

Ashmore Twp. -
NELSON R. GREEN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. ____; was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Dec. 25, 1830; he is a son of James and Elizabeth (Heminway) Green, and accompanied his parents in their various removals given above, and in 1850, came permanently to Coles Co.; he worked at various employments until 1854, when he was married on the 19th of January, to Miss Mary E. Brown, the eldest daughter of Jobe W. and Martha R. Brown, of Ashmore; she was born at Walnut Grove, in Edgar Co., Sept. 7, 1834; they have nine children - Jonathan W., George A., Letitia M., Willie A., Leonard W., Caroline A., Claude O., Charlie and Eugene D.  Mr. Green settled on his present farm in 1865, where he owns 163 acres of land.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879~ Page 598

Ashmore Twp. -
W. P. GREEN, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Sept. 8, 1827, being a son of James and Elizabeth (Heminway) Green; when he was about 10 years old, his parents removed to Randolph Co., Ind., and, in 1840, to Coles Co., returning a few years later to Ohio, and lived awhile in Darke Co., from which county they removed again to Randolph Co., Ind., and thence to Grant Co.; his father opened no less than seven farms in Ohio and Indiana; the year the family returned to Ohio, Mr. Green made four trips between the two States; on becoming of age, he went to Preble Co., Ohio.  He was married Nov. 2, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Wilkinson, of Preble Co., Ohio; she died Feb. 20, 1862, leaving three children, two of whom are living - Charles E. and James O.  In the spring of 1863, Mr. Green came again to Coles Co., making seven trips during the summer.  He was married Aug. 20, 1863, to Miss Eliza J. Brown, of Ashmore; she was born at the Walnut Grove in Edgar Co., Sept. 20, 1836; they have six children - Leona, Clarence E., Miner E., Jennie, Thomas L. and Nora.  Mr. Green owns a farm of 160 acres, on which he settled in 1864.
Source:  History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co. - 1879~ Page 598