|
BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron, Jr., & Co.
1879
< BACK TO
1879 BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX >
< BACK TO LIST OF BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES >
Mattoon Twp. -
KAHN BROS., dealers in clothing, Mattoon.
Mark Kahn, senior member of the firm of Kahn Bros.,
was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Nov. 7, 1841; he emigrated to
America in 1856, and first settled in Marshall Co., Ill., and
engaged in peddling dry goods and clothing for eighteen months;
during the summers of 1858, 1859 and 1860, he worked on a farm in
Shelby Co., and during the winter season was employed in a store; in
the fall of 1860, in connection with a Mr. Steiner and his
brother Moses, he began the business of merchandising in
Mattoon, under the firm name of Steiner & Kahn; in 1863,
Mr. Steiner retired from the firm, and his brother Lewis
became a member; the firm name was then changed to Kahn Bros.;
Lewis died in the fall of 1867; in 1871, his brother Felix
became a partner; his brother Moses was lost in
the ill-fated Shiller May 7, 1875, on her passage from
America to Germany. From 1863 to 1869, the fir also operated a
clothing house in Charleston, Cole Co., and from 1869 to 1874,
conducted the lumber trade in Mattoon in connection with the
merchandising business. He was married in March, 1875, to
Minnie Steiner a native of Illinois; she died in February, 1876.
Has one son - Lewis In June, 1878, he was chosen
President of the First National Bank of Mattoon, which position he
now holds. Owns 1,140 acres of land valued at $40,000.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 550 |
East Oakland
Twp. -
LEWIS KEES, merchant, Oakland; born in Preble
Co., Ohio, April 10, 1843, where he attended school until 16 years
of age, when he emigrated West and located in Embarrass Tp., Edgar
Co., Ill., where he engaged in farming until July, 1862, when he
enlisted in the 70th I. V. I. for three months; he was sent to Camp
Butler, Springfield, where he remained two months guarding
prisoners, then to Alton for two months performing the same duty; he
was in the service four months and was mustered out with his
regiment in November, 1862. He then returned to his farm,
which he worked until 1874, when he engaged in the grocery trade at
Isabel one year, when his store and stock being consumed by fire, he
met with a loss of nearly $2,000, upon which he had no insurance; he
then purchased a farm of 160 acres, which he worked until May 1,
1878, when he exchanged a portion of the same for a stock of goods
at Oakland, since which time he has added largely to the same, until
he now has a full and complete stock of dry goods, clothing, boots
and shoes, hats and caps, notions, etc.; his business card will be
found in the business directory of Oakland, in another part of this
work. He married Aug. 29, 1863, Mary Ann
Housel; she was born in Edgar Co. Sept. 20, 1845; her parents
were among the early pioneers of Edgar Co.; she died Jan. 28, 1868,
leaving one child, —Sarah J., born July 4, 1865.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 569 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
LARB KELLY, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Charleston;
owns 300 acres. Mr. Kelly lived with his parents,
engaging with his father in farming until 20 years of age.
Mr. Kelly was married to Mary L. Sallivan about the year
1848; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., in 1830; died in 1858.
The fruit of this marriage was two children - Lura A. and
Sarah E., deceased. He was then married to Sarah F.
Sullivan, in 1860; she was born in Coles Co., Ill. The
fruit of this marriage was six children - Susan, Elso J. and
Larbia; deceased, Mary M., Samuel V. and one infant.
Mr. Kelly has held the office of School director three years.
Mr. J. Kelly, his father, was in the Black Hawk war.
Mr. Kelly's parents are natives of Kentucky, and Mrs.
Kelly's natives of Tennessee. Mr. Kelly is regarded
as a public benefactor by all who know him. His farm is in
excellent condition, well cultivated, with good buildings on same.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 588 |
Seven Hickory Twp. -
GEORGE C. KEMP, farmer and stock; P. O.
Arcola; the subject of this sketch was born in Ohio Co., Ind., Aug.
25, 1846. He married Miss Minerva D. Stone Oct. 14,
1866; she was born same place Dec. 6, 1845. They have three
children, viz., Theodore, born Apr. 16, 1869; Laura B.,
born Dec. 4, 1875, and Charles C., born Nov. 8, 1877.
He lived in Indiana until September, 1868, when he came to his
present place; he owns 349 acres in this township, which includes
the original 200 acres given him by his father Ezra, who
located it in quite a novel way - setting out from Indiana on horse
he stopped over Sunday with a farmer living in the timber about
eight miles east of here, of whom he learned there was vacant land
about eight miles west, but no one there to show it, and no marks to
distinguish either land or distance, but they conceived the plan of
putting the horse at a certain pace and keep him westward for a
certain time, when he would be on the land, and in this way located
the same; he (Ezra Kemp married Miss Tryphena Scranton;
both were natives of Ohio Co., Ind., where they were married; he
died Feb 1, 1870; she is living in Rising Sun, Inc.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 642 |
Mattoon Twp. -
P. A. KEMPER, M. D., physician and surgeon,
Mattoon; was born in Culpeper Co., Va., Aug. 31, 1832; his early
education was under the direct supervision of his mother, who was a
well-qualified school-mistress; his father was an artisan by
profession, of whom he was bereft at the early age of 8 years; when
about 16 years of age, he left home and came to Paris, Edgar Co.,
Ill.; in the fall of 1855, he began the study of his profession with
Dr. D. O. McCord remaining in his office two and a half
years; during the winter of 1857 and 1858, he attended Rush Medical
College, and, at a later date, received his degree; He began the
practice of his profession in Pleasant Grove Tp., Coles Co., Mar. 3,
1858; here he remained until 1876, excepting an absence of two years
in the army. In 1861, he raised a company for the 5th
Regiment, and was chosen Captain of the same; his position he
resigned for that of Assistant Surgeon of the regiment; when the
final organization occurred, however, through the treachery of
professed friends, he failed in receiving the appointment;
notwithstanding the unjust treatment to himself and Col.
Updegraff, the commanding officer, he elected to remain with his
boys, as a private in the ranks, rather than return home; in June,
1862, he was captured at Pocahantas, Ark., and remained a prisoner
of war some three months; he was next sent on parole to St. Louis,
and then exchanged and appointed to duty in the hospital with the
rank and pay of Assistant Surgeon; in October, 1863, he was
appointed and commissioned Surgeon of the 3d Regiment, which
position he resigned after six months; in March, 1876, he located in
Mattoon, his present residence. He was married in December,
1863, to Mary J. Glenn, a native of Illinois; has had five
children - Joseph E., John M., George H., living; Benjamin
G., Charles W., dead. At present holds the office of City
Physician.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 549 |
Mattoon Twp. -
G. T. KILNER, druggist, Mattoon; was born in
Manchester, Eng., Nov. 18, 1820; at the age of 15 years, he was left
an orphan, and, in 1836, emigrated to America, and first settled in
Waterbury, Conn.; here he engaged in the sale of drugs six years; he
then moved to Newburgh, N. Y., where he engaged in the same
business; in the spring of 1860, he came West and located in
Mattoon, opened up his business here; his is the first drug store
established in the city; he took a partial course in medicine and
practiced some years in connection with the drug business. He
was married in January, 1845, to Sarah Kilner, a native of
England. Has four children - Alert, Walter, Eddie and
Annie. Owns eighty acres adjoining the city
corporation; has been a member of the City Council three terms.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 550 |
Ashmore Twp. -
WM. C. KIMBALL,
of the firm of Austin, Brown & Kimball, dealers in
hardware, lumber, furniture and undertaking, Ashmore; has been a
resident of Ashmore since 1867; he was born in Cambridge, Guernsey
Co., Ohio, June 14, 1838; was educated at the Cambridge Union
Schools, and, in 1857, began teaching school; he continued in that
profession in Ohio till March, 1863, when he enlisted in Co. H. 122d
O. V. I., and served in the 6th Army Corps in the Army of the
Potomac until Jan. 1, 1864; he was then detailed as a clerk in the
office of the Provost Marshall General of Ohio, at Columbus, and
served in that capacity till the close of the war; he was mustered
out July 1, 1865. After the war, he came to Illinois and
taught school one winter in Monticello, Madison Co.; in March, 1867,
he took charge of the public schools in Ashmore, and remained in
charge most of the time until the spring of 1876. In 1875, he
became a partner in the firm of Austin, Brown & Kimball.
Mr. Kimball was Village Clerk from April, 1875, to April,
1878, and has been School Director for the past three years.
He was married April 10, 1860, to Miss Lizzie Speers, of
Guernsey Co., Ohio; she died Mar. 16, 1866. Mr. Kimball
was married again Sept. 20, 1868, to Miss Rowena A. Graham,
of Ashmore; she died Sept. 30, 1877, leaving three children -
Clarence O. L., Mary C. and Gertie R.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 600 |
Hutton Twp. -
WILLIAM KISER, farmer; P. O. Charleston; was
born in Botetourt Co., Va., Mar. 11, 1814; the same year, his
parents moved to Ross Co., Ohio, remaining there until 1842.
Mr. Kiser lived with his parents up to the time of his
marriage with Miss Mary Ann Coon, of Ross Co., Ohio, which
occurred Aug. 22, 1841; in October, 1846, they moved to Coles Co.,
and settled on Sec 31, living there until the year 1851, when they
came to the farm upon which he at present resides, on Sec. 33; his
wife was born in Washington Co., Md., near Harper's Ferry, Dec. 7,
1823; they had nine children, two boys - Adam L. (born Dec.
4, 1849), and William H. (born Dec. 30, 1864), and seven
girls, five living - Polly (born July 4, 1842), Hannah C.
(Nov. 3, 1844), Virginia (Feb. 10, 1847), Margaret E.
(June 8, 1853 - now Mrs. C. Stone, of Ashmore Tp.), Alice
M. (Feb. 12, 1862 - now Mrs. Richard Bidle), and two
deceased - Zema E. (born Nov. 26, 1857; died Nov. 12, 1873,
and one died in infancy. Polly is also married to
Mr. Andrew Gossett,
of Hutton Twp., Hannah C. to L. Cooper, of Ashmore Tp.;
and Virginia to B. F. McMorris, of Hutton Tp.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 617 |
North Okaw Twp. -
A. KITCHENS,
farmer and stockraiser; P. O. Cook's Mils; one of the natives of
Illinois; was born in Clark Co., Jan. 23, 1843; he is the son of
Eli E. Kitchens, deceased, who was one of the early
settlers of the State. His farm consists of 100 acres, valued
at $2,000. He was married to Miss Nancy E. Hoskins,
now deceased; they have had two children, viz., Maria E.
and Susan L.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 648 |
. |
