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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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Pleasant Grove Twp. -
AMZI ALEXANDER WALKER, farmer. Sec. 14;
P. O. Larna; owns 240 acres; he was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., May
2, 1830, and lived with his mother on the farm until 23 years of
age. He married Elizabeth Johnston Apr. 21, 1853, who
was born in Coles Co., Ill., Sept. 29, 1823, and moved on to the
farm where he now resides; they have had five children, three
of whom are living, viz., Nancy M., William I. and Mail E.;
deceased—I. C. and one infant. Mr. Walker
was elected Justice of the Peace one term, when he resigned and was
School Director six years. He has in his possession a letter
written by his grandfather (Josiah Walker) to James
Walker, bearing date 1802, and written in North Carolina.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 591 |
Pleasant Grove
Twp. -
JONATHAN WILSON WALKER, farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 21; P.
O. Mattoon; owns 400 acres; was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., July 26,
1828; lived with his parents on the farm until 27 years of age.
Married Apr. 3, 157, to Mary Sell; she was born in Preble
Co., Ohio, Mar. 8, 1831, and has had six children, five of whom are
living - Joseph W., James A., Emma O., Mary I. and Sarah
E. Mr. Walker has been School Director ten years
and School Trustee five years. His father is a native of North
Carolina and his mother of Virginia; Mrs. Walker's father is
a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother of Ohio.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 591 |
Morgan Twp. -
ANDREW WALTON, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Coles Co.,
Ill., Oct. 20, 1850; he was the son of George L. Walton, who
emigrated to Coles Co. in 1844, and located in Morgan Tp.; he died
in 1857. Mr. Walton died in 1870; the children are all
deceased with the exception of the subject of this sketch, who is
the only surviving member of the family. After the deceased of
this father he worked as farm laborer until 1878, five years of
which was with J. B. Williams, and four years with Watson
Collins, feeding stock, etc. His marriage with Eliza A.
Collins was celebrated July 7, 1877; she was born in Coles Co.
Ill., June 29, 1856, upon the place where she has always lived, and
which is now her home; she was the daughter of Watson Collins,
of the early pioneers of Coles Co., and whose biography appears in
this work.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 632 |
Hutton Twp. -
MRS. JOSEPH WALTRIP; P. O. Westfield; is a daughter of
Daniel Goble of Hutton Tp. She was first married to
Nathaniel Lee Aug. 14, 1853, who died in the year
1856; they had one child, Cynthia (now Mrs. Reason Wiley, of
Hutton Tp.); she was again married July 18, 1858, to Joseph
Waltrip, who was born in Kentucky in 1819, and after
remaining there until the age of 16, moved to Coles Co., and settled
in Charleston Tp. on Sec. 25, engaged in farming; he had been
previously married to Miss Eliza Jane Hall,
daughter of Michael Hall; she died in November, 1857.
Mrs. Waltrip had four children—two girls, Cynthia
J. and Eliza, and two boys, one living, Wm. J.,
and one deceased— Daniel. She at present farms 70
acres, part of her husband's estate of 250 acres. Mr.
Waltrip died Feb. 16, 1872.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 620 |
Ashmore Twp. -
FRANCIS M. WATERS,
Ashmore; dealer in dry goods and notions, boots and shoes, hats,
caps and clothing; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Mar. 16, 1838,
and is a son of Baker and Mary Waters; in 1847, his parents
removed to Coles Co., and settled in Charleston, where his father
carried on the wagon and carriage making business about ten years;
he then removed to a farm in Ashmore Twp., where he lived till his
death, in 1875; Mr. Waters' mother died the year before; the
family consisted of eight sons and one daughter, all residents of
Coles Co.; when he was 12 years old, Mr. Waters entered his
father's shop to learn the wagon--maker's trade. He was
married Feb. 14, 181, to Miss Edith Austin, a daughter of
John and Susan Austin, of Ashmore; she died Jan. 4, 1862,
leaving one child - Edith E.; in 1862, he entered the 123d
Ill. Vols. as principal musician, and on the re-organization of his
regiment as mounted infantry, he was made regimental bugler; he
served with his regiment till the close of the war, participating in
all of its engagements - numbering over one hundred and twenty;
among them, Perryville, Ky.; Milton, Tenn..; Hoover's Gap,
Chattanooga; Chickamauga, Farmington, Peach-Tree Creek, Kenesaw
Mountain, Resaca, siege of Atlanta, Selma, Ala., Columbus and Macon.
Returning, he carried on the carriage-making business one year, and
at the same time started his present business. He was married
a second time Aug. 12, 1869, to Miss Eliza O'Brien, of
Ashmore; she died Mar. 6, 1877, leaving one child - George H.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 606 |
Mattoon Twp. -
H. C. WATSON, time-keeper and clerk M. M. I. &
St. L. shops, Mattoon; was born in New Madrid, New Madrid Co., Mo.,
July 27, 1827; his father was a Scotchman and was one of the early
Western pioneers, having come West as early as 1805. Having
obtained a good common school education, in 1844, he became a
student of Prof. J. B. Anderson's high school, in New Albany,
Ind., this he attended one year; in 1845, he attended St. Vincent's
College at Cape Girardeau; in 1848, he matriculated in Bethany
College, Va., and remained one year; on his return home, he engaged
in merchandising, and followed the business till 1863; by reason of
the war, he lost most of his stock and trade; he moved with his
family to Litchfield, Ill., and, in 1865, entered the office of the
Master Mechanic of the St. L., A. & T. H. R. R., as clerk and
time-keeper; in 1867, the I. & St. L. leased the road, and, in 1870,
when the shops were removed from Litchfield to Mattoon, he came with
them. He was married in November, 1852, to Sarah C. Post,
a native of Alton, Ill.; has five children - William G., Harry
W., Frank E., Jennie, Gertie. Has held the office of
School Director, East Side.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 557 |
Charleston Twp. -
GODFREY WEBER, deceased, late of Charleston;
was born in Oberslingen, Kingdome of Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 24,
1820; his father was a vineyardist, and his early years were passed
among the vine-clad hills and sunny slopes of his native land.
He was married in August, 1848, to Miss Frances Muller, who
was born in Wisgoldingen, Wurtemberg, Germany, May 27, 1824; they
immediately emigrated to America, and settled near Louisville, Ky.,
and engaged in gardening and wine-growing; two years later, he
removed to Clark Co., Ill., and located on a farm near Westfield, to
which town he afterward removed, and worked in the Westfield Mill
for eleven years; in 1866, he removed to Charleston, and engaged in
the bakery and confectionery business, in which he continued till
his death, which occurred Sept. 7, 1877; he left a wife, who still
resides in Charleston, and ten children - William (a farmer
in Hutton Tp.), Kate (wife of John Hederich, of
Charleston), Fredrick C. (of Hutton Tp.), Louisa (Mrs.
Schaun, of Charleston), Daniel, John and George (f
Charleston), Emma E. (wife of William Louden, of
Westfield, Ill.), Matilda F. and Charles.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 538 |
Charleston Twp. -
DANIEL WEBER, of the
firm of Weber Brothers, bakers and confectioners, Charleston,
is a son of Godfrey and Frances (Muller) Weber; he was born
in Westfield, Ill., May 31, 1854, and came with his parents to
Charleston in 1866; he spent a part of his time on his father's farm
in Hutton Twp., and a portion in the store in Charleston, and on the
death of his father, in 1877, he, with his brother John,
succeeded to the business. He was married April 29, 1878, to
Miss Rosa Riegger, of Bloomington, Ill.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 538 |
Charleston Twp. -
JOHN WEBER,
the
junior member of the firm of Weber Brothers, was also born in
Westfield, Clark Co., Ill., April 19, 1856, and came with the other
members of the family to Charleston, at the age of 10 years.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 539 |
Mattoon Twp. -
GUNTHER
WEISS, of the firm of Weiss & Frommel, proprietors of
the Charleston Woolen-Mill, Charleston; was born in Leutenberg,
Sharzburg, Rudolstadt, Germany, July 6, 1823; he attended school
till the age of 14 and was then apprenticed to learn the weaver's
trade; in 1845, he came to the United States, landing in Galveston,
Texas; on the breaking out of the war with Mexico, he volunteered in
the 1st Tex. V. I., and served under Gen. Taylor; in the
spring of 1848, he went to Cincinnati, where he remained until 1852,
when he went Terre Haute, Ind., and began business as a grocery and
provision merchant, which he continued for twenty-two years; in
1874, he came to Charleston, and assumed an active part in the
management of the Charleston Woolen-Mill, in which he had been a
partner since 1869. Mr. Weiss was married Nov. 17,
1853, to Miss Carrie Newhart, of Cincinnati, a native of
Bavaria, Germany; they have eight children - Otto P., Emma
(wife of Alfred C. Ficklin, of Charleston), Louise,
Aurora, Helena, Adolph G., Carrie and Maria.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 539 |
Hutton Twp. -
RICHARD O. WELLS, farmer; P. O. Westfield; was born in
Bourbon Co., Ky., Dec. 29, 1809; he remained there with his parents
until he was 25 years of age assisting on the farm; his father died
there in the year 1835; his mother surviving him until the year
1860. Mr. Wells, while at home in Kentucky was married
August, 1831, to Miss Jenette Boston (daughter of William
Boston of Kentucky); she was born July 15, 1815; shortly after
his marriage, he moved upon a farm near that of his father's wehre
he lived until his removal to Clark Co., in 1837; the next year he
moved to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 6, where he lived three
years, and then returned to Clark Co., and from there, in 1843,
moved back to Kentucky and after remaining ten years, in the year
1853, came to Coles Co. and settled upon Sec. 7, where he has since
resided. He owns 111 acres; has been School Director one term.
They had twelve children, seven boys, three living -
Richard J., born May 29, 1849; Robert L., Aug. 11, 1853,
and Charles M., born Jan. 22, 1856, and four deceased -
Preston, born Oct. 22, 1832, died in 1842; James F. M.,
born Apr. 1, 1836, died in 1865; William H., born July 17,
1840, died in 1850; adn Leroy B., born Apr. 6, 1861, died in
February, 1852; five girls, two living - Leah, (now Mrs.
Reily Lee), born Feb. 10, 1838; Leomia (now Mrs. M.
Connely), born Sept. 15, 1842; and three deceased - Mary E.,
born Nov. 29, 1844, died in 1850; Louisa A., born Mar. 6,
1846, died also in 1850; one died in infancy. His son,
James F. M., enlisted in Co. "H," 21st Regt. Ill. Vols., and was
taken prisoner at the battle of Chickamauga, and confined in Libby
and Andersonville Prisons for nineteen months and died at Annapolis,
Md., in 1865 on his way home, from disease contracted while a
prisoner. Mr. and Mrs. Wells are members of the Baptist
Church and have been connected with it for a number of years.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 619 |
Paradise Twp. -
BASIL
C. WHEAT, Paradise; is the son of James O.
and Margaret Wheat; was born in Jackson, Miss, Mar. 27, 1853; moved
to Coles Co., Ill., Mar. 12, 1863; is the owner of fifty-five acres
of land, valued at $2,500. Was married to Mary D. Alexander,
of this township, Sept. 25, 1870; the names of the children are
James O., born Feb. 28, 1873; Margaret A., deceased;
Nora J., born Oct. 29, 1874; Cora M., born Mar. 29, 1876;
Henrietta, born Aug. 24, 1878. Mr. Wheat's
father, James O. Wheat, is still living, and is practicing
medicine in this township. Was in the late war as surgeon in
21st Kentucky Regiment. His mother, Margaret Wheat,
died Sept. 12, 1861, in the 25th year of her age. His father
was Legislator two terms in Kentucky.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 653 |
Seven Hickory Twp. -
JAMES WHEATLEY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O.
Hinesboro; the subject of this sketch was born in Charleston, Clarke
Co., Ind., Aug. 9, 1826; he married Miss Mary E. Work Jan. 1,
1850; she was born in Clarke Co., Ind., Dec. 20, 1831; they had six
children, five living, viz., Junius, Dessie, Carlos, Lucien
and Ozetta; he lived in Indiana about eight years, when, with
his father, he went to Kentucky and lived in Lexington and
Harrodsburg until his 18th year, when he returned to his birthplace
in Indiana and engaged in farming until he was married; after his
marriage, he removed to Southern Kentucky, and, in April, 1853, to
Coles Co., and settled the arm on which he now resides; his parents,
Walter and Catharine (Beggs) Wheatley, were natives of
Maryland and Virginia; they were married in Clarke Co., Ind.; he was
born July 12, 1791; in 1836, he went to Harrodsburg, and was
appointed Postmaster of the place in 1843, which office he held
until 1861, since which time he has not engaged in any business; he
is now living with a son of West Virginia; his wife's parents,
John and Hannah (Thomas) Beggs, were natives of Augusta and
Rockingham Cos., Va., and were born in January, 1766, and November,
1764, respectively; they were married in 1788, and moved to Kentucky
in 1792 or 1793, and to Clarke Co., Ind., in 1799, and died on the
farm which they settled, in April, 1845, and May, 1853,
respectively; of their nine children who survive, viz., Mary
Stilwell ( of Jackson Co., Ind.) and Ruth Cole (of
Douglas Co., Ill.) The present Mrs. Wheatley's parents,
Samuel and Elizabeth (Henley) Work, were natives of
Pennsylvania and North Carolina; he emigrated to Bear Grass, Ky.,
where his father died; the care of the family then fell to him, and
they moved to Clarke Co., Ind., and engaged in farming, where he
died on a farm adjoining the old homestead; his wife's parents,
Jesse and Catharine Henley were natives of North Carolina, where
he had been a slaveholder, having some forty-odd slaves, who, owing
to his political views (of the Abolition school) were freed; he
moved to Clarke Co., Ind., about the year 1800, where he engaged in
farming.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 645 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
ISAAC WHITE, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Mattoon; owns 120 acres;
was born in Clark Co., Ohio, Nov. 12, 1819; lived with his parents
on the farm until 23 years of age. He married Mary Laybourn
Nov. 5, 1843; she was born in Clark Co., Ohio, Feb. 10, 1825; they
have had eight children, seven of whom are living, viz., Sarah
E., William B., Frances F., Charles H., James P., Alice I. and
Flora O., and Amos H., deceased. Mr. White
was Township Trustee seven years, and School Director four years.
His parents are natives of Ohio; Mrs. White's father was
English and her mother a native of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. White
are both Cumberland Presbyterians.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 591 |
Paradise Twp. -
JAMES P. WHITE,
farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mattoon; was born in Tennessee, Mar.
5, 1841; came to this State in 1856, and to Coles Co., and settled
in North Okaw Twp. in 1858; his farm consists of forty-nine and a
third acres, valued at $1,500. He was married Nov. 23, 1865,
to Miss Mary J. Wade, who was born in Coles Co.,
Ill., June 4, 1847; they have had six children, five of whom are
living, viz., Mary A., Nancy E., Effa N., Minnie
and James E.; deceased, Jessie. Since
Mr. White's residence in the township, he has held the
office of School Director six years.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 649 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
JOHN CRAIG WHITE, farmer and blacksmith, Sec. 15; P. O.
Campbell; owns 120 acres; was born in Scott Co., Ky., Dec. 5, 1830,
and lived with his parents on the farm until 19 years of age.
He was married to Louisa Beckum Feb. 25, 1855; she was born
in Coles Co., Ill., Feb. 25, 1836; died Aug. 10, 1859; he then
married Sarah Elizabeth Kemper May 8, 1862; she was born in
Fayette Co., Ky., Jan. 10, 1833, and has had eight children, viz.,
John I., Katie, Edward and Coleman; deceased - Ida
F., Charles, George O., Sarah A. Mr. and Mrs. White's
parents natives of Kentucky.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 591 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
MONROE WHITE, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Charleston; owns 238
acres; was born in Coles Co., Ill., Aug. 9, 1844, and lived with his
parents on the farm; engaged with his father in farming until 21
years of age. He was married to Mary E. Hall, Nov. 16,
1865; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., Aug. 28, 1848; they have four
children - Sarah F., Hannah A., Millie E. and Lucy E.
Mr. White has held the office of School Director five years.
Mr. White's parents are natives of Ohio and Mrs. White's
natives of Kentucky.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 591 |
Humboldt Twp. -
ADAM WHITMER, farmer; P. O. Humbolt. The
subject of this sketch was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Dec. 26, 1832;
he married Miss Clara Jane Bugh Nov. 1, 1864; she was born
same place Jan. 11, 1838; they have three children, viz., Laura,
Elmo and Eva. He lived in Ohio until 1854, when
he came to Illinois and settled in Crawford Co., where he lived one
year; he then went to Dakota and engaged with a Government surveying
party; he camped for two and a half years, where Yankton now stands;
he lived in Dakota until 1859, when he went to Colorado and engaged
in mining, and lived there until 1864, when he returned to Ohio, and
in 1865 he came to Coles Co., Ill., and settled on his present place
and has lived here since. He has been township Collector one
year and School Director some five or six years. He owns 160
acres, in this township, which he has earned by his own labor and
management.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 639 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
GEORGE A. WHITNEY, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Mattoon; owns
thirty-six acres; was born in the State of Wisconsin Sept. 4, 1854;
lived with his parents on the farm until 20 years of age. Was
then married to Emma D. Hill, May 10, 1874; she was born in
Coles Co., Ill., June 7, 1852. Mr. Whitney's parents
are natives of York State, and Mrs. Whitney's father was one
of the early settlers of this county, and one of the men who helped
to change this country from a wilderness to its present condition of
prosperity. Mrs. Whitney's father (Mr. Jas. W. Hill)
was also one of the early settlers of this township, coming to this
township with only $2.50, and leaving at his death about $20,000
worth of property.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 592 |
Ashmore Twp. -
NATHANIEL WICKER,
farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Pike Co., Ohio,
Sept. 21, 1820; he is a son of James and Elizabeth Wicker,
the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky;
in 1838, the family came to Illinois, spending a part of the winter
in Indiana, and arriving in Edgar Co., in February, 1839; they
settled at the Walnut Grove, where his parents resided till their
death; in 1848, Mr. Wicker, taking the younger members of his
father's family, removed to Coles Co., and settled in Ashmore Twp.;
his first marriage occurred Mar. 31, 1851, to Miss Hannah E. Law,
a native of Madison Co., Ohio; she came to Edgar Co., at the age of
9 years; she died Feb. 9, 1878, leaving three children - Lydia
V., now wife of James A. Wright, of Ashmore Twp.,
George A., and Albert H., he was married again, Dec. 24,
1878, to Miss Sarah H. Wright, a daughter of Robert and
Catharine Wright; she was born in Campbell Co., Kentucky, Sept,
28, 1840; Mr. Wicker settled on is present farm in 1851,
where he owns 94 acres of land.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 606 |
Pleasant Grove Twp. -
DAVID BEELS WILLIAMS, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O.
Johnstown; owns fifty-five acres; was born in Coles Co., Ill., Mar.
25, 1836, and lived with his parents on the farm until 21 yearws of
age. He was married to Phoebe Landrus Nov. 13, 1856,
who was born in Crawford Co., Ind., Feb. 14, 1837, who has had eight
children, six of whom are living, viz., Lewis W., Christopher C.,
Flora E., Henry S., Emma F. and Edmond C.; deceased,
L. W. and L. M. Mr. Williams was overseer of the
Road two terms, elected Constable two terms, Justice of the Peace
one term, and School Director two terms. He was a volunteer in
Company H, 123d I. V. I., who were in the late war in 1862
(afterward mounted); served six months and was discharged in
consequence of disability; re-enlisted March, 1864, and served
eighteen months, and was mustered out by general order.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 592 |
East Oakland Twp. -
H. D. WILLIAMS, firm of Williams & Carter,
merchants, Oakland; born in New York City Feb. 10, 1846; he
emigrated West with his parents when 9 years of age and located in
Edgar Co., Ill., where he attended school and engaged in farming
until August, 18962, when he enlisted as private in the 66th I. V.
I., and was immediately sent to the front; he was first engaged in
the battle of Corinth, Miss., where his regiment suffered severely,
losing fully one-third of its men in killed and wounded; he then
went to Danville, Miss., where he remained nearly one year, during
which time they built a fine stockade; he then went to Pulaski,
Tenn., where he was placed in the hospital on account of sickness,
and was detailed as hospital druggist for two months, when he
returned to his regiment and was in the Atlanta campaign, which was
a series of battles from the beginning until the siege and capture
of the above-named place; among the more important battles, the
first was at Snake Creek Gap, May 9, 1853, when the 66th, being in
the advance, fought their way for upward of eight miles; afterward
were the battle of Lay's Ferry, Rome Cross Roads, Dallas, Kenesaw
Mountain and many others, arriving before Atlanta in July, where he
remained during the siege, which lasted until September following;
his next move was with Sherman in his march to the sea, where
he arrived and spent the Christmas following in Savannah, Ga.; from
there he marched north with the army, through South and North
Carolina, fighting a large part of the way until reaching
Morrisville Station, N. C., when Johnston surrendered, and
his regiment, the 66th I. V. I., was the advance guard of Gen.
Sherman when he went to receive the surrender of Johnston;
he continued his march through to Washington, and after the review
of the army, was mustered out June 28, 1865; he then returned to
Oakland, where he has since lived the most of the time, either being
in business for himself or as clerk for other firms; he engaged in
his present business in 1876, which he has since successfully
followed. He married, Mar. 22, 1872, to Flora Troxell;
she was born in Coles Co., Ill., Nov. 19, 1854; they have one child
by this union - Charles E. born July 4, 1874.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 581 |
Paradise Twp. -
JAMES
H. WILLIAMS, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the son
of William and Elizabeth Williams, of Culpeper Co.,
Va.; was born June 12, 1826, in Culpeper Co., Va.; moved with his
folks to Coles Co., Paradise Twp., Ill., on Dec. 20, 1836; is the
owner of 171 acres of land, valued at $4,500. Is Commissioner
of Highways, and has been for seven years, also School Director for
eight years, and is at the, present time. Never was married.
His father, William Williams, was born in Culpeper Co., Va.
Aug. 3, 1789, died Jan. 7, 1855, in the 67th year of his age; his
mother (Elizabeth Williams) was born in Culpeper Co., Va.,
April 22, 1792, died Nov. 30, 1873, in the 84th year of her age.
He served the late war three years, in Company D., 123d Volunteer
Ill.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 653 |
Paradise Twp. -
GEORGE
W. WILLSON, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the son of
John and Elizabeth Willson; was born in Maryland, Aug. 12,
1826; moved to Coles Co., Ill., Sept. 12, 1836; is the owner of 700
acres of land, valued at or near $21,000; was Justice of the Peace
and Road Commissioner for a number of years. Was married to
his first wife, July 12, 1836, Sarah Floyd; names of
children, boy, Nicholas P.; girls, Lillia A., Rossy J.;
was married to his second wife, Mary S. Myers, widow of
Henry H. Tucher, April 13, 1868; names of boys living,
Francis A., John A. (deceased), William (deceased); girl,
Maggie E.; the names of Mr. Henry Tucher's children,
living - girls, Ada U., Eva B.; children dead - boy,
Arthur S.; girl, Bell L. Henry H. Tucher died
Aug. 25, 1866; was born Jan. 27, 1819.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 653 |
Charleston Twp. -
CHARLES EDWARD WILSON, son of above; was born
in Greensburg, Green Co., Ky., on May 1, 1849; when his father died
in 1865, he, being the only child and only remaining one of the
family, went to Charleston and lived with relatives, finishing a
common-school education during the following winter; in the spring
of 1867, he went to Omaha, Neb., and remained one year; returning
then to Charleston, he became a salesman in the queensware store of
V. Craig, and afterward book-keeper for George Tucker,
who was a manufacturer of pressed brick; in the spring of 1871, he
was elected to the office of City Clerk of the city of Charleston,
for one year, and was appointed by the City Council in the spring of
1872, to the same position for another year; in the fall of 1871, eh
was employed at the infirmary of Dr. S. Van Meter; ultimately
became a partner in the firm, and retired from the same on Sept.
1st, 1876. On Nov. 4, 1873, he was married to Miss Emily
Johnston, daughter of I. H. Johnston, of Charleston; she
was born in Coles Co., on June 15, 1851; three children are the
result of this marriage, all daughters, as follows: Olive,
born Sept. 3, 1874; Clothilde, born Dec. 23, 1876, and
Emily, born Dec. 4, 1878. In November, 1873, he was
elected by the stockholders of the Coles County Board of
Agriculture, Secretary of said Board, for one year. In
November, 1876, he was elected Director of said Board, which
position he still holds; in March, 1876, he was made a Director of
the Second National Bank of Charleston, in which position he still
remains; from September, 1876, until June, 1877, being engaged in no
special business, he read law at the office of Wiley & Neal, in
Charleston; on June 25, 1877, the firm of Chambers, Johnston & Co.,
pork-packers, was organized for the purpose of packing pork during
that summer and the fall following; Mr. Wilson became a
member of that firm, and was its secretary and bookkeeper; on Sept.
30, 1878, he became associated with I. H. Johnston and
George Steigman, under the firm name of Steigman, Wilson
& Co., in the business of pork-packing; and they have, a Charleston,
the only packing-house in Illinois, outside of Chicago, adapted for
both winter and summer packing.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 537 |
North Okaw Twp. -
JOHN WILSON, farmer, and Constable for Coles Co.; P. O.
Cook's Mills; was born in Germany, Mar. 8, 1840; came to the United
States in 1857, and to this State in 1865 and to Coles Co. in 1871.
He was married to Miss Sarah Ann Prince, who was born in
Indiana Jan. 19, 1848; they have two children deceased, viz.,
Mary C. and Louisa. Mr. Wilson has
served a term in the United States Regular Army; he enlisted from
New York City in Co. D, in 1861; he served all through the late
rebellion, and at its close was discharged with honor.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 649 |
Paradise Twp. -
JOHN A.
WILSON, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the son
of John A. and Elizabeth Wilson, of Coles Co.; was born Mar.
16, 1842; is the owner of ninety-two acres of land, valued at
$2,500. Was married to Elizabeth Jones, of Paradise
Twp., Coles Co. Dec. 3, 1868; the names of the children by
this union, are William S., George N., John O., James M.
(died Oct, 3, 1874), Mary E. and Effie G. Mr. Wilson
served in the late war in Co. D. 123d Regiment I. V. I. His
father, John A. Wilson, died Oct. 12, 1842, in St. Louis, and
his mother, June 18, 1852; Mr. Wilson's father and mother
were among the first settlers of this township.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 653 |
Charleston Twp. -
THOMAS JEFFERSON WILSON was born in Barren
Co., Ky., on Nov. 22, 1825, and moved to Greensburg, Green Co., Ky.,
in 1847, where, on June 8, 1848, he was married to Lucy Ann
Hutchason; he was a wagon-maker by trade; Lucy Ann Hutchason
was born in Greensburg, Ky., on June 27, 1826; in April, 1857,
Mr. Wilson removed with his family to Charleston, Ill., where he
went into the employ of L. R. & B. M. Hutchason, his
brothers-in-law, who were in the dry goods trade. On Jan. 12,
1859, his wife died in Charleston. In 1860, he began business
for himself, by buying the stock of dry goods owned by Jos.
Peyton, in Charleston, and he removed his stock of goods, in
1861, to Ashmore; there, by his methods of fair dealing and strict
integrity in business, he soon established a flourishing trade, and
became extensively known over the eastern portion of the county; he
died in Ashmore on Oct. 12, 1865, and lies buried by the side of his
wife, in the old cemetery near Charleston. He and his wife
were both members of the Christian Church, and he was an Elder in
the same while a resident of Charleston; both their lives were those
of the most exemplary Christians, and they were respected, trusted
and beloved wherever they were known.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 537 |
Morgan Twp. -
JOHN WINKELBLACK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Charleston;
born n Dauphin Co., Penn., Mar. 4, 1805, where he lived until 15
years of age, when he learned and worked at the tanner's and
currier's trade at Harrisburg, Penn., until 1829, at which dates he
emigrated to Ohio, working at Cleveland, Massillon and Zanesville
until February, 1830, when he went to Pennsylvania and the following
spring returned to Zanesville, Ohio, where he followed his trade
until the fall of 1835; he then emigrated to Illinois and located
upon Sec. 30, Morgan Tp., where he now lives; upon locating here he
entered 160 and purchased 236 acres of land, to which he afterward
added until he held about 1100 aces, which he had accumulated by his
own hard labor, energy and industry; when he first located here,
wolves were plenty, and to obtain quail, prairie chickens, wild
geese, ducks, turkeys or deer, it was only necessary to shoot from
your own door or window; his trips to mill consumed from four to
seven days, his trips to mill consumed from four to seven days, the
distance being fifty miles either to Roseville or Terre Haute, Ind.;
although now in his 75th year, he is in possession of all his
faculties, and daily attends to his stock, of which he has 70 head
of cattle, 16 horses and 60 hogs. He married, Mar. 4, 1841, to
Catharine Weaver; she was born in York Co., Penn., Oct. 23,
1822; she died Jan. 23, 1866, leaving twelve children, viz.:
William H., Milton C., Robert A., Mason F., Nancy J., Thomas T.,
Mary E., John, Victoria S., Daniel, Susannah, Jacob H. Mr.
Winkelblack has taken a deep interest in the cause of education,
having been School Trustee and Director, the latter office which, be
now holds, he has held many years.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 632 |
East Oakland Twp. -
JOSEPH H. WINKLER, firm of Clark
& Winkler, lawyers, Oakland; born in Coles Co., Ill, Mar. 14,
1851, where he attended school during the winter and learned and
worked at the blacksmith trade during the summer until 17 years of
age, when he entered the State Military College at Champaign, Ill.,
where he attended nearly two years, during which time he worked at
his trade Saturdays and mornings and evenings, from which he
obtained the means to meet all of his bills contracted while
attending the above College; he then, in the fall of 1873, entered
the Law School at Albany, N. Y., which he attended nearly one year,
graduating and receiving his diploma May 5, 1874; was admitted to
practice at the bar of the State of New York May 8, of the same
year; coming West again, he was admitted to the bar of this State on
Sept. 14, 1874; the following winter he taught school two miles
south of Oakland, boarding at home and walking to and from his
school night and morning; the spring following he went to Mattoon
and engaged in the law office of Horace S. Clark for several
months, where he obtained more practical knowledge of law than in
any term of law school which he had attended. He then
associated with Mr. Clark in the law business and located in
Oakland, his library at that time consisted of three law-books, his
office furniture, one rickety table and two old chairs; he now has
his office in rear of the Oakland Bank, and has a fine law library;
has built up a very extensive practice. His marriage with
Emma S. Crawford was celebrated Dec. 23, 1876; she was born in
Crawfordsville, Ind., June 29, 1854; her parents removed West and
located in Illinois when she was 6 years of age. They have one child
by this union —Frank C.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 580 |
Morgan Twp. -
JOHN WOODFALL, deceased, farmer. The subject of this
sketch was born in England about the year 1807; he emigrated to
America while quite a young man and located in Louisville, Ky.,
where he worked in a foundry and machine shop for about fifteen
years, when he located in Morgan Tp., Coles Co., Ill., in January,
1857, when he purchased 200 acres of land in Sec. 31, where he lived
until his death, which occurred June 14, 1857, being instantly
killed by lightning while planting corn, leaving a widow and seven
children. His marriage with Jane Stinson was celebrated
in the all of 1842; she was born in Scotland, and emigrated to
America with her parents when quite young. They had eight
children by this union, viz., Margaret J., born Oct. 24,
1844; Richard, born Apr. 12, 1848; Hannah, born Mar.
10, 1849 - died in the spring of 1860; Charles, born Feb. 6,
1851; James, born Feb. 29, 1852; John W., born Feb. 5,
1854; Theodore, born May 19, 1857; Alice D. B., born
May 23, 1861.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 632 |
Mattoon Twp. -
REV. J. W. WOODS, C. P. minister, Mattoon; was
born in the Territory of Indiana, Feb. 5, 1815. He is the son
of Wm. G. and Rachel (Lester) Woods; his father was a farmer
and his early boyhood days were spent upon the farm; his education
was obtained mainly at Pilot Knob Academy, under the instruction of
Prof. D. R. Harris; when 10 years of age, he came with his
parents to Clark Co., Ill.; his father settling about four miles
east of the present town of Marshall, his house became the resort
for most business transactions in that part of the county; it was
the "preaching-place" for fifteen years, until the building of a
church in the neighborhood. At the age of 17, young Woods
became a member of the church, and in May, 1834, of the Presbytery;
in June, 1837, he began his public ministry in Clark Co., Ill., and,
for a number of years, labored in Coles, Douglas, Cumberland, Shelby
and other counties in this section; in October, 1839, he was
ordained to the full work of the ministry; in 1859, he moved to
Mattoon for the purpose of building the church in the city; under
his direction and superintendence, the church was built, and he was
Pastor until September, 1861, when he entered the U. S. service as
Chaplain of the 5th I. V. C., and remained in the service until Jan.
8, 1865; on his return from the army, he again labored for the
church in Mattoon one year and four months; two yeas ago, he built
the church ten miles south of Mattoon, in Cumberland Co., called
Woods' Chapel, and has since labored for the congregation at that
point. He was married Nov. 4, 1841, to Eliza A. Funkhouser,
a native of Wayne Co., Ill.; nine children have been born to them -
Mary C. (wife of W. B. Dunlap), Elizabeth J.,
Cynthia A. (wife of J. R. Tobey), Celestina C.
(wife of O. C. Hoddy), Eliza N. (wife of E. V.
Burnett), William L'R., John P., Ida Belle, Alice L.; of
these, Elizabeth J. and William L'R. are deceased.
Has been a member of the City Council and East Side School Board.
He has always been liberal in the use of his means toward the
Church.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 557 |
Mattoon Twp. -
CAPT. T. E. WOODS, editor Mattoon Journal,
Mattoon; was born June 2, 1837, near the present village of
Stockton, Coles Co., Ill.; his education was secured in subscription
and common schools, and for a short time he attended an academy; he
usually walked or rode from two to five miles each morning to attend
school; at the age of 17, he began teaching school, and followed
that occupation till he reached his majority; he was Deputy
Postmaster at Mattoon during 1855 and 1845; he then edited and
published the Mattoon Gazette from 1857 to 1860; during the
year 1861, he edited the Charleston Courier; in the summer of
1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 123d I. Mounted Inf., was mustered in
Co. F, and went to the field as Quartermaster Sergeant; he was made
Sargeant Major at Maysville, Ala.; commissioned Captain Co. H, at
Stevenson, Ala., early in 1864, and commanded it to the close of the
war; since the war, he has conducted the Mattoon journal,
first as a weekly, next as a tri-weekly and at present as a daily.
At present he resides in Washington, D. C., where he fills an
appointment in the Post Office Department.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 556 |
Ashmore Twp. -
THOMAS WOODS, farmer
and stock-raiser; P. O. Westfield, Clark co., was born in Coles Co.,
on the homestead where he now resides, July 12, 1848; his father,
William Woods, one of the pioneers of the county, was born in
Madison Co., Ky., Nov. 28, 1808, and settled in Coles Co. in
the year 1834, with the family of his mother, Mrs. Mary Woods;
like most of the early settlers, he came here a poor man, to build
him a home in the then wilderness; he purchased at first forty acres
of land; he was an energetic, hard-working man, who commanded the
respect and confidence of his neighbors; to his farm of forty acres
he added at various times, until he owned at one time 240 acres of
land situated in Coles and Clark Cos., which amount he left at the
time of his death; Thomas Woods, the only son, has always
remained on the old homestead. He was married on the 17th of
February, 1876, to Miss Mollie A. Arterburn, a daughter of
William Arterburn, of Edgar Co., Ill.; she was born in
Louisville, Ky., Feb. 11, 1846, and came to Illinois with her
parents in infancy; they have one child - Alta.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 607 |
Morgan Twp. -
WM. E. WORSHAM, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Kosciusko Co.,
Ind., Feb. 19, 1850; here he attended the common schools until 15
years of age, when be emigrated wtih his parents to Coles Co., Ill.,
Feb. 7, 1854; here his father, William Worsham, died May 12,
1877, and his mother died Jan 19,1879. Upon locating here,
Mr. W. assisted his father in farming until 19 years of age,
when he engaged in school-teaching during the fall and winter, and
following farming in summer until 1873, when he located upon his
present place, which contains 150 acres o prairie and timber land,
and was one of the first places settled upon and improved in Morgan
Tp. His marriage with Martha V. Collins was celebrated
Dec. 13, 1873; she was born in Morgan Tp., Coles Co., Oct. 26, 1850.
They have one child by this union - William Watson Worsham
born Jan. 4, 1875. Mrs. Worsham is a daughter of
Watson Collins,
of the early pioneers, and whose biography appears in this work.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 632 |
Charlestown Twp. -
SAMUEL WRIGHT, Charleston; was born in
Delaware Co., Penn., Feb. 29, 1808; when he was 9 yeas of age, he
removed with his parents to Washington Co., in the same State, where
he learned the trade of a carpenter and builder, and afterward
taught school for seven years. He was married Aug. 20, 1829,
to Miss Ruth Gordon, of Washington Co., Penn., and has four
children living - William G. (of Charleston), Maria B.
(wife of Dr. A. K. Spears, of Charleston), Matilda
R. (Mrs. W. S. Minton, of Charleston), and Samuel H.
(Corresponding Secretary of the National Surgical Institute, of
Indianapolis, Inc.); the last named served three years in the last
war; was promoted to Major of the 31st Mo. V. I., and after his
return, was for four years Adjutant General of the State of
Missouri; in 1835, Mr. Wright removed to Ripley Co., Ohio,
returning in 1846 to Pennsylvania; in 1845, he came to Charleston,
and followed his trade here till 1860; he was then elected Justice
of the Peace for four years, and again elected in 1864; since the
expiration of his term of office in 1868, he has been employed as a
clerk in the store of his son, W. G. Wright, in Charleston.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 538 |
Charleston Twp. -
WILLIAM G. WRIGHT, of the firm of Wright,
Hodgen & Co., wholesale and retail dealers in groceries and
provisions, Charleston; was born in Washington Co., Penn., July 25,
1832; he was brought up to farming and his father's trade, of a
carpenter; he received an English education, and at the age of 18,
began teaching school, which he continued three winters; in the
spring of 1854, he came to Hitesville, Coles Co., and on the 24th of
August, the same year, he married Miss Sarah Bane, whom he
had known in Pennsylvania, and who had removed with her parents to
Coles Co. the year before; they have six children - Mary Ida,
Lulu May, Harry Warren, Florence and Nellie. In
1856, he removed to Children and followed his trade till the fall of
1859, when he engaged as a clerk in the store of T. Hulman,
with whom he continued until the fall of 1864; he then, with W.
S. Minton and A. K. Spears, purchased the stock of Mr.
Hulman, and engaged in merchandising, under the firm name of
Wright, Minton & Co. till 1870, then till 1872 as W. G.
Wright & Co.; Mr. Minton returning in 1872, the firm became
W. S. Minton & Co., and so continued till 1876, since when, it
has been Wright, Hodgen & Co.; in 1868, Wright, Minton &
Co. built the brick store which forms a portion of March's
Block, and is now occupied by R. Stoddert & Sons; they were
also for two years owners of the mill known as the Tinkey Mill in
Charleston, and for two years were engaged in the house-furnishing
business, in addition to their grocery trade.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 538 |
North Okaw Twp. -
WILLIAM
WRIGHTSELL, farmer; P. O. Turner's Point; was born in
Jefferson Co., Tenn., Oct. 9, 1811; came to this State and settled
in Coles Co., in 1856. He was married to Miss Permelia
White Oct. 31, 1844; she was born in Jefferson Co., Tenn.,
Nov. 15, 1825; they have four children, viz., Sarah J.,
James M., Louisa E., and Margaret Ann.
The farm of Mr. Wrightsell consists of sixty acres
valued at $1,800. He was a participant in the Black Hawk war,
and is quite an early settler in the western part of Coles Co.
Source: History of Coles County, Illinois - Chicago - Wm. LeBaron,
Jr., & Co. - 1879 - Page 549 |
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