Biographical Sketches Coles County Illinois Collections

The Firm of Dunn & Connolly

Dunn & Connolly, attorneys at law, Charleston; this firm was established in November, 1878, and is composed of two young attorneys, but gentlemen possessing the requisite qualifications of success. Frank K. Dunn was born in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1854, being a son of Hon. A. K. Dunn, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas; he graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio, in 1873; read law in his father’s office; entered Harvard Law School in 1874, graduating in 1875; he was admitted to practice the same year, and practiced with his father until November, 1878, when he came to Charleston, … Read more

Biography of William S. Childress

William S. Childress, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Knox Co., East Tenn., April 11, 1827; he is a son of Richard and Rebecca Childress. In 1831, his father removed to Edgar Co., and settled just on the line between Illinois and Indiana. In 1848, Mr. Childress came to Coles Co., being the first of the family to settle here, his father following in the spring of 1849; his father died about 1862; his mother still survives, and now resides in Farmington, in Coles Co., at the age of 75 years. Mr. C. was married April 30, … Read more

Biography of William Morgan

William Morgan, farmer; P. O. Rardin; born in Sullivan Co., Ind., Dec. 13, 1827; he emigrated with his parents when 8 years old and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp. in 1834, and before the organization of the township, which is named in honor of his father, David Morgan, who resided here from 1835 until his death, which occurred in October, 1860. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents and assisted in farming until 1850, when he engaged in farming for himself upon the place where he has since lived; he owns 320 acres in … Read more

Biography of William H. Reynolds

William H. Reynolds, far.; P. O. Oakland; born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, May 29, 1837, where he was brought up on a farm until about 18 years of age, when he emigrated to Clark Co., Ill., and located for one year; thence to Coles Co., where he hired as farm laborer for two years, when he rented land and farmed three years. He enlisted July 25, 1861, in Col. Oglesby’s regiment-the 8th I. V. I. going in camp at Cairo, where he remained about two months, during which time he was engaged in reconnoitering expeditions in Missouri; he then joined … Read more

Biography of William H. Brown

William H. Brown, farmer and stock-raiser ;P. O. Ashmore; was born in Oneida Co., N. Y., March 23, 1813, being a son of Jonathan W. and Elizabeth (Aiken) Brown, and accompanied his parents in their removal to Milton, Ky., to Lawrence Co., Ill., and to the Walnut Grove, Edgar Co., in January, 1825. He remained at home until he was nearly 21, when he began working on a farm; he worked at various employments in different places until he was married, Nov. 4, 1835, to Miss Elizabeth McGhan, of Clark Co.; he then settled on a farm in Clark Co. … Read more

Biography of William F. Austin

William F. Austin, of the firm of Austin, Brown & Kimball, dealers in hardware, lumber, agricultural implements, furniture, etc.; P. O. Ashmore; is a native of Coles Co., being a son of John and Susan (Carter) Austin; his father was born near Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 9, 1809, and came with his father’s family to the county in about 1828 ;his father, William Austin, took up a farm, comprising the site of the present village of Ashmore. Mr. Austin was married Oct. 15, 1835, to Miss Susan Carter, a daughter of John and Mary Carter, both natives of East Tennessee; she … Read more

Biography of William E. Ginther

William 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. … Read more

Biography of William Dozier

William Dozier, architect and builder, Mattoon; was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1836; his grandfather came from Pennsylvania to Ohio as early as 1810, and settled in Muskingum Co., when that section of country was a wilderness; his father was then a lad of some 8 or 9 summers; through want of opportunity, the education of his father was not extended beyond spelling, he never having read a day in school; he was a man, however, of good native ability, and, through his own exertions, obtained a fair education; he served nine years as Justice of the Peace; … Read more

Biography of Wesley Daugherty

Wesley Daugherty, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Charleston; born in Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 18, 1834; he is the youngest son of John B. Daugherty, who emigrated with his family from Indiana and located in Coles Co., Ill., about the year 1833, where he lived until his decease, which occurred July 10, 1857, being then 60 years of age. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and assisted in farming until 19 years of age, when he was employed as farm laborer for about four years, when he engaged in farming upon rented land, which he followed two … Read more

Biography of Watson Collins

Watson Collins, farmer deceased; one of the early pioneers of Coles Co.; born in North Carolina May 12, 1813, where he was raised to farming until 1831, when he emigrated with his father, Aaron Collins, and located upon Greasy Creek, Morgan Tp.; like most pioneers, the family were poor, and the subject of this sketch turned his attention to do what was in his power to the support of his father’s family; one occupation was getting out fence-rails at 25 cents per hundred; one season he worked at Vincennes, Ind., at $6 per month, the earnings being used for the … Read more

Biography of W. K. Payne

W. K. Payne, retired, Ashmore; although not an early settler of Coles Co., is one of the pioneers in the adjoining county of Edgar, where he was a prominent citizen for forty-six years. He was born in Shelby Co., Ky., May 17, 1807, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Wright) Payne, both natives of Kentucky and descendants of old Virginia families. His early education was limited to such as the schools of that region afforded. In 1822, his father removed with his family to Owen Co., Ind. In 1831, Mr. Payne came to Edgar Co., and engaged in … Read more

Biography of W. J. Peak

W. J. Peak, physician, surgeon and druggist, Oakland; born in Warsaw, Gallatin Co., Ky., April 3, 1836, where he devoted his whole attention to his studies until he attained his majority, the last four years exclusively to the study of medicine, graduating from the St. Louis Medical College in the winter of 1860; he immediately commenced the practice of medicine at Warsaw, Ky., for a short time, when, in the spring of 1861, he located in Johnson Co., Mo.; during the summer, and in the fall of the same year, he went to Texas, where he was placed, from force … Read more

Biography of W. H. Roberts

W. H. Roberts, farmer, See. 9, T. 13, R. 14 W.; P. O. Kansas; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1840, where he followed farming until 20 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois with his parents, and located in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., on Sec. 6, where his father, Thomas Roberts, now lives; here he assisted his father farming until Aug. 8, 186,2, when he enlisted in the 79th I. V. I., and went forward’ to battle for the Union; going to Louisville, Ky., he joined the army of Gen. Buell, who had been driven back … Read more

Biography of W. C. McLain

W. C. McLain, farmer; P. O. Charleston; one of the very oldest settlers of Coles Co., Ill., being born in Ashmore Tp., Coles Co., Jan. 12, 1829; his father, Matthew McLain, emigrated from Indiana in the year 1828, and located in the above township, at the above date, where he lived until 1846, when he removed to Wisconsin, and the year following both he and his wife died. The subject of this sketch emigrated to Wisconsin with his parents, and after their decease returned to Coles Co. and was employed as farm laborer until 1851, when he rented land and … Read more

Biography of W. B. Zimmerman

W. B. Zimmerman, farmer; P. O. Oakland; one of the early settlers of Coles Co., Ill.; born in Augusta Co., Va., Feb. 4, 1826, where he lived until eleven years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Edgar Co., in 1837; in the fall of 1838, they located in what is now known as East Oakland Tp., near where Mr. Zimmerman has since lived; he being the oldest son of Martin Zimmerman who emigrated from Virginia at the above date with a family of nine children; and the year following their arrival the whole … Read more

Biography of Tiffin P. Logan

Tiffin P. Logan, land and loan agent, Mattoon; was born in Trimble Co., Ky., March 28, 1844; his father was a man of prominence, a cousin to President Harrison, and was honored by the Democratic party with a seat in the Kentucky Legislature during the sessions of 1844-45; in the spring of 1858, removed with his family to Illinois, and located in Windsor, Shelby Co.; here he occupied the office of Justice of the Peace eleven years in succession; here Tiffin P. began life for himself; he lived with his brother-in-law till he attained the age of 15 years; at … Read more

Biography of Thomas W. Hallock

Thomas W. Hallock, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Jan. 20, 1811; he was raised on a farm until he was 15 years old, and then went to Troy, N. Y., where he learned the trade of a coachmaker; he worked for Eaton & Gilbert, at that time one of the largest coachmaking firms in the country; he helped to build the first railway-coach in this country, in 1829; this coach was run on the Amboy & Burtontown R. R., and was drawn by horses. Going to New York City in 1833, he … Read more

Biography of Thomas Stoddert

Thomas Stoddert, merchant, farmer and stock-dealer, Charleston; among the early settlers of Coles Co. was the Stoddert family, consisting of the mother, Mrs. Mary Stoddert, and nine children, who came from Grayson Co., Ky., at different times from 1836 to 1838; they are descended from the old Massachusetts family of Stodderts, their grandfather, Benjamin Stoddert, being a Major in the Revolutionary war, and was wounded at the battle of Brandywine; he was afterward the second Secretary of the United States Navy; Gen. Ewell, of the Confederate army in the war of the rebellion, was a cousin; their father, Benjamin Stoddert, … Read more

Biography of Thomas O’Brien

Thomas O’Brien, farmer and stock raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in the city of Philadelphia Feb. 18, 1830; he is a son of John and Mary O’Brien; his father was born in Mt. Maleck, Queens Co., Ireland, in February, 1801; up to the age of 18 years, he worked in his father’s tailor-shop; he then went to London, Eng., and afterward to Leeds, spending seven years in the two cities; after paying a brief visit to his native place, he came to America at the age of 25; his first settlement was in Philadelphia, where he was married March … Read more

Biography of Thomas J. Mock

Thomas J. Mock, farmer and Constable, Sec. 25; P. O. Oakland; born in Hocking Co., Ohio, March 22, 1845, where he lived until 1854, when he removed with his parents to Coles Co., where he lived until Aug. 1, 1862, when he enlisted at the age of 17 years in Co. A, 123d I. V. I., and at once went into camp at Mattoon, where they remained until Sept. 6, when they were mustered in and at once sent to the front, going to Louisville, they joined the army of Gen. Buell, which had been defeated and driven to that … Read more