Biographical Sketches Coles County Illinois Collections – Page 16 of 25

Biographical Sketch of James M. Miller

James M. Miller, dealer in dry goods, boots and shoes, clothing and furnishing goods, Charleston; has been a citizen and merchant of Charleston for more than forty years, being the oldest merchant now doing business in the city; he was born in Spencer Co., Ky., Aug. 29, 1814; he is a son of John H. and Jane Miller, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Pennsylvania; he was raised on a farm and followed the occupation of farming until 1838, when he came to Charleston and engaged in general merchandising, having visited the State and purchased land … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James M. Hunt

James M. Hunt, retired farmer; P. O. Cook’s Mills; was born in Indiana Jan. 16, 1840; his father, James Hunt, now deceased, was one of the early settlers of that State; they moved to Illinois and settled in Coles Co. in 1868; Mr. Hunt has followed the pursuits of a farmer and stock-raiser from boyhood; he enlisted in the 83d Ind. V. I.; served nearly three years, and was discharged at the close of the war; at the battle of Dallas he was wounded, the effects of which now compel him to retire from business. He was married to Miss … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James M. Bresee

James M. Bresee, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the son of Dorous and Fanny Bresee; was born in Cumberland Co., Ill., Jan. 30, 1847; moved to Coles Co. Feb. 12, 1870; is the owner of 120 acres of land valued at near five thousand dollars; was Road Overseer and School Director for ten years or more; was married to Sarah J. Stowers, of Coles Co., April 5, 1868. Names of children – boys: Bird E., born Nov. 18, 1875; girls: Minnie V., born Aug. 22, 1869; Lillie E., born Oct. 17, 1871; Hellen M., born March 1, 1873. Was in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James M. Beale

James M. Beale, farmer and stock-dealer; P. O. Arcola; was born in Mason Co., W. Va., Jan. 1, 1825. He married Miss Jane R. Wylie in the fall of 1852; she was born in Brooke Co., W. Va.; they had six children – three living, viz., Ida M., J. Edwin and Florence; he lived in West Virginia until 1826, when, with his parents, he went to Kentucky, where he lived until 1833, when he went to Virginia, where he lived until 1857, when he came to Illinois and settled on his farm in Humbolt Tp., in Coles Co., where he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James M. Anderson

James M. Anderson, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Charleston; owns 140 acres; was born in Lewis Co., Va., Jan. 27, 1835; engaged in farming until 22 years of age. He was married to Dorothy A. Leitch Dec. 27, 1860; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., April 16, 1842; Mr. Anderson has five children living and one dead; the living are named Sumner, Victoria, Wesley, Emma J. and Fannie B.; deceased, infant. Mr. Anderson has held the office of school director eight years, and Road Commissioner two years. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson’s parents are natives of Virginia.

Biographical Sketch of James L. Hart

James L. Hart, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the son of Oliver and Zorada Hart; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., June 18, 1846; moved with his parents to Coles Co., Ill., Oct. 12, 1848; is the owner of seventy-six acres of land, valued at near $3,500. Was Postmaster at Etna for one year. Was married to Elizabeth Smith, of Coles Co., Sept. 24, 1866. His father, Oliver Hart, was born in Grayson Co., Ky., March 31, 1825; died Jan. 25, 1867, in the 42d year of his age; his mother, Zorada Hart, was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Oct. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James L. Hackley

James L. Hackley, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Mattoon; owns seventy-four acres; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., Nov. 25, 1842, and lived with his parents on the farm until 1855, when he came with parents to this county in 1856, where he has since resided. He was married Feb. 14, 1867, to Martha Jeffries; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 28, 1847, and has five children – Katie, Emma, Olga, Harden, Oren; Mr. Hackley has been School Director six years, and Overseer of roads two years in this township; Mr. Hackley’s parents were natives of Kentucky; Mrs. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Jeffris

James Jeffris, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Mattoon; owns 240 acres; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., March 17, 1821; moved to this county with his parents when 10 years of age, and lived with them until married to Matilda Jane Johnston, Oct. 6, 1842; she was born in Russell Co., Va., Nov. 28, 1822, and has had eleven children, six of whom are living, viz., Mary E., Martha, Johnston, Stephen D., Joanna and Kitty C.; deceased-G. D., Leah, S. M. and two infants. Mr. Jeffris was Constable four years, School Director five years and School Trustee twenty years; his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Hood

James Hood, farming and stock; P. O. Arcola; the subject of this sketch was born in West Union, Adams Co., Ohio, Oct. 29, 1834. He married Miss Sarah E. Willson Jan. 1, 1861; she was born in Adams Co., Ohio; they have seven children, viz., John E., Mary S., Sarah B., James W., Annie E., Robert B. and Clara Dell. His father was engaged in general merchandise, and he assisted in the business until he was about 26 years of age; he then came West and herded cattle in this neighborhood for one year; he then went back to Ohio … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Hamilton

James Hamilton, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Cook’s Mills; one of the early settlers; was born in Ohio, May 1, 1826: came to this State in 1852, and settled in Coles Co. in the same year. He was married Nov. 16, 1853, to Miss M. L. Hoskins, who was born in Illinois, July 12, 1831; they have seven children, viz., John R., William H., James L. (twins), David W., Albert G., Samuel L. and Margaret I. Their farm consists of 108 acres, valued at $3,500. Since Mr. Hamilton’s residence in the township he has held the office of Justice of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James H. Williams

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 Tp., 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 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James H. Busbey

James H. Busbey, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Oakland; one of the pioneers of Coles Co; born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 22, 1823, where he attended school and engaged in farming, until 16 years of age, when he emigrated to Coles Co., Ill., and located in what is now the south part of Douglas Co., in the fall of 1839. He is son of Hamilton Busbey, who was born July 5, 1792, in Virginia; he emigrated to Ohio about the year 1815, where he lived until he emigrated to Illinois, where he died Dec. 16, 1847; Mrs. Busbey, whose … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Gray Bovell

James Gray Bovell, farmer; P. O. Larna; owns 260 acres; was born in Washington Co., Tenn., June 1, 1825, and came to Edgar Co. with his parents when only 4 years old; he stayed there five years; then came to Coles Co., where he has since resided. He was married May 6, 1846, to Eliza Dryden, who was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., July 24, 1825, and has had four children, viz., Mary E. D., Nancy C., John W. and one infant; Mary E. D. is the only one living. Mr. and Mrs. Bovell’s parents were natives of Tennessee.

Biographical Sketch of James Faris

James Faris, farmer and nurseryman, Sec. 1; P. O. Mattoon; was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., Feb. 22, 1808; engaged with his father in farming and nursery business until 30 years of age. He was then married to Rachel E. McGahan Aug. 17, 1843; she was born in Orange Co., Ind., Jan. 4, 1826; they have had ten children, four living and six dead; the names of the living are Thomas C., John D., Mary E. and Charles H.; the names of the dead are William E., Sarah I., William W., George W. and Martha A. and one infant. Mr. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Edgar

James Edgar, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Humbolt; the subject of this sketch was born in Suffolk Co., England, March 21, 1838. He married Miss Margaret Hilligoss May 8, 1862 she was born in Rush Co., Ind., Sept. 15, 1845; they had seven children, five living, viz., John P.. William T., Ora May, James Rue and Leroy. He lived in England fifteen years; he then moved to Scotland, where he lived two years and returned to England; remained there until he was 19, when he came to the United States, arriving at Chicago, and, in 1857, he came to Coles … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James C. Gray

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, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Brandenburg

James Brandenburg, farmer; P. O. Diona; was born in Hardin Co., Ky., April 20, 1820; when he was about 3 years of age, his parents moved to Clay Co., Ind., and from there, in the year 1829, came to this county. Mr. Brandenburg lived at home, working in the neighborhood, until he was 18 years of age, when he went to Wisconsin and was engaged in teaming for two years; in 1844, he settled southeast of Salisbury, in this township, and lived there for twelve or thirteen years, when he purchased a farm on Sec. 32, and after being there … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Anderson

James Anderson, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Mattoon; owns 133 acres; was born in Monroe Co., Md. , Dec. 25, 1825, and lived with his parents on the farm in Maryland until 7 years of age; then went with them to Ohio, where he resided until the year 1846, when he went to the Mexican war, and returned in 1855. He was married to Lucinda Knight Dec. 29, 1847; she was born in Licking Co., Ohio, June 12, 1826; they have had eight children, seven of whom are living, viz., Mary Ann, Columbia, William H., Sarah P., Emma, Martha, Charles … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. Mitchell

James A. Mitchell (deceased); one of the early pioneers of Coles Co., was born in Washington Co., E. Tenn., Aug. 27, 1797; he was a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Allison) Mitchell; his father was a native of North Carolina and emigrated to Tennessee in an early day. He passed his early life on his father’s farm near Jonesboro Tenn., and after obtaining a thorough preparatory education entered Washington College, in his native State, but, after a time, left college and engaged in merchandising. He was married May 12, 1818, to Miss Esther Collom, of his native county; she was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. Cox

James A. Cox, farmer; P. O. Westfield, Clark Co.; was born in Hutton Tp. Oct. 26, 1846; his parents came to this county about the year 1829, and were among the first settlers; his mother died Feb. 2, 1877; his father is still living, in Cumberland Co., Ill.; the subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was 25 years of age, when he married Miss Lucinda R. Morris (daughter of Janie,: Morris, of Clark Co.) March 21, 1872; shortly after his marriage, he moved to a farm on Sec. 11, remaining there until the fall of 1872, … Read more