Biographical Sketches Coles County Illinois Collections – Page 17 of 25

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Zimmerman

Jacob Zimmerman, of the firm of Zimmerman & Monroe, dealers in dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, etc., Ashmore; was born in Augusta County, Va., Sept. 19, 1836; in 1837, his father, Martin Zimmerman, removed with his family to Edgar Co., Ill., where he resided one year, and then settled in the edge of what is now Oakland Township, in 1838; in common with most of the pioneers, he began life in the West with an empty pocket, but with that unconquerable determination to succeed before which all obstacles recede and vanish away; he entered some land from the Government, to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Linder

Jacob Linder, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Charleston. Among the pioneers of Coles Co. who settled here prior to the year 1830, was Jonathan Linder, who was born in West Virginia Aug. 8, 1808. He was the son of a farmer, and on becoming of age he came West, accompanied by his father’s family; they made the journey in wagons, and on arriving in Coles Co., they took up some land and purchased other land, and engaged in farming. After a few years, he revisited his native State, performing the journey there and back on horse-back. In 1834 or 1835, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob K. Cottonham

Jacob K. Cottonham, farmer; P. O. Charleston; the subject of this sketch was born in Floyd Co., Ind., Nov. 15, 1831. He married Miss Sallie Ann Fowler March 5, 1855; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., Dec. 13, 1843 they had seven children, six living viz., William E., Margaret L., George A., Joseph U., Charles D. W. and Hervey F. He lived in Indiana until 1855, when he came to Illinois, and settled in Coles Co. near Charleston, and engaged in brickmaking, and continued in the business nearly eight years, when he engaged in farming; in 1874, he came … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Harry

Jacob Harry, farmer and stock; P. O. Humbolt; the subject of this sketch was born in Preble Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1816; he married Miss Susannah Tobey, Aug. 1, 1839; she was born in Washington Co., Md., Dec. 15, 1819. They had eleven children, nine living, viz., Jefferson, Madison and Amanda, Hiram, Nathaniel, Franklin, Clinton, Stephen A. D. and Nelson. He lived in Ohio until 1855; he was raised on the farm and also learned the brickmason’s trade; he then went west, visited Kansas and finally settled in Callaway Co., Mo., near Jefferson City, where he engaged in farming, remaining … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Ernst

Jacob Ernst, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Humbolt; the subject of this sketch was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, March 30, 1839. He married Miss Julia Anna Joose Aug. 16, 1861 she was born in Baden, Germany, June 20, 1844; they had nine children, eight living, viz., George A., John M., Flora May, Mary A., Harry D., Willis E., Clarence and Jacob E.; Charlie died June 4, 1866. He lived in Germany about fifteen years, when he came to the United States and settled in Meadville, Penn., where he lived until 1855; he then moved to Owen Co., Ind.; thence to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Edmon

Jacob Edmon, farmer; P. O. Charleston; was born in Highland Co., Va., June 17, 1851, and lived with his father; engaged in farming. He was married to Alwilda Armstrong Dec. 26, 1877; she was born in Highland Co., Va., Nov. 9, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Edmon’s parents were natives of Virginia; Mr. Edmon’s father was one of the early settlers in this county, coming here in an early day with but very little property. He now owns 168 acres of very fine farm land on Sec. 14 in this township.

Biographical Sketch of Jackson M. Oliver

Jackson M. Oliver, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Charleston; was born on the old homestead in Charleston Tp., June 16, 1851. He is a son of George and Fannie (Lumbrick) Oliver; his father was a native of North Carolina; born in Rockingham Co., in that State, June 16, 1819; his parents afterward removed to Putnam Co., Ind.; there he lived until 1840, and then came to Coles Co., where, on the 2Sth of August, 1840, he married Miss Fannie Lumbrick. a daughter of James Lumbrick, one of the early settlers of the county; she was born in Rocking- ham Co., … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jackson Gerard

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 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Neal, M. D.

J. W. Neal, M. D., physician and surgeon, Charleston; was born July 22, 1851, in what is now Cumberland Co., but then a part of Coles Co.; his father. William Neal, is a prominent and wealthy farmer and stock-raiser, who came to the State fifty-five years ago, at the age of years, from Bourbon Co., Ky.; Dr. Neal remained at home on the farm till he was 19 years old, then entered Lee’s Academy, in this county, graduating in 1871, and at once began the study of medicine with Dr. T. B. Dora, of Mattoon. The winter of 1872-73 he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Moore

J. W. Moore, lumber merchant, Mattoon; was born in Kent Co., England, in June, 1832; when 10 years of age, he lost his father; in 1850, his mother, with her family, immigrated to America and settled in Chicago, where they remained about two and one-half years; they then removed to Cook Co., where himself and an older brother engaged in farming and operating a country store, his mother managing largely the interests of her family; in 1865, the subject of this sketch moved to Monee, Will Co., and, in company with a Mr. Dickson, under the firm name of Dickson … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Hill

J. W. Hill, farmer and stock-dealer, deceased; deceased owned 342 acres; was born in Washington Co., Va., May 7, 1814; died March 13, 1875; he lived with his parents on the farm until 20 years of age. He was married to Elizabeth Fudge Feb. 28, 1833; she was born in Washington Co., Va., Jan. 15, 1814; they had twelve children – Barbara A., Samuel H., Benjamin R., Noah W., Elizabeth, Zachariah T., Emma, Jonah, Napoleon and three infants, deceased; Jonah Hill was born in Coles Co., Ill., April 22, 1853, and lived with his father until 21 years of age. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Hanna

J. W. Hanna, book and music store, Mattoon; was born in Freeport, Harrison Co., Ohio, Dec. 2, 1848; he derived his education from the common schools, and, at the age of 13 years, began clerking in his father’s general merchandising establishment at Deersville, Ohio; July 4,1866, he came West, stopping a short time at Preston, Minn., and, in September following, came to Mattoon, where he attended school six months; he then entered the employ of Finley & Richardson as clerk in their book store; in October, 1869, he and his brother James R., bought out the firm, and in May, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Farrar

J. W. Farrar, farmer and stock; P. O. Mattoon; the subject of this sketch was born in South Carolina, near Charleston, March 4, 1827. He married Miss Ann M. Talbot Oct. 12, 1851; she was born in Henderson Co., Ky., Oct. 9, 1832; they had eight children, two living, viz., Joseph F. and Lizzie A. He lived about eighteen months in South Carolina, when, with his parents, he moved to Perry Co., Mo., where he engaged in the warehouse and wood business; he lived here with his parents about six months, when, with his grandparents, he went to Illinois and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Dallas

J. W. Dallas, farmer; P. O. Westfield; was born in Hutton Tp., Coles Co., Jan. 16, 1849; his parents, Hiram and Sarah, were natives of Ohio, and, in the year 1839, came to Coles Co.; in the spring of 1840, they moved to Clark Co., where, after remaining five years, again returned to Hutton Tp., of this county, and settled on Sec. 35, where they lived up to the time of the death of Mr. Dallas, which occurred March 5, 1878; the subject of this sketch was born on the homestead, where he still resides, containing 120 acres, his mother … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. V. W. Annin

J. V. W. Annin, farmer; P.O. Oakland; born in Somerset Co., N. J., July 29, 1841; he emigrated with his parents when he was 9 years of age, and located in Wyoming Tp., Lee Co., in 1850, living there until January, 1852, when he removed with his parents to East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., Ill., where he has since continued to live; he, with his brother Samuel, own 400 acres of land, among which, is the old homestead, upon which they settled when they first located here nearly thirty years ago; while they own the above property in company, each … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. T. Montgomery

J. T. Montgomery, physician, P. O. Charleston; born in Cedar Co., Mo., Oct. 18, 1852. He emigrated with his parents and located in Alton, Ill., in 1861, for about six months, then Windsor for three years, where his father was located as minister of the C. P. Church. He located in Oakland, Coles Co., in March, 1867, when he attended school until 1871, where he worked as farm laborer during the summer and fall, in which way he obtained the means to attend the Mt. Zion Academy until he had exhausted the proceeds of his summer’s labor, when he engaged … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. Springer

J. Springer, farmer; P. O. Charleston. The subject of this sketch was born on the line between Fayette and Jessamine Counties, Ky., Feb. 13, 1808; he married Miss Lucy A. Payton on Easter Sunday, 1838; she was born in Fayette Co., Ky., Sept. 7, 1814. They had six children, three Sept., viz., Angeline, Nannie J. and Mary M. He lived in Kentucky twenty-one years; he then went to Missouri and settled in Clay Co., where he engaged at his trade of wagon making, and remained seven or eight years; he then returned to Kentucky and followed his trade about twelve … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. S. Garner, M. D.

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, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. P. H. Harrah

J. P. H. Harrah, attorney at law, Charleston; is a native of Putnam Co., Ind.; he was born near Greencastle June 4, 18485 and is a son of Daniel F. Harrah; in 1858, he removed with his father’s family to Jasper Co., Ill., where he remained on the farm until 1867; he then engaged in teaching school in Jasper Co.; in August, 1868, he entered Westfield College, Ill., and remained as a student in that institution two years; returning home in 1870, he began reading law, and, in the fall of 1871, went to Newton, the county seat of Jasper … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. M. Mock

J. M. Mock, farming; P. O. Charleston the subject of this sketch was born in Hocking Co., Ohio, April 1, 1839. He married Miss Catharine J. Zimmerman Nov. 22, 1866; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., near Ashmore, June 17, 1843; they had six children – four living, viz., Sarah C., Edward W., Oscar B. and Florence I. ;he lived in Ohio until he was 15 years old, when, with his parents he moved to Coles Co., Ill., and settled near Oakland; this was in 1854; they engaged in farming, where he lived until 1860; they then moved to … Read more