Biographical Sketches Coles County Illinois Collections – Page 20 of 25

Biographical Sketch of Giles Davis

Giles Davis, deceased, late of Charleston; although not one of the early settlers, was yet a citizen and business man who enjoyed in so large a measure the confidence of his fellow-men and was held in such universal and high esteem by the entire community, that it is with pleasure that we give a brief sketch of his life; he was born in Union Co., Ind., Nov. 7, 1824; he was the son of Elisha and Elizabeth (Shafer) Davis, both of whom were natives of Ohio; his youth was spent in the usual manner of farmers’ sons. On the 18t … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Gideon Minor

Gideon Minor, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Brown Co., Ohio, Aug. 16, 1818; he emigrated with his parents to Kentucky at 4 years of age, where he attended school and engaged in farming until 14 years of age, when he emigrated to East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., in May, 1832; his father purchased 120 acres of land in the timber, and after clearing the timber during the summer, died in the following fall; the duty of managing the farm then fell upon the subject of this sketch, who worked it until 1844, when his mother disposed of the above … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Willson

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 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Peters

George W. Peters, farmer; P. O. Mattoon; was born in Green Co., Tenn., Sept. 14, 1814; is the son of Reuben and Elizabeth Peters, of the same county and State; is the owner of 163 acres of land, valued at $6,500; has held no public office. Was married to Harriet Rector March 22, 1838; the names of the children by this union are Alexander S., Reuben A., George W., Lewis B., John R., Caroline E.; deceased, Reuben A., died July 17, 1875, aged 34 years 6 months 16 days; living, Alexander S., born March 22, 1839; George W., May 3, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Benefiel

George W. Benefiel, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the son of Robert and Nancy Benefiel; was born in Lawrence Co., Ill., on the 18t day of July, 1817. He was married to Jane Ryker the 23d day of January, 1838, and moved to Coles Co. Oct. 19, 1855; names of children, boys-Robert N., James H., John S., Peter R., Francis M.; girls-Sarah A., Amy A., Ida M. His wife, Jane Benefiel, died Sept. 7, 1867. His son John S. died in the army March 1, 1863, and his daughter Ida died Dec. 4, 1873. He served in the late war … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Baker

George W. Baker, farmer; P. O. Charleston; the subject of this sketch was born in Philadelphia, Penn., May 30, 1824. He married Miss Susan Bell Aug. 26, 1846; she was born in Floyd Co., Ind., March 12, 1830, and died March 9, 1863; they had six children, three living, viz., George B., Win. A. and John V.; his present wife was Mrs. Shaw, formerly Miss Jane Hancock; they were married Oct. 19, 1863; she was born in Floyd Co., Ind., Jan. 17, 1830; she had by former marriage five children, two living, viz., Flora J. Shaw and Sarah E. Shaw. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Thomas Rodgers

George Thomas Rodgers, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Campbell; owns 114 acres; was born in Coles Co., Ill., Sept. 13, 1849, and lived on the farm with his parents until married to Mary Ella Brunk Wright Nov. 25, 1876; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., Sept. 11, 1856; they have one child-Mary Blanche. Mr. Rodgers’ father is a native of Tennessee, and his mother of Indiana. Mrs. Rodgers’ father is a native of New York, and her mother of Tennessee. Mr. Rodgers’ father made the first brick ever laid in the city of Charleston, Coles Co., Ill.

Biographical Sketch of George Steigman

George Steigman, Charleston, of the firm of Steigman, Wilson & Co., proprietor of the Charleston Pork-Packing Houses; was born in Dimboch, County of Weinsberg, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Aug. 5, 1827; he was raised on a farm, and, in 1853, came to the United States, spent one year in Meadville, Crawford Co., Penn., and coming thence to Owen Co., Ind., where he followed farming year; in 1855, he came to Charleston and engaged in farming, which he continued eight years; he then kept a meat-market until 1871, when he revisited his native country, spending eight months; returning, he followed the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Moore

George Moore, farming and stock; P. O. Humbolt; the subject of this sketch was born in Adams Co., Ohio, June 17, 1828. He married Miss Rebecca Ann McKee Jan. 30, 1851; she was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Oct: 20, 1833; they had eight children, seven living, viz., Joseph N., Jennie, John C., George W., Oscar F., Stanley B. and Jessie; he was born on his father’s farm and lived there until he was 26 years of age, when he was elected Treasurer of Adams Co., Ohio, and moved to West Union, the county seat; he served in this position … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Halbrooks, M. D.

George Halbrooks, M. D., physician, Sec. 23, Larna; owns 160 acres; was born in Gibson Co., Ind., Feb. 14, 1814, and lived with his parents on the farm until 24 years of age; was then married to Eliza Ann Beels Feb. 22, 1838; she was born in Gibson Co., Ind., Aug. 18, 1817, and has had nine children, viz., Sylvester, William H., Nancy E., Thomas, Samuel and George A.; deceased, Columbus, Catharine and George L. Dr. Halbrooks was Surgeon for six months in the late war; he commenced the study of medicine in 1842, and has been practicing ever since; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George H. Terry

George H. Terry, grocer, Humbolt; is a native of Hamilton Co., Ohio. In August, 1875, he came to Coles Co., and settled here in Humbolt and engaged in his present business; July 15, 1874, he married Miss Dolly Wells, of Humbolt, Ill.; they have one child, viz., Mary L. During his residence in Ohio, aside from obtaining his education, he was principally engaged in teaching school.

Biographical Sketch of George Geyer

George Geyer, farmer; P.O. Kansas; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, May 8, 1832, where he followed farming until 1857, when he removed to East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., Ill.. and located upon the old Donica farm, where he commenced farming with a capital of 825 cash and a team only partly paid for; he immediately went to work making improvements, which he continued until January, 1863, when he sold his improvements for $500, and purchased his present place, where he has since lived; his first purchase upon his present place was for 111 acres, upon which he made a payment … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George F. Hackett

George F. Hackett, farmer, S. 18; P. O. Oakland; born in Scott Co., Ky., Aug. 27, 1827; he emigrated with his parents, in the fall of 1834, to Illinois, and located in Coles Co., where he attended school during the winter, and assisted his father farming during the summer, until 18 years of age, when he worked by the month during the summer driving cattle from Coles Co. to Wisconsin, and attending school during the winter for four years; in 1850, he drove an ox-team, overland, to California, going via the old Oregon route, by Fort Hall, arriving in Wearville, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Diehl

George Diehl, farmer and stock-dealer, Sec. 7; P. O. Mattoon; owns 278 acres; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Oct. 12, 1811, and lived with his parents on the farm in that State until the year 1837, when he came to Coles Co. He was married Feb. 23, 1842, to Mary E. Jeffries, who was born in Grayson Co., Ky., Feb. 23, 1824; died Nov. 27, 1849. Mr. Diehl was then married April 20, 1854, to Catharine Fuller, who was born in Virginia about the year 1821; died July 16, 1871. Mr. Diehl was then married Dec. 12, 1873, to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George C. Kemp

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 April 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 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Bidle

George Bidle, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Westfield; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Sept. 25, 1833; he remained there until he was 17 years of age; his parents having died in Germany Mr. Bidle emigrated to the United States, landing in New York City in April, 1852, and first went to New Jersey, remaining there four months working upon a farm, after which he went to Louisville, Ky., and worked at the wagon-maker’s trade for two years, when he came to Westfield. Clark Co., Ill., and from there, in the fall of 1865, moved to Coles Co., and settled upon … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Beatty

George Beatty, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mattoon; was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, April 6, 1810; came to the United States in 1830, to this State, and settled in Coles Co. in 1865. He was married April 13, 1834, to Miss Anne Clegg, now deceased; she was born in Derbyshire, England, October, 1812, and died Jan. 15, 1873; Elizabeth is the only child they have had. The farm of Mr. Beatty consists of eighty acres, valued at $3,000.

Biographical Sketch of George A. Whitney

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, natives of Virginia. Mr. 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. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George A. Brown

George A. Brown, dealer in hardware, lumber, furniture, etc. (firm of Austin, Brown & Kimball), Ashmore; was born at the Walnut Grove, in Edgar Co., Ill., Oct. 17, 1837 he came with his parents, Job W. and Martha R. Brown, to Coles Co. in 1840; he remained on the farm until the age of 23 years, receiving his education in the little log schoolhouse in the neighborhood; after arriving at age, he taught school one winter; at 23, he engaged in contracting and building in Ashmore, building most of the village, including the Methodist Church and many of the business … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Gen. G. M. Mitchell

Gen. G. M. Mitchell, Postmaster, Charleston, was born in Warren Co., Ky., Oct. 5, 1835. His father, Bedford Mitchell, came to Coles Co. in 1851 and settled in Paradise Township, where he died in 1856. In 1852, the subject of this sketch, then a lad of 17, entered a store in Paradise, as clerk for Cunningham & Son, where he remained six years. He then followed merchandising for himself until 1859, when he was appointed Deputy Sheriff under Malden Jones, and served until May, 1860. On the 18t of May, 1860, he married Miss Kate Miles, daughter of John Miles, … Read more