Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County Illinois Collections

History of Douglas County Illinois

This collection on the History of Douglas County Illinois currently contains 114 biographies on important people in the history of Douglas County.

Biography of William H. Fisher

William H. Fisher, a retired farmer and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, came to Douglas County in 1877 and located on a farm two and a half miles southeast of Arcola, which he purchased and resided on for four years, when he removed to Albany, Oregon. In 1882 he returned to Douglas County and located on a farm in Tuscola Township, remaining here for two years. He then purchased a farm east of Galton, which he owned and re-sided upon for ten years, when, in 1893, he moved to Tuscola, where he at present resides. He owns one hundred … Read more

Biography of W. W. Skinner

W. W. Skinner was horn November 12, 1835, in Vermillion, Indiana. In 1839, with his parents, he moved to Coles (now Douglas)County, Ills., where he has since resided. When Mr. Skinner came to Douglas County there were only seven families in what is now New-man Township, namely : Anson, Gaston, Robert Hopkins, E. J. Howell and three families by the name of Winkler. Joseph Skinner, father of W. W. Skinner, burned a brick kiln on the banks of the Brushy Fork creek in 1839, it being the first kiln burned in that part of the state. For years after this … Read more

Biography of W. L. Watson

W. L. Watson was born Vermilion County, Illinois, on the 22d of December, 1837. His father was William D. Watson, in his early life an itinerant Methodist preacher who traveled extensively through Indiana, having been born in the neighborhood of Vincennes, and in Fountain County, of that state, married Mary Low. His health finally failed him, and coming to Illinois, he located above Georgetown in Vermilion County. William Watson, the grandfather, was born in Kentucky, and when a young man settled in the vicinity of Vincennes, Indiana. W. L. was the oldest son and second child of the family. His … Read more

Biography of Thomas W. Roberts

Thomas W. Roberts, the bright young lawyer of Tuscola, attorney for the I. D. & W. R. R. Co. and city attorney, has from the humble walks of life pressed his way to the front and today stands among the leading and most successful lawyers at the bar. Thomas W. Roberts was born in Owens-burg, Green County, Indiana, May 1, 1866, and soon thereafter came with his parents to Douglas County, and located at Camargo, where young Robert attended school until sixteen years of age. In 1882 his father removed to Tuscola, and there the young man learned the tinner’s … Read more

Biography of T. W. Swigart

T. W. Swigart, the leading harness dealer and one of the most successful business men in Newman and Douglas County, was born in Carroll County, Maryland, in sight of A Westminister, July 3, 1831, and was a son of Joseph Swigart. When nine years of age T. W. Swigart removed with his parents to Seneca County, Ohio, where he spent a large portion of his life on a farm. From the years 1848 to 1851 he devoted his time to learning the trade of harness maker at Bellefontaine, Ohio. He was a young man of good habits and of splendid … Read more

Biography of Stephen Redden

Stephen Redden was born in Bracken County, Kentucky, April 14, 1818, and was a son of James Redden, who, leaving a large family of children growing up, resolved to give them a better chance by going west. Consequently he made a flat-boat, and, with his family and several of his neighbors and their families, he embarked on the Ohio river for what was then considered the far west. Stephen Redden was at that time four years old. At Louisville they would not trust the flat-boat to carry them over the falls, but were put ashore and either walked or were … Read more

Biography of Spephen S. Henson

Stephen S. Henson, a highly respected citizen, belonging to the old school of gentlemen, and who is probably as well and favorably known as any man in the County, was born near Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky, in October, 1827, and is a son of Gideon and Nancy Shumate. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Kentucky. The former emigrated from Kentucky to Vermillion County, near Indianola, in 1834, and, with his wife and children, located in the vicinity of Villa Grove, where he entered a large tract of land. His children were: George W. (see sketch), … Read more

Biography of Shiloah Gill

Shiloah Gill, an old Mexican soldier, and one of the pioneer settlers in Bowdre Township, was born at Gill’s Mills, Bath County, Kentucky, September 11, 1827, and is a son of Samuel C. Gill, who was a son of Capt. Thomas Gill, a Revolutionary soldier and a son of the Irish waif (see history of the Gill family in America, by Thomas F. Gill). Samuel C. Gill was born in the state of South Carolina November 22, 1783, and was reared on a farm. He was wedded to Sarah Malone, a daughter of Jonathan and Mary Malone, the latter of … Read more

Biography of Samuel Ervin

Samuel Ervin, retired hardware merchant, large land owner, and a resident of Tuscola, was born in Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio, in 1844. He was reared and educated in his native County and in 1865 came vest and located in Tuscola. He and a younger brother were associated in business together up to 1893, when he retires. He owns five hundred and sixty acres of land that extends up to the corporate limits of Tuscola. In 1871 Mr. Ervin was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Beach, who wits born on Staten Island. She died in T894. To their marriage were … Read more

Biography of Robert M. Black

Robert M. Black, the subject of this memoir, came from an ancestry of more than ordinary importance and prominence. His great-grandfather, with his family, removed from Scotland and settled in Virginia some years before the Revolutionary war, caused by the traitor Arnold in portions of Virginia, volunteered, though far past the age of liability, for military service, and was one of the soldiers, who, under Lafayette and Gen. Wayne, turned and drove back Lord Cornwallis. He was intimately acquainted with Lafayette, Gen. Wayne and Gen. Lord Sterling, who were frequent guests at his house. His youngest son, George Black, the … Read more

Biography of Rev. William E. Means

Rev. William E. Means, proprietor of the Atwood Herald, was born at Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, June 28, 1850. He attended the district school during the winter, working on prepared to enter Paris high school. In 1874 he matriculated at the Northwestern University, and was graduated from the theological department of this well-known institution in the farm (luring the summer months, until the class of 1879. After graduation he was admitted to the Minnesota conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was appointed pastor of the Rushmore charge, where a hand-some four-thousand-dollar church was built, free from debt. In the … Read more

Biography of Owen E. Jones

Owen E. Jones, one of the leading merchants of Murdock since 1893, and the second son of Abram Jones, was born in Murdock Township, January 31, 1862. After leaving the common schools, he took a course at the commercial college at Terre Haute in 1897, In 1899 Mr. Jones took in as a partner Percy Welliver, and the firm is doing a thriving business. In 1894 our subject was married to Miss Nora B. Dever, of Murdock, Illinois. Mr. Jones is a member of the Modern Woodmen; he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church ; he is … Read more

Biography of Oliver O. Hockett

Oliver O. Hockett, one of the younger members of the medical fraternity of Douglas County, and one of the leading men in the social, professional and educational life of Newman, was born in Paris, Edgar County, Illinois, March 2, 1866. He was graduated from the high school of Paris in 1882 and subsequently entered the state university at Champaign, where he remained for three years. He then took up the study of medicine with Dr. M. P. Smith, with whom he remained until he entered Chicago Hahnemann College, from which well known institution he was graduated in the class of … Read more

Biography of of Segler H. Lester

Segler H. Lester (deceased) was born in Virginia October 29, 1804, and died in Garrett Township May 22, 1864, and married Parthenia Cassaday May 14, 1833. Mrs. Lester, who is known among her neighbors as Grandma Lester, still survives. She was a daughter of Daniel Cassaday, of Virginia, where she was horn July 9, 1811, and spent her early years in Kentucky. In 1829 she came with her parents to Edgar County, Illinois, where she met Mr. Lester, whom she subsequently married. Immediately after her wedding she moved with her husband to a place on the Springfield or State road, … Read more

Biography of of A. C. Sluss

A. C. Sluss, the proprietor of the Tuscola Journal, a weekly paper published at Tuscola, and the present postmaster of Tuscola, has been for many years prominently identified with the business, social and political interests of his city and County, having served the city of Tuscola twice as alderman, three terms as city clerk and one term as mayor. He was born in Edgar County, Illinois, April 7, 1850, and is a son of Thomas S. and Martha Hineman ) Sluss. His father, who was born in Kentucky, removed. to Tuscola in 1861, and there carried on his trade, that … Read more

Biography of N. S. Monroe

N. S. Monroe, of Arthur, and the well-known road-machine manufacturer, is a native of Shelby County, Indiana, having been born eight miles from Shelbyville, the County seat, January 8, 1851. His parents were Andrew J. and Julia Ann (Huffman) Monroe, who were also natives of Shelby County, Indiana. His father was a farmer and came to Illinois in [856 and settled in Richland County, thence in 1866 to Coles County, and three years ago moved to Arcola, where he is living a retired life. N. S. Monroe’s grandfathers, Samuel Monroe and Jacob Huffman, were both Virginians by birth and were … Read more

Biography of Marion Watson

Marion Watson, of Arthur, after reading law under the instruction of William H. Whit taker, of Sullivan, was admitted to practice law before the supreme court of the state in 1896. He was born on a farm near Bloom-field, Greene County, Indiana, October 29, 1864. His education was received in the common schools, and he afterward attended a short term at the normal at Danville, Indiana. He remained on the farm in his native County until 1883, when he came to Illinois, locating in Douglas County, and spent two seasons as a common work hand on the farm, working. one … Read more

Biography of Malden Jones

In touching upon the history of Douglas County for the past sixty years, none have been more prominently connected with its growth and industrial expansion than the Hon. Malden Jones. He endured all the hardships incident to the rough pioneer life and has passed through a most honorable and enviable career. He is a native of Lee County, Virginia, and was born February 8, 1818 when a child he went with his parents to Kentucky, where he was reared and where, at about the age of seventeen, he entered a store as clerk and remained three years. In 1840 he … Read more

Biography of Judge John Brown

Judge John Brown has been for over sixty years identified with the best interests of Douglas County. He was born in Ross County, Ohio, May 7, 1822, on a farm, where he remained until the age of seventeen. This farm was located on Paint creek, two miles from Chillicothe, the County seat of Ross County. Our subject is a son of Nimrod Brown, who was a native of Augusta County, Virginia, and who served in the war of 1812. His mother was, before her marriage, Elizabeth Eigelbright, and was born in Monroe County, Virginia. When our subject was but seven … Read more