Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County Illinois Collections – Page 2 of 6

Biography of Joseph B. Petty

Joseph Bradley Petty, one of the successful business men of Tuscola, engaged in merchandising and identified with several other enterprises of the city, was born in Hendricks County, Indiana, August 24, 1855, and is a son of Nathan and Ann Mariah (Wood) Petty, the former born in Chatham County, North Carolina, and the latter in Mercer County, Kentucky. Mr. Petty was engaged in farming for several years in Champaign County, and from 1884 to 1891 lie resided at Iantha, Missouri, where he was engaged in blacksmithing and hard-ware merchandising. In the latter year lie returned to Illinois and settled in … Read more

Biography of Joseph Ashurst

Joseph Ashurst, principal and superintendent of the Camargo public schools and present nominee of the Democratic Party for the office of County superintendent of schools, has been a leading educator in the County for several years. He was born in Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky, April 16, 1872, and is a son of Henry Clay and Elizabeth (Thurman) Ashurst, who were both horn in Pulaski County, Kentucky. His grandfathers, Henry Ashurst and Joseph Thurman, were natives of Virginia and early settlers in Pulaski County, where they were engaged in agricultural pursuits. His father, Henry C. Ashurst, was one time sheriff of … Read more

Biography of John Wright McKinney

John Wright McKinney was born near Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, June 17. 1825, and died at Camargo, Illinois, July 31, 1897, aged seventy-two years, one month and twenty-four days. His father and family moved from Ohio to Montgomery County, Indiana, in [83o, where the deceased lived until his twenty-first year. During the following two years he taught school in Montgomery County, studying medicine meanwhile with an energy and avidity so characteristic of his nature. Mr. McKinney and Mary Roll were joined in matrimony October 12, 1848, at Pleasant Hill, Indiana. Soon after his marriage he moved to Hillsboro, Indiana, and … Read more

Biography of John W. King

John W. King, of Newman, who has for several years been prominent in the politics of the County, and at present is associated with the Newman bank, was born 1n Bourbon County, Kentucky, October 13, 1841. He is a son of David A. and Jane Elizabeth (Mitchell) King, who were natives of Clark and Montgomery counties, Kentucky, respectively. His father, who was born in 1818, followed the occupation of farming, removed from Kentucky to Champaign County, Illinois, in 1855, and there his death occurred in 1896. His mother died in 1882, aged fifty years. His paternal grand-father, Robert Cass King, … Read more

Biography of John T. Irwin

John T. Irwin, retired farmer, and for many years a highly respected citizen of the county, is a son of George and Jemima (Russell) Irwin, and was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, May 28, 1824. His father was a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, and his mother of Cabell County, West Virginia. George Irwin was born October 23, 1799, and died May 23, 187r. He followed the occupation of farming principally; emigrated from his native county to Lawrence county, Ohio, in the year 1818. He was a son of Thomas Irwin, Who was a native of Ireland, and served in … Read more

Biography of John N. Outcelt

John N. Outcelt was born March 4, 1839, in Muskingum County, Ohio, his father, John, being a farmer and a native of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Jacob Outcelt, came to the United States from Scotland and settled in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. His mother was Mary McClain, of Bedford County, in the same state. He was the youngest child, and at sixteen left home, came to Illinois and for two years sold lightning rods and saved his earnings, with which he paid tuition and other expenses in attending school one year in St. Louis. Up to the time of leaving home he … Read more

Biography of John Lindsey

John Lindsey owner of the Evergreen Ficklin farm, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, April 2, 1834. and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Blackburn) Lindsey. They were both natives of Ireland, and after their marriage came to this country in about 1820. They were both descendants Scotch-Irish ancestry and were members of the Presbyterian church. The father died in 1873, aged about sixty-five years ; the mother died when our subject was about twelve years old. Mr. Lindsey was reared on a farm and received a common-school education, and was engaged in farming in Ohio up to September … Read more

Biography of John C. Barnes

John C. Barnes, physician and lumber dealer, was born in Jefferson County, Indiana, September 27, 1835. His grandfather, John, came from Culpeper County, Virginia, to Indiana in 800. McGannon Barnes, father of John C., was born in Jefferson County, while his wife, Rebecca Fouts, was a native of Clark County, Indiana. John C. Barnes was the eldest in a family of ten children ; he was given a thorough educational training, attending first the common schools, then Hanover Academy in Jefferson County, Indiana, and in 1855 graduated from Scott’s Commercial College, Indianapolis. At twenty years of age he began for … Read more

Biography of John J. Jones

John J. Jones was many years previous to his death most prominently identified with the affairs of Douglas County. He was born in. Virginia in about the year 1835 and died in Chicago in July, 1893. In early life he came to Illinois as a penniless orphan and located at Georgetown, in Vermilion County, where he resided with two of his cousins and with whom he remained until he was about grown, when he came and located in Camargo. Here he be-came a clerk for Alonzo Lyons, remaining with him for some time, when he, in partner-ship with Coleman Bright, … Read more

Biography of James P. Heaton

James P. Heaton, who was a prominent citizen of Newman and a member of its board of education, was born August 16, 1845, and died March 14, 1897, aged fifty-one years, six months and twenty-eight clays. He was a native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, where his early youth was passed among the picturesque hills and scenery of that mountainous region. He was a son of William and Mary Heaton. At the age of sixteen years he came to Illinois and located on the Ridge, four miles north of Newman. At that time there was no church building in that section … Read more

Biography of James L. Reat, M. D.

James Lee Reat, M. D., one of the most distinguished physicians and surgeons of Illinois, and who has been long and honorably connected with the professional and industrial interests of Douglas County, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 26, 1824. The Reat ancestors are traced back to Scotland, where the name was pronounced in two syllables, with the accent on the last. Two brothers emigrated to this country during the war of the Revolution, one of whom espoused the cause of the rebels, the term by which the patriot colonies were then known, and served through that struggle with … Read more

Biography of James H. Wright

James H. Wright, one of the oldest grain buyers in the County, residing at Arthur, was born near the town of Poland, Trumbull (now Mahoning) County, Ohio, February 6,1827 ,and is a son of James and Mary (Kidd) Wright, who were born near Poland, Trumbull (now Mahoning) County, Ohio, of Scotch-Irish origin. Rev. James Wright (father) received his education for the Presbyterian ministry at the Canonsburg College, and spent most of his life in preaching the gospel, first at Poland, and later at Westfield, Pennsylvania. He died in 1843 at the age of fifty-nine years. His father was Alexander Wright, … Read more

Biography of James A. Williams

James A. Williams, who has won his own way in the world and reached a degree of success beyond the average of men at his age, was born in Monongahela City, Washington County, Pennsylvania, August 1862. He is a son of John S. and Elizabeth (Van Vorhis), natives of the same County. James Williams wedded Nancy Van Allen and they were among the early settlers of Washington County, the latter having been born in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Abram Van Vorhis, was one of the early farmers of that section and also traded in stock considerably. He was of … Read more

Biography of Jacob R. Moore

Jacob Rice Moore, who recently died was one of the best known and most generally respected farmers in the County. His illness lingered and lasted for two long years before death relieved him. There were probably but few people in the neighborhood of Arcola and its surroundings that were aware that Mr. Moore at the time of his death was one of the oldest residents of the County. He was born within sight of the place on which he died and the same section of rich Illinois soil which claims the honor of his birth witnessed his rise to manhood … Read more

Biography of J. T. Butler

We copy from a recent issue of the Tuscola Review: “J. T. Butler, of this city, secretary and manager of the Corn Belt National & Loan Association, had received intelligence from his brother in California, that he had struck a gold mine of unparalleled richness, and that our fellow citizen was a half owner in the new wonder.” “The editor knowing that Mr. Butler was a man who shunned notoriety and would be loath to give out. information that would bring him into such prominence as an article of this kind necessarily will, approached him on the subject. He was … Read more

Biography of Isaac Skinner

Isaac Skinner was born in Vermillion County, Indiana, January 5, 1829, and is a son of Joseph Skinner, who was among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood of Newman, coming, in 1839, from Vermillion County, Indiana, and settling along the timber a mile and a half southwest of where Newman now is. There were no schools in the vicinity when he first came to the County. He worked for his father until of age and then engaged in farming on rented land. In about 1853 he had saved money enough to enter one hundred and sixty acres of land. His … Read more

Biography of Ira M. Mulliken

Ira M. Mulliken, junior member of the well-known firm of Barr & Mulliken and one of the rising young business men of Newman, was born in Champaign County, Illinois, December 17, 1865. His father, James W. Mulliken, was a native of Johnson County, Indiana, and removed to Champaign County in about 1852. His mother Catherine was a daughter of Rev. Samuel F. Miller, who was horn in 1815, and at present resides in Arcola. (See sketch of W. H. Bush, of Hindsboro.) In about 1868 the father of I. M. Mulliken removed to a farm near Hindsboro, where the latter … Read more

Biography of I. W. Burgett

I. W. Burgett, deceased, was, during his residence in Douglas County, one of its leading and most successful farmers. From the time he was ten years old he spent the whole of his eventful life in Sargent Township. He is a descendant of English and German ancestors, who were among the early residents of Ohio. His grandfather was in the war of 1812. His father, Abraham Burgett, lived in Pickaway County and there married Eliza Wells, a native of Ohio. He and his wife continued to live in that County, and there Isaac W. Burgett was born. The family shortly … Read more

Biography of Henry C. Jones

Henry Clay Jones, the affable and genial treasurer of Douglas County, was born in Franklin County, Indiana, December 2, 1842, a son of Calvin and Hannah (Case) Jones. He was reared to manhood in his native County and in 1860 removed to Douglas County. In 1862 he joined Company K, Seventy-ninth Illinois Infantry, and served as a private soldier in the Civil war until June 12, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennessee. He was wounded in the leg in the battle of Liberty Gap, which prevented him from keeping up with his regiment until the battle of … Read more

Biography of Harrison Gill

It is fitting that in the biographies of the early settlers of the County some mention should be made of Harrison Gill, who entered among the first land here and lived near Camargo. The grandfather of Mr. Gill was born in Ireland. He came to America and settled m Virginia. His son, Samuel Cresswell Gill, r moved from Virginia to Kentucky and settled in Bath County. Here, on the Licking river, he built Gill’s mills, a noted point in that part of that state. He married Sarah Malone, by whom he had a large family of children, of whom Harrison … Read more