Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County Illinois Collections – Page 3 of 6

Biography of Glassco Kimball

Kimball Glassco was born November 19, 1819, in Hardin County, Kentucky, three miles from the birthplace of Lincoln. His father, Enoch Glassco, a farmer, moved to Coles County, Illinois, in 1828, and there died in 1835 ; his wife was Rachel Carlton. The family of Enoch Glassco was the sixth that settled in Coles County, and located there while yet the Indians were quite numerous and wolves present by the thousand, and to reach a mill they had to go twenty-eight miles. Kimball Glassco had no school advantages for four years after coming to Illinois; then, with but few books, … Read more

Biography of George C. Jeffers

George C. Jeffers, member of the firm of Bragg & Jeffers, engaged in general merchandising and banking at Camargo, was horn in Adams County, Illinois, in 1858, and is a son of Samuel P. and Rachel (Orr) Jeffers. Samuel P. Jeffers was horn in Clermont County, Ohio, June 9, 1834, and is a son of Elijah and Hannah (Pine) Jeffers, natives of Clermont County, Ohio, and New Jersey respectively. Hannah Pine was a daughter of William Pine, who, an orphan, emigrated from England to this country and first settled in New Jersey. thence removing to Ohio and later to Pike … Read more

Biography of Frank F. Loose

Frank F. Loose, one of the leading farmers and business men of the county, residing upon his farm in the north suburb of Tuscola, was born in the city of Springfield, Illinois, in the year 1859. He was reared on the farm and was educated in Springfield. his father’s farm lying just south of the city. His father, Jacob G. Loose, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, just across from the Maryland line. He sank the first shaft in the vicinity of Springfield, on his own farm, mortgaging almost everything he had to accomplish this, and his venture was richly … Read more

Biography of Francis A. McCarty

Francis A. McCarty was one of the most remarkably successful business men who ever resided in Douglas County. He was born in Schuyler County, New York, April 23, 1837, and died at his home in Filson, May 14, 1899. He was a son of John and Laura (Frost) McCarty, natives of New England. Charles McCarty, brother of Joseph McCarty, was born at Morristown, New Jersey, in 1776, and died in Montour, Schuyler County. New York, November 15, 1858, in his eighty-third year. Joseph McCarty (grandfather) was the father of John, Charles, William and David, was born January 9, 1778, and … Read more

Biography of Emmor W. Jeffers

Emmor W. Jeffers, the present circuit clerk of Douglas County, who has occupied that office since February 3, 1899, was born in Pike County, Illinois, November 19, 1861. He is a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Mc-Kinney) Jeffers, both natives of Ohio, who removed to Douglas County and settled in Camargo Township about 1864. His mother died in December, 1893, while his father resides in Bloomington, Illinois. (For further ancestry of the Jeffers family see sketch of George C. Jeffers, of Camargo). James McKinney, our subject’s maternal grandfather, was a native of Ohio. In 1889 E. W. Jeffers was … Read more

Biography of Edward W. Calvin

Edward W. Calvin, the leading druggist and owner of both livery stables of Newman, was born in Wayne County, Illinois, December 21, 1860. He is a son of Dr. J. W. Calvin, who was born in Kentucky in 1829, and he the son of Hiram Calvin, who was a native of Virginia. His father was a graduate of Rush Medical College. He married Sarah Brown, of New Buffalo, Michigan, whose death occurred some twenty years ago. He has practiced at various places, was at Newman one year and is at present in active and successful practice at Toledo, Ohio. E. … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Wilson

Charles W. Wilson, editor and proprietor of the Tuscola Review, was born fourteen miles west of Plainfield, Indiana, February 15, 1856, and in 1865 located in Tuscola. Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Christina Cosler, a daughter of the late Isaac Cosler.

Biography of Allan Campbell

Allan Campbell, son of John Campbell, died October 13, 187 5. Without a sketch and portrait of Allan Campbell this book would he among the earliest and most prominent pioneers in Bourbon Township. Allan came before his father, and soon after his arrival bought five acres of land just south of Lesterville, at the Bagdad Bridge, and ran a ferry here for three years. Allan Campbell was born in Knox County, Kentucky, in 1809. His grandfather, Allan Campbell, was born in Virginia, and was among the early settlers in Kentucky. His father, John Campbell, removed to Bourbon Township soon after … Read more

Biography of Alexander McNeill

Alexander McNeill, farmer, was a son of Alexander and Nancy (Montgomery) Mc-Neill, and was born in Ireland March 10, 1808. The first twenty-six years of his life he spent in his native land. In 1834 he emigrated to America, landing in Philadelphia. Thence, two months later, went to Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, where, upon letters of introduction from his uncles in the old country, he obtained a situation as clerk in a cotton establishment. After a year he accepted a position as clerk in a dry goods store at Owensville, Bath County, Kentucky, where he remained six years, then sold … Read more

Biography of Alexander Hance

Alexander Hance, who is one of the ideal farmers of Douglas County, came to Newman Township in 1871 and engaged as an ordinary farm hand, at which he continued for some seven or eight years. His career is a fine example of what a man can do with a determined purpose in life. From the ordinary walks of life he has gradually risen to the front rank as a farmer, stock-raiser and a business man. Mr. Hance was born in Washington County, Tennessee, February 19, 1850, and there he remained until he came to Douglas County. He purchased his first … Read more

Biography of Albert W. Wallace

Albert W. Wallace is president of the First National Bank of Tuscola, one of the leading banking institutions of central Illinois. The First National Bank was organized in November, 1869, with a paid up capital of one hundred and thirteen thousand dollars. Its first president was William P. Cannon (a brother of Congressman J. G. Cannon) and W. H. Lamb was the first cashier. Mr. Cannon remained president until 1872, when he was succeeded by Henry T. Caraway, who remained president up to January 1, 1898, when he was succeeded by Mr. Wallace. Mr. Lamb remained cashier up to July … Read more

Biography of Albert F. Fidler

Albert F. Fidler is one of the self-made and highly successful young farmers and business men of the County, and is a son of Levi Fidler, who was born April 28, 1819, in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Albert F.’s grandfather, Samuel, was a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was of Dutch ancestry. Adam Fidler (great-grandfather), who came originally from Germany, was the founder of this branch of the Fidler family in America. Our subject’s grandfather, Samuel Fidler, fought in the war of 1812, and his great-grandfather, Adam, in the war of the Revolution. Samuel Fidler was a brick plasterer and con-tractor … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wilson S. Burgett

Wilson S. Burgett, a native of Sargent Township, and a son of I. W. Burgett, whose sketch is found on another page, was born December 23, 1863. He was reared in Sargent Township, where he continued to live until eight years ago, when he removed to his present farm two miles south of Camargo. In 1886 he was married to Miss Kate May, a daughter of Judge Brown (see sketch). They have three children : Ray Brown, Burley Sumner and Wayne Brenton. W. S. Burgett owns two hundred and ten acres of land, on which he lives, and is one … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William W. Reeves

William W. Reeves, of Tuscola, one of the youngest members in active practice at the Douglas County liar, was horn on a farm near Villa Grove, Camargo Township, December 25, 187o, and is a son of George R. Reeves. The latter, who was a native of Delaware County, Indiana, was born in 1836, and his death occurred in 1881. He removed to Douglas County in 1865, and was engaged in farming up to the time of his decease. W. W. Reeves’ mother was before her marriage Miss Nancy E. Wilson. She was born near Urbana, Ohio, and was a daughter … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William T. Brian

William T. Brian, one of the old and favor-ably known citizens and a member of one of the pioneer families of the County, was born in 1845 in Douglas County, and is a son of William and Anna Lewis Brian, who were born in the same County. William Brian (father) located in what is known now as the Brian neighborhood in about the year 1843, where he entered a large tract of land at one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre, and adding to that later considerably more at thirteen dollars per acre. At the time of his death, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William S. Hammett

William S. Hammett, retired farmer re-siding in Tuscola, was born in Montgomery County, Virginia, December 9, 1823, and is a son of John Hammett (see sketch of James R. Hammett). He came with his father from Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1829. He was for many years a leading farmer of Camargo Township and prominent in the early affairs of the County.

Biographical Sketch of William H. Newport

William H. Newport of the neighborhood of West Ridge, and one of the most successful farmers in Douglas County, was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, February 9. 1840, a son of John and Susanna (Rensberger) Newport, natives of Ohio. He has resided on his farm of several hundred acres for thirteen years, and while he has always been a tenant he has been most successful. In 1862 he was married to Miss Fannie Mishler, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. To their marriage have been born five children, Charley, Israel, Eli, Otis and Grover Newport. Mr. Newport is a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William E. Atwell

William E. Atwell was born in Bracken County, Kentucky, in the year A. D. 1831, and there grew to man’s estate, when he moved to a farm in Pendleton County in the same state. He wedded Miss Nancy Barrett, of near Cynthiana. She died in June, 1897. They had twelve children, all of whom are living and doing well in the world. Mr. Atwell is a son of William and Ursla (Fields) Atwell, who were natives of old Virginia. His grandfathers were Hugh Atwell and Leban Fields, the former born in Virginia and the latter in North Carolina.. Mr. Atwell, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Brian Sr.

William Brian, Sr., was born May 6, 18o6, in Ross County, Ohio, and in 1837 he came to Coles, now Douglas, County ; he entered about one thousand acres of land when coming here, and has owned as high as three thousand acres. He had learned the blacksmith’s trade in Ohio, and followed it about twenty years here. On one occasion, when shoeing a Methodist preacher’s horse, he nailed the shoes on with the toe-corks behind. The preacher remonstrated with him for doing so; his reply was, “The devil takes, after these Methodist preachers, and I thought I would make … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William B. Chandler

William B. Chandler, a well-known stock buyer of the County and a resident of Bourbon Township, was born in Douglas County, Illinois, March 6, 1852. He is a son of Lemuel Chandler (for the ancestry of the family, see sketch.) When yet a boy, William B. Chandler entered the University of Illinois at Champaign and was graduated there from with a degree of B. S. in the class of 1876. In 1885 he served in the capacity of clerk to the Indian commission at Yankton and continued in this capacity for four years. He then went to Pueblo, Colorado, where … Read more