Historical and Biographical Record of Douglas County Illinois Collections – Page 5 of 6

Biographical Sketch of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ephlin

Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ephlin are the oldest couple in Tuscola. They came here from Parke County, Indiana, April 4, 1858, when the number of inhabitants could be counted on the fingers of the two hands. They have lived here more than forty years, and out from the door-way of no home in Tuscola has come a kinder greeting to the wayfarer or a more hospitable reception to friends and relatives. Uncle Jake is closely related with the primitive town and the early County, having been among the first business men and serving as deputy sheriff under I. L. Jordan. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Whitaker

John Whitaker was born in Vigo County, Indiana, March 12, 1833, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Taylor) Whitaker, who were natives of Kentucky. His father was born in 18o3 and died in 1846. John Whitaker came to Douglas County in 1856, located on section 13, Bourbon Township, where he bought a farm of eighty acres, on which he lived five years ; this property he then sold and purchased eighty acres later on. At present he owns in all two hundred and forty acres; this farm he has improved with buildings at a cost of about two … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John M. Madison

Within the past two years Tuscola has lost many of its oldest and most prominent citizens by death, but in the list none have been more sadly missed or sincerely mourned than our subject, John M. Madison, whose death occurred Monday, July 13, 1896. He was born in Harrison County, Kentucky, May 6, 1823, and was at the time of his death in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He belonged to a family of ten children; one brother and two sisters are still living: H. B. Madison, Tuscola ; Mrs. Harriet Parrish, of Cynthiana, Kentucky; and Mrs. Parmelia Carter, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John L. Goff

John L. Goff served as sheriff of Douglas County from 1887 to 1891, and at the time of his death, in 1892, he held the office of supervisor. He was married to Miss ,Josie R. Rice, a daughter of Martin Rice, deceased, of Camargo (see sketch). Mrs. Goff owns a half section of land, part of which is in Camargo and a part in Tuscola Townships. She resides in Tuscola.

Biographical Sketch of John C. Hostetler

John C. Hostetler, who is engaged in the agricultural implement business, including buggies and wagons, and recently elected alderman from the third ward in Tuscola, was born in Douglas County, August 27, 1866, and is a son of D. C. and L. M. Hostetler, natives of Indiana. The father settled in Bowdre Township some time in the ‘fifties, and died in Tuscola, in 1895, in the sixty-fourth year of his age. His mother is still living. Mr. Hostetler was married in 1889 to Miss Laura A., daughter of H. C. Jones, whose sketch is found on another page. They have … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse R. Beggs

Jesse R. Beggs, president of the First National Bank of Arcola, doubtless enjoys the distinction of being the youngest national bank president in the state. He has occupied this important position since the death of his father, whom he succeeded in February, 1895. He was born in Arcola, August 19, 1868, and was educated in the public schools of the village. His father, James Beggs, was born in Clark County, near Charlestown, the old County seat. He came to Arcola in 1858, where he followed a most successful business career up to the time of his death. His wife was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James S. Reeder

James S. Reeder, postmaster at Garrett, to which position he was appointed in July, 1898, located in Bourbon in 1856. He is a son of John A. and Mary B. (Harter) Reeder. John A. Reeder was born in Ohio in 1815 and died in 1891. David Harter (maternal grandfather) was a native of Virginia. James S. was in the Civil war as a private, enlisting in Company G, Seventy-ninth . Illinois Regiment Volunteer Infantry. Going in August, 1862, he remained out for two years and ten months

Biographical Sketch of James R. Hammett

James R. Hammett, named for his father, whose full history and plate is on another page, was born in Camargo Township, Douglas County, Illinois, December 26, A. D. 1870. He was principally educated in the North-western University at Evanston, Illinois, where he remained three years. In 1897 he married Miss Conchita Kelley, of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. They have two lovely babies : Helen and Blanche. Jimmie and his family live happily in their beautiful home, which constitutes a part of the old homestead.

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Moore

Jacob Moore, the pioneer of the family of Moores in the County, was a native of Kentucky. His wife, Amanda Rice, was also born in Kentucky. They came to Douglas County in the spring of 1834. In the same year he purchased from Sigler Lester forty acres of land, and afterward added about two thousand more. He died in 1860, and his wife in 1863. They had ten children; the eldest of whom, William T. Moore, was born in Park County, Indiana, September 5, 1830.

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Phillips

Of the many leading and successful business men of Tuscola who have fought their way successfully through life and who have been the architect of their own fortune in the true sense of that term is the subject of this sketch. He is a dealer in poultry, produce, fish, etc., and is also interested in the ice business. He founded his present business in Tuscola in 1896, constructing a building 80×20 feet, and one and one-half stories high. This building burned ill August of the following year, and he immediately erected on the same site a more commodious one, 120×30 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Boyer

J. W. Boyer, a well known farmer of Sargent Township. and the present census enumerator for the same, was born in the vicinity of Ashmore, Coles County, Illinois, on the 11th day of April, 1850. For twenty-five years he has been identified with the industrial growth of his Township, and is well and favorably known as an intelligent and upright citizen. He is the son of James and Susan (Mack)Boyer, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter was born in Kentucky. As early as 1835 James Boyer came and settled with his father, Joseph, who was also born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. L. Avery

J. L. Avery, editor and proprietor of the Arcola Weekly Herald since April 1, 1893, was born four and one-half miles southeast of Arcola, in Coles County, Illinois, November 25, 1866. The Herald was founded in the year 1883 by H. H. Moore, who conducted it until about the year 1891, when Willis S. Scales bought it and published it until he sold it to Mr. Avery. The paper is in a flourishing condition, strictly Democratic in politics and full of local news, with a circulation of about fifteen hundred. J. L. Avery was educated in the common schools, the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. H. Bassett

J. H. Bassett is the editor and proprietor of the Arthur Graphic, which he bought and took charge of October 1, 1899. The paper was founded in April, 1887, by T. J. Haney, and was edited and owned by him until he sold it to Mr. Bassett. In 1883 he bought the Arcola Record, which he ran until 1886, when he sold it to P. L. Henry. Mr. Bassett was three years and a half in the public printing office at Washington, under the administration of President Harrison, at the end of which time he re-signed and came home. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. B. Rigney, M. D.

J. B. Rigney, M. D., was born in Paoli, Orange County, Indiana, and is the son of William H. Rigney, who held the offices of sheriff, treasurer and collector. At about the age of sixteen he, with his family, moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, and for three years resided on a farm. Finding rural pursuits distasteful, he turned his attention to medicine. He commenced his studies under Dr. James H. Sherwood and continued with him for three years, when he went to Chicago and attended the Rush Medical College, from which he graduated in 1863. He then enlisted as hospital … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. A. McGown

J. A. McGown, a most successful business man and a typical farmer residing in Newman Township, was born in Edgar County, Illinois, March 30, 1832, and is a son of John and Olive Blackman, who were natives of Kentucky and New York respectively. His father emigrated to Edgar County, where he resided up to his death, which occurred April 18, 1882. His mother died in 1892. J. A. McGown was reared to manhood a farm in his native County and in about 1875 located in Newman Township, where he now resides. He owns four hundred and seventy-two acres of highly … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George White

George White, the well known implement dealer and auctioneer of Newman, was born near Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky, August 18, 1842, and is a son of M. L. and Mary (Biby) White. Middleton White was born in Barren County, Kentucky and moved to Edgar County, Illinois, where he was married. His wife was also from near Glasgow. Kentucky. ‘They are both dead and buried in the Paris cemetery. George White came to Newman and located in business in about 1874, since which time his business has steadily grown until he is known as one of the most successful and extensive … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Henson

George Warren Henson, deceased, was born September 5, 1821, at Cynthiana, Kentucky. He was a son of Gideon and Nancy (Shumate)Henson. He was the eldest of a family of six children and of Scotch-German descent. With his father’s family he left the state of his nativity in 1834 and emigrated to Vermilion County, Illinois, and there remained until 1844, when he came into the section of country which is now Douglas County and immediately began the improvement of a farm. He married Miss Eliza P. Sargent, a native of Illinois. To this union were born eleven children, six of whom … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Brock

George W. Brock, one of the reliable and representative farmers of Newman Township, residing within the corporate limits of the city of Newman, was born twelve miles southwest of Crawfordsville, Indiana, September S, 1846. His father, Seth Brock, was a native of Warren County, Ohio. He was a carpenter by trade and farmed also, owning farms in Wayne and Montgomery counties: he later removed to Mason County, Illinois. He was a strong pro-slavery man, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; was born in 1813 and died in 1873. He wedded Mary A. Palmer, who was a daughter of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George H. Moser

George H. Moser, a well known and successful homeopathic physician of Arcola, was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1859, and is the son of John Moser, a native of the same state. His mother was Alvinia Hellig, who was a descendant of Quaker ancestry. The Moser family are descendants of the Dutch, whose lineage is traced back by some of the members to Daniel Moser, who made his settlement in Pennsylvania in the year 1799. Doctor Moser came west and early in life turned his attention to the study of medicine. After a thorough preparation he entered … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Callaway

George Callaway, a retired physician of Tuscola and a large land owner of Douglas County, is a native of Christian County, Kentucky, and was born May 4, 1848. In 185o he removed to Illinois and was principally educated in the Illinois. College at Jacksonville. After leaving school he read medicine with Dr. J. L. Reat, at Tuscola, Illinois, and subsequently entered the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in the class of ’73. Dr. Callaway commenced the practice of medicine at Virginia City, Montana, having gone first in 1871 to that territory as surveyor in the employ … Read more