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

Biographical Sketch of Geo. O. Moore

Geo. O. Moore was born December 1, 1858, on a farm near Muncie, Indiana. He is the third child of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Moore, and migrated with them to Douglas County when only five years old, locating near the County seat, Tuscola. His early education was attained in the schools of Tuscola and adjoining districts. He also took a classical and scientific course in the Normal College at Danville, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1881, paying his tuition and way through the school by the sweat of his brow as janitor. He was principal of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of G. R. Richards

G. R. Richards, who is associated in business with his brother, T. M. Richards, was engaged in the livery business in Tuscola, and in born in 1865. He was for several years engaged in the livery business in Tuscola, and in 1899 removed to Hayes and became associated with his brother. In 1896 he was married to Miss Myrtle Johnson, a daughter of William T. Johnson, of Tuscola. They have no children. George is known as a ball player all over central Illinois.

Biographical Sketch of Frank W. Hammett

Frank W. Hammett, cashier of the First National Bank of Tuscola, and one of the County’s young men of recognized ability, was born on a farm in Camargo Township. Douglas County, Illinois, February 12, 1 862. (See sketch of his father, James R. Hammett.) Mr. Hammett grew to manhood on his father’s farm and was principally educated in the University of Illinois. For some years after leaving college he was engaged in the manufacture of tiling at Camargo and Long View. In March, 1391, be accepted the position of book-keeper in the First National Bank of Tuscola, and was promoted … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Daniel Roderick

Daniel Roderick is one of the oldest settlers now living in Douglas County. He came to near Danville, Illinois, with his father, Samuel R., sixty years ago. The latter died in Vermilion County, and soon afterward Daniel came to what is now Garrett Township and kept generally about twelve yokes of oxen. He was horn July 16, 1816, and his education was almost entirely neglected, but he is known as “honest, old Dan Roderick.”

Biographical Sketch of Coleman Bright

Coleman Bright came to Douglas County in 185o and engaged in retail merchandising, and in about 1860 removed to Tuscola and remained a member of the firm of Bright & Jones until his death on July 20, 1881.

Biographical Sketch of Charles L. McMasters

Charles L. McMasters, dealer in grain, coal and seeds, and a popular young man of Tuscola, was born on a farm three miles northwest of Tuscola, in Tuscola township, March 26, 1867, and is a son of S. L. and Hannah ( Maris) Maris)McMasters, who were natives of Parke County, Indiana. In 1869 his father sold, his farm and removed to Sand Springs, Kansas, where he followed farming and stock raising until his death in Mary, 1870, after which his mother, with three children, two sons and one daughter-Charles being the younger-removed to Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, where she resided … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles A. Hawkins

Charles A. Hawkins, the present gentlemanly County clerk, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, May 25, 186o, and is a son of William and Sarah (Hard) Hawkins, natives of the same state. His father died in 1866. Mr. Hawkins was principally educated at, Danville, Indiana, and spent two and a half years teaching. He served his Township (Newman) as tax collector and supervisor, and in November, 1898, was elected County clerk. On October 7, 1884, Mr. Hawkins married Louisa J. Curtis, of Newman, and they have four children: Claude A., Opal B., Pearl L. and Jay M.. Our subject is … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. D. Greve

C. D. Greve, one of the successful young business men of the County and the leading grain buyer at Garrett, was born one mile west of the village September 27. 1868, and is a son of Thomas Greve, who emigrated to this country from Germany at the age of twenty-one and settled in Garrett Township. His wife ‘w as Catherine Ritz. Thomas Greve has lived in Garrett Township for forty years, engaged in farming, and at present owns four hundred and fifty acres of land. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. C. D. Greve was … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Alvy J. Parke

Alvy J. Parke is one of the hustling, go ahead, young business men of the County, located at Hindsboro, engaged in the grain and implement business, was born on a farm in Sargent Township March 11, 1876, and is a son of B. F. and Harriet (Wierman) Parke. Both of his parents were born in Champaign County, are living, and for the past year resided in Shelby County, Tennessee. Mr. Parke was reared to manhood on the farm and received his education in the high school of Oakland. In 1897 he married Miss Myrtle Lewis. A. J. Parke started up … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. A. Armstrong

Archie A. Armstrong, one of the progressive, intelligent and well-known young farmers of the County and Camargo Township, was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, September i0, 1861. He is the son of John Armstrong, who is also a native of Ohio and now a resident of Champaign. He came to Douglas County in 1879, and bought several farms in Tuscola Township and in other localities. He resided for some years on one of his farms, when he removed to the city of Champaign. He is now living a retired life in the sixty-fifth year of his age. Archie Armstrong owns … Read more

Biographical Sketch of T. M. Richards

T. M. Richards, a leading merchant and grain buyer of Haves, Illinois, was born in Douglas County, Illinois, August 7, 1864, and is a son of Thomas Y. Richards, who was a native of Hardin County, Kentucky, where he was born in 1818. The latter moved to this County in the ‘forties and was engaged in farming. He was three times remarried and was the father of nine children, of whom all are dead excepting T. M. and G. R. Richards. His last wife was Hester A. Reat, and she was the mother of the above named boys (see sketch … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James S. Reeder

James S. Reeder was born March 4, 1840, in Darke County, Ohio, and came with his parents in 1856 to this locality, where he engaged in farming. He enlisted August, 1862, in Company G, Seventy-ninth Illinois Infantry, and served three years. At the battle of Stone River, December 31, 1862, he was wounded and taken prisoner; after being in the enemy’s lines twenty-seven days he was exchanged, and participated in the battles of Liberty Gap and Chickamauga; at the latter, September 19, 1863, he was captured and taken to Richmond prison, thence to Andersonville, Charleston, South Carolina, and Florence, making … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James H. Howe

James H. Howe was born June 1, 1832, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. April 5, 1838, he came with his mother to Vermilion County, Illinois; he was reared and educated in Vermilion and Champaign counties. In his youthful days he traveled considerably, and, in 1854, came to Douglas County; two years later he bought the Williams farm, which lie improved and afterward sold. He was largely engaged in the live stock business, handling as high as one hundred thousand dollars in a year. In the spring of 1882 he was elected justice of the peace and was also highway commissioner. He … Read more