Last Updated on October 18, 2011 by
John W. Soules, proprietor meat market, Mattoon; was born in Terre Haute, Ind., Nov. 10, 1828; his father was a farmer, and his early life was spent upon the farm; his education was limited entirely to the common school; he remained at home till his majority; at the age of 21 years, he engaged in the packing house of Ferrington & Williams, of Terre Haute, where he remained five years; he was next engaged in the same business with Jacob D. Early three years; in 1860, he came to Mattoon and took charge of a packing house for Messrs. Miller & Johnson, and remained with them four years; in 1864, he took charge of a similar establishment for P. H. Flarity, remaining nine years; he next engaged in his present business. He was married Oct. 20, 1849, to Eveline Bailey, a native of Indiana; has had six children – Mary E., Laura L., William H., Emma, Charles L., living; Ocalla, deceased. Owns city property. He superintended the construction of the reservoir designed to supply the city with water.