Ashmore Illinois

Biographical Sketch of William H. Mack

William H. Mack, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Kentucky April 11, 1828, and came to Illinois when he was 5 years old, with the family of his father, William Mack; after spending one winter in Coles Co., his father settled in Clark Co., where he died about eight years ago; Mr. Mack lived in Clark Co. until he became of age, and then came to Coles Co.; he began life by working out by the month, and, after accumulating some money, he purchased 120 acres of land, on which he settled in the fall of 1853; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Fountain Turner

Fountain Turner, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; one of the pioneers of Coles Co.; was born in Madison Co., Ky., Feb. 3, 1795, being the son of Thomas and Anna Turner, and the second in age of a family of three children; his father was from South Carolina, and his mother from Virginia; he was but 3 years of age when his father died. He was married Dec. 7, 1818, to Miss Elizabeth Phelps, a daughter of Jarrot and Millie Phelps; she was born in Madison Co., Ky., Feb. 12, 1803; her parents were both natives of Virginia. Mr. … Read more

Biography of L. C. Thornton

L. C. Thornton, farm implements, Postmaster, Oakland; one of the pioneers of Edgar Co., Ill.; born in Washington Co., Ind., Dec. 15, 1825; he removed with his parents in 1829, being then 4 years of age, and located in Edgar Co., Ill., where he attended school, and engaged in farming until Sept. 10, 1861, when he enlisted as private in Co. E, 66th I. V. I; this regiment was composed of picked men from the various Northwestern States, selected for their skill and accuracy in handling the rifle; the 66th was known in the army as the Western Sharp-shooters, and … Read more

Biography of William S. Childress

William S. Childress, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Knox Co., East Tenn., April 11, 1827; he is a son of Richard and Rebecca Childress. In 1831, his father removed to Edgar Co., and settled just on the line between Illinois and Indiana. In 1848, Mr. Childress came to Coles Co., being the first of the family to settle here, his father following in the spring of 1849; his father died about 1862; his mother still survives, and now resides in Farmington, in Coles Co., at the age of 75 years. Mr. C. was married April 30, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. R. Comstock

W. R. Comstock, dealer in groceries, drugs, medicines, etc., Ashmore; was born in Clark Co., Ill., Feb. 1, 1850; he is a son of Levi and Lucy Comstock; his father was born in Indiana, and his mother in Kentucky; they both came to Illinois in childhood with their parents, who were among the early pioneers of the State; when the subject of this sketch was about 4 years of age, his father removed with his family to Coles County, and settled about three miles northeast of Ashmore village, where he still resides. Mr. Comstock remained on the farm until 1872, … Read more

Biography of Thomas W. Hallock

Thomas W. Hallock, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Dutchess Co., N. Y., Jan. 20, 1811; he was raised on a farm until he was 15 years old, and then went to Troy, N. Y., where he learned the trade of a coachmaker; he worked for Eaton & Gilbert, at that time one of the largest coachmaking firms in the country; he helped to build the first railway-coach in this country, in 1829; this coach was run on the Amboy & Burtontown R. R., and was drawn by horses. Going to New York City in 1833, he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. H. Green

J. H. Green, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Oct. 27, 1826; he is a son of James and Elizabeth (Heminway) Green, both of whom were natives of King and Queen Co., Va.; both removed to Kentucky when young, married and moved to Ohio; in 1840, his parents removed to Coles Co., but returned in a few years to Ohio; Mr. Green removed permanently to the county in the fall of 1855, and settled on his present farm; he purchased 120 acres of land, paying there for $18 an acre; he owed on this … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William C. Kimball

William C. Kimball, of the firm of Austin, Brown & Kimball, dealers in hardware, lumber, furniture and undertaking, Ashmore; has been a resident of Ashmore since 1867; he was born in Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Ohio, June 14, 1838; was educated at the Cambridge Union Schools, and, in 1857, began teaching school; he continued in that profession in Ohio till March, 1863, when he enlisted in Co. H, 122d O. V. I., and served in the 6th Army Corps in the Army of the Potomac until Jan. 1, 1864; he was then detailed as a clerk in the office of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nathaniel Wicker

Nathaniel Wicker, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Pike Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, 1820; he is a son of James and Elizabeth Wicker, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky; in 1838, the family came to Illinois, spending a part of the winter in Indiana, and arriving in Edgar Co., in February, 1839; they settled at the Walnut Grove, where his parents resided till their death; in 1848, Mr. Wicker, taking the younger members of his father’s family, removed to Coles Co., and settled in Ashmore Tp.; his first marriage occurred March … Read more

Biography of Capt. James M. Ashmore

Capt. James M. Ashmore, Charleston; is a native of Coles Co.; he is a son of Hezekiah J. Ashmore, one of the pioneers of the county, who was born in Kentucky, Sept. 30, 1802, and came to Coles Co. with his family, consisting at that time of a wife and two children, in 1830, and settled in the northeast part of the county, in what is now Oakland Tp.; in 1836, he removed to the eastern part the county, and for him the town of Ashmore was named, as well as the village of that name, which he laid out … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elias Monroe

Elias Monroe, Postmaster and dealer in dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, etc. (firm of Zimmerman & Monroe), Ashmore; was born in Shelby Co., Ill., Feb. 7 1842, but removed in childhood to Moultrie Co., where he lived until 1861; his mother then removed with her family (the father having died years before) to Hitesville, Coles Co. In December, 1863, he entered the Union army as a member of Co. H, 59th I. V. I.; he participated, among other engagements, in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain, Resaca (where he received a slight wound), Peach-Tree Creek, Marietta, siege of Atlanta, … Read more

Biography of O. D. Hawkins

O. D. Hawkins, farmer and stock-raiser, Ashmore; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Feb. 28, 1822; he is a son of Gregory R. and Elizabeth (Ballard) Hawkins, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Kentucky; when he was about 8 years old, his parents removed to Scott Co., Ind., and in 1841, to Coles Co., settling about two and one-half miles west of Ashmore; they landed here on the 4th of March, the day on which Gen. Harrison was inaugurated President of the United States; his father died here in 1868, and his mother in 1873. They … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lilburn Swinford

Lilburn Swinford, farm and stock; P. O. Charleston; was born in Harrison Co., Ky., Jan. 31, 1808; he married Miss Frances Hendricks in September, 1829; she was born in Pendleton Co., Ky., Dec. 19, 1809. They had eleven children, eight living, viz., William H., Martha A., Mary E., Julia A., Lucy, Louisa, Josephine and Benjamin F. He lived in Kentucky until 1839, when he moved to Indiana and settled near Greencastle, where he remained until 1847; he then moved to Illinois and settled near Ashmore, in Coles Co., and in 1865 he came to his present place; he owns 200 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Nelson R. Green

Nelson R. Green, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O.; was born in Miami Co., Ohio, Dec. 25, 1830; he is a son of James and Elizabeth (Heminway) Green, and accompanied his parents in their various removals given in their biography, and in 1850, came permanently to Coles Co.; he worked at various employments until 1854, when he was married on the 19th of January, to Miss Mary E. Brown, the eldest daughter of Jobe W. and Martha R. Brown, of Ashmore; she was born at the Walnut. Grove, in Edgar Co., 1834; they have nine children – Jonathan W., George A.. … Read more

Biography of Peter K. Honn

Elder Peter K. Honn, retired; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., July 22, 1814; he is a son of Daniel and Anna Honn; he passed his early years upon a farm, and at the age of 18 years, began the trade of a blacksmith; in 1835, he decided to follow Horace Greeley’s advice, ” Go West, young man, go West,” and accordingly joined the family of Jeremiah Powell, and with them made the journey to Illinois, with a horse-team and two ox-teams; they stopped in Edgar Co., where Mr. Powell settled, and where many of his descendants … Read more

Biography of Jobe W. Brown

Jobe W. Brown, retired, Ashmore; this gentleman was born in Chatham, Middlesex Co., Conn., July 15, 1809; his father was Jonathan W. Brown, and his mother’s maiden name was Elizabeth Aiken, the former being a native of Connecticut, and the latter of the island of Nantucket; when he was but a child, his parents removed to Oneida Co., N. Y., thence to Milton, Ky., and in 1822 to Lawrence Co., Ill.; in January, 1825, they removed to Walnut Grove in Edgar Co., then on the very outskirts of civilization; at that time there was not a single white inhabitant in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Jefferson Wilson

Thomas Jefferson Wilson was born in. Barren Co., Ky., on Nov. 22, 1825, and moved to Greensburg, Green Co., Ky., in 1847, where, on June 8, 1848, he was married to Lucy Ann Hutchason; he was a wagon-maker by trade; Lucy Ann Hutchason was born in Greensburg, Ky., on June 27, 1826; in April, 1857, Mr. Wilson removed with his family to Charleston, Ill., where he went into the employ of L. R. & B. M. Hutchason, his brothers-in-law, who were in the dry goods trade. On Jan. 12, 1859, his wife died in Charleston. In 1860, he began business … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jonathan Shaver

Jonathan Shaver, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; the above – named gentleman was born in Ladoga, Montgomery Co., Ind., July 22, 1836; his father, Jonathan M. Shaver, a native of Virginia, was an early settler in Montgomery Co., having come there about the year 1830, his mother, Susan Shaver, being also a native of Virginia; Mr. Shaver was raised on a farm. He was married Sept. 30, 1856, to Miss Mary J. Stratton, of Greene Co., Ohio; she died Jan. 8, 1860, leaving two children Rosella and Emma J. Mr. Shaver was then poor; he worked at the time … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Francis M. Waters

Francis M. Waters, Ashmore; dealer in dry goods and notions, boots and shoes, hats, caps and clothing; was born in Ross Co., Ohio, March 16, 1838, and is a son of Baker and Mary Waters; in 1847, his parents removed to Coles Co., and settled in Charleston, where his father carried on the wagon and carriage. Making business about ten years; he then removed to a farm in Ashmore Tp., where he lived till his death, in 1875; Mr. Waters’ mother died the year before; the family consisted of eight sons and one daughter, all residents of Coles Co.; when … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Woods

Thomas Woods, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Westfield, Clark Co., was born in Coles Co., on the homestead, where he now resides, July 12, 1848; his father, William Woods, one of the pioneers of the county, was born in Madison Co., Ky., Nov. 28, 1808, and settled in Coles Co. in the year 1834, with the family of his mother, Mrs. Mary Woods; like most of the early settlers, he came here a poor man, to build him a home in the then wilderness; he purchased- at first forty acres of land; he was an energetic, hard-working man, who commanded … Read more