Chester Illinois

Biography of Arthur Valentine Lashly

Arthur Valentine Lashly, a very successful lawyer, due to his native talents and acquired ability, was born in Randolph county, Illinois, February 14, 1880, and since his admission to the bar in 1910 has engaged in the practice of law in St. Louis. He is a son of George W. and Cora M. Lashly, who are now residing in Monterey, California. He obtained a public school education, passing through consecutive grades to the high school, which he attended in Steeleville, Illinois. His professional preparation was made in the St. Louis University Institute of Law and in 1910 he won his … Read more

Biography of Hon. William A. Conn

Hon. William A. Conn, of San Bernardino, is one of those strong individualities in the pioneer history of California, who by his force of character and intellect stamped his impress upon the early civilization of the Golden State. Though a number of the first years of his residence on the Pacific coast were passed in the northern part of the State, at San Francisco, yet for a third of a century Southern California has had the benefits of his public-spirited patriotism, his business attainments and his generous philanthropy. Mr. Conn was born in 1814, on the West India Islands, where … Read more

Biography of Benjamin H. Charles

Benjamin H. Charles, who enjoys the reputation of being one of the leading municipal bond lawyers in the United States and who in the practice of his profession is accorded an extensive clientage in St. Louis, where he makes his home, was born at Chester, Illinois, April 26, 1866, his parents being Benjamin H. and Achsah Susan (Holmes) Charles. The father was a Presbyterian minister of note who led a very active life. He was a man of positive character and high ideals and at different periods acceptably served as pastor of churches in Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri. He was … Read more

Illinois, Diocese of Belleville, Catholic Parish Records, 1695-1956

Illinois Bellville Church Records

A help guide for accessing the images of parish registers recording the events of baptism, first communion, confirmation (to 1907), marriage (to 1930) or death (to 1956) in the Diocese of Belleville (Illinois), Roman Catholic Church. The index to some volumes may reference pages within a given volume beyond current publication dates. As such, these images are not currently available. In addition to traditional parish registers, this collection includes a small number of census, church history, family and financial records. To assist the researcher I have broken down the available registers by county and name of parish, including the years covered by those parish records.

The Kribs Family of Prairie du Rocher Illinois

Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Kribs

The best teacher, it is said, is experience. C. J. Kribs, circuit clerk of Randolph County, has had varied experiences. He was born February 19, 1867, in Belleville, Illinois. He attended the parochial and public schools, after which he learned the trade of harness maker in St. Louis. After a residence of five years in this city he went to Chicago and worked for four years as assistant store-keeper in the Illinois Steel Works. Then he went to Prairie du Rocher, and after a short stay went to St. Louis, working for the Metropolitan Insurance Co. He was promoted and … Read more

Browning, Marie – Obituary

Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon Marie Browning was born at Chester, Illinois on December 22nd, 1895 and died at Enterprise on August 23rd, 1919, aged 23 yrs., 8 mos. and one day. Her death came as a distinct shock to the community as very few people knew of her illness, although it was known that her health had been ailing for about a year. Marie had grown from childhood into lovely young womanhood here in Enterprise, to which place she had come with her parents, fourteen years ago, from Danville, Ill. With the exception of two years in school, one year … Read more