J. A. Brotherton, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mattoon; was born in Indiana Nov. 12, 1841; came to this State and settled in Coles Co. in 1860; his farm consists of eighty acres, valued at $2,400. He was married to Miss Catharine Earls, who was born in Illinois; they have seven children, viz., Sarah, Delia, William M., Lawrence, Lewis, Eva and Robert. Since Mr. B.’s residence in the township, he has held the office of School Director three years.
A. J. Clark, farmer, Sec. 17: P. O. Charleston; born in Coles Co., Ill., April 22, 1834, within one-half a mile of where he has since lived; he is the youngest son of Benjamin and Sarah Clark, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Coles Co., Ill., about the year 1829, where his father lived until his death, which occurred April 18, 1856, while on a visit to Indiana; he was born in Kentucky in the year 1798; his mother, who still lives within one-half mile of where she has lived for nearly one-half of a century, was born Jan. … Read more
Carl Eugene Reedy, 65, of Baker City, died Oct. 4, 2007, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. At his request, there will be no formal service. Friends are invited to join the family in sharing stories and memories at a celebration of Carl’s life at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Main Event, 1950 Main St. Carl was born Feb. 2, 1942, at Mattoon, Ill., to George and Olive Maxine Austin Reedy. He was a longtime and dedicated employee of Ash Grove Cement, retiring around the year 2000. He was a very good-hearted man, who would give the shirt off his back … Read more
Thomas Roberts, farmer; P. O. Oakland; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., Oct. 12, 1802, where he lived and engaged in farming until 1830, when he emigrated to Muskingum Co., Ohio, and engaged in farming until 1860, at which date he removed to Illinois and located upon his present place in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., where he has since lived and followed farming. He married Feb. 7, 1828, to Alice Mock; she was born in Virginia Nov. 8, 1808; they have nine children now living, having lost three by death; the names of the living are Mary E. (now … Read more
Jacob V. D. Annin, farmer, deceased; in the early part of the seventeenth century, there emigrated from their native land of Scotland, one John Annin, with his family, and settled in the beautiful State of New Jersey, where he erected a log house, in which he and his family lived for many years; and if it be asked, How came his lot to be cast in that fertile valley, far from the land of his birth? the answer is to be found in the terrible story of the religious persecutions that, in the latter part of the seventeenth, and the … Read more
George Beatty, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mattoon; was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, April 6, 1810; came to the United States in 1830, to this State, and settled in Coles Co. in 1865. He was married April 13, 1834, to Miss Anne Clegg, now deceased; she was born in Derbyshire, England, October, 1812, and died Jan. 15, 1873; Elizabeth is the only child they have had. The farm of Mr. Beatty consists of eighty acres, valued at $3,000.
Frederick Frommel, Charleston, of the firm of Weiss & Frommel, proprietors of the Charleston Woolen-Mill; was born in Ravensburg, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 5, 1825; at the . age of 14, he was apprenticed in a woolen-factory to learn the trade, and worked there until he came to this country in 1854; he spent several years in Philadelphia, New York and Connecticut; after which, he came West to Cincinnati, where he was engaged in traveling for two of the principal woolen houses in that city until 1869; he then removed to Charleston, and engaged with Henry Weiss, proprietor of … Read more
E. R. Connely, farmer; P. O. Westfield; was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., March 6, 1829; his parents, Joel and Effie Connely, came to this county in the spring of 1832, and were among its earliest pioneers; having raised one crop, they returned to Indiana, and, in the fall of same year, brought out their family, consisting of six boys and five girls accompanied also by their grandfather and grandmother Pennington; they made the journey the whole distance in wagons, driving their stock, composed both of sheep and cattle, with them. His grandfather Pennington was a Baptist minister, and among … Read more
Elisha Linder, farmer; P. O. Mattoon; was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Aug. 16, 1807; his early life was passed upon the farm, and his education was such as the schools of those days afforded; when less than seven years of age, He lost his father, and being the oldest of the family, he soon became the head; his father was a man of energy and thrift, and left the family well provided for; in 1829, young Linder came West, to Illinois, and prospected the county; remaining two months, he returned to Kentucky, and in January, 1831, came again to … Read more
James H. Busbey, farmer, Sec. 22; P. O. Oakland; one of the pioneers of Coles Co; born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 22, 1823, where he attended school and engaged in farming, until 16 years of age, when he emigrated to Coles Co., Ill., and located in what is now the south part of Douglas Co., in the fall of 1839. He is son of Hamilton Busbey, who was born July 5, 1792, in Virginia; he emigrated to Ohio about the year 1815, where he lived until he emigrated to Illinois, where he died Dec. 16, 1847; Mrs. Busbey, whose … Read more
Tarlton C. Miles, Charleston, is a native of Franklin Co., Ky.; he was born near Frankfort, on the 18t of May, 1825; he is a son of Dr. James I. Miles, a physician of that county; his early life was spent in the subscription schools in his neighborhood; in 1845, he came to Coles Co. He was married Oct. 3, 1848, to Miss Sophia 0. Van Deren, a daughter of Joseph Van Deren, of Coles Co.; she was born in Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky., Jan. 18, 1829, and came to Illinois with her parents in 1835; they have six children … Read more
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
John A. McConnell, editor of the Charleston Plaindealer, Charleston; was born in Cadiz, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1826; he began, at 12 years of age, to learn his father’s business of chairmaking; his inclinations were, however, toward literary or professional pursuits, but he was prevented from carrying out his intentions in that direction by a weakness of the eyes; at the age of 17, he began teaching school, and taught during the winters for four years; in 1859, he engaged in the grocery business in Cadiz, in which he continued until 1871, when he embarked in the tanning business, and followed … Read more
George C. Kemp, farmer and stock; P. O. Arcola; the subject of this sketch was born in Ohio Co., Ind., Aug. 25, 1846. He married Miss Minerva D. Stone Oct. 14, 1866; she was born same place Dec. 6, 1845. They have three children, viz., Theodore, born April 16, 1869; Laura B., born Dec. 4, 1875, and Charles C., born Nov. 8, 1877. He lived in Indiana until September, 1868, when he came to his present place; he owns 349 acres in this township, which includes the original 200 acres given him by his father Ezra, who located it in … Read more
Peter Taylor, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Oakland; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, April 25, 1820, where he lived until 1853; his father, John Taylor, died when he was 13 years of age, and, he being the oldest son, remained with his mother and managed the farm until 23 years of age, at which time he rented land and engaged in farming until the fall of 1853, when he emigrated to Illinois with his family and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp.; he then rented the A. B. Florer farm, where he lived for twelve years, the … Read more
Carson Porter Reed Rodgers, merchant, Farmington; P. O. Campbell; the subject of this sketch was born in Coles Co., Ill., Nov. 1, 1840, and lived with his parents until 26 years of age. He then married Catharine Winford Ridley Oct. 30, 1866, who was born in Gallatin Co., Ky., Oct. 30, 1847, and died April 14, 1869; he afterward married Martha Jane Veatch March 8, 1874, who was born in Washington Co., Ill., Oct. 26, 1837, and has had three children, two of whom are living, viz., Isaac Walter, Kate Winford; deceased–Martha H. Mr. Rodgers was Assessor one term, Township … Read more
Job W. Massey, farming and stock; P. O. Charleston; the subject of this sketch was born in Cheshire, England, June 28, 1822. He married Miss Sarah Gould Dec. 4, 1847; she was born in North Molton, Devonshire, England, Feb. 23, 1827, and died Aug. 8, 1877. They had six children, viz., William H., now living; Job Francis died at the age of 17, child died in infancy, Nannie now living, George E. died at 18 months of age and Joseph Charles died in his 18th year, from the kick of a horse. He lived in England about six years, when, … Read more
McCagha Phillips, farmer; P. O. Fuller’s Point; one of the natives of Illinois; was born in Moultrie Co., Jan. 7, 1856; he is the son of Mr. Calvin Phillips, of Mattoon Tp., who is one of the early settlers of Coles Co.; his farm consists of 136 acres, valued at $4,500. He was married June 10, 1877, to Miss Mary A. Gilmer, who was born in Russell Co., Va., April 27, 1856; Leon is their only child.
Alexander Perkins, dealer in groceries, Charleston; is an early settler of the city, having emigrated from Marion Co., Ind., in September, 1836; he was born near Newcastle, Henry Co., Ky., Feb. 22, 1814;when quite young he accompanied his parents to Marion Co., Ind.; he was raised to agricultural pursuits; he was married Oct. 8, 1835, to Miss Jane Griffith, of New Bethel, Marion Co., Ind., and, in 1836, removed to Charleston; they had five children, two of whom are living – Amanda, wife of Daniel Curd, and Margaret L., now Mrs. John James, both residing in Charleston; two sons, William … Read more
Adam Whitmer, farmer; P. O. Humbolt. The subject of this sketch was born in Perry Co., Ohio, Dec. 26,1832; he married Miss Olara Jane Bugh Nov. 1, 1864; she was born same place Jan 11, 1838; they have three children, viz., Laura, Elmo and Eva. He lived in Ohio until 1854, when he came to Illinois and settled in Crawford Co., where he lived one year; he then went to Dakota and engaged with a Government surveying party; he camped for two and a half years, where Yankton now stands; he lived in Dakota until 1859, when he went to … Read more