Coles County IL

Biography of Josiah H. Busbey

Josiah H. Busbey, book-keeper, Okaland; born in Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 6,1847, where he engaged in farming and attended school until Feb. 24, 1864, when, he enlisted in the 66th I. V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union; the 66th was composed of picked men from the various Northwestern States, elected for their skill and accuracy in handling the rifle, and in the army was known as the Western Sharpshooters; they always led the advance, and in important battles were detailed in squads to silence rebel bat-tries, which duty they often accomplished by their unerring aim, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Father Crowe

Rev. Father Crowe, Pastor of the Catholic Church, Mattoon; was born in Oswego, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1851; his early life was passed in the public schools of his native city; here he completed a full course of instruction, passing regularly through the high school and normal department; at about the age of 18 years, he engaged in the profession of teaching, and was a member of the Faculty in the College at Tutopolis, and, at a later date, in that at Ruma, Ill.; having for some time directed his thoughts in the channel of the legal profession, and, at … Read more

Biography of Eli Dudley

Eli Dudley, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Ashmore; was born in Coles Co. Jan. 17, 1840, being a son of Guilford and Mary (Wiley) Dudley; to trace the genealogy of the Dudley family from its origin, it would be necessary to begin with the Earl of Dudley, of Dudley Castle, in Staffordshire, England, in the fourteenth century, and follow down through a long line of earls, barons, etc.; this is not our purpose, but we can say that the genealogy is complete and authentic from that point to the subject of the present sketch; the first of the family to … Read more

Biography of William Morgan

William Morgan, farmer; P. O. Rardin; born in Sullivan Co., Ind., Dec. 13, 1827; he emigrated with his parents when 8 years old and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp. in 1834, and before the organization of the township, which is named in honor of his father, David Morgan, who resided here from 1835 until his death, which occurred in October, 1860. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents and assisted in farming until 1850, when he engaged in farming for himself upon the place where he has since lived; he owns 320 acres in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Hunt

William Hunt, farmer and Justice of the Peace, Oakland; born in Coles Co., Ill., Feb. 11, 1845, upon the place where he has since continued to live; he is the son of James D. Hunt, who located in Coles Co., previous to 1838, where he died July 3, 1856; the subject of this sketch continued upon the old homestead, and attended school and assisted in farming, until the decease of his mother, which occurred July 3, 1865; after which he purchased the interest of a portion of the other heirs, and continued farming upon the old place upon his own … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. H. Paugh, M. D.

W. H. Paugh, M. D., physician and surgeon, Mattoon; was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., March 13, 1838; his father was a physician and settled in Indiana as early as 1815; in addition to his common-school education, he attended the high school at Springville, Ind., and in subsequent years was Principal of the same. He naturally grew up into a physician, and to fix a period at which he began the study of his profession would be a difficult task; he practiced his profession many years before receiving a medical degree; he attended Rush Medical College one session; later, he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. D. Moore

H. D. Moore, farming and stock; P. O. Mattoon; the subject of this sketch was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Nov. 14, 1840. He married Miss Elizabeth A. Bayliss October, 1861; she was born in the same place, and died in the fall of 1865. His present wife was Miss Sarah M. Thomas; they were married in April, 1867; she was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Nov. 15, 1846. They have eight children, viz., Minnie A., Florence A., Cora B., Eliza M., Laura R., Emmie, Alfred N. and Charles B. He lived in Ohio twenty-one years, and then, in 1861, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James M. Hunt

James M. Hunt, retired farmer; P. O. Cook’s Mills; was born in Indiana Jan. 16, 1840; his father, James Hunt, now deceased, was one of the early settlers of that State; they moved to Illinois and settled in Coles Co. in 1868; Mr. Hunt has followed the pursuits of a farmer and stock-raiser from boyhood; he enlisted in the 83d Ind. V. I.; served nearly three years, and was discharged at the close of the war; at the battle of Dallas he was wounded, the effects of which now compel him to retire from business. He was married to Miss … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James P. White

James P. White, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Mattoon; was born in Tennessee, March 5, 1841; came to this State in 1856, and to Coles Co., and settled in North Okaw Tp. in 1858; his farm consists of forty-nine and a third acres, valued at $1,500. He was married Nov. 23, 1865, to Miss Mary J. Wade, who was born in Coles Co., Ill., June 4, 1847; they have had six children, five of whom are living, viz., Mary A., Nancy E., Effa N., Minnie and James E.; deceased, Jessie. Since Mr. White’s residence in the township, he has held … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. M. Gray

R. M. Gray, attorney at law, Mattoon; was born in Pleasant Grove Tp., Coles Co., Dec. 27, 1848; his father, James C., was one of the early pioneers of this section; his early life was that of a. farmer’s son; in addition to his common school education, at the age of 19, he entered Westfield College, Clark Co., Ill., and remained one year; he next attended an academy in his native township, two years, under the supervision of Prof. T. J. Lee; in the fall of 1870, he entered the law department of Michigan University, from which he graduated in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. J. Foster

J. J. Foster, farming and stock; P. O. Arcola; the subject of this sketch was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., May 18, 1831. He married Miss Catharine Beggs Jan. 31, 1859; she was born in Clarke Co., Ind., May 10, 1838, and died May 14, 1866; they had three children, viz., Eugenia, Sarah M. and Dela J.; his present wife was Miss Melinda C. Beggs; they were married Dec. 18, 1867; she was a sister of his first wife; she was born in Clarke Co., Ind., Sept. 3, 1839; they have three children, viz., Orestes, Claudius B. and Ida C. … 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 W. K. Payne

W. K. Payne, retired, Ashmore; although not an early settler of Coles Co., is one of the pioneers in the adjoining county of Edgar, where he was a prominent citizen for forty-six years. He was born in Shelby Co., Ky., May 17, 1807, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Wright) Payne, both natives of Kentucky and descendants of old Virginia families. His early education was limited to such as the schools of that region afforded. In 1822, his father removed with his family to Owen Co., Ind. In 1831, Mr. Payne came to Edgar Co., and engaged in … Read more

Biography of Harrison Gill

It is fitting that in the biographies of the early settlers of the County some mention should be made of Harrison Gill, who entered among the first land here and lived near Camargo. The grandfather of Mr. Gill was born in Ireland. He came to America and settled m Virginia. His son, Samuel Cresswell Gill, r moved from Virginia to Kentucky and settled in Bath County. Here, on the Licking river, he built Gill’s mills, a noted point in that part of that state. He married Sarah Malone, by whom he had a large family of children, of whom Harrison … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin G. Glenn

Benjamin G. Glenn, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Mattoon; owns sixty acres; was born in Lawrence Co., Ill., June 10, 1832, and lived with his parents until 23 years of age. He was married to Elizabeth Jeffries March 22, 1855; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., in 1834; died Feb. 19, 1862. He was then married to Elizabeth Wheatstone March 19, 1869; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., and has had six children, viz., Margaret E., Ethel L., Joseph J.; three infants (deceased). Mr. Glenn was Justice of the Peace two years, Supervisor one term, and School Director … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William R. Parker

William R. Parker, deceased farmer; born in Anderson Co., Ky., March 27, 1823; he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Edgar Co., in 1828, where he lived until 18 years of age, when he went to St. Clair, Co., Ill., and engaged in fanning two years, then to Minnesota, where he followed logging, rafting and milling for three years; returning to Illinois, he, with his brother, worked at blacksmithing one year, when, in 1848, he engaged in farming in Edgar Co., which business he followed until 1854, when he removed to Coles Co., and rented land, which … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. M. Chambers, M. D.

W. M. Chambers, M. D., physician and surgeon, Charleston, was born in Cynthiana, Ky., April 11, 1814; he is a son of James and Sally Chambers, both natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Kentucky in 1810. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812; in 1850, his parents removed to Charleston, where his mother died in 1855, and his father in 1873. Dr. Chambers began the study of medicine in his native town in 1833, and, in 1836, began practice in Harrison Co.; he graduated in 1843 from the Medical Department of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky. In 1846, … Read more

Biography of William H. Reynolds

William H. Reynolds, far.; P. O. Oakland; born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, May 29, 1837, where he was brought up on a farm until about 18 years of age, when he emigrated to Clark Co., Ill., and located for one year; thence to Coles Co., where he hired as farm laborer for two years, when he rented land and farmed three years. He enlisted July 25, 1861, in Col. Oglesby’s regiment-the 8th I. V. I. going in camp at Cairo, where he remained about two months, during which time he was engaged in reconnoitering expeditions in Missouri; he then joined … Read more

Reedy, Carl Eugene – Obituary

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

Biographical Sketch of Franklin Johns

Franklin Johns, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in Pendleton Co., Va., June 6, 1828; when he was 7 years old, his parents moved to Gallia Co., Ohio, and remained there three years, and in the year 1838, came to Coles Co., and the first winter settled on Sec. 33, where they lived up to the time of their death, his mother dying May 2, 1854, and his father but three days after. The subject of this sketch was married Nov. 22, 1849, to Miss Nancy Connely, daughter of John Connely, of Hutton Tp., on the homestead, and a few … Read more