Coles County IL

Biographical Sketch of D. A. Rice

D. A. Rice, station agent, telegraph operator and grain-dealer, Oakland; born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., April 4, 1847, where he lived until 9 years of age, when he removed with his parents to Pickaway Co., Ohio, where he commenced the study of telegraphy, living there three years; then to New Lexington, where he lived two years, the last year, having charge of the telegraph office at that place; he lived in Ohio and engaged in telegraphing until 1870, when he removed to Illinois and located at Effingham, where he was engaged at telegraphing for a short time, when he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Eli Gerrard

Eli Gerrard, farmer; P.O. Charleston; born in Butler Co., Ohio, July 4, 1854, where he attended school and engaged in farming until he emigrated West and located in Coles Co., in the fall of 1874; here he engaged in farming with his father until the spring of 1876, when he removed upon his present place, where he has since lived. He is the oldest son of Jackson Gerard, whose biography appears in this work. His marriage with Laura B. Smith was celebrated Aug. 31, 1875; she was born in Ohio Oct. 10, 1856; they have two children now living by … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Hutton

John Hutton, farmer; P.O. Diona; is one of the pioneers of this county, and after whom this township was named; he was born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Jan. 20, 1801; in the year 1816, his parents moved to Crawford Co:, Ill., where his father died January, 1819; his mother and family remained there until the year 1834, when they came to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 20, where his mother died Nov., 1853, at the age of 77; Mr. Hutton still resides upon the homestead; he held the office of Supervisor the three first terms after the organization of … Read more

Biography of Thomas B. Trower, M. D.

Thomas B. Trower, M. D., deceased, late of Charleston; was born in Albemarle Co., Va., Nov. 15, 1807, his parents removing to Kentucky a few years later; his father died in 1816, leaving a wife and nine children; he began the study of medicine when he was 19 years old, spending three years under the instruction of Drs. Beamiss and Merryfield, of Bloomfield, Ky., teaching school a portion of the time to obtain means to defray his expenses; he came to Illinois in 1830, and practiced medicine six years in Shelbyville; in 1836, he removed to Charleston and engaged in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James L. Hart

James L. Hart, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the son of Oliver and Zorada Hart; was born in Grayson Co., Ky., June 18, 1846; moved with his parents to Coles Co., Ill., Oct. 12, 1848; is the owner of seventy-six acres of land, valued at near $3,500. Was Postmaster at Etna for one year. Was married to Elizabeth Smith, of Coles Co., Sept. 24, 1866. His father, Oliver Hart, was born in Grayson Co., Ky., March 31, 1825; died Jan. 25, 1867, in the 42d year of his age; his mother, Zorada Hart, was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Oct. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Adam B. Green

Adam B. Green, farmer; P. O. Mattoon; is the son of Ira and Mary Green, of Washington Co., Tenn.; was born in Green Co., Tenn., April 17, 1827; moved to Paradise Tp., Coles Co., Ill., Feb. 12, 1867. Was married to Caroline E. Peters May 5, 1866; they are the parents of six children, viz., James B., Dora D. and Laura (deceased), George W., Amanda M. and Ida M. Mr. Green is the owner of 163 acres of land, valued at $6,500. He was in the late war and served three years as Sergeant. His mother died April 12, 1861, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. L. Ewing

R. L. Ewing, retail grocer, Mattoon was born in Coles Co., Ill., Dec. 28, 1842; his father, William Ewing, familiarly known as ‘Squire Ewing, came from Kentucky and settled upon the South Kickapoo, within the present limits of Coles Co., in the spring of 1829; here he engaged in farming, and here the boyhood and early manhood of R. L. was passed upon the farm; his father died in 1866; he remained at home and had charge of the farm until 1873; he then purchased the homestead, and, the following year, sold out and came to Mattoon; here he entered … Read more

Biography of James L. Reat, M. D.

James Lee Reat, M. D., one of the most distinguished physicians and surgeons of Illinois, and who has been long and honorably connected with the professional and industrial interests of Douglas County, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, January 26, 1824. The Reat ancestors are traced back to Scotland, where the name was pronounced in two syllables, with the accent on the last. Two brothers emigrated to this country during the war of the Revolution, one of whom espoused the cause of the rebels, the term by which the patriot colonies were then known, and served through that struggle with … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George C. Kemp

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

Biographical Sketch of Elias Anderson

Elias Anderson, farmer; P. O. Diona; is a native of Ohio, and was born in Champaign Co. June 16, 1807; he remained with his parents until he was 32 years of age, his father having died about the year 1833; he remained with his mother until her removal to Michigan, where she died in the year 1844; Mr. Anderson, before his removal to this county, married, Sept. 20, 1835, Miss Hannah Place, her parents being natives of Pennsylvania; in the year 1839, they came to this county and settled where he has ever since resided; they had five children, four … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Zarley

John H. Zarley, miller, Oakland; born in Washington Co., Penn., April 25, 1819, where he attended school and engaged in farming until March 1837, when he located in Morgan Co., Ohio, and followed farming until 1848, at which date he located in Blackford Co., Ind., and engaged in farming until 1851, when he removed to Moultrie Co., Ill., and engaged in farming until 1853, at which time he returned to Ohio and farmed for eleven years; he then returned to Moultrie Co., Ill., for two years, and, in 1866, he engaged in the milling business in Lovington, for one year; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of D. H. Calvert

D. H. Calvert, dealer in drugs and medicines, Charleston; is a native of Platte Co., Mo.; he was born on the 28th of February 1841; he was raised on a farm, and at about the age of 16 years, entered Pleasant Ridge College in his native town, where he graduated in 1861; he then read law with Hon. E. H. Norton, the present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri; in 1867, he went to Frankfort, Ky., and continued his law studies with Judge Alvin Duval, and, in 1868, entered the Law Department of the University of Louisville, Ky., … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ambrose Y. Hart, Jr.

Ambrose Y. Hart, Jr., farmer; P. O. Paradise; is the son of Miles H. and Catharine C. Hart; was born in Effingham Co., Ill., Nov. 15, 1834; moved to Coles Co. Feb. 12, 1836; is the owner of fifty acres of land, valued at $2,000. Is Justice of the Peace, and has been for twelve years; also Town Clerk, School Treasurer and Commissioner of Highways. Was married to Nancy Sexson of Coles Co. Jan. 22, 1857; the result of this marriage is -David S., John M.; deceased, Miles O., Willie A., Catharine C. and Ada. Mr. Hart was in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Judge A. M. Peterson

Judge A. M. Peterson, attorney at law, Charleston; was born in Westmoreland Co., Penn., Jan. 15, 1825; leaving there in 1845, he went to Canton, Ohio, and began the study of medicine, attending a course of lectures at the Cleveland Medical College. He came to Illinois in 1849, and began practice as a physician in Edgar Co., and the following year removed to Newton, Jasper Co., Ill. On the 18th of April, the same year, he married Miss Nancy Whalen, of Edgar Co., a native of Nelson Co., Ky. The practice of medicine proving distasteful to him, and having a … 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

Biographical Sketch of Isaac B. Mitchell

Isaac B. Mitchell, dealer in groceries and provisions, Charleston; is the youngest son of James A. and Esther Mitchell; he was born in Charleston, Ill., Jan. 6, 1841; he remained on the farm until the age of 15 years; the next four years he spent in the Charleston Academy, where he prepared for the Sophomore class in college, intending to pursue a college course; but, in 1861, owing to circumstances, he abandoned the idea and engaged in farming. In April, 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 68th I. V. I., for three months. He continued farming until 1865, teaching school … Read more

Biography of W. B. Zimmerman

W. B. Zimmerman, farmer; P. O. Oakland; one of the early settlers of Coles Co., Ill.; born in Augusta Co., Va., Feb. 4, 1826, where he lived until eleven years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Edgar Co., in 1837; in the fall of 1838, they located in what is now known as East Oakland Tp., near where Mr. Zimmerman has since lived; he being the oldest son of Martin Zimmerman who emigrated from Virginia at the above date with a family of nine children; and the year following their arrival the whole … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Edmon

Jacob Edmon, farmer; P. O. Charleston; was born in Highland Co., Va., June 17, 1851, and lived with his father; engaged in farming. He was married to Alwilda Armstrong Dec. 26, 1877; she was born in Highland Co., Va., Nov. 9, 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Edmon’s parents were natives of Virginia; Mr. Edmon’s father was one of the early settlers in this county, coming here in an early day with but very little property. He now owns 168 acres of very fine farm land on Sec. 14 in this township.

Biographical Sketch of H. A. Pemberton

H. A. Pemberton, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Oakland; one of the pioneers of Coles County; born in Washington Co., Va., Aug. 22, 1822; he emigrated with his parents when quite young, and located in Coles Co., Ill., in November 1831, upon the place where he has since lived during the a period of nearly half a century; he is the youngest son of Stanton and Sarah Pemberton; his father died in 1838; seven years after his settlement here, and his mother died in 1850; after the death of his father, he and an older brother managed the place until … Read more

Biography of J. L. Rardin

J. L. Rardin, farmer and Justice of the Peace; P. O. Rardin; one of the early settlers of Morgan Tp.; born in the State of Indiana Dec. 12, 1814; his parents removed to Campbell County, Ky., when he was 4 years of age, where he was engaged in clearing land and farming, with the exception of five years in Ohio, until 28 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp., in the fall of 1842, upon the place where he has since continued to live during a … Read more