Coles County IL

Biographical Sketch of J. L. Aubert

J. L. Aubert, County Surveyor, Mattoon; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Nov. 3, 1830; his father was a tiller of the soil, and his early life was that of a farmer’s son; at the age of 18, he began work at the carpenter’s trade, and worked under instruction three years. In 1854, he came West and settled in Moultrie Co., Ill., where he purchased land, farmed some, but for the most part followed his trade. In July, 1865, he located in Lebanon, St. Clair Co.; here he remained three years, during which time he contracted and built the public … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Geyer

George Geyer, farmer; P.O. Kansas; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, May 8, 1832, where he followed farming until 1857, when he removed to East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., Ill.. and located upon the old Donica farm, where he commenced farming with a capital of 825 cash and a team only partly paid for; he immediately went to work making improvements, which he continued until January, 1863, when he sold his improvements for $500, and purchased his present place, where he has since lived; his first purchase upon his present place was for 111 acres, upon which he made a payment … Read more

Biography of Watson Collins

Watson Collins, farmer deceased; one of the early pioneers of Coles Co.; born in North Carolina May 12, 1813, where he was raised to farming until 1831, when he emigrated with his father, Aaron Collins, and located upon Greasy Creek, Morgan Tp.; like most pioneers, the family were poor, and the subject of this sketch turned his attention to do what was in his power to the support of his father’s family; one occupation was getting out fence-rails at 25 cents per hundred; one season he worked at Vincennes, Ind., at $6 per month, the earnings being used for the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Turner

John Turner, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Fuller’s Point; one of the first settlers and pioneers, was born in Virginia Dec. 16, 1812; came to this State and settled in Coles Co. in 1830; his first settlement was in what is now the township of Paradise; he cannot tell now that the township at that time had a name, and through it there was no mail-route; in 1835, he removed to North Okaw; this section of country was at that time all called Okaw; it derives its name from the two streams running through it; Mr. Turner is now the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Diantha F. Benefiel

Mrs. Diantha F. Benefiel, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the daughter of James and Elizabeth Shores, of Bradford Co., Pa.; moved to Coles Co., Oct. 12, 1843; was born in Bradford Co., Penn., Sheshequin Tp., April 22, 1823; her maiden name was Diantha F. Shores ;. was married to her first husband, William N. Smith, March 31, 1844; names of children, boys-George W., Miren L., Julius E., William W.; girls-Elizabeth H., Arloa N., Irena S. George W. died Jan. 24, 1871. Her husband, William W. Smith, died April 8, 1861; is the owner of 320 acres of’ land, also a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Furness

Thomas Furness, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Fuller’s Point; one of the early settlers; was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 17. 1825; came to this State and settled in Coles Co. in 1856, and with the exception of five years’ residence in Moultrie Co., his home has been in Coles Co.; his farm, which is located in both counties, consists of 240 acres, valued at $7,200. He was married Dec. 25, 1848, to Miss Mary Kepler, who was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 9, 1829; they have ten children, seven of whom are living, viz., Louisa, Francis and … Read more

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

Biographical Sketch of J. S. Garner, M. D.

J. S. Garner, M. D., Salisbury; was born in Russell Co., Ky., Oct. 14, 1831; at the age of 18, he went to Lancaster, Garrard Co., Ky., where he studied medicine in the office of J. S. Pierce, M. D., for three years; after which, he attended a course of lectures in Louisville, Ky., and commenced the practice of medicine in Wayne Co., Ky., and continued there up to the year 1863, when, having recruited. Co. K, 48th Regt. Ky. Vols., was elected its First Lieutenant, and, having served for eighteen months in our late civil war, moved to Salisbury, … 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 Jacob Zimmerman

Jacob Zimmerman, of the firm of Zimmerman & Monroe, dealers in dry goods, notions, boots, shoes, etc., Ashmore; was born in Augusta County, Va., Sept. 19, 1836; in 1837, his father, Martin Zimmerman, removed with his family to Edgar Co., Ill., where he resided one year, and then settled in the edge of what is now Oakland Township, in 1838; in common with most of the pioneers, he began life in the West with an empty pocket, but with that unconquerable determination to succeed before which all obstacles recede and vanish away; he entered some land from the Government, to … Read more

Biography of James Morgan

James Morgan, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Oakland; one of the early pioneers of Coles Co.; born in Vermilion Co., Ind., April 20, 1830; he was the youngest son of David Morgan, who was born in Washington Co., Ky., Nov. 18, 1797; he emigrated from Kentucky to Indiana with his family, where he lived until he emigrated to Coles Co., Ill., where he located April 20, 1834, in what is now Morgan Tp., the township being named in honor of David Morgan. He married Oct. 7, 1818, to Jane Rodman she was born in Kentucky, June 9, 1799; six children … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Abram Hasbrouck

Abram Hasbrouck, City Mayor, and dealer in hardware and agricultural implements, Mattoon; was born in Ulster Co., N. Y., in 1825; his early life was passed upon the farm, and his education, such as was derived from the common schools; he remained on the homestead until about 25 years of age; in 1854, he came West and first settled in Michigan; here he engaged in operating a hotel; in 1857, he moved to Milwaukee, and conducted the “Walker House” two years; the winter of 1859 he spent in Chicago, not actively engaged in business; in 1860, he located in Mattoon, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. Cox

James A. Cox, farmer; P. O. Westfield, Clark Co.; was born in Hutton Tp. Oct. 26, 1846; his parents came to this county about the year 1829, and were among the first settlers; his mother died Feb. 2, 1877; his father is still living, in Cumberland Co., Ill.; the subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was 25 years of age, when he married Miss Lucinda R. Morris (daughter of Janie,: Morris, of Clark Co.) March 21, 1872; shortly after his marriage, he moved to a farm on Sec. 11, remaining there until the fall of 1872, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. P. Brandenburg

C. P. Brandenburg, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in Clay Co., Ind., Aug. 24, 1828; his parents, Solomon O. and Alezan, were among the first settlers of this county, having settled in the year 1829, on Sec. 14 of Hutton Tp.; his father died in 1861, and his mother went to reside with his brother William H., and died in May, 1875; Mr. Brandenburg lived with his parents up to the age of 17, when he went to Wisconsin and engaged in hauling lead during the summer for eleven seasons, returning to his father’s during the winter months; his … 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 Andrew Gossett

Andrew Gossett, farmer; P.O. Hutton; was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, Aug. 8, 1836; when he was 4 years of age, his parents, Luke and Jane, moved to Coles Co. and settled on Sec. 15, Hutton Tp., where they have resided ever since. Mr. Gossett married Miss Polly Kiser (daughter of William Kiser, of Hutton Tp.) Nov. 1, 1860. The March following, they moved to his farm on Sec. 23, where he now resides, upon which he has made all its present improvements; he has been School Director five years; he owns 190 acres of land. His wife was born … 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 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

Biographical Sketch of Henry E. Alexander

Henry E. Alexander, farmer; P. O. Paradise; is the son of Ebenezer and Dorcas Alexander; was born in Tennessee, Obion Co., Sept. 2, 1827; moved with his parents to Coles Co. Dec. 20, 1828. Is the owner of 210 acres of land valued at or near $8.000; School Director two or three terms. Was married to Mary B. Curry, of Coles Co., June 10, 1852; names of children – boys-James E., William D., George O. (Edward F., deceased); girls, Mary D., Margaret J. (Nancy E., deceased); Edward F. died June 16, 1865; Nancy E., Aug. 1, 1878; his father, Ebenezer … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. M. Gibbs

J. M. Gibbs, livery and sale stable, Mattoon; was born near the South Kickapoo, in Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 28, 1841; his grandfather, Elijah Gibbs, was one of the early pioneers of this section, having come from Virginia, in an early day, to Ohio, and thence to Illinois; his father, Homer Gibbs, was here almost as early as the formation of the county; his father was a carpenter by trade; J. M. passed his early life on the farm, near Sullivan, Moultrie Co.; his education was obtained in the common schools; at the age of 20 years, he began life … Read more