Cumberland County IL

Biographical Sketch of William F. Horton

William F. Horton, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Mattoon; owns 231½ acres; was born in Bedford Co., Penn., Jan. 31, 1824; moved to this county with his parents in 1837; went to Cumberland Co., in 1838, and returned to Coles Co. in November, 1861, where he has since resided. He was married to Emeline Dryden Feb. 1, 1849; she was born in Tennessee Sept. 15, 1821, and has had seven children, two of whom are living, viz., Mary E. and William D.; deceased are R. H., Alice, Amarintha and two infants not named. Mr. Horton has been School Director and … Read more

Biography of William Dozier

William Dozier, architect and builder, Mattoon; was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1836; his grandfather came from Pennsylvania to Ohio as early as 1810, and settled in Muskingum Co., when that section of country was a wilderness; his father was then a lad of some 8 or 9 summers; through want of opportunity, the education of his father was not extended beyond spelling, he never having read a day in school; he was a man, however, of good native ability, and, through his own exertions, obtained a fair education; he served nine years as Justice of the Peace; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James M. Bresee

James M. Bresee, farmer; P. O. Etna; is the son of Dorous and Fanny Bresee; was born in Cumberland Co., Ill., Jan. 30, 1847; moved to Coles Co. Feb. 12, 1870; is the owner of 120 acres of land valued at near five thousand dollars; was Road Overseer and School Director for ten years or more; was married to Sarah J. Stowers, of Coles Co., April 5, 1868. Names of children – boys: Bird E., born Nov. 18, 1875; girls: Minnie V., born Aug. 22, 1869; Lillie E., born Oct. 17, 1871; Hellen M., born March 1, 1873. Was in … Read more

Wyatt, Mary Melissa Birney – Obituary

Mrs. F. G. Wyatt, 76, well-known Kittitas resident, died at her home Monday night [August 15, 1938] after a short illness. Mrs. Wyatt was born January 23, 1862, at Jewitt, Illinois. She was married at Mt. Rose, Mo., February 16, 1881, to F. G. [Felix Grundy] Wyatt, they came West and settled at Shelton in 1886. They moved to the Kittitas Valley 35 years ago and had lived at Kittitas since 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1931. Mrs. Wyatt is survived by her widower; eight children, L. E. Wyatt and A. G. Wyatt of … Read more

Harrison, Wilma Florence (Blystone) – Obituary

La Grande, Union County, Oregon Wilma Harrison, 76, of Rt. 2, Box 2714, died Tuesday at Grande Ronde Hospital. Mrs. Harrison was born April 10, 1898, at Neoga, Ill., the daughter of C. H. and Margaret Blystone. She moved to La Grande with her parents in 1901. On Oct. 4, 1914, she married Joe Harrison at La Grande. This past Oct. 4 they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They have lived on their ranch all of their married lives. Mrs. Harrison was a member of the La Grande United Methodist Church, past president of the La Grande Country Club and … 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

Biography of Thomas B. Wall

Thomas B. Wall. A resident of Kansas for nearly thirty years, the late Judge Thomas Berry Wall was a man whose fine intellectual and professional attainments enabled him to leave a deep and benignant impress upon the history of this commonwealth. He was numbered among the representative members of the Kansas bar, served with distinction on the bench of the District Court and by his character and ability won inviolable place in popular confidence and esteem. He was one of the leaders of the bar of the City of Wichita at the time of his death, which occurred January 14, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Land

William Land, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Oakland; born in Cumberland Co., Ill., Jan. 19, 1839; at 7 years of age, his parents both died, their death occurring within a period of four days; at their decease, he came to Coles Co., Ill., and, until 15 years of age, worked at different places for his living when he worked for three years by the month; then rented land, and engaged in farming for himself for about four years, in Ashmore Tp., and in 1862, enlisted in the 123d regiment, I. V. I., in which he served his country until he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Neal, M. D.

J. W. Neal, M. D., physician and surgeon, Charleston; was born July 22, 1851, in what is now Cumberland Co., but then a part of Coles Co.; his father. William Neal, is a prominent and wealthy farmer and stock-raiser, who came to the State fifty-five years ago, at the age of years, from Bourbon Co., Ky.; Dr. Neal remained at home on the farm till he was 19 years old, then entered Lee’s Academy, in this county, graduating in 1871, and at once began the study of medicine with Dr. T. B. Dora, of Mattoon. The winter of 1872-73 he … Read more

Biography of Lewis Prather

Lewis Prather has been a resident of Champaign County for many years. He has been one of the live and energetic business men and farmers of the community, though he was well educated for the law. Successful in business, he has not neglected the public welfare and is a man who can be depended upon for helpful support wherever the best interests of his home community are concerned. Mr. Prather was born in Cumberland County, Illinois, April 20, 1862. His parents were James and Delilah (White) Prather, his father a native of Indiana and his mother of Illinois. The mother … Read more