G. R. Richards, who is associated in business with his brother, T. M. Richards, was engaged in the livery business in Tuscola, and in born in 1865. He was for several years engaged in the livery business in Tuscola, and in 1899 removed to Hayes and became associated with his brother. In 1896 he was married to Miss Myrtle Johnson, a daughter of William T. Johnson, of Tuscola. They have no children. George is known as a ball player all over central Illinois.
Thomas Cruzan was born in Douglas County January 15, 1836, and is a son of the two oldest citizens now living in the County who were born in it. He is a son of Robert Cruzan and Jane Crawford, who settled early in the Brown neighborhood, coming from Indiana. Our subject owns two hundred and forty acres of land.
Oliver O. Hockett, one of the younger members of the medical fraternity of Douglas County, and one of the leading men in the social, professional and educational life of Newman, was born in Paris, Edgar County, Illinois, March 2, 1866. He was graduated from the high school of Paris in 1882 and subsequently entered the state university at Champaign, where he remained for three years. He then took up the study of medicine with Dr. M. P. Smith, with whom he remained until he entered Chicago Hahnemann College, from which well known institution he was graduated in the class of … Read more
George James Sharp during the thirty odd years he had lived in Elk County had been a farmer, school teacher, county official, abstractor and lawyer, and his friends and associates say that whatever he undertakes he does with all the enthusiasm of his nature and to the limit of his ability. He is an exceedingly useful citizen, and his services have for several years been untilized by the City of Howard through the office of mayor. Mr. Sharp was born on a farm in Hendricks County, Indiana, December 26, 1862, a son of William P. and Anna T. (Higgins) Sharp. … Read more
Within the past two years Tuscola has lost many of its oldest and most prominent citizens by death, but in the list none have been more sadly missed or sincerely mourned than our subject, John M. Madison, whose death occurred Monday, July 13, 1896. He was born in Harrison County, Kentucky, May 6, 1823, and was at the time of his death in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He belonged to a family of ten children; one brother and two sisters are still living: H. B. Madison, Tuscola ; Mrs. Harriet Parrish, of Cynthiana, Kentucky; and Mrs. Parmelia Carter, … Read more
J. O. Rudy, real estate agent, Mattoon; was born near Louisville, Jefferson Co., Ky., May 1, 1827; his parents moved to Illinois, and settled near Paris, Edgar Co., in 1830; his early life was spent upon the farm, and his early experiences were those of a farmer’s son; his education was derived from the common schools; in 1850, he crossed the plains to California, where for two years he applied himself to mining; near the close of 1852, he returned, having as his reward for toil, hardships and privations, about $3,000 in gold; on his return, he engaged for one … Read more
James S. Reeder, postmaster at Garrett, to which position he was appointed in July, 1898, located in Bourbon in 1856. He is a son of John A. and Mary B. (Harter) Reeder. John A. Reeder was born in Ohio in 1815 and died in 1891. David Harter (maternal grandfather) was a native of Virginia. James S. was in the Civil war as a private, enlisting in Company G, Seventy-ninth . Illinois Regiment Volunteer Infantry. Going in August, 1862, he remained out for two years and ten months
Geo. O. Moore was born December 1, 1858, on a farm near Muncie, Indiana. He is the third child of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Moore, and migrated with them to Douglas County when only five years old, locating near the County seat, Tuscola. His early education was attained in the schools of Tuscola and adjoining districts. He also took a classical and scientific course in the Normal College at Danville, Indiana, from which he graduated in 1881, paying his tuition and way through the school by the sweat of his brow as janitor. He was principal of … Read more
W. W. Pepper, a popular lawyer and a successful young business man, was born on a farm seven miles south of Newman May 24, 1866, and is the eldest of seven children born to Dudley H. and Nancy Liston Pepper. His father was a native of Kentucky and resides at Oakland. Mr. Pepper received his early education in the public schools of Oakland and afterward took a three-years’ course in the University of Illinois in Champaign. After leaving the university he took a two-years’ law course at the Northwestern University at Evanston and was graduated with honor in 1893, shortly … Read more
George White, the well known implement dealer and auctioneer of Newman, was born near Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky, August 18, 1842, and is a son of M. L. and Mary (Biby) White. Middleton White was born in Barren County, Kentucky and moved to Edgar County, Illinois, where he was married. His wife was also from near Glasgow. Kentucky. ‘They are both dead and buried in the Paris cemetery. George White came to Newman and located in business in about 1874, since which time his business has steadily grown until he is known as one of the most successful and extensive … Read more
William H. Fisher, a retired farmer and an ex-soldier of the Civil war, came to Douglas County in 1877 and located on a farm two and a half miles southeast of Arcola, which he purchased and resided on for four years, when he removed to Albany, Oregon. In 1882 he returned to Douglas County and located on a farm in Tuscola Township, remaining here for two years. He then purchased a farm east of Galton, which he owned and re-sided upon for ten years, when, in 1893, he moved to Tuscola, where he at present resides. He owns one hundred … Read more
Joseph Ashurst, principal and superintendent of the Camargo public schools and present nominee of the Democratic Party for the office of County superintendent of schools, has been a leading educator in the County for several years. He was born in Somerset, Pulaski County, Kentucky, April 16, 1872, and is a son of Henry Clay and Elizabeth (Thurman) Ashurst, who were both horn in Pulaski County, Kentucky. His grandfathers, Henry Ashurst and Joseph Thurman, were natives of Virginia and early settlers in Pulaski County, where they were engaged in agricultural pursuits. His father, Henry C. Ashurst, was one time sheriff of … Read more
William B. Chandler, a well-known stock buyer of the County and a resident of Bourbon Township, was born in Douglas County, Illinois, March 6, 1852. He is a son of Lemuel Chandler (for the ancestry of the family, see sketch.) When yet a boy, William B. Chandler entered the University of Illinois at Champaign and was graduated there from with a degree of B. S. in the class of 1876. In 1885 he served in the capacity of clerk to the Indian commission at Yankton and continued in this capacity for four years. He then went to Pueblo, Colorado, where … Read more
John R. Lawson, lumber and building materials, Oakland; born in Portsmouth, Scioto Co., Ohio, June 3, 1847, where he attended school constantly until 21 years of age, the last five years at the Portsmouth Normal School; at the above age, he engaged in book-keeping for the Portsmouth Foundry Co., which position he filled for two years; then, in 1871, he came West and engaged in book-keeping for Lawson & Burt, at Tuscola, Douglas Co., for two years, at the expiration of which time, he came to Oakland, Coles Co., and engaged in the lumber trade, dealing in lumber of all … Read more
Emmor W. Jeffers, the present circuit clerk of Douglas County, who has occupied that office since February 3, 1899, was born in Pike County, Illinois, November 19, 1861. He is a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Mc-Kinney) Jeffers, both natives of Ohio, who removed to Douglas County and settled in Camargo Township about 1864. His mother died in December, 1893, while his father resides in Bloomington, Illinois. (For further ancestry of the Jeffers family see sketch of George C. Jeffers, of Camargo). James McKinney, our subject’s maternal grandfather, was a native of Ohio. In 1889 E. W. Jeffers was … Read more
W. T. Pulliam, M. D., is one of Tuscola’s leading physicians. The Doctor has been in practice for many years, and has, by his energy and efficiency, achieved a success and reputation in the healing art second to none. He is thoroughly educated, and a most honorable and congenial gentleman. He received a literary and scientific education at the University of Illinois, after which he studied medicine in the Indiana Medical College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1882. Since that time he has been fully devoted to his chosen profession at Tuscola, where he now enjoys … Read more
Samuel Ervin, retired hardware merchant, large land owner, and a resident of Tuscola, was born in Hillsboro, Highland County, Ohio, in 1844. He was reared and educated in his native County and in 1865 came vest and located in Tuscola. He and a younger brother were associated in business together up to 1893, when he retires. He owns five hundred and sixty acres of land that extends up to the corporate limits of Tuscola. In 1871 Mr. Ervin was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Beach, who wits born on Staten Island. She died in T894. To their marriage were … Read more
Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ephlin are the oldest couple in Tuscola. They came here from Parke County, Indiana, April 4, 1858, when the number of inhabitants could be counted on the fingers of the two hands. They have lived here more than forty years, and out from the door-way of no home in Tuscola has come a kinder greeting to the wayfarer or a more hospitable reception to friends and relatives. Uncle Jake is closely related with the primitive town and the early County, having been among the first business men and serving as deputy sheriff under I. L. Jordan. … Read more
John Wright McKinney was born near Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, June 17. 1825, and died at Camargo, Illinois, July 31, 1897, aged seventy-two years, one month and twenty-four days. His father and family moved from Ohio to Montgomery County, Indiana, in [83o, where the deceased lived until his twenty-first year. During the following two years he taught school in Montgomery County, studying medicine meanwhile with an energy and avidity so characteristic of his nature. Mr. McKinney and Mary Roll were joined in matrimony October 12, 1848, at Pleasant Hill, Indiana. Soon after his marriage he moved to Hillsboro, Indiana, and … Read more
Jacob Moore, the pioneer of the family of Moores in the County, was a native of Kentucky. His wife, Amanda Rice, was also born in Kentucky. They came to Douglas County in the spring of 1834. In the same year he purchased from Sigler Lester forty acres of land, and afterward added about two thousand more. He died in 1860, and his wife in 1863. They had ten children; the eldest of whom, William T. Moore, was born in Park County, Indiana, September 5, 1830.