Douglas County IL

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Boyer

J. W. Boyer, a well known farmer of Sargent Township. and the present census enumerator for the same, was born in the vicinity of Ashmore, Coles County, Illinois, on the 11th day of April, 1850. For twenty-five years he has been identified with the industrial growth of his Township, and is well and favorably known as an intelligent and upright citizen. He is the son of James and Susan (Mack)Boyer, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter was born in Kentucky. As early as 1835 James Boyer came and settled with his father, Joseph, who was also born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George White

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

Biography of J. O. Rudy

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

Biographical Sketch of Geo. O. Moore

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

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Cruzan

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.

McQueen, George Dallas – Obituary

The sad news of the death of Mr. George Dallas McQueen, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Demp Cutsinger, of near Chrisman, reached the city, Monday. The deceased had been in failing health for some time and went to the St. Mary’s Hospital in Decatur, where on Sept. 28th a surgical operation for cancer of the stomach and other complications was performed. His condition was known to be serious and having recovered from the operation, he went to the home of his daughter where he remained until death. George Dallas McQueen was born May 4, 1844, and was united … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John R. Lawson

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

Biographical Sketch of William Brian Sr.

William Brian, Sr., was born May 6, 18o6, in Ross County, Ohio, and in 1837 he came to Coles, now Douglas, County ; he entered about one thousand acres of land when coming here, and has owned as high as three thousand acres. He had learned the blacksmith’s trade in Ohio, and followed it about twenty years here. On one occasion, when shoeing a Methodist preacher’s horse, he nailed the shoes on with the toe-corks behind. The preacher remonstrated with him for doing so; his reply was, “The devil takes, after these Methodist preachers, and I thought I would make … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William E. Atwell

William E. Atwell was born in Bracken County, Kentucky, in the year A. D. 1831, and there grew to man’s estate, when he moved to a farm in Pendleton County in the same state. He wedded Miss Nancy Barrett, of near Cynthiana. She died in June, 1897. They had twelve children, all of whom are living and doing well in the world. Mr. Atwell is a son of William and Ursla (Fields) Atwell, who were natives of old Virginia. His grandfathers were Hugh Atwell and Leban Fields, the former born in Virginia and the latter in North Carolina.. Mr. Atwell, … Read more

Biography of Albert W. Wallace

Albert W. Wallace is president of the First National Bank of Tuscola, one of the leading banking institutions of central Illinois. The First National Bank was organized in November, 1869, with a paid up capital of one hundred and thirteen thousand dollars. Its first president was William P. Cannon (a brother of Congressman J. G. Cannon) and W. H. Lamb was the first cashier. Mr. Cannon remained president until 1872, when he was succeeded by Henry T. Caraway, who remained president up to January 1, 1898, when he was succeeded by Mr. Wallace. Mr. Lamb remained cashier up to July … Read more

Biography of John N. Outcelt

John N. Outcelt was born March 4, 1839, in Muskingum County, Ohio, his father, John, being a farmer and a native of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Jacob Outcelt, came to the United States from Scotland and settled in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. His mother was Mary McClain, of Bedford County, in the same state. He was the youngest child, and at sixteen left home, came to Illinois and for two years sold lightning rods and saved his earnings, with which he paid tuition and other expenses in attending school one year in St. Louis. Up to the time of leaving home he … Read more

Biography of of A. C. Sluss

A. C. Sluss, the proprietor of the Tuscola Journal, a weekly paper published at Tuscola, and the present postmaster of Tuscola, has been for many years prominently identified with the business, social and political interests of his city and County, having served the city of Tuscola twice as alderman, three terms as city clerk and one term as mayor. He was born in Edgar County, Illinois, April 7, 1850, and is a son of Thomas S. and Martha Hineman ) Sluss. His father, who was born in Kentucky, removed. to Tuscola in 1861, and there carried on his trade, that … Read more

Biography of W. W. Skinner

W. W. Skinner was horn November 12, 1835, in Vermillion, Indiana. In 1839, with his parents, he moved to Coles (now Douglas)County, Ills., where he has since resided. When Mr. Skinner came to Douglas County there were only seven families in what is now New-man Township, namely : Anson, Gaston, Robert Hopkins, E. J. Howell and three families by the name of Winkler. Joseph Skinner, father of W. W. Skinner, burned a brick kiln on the banks of the Brushy Fork creek in 1839, it being the first kiln burned in that part of the state. For years after this … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Brock

George W. Brock, one of the reliable and representative farmers of Newman Township, residing within the corporate limits of the city of Newman, was born twelve miles southwest of Crawfordsville, Indiana, September S, 1846. His father, Seth Brock, was a native of Warren County, Ohio. He was a carpenter by trade and farmed also, owning farms in Wayne and Montgomery counties: he later removed to Mason County, Illinois. He was a strong pro-slavery man, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; was born in 1813 and died in 1873. He wedded Mary A. Palmer, who was a daughter of … Read more

Biography of Grover Chester Bowman

GROVER CHESTER BOWMAN – To be responsible for the proper and up-to-date management of modern schools, to endow them with an atmosphere which pervades both the teaching staff and the students, requires men of superior endowments who, as students have been in contact with high-class educational establishments of different types. In this respect Mr. Grover Chester Bowman, superintendent of schools of North Adams, has been singularly fortunate for having as a student, at a period of life when the mind is in a state for high receptivity and plasticity, come under the influence of the academic atmosphere of two of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William A. Wiseman

William A. Wiseman, a well known physician of Camargo, where he has been in successful practice for several years, was born at Waterloo, Lawrence County, Ohio, January 1, 1853, and is a son of Abner and Martha J. (Irwin) Wiseman. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Ohio. Isaac Wiseman’s grandfather was also born in Virginia and his maternal grandfather, George Irwin, was born in Virginia. Dr. Wiseman was reared in his native County, where he attended the public schools and subsequently, in 1878, became a student at DePauw University, where he pursued a regular college … Read more

Biography of George C. Jeffers

George C. Jeffers, member of the firm of Bragg & Jeffers, engaged in general merchandising and banking at Camargo, was horn in Adams County, Illinois, in 1858, and is a son of Samuel P. and Rachel (Orr) Jeffers. Samuel P. Jeffers was horn in Clermont County, Ohio, June 9, 1834, and is a son of Elijah and Hannah (Pine) Jeffers, natives of Clermont County, Ohio, and New Jersey respectively. Hannah Pine was a daughter of William Pine, who, an orphan, emigrated from England to this country and first settled in New Jersey. thence removing to Ohio and later to Pike … Read more

Biography of Judge John Brown

Judge John Brown has been for over sixty years identified with the best interests of Douglas County. He was born in Ross County, Ohio, May 7, 1822, on a farm, where he remained until the age of seventeen. This farm was located on Paint creek, two miles from Chillicothe, the County seat of Ross County. Our subject is a son of Nimrod Brown, who was a native of Augusta County, Virginia, and who served in the war of 1812. His mother was, before her marriage, Elizabeth Eigelbright, and was born in Monroe County, Virginia. When our subject was but seven … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Daniel Roderick

Daniel Roderick is one of the oldest settlers now living in Douglas County. He came to near Danville, Illinois, with his father, Samuel R., sixty years ago. The latter died in Vermilion County, and soon afterward Daniel came to what is now Garrett Township and kept generally about twelve yokes of oxen. He was horn July 16, 1816, and his education was almost entirely neglected, but he is known as “honest, old Dan Roderick.”

Biography of Spephen S. Henson

Stephen S. Henson, a highly respected citizen, belonging to the old school of gentlemen, and who is probably as well and favorably known as any man in the County, was born near Cynthiana, Harrison County, Kentucky, in October, 1827, and is a son of Gideon and Nancy Shumate. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Kentucky. The former emigrated from Kentucky to Vermillion County, near Indianola, in 1834, and, with his wife and children, located in the vicinity of Villa Grove, where he entered a large tract of land. His children were: George W. (see sketch), … Read more