Douglas County IL

Biographical Sketch of W. D. Reed

W. D. Reed, the assessor of Bowdre town-ship, was born on the old Reed homestead in the same Township March 14, 1852, and is a son of the gallant B. Frank Reed, who fell at the battle of Chickamauga, and for whom the G. A. R. Post at Tuscola is named, and whose portrait adorns this page. He was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, and emigrated with his father, Daniel, to Edgar County, when he was but eight years old. Daniel Reed founded the old tavern or road house at Hickory Grove between Newman and Indianola. He volunteered in the … 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

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 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

Moore, Minnie Stoughton – Obituary

Mrs. Minnie O. Moore, 68 years old, wife of Otis (Alvie) Moore, died at her home, 1002 South West street at 2:30 o’clock Wednesday morning after a long illness. She had suffered six paralytic strokes, the first one thirteen years ago. Mrs. Moore had been an invalid for ten years. She was born in Douglas county, Illinois July 26, 1875 and was the daughter of the Rev. Samuel and Belinda Stoughton. She had spent all her life in this county with the exception of eight years she spent in Illinois. The deceased had been a resident of Shelbyville for the … Read more

Biography of N. S. Monroe

N. S. Monroe, of Arthur, and the well-known road-machine manufacturer, is a native of Shelby County, Indiana, having been born eight miles from Shelbyville, the County seat, January 8, 1851. His parents were Andrew J. and Julia Ann (Huffman) Monroe, who were also natives of Shelby County, Indiana. His father was a farmer and came to Illinois in [856 and settled in Richland County, thence in 1866 to Coles County, and three years ago moved to Arcola, where he is living a retired life. N. S. Monroe’s grandfathers, Samuel Monroe and Jacob Huffman, were both Virginians by birth and were … 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 Robert M. Black

Robert M. Black, the subject of this memoir, came from an ancestry of more than ordinary importance and prominence. His great-grandfather, with his family, removed from Scotland and settled in Virginia some years before the Revolutionary war, caused by the traitor Arnold in portions of Virginia, volunteered, though far past the age of liability, for military service, and was one of the soldiers, who, under Lafayette and Gen. Wayne, turned and drove back Lord Cornwallis. He was intimately acquainted with Lafayette, Gen. Wayne and Gen. Lord Sterling, who were frequent guests at his house. His youngest son, George Black, the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. H. Hancock

W. H. Hancock, who is one of the most successful broom-corn brokers and business men of Tuscola, was born in Chicago, March 29, 1864, and is a son of W. S. and Sarah (Bell) Hancock. His father was born in Oxford, Ohio, and his mother in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania. His father is now living a retired life in Chicago. W. H. Hancock was raised to manhood in Chicago and educated in the Cook County normal school. His first position of any importance was that of conductor on the Pullman car lines, and he continued as such for seven years, running over … Read more

Biographical Sketch of the Brown Brothers, Richard and Daniel

Brown Bros., Richard and Daniel, farming, stock and road grading and ditching; P. O. Humbolt; are natives of Nelson and Hardin Cos., Ky.; they were born Dec. 22, 1826, and July 22, 1832, respectively. They were born on the farm, and have always followed farming; they lived in Kentucky until the fall of 1854, when they came to Illinois, and settled about ten miles south of Charleston, where they lived about three months; they then moved on the Springfield road, in Douglas Co., where they lived one year, when, in 1856, they came to the present place, and have lived … Read more

Biography of Col. John Cofer

Col. John Cofer, of Arcola Tp., Douglas Co., Ill.; the subject of this memoir was born near Cave Spring, Bullitt Co., Ky., July 9, 1804; his parents, Thomas and Mrs. Sarah Winn Griffin Cofer, were natives of Virginia and Maryland. Dec. 1, 1825, he married Miss Mary Eleanor Macgill, who was born in Annapolis, Md.. Feb. 7, 1807; her parents, Robert and Mrs. Helen Stockett Macgill, daughter of Dr. Thomas Noble Stockett, of Annapolis, were residents of Maryland. The Colonel’s early education was limited, but his thirst for knowledge made him a good student, and he soon became a profound … Read more

Cutsinger, Zua McQueen – Obituary

Cutsinger, Zua McQueen Douglas Co., IL Funeral services were held Tuesday at 2 o’clock at the Christian Church in Newman for Mrs. Zua Cutsinger, 78, who died Saturday [June 16, 1945] at the home of her brother, A. N. McQueen, and Mrs. McQueen.  Rev. J. L. Coleman officiated with interment in Newman Cemetery. Mrs. Cutsinger was born March 3, 1867 at Clifford, Indiana, daughter of William R. T. and Ellen McQueen.  She is survived by three children, Mrs. Hazel Alice Wilson of Gary, Indiana; W. E. Cutsinger of Lyons; and Lois N. Cutsinger of Newman.  She also leaves three brothers; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. J. V. Martin

Rev. J. V. Martin, pastor of St. John the Baptist Church at Arcola, Illinois, was born in Champlin, Minnesota, November 22, 1857. He was educated in the St. Francis College, Milwaukee; St. John’s University, Minnesota, and subsequently completed the six-years’ divinity course at the Grand Seminary, Montreal, Canada, where he was ordained December 18, 1886. His first charge was at Spring-field, Illinois, where he did hospital service for two months; from there he was transferred to Shipman, laboring for two and a half years as the regular pastor; thence to Neoga, where he remained two years, when, in 1891, he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry D. Jenkins, M. D.

Henry D. Jenkins, M. D., Arcola; one of the early settlers; was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., Dec. 30, 1822; came to this State and settled in what was then Coles Co. in 1855; his farm, being now located in Douglas Co., where he first settled, and which was at the time of his settlement all Coles Co., consists of 310 acres. The Doctor is a graduate of the Transylvania University, located at Lexington, Ky.; since his residence in this county, he has practiced his profession as physician but very little; his pursuits have been that of a farmer and … Read more

Cutsinger, Henry Isom – Obituary

The funeral of the late Henry I. Cutsinger, who died at his home near this city, on the morning of the 4th [March, 1904], was held at the M. E. Church, at 1:30 p.m., Sunday, the 6th under the auspices of Low Post No. 343, G.A.R. of which Mr. Cutsinger was an honored member; Rev. A. E. Hamilton pastor of the church preaching the sermon. The attendance, the condition of the weather considered, was remarkably large, attesting the fact of the esteem in which the deceased was held in the community in which he had spent so many years. The … Read more

Biography of Stephen Redden

Stephen Redden was born in Bracken County, Kentucky, April 14, 1818, and was a son of James Redden, who, leaving a large family of children growing up, resolved to give them a better chance by going west. Consequently he made a flat-boat, and, with his family and several of his neighbors and their families, he embarked on the Ohio river for what was then considered the far west. Stephen Redden was at that time four years old. At Louisville they would not trust the flat-boat to carry them over the falls, but were put ashore and either walked or were … Read more

Biography of George Skinner

George Skinner is one of the prosperous farm owners and well known citizens of Champaign County, now living retired at Urbana, and for his success the credit is due almost entirely to his individual efforts and his steadfast honesty and integrity. Mr. Skinner was born in Somersetshire, England, January 29, 1850, and was about four years of age when he accompanied his parents, Robert and Anna (Rich) Skinner, to America. The family first located near Elk Grove, northwest of Chicago, and in 1873 they moved to the vicinity of Homer in Champaign County, where Robert Skinner spent his last years … Read more

Biography of George James Sharp

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

Biographical Sketch of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Ephlin

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

Biography of John Wright McKinney

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