John L. Goff served as sheriff of Douglas County from 1887 to 1891, and at the time of his death, in 1892, he held the office of supervisor. He was married to Miss ,Josie R. Rice, a daughter of Martin Rice, deceased, of Camargo (see sketch). Mrs. Goff owns a half section of land, part of which is in Camargo and a part in Tuscola Townships. She resides in Tuscola.
Marion Watson, of Arthur, after reading law under the instruction of William H. Whit taker, of Sullivan, was admitted to practice law before the supreme court of the state in 1896. He was born on a farm near Bloom-field, Greene County, Indiana, October 29, 1864. His education was received in the common schools, and he afterward attended a short term at the normal at Danville, Indiana. He remained on the farm in his native County until 1883, when he came to Illinois, locating in Douglas County, and spent two seasons as a common work hand on the farm, working. one … Read more
Samuel W. Smiley, grain buyer at West Ridge, and member of the firm of Smiley & Watson (B. T. Watson, of Bourbon), is one of the wide-awake and energetic business men of the County. He came to Douglas County in 1889, and located in Bourbon Township, where he was engaged in business. Subsequently he and B. T. Watson formed their partnership, and Mr. Smiley located at West Ridge. This firm bought at this place from July 1 to November 10, 1899 13o,ooo bushels of corn and oats. Samuel W. Smiley was born at Greencastle, Indiana, February 11, 1855, and is … Read more
Frank F. Loose, one of the leading farmers and business men of the county, residing upon his farm in the north suburb of Tuscola, was born in the city of Springfield, Illinois, in the year 1859. He was reared on the farm and was educated in Springfield. his father’s farm lying just south of the city. His father, Jacob G. Loose, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, just across from the Maryland line. He sank the first shaft in the vicinity of Springfield, on his own farm, mortgaging almost everything he had to accomplish this, and his venture was richly … Read more
John G. Crawford, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Oakland; born in Morgan Co., Ind., Aug. 10, 1837, where he attended school in winter and was engaged in farming in summer until he was 23 years of age, when, in the spring of 1860, he removed to Illinois, locating in Douglas Co., where he engaged in farming until 1865, when he returned to his native home, remaining there two years; then coming West again, he continued farming nearly two years in Douglas Co., when in 1869, he removed to Oakland and erected a fine residence where he now lives; he also owns … Read more
T. W. Swigart, the leading harness dealer and one of the most successful business men in Newman and Douglas County, was born in Carroll County, Maryland, in sight of A Westminister, July 3, 1831, and was a son of Joseph Swigart. When nine years of age T. W. Swigart removed with his parents to Seneca County, Ohio, where he spent a large portion of his life on a farm. From the years 1848 to 1851 he devoted his time to learning the trade of harness maker at Bellefontaine, Ohio. He was a young man of good habits and of splendid … Read more
James S. Reeder was born March 4, 1840, in Darke County, Ohio, and came with his parents in 1856 to this locality, where he engaged in farming. He enlisted August, 1862, in Company G, Seventy-ninth Illinois Infantry, and served three years. At the battle of Stone River, December 31, 1862, he was wounded and taken prisoner; after being in the enemy’s lines twenty-seven days he was exchanged, and participated in the battles of Liberty Gap and Chickamauga; at the latter, September 19, 1863, he was captured and taken to Richmond prison, thence to Andersonville, Charleston, South Carolina, and Florence, making … Read more
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
C. D. Greve, one of the successful young business men of the County and the leading grain buyer at Garrett, was born one mile west of the village September 27. 1868, and is a son of Thomas Greve, who emigrated to this country from Germany at the age of twenty-one and settled in Garrett Township. His wife ‘w as Catherine Ritz. Thomas Greve has lived in Garrett Township for forty years, engaged in farming, and at present owns four hundred and fifty acres of land. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church. C. D. Greve was … Read more
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
Wilson S. Burgett, a native of Sargent Township, and a son of I. W. Burgett, whose sketch is found on another page, was born December 23, 1863. He was reared in Sargent Township, where he continued to live until eight years ago, when he removed to his present farm two miles south of Camargo. In 1886 he was married to Miss Kate May, a daughter of Judge Brown (see sketch). They have three children : Ray Brown, Burley Sumner and Wayne Brenton. W. S. Burgett owns two hundred and ten acres of land, on which he lives, and is one … Read more
Segler H. Lester (deceased) was born in Virginia October 29, 1804, and died in Garrett Township May 22, 1864, and married Parthenia Cassaday May 14, 1833. Mrs. Lester, who is known among her neighbors as Grandma Lester, still survives. She was a daughter of Daniel Cassaday, of Virginia, where she was horn July 9, 1811, and spent her early years in Kentucky. In 1829 she came with her parents to Edgar County, Illinois, where she met Mr. Lester, whom she subsequently married. Immediately after her wedding she moved with her husband to a place on the Springfield or State road, … Read more
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
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
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 J. Jones was many years previous to his death most prominently identified with the affairs of Douglas County. He was born in. Virginia in about the year 1835 and died in Chicago in July, 1893. In early life he came to Illinois as a penniless orphan and located at Georgetown, in Vermilion County, where he resided with two of his cousins and with whom he remained until he was about grown, when he came and located in Camargo. Here he be-came a clerk for Alonzo Lyons, remaining with him for some time, when he, in partner-ship with Coleman Bright, … Read more
John T. Irwin, retired farmer, and for many years a highly respected citizen of the county, is a son of George and Jemima (Russell) Irwin, and was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, May 28, 1824. His father was a native of Montgomery County, Ohio, and his mother of Cabell County, West Virginia. George Irwin was born October 23, 1799, and died May 23, 187r. He followed the occupation of farming principally; emigrated from his native county to Lawrence county, Ohio, in the year 1818. He was a son of Thomas Irwin, Who was a native of Ireland, and served in … Read more
John W. King, of Newman, who has for several years been prominent in the politics of the County, and at present is associated with the Newman bank, was born 1n Bourbon County, Kentucky, October 13, 1841. He is a son of David A. and Jane Elizabeth (Mitchell) King, who were natives of Clark and Montgomery counties, Kentucky, respectively. His father, who was born in 1818, followed the occupation of farming, removed from Kentucky to Champaign County, Illinois, in 1855, and there his death occurred in 1896. His mother died in 1882, aged fifty years. His paternal grand-father, Robert Cass King, … Read more
Henry Clay Jones, the affable and genial treasurer of Douglas County, was born in Franklin County, Indiana, December 2, 1842, a son of Calvin and Hannah (Case) Jones. He was reared to manhood in his native County and in 1860 removed to Douglas County. In 1862 he joined Company K, Seventy-ninth Illinois Infantry, and served as a private soldier in the Civil war until June 12, 1865, when he was honorably discharged at Nashville, Tennessee. He was wounded in the leg in the battle of Liberty Gap, which prevented him from keeping up with his regiment until the battle of … Read more
James H. Howe was born June 1, 1832, in Bourbon County, Kentucky. April 5, 1838, he came with his mother to Vermilion County, Illinois; he was reared and educated in Vermilion and Champaign counties. In his youthful days he traveled considerably, and, in 1854, came to Douglas County; two years later he bought the Williams farm, which lie improved and afterward sold. He was largely engaged in the live stock business, handling as high as one hundred thousand dollars in a year. In the spring of 1882 he was elected justice of the peace and was also highway commissioner. He … Read more