Douglas County IL

McQueen, Joshua P. – Obituary

Newman Man Takes Own Life With Poison. Mr. Joshua P. McQueen Committed Suicide Thursday Evening Of Last Week By Taking Concentrate Lye And Carbolic Acid-Funeral Held Saturday Afternoon. The funeral rites took place at the late home on Kings Street, Saturday afternoon, at 3 o’clock, conducted by Rev. F. O Fannon, pastor of the Christian church, and were largely attended by relatives and friends. Music on the occasion was rendered by a quartet composed by Mrs. F. S. Lydick, Mrs. George Roller, Messrs. F. L. White and M. S. Smith; and at the request of the family Mr. Smith sang … 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

Cutsinger, William Edward – Obituary

William Edward Cutsinger, who resided about 6 miles north of Hindsboro, passed away on Monday evening, August 1st [1938] at his home, following an illness of several months duration. Death was due to a complication of diseases. The deceased was born on May 29, 1867, near Newman, and has lived here all his life. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. I. Cutsinger, who resided south of Newman for several years. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Zua [McQueen] Cutsinger, and three children, namely, William Cutsinger, of Chicago; Mrs. Hazel Wilson, of Gary, Ind.; and Miss Naomi … Read more

Biography of Albert F. Fidler

Albert F. Fidler is one of the self-made and highly successful young farmers and business men of the County, and is a son of Levi Fidler, who was born April 28, 1819, in Berks County, Pennsylvania, Albert F.’s grandfather, Samuel, was a native of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and was of Dutch ancestry. Adam Fidler (great-grandfather), who came originally from Germany, was the founder of this branch of the Fidler family in America. Our subject’s grandfather, Samuel Fidler, fought in the war of 1812, and his great-grandfather, Adam, in the war of the Revolution. Samuel Fidler was a brick plasterer and con-tractor … Read more

McQueen, Spencer Quick – Obituary

Spencer Quick McQueen, age 75, retired Tuscola farmer, died at his home on South Ohio Street, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday [October 13, 1942] of complications following a long illness. Funeral services will be held from the Mt. Gilead Church at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) with burial in the Broadus Cemetery with the Waddington funeral service in charge. The deceased, a long-time resident of Douglas County, was born at Columbia, Ind., July 5, 1867, son of Thomas and Phoebe McQueen. On October 3, 1888, he was married to Miss Minnie Smith, who with eight children survives. The children are Mrs. Clarence … Read more

Biography of G. K. Sipple, Hon.

Hon. G. K. Sipple. During 1910 the retired colony of Neodesha was augmented by the arrival of G. K. Sipple, whose activities have been centered in Wilson County since the year 1881, and whose career is expressive of the possibilities of country life when directed by a well-trained mind, an earnest purpose and a keen appreciation of its benefits and prerogatives. Mr. Sipple is a Union veteran of the Civil war, and a citizen who had contributed to his community’s welfare. That his worth had been appreciated is evidenced by the positions of public trust which he had filled, his … 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 George H. Moser

George H. Moser, a well known and successful homeopathic physician of Arcola, was born in Auburn, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1859, and is the son of John Moser, a native of the same state. His mother was Alvinia Hellig, who was a descendant of Quaker ancestry. The Moser family are descendants of the Dutch, whose lineage is traced back by some of the members to Daniel Moser, who made his settlement in Pennsylvania in the year 1799. Doctor Moser came west and early in life turned his attention to the study of medicine. After a thorough preparation he entered … Read more

Biography of Samuel Ervin

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

Biographical Sketch of W. H. Bassett

Judge W. H. Bassett was born January 12, 1832, on a farm in Harrison County, Kentucky, and there grew to manhood, receiving a common-school education. He later attended a commercial college in Cincinnati , 011;o, graduating May 12, 1854. Afterward he engaged in the mercantile business in Cynthiana, Kentucky. He came to what is now Douglas County, Illinois, in 1857, and was engaged in farming until 1862. At this time he enlisted in Company K, Seventy-ninth Illinois Infantry, and served to the close of the war, filling all the company offices from corporal to captain. Upon returning from his army … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William T. Brian

William T. Brian, one of the old and favor-ably known citizens and a member of one of the pioneer families of the County, was born in 1845 in Douglas County, and is a son of William and Anna Lewis Brian, who were born in the same County. William Brian (father) located in what is known now as the Brian neighborhood in about the year 1843, where he entered a large tract of land at one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre, and adding to that later considerably more at thirteen dollars per acre. At the time of his death, in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel B. Logan

Samuel B. Logan, one of the very oldest of the pioneers now living in Douglas County, and the first sheriff, was born near the village of Washington, Mason County, Kentucky, April 30, 1816. He is a son of Joseph and Mary (Morris) Logan. The former was a native of Mason County and the latter of the state of New Jersey. John Logan (grand-father) was one of the early settlers from Pennsylvania, and after his arrival in Kentucky he lived in a fort. Joseph Logan (father) was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was in the battle of the … Read more

Biography of Isaac Newton Wade

Isaac Newton Wade. There are doubtless a number of men and women now in mature years who knew Isaac Newton Wade in Champaign County as a teacher. He was one of the early educators, and afterwards for a long period of years was a traveling salesman for a text book house. Mr. Wade is now living retired at Champaign, in which city he has had his home for the past forty-five years. He was born in Lockland, Ohio, May 13, 1846, a son of Moses and Rachel (Ferris) Wade. His mother was a native of Mount Arie, Ohio, and died … Read more

Biography of John D. Seltzer

John D. Seltzer, now living retired at Villa Grove, spent many useful and productive years in Champaign County. These years dealt pleasantly with him and in response to his energy and good judgment rewarded him with one of the finest farms in Raymond Township, which he still owns, and he is able to look back upon his past years with a great deal of satisfaction, born of practical achievement and the performance of the many duties that are assumed by public spirited citizens like Mr. Seltzer. He is of old Pennsylvania stock and was born in Schuylkill County of that … Read more

Biography of W. L. Watson

W. L. Watson was born Vermilion County, Illinois, on the 22d of December, 1837. His father was William D. Watson, in his early life an itinerant Methodist preacher who traveled extensively through Indiana, having been born in the neighborhood of Vincennes, and in Fountain County, of that state, married Mary Low. His health finally failed him, and coming to Illinois, he located above Georgetown in Vermilion County. William Watson, the grandfather, was born in Kentucky, and when a young man settled in the vicinity of Vincennes, Indiana. W. L. was the oldest son and second child of the family. His … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel W. Smiley

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

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 W. T. Pulliam, M. D.

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

Biographical Sketch of Walter C. Blaine

Walter C. Blaine was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, in the class of 189$. He commenced the practice at Murdock, where he remained until October, 1898, when he formed a partnership with Dr. William E. Rice, of Tuscola. Dr. Blaine is a native of Champaign, Illinois, and was born June 1 866. He graduated from the Champaign high school, and after four years attendance was graduated from the University of Illinois, at Champaign, on certificate. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, member of the Woodmen, and a member of the Douglas County Medical Society.

Biography of Emmor W. Jeffers

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