East Oakland Illinois

Biographical Sketch of John Rutherford

John Rutherford, Cashier of the Oakland National Bank, Oakland; born in Oakland, Coles Co., Ill., June 21, 1844, where he engaged in farming and attending school until February, 1867, when he engaged in the dry goods trade with J. J. Pemberton, which business he followed until 1872; he was then employed as book-keeper for the banking firm of L. D. Carter & Co., which position he held until Aug. 1, 1874, at which time the National Bank of Oakland was formed and he was chosen Cashier, which position he has since held; he was made a member of the Oakland … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George F. Hackett

George F. Hackett, farmer, S. 18; P. O. Oakland; born in Scott Co., Ky., Aug. 27, 1827; he emigrated with his parents, in the fall of 1834, to Illinois, and located in Coles Co., where he attended school during the winter, and assisted his father farming during the summer, until 18 years of age, when he worked by the month during the summer driving cattle from Coles Co. to Wisconsin, and attending school during the winter for four years; in 1850, he drove an ox-team, overland, to California, going via the old Oregon route, by Fort Hall, arriving in Wearville, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Hunt

William Hunt, farmer and Justice of the Peace, Oakland; born in Coles Co., Ill., Feb. 11, 1845, upon the place where he has since continued to live; he is the son of James D. Hunt, who located in Coles Co., previous to 1838, where he died July 3, 1856; the subject of this sketch continued upon the old homestead, and attended school and assisted in farming, until the decease of his mother, which occurred July 3, 1865; after which he purchased the interest of a portion of the other heirs, and continued farming upon the old place upon his own … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John H. Zarley

John H. Zarley, miller, Oakland; born in Washington Co., Penn., April 25, 1819, where he attended school and engaged in farming until March 1837, when he located in Morgan Co., Ohio, and followed farming until 1848, at which date he located in Blackford Co., Ind., and engaged in farming until 1851, when he removed to Moultrie Co., Ill., and engaged in farming until 1853, at which time he returned to Ohio and farmed for eleven years; he then returned to Moultrie Co., Ill., for two years, and, in 1866, he engaged in the milling business in Lovington, for one year; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel A. Annin

Samuel A. Annin, farmer, S. 23; P. O. Oakland; born in Somerset Co., N. J., Nov. 8, 1836, where he attended school until 1850, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Wyoming Tp., Lee Co., where he assisted his father in farming until January, 1852, when he located in East Oakland Tp., and engaged in farming, which business he has since followed, living upon the old homestead where his father first located in 1852, during a period of nearly thirty years; he, with his younger brother, owns some 400 acres of land, which is will improved, … Read more

Biography of Solomon Hendrix

Solomon Hendrix, stock dealer; P. O. Oakland; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, May 13, 1820, where he attended school during his youth until large enough to labor upon a farm, when he followed farming for his father until he attained his majority, when, in 1842, he located upon a farm of eighty-six acres, all heavy timber, where he lived seven years and succeeded in clearing and placing under cultivation upward of sixty acres, the first year by hard labor he raised eight acres of corn and potatoes enough for his family use during the winter. In the summer of 1850, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Peter Gobert

Peter Gobert farmer, and stock-raiser, S. 19; P. O. Oakland; one of the pioneers of Coles Co.; born in France Oct. 17, 1821, where he attended school until 11 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to America, landing in New York the spring of 1832; going to Buffalo, he assisted his father upon a farm until 16 years of age, when he emigrated West in the spring, coming by way of the lakes to Chicago, arriving there June 11, 1837; coming directly to Coles Co., they located in what is now known as East Oakland Tp., before … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. B. Clarke

R. B. Clarke, merchant, Oakland; born in Madison Co., N. Y., Oct. 3, 1814, where he was engaged in farming until he attained his majority, when he emigrated to Ohio, where he engaged in the merchandise trade and distilling whisky for eighteen years; in 1852, he came to Illinois, and, in 1854, located in Oakland, and, with C. Clement, erected the first flour, feed and saw mill built in this town; he followed this business for upward of twelve years, when he sold his mill; in 1868, he engaged in the grocery and hardware trade, which he has since successfully … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. H. Swinford

W. H. Swinford, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Putnam Co., Ind., Aug. 20, 1844, where he followed farming until 1871, when he removed to Illinois and located in Hickory Tp., Coles Co., where he engaged in farming until 1875, when he purchased sixty acres of prairie land in East Oakland Tp., upon which he settled, and where he has since lived; he also owns forty acres in Hickory Tp., upon which he has erected good, comfortable farm buildings. He married Nov. 10, 1867, to Mary A. Cole; she was born in Putnam Co., Ind., Jan. 12, 1846; she is … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Land

William Land, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Oakland; born in Cumberland Co., Ill., Jan. 19, 1839; at 7 years of age, his parents both died, their death occurring within a period of four days; at their decease, he came to Coles Co., Ill., and, until 15 years of age, worked at different places for his living when he worked for three years by the month; then rented land, and engaged in farming for himself for about four years, in Ashmore Tp., and in 1862, enlisted in the 123d regiment, I. V. I., in which he served his country until he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Buckler

John Buckler, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Oakland; born in Marion Co., Ky., June 22, 1838, where he was engaged farming until 16 years of age, when he removed to Illinois and located in Edgar Co., in 1854, where he was employed as farm laborer until 1862, at which time he rented and farmed until 1874, when he purchased eighty acres, which he worked four years; then sold out, and, after living in Douglas Co. eight months, purchased his present place of 160 acres, where he now lives, on Sec. 4, East Oakland Tp. He married April 7, 1862, to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of H. A. Pemberton

H. A. Pemberton, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Oakland; one of the pioneers of Coles County; born in Washington Co., Va., Aug. 22, 1822; he emigrated with his parents when quite young, and located in Coles Co., Ill., in November 1831, upon the place where he has since lived during the a period of nearly half a century; he is the youngest son of Stanton and Sarah Pemberton; his father died in 1838; seven years after his settlement here, and his mother died in 1850; after the death of his father, he and an older brother managed the place until … Read more

Biography of Alexander McGregor

Alexander McGregor, farmer; P. O. Charleston; the subject of this sketch was born in Perthshire, Scotland, July 1, 1807, where he attended the common schools in his youth and assisted his father in farming until upward of 21 years of age, when he located in Glasgow as clerk and salesman in the wholesale store of Robert & John Henderson, with whom he remained until 1842, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York in April, of the same year, coming directly West; he lived in East Oakland Tp. until the spring of 1843, when he located forty acres of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of T. S. Coffin

T. S. Coffin, merchant, Oakland; born in Cornville, Somerset Co., Me., Oct. 7, 1832, where he was engaged in farming and attending school in winter until 18 years of age, when, after finishing his academic studies, he engaged in school-teaching for two years, then as clerk in dry goods store four years; he then engaged in the dry goods business for two years, when, in 1858, he went to California, where he resided about nine years, mining and speculating in mines, making and losing several fortunes, but finally was successful, and in the fall of 1867, he spent the winter … Read more

Biography of L. C. Thornton

L. C. Thornton, farm implements, Postmaster, Oakland; one of the pioneers of Edgar Co., Ill.; born in Washington Co., Ind., Dec. 15, 1825; he removed with his parents in 1829, being then 4 years of age, and located in Edgar Co., Ill., where he attended school, and engaged in farming until Sept. 10, 1861, when he enlisted as private in Co. E, 66th I. V. I; this regiment was composed of picked men from the various Northwestern States, selected for their skill and accuracy in handling the rifle; the 66th was known in the army as the Western Sharp-shooters, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Tinsley

William Tinsley, farmer, deceased; born in Anderson Co., Ky., March 10, 1807, where he learned the cooper’s trade, which business he followed until 1831, when he came to Illinois and located in Edgar Co., where, after farming several years, he removed to East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., and located upon Sec. 4, where he lived until his death, and where his widow and two children still continue to reside; his first land he purchased for $3 per acre, to which, during his life, he added, as he was able, until at the time of his decease, he owned upward of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lewis Kees

Lewis Kees, merchant, Oakland; born in Preble Co., Ohio, April 10, 1843, where he attended school until 16 years of age, when he emigrated West and located in Embarrass Tp., Edgar Co., where he engaged in farming until July, 1862, when he enlisted in the 70th I. V. I. for three months; he was sent to Camp Butler, Springfield, where he remained two months guarding prisoners, then to Alton for two months performing the same duty; he was in the service four months and was mustered out with his regiment in November, 1862. He then returned to his farm, which … Read more

Biographical Sketch of N. R. Duer

N. R. Duer, farmer and school-teacher; P. O. Oakland; born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, May 13, 1832, where he attended school and engaged in farming until he attained his majority, when he engaged in school-teaching one year; he then entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, located at Delaware, which he attended for upward of two years; he then engaged in farming and school-teaching in Ohio, until 1862, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in Clark Co., where he followed teaching and farming until 1864, when he located in Coles Co., and engaged in teaching in Oakland one year, and one … Read more

Biographical Sketch of N. P. Smith

N. P. Smith, dealer in books, stationery, etc., Oakland; born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Jan. 6, 1847, where he attended school until 16 years of age, when he removed to Pickaway Co., where he attended school one year; he then attended at Delaware City, where he entered the Wesleyan University, where he remained eighteen months; in 1866, he located in Shelby Co., Ill., and for five years engaged from four to six months during the fall and winter in teaching school, and the balance of the season farming and dealing in farm implements and machinery; he then engaged in the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hugh Daugherty

Hugh Daugherty, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 25, 1830, in which county he has always lived; he is the son of John Daugherty, one of the earliest pioneers of Illinois, who emigrated from North Carolina and located in Illinois about the year 1828; he died about the year 1860, in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co.; the subject of this sketch, assisted his father farming until 17 years of age, when he was employed as farm laborer for two years, when he commenced farming, renting for a period of five years, when he purchased forty acres, … Read more