East Oakland Illinois

Biography of Hiram Rutherford

Hiram Rutherford, retired physician and surgeon, Oakland; one of the early settlers of Coles Co.; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Dec. 27, 1815; his great-grandfather emigrated from Ireland in 1729, and settled in Lancaster Co., Penn., upon a branch of the Susquehanna, where, with his wife, he lived until 1755, when he removed to Great Limestone Springs, two miles east of where the city of Harrisburg now stands, and near which place a large portion of his descendants now live; this grand old patriarch died 100 years ago, and lies buried in the Paxton Church-yard, the oldest burial-place in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. D. Busbey

W. D. Busbey, farmer and harness-maker, Oakland; one of the pioneers of Coles Co.; born in Clark Co., Ohio, Dec. 28, 1820, where he engaged in farming until 19 years of age, when he emigrated West in 1839, and located in Coles Co., Ill., where he engaged in farming for a period of fifteen years; in 1860, he located in Oakland, and engaged in the harness and saddlery trade, which business he has since followed, in connection with firming; he owns his shop and eighty acres of land, upon which his residence stands, which he erected in 1854; he held … Read more

Biography of W. B. Zimmerman

W. B. Zimmerman, farmer; P. O. Oakland; one of the early settlers of Coles Co., Ill.; born in Augusta Co., Va., Feb. 4, 1826, where he lived until eleven years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in Edgar Co., in 1837; in the fall of 1838, they located in what is now known as East Oakland Tp., near where Mr. Zimmerman has since lived; he being the oldest son of Martin Zimmerman who emigrated from Virginia at the above date with a family of nine children; and the year following their arrival the whole … 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 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

Biographical Sketch of Rev. J. P. Campbell

Rev. J. P. Campbell, minister and editor of Oakland Herald, Oakland; born in Macoupin Co., Ill., June 9, 1842; when 2 years of age, he removed with his parents to Clinton Co., where, after living five years he removed to Kentucky, where he attended the common schools until 19 years old, when he entered the Beuleyville Academy, and, after attending several mouths, enlisted as private in the 3d Kentucky Cavalry, serving six months, when, on account of physical disability, he was discharged; after remaining at home three months, he re-enlisted for twelve months in the 52d Kentucky Mounted Infantry, serving … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Merrill F. Hackett

Merrill F. Hackett, retired farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Lexington, Fayette Co., Ky., Sept. 10, 1821; he removed with his parents, when 8 years of age, and located in Springfield, Sangamon Co., Ill., where he learned and worked at the trade of brickmason until 1841, at which time he removed to Charleston, Coles Co., and engaged at his trade and farming and stock-raising until 1856; he then removed to the northern part of Coles Co., where he followed farming and stock-raising until 1875, when he purchased his present place of about thirty acres, upon which he has a fine … 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 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 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 D. A. Rice

D. A. Rice, station agent, telegraph operator and grain-dealer, Oakland; born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., April 4, 1847, where he lived until 9 years of age, when he removed with his parents to Pickaway Co., Ohio, where he commenced the study of telegraphy, living there three years; then to New Lexington, where he lived two years, the last year, having charge of the telegraph office at that place; he lived in Ohio and engaged in telegraphing until 1870, when he removed to Illinois and located at Effingham, where he was engaged at telegraphing for a short time, when he … Read more

Biography of M. B. Valodin

M. B. Valodin, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Oakland; born in Portsmouth, Scioto Co., Ohio, March 28, 1828; at 8 years of age, he removed with his parents to New Madrid, Mo., living there until 1838, at which time his father died, when he removed with his mother and sister to Edgar Co., Ill., where he engaged in farming until 1844, with the exception of one year in which he attended school in Paris; he then went to Wisconsin, where he was engaged at work in the shot tower at Helena, six months, and followed mining the same length of … Read more

Biography of Joseph H. Winkler

Joseph H. Winkler, firm of Clark & Winkler, lawyers, Oakland; born in Coles Co., Ill., March 14, 1851, where he attended school during the winter and learned and worked at the blacksmith trade during the summer until 17 years of age, when he entered the State Military College at Champaign, Ill., where he attended nearly two years, during which time he worked at his trade Saturdays and mornings and evenings, from which he obtained the means to meet all of his bills contracted while attending the above College; he then, in the fall of 1873, entered the Law School at … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Sherman W. Roberts

Sherman W. Roberts, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Jan. 11, 1852; he attended school here until 9 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., in September, 1860 (his father at that time purchasing upward of two hundred acres upon Sec. 6, where he still resides); he attended school here during the winter and assisted his father farming in the summer, until he attained his majority; he then engaged in farming a part of his father’s farm on shares for three years, when he bought … 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 Richard Cole

Richard Cole, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Putnam Co., Ind., Dec. 8, 1835, where he attended school during winter and engaged in farming until 1871, when he emigrated to Illinois and located upon his present place, where he has since continued to live. Upon his arrival here, he purchased 160 acres of land, mostly prairie, where he has since successfully followed farming. He married Catharine A. Swinford April 13, 1858; they have three children now living by this union-James P., born Feb. 25,1861; Mary E., born Jan. 23, 1863; Lucy A., born March 2, 1868. Mr. Cole has held … Read more

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

Biography of S. A. Reel

S. A. Reel, physician and surgeon, farmer, stock-raiser and dealer in stock, Oakland; born in Gibson Co., Ind., May :3, 1829, where he attended school and engaged in farming until 18 years of age, when he taught school and studied medicine for two years in Missouri and Arkansas, when he cut a raft of lumber, which he took down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, and, after disposing of the same, he returned to Indiana, then to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended the Eclectic Medical School one term; in the fall of 1852, he located in Pleasant Grove Tp., Coles … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. O. Smith

W. O. Smith, farmer and stock-raiser, also proprietor and superintendent of Smith’s flour, feed and saw mills; P. O. Oakland; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Oct. 8, 1824, where he followed farming until 25 years of age, when in 1849 he removed West, and located in Coles Co., Ill., purchasing 140 acres of land, where he lived until 1869; when he removed to Oakland and purchased the steam flour and saw mill, which business he has since followed; he owns his mill and four houses and lots in Oakland, besides upward of 700 acres of land in Coles and Douglas … 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