Biographical Sketch of William Gossett

William Gossett, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in this township June 3, 1850; he lived with his parents up to the age of 24, assisting them in farming, and teaching school for four winter terms, two of them in the northeast part of the township on Sec. 22, and two on Sec. 14. While at home, he married Miss Martha Ingram (daughter of Arthur Ingram, of Hutton Tp.), April 16, 1874; she was born Jan. 9, 1855; they had two children, one living – Elizabeth J., born Aug. 11, 1875, and one deceased-Jesse L., born Aug. 8, 1877, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. Cox

James A. Cox, farmer; P. O. Westfield, Clark Co.; was born in Hutton Tp. Oct. 26, 1846; his parents came to this county about the year 1829, and were among the first settlers; his mother died Feb. 2, 1877; his father is still living, in Cumberland Co., Ill.; the subject of this sketch remained with his parents until he was 25 years of age, when he married Miss Lucinda R. Morris (daughter of Janie,: Morris, of Clark Co.) March 21, 1872; shortly after his marriage, he moved to a farm on Sec. 11, remaining there until the fall of 1872, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Brandenburg

James Brandenburg, farmer; P. O. Diona; was born in Hardin Co., Ky., April 20, 1820; when he was about 3 years of age, his parents moved to Clay Co., Ind., and from there, in the year 1829, came to this county. Mr. Brandenburg lived at home, working in the neighborhood, until he was 18 years of age, when he went to Wisconsin and was engaged in teaming for two years; in 1844, he settled southeast of Salisbury, in this township, and lived there for twelve or thirteen years, when he purchased a farm on Sec. 32, and after being there … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. B. Flenner

J. B. Flenner, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Westfield; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Nov. 18, 1829; up to the age of 24, he remained engaged in farming with his parents; in 1853, they started West, stopping in Clark Co. for five years, when they moved to Coles Co., reaching here in August, 1858, and settled on a farm in Sec. 30, Hutton Tp., near “Otterbein Cemetery,” where his mother died Aug. 1, 1859; shortly after, Mr. Flenner settled upon the farm where he now resides, his father, since the death of his mother, residing with him; his farm … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Abraham Bennett

Abraham Bennett, minister of United Brethren Church, Westfield; was born in Meade Co. Ky., Nov. 15, 1828; after remaining at home until the age of 18, he started out in life for himself, flat-boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers for some five or six years; in the year 1852, he commenced traveling in the ministry of the United Brethren Church, having from his youth been connected with that Church; in the same year, leaving his family in Kentucky, he traveled circuit for some six years in Indiana, when, having returned to Kentucky, was engaged in missionary work through that … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Seton Johns

Seton Johns, farmer; P. O. Charleston; was born in Augusta Co. Va., Nov. 22, 1832; he is the second son, and came with his parents to Gallia Co., Ohio, when he was 2 years of age, and from there to Hutton Tp. in the year 1838, and lived with them up to the time of their death, which occurred in May, 1854, his parents dying within three days of each other. The same fall Mr. Johns married Miss Armilda Rennels (daughter of Wm. Rennels, of Hutton Tp.), and immediately after moved to his farm, one-fourth mile east of his present … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elijah Adams

Elijah Adams, farmer; P. O. Diona; was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Oct. 23, 1824; in the year 1838, his parents, John Adams, who was a native of New York, and Susanna Adams, a native of Maryland, moved to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 17, where the son now resides, having entered the land; both died there, his mother in October, 1877, and his father, June, 1878. The subject of this sketch has always resided in this county with the exception of the years 1850 and 1851, when he was mining and prospecting in California. He has held the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Hutton

John Hutton, farmer; P.O. Diona; is one of the pioneers of this county, and after whom this township was named; he was born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Jan. 20, 1801; in the year 1816, his parents moved to Crawford Co:, Ill., where his father died January, 1819; his mother and family remained there until the year 1834, when they came to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 20, where his mother died Nov., 1853, at the age of 77; Mr. Hutton still resides upon the homestead; he held the office of Supervisor the three first terms after the organization of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George Bidle

George Bidle, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Westfield; was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Sept. 25, 1833; he remained there until he was 17 years of age; his parents having died in Germany Mr. Bidle emigrated to the United States, landing in New York City in April, 1852, and first went to New Jersey, remaining there four months working upon a farm, after which he went to Louisville, Ky., and worked at the wagon-maker’s trade for two years, when he came to Westfield. Clark Co., Ill., and from there, in the fall of 1865, moved to Coles Co., and settled upon … Read more

Biography of John Sargent

John Sargent, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in this township March 20, 1846; his father, Stephen, was born in Candia, N. H., July, 1, 1797, and at the age of 13 went to New Jersey, remaining there three years, and from there traveled on foot to Ohio, working one year upon a farm in that State; he then went to Kentucky, near the city of Louisville, working at tine trade of stone-mason, and while there made a trip upon a flatboat from Louisville to New Orleans and back. In the year 1836 he came to New Richmond (now Westfield), … Read more

Biographical Sketch of G. B. Davis

G. B. Davis, farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Loxa; born in Hutton Tp., Coles Co., Dec. 12, 1836; was brought up a farmer; received his education in a common school during the winter months. Mr. D. resided at home with his parents until he was 32 years of age, during which time he assisted on the farm and also taught school; he taught school in Hutton Tp. and the district where he now resides 104 months in all. He was married to Elizabeth Atkins Aug. 12, 1869; she was born in Clark Co., this State, Sept. 3, 1844; have two … Read more

Biographical Sketch of F. E. Cottingham

F. E. Cottingham, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in this township March 17, 1849; his father, John J., was born in Kentucky Nov. 23, 1816, and his mother, Sarah J., in Harrison Co., Ind., in 1821; his father first went to New Albany, Ind., and Louisville, Ky., working at brickmaking and as a brickmason, and, in the year 1836, came to this county and first settled near Westfield, Clark Co., and from there to this township; in the year 1859, he moved to Charleston,Coles Co., and died on Oct. 9, 1863; his mother is still living, and is at … Read more

Biography of Richard O. Wells

Richard O. Wells, farmer; P. O. Westfield; was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., Dec. 29, 1809; he remained there with his parents until he was 25 years of age assisting on the farm; his father died there in the year 1835; his mother surviving him until the year 1860. Mr. Wells, while at home in Kentucky was married August, 1831, to Miss Jenette Boston (daughter of William Boston of Kentucky); she was born July 15, 1815; shortly after his marriage, he moved upon a farm near that of his father’s, where he lived until his removal to Clark Co., in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Adam Cox

Adam Cox, farmer; P. O. Westfield; was born in Hutton Tp. July 26, 1840. His father, Anthony, was one of the first settlers of this county, a native of Virginia; he was married twice, his first wife being Miss Gilbert, and his second wife Miss Eliza Fuqua; his father died when the subject of this sketch was quite an infant; his mother still lives near her son, between 65 and 70 years old; at the age of 21, Mr. Cox married Miss Mary Garrison (daughter of Peter Garrison, another of the early settlers), on Dec. 5, 1861, and soon after … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. P. Brandenburg

C. P. Brandenburg, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in Clay Co., Ind., Aug. 24, 1828; his parents, Solomon O. and Alezan, were among the first settlers of this county, having settled in the year 1829, on Sec. 14 of Hutton Tp.; his father died in 1861, and his mother went to reside with his brother William H., and died in May, 1875; Mr. Brandenburg lived with his parents up to the age of 17, when he went to Wisconsin and engaged in hauling lead during the summer for eleven seasons, returning to his father’s during the winter months; his … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Kiser

William Kiser, farmer; P. O. Charleston; was born in Botetourt Co., Va., March 11, 1814; the same year, his parents moved to Ross Co., remaining there until 1842. Mr. Kiser lived with his parents up to the time of his marriage with Miss Mary Ann Coon, of Ross Co., Ohio, which occurred Aug. 22, 1841; in October, 1846, they moved to Coles Co., and settled on Sec. 31, living there until the year 1851, when they came to the farm upon which he at present resides, on Sec. 33; his wife was born in Washington Co., Md., near ‘Harper’s Ferry, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jeremiah C. Cooper

Jeremiah C. Cooper, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in Franklin Co., N. C., April 25, 1786, being now 93 years of age, hale and hearty; he remained with his parents up to the age of 21, working upon farms in the neighborhood, when he purchased a farm in Randolph Co., N. C., and lived there until 1841, when he came to Coles Co., and on April 22 of same year purchased the farm on Sec. 24, upon which he has ever since resided. While living in Randolph Co. he was elected Sergeant of the 18t Regt. of North Carolina … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edmund Rennels

Edmund Rennels, farmer; P. O. Charleston; is the second son of James Rennels, and was born in Lawrence Co., Ind., Dec. 13, 1829. He came with his parents to Coles Co., when he was only 3 years of age, and remained with them up to his marriage with Miss Martha Waltrip, of Hutton Tp., Feb. 21, 1849, when he moved to his farm on Sec. 31, where he has resided ever since. His wife died in September, 1854. They had three children, one living Mary Ann (now Mrs. James Stephens, of Charleston Tp.), and two deceased-Sarah E. and Melvina J. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joshua Johns

Joshua Johns, farmer; P. O. Charleston; was born in Pendleton Co., Va., June 6, 1821. When he was 18 years of age, he went to Bath Co., Virginia, working on the farm of William Friel, whose daughter Isabel he married, Sept. 15,, 1840, and after living there for three years moved to Pleasant Grove Tp. in this county, remaining there for twelve years when he came to Hutton Tp., and after settling on Sec. 33 remained there fourteen years, and in March, 1867, came to his present farm on Sec. 9; he owns 692 acres; has held the office of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William H. Brandenburg

William H. Brandenburg, farmer; P. O. Hutton; was born in Clay Co., Ind., Oct. 19, 1824, and came to this county with his parents at 4 years of age, and remained with them up to the age of 17, when he went to Wisconsin, working upon a farm for two years, then returned to his parents’ home, and, making up a team, returned to Wisconsin, and was engaged in hauling lead for nine years; in 1852, he returned to Hutton Tp. and worked out for two years, when he settled upon the farm on Sec. 13, which he had purchased; … Read more