Biography of S. S. White

S.S. WHITE. – The pioneer experiences of Judge White are of an exceptionally interesting character. This well-known and highly valued citizen of Portland was born in Franklin county, Indiana, December 14, 1811. His father was much of a frontiersman, and, after a removal to Ohio in 1815, went three years later to Sangamon county, Illinois, settling on Sugar creek, twenty miles south of Springfield. This was then a remote and unoccupied region, Mr. White’s family and those of a Mr. Ellis and Mr. Vancil being the only families within the limits of the present Sangamon and Morgan counties, and sixty … Read more

Biography of Franklin Barry Simms

Franklin Barry Simms. During a residence of thirty years or more in Topeka, a thoroughly public spirited citizenship had been one of the chief characteristics of Franklin Barry Simms. He had also administered his private affairs with success, had built up and made a name and repntation for one of the largest laundries and eleaning houses in the city, and had devoted himself with utmost unselfishness to the welfare of the community. He started life as a printer and it was in that capacity that he was first known in Kansas. He was born at Alton, Madison County, Illinois, April … Read more

Biographical Sketch of W. H. K. Pile

W. H. K. Pile, real estate, collecting and insurance agent, Mattoon; was born in Breckinridge Co., Ky., Feb. 17, 1819; he was reared on a farm, and learned his trade, that of a wagon-maker, during his minority; at the age of 20, he began life for himself, following his trade and that of a carpenter, till 25 years of age; he then engaged in farming for five years; in1855, he came West to Illinois, and settled south of Charleston, Coles Co.; in 1856, he came to Mattoon, and engaged in operating a hotel; in 1857, he was elected Police Magistrate … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William C. Kimball

William C. Kimball, of the firm of Austin, Brown & Kimball, dealers in hardware, lumber, furniture and undertaking, Ashmore; has been a resident of Ashmore since 1867; he was born in Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Ohio, June 14, 1838; was educated at the Cambridge Union Schools, and, in 1857, began teaching school; he continued in that profession in Ohio till March, 1863, when he enlisted in Co. H, 122d O. V. I., and served in the 6th Army Corps in the Army of the Potomac until Jan. 1, 1864; he was then detailed as a clerk in the office of the … Read more

Biography of John B. Strauch

John B. Strauch, who since 1918 has been president and general manager of the More-Jones Brass & Metal Company of St. Louis, has been identified with this business for more than a quarter of a century and through the steady development of his powers and his close application has won promotion from time to time until he has reached his present position of administrative direction and executive control. He was born in Marine, Illinois, November 29, 1869, a son of John B. and Catherine Strauch. The father came from Germany in 1846 and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Soon afterward he … Read more

Biography of Isaac Negus

Isaac Negus, deceased, who, during his lifetime, was one of the leading business men in Rock Island, was a man whose be-lief in the future of the city he had chosen for his home took the substantial form of building enterprise. He was born December 31, 1799, at Labions, Ondaga County, New York, where he received a common school education. After leaving school he found employment in the construction department of the Erie Canal in New York State, where he remained for three years. The experience and practical knowledge gained during those three years was a great service to him … Read more

Biography of Cyrus F. Blanke

Cyrus F. Blanke, president of the C. F. Blanke Tea & Coffee Company of St. Louis, was born October 24, 1862, in Marine, Illinois, a son of Fred G. and Caroline (Ortgis) Blanke. The father was born in Germany and came to America in 1847. He carried on general merchandising at Marine, Illinois, for a number of years, but his marriage was celebrated in St. Louis. To him and his wife were born ten children, seven sons and three daughters, of whom Cyrus F. is the fifth in order of birth. Four children, three sons and a daughter, have passed … Read more

Cahokia Mound

The ancient civilization at Cahokia took advantage of the nearby waterways and the rich soil to sustain life in the American Bottom.

Cahokia Mound. The largest prehistoric artificial earthwork in the United States, situated in Madison County, Illinois, in what is known as the American bottom, about 6 miles East of St Louis, Missouri, and in plain view of the railroads entering that city from the East. Before their partial destruction by the plow the principal mound was surrounded by an extensive mound group, numbering, according to Brackenridge (Views La., 187, 1814), who visited the place in 1811, “45 mounds or pyramids, besides a great number of small artificial elevations.” The name Cahokia is that of a tribe which formerly occupied a … Read more

Biography of Charles Percival Whitbread

Charles Percival Whitbread, president of the General Underwriters Company of St. Louis, was born in Edwardsville, Illinois, March 18, 1877, and is a son of James and Minnie Elizabeth (Rinne) Whitbread. The ancestry is traced back through several generations in England, where the records of the family include the following under title “Whitbread of Southill.” “Whitbread, William-Henry, Esq., of Southill, County of Bedford, born January 4, 1795; high-sheriff in 1837, and member of parliament for Bedford in the parliaments of 1818, 1820, 1826, 1830, 1831 and 1832. The Whitbreads are said by family tradition, as appears on an Inscription on … Read more

C-D Surnames – 1818 Madison County, Illinois Census

  Name: Head of Household Page: Page of Census Listing Range of Ages: 1st Number – Free white males 21 yr. and upwards 2nd Number – All other white inhabitants 3rd Number – Free persons of colour 4th Number – Servants or slaves   Cadwell, George 127 01-08-00-00 Caldwell, James 132 01-06-00-00 Campbell, John 122 01-01-00-00 Cannon, Robert 131 01-07-00-00 Carland, James 125 01-03-00-00 Carland, Thomas 125 02-02-00-00 Carlock, James 129 01-06-00-00 Carpenter, Nathan 128 02-03-00-00 Carrol, George 134 03-05-00-00 Carson, James 129 03-05-00-00 Carter, Davis 133 01-04-00-00 Carter, Samuel 128 01-10-00-00 Casteel, Abraham 121 01-03-00-00 Casteel, Isaac 121 01-01-00-00 … Read more

Biography of N. A. Eberman

N.A. EBERMAN. – This still vigorous and erect gentleman of sixty-eight years is a perfect representative of the daring, athletic and pioneer Western men who crossed the plains nearly half a century ago. He was born in Henry county, Tennessee, in 1821, and at the age of ten went with his parents to settle in Madison county, Illinois. In Warren county of the same state he saw something of the Black Hawk war. In 1840 he left home for Missouri, stopping in that then unsettled region until, in 1843, the eloquence of Burnett and the exertions of others resulted in … Read more

E-H Surnames – 1818 Madison County, Illinois Census

  Name: Head of Household Page: Page of Census Listing Range of Ages: 1st Number – Free white males 21 yr. and upwards 2nd Number – All other white inhabitants 3rd Number – Free persons of colour 4th Number – Servants or slaves   East, Henry 124 01-04-00-00 East, James 124 01-08-00-00 Edwards, Lorenzo 126 01-01-00-00 Edwards, Ninian 130 01-05-00-04 Emmertt, Henry 128 02-01-00-00 Emmett, Andrew 128 01-08-00-00 Ennis, Jessee 131 02-05-00-00 Enos, Pascal P. 135 06-07-00-00 Evelin, John 132 01-12-00-00 Evelin, Moses 132 01-06-00-00 Everman, Joseph 117 01-05-00-00 Eves, Benjamin 136 01-04-00-00 Findley, John 133 02-07-00-00 Findley, John 134 … Read more

Biography of John E. Duncan

John E. Duncan, a veteran in the service of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company, had been continuously identified with the Town of Shannon for thirty years. He had looked after all the business of the railroad there as station agent, telegraph operator and in other capacities, and furthermore had practically built up and maintained the various lines of business represeuted there. He is a general merchant, grain dealer and for a number of years had been postmaster. Mr. Duncan was born in Madison County, Illinois. March 24, 1862. His father, John Duncan, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1817, came to … Read more

Biography of S. W. Wilkinson

S. W. WILKINSON. This prominent general merchant of Willow Springs, Missouri, was born in Alton, Illinois, January 6, 1856, son of Simon and Anna (Lea) Wilkinson, both natives of England. The parents came to the United States about 1850 and settled in the Prairie State, where the father followed farming until his death in 1859. The mother is now living in Missouri. Their family consisted of five children, and our subject is the only one now living. S. W. Wilkinson passed his early life in Missouri, whither his mother had moved before the war, and when he was about thirteen … Read more

S-V Surnames – 1818 Madison County, Illinois Census

  Name: Head of Household Page: Page of Census Listing Range of Ages: 1st Number – Free white males 21 yr. and upwards 2nd Number – All other white inhabitants 3rd Number – Free persons of colour 4th Number – Servants or slaves   Samples, David 121 02-08-00-00 Satterfield, John 128 01-01-00-00 Saunders, George 126 02-06-00-00 Savage, Eli 126 01-01-00-00 Savage, William 125 01-03-00-00 Savage, William 126 06-05-00-02 Scott, John 122 01-07-00-00 Scott, Levi 131 01-02-00-00 Scott, Samuel 134 01-09-00-00 Scott, William 134 02-11-00-01 Scroggins, Isaac 123 01-07-00-00 Seely, Walter J. 125 08-02-00-01 Seemore, ??? 118 01-01-00-00 Segar, Jacob 127 … Read more

W-Z Surnames – 1818 Madison County, Illinois Census

  Name: Head of Household Page: Page of Census Listing Range of Ages: 1st Number – Free white males 21 yr. and upwards 2nd Number – All other white inhabitants 3rd Number – Free persons of colour 4th Number – Servants or slaves   Waddle, Colby 128 02-04-00-00 Waddle, Jessee 126 01-11-00-00 Waddle, Obadiah 133 01-02-00-00 Waggoner, John 119 01-03-01-00 Waggoner, Petter 131 02-06-00-00 Walker, John 134 01-02-00-00 Walker, Reuben 127 01-07-00-00 Walker, Samuel A. 129 01-08-00-00 Wall, Thomas 129 01-08-00-00 Wallace, Andrew 123 01-01-00-00 Wallace, John 123 02-06-00-01 Wallace, Josiah 123 01-01-00-00 Ware, John 136 01-03-00-00 Warren, Harden 121 … Read more

Biography of David J. Smith

DAVID J. SMITH, general merchant and farmer of Walnut Shade, Taney County, Missouri, is emphatically a business man, the leading points of his character being energy, quick conception and an excellent judgment of men and their motives. No man in the county occupies a higher position for energy, enterprise, public spirit, integrity and business rectitude than he. This worthy gentleman first saw the light in Madison County, Illinois, in 1838, and is a son of Jason and Elizabeth (Forbis) Smith, natives of McMinn County, Tennessee, the father born in 1799, and the mother in 1803. The father never attended school … Read more

The Kribs Family of Prairie du Rocher Illinois

Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Kribs

The best teacher, it is said, is experience. C. J. Kribs, circuit clerk of Randolph County, has had varied experiences. He was born February 19, 1867, in Belleville, Illinois. He attended the parochial and public schools, after which he learned the trade of harness maker in St. Louis. After a residence of five years in this city he went to Chicago and worked for four years as assistant store-keeper in the Illinois Steel Works. Then he went to Prairie du Rocher, and after a short stay went to St. Louis, working for the Metropolitan Insurance Co. He was promoted and … Read more

I-M Surnames – 1818 Madison County, Illinois Census

  Name: Head of Household Page: Page of Census Listing Range of Ages: 1st Number – Free white males 21 yr. and upwards 2nd Number – All other white inhabitants 3rd Number – Free persons of colour 4th Number – Servants or slaves   Jackson, Low 131 01-12-00-00 Jackson, Martin 133 01-03-00-00 Janderow, Baptiste 136 01-07-00-00 Jarvice, John 117 01-06-00-00 Jeffres, Samuel 127 02-07-00-00 Jingles, Elizabeth 124 00-06-00-01 Johnson, James 134 02-03-00-00 Johnson, John 124 01-03-00-00 Johnson, John 134 01-07-00-00 Johnson, Peggy 123 00-03-00-00 Johnson, Sarah 122 00-04-00-00 Johnson, Thomas 124 01-03-00-00 Johnson, William 133 01-04-00-00 Jones, Benett 129 03-06-00-00 … Read more

Biography of Grant Waggoner

Grant Waggoner is a specialist in mining law with office and practice at Baxter Springs, Kansas. He has claimed his home at Baxter Springs since 1909, but did not open his law office in that city until 1912. While most of his practice is connected with some phase or other of the mining industry, he also handles a general civil and criminal practice. In 1914 Mr. Waggouer was elected from his district as representative in the State Legislature. He proved an able champion of all progressive legislation enacted during his term, and was particularly at the front in all matters … Read more