Matton Illinois

Biography of James T. Cunningham

James T. Cunningham, deceased, Mattoon; the subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Grayson Co., Ky., July 11, 1802; his early life was spent on the farm, and his education limited to a few months’ attendance upon the public or subscription schools of his native State; from a very early period in life, the support of the family mainly devolved upon him; in the fall of 1830, he came West to Illinois with his mother-in-law, Mrs. Yocum and her family, and settled in what is now Paradise Tp., Coles Co. He is mentioned in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank Garthwait

Frank Garthwait, auction and commission merchant, Mattoon; was born in Terre Haute, Ind., Oct. 18, 1838; his father was a wholesale and retail grocery-man, and was one of the pioneers of the city; Frank obtained his education at the city schools, and at the age of 15, began the life of a printer’s devil in the Courier office; here he remained three years under charge of J. Canard, editor and proprietor of the paper; he next engaged in traveling and selling clocks for three years, and subsequently engaged in the sale of notions till 1861; he enlisted in the United … Read more