Morgan Illinois

Biographical Sketch of James W. Craig

James W. Craig, an attorney from Mattoon, Illinois, was born on June 29, 1844. He grew up as a farmer’s son and pursued his education in common schools before studying law under Col. O. B. Ficklin. Graduating from the University of Michigan in March 1867, he began his legal practice in Mattoon after a brief partnership with Ficklin. Elected as States Attorney for Coles County from 1872 to 1876, he later established the firm of Craig & Craig in 1877. Craig was married to Mary Chilton and had two children.

Biography of William H. Reynolds

William H. Reynolds was born on May 29, 1837, in Ohio and grew up on a farm. He moved to Illinois, working as a laborer before renting land. Reynolds enlisted in the Union Army in July 1861, participating in significant battles including Shiloh and Vicksburg. He served nearly five years, sustaining minor injuries, and returned to farming after the war. He married three times, fathering five children. He settled permanently on his farm in Coles County, Illinois, where he has lived since 1876.

Biography of John T. Taylor

John T. Taylor was born on December 24, 1843, in Champaign County, Ohio, and moved to Illinois in 1853. He began his own farming career in 1864 on a 714½-acre farm he developed near Morgan Township. Married to Mary Elizabeth Ross in 1864, they had seven children, with five surviving. Taylor’s family roots in the area stretch back to his father, Peter, who settled there in 1853. The Taylors have contributed significantly to local agriculture and community life.

Biographical Sketch of Andrew Walton

Born on October 20, 1850, in Coles County, Illinois, Andrew Walton is the last surviving member of his family, having lost both parents by 1870. He worked as a farm laborer for several years, gaining experience before marrying Eliza A. Collins on July 7, 1877. Eliza, born in Coles County in 1856, is the daughter of pioneer Watson Collins. Together, they continue the legacy of their families in the area, contributing to the agricultural heritage of the region.

Biography of John G. Sailer

John G. Sailer, born in Wurtemberg, Germany, on October 18, 1823, had a varied journey before settling in America. After serving in the cavalry during conflicts including the Germany-Denmark war, he emigrated to the U.S. in 1853. Sailer worked on farms in Pennsylvania and Indiana before establishing his own farm near Charleston, Illinois, in 1857. He married Melissa Gillaspie and raised two daughters, while also adopting James E. Archer. Sailer contributed to the region’s agricultural development and was linked to early pioneers in Coles County.

Biographical Sketch of Peter Taylor

Peter Taylor, born on April 25, 1820, in Champaign County, Ohio, became a farmer after managing his family’s farm following his father’s death. In 1853, he moved to Illinois, where he rented the A. B. Florer farm for twelve years before purchasing his own sixty acres in 1865. He married Elizabeth Moody in 1843, who died in 1860, leaving five children. He later married Mary Housel in 1862, with whom he had five children, three of whom have passed away.

Biographical Sketch of John B. Jones

John B. Jones was born on September 1, 1829, in Franklin County, New York. He grew up in Whitehall and, after various trades including ship carpentry and sailing, settled in Illinois in 1857. By March 1 of that year, he had purchased land in Ashmore Township, where he farmed and expanded his operations over the years. In 1871, he built his residence on an eighty-nine-acre farm, having cleared over fifty acres. He married Sarah Smith in 1856 and they had three surviving children.

Biography of John H. Johnson

John H. Johnson, born December 12, 1812, in Washington County, Pennsylvania, was a farmer and minister in the C. P. Church. After schooling, he served as a circuit preacher before moving to Ohio, then Illinois. In 1854, he settled in Coles County, where he ministered and farmed until moving to Missouri for his daughter’s education. He passed away on January 31, 1878, and was buried in Illinois beside his first wife, Lucinda Hamson. He later married Nancy Rardin and had one daughter, Teresa.

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Hudson

Jesse Hudson, born on June 27, 1840, in Jessamine County, Kentucky, was a dedicated farmer and Justice of the Peace residing in Morgan Township, Illinois. After moving to Illinois with his family in 1851, he cultivated land alongside his father before venturing into renting and eventually purchasing his own farm in 1868. Hudson’s diligent work and sound management led to the successful expansion of his property. He married Harriet Stark in 1861, with whom he had two daughters, and has actively served his community in various township roles.

Biographical Sketch of Eli Gerrard

Eli Gerrard, born on July 4, 1854, in Butler County, Ohio, moved to Coles County, Illinois, in 1874 to farm with his father. In 1876, he settled on a property where he has lived since. He married Laura B. Smith on August 31, 1875, and they have two daughters, Clara L. and Elizabeth A. Gerrard. As the eldest son of Jackson Gerrard, Eli’s life reflects a strong commitment to his family and agricultural roots.

Biographical Sketch of Jackson Gerard

Jackson Gerard, born on June 28, 1828, in Hamilton County, Ohio, comes from a lineage of early Ohio settlers. His father, William Gerard, a veteran of the War of 1812, passed away in 1836. Jackson lived with his family until age seven, later residing with a brother until he established his own farm in Butler County at 21. In 1874, he moved to Illinois, where he now owns 102 acres. He married Emily Stites in 1850, and they had four children.

Biographical Sketch of Aris Galbreath

Aris Galbreath was born on January 20, 1812, in Nicholas County, Kentucky, later moving to Indiana and then Illinois. He began his career as a farm laborer, eventually acquiring and improving multiple tracts of land, culminating in 300 acres by 1875. He married Jane Reed in 1835, with whom he had three children. Galbreath was active in his community, serving as Assessor, Town Clerk, and School Director, while also being dedicated to religion and education as a member of the C.P. Church.

Biographical Sketch of Shep Florer

Shep Florer, born March 29, 1839, in Indiana, was the son of pioneer Alexander B. Florer, a prominent county clerk and lawyer. Shep began his career in clerical roles at age 14, later serving in the Civil War with the 18th Indiana Volunteers. After the war, he settled in Coles County, Illinois, managing a general store before moving to a 529-acre farm. He married Louisa A. Hawkins in 1866, with whom he had five children, two of whom predeceased him.

Biography of Wesley Daugherty

Wesley Daugherty, born January 18, 1834, in Coles County, Illinois, is the youngest son of John B. Daugherty, who emigrated from Indiana. After assisting on the family farm, Wesley worked as a laborer before acquiring his own land in 1857. He married Phoebe Clark in 1856, and they had five children. Wesley has been an active community member, serving as School Director. His mother-in-law, Sarah Clark, remains with them, having resided in the area for nearly fifty years.

Biography of Lafayette Craig

Lafayette Craig, born on March 27, 1832, in Clark County, Illinois, emigrated with his family to Morgan Township in 1835, becoming a pioneer in the area. Early in life, he tended sheep, protecting them from wolves. After working on the family farm, he established his own farm in 1864, owning 161 acres. He married Jemima Fowler, who died young, and later wed Margaret J. Woodfull, with whom he had six children. A prominent figure, he served as the first Collector and a long-term Supervisor of Morgan Township.

Biographical Sketch of Thomas H. Crispin

Thomas H. Crispin, born in Ohio in 1833, worked as a mason before moving to Illinois, where he transitioned to farming. After settling in Coles County in 1859, he acquired 110 acres of land. Crispin married Susannah J. Painter in 1852, and they had seven children, though one died young. After Susannah’s passing in 1871, he married Agnes McKiney in 1873. His life reflects a journey from skilled tradesman to devoted family man and landowner in the American Midwest.

Biography of Watson Collins

Watson Collins, born in North Carolina in 1813, was a pioneering farmer in Coles County, Illinois. He emigrated in 1831 with his father and worked diligently to support his family, engaging in various jobs, from cutting fence rails to milling. He advanced from modest beginnings to become a successful stock dealer, eventually owning over 500 acres of land. Married to Minerva McAlister in 1836, he had four children. Collins passed away on March 25, 1877, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and respect.

Biographical Sketch of A. J. Clark

A. J. Clark, born on April 22, 1834, in Coles County, Illinois, has spent his entire life close to his birthplace. The youngest son of Benjamin and Sarah Clark, he began farming the family homestead after his father’s death in 1856. Clark owns 120 acres of cultivated land and an additional 90 acres of timber. He married Christina V. Robinson in 1865, raising five children, two of whom have passed. He experienced a significant financial setback due to the failed Charleston Danville Railroad project.

Biographical Sketch of Solomon Collins

Solomon Collins was a pioneering farmer in Morgan Township, originally from North Carolina. He moved to Illinois with his father, Aaron, around 1831, enduring the hardships of frontier life. Solomon gained a reputation as a diligent and successful farmer, earning widespread respect upon his death. He married Theney Carter, with whom he had three children, and later wed Mary Taylor, fathering two more. His eldest son, John J. Collins, was born in 1850 and balanced farming with education, eventually becoming a schoolteacher while continuing to farm.

Biographical Sketch of John Woodfall

John Woodfall was born in England around 1807 and emigrated to the United States, settling in Louisville, Kentucky, where he worked in a foundry for fifteen years. In January 1857, he moved to Morgan Township, Coles County, Illinois, purchasing 200 acres of land. Tragically, he died on June 14, 1857, struck by lightning while planting corn, leaving behind a widow, Jane Stinson, and seven children. The couple had a total of eight children, fulfilling a legacy that would continue through their offspring.