Morgan Illinois

Biographical Sketch of Samuel Rardin

Samuel Rardin, merchant and Postmaster, Rardin; born in Morgan Tp., Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 2, 1850, where he attended the common schools until 1872, when he entered the Westfield College at Westfield, Clark Co., Ill., which he attended during the years 1872 and 1873, when he returned home and assisted his father in farming until the year 1875, when he was appointed, under the administration of President Grant, as Postmaster at Rardin, which office he now holds, and which is the only post office in Morgan Tp.; upon receiving the above appointment, he erected a store, and purchased a stock … Read more

Biography of Wesley Daugherty

Wesley Daugherty, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Charleston; born in Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 18, 1834; he is the youngest son of John B. Daugherty, who emigrated with his family from Indiana and located in Coles Co., Ill., about the year 1833, where he lived until his decease, which occurred July 10, 1857, being then 60 years of age. The subject of this sketch remained with his father and assisted in farming until 19 years of age, when he was employed as farm laborer for about four years, when he engaged in farming upon rented land, which he followed two … Read more

Biography of Alexander McGregor

Alexander McGregor, farmer; P. O. Charleston; the subject of this sketch was born in Perthshire, Scotland, July 1, 1807, where he attended the common schools in his youth and assisted his father in farming until upward of 21 years of age, when he located in Glasgow as clerk and salesman in the wholesale store of Robert & John Henderson, with whom he remained until 1842, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York in April, of the same year, coming directly West; he lived in East Oakland Tp. until the spring of 1843, when he located forty acres of … Read more

Biography of James Morgan

James Morgan, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Oakland; one of the early pioneers of Coles Co.; born in Vermilion Co., Ind., April 20, 1830; he was the youngest son of David Morgan, who was born in Washington Co., Ky., Nov. 18, 1797; he emigrated from Kentucky to Indiana with his family, where he lived until he emigrated to Coles Co., Ill., where he located April 20, 1834, in what is now Morgan Tp., the township being named in honor of David Morgan. He married Oct. 7, 1818, to Jane Rodman she was born in Kentucky, June 9, 1799; six children … Read more

Biography of John H. Johnson

John H. Johnson (deceased), farmer and minister; born in Washington Co., Penn., Dec. 12, 1812, where he attended school in his youth-the last few years at the college at Waynesburg, Penn.; after which he was licensed as a minister of the C. P. Church, officiating as circuit preacher until his removal to Ohio, where he was settled as local preacher for three years, until his removal to Coles Co., Ill., about the year 1854, where he first settled as Pastor of the C. P. Church in Ashmore Tp. for several years; then in Morgan Tp. until 1868; at the above … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jackson Gerard

Jackson Gerard, farmer; P. O. Hinesborough; was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, June 28, 1828; his grandfather was one of the early settlers of Ohio, locating in the above county about the year 1784, where he lived until his decease, which occurred about the year 1838. The father of the subject of this sketch, William Gerard, was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the year 1785, and lived there until his death, which occurred in the year 1836; he served through the war of 1812, with the Frontier Rangers, being stationed during the winter of 1813 near Vincennes, Ind., guarding … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Andrew Walton

Andrew Walton, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Coles Co., III., Oct. 20, 1850; he was the son of George L. Walton, who emigrated to Coles Co. in 1844, and located in Morgan Tp.; he died in 1857. Mrs. Walton died in 1870; the children are all deceased with the exception of the subject of this sketch, who is the only surviving member of the family. After the decease of his father he worked as farm laborer until 1878, five years of which was with J. B. Williams, and four years with Watson Collins, feeding stock, etc. His marriage with … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Shep Florer

Shep Florer, farmer; P. O. Oakland; born in Newport, Vermilion Co., Ind., March 29, 1839; he was the son of Alexander B. Florer, of the early pioneers of that county, and who was elected Second County Clerk, which office he held fourteen years; was elected Recorder of the county several times, which office he held for many years; he was also an eminent lawyer of that part of the State of Indiana until his death, which occurred Aug. 9, 1863; Shep Florer was raised in the above county at the age of 14, he commenced clerking for Jones, Culbertson & … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas H. Crispin

Thomas H. Crispin, farmer; P. O. Rardin; born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, May 5, 1833, where he attended school and assisted his father in the mason trade until 14 years of age, when he went to Bellefontaine, Logan Co., where he learned and worked at the trade of mason and plasterer until 1852, when he emigrated to Carlinville, Ill., and followed his trade for six years; he located in Coles Co. in the spring of 1859, on Sec. 30, Morgan Tp., where he engaged in farming one year, then six years upon Sec 9; he located upon his present place … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Hudson

Jesse Hudson, farmer and Justice of the Peace; P. O. Charleston; born in Jessamine Co., Ky., June 27, 1840, where he attended school until 11 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in East Oakland Tp. in October, 1851; here he remained and assisted his father in farming until upward of 20 years of age, when he raised one crop upon his father’s farm, of which he gave one-third for the use of the land; the following year he farmed upon rented land, and in 1864, he removed to Morgan Tp., where he rented land four years, … Read more

Biography of Lafayette Craig

Lafayette Craig, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Charleston; born in Clark Co., Ill., Mar. 27, 1832; he emigrated with his parents when 3 years of age, and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp., in December, 1835, in which township he has since continued to live for a period of upward of forty-three years; he is a son of Isaac N. Craig, and with his father is one of the earliest pioneers of Morgan Tp.; the subject of this sketch was employed in his early days in watching sheep during the day to protect them from the wolves, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. J. Clark

A. J. Clark, farmer, Sec. 17: P. O. Charleston; born in Coles Co., Ill., April 22, 1834, within one-half a mile of where he has since lived; he is the youngest son of Benjamin and Sarah Clark, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Coles Co., Ill., about the year 1829, where his father lived until his death, which occurred April 18, 1856, while on a visit to Indiana; he was born in Kentucky in the year 1798; his mother, who still lives within one-half mile of where she has lived for nearly one-half of a century, was born Jan. … Read more

Biography of J. L. Rardin

J. L. Rardin, farmer and Justice of the Peace; P. O. Rardin; one of the early settlers of Morgan Tp.; born in the State of Indiana Dec. 12, 1814; his parents removed to Campbell County, Ky., when he was 4 years of age, where he was engaged in clearing land and farming, with the exception of five years in Ohio, until 28 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp., in the fall of 1842, upon the place where he has since continued to live during a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Winkelblack

John Winkelblack, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Charleston; born in Dauphin Co., Penn., March 4, 1805, where he lived until 15 years of age, when he learned and worked at the tanner’s and currier’s trade at Harrisburg, Penn., until 1829, at which date he emigrated to Ohio, working at Cleveland, Massillon and Zanesville until February, 1830, when he went to Pennsylvania and the following spring returned to Zanesville, Ohio, where he followed his trade until the fall of 1835; he then emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 30, Morgan Tp., where he now lives; upon locating here he entered … Read more

Biography of John T. Taylor

John T. Taylor, farmer; P. O. Rardin; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Dec. 24, 1843, where he lived until 9 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp., in the fall of 1853, and where he has since continued to live within two and a half miles of his present location; he lived with his parents and engaged in farming until the spring of 1864, when he commenced farming upon his own account upon the place where he has since lived. He owns in his own farm … Read more

Biography of Watson Collins

Watson Collins, farmer deceased; one of the early pioneers of Coles Co.; born in North Carolina May 12, 1813, where he was raised to farming until 1831, when he emigrated with his father, Aaron Collins, and located upon Greasy Creek, Morgan Tp.; like most pioneers, the family were poor, and the subject of this sketch turned his attention to do what was in his power to the support of his father’s family; one occupation was getting out fence-rails at 25 cents per hundred; one season he worked at Vincennes, Ind., at $6 per month, the earnings being used for the … Read more

Biography of John H. Rardin

John H. Rardin, farmer; P. O. Rardin; one of the early pioneers of Morgan Tp.; born in the State of Indiana, Feb. 24, 1818; he removed with his parents when 3 months old to Campbell Co., Ky., where he lived until 25 years of age, where he was engaged in farming until he emigrated to Illinois and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp. in the fall of 1842, living within one mile of his present place since that date, a period of nearly thirty-seven years; at the time of locating here, his capital consisted of one team, … Read more