USA > Illinois > Coles County > The History of Coles County, Illinois map of Coles County; history of Illinois history of Northwest Constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, &c., &c > Part 57
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V. R. BRIDGES, M. D., physician and surgeon, Mattoon ; was born in Rocking- ham Co., Va., June 4, 1832 ; his father settled in Ross Co., Ohio, ncar Chillicothe, in 1836; in 1841, he came to Illinois and settled in Newton, Jasper Co .; he was en- gaged in contracting on public works, both in Ohio and Illinois. Dr. Bridges acquired a good academic education, mainly through his own exertions, and at the age of 14, began life for himself. At the age of 17, he taught his first school; in 1851, he was employed in the drug store of Dr. H. H. Hayes, at Lawrenceville, Ill., and began the study of medicine under
him. He next came to Marshall, and completed his studies under Drs. Payne and Duncan. In the spring of 1854, he located in Salisbury, Coles Co., and began the practice of his profession. In 1860, he came to Mattoon, his present residence. He entered the U. S. service as Assistant Surgeon of the 62d Regiment, I. V. I ; in 1863, he was promoted to be Surgeon of the 126th Regiment, and was mustered out in 1865, after the close of the war; soon after his discharge from the service, he was appointed Examining Surgeon for the Pen- sion Bureau-a position he still holds. In 1876, he attended Rush Medical College, from which he graduated Feb. 27, 1877. He was married Jan. 8, 1856, to Mary E. Boyd, a native of Indiana; four chil- dren have been the fruits of the union -- Flora J. and Charles M., living, Edward L. and Emma, deceased. Has been a member of the City Council a number of terms, and was President of the Board two terms.
WM. BURGESS, manufacturer and dealer in boots and shoes, Mattoon; was born in North Molton, Devonshire, Eng., Oct. 12, 1827 ; he emigrated to America in May, 1849 ; for two years after coming, he followed his trade in Syracuse, N. Y .; he subsequently lived at various points in New York, Cortland, Elmira, Tioga Point, Bath, Corwin, Addison, etc. In the spring of 1855, he returned to En- gland remaining one year. In 1856, he returned to America, stopping for a season in New York; thence to Pennsylvania ; thence back to New York. In June, 1857, he went to Canada, remained but a short time, and next went to Michigan ; thence to La Fayette, Ind., from there to Coving- ton, Ind .; thence to Decatur, Ill. During these years he followed his trade. In May, 1860, he came to Mattoon and opened up his present store. He is the oldest estab- lished boot and shoe merchant in the city. He was married in November, 1862, to Ag- nes Evans, a native of England ; three child- ren have been born to them-Mary E., Em- ily F., living ; Jennie, deceased ; they have also an adopted son-Richard. Owns forty aeres in Mattoon Tp .; also two business houses and a residence in the city. Is at present a member of the City Council.
J. J. BEALL, student at law, Mattoon ; was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, Nov. 26,
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1843 ; his father came with his family to Illinois in the fall of 1852, and settled in Wayne Co. Here he engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch passed his life upon the farm and obtained his education at the common schools. In February, 1862, he left home, and began the trade of saddle and harness maker ; he worked under instruc- tion three years; he then worked as jour- neyman at his trade till 1870 ; in Decem- ber, 1870, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Coles Co., under A. M. Brown, Sheriff. This position he held two years. In 1'873, he was elected Justice of the Peace in Mattoon Tp., and served four years. In May, 1877, he began work again at his trade, and Jan. 28, 1878, entered the office of Craig & Craig as clerk and student. He was married Dec. 26, 1867, to Ellen McGuire, a native of Ireland. Has three children -- James R., Julian E. and Louisa A. Owns real estate in the city. In 1874, he was chosen Assistant Supervisor of Mattoon Tp .; in January, 1878, he was appointed and commissioned by Gov. Cul- lom a Notary Public for Coles Co. for four years.
J. B. BENEFIEL, proprietor Boss Meat Market, Mattoon; was born in Oaktown, Knox Co., Ind., April 22, 1847; his father was a physician and man of far more than ordinary a
ability ; J. B. passed his early life in attendance upon school; in 1861, his father came with his family to Mattoon, Ill .; here he entered upon the practice of his profession and succeeded in build- ing up a large and lucrative practice; young Benefiel entered the graded schools of the city, designing to complete the course, preparatory to entering the law department of Michigan University ; his father having become involved in profes- sional difficulty in 1867, precipitately fled the country, abandoning his family, and under an assumed name has lived in Craig, Mo., ever since ; very recently he has been discovered, and has partially made restitu- tion to his family for past neglect ; on the desertion of his father, the cares of the family devolved upon the hands of J. B., the eldest of the children ; abandoning his studies, he applied himself to the support of his mother and the younger members of the family ; in August, 1867, he en- tered the employ of the Merchants' Union
Express Co., and, in the spring of 1868' that of the American Express Co; he was thus employed about three years ; in 1871, he entered the employ of J. T. Southern in buying and shipping grain and in the sale of agricultural implements ; in the fall of 1873, he engaged in the manu- facture of soap in company with J. P. Clark ; in 1875, he began his present business, and has since continued it. He was married Jan. 21, 1874, to Ellen F. Aldridge, a native of Arkansas ; has had one child-Roy M., born Nov. 26, 1874, died Feb. 15, 1877. Owns real estate in the city.
HON. HORACE S. CLARK, attorney at law, Mattoon; was born in Huntsburg, Geauga Co., Ohio, Aug. 12, 1840; his father emigrated to Ohio from Vermont at an early day ; at the age of 15 years, with a fair education, he left the old home- stead and came West to Chicago, where he sought employment and labored a short time ; he soon left the city and going to Kane Co., engaged in farm work during the summer and attended school during the winter season, paying his way by man- ual labor before and after school-hours; in the spring of 1856, he reached Iowa City, and made his home with an older brother while pursuing a student life in Iowa State University ; here he soon became a leader among his fellow-students as an orator and debater ; during vacations, he engaged in teaching school, and in the law office of Justice William E. Miller ; read with at- tention and profit the works of Blackstone and various other treatises on law during the first year of his residence in Iowa City ; he returned to Kane Co., purchased ten cows, shipped them by rail to the city, and from the proceeds of the milk, pailed by his own hands, defrayed his current expenses ; in the spring of 1858, with a capital of $200, he speculated in fruit- trees, but failed to secure profitable returns ; subsequently he went to St. Louis, and, purchasing various books, traveled over the country in order to dispose of them to advantage and profit; later we find him again in Ohio, resuming his studies in the legal firm of Smith & Page, in Circleville. He enlisted as a private in Co. E, 73d Ohio V. I .; was afterward Orderly Ser- geant, Second and First Lieutenant, in which last position he often commanded
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his company ; July 3, 1863, he was severly wounded in the battle of Gettysburg ; later, he was offered Lieutenant-Colonelcy by Gov. Todd, of Ohio, but not being able to take the field, declined the appointment. He next removed to Nashville, Tenn .; when in business pursuits he met with deserved success ; in 1865, he came to Mattoon, Ill .; in 1868, he was admitted to the bar; has held the office of City Police Magistrate, and was chosen Judge of the Common Pleas Court, filling out an unexpired term ; though comparatively a young man, he is recognized as a very skillful and successful practitioner.
JAMES W. CRAIG, attorney at law, Mattoon ; was born in Morgan Tp., Coles Co., Ill., June 29, 1844 ; his early life was that of a farmer's son ; his education was obtained in the common schools ; in 1864, he began the study of law with Col. O. B. Ficklin, of Charleston ; in the fall of 1865, he matriculated in the law department of the Michigan University, from which he graduated in March, 1867; in April, fol- lowing, he was admitted to the State and Federal Courts ; he began the practice of his profession in Charleston, forming a co- partnership with Col. Ficklin ; in May, 1868, he located in Mattoon, retaining his partnership with Col. Ficklin two years ; in 1872, he was chosen State's Attorney for Coles Co., and retained the office until 1876; the firm of Craig & Craig was formed in 1877. He was married in June, 1868, to Mary Chilton, a native of Scott Co., Ill .; has two children-Edward C. and Lizzie I. Owns eighty acres near the city, real estate in Mattoon and near Charleston.
ISAAC B. CRAIG, attorney at law, Mattoon ; was born in Coles Co., Ill., April 28, 1854 ; he was brought up upon the farm, and his early experiences were those of a farmer's son; with a good education acquired at the common schools, he began the study of his profession in March, 1873, with his brother and O. B. Ficklin ; in the fall of 1873, he entered the law de- partment of the Michigan University; he graduated in the spring of 1875, and, in June, 1875, was admitted to practice at Mt. Vernon, Ill. ; he began the practice of his profession in Charleston ; in 1877, he came to Mattoon, and entered into partner- ship with his brother, and has since been engaged in the practice here.
S. A. CAMPBELL, surgeon dentist ; Mattoon ; was born in Mercer Co., Penn., Aug. 16, 1848; his father came with his family in October, 1854, to Mercer Co., Ill., and there settled on a farm; six days after coming, he sickened and died ; at the age of 11 years, Dr. Campbell went into the office of Dr. E. B. Hamill, of Philadel- phia, and at 12, began the study of den- tistry ; here he remained under instruction about two and a half years ; he then en- tered the Baltimore Dental College, the oldest dental institution in the world ; in 1868, having completed the course he re- ceived the degree of D. D. S. ; he next located in Philadelphia. and entered upon the practice of his profession ; in May, 1870, he removed to Mattoon, Ill. ; he is the oldest established dentist in the city, if not in the county. He was married in November, 1874, to Nellie Fallin, a native of Bracken Co., Ky .; has one daughter --- Laura Bertha; he has a large practice, and is recognized as a skilled workman in his profession.
REV. FATHER CROWE, Pastor of the Catholic Church, Mattoon; was born in Oswego, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1851 ; his early life was passed in the public schools of his native city; here he completed a full course of instruction, passing regularly through the high school and normal de- partment ; at about the age of 18 years, he engaged in the profession of teaching, and was a member of the Faculty in the College at Tutopolis, and, at a later date, in that at Ruma, Ill. ; having for some time directed his thoughts in the channel of the legal profession, and, at a later date, to that of the medical profession, finally, in 1873, he entered the Grand Seminary, at Montreal, Canada, where for four years he pursued a course in theology ; he was ordained to the ministry Dec. 22, 1877 ; he then took charge of a church at Flora, Ill., for a short time, and, in March, 1878, came to Mattoon, his present residence; by virtue of his position, he is President of the schools connected with the Church, conducted by the Ursuline Sisters, from Springfield.
E. T. CURRENS, farmer and fruit- grower ; P. O. Mattoon; was born in Bracken Co., Ky., in 1816; his father was a farmer and tanner, and for fifty-five years conducted the two interests jointly,
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at Germantown, Ky .; E. T.'s early life was spent upon his father's farm and in learning the tanning business ; he entered Augusta College, Ky., in 1832, and gradu- ated therefrom in 1836 ; he then engaged in mercantile life and farming till 1854, when he moved to Iowa and established the Kentucky settlement in Marshall Co .; in 1861, he returned to Maysville, Ky., and engaged in the hardware trade, in the firm of Currens & Owens; in 1864, he came to Mattoon, Ill., where he has since resided. Mr. Currens has thrice plighted himself at the nuptial altar ; his first mar- riage occurred in 1839, his second in 1849, and his last in 1859, each time choosing for his helpmeet one of Kentucky's fair daughters. His life has been one of marked activity ; he has been an enter- prising and liberal business man, and has always taken an active and leading part in introducing and rearing fine stock, in agricultural and horticultural exhibitions ; he was the first merchant to build a to- bacco warehouse outside of the river towns, and to buy, price and ship the farmers' crops of Mason and Bracken Cos .; he founded the Union Agricultural Company of these counties, and gave his woodlands for their first exhibitions, in 1854-55 ; he was a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Company so long as he remained a citizen of the State ; he was also a member of the Mason and Bracken Importing Co., and few men exerted more influence in the introduction of fine stock. machinery, or in the general improvement of his part of the State ; he organized the Marshall County, Iowa, Fair Co., and was President of that and the Central Iowa Fair Co., at the College Farm, up to the commencement of the war; both societies he left in great prosperity, and they are to- day leading associations for that great State ; during his administration, interest- ing exhibitions were held at the college farms at Newton, Marshalltown and Des Moines City, at each of which he took many premiums with individual ani- mals and his fine herd of short-horns. Mr. Currens has taken an active interest in horticulture, fruit growing and gardening since he has been a citizen of Mattoon ; to his influence and activity Mattoon owes the existence of her Horticultural Society, and most of her advancement in the mat-
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ter of ornamental shade-trees, fine fruits, berries, etc .; as a clever and enterprising citizen, he stands second to no man in his community.
J. D. CASSELL, proprietor Cassell's Restaurant, Mattoon ; was born in Mont- gomery Co., Penn., A. D. 1827 ; until he was 17 or 18 years of age, he passed his life upon the farm, deriving his education mostly from the common schools ; in 1854, he came West to Jennings Co., Ind., where he remained one year; he then went to Crawfordsville, Ind., and was a student in Wabash College a short time ; he next en- gaged in the merchant tailoring business there for two or three years ; leaving Crawfordsville, he next located in South Bend, remaining one year ; in the fall of 1859, he moved to New Carlisle, Ind., and engaged in teaching school; here he re- mained three and one-half years, most of the time engaged as a Professor in the Collegiate Institute ; in the spring of 1863, he moved to Rolling Prairie, taught one year, and, in the fall of 1864, engaged in the grocery trade ; in the spring of 1866, he was appointed and commissioned Post- master, which position he held eight years ; in the fall of 1874, he came to Mattoon and engaged in his present occupation. He was first married in 1858, to Elizabeth France, a native of Ohio; she died in 1868. His second marriage occurred in 1869, to Nancy J. Bolster of New York State ; she died in 1870; he has four children-Annie B., Lydia E., Mary C., Benjamin F.
JAMES T. CUNNINGHAM, de- ceased, 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 sup- port 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 that township as being among the early settlers; when he came West he was possessed of but little means, but here he found a wide field for specula- tion ; he was uniformly successful in his
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various undertakings, and his gains, though great, were always honorably gotten ; he scorned to do a mean act, and, though at his death, he left a large competeney to his family, no one could justly say thatone farthing had been gained by trickery or dishonest means. He took a deep and abiding interest in whatever tended to ad- vance the interests of his State. Being a man of good native ability, he was at an early day chosen by his fellow-citizens of Coles Co. as their representative; he served eight years in succession in the Lower House while the capital of the State was at Vandalia. His marriage to Elizabeth C. Yocum occurred Sept. 15, 1825; she died Sept. 3, 1849 ; for almost a quarter of a century, she was to him a faithful helpmeet ; he was married a second time, Feb. 3, 1853, to Mrs. Sarah E. Hendricks ; from first wedlock five children were born -John, William, James, Mary J., James H. ; of these William and James are dead ; from the second marriage two daughters were given him-Nancy T. (deceased) and Elizabeth C. (now wife of Elder W. T. Mason). At his death, which occurred June 26, 1863, he left an estate valued (after the liquidation of all debts) at $300,000. This legacy he left to his family as the reward of a faithful, industrious, honest, upright life-a life of striet sobriety, and full of earnest, manly effort.
J. W. DORA, M. D., physician and surgeon, Mattoon ; was born near Angusta, Bracken Co., Ky., May 5, 1827; he enjoyed the advantages of select schools, and attended Augusta College a short time before its suspension ; in 1847, he went to Cincinnati, and became a student in Bart- lett's Commercial College, from which he graduated in the spring of 1848; he then devoted himself to book-keeping for the firm of J. O. Prather & Co., about a year ; in the winter of 1849, he began the study of medicine, under Dr. George R. Todd, of Cynthiana, Ky., a brother of Mrs. A. Lincoln ; during the winter of 1850 and 1851, he attended the Ohio Medical Col- lege, at Cincinnati, and the following spring, engaged in the practice of his pro- fession, at Buena Vista, Ky .; the winter of 1851 and 1852, he was again a student in the College, and graduated in the spring following, when he again returned to his
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practice ; in August, 1855, he came West to Illinois, and located in Mattoon ; during the winter of 1855 and 1856, he attended a course of lectures in the Eclectic Medical College, at Cincinnati ; returning home he remained here in the practice until October, 1863, when he moved to Chicago; during his residence of two years in Chicago, he received a degree from the Rush Medical College ; in April, 1865, he returned to Mattoon, and has since resided here. He was married in the spring of 1850, to Martha E. Smith, a native of Harrison Co., Ky .; she died March 27, 1872; Nov. 10, 1875, he was married to S. A. McQuown, a native of Kentucky ; has four children from first wedlock-Leoma C. (wife of F. D. Dole), Helen M., John W., Maggie E. He was first Mayor of the city, and for a number of years member of the City Couneil; also held the office of City Treasurer a number of terms.
WILLIAM DOZIER, architeet and builder, Mattoon ; was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Sept. 12, 1836; his grand- father came from Pennsylvania to Ohio as early as 1810, and settled in Muskingum Co., when that section of country was a wilderness ; his father was then a lad of some 8 or 9 summers; through want of oppor- tunity, the education of his father was not extended beyond spelling, he never having read a day in school; he was a man, how- ever, of good native ability, and, through his own exertions, obtained a fair educa- tion ; he served nine years as Justice of the Peace; he lost his life April 5, 1852, by drowning. William's early life was passed upon the farm, and he secured a good education in the common schools; after the death of his father, he took charge of bis mother's interest, and that of eight younger members of the family, remaining at home till his majority ; at the age of 18 years, he began teaching, and taught four winters, farming or following the trade of carpenter during the remainder of the year ; in 1858, he came West to Illinois, to prospect the country, and on the 1st day of April, landed in what is now the city of Mattoou, then a village of some 300 inhab- itants ; here he engaged in working at his trade ; subsequently went te Cumberland Co., but soon returned to Mattoon ; in the fall of 1859, he returned to Ohio, and | Oct. 11, 1859, was married to Maria
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McCaslin, of Morgan Co., Ohio; here he remained till August, 1861, when he again set his face westward, moving, in a two- horse wagon, his goods and effects; he came again to Mattoon ; in 1865, he moved to Terre Haute, Ind., and during his resi- dence of three and a half years, built six residences for himself, and also engaged in merchandising, a short time; in 1869, he returned to Mattoon ; since his residence he has built ten residences, six of which he now owns ; he also owns twenty acres in Okaw Tp., and four acres at his residence near the city limits. Has had two chil- dren-Wallace, living ; Cadmer, dead. In 1875, in company with his wife he visited England, Scotland and France, and con- tributed some interesting articles to the city papers on the manners and customs of the people, and on sight-seeing in London, Edinburgh and other noted places.
W. B. DUNLAP, Cashier First Na- tional Bank, Mattoon ; was born in New Hampshire in 1840; he received a good, common-school education, and was fitted for college, but did not enter upon a college course. In 1861, he came West to Illi- nois, locating in Mattoon, where he was employed as book-keeper and clerk for the firm of Francis & Shaw. Jan. 1, 1863, he entered the banking house of Pilkington & Co., as Cashier; May 1, 1865, at which time the First National Bank was organized, he was chosen to the position of Teller ; this he held until 1868, when he was chosen Cashier; June 1, 1874, he resigned his office and organized the Mat- toon National Bank, of which he was Presi- dent till November, 1877, at which time he resigned the position to devote his atten- tion to his real estate transactions. April 1, 1878, he was tendered the position of Cashier of the First National Bank a second time, and in May following that of Presi- dent ; this, after mature deliberation, he declined, but consented to fill the office of Cashier. The management of the bank, however, is almost wholly intrusted to his care. He was married in 1866, to Mary K. Woods, a native of Illinois. Has two children-Estelle and Katie. Owns 120 acres and a large amount of real estate in the city. In addition to his banking duties, he transacts a real estate business to the amount of from $60,000 to $70,000 per annum.
J. K. DONNELL, wholesale grocer, Mattoon ; was born in Tyrone Co., Ireland, Oct. 14, 1835. At the age of 13, he entered the employ of John and James Graham, as clerk in their grocery establish- ment, in the town of Strabane ; here he served an indentured apprenticeship for three years and four months, at which time he received a certificate of qualification as a practical business man. The family soon after came to America and settled in Philadelphia, where he was employed in various firms in the capacity of clerk. In 1857, he began business for himself in the retail grocery trade ; this he conducted ten years. In 1867, he came to Illinois and began the retail trade in Mattoon ; for the first four years he conducted a jobbing trade in connection with the retail depart- ment; in the fall of 1861, he leased his present place of business to operate exclu- sively a jobbing trade ; this he continued five years; in the fall of 1866, he leased an additional room, and again connected the retail trade with his business ; October, 1878, he abandoned the retail department and entered upon the wholesale business exclusively. His is the pioneer wholesale establishment, being the first and only exclusively wholesale house in the city. In addition to his fine and growing business, ranging from $130,000 to $150,000 per annum, he owns a fine fruit farm of twenty acres within the corporate limits of the city, a number of residences and eighty- four acres in Cumberland Co., well im- proved. All this he has accumulated by honest industry and good management, and while ill-timed adventure and unwise speculation has engulfed many in finan- eial ruin, he feels grateful that his every obligation has been met, dollar for dollar ; and yet with his armor on, he boasts not as he may who has laid it aside.
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