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 63
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
H. A. PEMBERTON, farmer, Sec. 1
18; P. O. Oakland ; one of the pioneers of ('oles' County; born in Washington Co., Va., Aug. 22, 1822; he emigrated with his parents when quite young, and located in Coles Co., Ill., in November 1831, upon the place where he has since lived during the a period of nearly half a century ; he is the youngest son of Stanton and Sarah Pemberton ; his father died in 1838; seven years after his settlement here, and his mother died in 1850; after the death of his father, he and an older brother managed the place until 1860; at which time his brother died without family, and Mr. P. became possessor of the old home- stead where he now lives. He owns 240 acres of land mostly under a good state of cultivation, which he has assisted to re- claim from its wild prairie condition. He married Nov. 14, 1850, to Elizabeth Hicks ; she was born in Indiana June 21, 1830. They have three children by this union- Sally S., Jackson J., Stanton C; Mr. Pem- berton has been School Director for upward of thirty years, and has held the office of Road Commissioner for the last three years in the Township in which he lives.
JAMES H. PIERSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Oakland; born in Warren Co., Ohio, April 6, 1847, where he engaged in farming until Feb. 15, 1863, when, at the age of 15 years, he enlisted as private in Co. A, 12th Ohio V. I., and went forward to battle for the Union ; he was in many hard-fought battles, among which were South Mountain, Antietam, 2d Bull Run, Winchester, Cedar Creek, Lynchburg and was with the 16th Army Corps under Gen. Hunter in front of Richmond; at the bat- tle of Winchester, he was wounded and sent to the hospital for two months; at the battle of South Mountain a ball passed through his blouse ; at the battle of Lynch- burg, a shot struck and carried away his canteen ; while scaling a stone wall upon the retreat of the Union army at the bat- tle of Winchester, a solid shot struck the wall beneath him, which demolished the wall, broke the stock of his gun into atoms, and stunned and bruised him badly by the falling stones ; a companion seeing this in- cident and supposing him killed, so re- ported to his folks, under which impression they labored until his return at the close of the war ; he was mustered out of service
with his regiment in August, 1865, at Cleve- land, Ohio. After remaining in Ohio a short time he emigrated to Edgar Co., Ill., where he arrived with a capital of 75
cents; he immediately commenced work in a saw-mill at $1.25 per day, which business he followed for several years ; he removed upon his present place in 1870, where he owns 160 acres of land under cultivation ; 116 head of cattle, up- ward of 100 hogs, 120 head of sheep, and 18 head of horses and mules, which he has accumulated by hard labor, energy and industry, being nobly assisted by the aid of his wife, to whom he was married May 18, 1870; her maiden name was Susan S. Brodic; she was born in Arena, Wis., Jan. 6, 1848 ; they have four children now liv- ing by this union, viz., Ollie M., Flora B., Jackson and William S .; at the time of his marriage, he had neither money to pro- cure the license nor defray the expense of the ceremony, the same being advanced by his employer, Mr. R. F. Larimer, a prominent merchant of Oakland, who has nobly rendered him assistance at different times, and of whom he speaks in terms of the highest praise.
DANIEL B. POWERS, retired farmer ; P. O. Oakland ; one of the carly pioneers of Coles Co; born in Butler Co., Ohio, July 1, 1807, where he engaged in farm- ing until 1836, when he emigrated West and located in Crawfordsville, Ind., where he engaged in the mercantile trade for about eighteen months, when he sold his interest in the store and removed to East Oakland Township in March, 1838, where he purchased 180 acres of land, where he has since lived during a period of forty ycars ; he has upon his old farm upon which he lives, a fine brick residence, which he erected in 1846, making the brick himself upon his own farm. He married Sep- tember, 1828, to Maria Runnels; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio ; she died April 17, 1861, leaving four children-Jonathan W., Nancy, John and Levi; his marriage with Phœbe Bates was celebrated Aug. 29, 1861 ; she was born in Ohio July 25, 1817 ; Mr. Powers has held the office of Justice of the Peace four years, and Town Collector two years in the Township in which he lives.
S. A. REEL, physician and surgeon, farmer, stock-raiser and dealer in stock,
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EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP.
Oakland ; born in Gibson Co., Ind., May with J. J. Pemberton, which business he 3, 1829, where he attended school and followed until 1872; he was then em- ployed as book-keeper for the banking firm of L. D. Carter & Co., which position he held until Aug. 1, 1874, at which time the National Bank of Oakland was formed and he was chosen Cashier, which position he has since held; he was made a mem- ber of the Oakland Lodge, No. 219, A., F. & A. M., in 1869; was made a R. A. M. of Kansas Chapter, No. 125, in 1870 ; in 1871, he was made a Knight Templar and joined the Palestine Commandery, No. 27, at Paris ; he was the 1st Chancellor Commander of the Orion Lodge, No. 74, K. P., which was organized in 1874, and of which he was a charter member. engaged in farming until 18 years of age, when he taught school and studied medicine for two years in Missouri and Arkansas, when he cut a raft of lumber, which he took down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, and, after dispos- ing of the same, he returned to Indiana, then to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he attended the Eclectie Medical School one term; in the fall of 1852, he located in Pleasant Grove Tp., Coles Co., Ill., where he re- mained until 1855, being engaged in mer- cantile trade and studying medicine ; he then engaged for two and a half years farming in Hickory and Okaw Tps. ; when selling out, he removed D. A. RICE, station agent, telegraph operator and grain-dealer, Oakland ; born in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., April 4, 1847, where he lived until 9 years of age, when he removed with his parents to Pickaway Co., Ohio, where he commenced the study of telegraphy, living there three years ; then to New Lexington, where he lived two years, the last year, having charge of the telegraph office at that place ; he lived in Ohio and engaged in telegraphing until 1870, when he removed to Illinois and located at Effingham, where he was en- gaged at telegraphing for a short time, when he changed to another station and was employed by that line for three years ; he then removed to Ohio, where he was engaged in telegraphing nntil 1876, when he came to Oakland and took charge of this office, which he has since operated. He was married July 12, 1868, to Alice J. Hughes ; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Jan. 6, 1852; they have two children now living by this union-Eva, born Dec. 9, 1870, and Wilber, born Jau. 6,1872. to Iowa, living there six months, when he returned to Cumberland Co., Ill., where he engaged in the merchandise trade and milling for six months, then to Indiana, where he remained until August, 1861, when he enlisted as private in the 58th Ind. V. I., serving as private two months, when he was detailed as Steward in the Union hospitals until the following year, when, on account of ill-health, he received his discharge. He then located in Douglas Co., Ill., in 1863, and has since successfully followed the practice of medicine; he erected his fine residence in Oakland in 1868; he also owns 2×0 acres of land, a part of which lies within the corporation limits. He has taken a deep interest in political matters, first as an Old-Line Whig, supporting the Republican party from its organization until 1876, when he espoused the cause of the Greenback party, and, in 1878, received the nomination from the above party as representative to the State Legislature for the Thirty-second Illinois District and made the canvass, but was defeated. He married May 19, 1853, Eliza Adams; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., April 22, 1836, her parents being among the early settlers, locating in 1830 ; they have five children by this union- John F., Kate Iowa, Lida, Lena Maud and William E.
JOHN RUTHERFORD, Cashier of the Oakland National Bank, Oakland ; born in Oakland, Coles Co., Ill., June 21, 1844, where he engaged in farming and attending school until February, 1867, when he engaged in the dry goods trade
THOMAS ROBERTS, farmer; P. O. Oakland ; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., Oct. 12, 1802, where he lived and en- gaged in farming until 1830, when he emigrated to Muskingum Co., Ohio, and engaged in farming until 1860, at which date he removed to Illinois and located upon his present place in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., where he has since lived and followed farming. He married Feb. 7, 1828, to Alice Mock ; she was born in Virginia Nov. 8, 1808; they have nine children now living, having lost three by
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death ; the names of the living are Mary E. (now Mrs. George Geyer), Matilda ( now Mrs. Peter Gobert), William H., Caroline (now Mrs. James W. . Titus), Castaria (row Mrs. Frank Taylor), Isaac N., Jane (now Mrs. F. M. Parker), John D. and Sherman W .; the names of the deceased are Jacob, and two which died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have taken a deep interest in the cause of re- ligion, having been active members of the M. E. Church since 1833, for a period of forty-six years. Their married life extends over a period of half a century.
W. H. ROBERTS, farmer, See. 9, T. 13, R. 14 W .; P. O. Kansas ; born in Mus- kingum Co., Ohio, Oct. 17, 1840, where he followed farming until 20 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois with his parents, and located in East Oakland Tp .. Coles Co., on Sec. 6, where his father, Thomas Rob- erts, now lives ; here he assisted his father farming until Aug. 8, 1862, when he en- listed in the 79th I. V. I., and went for- ward to battle for the Union ; going to Louisville, Ky., he joined the army of Gen. Buell, who had been driven back by the rebel army under Gen. Bragg; moving south, his first severe engagement was at Stone River, where the regiment suffered severely in killed, wounded and prisoners, he being wounded and taken prisoner, but was paroled on the field and placed in the Union hospital for two months, then to the Louisville hospital seven weeks, when he was sent to his regiment, at Murfrees- boro, Tenn .; from there to St. Louis, and, upon being exchanged, he joined his regi- ment at Chattanooga; he was afterward engaged in the following severe battles : Buzzard Roost, Resaca and Allatoona ; he was with Sherman's army until after the capture of Atlanta, Ga., when he was sent to Tennessee, where, at the battle of Franklin, the rebels being defeated, he was sent to Decatur, Ala., guarding the river for several weeks, then to East Tennessee, via Chattanooga, where, after scouting sev- eral weeks, they were sent to Nashville and mustered out of service, then to Springfield, Ill., where he received his dis- charge June 23, 1865, having been in service three years, lacking six weeks. lle then returned to Coles Co., Ill., and as- sisted his father farming until the follow- ing spring, when he rented a farm, which
1
he worked one year, when he moved upon his present place, which he rented until 1870, when he purchased ninety-seven acres, and has since farmed his own land. He married April 24, 1866, to Mary Reeds ; she was born in Edgar Co. Feb. 20, 1844; she is the daughter of J. W. Reeds, who located in Illinois in 1831; they have two children now living by this union, viz., Arminta A., born Dec. 28, 1868, and James B., born July 6, 1875.
SHERMAN W. ROBERTS, farmer ; P. O. Oakland ; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Jan. 11, 1852; he attended school here until 9 years of age, when he emi- grated with his parents to Illinois, and lo- cated in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co., in September, 1860 (his father at that time purchasing upward of two hundred acres upon Sec. 6, where he still resides) ; he attended school here during the winter and assisted his father farming in the sum- mer, until he attained his majority ; he then engaged in farming a part of his father's farm on shares for three years, when he bought 100 acres where he now lives, and located upon his present place in 1876 ; he also owns ten acres of tim- ber, his home farm being all under fence and cultivation. He married March 26. 1874, to Sarah A. Dollar, daughter of John and Sarah Dollar, who are among the early pioneers of Coles Co., and whose biography appears in this work ; she was born in Coles Co., Ill., Nov. 1, 1852; they have two children by this union- Sarah N., born Nov. 5, 1875. and Lillie A., born Nov. 22, 1877.
HIRAM RUTHERFORD, retired physician and surgeon, Oakland; one of the early settlers of Coles Co .; was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Dec. 27. 1815: his great-grandfather emigrated from Ire- land in 1729, and settled in Lancaster Co .. Penn., upon a branch of the Susquehanna, where, with his wife, he lived until 1755. when he removed to Great Limestone Springs, two miles east of where the city of Harrisburg now stands, and near which place a large portion of his descendants now live; this grand old patriarch died 100 years ago, and lies buried in the Pax- ton Church-yard, the oldest burial-place in that country. The subject of this sketch was the eighth member of his father's family ; he was raised to heavy farm labor,
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EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP.
and at the age of 18, he commenced the study of medicine with an older brother, an eminent physician of Harris- burg, and graduated from the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in the spring of 1838; with $10, a horse, saddle and bridle, he set out to seek his fortune ; his first location was at Millersburg, Penn .; in the latter days of 1840, he emigrated to Illinois, and located at Oakland, Coles Co., where he has since resided ; the prac- tice of medicine in a new country is a work of great labor, when the calls are numerous and the extent of territory covered, as in this case, embraced half a degree of latitude and longitude ; the roads at that time, in this " Ambraw " country were mere deer-paths, and the streams were allowed to flow on their winding to the sea, unvexed by bridges or ferries, except such of the latter as a dug-out canoe afforded ; canoe ferriage, now one of the lost arts, was then a distinguished occu- pation in high-water times; the traveler led his stripped horse in the water on the upper side of the canoe, taking for himself and sad- dle a position mid-way between the bow and stern; the ferryman, seated on the stern, paddle in hand, sent the unsteady craft across the stream, carefully keeping pace with the swimming horse; the small streams had to be forded, in which case a high horse was a valuable help, but not unfrequently a glorious ducking was the result of such necessary adventures. The Doctor has been married twice, and has eight children living-two girls and six boys. He has now, from advancing years, retired from the practice of medicine, and enjoys, perhaps, as well as any other man, the fruits of a well spent and prosperous life. Of petty local public honors, he has had his full share ; village, town and school trusts have been his in plenty, seldom holding less than two offices at a time; as School Treasurer, he has held and success- fully managed the funds of Township 14, R. 10, for twenty-seven years; as Supervisor, he has represented East Oakland on the County Board many years ; further, with a conscience void of offense, he trusts, with God's help as a heritage to his chil- dren, to at last go down to the dark valley like unto his fathers before him, without a blot or stain; neither a great nor re- markable man, but one whom his cotem-
poraries will probably admit was not a failure and did not live in vain.
S. C. SWINFORD, farmer and stock- raiser, Sec. 7; P. O. Oakland ; born in Harrison Co., Ky., Oct. 4, 1825, where he attended school until 13 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Putnam Co., Ind., where he engaged upon his father's farm until 1844, at which time he engaged for two years farming on shares, and early in the winter of 1847, employed a team to transport himself, family and such goods as he was possessed of to Illi- nois, where he arrived upon the 17th of February, 1847, having paid out his last dollar to defray expenses on the trip, his only capital then being an old blind horse and two colts ; with this capital he com- menced farming. renting of Robert Gra- ham what land he could work with one team, in what is now known as Ashmore Tp .; in the spring, he walked back to Indiana, and obtained of his father the loan of a wild horse, which he worked to get in his crop, when he returned the same well broke, and for four years was obliged to splice teams to put in his crop ; the sec- ond year, he rented a farm in what is now known as Oakland Tp., near where he now lives, and in this neighborhood rented land until 1855, since which time he has had all the land of his own he could work ; in 1852, he purchased thirty acres of prairie land, upon which he then removed, and where he has since continued to live dur- ing a period of twenty-seven years ; he has added to the same by purchase as he has been able, until his home farm now con- tains 200 acres, upon which he has erected good buildings ; he also owns upward of 600 acres in other parts of the county ; upon commencing housekeeping, he had neither table, chairs nor bedstead; his household goods consisted of a feather bed and some dishes ; his first bedstead, for which he paid twenty-five cents, being car- ried home, a distance of one mile, upon his back. He married Dec. 2, 1844, to Mary A. Rush ; she was born in Tennes- see Oct. 31, 1824 ; they have eight chil- dren now living, having lost three by death ; the names of the living are Cole- man T., Francis M., Henry, James M., John W., George R., Sarah E. and Thomas J. Mr. Swinford was first Assessor of East Oakland Tp., which office he has
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filled for several terms, as well as the office of School Director and Trustee.
W. H. SWINFORD, farmer ; P. O. Oakland; born in Putnam Co., Ind., Aug. 20, 1844, where he followed farming until 1871, when he removed to Illinois and located in Hickory Tp., Coles Co., where he engaged in farming until 1875, when he purchased sixty acres of prairie land in East Oakland Tp., upon which he settled, and where he has since lived ; he also owns forty acres in Hickory Tp., upon which he has erected good, comfortable farm buildings. He married Nov. 10, 1867, to Mary A. Cole ; she was born in Putnam Co., Ind., Jan. 12, 1846; she is a sister of Richard Cole, whose biography appears in this work ; they have three chil- dren now living by this union, viz., Arthur D., James Matthew and William Theodorc.
N. P. SMITH, dealer in books, station- ery, etc., Oakland ; born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Jan. 6, 1847, where he attended school until 16 years of age, when he re- moved to Pickaway Co., where he attended school one year ; he then attended at Dela- ware City, where he entered the Wesleyan University, where he remained eighteen months ; in 1866, he located in Shelby Co., Ill., and for five years engaged from four to six months during the fall and winter in teaching school, and the balance of the season farming and dealing in farm imple- ments and machinery; he then engaged in the book and stationery trade at Shelby- ville with T. E. Lapham for a short time, when, in 1873, he located at Oakland in the above business, under the firm name of Lapham & Smith, continuing the same for six months, when he purchased the in- terest of his partner, since which time he has continued the business alone; his business card will be found in the business directory of Oakland, in another part of this work. His marriage with Minerva Gollogher was celebrated Sept. 30, 1869 ; she was born in Shelby Co., Ill., Sept. 9, 1847 ; they have four children now living by this union, viz., Orrin L., Jennie, Edith and Lucy.
W. O. SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser, also proprietor and superintendent of Smith's flour, feed and saw mills ; P. O. Oakland; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Oct. 8, 1824, where he followed farming
until 25 years of age, when in 1849 he removed West, and located in Coles Co., Ill., purchasing 140 acres of land, where he lived until 1869, when he removed to Oak- land and purchased the steam flour and saw mill, which business he has since followed ; he owns his mill and four honses and lots in Oakland, besides upward of 700 acres of land in Coles and Douglas Counties, mostly under cultivation. He married Aug. 3, 1843, Kezia Chance; she was born Oct. 19, 1821; she died July 9, 1872, at Oakland, leaving four children now living-John P., Benjamin F., Mary E., Theresa ; his marriage with Mrs. Mary E. Ashmore was celebrated Jan. 6, 1876 ; she was the widow of George W. Ashmore, one of the early pioneers of Coles Co .; she has one son by her former husband, Charles C .; Mrs. Smith was born in Ohio, March 30, 1830. Mr. Smith has filled the office of School Director for fourteen years in succession.
L. C. THORNTON, farm implements, Postmaster, Oakland; one of the pioneers of Edgar Co., Ill .; born in Washington Co., Ind., Dec. 15, 1825; he removed with his parents in 1829, being then + years of age, and located in Edgar Co., Ill., where he attended school, and engaged in farming until Sept. 10, 1861, when he enlisted as private in Co. E, 66th I. V. I; this regiment was composed of picked men from the various Northwestern States, selected for their skill and accuracy in handling the rifle; the 66th was known in the army as the Western Sharp-shooters. and was generally thrown out in the ad- vance upon any important engagement, and was often detailed in squads to pick off the rebel gunners; Mr. T. served as private for twenty-three months, when he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, then to First Lieutenant, then to Captain, which commission he held at the close of the war ; he was with Sherman's army in his march to Atlanta, as well as the siege and capture of the same; he then made the march through Georgia to the sea, spending the Christmas of 1864 at Savannah, Georgia ; he then made the march north through South and North Carolina, during which they had many severe battles, until they reached Morrisville Station, N. C., when his regiment was selected as the advance guard of Gen. Sherman when he went out
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EAST OAKLAND TOWNSHIP.
to receive the surrender of Gen. Johnston ; he then continued his march through to Washington, when, after the review of the army, he went to Louisville, Ky., then to Springfield, Ill., where the regiment was mustered out of service ; Capt. Thornton was in the Union army three years and ten months, and while he escaped unhurt he had many narrow escapes, both of his life as well as being taken prisoner ; in one en- gagement the regiment lost thirteen commis- sioned officers ; at the left of Atlanta, he re- ceived seven bullets through his blouse, two through his pants, one through his under- clothing, and two struck the scabbard of his sword, one of which broke the same ; at the battle of Fort Donelson, his regi- ment was detailed in squads to pick off the rebel gunners ; while performing this duty, a shell burst between him and another com- missioned officer, which knocked him down and nearly buried him with sand; he was once sent out with ten men and returned alone, the others being taken prisoners ; he owes his escape at this time to his presence of mind; as the rebels advanced upon him he made a stand behind a fence and com- menced firing to alarm the Union camp, which so alarmed the rebels that they re- treated with their other prisoners, and he made his way back to the camp of the Union army. After receiving his discharge, he located at Ashmore, Coles Co., Ill., in the lumber business, where he remained until 1871, when he removed to Oakland and engaged in the above business, which he has since followed ; he received his ap- pointment as Postmaster in December, 1871, which office he has since held. His mar- riage with Annie M. Cox was celebrated Feb. 29, 1872; she was born in Ashmore, her parents locating there in 1832; they have three children now living by this union, Mary A., Annie L., and an infant,
W. J. TEMPLES, farmer and stock- raiser ; P. O. Oakland; born in Monroe Co., Ind., March 6, 1841, where he en- gaged in farming and attending school until he attained his majority, when he continued farming in Indiana until the latter part of the year of 1863, when he removed to Illinois, and located upon his present place on Jan. 1, 1864, where he has near 200 acres of land all under fence and cultivation. Mr. Temple arrived in this township without means, and during
the winter cut upward of 20,000 rails under contract, and the following spring commenced farming on shares for one sea- son, and the following spring removed upon his present place, where he had pre- viously bought forty acres, and to which he has since added by the fruits of his hard labor, in which his wife has nobly as- sisted him, until he now owns nearly 200 acres, upon which he has good buildings. He married March 15, 1866, to Susan Jones ; she was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, March 16, 1847; they have three children living by this union-Andrew J., John H. and William A. Mrs. Temples lost three brothers, fighting for the preserva- tion of the Union; George W. Jones, killed at Pittsburg Landing, the others, William A. and Robert Jones, both died in hospital from disease contracted in the army, all of the above belonging to Illinois regiments.
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