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 72
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83
626
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
the early pioneers of Coles Co., who located about 1830. Mrs. McLain has two children by her previous husband, W. R. Mitchell, viz., John F. and P. A. Mitchell, now Mrs. Hugh Daugherty.
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 emi- grated 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 land in Morgan Tp., upon which he settled and, about 1845, en- tered forty more and afterward added by purchase until he had 535 acres, which he made by his own hard labor ; he has al- ways been one of the most industrious and hard-working men of Morgan Tp., and is held in high esteem as a citizen ; he has always taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been an active member of the Presbyterian Church for upward of half a century ; on Jan. 9, 1872, he was stricken with palsy, and upon the 13th of the same month received his second shock, since which time he has been confined to the house, and is nearly in a helpless condition, which affliction he has borne with Christian fortitude. His mar- riage with Margaret Dollar was celebrated June 11, 1833; she was born in Perth- shire, Scotland, Nov. 18, 1811 ; five chil- dren were the fruit of this union, three of which are deceased ; the names of the liv- ing are William and John. Mr. Mc- Gregor was a strong Union man during the war of the rebellion, two of his sons serv- ing in the Union Army, Alexander being killed at the battle of Perryville; Mrs. McGregor died April 27, 1876; Mr. McGregor continues to live upon the old homestead with his younger son, John, by whom he is kindly cared for ; John was born in the old homestead Feb. 1, 1848, where he has always lived ; he married April 12, 1877, to Rosanie C. Craig; she was the daughter of James W. Craig, one of the carly settlers of Coles Co .; they
have one child by this union-Margaret J., born Dec. 15, 1878.
DANIEL R. MCALISTER, farmer, deceased; one of the carly pioneers of Coles Co. The subject of this sketch was born in Alabama May 29, 1821 ; he emigrated to Illinois at 10 years of age, and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp., in the year 1831, where he lived until his death, which occurred Nov. 9, 1867; he was one of the most industrious and hard- working men of Morgan Tp., and by his industry and good management had accu- mulated a good property at the time of his death. His marriage was celebrated Feb. 11, 1844 ; six children were the fruit of this union, three of whom are deceased; the living are Martha J. (now Mrs. J. B. Will- iams), Clara B. (now Mrs. Dunlap) Mc- Ghey and Margaret R. (now Mrs. G. E. Johnson). Mrs. McAlister makes her home with her oldest daughter, Mrs. J. B. Williams, and although in her 63d year, is in possession of all her faculties, and daily assists in the various household duties.
J. T. MONTGOMERY, physician, P. O. Charleston ; born in Cedar Co., Mo., Oet. 18, 1852. He emigrated with his parents and located in Alton, Ill., in 1861, for about six months, then Windsor for three years, where his father was located as minis- ter of the C. P. Church. He located in Oak - and, Coles Co., in March, 1867, when he attended school until 1871, where he worked as farm laborer during the summer and fall, in which way he obtained the means to attend the Mt. Zion Academy until he had exhausted the proceeds of his summer's labor, when he engaged as clerk in the dry goods store of Wilcox & Bur- roughs, at Fairmount, Ill., where he re- mained until winter, when he taught school for six months, and having laid up suffi- cient means to defray his expenses in fur- ther educating himself, he went to the Normal School, at Normal Ill., for six months; he continued in this manner, teaching, then expending his savings in schooling himself until he received his edu- cation, graduating from the Chicago Med- ical College in the Centennial Class of 1876, having devoted four years to the study of medicine; he then engaged in partnership with Dr. W. J. Peak, at Oak- land, under the firm name of Peak & Montgomery. He located upon his present
627
MORGAN TOWNSHIP.
place in August, 1876, since which time he has successfully followed the practice of medicine, having a large and extensive practice, which is yearly increasing. He married Oct. 12, 1876, to Mary A. Gerard, daughter of Jackson Gerard, whose biog- raphy appears in this work; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Feb. 18, 1856. They have one child by this union-Sarah Em- ily, born July 8, 1877.
WM. MORGAN, farmer; P. O. Rar- din ; born in Sullivan Co., Ind., Dec. 13, 1827; he emigrated with his parents when 8 years old and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp. in 1834, and before the organization of the township, which is named in honor of his father, David Mor- gan, who resided here from 1835 until his death, which occurred in October, 1860. The subject of this sketch lived with his par- ents and assisted in farming until 1850, when he engaged in farming for himself upon the place where he has since lived ; he owns 320 acres in his home farm and 320 acres in other parts of the township ; when Mr. Morgan first located in this township, it was inhabited by Indians, whose camps were along the river, their chief camps being along Brush Creek, where the mounds may be seen to this day; wolves were plenty, and to obtain quail, prairie chick- ens, turkeys or deer, it was hardly neces- sary to step outside of the door-yard ; his trips to mill consumed four days, and the distance was fifty miles, either to Eugene on the Wabash, or to Terre Haute; at that early date, he had only two neighbors, and from his location at the north part of what is now Morgan Tp. to within a half mile from Charleston, a distance of twelve miles, there was not a single habitation ; for roads, to avoid getting lost, a single furrow would be plowed from point to point ; this was the way the road was laid out to Charleston and other parts. His schooling was obtained under disadvan- tages, in an old log school house, whose fire-place was the whole of one end of the building; the scholars were obliged to gather their wood from the stump, take it to the schoolhouse, chop it and take it in. His marriage with Margaret Shirre was celebrated Sept. 6, 1850 ; she was born in Glasgow, Scotland, May 28, 1835 ; they have four children, now living, by this union-William David, now attending the
Chicago Medical College his third term; Ralph D., Alexander J. and Josie Clay.
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 Washing- ton Co., Ky., Nov. 18, 1797 ; he emigrated from Kentucky to Indiana with his fam- ily, 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 were the fruit of this union, five of whom emigrated to Illinois with the family at the above date, one having died in infancy ; the names of the living were Sarah, Catharine J., Mary E., William and James; Mr. Morgan died Sept. 10, 1860; Mrs. Morgan died Jan. 31, 1832. The subject of this sketch was 4 years of age when he emigrated to Coles Co., Ill., in 1834 ; he lived with his parents until 19 years of age, when he managed the farm until the decease of his father, since which time he has con- tinued to live upon the old homestead, where he has lived for a period of forty- five years ; he owns upon his home farm 112 acres, and 8 acres of timber in Oak- land Tp .; when Mr. Morgan came here, Indian camps were along the river, wolves and game were plenty, and Mr. Morgan remembers his first labor in his boyhood as watching and protecting the sheep from destruction by the wolves during the day, the sheep being driven in close pens for protection during the night; his trips to mill consumed from four to six days, either to Perryville, Eugene, or Terre Haute, the distance being sixty miles. His marriage with Clarissa J. West was celebrated Oct. 12, 1849 ; she was born in Vermilion Co., Ind., Oct. 6, 1831; they have five chil- dren by this union, viz .: Robert, born Oct. 9, 1850; Leonard C., June 22, 1853; William J., Feb. 21, 1855 ; Melvin, June 8, 1858, and David, Aug. 23, 1869.
JOHN NOCK, farmer ; P. O. Charles- ton ; born in Germany Feb. 20, 1835; he emigrated with his parents to America when 2 years of age; coming directly West, they located first in Ross, then Waverly Co., Ohio, until 1849, when
628
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
they located in Charleston, Coles Co., Ill., where he learned and worked at the car- penter trade until 1863, at which date he located upon his present place, where he has since continued to live ; he owns upon his present place 165 acres, upon which he has good buildings, and which is mostly under cultivation. He married Aug. 5, 1863, to Mary Golladay ; she was born upon the place where she now lives, and where she has lived since her birth, which occurred Dec. 18, 1841; they have seven children now living, by this union, viz. : Katie and Annie (twins), born Aug. 24, 1864; Minnie, Jan. 4, 1869; John, Oct. 8, 1872; James, Nov. 13, 1874; Jackson, Nov. 28, 1876; Emma, April 17, 1878. The father of Mr. Nock, John Nock, died in Septem- ber, 1851; his mother died Aug. 27, 1875; the parents of Mrs. Nock, Moses and Catharine Golladay, were among the early pioneers of Coles Co., locating here in 1836 ; Mr. Golladay was born in Virginia, Oct. 15, 1809; he died in Morgan Tp., March 12, 1862; Mrs. Golladay was born in Virginia March 25, 1819 ; she now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Nock, upon the same place where she has resided for up- ward of forty-three years, and is one of the oldest living settlers now in Morgan Tp.
F. M. PARKER, farmer ; P. O. Rar- din ; born in Edgar Co., Ill., March 18, 1849; he is the eldest son of Wm. M. Parker, who emigrated from Kentucky, and located in Edgar Co., Ill., in the year 1829; he died in Coles Co., Feb. 14, 1873; his mother was born in Kentucky, and emigrated with her parents, and loca- ted in Coles Co. in 1828; the subject of this sketch remained with his parents, and assisted in farming, until 20 years of age, when he was employed as farm-laborer for about four years: he first commenced farming for himself in 1871, in Edgar Co., and the year following in East Oakland Tp., Coles Co .; he removed upon Sec. 5, Morgan Tp., in December, 1873, where he has since successfully followed farming. He married Sept. 14, 1871 to Sarah J. Roberts; she was born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, March 11, 1848 ; she is daugh- ter of Thomas Roberts, whose biography appears in this work ; they have four chil- dren by this union-Rhoda A., born June 30, 1872; James W., born May 1, 1874;
Cara A., born May 21, 1876 ; Dora R., born April 29, 1878. Mr. Parker has held the office of Road Overseer for two years, and Collector of Morgan Tp. for 1878.
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 at- tended 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 admin- tration 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 appoint- ment, he erected a store, and purchased a stock of goods; he engaged in the mer- chandise trade, which business he has since successfully followed. He is the oldest son now living of John H. Rardin, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Morgan Tp. in 1842, and whose biography appears in this work. He also owns forty acres of prairie land, upon which he has a residence, and which is rented.
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 re- moved to Campbell County, Ky., when he was 4 years of age, where he was en- gaged 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 period of nearly thirty-seven years; he first entered eighty acres of prairie land, which is now a part of his home farm, and eighty acres of tim- ber upon the Embarrass River; at the time of his locating here, his capital consisted of one team and wagon, his provisions for the winter and $25 in money; his first log house and stable, which he built in 1842. was occupied by him until about the year 1853, when he erected his present house and, a few years later, built a frame barn ; he now owns in his home farm 160 acres and upward of 300 acres in other parts of the township. Mr. Rardin has taken a
629
MORGAN TOWNSHIP.
deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for up- ward of twenty years; of school and town- ship offices, he has had his share, having held the offices of Supervisor, School Trust- ee and School Director several terms, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for upward of thirty years in succession. He married Feb. 1, 1838, to Sarah Ran- kin ; she was born in Ohio Aug. 7, 1815; she died May 3, 1848, leaving two children now living, viz., David (born Jan. 27, 1839), Nancy (born Sept. 29, 1841). His marriage with Mary Ann Sousley was celebrated March 9, 1854 ; she was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Aug. 27, 1829 ; they liave three children now living by this union, viz., George (born March 16, 1860), Ellen (March 18, 1862), Lucy (Aug. 18, 1873. Mr. Rardin located herc when wolves were plenty, and to protect the sheep they built close pens at the side of the house, in which the sheep were nightly driven ; game was also abundant, and to obtain a quail, wild turkeys, prairie chick- ens, wild geese, ducks or deer was the work of a few minutes. His milling was a work of four days' labor, driving oxen to Dan- ville, Montezuma or Terre Haute, and sometimes he was obliged to wait from two to three days to get his grist ground.
JOHN H. RARDIN, farmer ; P. O. Rardin ; one of the early pioneers of Mor- gan Tp .; born in the State of Indiana, Feb. 24, 1818; he removed with his pa- rents 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, without a dollar in money ; he worked by the day to pay for his first dwelling, which was an old log house ; he manufactured his first bedstead by boring a hole in one of the end and side logs, running a pole from each and entering a post at either end ; the following year, he went back to Ken- tucky, where he worked as farm laborer one season, at $9 per month, in which way he obtained means to enter forty acres of land, and upon which he commenced his
first farming ; he has since disposed of the above, but now owns in his home farm, 280 acres, and 160 acres in Oakland Tp., all of the above being accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry ; although in his 61st year, and having suffered all the hardships and exposure of frontier life, he is now in possession of all his facul- ties, and daily attends to the care of his stock, and such other duties as his farm requires. He married March 6, 1845, to Melinda Clark ; she was born in Ken- tucky Oct. 25, 1824; they have three children now living by this union, viz., Mary Ann, born Feb. 13, 1846, now Mrs. Porter Johnson ; Samuel Rardin, born Jan. 2, 1850, now merchant and Postmas- ter at Rardin ; James K., born June 28, 1851, now practicing law at Charleston ; Mrs. Rardin died March 13, 1857. His marriage with Rebecca Hurst was cele- brated in the spring of 1859; she was born in Edgar Co., Ill., April 17, 1825 ; she died April 17, 1870, leaving one child, now living-Malinda J., born May 15, 1862. He married for his third wife Mrs. Nancy Campbell, Dec. 17, 1873; she was born in Jefferson Co., Ind., Jan. 30, 1830; she was the daughter of John McCrory, one of the early pioneers of Clark Co., Ill., who located in Clark Co. in 1838; they have one child by this union-John H. Rardin, born Feb. 3, 1875.
ISAAC ROBERTS, retired farmer and blacksmith ; P. O. Charleston ; born in Bourbon Co., Ky., Feb. 25, 1807 ; his grandfather emigrated from Wales in the early part of the seventeenth century, and located in Virginia, then to Kentucky, where he died ; his father, Azariah Roberts, was born in Kentucky about the year 1775, and died in Indiana about 1847. The subject of this sketch removed to Scott Co., Ky., when quite young, where he lived until 22 years of age, and learned and worked at the blacksmith trade until 1828, when he removed to Hendricks Co., Ind., and followed his trade until 1852, during a period of twenty-four years ; he then emigrated to Illinois, and located upon his present place in June, 1853, where he has since continued to live ; he first purchased 120 acres of land upon his pres- ent farm, to which he has since added un- til he has 360 acres, which he has accumu- lated by his own hard labor, energy and
630
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
industry. He married in April, 1822, to Nancy Bowles; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., in November, 1807; she died Feb. 28, 1866 ; nine children were the fruit of this union, five of whom are deceased ; the names of the living are William D., born April 29, 1829; Aratus, born Oct. 20, 1833; Isaac M., born June 16, 1847, and Alpheus, born Feb. 24, 1850; Mr. Roberts' children are all living within one mile of his present home. William D. married in 1850 to Ann Douglas ; she died Feb. 25, 1866, leaving three children ; he married for his second wife Cynthia Lan- man ; she died Dee. 27, 1878, leaving four children. Aratus married in 1854 to Araminta Bradfield ; she died in 1858, leav- ing one child-Charles W., born March 16, 1857 ; his second marriage with Auyziller Nelson was celebrated in 1865 ; they have three children now living by this union- Alpheus, Aratus J. and Ella. Isaac MI. married Feb. 18, 1867, to Patience Mary- . mee; she was born in Indiana Jan. 30, 1844 ; they have three children now living, viz .: John T., born March 10, 1868 ; Phobe J., born Feb. 21, 1875, and Julia M., born July 3, 1878. Alpheus married Amanda Wilkin April 4, 1872; she was born in Coles Co., Ill .; they have one child -Daisy D.
WM. H. REYNOLDS, far .; P. O. Oak- land ; born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, May 29, 1837, where he was brought up on a farm until about 18 years of age, when he emi- grated to Clark Co., Ill., and located for one year; thence to Coles Co., where he hired as farm laborer for two years, when he rented land and farmed three years. He enlisted July 25, 1861, in Col. Ogles- by's regiment-the Sth I. V. I .- going in camp at Cairo, where he remained about two months, during which time he was engaged in reconnoitering expeditions in Missouri; he then joined the Army of the West under Gen. Grant, and was in many severe battles, among which were Ft. Don- elson, Shiloh, Corinth, siege and capture of Vicksburg, after which he went with the army South to New Orleans, and went into winter quarters, remaining until the spring of 1865, when they went to Mobile, which place they captured after remaining there two months; went to Shreveport, La., then to Marshall, Tex., where he re- ceived a furlough, and while at home was
-
mustered out of service by special order from the War Department April 20, 1866. Mr. Reynolds was in the Union Army nearly five years, and while he had many narrow escapes; was wounded only once, while making a charge at Raymond, Miss., having the flesh torn from one of his fingers. At the battle of Shiloh, he received a bullet through his pants, one through his blouse, and one struck. the stock of his gun; his comrades at either side were killed ; at the battle of Holly Springs, he was made prisoner, but was released by an attack of the Union army within about two hours ; he first enlisted for three years, and after receiving his discharge, he re-enlisted as veteran, and served until 1866. After receiving his discharge, he returned to Coles Co., where he engaged in farming until 1872, when went to Kansas and located 160 acres of land, upon which he lived until 1876, when he returned to Coles Co., Ill., and located upon his present place, where he has since lived ; his home farm contains 162 acres, mostly prairie land. He mar- ried in 1855 to Mary E. Harvey ; she died in February, 1860 ; he married for his second wife Hester Tuttle, in 1863; she died in 1867, leaving one child-Min- nie B .; his marriage with Margaret E. Collins was celebrated May 23, 1869 ; they have four children by this union, viz., Maynard Oscar, Martha J., Ida May, John W. Mrs. Reynolds was born March 6, 1845 ; she was the daughter of Watson Collins, one of the early pioneers of Coles Co., and whose biography appears in this work.
JOHN G. SAILER, farmer; P. O Rardin ; born in Wurtemberg, Germany,. Oct. 18, 1823, where he attended school and engaged in farming until 21 years of age, when he was drafted in the 2d Regt. of. cavalry, where he served two years, when he received a furlough, subject to the call of the King, and, at the expiration of about four months, war being declared be- tween Germany and Denmark, he was called into service and served during the war, which continued for a period of two years, at the close of which, the Ger- man rebellion breaking out, in which he served until the same was subdued, which was abont twelve months; he then engaged in farming until 1853, when he emigrated
631
MORGAN TOWNSHIP.
to America, landing in New York Nov. 10, of the same year; he then went to Pennsylvania, where he worked upon a farm for six months, at $8 per month ; he then went to Indiana, where he worked as farm laborer for two years, at $16 per month ; he then located near Charleston, Coles Co., Ill., where he was employed by Jacob P. Decker eight months, when he removed to Morgan Tp. and located upon Sec. ยบ, in the spring of 1857, where he has since lived ; he owns upward of one hundred acres. upon which he has good buildings; he erected his house in 1869. His marriage with Melissa Gillaspie was celebrated March 18, 1857 ; she was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Jan. 19, 1838; they have two children now living by this union, viz., Rosa C., born Dec. 15, 1860, and Nancy C., born Dec. 29, 1862 ; Mrs. Sailer was the oldest daughter of Augustus Gillaspie, her mother being a sister of John H. and Jacob L. Rardin, whose bi- ography appear in this work ; her parents were among the early pioneers of Coles Co., making the journey with teams from Ohio, in company of John H. and Jacob Rardin, and locating in this township in the fall of 1842. Mr. Sailer has reared from childhood James E. Archer, who was born in Oakland Feb. 11, 1856 ; his father died when he was 9 months old, and Mr. Sailer has educated him and treated him as one of his own children since his adoption.
PETER TAYLOR, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Oakland ; born in Champaign Co., Ohio, April 25, 1820, where he lived until 1853 ; his father, John Taylor, died when he was 13 years of age, and, he being the oldest son, remained with his mother and managed the farm until 23 years of age, at which time he rented land and engaged in farming until the fall of 1853, when he emigrated to Illinois with his family and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp .; he then rented the A. B. Florer farm. where he lived for twelve years, the last few years of which he had power of attorney to transact business in the name of A. B. Florer in his absence ; he re- moved upon his present place in 1865, where he has since continued to live, and where he owns sixty acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings. He married Jan. 12, 1843, to Elizabeth
Moody ; she was born in Ohio Nov. 12, 1817; she died Dec. 18, 1860, leaving five children now living, having lost three by death; the names of the living are John T., Oliver S., William H., Emery M., Francis B. His marriage with Mary Housel was celebrated Feb. 2, 1862 ; she was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, March 4, 1829 ; five children were the fruit of this union, three of which are deceased ; the names of the living are Loyal P. and Ira D.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.