Coles County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 14 of 21)

At the first election held in the county for county officers. Paradise furnished her full quota of candidates and secured the election of a large number of them. George M. Hanson was chosen a member of the Board of County Commissioners, Ambrose Yocum was elected first Sheriff, Ichabod Radley, first Coroner, and Nathan Ellington was appointed first County Clerk. This office Mr. Ellington held afterward by successive re-elections, till 1853 or 1854, when he lost his life by violence at the hands of Dolph Munroe, his son-in-law. The following account is given of Mr. Yocum 's election as Sheriff. The election was held at the residence of a Mr. Ashmore, in Kickapoo Point. A candidate from the Kickapoo settlement was making the race for Sheriff. Early in the day, Ashmore made the remark that his fire was free to all who would vote for his candidate. This speech at once aroused opposition. Some of the Harts and others built a log heap, declared that their fire was free to all, and immediately put in nomination for Sheriff, Ambrose Yocum. Then the contest began in earnest, and at the final summing-up of the votes it was ascertained, to the great satisfaction of his friends and to the utter discomfort and chagrin of the Kickapooites, that Yocum had been elected by a handsome majority. Among others of her citizens, who, at an early date, were honored with political preferment, were James T. Cunningham and George M. Hanson. Cunningham was a member of the Legislature eight years in succession. Hanson was chosen to the Legislature in 1842, and two years later - 1844 - was sent to the State Senate. In 1846,* he was a candidate for. Congress, but was defeated by Hon. T. R. Young, at present a resident of Mattoon. George M. Hanson figures so largely in the early history of Coles County, and his memory is so highly revered by the citizens of this township that there is seemingly a demand for more than a passing notice of his acts. The early settlers of Kickapoo, Muddy and Wabash Points, were included in the limits of Clark County, and as the county seat at Darwin was at a distance of fifty miles from the northwest corner of the county, they experienced no little difficulty in attending to legal proceedings. In 1829, soon after coming, Hanson drafted and circulated a petition for the erection of a new county, which should contain within its limits the settlements of the above-named places. He was made bearer of the petition to the seat of Government, then at Vandalia. Through his own personal influence, seconded by that of Col. William B. Archer, then a member of the Legislature as Senator from Clark County, he succeeded in getting the bill passed, and in less than two weeks returned home with a certified copy of the bill in his pocket.

As soon as the Governor approved the bill, Mr. Hanson went to the land office and entered the first tract of land ever purchased in Coles County. He was the intimate associate of Dr. John Apperson, Elisha Linder, Eben Noyes, Sr., and others of the leading settlers ; and being, perhaps, the ablest and most cultivated man in all this section, became the leader in the intellectual arena of those early days. Soon after the establishment of the Charleston Courier, he became a valued contributor to its columns, and his suggestions were almost universally accepted by the early settlers. Whatever he believed would advance the interests of his county and the welfare and prosperity of her citizens, met his earnest encouragement. The grand wolf-hunt which he organized in an early day will not soon be forgotten. Hs proposed that the settlers on all sides should assemble in the edge of the timber, and, spreading out, move over the prairie in which Mattoon now stands, toward Dodge (now Herkimer's) Grove, and that each should so time his advance as to reach the grove precisely at 12 on the day appointed. The settlers from all parts came, and the hunt was instituted. The wolves, driven from their secret hiding-places, would dart away to the opposite side of the prairie only to find a cordon of men and dogs drawn completely around them, and thus hemmed in, with the boundaries continually contracting, a large drove was corraled in the grove, where expert marksmen picked them off as they were driven out by the dogs. That wolf-hunt was among the memorable events of those early days, and is still referred to with pleasure by those who participated in its fun and frolic. Hanson was a minister in the ranks of the M. E. Church, and, surpassing most of his brother minis- ters in power and vigor of thought, was justly regarded as a leader. In 1849^ he emigrated to California. He died in that State in the latter part of 1878.

Dr. John Apperson was the first physician in all this section of country. He was born in Culpeper County, Va., January 8, 1794, and died at his home in Paradise Township, June 5, 1877. He came here, as has been elsewhere stated, in the autumn of 1829. Here he spent over forty years, engaged in the duties of his profession. His practice was large, and often he was called to attend the sick at a distance of twenty-five miles from his home. He was highly esteemed as a practitioner, and even after he had repeatedly declared his intention to retire from active life, and his unfitness through age and infirmity to longer serve his friends and neighbors, yet the old settler, when afflicted with disease, would suffer no one to prescribe for his ailments save the good old Doctor. As a novel way of collecting a bill, the following may not be out of place : On a certain occasion, when the Doctor was called to visit a patient on the east side of the North Okaw, he had thought to cross the stream and collect some bills. The stream was bank-full and past fording, and, unfortunately, no canoe was at hand. The Doctor being sadly in need of a little money, and seeing one of his patrons across the stream, politely asked him for his bill. The man, having procured a suitable stick, proceeded to cut a hole in one end with his knife ; and having placed some bank-bills in the cavity thus formed, fastened up the opening with a wooden plug, proceeded down the stream some distance to a narrow place and threw stick, money and all across to the Doctor.

After the adoption of township organization, in 1860, the following officers were chosen in Paradise Township : John Hendrix, Henry Burgher and A. Y. Hart, Jr., Commissioners of Highways ; Adam W. Hart, Supervisor ; James H. Wilson, Collector ; R. B. Tate, Assessor ; John Campbell, Town Clerk ; J. W. P. Deckard and Blaine Matthews, Justices.

By way of closing our township history, we would add that the mineral wealth of Paradise Township lies to-day wholly unexplored. Doubtless rich deposits of coal are underlying much of her territory. Veins, varying in thickness from four to seven feet, have been passed through in Mattoon Township, just north of her, but at such a great depth below the surface as to render their successful working impracticable, especially so since such an abundance yet exists in different parts of the State much nearer the surface and far more easily accessible. To reach it here would require the sinking of a shaft to a depth of from four hundred and fifty to five hundred feet. A number of rich specimens of copper ore have been picked up on Section 4 of this township. One in the possession of J. W. Doran, of Mattoon, would yield from 75 to 80 per cent of pure metal. Future explorations and developments may reveal the fact that a rich deposit of ore exists there. We shall now pay our respects to the villages of Paradise and Etna, and, with their history, conclude this part of the work.

Paradise Village

On the principle that age should be venerated, we will proceed to trace the history of Paradise first ; a history extending through a period of forty odd years, and which must be comprised in the short space of a page or two. This village, situated in the northwest corner of the township, and often facetiously referred to by the citizens of to-day as " Paradise Lost," was surveyed and platted by Joseph Fowler for Miles W. Hart and Clemme Goar, in the spring of 1837. In order to procure the erection of a steam-mill at this point on the Little Wabash, Thomas Brinegar and David Moore had made to Hart and Goar a donation of forty acres of land, and on a portion of this, adjacent to the millsite, the town plot was laid. James T. Cunningham was at that time a member of the Legislature at Vandalia, and to him was accorded the honor of naming the place. He called it Paradise, and it was so recorded. Soon after the laying-out of the village, a public sale of lots occurred, and some $500 or $600 worth were disposed of. In the fall of 1836, Hart came from Kentucky on a visit to friends and relatives living in Wabash Point, and on his way called to see Mr. Goar, his brother-in-law, who was then living in Indiana. While here, he perfected the arrangements for building a mill and starting a town. He afterward induced Goar to take an interest with him. He returned to Kentucky, and, in the winter of 1836, came back with his family. Mr. Goar, with his family, came early in the spring of 1837. The first citizen of the place was Pleasant Hart, who built his residence and occupied it during the winter of 1836. In the spring of 1837, Hart and Goar each constructed a mud house, and the same spring began the erection of their mill. This was the first steammill built in all this section. During the summer, they raised the frame, covered it in and arranged for running one set of corn buhrs and a saw. It had been in operation but a short time when it caught fire and burned down. The loss was total, there being no insurance either upon the building or machinery. Having received liberal donations from the citizens in aid of the loss sustained, in 1839, they again built upon the same site, at a cost of not less than $5,000. This mill was operated some eight or ten years. Not long after the completion of the second mill. Hart sold his interest to his brother, Aaron Hart, and at the end of six months he disposed of his interest to Mr. Goar. In 1845, Goar sold out to George M. Hanson, who operated it about one year and then sold to Bird Munroe. Munroe continued the work one year longer and then moved the machinery up to Charleston. Thus Paradise lost h^ greatest and best improvement. Miles W. Hart brought and sold the first goods in the village. He is not, however, regarded as the first merchant, as he simply brought what he did for the purpose of supplying the hands while engaged in constructing the mill. Bird Munroe opened out the first store about the year 1842 or 1843. Soon after, John Cunningham moved his stock down from Richmond in Mattoon Township. Others, of smaller pretensions.

from time to time essayed to play the merchant. Sam PuUen started a tanyard about the time Paradise was laid out, and a Mr. Gear opened a blacksmith shop. Miles W. Hart put up the first storehouse and was, perhaps, the first Postmaster. A brick church was erected by the Methodist society in 1853 or 1854. This has since been removed and rebuilt on the hill just west of the village and is called Mount Zion Church. The new building was erected in 1869, at a cost of $2,500, and has a capacity for seating 300 persons. Before the building of the church, public worship was held at the house of Uncle Clemme Goar. Schools may have been, and probably were, kept in the village at different times, but so far as we have been able to learn no building was ever erected for that special purpose. The post office, as has been said, was brought from Richmond to Paradise, in an early day, and here it has since remained. A. Y. Hart, Sr., is the present Postmaster. The mail is carried twice per week, on horse-back from Etna to Paradise. Wabash Lodge, No. 179, A., F. & A. M., was organized here under dispensation from the Grand Lodge in 1855, but as it has since been removed to Etna, its history will be given in that connection. When, in 1854, the I. C. R. R. was finally located about one mile and a half east of Paradise, her star of destiny began rapidly to decline. Mattoon sprang into existence at the crossing ; a station, a few years later, was established at Etna. Trade flowed into other channels ; soon her merchants deserted her for fields promising a more abundant harvest, and she was left alone to weep over blighted prospects and buried hopes. Once she was the pride and joy of the surrounding country, now her name is often spoken with a jeer. Yet, in the midst of her distresses, she can truthfully say to the proud city of Mattoon, with her boasted 6,000 inhabitants, "long before thou wast, / existed." At one time Paradise counted her citizens by the hundred; had four good stores, shops of difierent kinds and was a place in which much business was transacted. Now her citizenship does not exceed fifty; she has a very small grocery store operated by William Morrison & Son, and one blacksmith and wagon repair shop owned by Hiram Surber. In her case, at least, there seems to be a clear demonstration of the truthfulness of that seemingly paradoxical expression, that to kill a thing effectually, it is sometimes only necessary to miss it. Had the railroad passed through Paradise village, she had still been living; but passing by as it did, it effectually destroyed her.

Etna

A small village on the I. C. R. R., seven miles southwest of Mattoon, was surveyed and platted by James Richards, County Surveyor, on land belonging to Daniel R. Bland and Richard Sayer, in March, 1860. Harry B. Worley and Robert S. Mills secured each a one-fourth interest by purchase, and, soon after, E. B. McClure (now General Superintendent of the I. & St. L. R. R.), who was at that time Roadraaster on the I. C. R. R., was given a one-fifth undivided interest for his influence in securing a station. The citizens of the surrounding community, at their own expense, put in the switches and side-track. The village is situated on the adjoining corners of Sections 15, 16, 21 and 22 in Paradise Township. Soon after the laying-out and platting, Bland built a residence and occupied it. Others soon followed, and Etna rapidly grew from a station into a village. Isaac Hart and his son James L. Hart, Mrs. Veach, Dr. Deckard, J. F. Lawson and James Elhart were among the earliest citizens. As early as the winter of 1860, Isaac Hart & Son opened out a stock of dry goods and groceries. They moved their stock over from Paradise. This was the first store kept in the place. Soon after the coming of Hart & Son, Cornelius Owens, of Charleston, opened up a stock of hardware, groceries and liquors. This enterprise was managed by Robert S. Mills. In February, 1861, J. F. Lawson bought out the senior member of the firm of Hart & Son, and the firm of Hart & Lawson was established. In the early part of May, 1862, Hart & Lawson sold out to Charles Sawyer, of Neoga, and a short time afterward, Lawson purchased the establishment started by Cornelius Owens. He rolled back the building in which the store was kept and built a new front. This building was since destroyed by fire. After conducting the business alone for six months. Dr. Deckard became a partner. Deckard died in February, 1863, and J. R. Wortham took his interest. They added to the business that of buying and shipping grain. In 1865, Lawson bought out the business, and continued it till 1867, when he sold to a Mr. Percy, and he to James Bishop, a brother of Dr. Bishop, who now resides in Etna. Norris & Allen built a store-room in the early part of 1864, and brought on a stock of general merchandise. S. Vanderen k Son began business about the same time, and a short time afterward Dr. S. D. Gardner erected a building and opened out a drug store.

In 1860, a ueat frame church was built by a general contribution from the citizens and friends of the town, and is free for the use of all religious denominations. The Masonic Hall occupies the second story of this building. A schoolhouse was built in the village in' the summer of 1868. James Richardson began the first session taught in the building, but died while the school was in progress, and Dr. S. D. Gardner, finished the term. At one time Etna had four stores, and did quite an extensive grain business. On a commission of 5 per cent, Mr. Lawson says his receipts for handling grain often amounted to $80 per month. Her population at present does not exceed one hundred. She has one small store, that of Montgomery & Tate, and two smith shops. The post office was established in 1860, and Robert S. Mills was appointed Postmaster. He was also the first agent for the R. R. Co. at this point. J. F. Lawson was made Postmaster and agent on the retiring of Mills, and held the position till he removed from the village. The post office and ticket office are both now kept in the store of Montgomery & Tate. Wabash Lodge, No. 179, A., F. & A. M., as has been elsewhere stated, was organized in Paradise village. Its charter bears date October 3, 1855, issued under the seal of the

Grand Lodge, presided over at that time by J. L. Anderson, G. M., and H. G. Reynolds, G. Sec. The charter was issued to Augustus H. Chapman, Newton W. Chapman, A. W. Waller, Dr. John Apperson and others as charter members. A. H. Chapman was appointed W. M. ; N. W. Chapman, S. W. ; and A. W. Waller, J. W. The meetings of the Lodge were held for a time in the second story of the mud house built by Miles W. Hart in 1837. The Lodge continued to meet in Paradise till 1860, when, by a vote of the Lodge and by consent of the Grand Lodge, it was moved to Etna. Its present officers are: B. H. Lawson, W. M. ; Col. T. A. Apperson, S. W. ; J. F. Wooldridge, J. W. ; A. L. A. Green, Sec. ; J. W. Montgomery, Treas. ; Joseph Carins, S. D. ; H. H. Anderson, J. D. Its membership numbers about fifty. Regular meetings, Friday night on or before full moon each month. Two different methods of spelling the name of the village seem to be fully recognized. The citizens, and Government, through the Post-Office Department, seem to accept as correct orthography Etna, while the R. R. Co. invariably adopts the spelling ^tna. But whether we use the single vowel or the diphthong at the beginning, we are inclined to believe that neither will materially add to or detract from the prosperity of the village.

Valedictory

Friendly reader, our task is done - not well, we know, but truly. To you who have followed us through these pages, and especially to the old pioneers and patriarchs, whose heads are " silvered over with the frosts of many winters," we come now to part, never, perhaps, to meet this side of the tomb. Our intercourse with you is of the pleasantest character, and it is with a feeling of sadness that we bid you adieu, each to go his way, mingling in the great world as the tiny raindrops mingle with the waters of the sea. Should our diverging planets never more cross each other's orbits, and we meet no more here - and it is more than probable that we shall not, for our work lies in another direction - we crave your kind remembrance of us and a generous criticism of our work.

Biographical Sketches

CAPT. WM. E. ADAMS, attorney at law, Charleston ; was born in Bedford Co., Tenn., Oct. 15, 1830, being the son of John J. and Martha (Gammell) Adams, who came to Coles Co. in December, 1830, settling in what is now Pleasant Grove Tp., on the farm where his father still resides ; he made his home at his father's until about 1855, when he engaged in buying and herding stock, and driving it to Wisconsin ; he continued in this business until 1860. He was married in August, 1859, to Miss Olive A. Holton, of Blue Mounds, Wis., and has a family of five children - John H., Jennie .M., Sarah S., Willie and Helen. He had previously read law and been admitted to the bar, and, in 1860, located in Mattoon and entered upon the practice of his profession ; in August, 1862, he enlisted in the 123d 111. Vols., and on the organization of the regiment was chosen Captain of Co. I ; he participated in the battles of Perryville, Ky., Milton, Tenn., Chattanooga and Chickamauga, after which, his regiment, having previously been attached to Wilder's Brigade of Mounted Infantry, pursued Gren. .Wheeler, who was then making a raid on the rear of Gen. Rosecrans' army ; his regiment had a severe engagement at Farmington, Tenn., in which the Colonel was killed and fully half of Capt. Adams' company either killed, wounded or taken prisoners, and where the Captain himself was wounded ; after participating in the capture of Atlanta, his regiment was remounted at Louisville, Ky., and proceeded thence to Selma, Ala., and, after the capture ot that city, to Montgomery, Columbus and Macon, Ga. ; a portion of his command assisted in the capture of Jeff. Davis, the President of the defunct Confederacy. Keturning in July, 1865, he was elected in the fall of that year Clerk of the County Court of Coles Co., and re-elected iu 1869 ; on the expiration of his term of office in 1873, he was elected County Judge, serving till 1877, since which he has been engaged in the practice of law. He was for three years a member of the City Council, and is the present Secretary of the Coles County Old Settlers' Society. CAPT. JAMES M. ASHMORE, Charleston ; is a native of Coles Co. ; he is a son of Hezekiah J. Ashmore, one of the pioneers of the county, who was born in Kentucky, Sept. 30, 1802, and came to Coles Co. with his family, consisting at that time of a wife and two children, in 1830, and settled in the northeast part of the county, in what is now Oakland Tp. ; in 1836, he removed to the eastern part the county, and for him the town of Ashmore was named, as well as the village of that name, which he laid out in 1855 ; he came to Coles Co. a poor man, with but thirty-seven and a half cents in his possession, but went to work and as fast as he accumulated a little money, he invested it in land, owning at his death, which occurred in 1872, about 1,600 acres; he was for many years a Justice of the Peace, and one of the Commissioners of the county. He left a family of ten children, of whom James M. is the second in age. He was bora April 4, 1832 ; he remained at home on the farm until 1859, when he engaged in merchandising in Charleston. In 1861, he entered the Union army as Captain of Co. C, 8th 111. Vols., for three months, and on the expiration of his term of service, re-cnlisted with his regiment for three years; he was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, upon which he resigned and returned home ; upon the organization of the 123d 111. Vols., he was appointed Drillmaster, and drilled that regiment for six months. In 1865, he located at Ashmore, and followed mercantile business there two years, and then engaged in shipping stock until 1876; he served six years as Justice of the Peace, and seven years on the Board of Supervisors ; in 1876, he was elected Sheriff of Coles Co., holding the office two years. He was married March 26, 1852, to Miss Lizzie March, daughter of Thomas J. March, an old resident of Charleston.

W. J. ASHMORE, dealer in boots and shoes (firm of Ashmore & Mitchell), Charleston ; was born in Coles Co., 111., May 15, 1853 ; he is the youngest son of Samuel C. Ashmore, who came to Coles Co. among the early settlers, and entered a large tract of Government land, and when Douglas Co. was foruied, the line passed through the middle of his land ; he was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, and for many years held the office of Justice of the Peace. He died in 1855 ; his widow Sarah Ashmore and six children still surviving. The son, W. J. Ashmore, when about 20 years of age, went to Lebanon, Ohio, and spent one year as a student in the State Normal School. In 1874, he came to Charleston and engaged as a clerk for B. M. Payne, and on i-he 1st of January, 1878, engaged with A. M. Mitchell in the boot and shoe trade. He was married Oct. 2, 1878., to Miss Belle Arterburn, of Kansas, Edgar Co., 111.

BANDALL ALEXANDER, breeder and shipper of Poland-China swine, Charleston ; about ten years ago this gentleman, in company with S. M. Shepard, made his first start in the introduction and breeding of thorough-bred swine in Coles Co. After having experimented thoroughly with the various breeds of hogs, they became convinced that the Poland- China possessed all the retjuisites of size, docility, fertility, early maturity, aptitude for taking on flesh, and great constitutional vigor, necessary to render it pre-eminently the hog for the former. From a small beginning, the business has grown to its present proportions. Mr. Alexander is now one of the most prominent breeders in the State ; his trade extends to every part of the countr) , to the Pacific Coast, Canada, the Southern States, etc. ; his farm, near Charleston, possesses all the advantages of a perfect hog farm, such as pure running water, sheltered location, shade, range, etc. Mr. Alexander was born in Madison, Jefferson Co., Ind., Aug. 5, 1842 ; when about 10 years old, he removed with his parents to Tipton Co., Ind. ; at 14, he left home, and going to Louisiana, Mo., engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store. In 1861 , he went to Tuscola, Douglas Co., 111., and clerked one year ; he then, with Mr, Robert Beech, built the Beech House, the finest hotel on the Illinois Central Railroad, from Chicago to Cairo ; after running the house one year he came in 1863 to Charleston, and continued clerking till 1865, when he engaged in business for himself, continuing as a member of difi^erent firms until about four years ago ; he is at present a member of the Board of Aldermen in Charleston. He was married May 21, 1866, to Miss Nancy A. Compton, a daughter of Albert Compton, of Charleston, and has four children - Albert C, Edwin R., Rufus C. and Dora T.

JACOB I. BROWN, Justice of the Peace, Charleston ; a son of John and Rachel Brown ; was born Oct. 12, 1819, near Jonesboro, Washington Co., Tenn. ; his parents afterward removed to Wayne Co., Ind., but soon returned to Tennessee; their next move was to the White Water River, where his father and eight brothers and sisters died of yellow fever inside of a few months. His mother soon afterward removed with her remaining children, consisting of three sons and one daughter, to Bloondngton, Ind. In 1832 or 1833, he went to learn the printing business, and worked for difterent parties till 1840, when he came on foot to Paris, 111., and bought the Illmots S/((tcsman printing office, and began the publication of a Democratic newspaper; in 1844, he moved the office to Charleston, and started a paper called the Investigator, in connection with which he published a religious periodical, edited by Rev. Richard Newport. In 1845, he was elected Assessor for the county. He was married June 24, 1845, to Miss Ann

E. Javins, who was born near Alexandria, Va., and after the death of her father, removed with her mother to Vincennes, Ind., and after her mother's death, came to Charleston, and resided in the family of her uncle, Albert Compton. In 1846 or 1847, in company with W. D. Latshaw, he began the publication of the 7/^iHOis Glohe, a Democratic paper, continuing it seven or eight years ; in the mean time, he was appointed Postmaster, and held the office under Presidents Polk, Pierce and Buchanan. He was also engaged with various partners in the grocery and drug business till the spring of 1861 ; in the fall of that year, he was elected County Clerk, and held that office four years, after which he engaged in the mercantile business. On the 2d of May, 1868, he was commissioned Justice of the Peace by Gov. R. J. Oglesby, and re-elected to the same office in 1872, and has served as such ever since; he has been several times a member of the City Council, and served twice on the Board of Education, and is now a member of the School Board for the township.

EUGENE B. BUCK, editor and proprietor of the Charleston Courier, Charleston ; was born in Fayette Co., Ind., Oct. 12, 1834; when he was about five years old, his father's family removed to Mc- Lean Co., 111. ; he served his apprenticeship to the printer's trade in Bloomington ; in 1852, he went to Peoria, 111., and, in 1855, was connected with the publication of the Pekin Plaindealer ; in 1856, he was associated with four other journeymen printers in running a co-operative daily paper in Peoria; in 1857, he conducted the Washington Advertiser, in Franklin Co., Mo. ; in 1859, he edited the Daily Enterprise, in Decatur, 111., and, in 1861 and 1862, the 3Iagnet in that city; in

1864, he run the Constitution, a campaign paper, in Pontiac, Livingston Co., 111., and, the next year - 1865 - he started the Bloomington Journal ^ in 1868, he became connected with the Charleston Courier, a live weekly newspaper and a vigorous advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and, in 1874, became sole proprietor and editor ; the esteem in which Mr. Buck is held by ,the editorial profession is manifest from the fact that, in the Executive Board in 1877, and is at present a Vice President of that body ; he is a Director of the Second National Bank ; in 1 876, he received the nomination as Bepi'esentative to the State Legislature, but, owing to disaffection, withdrew from the contest ; for nine years, he has been a member of the Board of Supervisors, and was for seven years Chairman of the Board ; he has also been a member of the Board of Education of this city. He was married Feb. 11, 1860, to Miss Mary C. Jones, of Decatur, 111., and has four children - Ida May, Katie Florence, Willie Clarence and Eugene Clifford.

A. N. BAIN, proprietor of the Charleston Foundry, Chai'leston ; was born in Erie Co., Ohio, April 3, 1828; his father was a ship-carpenter, with a family of nine children ; at the age of 14, Mr. Bain began working on a farm, which he continued until the spring of 1845, when he entered the Mad River & Lake Erie Railroad shop at Sandusky, Ohio, as an apprentice, remaining there until 1852, and thoroughly mastering the machinist's trade. He then went to New Albany, Ind., where he was married, Feb. 3, 1853, to Miss Catharine Caldwell, of that city, who was born in Appomattox Co., Va., Feb. 8, 1832. While in New Albany, he worked as a mechanic in the shops of the New Albany & Salem Railroad ; in April, 1853, he removed to Terre Haute, Ind., and entered the foundry of Grover & Madison, and remained in their employ until April 1, 1857; he then came to Charleston, and, with his brother, William Bain, and George 0. Carr, erected a small building, 25x50 feet in size ; Mr. Carr soon retired from the firm ; they ran a general repair foundry till 1863, when they made their first stove, and enlarged their buildings, which now cover four town lots, while their trade extends from Indianapolis on the east, to the Rocky Mountains on the west; in 1869, Mr. Bain engaged in the stove, tin, and house'- furnishing business, and built up a very large and successful trade ; in 1874, he sold out and returned to the management of the foundry ; his brother died in June, 1875 ; in addition to his foundry business, he owns a farm of 220 acres in Seven Hickory Tp., where he is largely engaged in stock-raising, keeping about two hun-

<lred and fifty head, including cattle, hogs, horses and mules ; he also owns a farm of 170 acres in Douglas Co.; Mr. Bain was President of the Board of Trustees of Charleston two years. He has five children - Emma (a graduate of the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute, and now a teacher in the Charleston public schoolsj, Fannie, Charles F., Katie and Nannie. Politically, Mr. Bain has been an active advocate of the principles of the Republican party since its organization, previous to which he was a Whig. He is outspoken and fearless in maintaining his opinions ; as a business man, his success is due entirely to his own industry, perseverance and good management.

TILLMAN BAGLE^, horticulturist; Charleston ; was born in Loudoun Co., Va., June 6, 1828 ; being left fatherless when but a child, he accompanied his mother, at the age of 9 years to Muskingum Co., Ohio, where they settled on a farm about twelve miles north of Zanesville ; at 19, he left the farm to learn the trade of a marble-cutter, after completing which he worked as a journeyman until 1853 ; he then came to Charleston, and after working two years, started in the marble business for himself, in which he continued till 18G9 ; at which time he purchased what is known as the True farm, in La Fayette Tp., and followed farming four years. Having a natural taste for horticultural pursuits he sold his farm and, returning to Charleston, purchased sixteen acres of land lying within the corporation, which he began to improve ; he built his residence and set his land to peaches, apples, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries; his aim was to secure the very earliest as well as the very latest varieties of fruit which it was possible to obtain, thus commanding the highest prices for his products. Mr. Bagley was married March 26, 185(5, to Miss Ann Craig, a daughter of Elijah Craig, an early settler of Coles Co.; she was born in Boone Co., Ky., April 21, 1829, and came to Coles Co. in 183G ; they have two children - Simeon E. and Allen C.

GEORGE BIRCH, farmer; P. 0. Charleston ; was born near Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, March 25, 1815 ; he is a son of William Birch, a farmer who, in 1833, came to America with his family, and lived for three years near Philadelphia, occupying an old house, once the residence of William Penn, on the bank of the Schuylkill, near Fairmount Park ; in 1836, they removed to Illinois, and settled near Hitesville, Coles Co., where his father died April 15, 1864, at the age of 88 years; Mr. Birch spent the first few years of his residence in this county in working at farm labor ; he has worked for 50 cents a day and waited until Christmas for his pay. He was married on his twenty-sixth birthday, March 25, 1841, to Miss Catherine Jones, a daughter of William Jones ; she was born in Jeiferson Co., Ky., March 19, 1820, and came with her parents to Coles Co. about 1831 ; in 1844, they settled on a farm near Hitesville, where they resided for more than thirty-three years, and, in 1878, removed to Charleston, where they now reside ; Mr. Birch, in 1842, hauled wheat to Chicago, a distance of 180 miles, and there sold it for 62 J cents per bushel; he has driven hogs to Clinton, [nd., and sold them for $1.25 to $'2. per hundred, net weight ; Mrs. Birch, when a girl, has dropped corn for 25 cents a day ; and, after her marriage, worked in the field until near noon, and would then go to the house and get dinner. Mr. Birch is an example of a substantial, successful farmer, and feels a pardonable pride in recalling to mind the hardships of the early days in Coles Co. ; he has recently purchased the Glassco farm of 300 acres, two miles west of the Court House, and still retains 40 acres of land in Aslimore Tp.; he has served as School Director and School Treasurer. They have had twelve children, eight of whom are living - VVillliam, a resident of Ashmore Tp., Jacob, of St. Clair Co., Mo., Martha J. (now Mrs. Lafayette Connelly, of Henry Co., Mo.) George and Jonathan (both now of Henry Co., Mo.), Lizzie E., Frank and Marv S.

CHARLES R. BRIGGS, portraitpainter, Charleston ; was born in Washington Co. N. Y., Jan. 5, 1816; his father was a farmer and carriage-manufacturer in Easton ; at the age of 17 years, he left home, and going to Troy, apprenticed himself to the trade of a coacli-painter ; he remained there four yeirs and helped to paint tlie first passenger- coiches on the Albany & Schenectady R lilroad ; thence he went to Buffalo, N. Y., and entered the employ of Benjamin Rathbone, the great contractor of that city ; about a year later, he went to New York City, and thence, shortly afterward, came West ; this was in 1 839 ; after spending a few montha in St. Louis, he located in Coles Co., and, after farming one year, engaged in carriage, house and sign painting in Charleston. He early turned his attention to portrait painting, for which he had a decided talent, and for the past few years has made a specialty of the painting of fine stock, a branch of the art in which he is excelled by none in the State ; he started the first livery-stable in Charleston about 1843, with oYie horse, and continued it about a dozen years, running it up to fortytwo horses ; in 1848, he opened a farm of 363 acres in the timber adjoining the city, fencing it in eastern style, mostly in tenacre lots, and followed farming for several years. He was married in September, 1842, to Miss Harriet Stoddert, of Charleston ; they have five children living - Lyzink (wife of Charles Cleary, of Charleston), Helen, Walter M., Charles S. and Ma,y ; their oldest daughter, Loretta, died in 1859 ; Mary died at about 2 years of age, and one son, Jerome, died in 1873.

STEPHEN BISHOP, farmer and stock-raiser, P. 0. Charleston ; was born near Providence, R. L, May 30, 1815; when he was but 2 years old, his parents emigrated to the then Far West, and located in Knox Co., Ohio, where his father entered land from the Government, and engaged in farming, being among the pioneers in that part of the State ; Knox Co. was then comparatively a wilderness ; Mt. Vernon, the county seat - now a city of about 10,000 inhabitants - containing at that time but half a dozen houses ; Mr. Bishop remained at home on the farm until he was 20 years of age, and then learned the trade of a blacksmith, and going to Mt. Vernon, carried on the carriage-making business there until 1858, when he re- , moved to Illinois, and settled on a fiu-m lying mostly in Coles Co., his house, however, being situated just over the line in I Clark Co. ; in the spring of 1863, he removed to a farm in Seven Hickory Tp., containing 248 acres, on which he continued to reside until September, 1876, when he removed to Charleston, still re- ; taining his farm in Seven Hickory Tp., and twenty acres of timber in Charleston Tp. ; Mr. Bishop served one term as Justice of the Peace. He was married Feb. 25, 1841, to Miss Joanna Bane, of Knox Co., Ohio, who was born in Washington Co., Penn, Oct. 8, 1822 ; they have seven children - Jasper N., now of Lovington, 111.; Frank L., of Charleston ; Anna A., wife of Gr. H. Harvey, of Newark, Ohio; Minnie M., Lizzie C, Charles E. and Willie B.

FRANK L. BISHOP, proprietor of the Bee- Hive store, dealer in dry goods and notions, boots and shoes, etc., Charleston ; was born in Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1846 ; he is a son of Stephen and Joanna (Bane) Bishop, and came with his father's family to Coles Co., as above stated ; he was engaged as a clerk for Mathews, Alexander & Co., in Charleston, for three years, after which he spent three years in La Fayette, Ind; he then engaged in general merchandising in Lovington, 111., the firm being Dickson & Bishop; after remaining there three years, he returned to Charleston and established his present business in September, 1876.

MAJ. J. A. CONNOLLY, attorney at law, Charleston ; was born in Newark, N. J., March 8, 1838; his parents removed to Chesterville, Morrow Co., Ohio, when he was about 12 years old, and at the age of 18, he went to Mt. Gilead, the county seat of Morrow Co., and began reading law with Judge A. K. Dunn, of that city ; he was admitted to the bar in September, 1859, and began practice in Mt. Gilead ; in 1860, he removed to Charleston ; while living in Mt. Gilead, he held the position of Second Assistant Clerk of the Ohio Senate for two years. In August, 1862, he entered the army as Major of the 123d 111. V. I., serving till the close of the war, being for two years Inspector General of the 3d Division 14th Army Corps ; he participated in the battles of Perryville, Ky. ; Milton, Tenn. ; Hoover's Gap, Chickamunga. Mission Ridge, Resaca, Ga. ; the Atlanta campaign, Sherman's " march to the sea," Bentonville, N. C., etc. ; immediately after the last-named battle, he was brevetted Lieutenant Colonel for meritorious conduct in that engagement. Returning to Charleston, in 1865, he resumed the practice of the law. At the funeral of

President Lincoln, in New York City, in April, 1865, Maj. Connolly was a mepaber of the G uard of Honor, being the only Illinois volunteer officer present. In 1866, he was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, and, the following year, of the Board of Education, and strongly advocated the building of the new schoolhouse in Charleston ; he was elected to the Illinois Legislature in 1872, and re-elected in 1874 ; he was a member of the Judiciary Committee, and of the Railroad and Warehouse Committee, which reported in favor of the Granger legislation of that year. Maj. Connolly is at present IJ. S. District Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, to which office he was appointed by President Grant in March, 1876. He was married Feb. 9, 1863, to Miss Mary Dunn, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio.

DUNN & CONNOLLY, attorneys at law, Charleston ; this firm was established in November, 1878, and is composed of two young attorneys, but gentlemen possessing the requisite qualifications of success. Frank K. Dunn was born in Mt. Gilead, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1854, being a son of Hon. A. K. Dunn, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; he graduated at Kenyon College, Ohio, in 1873; read law in his father's office ; entered Harvard Law School in 1874, graduating in 1875; he was admitted to practice the same year, and practiced with his father until November, 1878, when he came to Charleston, and formed the above partnership. Frank J. Connolly is a native of Morrow Co., Ohio ; he was born in Chesterville, March 10, 1851 ; he came to Charleston in 1876 ; pursued his law studies in the office of his brother, Maj. James A. Connolly; was admitted to the bar in July, 1878, and formed a partnership with F. K. Dunn in November the same year.

D. H. CALVERT, dealer in drugs and medicines, Charleston; is a native of Platte Co., Mo. ; he was born on the 28th of February 1841 ; he was raised on a farm, and at about the age of 16 years, entered Pleasant Ridge College in his native town, where he graduated in 1861 ; he then read law with Hon. E. H. Norton, the present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri; in 1867, he went to Frankfort, Ky., and continued his law studies with Judge Alvin Duval, and, in 1868, entered the Law Department of the University of Louisville, Ky., graduating in 1869 ; he came to Charleston the same year, and entered upon the practice of his profession ; in 1872, he was elected City Attorney ; after practicing three years, he was compelled by ill health to abandon the law and engage in other business ; he followed merchant milling for some two years, and, iu 1876, engaged in his present business. He was married July 5, 1870, to Miss S. B. Chambers, a daughter of T. G. Chambers, a prominent citizen of Charleston, and has one child - George C. Calvert.

W. M. CHAMBERS, M. D., physician and surgeon, Charleston, was born in Cynthiana^ Ky., April 11, 1814; he is a son of James and Sally Chambers, both natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Kentucky in 1810. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812; in 1850, his parents removed to Charleston, where his mother died in 1855, and his father in 1873. Dr. Chambers began the study of medicine in his native town in 1833, and, in 1836, began practice in Harrison Co. ; he graduated in 1843 from the Medical Department of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky. In 1846, he remoyed to Covington, Ky., where he practiced medicine until his removal to Coles Co. in 1855. In October, 1861, he was appointed, by President Lincoln, Brigade Surgeon in the Union army, and served in the army of the Cumberland till July, 1865; he was twice brevetted - first, as Lieutenant Colonel, and then as Colonel, for meritorious services, for the excellence of his reports and his superior management of hospitals. Dr. Chambers has been President of the Kentucky State Medical Society, of the Illinois State Medical Society, and of the ^Esculapian Society of the Wabash Valley. He has held important positions in the American Medical Association, and has been a member of the Health Association of the United States ; he has abandoned the ordinary country practice, and now confines himself to consultation, town and surgical practice. He was married, first, in February, 1838, to Miss C. Ann Rebecca Porter, of Harrison Co., Ky. ; she died in 1840, leaving one son - Charles S. Chambers, of Princeton, Ky. Dr. Chambers, in 1846, married Miss Mary Bryan Fields Ingels, of Ken- tucky, a lineal descendant of Daniel Boone ; she died Dec. 30, 1876, leaving two children - Mollie M. S. (wife of Dr. C. A. Peyton, of Charleston), and T. Gavin Smith Chambers, now a student in Asbury Institute, Greencastle, Ind.

THOMAS G. CHAMBERS,. President of the First National Bank, Charleston ; has been a resident of this county and city since 1838; he is a native of Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky. ; he was 22d of January, 1816, being a son of James and Sally Chambers ; he worked on a farm until the age of 18 years, when he entered a dry goods store as a clerk, and continued at that until he came to Charleston, as above stated. He followed clerking here for a time, and, in 1840, engaged in the dry goods business for himself, which he continued, with an interruption of two years, until 1866 ; he then established the private banking-house of T. G. Chambers & Co., and, in 1868, became President of the First National Bank. Mr. Chambers has served several terms in the City Council, but, with this exception, has never sought nor accepted public office of any kind ; he has, however, been thoroughly alive to the interests of the city and county ; he was one of the active organizers of the Coles County Agricultural Society - now the Coles County Board of Agriculture - and has been an officer of that society, either as Vice President, Treasurer or Director, with the exception of one year, from its organization in 1853 to the present time. On the organization of the Coles County Old Settlers' Society in October, 1878, he was chosen President. Mr. Chambers was married March 12, 1840, to Miss Olevia Monroe, of Charleston, and has eight children living - Alice (now Mrs. J. A. Parker), Henrie, Sarah Belle (wife of D. H. Calvert), George R., William M., Maggie, Nannie and Alfred, all of whom are residents of Coles County.

ALBERT C 0 M P T 0 N, retired, Charleston ; one of the early settlers of Coles county ; was born in Fairfax Co., Va., Sept. 24, 1812 ; in the fall of 1830, he left home and came to Vincennes, Ind., thence to Terre Haute, and from the latter place, in 1833, to Charleston, arriving on the 3d of March ; he worked at his trade of a shoemaker for about two years, and then engaged as a clerk in the employ of Baker & Norfolk ; in 1835, he was elected Constable and served two years ; in August, 1838, he was chosen Sheriff of Coles County, which office he held four successive terms of two years each, or eight years in all ; on the expiration of his term of office, he engaged in the dry goods trade, which he followed until 1861, when, having accumulated a comfortable competency, he retired from active business ; he has also held the offices of Justice of the Peace and Master in Chancery. He owns some 280 acres of land in Coles Co., and two business houses and a dwelling in Charleston. He was married in January, 1836, to Miss Catherine Easton, daughter of the late David Easton, of Charleston ; they have five children living - Rhoda, now Mrs. S. M. Shepard, of Indianapolis, Ind. ; Nancy, wife of Randall Alexander, of Charleston ; Rufus, Mary, wife of Felix Johnston, of Charleston, and Allie.

ISAAC N. CRAIG, retired farmer; P. 0. Charleston ; one of the early settlers of Coles County ; was born in Montgomery Co., Ky., Sept. 25, 1810; his father removed with his family to Illinois in 1828, and purchased a farm in Clark Co. ; Isaac N. remained at home on the farm until 1831. On the 14th of April, 1831, he was married to Miss Catherine Henson, of Edgar Co., 111., who died May 1, 1841, leaving five children, three of whom are living - La Fayette, Elizabeth - Mrs. Harmon Gregg - and Harriet, wife of Harvey Fowler ; Mr. Craig, after his marriage, settled in Clark Co. On the breaking-out of the Black Hawk war, Mr. Craig enlisted in the 2d Brigade, under Gen. Milton Alexander, and served through the war. In 1835, he removed to Coles Co., where he has been a prominent farmer and stock-raiser ever since ; Mr. Craig began life poor, and has met with some reverses of fortune, but has, nevertheless, accumulated a handsome property ; he owns some seven hundred acres of land in the county, and a fine residence, with twenty acres of land, in the city of Charleston, where he resides ; he is a Director and stockholder in the Second National Bank. He married his present estimable wife July 1, 1841 ; she was Miss Elizabeth Bloyer, of Coles Co. ; they have had eight children, six of whom are now living - Catherine (wife of

Robt. McMuUen), James W., Andrew J., Eliza E. (wife of Newton Swango), Isaac B. and Thomas J.; all of Mr. Craig's children are living in Coles Co.

COL. A. P. DUNBAR, retired, Charleston ; with one exception, the oldest living inhabitant of the city ; was born in Fleming Co., Ky., July -i, 1810 ; his father, Alexander Dunbar, was a soldier in the war of 1812 and participated in the battles of the River Raisin and the Thames, and was present at the famous Perry's victory on Lake Erie. The subject of this sketch, after receiving an English education and reading law to some extent, came to Clay Co., 111., in 1828, at the age of 18 years, and engaged in teaching ; after two years, he returned to Kentucky, where he completed his law studies, and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1831 ; he at once came to Coles Co., located at Charleston, and began the practice of his profession, which he continued for forty-six years ; he was the first lawyer in the counties of Coles, Cumberland and Douglas ; he assisted in carrying the chain at the second survey of lots in Charleston in 1831. On the breaking, out of the Black Hawk war in 1832, he received a commission as Colonel and rendered valuable service in recruiting and forwarding the troops from this vicinity. In 1832, he was appomted Circuit Clerk and Recorder to fill out an unexpired term ; in 1834, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and held that office eight years ; in 1836 and 1837, he represented Coles Co. - then including Cumberland and Douglas Cos. - in the State Legislature, and occupied the same seat with the lamented President Lincoln, Hon. Stephen A. Douglas being also a member of the same House ; he was again elected to the Legislature in 18-1-4, serving two years; he was appointed, in 1870, Prosecuting Attorney, to fill out the unexpired term of Gren. John Boyle, and has held other offices of trust, among which may be mentioned that of Police Magistrate from 1868 to 1874. Col. Dunbar was first married in 1834 to Miss Ellen Monroe, a native of Grlasgow, Ky. ; she died in 1835 ; and on Sept. 27, 1836, he married Mrs. Susan F. Harrison, the widow of Matthew T. Harrison, of Kentucky ; they have had eight children - Alexander Mason Dunbar (of Charleston), Mary Ellen (now Mrs. I. N.

Cutler, residing in Missouri), Imogene Caroline (afterward wife of Bruce Anderson, and who died in 1870j, Lucian Sylvester (of Charleston), Albert Perry (who died in 1876), Lucy Arabella (now Mrs. Wm. 0. Peake, of Charleston), Susan Virginia (who died when less than 2 years of age) and Charles Ulysses, of Charleston. Col. Dunbar's law library, together with many valuable papers, was destroyed by fire in 1877, upon which he retired from practice. Col. Dunbar was an Old Line Whig, and joined the Republican party on its organization in 1856 ; he stumped the county and vicinity for the Republican candidates at every Presidential election since that time ; he is a fluent, effective public speaker and an able lawyer. JEWELL DAVIS, M. D., physician and surgeon, Charleston ; was born in Athens Co.,Ohio, Oct. 27,1811 ; he was raised on a farm, and followed that calling until about 1838, when he removed to Middleport, Meigs Co., Ohio, having a few years previously married Miss Cynthia Jones, of that place ; they have three children - Mary V. (wife of E. L. Kelly), Curtis L., Teller of the First National Bank, and Reuben J., all of whom are residents of Coles Co. Dr. Davis followed coopering and carriage-making for a while in Middleport ; owing to illness in his family, he was induced to study medicine, studying successively all the various systems of practice - allopathy, homeopathy, eclecticism, hydropathy and chromo-thermalism, and during his forty years' practice he has confined himself to no particular school, but has seized upon any remedy, from whatever source, which would accomplish his object - the relief of the patient and the cure of disease ; his favorite system, however, is the eclectic ; Dr. Davis came to Charleston in 1854, and began practice with Dr. A. M. Henry, now of Mattoon, with whom he also engaged in the drug business ; after a few years. Dr. Henry disposed of his interest to Dr. H. C. Barnard ; he afterward practiced with Dr. H. R. Allen, now one of the proprietors of the National Surgical Institute of Indianapolis, and with Dr. J. B. Denman up to the beginning of the war, since which he has practiced alone ; Dr. Davis is also largely interested in bee culture, having about a hundred colonies, and is the inventor of

JACOB K. DECKER, far. and stockraiser ; P. 0. Charleston ; was born in Knox Co.,Ind., Aug. 7, 1817 ; his parents, Isaac and Margaret Decker, were Virginians, and left that State in 1811, and were living in Fort Knox, on the Wabash, when the battle of Tippecanoe was fought ; when he was 7 years old, his father died, and at about the age of 15, he was apprenticed by his guardian to a merchant in Crawford Co., 111. ; in 1836, he came to Charleston and engaged in the grocery business, with a capital of S250 ; about two and a half years later, he went to farming, which he has continued, in connection with other business, to the present time; in 1842, he engaged in the dry goods trade, which he followed until 1855 ; he then farmed exclusively until 1859, when he resumed the dry goods business, continuing till 1863, since which time he has been engaged solely in forming and stock-raising; he owns a fine farm of 750 acres adjoining the city on the north, although he resides in the city, where he owns a good residence with ten acres of land ; he also owns a fine brick store on the east side of the public square, occupied by S. Barnes, besides which he owns 250 acres of land in Northern Iowa. In politics, he is a Republican. He has served one term on the Board of Supervisors, and for over twenty years has been Treasurer of the Coles County Board of Agriculture. He was married Sept. 23, 1839, to Miss Mary A. Morton, daughter of the late Charles S. Morton, of Charleston ; they have 7 children living - Charles V. (of Hutchinson, Kan.), Hannah H. (wife of Dr. W. R. Patton, of Charleston), Annie (now Mrs. Silas Barnes, of Charleston), Demetrius J. (now a resident of California), Ion B. (now Mrs. T. H. Duncan, of Oakland, 111.), N. Ella and Mary A.

GILES DAVIS, deceased, late of Charleston ; although not one of the early settlers, was yet a citizen and business man who enjoyed in so largo a measure the confidence of his fellow-men and was held in such universal and high esteem by the entire community, that it is with pleasure that we give a brief sketch of his life ; he was born in Union Co., Ind., Nov. 7, 1824; he was the son of Elisha and

Elizabeth (Shafer ) Davis, both of whom were natives of Ohio ; his youth was spent in the usual manner of farmers' sons. On the 1st of October, 1845, when not quite 21 years of age, he was married to Miss Louisa Jinks, a daughter of Samuel and Phoebe (Winchell) Jinks, of Franklin Co., Ind. In 1868, he removed with his family to Jasper Co., 111., and engaged in farming; in 1871, he came to Coles Co., and, until 1873, kept a meat market in Charleston ; he then located on a farm in Seven Hickory Tp., where he resided two years, at the end of which time he returned to Charleston and resumed business ; in 1878, just previous to his death, he engaged in the grocery business, which is still continued by his son, Warren R. Davis. He died Oct. 19, 1878, leaving a wife and eleven children - Sarah E. (Mrs. E. B. Wooden, of Charleston), Phoebe J. (wife of T. J. Hedrick, of Rush Co., Kan.), Robert S. (a teacher, of Rush Co., Kan.), Richard E, (a telegraph operator in Litchfield, 111.), Giles 0. (in business in Charleston), Warren R. (also in business in Charleston), Louisa J., Emily M., Harry E., Wilber M. and E&e L.; their first-born, Samuel J., died Sept. 3, 1847. Mr. Davis was a highly-respected member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights* of Honor.

HON. ORLANDO B. FICKLIN, attorney at law, Charleston ; he was born in Kentucky Dec. 16, 1808, being the son of William and Elizabeth Kenner (Williams) Ficklin, both of Virginia. His early education was obtained in country schools, in Kentucky and Missouri, except about one year, which he spent at Cumberland College, located at Princeton, Caldwell Co., Ky., under the auspices of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. His parents having removed to Potosi, Washington Co., Mo., he commenced the study of law with Henry Shurlds of that place, who was afterward elected to the Circuit Court bench, and at a later period removed to St. Louis and eno;ao;ed in banking until his death ; Mr. Ficklin spent the winter of 1829 and 1830 in the law office of Gen. Robert Farris, of St. Louis ; in March, 1830, he was admitted to the bar at Bellville, St. Clair Co., 111., having been examined by Edward Cowles, then an old and well-established lawyer of that place; from thence lie went to McLeansboro, Hamilton Co., III., meeting there with Chief Justice William Wilson, who advised him to locate in Mount Carmel, Wabash Co., 111. ; Mr. Ficklin attended the courts of that circuit commencing at Carmi, and when the circuit closed, he located at Mt. Carmel. In 1832, he went to the Black Hawk war in Capt. Elias Jurdon's Company, and at the organization of the regiments and brigades, was appointed Quartermaster, and was attached to the brigade of Gen. Milton R. Alexander, then of Paris, 111. ; in 1833, he was elected Colonel of the militia of Wabash Co., under the old militia system, long since exploded. At the election in August, 1834, Mr. Ficklin was elected to the Lower House of the Legislature, and was chosen by that body State's Attorney for the Wabash Circuit. In 1837, he removed to Charleston, Coles Co., where he has ever since resided. At the election on the first Monday of August, 1838, he was elected as Representative in the Legislature from that county, and was again elected to the same place in August, 18-12; at the August election in 1843, he was elected to Congress from the Wabash district ; his colleagues were Robert Smith, John A. McClernand, John Wentworth, Joseph P, Hoge, John J. Harding and Stephen A. Douglas ; he was re-elected to Congress in August, 1844, and again in 1846, and declining to be a candidate at the next election, he resumed the practice of law in Charleston ; in 1850, he was again a candidate for Congress, and was elected at the August election ; on the expiration of his term, March 4, 1853, he engaged again in the practice of law; in 1856, he was a member of the Democratic Convention at Cincinnati, that nominated James Buchanan for President ; in I860, he was a member of the National Convention, held at Charleston, S. C, and was present at the disruption of that body, and also attended the adjourned meeting at Baltimore, where Stephen A. Douglas was nominated ; in 1864, he was a delegate to the National Convention, held at Chicago, that nominated Gen. George B. McClellan for President ; he represented the counties of Coles, Moultrie and Douglas in the State Constitutional Convention, in the winter of 1869-70; after which, he gave his attention to the practice of law, and was not a candidate for any office in the gift of the people until the fall of 1878, when he was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. While in Congress, he was married to Miss Elizabeth H. Cokjuitt, a daughter of Senator W. H. Colquitt, of Georgia, and has four children living.

FREDERICK FROMMEL, Charleston, of the firm of Weiss & Frommel, proprietors of the Charleston Woolen-Mill ; was born in Ravensburg, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Dec. 5, 1825 ; at the . age of 14, he was apprenticed in a woolenfactory to learn the trade, and worked there until he came to this country in 1854 ; he spent several years in Philadelphia, New York and Connecticut ; after which, he (tame West to Cincinnati, where he was engaged in traveling for two of the principal woolen houses in that city until 1869 ; he then removed to Charleston, and engaged with Henry Weiss, proprietor of the Charleston Woolen-Mill. On the death of Mr. Weiss, in the fall of 1869, he became a member of the firm of Weiss, Ginther & Co., till 1874, since which time it has been Weiss & Frommel ; they employ about thirty hands, and manufacture all kinds of woolen goods and yarns. Mr. Frommel was a member of the City Council of Charleston, from 1874 to 1878. He was married May 16, 1860, to Miss Annie Stuber, of Cincinnati, and has five children living - Emma K., Albert G., Ernst H., Minnie Ch. and Otto H.

AARON FERGUSON, M. D., deceased, late of Charleston ; was born in Wilkes Co., N. C, Dec. 11, 1802; he was a son of Joel and Lydia (Chambers) Ferguson, and the oldest of a family of nine children ; when he was quite youug, his parents emigrated to Bloomington, Ind. ; he obtained a collegiate education in the Bloomington College, after which, he studied medicine under Dr. Maxwell, of that place, and attended a course of medical lectures in Cincinnati; in 1830, he came to Charleston and entered upon the practice of his profession. He was married May 21, 1832, to Miss Susan P. Morton, daughter of Charles S. Morton, the original proprietor of the city of Charleston ; she was born in Fayette Co., Ky., May 31, 1814, and came to Coles Co. with her parents in 1829 ; all their children, three in number, are still living ; William C. resides in St. Louis ; Irvin B., in Eockerville, Dakota Territory, and Aaronella L. is the wife of G. W. Parker, of St. Louis. Dr. Ferguson, not content with previous attainments, afterward pursued a course in the Medical Department of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky., where he graduated about 1837 ; his practice was an extensive one, extending a distance of thirty miles in all directions ; he was a close student all his life, retiring in his disposition, seeking no notoriety, and accepting no public offices, but devoting himself to study and the duties of his profession. He was, however, an earnest Republican, believing firmly in the principles of his party, and ready to advocate them on all suitable occasions. For about five years previous to his death, he was confined to his room by paralysis; he died April 10, 1876 ; as a physician, he occupied an exalted position, and as a citizen was held in universal respect. Mrs. Ferguson still resides in Charleston.

WM. E. GINTHER, dealer in hardware and farm machinery, and general insurance agent, Charleston ; was born in the province of Saxony, Prussia, May 2, 1834 ; his father was a wagon and carriage manufacturer, and he attended school and worked in his father's shop till he was 16 years old, when he came to this country, landing in New York on the 4tli of July, 1850 ; coming to Chicago, he worked on a farm and on the old Galena & Chicago R. R. for awhile ; afterward engaged in farming for himself; in 1861, he engaged as a traveling salesman for H. W. Austin, of Chicago, his route lyingthrough Central and Southern Illinois, and Missouri ; in 1864. he removed to Charleston, and, until 1869, followed the hardware and lumber business, the firm beina; McGee & Ginther ; he then became a partner in the firm of Weiss, Ginther & Co., proprietors of the Charleston Woolen- Mill; in 1874, he resumed the hardware business, and in September, 1877, started in the insurance business also ; he represents fifteen first-class fire insurance companies, and three life and accident companies. He represented a part of Cook Co. in the State Legislature in 1861 and 1862, his district comprising the West Division of Chicago and the western portion of Cook Co. ; for four years previously, he had been a member of the Cook County Board of Supervisors ; since coming to Charleston, he has abstained from political life, and with the exception of serving in the City Council, has held no public office. He was married in 1853 to Miss Catherine Jacobs, of St. Charles, 111., a native of Bavaria, Germany; she died in 1858, leaving one son - Francis W., now U. S. Postal Clerk from Pittsburgh, Penn., to New York City ; Mr. Ginther was married again in 1859, to Miss Christina Schneider, of Oak Park, 111. : they have five children - Emma L., Anna, Clara A., Minnie C. and William E.. Jr.

CHARLES GRAMESLY, dealer in wines and liquors, Charleston ; was born in Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y., June 2, 1842 ; he is a son of William S. and Phebe J. (Hildreth) Gramesly ; his father was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Nov. 17, 1809, and his mother in Bridgehampton. Long Island, March 5, 1819 ; in l<'-^57, his parents removed with their family to Coles Co., and settled in Charleston Tp., where his father now resides ; his mother died in January, 1876, leaving two sons - Charles and Henry ; on becoming of age, Mr. Gramesly engaged in teaching school, and followed it during three successive winters ; in 1872, he entered the Charleston post office as deputy, under John A. Miles, and remained till December, 1873, when ho left the office to attend to his duties as collector of the township, to which office he had been elected in the spring of that year ; in the spring of 1875, he started his present business. He was married Aug. 28, 1877, to Miss Katurah Hildreth, a daughter of John Hildreth, of South Onondaga, Onandaga Co., N, Y. ; they have one child - Margaret.

J. P. HARRAH, attorney at law, Charleston ; is a native of Putnam Co., Ind. ; he was born near Greencastle June 4, 1848j and is a son of Daniel F. Harrah ; in 1858, he removed with his father's family to Jasper Co., 111., where he remained on the farm until 1 867 ; he then engaged in teaching school in Jasper Co. ; in August, 1868, he entered Westfield College, 111., and remained as a student in that institution two years ; returning home in 1870, he began reading law, and, in the fall of 1871, went to Newton, the county seat of

Jasper Co., as deputy in the oflBce of tlie County Treasurer, continuing his law studies under the direction of Col. John H. Halley, a prominent attorney of that city ; in November, 1872, he was elected State's Attorney for Jasper Co., although he was not admitted to the bar until October, 1873, owing to a rule of the Supreme Court of the State requiring candidates for admission to spend two years in an attorney's office ; he continued to hold the office of State's Attorney until 1876 ; he also served one term as City Attorney ; he was appointed a Justice of the Peace in December, 1876, by Grov. Cullom ; in 1877, he came to Charleston and has since been engaged in the practice of law in this city. He was married Jan. 8, 1873, to Miss Emma L. Gill, a daughter of Thomas Gill, of Cumberland Co., 111. ; she died Oct. 6, 1878, leaving two children - Edith A. and Hattie A.

ELI HURON, dealer in books, stationery, musical instruments, toys, etc., Charleston ; was born in Hendricks Co., Ind., Oct. 14, 1836 ; up to the breaking-out of the rebellion he remained on his father's farm. In February, 1862, he entered the Union army as a member of Co. A, 53d Ind. V. I., serving in the Army of the Cumberland ; he participated in the siege of Corinth, and was wounded at the second battle of Corinth, on the 5th of October, 1862, from which he lost his right arm. He spent the spring and summer of 1864 as a student in Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Indianapolis, after which he went to Washington, D. C, and entered the office of the Indiana State Military Agency as a clerk under Gen. Hannaman ; here he remained several months and then obtained an appointment in the War De partment as a clerk in the Quartermaster General's office, where he remained till 1869, when he resigned his position and came to Charleston ; he entered upon his present business, starting at first with a small stock; his business has continued to increase until he now has the largest business in his line in the city. He was married July 1, 1869, to Miss Annie Harding, of Charleston, and has one son - Rolnh E.

RICE P. HACKETT, farmer* and stock-raiser ; P. O. Charleston ; was born in Coles Co., 111., Nov. 28, 1838; he is a son of Levi Hackett, who came from Scott

I Co., Ky., and settled in Coles Co. in 1835, and now lives in Douglas Co., to which he removed in 1861. Mr. Hackett is the second of a family of eight children, five of whom are living. He was married Feb. 25, 1857, to Miss Ann M. Waltrip, of Hutton Tp., also a native of the county, and a j daughter of John Waltrip, one of the early settlers of the county. They have nine children - William J., Eliza E., Noah M., ! Legrand A., Henry M., Ida J., Lula E., Eva R. and Reason A. In August, 1862, Mr. Hackett enlisted in Co. K, 123d I. V. I., and served three years, participating in all the principal engagements of that regiment ; he was severely wounded at the battle of Milton, Tenn., and carries to this day a bullet in his hip as a memento of that engagement ; he was again slightly wounded during a skirmish while on a foraging expedition below Murfreesboro ; j he settled on his present farm in 1872, ! where he owns 205 acres of land, well ' improved. Mr. Hackett and family are members of the Church of Gfod, of which I he is a Trustee and Deacon ; he took an : active part in the erection of their house of ' worship in 1876, donating a lot for that purpose from the corner of his farm. ISAIAH H. JOHNSTON, President I of the Second National Bank, Charleston ; I was born in Russell Co., Va., April 24, I 1827 ; his father, Abner Johnston, came to this county in 1830, and settled in what is now Pleasant Grove Tp., and lived I there until his death, which occurred in ' 1848. Mr. Johnston followed farming until he was 27 years old, and then engaged in merchandising, and, in j 1857, removed to Mattoon, and continued ' in business there till 1860; he was then j elected Sheriff, of Coles Co., and removed j to Charleston; he served as Sheriff two years, and afterward served out the unexpired term of John H. O'Hair. He afterward followed the dry goods trade one year, and during this time was engaged also in farming and dealing in stock. In ; 1869, he built the first pork-packing house in the city, and the same year, in company with T. A. Marshall and John W. True, he established the banking house of T. A. Marshall & Co., which was superseded by 1 the Second National Bank two years later. In 1871, he, 'with John B. Hill and i Thomas Stoddert, erected the Charleston

Pork-Packing Houses, and he continued in the packing business until 1873, when he became President of the Second National Bank ; he has served two terms as member of the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Johnson was first married Feb. 10, 1848, to Miss Harriet JeiFries, daughter of the late Thomas JeiFries, one of the early settlers of Coles Co. ; she died April 14, 1853, leaving two children - Felix, now in the Second National Bank, and Emily, now wife of Charles E. Wilson, of Charleston ; Mr. Johnston was married again Aug. 10, 1855, to Miss Sarah A. Gray, of this county ; they have three children living - Mattie E., Bertha and Hugh.

JACOB LINDER, farmer and" stockraiser ; P. 0. Charleston. Among the pioneers of Coles Co. who settled here prior to the year 1830, was Jonathan Linder, who was born in West Virginia Aug. 8, 1808. He was the son of a farmer, and on becoming of age he came West, accompanied by his father's family ; they made the journey in wagons, and on arriving in Coles Co., they took up some land and purchased other land, and engaged in farming. After a few years, he revisited his native State, performing the journey there and back on horse-back. In 1834 or 1835, he married Miss Margaret Cossell, a daughter of Michael Cossell, another of the pioneer settlers ; she was born in West Virginia, and came to the county with her parents in 1830. They continued to reside in Charleston Tp. till their death. Mr. Linder died in April, 1877, his wife having died in 1872. They left one son, Jacob Linder, who was born in Charleston Tp., Jan. 6, 1836, and who now owns and occupies the old homestead on Sec. 4, consisting of 207 acres of land. He also owns sixty-five acres nearer town. He was married May 31, 1860, to Miss Rachel A. Mclntire, of Seven Hickory Tp., and has one child living - Minnie E.

GEN. G. M. MITCHELL, Postmaster, Charleston, was born in Warren Co., Ky., Oct. 5, 1835. His father, Bedford Mitchell, came to Coles Co. in 1851 and settled in Paradise Township, where he died in 1856. In 1852, thesubjectof this sketch, then a lad of 17, entered a store in Paradise, as clerk for Cunningham & Son, where he remained six ye'ars. He then followed merchandising for himself until

1860, he married Miss Kate Miles, daughter of John Miles, of Charleston, and has seven children. Removing to Mattoon, he formed a partnership with John Cunningham, under the fii'm name of Mitchell & Cunningham, and continued in general merchandise business until the breaking-out of the rebellion. In June,

1861, he entered the army as Captain of Co. C 1st I. V. C. - the first three-years regiment to leave the State. He served with that regiment till February, 1862, when he was promoted to Lieutenant- Colonel of the 54th I. V. I. In October, 1863, was promoted to Colonel. In 1864, he re-enlisted with his regiment as a veteran, and in the fall of the same year was brevetted Brigadier General , and was mustered out of the service Nov. 3, 1865, having, served actively and continuously for nearly five years ; he participated in the siege of Vicksburg, the battle of Parker's Cross Roads, Tenn., and was with Gen. Steel in all his campaigns in Arkansas. Returning from the war, he was elected Sheriff of Coles Co., holding the ofl5ce two years. He was appointed Postmaster at Charleston in April, 1877.

27, 1797 ; he was a son of Robert and Elizabeth (Allison) Mitchell ; his father was a native of North Carolina and emigrated to Tennessee in an early day. He passed his early life on his father's farm near Jonesboro, Tenn., and after obtaining a thorough preparatory education entered Washington College, in his native State, but, after a time, left college and engaged in merchandising. He was married May 12, 1818, to Miss Esther Collom, of his native county ; she was born Oct.

28, 1799. He came to Coles Co. in 1833, and entered a large quantity of Government land, and engaged in farming, dealing in stock, etc. For a number of years, he resided in Charleston, but afterward retired to a farm near town, on which he resided till his death. He was a prominent citizen and a prosperous business man. He was for several years School Commissioner of Coles Co. He died Oct. 14,

1843, while on a visit to his old home in Tennessee, leaving a wife and nine children - Robert A., for twenty years Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Charleston, aud now of Kansas, 111. ; Jonathan C., now a farmer in Missouri ; John D., a physician of Terre Haute, Ind., Sarah E., wife of Thomas Cheeseman, of Missouri; Samuel, who died in 1873 ; Luther and James A., farmers in Coles Co., Alexander C. and Isaac B., merchants in Charleston. Ilis widow, now Mrs. Lumbrick, still resides in Charleston,

LUTHER C. MITCHELL, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O.Charleston; a son of James A. and Esther (Collom) Mitchell; was born in Washinfrton Co., Tenn., June 2, 1830; in 1833, his father's family removed to Charleston ; he was raised on the farm, and at 19, started for himself; after farming two years, he made the trip to California, where he spent eight months in minino; ; going thence to Australia ; there he remained seven years, and, returning in 1860, he resumed forming and dairying; he removed in 1871 to his present farm on Sec. 19, where he owns eighty acres of land. He was married March 5, 1861, to Miss H. A. Waddle, of Coles Co. ; they have seven children living - Kittle B., William A., Rhoda H., Ella, Alice, James and Emily E. Mr. Mitchell has served six years as School Director.

ALEXANDER C. MITCHELL, dealer in books, stationery, toys, etc., Charleston ; is a native of Coles Co., being a son of James M. and Esther (Collom) Mitchell, a sketch of whom is given above; he was born in Charleston Dec. 6, 1836; until 1860, he remained on the farm, receiving a common school education. He was married Dec. 27, 1859, to Mrs. Carrie Roberts, of Charleston. In 1860, he engaged in the boot and shoe business in Charleston, and continued in that two years ; the next two years were spent in farming, after which he followed the grocery business until 1876 ; he was engaged for a .short time in the drug business, alter which he entered upon his present business; he has two sons - Walter G. and Wirt A.

Mitchell ; he was born in Charleston, 111., Jan. 6, 1841 ; he remained on the farm until the age of 15 years; the next four years he spent in the Charleston Academy, where he prepared for the Sophomore class in college, intending to pursue a college course; but, in 1861, owing to circumstances, he abandoned the idea and engaged in farming. In April, 1862, he enlisted in Co. A, 68th I. V. I., for three months. He continued farming until 1865, teaching school during the winters; in 1865, he engaged in mercantile business in Charleston. He was married Dec. 11, 1866, to Miss Florida A. Miles, a daughter of John A. Miles, of Charleston, and has four children - John M., Charles B., Richard R. and Paul. He continued merchandising until 1867, and then farmed for one year, starting in his present business in 1868.

ALLISON M. MITCHELL, of the firm of Ashmore & Mitchell, dealers in boots and shoes, Charleston ; is a native of Coles Co ; he was born in Charleston Dec. 29, 1852, being the son of Rev. Robert A. and Ann E. Mitchell; his father was born in Washington Co., Tenn., and came to Coles Co. with his parents in 1833; he received a collegiate education, and after pursuing a theological course, located in Charleston as Pastor of the Presbyterian Church, of which he remained in charge for twenty years. Allison M. Mitchell, the son, was raised on a farm until he was 19 years old, and then entered the grocery store of his uncle, I. B. Mitchell, where he remained for three years, after* which he spent about two years in the employ of W. M. & E. A. Jenkins; on the 1st of January, 1878, in company with W. J. Ashmore, he purchased the boot and shoe business of B. M. Payne, in which he has since continued.

JOHN A. McCONNELL, editor of the Charleston Phtindealer, Charleston ; was born in Cadiz, Ohio, Dec. 26, 1826 ; he began, at 12 years of age, to learn his father's business of chairmaking ; his inclinations were, however, toward literary or professional pursuits, but he was prevented from carrying out his intentions in that direction by a weakness of the eyes ; at the age of 17, he began teaching school, and taught during the winters for four years; in 1859, he engaged in the grocerybusiness in Cadiz, in which he continued until 1871, when he embarked in the tan- ' ning business, and followed this until the spring of 1878 ; he then came to Charleston and assumed editorial charge of the Charleston Plaindealer, a Republican newspaper, the oldest in the county. He was married Jan. 3, 1861, to Miss Mary Quest, of Cadiz, Ohio, a native of Indiana Co., Penn.

WM. M.'McCONNELL, Charleston, of the firm of M. A. McConnell & Co., publishers of the Charleston. Plaindealer^ was born on the 28th of August, 1855, in Cadiz, Harrison Co., Ohio ; he is a son of James McConnell, of that city ; he attended the public schools of his native town, graduating from the high school in 1872 ; he at once entered the office of the Cadiz Republican, to learn the printer's trade, and, after completing his apprenticeship, remained in the ofl&ce as a journeyman until he came to Charleston, in the spring of 1878, as one of the proprietors of the Plaindealer.

WM. E. McCRORY, Cashier of the First National Bank, Charleston, is a son of James McCrory, who came from Harrison Co., Ky., to Coles Co. in 1837; was for two years engaged in business in Charleston, and was for a time Postmaster of this city ; he returned to Kentucky in 1839, and remained there until 1850, when he removed permanently, with his family, to this county ; he was for eight years County Clerk, and is now a prominent farmer in La Fayette Tp. William E. was born in Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky., March 20, 1839; after spending a year as a clerk in the County Clerk's office, under his father, he became Cashier, at the age of about 17 years, of the Farmers' and Traders' Bank, where he remained until 1860, when that bank, in common with the other State banks - being based upon Southern bonds, went down, after which, Marshall & McCrory continued the banking business for about a year ; he then served for a time as Deputy County Clerk, under Jacob I. Brown ; then clerked for a while for R. M. & H. S. Parcels, after which he resumed the banking business, as Cashier for the Coles County Bank of T. G. Chambers & Co., and, on the consolidation of that bank with the First

National Bank, in 1868, he became Cashier of the latter institution, which position he still retains ; he served one year as Town Clerk. He was married March 20, 1860, to Miss Kate Parcels, a daughter of the late John F. Parcels, an early and highly respected citizen of Charleston ; they have one son living - Walter P.

T. J. MARCH, Sr., dealer in furniture, Charleston ; was born in Baltimore, Md., March 22, 1807 ; he is the only son of John and Eliza March ; losing his father in early childhood, he was very early in life thrown upon his own resources ; at the age of 8 years, he was placed in a tailor shop, where he was put to ripping up old clothes, after which he worked successively for a tobacconist in stripping tobacco, in a chair-factory, learning to bottom chairs, and in a sieve-factory. In his 15th year, he began learning the house-joiner's trade, and on becoming of age, went to Philadelphia, where he followed his trade up to 1835, two years of which time he spent in the employ of Stephen Girard, and helped to build the large and elegant structures composing Girard's Square. He was married March 22, 1831, to Miss Rosina D. Creighton, a daughter of John and Margaret Creighton, of Philadelphia ; she was born in that city November 1, 1810; they have had nine children, five of whom are living - Thomas J. (of Charleston), Lizzie I. (wife of J. M. Ashmore, of Charleston), George A. (of Downey, Los Angeles Co., Cal.), Robert A. (of Charleston) and Rosina D. (now Mrs. H. E. Brooks, of Charleston). On the 4th of July, 1835, Mr. March left Philadelphia and removed to Louisville, Ky., and in March, 1836, came to Coles Co. ; he put up a rail cabin ten feet square in what is now Morgan Tp., and there lived with his family for three months, when they removed to Charleston ; after following his trade of a house-joiner for a number of years ; he engaged in cabinet-making and the undertaking business, and for the past fifteen years or more, has been iu the furniture business. Mr. March built the first iron front store in Charleston on the east side of the square, in 1858 ; besides this, he has erected two other substantial brick buildings and three dwellings, not to mention the large number he has built for other parties ; his enterprise has been re- warded with success, he having accumulated a comfortable property, owning nine buildings in the city, including the fine brick store in March's Block.

Col. Thomas A. Marshall

COL. THOMAS A. MARSHALL, deceased, late of Charleston ; was a son of Hon. Thos A. Marshall, a prominent lawyer, and for more than twenty years Judge of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky ; he was born in Frankfort, Ky., Nov. 4, 1817; in early childhood, he removed with his parents to Paris, Bourbon Co., Ky. ; his opportunities for obtaining an education were excellent and were appreciated and improved by him ; he early became a student in Transylvania University, and, in about 1833, entered Kenyon College, but near the close of the Junior year, he left College, and was employed for a few months on the survey of the Louisville & Lexington Railroad; after reading law and attending a course of lectures in the law depaitment of Transylvania University, in Lexington, Ky., his father being then a law professor in that institution, he was admitted to the bar, and, in 1837, began practice in Vicksburg, Miss., where he enjoyed a very successful law practice until his removal to Illinois. He was married Sept. 4. 1838, to Miss Ellen I. Miles, daughter of Dr. James I. Miles, of Frankfort, Ky. ; in November, 1839, he removed to Coles Co., where he had previously purchased a tract of 800 acres of land, known as Dead Man's Grove ; he removed to Charleston two years afterward and resumed the practice of his profession ; turning his attention to politics, he became a leading politician, and was associated with Abraham Lincoln, Lyman Trumbull, David Davis, John M. Palmer, N. B. Judd and others in the organization of the Republican party in 1856, previously to which time he had been an Old Line Whig ; in 1847, he had been a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and, in 1856, was a member of the Republican State Convention, and the same year, at the earnest personal solicitation of Mr. Lincoln, he became a candidate for the State Senate on the Republican ticket, and was elected by a large majority. He was subsequently in 1860, elected to the same office on the Presidential ticket which elected Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States ; it should be mentioned that in 1853 he became Cashier of the Farmers' and Traders' Bank in Charleston and continued as such during the existence of the same. In July, 1861, he became Colonel of the 1st I. V. C, and served his country gallantly and faithfully until the muster-out of his regiment in the fall of 1862. In July, 1863, he was appointed Superintendent of Indian Affairs in LTtah, but shortly afterward resigned his position ; in 1864, he was appointed Postmaster at Vicksburg, Miss., holding that office until July, 1865 ; he was President of the bank of T. A. Marshall & Co. until its reorganization as the Second National Bank, when, owing to ill health, he retired to his farm, where he resided until his death on the 11th of November, 1873 ; he left a family of six children - William S. (now in business in Denver, Colo.), Eliza M. (Mrs. J. W. True, of Louisa Co., Iowa), James M. (now a Captain in the Quartermaster's Department of the regular army and stationed in Baltimore), Thomas A. (of Denver, Colo.;, Charles T. and John H. ; Mrs. Marshall and the youngest two members of her family reside in Charleston.