North Okaw Township

North Okaw Township

This township, located in the extreme northwest corner of the county, like the other townships in the northern tier, includes one and one-half townships in its area. In the days when the territory of Coles County was divided into voting precincts, Okaw Precinct extended as far north as the northern boundary of the present county of Douglas, and south to its present limits. The votes of her citizens at that time were cast at the small village of Bagdad, on the old Springfield trace. Some years later, as the population increased, a division was made by a line running east and west about one mile north of the old Springfield trace, and all the territory north of that line was designated North Okaw, and that of which we are now writing was known as South Okaw. The name as originally applied to the precinct, was taken from the river which traverses the township in a general southwestern direction. To this stream the French gave the name Kaskaskia, while the Indians designated it uniformly by the name Okaw. The early settlers adopted the Indian name, and their descendants speak of it to-day as the Okaw, to the utter exclusion of the French name. Perhaps a more accurate description in regard to name would be given by saying, that from Shelbyville to its source, the name Okaw is invariably applied, while from the same point to its mouth it is known as the Kaskaskia. When the county was divided into townships, the citizens met for the purpose of selecting a name. The name Martin was proposed by some, in honor of one of the early settlers. Others, to whom the name Okaw had become endeared from its association with their early struggles and hardships, clung with something akin to filial affection to the dear old name. On the call for a vote, Okaw's standard was lifted up by a large majority. When the name Avas submitted for approval, it became necessary to prefix the word North in order to distinguish more clearly the territory bearing the name, from that of Okaw Township, in Shelby County. Thus, what was once known as South Okaw Precinct, became a few years later North Okaw Township. The Okaw River enters the township at the extreme northwestern boundary, and flowing in a general southwestern direction, passes out at its western boundary about two and one-half miles north of the southwestern corner of the township. This stream with its tributaries, affords excellent drainage for a large portion of the township. Crab-Apple Tree Creek, a small stream flowing from east to west through the southern portion of the township, drains the southern tier of sections. In its primitive state, fully one- third of its area was timber-land, the remaining two-thirds being open prairie. To-day, however, its timber is confined to a narrow belt skirting the banks of the Okaw. There is, perhaps, as great variety of soil in this township, as can be found in any other in the limits of the county. While the prairie is in general rich and productive, and characterized by a deep, black, loamy soil, even portions of it are far more productive than others. The soil of the woodland is far less fertile. Of a light, bluish color, and of shallow depth, it is poorly adapted to the growth of most of the cereals ; a better yield of wheat, however, is obtained from the woodland than from the prairie, and the crop is much surer, as the soil is better adapted to stand the alternate freezing and thawing so common to this climate. Corn, however, is the staple product, and upon the successful growing of this crop the farmer depends almost entirely for his support year after year. The D., M. & S. Railroad crosses the extreme southwest corner of the township, giving not to exceed three-quarters of a mile of railroad within her borders. Her points for shipping and receiving, are Mattoon and Humbolt. Though settlements were made within the present limits at quite an early day, the great influx of population did not occur till about the years 1855 and 1856, at which, time the railroads crossing at Mattoon were rapidly approaching completion. In a few brief years, her population was doubled and even trebled, and the hitherto unoccupied prairie was soon dotted over with human habitations in every direction. And where, but a few short years before, the early settler was accustomed to chase the fleet-footed deer or flying wolf through the tall and matted grass of the unbroken prairie, he saw the rank, luxuriant fields of corn, waving gracefully in the summer breezes. Taken throughout its entire extent, the township compares very favorably with those surrounding it, in point of wealth and productiveness.

Early Settlements

The first settlements made in the township were confined to the timber along the east and west banks of the Okaw. To locate and build a cabin onequarter of a mile from the woods would have been considered a hazardous and foolhardy undertaking. Prairies, in the language of the old settlers, were made for the deer, wolves and rattlesnakes, woods and water-courses for man. Hence, we invariably find the earliest improved farms in the woodland or hard by, while the better or more fertile portions are left to fall into the hands of those coming in after-years. Many an old settler toiled and labored almost incessantly, day and night, for months, to prepare a few acres of woodland for cultivation, when, within a stone's throw of his cabin, lay the rich, fertile prairie, inviting him to reap a rich harvest for the mere sowing. The fact that a settlement was in the township as early as 1833, seems to be pretty fully established, and John Whitley and his sons John, Elisha, William and Randall, are recorded as among the first, if not the first, to settle and make improvements in its limits. Their improvements were made along the Okaw, near the southwestern limits of the township.. Elisha and John were on the west side, while William and Randall located east of the stream. The Whitleys came from Tennessee, and must have came to the State at an early day ; from statements made by the elder Whitley, they seem to have passed up the Kaskaskia, making settlements at various points ; so soon as neighbors began to settle in around them, they would desert their places, and, moving up the stream, would again locate, only a few years later to move still higher up the stream. About the same time, but higher up the stream, we find Baily Riddle, from North Carolina. Jesse Fuller came from Virginia in the summer of 1833, and settled east of the river, in the outskirts of t he timber bordering on what is now Humbolt Township. John Bracken, from Kentucky, came in the fall of 1833, and made a small improvement about one-quarter of a mile across the line, in what is now Moultrie County. But few, if any, others were in the township as early as 1833, Henry and Hawkins Fuller, Woolery Coonrod, Thomas Blythe, William Bridgeman, William and Jonathan Graham, Thomas Pay ton, Noah Elrod, Fred Price, Wesley and Isaac Teal were added to the settlement during the jear 1834. The Fullers, however, first settled at what is called Whitley's Point, in Mattoon Township, and, in the fall of 1835, came up into Okaw. The Fullers and Price were from Virginia, Coonrod Blythe and the Teals from Tennessee, Grahams from Kentucky, Payton and Elrod from Indiana. In the spring of 1835, P. M. Ellis came from Tennessee, and the following fall brought in Daniel Boothsby, Lowry Hoskins, Nathan Dixon, James Elder and William Brann. In the spring of 1836, Jesse Ellis and wife, with their sons Wiley and Jesse K., came and settled on the improvement made by John Bracken, which Mr. Ellis had purchased a year previous. Noble Junken, David and Jacob Hoots came in the fall of the same year. Jacob Hoots settled, however, in what is now Humbolt Township. From this time forward, through a period of about two years, there seemed to be a complete cessation of immigration to this point. This may be accounted for in various ways, but perhaps the best explanation that could be oifered, is the following : The year 1835 was an exceedingly wet and sickly season. The sick-list included every person in the settlement, though the list of mortality was small. Pleasant M. Ellis, who came, as has been already stated, in the spring of 1835, says : " It began raining the 16th day of May, and was a daily occurrence, almost, till the middle of August following. The Okaw River was at no time between these dates fordable. Many of the new-comers having ' shook ' to their heart's content, as soon as they were able, packed up ' hook and line ' and returned whence they came." Doubtless the unfavorable accounts they gave stopped, for a season, the tide of emigration to this immediate locality. In the fall of 1838, Alfred Jones and Thomas Ellis, of Kentucky, Samuel Elder, of Tennessee, with, perhaps, a few names not now recalled, came and settled. These all found a location along the east and west banks of the river. The timber-lands in general, at that day, appeared far more beautiful than they now do, for the great fall fires from the prairies swept through the forest and kept it clear of underbrush, consuming much of the fallen timber, so that the timbered land had a clean, pleasant look. The giant old oak stood unmolested, spreading its long, leafy boughs north and south, east and west, forming cool and pleasant shades, beckoning the weary traveler to lie down and rest, while the breezes laden with sweet perfumes from nature's floral garden gently fanned him to sleep. But the whole scene is changed, both timber and prairie. The prairie by the plowshare and the timber by the relentless chopping-ax; and where once grew the lovely flowers, is now the far-stretching cornfield or the wide-spread meadow; and where once stood in its pristine glory the lordly monarch of the forest, it is now thickly overgrown with underbrush. What wonder is it, then, that the woodlands so inviting, should have been the chosen homes of the early settlers, to the utter disregard of the prairies with their dreaded winds and storms. The early settlers of Okaw experienced many of the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life. Mills in those early days were few in number and distant many miles from each other. John Per- vis had a mill on the Okaw some five or six miles south of the settlement, as early as 1833 or 1834. This was about as much a source of annoyance as profit, for it could only be operated when the water was at a proper stage, and as the stream was nearly always either too high or too low, the mill stood idle the greater part of the time. Jesse Fuller had a horse-mill on the east side of the Okaw, in 1836. The settlers on the west side were often compelled to swim the river in order to obtain grinding. They would take their grist by ox-team to the bank, swim their oxen across, then return and bring their grist over in a canoe; then placing the sacks of corn on the backs of the oxen, would jump on top and ride to mill. A like process must be repeated on their return. In a very dry time, they often went to Spangler's mill on the Sangamon, and sometimes to Baker & Norfolk's mill on the Embarrass. Diflficulties, such as would appall the stoutest hearts of the young and rising generation, were met and vanquished by these early settlers at a single blow. Sometimes they were reduced to the extremity of living for months on meal made from frost-bitten corn. Mrs. P. M. Ellis, whose father, William Parker, was one of the early settlers on Kickapoo, says, that the only bread she ate for months soon after coming, was made from meal so offensive that even the hogs would not eat it. This meal after standing for a short time became so compact that it required the aid of a rail maul to separate it in order that it might be sifted and made into bread. And while to-day we would regard it as a very unwholesome diet and the fruitful parent of all manner of diseases, yet they were blest with exceptionally good health. As in other localities, the early settlers of Okaw enjoyed the ministrations of the Gospel at an early day. The settlers gathered alternately once a month at the cabins of Jesse Ellis and old Mr. Simms, and listened to the preaching of Rev. William Martin, one of the earliest ministers in the community. He belonged to the school of Regular Baptists. Occasionally Rev. Thomas Threlkeld paid them a visit. The Separate or Free- Will Baptists built the first house of Avorship in the township, about the year 1850. This house stands on Section 18, near the western limits of the township. Among its early members were Thomas Ellis, Mrs. P. M. Ellis and Micajah Phillips. Revs. James W. Vaughn and John Webb were its early ministers. Rev. Vaughn has labored most of the time for the Church since its organization. As late as 1866, the Regular Baptists built a church near the center of Section 17. Among its early communicants we find the names of Jesse Ellis and wife, Mr. Simms and family, Gideon Edwards, James Elder and family. William Martin and Thomas Threlkeld were the early Pastors of the Church. The Missionary Baptists also built a church on the west line of Section 10, near Cook's Mills, about the same date. The Methodist society held its early meetings in the cabins of Henry and Hawkins Fuller. Among the early ministers were Revs. Roberts, Joseph Lane and Arthur Bradshaw. Quinu Chapel, in the northwest corner of the township, was built about the year 1865, and east of the center of the township, Zion M. E. Church was built in 1872 or 1873. These five churches are all neat frame buildings and their existence indicates that the citizens of this section are by no means indifferent as regards their moral and spiritual welfare.

The early physicians in this settlement were Drs. John Apperson and Seth Montague. Apperson, as has been elsewhere noted, was an early settler of Paradise Township, but his range of practice extended to then the uppermost settlements along the Okaw. Dr. J. T. Johnson came in some years later, and settled among them, and was for many years the leading practitioner in the community. The first post office established in the township was about the year 1852. Dr. Johnson was the first Postmaster, and, for a number of years, the office was kept at his house. It was named, however. Fuller's Point, in honor of Henry Fuller, who lived in a point of timber not far from the site of the post office. The mail was carried on horse-back from Charleston, along a route extending to Decatur. Prior to the establishment of the office at Fuller's Point, the citizens of Okaw got their mail-matter at Paradise, distant some eighteen miles from portions of the township. In 1868, an office was established at Cook's Mills, and Elam Cook was made Postmaster. Though he has not acted in that capacity for a number of years, yet all business connected with the office is transacted through his name. Martin Elder, who came in the fall of 1835, had, perhaps, the first store in all this section. It was just across the line, in what is now Moultrie County. The new enterprise had scarcely become known, however, when Elder suddenly left for parts unknown. It appears that he had been guilty of some crooked transactions in regard to the mails in the section from whence he came, and a United States detective suddenly pounced down upon him, and, having secured pretty much all he had, graciously permitted him to escape. Some years later, David Robinson had a little country store in the northwest corner of the township proper.

A saw-mill was built at the present site of Cook's Mills, in 1864, by Robert Gillan, who, soon after, opened out a general country store. This he sold, together with the saw-mill, to Elam Cook, about the year 1868. Cook, soon after built a steam flouring-mill, the only grist-mill in the township. For some years, this mill was operated very successfully ; but, for the past few years, it has not been of much benefit to the surrounding community. D. A. Crumm is at present proprietor of the store, and has a full general stock.

Schools were instituted at an early day, and among those who wielded the rod of correction and "boarded round," may be mentioned Josiah Hoots, James Hamilton and " Grandpap " Baker. The township has kept equal pace with her neighbors in point of educational advancement. There are seven school districts in the township proper, each supplied, with a suitable schoolhouse. During the past year, schools have been maintained throughout the several districts, an average of seven and one-half months. Male teachers employed, three ; female, five. Highest monthly wages paid, males, $40 ; females, $30. Principal of Township Fund, |2,300 ; interest from same, $230. Special dis-

Three substantial bridges are found spanning the Okaw within the limits of the township. Two of these are wooden structures, and the remaining one a very substantial iron bridge, spanning the river near the southwestern corner of the townshp. This was erected at a cost of some $2,000, and is in every respect a stanch and secure structure. After township organization was effected, John Hoots was chosen first Supervisor ; William H. Smith, first Township Clerk, and Joel Martin and Jesse K. Ellis, first Justices. This position Mr. Ellis has held almost constantly since ; and it may be said to the credit of the morals of the citizens, that during all these years, but one person has been sent to the County Jail to await the action of the grand jury. A trial occurred in an early day, which afforded no little sport and amusement to the entire settlement. Martellus Graham had rented of Samuel Elder, a small parcel of ground, and was to give one-third of the product for rent. Before the division was made, a difficulty arose between Graham and Elder, and on Graham's taking a pumpkin from the field. Elder immediately instituted proceedings against him for theft. The officer, armed with the necessary papers, and accompanied by P. M. Ellis, proceeded to the residence of Graham, and arrested him on the charge of theft. This occurred just before daylight, and, as soon as the morning meal was over, they set out to bring the prisoner before the Court. Hawkins Fuller was the Justice before whom the case was tried. The whole settlement was on the ground to enjoy the sport. The prisoner was arraigned, and pleaded not guilty. The squire and his good wife set about hunting up the law bearing on the case. Mrs. Fuller, who was by far the better lawyer of the two, demanded that the stolen property be produced in court, in order that it might be identified, and, as the pumpkin could not be produced by the prosecution, the case was dismissed at Elder's cost, amounting to some $10 or $12. It was many a day before Elder heard the last of that trial.

As has already been stated, but few families, comparatively speaking, dwelt in the limits of Okaw prior to the building of the railroads in 1855 and 1856. David McCullough, so far as we can learn, was the only person who went from Okaw Township to the Mexican war. During " the late unpleasantness," however, she furnished her full quota of brave boys, and the bones of many of her gallant sons lie bleaching on Southern soil.

The first marriage was that of John Turner to Matilda Simms. This event occurred as early as the fall of 1836. P. M. Ellis lost a child, July 10, 1835, and, a few weeks later, James Ellis, a brother, died. These were, doubtless, the first deaths that occurred in the township.

Bluff Lodge, No. 605, I. 0. 0. F, was organized at Cook's Mills in 1875. A charter was granted from the Grand Lodge to J. H. Crumm, Joseph Perry, David Perry, James Hamilton, George Crume and John R. Hamilton as charter members. Joseph Perry was appointed N. G. ; James Hamilton, V. G. ;

John R. Hamilton, Sec. ; and J. H. Crumm, Treas. The Lodge has a membership of sixty. Stated meetings occur Saturday evenings of each week. Present officers, William Hammer, N. G. ; John Wilson, V. G. ; E. Gilbert, Sec. ; J. L. Skidmore, Treas. ; and J. H. Crumm, Deputy G. M. for the Lodge. Liberty Lodge, in which is conferred the degree of Rebecca, was organized in 1878, and has a membership of twenty-nine. Regular meetings Wednesday evenings before full moon in each month. These societies meet for the transaction of business pertaining to the order in the lodge-room, over D. A. Crumm's store. The present officers of Liberty Lodge are: Amanda Hougland, N. G. ; Elizabeth Wright, V. G. ; La Fayette Alaman, Sec. ; and Mary A. Crumm, Treas. While we have not seen fit to set apart and write up Cook's Mills as a village, it is no more than proper and just that we should speak of its advantages to the township. The saw and grist mill, with a well-selected stock of goods^ the post office, a blacksmith and wagon shop, render it the center of attraction for the township, and the point at which most of the business is transacted ; and but for the lack of railroad facilities, it would, at no distant day, grow into a village of considerable importance. But isolated as it is from all other places of importance, with no avenues of ingress or egress except dirt roads, and these much of the season almost impassable, it must ever remain as it now is, a point of interest alone to the citizens of the immediate vicinity. In closing this section of our history, we can safely say that for industry and enterprise, for social and moral worth, the citizens of Okaw rank second to those of no other portion of the country.

NELSON W. AMES, farmer and stock -raiser ; P. 0. Mattoon ; one of the most prominent settlers ; was born in Wayne Co., Penn., Feb. 9, 1817; h^ is the son of Mr. Joseph Ames, now 'deceased, who was born in Connecticut, and was one of the early settlers of Pennsylvania, where he married Miss Gertrude Schenck, and where Mr. N. W. Ames, the subject of this sketch, was born. He was married Jan. 9, 1840, to Miss Nancy Hoalley, who was fborn in Pennsylvania May 6, 1818, and who died Oct. 3, 1847. Mr. Ames removed from his native State to New Jersey, where he remained several years. On April 12, 1849, he was married again, to Miss Susan A. Cramer, who was born in New Jersey June 2, 1 830 ; they have seven children, viz., Oliver, George, Rutser, Newton, Louisa, Sarah and John. Mr. Ames came to this State and settled in Coles Co. in 1857 ; the farm which he owns, and upon which he now resides, he purchased from the Railroad Co. in the same year ; it consists of 212 acres, valued at $8,500. George, the second teer in

GEORGE BE ATT Y, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Mattoon"; was born in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, April 6, 1810 ; came to the United States in 1830, to this State, and settled in Coles Co. in 1865. He was married April 13, 1834, to Miss Anne Clegg, now deceased; she was born in Derbyshire, England, October, 1812, and died Jan. 15, 1873; Elizabeth is the only child they have had. The farm of Mr. Beatty consists of eighty acres, valued at $3,000.

A. J. BIGELOW, farmer and stockraiser ; P. 0. Fuller's Point ; one of the early settlers ; was born in Massachusetts Oct. 10, 1829 ; came to this State in 1852, and settled in Edgar Co.; he removed to Coles Co. in 1852, where he has since resided ; his farm consists of 254 acres, valued at $7,000. He was married to Miss Ada Green, who was born in Massachusetts ; they have two children - Levi and Charley E. Since his residence in the township, he has held the office of Supervisor one year and School Director ten years. He was a participant in the late war, having enlisted in the 79th I. V. I.; after volunteering, he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, and later was promoted to First Lieutenant, and as such served faithfully for several months, when he was proinoted to Captain ; he served in the war about three years, and was discharged with honor at its close.

J. A. BROTHERTON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Mattoon ; was born in Indiana Nov. 12, 1841 ; came to this State and settled in Coles Co. in 1860 ; his farm consists of eighty acres, valued at $2,400. He was married to Miss Catharine Earls, who was born in Illinois ; they have seven children, viz., Sarah, Delia, William M., Lawrence, Lewis, Eva and Robert. Since Mr. B.'s residence in the township, he has held the office of School Director three years.

THOMAS FURNESS, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Fuller's Point ; one of the early settlers ; was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 17. 1825 ; came to this State and settled in Coles Co. in 1856, and with the exception of five years' residence in Moultrie Co., his home has been in Coles Co. ; his farm, which is located in both counties, consists of 240 acres, valued at $7,200. He was married Dec. 25, 1848, to Miss Mary Kepler, who was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Feb. 9, 1829; they have ten children, seven of whom are living, viz., Louisa, Francis and Johnny, deceased ; Theodore, James, Cornelia, Willie, Laura, Georgie, and Walter.

field Co., Ohio, Jan. 11, 1826; came to this State with his father's family, and settled in Moultrie Co. in 18-17, and in 1879, he removed to Coles Co., and settled in North Okaw Tp. ; his farm consists of 410^ acres, valued at $8,000. He was married to Miss Pheba Staley, who was born in White Co., 111. ; they have six children, viz., Alvaretta, Greorge W., Oily, Melvin, Emma and Pheba L. During Mr. Henton's residence in Moultrie Co., he has held the offices of Township Supervisor and School Trustee, and Director, etc., seven years.

JAMES M. HUNT, retired farmer; P. 0. Cook's Mills ; was born in Indiana Jan. 16, 1840 ; his father, James Hunt, now deceased, was one of the early settlers of that State ; they moved to Illinois and settled in Coles Co. in 1868 ; Mr. Hunt has followed the pursuits of a farmer and stock-raiser from boyhood ; he enlisted in the 83d Ind. V. I.; served nearly three years, and was discharged at the close of the war ; at the battle of Dallas he was wounded, the eflfects of which now compel him to retire from business. He was married to Miss Rachel R. Janes April 13, 1875, who was born in Illinois. Oct. 17. 1857.

ALEXANDER HITCH, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Cook's Mills; one of the early settlers ; was born in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 9, 1827 ; moved to Ohio with his parents when he was 1 year old ; lie was raised there, in Ross Co., and in 1850 he came from Ohio to this State and settled in Coles Co. He was married May 10, 1855, to Miss Permelia Ellis, who was born in Kentucky Oct. 13, 1833 ; they have had four children, three of whom are living, viz., Belle, Sarah L. and Melissa E. ; deceased, Francis Marion. The farm of Mr. Hitch consists of 200 acres, valued at | $5,000 ; since Mr. Hitch's residence in the township he has held office of School Director three years. Of the firm he now owns, eighty acres of it he purchased from the R. R. Co. in 1862 ; the balance, | which consists of 120 acres, he has since purchased, the entire amount of which he has made by his own labor and management. Since 1860 he been a member of the Missionary Baptist Association, and in 1863 he was ordained Deacon in that denomination.

JAMES HAMILTON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. 0. Cook's Mills ; one of the early settlers ; was born in Ohio, May 1, 1826 ; came to this State in 1852, and settled in Coles Co. in the same year. He was married Nov. 16, 1853, to Miss M. L. Hoskins, who was born in Illinois, July 12, 1831 ; they have seven children, viz., John R., William H., James L. (twins), David W., Albert G., Samuel L. and Margaret I. Their farm consists of 108 acres, valued at $3,500. Since Mr. Hamilton's residence in the township he has held the office of Justice of the Peace three years and on the Board of Commissioners six years ; he was also a participant in the late war, he having enlisted in the 130th I. Y . I., served about eight months, and was discharged with honor on account of disabilities.

3IRS. ELLEN HOOTS, farming and stock-raising ; P. 0. Cook's Mills ; one of the natives of Illinois ; was born in Clark Co., July 4, 1845. She is the widow of the late Francis M. Hoots ; they were married Nov. 21, 1861 ; they have had ten children, eight of whom are living, viz., Edwin, Wm. A., Linea M., Albia, Bertie N., Arthur A., Nora Eva, and Francis M. ; deceased, Albert B. and Rosa. The farm of Mrs. Hoots is principally managed by herself and her children ; it contains 316] acres, valued at $9,500.

DUDLEY HOPPER, farmer; P. 0. Mattoon ; one of the first settlers of Coles Co.; was born in Knox Co., Ky., Aug. 18, 1826 ; came to this State with his father's family in 1837, when he was but a boy. He was married to Miss Jane Dixon, now deceased ; they have had four children, viz., Felitha, George, Harvey and Matilda. Mr. Hopper was married the second time to Miss Margaret Easter. His farm consists of 330 acres, valued at $9,900; since his residence in the township, he has held the office of Commissioner three years. He was a participant in the Mexican war, where he served eighteen months. His land, on which he now resides, was partially entered by himself from the Government.

HENRY D. JENKINS, M. D., Areola ; one of the early settlers ; was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., Dec. 30, 1822; came to this State and settled in what was then Coles Co. in 1855 ; his firm, being now located in Douglas Co., where he first settled, and which was at the time of his settlement all Coles Co., consists of 310 acres. The Doctor is a graduate of the Transylvania University, located at Lexington, Ky.; since his residence in this county, he has practiced his profession as physician but very little ; his pursuits have been that of a farmer and stock-raiser, which seems to be his natural proclivity. In 1866, he married Miss Mary F. Blackwell, who was born in North Carolina Dec. 26, 184:1 ; they have two children, viz., John B. and Elisa D.

WILLIAM JOHNSON, farmer and stock-raiser; P. 0. Cook's Mills; one of the early settlers ; was born March 22, 1822 ; came to this State in 1850, and to this county and settled in North Okaw Tp. in 1857. He was married to Miss Mary J. Miller, who was born July 22, 1834 ; they have four children, viz., Kobert M., Anna A., Sarah J. and Franklin. The farm of Mr. Johnson consists of 240 acres, valued at $7,000. Since his residence in the township he has held the office of School Trustee and Director several year.-^.

A. KITCHENS, farmer and stockraiser ; P. 0. Cook's Mills ; one of the natives of Illinois ; was born in Clark Co., Jan. 23, 1843 ; he is the son of Eli E. Kitchens, deceased, who was one of the early settlers of the State. His farm consists of 100 acres, valued at 82,000. He was married to Miss Nancy E. Hoskins, now deceased ; they have had two children, viz., Maria E. and Susan L.

McCAGHA PHILLIPS, farmer ; P. 0. Fuller's Point; one of the natives of Illinois; was born in Moultrie Co., Jan. 7, 1856 ; he is the son of Mr. Calvin Phillips, of Mattoon Tp., who is one of the early settlers of Coles Co. ; his farm consists of 136 acres, valued at $4,500. He was married June 10, 1877, to Mi.ss Mary A. Gilmer, who was born in Russell Co., Va., April 27, 1856 ; Leon is their only child.

MARTIN PRICE, farmer; P. O. Cook's Mills; one of the early settlers; was born in Alabama March 4, 1827 ; came to this State in 1830, to Coles Co. in 1842, and settled in North Okaw. He was married Feb. 15, 1849 to Miss Mary J. Hoskins, who was born in Illinois Jan. 7, 1830; they have ten children, viz..

Mary Ann, Margaret M., Martha J., Lucinda D., Joseph A., Nancy M.,.Lowery M., Ruth, Belle, William E. and James F. Since Mr. Price's residence in the township he has held the office of Commissioner of Highways four years, School Director twenty years, and is at present Supervisor, this being his fourth term in that office. His farm consists of sixty acres, valued at $2,000.

THOMAS SENTENEY, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Cook's Mills ; one of the early settlers of the county, was born in Kentucky May 16, 1819 ; came to this State in 1842, Coles Co. in 1853, and settled in North Okaw Tp. ; his farm consists of 104 acres, valued at $3,000, and since his residence in the township he has held the office of Assessor one term, School Trustee and Director twelve years. He was married to Miss Anne Flemming, who was born in Indiana ; they have had seven children, viz., John T., Sarah, Mark, James L., Mary J., Samuel A. and Emma.

THOMAS SMITH, farmer and stockraiser ; P. 0. Mattoon ; was born in Coles Co , 111., Oct. 19. 1853; he is the son of Mr. W. H. Smith, deceased, and Mary A. Smith, deceased, who was formerly Miss Mary A. Osborn. The estate being unsettled, he is one of seven heirs to the homestead ; it contains 680 acres, valued at $20,400 ; the balance of the heirs, who are brothers and sisters of Mr. Smith, are Isabel, Martha, Delphine, Alice, Willis and Joseph.

JOHN TURNER, farmer and stockraiser ; P. 0. Fuller's Point ; one of the first settlers and pioneers, was born in Virginia Dec. 16, 1812; came to this State and settled in Coles Co. in 1830; his first settlement was in what is now the township of Paradise ; he cannot tell now that the township at that time had a name, and through it there was no mail-route ; in 1835, he removed to North Okaw ; this section of country was at that time all called Okaw ; it derives its name from the two streams running through it ; Mr. Turner is now the oldest living settler in the township. He was married to Miss Elsie J. Robison ; they have four children, viz., Mary J., John W., Francis M. and Walter W.; he was previously married to Miss Matilda F. Simms, now deceased; they