James W. Craig

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The parental family of our subject included nine children, and.James W., of our sketch, was the fifth of the family, lie remain'd on the farm with his parents until twenty years of age, and received a practical education at the country schools, l)eing fond of his books and ambitious to excel. Before reaching his majority he entered the ottice of Col. O. 15. Ficklin, where he engaged in reading law from July, 1864, to the fall of the following year. Afterward he entered the law department of the Michigan University at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in hSCT. Soon afterward he formed a partnership with Col. Ficklin, and commenced the practice of his profession in Charleston. He removed to Mattoon in 1868, but continued in partnership with the Colonel several years. His progress has been steadily onward. In 1872 he was elected States Attorney for Coles County, which ofisce he held four years, and aside from this has built up a profitable and extensive practice. At the same time he has been interested in the moral and intellectual welfare of the community around him, interesting himself in the city schools, and is at this time President of the Board of Education.

The marriage of James W. Craig and Miss Mary, the daughter of James and Lavina (Dore) Chilton, was celebrated at the bride's residence, June 17, 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Chilton were natives of Maryland and Maine respectively, whence they both emigrated West in their youth, and were married in Scott County, this State. Mr. C, during his early manhood, engaged in merchandising, but in 1860 sold out his stock of goods and repaired to a farm north of Charleston.

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Isaac B. Crai" who is the junior of his brother by nearly eleven years, was V)orn on the farm in Morgan Township, April:?8, 1855, and remained there, attending the district school during the winter season, until a youth of eighteen years. He then entered the High School at Charleston, where he was graduated, and later commenced studying law under the instruction of Col. O. B. Ficklin ife Co. He completed his legal education in the University at Ann Arbor, and commenced practice at Mattoon in 187'J. That year also he was united in marriage with Miss Helen, the daughter of Abram aufl Susan (Smith) Hasbrouck, of Mattoon. He bids fair to follow in the footsteps of his brother, who has attained to such success and popularity, and is a worthy representative of one of the finest families in the State.

\wlAMES KANE owns eighty acres of good land on section I-"', in Humbolt Township, where ho has built up a good home and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. He

! commenced life without means and his accumulations are the result of his own perseverance and energy. His birthplace was on the other side of the

I Atlantic in the city of Belfast, Ireland, in about December, 18;)4, and he is the only survivor of ten children born to his parents, Patrick and Eliza (O' Harry) Kane. The parents also died in their native Ireland many years ago. Their children were named respectively. Mary, Rosanna, Eliza,

, Sarah, Ellen, Margaret, John Patrick, Robert and James, our subject being the youngest. Mr. Kane spent his boyhood and youth in his native city, and after beginning to think of the future, saw

I little in that part of the world to induce him to remain. Accordingly in 1854, he secured passage on a sailing-vessel, and after a voyage of seven or eight weeks, found himself in the city of New York. From there he proceeded to Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, and commenced in earnest the later battle of life. The year following his arrival in

; this country he was united in marriage with Miss

, Mary Brady, their wedding taking place in Madison, Ind., on the loth of May 1856. Mrs. K. is a

I native of the.same country as her husband, bk.)rn colp:s county.

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The eleven children of IMr. and Mrs. Kane are Eliza, John, Patrick, Robert, James, Rosanna; Ellen, the wife of John Stewart, of Indiana; Sarah, Mary, Margaret and Daniel C. All are mem Iters of the Catholic Church, and Mr. Kane, politically, votes with the Democratic party. During the late war he enlisted as a Union soldier in the 22d Indiana Infantry, participating in many important battles, and being wounded at Pea Ridge inboth feet by a piece of shell. He was mustered in 1861 and discharged in 186;5.

ENNY EDMAN is a substantial farmer, residing in the eastern part of Pleasant Grove Township, his land adjoining the En)barras VjRiver, where his father located in 1 853. He is the son of Jacob and Mahala (Armstrong) Edman, his maternal grandparents being Jarred and Agnes (Hines) Armstrong (see sketch of Joseph Armstrong). Jacob Ed man was born Jan. 30 1807, in Highland County, Wa., and passed his early life in his native State, where his marriage to Miss Mahala Armstrong took place in 1831,

In 1852 Mr. Edman removed with his family to Illinois, and settled in Coles County-, where he passed the remaining years of his life engaged in agricultural pursuits. His wife did not long survive the removal from her Southern home to the harsh climate of Illinois, but died soon after their arrival here, leaving a family of seven children, whose record is as follows: Abel and Wellington, deceased; the latter served in the Civil War in the 8th Illinois Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Shiloh. The names of those living are: Joseph, Martha. Mary, Kenny and Jacob. INIr. Edman was married the second time, to Aliss Frances Rodgers. Several children were born to this marriage, three of whom are now living — Robert, Anna and John. Mr. Edman's death occurred Feb. 28, 1883. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Cliurch until a few years previous to his death, when he attached himself to the United Brethren Church. He left an estate of 188 acres of land and his widow still survives him.

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Henry Eversole lived on the homestead until the age of twenty-eight, then in lh/)4 came to Coles County. His marriage to Miss Sarah J. Work took place Oct. 21, 1808. Mrs. Eversole is the youngest daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Henley) Work, and was born Oct. 10, 183(3, in Clark County, Ind. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother of North Carolina. Mrs. Work's family were among the earliest settlers of Indiana. Her parents made the long, toilsome journey from North Carolina to that State by team, and thendauiihter Elizabeth walked a great part of the way. Mr. and Mrs. Work's family consisted of ten children, four of whom are deceased. Jesse resides in Missouri; Campbell C. is married, and lives in Texas; Samuel besides in Hot Springs, Ark.; Louisa is the wife of John Beggs, and resides in Clark County, Ind.; Elizabeth is the wife of James Wheatly, an extensive farmer residing in Seven Hickory Township, and Sarah J. Mr. and Mrs. Eversole had a familjof five child I'en born to them. Lula L., born Jnn. 10, 18()0, resides at home; McClellan, born Aug. 25, 18(31; Henley, July 31, 1863; John H., Feb. 17, 1867, and Bert, born Nov. 30, 1872, died Sept. 13, 1873. The latter was a beautiful child, the pride of the family, and his death was a great blow to his parents. The children all reside at the homestead, and the two eldest sons, who are talented, well-educated younomen, teach school during the winter and assist their father on the farm in the summer. The,y are all bright and intelligent, and their parents may well take a justiflal)le pride in them.

Mr. Eversole came to Coles County in isr)4,and lived for one year on what is known as Greesy

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As printed in Portrait and biographical album of Coles County, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and bio (1887). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.