Joseph Armstrong

OSEPH ARMSTRONG, a prosperous farmer and stock-grower, residing in Pleasant Grove Township, has been a resident of this county since 1844. He was born Aug. 11, 1823, in Highland County, Va.. and is the son of Jarred and Agnes (Hiner) Armstrong. His paternal ancestors had been for many 3fears residents of Virginia, and his mother's family was of German extraction.

In early life Jarred Armstrong was occupied at the shoemaker's trade and also owned a distillery and mill, but subsequently he engaged quite largely in farming and stock-raising. He passed his life in Virginia and died there at the advanced age of over eighty 3'ears. His wife also reached the age of fourscore years. The family on each side is noted for longevity, some members having attained over one hundred j'ears. Mr. and Mrs. Jarred Armstrong had a family of four sons and five daughters born to them, whose record is as follows: Matilda became the wife of P. J. Edman, and after his death married Charles Roberts, with whom she came to Coles County, where her death occurred at the age of seventy-two years; Mahala became the wife of Jacob Edman, whom she accompanied to this county, where her death occurred in September, 1853; Abel H. died in his native county in Virginia; Martha, who became the wife of Solomon Iledrick, died in West Virginia; John T. is a farmer and stock-grower, residing in Highland County, Va.; Mahulda became the wife of Joseph Hiner, and resides in West Virginia; Allan resides on the old homestead in Virginia; Joseph, the subject of this sketch, and Lucinda, the wife of George Hiner, a farmer residing in West Virginia.

Joseph Armstrong was reared on the old homestead in Virginia, where he acquired a practical knowledge of the details of systematic farming and stock-growing. AVhen twenty-one years of age, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Leitch. Mrs. Armstrong was born May 23, 1824, in Pendleton County Va. Immediately after his marriage, Mr. Armstrong resolved to seek his fortune in the West, and with his young wife, bravely started out on the long and perilous overland journey from Virginia to this State, with a team of strong horses and a substantial wagon. After passing through many trials and adventures, they reached their destination in safety, and with hopeful and courageous hearts began the world together on the Western frontier. Mr. Armstrong settled in Coles County, and in 1847 entered forty acres of his present farm, which he has made the homestead. He erected a log ca])in the primitive fashion, which his wife, with her womanly tact and good judgment, rendered as comfortable and homelike as the circumstances would permit. Mr. Armstrong marked off the land and cleared and cultivated his farm, and being industrious and economical, and aided by the housewifely thrift of a devoted wife, has advanced steadily on the road to success.

Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong had a family of four children born to them, one of whom died in infancy, and a daughter named Margaret J. died in the spring of 1885, at the age of thirty-four. The two children living are, Charles K. and Abel T. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are both members of the Methodist Church. Mr. Armstrong is interested in educational affairs, and has served many years as School Director. lie is a Republican in politics. In 1862, at the call of his country, Mr. Armstrong left his home and business and enlisted in Co. I., 123d 111. Vol. Inf. He took part in all the principal engagements of the war, and served until its close, proving himself throughout his military career, a brave and efficient soldier. After his return home, Mr. Armstrong resumed farming, and now owns over 300 acres of valuable land, with an excellent residence and appropriate farm buildings. He gives special attention to stock-raising, in which he has been very successful.

OSES ELLISON has been for more than twenty years a prominent citizen of North Okaw Township, his fine estate containing 240 acres of well-improved land, being located on section 7. He was born Jan. 30, 1808, in Adams County, Ohio, and is the son of Robert and Rebecca (Lockhard) Ellison. Robert Ellison was born Jan. 28, 1770, in County Tyrone, Ireland, and in 1787 accompanied his parents to the United States. They left their native land, which has been for so many centuries the battle-ground of conflicting Governmental policies, to seek a home and heritage for their children in this land of freedom, where a welcome has ever been extended to all who come. Mr. Ellison landed at Philadelphia, and with his family made the journey to Pittsburgh by wagon. He there embarked on a float and went down the river to Maysville, Ky., and thence to Manchester, Ohio, where he made his permanent home. The early settlers of Ohio were greatly disturbed by the Indians at that time, and his brother Andrew was once captured by a band of fierce savages who spared his life, but sold him to a Frenchman for a quart of whisky. After a few months of captivity, he made his escape and returned home in safety.

Mr. Ellison had the advantage of a good common-school education, and possessed excellent business qualifications. He was for several years employed by a company of surveyors in Ohio, and subsequently became a large land-owner himself, having at one time over 1,000 acres. When he was about thirty years of age his marriage to Miss Rebecca Lockhard took place, Oct. 11, 1802. Mrs. Ellison was born Sept. 7, 1781, near Philadelphia. After their marriage, they settled near Manchester, Ky., and passed the remainder of their lives there. Mrs. Ellison died June 7, 1829, leaving her beloved husband under sad circumstances. He had shortly before received a stroke of paralysis, and was an invalid for about twelve years prior to his death, which occurred May 13, 1839. Their family consisted of ten children, as follows: Mary, born Feb. 20, 1804, became the wife of James Hood, and died May 9, 1838, leaving three children; Margaret, born April 7, 180.5, died at the age of eighty years; John, born Aug. 18, 1806, died at the age of seventy-one years; Moses, the subject of this sketch; Isabel, born Aug. 14, 1809, married James Hood, her deceased sister's husband; Robert, born April 5, 1811, married Ann Work; Elizabeth, born Jan. 11, 1812, married Thomas Huston, and both are deceased; Catherine, born July 30, 1814, became the wife of Hanson Newell, and both are also deceased; Cyrus, born Aug. 24, 1816, was twice married; Thomas, born June 6, 1819, married Miss Mary A. Wilson, and both are deceased.

Moses Ellison passed his boyhood and youth on the homestead, and was about fifteen years of age when his father was stricken with paralysis. His educational advantages were very limited, he never having either the time or opportunity to attend school, but about fifteen months in his life. He lived on the homestead, taking charge of his father's farm until he was about thirty years of age, when his marriage to Miss Mary A. Lockridge took place April 6, 1839. Mrs. Ellison was born April 16, 1809, in Adams County, Ohio, and was the daughter of William and Margaret (Anderson) Lockridge. Her parents were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrati;d to the United States at an early day, making their home in Ohio. After his marriage, Mr. Ellison was engaged for some time in farming in his native county, on property he inherited from his father. Desiring to move farther westward he disposed of his property there in the winter of 18(53, and came to North Okaw Township. In the following spring he purchased 240 acres of improved land and forty acres of timber. He was active and enterprising in business, and on coming to his new home identified himself successfully with the interests of the community, by whom he is held in high esteem.

His family consisted of seven children: Robert, born Feb. 18, 1838, married Miss Ann Siberl, and resides in Nebraska; Margaret, deceased, born Oct. 20, 1839, was the wife of C. Mowery; Mary, born Aug. 10, 1841, is the wife of Hugh Cook, and resides in Missouri; William, born June 26, 1843, married Miss Mary Moore, and after her death married the second time; he resides in Kansas; Theodore, born Nov. 20, 1845, married Miss Jane Gallion, and resides in this county; Emma, born Feb. 28. 1848, is the wife of Madison Hunt; Cynthia, born June 20, 1852, is the wife of Samuel Jackson.

May 11, 1870, Mr. Ellison's happy household was darkened by the death of his wife. With her husband she had been for many years a member of the Presbyterian Church, and her daily life bore witness to the sincerity and earnestness of her Christian faith. !She was beloved by a large circle of friends, and deeply mourned by her family and all who knew her. In politics, Mr. Ellison is a Republican, and has held several of the township offices, giving satisfaction to the people in the faithful discharge of his public duties.

(f\ ARK 8. ASH WORTH owns and occupies a finely cultivated farm of 120 acres on section 24, in North Okaw Township, where he ranks as a first-class agriculturist, and beside manipulating the soil to profit and advantage, is giving much attention to the raising of graded stock. Mr. Ashworth is a native of Mercer County, Va., born March I, 1838, and is the sixth in a fanny of twelve children, the offspring of Cornelius C. and Hannah (Mooney) Ashworth, also natives of the old Dominion. Cornelius Ashworth followed farming the greater part of his life, to which he had been reared by his father, Samuel. The latter in daily manhood married Miss Wandusen, and it is supposed that both were also natives of Virginia.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

The subject of this sketch remained a member of his father's household until twenty-one years of age. His early education was exceedingly limited, but he felt the necessity of more learning, and accordingly set about the study of useful books and also preparing himself to give instructions to others. In due time he had succeeded admirably and attended the first school in what is now the city of Mattoon. He followed the profession of a teacher for nine years in this county, and then, desirous of establishing a permanent home, abandoned teaching and purchased the land which constitutes his present homestead. He was married Oct. 20, 1870, to Miss Ann M., third and youngest child of John and Maria (Mallinson) Thornton, natives of England, who emigrated to the United States and settled in Illinois during the pioneer days. Mrs. Ashworth was born in Cook County, Nov. 21, 1844. Her father owned a small piece of land, but was mainly engaged as a cabinet-maker and a carpenter.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Ashworth located on the land which they now occupy, and Mr. A. in course of time erected a neat frame residence in place of the humble dwelling in which they first set up housekeeping. He was successful in his farming operations, and has accumulated a fair competency. The household circle was completed by the birth of six children, all living, and named respectively, Elmer, Bertie, Ralph, Leila, Elora and George. All are at home vith their parents, and with them are members in good standing of the Methodist Ei)iscopai Chnrch, in which Mr. Ashwortli has served as Trustee, and has been a liberal and cheerful contributor to its support.

Politically he has been identified with the Democratic party since exercising the right of suffrage, and has held the various local offices, being Town Clerk five years, Assessor four years. Collector two years, and representing the township in the County Board of Supervisors. The farm stock, which comprises one of the most attractive features of the homestead, consists of thoroughbred English draft horses, full-blooded Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs, among which Mr. Ashworth is able to exhibit some fine specimens.

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.