he sold at a fair price. He bought land near Shel-
don, 111., where he carried on agricultural pursuits
for some three years and then rented the old
homestead for some time, after which he sold
his proi)erty near Sheldon and purchased the
homestead in 1887. He has a valuable farm of
one hundred and sixty acres, all fertile and arable
land. It is located three miles from Clifton and
the same distance from Ashkum. It is a most de-
sirable piece of property and one of the best in the
county. He started to make his way in the world
without capital and has by his own labor and en-
terprise acquired a good property and home and a
comfortable competence. He is one of the thrifty
and well-to-do farmers of the county and has made
many friends during his long residence in this
section. He is considered a man of integrity and
upright character and is widel}' and favorably
known.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
783
On the 22d of January, 1880, Mr. Brown was
united in marriage with Miss Clarissa M. White,
the ceremony being performed in this county.
Mrs. Brown is a native of England and grew to
womanhood and was educated in Illinois. She is
a daughter of Thomas White, now deceased. Four
children of this worthy couple are now living:
.lolin David, Clifford Thomas, Charles Le Roy and
Raymond. They also lost one daughter, Mary
Mabel, who died at the age of four years.
Mr. Brown was formerly- identified with the Re-
publican party but of recent years has been an
advocate of the Democracy. He has never asked
for otlicial positions nor has he accepted the same,
preferring to give his sole attention to his business.
He is an interested friend of education, and ever
does all in his power to advance the best interests
and insure the prosperity of the community in
which he dwells. His duties of citizenship are al-
ways faithfully discharged, and to every measure
calciilateil to benefit the people, either socially,
morally or politically, he lends his active su|)port.
•^^
r^ ASIL F. COILOMB, a well-known black-
Lx smith of Clifton, w.is born in L'Eiable, Ash-
,/^^ J kum Township, Iroquois County, on the
'^^ 15th of August, 1862. His grandfather,
Xavia Coulomb, was a ship-builder b}' trade, and
was drowned in the St. Lawrence River, when the
father of our subject was a 3"oung child. After
the death of the grandfather, his widow and her
son removed to Kankakee, living in the vicinit\'
of L'Eiable until his mother's death. The father
of our subject, Frank Coulomb, was twice married.
Miss Basse being his first wife, and unto them two
children, Frank and Pomilia, were born. The
mother of these children died in tlie spring of
1859, and in 1861 Mr. Coulomb married Miss
Mary Durand, a native of St. John 's. New Bruns-
wick. Two children graced this union, our sub-
ject and a daughter, Nellie H. The parents emi-
grated to the United States about the year 1858,
locating in Kankakee, 111., where they became ac-
quainted and were married. The father of the
lady, Peter Durand, was a thrifty farmer and
accumulated consider.able property. His death oc-
curred in L'Erable in the ye&v 1888, he having
attained the three-score and ten years allotted to
man. His wife departed this life some ten years
previously. After a residence of about a year in
Kankakee, the father of our subject removed to
L'Erable, where he arrived in the spring of 1861.
For about two years, he carried on a blacksmith
shop, and in the fall of 1863 went to Danville,
where, on the 9tli of August, 1864, he met his
death in a sawmill. After her husband's death,
Mrs. Coulomb returned to L'Erable, where she
reared and educated her children. In 1870, she
was again married, becoming the wife of Isaac
Jarvis. Two daughters, (Teorgia and Edwardina,
have been born of their union. Mrs. Jarvis is still
living on a farm near L'Erable.
Basil F. Coulomb, whose name heads this record,
received a good common-school education, but
was obliged to enter upon the serious duties of
life at an eavly age. This prevented him pursuing
a collegiate course. He learned the blacksmith
and wagon-maker's trade when a lad and carried
on the dual business at L'Erable for about three
years. On (he expiration of this period, he sold
his shop and removed to Clifton, arriving here in
1886. He at once proceeded to establish a smithy
and wagon factor^', and now has one of the best-
appointed shops to be found in an}- country town
in Illinois. His industry and frugality have been
rewarded with signal success, and he has built up
an excellent trade, is the possessor of a pleasant
home and five lots in Clifton.
On the 2d of February, 1884, Mr. Coulomb led
to the marriage altar Miss Maiy D. Cailteux,
daughter of Francis and Mary (Elusett) Cailteux.
Unto this worthy' couple has been born a family
of four children: Edna, Frank, William and Her-
man.
Mr. Coulomb is a prominent citizen of the com-
munity. He is now serving the second term as a
member of the Village Board of Trustees and has
given good satisfaction to all concerned in the
discharge of his oflicial duties. In j)olitics, he is
not affiliated with any party, being independent,
as he prefers to cast his ballot for the one who in
784
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his estimation is best fitted for the position. Mr.
and Mrs. Coulomb are members of the Catholic
Church, and are much esteemed citizens of this
community.
: - t-v-*-^
' BRAM HOGLE, one of the honored pio-
neers of the county, and a prominent and
highly respected citizen, who is now liv-
f^y ing a retired life on his farm on section
12j Concord Township, where he owns one hun-
dred and fifty acres of land, is a native of Ohio.
He was born in Coshocton County, June 4, 1831,
and is a son of Michael and Rebecca (Noble)
Hogle. His paternal grandparents were natives of
Holland, and crossed the broad Atlantic to Amer-
ica about 1780. The father of our subject was
born in Virginia in 1781. He was drafted for
the War of 1812, but the war was over before he
began service. He was twice married, the mother
of our subject being his second wife. After his
first union he emigrated to Ohio in 1820. There
was a large family of diildren by that marriage.
In 1825, he was joined in wedlock with Mrs. Re-
becca (Noble) Cresap. She was born in Virginia,
in 1796, and with her parents removed to Coshoc-
ton County, Ohio, in childhood. B3' her first mar-
riage she had one child, who long since died.
The subject of this sketch is the third in order
of birth in a famil}- of five children, but one died
in infancy, and the sister, Luna, died at the age of
nineteen. The three sons grew to manhood and
were married, but Thomas L. died in Arkansas, and
his family are all deceased. Henry is now en-
gaged in farming in Vermilion Count}', 111.
Abram Hogle was a lad of fifteen years, when
with his parents he came to this county, locating
on the farm which is now his home. This was in
the spring of 1846. His father purchased four
hundred acres of land, upon which was a log cabin,
which still stands, one of the few landmarks of
pioneer days yet remaining. He at once began
making preparations to build a more comfortable
residence, but in June of the same year, he was
taken ill and died, leaving a widow and four chil-
dren. Abram immediately took charge of the
home farm, for his older brother began work else-
where, and in two years the latter had started
in life on his own account. It was tlie father's
intention to give his children good educational
advantages, but his death changed all his plans.
Our subject made the most of the opportunities
furnished by the district schools, but his home du-
ties prevented him entering college; however, by
subsequent reading, study and observation, he has
made himself a well-informed man. He succeeded
in getting sufficient education to begin teaching
at the age of twenty-one, and was thus employed
in Indiana and Illinois.
On tlie 13th of May, 1854, Mr. Hogle wedded
Miss Marj- Strickler, who was born in Page County,
Va., in the Shenandoah Valley, May 19, 1832, and
is a daughter of Henry D. and Catherine (Bru-
baker) Strickler. At the age of three years, she
was brought to this county by her parents, who
spent their remaining lives in Concord Township.
They lived together as man and wife for nearly
sixty-three years, and were laid to rest side by side
in Liberty Cemetery. The parents of Mr. Hogle
were also there buried. His mother resided with
him until her death, which occurred April 23,
1881. Had she lived three days longer, she would
have been eightj'-five years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Hogle began their domestic life on
the farm where they now reside, and the home has
been blessed by a family of seven children: Henry
S., who was born August 29, 1855, is now married,
follows farming in Concord Township, and has
also taught school several terms; Herbert N., born
November 15, 1856, aids in the operation of the
home farm; Rebecca N., born Deeember 19, 1858,
died on the 16th of August, 1860; Carrie, born
February 12, 1860, was the wife of Benjamin Win-
gard, a resident of Concord Township, and died
September 23, 1892; Flora, born November 23,
1865, is the wife of Alfred Yeagley, a resident of
Fowler, Ind.; Nellie, born March 1, 1867, lived
only a few hours; and Mina J., born December 4,
1868, died February 8, 1883.
In early life, Mr. Ilogle was a Wliig, and cast his
first Presidential vote for Winfleld Scott in 1852.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In 1856, he supported Fremont, and has since been
a stalwart Republican. His fellow-townsmen, ap-
preciating his worth and ability, have frequentl}'
called upon him to serve in public positions of
honor and trust. For twent3 - eight consecutive
years ho served as School Director, and then re-
fused to hold the office for the three succeeding
years, when his neighbors and friends so insisted
upon hira taking the position again that he served
for another four years. For three years he was
Justice of the Peace, and during that time there
was only one appeal taken, and his decision was
sustained in that instance. He served contin-
uously as Commissioner for nine years, and has
held the office altogether for fifteen years. For
three years he was .Supervisor of Concord Town-
ship, although the township is Democratic. He
was also elected Township Clerk, but would not
serve. His personal popularity and the high re-
gard in which he is held are attested by his fre-
quent election to public office. To those who know
him it is needless to .say that his duties were ever
promptly' and faithfully performed.
Mr. Hogle has been a great reader all his life,
and is especially well informed on the subject of
history. When thirty j'ears of age he was united
with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in
younger years was a prominent worker in church
and .Sunday-school. His life has been an honor-
able and upright one. True to every trust reposed
in him, he has the confidence and good-will of all,
and no man in the community is held in higher
regard than the pioneer and valued citizen, Abram
Hosle.
m^umj^s
ll^pRANKLIN COrOHENOUR, a representa-
iIt!!^'; tive farmer and stock-raiser, resides on
/1\ section 27, Concord Township. He owns
two farms of one hundred and twenty acres
each, and twenty-one acres of timber land, and his
possessions have been acquired throughout by his
own well-directed efforts. His entire life has been
spent in this county. He was born on his father's
farm in Concord Townshij), near where he now
lives, December 21, 1846, and is one of thirteen
children, eleven of whom grew to manhood and
womanhood, while seven are still living, and, with
one excei)tion, all are residents of this count}'.
Tlie i)arents were Abram and Elizabeth Ann (Will-
iams) Coughenour. a sketch of Avhom appears else-
where in this work. His father is still living and
is one of the honored pioneers of this community.
Franklin Congheuour, whose name heads this
record, was reared on a farm less than half a mile
from his present home. His education was ac-
quired in the district schools of the neighborhood,
which he attended through the winter months,
while in the summer season he worked liard upon
the farm, having labored in the fields since he was
old enough to handle the plow. He began to earn
his own liveliliood on attaining his majority, and
ere his marriage had purchased and made a small
payment upon one hundred and twenty acres of
land, his present farm.
On the 28th of March, 1873, I\Ir. Coughenour
was joined in wedlock with Miss Ellen Eastburn,
daughter of Jesse R. and Tabitlia (Critchfield) East-
burn, boi-n September 26, 1852, and who has spent
her entire life in Concord Township. They began
their domestic life upon this farm in the little log
cabin, which is still standing. There they lived
for about nine years, when their home was re-
placed b}' a more commodious and modern resi-
dence. In 1887, a good barn was built, other im-
provements have been made, and the land is under
a iiigh state of cultivation. In 1891, a second
purchase of one hundred and twenty acres was
made, and now a good farm of two hundred and
forty acres yields a golden tribute to the owner.
The iiorne has been blessed by the presence of
eight children, one of whom died in infancy. In
order ot birth they are as follows: Lena Etta,
born on tiie lOth of January, 1873; Jesse R., born
on the 3d of February, 1875; Franklin, born April
5, 1877; Margaret, born April 14, 1879; Thomas
Abram, born December 11, 1881; Ro}', born March
15, 1885; and Delia May, born August 29, 1886.
Mr. Coughenour exercises his right of franchise
in tlie support of the Democratic part}-, and his
first vote was cast in 1872 for Horace Greeley. He
has filled the office of School Director for a num-
786
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ber of years and was also Trustee for a few years.
He is a warm supporter of the public-school sys-
tem and expects to furnish his children witli good
educational advantages. For twenty-two years he
lias held membership with the Odd Fellows, be-
longing to River Lodge No. 58G, I. O. O. F., of
Iroquois. Mr. Coughenour is a representative of
an honored pioneer family of this count}', but his
own sterling worth is what has won him the high
regard in which he is held. He is a valued
citizen and an enterprising and progressive farmer,
and his well-spent life has secured to him the
esteem and confidence of all with whom business
or social relations have lirought him in contact.
\il AMES HEPWORTH is a prominent farmer
residing on section 32, Chebanse Township-
He was born in Lincolnshire, England, on
the 20th of April, 1825, and is a son of
Thomas and Maria (James) Hepworth, both natives
of the same shire. They reared their family and
spent their entire lives in England. .Tames Ilep-
worlh is the elder of the two brothers. The
younger, John Hepworth, is a retired farmer of
Kane County, 111.
Our subject grew to maturity in Lincolnshire
with limited school advantages, and is almost
wholly self-educated. When a young man he em-
igrated to the LTnited States, taking passage in a
sailing-vessel, the "James Wright," at Liverpool.
For six weeks and three daj'S he was upon the
broad Atlantic, and arrived in New York City in
August, 1850. From there he went to L'tica, N.
Y., where he obtained work in a brick-yard and
there continued until the sijringof 1853. He then
went West to Chicago, which was at that time a
small village and veritable mud hole. There he
remained for .about four months, working for the
Northwestern Railroad, and then, going to Geneva,
he engaged in teaming for the next thirteen years,
most of that time working for himself. He also
farmed a little near that place. In February, 1866,
he removed to Iroquois County and bought a tract
of raw prairie land, where he has since resided.
During the first years he experienced many hard-
ships and privations, and in addition the weather
was very unfavorable and the crops very light.
However, undaunted by these misfortunes, he ever
pushed forward with hope and energj- and well
merits the success which has crowned the efforts of
years. After the year 1869, his land yielded abund-
ant harvests in return for the care and cultivation
bestowed upon it, and Mr. Hepworth was soon on
the road to prosperity. He greatly improved his
place and built a large, substantial residence upon
it, and later added forty acres to his original farm,
now being the owner of one hundred and twenty
acres of fertile and valu.ableland. He commenced
life in America with no capital except a good con-
stitution, and has by his own labor, enterprise and
industry and the assistance of his estimable wife,
accumulated a good property and income.
In Utica, N. Y.,on the 29th of August, 1850, a
wedding ceremony united the destinies of James
Hepworth and Elizabeth Piatt. The lady, like her
husband, was born in Lincolnshire, England, and
is a daughter of Thomas Piatt, who was one of the
first settlers of Will County, 111. There are four
children bv this union: George is married and is a
farmer in Chebanse Township: Sarah is the wife of
Burt Miller, who also carries on farming in the
same township; Mattie, now at home, is a j'oung
lad}' of good education and has been a teacher in
this count}'; and Lizzie, who was for eight years a
teacher, is now the wife of Peter Nelson, an .agri-
culturist of Iroquois County.
Mr. Hepworth cast his first ballot, in the Presi
dential election of 1860, for Abraham Lincoln, and
since that time has ever been a warm supporter of
the principles and nominees of the Republican
party. He has never desired official positions but
has ever attended strictly to his business affairs.
For many years he has been a member of the
School Board, .and h.as always taken an active part
in the advancement of educational interests. Our
subject and his wife are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. For nearly two-score years, he
has been identified with the progress of this State
and county. Great credit is due him in company
with the other hardy pioneers who endured priva-
tions and hardships and established homes in the
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
787
wilderness. They were the forerunners of prosper-
ity, education and civilization, and well deserve to
be chronicled as such, that all may read of their
lives, which have done so much for the opening
and development of tiic country.
Ip^ AMl'EL BROCK, a leading and inttuential
^^^ resident of Clifton, owns and operates a
'va^J^ farm of two hundred acres, although he
makes his home in the village. He h.as
lived iu tliis county' for a period of twenty-two
years, and his residence in this State dates from
18.^4. His life record is as follow?. His birth oc-
curred on the 7th of December, 1824, in Epwortli,
Lincolnshire, England. He is the son of William
and Catherine (Slandring) Brock. Their famil}-
numbered seven children, three sons and four
daughters. Five of these are now living, tiie two
eldest ones of the famil}- having died in fhigland.
Those surviving are Judith, Ann, Samuel, Hannah
and John T. Three of the children have located
in America. Ann crossed the Atlantic in 1852,
and two 3'ears later was followed by her brothers,
Samuel and John. They settled in AVill County,
111., the brothers working on a farm near Plain-
field.
He whose name heads this sketch received a
good common-school education, and upon arriving
at man's estate was united in marriage with Miss
Sarah Christina Brock, daughter of William and
Elizabeth (JIaudson) Brock. The two families,
though bearing the same name, were not related.
]Mr. and Mrs. Brock became the parents of seven chil-
dren, six of them being sons: William F. was born
June 12, 18.');"), and married .Miss Sarah Simrcl, of
Clifton, by whom he has one child, Edgar. He is
a farmer by occupation, and operates a tract of
land three miles from Clifton. George M., who
was born April 22, 1857, married ]\Iiss Harriet
Leggott, who is the daughter of Edward and Ann
(Piatt) Leggott. They are the parents of three
children, Arthur, (irace and Carrie, and make
their home in Cliflon. Charles C. was born on the
11th of November, 1859. Alfred L., born April
II), 1861, wedded Miss Anna Carron, and makes
his home in Clifton. The ladj- is the daughter of
Alfonso Carron. Richard IL, born Maj- 9, 1863,
married Miss JNIaiy Louise \'andervort, and they
too reside in Clifton. One child, Chauncey, graces
their union. Edith E., whose birth occurred on
the 17th of March, 1869, still resides under the
parental roof. Edgar T.,born December 14, 1870,
died on the 12th of April, 1879.
Mr. Brock engaged in agricultural pursuits for a
period of about sixteen jears in Will County, and
then changed his place of residence. It was in
1870 that he removed with his family to Iroquois
Count)'. He settled upon a farm comprising
eighty acres, which was situated three rriiles to the
northwest of Clifton, and thereon made his home
for eighteen years. In March, 1888, he came to
the village, but has not abandoned his farming in-
terests, still operating his farm, which comprises
within its boundaries two hundred acres. He-is a
good farmer, progressive and practical, and the
neat appearance of the place indicates his indus-
trious nature. On every hand can be seen the evi-
dences of the enterprise and supervision of the
owner, and his farm is a model one. He has over-
come all obstacles placed In his pathway in a man-
ner worthy of emulation, and well deserves the
success which he has achieved. Mr. Brock exer-
cises his right of franchise in favor of the Repub-
lican party, and is a lo3'al citizen of his adopted
country.
•'•^^•r-
.^
ATRICK COLLINS is a prominent fai-mer
of ililk's (irove Township, living on sec-
tion 27. His birth occurred in Dublin,
Ireland, in May, 1820. He was a son of
Thomas Collins, who was born and reared in the
same part of the Emerald Isle and followed the oc-
cupation of fanning. He married Alice Nugent
and they became the parents of five children, who
were born in that countr}-. The father was a mem-
ber of the militia and lived to the age of seventy-
j four iu his native land, his death occurring in 1852.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
That year the family emigrated to America and
went to Paris Hill, Oneida County, N. Y. The
mother diod at the home of our subject in Iroquois
County, when over seventy years of age. The fam-
ily is a long-lived race, her mother having readied
the advanced age of ninety years, at which time
she often walked two miles. The family have all
been faithful members of the Catholic Church. In
order of birth our subject is the eldest in his fa-
ther's family. Andrew is a farmer of Milk's Grove
Township; Thomas is a hotel-keeper at S|)ringlield,
III; Am}' and Alice are botli deceased.
Tlie boyhood days of our subject were passed on
a farm in Ireland, and his educational privileges
were of a limited order. At the age of twelve, he
was obliged to commence work, and remained at
home until coming to America in 1850. He sailed
from Dublin to Liverpool and there took passage
in a vessel bound for New York City. The voy-
age was of two weeks' duration. He went to Paris
Hill, N. Y., where he worked for eight j-ears upon
a farm in that neighborhood at $12 per month.
During the winter season he was engaged in
chopping wood. In 1858, he came Westward to
Illinois and carried on farming in Wilmington,
Will County, for some years. The year 1866 wit-
nessed his arrival in Iroquois County, at which
time he purchased forty acres of land on section 2.
The country was wild and but few houses were to
be seen on the broad prairie. His land was en-
tirely uncultivated and he turned the first sod
upon the place. He was industrious, enterprising
and frugal, overcoming the difficulties and priva-
tions of those early years with determination and
fortitude. His efforts were blessed with success,
and from time to time as his resources increased
he added to his original farm until he had two
hundred and forty acres in all. In 1883, he sold
that property and purchased his present fine farm
of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable
and well-tilled land, which yields an abundant har-
vest for the care and cultivation bestowed upon it
by the owner. When Mr. Collins landed in Amer-
ica he had but ten shillings in English money, and
has worked honestly and faithfully to secure a
livelihood and competence. He is now well-to-do