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 OHN CHILDRESS, a retired farmer and resident of the village of Ashmore, is numbered among the honored pioneers of this State, to which he came from Alabama, in 1831, with his parents. They located on the State line between Indiana and Illinois, and a few years later came to this county, where our subject has since remained. He has watched with intense interest the development and progress of the Prairie State, and by his industry and enterprise has contributed his full quota toward the development of its agricultural resources. Mr. Childress was born in Alabama, Nov. 10, 1821, and is the son of Richard and Rebecca (White) Childress, the father a native of Alabama and the mother born in Tennessee, in 1801. Richard Childress. who was a member of the Christian Church, departed this life at the homestead in Coles County, Ill., in 1867. The mother died in Ashmore, Sept. 2. 1887. Her second husband was James D. White, who died in Ashmore, Aug. 10, 1887. John Childress was the eldest of his father’s family, and was reared to farming pursuits, receiving a limited education. He remained under the home roof until reaching manhood, and was first married to Miss Catherine Hogue, a native of Edgar County, Ill., and born the same year as her husband, 1821. She departed this life at the home of her husband in Ashmore, this county, March 14, 1884. after having become the mother of a large family of children, five of whom are deceased. Their names are as follows: Newton, James M., Margaret, Isaac, Emma, William, Annie, Charles F., Martha, Addie, Mary, Catherine and John. For his second wife, Mr. Childress married Mrs. Lucinda (Medley) Chisler, July 15, 1884. This lady was born in Knox County, Ind., Feb. 11, 1834, and is the daughter of Joseph and Rachel (Steward) Medley, natives of Kentucky. Joseph Medley was born in 1781, and died Sept. 14, 1872, or 1873. He followed farming the greater part of his life, and was a man of excellent education, holding a good position in his community, and being prominently connected with the Baptist Church. The wife and mother, a lady of much personal beauty, was born in 1783, and died of consumption, March 15, 1854, at her home in Vigo County, Ind. She also was a member of the Baptist Church. The seven children of the parental household were Cynthia A., Samuel, John, George W., Sarah, Martha and Lucinda. Mr. Medley was married the second time, to a widow by the name of Waldon, and they had one son, James. This lady died about twenty-nine years ago. The first husband of Mrs. Childress, Frederick Chisler by name, was a native of Pennsylvania, bora in 1824, and a prominent man in his township, where he held its various offices. He came to this State in I860, taking up his residence in Clark County, where he remained until his death. They were the parents of two children Joseph, who is farming in Clark County, and Charles N., pursuing the same occupation in this county. The latter married Miss Mary Morton, and they have three children. Mrs. Childress adopted three children, one at the age of seven years, one five years, and one she took when nine days old. The two boys are now married, and the girl, Minnie Berry, remains with her. Mr. and Mrs. Childress are members of the Christian Church, in which our subject has served as an Elder for many years. He has held the various offices of his township, and in all respects has been one of its most enterprising and reliable citizens. He has been the encourager and supporter of every enterprise calculated to benefit his fellow-citizens, and has been closely identified with the business and agricultural interests of this section since first coming here. His natural abilities qualified him early in life to assume grave responsibilities, and for seven years he was engaged as a stock-dealer in the interests of Jacob D. Early, of Terre Haute, Ind., handling large sums of money, and one year paid out $80,000. The property of Mr. Childress includes 700 acres of some of the finest land in Coles County. The farm buildings are of the best quality, and conveniently arranged for the storing of grain and the shelter of stock. The fences and machinery are kept in good repair, and the whole premises indicate the supervision of the intelligent and progressive agriculturist. Mr. Childress also owns his town residence, which is pleasantly located, and where he is surrounded by all the comforts of life, and enjoys in a marked degree the esteem of his fellow-townsmen. |
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