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 ALPH DOLLAR, proprietor of 300 acres of
valuable land on section 6, East Oakland
Township, has been connected with the agricultural interests of that locality since
early manhood, and has been a member of the community since first being introduced to life and its
responsibilities, as he was born in this township,
Feb. 15, 1861. Our subject is of excellent Scotch
ancestry, being the son of John and Sarah (Hunt)
Dollar, the former born in Scotland, July 1, 1807,
and the latter a native of Ohio, born in Clarke
County, Aug. 19, 1822. Both parents were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and
carried out in their daily lives the principles of the
religion which they professed. John Dollar emigrated from his native country in 1833, and sojourned in Northern Illinois until 1840. After a brief time spent in Chicago he came to this county, arriving here on the 4th of July, that same year, and located on eighty acres of land on section 2, East Oakland Township. He was a man of great industry, and while engaged in the improvement of his farm, occupied his spare time in ditching for the neighbors around him. By close economy he managed to save something each year, and in time became one of the wealthiest men in the eastern part of Coles County. His honesty and integrity secured him hosts of friends, and no man was more straightforward in his business transactions. As time progressed he accumulated more land, and engaged largely in stock-raising. After becoming a naturalized citizen he identified him- self with the Republican party, and during the war sympathized warmly with the Union cause. After building up a good record as a man and citizen, he was gathered to his fathers at an advanced age, his death taking place Jan. 16, 1883. The mother of our subject was the daughter of James D. and Nancy (Jones) Hunt, of Clarke County, Ohio, and became the wife of John Dollar on the 8th of April, 1847, their wedding taking place in this county. She had been previously married to Nicholas Curtis, in February, 1840, and Mr. C. died four years later, on the 2d of June, 1844. He was born in 1818, and followed farming all his life. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis had three children Charles, Ophelia and Samantha. The three sisters and the brother of our subject were Margaret, Nancy, Sarah and James B. The latter died in childhood. Ralph, of our sketch, was married three days after reaching his twenty-fifth year, to Miss Josie M. Harmon, Feb. 18, 1886. Mrs. D. was born in Clermont County, Ohio, June 13, 1862, and is the daughter of Arthur and Rebecca (Gregg) Harmon, who are now living in this township. They have one child, John Arthur. Mr. Dollar is Republican in politics, like his father before him, and is in all respects the peaceable, law-abiding, industrious and enterprising citizen who, like his compeers, has followed in the footsteps of the pioneer fathers and mothers, and carried on the work which they began half a century ago. But for their labors, the great State of Illinois would not have attained its present importance, and it is gratifying to observe how well the sons of the old settlers are carrying the mantle which descended upon them from their fathers. |
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