by David McKelvey | Jan 18, 2014 | Biographies
Andrew Barbeau was the son of an early French settler, and grew up in Prairie du Rocher. He became a prosperous citizen and as one of his ventures, built a mill on the creek south of the village in 1824. Barbeau’s mill was widely known, and the hollow leading...
by David McKelvey | Jan 18, 2014 | Biographies
Alexander Barber came from Ohio to Randolph County in 1805. He was a capable and energetic man with a particular skill in building mills. For many years, his services were sought after, by those wishing to establish an industry of this type. After construction of...
by David McKelvey | Jan 18, 2014 | Biographies
William Barnett had engaged in the Indian campaigns of 1811-1813. When they ended, William was on his way to his father’s home, within two mile of his destination, when he drowned in Plum Creek.
by David McKelvey | Jan 18, 2014 | Biographies
Christian Beare did not do anything in particular to attract attention to himself. He might easily have passed on and received no mention had he not been the first native of Switzerland to take up residence in Randolph County, arriving here in 1832.
by David McKelvey | Jan 18, 2014 | Biographies
In the late 1860’s, an iron foundry was established at Chester by a stock company. In 1869, it was leased to Joseph Aronowski, who bought it in 1873. this foundry made many furnaces, railings, and various parts of machinery. Many old castings carry its...
by David McKelvey | Jan 18, 2014 | Biographies
Seth Allen was an early resident on the site of the present city of Chester. We find him there in 1829, when he began operating a cooperage shop. Flour mills and slaughterhouses required the services of coopers, since most of their products were shipped in barrels....
by Carolyn Whitaker | Jan 18, 2014 | Biographies
Captain William M. Adair was born in Randolph County, Illinois, January 6, 1837. The family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His grandfather came to America from North Ireland, and settled in South Carolina, and there his son William was born in 1781. The latter grew to...
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