Jacob Light "J.L." RARDIN  From "The History of Coles County, Illinois 1879", page 628-629
Morgan Township

J.L. RARDIN, farmer and Justice of the Peace; P.O. Rardin; one of the early settlers of Morgan Tp.; born in the State of Indiana Dec. 12, 1814; his parents removed to Campbell County, Ky., when he was 4 years of age, where he was engaged in clearing land and farming, with the exception of five years in Ohio, until 28 years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Illinois, and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp., in the fall of 1842, upon the place where he has since continued to live during a period of nearly thirty-seven years; he first entered eighty acres of prairie land, which is now a part of his home farm, and eighty acres of timber upon the Embarrass River; at the time of his locating here, his capital consisted of one team and wagon, his provisions for the winter and $25 in money; his first log house and stable, which he built in 1842, was occupied by him until about the year 1853, when he erected his present house and, a few years later, built a frame barn; he now owns in his home farm 160 acres and upward of 300 acres in other parts of the township. Mr. RARDIN has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for upward of twenty years; of school and township offices, he has had his share, having held the offices of Supervisor, School Trustee and School Director several terms, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for upward of thirty years in succession. He married Feb. 1, 1838, to Sarah RANKIN; she was born in Ohio Aug. 7, 1815; she died May 3, 1848, leaving two children now living, viz., David (born Jan. 27, 1839), Nancy (born Sept. 29, 1841). His marriage with Mary Ann SOUSLEY was celebrated March 9, 1854; she was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Aug. 27, 1829; they have three children now living by this union, viz., George (born March 16, 1860), Ellen (March 18, 1862), Lucy (Aug. 18, 1873). Mr. RARDIN located here when wolves were plenty, and to protect the sheep they built close pens at the side of the house, in which the sheep were nightly driven; game was also abundant, and to obtain a quail, wild turkeys, prairie chickens, wild geese, ducks or deer was the work of a few minutes. His milling was a work of four days' labor, driving oxen to Danville, Montezuma or Terre Haute, and sometimes he was obliged to wait from two to three days to get his grist ground.

John H. Rardin  - From "The History of Coles County, Illinois 1879", page 629 Morgan Township
JOHN H. RARDIN, farmer; P. O. Rardin; one of the early pioneers of Morgan Tp.; born in the State of Indiana, Feb. 24, 1818; he removed with his parents when 3 months old to Campbell Co., Ky., where he lived until 25 years of age where he was engaged in farming until he emigrated to Illinois and located in what is now known as Morgan Tp. in the fall of 1842, living within one miles of his present place since that date, a period of nearly thirty-seven years; at the time of locating here, his capital consisted of one team, without a dollar in money; he worked by the day to pay for his first dwelling, which was an old log house; he manufactured his first bedstead by boring a hole in one of the end and side logs, running a pole from each and entering a post at either end; the following year, he went back to Kentucky, where he worked as farm laborer one season, at $9 per month, in which way he obtained means to enter forty acres of land, and upon which he commenced his first farming; he has since disposed of the above, but now owns in his home farm, 280 acres, and 160 acres in Oakland Tp., all of the above being accumulated by his own hard labor, energy and industry; although in his 61st year, and having suffered ail the hardships and exposure of frontier life, he is now in possession of all his faculties, and daily attends to the care of his stock, and such other duties as his farm requires. He married March 6, 1845, to Melinda CLARK; she was born in Kentucky Oct. 25, 1824; they have three children now living by this union, viz., Mary Ann, born Feb. 13, 1846, now Mrs. Porter JOHNSON; Samuel RARDIN, born Jan. 2, 1850, now merchant and Postmaster at Rardin; James K., born June 28, 1851, now practicing law at Charleston; Mrs. RARDIN died March 13, 1857. His marriage with Rebecca HURST was celebrated in the spring of 1859; she was born in Edgar Co., Ill., April 17, 1825; she died April 17, 1870, leaving one child, now living -Malinda J., born May 15, 1862. He married for his third wife Mrs. Nancy CAMPBELL, Dec. 17, 1873; she was born in Jefferson Co., Ind., Jan. 30, 1830; she was the daughter of John MC CRORY, one of the early pioneers of Clark Co., Ill., who located in Clark Co. in 1838; they have one child by this union - John H. RARDIN, born Feb. 3, 1875.

John Hull Rardin, son of Samuel & Catherine Light Rardin From "Portrait and Biographical Album of Coles County, Illinois 1887", pages 538-539 --- 
JOHN HALL (sic) RARDIN, a retired farmer of Morgan Township, and residing in the town which bears his name, is a prominent citizen of Coles County, and a descendant of one of the pioneer families of Illinois. He was born Feb. 24, 1818, and is the son of Samuel and Catherine (LIGHT) RARDIN. Samuel RARDIN was born in Pennsylvania, Nov. 16, 1790, and was the son of John and M. (HULL) RARDIN, the former a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. The mother of our subject was the daughter of Jacob and Catherine LIGHT, and was born in Clermont County, Ohio, Dec. 5, 1790. Of her union with Samuel RARDIN there were born twelve children, eight of whom are now living; Jacob, John, Frank and Nancy are residents of Morgan Township, this county, and the others have been attracted by business interests to different places in Missouri and Kansas.  While John Hall (sic) RARDIN was still an infant, his father settled in Kentucky, remaining there with his family until their removal to Coles County in 1842. The death of his parents occurred soon after their arrival here; the father dying in July, 1843, while John was away from home in Kentucky, and the mother two years later in 1845. Our subject in 1844 purchased forty-four acres of land and was married March 6, 1845 to Miss Melinda CLARK, of Coles County. Mrs. RARDIN was the daughter of Benjamin and Sarah (HAMMONDS) CLARK, natives of Kentucky, whence they removed to Illinois in 1831, and were among the earliest settlers of this county. They located in what afterward became Morgan Township, and here passed the remainder of their lives. There were eight children in Mr. CLARK's family at the time of his daughter's marriage, all of whom settled in Coles County, with the exception of his son, William, who is a resident of Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. RARDIN became the parents of six children, of whom the record is as follows; Mary Ann was born Feb. 13, 1846, became the wife of Porter JOHNSON, and is now deceased; Benjamin, born .June 28, 1848, died Aug. 17, 1860; Samuel was born Jan 2, 1850; James K., June 28, 1851; Willie W., born May 19, 1853, died Aug. 17, 1882; and Robert Bruce, born June 2, 1855, died Dec. 13, 1871. Mrs. Melinda (CLARK) RARDIN died March 13, 1857. The second wife of our subject was Mrs. Rebecca A. HURST. She was born April 17, 1825, and died April 17, 1865. Of this marriage there was one child, Melinda Jane, born May 15, 1862; she is now the wife of John CALHOUN, a resident of Morgan Township, and is the mother of two children. The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Dec. 18, 1873, was formerly Mrs. Nancy CAMPBELL. By this marriage one son was born, Feb. 3, 1875, and was named John Hall (sic), after his father.  Mr. RARDIN added to his first purchase of land until he now owns a fine farm of 440 acres. He has always been an active and influential citizen, and was the founder of the town which bears his name. Rardin has a population of 150 inhabitants, and contains a church, two stores, a doctor's office, a blacksmith and saddler's shop, and an elevator.  Mr. RARDIN has rented his farm and retired from the cares of active business, and is passing the closing years of a busy and useful life in the ease and enjoyment justly his due. Miss Alma CALLAHAN is a member of their family. She is the daughter of Frank and Mary Ellen CALLAHAN, and was born May 9, 1875. She has received a home in Mr. RARDIN's family since her father's death, her widowed mother resides in Clark County, Ill. Mrs. RARDIN is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and is actively interested in promoting its welfare. We place the portrait of Mr. RARDIN in this volume, among those of other representative men of Coles County.

Nancy Rardin daughter of Samuel and Catherine Light Rardin - Husband John H. JOHNSON  From "The History of Coles County, Illinois 1879, page  Morgan Township Biographical Sketches:
"JOHN H. JOHNSON (deceased), farmer and minister; born in Washington Co., Penn., Dec. 12, 1812, where he attended school in his youth - the last few years at the college at Waynesburg, Penn.; after which he was licensed as a minister of the C.P. Church, officiating as circuit preacher until his removal to Ohio, where he was settled as local preacher for three years, until his removal to Coles Co., Ill., about the year 1854, where he first settled as Pastor of the C.P. Church in Ashmore Tp. for several years; then in Morgan Tp. until 1868; at the above date, he emigrated to Jasper Co., Mo., where he purchased ninety acres of land, upon which he labored while not engaged in his ministerial labors, until the fall of 1877, when he removed to Carthage, Mo., after renting his farm, that he might have better facilities for the education of his daughter; here he lived until his decease, which occurred Jan. 31, 1878, after an illness of ten days; his remains were brought back to Coles Co., Ill., and buried in the beautiful cemetery near St. Omer, Ashmore Tp., by the side of his first wife, to whom he was married in Pennsylvania; her maiden name was Lucinda Hamson; she emigrated to Illinois with him, and died during his ministerial labors in Ashmore Tp; his marriage with Nancy (RARDIN) GOLLADY was celebrated Feb. 13, 1856; she was a sister of John and Jacob L. RARDIN; born in Campbell Co., Ky., April 22, 1824, and emigrated with her parents, Samuel and Catharine RARDIN, to Morgan Tp. in the fall of 1842; her first marriage with George GOLLADY was celebrated April 22, 1852; he was born April 23, 1819, and emigrated from Virginia about the year 1836; and located in Morgan Tp., where he lived until his decease, which occurred Feb. 3, 1854; Mrs. JOHNSON has one daughter by her last marriage, viz., Teresa C., born in Coles Co., Ill., March 13, 1859; Mrs. JOHNSON, with her daughter, returned in the fall of 1878, and again located upon her farm in Morgan Tp., where she resided previous to her removal to Missouri.

Rebecca Rardin (Daughter of Samuel and Catherine Light Rardin) Descendant  From "The History of Coles County, Illinois 1879", page Morgan Township
JOHN G. SAILER, farmer; P. O. Rardin; born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Oct. 18, 1823, where he attended school and engaged in farming until 21 years of age, when he was drafted in the 2d Regt. of cavalry, where he served two years, when he received a furlough, subject to the call of the King, and, at the expiration of about four months, war being declared between Germany and Denmark, he was called into service and served during the war, which continued for a period of two years, at the close of which, the German rebellion breaking out, in which he served until the same was subdued, which was about twelve months; he then engaged in farming until 1853, when he emigrated to America, landing in New York Nov. 10, of the same year; he then went to Pennsylvania, where he worked upon a farm for six months, at $8 per month; he then went to Indiana, where he worked as farm laborer for two years, at $16 per month; he then located near Charleston, Coles Co., Ill., where he was employed by Jacob P. Decker eight months, when he removed to Morgan Tp. and located upon Sec. 9, in the spring of 1857, where he has since lived; he owns upward of one hundred acres, upon which he has good buildings; he erected his house in 1869. His marriage with Melissa GILLASPIE was celebrated March 18, 1857; she was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Jan. 19, 1838; they have two children now living by this union, viz., Rosa C., born Dec. 29, 1862; Mrs. SAILER was the older daughter of Augustus GILLASPIE, her mother being a sister of John H. and Jacob L. RARDIN, whose biography appear in this work; her parents were among the early pioneers of Coles Co., making the journey with teams from Ohio, in company of John H. and Jacob RARDIN, and locating in this township in the fall of 1842. Mr. SAILER has reared from childhood James E. ARCHER, who was born in Oakland Feb. 11, 1856; his father died when he was 9 months old, and Mr. SAILER has educated him and treated him as one of his own children since his adoption.

SAMUEL RARDIN  From "The History of Coles County, Illinois 1879,"page 628 Morgan Township
SAMUEL RARDIN, merchant and Postmaster, Rardin; born in Morgan Tp., Coles Co., Ill., Jan. 2, 1850, where he attended the common schools until 1872, when he entered the Westfield College at Westfield, Clark Co., Ill., which he attended during the years 1872 and 1873, when he returned home and assisted his father in farming until the year 1875, when he was appointed, under the administration of President Grant, as Postmaster at Rardin, which office he now holds, and which is the only post office in Morgan Tp.; upon receiving the above appointment, he erected a store, and purchased a stock of goods; he engaged in the merchandise trade, which business he has since successfully followed. He is the oldest son, now living of John H. RARDIN, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in Morgan Tp. in 1842, and whose biograpby appears in this work. He also owns forty acres of prairie land, upon which he has a residence, and which is rented.

From "Portrait and Biographical Album of Coles County, Illinois 1887, page 530-531
SAMUEL RARDIN. The essential facts in the history of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch, are mainly as follows: He is a native of Morgan Township, this country, his birth taking place on the farm of his father, John H. RARDIN, Jan. 2, 1850. The mother before her marriage, was Miss Malinda CLARK. The parents came to this state during the pioneer days, enduring bravely and cheerfully, with their compeers, the hardships and difficulties of life in a new country.  John H. RARDIN was born in Rising Sun, Ind., whence he was conveyed by his parents when about three months old, to Campbell County, Ky. He was the son of Samuel and Catherine (LIGHT) RARDIN, natives of Campbell County, Ky., where the father followed farming until about 1842, then coming to this State, located in Morgan Township, where he established a permanent home. The parental household included twelve children, eight now living.  The father of our subject was thrice married, his second wife being Miss Rebecca HURST, who became the mother of one child, a daughter Malinda, now the wife of J. CALHOUN, of Rardin. Mrs. Rebecca RARDIN died in 1870. The third wife was Miss Nancy CAMPBELL, who became the mother of one son, John H., Jr. The children of the first marriage were, Mary Ann, Benjamin, Samuel, James K., William W. and Robert B. The father is a retired farmer.  Samuel RARDIN spent his childhood and youth mostly on the homestead, and in attendance at the district schools. His plans for the future included the establishment of a home and family ties of his own, and he was married in the spring of 1887, to Miss Lucy RYAN, of 'Clark County, Ill. She is the daughter of Louis and Polly (MCCRORY) Ryan, natives of Indiana, who became the parents of four children; Roscoe, still at home with his mother; Jennie, deceased; Lucy, the wife of our subject, and Mattie, the wife of John Carper, of Clark County.  Our subject was appointed Postmaster of Rardin in 1875, which office he held until 1887, and in the meantime also engaged in general merchandising, carrying a stock comprising nearly everything required in the household and on the farm. Upon withdrawing from this office he turned his attention principally to stock and grain raising, which he has conducted on the farm of his father with most satisfactory results. He is Democratic in politics, and has held the offices of Collector and Town Clerk. He received the advantages of a good education, completing his studies at Westfield, and has kept himself thoroughly posted upon current events.  Mrs. RARDIN is finely educated, and was teacher in the school at Martinsville, Clark County, for three years. She is a great favorite, socially, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.


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