Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia
HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS
DESCRIPTIVE OF ITS SCENERY,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF ITS PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.
JAMES K. FURBER
The subject of the following sketch was born in New Hampshire on the 31st of January, 1835. The Furber famiy, on the paternal side, is of English ancestry, and on the maternal, Scotch. John H. Furber, his father, married Tryhenia Dowling, who was also a native of New Hampshire. He was a carpenter by trade, and subsequently became a farmer. In November 1848, he moved to Illinois, and settled in Bunker Hill, where he bought land, and engaged in farming. He remianed there until 1875, when he sold out, and removed to Carlinville, where he still resides. His wife, and mother of the present sketch, died in May, 1868.
James K., spent his boyhood days in the schools of the "Old Granite" state, and there received the rudiments of a good education. He also attended for two years, the Pembroke Academy, and after his arrival in this state, spent one winter at school. The balance of the time until 1860 was spent in hard work upon the farm, and in teaching one or two terms of county school in the winter season. In 1860 he went to Gillespie in this county, where he opened up a general county store, and continued in business for two years, when he accepted the position of deputy sheriff under sheriff Tappan. He remained in that capacity for two years. At the end of that time he entered the county clerk's office as deputy clerk under George H. Holliday, and remained with him until he went out of office in1 869, when he engaged with Henderson Loan and Real Estate Association as cashier and continued in that capacity until the change occurred, since which time he has been cashier in the banking house of C. H. C. Anderson.
On the 15th of June, 1864, he married Miss Mary E. Allard, who is a native of Illinois, and was a resdient of Carlinville at the time of her marriage. Eight children have been born to them, five girls and four boys, five of whom are living. Mr. Furber is a member of the democratic party, and has been since he cast his first vote for James Buchanan in 1856. He is also a member of the ancient and honorable order of Freemasonry. He is an old resident of the county, and is well and favorably known, and is much respected by all. In 1874 he was elected Mayor of the City of Carlinville, and in 1869 and 1870 was city collector. In both he discharged the duties of his office with ability. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the M. E. church.
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