Madison County IL Archives Biographies.....Coles, Edward 1786 - 1868
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Deb Haines http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00003.html#0000719 August 9, 2008, 10:40 am

Author: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary

COLES, Edward, governor of Illinois, was born in Albemarle county, Va., Dec. 
15, 1786; son of Col. John and Rebecca (Tucker) Coles. His father was a 
Revolutionary officer. He was educated at Hampden-Sidney college and at 
William and Mary college, finishing the prescribed course at the latter in 
1807, but not graduating on account of illness. In 1809 he was appointed 
private secretary to President Madison and he remained in that position until 
1815, when the President sent him to Russia to settle a misunderstanding 
between the Emperor and the U.S. government, in which undertaking he was 
successful. In 1819 he removed with his negroes to Edwardsville, Ill., where 
he freed them and gave to the head of each family 160 acres of land. He was 
appointed by President Monroe registrar of the land office at Edwardsville, 
and in 1822 he was elected governor of Illinois and served until 1826. About 
1832 he removed to Philadelphia, Pa. Coles county, Ill., was named in his 
honor. He was married in 1833 to Sally Logan, daughter of Hugh and Sarah 
(Smith) Roberts, and his son Edward was graduated from the University of 
Pennsylvania in 1856 and became a lawyer in Philadelphia. See Sketch of Edward 
Coles, Second Governor of Illinois (1882), by E. B. Washburne. He died in 
Philadelphia, Pa., July 7, 1868.

Additional Comments:
Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans.
Vol. I-X. Rossiter Johnson, editor. Boston MA: The Biographical Society. 1904.

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