SAMUEL AINSWORTH, manager of the Taylorville Mining Company, is a practical and progressive business man, whose sagacity and far-sightedness, combined with perseverance and well-directed efforts, have made his life a successful one. The record of his career is as follows: A native of England, he was born in Staffordshire, on the 8th of May, 1837, and is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Ashmore) Ainsworth, who were also natives of England. The paternal grandfather, William Ainsworth, lived in Rochester, England, and reached the very advanced age of one hundred and one years, while his wife passed away at the ripe old age of ninety-nine years. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Ashmore, lived to be about seventy, and his wife survived him several years.

The father of our subject was a wheelwright in England, and in his native land spent his entire life, being called to the home beyond at the age of fifty-six. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Ainsworth was again married. Her second husband lost his mind on account of religion and died in the insane asylum. She was seventy-three years of age at the time of her death. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth were members of the Church of England, and took a very active part in all that would advance its best interests. Their family numbered twelve children, six sons and six daughters, as follows: Walter; William; Samuel; John; Arthur; Jesse; Sophia, wife of Thomas Hall; Myra Ann, wife of Enoch Glass; Mrs. Harriet Welch; Jane, widow of Henry Elsmore; Emily, deceased; and Hannah, wife of John Betz.

The subject of this sketch spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the land of his nativity. His early years were quietly passed, no event of special importance occurring. His education was acquired in the public schools. After arriving at years of maturity, he chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Mary Ann Hall, a daughter of Thomas and Lydia (Smith) Hall. Their union was celebrated on the 13th of April, 1857, and has been blessed with a family of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters. Jesse, the eldest, married Catherine Jones and they now reside in Lyons, Kan., with their four children: Samuel, Jesse, Ida and William. Emma is the wife of Benjamin Stringer, of Taylorville, by whom she has six children: Annie, Benjamin, Grace, Florence, Jesse and Samuel R. Thomas married Miss Anna Utley, of Collinsville, and they have four children: Edith, Myrtle, John and George. Sophia is the wife of David Jones, of Taylorville, and their family numbers three sons: David, William and Albert. Mary Ann is the wife of Edwin Taylor, and with their three children, Edwin, Clyde and Loretta, they reside in Trenton, Clinton County, Ill. Edith is the wife of Frank Auth, of Smithboro, Ill., and they have one child, Mabel. Samuel, Nellie and Margaret Elizabeth are at home, and two children died in infancy.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth are adherents of the faith of the Methodist Church, and in his social relations he is connected with Mattoon Lodge No. 62, A. F. & A. M.; Mattoon Chapter, and Springfield Commandery No. 6, K. T. He is also connected with Madison Lodge No. 43, I. O. O. F., of Collinsville, and with Mizpah Lodge No. 68, K. P., of Collinsville. With the Miners' Institute, of Springfield, Ill., he also holds membership.

In 1872, Mr. Ainsworth determined to seek a home in America, and, crossing the Atlantic, came directly to Illinois, where he has lived continuously since, with the exception of eight months spent in Colorado. Owing to the general depression in business prevailing at that time, Mr. Ainsworth could not get employment for some months after his arrival. It was in March, 1875, that his wife and family came to this country and joined him at Rochester, this State. He has sunk numerous mines in various places in Illinois. Since about fourteen years of age, he has been connected with mining, and thoroughly understands the business in all its details. He took the contract for sinking a coal shaft of the Taylorville Mining Company in 1887. This shaft is over five hundred feet deep. The vein is over eight feet thick and yields a splendid quality of coal.