English Brothers. Former students of the University of Illinois, where both were thoroughly trained in the technical branches of their profession, the English Brothers, Richard Caleb and Edward Carey, Jr., have for the past sixteen years been general contractors and structural engineers at Champaign, with offices in the Lincoln Building, they have developed a splendid prestige and reputation and their clientage constitutes a business that is one of the largest and most valuable of its kind in this section of the state.
Of the two brothers Richard Caleb English, the older, was born March 1, 1873, at Jonesboro in Union County, Illinois, while Edward Carey, Jr., was born November 19, 1876, at Anna, in Union County, Illinois. Their parents were Edward Carey and Marga Ann (Hartline) English, the former a native of St. Johns, Newfoundland, and the latter of Union County, Illinois. Both parents are now deceased. The Hartline family came from Eowan County, North Carolina, and have been residents of the State of Illinois since 1798.
It was in 1898 that the English brothers came to Champaign County as students in the University of Illinois. Edward C. was graduated in 1902. In the previous year they had engaged in business together as general contractors and builders, and with maturing experience they have extended their work to cover a large field and they have an immense amount of capital and equipment and a perfected organization for carrying out the most involved contract of construction. Both are practical engineers and have fully deserved their success.
Politically they are active democrats and in fraternal affairs are members of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, the Country Club and the rotary Club. They and their families are members of the Holy Cross Catholic Church. Richard C. English married Miss Agnes M. Hughes, a native of Deland, Illinois. Their three children are Mary, Richard and Edward. Edward C. English married Harriet Whitney Aylmer, a native of St. Louis. They also have three children, Edward, Aylmer and Susan.
One of the most important pieces of work recently completed by English Brothers is the Aviation Field, Rantoul, Illinois. This contract for the United States of America was taken May 28, 1917, and completed in six weeks at a total expenditure of $750,000. In the words of Howard Coffin, chairman of the National Board of Production of the United States of America Aviation Board, “In the erection and completion of Chanute Field, Rantoul, Illinois, all records in government contracts have been broken.”