A Standard History of Champaign County Illinois Collections – Page 20 of 24

Biography of Charles Christopher Liestman

Charles Christopher Liestman. There was a time when farm life in Illinois was one of continuous hard work and more or less social exclusion, but no better proof is needed to mark the change than is afforded in Newcomb Township, Champaign County, by such careful and progressive agriculturists as Charles Christopher Liestman. With a finely improved estate of 160 acres, located in a section of the county where public spirit is shown in fine roads prevailing, Mr. Liestman for many years has proved that farming is now not only one of the most profitable of occupations but the most independent. … Read more

Biography of Charles Chenoweth

Charles Chenoweth. The name of Chenoweth is one held in high regard in Champaign County because it has always been borne by men of sterling traits of character who have led honorable and useful lives. A worthy and well known representative of this old pioneer family is found in Charles Chenoweth, who resides on his well improved farm of eighty acres, which is situated in Newcomb Township. Peace, plenty, thrift and prosperity are in evidence both within his hospitable residence and on the farm, and here may be found convincing proof that farm life in modern days may be wholesome, … Read more

Biography of Charles Boys

Charles Boys is one of the oldest residents of Champaign County, where he has witnessed the changes of fortunes of life in this community for over fifty years. Hard work has been the keynote of his career, and with that as a fundamental qualification it seems that everything he has touched has responded to his management and has served to increase his prosperity. Mr. Boys became one of the large land owners of Champaign County and was for years noted as one of the cattle kings of this section of Illinois. He is a native of New England, son of … Read more

Biography of Charles Birch

Charles Birch. The farming community around Rantoul has no more progressive and public spirited citizen than Mr. Charles Birch, whose home is in section 21 of Rantoul Township. Mr. and Mrs. Birch have a model country home, and though still comparatively young they have surrounded themselves with ample comforts and have been able to liberally provide for a growing family of children. Mr. Birch was born in Piatt County, Illinois, a son of Thomas and Jane (Thompson) Birch. His parents were natives of Ireland and came to this country in early life. Mr. Charles Birch received his education in the … Read more

Biography of Charles Babb

Charles Babb, while for many years a resident of Champaign County, is a cosmopolitan citizen, has traveled extensively over the New and Old World, and has not only earned hut has learned the wise use of financial independence. He is now living retired in a commodious and beautiful home at Rantoul and is one of the large land owners of Champaign County. Mr. Babb was born in Staffordshire, England, son of John and Margaret (Whyte) Babb. He grew up in his native country and in the year of the Chicago fire, 1871, came to this country with his wife and … Read more

Biography of Charles B. Wiggins

Charles B. Wiggins. So indispensable has the automobile become to modern life that one is led to marvel that such great progress in manufacture and use could have been made in comparatively so short a time. Although the idea of self-propelled vehicles was entertained and to some extent proved possible long before 1886, when the first horseless carriage as a practical conveyance appeared on the boulevards of Paris, France, it presented so many impossible features that for years the venture was not regarded as feasible. When other motive power than steam became known to the industries, it required only the … Read more

Biography of Charles B. Johnson, M. D.

Charles B. Johnson, M. D. Valuable work in his profession and an unusual variety of experience contribute to make the career of Dr. C. B. Johnson one of note in Champaign County, where he has lived for the past forty-six years. Doctor Johnson is a veteran Union soldier, is grandson of a Revolutionary soldier, and’ during the half century since he came out of the Northern army he has been in the active practice of medicine and is still a competent member of his profession and one of Champaign County’s most useful citizens. Doctor Johnson was born at Pocahontas in … Read more

Biography of Charles A. Daly

Charles A. Daly of Philo Township has surrounded himself with all the evidences of prosperity and enterprise as a farmer and stockman. Largely through his own efforts and enterprise he has acquired a large acreage of Champaign County farm land, has it under improvement, and for many years has been a successful raiser of good stock and gets his profit out of his land largely through feeding the crops at home. Mr. Daly has lived in Champaign County most of his life, but was born in Ontario, Canada, February 8, 1859. His parents, John and Mary Ann (McKipill) Daly, were … Read more

Biography of Cecil L. Golden

Cecil L. Golden, present mayor of Sidney, has built up a large hardware business in that Champaign County town, and has proved himself one of the live and energetic factors in the civic community. Mr. Golden is a veteran of the Spanish-American War. He was born in Champaign County March 12, 1879, a son of Eugene S. and Mary E. (Mullen) Golden. His father was born in Menard County, Illinois, and his mother was a native of Pennsylvania. His father came to Champaign County when a young man, followed farming and afterwards engaged in the hardware business at Urbana. He … Read more

Biography of Carl Wilhelm Spoehrle

Carl Wilhelm Spoehrle. Since his arrival in Champaign County in 1873 the career of Carl Wilhelm Spoehrle has been one in which industry, integrity and fidelity have served to give him an ever-increasing success, a standing as a reputable and substantial citizen, and the respect of the community in which he has so long resided. At the time of his arrival he was in modest circumstances, and he found the new community in which he settled little more than a raw prairie. His own development from his former position to one of affluence has kept steady pace with the progress … Read more

Biography of Carl Odebrecht

Carl Odebrecht. Some of the finest farms in Illinois are to be found in Philo Township of Champaign County. This also means that some of the ablest exponents of the art of agriculture are in the same locality. One of the men who have been especially successful in transmitting the resources of the soil into material benefit is Carl Odebrecht, whose operations as a farmer are carried on in section 28 of that township. His entire life has been spent in Champaign County. He was born in Raymond Township, August 20, 1877, and is a son of Charles and Sophie … Read more

Biography of Carl Henry Gehrke

Carl Henry Gehrke has been a resident of Champaign, for thirty-three years and many years ago he established a bakery which has grown and prospered, every year seeing additional equipment and increased trade, until the Gehrke Illinois Bakery now does an immense wholesale and retail business extending all over this section of Illinois. His business success consists in building up this large plant, and along with his prosperity has come the esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Gehrke was born in the city of Velpke, Province of Brunswick, Germany, June 18, 1852, a son of Henry … Read more

Biography of Captain Edward Bailey

Captain Edward Bailey is president of the Champaign National Bank, an institution which has become noted as one of the most conservative in the United States and as a leader among the great banking institutions of Illinois. He was one of its founders. He was born at Bloomfield, Edgar County, Illinois, September 8, 1843, a son of David and Hannah (Finley) Bailey, concerning whom mention is made on other pages. His early education was obtained in subscription schools at Bloomfield. In the last part of 1854 or early in 1855 his parents moved to Monticello, Illinois, thence to Urbana, Illinois, … Read more

Biography of Capt. Thomas Jefferson Smith

Capt. Thomas Jefferson Smith, of Champaign, is one of the few men still living in Illinois who made their first briefs and arguments in a court room prior to the outbreak of the Civil War. In many ways his has been a remarkable life. He began practice before the war, enlisted soon afterward and gave the best in him to the perpetuation of the Union, came out of the war with the rank of captain, and at once began practice at Champaign, where he has now lived for over half a century. Captain and Mrs. Smith never had any children. … Read more

Biography of C. O. Nelson

C. O. Nelson. A thriftier body of citizens the United States has obtained from no one country than from Sweden. While representatives of that land are not so numerous in Champaign County as in other sections of Illinois, to at least one family, that of C. O. Nelson, the county owes a tribute for what it has accomplished in the years that have passed. Mr. Nelson and his wife came to this county many years ago and began work on a tract of raw prairie land. Their possessions have increased and they now enjoy the comforts of one of the … Read more

Biography of C. Maxwell Caldwell

C. Maxwell Caldwell. As a general electrical contractor C. Maxwell Cal dwell has more than made good in Champaign, and a few years ago he established his business in a two-story building which in point of equipment and service is without question the best small plant in the state, Chicago not excepted. He is in the general electrical contracting business and also handles supplies and does manufacturing in that line. It is the only business of the kind in central Illinois. Mr. Caldwell was born in Logan County, Illinois, September 7, 1879, a son of A. M. and Letitia (White) … Read more

Biography of Boyd S. Blaine

Boyd S. Blaine. A position of public trust is necessarily indicative of the man who fills it. When the duties of an office demanding a keen intellect, a never failing integrity and a capacity for hard and continuous labor are, for years, discharged so satisfactorily that popular vote confers them successively upon the same person, it is to be assumed that the individual thus chosen is possessed of those qualities which make for the best arrangements in our official life. In this connection we may mention the career of Boyd S. Blaine, one of Champaign County’s best known officials. When … Read more

Biography of Bert Rayburn

Bert Rayburn. Champaign County with its high-priced lands is distinctively the field for the highly efficient farm manager. That is the work and position of Mr. Bert Rayburn. By long experience he has proved his capability in handling the soil and resources of Champaign County in a manner productive both to himself and the owners of the land. Mr. Rayburn has acquired a considerable stake as a land holder himself, but his chief experience has been as a renter and farm manager. A native of Champaign County, he was born in Mahomet Township, September 24, 1872, a son of Lee … Read more

Biography of Bert Leroy Chapman

Bert Leroy Chapman. Aggressive methods, keen insight into commercial conditions, a thorough and far-reaching appreciation of the needs of the trade, are characteristics which develop a man into a successful factor in the business life of any community and result in the founding and development of concerns that give that community prestige. Conditions today are so complex, competition is so keen, and the needs of the world are increasing so rapidly that every branch of commercial and industrial life feels the impetus of the times. The day of slow and sure business policies is gone; the business enterprises of today … Read more

Biography of Bert E. Spalding

Bert E. Spalding was born in Champaign and has spent his life practically within the limits of that city. When little more than a boy he became self supporting, acquired business experience under others, and now for a number of years has been one of the leading druggists. He was born in Champaign, January 7, 1868, son of John W. and Maria (Halford) Spalding. His father was a native of Hamilton, Ohio, and his mother was born in Nottingham, England. She was a sister of E. W. Halford, who a number of years ago was private secretary to President Benjamin … Read more