A Standard History of Champaign County Illinois Collections – Page 23 of 24

Biographical Sketch of William Henry Trees

William Henry Trees has lived a career that entitles him to a place of honor and respect among the citizens of Champaign County. For years he was a successful farmer and is now a local business man at Sidney. He was born in Champaign County February 5, 1872. He is a son of Ephraim and Helen (Martin) Trees. Both parents were born in Ohio. His father came to Champaign County in an early day and located on a farm near Thomasboro. That farm he cultivated and was getting to a position where he could be considered prosperous when he met … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William D. Burton

William D. Burton is a Champaign County pioneer, was a farmer during his more active years, and since moving to Champaign has done much for the betterment and improvement of that city. Mr. Burton was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, January 28, 1830, a son of Elijah and Deliah (Dimmitt) Burton, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Virginia. His father was a farmer and both he and his wife died in Knox County, Illinois. There were nine children: Malinda J., who died in California; Harvey, deceased; William D.; Henry, of Grant’s Pass, Oregon; Sarah, John and George, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William B. Lyman

William B. Lyman is now carrying on a successful farming enterprise on the estate where he was born and where he has spent practically all the days of his life. This is in section 20 of Champaign Township. He was born at that farm June 26, 1884, a son of John P. and Julia (Ryan) Lyman. His parents were both born in Vermilion County, Illinois, but for many years have lived in Champaign County. Of their five children William B. was the second and is the only one now living. The others in order of age were named Mary, John … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William B. Keusink

William B. Keusink is one of the younger business men of Champaign, has been a resident of the city most of his life, and since 1910 has conducted a very successful drug business. He was born at Bloomington, Illinois, September 20, 1879, a son of William and Elizabeth (Lynch) Keusink. His father was a native of Schenectady, New York, and his mother of Utica, New York. William Keusink for a number of years conducted a laundry business in Champaign County, but is now living retired. He and his wife had two children, William B. and Wilhelmina, the latter the wife … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Virgil W. Johnston

Virgil W. Johnston, banker, with offices at No. 10 Main Street in Champaign, has been a resident of this city for the past eighteen years. He was born in McLean County, Illinois, March 15, 1871. His father James Johnston, a native of Ohio, grew up in Indiana and in 1852 removed to McLean County, Illinois, bought land from the government, developed it as a farm, and lived there prosperous and an influential citizen until his death in 1905. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. James Johnston married Eleanor Marrs, who was born … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Truman O. Cord

Truman O. Cord has made a success of farm management and has in active operation one of the fine places in Sidney Township, located on Rural Route No. 58. While Mr. Cord has spent most of his life in Champaign County, he was born in Indiana, October 26, 1872, a son of Simon and Milcah (Cawthorn) Cord. Both parents were natives of Indiana, and both are now deceased, the mother having passed away in 1884 and the father on July 13, 1890. They came to Champaign County about 1876 and the father was also a farmer. There were seven children: … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Scott Wilson Elaine

Scott Wilson Elaine is one of the fortunate younger men of Champaign County who elected to remain on the land where they grew up as children and have prospered exceedingly by the increasing fruitage and value of farm productive efforts. Mr. Elaine was born September 15, 1874, on his father’s farm in section 27 of Champaign Township. That is his present home and by due diligence and ‘careful management he has surrounded himself with many of the best comforts and conveniences of modern rural life in this rich and prosperous section of eastern Illinois. His parents were Edward W. and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ross A. Flatt

Ross A. Flatt represents the younger and progressive business element of Champaign County, and in many ways has shown his splendid capabilities in business affairs. He is a son of A. J. Flatt, the well known grain and general merchant at Leverett, concerning whom further mention is made on other pages. Ross A. Flatt was born on his father’s farm in Somer Township of Champaign County April 10, 1890. He grew up on the farm, attended the common schools and finished his education in the Champaign High School. When his school work was finished he began assisting his father in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Roger Frank Little

Roger Frank Little. An accomplished member of the Champaign bar, Roger Frank Little is a native of Champaign County, acquired his legal education in the University of Illinois, and has been in active and successful practice for the pat eight years. He was born in Crittenden Township October 19, 1885, and is a son of Egbert P. and Matilda (Merry) Little. His father has lived in Champaign County since 1868 and for many years was a farmer, but is now living retired in the city of Champaign. Other details of the family history will be found on other pages. Roger … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Peter H. Mulligan

Peter H. Mulligan, present postmaster of Tolono, has been so long identified with the citizenship and farming activities of southern Champaign County as to require no special introduction. Mr. Mulligan was born at Tolono July 4, 1865. His parents, Peter and Margaret (Lynch) Mulligan, were both natives of Ireland. The father came to this country when a young man, lived in New York about three years, spent another two years in Indiana and then joined the early settlers of Champaign County, establishing his home on a farm near Tolono. There he followed his vocation as a farmer until his death … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Paul J. Strahle

Paul J. Strahle is one of the younger business men of Champaign, is active and aggressive, and has already acquired a secure position as a unit in the commercial community. A native of Champaign, he was born February 20, 1892, the only son and child of John G. and Catherine (Dawson) Strahle. His mother was born in England and died at Champaign, March 1, 1912. John G. Strahle is also a native of Champaign County, was for a number of years a tailor by trade, but is now associated with his son in business. Educated in the public schools of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Newton M. Harris

Newton M. Harris, vice-president of the First National Bank of Champaign, was born in that city July 27, 1872, a son of the late Henry H. Harris and a grandson of B. F. Harris, Sr. He was liberally educated, being a graduate of Yale University with the class of 1895, and for fully a quarter of a century has been actively identified with the interests of the Harris family as farmers, stock raisers and bankers. During his father’s life he shared the responsibilities of vice-president with his brother of the First National Bank, and still fills that post. Newton M. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Luther B. Souder

Luther B. Souder is proprietor of one of the oldest dyeing and cleaning establishments in Champaign County. It was originally established by his father more than half a century ago, and he has perfected and modernized its equipment and service until its facilities are now unexcelled by any similar enterprise in the county. Mr. Souder is a native of Champaign, where he was born January 4, 1878, a son of Samuel H. and Lottie A. (Taylor) Souder. His father was born in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and his mother in Marysville, Ohio. Samuel Souder came to Champaign County in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Leo H. Bireline

Leo H. Bireline, one of the youngest business men of Champaign, is successfully engaged in the metal roofing business, an industry which he learned during his youth, his father being also connected with the same line of business. Mr. Bireline was born in Danville, Illinois, June 19, 1894, a son of Henry and Emma (Diehl) Bireline, both of whom were also natives of Danville. His parents are still living at Danville and his father conducts a roofing and sheet metal works in that city. There were five children in the family: Catherine Ellen, wife of W. A. Meek of Danville; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of L. Forney Wingard

L. Forney Wingard is a successful lawyer at Champaign, has been in active practice over fifteen years, and besides his accumulation of professional interests he has identified himself in a public spirited way with the work of the community. His family has lived in Champaign County for a great many years. Mr. Wingard was born at Champaign June 3, 1875, a son of Benjamin F. and Mary C. (Forney) Wingard. His father was born in Indiana, son of David Wingard, who came to Champaign County in 1859. Both the father and grandfather were in the jewelry business at Champaign. Mr. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John P. Hudson

John P. Hudson is one of Champaign County’s most successful farm owners and farm managers. He is a young man, and for all his success to date has the best years of his life still before him. Mr. Hudson was born in Sidney Township of this county November 12, 1885, a son of Albert and Mary (Deer) Hudson. His father and mother were both natives of Champaign County and his father has been a very successful farmer and land owner, but is now living retired. The mother died in 1893. There were five children in the family: Elsie, wife of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Cecil Somers

John Cecil Somers is one of the youngest bankers of Champaign, and his career and experience have been worked out in one-institution. When he was seventeen years of age he entered the Commercial Bank of Champaign, and by doing the duties which lay nearest and making himself generally useful to his superiors and to the bank’s best interests he was promoted through clerkships until he now has entire administrative management of the bank and is one of its stockholders. Mr. Somers was born at St. Joseph, Illinois, January 26, 1887, and is barely thirty years of age. His father, John … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jerry Gorman

Jerry Gorman. One of the most widely known men of Champaign County is Jerry Gorman. Mr. Gorman has had an unusual career of achievement. He is a hard working and thrifty Irishman,’ never had any special advantages when a boy, and has relied on honest toil and judgment born of experience to place him in the front rank of farmers and land owners. He was born in Ireland, came to America when a young boy grew up on farms in Grundy County, Illinois, where he worked out as a hired laborer, and in 1875 he came to Champaign County. At … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James P. McPherren

James P. McPherren, present postmaster of Homer, and a native of this section of Illinois, has been a successful business man for many years and has exemplified the energetic qualities of the real business “builder. Mr. McPherren was born in Ford County, Illinois, July 22, 1871, but has spent practically all his life in Champaign County. His parents were Thomas J. and Amanda J. (Roberts) McPherren. They were born in Indiana and came to Illinois in 1857, locating on a farm in Champaign County. His father died at Homer November 16, 1891, and the mother is now living with her … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Louis Edwards

James Louis Edwards. One of the comfortable country homes of Philo Township, a place adding to the distinctive character of prosperity and well ordered enterprise in that section, is the Edwards place, now occupied by James Louis Edwards, who acquired it from his father, George Edwards. The Edwards family has been identified with Champaign County for over half a century. James Louis Edwards is unmarried and with his sister Anna looks after the management of the farm and they keep house together. Mr. Edwards was born on the old homestead in section 18 of Philo Township in 1867, a son … Read more