Biographical Sketch of Howard F. Love

Howard F. Love. One of the best managed farms in Sidney Township is that of the Love family in section 19. The active managers of this estate are Howard F. Love and his brother, Clifford S. Howard F. Love gave up his course in agriculture at the University of Illinois to take active charge of the business following the death of his father. His parents were John and Mary E. (Adams) Love, both natives of Ohio. John Love came to Champaign County in 1852 and at that time located in section 19 of Sidney Township, where he took land in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry J. F. Edens

Henry J. F. Edens. One of the younger men carrying the responsibilities of agricultural management in Raymond Township is Henry J. F. Edens, son of parents who were pioneers in this county, and he is now cultivating one of the best farms of Raymond Township. Mr. Edens was born on the old farm in section 10 of Raymond Township, February 22, 1885. His parents, Peter and Mary (Kant) Edens, were both natives of Germany. His father on coming to America located in Champaign County, near Sidney, and from there moved to the homestead in Raymond Township. Though he began life … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Harvey Allison

Harvey Allison is one of the prominent land owners and agriculturists in the vicinity of Homer, where he has spent the best part of his active career. Mr. Allison knows farming from A to Z and his capabilities have been developed by long and thorough experience. He was born in Vermilion County, Illinois, January 16, 1870, a son of James A. and Willmoth (Dunnivan) Allison. His father was born in Indiana and died at Homer July 10, 1899. The mother is a native of Vermilion County and is still living on the old home farm. The parents removed to Champaign … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George C. Kirby

George C. Kirby learned his business as a farmer and stockman when a boy in Champaign County, and having added to knowledge and experience the other qualities of industry and prudence, he has been getting steadily ahead in the world since he began his independent career. Mr. Kirby was born in Sidney Township of this county January 22, 1885, a son of George Marion and Froella Catherine (Stillwell) Kirby. His father is still living in Sidney Township, where the mother died May 5, 1901. They were the parents of nine children: Cora of Sidney; Viola, wife of Frank Cannon of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Fred S. Bailey

Fred S. Bailey, member of the well known Bailey family of Champaign, now vice president of the Champaign National Bank, was born at Champaign April 19, 1871, and is a son of Captain Edward Bailey, one of the founders of the bank who is elsewhere mentioned in these pages. Mr. Bailey attended the common and high schools of Champaign, graduating from the latter in 1889, and continued his studies at the University of Illinois until failing health obliged him to leave. For a year he worked in Colorado for an uncle and having recovered his health returned to Champaign and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank G. Russell

Frank G. Russell came to Champaign after an extensive business as a meat merchant both in local houses and on the road, and now enjoys high financial rating and a successful business as proprietor of the Chicago Market Company, dealers in meats and packing house products. Mr. Russell was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, October 1, 1888, a son of William and Emma (Braiser) Russell. His father was born in Burlington, Iowa, and his mother at Terre Haute, Indiana. Both are now living at Danville, Illinois, where his father for many years has been in the sign business. There were … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Francis G. Jaques

Francis G. Jaques. One of the early and most prominent members of the Champaign County bar was Francis G. Jacques, who began practice here prior to the war and continued his work with unabating interest until his death on November 14, 1896. Mr. Jaques was born in New York City January 5, 1839, a son of Robert Lee and Mary (Cooper) Jaques. Both parents were natives of New Jersey. Mr. Jaques was educated chiefly in New York City, studied law there, and also had a brief experience as a school teacher in Michigan. He came to Champaign at the age … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Eugene H. Russell

Eugene H. Russell is one of the younger business men of Champaign, and is successfully managing his mother’s Belvoir Theater. The Belvoir stages high class theatrical productions and fills it with the best of the modern film productions. Recently there was installed in the theater a $5,000 Bartolo organ, and its music is now one of the important features and attractions of this fine house. Mr. Russell was born in Champaign November 12, 1893, a son of Charles H. and Lizzie V. (Hamilton) Russell. Both parents were born in Illinois, his mother being a native of Carlinville. His father came … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Egbert Davison Burnham

Egbert Davison Burnham is the only surviving son of the late Albert C. Burnham, long prominent as a pioneer lawyer and banker at Champaign and whose career is more fully noted on other pages. Robert Davison Burnham learned banking with his father, but for many years has been actively engaged in the farm loan business, with offices in the First National Bank Building. He was born in Champaign, February 19, 1872, one of the five children of the late A. C. Burnham and wife. Three of these children died in infancy. Mr. Burnham was the oldest and the second in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Clarence L. Williams

Clarence L. Williams is an enterprising farmer of Philo Township and is now living in section 25, on the land where he was born August 7, 1875. The family is an old and prominent one of Champaign County. His parents were Elias and Hannah (Peterson) Williams. Both were born in Franklin County, Indiana. Elias Williams came to Illinois in early manhood and located in Champaign County during the early ’60s. His first possessions here were eighty acres and he subsequently added another eighty acres and had the farm well improved and under profitable operation long before his death, which occurred … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles W. Reed

Charles W. Reed is a farmer and successful stockman with home in section 16 of Philo Township. His rural mail delivery comes from Tolono on Route No. 48. Mr. Reed was born in Marshall County, Illinois, March 11, 1869, son of John Caldwell and Mary (Bell) Reed. Both parents were born in Virginia and in early life moved to Illinois. In 1879 John C. Reed came to Champaign County, locating on the farm in section 16 of Philo Township where his son Charles now resides. Both parents are now deceased. Their five children were named: Charles W.; Henry K., deceased; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Charles Chester Place

Charles Chester Place. For more than half a century the Place family has been identified with one locality in Champaign County, section 36 of Sidney Township. This is the farm home of Charles Chester Place, who was born there and has followed up the pioneer enterprise of his father with signally successful efforts of his own. Mr. Place was born February 9, 1880, and is a son of Jefferson R. and Henrietta (Cash) Place. His father was a native of Ohio and his mother of Pennsylvania. Jefferson R. Place came to Champaign County in 1865, and at that time bought … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Chancy L. Finfrock

Chancy L. Finfrock is one of the younger members of the Champaign bar and for the past three years has been associated in practice with Roger F. Little. Mr. Finfrock was born in Urbana, May 19, 1892, a son of John H. and Jordena (Johnson) Finfrock. His father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother in Ohio. John H. Finfrock came to Champaign County in 1875. Locating at Urbana, he identified himself with his regular business as a flour miller and was one of the substantial citizens of that district until his death in July, 1896. The mother is still … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Bert E. Lynch

Bert E. Lynch has made his career one of fruitful endeavor amid the scenes and associations of his early childhood and youth. He is leading a very active and enterprising life as a farmer in Sidney Township, and has a well ordered farm and good country home on Rural Route No. 57. Mr. Lynch was born in section 14 of Sidney Township, March 17, 1870, a son of William F. and Cynthia E. (Lunger) Lynch, both of whom were natives of Indiana. His father came to Champaign County in the fall of 1862 and located his cabin home on section … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Benjamin H. McKinsey

Benjamin H. McKinsey is one of the younger business element of Champaign, a vigorous and progressive citizen and a man who makes good his promises and professions at whatever cost or sacrifice to himself. He was born in Urbana, August 21, 1888, son of Jacob and Mary E. (Young) McKinsey. His father was born at Antioch, Indiana, while his mother is a native of Leverett, Champaign County. Jacob McKinsey came to Champaign County about 1886, locating at Urbana, and for a number of years was an agent for Cole Brothers, lightning rod manufacturers. He continued a resident of Urbana until … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Albert Lehman Southworth

Albert Lehman Southworth, living retired at Longview, represents one of the old and substantial families of Champaign County, his people having located here more than sixty years ago and having played worthy and active parts in the development and transformation of Raymond Township. Mr. Southworth was born in Erie County, Ohio, August 14, 1850, son of John Randolph and Anna (Akers) Southworth. His father was a Connecticut man by birth while his mother was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was in 1855 that the family came to Champaign County and settled on a tract of raw and unimproved land … Read more