Charles M. Webber. Since 1914 the post office at Urbana has been in charge of Charles M. Webber, and in the time that has elapsed since that date the people of the county seat of Champaign County have had no reason to complain of the mail service. Mr. Webber was for many years a business man and in the activities of commercial life found much to broaden him and to give him sound, practical ideas and love of system which have assisted him greatly in keeping the machinery of the post office in smooth running order. Also, he had previously held official position, so that he was not unfamiliar with the exigencies of public life, and in addition he had always been appreciative of the responsibilities and obligations of the public servant. These things have combined to make him a most excellent official and to win him the friendship and confidence of the people.
Mr. Webber was born October 20, 1869, at Urbana, Champaign County, Illinois, and is a son of Robert A. and Mary E. (Waller) Webber. His father, also a native of the county seat, passed his entire life here and was widely known in business circles, his activities having invaded several lines of endeavor. His early experience was in mercantile fields, subsequently he became an abstracter, and during the latter years of his life he was secretary of the Citizens Building Association. His death occurred at Urbana February 5, 1905. Mr. Webber was an honorable man of business, in whom his associates had the greatest confidence, and a citizen who helped in various ways to make the community grow. Mrs. Webber, who survives him and still resides at Urbana, was born in Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Webber were the parents of nine children, as follows: George W., a resident of Urbana; Charles M., of this notice; Thomas B., a resident of Urbana; J. Clay, a business man at Rantoul, Illinois; David D., whose home is at Cleveland, Mississippi; James W., of Urbana; Miss Anna B., who resides with her mother; a son who died in infancy; and Elizabeth, also deceased.
Charles M. Webber attended the public schools of Urbana and was graduated from the high school with the class of 1887. Following this he had his first business experience in his father’s abstract office, and when the elder man disposed of his interests in that business the son went to Rantoul, Illinois, where he joined his brother, J. Clay Webber, in the management of a retail drug business. Charles M. Webber remained in this line for only about fifteen months, however, and then sold his share in the business to his brother and returned to Urbana, where he was elected secretary of the Citizens Building Association, a thriving enterprise with which he continued to be connected in the same capacity until November, 1906, when he was elected to the office of county clerk. During the next four years he acceptably discharged the duties of that position, and when his term of office was completed opened an office at Urbana for the sale of real estate. This enterprise continued to occupy his time and attention until April, 1914, when he was appointed postmaster of Urbana by President Woodrow Wilson. Postmaster Webber has been earnest and energetic in his efforts to give Urbana and the surrounding country the best of mail service, and that his efforts have been successful is shown in the prompt and expeditious manner in which the mails are handled and the general satisfaction among the people here in this regard.
On July 20, 1893, Mr. Webber was married to Miss Lola C. Gulick, of Mahomet, Illinois, a native of Champaign County, and to this union there have been born ten children, as follows: Robert Alfred, who is a member of the junior class at the University of Illinois; Joseph T., John Savage, Charles M., Jr., Marion Everett, Thomas Raymond, Dorothy L., Mary E., Martha C., and Byron W. In his political alliance Mr. Webber is a staunch and unswerving Democrat and has long been accounted one of his party’s able workers in the county. He is fraternally affiliated with the Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Court of Honor, and also holds membership in the Urbana Business Men’s Association.