Biography of W. R. Cole

W. R. Cole is one of the former prominent business men of Champaign County now living retired. He and Mrs. Cole occupy a very attractive home on Belle Avenue in Rantoul. Mrs. Cole is a member of an old and prominent family of Champaign County, and is a sister of one of the foremost physicians and surgeons in the world, Dr. D. A. K. Steele, one of the founders of the University of Illinois medical department. Mrs. Cole and her brother both taught in the school at Rantoul and they are of a family of teachers, preachers and lawyers. A … Read more

Biography of Herman H. Behrens

Herman H. Behrens has been a resident of Champaign County for forty-four years. During all that time his home has been in section 18 of Ogden Township. In his immediate community he has witnessed changes and developments that would have been regarded as impossible in such a short time when he was a boy. In some of the more substantial items of progress Mr. Behrens has borne a most influential and worthy part himself. Mr. Behrens is all but a native of Illinois. He was born February 31, 1857, and six months later he was carried, an infant in arms, … Read more

Biography of John C. Kruse

John C. Kruse is one of Champaign’s oldest business men in point of continuous service, having lived in that city for almost half a century. He has been an independent merchant for over forty-five years, and he has wisely looked after and directed the business training of his sons and assisted each one to get established in business. Mr. Kruse is a native of Germany, where he was born July 23, 1840, son of John O. and Minnie (Martens) Kruse. His parents spent all their lives in Germany. John C. Kruse had that substantial training afforded by the public school … Read more

Biography of Lewis Prather

Lewis Prather has been a resident of Champaign County for many years. He has been one of the live and energetic business men and farmers of the community, though he was well educated for the law. Successful in business, he has not neglected the public welfare and is a man who can be depended upon for helpful support wherever the best interests of his home community are concerned. Mr. Prather was born in Cumberland County, Illinois, April 20, 1862. His parents were James and Delilah (White) Prather, his father a native of Indiana and his mother of Illinois. The mother … Read more

Biography of Alonzo J. Tullock

Alonzo J. Tullock. The profession of civil engineering is one which offers great opportunities to those equipped by nature and study for this line of work. It demands, however, perhaps a more thorough technical knowledge of more subjects than almost any other vocation in which man may engage, but its rewards are commensurate with its difficulties and on the pages of history the names of civil engineers who have seemingly accomplished the impossible appear with those of other benefactors of the human race. The great western country, without these able, trained, accurate and daring men would today have been yet … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Witt

Charles W. Witt. Prominently known in Champaign County, and especially at Sidney, Mr. Witt is a native of that section and has made his years count for usefulness and service in different lines. He is now serving as postmaster of Sidney. He was born in that village February 25, 1871, a son of William and Mary (Wilson) Witt. His father was a native of Germany, but his mother was born in Champaign County. William Witt followed farming, for a number of years afterwards was a railroad man, and he died at Sidney, February 25, 1912, on Charles Witt’s forty-first birthday. … Read more

Feathergill, Charles Francis – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Charles Francis Feathergill, 79, of La Grande, died Jan. 14 at his home. A viewing will run from 10 a.m. to noon Monday at the Thomas Miller Mortuary in Corona, Calif. A graveside service will begin at 1 p.m. Monday at Crestline Memorial Park in Riverside, Calif. Charles was born on May 22, 1928, to Oscar and Lucy (Brewer) Feathergill in Champaign, Ill. He was raised and educated in Illinois and after graduating he married his high school sweetheart, Erin “Pat” Kenney. They had nine children together and were married for 26 years. He worked as a … 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

Biography of J. E. Nye

J. E. Nye. By reason of long residence in Champaign County, for a period of sixty years, by the ability shown in varied undertakings and by the honesty and high character of its members the Nye family is one of the best known in the county and the name is everywhere spoken with respect and esteem which are their due. Of this family is J. E. Nye, who came to Champaign County when a boy of two years of age and is now able to take life somewhat at leisure in one of the fine country homes south of the … Read more

Biography of John E. Raymond

John E. Raymond, one of the best known and most active figures in the general farming and live stock industry of southern Champaign County, is a grandson of the man for whom Raymond Township was named. This grandfather was Nathaniel Raymond, a native of Milford, New Hampshire. He came to Champaign County in pioneer times, became a large land owner, and after taking the lead in having a separate township set off from the original Sidney was elected the first supervisor of Raymond Township. Nathaniel Raymond married Melissa Stuart, a native of New York State, and both of them died … Read more

Biography of Louis Arthur Busch

Louis Arthur Busch. The legal profession of Champaign County and the civic government of Urbana have a worthy representative in the person of Louis Arthur Busch, state’s attorney. A native of the city of Urbana, he has passed his entire life here, and his career among its citizens is looked upon as particularly worthy, as he has trod the hard self-made road to success and has triumphed over a number of discouraging obstacles which have arisen in his path. A member of the legal brotherhood since 1908, he has made rapid advancement in his calling, and since 1912 has been … Read more

Biography of J. A. R. Koch

J. A. R. Koch. “God’s finger touched him and he slept,” was the almost universal thought in St. Joseph Township upon the death of J. A. R. Koch, who died suddenly at the home of his son Frank in the Mayview community August 9, 1917. Mr. Koch was one of the county’s prominent, influential, useful and progressive citizens. Every activity in his life was employed directly or indirectly for the general welfare, and his every heart throb was in sympathy with the righteous aspirations and efforts for elevation and improvement among his fellow men. His was the type of material … Read more

Biography of Frank Kern Robeson

Frank Kern Robeson. Of the many business establishments in Champaign County perhaps none has a wider connection with the families of this section of Illinois and a better reputation due to many years of successful business relations than the Robeson Department Store, founded and built up by the veteran merchant Frank Kern Robeson, who has the distinction of having developed the first real department store in the city of Champaign. While his success and position in the community are now so well established, it is noteworthy that Mr. Robeson did not always have an easy course and one free from … Read more

Biography of Egbert P. Little

Egbert P. Little is one of the old residents of Champaign County, having come here with his parents nearly fifty years ago. The business to which he successfully applied his efforts through many years was farming, but he is now living retired in the city of Champaign. Mr. Little prospered as a farmer and stock man, and his material circumstances have added to his own comfort and have also provided means and training for the careers of his children, in whom he takes special pride. Mr. Little was born in La Salle County, Illinois, September 3, 1857, a son of … Read more

Biography of Columbus Clinton McElwee

Columbus Clinton McElwee is one of Champaign County’s successful farmers and cattle feeders, and has come up from the bottom round of the ladder to a most successful position. The best type of success is that which depends upon personal energy and initiative in acquiring those things which a worthy ambition craves, and in this respect Mr. McElwee is one of the truly successful men of Champaign County. He was born at Wallace, Indiana, June 4, 1873, a son of David and Melissa Jane (Harlow) McElwee. His father was a native of Pennsylvania and his mother of Indiana. His father … Read more

Biography of Lintner W. Baird

Lintner W. Baird was long a fixture in the business affairs of the town of Ogden as a lumber merchant, and is now living retired in that quiet village, surrounded with all the comforts and conveniences that a life of industry and honor have brought him. Mr. Baird was born at Washington in Tazewell County, Illinois, son of Thomas N. and Mary (White) Baird. Both parents were born in Ohio. L. W. Baird was the third among twelve children, all of whom were educated in the Franklin District School. Two of his brothers fought as soldiers in the Union army, … Read more

Biography of Olof Olson

Olof Olson on coming to America from his native land of Sweden had only three dollars in money, and was in debt for his transportation across the ocean. He has been a resident of Champaign County nearly twenty years, and it is truly remarkable what he has been able to accomplish in the way of accumulating property and in the rearing and founding of a splendid country home and a family of most industrious children. No small share of the credit for this distinctive success is due to his capable and energetic wife. Mr. Olson was born in Sweden, a … Read more

Biography of Luther C. Wade

Luther C. Wade. While the agricultural community of Champaign County is known as one of the most progressive and prosperous of the world, the same quality of enterprise distinguishes the commercial element. A business organization that has made a successful record due to the hard work and enterprise of its members is the hardware house of Chapman & Wade at Fisher. Both members are young merchants, know thoroughly the art of sticking close to their business, and at the same time can take a long look ahead when that is required. They have made their house one of the leading … Read more

Biography of William L.Gray, M. D.

William L. Gray, M. D. The professional services of Dr. William L. Gray in Champaign County cover a period of more than a quarter of a century. In the quiet performance of his duty he has attended a large private practice, and has likewise become well known through his work in behalf of local institutions and as a citizen. Doctor Gray is in the front rank of surgeons in this section of Illinois. Doctor Gray was born in DeWitt County, Illinois, January 23, 1866. His parents were Worship and Mary Elizabeth (Salisbury) Gray. His father, who was born in County … Read more

Biography of John D. Seltzer

John D. Seltzer, now living retired at Villa Grove, spent many useful and productive years in Champaign County. These years dealt pleasantly with him and in response to his energy and good judgment rewarded him with one of the finest farms in Raymond Township, which he still owns, and he is able to look back upon his past years with a great deal of satisfaction, born of practical achievement and the performance of the many duties that are assumed by public spirited citizens like Mr. Seltzer. He is of old Pennsylvania stock and was born in Schuylkill County of that … Read more