USA > Illinois > Champaign County > A Standard history of Champaign County Illinois : an authentic narrative of the past, with particular attention to the modern era in the commercial, industrial, civic and social development : a chronicle of the people, with family lineage and memoirs, Volume II > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81
Mr. Hopkins was born in Peoria County, Illinois, January 24, 1877, a son of Griffith G. and Anna (Collier) Hopkins. His father was of Welsh descent and a native of Ohio, and the mother was born in England.
Griffith Hopkins came out to Peoria County, Illinois, many years ago and was first engaged in mining and subsequently in farming. He finally retired and died at Peoria. The children were six in number: Grace, who died in infancy ; Jesse G., of Jerseyville, Illinois; Lucile E., wife of Frank C. Keach, of Los Angeles, California; Thomas R .; Chauncey J., deceased ; and Maurice E., of Chicago.
Thomas R. Hopkins had a public school education in Knox County, Illinois, and for two years was a student in the Independent Normal at Dixon. For another year he pursued his studies in Knox College at Galesburg, and then became associated with Brown's Business College at Peoria as an instructor with Mr. Brown. On leaving that institution he spent a year as a teacher in Trenton, New Jersey. Locating here in Jack- sonville, Illinois, he was employed as principal in Brown's Business Col- lege, and then spent two years in St. Louis in the same capacity. In 1907 he came to Champaign, where he bought Brown's Business College. He has maintained the school on a higher plane of efficiency than ever before and has surrounded himself with competent and expert instructors in the various lines.
Mr. Hopkins was married October 29, 1908, to Miss Mary West, a native of Knox County, Illinois. Their three children are Thomas Roscoe, Viola Helen and Anna Ruth. Mr. Hopkins is a Democrat in politics. He is a Royal Arch Chapter Mason, and is a member of the Board of Stewards of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
CLAUDE B. WARNER, A. B., A. M., D. D. S., was born at Morrison, the county seat of Whiteside County, Illinois, May 6, 1872, and is a son of Edward B. and Elizabeth C. (Bryant) Warner, the former a native of Saint Louis and the latter of Herculaneum, Missouri. Edward B. Warner was a well-to-do business man of Morrison, and also a prominent citizen in the public life of Whiteside County, being county treasurer. for
>
682
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
a period of sixteen years, and for a like period a member of the board of equalization. His death occurred in 1891, while Mrs. Warner survived until 1916. They were the parents of seven children, as follows: Luella, who is the wife of F. C. Hitchcock, of Walden, Colorado; Arthur D., who is president of the Forest City Life Insurance Company at Rockford, Illinois; Dr. A. Lincoln, who is engaged in medical practice at Chicago; Bertha, who is the wife of Maj. R. M. Smith, U. S. A., of New York City ; Dr. Eugene R., a practicing dentist of Denver, Colorado; Lena, who is the wife of Dr. James S. Mason, of Urbana; and Dr. Claude B.
Claude B. Warner was seventeen years of age when he graduated from the Morrison High School, and at that time, feeling that he would enter upon a professional career, as had several of his brothers, he started the study of law in an office in his home city. After one year thus spent he decided that the law was not his forte, and transferred his attention to the dental profession, in the office of his brother. Following this expe- rience he entered the Northwestern Dental School, from which he was graduated with the class of 1894 and the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery, and at that time formed a professional partnership with Dr. J. A. W. Davis, of Galesburg. While residing in that city, Dr. Warner decided to further his education, and accordingly worked his way through Lombard College, securing the degree of Bachelor of Arts and later that of Master of Arts. Afterward Dr. Warner went to Avon, Illinois, and was there engaged in practice until 1906, when he came to Urbana.
On his arrival in Urbana, Dr. Warner established his dental office at 129 South Elm Street, where in conjunction with his brother-in-law, Dr. Mason, he erected an office building especially adapted to his work.
Dr. Warner has been honored many times by his professional brethren. He has served as president of the First District Dental Society, which includes one-third of this state, as president of the McDonough- Fulton County Dental Society, and as president of the Champaign-Dan- ville District. Dental Society. He has served as chairman of the Public Press Committee and Board of Censors of the Illinois State Dental Society. He is now serving as chairman of the Law committee and a member of the Executive council of the Illinois State Dental Society. He has served as chairman of the committee on Public Dental Education of the National Dental Society and is now chairman of the Law committee in that organization.
In his fraternal relations, Dr. Warner is a valucd representative of the local lodges of the Masons, the Elks and the Eastern Star, and belongs also to the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the Delta Sigma Delta dental fraternity, and to the University and Cosmopolitan clubs. On February 12, 1901, he was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Tonner, of Table Grove, Illinois.
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 son of Olof and Ella Olson. He had a public school education in his native land. He was twenty-one years of age when he determined to take advantage of the opportunities of America, and alone crossed the ocean on the ship Arizona. After landing in New York City he went direct to Henry County, Illinois, and was soon paying his debts
.
683
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
and familiarizing himself with American traditions and customs and in time reached that place where he felt justified in having a home of his own.
In 1891 he married Miss Selma Norberg. She is also a native of Sweden, a daughter of Pierre and Marie (Dolstron) Norberg. Mrs. Olson came to America at the age of nineteen.
After their marriage they located on a farm west of Galva in Henry County, Illinois. They began with practically no money but had that hard working energy and thrift which are characteristic of the Swedish people. In spite of increasing expenses in the maintenance of the household, there was a steady accumulation against a rainy day and for the future, and suc- cess was only a question of time with them.
In 1898 Mr. and Mrs. Olson came to Champaign County and for fifteen years farmed as renters in Compromise Township. All those years they lived steadily on one farm, and that fact alone is a fine testimonial to their effi- ciency and general worth. Out of their slowly growing accumulations they were then able to buy eighty acres in Harwood Township and subsequently 135 acres in Compromise Township. These tracts of land they sold to buy their present fine farm of 320 acres in Compromise Township, formerly the Dickerson home in seetion 19.
In the meantime there had come into their hearts and home nine chil- dren : Emily, Elof, Albert, Fred, Selma, Oscar, Ella, John and Eric. All of them learned their lessons in the district schools, while Selma was a stu- dent in the Gifford High School. They made good records for themselves as students and they all speak and read English and Swedish and have a slight familiarity with the German language. The daughter Emily is now the wife of Henry Ackerman, and they have a son, Herman Ackerman.
Mr. and Mrs. Olson are active members of the Lutheran Church. In 1909-10 Mr. Olson served on the board of supervisors, and is a man whose judgment as well as action are entitled to the respeet of the community. Politically he supports the Democratic party. As a farmer he has been highly successful with live stoek, and 'has a large number of cattle, hogs and horses on his place. During the past year Mr. Olson received his record price for corn, selling it at $1.78 a bushel. He is one of the most reliable farmers and citizens of Champaign County. While they take just pride in their farm and their home and live stock, they have a greater pride in the boys and girls who have grown up under their roof. The boys are manly fellows, true types of Amerieans, and are dependable workers in the man- agement of the homestead. Mr. Olson owns his own threshing machine and sheller, and when confronted with a big job of work he has the boys to depend upon, each one able to take his place in handling machinery or the work of the farm. Mr. Olson in all his years of experience with his sons has never heard one of them say, "I don't want to do that." They have grown up with the realization that the interests of the family are all mutual, and this is no doubt one of the secrets of the success of the family. Another fact that should not be omitted is that in all these years Mr. Olson has had the co-operation and support of a good Christian wife, who has aided and coun- seled him for over a quarter of a century and has borne the chief responsi- bilities of edueating and training her children. The Olson family have one of the most complete and attractive country homes in the entire county. Well back from the road is situated the house, surrounded by a splendid grove of trees and shrubs, and the whole constitutes a park, as though the master hand of a landscape artist had created it. The atmosphere of the farm and the home is also one compounded of industry and wholesome living, and all of this Mr. and Mrs. Olson have as their reward for many years of persevering labor, and labor has been the source of it all, since Mr. Olson has never once indulged in the speculative game and has taken only his just compensation for work honestly performed.
684
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
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 daw there, and also had a brief experience.as a school teacher in Michigan. He came to Champaign at the age of eighteen, and was admitted to the bar before he attained his majority. His unusual talent, his thorough knowledge, and his well balanced character made him a successful figure in his profession and he was widely known and esteemed all over eastern Illinois.
On September 11, 1860, Mr. Jaques married Eliza J. Park, a native of Ohio. Mrs. Jaques survived her husband twenty years, passing away September 6, 1916. She was the mother of four children: William Park, of Urbana; Minnie, assistant cashier of the Urbana Banking Company; Robert Lee, of Lafayette, Indiana; and Fred S., deceased. The late Mr. Jaques was thoroughly independent in his political affiliations. He was a Knight Templar Mason.
SAMUEL MASON GREGG. The dignity of labor raises the farmer to a level of importance corresponding to that occupied by any class of producers. To labor long and faithfully, giving the best of one's ability and talent along any line of endeavor, is to fulfill the destiny of mankind and to make pos- sible a happy, contented old age. Samuel Mason Gregg, one of the substan- tial farmers and highly esteemed citizens in the vicinity of Rantoul, has made his life one of constant industry and honorable labor, and though always busy he has never failed to find time to make friends or contribute to the welfare and advancement of his community.
Though a resident of Champaign County for many years, Mr. Gregg was born in Crab Orchard, a son of Samuel H. and Elizabeth (Singleton) Gregg. The parents were also natives of Kentucky, and during the childhood of Samuel M. Gregg removed to Illinois. Mr. Gregg had a common school edu- cation and was early trained to farming pursuits.
On April 11, 1878, he married Miss Emma Hitz, a native of DeKalb County, Illinois, and a daughter of Frank and Catherine (Shaffer) Hitz. Her father was born in Switzerland and her mother in Germany, and they came as unmarried young people to America. They were married in Roches- ter, New York, then moved to Kendall County, Illinois, from there to DeKalb County, and located permanently in Champaign County in 1864. Mrs. Gregg received her early educational advantages in the Maple Grove district school of this county.
After their marriage they started out as farmers, buying 160 acres in East Bend Township. One year later they moved to land owned by Mrs. Gregg's father, and then bought the 120 acres comprising their present homestead, located seven miles northwest of Rantoul. This land is in sec- tion 17. They took to their task as home makers the true spirit of the pio- neers. The land they bought had no buildings, no trees to furnish shade, and there stretched before them a long period of years to be filled with the hardest kind of labor in order to make a home and provide for the increasing responsibilities of existence. Both were people of strong character and ample energy, and while their earlier years were characterized by strict economy they long since were able to provide a beautiful home and commo- dious buildings for all their purposes. Their home stands on an elevation with the land sloping gently away from all sides, and their house is now
E HEIMLE
SEMI-PRIVATE RECEPTION OFFICE TELEGRAPH OFFICE EDITORIAL ROOMS COMPOSING ROOM
D. W. STEVICK
I'UBLISHIER'S PRIVATE OFFICE BUSINESS OFFICE STEREOTYPING AND PRESS ROOMI NEWS BUILDING, BUSINESS AND EDITORIAL ENTRANCES
685
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
surrounded with trees and shrubs, making a park like environment. More beautiful shrubs cannot be found in the large city parks.
Mr. and Mrs. Gregg have one son, Samuel Elza. He was educated in the local district schools and in 1908 graduated with honors from the Rantoul High School. Subsequently he entered the University of Illinois and took the mechanical engineering course, graduating in June, 1912. He then remained at home with his parents a year, and married Miss Etta J. Pontious, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Pontious. Mrs. Samuel E. Gregg was educated in the Rantoul High School and was also a student of a business college at Champaign, where she prepared for work as a stenogra- pher. While it was the purpose and ambition of the son to follow meclian- ical engineering as a profession, his parents wisely persuaded him to locate near them, and he is now doing that most useful of all work, farming, and manages a 100 acre place a mile and a quarter southwest of the home of his parents. He is industrious and capable, and has the thorough technical education that makes him equal to all emergencies.
Mrs. Gregg and son are active members of the Christian Church at Ran- toul. In politics he is a Democrat, and has served as school director. Mr. Gregg is one of the dairy farmers of Champaign County, and has a herd of twenty blooded Jerseys, beautiful and productive animals such as would constitute a fine asset to any farm. Mr. Gregg uses them for the production of cream, which is shipped to the Chicago market.
D. W. STEVICK. The people of Champaign County appreciate the ability and the achievements of D. W. Stevick, chiefly through the medium of his newspaper, The Champaign Daily News. Progress has always been the keynote of Mr. Stevick's life. He has been inspired with "that delightful discontent which the hope of better things inspires," and this has given meaning and potency to his efforts as a newspaper man.
When he came into possession of The Champaign Daily News, he was well aware of the deplorable conditions existing relative to the strongly entrenched liquor forces, and had a thorough understanding of the stu- pendous task he was undertaking in combating them. He faced the issues squarely, and with an invincible spirit of confidence and hope undertook to lay bare the existing facts to the public, feeling they had a right to know.
As is always true in such matters, the bitterest opposition arose from the friends and supporters of the traffic. Ridicule, sarcasm and misrepre- sentation were all brought to bear upon the gallant young editor. Like a true soldier he met successfully every attempt of the enemy to discomfort him. With the heartiest support of the best class of the people in Cham- paign County, he demonstrated that when a people unitedly determined to stamp out existing evils they are bound to win. Mr. Stevick has raised the standard of civic righteousness and morality in the county of Champaign, and it can be said to the credit of the people that he has found an army of the best men and women in the county as loyal supporters. The state of Illinois can be congratulated in possessing such men as Mr. Stevick. Though a young man, Mr. Stevick has made an enviable record for himself. He has accomplished more in the brief years of his editorial experience than many men have accomplished in a lifetime. That he was successful is shown by the fact that he was but twenty-eight years of age when he acquired the ownership of The News, and was then one of the youngest publishers of a large newspaper in this country.
It has been said of our forefathers that in laying the foundation of this great republic they planted their bulwarks as they went-the church and the free school-and they builded better than they knew. Of Mr.
2-11
-
686
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Stevick's accomplishment in a brief timc, it can also be said that in this enterprise he has accomplished more than his most sanguine expecta- tions led him to expect.
For this reason a brief history of his life will be interesting. He first saw the light of day February 7, 1887, in Hutchinson, Kansas, a son of William Henry and Jennie (Getter) Stevick. His parents were born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and soon after their marriage removed to Kansas, where the father engaged in the real estate business. They had four children, including three daughters. Farie Dell, the oldest of the daughters, is the wife of Prof. O. R. Skinner of Bloomington, Illinois. She was a graduate of the Conservatory of Music of Cincinnati, Ohio, and is now instructor with her husband in the O. R. Skinner School at Bloom- ington. The second daughter, Maric Ella, is teacher of art in the Skinner School at Bloomington. She is a very talented artist, and her work has received high praise by the discriminating art critics of Chicago and other art centers. The third daughter, Isabel, is vocal instructor in the Skinner School, and the wife of Harry K. Roush of Bloomington.
When thirteen years of age D. W. Stevick began making his own living. For two years he drove a delivery wagon and then found work as office boy and collector at the Daily Bulletin in Bloomington, Illinois. He was with that journal thirteen years, going to the top of the ladder of that newspaper. For years he was in full charge of the advertising, studying that phase of the business with such attention that he soon became an authority on the subject. The past and the present proves him to be a thoroughly ground newspaper man.
August 29, 1910, Mr. Stevick married Miss Helen M. Taylor, daughter of Wilson E. and Mary (Miller) Taylor. Her father is a native of Ohio and her mother of Indiana. They were the parents of three sons and one daughter : Roy, Gail, Joseph and Helen. The Taylor family for many years have lived in Texas. Mrs. Stevick went to Bloomington from Texas to attend the O. R. Skinner School, where she graduated in music. Mr. and Mrs. Stevick have one daughter, Marajen, a bright young lady of five years. Mr. and Mrs. Stevick are active members of the Christian Church. Politically he favors the principles of the Republican party, but is broad in his views and gives his support to the man who serves . the public best. Fraternally he is a Knight of Pythias.
As a newspaper manager his work is entitled to great credit and undoubtedly a great future is in store for him. He has established an ' atmosphere of co-operative sociability in The Champaign Daily News, so that all subscribers feel they belong to one large family working for the good of the general public. The visitor observing the perfect order and system of The Daily News plant, and understanding its growth and develop- ment and its influence as a molder of public opinion, is reminded of the words :
"O what a glory doth this world put on For him who, with a fervent heart, goes forth Under the bright and glorious sky And looks on duties well performed, and days well spent."
On the first day of September, 1915, E. R. Mickelberry and D. W. Stevick purchased The Champaign Daily News from E. B. Chapin. It was at that time Champaign's largest and best newspaper, but the develop- ment that was to come for The News could only be seen in advance by Mr. Stevick. The fifteen minute telephone news service from Springfield was increased fifteen minutes, a new linotype machine, many fonts of new type
687
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
and other equipment were added and the old machinery of The News thor- oughly overhauled. Still more news was given to the people, later news, better news, and the already large circulation increased remarkably. Soon another linotype was purchased and the thirty minute wire service was changed to a longer service. The new owners could see no reason why the people of Champaign-Urbana and vicinity were not entitled to just as good a newspaper as other Illinois towns had been favored with for years ; therefore the full leased wire of the International News Service wa's taken on, giving to the people of Champaign-Urbana and vicinity for the first time in history the world's news on the day it happened. Previous to this time almost all of the foreign news read by the people of this district was set up in Chicago and shipped to Champaign by express. In December, 1915, Mr. Stevick purchased his partner's interest and became sole owner of The News.
The News needed more room and the beautiful business lot located at 134-36-38 West Church Street was purchased and plans completed for a five-story building with a modern newspaper plant on the ground floor and a hotel above. Business changes, however, compelled The News to be moved earlier than it was possible to construct its new home, and the large four-story Miller building was purchased and there completed one of the most modern newspaper plants in the entire West. Another lintoype machine and a mammoth 32-page Goss press outfit were installed. New type throughout gave the appearance of The News a very noticeable bright- ness. The News continued to flourish in its new home. It was the con- stant aim of the publisher to improve the News, and on August 19, 1917, a new publication was added-The Champaign Sunday News. This Sunday newspaper was not a small country paper, but was builded on metropolitan ideas, having all the local news with the full leased wire report of the Associated Press, the best four-page colored comic section that American artists produced, features for women, continued stories, a page for the farmer and his family, a full-page sport page edited by one of the best sport writers in the country, puzzles and fairy stories for the children.
On May 4, 1917, Mr. Stevick was elected to membership in the Asso- ciated Press, quite an honor considering that it is a custom of this associa- tion to have but one member in a territory and that the Associated Press had had for many years a member in Champaign who used a small news report of that association. This member protested against the election to membership of Mr. Stevick, but the board of directors of the association overruled the objection. The Champaign Daily News then gave to the people of this vicinity for the first time the daily report of full leased wire service of the Associated Press. The News was also elected to membership in the American Newspaper Publishers' Association, one of the strongest associations in the world, and was also made a mem- ber of the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and is the only newspaper in this district that is a member of all three of these organizations. Two years after Mr. Stevick purchased The Champaign Daily News it had changed from a two-linotype and a 12-page press equipped newspaper to six linotypes, a 32-page Goss press, the full Associated Press telegraphic wire news report, a member of A. N. P. A., 156 employes, its circulation greatly increased, located in its own building and had grown to be Eastern Illinois' greatest newspaper.
CHARLES F. OEHMKE, assistant postmaster of Urbana, has been con- tinuously identified with the postoffice in that city for the past eleven ycars. He was formerly a successful teacher. He is a native of Cham- paign County, where he was born January 22, 1880. His parents were
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.