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 29
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In 1913 he was president of the Illinois Library Association, is a life member of the American Library Association and a member of its council from 1909 to 1913, and is a member of the Bibliographical Society of America. In 1904 he edited the Handbook of Texas Libraries and has been a frequent contributor to library publications.
Mr. Windsor was born at Chenoa in McLean County, Illinois, Feb- ruary 21, 1871, a son of Rev. John Alexander and Amy (Arnold) Windsor. He acquired a liberal education, graduating Ph. B. from Northwestern University at Evanston in 1895, during 1897-99 was a student in the New York State Library School at Albany, and during 1899-1900 was a student in the Albany Law School and a member of the staff of the New York State Library.
Mr. Windsor married, January 1, 1902, Miss Margaret Fursman Boyn- ton of Lockport, New York. He is a member of the Delta Tau Delta College Fraternity, the Methodist Church and the University. Club of Urbana.
L. H. BLUE. Hardly a more attractive rural home can be found in the entire scope of Champaign County than that of Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Blue, situated on Rural Route No. 21 out of Rantoul and section 8, some seven miles from that city.
This home has been the product of Mr. and Mrs. Blue's united endeavors and industry since they married, and it is with a pardonable degree of pride that they enjoy its comforts and satisfactions. Mr. Blue was born near Rantoul and is a son of John H. and Lena (Satthoff) Blue, energetic and worthy German people who came to this country in early life. Mr. Blue was educated in the North View and Thresher district schools.
His happy marriage occurred in 1904, when Miss Bertha J. Cook became his wife. She was born in Champaign County, a daughter of Lyona B. and Mary E. (Parker) Cook. She was educated in the Amity school.
Mr. and Mrs. Blue after their marriage became renters on the old Hutchinson estate four and a half miles west of Thomasboro. A year later they removed to Ford County, and there farmed eighty acres of rented land for six years. Throughout they were possessed of the ambition to acquire a home of their own, and called to their aid the utmost thrift of their German stock and their native habits of economy. With money Mrs. Blue inherited from her father's estate and money saved by their several years as renters they bought eighty acres seven and a half miles northwest of . Rantoul.
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Their place is on the corner of cross roads and their home is beautifully situated on an eminence of land from which the ground slopes away in all directions. Their home in summer time is almost kept from view by a magnificent grove of maple, hackberry, butternut, walnut and evergreen trees. They have carefully studied and worked out a fine landscape gar- dening which would do credit to an artist in that field.
In this home Mr. and Mrs. Blue have enjoyed the happy companionship of their two children. Eldon Louis was born in 1907 and Glen Emerson was born in 1912. The family are active members of the German Lutheran Evangelical Church. Politically Mr. Bluc is a Republican, and has mani- fested his public spirit whenever the occasion required his services. He is a member of the local school board and serving as clerk, and is also on his two year term as a road commissioner. Mr. Blue has been treasurer of the North Prospect Telephone Company six years, and is a director of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Dix Township in Ford County. This com- pany is one of the large ones in central Illinois, and has $2,000,000 of insur- ance in force.
HON. ROY C. FREEMAN. The science of justice and statutory law both require keen perceptions, well trained minds and intellects beyond the ordinary, and each is a distinct branch of what is technically termed "law." The simple fact that an individual is admitted to the bar is of itself prima facie evidence of the possession of superior intellectual endow- ments, although some who pose as legists are unprincipled and others incompetent as such, in competition with the profession generally ; but when lawyers are elected for office, especially the executive and judicial, those of the best reputation for honorable conduct and legal ability are generally given the preference. The career of Judge Roy C. Freeman, county judge of Champaign County, has been such as to demonstrate that he deserves membership in the latter class, and that he has fairly earned the honor which his position indicates and the confidence of the people of the county.
Roy C. Freeman is a native of Champaign County, having been born in Homer Township, on the farm of his father, July 13, 1880, a son of John T. and Jennie B. '(Silkey) Freeman. His father has passed his entire life in Champaign County, where he has won his way to the owner- ship of a handsome property and a position among the leading agricul- turists and stock raisers of this section, his home still being in Homer Township. In his native county he has gained the reputation of being a man of ability and resource, who is straightforward in living up to his business engagements and in discharging his civic responsibilities. Mrs. Freeman, who also survives, is a native of Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Roy C. is their only child.
Roy C. Freeman was brought up on his father's farm, but his early tendencies were shown to lie in the direction of a career other than that of an agricultural life, and he was given the necessary encouragement by his parents. His early education was acquired in the country schools following which he enrolled as a student at the high school at Homer, which he attended for three years, and from which he was graduated in 1898. He then entered the literary department of the University of Illi- nois, but in the fall of 1899 went to the University of Michigan, as a- special student, taking literary work. His law work was started in the fall of 1900, and in June, 1903, he was graduated with his degree from the University of Michigan, and soon thereafter admitted to the bar of that state. Returning to Illinois, in October, 1903, he was admitted to the Illinois bar, and in December opened an office for the practice of his profession. The young legist was not long in attracting a good
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PATRICK RICHARDS
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clientele of representative people in the general practice of his calling, and after about ten years of successful professional business his name began to be mentioned as a judicial possibility. Finally he was persuaded to allow his name to be used in this connection, and in November, 1914, he was the successful candidate for the office of county judge. He took office in December of the same year and has. remained in the same capacity to the present time. His record has been in harmony with that which he established as a lawyer, and in his office he has administered the law with the broadest intelligence and a keen regard for equity. The judge on the bench fails more frequently, perhaps, from a deficiency in that broad- mindedness which not only comprehends the details of a situation quickly and that insures a complete self-control under the most exasperating con- ditions than from any other cause; and the judge who makes a success in the discharge of his multitudinous delicate duties, whose rulings are seldom reversed, and before whom counsel and litigant come with an unshakable confidence, must possess that broad-mindedness referred to in in addition to well-rounded character, finely balanced mind and splendid intellectual attainments. From Judge Freeman's past record and the con- fidence in which he is universally held it is assumed that he is just such a jurist.
Judge Freeman was married August 16, 1'905, to Miss Lillian A. Bur- dick, who was born in Champaign .County, Illinois, and to this union there have been born three children: Beulah May, who died in 1910; and Gladys Irene and Hazel Bernice. Judge Freeman is a Republican. He has been interested in the success of his party and for some years has been active in politics. For about six years prior to his election to the county judgeship he served in the capacity of assistant state's attorney. As a fraternalist he belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Blue Lodge and Council of the Masons, being past thrice illustrious master of the latter.
CHESTER W. RICHARDS. Members of the Richards family have been active figures in business affairs in Champaign County for over half a century. The name is especially identified with the First National Bank of Urbana, of which the late Patrick Richards was for many years president and of which his son, Chester W. Richards, is now vice-president. Chester W. Richards is a lawyer by profession, and has an extensive general practice in all the courts of this county.
The late Patrick Richards was born at Quebec, Canada, December 17, 1835, but soon after his birth his parents removed to Utica, New York. He was reared in that city, was educated in the public schools, and gained his first opening in the business world as a drug clerk. He was with a very large drug establishment at Utica and remained there several years. He not only performed the routine duties assigned him, but made his position an opportunity for thorough study and mastery of the details of the business. On reaching his majority he removed to New York City, and had further experience as a prescription clerk. His thrift also enabled him to save a few hundred dollars, and with this comparatively small capital he removed to Champaign County in 1862. His first location was at Tolono. Soon afterwards he opened a small stock of drugs and sundries in that village and employed all the resources of his skill and recent experi- ence to build up a business. His choice of location was fortunate, since the surrounding country was comparatively new and there was a ready demand for his stock of merchandise. His store soon came to be recognized as the leading one of its kind over a large tract of country. His trade grew and at one time his stock inventoried at something more than $17,000.
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He was also an active citizen and for several terms served as supervisor of his township.
In 1882 Patrick Richards sold out his drug business at Tolono with the intention of retiring. Retired life soon proved tedious, and removing from the village of Tolono to Urbana he acquired stock in and also some share in the management of the First National Bank, which was then, however, a private banking institution. With the incorporation of the First National Bank he became its president, and he held that position until his death on January 1, 1899. At his death the bank had a capital stock of $100,000, and was secure in its position as one of the leading financial concerns of Champaign County.
Patrick Richards was married May 22, 1865, to Amelia I. Morgan, daughter of W. E. Morgan and a native of Fleming County, Kentucky. They became the parents of three children: Gertrude, Clarence M., and Chester W.
Chester W. Richards was born at Urbana, July 28, 1883, about a year after his parents removed to that city. He was educated in the Urbana public schools, graduating from high school in the spring of 1902. Not long afterwards he took up the study of law in the University of Illinois, and received his degrec LL. B. in 1906. Mr. Richards has been actively engaged in practice at Urbana since 1907. His law offices are in the First National Bank Building. From 1908 to 1911 he was corporation counsel of the city and since 1911 has been master in chancery of the Circuit Court of the county. Besides the duties of this position, the demands made upon his professional time and energy, and his official relations with the First National Bank, Mr. Richards was further honored and given further responsibilities when on April 17, 1917, he was elected mayor of Urbana.
He has always taken an active part in Republican party affairs, and is a member of the First Baptist Church, superintendent of its Sunday school, is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Richards married Miss Angie Casey of Chicago, daughter of Charles E. Casey. a broker of that city. They have two children : Chester William, Jr., and Elizabeth Ann.
DANIEL R. McHARRY. Among the numerous families whose activities of life have contributed toward the upbuilding of Champaign County we are pleased to mention the name of McHarry.
William McHarry was a son of Daniel and Elizabeth McHarry, born in Strenraer, Scotland, in 1856. Daniel McHarry had preceded his family to America, became a soldier in the Civil War, and lost his life in the service. His family followed him to America when William was fifteen years of age. They came first to Mackinaw, Michigan, later moved to Chicago, and from there to Champaign County, where they engaged in farming.
William McHarry wedded Miss Maggie Tweedy, a native of the same place in Scotland. The two families, Tweedy and McHarry, immigrated to America together when Maggie was ten years of age. After the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. William McHarry they began their wedded life two miles north of Rantoul, settling on prairie land. For a number of years they rented the land they farmed, and there this sturdy young Scotch couple began to carve out a future for themselves and found a permanent home. By practicing strict economy and being industrious they were finally able to purchase a farm for themselves. Three children came to gladden their home, which the fond parents named Nettie, now Mrs. Parker of Paxton, Illinois, Jessie and Daniel R. The children attended the district school, and later Daniel and Jessie became students of the high school of Rantoul,
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graduating with honor. Later Miss Jessie became a student at the Univer- sity of Illinois, graduating in 1911 in literature and art and attaining the degree of A. B. She then specialized in history and in 1912 took the degree A. M., after which she was employed as principal of the high school of Rantoul, filling in a satisfactory manner that position for four years. She was also employed as teacher in the high school of Pontiac, Illinois. At the present writing she is is carrying three courses in history and one in education at the university. When one considers the amount of work faith- fully performed in that number of years, the good secd sown in the lives of our young students, thus fitting them for life's duties, we can in a measure appreciate the value and worth of one whose influence is thus far reaching, and say, "All honor to whom honor is due." Miss Jessie is an interested member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Kappa Alpha Pi Atheneum literary society of the university.
Daniel McHarry, the only son of William McHarry and wife, wedded Miss Geil Smedley, a daughter of Elmer and Sarah (Bundy) Smedley, natives of Indiana. She was born at Salem, Indiana.
The Smedley family migrated to Illinois when Geil was three years of age. The family consisted of two girls, Hallie and Geil. Geil received her education in the high school of Rantoul, graduating from the same. She is a cultured and winsome little wife. Daniel McHarry resides on the old McHarry estate, busily engaged in managing the farm. He is exten- sively interested in raising Shorthorn cattle and has some fine blooded horses. He is one of the progressive farmers of Rantoul. He believes a farmer should enjoy the useful things of life, and puts in practice these ideas. He farms his estate with an "International Titan" traction engine, making that engine do the work of eight horses, plowing, disking and preparing the soil for the grain. He also makes it do the heavy work of the farm, doing the belt work, running the ensilage cutter and filling the fine large silo which he built himself, having a capacity of seventy tons. He has also installed a smaller gasoline engine which runs the feed grinder, pumps all the water for the stock and farm purposes, and the ladies of the house think its best service in lightening labor is that of running the washing machine. He has a fine water system in the house, where hard or soft water may be had by simply turning a faucet.
Mr. McHarry is a true type of an American, and believes in enjoying the good and useful things of life. He owns a fine Auburn five passenger car, which he understands thoroughly and runs sanely, making it a pleasure for his family to enjoy. The McHarry family are attentive members of the Congregational Church and liberal supporters of the same. Politically Mr. McHarry supports the Republican party. He is broad minded, how- ever, and believes in supporting principle instead of party, believing the man who will render the best service to the public is the one worthy of his support. The McHarry homestead has ever been noted for its hospitality. Their lives have been closely associated with Champaign County and they have experienced the joys and sorrows incident to the usual lot of humanity. In 1913 a great sorrow visited them in the death of the dear father, who entered into rest. He was a loving husband, an indulgent father, a kind neighbor and true friend.
The lives of the McHarry family have been such that it garlands the name with pleasing memories of deeds of kindness and helpfulness. The family may be found at their pleasant home two miles north of Rantoul. The widowed mother is comforted by the presence of her children and is able to look back over their lives with pleasure to days well spent and duties well performed. 1
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY 1
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 Cavan, Ireland, in 1833, came to America, and about 1863 located in DeWitt County, Illinois, becoming a farmer. He also for many years did an extensive business as a stock and grain buyer and shipper. His death occurred in 1905 when about seventy- three years of age. After coming to Illinois he married Mary Elizabeth Williams, a widow. She died in 1908. By her first marriage to Mr. Williams she had three children: Ella, wife of Silas Hand, at Cham- paign, well known in real estate circles; and Ira and Annie, deceased. Worship Gray and wife also had three children: Fred S., living in Florida ; Doctor Gray; and Worship, now deceased.
Doctor Gray during his boyhood attended the country schools and also the graded school, and his higher education was largely the product of his own earnings and steadfast ambition. He entered the Keokuk Medical College, from which he was graduated M. D. in 1891. Immediately after graduating he began practice at Champaign and has been steadily iden- tified with that city ever since. He has sought every opportunity outside the range of his personal observation and experience to improve his skill and ability. In 1898 he spent some months in the Post-Graduate Medical School at Chicago, was also in the clinics of the famous Mayo Brothers at Rochester, Minnesota, and has attended schools and hospitals in Boston and New York. In 1914 Doctor Gray went abroad for study and travel and was in London, England, when the great European war broke out.
For the first ten years after locating at Champaign Doctor Gray was in general practice, but has since specialized in surgery and in consulta- tion. He has been surgeon of the Burnham Hospital at Champaign since 1895, and is district surgeon of the Illinois Traction Company and of the Bell Telephone Company.
On April 10, 1888, he married Miss Olive Anderson, a native of Champaign County. They are the parents of two children: Hubert W. and Muriel Olive. Doctor Gray served twenty years as a member of the Board of Education in Champaign, serving eight years of the time as president of the board, and for eight years was health officer. Hc is a member of the Masonic order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
HOWARD WREAN. From the occupation of railroad engineer, which he followed for a number of years, Mr. Howard Wrean has turned to the quiet and productive resource of farming, with an excellent cstate in section 6 of Harwood Township. Mr. Wrean is one of the competent agriculturists of Champaign County, and he and his family are people of many associations in this section.
Mr. Wrean was born near Ludlow, a son of George and Amelia F. Wrean, his father a native of Nova Scotia and his mother of Denmark. They mar- ried in Pennsylvania and were the parents of seven children, all of whom grew up and received their education in the public schools at Ludlow. When George Wrcan came to Champaign County he located on a farm west of Rantoul and later bought 170 acres a mile and a half northeast of that town. Here his promising career as a farmer was cut short after a resi-
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dence of only four years. He died suddenly in 1886. His widow survived until February 28, 1917.
Mr. Howard Wrean married Miss Frances C. Marquette. She was born at Philo, Illinois, a daughter of James and Cornelia (Ennis) Marquette, her father a native of Ohio and her mother of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They married at Philo, Illinois. The Marquettes are of French ancestry, but the family has been in this country for a number of generations. Mrs. Wrean was one of two children. Her brother, Thomas Ennis, was given as his middle name the name of his mother's family. Mrs. Wrean was named Frances Coyle, the second name being given in honor of some special Quaker friends of her mother in Philadelphia. Mrs. Wrean was a small child when her father died, and was seventeen years old when she lost her beloved mother. Mrs. Wrean and her brother were educated in the Philo High School, where Mrs. Wrean graduated. She then took up educa- tional work and for a number of years was a successful teacher in Cham- paign County. For one year she taught in Urbana and was also a teacher in the Ludlow High School. While at Ludlow in her work as teacher she became acquainted with Mr. Howard Wrean, and this friendship ended in their marriage.
They were married December 22, 1901, in Chicago, and they lived in that city for one year. Mr. Wrean was then an engineer on the Illinois Central Railway, and continued that work for two more years with home at Champaign. Later they went out to Idaho and bought a ranch near Idaho Falls, and from there returned to Champaign County and located on the old Wrean homestead near Ludlow. Here they have an attractive home and Mr. Wrean is making a great success as an agriculturist, chiefly with the crops of corn and oats. Some years he has threshed as high as eighty bushels of oats to the acre.
Mr. and Mrs. Wrean have one son, Joy Thomas, who is now fifteen years of age and is prepared for the second year of high school at Ludlow. Mr. and Mrs. Wrean are active members of the Presbyterian Church at Philo. Mrs. Wrean's brother is also a member of that church and their lives since childhood have been identified with that community. Mr. Wrean is a member of the Masons, of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers and is a Republican in politics.
The lives of the Marquette and Wrean families have been closely identi- fied with Champaign County for many years, and the people of that name have been known for their kindness, hospitality and general worth. Among the most valued personal friends of the family was the late Judge Cunning- ham, who until his death was actively interested in the preparation of this history of Champaign County. Mrs. Wrean has the vivacity of tempera- ment and the energy betraying her French ancestry and is a splendid type of womanhood and a most capable homemaker.
WILLIAM E. SCHOWENGERDT, M. D., As even the layman finds wonder and interest in scanning the progress made by medical science from time to time, it is not remarkable that trained medical men should continue enthusiastic students and thereby still further deserve the faith and con- fidence of those who seek their healing ministrations. No men of any profession are so continuously students as are physicians, and the more competent and skillful they are the more closely do they devote attention to investigating the cause, prevention and cure of disease. They usually are real founts of wisdom; in fact, they must be. The city of Champaign has a very representative body of physicians and surgeons, and in the foremost. rank stands Dr. William E. Schowengerdt, who has been iden- tified with the professional, civil and social life of this city for two decades.
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