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 72
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
E. Clarence Churchill was born on the family farm in Raymond Town- ship, Champaign County, Illinois, January 23, 1882, a son of John W. and Alice I. (Martinie) Churchill, the former a native of Cortland County, New York, and the latter of Kentucky. His father was still a youth when he came to Champaign County in 1857, and when the Civil War came on enlisted as a private in Company G, Seventy-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Ingersoll. His service began in 1862 and continued until he received his honorable discharge, July 22, 1865, at Galveston, Texas, and between these dates he had seen some hard fighting and some exciting experiences as a soldier. Among the engagements in which he participated were the siege of Vicksburg, the engagements at and around Jackson, Mississippi, the sanguinary fighting at Fort Blakeley, and the battles at Mobile, and while he was with the Federal forces in Georgia, was captured by the enemy and held a prisoner for six months. After his military service was completed Mr. Churchill returned to Cham- paign County, where he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits for a number of years, but finally turned his attention to mercantile affairs and rounded out a long, successful and honorable career at Long- view, where his death occurred in 1910. He was one of this community's citizens who was not selfish in his aspirations, giving his support always to enterprises and institutions which assisted the community in it com- mercial, moral and civic growth. That he was successful in a material way is shown by the fact that before his death he had accumulated about 900 acres of land, in addition to having other holdings and interests. Mr. Churchill and his wife, who is also now deceased, had three children : Mary C., who is the wife of Horace B. Stevens, of Homer, New York; Charles F. and E. Clarence.
After attending the public schools of Longview, E. Clarence Churchill pursued a three-year course at the Westfield (Illinois) College, and with this preparation accepted a position with the American Radiator Company of St. Louis, Missouri. His connection with this concern extended only over a short period, however, for he was offered and accepted an engagement with the Longview Bank in the fall of 1906, and, as before noted, has advanced steadily with this banking house, of which he is now vice president. In addition, in partnership with his brother, Charles F. Churchill, he is engaged in superintending the operations of 680 acres of Champaign County farming land, some of which was purchased by his father at $6 per acre and more of which cost him $20.0 and $212 per acre for its purchase. In banking, business and financial circles, he has established and retained a reputation for sound judgment, reliability and acumen, and the confidence in which he is held by his fellow citizens was recently evidenced by his election to the office of village treasurer, to the duties of which post he is giving his abilities at the present time. Mr. Churchill is a Republican.
On June 7, 1909, Mr. Churchill was married to Miss Myrtle Goble, who was born in Clark County, Illinois, and they are the parents of two children : Winston Goble, born June 23, 1912; and Asenath Irene, born March 6, 1914.
ALBERT R. COOPER, postmaster of Pesotum, has spent most of his life in this county as a practical farmer and also as a teacher, and is one of the dignified and influential leaders in his community.
Mr. Cooper was born in Pesotum Township October 7, 1870, a son of John A. and Mary L. (Prose) Cooper. His mother was born in Ohio. The father, a native of West Virginia, first went west to the State of Missouri and from there came to Champaign County in 1863. Locating
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on a farm in Pesotum Township, he went through the trials and adversi- ties of the pioneers and finally accumulated an estate which enabled him to retire and enjoy life in comfort. The mother died in April, 1880. They had seven children: Minnie, wife of Frank Dowler, of Hindsboro, Illinois; Myra, who died in childhood; Albert R .; Laura, wife of Albert Tjossem, of Ellensburg, Washington; Curtis, of Decatur, Illinois; Chester, who died at the age of twenty-one; and Lucy, who died in infancy.
Albert R. Cooper grew up on his father's farm in this county, attended the district schools, and in 1891 finished the course of the Tolono High School. For one year he was a student in the University of Illinois. Mr. Cooper did a splendid work as a teacher, his experience including two terms in Champaign County and four terms in Douglas County, Illinois. After giving up the work of the schoolroom he spent two years on a farm owned by his father in Douglas County, and then returned to the old homestead in Champaign County in 1900 and was a practical farmer on its acres until the fall of 1911.
Mr. Cooper took the civil service examination of the Federal Govern- ment and on September 8, 1910, was appointed postmaster of Pesotum under the Taft administration. Under the civil service rules he remains in the office and is giving an administration satisfactory to all the patrons. While living on the farm he was twice elected assessor of Pesotum Town- ship, and has also served as director of the local schools.
June 29, 1898, Mr. Cooper married Miss Nettie Knapp. She was born at Arcola, Illinois. Their family consists of seven children, all living and all in the family circle. Their names are Eva Lena, Hattie Leah, John Maurice, Albert Ralph, Selma Edith, Paul Rex and Guy Anton.
Mr. Cooper is a Republican in politics. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and with his family worships in the United Brethren Church.
CHARLES FRANK VAN VLECK. It is not so very many years ago since the first American automobile attracted interest and curious comment as it rather cautiously sped up and down the highways of town and country, and few people had sufficient confidence in the new machine to predict that the time would come when it would practically supplant all other ordinary means of transportation. Its development has been so rapid and substantial that business men in all lines, all over the country, soon found themselves becoming first interested and later concerned with the automobile industry in some way. One of the necessary adjuncts is the public garage, and many men of solid business experience have found that they have made no mistake in investing in enterprises of this kind. One who is doing a fine business at Philo is Charles Frank Van Vleck.
Charles F. Van Vleck was born at Philo, Illinois, August 10, 1870. His parents were Charles H. and Jennie M. (Palmer) Van Vleck, the former of whom was born in the state of New York and the latter at Joliet, Illinois. They came to Philo in 1868 and the father embarked in a grain business at this point, in which he continued to be interested for many years. His death occurred at Philo February 8, 1916, his reputa- tion as an upright business man never having been impaired. The mother died at Philo in October, 1872, when their only child was but two years old. He was educated in the public schools and remained with his father and when twenty-one years of age went into the grain business with him and continued to handle grain in this section for the next fourteen years. After Mr. Van Vleck sold his grain interests he went into the contracting and building business and erected a number of buildings in this vicinity before he went into the automobile business, in which he is greatly pros-
JAMES C. MCCASKRIN RANTOUL, ILLINOIS
MRS. MARGARET MCCASKRIN
HARRY M. MCCASKRIN AND WIFE ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS
GEORGE W. McCASKRIN
J. D. STAYTON AND FAMILY RANTOUL, ILLINOIS
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pering. He built a commodious garage with dimensions 59x74 feet and makes a specialty of handling the Overland cars.
Mr. Van Vleck was married March 4, 1891, to Miss Anna E. Hoover, and they have had three children, namely: Vere, who died at the age of six months; Mary, who is the wife of John Mooney, of Indianapolis, Indiana; and Lorraine, who lives with lier parents and assists her mother in dispensing hospitality in their pleasant home.
In politics Mr. Van Vleck is a sound Republican and on numerous occasions he has been elected by his party to important public office, at present serving as township supervisor and with the utmost efficiency. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a Thirty-second degree Mason.
JAMES P. MCPHERREN, present postmaster of Homer, and a native of this section of Illinois, has been a successful business man for many years and has exemplified the energetic qualities of the real business "builder.
Mr. McPherren was born in Ford County, Illinois, July 22, 1871, but has spent practically all his life in Champaign County. His parents were Thomas J. and Amanda J. (Roberts) McPherren. They were born in Indiana and came to Illinois in 1857, locating on a farm in Champaign County. His father died at Homer November 16, 1891, and the mother is now living with her son James. There were ten children in the family : Maria, widow of Dan Miller, living in Indiana; Rachel, deceased; Alice, wife of Nels Christison, of Nebraska; Josephine, wife of J. C. Flanding, of Indiana; Thomas, of Mount Vernon, Illinois; James P .; Robert, of Denison, Texas; Cyrus, living in this state; Mary, whose home is at Homer; and Nellie, wife of L. N. Hall, of Champaign.
James P. McPherren grew up on his father's farm, receiving a common school education, and stayed with his parents and helped manage the farm until 1896. He then took up the contracting business, and for three years was a manufacturer of brick and tile at Homer. Following that for eight years he was a concrete contractor, and then during President Wilson's first term was appointed postmaster of Homer and has looked after the administration of the local postoffice to the satisfaction of all his constit- uents. Mr. McPherren is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic order and belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He married Miss Nellie Trimble, a native of Champaign County.
J. C. McCASKRIN. Of the families that have contributed much to the life and substance of Champaign County during passing years that of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. McCaskrin of Rantoul stand conspicuous.
They came as young married people to Champaign County more than forty-five years ago. . J. C. McCaskrin was a son of Harrison M. and Louisa E. McCaskrin, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. The mother's family moved from Ohio to Indiana and entered a Government tract of land. Harrison McCaskrin was a miller by trade and followed that occupation in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. J. C. McCaskrin was the fourth in a family of five children, four sons and one daughter. The daughter, Mary Elizabeth, married Mr. Holliday and moved to Oswego, Kansas. Two of the sons, Reuben B. and George W., were Union soldiers and both lost their lives during the service. When the McCaskrin children were quite young their father died in White County, Indiana, and the widowed mother then took her children back to Tippecanoe County, where she fell heir to the family estate and lived there to see her sons grown to worthy manhood. The other son, Winfield Scott, lived with his mother and cared for her throughout her lifetime, subsequently removing to Kan- sas, where he died.
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J. C. McCaskrin married, in December, 1869, Miss Margaret Cloyd. She was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Nicewander) Cloyd. The Cloyd family consisted of six children, Maria, William, Margaret, Louisa, Albert and Lydia. They were educated in the public schools of Tippe- canoe County, Indiana. John Cloyd was noted for his fine bred stock.
A few months after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. McCaskrin came to Champaign County, Illinois, and built a small house twelve by fourteen feet out on the broad prairie. They also had a small hay stable and one team of horses. This was the equipment with which the industrious young people began their lives in Champaign County. They were willing to work, pos- sessed health and strength, and with those assets the future stretched before them with many rosy prospects. The nucleus of their landed estate con- sisted of eighty acres. Mr. McCaskrin worked strenuously in early years and gradually paid not only for his first farm but by adding forty acres at a time increased his holdings until he now owns 200 acres of fine, rich land.
Politically Mr. McCaskrin has always given loyal support to the prin- ciples of the Republican party, though he himself has refused any official position.
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A special part of this record should concern itself with the three chil- dren, two sons and a daughter, who are the crown of Mr. and Mrs. McCas- krin's career. The sons are H. M. and G. W., and the daughter is Louise. From childhood they showed a bent for study and scholarly pursuits, were educated in the district schools, afterward in the high school at Rantoul, and following their graduation in that institution they entered the Univer- sity of Illinois, where all of them completed courses. The sons studied law in the University of Michigan and are both alumni of that institution. H. M. McCaskrin is now a successful lawyer at Rock Island, Illinois. G. W. McCaskrin, who formerly practiced at Rock Island, now controls a large law business with offices in the Lincoln Building at Champaign. G. W. McCaskrin has had a life of exceptional activity and many honors. He served as alderman and twice as mayor of Rock Island, and was also a member of the State Legislature. In 1908 he was candidate for governor on an independent ticket. He went to the Legislature as a recognized exponent of the 2-cent fare on railroads in the State of Illinois. He originated and introduced the measure into the Legislature, which was passed in 1905 and brought about the reductions from the long-existing 3-cent fares to 2 cents. While his active part in this piece of legislation brought him the hostility of the transportation interests, it gained for him the approval of the general public, who have long enjoyed the decrease in transportation.
The daughter, Louise McCaskrin, after graduating from the university, took post-graduate work in pedagogy and also musical training under Miss Clara Maud Kimball at the state university. For six years she was a suc- cessful teacher in this county, and she then married John D. Stayton. Mr. Stayton was formerly a farmer, but is now successfully engaged in the real estate business at Rantoul. Mr. and Mrs. Stayton have had four chil- dren : Laura S., Jean M., Paul M. (deceased) and Leo Cloyd. Education and culture have always been strong motives in the McCaskrin family and have been equally manifested in the Stayton household, where the children are bright and energetic students in the Rantoul 'High School. Their musical training has been carefully supervised by their mother, and all the children have excellent voices and have contributed notably to many public entertainments. Only recently the baby of the family, Leo, aged five years, gained hearty applause by singing a solo.
The McCaskrin family are mostly active members of the Methodist
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Episcopal Church, but Mrs. McCaskrin has always been a member of the Christian Church, and all the children grew up to support the same faith. Mr. and Mrs. McCaskrin have been closely identified with the interests of Champaign County for many years. They properly take pride in the progress made by their children, and through them they realize their ambi- tious plans and desires of early years. They have also performed their part in matters of neighborly kindness and good will toward their fellow- inen, and as they look back upon a past that is filled with accomplishment and worthy influences they also look to an unclouded future.
CHARLES GEORGE DECKER. Since coming to Champaign County twenty-four years ago Charles G. Decker has demonstrated his thorough capacity and broad knowledge of farming and stock raising. His many years of practical experience contribute to his agricultural equipment, and his entire career has been devoted to the cultivation of the soil.
Mr. Decker was born in Jennings County, Indiana, October 28, 1864, a son of George and Mary (Johannes) Decker. His parents were born in Germany. His father was brought to América when a boy, lived in Ohio and in the early days took rafts of provisions down the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans, Louisiana. He finally moved to a farm in Indiana and both he and his wife are now deceased. Their children were: Mary and Margaret, deceased; Rosa, wife of Charles Grunert, of St. Annes, Indiana; Jacob, deceased; Anna, wife of John Schuster, of Cin- cinnati; Catherine and Lena, deceased; Charles G .; and Winnie, wife of John H. Meyer, of Cincinnati.
Charles George Decker learned farming in Indiana and for a time had the active management of the home place. It was in 1893 that he came to Champaign County. For eight years he rented land, and then bought his present fine homestead of 230 acres .in section 13 of Philo Township. He has made many improvements, has adapted himself to local conditions and besides general farming is handling Percheron horses as one of the chief features of his stock husbandry. He also makes a specialty of Shorthorn cattle and spotted China swine.
Mr. Decker married "Elizabeth Johanna Kipper, a native of Indiana. Their five children are Herman Nicholas, Alfred Jacob, Stella Mary, Florence Magdalene and Walter Steven. Politically Mr. Decker is a Democrat. He and his family are active members of St. Thomas Catholic Church and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus.
THOMAS JEFFERSON WOODIN. Of the lives that have been a real con- tribution to the upbuilding and development of Champaign County during a long period of years that of Thomas Jefferson Woodin deserves more than passing consideration. Mr. Woodin and his good wife live in one of the most beautiful and attractive homes in the St. Joseph community, their home combining the attractions of both the town and country and being located within the village limits.
Mr. Woodin was born in Vermilion County, Illinois, September 6, 1841, and his birthplace was the community known as Butler's Point. He was the second in a family of four sons and one daughter born to Elmore and Rebecca (Springer) Woodin. His father was born in New York State and his mother in Ohio, and both of them came to Illinois with their parents when children. The father served as a soldier in the Black Hawk War.
Mr. Woodin had his early education in the district schools of Vermilion County. He was nineteen years of age when the war cloud arose and excite- ment ran high because the union of states was threatened. The bravest and best men in the country volunteered their services in that crisis, and
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in September, 1861, Thomas Jefferson Woodin left his father's home and was one of thirty young men who enlisted at the village of St. Joseph. These recruits were sent to Chicago and joined a company under Captain McWilliams, known as the Chicago Legion. After some preparatory drill- ing they were sent to Cairo, Illinois, and from there to Corinth, on to Island No. 10, then back to Corinth, where they did guard duty, took part in several of the many campaigns through Tennessee and finally from Nashville moved to the great battleground at Stone River or Murfreesboro. Mr. Woodin and his comrades took an active part in that engagement, one of the severest battles of the war. While it was a hotly contested field it was a virtual victory to the Union troops, and after a long day of fighting the Federals lay down to rest, feeling that the day was won. The next day the telegraph wires carried the glad news of the victory all over the United States. From Stone River the regiment of which Mr. Woodin was a member marched through Tennessee into Georgia and he was on con- tinuous duty in skirmishing and then came the great battle of Chicka- mauga. During the first day of that battle the Union troops were driven back to Chattanooga. Then on the following day there was a turn of the tide, when the Federals regained the lost ground and Chickamauga became another milestone in the progress of the Union armies through the South. For three months the troops lay in camp and then fought the battle of Missionary Ridge. Mr. Woodin in that battle saw the heaviest fighting of his entire military experience. The Southerners had seventy- two pieces of artillery and thought it impossible for the Union troops to dislodge them. During a brief rest at one point on Missionary Ridge Mr. Woodin had a view of the surrounding country which gave him -a prospect of almost the entire battleground. From here he could survey and witness a solid mass of Union troops extending over a four milc front going into battle with the enemy. After Missionary Ridge Mr. Woodin accompanied the troops back to Knoxville, Tennessee, to reinforce Burn- side, and after a march of one hundred and fifteen miles they drove Long- street away and relieved that besieged point. On the 18th of June began the noted Atlanta campaign. Mr. Woodin participated in only part of that hundred days campaign, and at the battle of Mud Creek he was severely wounded, after his division had made a charge and captured the objective and made many prisoners. Taken to the field hospital, he was then sent to Nashville, then to Louisville and finally to Springfield, Illinois, where during the month of August he lay in the hospital suffering with a gangrened wound and with typhoid fever. By careful nursing and with the resource of a strong constitution he recovered from his wound, and he has always given much credit to Mrs. Gregory, his good and faithful nurse, to whom he feels he owes his life.
At the end of the war was the declaration of peace over North and South and Mr. Woodin was honorably discharged in June, 1865, and then returned home.
On March 5, 1878, he married Miss Carrie A. Hunt. Mrs. Woodin was born at Eden in Erie County, New York, October 30, 1854, and when only four years of age, in 1858, her parents came West by railroad to Illinois. She has a recollection of that early journey in her life. Her parents were Jonathan and Caroline (West) Hunt, her father a native of New Jersey and her mother of New York. Mrs. Woodin was only fourteen years of age when her mother passed away on August 25, 1868. She received her education in the district schools of Champaign County, where the Hunt family were among the early pioneers. She completed her studies in the Urbana High School and afterward became clerk in a store at St. Joseph, where she remained until her marriage. After their mar-
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riage Mr. and Mrs. Woodin located in St. Joseph and Mr. Woodin con- tinued his business as a stock buyer. They prospered, and one after another there came into their home three young sons, named Walter L., Earl B. and Ernest C. Realizing the advantages of an education, Mr. and Mrs. Woodin sent them to the local schools, the St. Joseph High School, and all of them completed the studies and came home proud possessors of diplomas. Earl continued his education in a business college at Marion, Indiana, two years, and took a scientific course at Dixon, Illinois. From there he entered the University of Illinois, having previously won the county scholarship, and he completed a six years' course in four years, graduating as a civil engineer. In that profession he has already gained a most gratifying position. He worked for a time at Ambridge, Pennsyl- vania, later in Pittsburg, and is one of the competent men in his pro- fession. He married Miss Grace Mast, of Urbana, Illinois, and has a little daughter, Gwendolyn.
The son Walter after graduating from the local schools took a place on his father's farm and is now a practical and progressive farmer in Vermilion County. He married Grace Gibson, of St. Joseph, and they have three children, Agnes dying at the age of one year, and the two still in the home circle are Carl and Lucile.
The son Ernest Woodin entered the University of Illinois, spending one year in the preparatory course, and for four years was a member of the military band. From college he went to Chicago, and starting on a salary of sixty dollars a month with the Gas & Coke Company has been steadily promoted until he now fills one of the high salaried positions with the company.
Mr. and Mrs. Woodin are attentive members of the Church of Christ at St. Joseph and are among its liberal supporters. They give their politi- cal allegiance to the Republican party, and Mrs. Woodin has for years been actively identified with the prohibition cause. She is a woman of unusual executive ability and has sought to exercise her influence always on the side of right. In 1897 Mr. Woodin erected a fine modern home south of St. Joseph on a forty acre tract of land, and adjoining their home is a grove of beautiful trees constituting a widely known park of twenty acres, with a fine water supply and one of the favorite spots for picnickers in this part of the county.
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