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 73
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During the greater part of her life Mrs. Woodin has been afflicted with poor health. She has overcome that infirmity with a courageous spirit that has kept her constantly striving and has enabled her to rear and educate her boys and send them into the world well equipped for their duties.
Another member of the Woodin household must be mentioned. This is Mr. Woodin's half sister, Sina B. Richardson. She came into his home at the age of sixteen, an orphan in poor health, and has ably assisted Mrs. Woodin in rearing the sons and did much to encourage them in every way while they were obtaining their educations and coming to manhood. She shared the joys and sorrows of the household, and is one of the most faithful women of Champaign County. Mr. and Mrs. Woodin have made ample provision in case she should survive them that her last days may be spent in comfort and peace. For a number of years she has had active charge of the beautiful park at the Woodin home. In order to encourage the building of the Interurban Railroad Mr. and Mrs. Woodin donated a part of their own land to the road, and their public spirit in this instance has been one of many cases in which they have worked for the betterment and uplift of the community.
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ALBERT LEHMAN SOUTHWORTH, living retired at Longview, represents one of the old and substantial families of Champaign County, his people having located here more than sixty years ago and having played worthy and active parts in the development and transformation of Raymond Township.
Mr. Southworth was born in Erie County, Ohio, August 14, 1850, son of John Randolph and Anna (Akers) Southworth. His father was a Connecticut man by birth while his mother was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It was in 1855 that the family came to Champaign County and settled on a tract of raw and unimproved land in section 29, Raymond Township. The father lived there and cultivated the soil until his death in 1885, while the mother passed away in 1893. They were the parents of six children: Mary Adelaide, widow of Martin B. Reed, living in Colorado; Julia Ann, deceased; Horace Franklin, deceased ; Albert L .; John J., of Danville, Illinois; and May Lilly, wife of James Watts, of Fairland.
Albert L. Southworth has had an active career, was reared on the home farm in Raymond Township, attended the local schools, and at the age of twenty-three left home and went to Parsons, Kansas, where he lived on a farm for seven years. His next experience was near Soda Springs, Colorado, where he spent three years as a miner. On returning to Cham- paign County he rented the home place for about three years, and again went back to Kansas and did farming for seven years. Since then he has lived at Longview and is retired. Mr. Southworth is a Democrat in politics.
JOHN T. FREEMAN. Because of the intelligence and good judgment of many of the large farmers of Champaign County, this section of the state contributes much to the general food supply and scarcely any other indus- try is so well worth engaging in or so compensating when everything else is considered. One of the wide awake, modern and prosperous farmers of this section of Illinois is found in John T. Freeman, who owns large tracts of cultivated land in Homer and Ogden townships.
John T. Freeman was born in Champaign County, Illinois, July 25, 1854, and is a son of Thomas and Nancy (Redman) Freeman, both of whom were born in Ohio. From that state they came to Illinois and dur- ing the first year lived in Vermilion County, moving in 1851 to Cham- paign County and settling in Homer Township, where Thomas Freeman engaged in farming during the rest of his active life. He was born in 1826 and died in 1908. His wife was born in 1826 and died in 1902. They were estimable people and are kindly remembered by their neighbors. They were the parents of six children, namely: Mary M., who is deceased ; Edmund R., who is a resident of Ogden, Illinois; John T .; James J., who also lives in Homer Township; William H., who died at the age of two months; and Martha, who died in infancy.
John T. Freeman grew to manhood on his father's farm in Homer Township and gained his education in the district schools. His first farming venture on his own account was in the vicinity of Ogden, Illinois, where he remained for three years. He then moved to Homer Township and bought 380 acres lying on the State Road, his present acreage and the location being as follows: 160 acres in section 29, Homer Township; 100 acres in section 32, Homer Township; 120 acres in Ogden Township situated in sections 29 and 30. Mr. Freeman carries on general farming and according to the most approved methods.
Mr. Freeman was married October 23, 1879, to Miss Jennie B. Silkey, who was born in Ohio, and they have had two sons, the younger of whom
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died in infancy. The older, Roy C., is county judge of Champaign County.
The parents of Mrs. Freeman were John P. and Mary . (McMahn) Silkey. The father was born in New Jersey and the mother in Ohio. They came to Champaign County in 1863 and at first Mr. Silkey worked at his trade, that of a tinner, but later went into the monument business. They were well known and highly respected people. They had six children, namely: Thomas E., who lives at Danville, Illinois; Joseph B., who is a resident of Royal, Illinois; Fremont, who is deceased; Jennie B., who is the wife of John T. Freeman; Charles M., who lives at Mt. Pulaski, Illinois; and Annie M., who is the wife of James H. Freeman, of Ogden, Illinois.
In politics Mr. Freeman is a Republican and for six years he served as commissioner of highways, giving universal satisfaction. He has belonged to the Masonic fraternity for many years past and attends the lodge at Homer.
JOSEPH E. JOHNSON. While he is still a young man, the career of Joseph E. Johnson has been one filled with successful participation in a number of ventures, and in its range and activities has invaded the fields of both commerce and finance. In the former direction he is at the head of a grain and lumber business that is recognized as one of the necessary commercial adjuncts of Broadlands, and in the latter capacity he is cashier of the Bank of Broadlands and a man of much financial knowledge and ability. Likewise, Mr. Johnson is a citizen who has spent his entire life at Broadlands, is well acquainted with its needs in a civic way, and has always been eager to further its interests.
Joseph E. Johnson was born at Broadlands, Champaign County, Illinois, September 11, 1881, and is a son of Charles J. and Barbara (Mack) Johnson, the former a native of Sweden and the latter of Bohemia. Charles J. Johnson was about at his majority when he immigrated to the United States in 1877, and his first location was on a farm in Ayers Town- ship, Champaign County. During the remaining active years of his career he continued to follow agricultural pursuits with much success, but recently has retired and he and Mrs. Johnson are living at Broad- lands, in the enjoyment of all the comforts and conveniences which may be won through industry and right living. They are the parents of three children: Anna, the wife of Ira Laverick, who is engaged in farming in Ayers Township; Joseph E., of this notice; and William H., who is engaged in farming in Douglas county.
After attending the public schools of the vicinity of his home Joseph E. Johnson further prepared himself by taking a course at Brown's Bus- iness College at Champaign. While a youth he had thoroughly learned the business of farming through assisting his father during the summer months, and when his commercial course was completed he returned to the homestead, where he spent five years at the vocation of agriculturist. He then decided to put his business training to some usc, and, coming to Broadlands, entered the Bank of Broadlands as bookkeeper. He retained this position for three years, when, because of his general ability, fidelity and industry, on January 1, 1917, he was given the post of cashier and still retains this office. In the meantime, during the time he was acting as bookkeeper, he had entered commercial affairs on his own account, having founded a lumber, coal and grain business, which he built up to large proportions. After assuming the duties of cashier Mr. Johnson found that his responsibilities were too heavy and he was compelled to drop the coal business, although he still handles lumber and grain in large quan-
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tities. He is one of his community's sound and substantial business men, and his personal probity of character has done much to increase the bus- iness of the bank with which he is connected. He is a Republican, but not a politician or office seeker, is fraternally identified with the Masons, and his religious connection is with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Johnson was married February 10, 1904, to Miss Lulu D. Morris, and to this union there has come one son, Charles Morris, born October 2, 1909, and now attending the public schools.
JAMES M. CURRENT. One of the oldest business men in Champaign County is James M. Current, of Homer. He and his family have con- ducted a grain business for a great many years in this and in Vermilion County. His life has been one of constant activity and from small be- ginnings he has acquired a competence and an honorable reputation.
Mr. Current was born in Vermilion County, Illinois, January 21, 1842, . a son of William and Mary (Bastion) Current. His parents were both born in Virginia, his father in 1803 and his mother in 1807. His father located in Vermilion County among the pioneers in 1826 and six years later was a soldier in the Black Hawk War. He was a farmer and his death occurred August 6, 1851. There were fourteen children in the family, and four sons are still living: George, now in the Soldiers Home at Danville, Illinois; James M .; Isaac, of Danville; and Samuel, who lives in Nebraska. Another son, Samuel, was a soldier and was one of the guards at Lincoln's funeral in Washington.
James M. Current grew up in Vermilion County and remained there as an active farmer until 1871. For three and a half years he was in the meat and grocery business at Danville, but in 1875 moved to a farm six miles southeast of Homer in Vermilion County. In 1892 he engaged in the grain business at Fairmont, and in 1901 moved his business head- quarters to Homer, where he is still active, though now past seventy-five years of age.
On October 18, 1859, when not yet eighteen years of age, Mr. Current married Miss Mary E. Lynch. Six children were born to them: William H., now associated with his father in business; Abraham L., of Danville; Mary Jane and Sarah Melissa, both deceased; Martin A., of Danville; and Fay R. Fay R. served three years as mayor of Homer. He is an active member of the Masonic Order. Fay Current married Florence Giddings, a native of Kentucky, and four children were born to their marriage: George J., deceased ; Victor V .; Vernon R., deceased ; and Alta Belle. The son William H. married for his first wife Lovina Gibson and they were the parents of six children : Etta and Frank, both deceased ; Fred; Bertha, wife of Ralph Kelsheimer; Clark; and Seymour. William H. married for his second wife Gretchen Whitshof.
James M. Current is a Republican in politics, a member of the Masonic Order and has long been active in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a local preacher and at the special request of the official board he deliv- ered a sermon at Homer on his seventy-fifth birthday.
FRED W. HOWELL. While the greater part of Champaign County may be included in the agricultural belt, many of the finest farms may be found in Homer Township, where the type of citizenship is high and unusually intelligent. Modern methods prevail, the farmers use the very best farm machinery and are generally open minded, yet practical, as to improved ways of carrying on their important industries. One of these well informed agriculturists is Fred W. Howell, who has lived on his
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present farm in section 29 since he was eleven years old. He was born in Homer Township, July 23, 1885, and is the only child of his parents, Samuel W. and Savannah (Brown) Howell, natives of Indiana, who are now living at Fort Collins, Colorado.
Fred W. Howell obtained his education in the public schools. He was reared on the farm now owned by his parents and has made farming and stockraising his business. He has 160 acres here, well developed and richly cultivated and has made such substantial improvements that all the surroundings are comfortable and a prevailing air of thrift is immedi- ately noticed.
Mr. Howell was married on February 1, 1912, to Miss Edna Snyder, who was born in Champaign County and is a daughter of Monroc and Flora (Bowen) Snyder. The father of Mrs. Howell was born in Illinois and the mother is a native of Ohio. They reside in Indiana, where Mr. Snyder is a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have seven children: Mrs. Howell and Roy, who are twins, and the latter is a resident of Urbana, Illinois; Jessie, who is the wife of Floyd Harvey, of Wesley, Iowa; Nellie, who is the wife of Ward Ruddicil, of Homer; and Mattie, Hazcl and Herman, all three of whom live with their parents.
Mr. Howell has never been very active in politics nor has he been an office seeker, but he is a careful and interested citizen and has always voted with the Republican party. He is a Mason of many years standing and belongs also to the Loyal Order of Moose.
JEHU EVERETT DAVIS, a prominent banker and business man of Peso- tum, has pursued a very active career ever since leaving school. He repre- sents one of the old established families in this section of Champaign, County.
Mr. Davis was born at the village of Pesotum July 4, 1874, a son of James Edwin and Lavina (Crawford) Davis. Both parents were born in Ohio and came to Champaign County in 1867, locating at Pesotum, where they still reside. His father has been in the grain business and in other activities for many years.
The only child of his parents, Jehu Everett Davis was well educated in the local schools, and at the age of sixteen entered the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, where he pursued special courses for two years. For one year he attended the business college at Valparaiso, Indiana. His first regular position was with the firm of Baughman, Orr & Company, bankers at Tuscola, Illinois, where he remained fourteen months. He then bought B. Gardiner's undivided interest in the lumber, implement and harness business at Pesotum and was connected with that enterprise seven years. Then with his father in 1907 he organized the Bank of Pesotum, the first financial institution of the town. On account of failing health he sold his interests there and on April 1, 1912, bought from William Kleiss an interest in the Kleiss & Gilles elevator at Pesotum. He is still connected with the local grain firm of Davis, Burton & Gardiner, though since July, 1912, his chief time has been devoted to banking. At that date Mr. Davis organized the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Pesotum, of which he is cashier. P. J. Gates is president and Henry Pfeffer, vice-president. The bank has a capital stock of $30,000 and every year since its organization it has paid ten per cent dividends to its stockholders.
Mr. Davis married October 14, 1897, Loutie G. Gardiner. Mrs. Davis was born in Champaign County, daughter of Benjamin and Adcline (Coffin) Gardiner. Her father was born in Canada and was an early settler in Champaign County. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have three children : Mildred, born September 13, 1900; Constance, born February 3, 1903; and Helen, born February 15, 1914.
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Mr. Davis besides his very busy life in practical affairs has served as township school treasurer for ten years and one of his very active interests is his membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church and Sunday school. He has been Sunday school superintendent twelve years. He is a Demo- crat, a member of the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America.
MERIT V. CUPPERNELL and his wife, Mary M., were both born near Sackett's Harbor in New York State, were married there and in 1870 came to Champaign County, Illinois, where they spent the rest of their years, performing the duties of their home and private business and also extending their influence widely throughout the community.
On coming to Champaign County Mr. Cuppernell located in Rantoul, where he engaged in the milling business. He was at first employed by Peter Myers. As the years went by strict attention to business and economy enabled him to buy a mill of his own, and he operated that until the end of his life. For his permanent home he purchased eighty acres. of land a half mile southeast of Rantoul, and gave his children an environ- ment of the wholesome country atmosphere. He and his wife had nine children, four daughters and three sons growing up and two dying in infancy. These children were named Addie, Horace, Allie, Della, Mayme, Bert and Arthur. All of them attended district school and also the high school at Rantoul. Addie and Allie both completed their studies at Rantoul.
Addie Cuppernell was married in 1882 to Mr. J. B. Martin, a printer by trade. In 1889 they moved to Homer, where Mr. Martin for twenty-two years owned and published the Homer Enterprise. He was a thorough newspaper man and was also public spirited in relation to everything that went on in his community. He served in the town council and was one of the most devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Homer. He liberally supported that church and served it as trustee and member of the official board. In 1911 the death angel claimed this worthy man, death coming suddenly. He went to his office in the morning and was soon afterwards stricken by death. His death marked the passing of one of Homer's most capable citizens and his memory is still green in that community. Only a day or so before, at the Sunday evening church service, he had spoken cordially with most of the members of the congrega- tion, and none felt that death was so soon impending. Mr. and Mrs. Martin were congenial people and she enjoyed the work of her church as much as her husband. For six years she was president of the Ladies' Aid Society. Mr. Martin was a fine type of the true American, was affiliated with Homer Lodge of Masons, and also with Lodge No. 199, Knights of Pythias, and the Tribe of Ben Hur. He died at his post with his armor on, and the place of this good man has not yet been filled. A beautiful memo- rial service to his memory was held at his old church, and the edifice was unable to accommodate the great crowd that gathered to pay their respect to his good work. A testimony' meeting was also held in the school and each child, one by one, arose and told of some kind deed or word by which Mr. Martin had benefited them.
Horace Cuppernell has his home in Urbana. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Knights of Pythias. He married Addie Carpenter, and their seven children are Abbie, Clarence, Lena, Merit, Horacc, Thomas and Frank.
Allie Cuppernell is the wife of Mr. W. E. Trees of Mulberry. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and with his wife worships in the Christian Church.
CUPPERNELL FAMILY
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Bert Cuppernell had an interesting career in which his energy and ambition took him far. For a number of years he held a Government posi- tion in the agricultural department at Washington, and by attending night school graduated in pharmacy. He died there at the age of thirty-three years. He possessed much ability and left many friends to mourn his loss. Arthur Cuppernell, who is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, lives with his two sisters, Della and Mayme, at the old homestead.
Merit and Mary Cuppernell were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rantoul. Fraternally he was a Mason and both he and his wife were active in the Eastern Star, as is their daughter Mayme. In politics he was a Republican. He reared his sons to honor the same political party. The parents gave the best of themselves to their children and the latter do credit to their rearing. The Cuppernell home has always been noted for its hospitality and has been a center for the radiating kind- ness of worthy and tender-hearted people. In the last days of the parents the presence of their children at. home, Arthur, Della and Mayme, was a source of continual comfort and by their devotion these children were able to repay in some measure the care bestowed upon them during their child- hood. They relieved their parents of many responsibilities in the conduct of business matters, and it is a grateful matter of record that some refer- ence to these worthy people, both parents and children, can be included in this publication.
JOHN P. HUDSON is one of Champaign County's most successful farm owners and farm managers. He is a young man, and for all his success to date has the best years of his life still before him.
Mr. Hudson was born in Sidney Township of this county November 12, 1885, a son of Albert and Mary (Deer) Hudson. His father and mother were both natives of Champaign County and his father has been a very successful farmer and land owner, but is now living retired. The mother died in 1893. There were five children in the family : Elsie, wife of George Brash, of Decatur, Indiana; John Poke Hudson; Sophie, wife of Howard Rogers, of Gifford, Illinois; Robert, now deceased; and Jesse, of Homer, Illinois.
John P. Hudson grew up on his father's farm and had the advantages of the district schools. When he was twenty years of age he began farming as a renter on 200 acres, and after a successful experience there for two years went to Ohio and rented a 160 acre farm owned by his father. Mr. Hudson lived in Ohio five years and then returned to the home place, of which he manages 160 acres and rents eighty acres. In improvement and cultivation this ranks among the best kept farms in Champaign County. The Hudson home is on Rural Route No. 57 out of Sidney.
Mr. Hudson married an Indiana girl, Miss Iva Murrah. They have four children, Vera, Vivian, Vernon and Mary. Mr. Hudson is a Demo- crat and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Sidney.
MARTIN V. MOORE. One of the most interesting old time citizens of Homer Township is Martin V. Moore, who when a young man enlisted from this county and went out to fight the battles for the preservation of the Union, and in all the years since then has maintained the traditions of honor that actuated him on many a hard fought battlefield.
Mr. Moore was born at Eugene, Indiana, a son of Enoch and Adaline (Force) Moorc. His father was a native of New York State and his mother of New Jersey. Enoch Moore when a small boy migrated with his
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family to Indiana. This was in the year 1832. From old New York State they traveled by water around the Great Lakes to Chicago, and reached that settlement when old Fort Dearborn was still standing and only, a short time after the organization of the village of Chicago, which then, contained only a few houscs. Indians were perhaps more numerous than white men, and while the Moore family were there the Indians were receiving their last payment from the government. The Indians who lived in and around Chicago were great fishers and brought a large quan- tity of fish which they sold to the captain of the vessel that brought the Moores. Some of the children of this family had never seen an Indian before. Martin Moore was one of the five children of his father's second marriage and there were also five by the first union. Martin's brothers
and sisters were Anson B., Jane L., Angeline and Howard. Howard Moore when a boy was a student of the late Judge Cunningham of Cham- paign County. Judge Cunningham was at that time a young man employed as teacher in the school at Eugene, Indiana. Many pleasant recollections are retained of this old neighborhood school. The boys once in a spirit of mischief led horses upstairs and it required a long time and much trouble to get them down. The boys and girls thought a great deal of Cunningham as a teacher and he was very popular. The board urged him to remain for another term, but just then he decided to study for the bar.
When Martin V. Moore was six years of age he lost his father by death. The responsibility and care of the children were then thrown upon his widowed mother, who did all she could under the circumstances.
When Mr. Moore was ten years of age M. D. Coffeen, who was a resi- dent of Illinois, was making a business visit to Eugene, Indiana. He saw Martin Moore down on his knees playing marbles with other boys and going up to him pleasantly asked if he did not want to take a ride. Like all boys Martin was ready for any adventure that promised novelty, and after obtaining the consent of his mother Coffeen brought him down to old Homer, Illinois. There he grew up in the home of Mr. Abraham Yeazel, Thus was Martin V. Moore introduced to Champaign County in the month of May, 1849.
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