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FRANCIS THEODORE WALKER.
any particular religious sect, he has gener- ously contributed to all the churches whenever they were in need of financial assistance.
On June 30, 1856, Mr. Walker was married to Miss Virginia Lindsey, a daughter of Ira and Marie (Allen) Lindsey. Mrs. Walker died September 28, 1900.
FRANK L. WARNER was born April 29, 1862, in Tazewell County, Ill, the son of Wil- lard D. and Sarah A. (Lawrence) Warner, the former a native of Canandaigua County, N. Y., and the latter of Indiana. He received his ed- ucation in the public schools of Tazewell County, and on reaching manhood engaged in farming for himself. In 1884 he established a mercantile business at Osman, Ill., which he conducted until 1899, when, in company with
Mr. Wheeler, a brother-in-law, he bought a half interest in an elevator at Fisher, Ill. In 1.02 he bought his partner's interest and later erected new buildings, a new elevator, and a number of other improvements on the place. In politics he is a Republican; was elected Assessor in 1891 and was Assistant Postmaster for eight years, at Osman, Ill. In religion he. is a member of the Christian Church, and so- cially is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen. of America and the Knights of Pythias.
On May 16, 1889, Mr. Warner was united in marriage to Miss Nellie M. Wheeler, who was born December 29, 1867, in McLean County, Ill., where she received her education in the public and high schools. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Warner, namely: Edwin W., who was born March 10, 1890; Lillian M., born October 28, 1892; and Edith Hazel, whose birth occurred October 26, 1895.
Mr. Warner's paternal grandfather was Hiram Warner, a native of New York State, while his maternal grandfather was Daniel Lawrence, of Pennsylvania.
CHARLES H. WATTS, a prominent educa- tor and Superintendent of the public schools of Champaign County, Ill., was born in Coles County, Ill., November 16, 1867. In early childhood, he removed with his parents to Champaign County. He was educated in the public schools, at the Central Normal College, in Danville, Ind., and at the Ohio Normal University, in Ada, Hardin County, Ohio, graduating from the latter institution in 1893. Then beginning his career as a teacher in the public schools of Champaign County, he later became Principal of the school at Sey- mour, where he remained and held the same position in Philo for several years. Elected Superintendent of the Schools of Champaign County in 1902, and succeeding one of the ablest educators in the State, he has since demonstrated his ability to maintain, and im- prove upon, an established high standard of instruction.
Mr. Watts is a member of the Illinois State Teachers' Association, and otherwise avails himself of opportunities to keep in touch with the foremost thinkers and instructors in the country. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being identified with the Modern Woodmen of
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
America, the Masons, and the Sons of Veter- ans. Politically, he is a Republican, and has done much to promote the local success of his party. In 1896, he was united in marriage to Blanche B. Irwin, of Longview, Ill.
GEORGE ALEXANDER WAY was born in Michigan, January 27, 1850, and received his education in the Lyons public schools and at Michigan Agricultural College. He is a prom- inent electrician of Champaign. For eight years he taught school in Michigan, and then moved to Nebraska, where he was engaged in the construction and building business for a few years. He there served as Deputy County Clerk of Harlan County four years, and then took a position as principal of the high school, which he held for two years. He next went to Franklin where he occupied the position of Professor of Mathematics for two years. In partnership with E. A. Fletcher, he organized the Farmers Bank, of which he was cashier. Subsequently, this bank was merged into the First National Bank, and Mr. Way, for about two years, was cashier of that institution. The bank had a capital of $50,000. Mr. Way sold his interest in the bank, and in partnership with C. O. Smith, bought a large stock of lumber and agricultural implements. Subse- quently, on account of too much credit busi- ness, he closed out in this line. He then acted as manager for M. D. Welsh, at Hastings, Neb., in the wholesale implement business. In 1900, with headquarters at Champaign, he went on the road as a traveling salesman in which he was employed six years. Later, he was with the Twin City Electric Company, as foreman. and was identified with that company until January 1, 1904. He then engaged in the electrical business for himself, and in Janu- ary, 1905, bought a one-third interest in the last-named company, and is row its manager. The company handles all varieties of electri- cal supplies, and does wiring and all kinds of electrical repairing.
Mr. Way is a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all of the chairs, and has been first Noble Grand of two different lodges in Nebraska. He is also a member of the A. O. U. W., in which he has passed all the chairs, and has been District Deputy.
Politically, Mr. Way is a Republican, and had the honor of being the first Mayor of Alma,
Harlan County, Neb., holding the office for two years. He was also the first President of the Village Board of Franklin, Neb., and was Assistant Deputy Marshal of Nebraska for one year. He was nominated for the office of Magistrate of Champaign in 1904.
On October 20, 1868, Mr. Way was married to . Miss Lydia J. Commings, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Ford) Commings, and they have the following named children: Claude W., an architect and builder at Franklin Neb .; and two daughters; Hermien C., a teacher of kindergarten in Champaign, and Floy, a sten- orgapher in a real-estate office, Champaign, Il1.
Mr. Way is a son of William M. and Mary (Honeywell) Way. His father was a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., and his mother was born in Vermont. The father was a descendant of Henry Way, of Puritan stock, who came to America in 1630, and was one of the founders of Massachusetts Bay Colony.
LESLIE A. WEAVER (deceased lawyer) was born in Cleveland, Ohio, February 21, 1872, the son of Benjamin Weaver who came from Ohio to Illinois in 1877, and established his home in Danville, where he has since resided. The elder Weaver has for many years been widely known throughout Eastern Illinois as an expert court stenographer.
Leslie A. Weaver graduated from the Dan- ville High School and then matriculated in the University of Illinois, from which he was grad- uated with the degree of B. S., in the class of 1894. He then read law under the preceptor- ship of Messrs. Calhoun and Staley of the Danville Bar, and later, with Messrs. Gere and Philbrick, of Champaign, was admitted to the bar in the Supreme Court of Illi- nois, in January, 1897, and began the prac- tice of his profession in Champaign in the fall of that year. Shortly afterwards he became senior member of the firm of Weaver & Carnahan, which continued in existence until 1903. Subsequently, Mr. Weaver prac- ticed alone, and grew into more than local prominence as a well-equipped, well rounded lawyer and counsellor. During the winter of 1903-04 he was Mayor, pro-tem, of the city, of Champaign, was attorney for the Citizens Bank and professionally identified with other impor- tant financial and commercial interests.
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
1049
In 1898 Mr. Weaver married Miss Eunice M. Sheldon, a daughter of the late C. C. Sheldon, of Urbana, a granddaughter of Hon. J. C. Shel- don, and a grandniece of Judge J. O. Cunning- ham, the two last named gentlemen being numbered among the oldest members of the bar of Champaign County.
Since the preceding sketch was prepared its subject died November 19, 1904, from the ef- fect of injuries which he received in an acci- dent a few weeks prior to his decease. For the length of time he had practiced law, the suc- cess he achieved was really phenomenal. Still a young man at the time of his death, he was the most prominent and successful of the younger attorneys of the county, and was a man whose acquaintance was very extensive among all classes by reason of his unusual hos- pitality and marked geniality. Politically, he had attained a position of unusual prominence for a man of his age and experience, and, in all probability, would soon have become one of the foremost of the leading members of the bar in this section of the State. Mr. Weaver represented the Fifth Ward as Alderman in the City Council, for two terms, and fraternal- ly, was a prominent member of the order of Elks, and the Masonic fraternity in Cham- paign. He is survived by his widow and two small children-Dorothy and Sheldon, aged, respectively, six and two years. Mr. Weaver was very closely associated with the leading politicians in this section of the county. At the time he received the injury which caused his death, he was riding in an automobile with Congressman W. B. Mckinley, of Champaign, and two other gentlemen who were on the way to a small town in Champaign County, to at- tend a political meeting. The axle of the ma- chine struck a corner-section stone in the road, hurling the occupants in the air a dis- tance of about fifty feet, Congressman Mckinley being the only one of the party who escaped without injury. Mr. Weaver was the only one of the four occupants of the machine whose injuries resulted in death.
GEORGE G. WEBBER was born in Shelby County, Ky., September 3, 1830. In 1833 he came to Champaign County with his father, who had still earlier entered valuable tim- ber land in the vicinity of what afterwards became Urbana, and who subsequently pur-
chased school lands, making his holdings 640 acres. A considerable portion of these entries is now embraced in additions to the city. Mr. Webber acquired his education in the public schools of Champaign County and in those of Burlington, Iowa, where for one sum- mer he was employed as a teacher.
Mr. Webber was married June 21, 1852, to Martha Elizabeth McFarland, of McLean Coun- ty, and of this union seven children were born, six of whom are now living. Soon after his marriage Mr. Webber made his home at the
.
GEORGE G. WEBBER.
place where his father had located his family in 1833, and resides upon the same spot to this day, owning and occupying about 100 acres of his father's purchase. In politics he is a Democrat, but always liberal in his selection of candidates for office. In 1854 he became affiliated with the Masonic fraternity in Ur- bana, and has since been an ardent adherent of that order, taking several degrees therein.
The father of Mr. Webber, William T. Web- ber, was a native of Fluvanna County, Va., where he was born August 11, 1785, his wife being also a native of the same county, being born March 25, 1789. Thomson R. Web- ber, long Clerk of the Champaign Circuit Court, was his eldest brother.
1
1050
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Mr. Webber believes in the Fatherhood of God, the Brotherhood of man, salvation by character and the progress of mankind upward and onward forever, and that God is pledged by His goodness and omnipotence, to overcome and destroy sin and to save ultimately the whole family of mankind; and, in this belief, he is content to live and die.
THOMSON R. WEBBER was born October 6, 1807, in Shelby County, Ky., and received his education in the schools of his native
THOMSON R. WEBBER.
State. He came to Illinois in 1833 and es- tablished his home in what is now Cham- paign County, embarking in the mercantile business at Urbana. He was the first Post- master in Urbana, having been appointed under the administration of Andrew Jackson, of whom he was an ardent supporter politically. When Champaign County was organized he became the first Clerk of the Circuit and County Court, serving for twenty-five years thereafter as Clerk of both courts, and three years longer as Clerk of the Circuit Court. For forty years he was Master in Chancery of the Circuit Court. In 1847 he was elected a member of the convention which revised the
Constitution of Illinois, and formed the or- ganic law of the State which remained in force until 1870. In this convention he represented Champaign, Vermilion, Coles and Piatt coun- ties. He also represented the counties of Cham- paign, DeWitt, Macon and Piatt in the conven- tion that framed a new constitution for the State in 1862, which, however, failed of adop- tion on submission to the people. Mr. Web- ber was widely known throughout the State among old public men of Democratic political faith, and a close friend of Abraham Lincoln, Judge David Davis and other famous Ill1- noisans. In the conduct of public affairs in Champaign County and the city of Urbana he was especially prominent during his life, and no one of the pioneers enjoyed to a greater extent the confidence and esteem of the gen- eral public. He died at his home near Ur- bana December 14, 1881.
WILLIAM B. WEBBER, a prominent lawyer of Urbana, Champaign County, Ill., ex-mem- ber of the Illinois Legislature, and ex-Mayor of his native town of Urbana, was born Octo- ber 31, 1836. He is a son of Thomson R. Webber, mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. Webber received his preliminary educa- tion in the public schools of Urbana, and his professional training under the able guidance of Judge William D. Somers and Captain J. C. Moses. He was admitted to the bar in 1863, and for several years afterward maintained a partnership with his former preceptor, W. D. Somers. Later he was associated with Judge J. O. Cunningham in the practice of law. For a considerable period he was identified with litigation involving the constitutionality of the drainage laws of Illinois, and still later, was largely instrumental in securing drainage legis- ation of vast importance to the agricultural interests of the State.
Elected to the Thirty-fourth General As- sembly of Illinois in 1884, Mr. Webber served during the session as Chairman of the House Drainage Committee, and of the Joint Drain- age Committee of the Senate and House. He revised what was known as the "Drainage and Levee Act," drafted the new bill, and secured its passage. He also reported to the House, and secured the passage of the "Farm Drain- age Act," which originated in the Senate. He
1051
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
was a conspicuous friend of the University of Illinois, and introduced a bill which secured for that institution a large appropriation. He was largely instrumental in securing the sub- stitution of the present name for the old name of "Illinois Industrial University."
In 1893, Mr. Webber was elected Mayor of Urbana, a position which enabled' him to further exercise the same practical ideas of reform, resulting in the system of street and sewer improvements, which has added to the health and attractiveness of the city.
Mr. Webber married Sarah D. Barnett, of Shelby County, Ky., in 1864.
CHARLES BYRON WEBSTER, a prominent farmer residing on Section 17, Rantoul Town- ship, Champaign County, Ill., was born Febru- ary 23, 1851, in New Lebanon, Columbia Coun- ty, N. Y., the son of Aurelius and Elsie (Brockway) Webster, both natives of Rens- selaer County, N. Y. The father was a school teacher for many years, and then engaged in farming. His death and that of his wife oc- curred, respectively, in New York and Massa- chusetts.
Charles B., the son, was reared on a farm, and attended the district schools. At the age of twenty years, he went to Delavan, Taze- well County, Ill., where he was engaged in farming for one year. In the spring of 1873, he moved to Champaign County and rented land for farming purposes.
On February 26, 1874, Charles B. Webster was united in marriage to Jennie E. Woolf, daughter of Anthony Woolf, and they had one child, Sarah J., who died when one year old. After the death of his wife, December 10, 1876, Mr. Webster returned to New York, but shortly afterwards returned to Tazewell Coun- ty, where he worked on a farm, and rented land until 1880. In the last named year, he bought eighty acres of land in Champaign County, where his house is now situated. On March 1, 1881, he was married to Mary, a daughter of Michael Fanning, a farmer of Tazewell County. In the same year he moved out to his farm where he has since continued to reside, and to which he has made ad 'itions, until he now owns 400 acres on Sections 17 and 8, Pantoul Township, the most of which he rents out. His house was destroved by fire in 1883, but he now has a modern resi-
dence and substantial out-buildings. Mr. Web- ster's second marriage resulted in five chil- dren, namely: Georgie M., Mina E., Edward F., Leslie A., and an infant boy, who died un- named. Their mother died November 3, 1888.
On January 28, 1891, the subject of this sketch was again married at Penfield, Ill., wed- ding May Gilbreath, a daughter of Hiram and Barbara Gilbreath. Six children have been born to them, as follows: Leeta, who died in infancy, September 9, 1891; Marion Daniel; Iva J .; Frances Willard; Rose Bernice; and Edith Pearl.
In politics, Mr. Webster is a Republican; he has served as Highway Commissioner for six years, assisting in drainage matters; has also served fifteen years as School Director.
Socially, Mr. Webster is a member of the M. W. A. and of the I. O. O. F. He has been representative to the Grand Lodge twice, and served as Noble Grand of Treasury Lodge, No. 237.
GEORGE WEBSTER was born in Columbia County, N. Y., January 5, 1845. His parents were Aurelius and Elsie (Brockway) Webster, both of whom passed their early lives in Rens- selaer County, N. Y., the father managing a saw-mill there and another in East Nassau. Later he moved to Columbia County, N. Y., where he engaged in farming, his life occupa- tion. He died March 13, 1866. The paternal grandfather of George, Constant Webster, was a blacksmith.
George was the fifth child in a family of ten children and was rearel on his father's farm, acquiring his early education in a public and a select school, supplemented by a course in an academy at Lebanon, N. Y., He lived in his native State until the death of his father, after which, in the fall of 1866, he moved to Indiana, whence he went to Delavan, Tazewell, County, Ill., in 1867. For some years he worked on a farm and was employed as clerk in a store, subsequently, in 1873, coming to Champaign County where, a few years later. he bought 160 acres of land in Rantoul Township. This he rented for one year and moved to the village of Rantoul, where he engaged in merchand cing until 1876. In that year he returned to his farm and built a pleasant residence in Rantoul in 1898 on a piece of land comprising twenty-three acres within the corporate limits of the vil-
1052
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
lage. He then retired from active business life, but still owns his farm in Rantoul Town- ship, now consisting of 200 acres, which is con- ducted by his oldest son, Frank. During his agricultural career he followed mixed farming and bred and fed a good grade of cattle and general stock. He acts as agent for the Con- tinental Fire Insurance Co., of New York to fill in his spare time. While on the farm he served as School Director for several years, was elected Supervisor in 1895, in which ca- pacity he served two years, and is now act- ing as Assessor in the Salt Fork Drainage Dis- trict. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Odd- Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the American Guild and the order of Rebeccas, his wife also belonging to the latter organiza- tion.
Mr. Webster was married at Delavan, Ill., April 15, 1873, to Mary H., a daughter of Wil- liam and Sarah (Hudson) Slaughter, residents of Tazewell County. The following children have been born to them: Frank, who married Miss Carrie Green and has one child, Pearl; Nelson, editor and proprietor of a newspaper at Saybrook, Ill .; Fdith, who resides at home, and William, also at home. Gilbert, a brother of Mr. Webster, died in service during the Civil War.
JOSEPH C. WEIR, Postmaster of Rantoul, Champaign County, Ill., and one of the pro- prietors of the Rantoul "Weekly Press," was born in Liverpool, England, September 27, 1860, the son of Wiliam H. and Ann (Moss) Weir. His paternal grandfather, Henry Weir, was a native of Scotland, while his maternal grandfather, John Moss, was born in England, The father was a tea merchant in Liverpool and came with his family to America in 1869, locating on a farm in Condit Township, Cham- paign County, where he remained for two years. After that period, farming not prov- ing a success, he moved to Champaign and there secured employment in the machine shops. In 1873 he removed with his family to the village of Rantoul, where he engaged in the restaurant and bakery business, in which he continued until 1879, when he retiredl. His death occurred January 7, 1883. and his wife has since made her home with the sub- ject of this sketch.
Joseph C. Weir received his early education
in the public schools of Champaign and Ran- toul, and later secured a situation in the latter place with C. W. Gulick, in the dry-goods busi- ness. He subsequently went on the road as a commercial traveler for Packer, McDonald & Bliss, hat and cap merchants ,of Chicago, with whom he remained four years. He spent two years in partnership with his brother James, now deceased, in the merchant tailoring busi- ness, and then returned to Mr. Gulick's em- ploy, in which he continued for six years.
JOSEPH C. WEIR.
In 1897 Mr. Weir was appointed Postmaster of Rantoul, and has filled that office up to the time of this writing (1905). In 1901, in part- nership with Mr. Fred Collison, he bought the Rantoul "Weekly Press" from Frank Cross. On August 9th, of the same year, a fire swept the city and the plant was entirely destroyed. The paper was at once started anew, and one- third interest was sold to J. L. Hardesty. In 1903 Mr. Weir purchased the interest of Fred Collison, and now owns two-thirds of the stock in the paper, printing plant, etc. It is one of the oldest established newspapers in the county, and has a circulation of 1,600 copies, weekly.
As a Republican, the subject of this sketch
1053
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
has always been active in politics. He has served on the Republican County Committee many years, and has nearly always been chosen as a delegate to State and county con- ventions. At the Republican National Con- vention held at Chicago in 1904, he was ap- pointed Assistant Sergeant-at-arms, and occu- pied the same position in the State convention at Springfield during the same year.
Mr. Weir was married May 26, 1883, to Maud Maria Millikin, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Joseph Millikin, an early settler and farmer of Champaign County. To them have been born two children: Leona M. and Harry.
The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially, Mr. Weir is affiliated with the Masonic order and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America.
JESSE S. WERTS (deceased) was born in Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, September 5, 1833, the son of Jacob and Catherine Werts, who lived on a farm in that State. Mr. Werts came to La Salle County, Ill., in 1864, and was subsequently engaged in farming for eight years. He then removed to Champaign Coun- ty, and there rented a farm for two years. At the end of that period he purchased forty acres in Urbana Township, to which he added forty acres more, and later, two 80-acre tracts. There he followed general farming until his death, which occurred August 29, 1886. In politics, he was a stanch Republican.
In 1862 Mr. Werts was united in marriage to Mary Schlosser, daughter of Conrad and Sarah (Date) Schlosser, natives of Pennsyl- vania, where they carried on farming. They were members of the Lutheran Church. Mrs. Werts is a native of Preble County, Ohio, and is a member of the Christian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Werts the following named children were born: Minerva Jane, who married G. W. Mathews, deceased; Irena (deceased.), who married J. Phillips, of Indiana; Hamer, a resi- dent of Indiana; Sarah, who is now Mrs. Mar- ion Hudson, and lives on a farm adjoining the homestead; Frank, who has a farm located on Section 34, Urbana Township; Jesse, now liv- ing in Indiana; and Lulu May, the wife of Lewis Prather, who now conducts the farm on which Mrs. Werts resides.
Lewis Prather was born in Cumberland
County, Ind., April 20, 1862, and is a son of James and Delilah (White) Prather, the former born in Morgan County, Ind., in 1838, and the latter, in Coles County, III., in 1845. He received his early mental training in the public schools of Cumberland County, and in 1888, entered the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso, from which he was graduated in 1891. He taught school for three years in Cumberland County, and for nine years, in Champaign County. He also took a law course, and practiced that profession for a time. He came to Champaign County in 1882, and in 1897, married Miss Lulu May Werts. They have one child, Dewey.
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