USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 23
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The boyhood of G. T. Cass was spent on his father's farm near Danville and he received his early schooling in the rural schools of this section. He was graduated from Valparaiso University in 1891 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and then taught in the schools of Vermilion County for seven years. He subsequently went to Charles- ton, Arkansas, where he was principal of the high school for two years. Upon his return to Danville he worked on his father's farm for four years and in 1903 went to Valparaiso University, entering the Chicago College of Medicine & Surgery. He received his degree in 1907 and established his practice at Dodge, Nebraska, where he remained for one year. In the fall of 1911 he located at Danville, with offices at 1071%, North Vermilion Street. Five years later he removed to the Colonial Theater Build- ing and after three years in that location moved to the First National Bank Building, where he now has offices.
In 1907 Doctor Cass was united in marriage with Miss Bennis Gordon, of Jacksonville, Illinois, the daughter of Benton and Charolette (Gibbs) Gordon. He died in 1900 and his wife died in 1915. Doctor and Mrs. Cass have two children: Gordon, born February 1, 1909, attends Jacksonville (Illinois) College; and Georgia, born August 1, 1912, attends Danville High School.
Doctor Cass is identified with the Vermilion County Medical Society, Illinois State Medical Society, American Medical Association, and Aesculapian Medical Society.
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He served as health commissioner under Mayor Rearick in 1917-18. Doctor Cass is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Dan- ville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Modern Woodmen of America; Royal Neighbors; and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, No. 69.
Charles E. Swisher is among the enterprising business men of Danville, where he has been a leader in business and civic affairs for more than a quarter of a century as proprietor of Charles Swisher & Sons, wholesale dealers in flour and feed. He was born near this city, January 31, 1870, the son of E. F. and Maude (Hughes) Swisher.
E. F. Swisher was born near Danville, and was a mem- ber of one of the first families of Vermilion County. He spent his boyhood on a farm and attended the district schools. He also attended college at State Line, Indiana, after which he taught school for a while. In 1887 he came to Danville and established a grocery business at 107 North Vermilion Street, which at that time was the most north- erly store on Vermilion Street. He successfully conducted this business until the time of his retirement in 1910. Mr. Swisher died in 1920 and his wife, a native of Ohio, died in 1925. Both are buried in Springhill Cemetery, Dan- ville. E. F. Swisher was a son of Lewis Swisher, being one of the first settlers of Danville, and he erected a log house on what is now known as Winter Avenue, a short distance west of Vermilion Street. This old landmark stood until recent years. There were two children born to Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Swisher: Charles E., the subject of this sketch; and Grace, married George Barnes, lives at Effing- ham, Illinois.
Charles E. Swisher grew up on a farm near Danville and obtained his education in the district schools. He also
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was a student at Danville Seminary. He was employed in his father's store until 1895, at which time he engaged in business for himself on Vermilion Street at the present site of the Adams Building. He manufactured and re- paired bicycles, and also operated a rental service, having as many as thirty-five bicycles for rent. About 1907 Mr. Swisher sold his shop to Force & Foul, and then organized the Danville Transfer Company in partnership with Ed- ward Shutts and R. C. Spandau. At this time Mr. Swisher also became interested in the flour and feed business as a side line. In 1911 he devoted his entire interests and energies to this business and located on College Street, adjoining the present location of Swisher & Sons. He disposed of his interest in the transfer business. In 1924 Mr. Swisher removed to the modern brick and concrete building, where the business is now located. He has grown with the business and has seen the various stages in the flour and feed business change with the times. He handles everything in the manufactured feed line and supplies farmers within a radius of many miles of Danville. The company's up-to-date warehouse is located on the Wabash Railroad and has a storage capacity of approximately thirty cars. The sons of Mr. Swisher, Paul and Karl, have been associated with him for fifteen and eleven years, respectively.
In 1892 Mr. Swisher was married to Miss Nettie Gam- mel, of Danville, the daughter of Johnson and Mary (Lig- gett) Gammel. The former, a native of New York, died in 1928. His wife died in 1918. Both are buried in Spring- hill Cemetery, Danville. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Swisher: Paul E. and Karl H., associated in business with their father; Madeline, who has held the golf championship of Danville for the past three years; Louis, a graduate of the School of Fine Arts, Chicago, now an interior decorator, Danville; and Marian, a gradu-
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ate of Danville High School in 1928, attends DePauw University.
Politically, Mr. Swisher is a Republican. He holds membership in the Presbyterian Church; Masonic Lodge; Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Gao Grotto; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Danville Coun- try Club; Danville Yacht Club; and Roselawn Golf Club.
Mr. Swisher spends much of his spare time in hunting and is a frequent visitor in southern Texas and Arkansas. He also enjoys duck hunting on the Illinois River.
Alba Honeywell .- In the death of Alba Honeywell, of Hoopeston, the community and the State of Illinois itself lost one of its most distinguished and eminent citizens. He was born at Sherwoods Corners, New York, December 15, 1821, and died February 4, 1916, ninety-four years of age. Mr. Honeywell is buried in Floral Hill Cemetery, Hoopes- ton.
Alba Honeywell was the son of Enoch and Eliza (Dye) Honeywell. He was born in Bedford, Westchester County, New York, in 1788, and died January 13, 1887. His wife was born in Rhode Island, March 16, 1795, and died May 4, 1868. Both are buried at Altay, New York. In his youth Enoch Honeywell learned the wheelwright's trade and he later became a farmer. He was a writer of great ability and wrote for many leading newspapers. He was a strong opponent of slavery and an ardent prohibitionist. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Enoch Honey- well: Alba, the subject of this sketch; Gilbert; and Thank- ful Emeline, married Willard Fenno.
Enoch Honeywell was the son of William and Elizabeth (Crawford) Honeywell. William Honeywell was born at Bedford, New York., in 1757 and died October 17, 1831. His wife, also a native of New York, was born in 1764,
ALBA HONEYWELL
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and died in March, 1811. She lived just across the Croton River, Westchester County, New York, before her mar- riage to Mr. Honeywell. William Honeywell was the son of Enoch and Elethear (Searls) Honeywell. He was born April 9, 1725, and died in 1813. His wife was born in 1734 and died in 1816. Enoch Honeywell was the son of Samuel and Mercy Honeywell. He was born January 8, 1695, and died in 1785. Samuel Honeywell was the son of Israel and Mary Honeywell. He came from England in 1670 and settled in Westchester County, New York. He was born in 1660 and died in 1722. Israel Honeywell was the son of Roger Honeywell, who was born in North Devon, County Devonshire, England. He came to the United States and settled at Bedford, Westchester County, New York.
Alba Honeywell, the subject of this sketch, was edu- cated in the grade schools of Cayuga and Steuben counties, New York. He was also graduated from Oneida Institute, near Utica, New York, and while a student there was a, student of Rev. Uriah Green, a noted prohibitionist and anti-slavery lecturer. He later studied medicine and be- came a doctor, but never practiced that profession. Mr. Honeywell also studied law and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. He began his early life as a teacher in the common schools and academies of New York and from the beginning was opposed to slavery, being among the first to become actively engaged in the organization of a political party for the abolition of slavery. He was so prominent that he was chosen as a delegate to the Buffalo convention that nominated James G. Birney for the presi- dency on the Abolitionist ticket. He was one who helped to smuggle the slaves through to the north on the under- ground railroad. Mr. Honeywell lived at Rochester, New York, for some time and then removed to New York City, where he became editor of the New York Eagle. He was also associated there with the American Anti-Slavery So-
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ciety and for four years was associate editor of the New York Standard. Owing to ill health, however, Mr. Honey- well was forced to retire from newspaper work. He had become interested in literature at an early date and became well known as an author. He was the writer of several plays, which were dramatized. Mr. Honeywell was also greatly interested in the Pittman system of phonetic spell- ing and was the author of a dictionary.
In 1848 Mr. Honeywell became associated with An- drews & Boyle in the publication of the Anglo-Saxon, a paper devoted entirely to phonetic reform in spelling. He wrote and edited an exhaustive treatise of eleven volumes of language, embracing all its departments for elementary phonetics to rhetoric and logic. On April 14, 1853, he left New York and arrived at Lafayette, Indiana, by packet boat. He subsequently made his way to Iroquois County, Illinois, where he purchased one thousand acres of land, which is now Stockland Township. He spent three years in that section and made substantial improvements. In the spring of 1856 he started for Minnesota with his fam- ily but stopped at Chicago, Illinois, where he became identi- fied with the Chicago News. The following year he re- moved to Logansport, Ind., where he became successful as a manufacturer of lumber. He also was a teacher there. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was offered a commis- sion in an Indiana regiment but circumstances prevented him from accepting. In 1863 Mr. Honeywell removed to Iroquois County, Ill., where he managed his vast agricul- tural interests. He also served as township assessor for six years and as county clerk for four years, at that time maintaining his residence at Watseka, Illinois. The fam- ily located at Hoopeston in 1873. During his term as county clerk Mr. Honeywell invested largely in Vermilion County property, which is now part of the incorporated limits of Hoopeston. He helped in the laying out of the city of Hoopeston and added to additions and subdivisions
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in the city plat, always taking an active part in the de- velopment of Hoopeston. In 1879 he became mayor and assisted largely in creating and fostering the sentiment that has made Hoopeston a saloon-less town.
Mr. Honeywell also took an active part in the organiza- tion of the canning and sugar industries here, having lost considerable money in the failure of the sugar business, but the canning business continued as the major industry in this section. He was also one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Watseka, Illinois, of which he served as a director for thirty years. He became the owner of over three thousand acres of land in Vermilion and Iro- quois counties and also had real estate holdings in Cook, Lake and Scott counties, Illinois, as well as in Florida. He was the owner of Hygiana Springs, near Boswell, Indiana, and improved that summer resort extensively. Mr. Honey- well was the owner of the Ludington Canning Company at Ludington, Mich. He built a fine summer home at Lake Bluff, Illinois, which is now owned and occupied by his daughter, Mrs. Beall.
On April 3, 1851, Mr. Honeywell was united in mar- riage with Miss Cornelia Rosetta Andrews, the daughter of Dr. Anson and Sarah (Randall) Andrews, natives of New York, both now deceased. He was a leading physi- cian and surgeon of Reading, New York. Mrs. Honey- well was a woman of fine mind and heart and devoted to her family. Four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Honeywell: 1. Estella, married John Calvin Cromer, de- ceased. She lives at Hoopeston. They had a son, Alba C. H., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history; 2. Florence Andrews, married Major A. H. Trego, who died in 1916. She lives at Hoopeston; 3. Lillian Amelia, married Rev. Thomas A. Beall, deceased. She lives at Lake Bluff, Illinois. They had three children: Homer Honey- well, Florence Yolanda, and Cornelius Allene; 4. Sadie
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Eliza, married Dr. Albert Marion Earel, lives at Hoopes- ton. They have a daughter, Eleanor Claire.
Mr. Honeywell was a member of the Universalist Church. He was very liberal in his gifts to his church and city. Among the outstanding gifts to Hoopeston may be mentioned the ground which is the site of the Carnegie Public Library, and two parks in the city of Hoopeston.
O. H. Crist, M. D., is numbered among the prominent physicians and surgeons of Danville, where he has engaged in practice with unusual success for the past twenty-two years. He is a native of Indiana, born at Lewis, October 22, 1878, the son of Marcus D. and Laura J. (Mahan) Crist.
Marcus D. Crist and his wife were natives of Indiana. He was a farmer throughout his life. He died in 1893 at the age of forty-five years and is buried in Friendly Grove Cemetery, Lewis, Indiana. Mr. Crist was a life long mem- ber of the Baptist Church. His wife died in 1912. They were the parents of four children: C. C., lives at Sheldon burn Indiana; D. D., lives at Sheldon, Indiana; A. R., chemist with the Cornstalk Products Company, lives at Danville, is a World War veteran, having served in France; and O. H., the subject of this sketch.
The boyhood of O. H. Crist was spent in Lewis, Indiana, where he attended the public schools. He subsequently attended Indiana State Normal School for two years, and later entered the Medical School of Northwestern Uni- versity, from which he was graduated in 1906. He then came to Danville and served as interne in St. Elizabeth's Hospital for one year, after which he established offices at 2009 East Main Street. Eight years later he removed to his present location, 206 Adams Building. Doctor Crist is widely known as a specialist in women's diseases and is a leading surgeon of this section.
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In 1913 Doctor Crist was united in marriage with Miss Edna Starkey, of Pesotum, Illinois, the daughter of Eli W. and Fannie (Davis) Starkey. Mr. Starkey lives retired at Shawnee, Oklahoma. His wife died in 1892 and is buried at Pesotum, Illinois. Doctor and Mrs. Crist have two children: Jack Wesley, born September 12, 1917; and Joan, born February 11, 1923.
Doctor Crist is a Republican, a member of Mckinley Methodist Episcopal Church, Masonic Lodge, thirty-second degree, Danville Country Club, and he is identified with the Vermilion County Medical Society, Illinois State Med- ical Society, and American Medical Association. He is a member of the staffs of St. Elizabeth's and Lakeview hos- pitals, and is district surgeon for the Milwaukee Railway and assistant district surgeon for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, Danville.
Ira C. Keefer, successful building contractor of Dan- ville, is a native of Indiana. He was born at Rob Roy, August 20, 1881, the son of Robert D. and Ida A. (Claw- son) Keefer.
Robert D. Keefer, deceased, was a native of Indiana. He became identified with his father's general contract- ing business at Rob Roy early in life and from 1895 until 1899 conducted a general mercantile business at that place, and at the same time served as postmaster. Mr. Keefer died June 9, 1899, at the age of forty-six years and is buried in Beulah Cemetery, Rob Roy. His widow lives at Danville. They had the following children: Ira C., the subject of this sketch; Effie M., married Charles E. Hughes, lives at Danville; Ora L., died November 9, 1918, had a son, Robert D., who lives at Marion, Indiana; Ruby D., married L. W. King, lives at Danville; and Robert L., World War veteran, lives at Danville, Illinois.
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Ira C. Keefer grew up at Rob Roy, Indiana, and was educated in the public schools. As a boy he was interested in carpentry work in his father's shop and he also was identified with his father's business at Rob Roy. In 1905 he sold the store and came to Danville, where he was employed as a carpenter by Charles Gillespie for two years. The following six years were spent in the employ of Joseph Schingel. In 1913 Mr. Keefer engaged in the contracting business for himself. He moved his place of business to 651 East Fairchild Street ten years later, where he is now located. While Mr. Keefer carries on a general contracting business he has specialized in resi- dential work. Among some of the fine homes built by him are the George Fox residence at 1202 Sherman Street, the William Current residence at 1304 Franklin Street, and the Everett Dalbey residence on East Raymond Street. He also erected the parsonage of St. Paul's Church. Mr. Keefer also makes a specialty of surfacing and finishing hardwood floors.
Mr. Keefer is unmarried. He is a Republican in politics and holds membership in St. James Methodist Episcopal Church.
J. F. Clem, who is manager of the Lincoln Tire Com- pany, Danville, is a veteran of the World War, and is recognized as one of the successful young business men of the community. He is a native of Labette County, Kansas, born January 8, 1891, the son of John David and Sarah Jane (Cooper) Clem.
John David Clem, retired, has spent practically his entire life in Vermilion County. He was born in Warren County, Indiana, and was a small child when his parents removed to this county. He was reared and educated near Danville, and in 1876 went to Kansas, where he farmed until 1892. He then returned to Vermilion County and
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located on a farm four miles west of Danville. He was the founder of the telephone system at Bismark, Illinois, where he was located until 1916. In that year he came to Danville and worked as an engineer in Lakeview Hos- pital until his retirement in 1922. His wife is a native of Springfield, Missouri. Their children were: W. A., lives at Corinth, North Dakota; James Louis, lives near Arm- strong, Illinois; Ada E., died at the age of eight years; Leona Myrtle, married H. M. Ballard, lives at Danville; J. F., the subject of this sketch; Ross A., lives at Danville; and Harold D., a World War veteran, lives at Newburg, New York.
J. F. Clem was educated in the public schools of Bis- marck. He learned the plasterer's trade, which he fol- lowed until April 5, 1917, at which time he volunteered for service in the World War. He enlisted in Battery A, One Hundred Forty-ninth Field Artillery, Rainbow Divi- sion, and was sent to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and later to Camp Mills, New York. He sailed for France on Sep- tember 1, 1917, and went to the front lines immediately, participating in the battles of Chateau Thierry, Com- piegne, Argonne, and Belleau Wood. He spent nine months in the trenches and on December 3, 1918, was sent to the hospital, due to shell shock. He was discharged from the service on March 30, 1919, and returned to Dan- ville. Due to poor health after the war, Mr. Clem was unable to follow his trade and sought outside employment with the American Railway Express Company. In May, 1923, he became manager of a branch store for the Kokomo Rubber Company, which was later sold to W. T. Flynn, and Mr. Clem remained as manager for the com- pany until 1927, at which time he opened a tire store of his own on West Main Street, known as the Lincoln Tire Company. Mr. Clem is distributor for Dunlap automo- bile tires and handles Texaco and Kendall products in gasoline and oils.
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On September 28, 1919, Mr. Clem married Miss Grace May Allen, of Cates, Indiana, the daughter of George and Rose (McGee) Allen, both of whom were killed in an auto- mobile accident on April 18, 1923. They are buried at Cooper's Chapel, Cates, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Clem had two children, Curtis G. and Lola Ruth, both of whom died in infancy. An adopted daughter, Frances Opal Clem, was born in 1922.
Politically, Mr. Clem is a Democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Church; Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Olive Branch; Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows; Modern Woodmen of America; and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Jewel White Post No. 728; and he is also president of Battery A Club.
J. W. Sink .- Active and progressive in business, J. W. Sink is prominent in Danville, where he is identified with J. W. Sink & Son, Hotel Wolford Garage and Service Sta- tion. He was born in Franklin County, Virginia, October 27, 1874, the son of David and Martha (Frantz) Sink.
David Sink, retired, is a native of Virginia. He spent his boyhood on a farm in Franklin County and received his education in the district schools. Mr. Sink was a resi- dent of that section until 1906, at which time he located at Flora, Indiana, where he now lives retired. He is now eighty years of age. His father died at the age of ninety- three years. Martha (Frantz) Sink, who died February 13, 1926, is buried at Flora, Indiana. Her death was the first to occur in the immediate family during a period of seventy-five years. Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. David Sink, all of whom are living, as follows: Charles F., lives at Flora, Indiana; J. W., the subject of this sketch; Oscar K., lives at South Whitley, Indiana; Joseph C., lives at Camden, Indiana; Edna, married Albert
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Huber, lives at Glendora, California; May, married Thomas Frantz, lives at Camden, Indiana; Berkley D., lives at Flora; Samuel S., lives at Camden; Rev. Robert L., minister of the Brethren Church, lives at Des Moines, Iowa; Clyde Ray, lives at Flora; Ernest, lives at Bring- hurst, Indiana; and Pearl, married Ora Shirar, lives at Bringhurst.
J. W. Sink remained on his father's farm in Franklin County, Virginia, until 1895. He was educated in the pub- lic schools and engaged in farming near Flora, Indiana, from 1895 until 1901, at which time he became interested in the carriage and implement business at Bringhurst, Indiana. Four years later he sold his business there but established another business of the same type at Flora, under the firm name of Sink & Ikenburry. Mr. Sink dis- posed of this business in 1907 and spent the following two years as a traveling representative for the Ligonier Car- riage Company. In 1909 he became associated with the International Harvester Company, with whom he was em- ployed until 1914. He spent the following year at Joliet, Illi- nois, with the Moline Plow Company, and in 1915 went to Rensselaer, Indiana, with the International Harvester Company. He was transferred to Kankakee, Illinois, in 1918, and the following year came to Danville. In 1921 Mr. Sink incorporated the Vermilion County Motor Bus Com- pany with headquarters at 24 North Hazel Street. He became agent for the Reo automobile in this city in 1925, but in January, 1926, disposed of the latter and continued in the bus business. In August, 1928, J. W. Sink & Son leased the property at the corner of Harrison and North Hazel streets where on was erected a large brick storage garage. The building has a capacity of one hundred cars and provides ample room for repairs and service. In Sep- tember, 1929, the company leased a section of the building to the Morris Motor Company, who are agents for the Cadillac and LaSalle automobiles.
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On September 2, 1905, Mr. Sink was married at Winona Lake, Indiana, to Miss Lottie Myer, of Flora, Indiana, the daughter of Amos and Serener (Brim) Myer. Mr. Myer died in 1913 and his wife died April 20, 1929. Both are buried at Flora. Mr. and Mrs. Sink's son, Donald M., is a partner in the business with his father. He was born in 1906 and was educated in the public schools of Joliet, Kankakee, and Danville. He has been associated in busi- ness with his father since 1921. Previous to that time he was interested in the real estate business in Florida, being identified with the Haven Villa Corporation. He also spent some time in California with the C. R. May Com- pany, Buick distributors. Throughout his high school career he took a prominent part in athletics and had the distinction of being a member of the all county football team for three years, and the State team for one year. He was also interested in basketball and baseball. He has remained an ardent follower of the Danville High School teams and with his parents is a firm supporter of the local teams. He was married in 1924 to Miss Maxine Elliot Cook, of Catlin, Illinois. They have a son, John Frederick, born September 1, 1927.
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