USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 26
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Mr. Austin is independent in politics but usually votes the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Church of Christ and his wife holds membership in Saint Olaf's Luth- eran Church. He is affiliated with Rossville Lodge No. 527, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Morris Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, No. 216; Irin Grotto; and Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cook County, No. 240. He is also a mem- ber of the Illinois Press Association and National Editorial Association.
Cicero Alison .- One of the leading citizens of Vermilion County is Cicero Alison, who lives retired at Alvin. He was born in Vinton County, Ohio, January 12, 1854, the son of Mark M. and Sarah (Salmans) Alison.
Mark M. Alison was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, and his wife was a native of Guernsey County, Ohio. He became a teacher in the schools of Jackson and Vinton counties, and after his marriage, March 8, 1849, he became interested in farming. He became the owner of large tracts of land and in 1864 came to Illinois, making the trip by horse and wagon. He located on land near Alvin,
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and operated one hundred and sixty acres. He also became a minister of the Methodist Church and organ- ized the old Methodist Church at Alvin. He died in 1907 at the age of eighty-three years and is buried at Manns Chapel, Rossville. His wife died in 1904. He was a Re- publican. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Alison : Sarah Margaret, married first to H. J. Stewart, later to Rev. A. G. Copeland, and she died April 17, 1895, in Okla- homa; Rachael Frances, died in December, 1894, was the wife of J. W. Salmans, of Danville, Illinois; Cicero, the subject of this sketch; and Almira E., died March, 1917.
Cicero Alison grew up in Ohio and received his educa- tion in the district schools. At an early age he came to Illinois and settled on a farm near Alvin, where he re- mained until 1899. He then built a grain elevator at Alvin, which he successfully managed until 1912, when the busi- ness was sold to the Farmers Elevator Company, of Alvin. Mr. Alison then devoted his entire time to farming and at the present time is still owner of a fine farm of seventy acres near Alvin, as well as two hundred and forty acres farther east of the city.
On February 23, 1879, Mr. Alison was united in mar- riage with Miss Barbara L. Allison, of Alvin, the daughter of Alfred and Cornelia Anne Allison. He died in 1922 and his wife died February 13, 1900. They were natives of Kentucky and North Carolina, respectively. To Mr. and Mrs. Allison were born nine children, as follows: 1. John R,. married Bessie Keefe, lives in Alvin. 2. Sarah Cor- nelia, married Elbert Roberts, lives at Alvin. 3. Daniel William, married Maude Cavin, lives at State Line. 4. Almira May, married W. W. Young, lives at Danville. 5. Emma Frances, married Dr. E. E. Howard, lives at Peoria, Illinois. 6. Cordelia Harriet, married H. A. Cunningham, who met with an accidental death in 1928. 7. Addie How- ard, married John O. Ingram, lives at Danville. 8. Mary Ethel, married Clarence Carter, lives near Alvin. 9. L.
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C. W., a graduate of the University of Illinois in the class of 1922. He married Helen Anderson, and they live at Westville, Illinois.
Mr. Alison is identified with the Republican party in politics. He is a trustee of the Methodist Church and has served as a member of the local school board.
Russell Young, who is serving as the efficient post- master of Rossville, is a veteran of the World War and one of the best liked young men of Vermilion County. He was born at Rossville, August 23, 1897, the son of Charles and Hettie (Maury) Young.
Charles Young is well known at Rossville, where he is engaged in business. He was born at Bismarck, Illinois, and his wife is a native of Pennsylvania. He was reared at Rossville, and early in life became interested in the building business. He is also a plaster contractor. For a number of years Mr. Young was associated in business with his brother, Jim Young. The partnership was dis- solved in 1925. Mr. Young is a Republican. To Mr. and Mrs. Young were born the following children: Bess, a graduate of Rossville High School in 1910, now a teacher at Portland, Oregon; Russell, the subject of this sketch; Leslie, who died in 1911; and Inez, a graduate of Rossville High School in 1926, attends the University of Illinois.
Russell Young attended the public schools of Rossville and after his graduation from high school in 1917 he en- listed for service in the World War, April 22, 1917. He was sent to Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and in September, 1917, was transferred to Camp Mills, Long Island. He saw active service in France and was later with the Army of Occupation in Germany. He was discharged from the service on May 13, 1919, and upon his return to Rossville entered the University of Illinois. He spent two years at
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that institution and in 1921 returned to Rossville. In 1923 Mr. Young was appointed postmaster.
On August 30, 1923, Mr. Young was united in marriage with Miss Marjorie Brown, of Danville, the daughter of Charles and Ella (Galloway) Brown. Mr. Brown lives at Indiana Harbor, Indiana. His wife died in 1922 and is buried in Springhill Cemetery, Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Young have two sons: Charles Russell, born June 28, 1924; and John Richard, born February 7, 1928.
Mr. Young is identified with the Republican party in politics. He is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, and is affiliated with Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 527, Rossville; and the American Legion, Lloyd K. Spears Post, No. 733. He is among the most popular young men of the community in which he has spent his entire life.
Ernest J. Felgenhauer is among the popular and suc- cessful business men of Alvin, where he conducts a garage. He was born at Danville, Illinois, May 13, 1888, the son of Christ and Minnie (Stiebble) Felgenhauer.
Christ Felgenhauer, a native of Germany, lives retired at Danville. He was eight years old when he emigrated to the United States with his parents and settled in Dan- ville. He was employed in the coal mines near Danville and about 1892 purchased a farm of eighty acres three miles northeast of Alvin. He remained there until 1923, when he sold the land and retired to Danville, where he resides at the present time. Mr. Felgenhauer is a Repub- lican and a member of the German Lutheran Church. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. His wife, born in Germany, died in March, 1925, and is buried in Oaklawn Cemetery, Danville. To Mr. and Mrs. Felgenhauer were born three children: Lewis, farmer, lives near Henning;
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Ernest J., the subject of this sketch; and Esther, married Fred Witte, lives at Hammond, Indiana.
Ernest J. Felgenhauer attended the district schools and is a graduate of Brown's Business College, Danville. He remained on his father's farm for several years, and began his business career with his father-in-law, F. M. Ogdon, grocer, with whom he was identified from 1913 until 1923. He then became interested in the garage business and on November 1, 1925, removed to Main Street, where he had purchased the building of the Brown Brothers, of Bis- mark. Mr. Felgenhauer handles a complete line of auto- mobile accessories and renders battery and tire service. He also handles radios.
In 1913 Mr. Felgenhauer was married at Danville to Miss Nellie Ogdon, of Alvin, the daughter of Frank and Anna Ogdon.
Politically, Mr. Felgenhauer is a Republican. He at- tends the Christian Church. He is an ardent baseball fan and takes an active interest in local sporting activities.
Frank E. Yeazel .- Perhaps one of the best known and most successful business men of Alvin is Frank E. Yeazel, who is president of the Village Board. He was born at Alvin, October 29, 1887, the son of William A. and Ellen (Green) Yeazel.
William A. Yeazel was born near Homer, Illinois. He lived in Ohio for a number of years and later came to Illi- nois, where he engaged in general farming near Rossville. Subsequently, he settled on land near Alvin, where he lived for more than half a century. He died in 1923 at the age of seventy-three years and is buried at Manns Chapel, Rossville. His widow resides at Alvin. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Yeazel: Clark, lives at Danville; May, married Clarence Teagarden, lives at
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Newport, Kentucky; George, who died in 1918; Earl, who died at the age of twenty years; Fannie, married E. A. Peterson, lives at Alvin; Ethel, married Charles Mathews, lives near Alvin; Frank E., the subject of this sketch; Abbie, died in March, 1929, was the wife of Harold Cray- ton, who died in 1920; and Ralph A., lives at Danville.
Frank E. Yeazel was reared on a farm just west of Alvin and obtained his education in the district schools. For a few years he was interested in farming and later entered the railway mail service. In 1914 he became man- ager of the Farmers Grain Company and two years later organized the Alvin Grain & Electric Company, Inc. He had complete charge of the installation of electric serv- ice in Alvin and in 1918 the service was extended to Bis- marck, Illinois, and State Line, Indiana. Two years later Mr. Yeazel sold his interests in the grain business which he had established and devoted his entire time to the Alvin Light & Power Company. The business has expanded dur- ing the past few years and now has lines to Hedrick, West Newell, Illinois, and Rence, Indiana. Service was extended to Armstrong and Henning in 1925 when the R. C. Wilson Light Company was purchased. Mr. Yeazel, however, sold these properties, and is now interested in the coal, tile and cement business.
On October 15, 1910, Mr. Yeazel married Miss Grace Swisher, of Rossville, Illinois, the daughter of Chester and Ella (Maury) Swisher, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Swisher died in 1914 and his widow lives at Rossville. Mr. and Mrs. Yeazel have no children.
Mr. Yeazel is a Republican and served as president of the Alvin School Board in 1928. He was elected president of the Village Board on April 16, 1929. He and his wife hold membership in the Christian Church, and he also be- longs to the Isaac Walton League.
In 1926 Mr. Yeazel built one of the finest homes in this section of the county. It is of brick structure and is at-
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tractively located on ten acres of land in the west end of the town. Attractive landscaping and extensive gardens make it outstanding as one of the beauty spots in the community.
Oscar Thomas .- Numbered among the most enterpris- ing and successful farmers of Vermilion County is Oscar Thomas, who is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres on the Attica Road near Rossville. He has spent his entire life in this section of Illinois, born at Rossville, September 18, 1867, the son of Samuel and Clara (Bicknell) Thomas.
Samuel Thomas, deceased, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, born near Philadelphia. He came to Rossville when a young man and settled on land, which he farmed for many years. He died at the age of sixty-one years in 1895 and is buried at Rossville. His wife, a native of Rossville, died in 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were born the following children: Oscar, the subject of this sketch; William, who died at the age of six years; Amelia, died at the age of twenty-four years; Charles, farmer, lives on the old home- stead; Edward, died at the age of twenty-two years; George, farmer, lives in Vermilion County; Mary, married Ross Fetters, lives near Rossville; and Frank, who lives in Wyoming.
Oscar Thomas grew up on his father's farm and re- ceived his education in the district schools. At the age of twenty-two years he rented the Byron Cronhite farm, in partnership with his two brothers. They operated that land for thirteen years, after which Mr. Thomas purchased the old Sulle farm on the Attica Roard about one-half a mile from Rossville. He has continued to operate this farm and ranks among the able stockmen of the township.
In 1889 Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Miss Emma Hackman, of Rossville, the daughter of Ezra and
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Amelia Hackman, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Indiana. Mr. Hackman died in 1923 and his wife died in 1919. Both are buried at Rossville. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were born three children: Cecil, a graduate of Rossville High School, married Verda Robel- ing, and they live near Rossville; Hazel, lives at home; and Flossie, married Henry Wood, farmer, lives east of Bis- marck, Illinois.
Mr. Thomas has always been a Republican. He and his family hold membership in the Methodist Church and have a wide acquaintance in the community.
H. M. Daniels, who is identified with the H. M. Daniels Lumber Company, of Henning, is among the enterprising and progressive business men of Vermilion County. He was born in Douglas County, Illinois, November 7, 1875, the son of S. W. and Mary E. (Baker) Daniels.
S. W. Daniels, retired, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Douglas County and lived there until 1915, at which time he went to Foster, Missouri, where he engaged in farming until his recent retirement. He is a Republican and a member of the Methodist Church. Mary E. (Baker) Daniels was born in Kentucky and died in 1916. She is buried at Foster, Missouri. There were five children in the Daniels family: H. M., the subject of this sketch; Forest Elmer, lives at New Iberia, Louisiana; Viola, married Alonzo Fields, lives at Connersville, Indiana; T. O., lives at Rich Hill, Missouri; and Fay, married A. O. Schaede, lives at Urbana, Illinois.
H. M. Daniels obtained his education in the district schools of Douglas County, Illinois, and grew up on his father's farm. He took a business course after his gradua- tion from high school and then entered the offices of the F. H. Jones Lumber Company, at Tuscola, Illinois. He
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spent six years in that company's employ and then became manager of the lumber yards of Potter & Phelps. Later, he associated with the S. E. Huff Lumber Company, Urbana, Illinois, and in March, 1927, purchased his present business at Henning. The H. M. Daniels Lumber Company has an extensive trade throughout this section of Illinois and in Indiana and are dealers in all types of building materials, roofings, wire fencings, tile and cement.
On June 14, 1899, Mr. Daniels was united in marriage with Miss Ola Smith, of Tuscola, Illinois, who died Decem- ber 13, 1908. She was the daughter of Ezra and Catherine (Porter) Smith. The former died in 1906 and the latter in 1923. To H. M. and Ola (Smith) Daniels a daughter was born, Mildred Catherine. She is the wife of Washing- ton Jenner, of Riverside, California. Mr. Daniels was married the second time on July 19, 1911, at Huntington, Indiana, to Esther Reed, the daughter of William and Nancy (Walker) Reed. He died in 1910 and his wife died in 1923. To Mr. and Mrs. Daniels a son has been born, George M., born July 16, 1916.
Mr. Daniels is a Republican and is serving the third term as alderman. He and his wife hold membership in the Baptist Church and he is a member of Ben Hur Lodge, Urbana, Illinois.
John Vinton Lane .- Honored, respected and esteemed in Henning, John Vinton Lane, deceased, was one of the borough's most prominent men. He was born in Vinton County, Ohio, March 3, 1858, the son of Royal Hasting and Mary (Brewer) Lane.
Royal Hasting Lane was born in Ohio. He came to Illinois in 1865 and purchased a farm east of Higginsville, where he remained until 1904. He then removed to Hen- ning, where he lived retired until his death in 1905. His wife, also born in Ohio, died in 1894. Both are buried at
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Potomac, Illinois. Their children were: Laura E., who died in 1907; Lidora Alice, died in 1918, was the wife of John Goodwine, of Potomac, who died in 1924; Douglas M., farmer, lives near Armstrong, Illinois; and John Vin- ton, the subject of this sketch.
John Vinton Lane was six years old when he came to Illinois with his parents. He attended the district schools of Higginsville and remained on the home place until his marriage in 1886. He then settled on the Rickart farm, southwest of Henning, which is among the oldest home- steads in this section of Vermilion County. It is the pater- nal home of Mrs. Lane. Mr. Lane became a successful farmer and stockman and became the owner of eight hun- dred acres of land. He died in 1923 at the age of sixty-five years.
In 1886 Mr. Lane married Miss Hettie J. Rickart, of Henning, the daughter of Wilson V. and Hester A. (Craw- ford) Rickart. He was born in Butler County, Ohio, and died in 1911. She was a native of Athens County, Ohio, and died in 1895. Both are buried in Bethel Cemetery, near Danville, Illinois. Three sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lane: Wilson Vivian, married Lillian M. Dodson, lives near Henning, and they have three children, Ralph E., Beryl K., and Vivienne M .; Victor Royal, married Minnie R. Niswonger, lives near Henning, and they have two daughters, Martha L. and Marian E .; and Carroll John, lives near Henning, married Emma Corbett, and they have three children, John R., Willa F. and Phillip E. All are engaged in farming.
Mr. Lane was a Democrat in early life and later in life became identified with the Prohibition movement. He held membership in the United Brethren Church. Mrs. Lane is a member of the Free Methodist Church, Missionary Society, and Women's Christian Temperance Union. She has been a resident of Henning since 1925.
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Elmer McNeal .- One of the substantial business men and well known citizens of Henning is Elmer McNeal, who is identified with the Henning Grain Company. He was born at Chestnut, Illinois, September 9, 1886, the son of Frank and Olla (McCurdy) McNeal.
Frank McNeal was a native of Harrisburg, Pennsyl- vania, and his wife was born in Macon County, Illinois. He was ten years old when he came to Illinois with his parents and settled near Maroa, Illinois. He followed general farming and stock raising throughout his life and later lived retired at Chestnut. He died in 1919 at the age of sixty-six years. His wife died in 1924. Both are buried at Mount Pulaski, Illinois. Mr. McNeal was a Dem- ocrat and a member of the Methodist Church. Two chil- dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. McNeal: Elmer, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Pearl, married H. D. Lukenbill, lives at Springfield, Illinois.
Elmer McNeal spent his boyhood on a farm near Chest- nut, Illinois, and received his education in the district schools. He also attended a business college at Decatur; Illinois, and began his business career as a bookkeeper with the Standard Oil Company at Decatur. Two years later he became interested in farming, but in 1912 engaged in business at Chestnut Hill, Illinois, as manager of a grain company. In 1916 he disposed of his interests there and in March, 1917, came to Henning, where he purchased an interest in the grain business of Mr. Prillman, of Rossville. He became manager of the local elevator and in 1923 this business was consolidated with the grain business of A. E. Betts. The old elevators were torn down and new ele- vators built, the firm being incorporated as the Henning Grain Company. Mr. McNeal became secretary and treas- urer. Mr. Prillman is the president of the company and Ura Seeger, of West Lebanon, Indiana, is vice president. This well established firm also are dealers in coal.
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In December, 1909, Mr. McNeal was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Keagle, of Mt. Pulaski, Ill., the daughter of Page and Anna (Barr) Keagle. Mr. Keagle died in 1923 and his wife died in 1912. Both are buried at Mount Pulaski. Mr. and Mrs. McNeal have no children.
Mr. McNeal has always been a Democrat and has served as mayor of Henning, being elected to that office in 1922. He is a member of the Henning Methodist Church, and is affiliated with the Mount Pulaski Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Danville Consistory; Mohammed Tem- ple Shrine, Peoria, Illinois; and Knights of Pythias, of Henning, Illinois.
Thomas George Luxton, who is president of the East Lynn State Bank, is representative of the successful busi- ness men of Vermilion County. He was born at Hather- leigh, Devonshire, England, September 4, 1844, the son of George and Mary (Pedrick) Luxton.
George Luxton and his wife were born in Devonshire County, England. He was highly educated and prepared for the ministry, although he never entered that profes- sion. He became a prosperous farmer. Both he and his wife are deceased. They had the following children : Elizabeth, William, Bartholomew, Amy, Walter, Anne, Mary, Catherine, Thomas George, George, Richard, and John, who died in 1919. All are deceased except Thomas George, the subject of this sketch.
Thomas George Luxton received his education in the schools of England and Canada. He came to the United States in 1867 and located at Portland, Maine. Early in life he followed the blacksmith's trade and in 1875 removed from Canada to East Lynn, where he conducted a shop for a time. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Butler Township, Vermilion County. In 1878 Mr.
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS GEORGE LUXTON
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Luxton returned to England and was married. Upon his return to East Lynn in that year he again conducted his shop and engaged in general farming and stock raising. In 1909 he retired and has since lived at East Lynn. Mr. Luxton is the owner of 1900 acres of fine farm land and has extensive real estate holdings.
At the organization of the East Lynn Bank Mr. Lux- ton was elected president. He retained that office after the incorporation of the bank in 1921.
On June 5, 1878, Mr. Luxton married Miss Johanna Martin, daughter of Samuel Martin, a native of Cornwall, England. Mrs. Luxton died in 1920 and is buried at East Lynn. To this union were born four children : Mary, mar- ried Edward Mutton, lives in Vermilion County ; George T., farmer, lives at East Lynn; Mabel, married Frank Mc- Cord, cashier of the East Lynn State Bank; and Walter, lives at East Lynn. Mr. Luxton was married the second time to Ida Hutton, the daughter of John Hutton, of Lock- port. She died in 1922 and is buried at East Lynn. Mr. Luxton's third marriage was to Mrs. Alta Staley, a native of Lafayette, Indiana, and a daughter of John and Phoebe (Minard) Roberts. Mrs. Luxton was educated in Lafay- ette High School and Terre Haute Normal, and for twenty- three years was a school teacher. She taught one term in Porto Rico, and two terms at East Lynn. Mrs. Luxton was first married in 1897 to J. Clifford Staley and two children were born to this union, Mrs. Lucille Montross and John R. Staley.
Mr. Luxton is a Republican and is the oldest living Republican Central Committeeman of Vermilion County, having served for nearly a half century, a member of the Methodist Church, Knights of Pythias, and has other club affiliations. He has always manifested a keen interest in church and school work and it was largely through his ef- forts that the new Methodist Church and East Lynn High
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School were erected. He is widely known for his philan- thropic work and has been an important factor in the busi- ness, civic and social life of his community.
Edwin G. Harden is one of the young business men of Fithian who has achieved success in the automobile busi- ness. He was born at Covington, Indiana, December 16, 1889, the son of Eugene and Dora (Kistler) Harden.
Eugene Harden was born at Homer, Illinois, in 1858. He spent most of his life at Covington, Indiana, and for a number of years served as superintendent of the Coving- ton Power & Light Company. He met with an accidental death in 1915, and is buried at Covington. His widow lives at Covington, where she was born. Mr. and Mrs. Harden were the parents of four sons: O. C., lives at Tulona, Illinois; F. R., lives at Covington, Indiana; Edwin G., the subject of this sketch; and O. J., lives at Long View, Illinois. It is interesting to note that these four sons have the agency for the Ford automobile in their respective communities.
Edwin G. Harden received his education in the public schools of Covington and following his graduation from high school in 1911 entered a garage at Covington as an apprentice mechanic. He came to Fithian in 1913 as a salesman for C. B. DeLong, Ford agent, and served in that capacity for ten years. In December, 1924, he pur- chased the interests of Mr. DeLong and assumed entire control of the business. The territory embraces Vance, Ogden, Pilot, and Oakwood townships. Approximately four hundred cars are sold by the company annually and Mr. Harden employs six men besides his office force. In 1927 he purchased a half interest in the Ford agency at Villa Grove, and he is now establishing a new Ford agency
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