USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 31
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David C. Ade received his education in the public schools of Dayton, Ohio, and later spent four years at the Theological Seminary at Dayton, Ohio. He served for a period of twenty-five years as a member of the United Brethren ministry throughout Illinois and Indiana, and in March, 1917, came to Rossville, where he purchased a home at 303 East Green Avenue, where he now lives. In April, 1920, he was elected justice of the peace and on April 6, 1929, became police magistrate.
On December 28, 1882, Mr. Ade married Miss Susan Tucker, of Danville, the daughter of Henry and Hulda (Brown) Tucker, natives of Kentucky and Indiana, re- spectively. Mr. Tucker died in 1901 and his wife died in 1902. Both are buried at Rossville. Mr. and Mrs. Ade have nine children, as follows: Irvin H., lives at Lafay- ette, Indiana; Ida May, married Claude Stevenson, lives at Rossville; William Harrison, who died in 1894; Charles Edward, lives in Chicago, Illinois, is a veteran of the World War; David C., lives on a farm near Champaign, Illinois, is a veteran of the World War; N. W., lives at Hoopeston, married Estella Babson, and she died March 22, 1929; Dorothy, married O. W. Murphy, lives at Danville;
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Everett, who died at the age of eight years; and Ruth, married Lloyd Robertson, lives at Chicago, Illinois.
In politics Mr. Ade is identified with the Republican party. He is a member of the United Brethren Church and takes an active part in church work. He has been affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty-two years and has been State Representative to the Grand Lodge. He has also been a member of the Modern Woodmen of America for the same number of years.
Charles Mires Woodbury .- One of the prominent fig- ures in business circles in Vermilion County is Charles Mires Woodbury, who is vice president of the Woodbury Drug Company, Danville, and a member of one of the earliest and best known families of Vermilion County. He was born in Danville, on the site of the Fisher Grand Opera House, January 15, 1868, the son of Dr. William W. R. and Maria Louisa (Williams) Woodbury.
Dr. William W. R. Woodbury was born in Ripley County, Indiana, in 1824, and died February 16, 1901. He is buried in Springhill Cemetery, Danville. His third wife, Maria Louisa (Williams) Woodbury, was the first white child born in Vermilion County, born at Catlin, February 22, 1827. She died September 9, 1903, and is buried in Springhill Cemetery. William W. R. Woodbury was reared in Ripley County, Indiana, and was seven years of age when his parents came to Danville in 1833. His father was a general merchant and fur trader and made numer- ous trips to New Orleans, Louisiana, by flat boat, the return trip being made by foot or horseback. At the age of fifteen years William W. R. Woodbury studied medicine with Dr. William E. Fithian, and at the same time attended a private school. He was graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1850 and upon his return to Danville
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was associated with the drug business of Dr. James A. D. Sconce. He later purchased the store and in connection with the business he carried on a general practice in medi- cine at 79-81 West Main Street. Doctor Woodbury was also the founder of the Woodbury Book Company in 1881, which was managed by him until 1885, at which time his son, Amos Gardner Woodbury, purchased the two stores. He operated them successfully until 1901, at which time a stock company was formed and the business known as the Woodbury Book Company, with Herman B. Wheeler as president. In 1903 the Woodbury Drug Company was incorporated with A. G. Woodbury as president; Charles M. Woodbury as vice president; Charles F. Ehlers, as man- ager; and Flora M. Woodbury, as secretary. Doctor Wood- bury carried on his private medical practice until his death in 1901. As highway commissioner he built the first stone and gravel Georgetown Road. He was engaged in many business enterprises. He was mayor and laid out Spring- hill Cemetery as commissioner. He was numbered among the leading citizens of the community and was beloved by all who knew him.
To Dr. William W. R. and Maria Louisa (Williams) Woodbury were born the following children: Ernest, who died in infancy; Amos Gardner, who died in 1920; Mary, who has been blind since the age of four years, is a gradu- ate of the Jacksonville Institute for the Blind, and is exceedingly talented in music, lives at Danville; Lucy W., unmarried, now president of the Woodbury Book Com- pany, with which she has been identified for the past forty- six years; Charles Mires, the subject of this sketch; Flora Maria, unmarried, now secretary of the Woodbury Drug Company. All live in the old family homestead at 515 North Vermilion Street, Danville.
Charles Mires Woodbury obtained his education in the public schools of Danville and is a graduate of the North- western College of Pharmacy, Chicago. He became identi-
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fied with his father's drug and book business early in life and served as vice president of the Woodbury Drug Com- pany from 1903 until 1920, and was succeeded by Charles F. Ehlers as president. Mr. Woodbury is now vice presi- dent. He was also associated with his brother, the late Amos Gardner Woodbury, in the breeding of Jersey cattle and Poland China hogs on the Woodbury Hill Farm from 1895 until 1918, during which time Amos Woodbury served as president of the Vermilion County Farmers Institute. He increased meetings from one to twelve a year. A. G. Woodbury was the father of hard roads movement and as supervisor helped first to put it over. A. G. Woodbury deserves highest award of merit for extensive work done for this modern hard road movement, and was elected chief of supervisors for this. Charles Mires Woodbury has also had extensive real estate holdings in Danville and in 1904 was identified with his brother, Amos G. Wood- bury, and his sister, Flora M. Woodbury, in the building of the Maria-Louise and Nelsonia, large fifteen apartment building in Danville. The Danville Motor Car Company building was built and owned by A. G. Woodbury. The Chesterfield additions were owned and laid out by A. G. and Charles M. Woodbury.
Mr. Woodbury is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Danville Consistory, Ansar Shrine, Springfield, Illinois, Knights of Pythias, Loyal Order of Moose, Isaac Walton League, and Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks. He is a member of Saint James Methodist Episcopal Church, and belongs to the Sons of the American Revolution, and Half Century Club. He is unmarried and lives with his sisters at 515 North Ver- milion Street.
Mr. Woodbury has always been interested in the early history of Danville and has a fine collection of early photo- graphs of the city, part of which were taken by him and pioneer photographers. These and pioneer relics shown
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by him and his sister, Flora M. Woodbury were shown at the Vermilion County Centenary and won the silver trophy, a huge silver loving cup, and awarded by the Dan- ville Chamber of Commerce.
Gardner Woodbury, paternal grandfather of Mr. Wood- bury, was born in Montgomery County, New Hampshire, 1801, and died at Danville in 1841. The paternal grand- mother, Elizabeth (Songer) Woodbury, was born in Rock- ingham County, Virginia, about 1800 and died at Dan- ville in 1876. The maternal grandfather, Amos Williams, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, in 1797 and died at Danville in 1857. He traveled as far west as Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1821 and his father, Benjamin Wil- liams, and his grandfather, Enoch Williams, fought from Bedford County, Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary War.
Martha Shaw Williams, wife of Amos Williams, was born in Christian County, Kentucky, and lived at Paris, Illinois, when she married Amos Williams in 1826. Grand- mother (maternal) of C. M. Woodbury.
J. S. Purnell, mayor of Fithian, is a substantial and well known citizen of Vermilion County. He was born in Fountain County, Indiana, May 26, 1858, the son of George W. and Nancy (Henry) Purnell.
George W. Purnell was born in Fountain County, Indi- ana, February 13, 1834. He followed general farming and stock raising throughout his life and after his retirement lived at Danville. He died there, December 13, 1908, and his wife, born in Brighton County, Kentucky, December 16, 1832, died October 18, 1893. Both are buried in Stearns Cemetery, Fithian. The Purnell family came to Indiana about 1830. To Mr. and Mrs. George W. Purnell six chil- dren were born: Emma, born August 30, 1855, died Feb-
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ruary 11, 1860; J. S., the subject of this sketch; Ella, born October 24, 1862, died in infancy; Arthur, born August 24, 1864, died in 1912; J. E., born in 1869, lives at Danville; and Dr. W. F., dentist, born June 22, 1872, lives at Veeders- burg, Indiana. Mr. Purnell was a Republican and a mem- ber of the old Christian Church, which was organized in 1808.
J. S. Purnell lived in Indiana until 1871 and was edu- cated in the district schools of Fountain County. He became a farmer and at one time owned several large farms in Vermilion County. He lived at Oakwood for several years and has been a resident of Fithian since 1923. Mr. Purnell is still the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and sixty acres, which is located north of Bron- son, Illinois.
Mr. Purnell was elected supervisor of Oakwood Town- ship in 1893 and has served as a member of the board for twenty-two years with the exception of three terms. He became mayor of Fithian in 1927 and has proven himself to be a most efficient and trustworthy administrator.
Mr. Purnell was married, October 8, 1879, to Miss Fannie M. Lucas, of Fountain County, Indiana, the daugh- ter of J. G. and Jane (Sanford) Lucas, natives of Indiana and Kentucky, respectively. Both are deceased. Mrs. Purnell's grandfather Lucas was born in London, Eng- land, and was fifteen years old when he came to this coun- try. He became a prosperous merchant of Chambersburg, Indiana, where he engaged in business for more than forty years. He died at the age of seventy-five years. To J. S. and Fannie M. (Lucas) Purnell three children were born: Earl, born March 19, 1883, died December 23, 1885; Goldie, born February 5, 1888, married in 1906 to Dr. R. E. John- son, and she died in 1917, buried in Stearns Cemetery, Fithian; W. Frank, born in 1895, a graduate of Danville High School and the University of Illinois, married Hazel
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Shepperd, and they have three children. He operates his father's farm near Bronson.
Mr. Purnell has always been a Republican. He is a member of the Christian Church and is affiliated with the Masonic Lodge and Consistory. Both he and his wife are active in the social and civic life of the community.
Charles Virgil Tilton .- One of the prominent business men of Fairmount is Charles V. Tilton, who is a member of one of the oldest and best known families of Vermilion County. He was born at Catlin, Illinois, March 21, 1863, the son of George W. and Lizzie A. (Albright) Tilton.
George W. Tilton was born in Beaver County, Pennsyl- vania, January 8, 1836. When a boy he came with his par- ents to Ripley County, Indiana, where he grew to man- hood. He attended Moores Hill College for two years and then became a surveyor of Ripley County. He later taught school in the same county and after his arrival at Catlin, Illinois, also engaged in the teaching profession. In 1868 he became interested in the mercantile business at Catlin, and for almost half a century was numbered among the progressive merchants of Vermilion County. He also served as postmaster. Mr. Tilton was a Democrat, an ac- tive member of the Methodist Church, and belonged to Cat- lin Lodge No. 590, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was also identified with his brother in stores at Pilot and Palermo, Illinois, about 1883. On August 14, 1862, George W. Tilton was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Albright, who was born in Clermont County, Ohio, January 30, 1837, the daughter of George and Paulina (Ammon) Albright. George Albright was born at Nuremberg, Bavaria, Ger- many, November 10, 1813, and his wife was born in Baden, Germany, April 12, 1817. He died January 5, 1892, and
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CHARLES VIRGIL TILTON
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his wife died July 10, 1897. Both are buried in Ripley County, Ind. Mr. Albright came to the United States in 1833 and became a successful farmer. George W. Tilton died November 27, 1910, and his wife died October 18, 1925. Both are buried in Oakridge Cemetery, Catlin, Ill. Their children were: Charles Virgil, the subject of this sketch; Elsie Venus, born April 4, 1866, married Albert R. McGregor, lives at Danville ; and Bertie, married George R. Catlett, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this his- tory.
The Tilton family traces its ancestry to England. Three brothers came from near Carlysle, Cumberland County, England, to the United States before the Revolutionary War, and settled in New Jersey. James Tilton removed to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where he married Lizzie Pedan, and upon her death he later married Sarah Moore. They had two children, Enoch and John. Enoch Tilton was born in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1780. He was married in 1802 to Betsey Wheatley, who was born March 11, 1784. They later removed to Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where Enoch Tilton became a farmer and preacher. They had thirteen children, as follows: James, born August 2, 1803; Mary Whittum, born September 21, 1806; Sarah Tate, born June 6, 1808; Matthias, born Octo- ber 17, 1809; Rev. Enoch, born July 22, 1811, grandfather of the subject of this sketch; Joseph, born December 25, 1812; John, born February 20, 1814; Rev. Charles, born November 21, 1815; Anna Van Camp, born July 19, 1817; Rev. Morgan, born May 28, 1819; Dr. Samuel, born April 6, 1821; Elizabeth, born April 11, 1822; and Rev. Job, born July 16, 1825.
Rev. Enoch Tilton, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born July 22, 1811. He was married on Sep- tember 12, 1832, to Elizabeth Wilson, who was born Jan- uary 12, 1811. They removed to Ripley County, Indiana, in 1844, and he became prominent as a Baptist minister
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and farmer. He died November 12, 1883, and his wife died June 20, 1887. Both are buried in Ripley County, Indiana. Reverend and Mrs. Tilton were the parents of nine sons, as follows: John W., born August 15, 1834, died September 11, 1834; George W., born January 8, 1836, died Novem- ber 27, 1910; William W., born October 10, 1837, died De- cember 23, 1888; Samuel R., born August 21, 1840, died January 28, 1911; Enoch B., born January 16, 1843; Rob- ert L., born April 12, 1845, died October 18, 1866; Andrew B., born February 25, 1847, died January 26, 1919 ; Joseph M., born May 8, 1849, died August 8, 1861; and James R., born July 8, 1853, died March 18, 1924.
Charles Virgil Tilton grew up at Catlin and received his education in the public schools there. Throughout his business career he has been interested in the general mer- cantile business and for a time was employed in his father's store. In 1883 they purchased a bankrupt stock at Fair- mount, and assumed charge of its management. At the death of his father, Mr. Tilton assumed complete owner- ship of the business and has continued until the present time as one of the leading merchants of this section.
On January 21, 1886, Mr. Tilton was united in mar- riage with Miss Jeannette L. Reese, born September 7, 1864. She died September 22, 1928, and is buried in Green- view Cemetery, Fairmount. She was the daughter of Joseph and Virginia (Lawrence) Reese. Joseph Reese was born May 2, 1833, and died January 1, 1871. His wife was born May 16, 1835, and died September 22, 1925. To Charles Virgil and Jeannette L. (Reese) Tilton were born five children, as follows: Claude E., born November 16, 1887, a graduate of the University of Illinois, was mar- ried October 21, 1922, to Eleanor Mabelle Breach, lives at Olney, Illinois, and they have a son, Timothy; Nina Vir- ginia, born June 11, 1890, married March 5, 1917, to Floyd E. Reese, assistant cashier of the Second National Bank, Danville, and they have a daughter, Virginia Jane; Julia
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Elizabeth, born September 2, 1897, married Ernest E. Cast, of Danville, and they have a daughter, Phyllis Jean- nette; Edith Ruth, born November 27, 1902, dietitian at the Oklahoma State Hospital, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Walter Joseph, born June 23, 1894, died October 23, 1918. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois and was employed as a chemist by the Hercules Powder Com- pany.
Charles V. Tilton is independent in politics. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and belongs to Fairmount Lodge No. 285, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
Earl Gritten .- The Fithian Hardware Company, of which Mr. Gritten is president and treasurer, has long been recognized as one of the substantial business houses of Vermilion County. Mr. Gritten has ranked among the highly successful business men of Fithian for a number of years and is a member of one of the oldest families of this section. He was born in Pilot Township, May 4, 1884, the son of Thomas L. and Martha (Shank) Gritten.
Thomas L. Gritten was born on a farm in Pilot Town- ship, the son of Labon E. Gritten, who came to Vermilion County during the early days and settled on a farm south- east of Penfield. The Gritten homestead was government land and was purchased at twenty-five cents per acre. Thomas L. Gritten became a substantial citizen of Bixby, where he owned and operated a blacksmith shop for many years. In 1890 he began the operation of a sawmill and thresher at Collison, Illinois, which he owned until 1904. He then rented a farm near Hope, Illinois, where he re- mained until the time of his death in 1906. His widow later married John Watson, and now lives near Danville, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Gritten the following children were born: Earl, the subject of this sketch; Maude, mar-
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ried Henry Baatz, lives at Bennington, Indiana; Ollie mar- ried William Pate, lives at Catlin, Illinois; Samuel, lives at Bismark, Illinois; Thomas A., lives at Danville; Myrtle, married Fay Wilson, lives in Chicago, Illinois; and Orville, lives at Fithian.
Earl Gritten received his education in the public schools of Bixby and Collison. He worked in his father's saw- mill and early in life became an expert in threshing work. He owned and operated threshers at Hope, Illinois, until 1922, at which time he removed to Fithian. He had served as justice of the peace at Hope from 1912 until 1922 and as highway commissioner of Pilot Township for one term. On January 10, 1924, Mr. Gritten became associated with the Price-Plotner Hardware Company, Fithian, as man- ager. The business was later incorporated as the Fithian Hardware Company and Mr. Gritten became president and treasurer. His daughter, H. Lorraine Plotner, is vice president and bookkeeper.
The Fithian Hardware Company are dealers in hard- ware, furniture, radios, plumbing and heating fixtures, and are also widely known dealers in farm implements. Duing the season of 1929, the firm sold twenty-one Mc- Cormick-Deering threshers, which represented a total of eleven carloads. Mr. Gritten was secretary and treasurer of the Illinois Brotherhood of Threshermen for five years. One of his responsibilities was the publication of "The Illi- nois Thresherman," a fine monthly paper devoted to their interests. The son of a thresherman, Mr. Gritten has operated engines and threshers for years; consequently his trade appreciates the sound, practical help, advice and service he is able to render through the Fithian Hardware Company, under which name he conducts a constantly growing business.
In 1904 Mr. Gritten was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Vinson, of Newtown, Illinois, the daughter of William and Hulda (McHenry) Vinson. Mr. Vinson died
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May 27, 1925, and his wife died July 7, 1909. Both are buried at Emberry, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Gritten three children were born: (1) H. Lorraine, a graduate of Joliet Township High School, married in 1926 to Cleo Keith Plotner, lives at Fithian; (2) Vinson, a graduate of Oak- wood Township High School, married to Wintress Doug- las September 21, 1929, associated in business with his father; and (3) Mervin, a student at Oakwood Township High School.
Mr. Gritten is a Republican and held the office of mayor of Fithian during 1925 and 1926. He is a member of the Methodist Church and is affiliated with Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Collison Lodge No. 713, Danville Con- sistory, and Modern Woodmen of America.
"Gritten's Grit," a monthly publication, sponsored by Mr. Gritten, is a further example of his unceasing interest in the local merchant and farmer.
William T. Snider, M. D .- Among the most prominent physicians and surgeons of Vermilion County is Doctor Snider, who is successfully engaged in practice at Oak- wood. He was born at Snider, Illinois, July 18, 1888, the son of G. B. and Martha Anne (Dodson) Snider.
G. B. Snider, retired, is a well known resident of Oak- wood. He was born at Collison and for many years was one of the most successful farmers of Vermilion County. The town of Snider was named in honor of the Snider family and Mr. Snider served there as postmaster, as well as assessor of Blount Township. Since his retirement he has lived at Oakwood and is assessor of Oakwood Town- ship. Martha Anne (Dodson) Snider was born at Snider, Illinois, and died February 22, 1927. She is buried in Pleasant Grove Cemetery, near Oakwood. To Mr. and Mrs. Snider were born eight children, as follows: Ollie,
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married Ross Cork, lives near Danville; Vora E., lives near Oakwood; Stella, married Fred Oakwood, lives at Oakwood; Nell, married Verne Juvinal, lives near Col- lison; William T., the subject of this sketch; Glenn, lives near Collison; Lulu, married Stephen L. Ludwig, lives near Collison; and Tempa, married Lloyd D. Coake, lives at Danville.
William T. Snider spent his boyhood on his father's farm near Oakwood. He attended Shellbark School and Brown's Business College, Danville. He spent several months in the office of the McArthur Brothers Construc- tion Company, at Indiana Harbor, Indiana, also, academic course in University of Louisville, and in September, 1906, entered the University of Louisville, from which he was graduated in 1910 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He spent a year in practice at Potomac and came to Oak- wood September 1, 1911. He established offices on the site of the present State Bank Building, where he remained until 1918. He has since conducted his practice in a suite of offices connected with his home. Doctor Snider is surgeon for the United Electric Coal Company and Illinois Power and Light Corporation. He is identified with the Vermilion County Medical Society, Illinois State Medical Society, and American Medical Association.
Doctor Snider was married December 30, 1906, at Dan- ville, to Miss Alice Fullington, of Collison, the daughter of Elijah and Addie May (Jones) Fullington, natives of Ohio and Illinois, respectively. They live at Oakwood. To Doctor and Mrs. Snider have been born three children: Wilma Bernice, born July 6, 1908, a graduate of Oakwood Township High School, attends the University of Illinois; Margaret May, born February 17, 1914, attends Oakwood Township High School; and William Fullington, born January 21, 1918, attends Oakwood school.
In politics Doctor Snider is identified with the Repub- lican party. He is a member of the Methodist Church;
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Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Oakwood Lodge, No. 872; Danville Consistory; Peoria Shrine; Modern Wood- men of America; Walnut Hill Boat Club; and Rose Lawn Golf Club.
James B. Payne, who is engaged in the insurance busi- ness at Potomac, Illinois, is a member of one of the earliest and best known families of Vermilion County. He was born in Danville, March 11, 1857, the son of John Payne, Jr., and Priscilla (Beasley) Payne.
John Payne, Jr., was born in the State of New York and his wife was a native of Indiana. He was a small boy when his parents, John Payne, Sr., and wife, came to Illi- nois and settled on what is now the Vermilion County farm, which was later purchased by John Payne, Jr.
John Payne, Jr., was twice married, his first wife being Verletta O'Neal. To them was born Wm. O., Alonzo G., Permelia A., Abel W. (commonly known as "Wad") and Adderson C. Payne. After the death of his first wife he was married to Mrs. Priscilla Beasley, mother of Mary A. Beasley, and to this union was born James B., the subject of this sketch, and Carrie Harriet Payne.
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