USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 8
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RALPH L. McCALMAN
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was a Republican and a member of the Episcopal Church. To Mr. and Mrs. McCalman were born five children: John L., born in 1868, died in 1914, was widely known throughout Michigan as a consulting engineer; George, born in 1874, died in 1895; Ralph L., the subject of this sketch; Donald, born in 1877, consulting engineer, lives at St. Louis, Mo .; and Malcolm, construction engineer, lives in Michigan.
Following his schooling at Racine, Wis., where he com- pleted a college course at Racine College, Ralph L. McCal- man went with the civil engineering department of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. He was later asso- ciated with the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad and the Sandusky & Columbus Short Line Railroad. In 1893 he went with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad at Dan- ville, where he was identified with the engineering depart- ment, later becoming assistant engineer. He subsequently served as locating engineer and resigned from the com- pany's employ in 1906 as division engineer and went with the Illinois Traction System at Decatur, Illinois, as main- tenance engineer. In 1910 he established an engineering contracting business at Decatur and six years later re- moved to Danville, where he established the R. McCalman Construction Company, which was later incorporated as R. McCalman, Inc. The company specializes in heavy con- crete work, including road and bridge building. Mr. Mc- Calman was also one of the incorporators of the Material & Fuel Company, Inc., being president and treasurer of both companies.
March 3, 1901, Mr. McCalman married Miss Myrtle Hopple, daughter of Jerry and Mattie (Schieber) Hopple, natives of Crawford County, Ohio. He lives at Bucyrus, Ohio. His wife died in 1928. The children of Mr. and Mrs. McCalman are: Helen, married John Funk, lives at Danville, and they have one daughter, Marj; and Myra,
7-Vol. 2
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married M. Rovelstadt, lives at Urbana, Ill., and they have a daughter, Sue.
Politically, Mr. McCalman is a Republican. He is af- filiated with Furtherlight Lodge, No. 1130, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Macon Chapter, Royal Arch Ma- sons, No. 21; Springfield Consistory, thirty-second degree; Ansar Temple; Gao Grotto; Danville Yacht Club; and Roselawn Golf Club.
Clarence F. Carter .- Numbered among the enterpris- ing and successful young business men of Danville is Clarence F. Carter, who is vice president and general man- ager of The Modern Machine Shop, Inc., 123-125 North Hazel Street. He was born at Sidell, Illinois, March 12, 1895, the son of Charles E. and Birdie (Mitchell) Carter.
A complete sketch of Charles E. Carter appears else- where in this history.
Clarence F. Carter was educated in the public schools of Wichita Falls, Texas, and Canton, Mississippi. After leaving school he learned the machinist's trade while in the employ of Robert Holmes & Brothers. He completed his apprenticeship in March, 1915, and two years later went to San Francisco, California, where he was engaged in marine work for the Union Iron Works. Mr. Carter returned to Illinois in 1921 and located with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, Danville, as a machinist. In January, 1922, he established a machine shop at the rear of 516 West Harrison, Street, called The Modern Machine Shop. The business was moved to 22 East Harrison Street in 1922, and in July, 1925, a modern plant was erected at the present location. The company was incorporated in June, 1924, at which time Mr. Carter became vice presi- dent and general manager. He is the builder of the engine of the boat, "Miss Danville II," a one hundred fifty-one
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inch hydroplane type speedboat, which won the Missis- sippi Valley Power Boat Association championship in 1927. Mr. Carter was associated in this work with James Barton.
October 12, 1914, Mr. Carter married Miss Emily M. Robinson, the daughter of George and Leota (Atherton) Robinson, natives of Pennsylvania and residents of Dan- ville. They have two children: Robert Eugene, born November 12, 1915; and Mildred, born June 12, 1917.
Mr. Carter is a member of the Third Church of Christ, and is affiliated with the Masonic lodge, thirty-second degree, Elks Club, Rotary Club, Danville Country Club, Walnut Hill Boat Club, National Speed Boat Club of New York, and Chamber of Commerce. Politically, he is a Republican.
Charles E. Carter, who is president of The Modern Machine Shop, Inc., Danville, is widely and favorably known among the dependable business men of Vermilion County. He is a native of this county, born December 30, 1871, the son of Ezekiel and Cecelia (Hunt) Carter.
Ezekiel Carter was a native of Pennsylvania and his wife was born in Ohio. He came to Vermilion County when a young man and on several occasions drove cattle from Danville to Buffalo, New York, during the early days and drove hogs to Chicago, Illinois. He became a success- ful farmer of Vermilion County. He and his wife are deceased and are buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Fair- mount, Illinois. He was a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Carter the following children were born: John, lives at Rochester, Indiana; Alexander and George, both deceased; Will, lives at Armstrong, Illinois; Charles E., the subject of this sketch; Lottie, deceased, was the wife of James McAllister; Alice, the widow of George Bird, lives at Danville; and Belle, married J. A. Boyd, lives at Wellington, Texas.
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Charles E. Carter spent his boyhood in Vermilion County and was educated in the district schools. He went to Ludlow, Illinois, in 1892, where he spent two years as a meat dealer. He then went to Canton, Mississippi, where he purchased a large plantation and sawmill, which he operated until 1903. The next five years were spent at Iowa Park, Texas, and in 1908 Mr. Carter returned to Danville, where he became associated with the Western Brick Company. In 1927 he became identified with the Modern Machine Shop, Inc., with which he has since been actively identified as president.
In 1892 Mr. Carter married Miss Birdie H. Mitchell, daughter of Oscar Mitchell, a native of Indiana. He died in California. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Carter: Charles Harvey, lives at Danville, married Mary Hankins; Clarence F., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history; and Birdie, married Earl Amos, lives at State Line, Illinois.
Mr. Carter is a Republican, a member of the Baptist Church, and belongs to the Elks Club.
Louis Clements .- One of the most influential figures in professional circles in Vermilion County, is Louis Clem- ents, who as a successful lawyer of Danville holds leading rank in his chosen field of advance. He is a native of Car- bondale, Illinois, born September 12, 1877, the son of Col. Isaac and Josephine (Nutt) Clements.
Col. Isaac Clements was born at Brookville, Indiana, March 31, 1837. He taught school early in life in Indiana, and later entered Asbury University, now DePauw Uni- versity, at Greencastle, Indiana, from which he was gradu- ated in 1859. He then removed to Jackson County, Illinois, where he taught school and studied law, being admitted to the Illinois bar in 1861. At the beginning of the Civil
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War he entered the service and became a second lieutenant in Company G, Ninth Illinois Regiment. He was promoted to provost marshal at Athens, Alabama, and served until 1864, resigning to join his company which was marching on Atlanta. He was twice severely wounded at Shiloh and again at Corinth, and participated in many important battles. He was honorably discharged with the rank of captain. Upon his return to Carbondale, Illinois, he prac- ticed law and played a prominent part in public affairs, being elected to Congress from his district. In 1877 he was appointed penitentiary commissioner for southern prisons at Chester, serving eleven years. Later, he was United States pension agent at Chicago for three years. He spent one year as superintendent of the Soldiers Or- phans Home at Normal Illinois, and in December, 1898, was appointed governor of the National Soldiers Home at Danville, being the first to hold that position. He was an honorary member of the Masonic fraternity and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Colonel Clements died May 31, 1909. His wife was the daughter of Cyrus Nutt, D. D., LL. D., of Bloomington, Indiana. He was a professor in Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsyl- vania, at one time, and was the first president of Asbury University. Later, he served as professor at the Univer- sity of Bloomington, Indiana. Three sons were born to Col. Isaac and Josephine (Nutt) Clements, as follows: Frank, retired, lives at Carbondale, Illinois; Louis, the subject of this sketch; and Robert, physician, lives at Danville.
Louis Clements grew up at Carbondale, Illinois, where he received his schooling. He was graduated from Illinois State Normal College in 1897 and from Northwestern Uni- versity with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1902. He studied law and was admitted to practice in 1904, at that time forming a partnership with H. M. Steely, of Dan- ville. This association continued until 1908, and since that
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date Mr. Clements has engaged in private practice. He has offices in the First National Bank Building.
Mr. Clements was married June 29, 1910, to Miss Blanche Hogan, of Mound City, Illinois, the daughter of Major Daniel and Dora (Wallace) Hogan, the former, a native of Ireland and the latter of Kentucky. Mr. Hogan, deceased, was prominent in Illinois politics for many years and served with distinction in the Illinois State Senate. His widow lives at Los Angeles, California. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Clements: Charlotte Carter, born July, 1914; and Louis, Jr., born August, 1917.
Mr. Clements has always been a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Masonic Lodge, Elks, Danville Country Club, and Danville Yacht Club. He is president of the Big Bend Coal & Clay Com- pany and a director of the Eel River Coal Company, both of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Herbert E. Cockerton, who is identified with the firm of George E. Cockerton & Son, Danville, is numbered among the highly successful business men of Vermilion County. He was born in this city, July 26, 1877, the son of George E. and Lillian (Jack) Cockerton.
George E. Cockerton was born at Dundee, Illinois. He learned the printer's trade when a young man and in 1864 came to Danville, locating here with his parents, John C. and Hannah (Pate) Cockerton. The family is of English lineage and representatives of the name came from Eng- land to America, locating first in Chicago, and later at Elgin, Illinois. They came to the United States in 1849. George E. Cockerton was educated in Danville, being a student at the local high school under Professor Spellman. He was employed in the offices of the Danville Plain Dealer, and later was connected with the Danville Times.
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Mr. Cockerton became an expert printer and was put in charge of the newspaper plant of the Danville Times. He later became the business manager of the "Enterprise" and was in charge of the plant. He spent several years in Indianapolis and in 1877 returned to Danville, where he assumed complete charge of "The Times." Two years later he formed a partnership with F. E. Bowman but the business was sold in 1881. Later, Mr. Cockerton estab- lished a job office and conducted it for four years. He then became business manager for the Press Company. In 1889 he established an exclusive job and book business and two years later his son became a partner in the busi- ness. In 1898 Mr. Cockerton added a book binding depart- ment and stamp manufacturing plant.
Mr. Cockerton married in 1876 Miss Lillian E. Jack, the daughter of Matthew W. and Ann (Sackett) Jack, of Centerville, Indiana, both now deceased. Mrs. Cockerton died in August, 1923, and is buried in Springhill Cemetery, Danville.
Herbert E. Cockerton attended the public and high schools of Danville and throughout his business career has been identified with his father's printing and book bind- ing plant. Since January 1, 1900, the business has been known as George E. Cockerton & Son. Its activities extend throughout Vermilion County.
In 1901 Mr. Cockerton married Miss Lola G. Young, the daughter of C. M. and Alice W. (Welsheimer) Young, of Thorntown, Indiana, both deceased. Their daughter, Mary Alice Cockerton, attended Danville High School, and now lives at home.
Politically, Mr. Cockerton is a Republican. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church and Rotary Club. His lodge affiliations are: Anchor Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, No. 980, charter member; Ver- milion Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, No. 82; Danville Council, Royal and Select Masters, No. 37; Athlestan Com-
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mandery, Knights Templar, No. 45; Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree; and is Past Most Wise Master of Gil W. Barnard Chapter Rose Croix, eighteenth degree; Goa Grotto; Mohammed Shrine; Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks, No. 332; Knights of Pythias, No. 84; Modern Woodmen of America.
Charles P. Nelson .- Prominent in business and finan- cial circles in Danville, Charles P. Nelson, president of the First National Bank, has played an integral part in the growth of his city. He is a native of New York, born at Spencer, Tioga County, March 18, 1863, the son of David and Clarissa (Watson) Nelson.
Both David Nelson and his wife were natives of Tioga County, New York, born in 1823 and 1825 respectively. He attended college and became a dentist. In later life he lived at Covington and Attica, Indiana, and in 1870 settled at Danville, where he engaged in practice until his death in 1896. His wife died in 1880. Both are buried in Spring Hill Cemetery, Danville. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson had four children; Clarence; Clara, married F. Miller ; Minnie, mar- ried Charles Newman; and Charles P., the subject of this sketch. All are deceased except Charles P.
After completing his education in the public schools of Danville, Charles P. Nelson became a clerk in the dry goods store of William Mann & Company. He later be- came bookkeeper and in 1885 became identified with the First National Bank as exchange teller and correspond- ent. He subsequently was assistant cashier and in 1912 was elected cashier. He has served as president of the First National Bank since July 1, 1928.
In 1888 Mr. Nelson married Miss Cora N. Anderson, of Danville, the daughter of William Anderson. She died in 1921 and is buried in Spring Hill Cemetery. To Mr.
CHARLES P. NELSON
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and Mrs. Nelson were born three children: Edna and Don- ald, both deceased; and Charles L., born in 1898. He at- tended Danville High School and was graduated from St. John's Military Academy in 1917. He enlisted in the Fifth Illinois Regiment and was sent to Springfield, Illinois. He served throughout the World War and was stationed at Newport News. He has remained in the service and at present is located at Governor's Island, N. Y. He holds the rank of sergeant.
Mr. Nelson is a member of St. James Methodist Epis- copal Church and is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Elks Club, Knights of Pythias, and Modern Woodmen of America. He is a charter member of the Half Century Club, having lived in Danville for fifty-nine years. He is a Republican.
Herman E. Douglas, cashier of the Second National Bank of Danville, and also president of the First National Bank of Catlin, is numbered among the leading financiers of Vermilion County. He was born at Catlin, Illinois, Jan- uary 11, 1886, the son of Winfield Scott and Elizabeth (Clark) Douglas.
Winfield Scott Douglas spent his entire life at Catlin, Illinois, and died there January 19, 1908. He was a farmer in early life, later served as school teacher, and from 1904 until 1908 was cashier of the First National Bank of Catlin. His wife died in July, 1913. Both are buried in Oakridge Cemetery, Catlin. Their children were: Thomas W., lives at Denver, Colorado; Dora Gibson, deceased; Chloe Matthews, lives at Bellefontaine, Ohio; Ethel Jones, lives at 1510 Franklin Street, Danville; Carroll Douglas, deceased; and Herman E., the subject of this sketch.
Herman E. Douglas has been identified with banking interests throughout his life. Following his schooling at
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Catlin and Danville, he attended Millikin University, De- catur, Illinois, for two years. He became assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Catlin in 1905 and served in that capacity until 1917, at which time he was elected cashier. From that date until 1925 he was cashier and in the latter year was elected president of the institution. Mr. Douglas became cashier of the Second National Bank of Danville on January 1, 1929.
Mr. Douglas was married on June 7, 1911, to Miss Cath- erine Taylor, of Catlin, the daughter of Thomas A. and Mary (Acre) Taylor, natives of Illinois. Mr. Taylor died May 28, 1925, and his wife died October 27, 1927. Both are buried in Oakridge Cemetery, Catlin. Mr. and Mrs. Doug- las have an only child, John Allen, born January 26, 1917.
In politics Mr. Douglas is identified with the Republican party and is a precinct committeeman, also member of the executive committee of Vermilion County. He has held the offices of town clerk and school treasurer of Catlin Township. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and affiliated with Catlin Lodge, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Danville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332; and Kiwanis Club.
James W. Hunter, who is vice president of the R. Mc- Calman Company, Inc., and the Material and Fuel Com- pany, was born at Zanesville, Ohio, January 22, 1881, the son of Joseph Allen and Margaret Ellen (Williamson) Hunter.
Joseph Allen Hunter was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1850, the son of James W. and M. (Irving) Hunter. James W. Hunter was a native of Miami County, Ohio, and his wife was born in the northern part of Ireland. Both are deceased and are buried at Piqua, Ohio. Their son, Joseph Allen Hunter, spent his boyhood on his father's
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farm and early in life entered the employ of the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company in the offices at Zanesville. He was serving as chief clerk to the general freight and pas- senger agent at the time of his death in 1919. He was a Republican, a member of the Presbyterian Church; Amity Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Past Master; Garfield Commandery, Knights Templar. His wife was born at Zanesville, Ohio, and died in 1922. She was the daughter of David and Eliza Williamson, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of Kentucky. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunter were born two children: James W., the subject of this sketch; and Edna, lives at Danville.
James W. Hunter attended the public schools of Zanes- ville, Ohio, and was graduated with the degree of Civil Engineer from Ohio State University in 1904. He then became associated with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Terre Haute, Indiana, and later with the Chicago & East- ern Illinois Railroad in the chief engineer's office at Chi- cago. The following year he was transferred to Salem, Illinois, as assistant division engineer. In 1906, Mr. Hunter was sent to Evansville, Indiana, as division engineer and in 1911 he returned to Salem, Illinois, in the same capacity. He came to Danville in 1915 in the same capacity for the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad, but resigned his posi- tion in 1920 to enter the business in which he is now engaged.
In 1910 Mr. Hunter married Miss Harriette Townley, the daughter of H. P. and Nellie (Graham) Townley, natives of Ohio, both now deceased. They are buried at Terre Haute, Indiana, where Mr. Townley was a success- ful hardware merchant. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have two daughters, Margaret Ellen and Harriette Townley, both students.
Mr. Hunter holds membership in the First Presbyterian Church, Olive Branch Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, No. 38, Young Men's Christian Association,
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Rotary Club, and Danville Country Club. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and vice president of the Allied Construction Industry Council. Politically, Mr. Hunter is a Republican.
William H. Debenham, who is general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association, Danville, was born in Grundy County, Iowa, January 23, 1880, the son of William and Martha (Hunting) Debenham.
William Debenham was a native of Brooklyn, New York. He was a farmer in early life and lived for a num- ber of years at Adeline, Illinois. Later, he lived in Grundy County, Iowa, where he farmed until 1889. He then moved to Everly, Clay County, Iowa, and while a resident of that place engaged in the general merchandise business. He went to Arapahoe, Nebraska, in 1909, where he remained until the time of his death in December, 1917. He is buried at Araphoe, Nebraska, and his first wife died in 1884, and is buried in Grundy County, Iowa. Children born to this union were: William H., the subject of this sketch; and Charles L., born May 17, 1881, lives in Colorado. On May 27, 1886, William Debenham married Miss Edna F. Middle- kauff. She died in November, 1927, and is buried at Glen- dale, California.
William H. Debenham was reared in Grundy County, Iowa, and attended the public schools of Everly, Iowa. He was graduated from Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa, in 1905. In that year he entered Young Men's Chris- tian Association work at Ottumwa, Iowa. He served as general secretary at Burlington, Iowa, from 1908 until 1917; as associate general secretary at Camden, New Jer- sey, from 1917 until 1918; and has been general secretary at Danville since 1918. In 1911 Mr. Debenham raised money for the New Young Men's Christian Association
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building at Burlington, Iowa, the total being one hundred thousand dollars.
On September 12, 1906, Mr. Debenham married Miss Evva C. Erskine, of Chicago, the daughter of L. R. and Adella V. (Rogers) Erskine. Mr. Erskine is a successful business man and lives in Chicago. Adella V. Erskine died May 21, 1887. Mr. Erskine married the second time to Miss Mary Hepperly. To Mr. and Mrs. Debenham were born five children: Elizabeth, Roger, Stuart, David, and Theodore, all at home.
Mr. Debenham is a Republican. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Rotary Club, of which he is secretary.
Colfax T. Martin has been a practicing attorney in Dan- ville for the past twenty years. The years of his early manhood were spent largely as a teacher in his native state of Indiana. His reputation is that of an able lawyer and a popular and useful citizen. He was born near Adams, Decatur County, Indiana, September 24, 1873.
The Martin family is of English ancestry and was established in Virginia before the War of the Revolution. His grandfather, John Martin, was born in Harrison Coun- ty, Kentucky, lived there until middle life, and then moved to the vicinity of Greensburg, Indiana, where he followed farming until his death. He married Nancy Martin, of a distinguished family of that name, also a native of Ken- tucky. Their son, Ralph Martin, was born near Greens- burg, Indiana, in 1834, and spent practically all his life in that section, becoming a substantial farmer. Late in life he retired to Indianapolis and died in that city in 1914. He was a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church, and the Masonic fraternity. His wife, Eva Tevis, was born near Moscow, Indiana, in 1849, and died at Lawrence in that state in 1907. She was the daughter of Thomas and
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Mirza Tevis, her parents also being natives of Harrison County, Kentucky. She was of Scotch descent and her people were scholars and chiefly connected with the learned professions. Many of her people occupied high positions in the law or ministry or were engaged in University or Governmental work. Colfax T. Martin was the oldest of their children. The others were: Luther S. Martin, Principal Central High School, Muncie, Indiana; Rev. Charles P. Martin, Pastor United Brethren Church, In- dianapolis, Indiana; John E. Martin, farmer near Carlyle, Montana; Rev. Otto T. Martin, District Superintendent of the Crawfordsville District, North Western Indiana Con- ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church; Rev. Ottis T. Martin, Pastor Simpson Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, at Fort Wayne, Indiana; Eva, married Harry W. Hasewinkle, lives at Indianapolis; and Marquis E. Martin, died at Cayuga, Indiana, at the age of twenty-three years. The father of these children, by his first marriage, had a son, Ralph E. Martin, who was a farmer. He died at Rushville, Indiana, in 1918.
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