USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 9
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Colfax T. Martin spent his early life on a farm in De- catur County, Indiana, and was educated in the public schools. He was graduated from Clarksburg High School in 1891 and for three years taught in Rush County, Indi- ana, in the intervals of his teaching attending the Central Normal College in Indiana, where he was graduated in 1894. For a year he was Principal of the high school at Milroy, Indiana, and in 1897 was graduated with a pro- fessional Life State License as a teacher from the Indiana State Normal School at Terre Haute, Indiana. While at the State Normal he was editor of the Normal Advance, the college paper there. Then for a year he was superin- tendent of schools at LaFollette, Tennessee, and for seven years superintendent of schools at Cayuga, Indiana. Teach- ing supplied him means to complete his higher education and in 1907 he was graduated from the Indiana University
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at Bloomington, Indiana, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He took his law course in Indiana University and in the Indiana Law School, of the law department of the University of Indianapolis, and was graduated in 1909, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, and was admitted to the bar both in Indiana and Illinois and in the United States Courts the same year. His work in the law school was of such character that he was awarded honorable men- tion by the college authorities on the date of his gradua- tion. In 1909 Mr. Martin came to Danville and established a private practive in this city. From 1915 until 1921 he was a member of the city council of Danville, in which body he served as chairman of the Ordinance Committee, the Finance Committee and other important committees.
On December 25, 1900, Mr. Martin was united in mar- riage with Miss Ruth Patrick, who comes of a very promi- nent and highly respected family. She is the daughter of Thomas Patrick and Thamar E. Patrick, of Cayuga, Indi- ana, both now deceased. They have three children: Della F., a graduate of the Danville High School and a student at the DePauw University, of Greencastle, Indiana, and the John Herron Art Institute of Indianapolis, Indiana; Thamar E., also a graduate of the Danville High School, and a student at DePauw University, at the University of Illinois, and now a teacher in the Danville, Illinois, city schools; and Colfax T., Jr., now eleven years old.
Mr. Martin is a Republican and a member of Saint James Methodist Episcopal Church. He is affiliated with Olive Branch, Lodge No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Vermilion Chapter, No. 82, Royal Arch Masons; Athelstan Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 45, and Damascus Lodge, No. 84, Knights of Pythias. He is identi- fied with the Vermilion County Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, American Bar Association and the American Branch of the International Law Association.
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William F. Baum, for fifty years was actively engaged in the drug business at Danville, and still looks after a wide diversity of interests, including public office. He is one of the senior business men and citizens of Vermilion County.
He was born over the Indiana line in Fountain County, at Covington, February 5, 1848. The Baum family came from Germany and settled in Pennsylvania in Colonial times. His grandfather, Jonas Baum, a native of Ohio, was a soldier in the War of 1812. About 1825 he settled at Covington, Indiana, being one of the pioneers of Fountain County, and helped develop a farm and home out of the wilderness. He lived there until his death. His wife was Elizabeth Steely, a native of Ohio, who also died in the homestead at Covington. Their son, Abner Baum, was born in Ohio, in 1819, was about six years of age when taken to Indiana ; was reared and married there, and spent the greater part of his active life as one of the leading farmers in that community. He began voting as a whig and later became a republican, and was a strong and ar- dent member of the Baptist Church. He finally moved to Nebraska, and died at Rising City, that state, in 1906. His wife, Eliza Hull, was born in Ohio, in 1840, and died at Rising City in 1906. Their children consisted of the fol- lowing: William F .; Jonas, a druggist who died at Osce- ola, Nebraska, in 1891; James, a druggist living at Omaha, Nebraska; Daniel, who was a business man and died at Osceola, Nebraska, in 1888; Emma, wife of Frank Scott, a druggist at Rising City, Nebraska; and Oliver S., a min- ister of the Presbyterian Church at Los Angeles, Cali- fornia.
William F. Baum had a farm rearing at Covington, attending country schools and town schools, and also the Baptist College at Ladoga, Indiana. Leaving college at the age of twenty-two, he had previously taught a term of school in the winter of 1869 in Warren County, Indiana.
WILLIAM F. BAUM
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In 1870 he entered the drug store at Covington, and by a hard working service apprenticeship learned every element in the profession and business of a druggist. In 1872 he acquired at Marshfield, Indiana, a branch store owned by the firm of Board, Gish & Company, and remained in busi- ness there until 1875. In the meantime, on November 1, 1874, he had established a drug store at Danville, the fifth store of that kind in the little city, and after 1875, when he sold his Marshfield store, he gave all his attention to the store at Danville. He was the leading druggist in the city for over fifty years, until he retired and sold out his store in 1920. He has had a prominent part in raising the stand- ards of the drug business in Illinois, serving one year as president of the Illinois State Pharmaceutical Association, and in September, 1897, helped organize the National As- sociation of Druggists at St. Louis, being the Illinois Dele- gate at the convention. Mr. Baum during 1897-98 erected one of the first modern office buildings in Danville known as the Baum Building, a seven-story structure at 41-43 North Vermilion Street. He still owns this building, and has his offices there. He has another business building, occupied by five stores at the corner of Main and North Jackson streets, and a three-story building at 20-22 West Main Street, and much other property, including his at- tractive home at 318 North Vermilion Street. He is presi- dent of the Pioneer Oil, Gas and Refining Company of San Antonio, Texas.
Mr. Baum is serving his tenth consecutive year as a member of the Board of Supervisors in Vermilion County. He was for four years a member of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Danville. Mr. Baum was elected twice to the city council, and while a member of this body intro- duced a resolution taking into Greater Danville the suburbs of Germantown, South Danville and Rose Lawn, incor- porated villages, making six altogether, and by this action automatically increased the population of Danville by
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eight hundred people. Mr. Baum is a republican, a mem- ber of St. James Methodist Episcopal Church, and is affili- ated with Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Vermilion Chapter No. 82, Royal Arch Masons; Athlestan Commandery No. 45, Knights Templar ; Danville Consistory of the Scottish Rite; and is a thirty- second degree Mason. He is also a member of Danville Lodge No. 332, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; the Danville Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Danville Country Club.
Mr. Baum married in September, 1874, at Marshfield, Indiana, Miss Louisa A. Johnson, who was born in that locality. She died at Danville in 1905. The only child of this marriage was Clarence Henry, who graduated from the Danville High School; from the University of Michi- gan in the pharmacy and chemistry department, and for twenty years was actively associated with his father in the drug business. He is now superintendent of the Lake View Hospital of Danville. Mr. Baum, on February 2, 1917, at Sandusky, Ohio, married Miss Bertha L. Levensburger, who was born in that Ohio city. She died at Danville, No- vember 22, 1922.
Clint L. Sandusky, deceased, was a veteran business man of Danville, where he was identified with the San- dusky Furniture Company as president. He was born at Catlin, Illinois, September 30, 1871, and died in Danville, August 26, 1921. He is buried in Springhill Cemetery.
Clint Sandusky was the son of Jacob and Mary Jane (Gones) Sandusky. Jacob Sandusky was a native of Ken- tucky and his wife was born in Ohio. Mr. Sandusky was a farmer and well known as a breeder of pure bred stock. He came to Illinois when a child with his parents, his father being Isaiah Sandusky. The family became promi- nent residents of Catlin and were substantial citizens.
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Jacob Sandusky died in 1884 and his wife died in 1906. Both are buried at Catlin, Illinois. Mr. Sandusky was a Republican and a member of the Presbyterian Church. To Jacob and Mary Jane (Gones) Sandusky were born three children: Effie, married John Keeslar, attorney, de- ceased, and she lives in Danville; Viola, married W. A. Balsley, lives in Danville; and Clint L., the subject of this sketch.
The education of Clint L. Sandusky was received in the public schools of Fairmount, Illinois, and his boyhood was spent on his father's farm. In 1896 he came to Dan- ville, where he became associated with the clothing firm of L. Platt & Son. Later he was identified with Owen Pixley & Company and in March, 1900, purchased the interests of C. H. Gones in the firm of C. H. Gones & Brother, furni- ture dealers. The business was thereafter known as Gones & Sandusky until 1901, at which time Mr. Sandusky became sole owner. The business was incorporated on September 1, 1919, under the name of the Sandusky Furniture Store, and Mr. Sandusky became president. His wife served as secretary and treasurer until the death of her husband in 1921, at which time she became president. She continues to carry out the straightforward business policies of her late husband and has met with unusual success in her business undertaking. The Sandusky Furniture Store is the largest business of its kind in the State of Illinois and owes its merited success to the fact that its owners have always insisted upon maintaining the highest possible qual- ity in their merchandise.
On October 5, 1892, Mr. Sandusky was united in mar- riage with Miss Sara Marble, the daughter of Jacob and Susan (Rogers) Marble, natives of Indiana. Mr. Marble was a successful farmer and grain dealer. He was a Re- publican and served as justice of the peace. He held mem- bership in the Christian Church. He died in 1914 and his wife died in 1888. Both are buried in Atherton Cemetery,
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near Danville. Their children were: W. A., who died October 13, 1925, was treasurer of the Huber Manufactur- ing Company, Marion, Ohio; Sara Sandusky; and Lela, married Fred Hughes, of Danville. She died in 1910. To Clint L. and Sara (Marble) Sandusky were born two children: Clinton D., born in 1912, graduate of Danville High School; and Nina, born in 1894, died in infancy.
Mr. Sandusky was affiliated with Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Vermilion Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, No. 82; Danville Council, Royal and Select Masters; Athlestan Commandery, Knights Templar; Ansar Temple; and Danville Consistory. In 1911 he was crowned a thirty-third degree Mason at Boston, Massachusetts, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. He was very active in Masonic circles, being District Dep- uty Grand Lecturer for many years, and he was largely instrumental in bringing to Danville the local consistory. He was a trustee on the Danville Consistory Building Com- mittee. He was also affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332. He was vice president of the Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Webster Home for Aged Women, and a director of Lakeview Hos- pital from 1907 until 1921.
Mr. Sandusky was always among the first to offer his assistance in civic and charitable movements and while he was interested in many philanthropic projects and enjoyed doing good work, few people knew of his activities in this channel.
Mrs. Sara Sandusky is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and belongs to the Altrusa Club. She has served for the past five years as treasurer of the Board of Man- agers of the Webster Home for Aged Women. She ranks among the leading women in the social, civic, and business life of Danville and has a wide acquaintance throughout Vermilion County.
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Clarence S. Dickson, associated with the firm of Ed- mund & Dickson, morticians, is among the substantial young business men of Danville. He was born near Fithian, Vermilion County, January 8, 1894, the son of Hiram Catlin and Dora Ellen (Ward) Dickson.
Hiram Catlin Dickson, deceased, was a native of Illi- nois. He was the son of Dr. Simon A. Dickson, who served throughout the Civil War as a captain in the Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry. He died while in service. His son, Hiram C., became a successful farmer of Vermilion County and was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of well improved land. He died in 1908 and his wife, a native of Ohio, died in 1909. Both are buried in Stearns Cemetery, Fithian. She was the daughter of Charles C. Ward, a native of Ohio, and an earlier settler of Vermilion County. To Mr. and Mrs. Dickson six children were born: Bert, deceased; Earl W., lives at Mason City, Iowa; James P., lives near Catlin, Illinois; Simon A., lives at Gray's Lake, Illinois; Franklin Harrison lives at Wauconda, Illinois; and Clarence S., the subject of this sketch.
Clarence S. Dickson received his early education in the schools of Vermilion County and attended Illinois Univer- sity preparatory school. He went to Chicago in 1912 and studied at the Barnes School of Sanitary Science and Em- balming. Following his graduation he came to Danville where he was employed in the funeral home of Turner & Gilmore. In 1914 he went to South Bend, Indiana, with Finch & Sprague, but the following year returned to Dan- ville where he was connected with the Gilmore Funeral Home until 1919. The next two years were spent with the Pape Funeral Home and Mr. Dickson again returned to the employ of Mr. Gilmore until 1925. At that time he pur- chased the interest of J. W. Turner in the firm of Turner & Edmund, and the business has since been known as Ed- mund & Dickson. This modern funeral home is located at 440 North Vermilion Street.
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On January 14, 1915, Mr. Dickson married Miss Mary Belle Scott, the daughter of Charles and Agnes (Noble) Scott, both deceased. They have two daughters, Margaret Delores, born October 24, 1915; and Barbara Jean, born March 20, 1925.
Politically Mr. Dickson is a Republican. He is a mem- ber of the First Baptist Church and a charter member of Further Light Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, No. 1130; and Palatine Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, No. 226.
Carey B. Hall .- One of the best known business men of Danville is Carey B. Hall, who is president of the Dan- ville Transfer & Storage Company. He was born at Homer, Champaign County, Illinois, November 17, 1879, the son of Levi M. and Mary F. (Patterson) Hall.
Levi M. Hall was born in Butler County, Ohio, June 19, 1827, and died September 5, 1919. He was the son of Frost Hugh and Maria (Meade) Hall, natives of Hamilton, Ohio. He was a school teacher, lawyer and farmer, and was also proprietor of the hotel at "Halls Locks." He was inter- ested in canal boats extensively. Mr. Hall later settled at Eugene, Indiana. He died in 1848 and is buried in Butler Cemetry, near Newport, Indiana. He was prominent in Masonic circles during the early days. Levi M. Hall, father of the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood on a farm and after removing to Eugene, Indiana, followed the blacksmith trade. He also owned a shop later at Homer, Illinois, which he operated for a period of twenty years. In later life Mr. Hall farmed. He retired in 1898 and lived at Homer, Illinois, until his death in 1919. He was a Republican and for seventeen years served as com- missioner of highways in Homer Township. He held mem- bership in the Methodist Church, of which he was a deacon. Mary F. (Patterson) Hall was born near Homer, Illinois,
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December 13, 1847, and died March 1, 1928. Both she and her husband are buried at Homer. She was the daughter of Thomas Patterson, a native of Saint Joseph, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Hall were born five children: Charles Allen, deceased; Carl, deceased; Ada, married Edward Beazley, lives at Danville; Laura A., married Ernest Fox, lives at Bloomington, Illinois; and Carey B., the subject of this sketch.
Carey B. Hall attended the public schools of Allerton and Homer, Illinois, and in 1899 was graduated from Brown's Business College. After leaving school he went to Chicago for Carson, Pierie & Scott Company, dry goods merchants. In 1900 he removed to Danville, where he became associated with the Danville Transfer & Storage Company as bookkeeper. In 1903 he purchased an interest in the business and eight years later, when the company was incorporated, Mr. Hall became president. He pur- chased the remaining stock in 1927 and is now sole owner of the business, which is located at 12 College Street.
In 1902 Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Miss Lil- lian M. Poage, the daughter of Porterfield and Anna (Clemens) Poage, of Homer, Illinois, now residents of Danville. They have a son, Melvin P. Hall, born December 16, 1903. He was married in 1921 to Miss Mildred McClain, and they have a daughter, Lillian L. Hall, born August 23, 1923. Mr. Hall is associated in business with his father. He is a graduate of Danville High School, and attended the University of Illinois.
Mr. Hall is a Republican, a member of the First Pres- byterian Church, Danville Country Club, and Roselawn Country Club. His fraternal affiliations are as follows: Olive Branch Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, No. 38; Vermilion Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, No. 82; Danville Council, Royal and Select Masters, No. 37; Athel- stan Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 45; Danville Con- sistory, thirty-second degree; Past Sovereign Prince of
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Council Princes of Jerusalem; Past Most Wise Master of Chapter Rose Croix, First Lieutenant Commander of the Consistory; Gao Grotto, Monarch; and on September 21, 1926, he was crown a thirty-third degree Mason at Buffalo, New York, in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, No. 332.
Maj. Gen. Oscar Philip Yeager, deceased, was a promi- nent figure in the business life of Danville for many years. He was born in this city, October 25, 1866, the son of Magnus and Hannah (Campbell) Yeager.
Magnus Yeager was born in Germany and was a lad of fourteen years when he emigrated to the United States with his parents. They settled on a farm near Decatur, Indiana. He was a Civil War veteran, having enlisted with an Indiana Cavalry Regiment. His wife was born near Campbell's Station, Illinois. Both are buried in Springhill Cemetery, Danville.
Oscar Philip Yeager was educated in the public schools of Danville and was a graduate of Danville Seminary. He engaged in the contract business in his teens, with his father, the late Magnus Yeager, under the firm name of M. Yeager & Son. He remained with his father until 1892, when he formed a partnership with Charles F. Schultz, under the firm name of Charles F. Schultz & Company. Their operations extended outside the city of Danville. The Plano Manufacturing Company of Plano, Illinois, erected in West Pullman, and which is now a part of the Interna- tional Harvester Company, was among the first large con- tracts handled by the new firm. In 1893 they had the con- tract for the basement of the Federal Building on Harrison and Vermilion streets. In 1893-94-95 they built the new building of the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois. Magnus Yeager then entered the firm and the
of yeager
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name was changed to Yeager & Schultz. Courthouses were erected at Monticello, Clinton and Paris, Illinois, and one at Sparta, Wisconsin. With the retirement of Mr. Schultz the firm became known as Yeager & Son. The Federal building at Hot Springs, Arkansas, was then built by the company.
Some of the largest post office and custom house build- ings were erected by Yeager & Son, one of the largest be- ing at Newport, Rhode Island. Among the important buildings erected at Danville were the Federal Building, Court House, First National Bank Building, Baum Build- ing, Elks Club, Washington School, and the last important contract handled by General Yeager was the Memorial Bridge on Gilbert Street over the Vermilion River. Mr. Yeager died February 28, 1923.
General Yeager married Martha E. Smith, the daugh- ter of David John and Ellen (Conlin) Smith, pioneers of Tilton, Illinois. Both are deceased and buried in Spring- hill Cemetery, Danville. Mrs. Yeager died in 1895, leav- ing three children: O. K., a sketch of whom appears else- where in this history; Phyllis, married Drew Tenbroeck, lives at Hinsdale, Illinois; and Ralph O., lives at Terre Haute, Indiana. On March 5, 1902, Mr. Yeager married Miss Grace Dillon, a native of Danville, Illinois, where she now resides.
General Yeager's military record in national guard cir- cles in Illinois was unequaled in Vermilion County. He enlisted as a private in Battery A, Artillery Battalion, June 1, 1883, at the age of seventeen years. He received his discharge February 4, 1887, and re-enlisted August 10, 1889, receiving a commission as first lieutenant, Novem- ber 18, 1889. In January, 1890, he was promoted to cap- tain and on January 28, 1901, became a major. General Yeager retired October 6, 1910, and was placed on the re- tired list as Lieutenant Colonel, being transferred to the National Guard Reserve March 6, 1917. He assisted in
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the reorganization of the Illinois National Guard to re- place the companies that had been sent into active service in the World War. He remained in command until June 22, 1921, when he was promoted to Brigadier General of the Sixty-fifth Infantry Brigade, Thirty-third Division. He retired from service June 9, 1922, with the rank of Major General.
At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Captain Yeager led Battery A, First Illinois Field Artillery, United States Volunteers, and served in Porto Rico.
General Yeager was a life long Republican and always took an active interest in politics. He was a member of Olive Branch Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons No. 38; Vermilion Chapter, Royal Arch Masons No. 82; Athelstan Commandery, Knights Templar No. 35; Dan- ville Consistory, thirty-second degree; Ansar Temple; and Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No. 332. He was also a member of United Spanish War Veterans, Camp Egbert No. 1, charter member; and an honor member of Jewell White Post No. 728, Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Col. O. K. Yeager .- An energetic and successful busi- ness man of Danville, whose career has been steadily up- ward and marked by progressiveness from the first, is Col. O. K. Yeager, who is identified with Yeager & Son. He began his business experience with his honored father, who was also one of Danville's highly regarded business men.
Colonel Yeager was born in Danville, February 5, 1888, the son of Major General Oscar Philip and Martha E. (Smith) Yeager. A complete sketch of Maj. Gen. Oscar Philip Yeager appears elsewhere in this history.
O. K. Yeager obtained his early education in the public schools of Danville, and following his graduation from high
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school in 1906 he entered DePauw University. He subse- quently entered the University of Chicago, and in 1911 was graduated from the University of Illinois with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Mr. Yeager has since been identified with the interests of Yeager & Son, Danville, and in 1920 became a member of the firm. At the time of his father's death, February 28, 1923, Mr. Yeager became sole owner.
In 1913 Mr. Yeager married Sara Hazel Brand, the daughter of Dr. E. P. and Vienna (Moore) Brand, natives of West Virginia. He was superintendent of Baptist Mis- sions at Normal, Illinois. He is deceased and his widow lives at Tucson, Arizona. Colonel and Mrs. Yeager have two children, Betty Ann and Philip Brand, both students.
In 1905 Colonel Yeager enlisted in Battery A, First Field Artillery, but at the inception of Company I, Fifth Illinois Regiment, he transferred to that organization. Later, he became a member of Battery A, First Illinois Field Artillery. In June, 1917, he was transferred to Camp Meade, Maryland, and was there attached to an en- gineering corps, where he was commissioned a captain. He was subsequently sent to Camp Raritan, New Jersey, where he engaged in construction work, later being transferred to Frankfort Arsenal, as executive officer in charge of con- struction work. He served at Camp Knox, Louisville, Kentucky, in the same capacity and was discharged in July, 1919. He reorganized Company A, Fourth Illinois Infantry, National Guard, which was later federally recog- nized as Company D, One Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry, Thirty-third Division. He was commissioned captain, No- vember, 1920, and resigned in May, 1923. However, the following year he returned to the service as captain of Company D, One Hundred and Thirtieth Infantry, and in July, 1927, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, and at- tached to the Thirty-third Division Staff.
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