USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 46
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THOMAS A. GRAHAM.
Among the young men who are shaping the history of the legal profession in Danville is numbered Thomas A. Graham, whose ability is winning him rapid recognition as an able young lawyer, capable in meeting in forensic combat many who entered the fray long before he did. Mr. Graham is a native of this city, born November 30, 1880. His father, Hugh Graham, a native of Scotland, came to the United States in 1850 and, making his way into the interior of the country, settled near Danville, Vermilion county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. He afterward removed to the vicinity of Alvin and there carried on general farming until 1897, when he passed away at the age of fifty-eight years. He served in the Civil war, doing valiant duty with his regiment until the close of hostilities. His wife bore the maiden name of Rose Padmore and was a native of England. By her marriage she became the mother of three children, two sons and a daughter.
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Thomas A. Graham pursued his early education in a country school and afterward entered the Greer College at Hoopeston, from which he was grad- uated in the class of 1901. He supplemented his more specifically literary course by preparation for the bar as a student in the Illinois Wesleyan Law School and was graduated with the class of 1904. The same year he began practice in Danville, where he has since remained, and his ability has found recognition in a large and growing clientage that has connected him with much important litigation held in the courts. He is strong in argument, logical in his deduc- tions and clear in his reasoning. He devotes his time to his profession without regard to politics aside from taking an active interest in support of the measures in which he believes. He has never sought nor desired office yet is never re- miss in the duties of citizenship.
On the 20th of October, 1909, Mr. Graham was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Fox, of Danville, who is a daughter of Dr. A. L. Fox, one of the early physicians of this city. The doctor married Eva Gibbs and their daugh- ter, Mrs. Graham, was born in Danville. In his fraternal connection Mr. Graham is a Mason, belonging to Olive Branch Lodge, No. 38. He is also con- nected with the Improved Order of Red Men and belongs to the First Methodist Episcopal church. His many sterling traits have won him high regard and although one of the younger, he is numbered among the honored and repre- sentative citizens of Danville.
FRANK PAYNE.
Among the young men of Danville who have already attained distinction in their chosen profession is Frank Payne, probably one of the most promi- nent civil engineers in this part of the state. He was born in Brazil, Indiana, May 18, 1868. His father, William J. Payne, was also a native of Indiana where during early life he engaged in farming but in 1886 came to Danville and turned his attention to newspaper work, becoming business manager of of the Danville News, of which W. R. Jewell was editor. He held that position for fifteen years and was then appointed deputy postmaster under Mr. Jewell and still continues to serve in that capacity. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rachel Oliver, is also a native of the Hoosier state.
It was during the infancy of Frank Payne that the family came to Dan- ville and he is indebted to the public schools of this city for his early educational advantages. After graduating from the high school in 1904 he pursued a four years' course in civil engineering under the well known surveyor, Donald H. Sawyer, now of Seattle, one of the most prominent engineers of the west. Dur- ing those years of study Mr. Payne was in the employ of the Illinois Traction Company, of which Mr. Sawyer was chief engineer, and remained with that corporation until December, 1907, at which time he became resident engineer in charge of a construction line from Bloomington to Peoria at a cost of three million dollars.
FRANK PAYNE
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On leaving the traction company Mr. Payne was appointed county surveyor of Vermilion county in December, 1907, to fill out an unexpired term and served in that capacity for one year. He then took up private practice and has since met with marked success. Up to within a few years ago nearly all of the im- portant engineering deals were given to Chicago firms, but it is different now, this being largely due to the efforts of Mr. Payne who, in the execution of the contracts awarded him, has displayed most excellent ability in his chosen call- ing. At present he is engaged on a number of important engineering enter- prises in this county which would formerly have gone to outside parties, among them being a sanitary sewerage system and purification works at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars. He is also engineer for five drainage districts of agricultural lands in Vermilion county at an expenditure of two hundred thou- sand dollars and is consulting bridge engineer for this county, having under ยท way four bridges costing forty thousand dollars. He also has in charge numer- ous sewerage systems for smaller towns throughout this section of the state and his work this year will probably involve an expenditure of about one million dollars. Besides these public works he also has been awarded extensive private contracts as a consulting engineer. He is a young man of pronounced ability in his line and undoubtedly a brilliant future lies before him.
On the 8th of December, 1909, Mr. Payne was married in Danville to Miss Julia Lavona Koch, who was born in this city and is a daughter of Robert and Janes (Buy) Koch. Mr. Payne and wife have one son, Frank, Jr., born October 10, 1910.
H. J. CLOUSE.
H. J. Clouse, a successful farmer of Vermilion county, who owns a highly improved farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 9, Grant township, may be regarded as one of the fortunate citizens of this locality. He has spent all of his life upon a farm and here he prospered from year to year until he reached a position of affluence. He was born at Rensselaer, Indiana, June 30, 1859, and is a son of William C. and Rebecca (Parker) Clouse, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. In the spring of 1865 the family removed to Logan county, Illinois, and located on a farm, where the mother departed this life in 1908. The father is still living in Logan county, at the age of eighty years. Ten children were born to them, nine of whom are still living.
The subject of this review received his education in the district schools and grew up upon the home farm, where he became thoroughly acquainted with the various operations of agriculture and stock-raising, showing an interest and a proficiency that gave promise of a successful career as a farmer. By industry and economy he acquired a small capital while continuing at home and at twenty- two years of age he purchased eighty acres of land of his father in Grant town- ship and later added two tracts of eighty acres each, making one of the valuable farms of the township, which he improved by the erection of modern buildings
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and fences, the tiling of his land and the purchase of modern conveniences, mak- ing this property thoroughly up-to-date and highly desirable for all farming pur- poses. He has devoted special attention to the rearing and fattening of hogs and by attention to breeding and care of these animals he has attained gratify- ing results, receiving good prices and being in the market each year with a grade of hogs that commands a ready sale. It will be seen that Mr. Clouse is one of the substantial farmers of this region.
On December 27, 1883, Mr. Clouse was united in marriage to Miss Tressie J. Ransom, who was born in Marion county, Indiana, April 16, 1865, and is a daughter of John C. and Permilia H. (Wakeland) Ransom, the father a na- tive of West Virginia and the mother of Indiana. Mr. Ransom came to Ver- milion county in 1881 and for a number of years was one of its flourishing farmers, but later removed to Hoopeston, where he was called away in 1905. Mrs. Ransom is still living and makes her home with our subject and his wife, the latter of whom is one of the eight children born to her parents and seven of them are now living. Mr: and Mrs. Clouse have two daughters: Daisy Ellen, who was born July 8, 1886, and was educated at the high school and also in music; and Lucia Helen, who was born August 27, 1895, and is now in her second year in the high school.
The family are actively identified with the Baptist church, of which Mr. Clouse served as trustee for seven years. He is greatly interested in Sunday school work and for thirteen years has been superintendent of the Sunday school of this church. Politically Mr. Clouse is in hearty sympathy with the prohibition party, believing that its principles are of great importance in protecting the young from the evils of the saloon. He has at various times been called upon to serve in a public capacity and has acceptably filled the offices of school director and road overseer. In all the relations of life, public or private, Mr. Clouse has attempted to apply the principles of the golden rule and in doing so has received the reward which comes only to those who strive daily to do their duty. He is happy as the head of a family and happy in his business, being recognized as an upright and useful man, who is devoted not only to his own interest but also always evinces the liveliest interest in the advancement of others.
WILLIAM H. SCHWARTZ.
A life actuated by honorable purposes and high ideals has gained for William H. Schwartz the enviable position which he occupies in the regard of his fellow townsmen. He has largely devoted his years to those projects which make the world better and brighter and he is now a factor in the commercial develop- ment of Hoopeston as the secretary of the Hoopeston Carriage Company.
He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, on the IIth of January, 1850, a son of John H. and Catherine (Wyant) Schwartz. The father, who died in 1885, was of German descent, representing a family that was established on American soil at Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The mother came of English line- age and was descended from the Oldenbergs who settled in Pennsylvania, where
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Mrs. Schwartz met her future husband, who was then a young man employed in Philadelphia as a hatter. He had learned his trade with his wife's uncle, to whom he was apprenticed.
William H. Schwartz was educated in the district schools of Butler town- ship, Vermilion county, Illinois, having accompanied his parents, on their re- moval westward to this county in October, 1856. Here he was reared and gave much attention to the acquirement of an education until twenty-two years of age. After leaving school he rented his father's farm of two hundred acres, there carrying on general agricultural pursuits to the age of thirty-three years. At his father's death he repurchased the interests of the other heirs in eighty acres of the old home place, where the town of Riley is now situated, and later bought eighty acres more. While engaged in farming, his leisure hours were devoted to the study of theology and in 1879 he was licensed as a local preacher and in 1883 entered the ministry, to which he devoted eighteen years. He is still a member of the Illinois conference. He was for nine years in the Cham- paign district, eight years in the Danville district and one year in the Jackson- ville district as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church but on account of throat trouble was obliged to give up his work. In the church he had proved a potent force, his earnest efforts, his eloquence and his logical utterances prov- ing a strong element in the moral advancement of the different localities where he preached. When forced by physical reasons to leave the ministry he again took up farming in Vermilion county and followed that pursuit successfully un- til January, 1906, when he removed from the farm to Hoopeston and purchased an interest in the Thornton Buggy Company, which is now the Hoopeston Car- riage Company. Durring the first three years he was president of the company and upon its reorganization under the present name he became its secretary. In this connection he takes active part in the management of the business, which, carefully controlled, results in the attainment of success. The trade of the house now covers a large territory, shipments being made to various points in the country, while an average of twenty skilled workmen are employed in the actual work of the factory.
Mr. Schwartz was married in Butler township, this county, on the 30th of June, 1872, to Miss Martha E. Bales, the oldest daughter of Caleb T. Bales, a native of Tennessee and an early resident of Butler township, where he de- voted his attention to farming. Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz have become the parents of four children. Esther Catherine, a native of Butler township, is the wife of F. H. Sherfy, a resident of Waller, Texas; Grace E., born in Butler township, is the wife of J. B. Walbridge, one of the leading attorneys of Hoopeston ; Elizabeth E., born in Butler township, is the wife of D. H. Schiveler, who is a traveling machinist with the Sprague Company of Hoopeston, now residing in Baltimore, Maryland; Leora Z., born in Homer, Illinois, is now a pupil in the Hoopeston schools.
Mr. Schwartz exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He is a believer in prohibition principles and has always been a worker for the cause of temperance. For three years he served as tax collector of Butler township but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He is now one of the trustees of Lakeview Hospital at Dan-
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ville and is interested in all the projects and measures which work for humanity and for the upbuilding and benefit of the city. He belongs to the Retail Mer- chants & Business Men's Association, to the Masonic fraternity, to the Court of Honor and the American Home Circle. Wherever known he is held in high regard and his stanchest friends are those who have known him longest. His name in support of any measure carries weight and influence, as it is recognized that his allegiance is only given to those measures and movements wherein the welfare and best interests of the community are involved.
CHARLES AUSTIN MARTINIE.
Charles Austin Martinie, a well known representative of the farming in- terests of Sidell township, who applies to the duties that devolve upon him in connection with the development of his land the liberal education which he has acquired and which makes his labors therefore more effective and far-reach- ing, is a native of the town of Palermo, Edgar county, Illinois, born June 6, 1878.
His parents were Charles W. and Mary M. (Marshall) Martinie, natives of Kentucky and Pennsylvania respectively. The father was brought to Illinois when about twelve years of age and was reared in this state. He was educated for the medical profession, his literary studies being pursued in what is now Purdue University, then known as Battle Ground College of Indiana, after which he entered Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was graduated with the class of 1871. He then came to Edgar county, Illinois, where he married, establishing his home in Palermo. He there practiced his profession for twenty- five years with good success, after which he removed with his family to Lin- coln, where he continued in active practice for four years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Urbana, Illinois, where he has since been actively engaged in following his chosen calling. Reading and investigation have constantly broadened his knowledge and experience has added to his efficiency. He has long been regarded as a very capable and successful prac- titioner and has also become an extensive landowner, for he has made judicious investments in real estate, his holdings now embracing eight hundred and forty acres in Vermilion county and nine hundred and twenty acres in Jefferson county, Illinois. His home, one of the most beautiful residences in Urbana, was erected at a cost of twelve thousand dollars and he has other valuable town properties. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and for many years he and his wife were active members of the Presbyterian church, always lending their aid and influence on the side of righteousness, truth and progress. Mrs. Martinie, who was born November 5, 1847, was called to her final home February 24, 1910, and her death was deeply deplored by many friends as well as her immediate family. Dr. Martinie was born on the 7th of No- vember, 1847, so that he has now reached the age of sixty-three years. His has been an active and well spent life crowned not only with material success but also with the honor and respect of his fellowmen.
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Charles A. Martinie spent his youthful days in his parents' home and the public schools of Edgar county afforded him his educational privileges until he had attained his fourteenth year. He afterward entered Lincoln University at Lincoln, Illinois, where he pursued his studies for four years and later specialized in literature and art in the State University for three years. During this period he also gave considerable attention to the study of music in which he has marked talent. For a number of years he served as a director in various bands and orchestras. During the following years he played in such places as Manitou and Colorado Springs, Colorado, at Waukesha, Wisconsin, and at Sailor Springs, Illinois, his ability winning him wide recognition in musical circles.
In 1904 Mr. Martinie was united in marriage to Miss Grace Judd of Mount Vernon, a daughter of Charles H. Judd, a prominent retired farmer of that city, who is now deceased. Following his marriage Mr. Martinie located in Urbana and in the subsequent year had charge of his father's landed interests. In 1905 he came to the Vermilion county farm which he has since operated. However, he spends only the summer months here, the winter seasons being passed in Urbana, a tenant looking after his live stock during the cold months. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Martinie have been born two children, Mary Elizabeth and Ray Emerson. Mrs. Martinie pursued her more specifically literary educa- tion in Jefferson county, in Ewing College and in Delaware College of Delaware, Ohio. She was then graduated in music at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and later completed her literary education in Monticello Seminary at Godfrey, Illinois. She also studied music under A. G. Rolyn, a noted composer of St. Louis, Missouri.
Mr. Martinie is a supporter of the democratic party and a member of Sidell Lodge, No. 476, K. P. The musical talent of himself and wife constitutes a most attractive feature of their home which is the abode of hospitality ever cordially extended to their many friends. Mr. Martinie is one of the well in- formed and progressive men of Sidell township, active and enterprising in busi- ness and his intelligently directed effort is making the property of which he has control a valuable and productive one.
H. ERNEST HUTTON.
H. Ernest Hutton, engaged in the practice of law as a member of the firm of Clark & Hutton, in which connection he enjoys an extensive and important clientage, was born in Kentland, Indiana, on the 9th of May, 1878. His father, J. H. Hutton, was a native of Ohio, while his mother, who bore the maiden name of Phoebe J. Rawlings, was born in Indiana. After living for a number of years in the latter state, J. H. Hutton removed with his family to Hoopeston, Illinois, in 1885. He was a dentist and practiced his profession until 1906, when he retired from that field of labor and is now engaged in the manufacture of concrete tiles in Hoopeston, where he is conducting a successful and growing business.
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H. Ernest Hutton was a lad of seven years when his parents removed to. Hoopeston and in the public schools of that city he began his education, his course there being suplemented by six years' study in the University of In- diana. He was graduated from the literary department of that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and from the law department in 1904. He en- tered upon active practice well equipped for the profession. Admitted to the bar, he at once opened an office, and along with those qualities indispensable- to the lawyer-a keen, rapid, logical mind plus the business sense and a ready capacity for hard work-he brought to the starting point of his legal career a. strong personality, an earnest, dignified manner, marked strength of character, a thorough grasp of the law and the ability to accurately apply its principles. He commenced practice in the fall of 1904 with John M. Keeslar, with whom he was associated for four years. In 1905 he became public administrator and: in January, 1910, entered into his present partnership relations with the Hon .. S. Murray Clark, a distinguished representative of the Danville bar. In the six years of his practice he has made steady progress and his effectiveness as an: advocate and his wisdom as a counselor bespeak for him further prominence. in connection with the legal profession.
In August, 1909, Mr. Hutton was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle A. Jackson, a native of Danville and a daughter of John T. Jackson. He belongs to the Phi Delta Theta, a college fraternity, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. His support of any measure or movement is never half- hearted nor his position an equivocal one, and therefore his cooperation con- stitutes a valued feature in furthering the interests of any public project.
WILLIAM JEFFERSON KELLOGG.
Industrial activities in Hoopeston find a worthy representative in William Jefferson Kellogg, engaged in the lumber business and in the operation of a planing mill. He is connected in these interests with H. E. Vines and the firm is recognized as one of the strong business combinations of the city. Their- operations are conducted along progressive lines and no difficulties are allowed to remain as a bar to their path if they can be overcome by persistent effort. and ceaseless activity.
A native of Fountain county, Indiana, Mr. Kellogg was born June 2, 1868,. a son of Joseph and Martha Ellen (Nicoson) Kellogg. The father, of German lineage, was a contractor and builder but at the time of the Civil war put aside. all business and personal considerations and stanchly defended the Union cause" at the front. He afterward removed to Vermilion county, Illinois, but both he and his wife are now deceased. The latter came of a family that for many generations has been represented on American soil, the ancestry presumably being English.
William Jefferson Kellogg pursued his education in the common schools of Fountain county, Indiana, which he attended to the age of seventeen years,.
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and then undertook the task of providing for his own support. His taste and natural tendencies were toward industrial interests and he learned the carpen- ter's trade under the direction of his father, after which he worked as a journey- man for about fifteen years. He then began contracting and, meeting with success in that undertaking, was thus engaged until 1907, when, in connection with H. E. Vines, he purchased the business of the Hoopeston Lumber, Coal & Planing Mill Company. Business has since been continued under the name of the Hoopeston Planing Mill Company and during their ownership they have made many improvements, remodeling the buildings and also the general equip- ment of their plant. Their business activities extend to several of the neigh- boring states and they employ on an average of about a dozen skilled workmen. They have greatly improved their output since assuming control of the plan- ing mill and their patronage is now extensive and profitable. Mr. Kellogg is intensely practical in all that he undertakes and the careful consideration which he gives to every phase of the subject before he definitely forms his plans has been one of the features in his success.
On the 27th of September, 1899, in Hoopeston, Mr. Kellogg was united in marriage to Miss Mary Evelyn Faurote, a native of Fountain county, Indiana. Three children have been born unto them, Ronald Earl, Doris Edna and Caro- line Ellen, all being natives of Hoopeston.
The parents are members of the Christian church, in which Mr. Kellogg is serving as a deacon and is also financial secretary of the building fund. They are both actively interested in the work of the church and their labors consti- tute a potent force in its upbuilding and the extension of its influence. In his political views Mr. Kellogg is a republican and while an active worker in the ranks of the party is not an office seeker. He belongs to the Business Men's Club of Hoopeston and is laboring effectively for the commercial and indus- trial development of the city in which he has made his home for twenty-seven years and in which high regard is tendered him by reason of his business en- terprise and integrity and his sterling personal worth.
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