USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 59
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William Connor was educated in the public schools of Danville but his oppor- tunities in that direction were somewhat limited, as at the early age of thirteen years he began to assist in the support of the family, contributing liberally thereto for many years. He took up cornice work which he followed for about three years and then turned his attention to the mechanical side of railroading, working as a coppersmith and pipe fitter in the shops of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad at this place. There he remained for thirteen years and his broaden- ing experience and long service well qualified him for the duties which he un- dertook in this direction. At the end of that time he turned his attention to the plumbing business, which he had learned in the railroad shops, and for four years he was engaged in business on his own account on Main street. He met with success in his undertaking and was conducting a growing business when appointed by Mayor Platt to the office of plumbing inspector, in which capacity he has served to the present time. His duties include the inspection of the plumbing in all the new buildings of the county. His offices are on the second floor of the city building and he has three assistants under him whom he employs regularly and when the work warrants it he has the authority to secure needed help. He has charge of all the sewerage in the city and all of his official duties are discharged with promptness and fidelity.
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On the 30th of January, 1900, Mr. Connor was married to Miss Josie Gar- rard, a daughter of George and Elizabeth (Reeder) Garrard of Vermilion county. Her father is a prominent city official in the police department. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Connor have been born six children: John, Helen, Harold, Kathryn, Virginia, and Mary, deceased. Fraternally Mr. Connor is connected with the Royal 'A'rcanum and he and his family are all prominent workers in St. Patrick's Catholic church. A lifelong resident of Danville, he has become well known here and his is a creditable business and official record.
THOMAS CORWIN McCAUGHEY, M. D.
Dr. Thomas Corwin McCaughey, a physician and surgeon of Hoopeston who, in the long years of his practice has demonstrated his ability to successfully cope with the intricate problems which are met in the effort to restore health and check the ravages of disease, has practiced continuously in Hoopeston since 1871. He was born in Granger, Medina county, Ohio, January 21, 1841, a son of Robert Jackson and Henrietta (Craft) McCaughey, the former a relative of Andrew Jackson. The father died in 1853, having for seven years survived his wife, who died in 1846. He was born in Canton, Ohio, and was of Scotch-Irish lineage. Mrs. McCaughey, whose birth occurred near Huntington, Indiana, was also of Scotch descent.
Dr. McCaughey pursued his early education in the common schools and after- ward attended the Smith & Anderson Academy at Fredericksburg, Ohio. His professional education was acquired in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in the Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in February, 1868. From the outset of his professional career his labors have been attended with success, viewed from both the professional and the financial standpoint. He has kept in touch with the advancement made by the members of the medical fraternity, as research and investigation have broadened their knowledge and promoted the efficiency of their labors. His reading has been wide and his efforts are at all times of a practical nature. He has ever been most careful in the diagnosis of his case and seldom if ever was at fault in anticipating the outcome of disease. He has not specialized in any particular field but has con- tinued in the general practice of medicine, and the only offices he has ever filled have been that of member of the pension board during the administration of President Harrison and member of the city council.
In January, 1871, in Ford county, Illinois, Dr. McCaughey was married to Miss Mary Ellen Johnston, a daughter of Stanton and Jane Ellen Johnston. They had three children, two daughters and a son, but Cora Etta, their first born, who was also the first child born in Hoopeston, died in infancy. Their youngest, Mary Isadore, is at home. Their son, Robert Stanton, who married Josephine Culbertson, is now a successful practicing physician who at the present time is in Europe, pursuing post-graduate work. He is also a member of the faculty of Rush Medical College and is recognized as one of the distinguished members of the profession in Chicago.
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Dr. McCaughey has an interesting military chapter in his life record, having served in the United States Volunteer Army during the Civil war, enlisting on the 6th of August, 1862, and receiving honorable discharge on the 8th of July, 1865. In politics he is a republican with insurgent sympathies. He doesn't be- lieve in the blind following of party leaders, standing in his political connection as he has in every other relation of life, for progress, improvement and advance- ment. In strongly professional lines he is connected with the Hoopeston Medi- cal Society, of which he is president, the Vermilion County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is today the oldest living resident of Hoopeston in years of continuous connec- tion with the city and is authority upon many of the leading points of its history. His professional duties have brought him into close relation with many house- holds and in all he commands the high regard and love of those to whom he has ministered. His life work has indeed been one of broad usefulness and in every relation has conformed to his professions as a member of the First Pres- byterian church.
GEORGE V. WOLFINGTON, M. D.
Dr. George V. Wolfington practicing in Bismarck, his entire time and en- ergies being concentrated upon his professional duties, was born in Boone county, Indiana, July 7, 1863, a son of John H. and Nancy (Martin) Wolfington. The father was a native of Indiana and the mother of Kentucky. In an early day she became a resident of Boone county and her death occurred in. 1876. The father, long surviving, passed away in 1904 at the age of eighty-six years. Unto them were born nine children, of whom three are still living.
Dr. Wolfington, one of this family, started out in life on his own account when but twelve years of age and was employed at farm labor for ten years. Eager to improve his education, he pursued a course in a business college and afterward engaged in teaching in a college of that character in Findlay, Ohio. He was engaged in teaching altogether for sixteen years in different states but the profession of medicine attracted him and in preparation for practice he entered the Illinois Medical College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1903 on the completion of the full course. He then located for practice at Henning, where he remained for eighteen months, and in 1905 he removed to Bismarck, where he is now living. His ability is recognized by the general public and a large patronage is accorded him. He is very careful in the diagnosis of his cases and his judgment in professional matters is seldom if ever at fault.
In 1896 Dr. Wolfington was united in marriage to Miss Lella M. Kinnick, who was born near Franklin, Indiana, February 11, 1874, and is a daughter of James T. and Martha (Tilson) Kinnick, both of whom are natives of Johnson county, Indiana, where they. still reside. Their family numbered ten children, of whom seven are yet living. Mrs. Wolfington spent her girlhood days under the parental roof and was provided with liberal educational advantages. She
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DR. AND MRS. G. V. WOLFINGTON AND CLARICE H.
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is a graduate of a college at Valparaiso, Indiana, and for eleven years engaged in teaching school. Dr. and Mrs. Wolfington have no children of their own but are rearing an adopted daughter, Clarice H.
Both Dr. Wolfington and his wife hold membership in the Christian church and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge at Catlin and the Odd Fellows lodge at Bismarck, in which he has filled all of the chairs. He is like- wise a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. His wife is connected with the Rebekah degree, which is the woman's auxiliary of the Odd Fellows society. Politically Dr. Wolfington is a republican but has no desire for office. Both he and his wife are prominent socially in the community where they make their home, having gained a large circle of friends in Bismarck and throughout the surrounding district.
MARTIN KNIGHT.
It has been said that the greatest blessing that can befall any youth is for him to be thrown upon his own resources. In this event it is claimed he will probably develop those virtues of self-reliance, self-control and persistence which conduce to sound judgment and lead to ultimate victory in the great con- test with the world. Whether this in true generally speaking or not, it has been true, indeed, in the career of Martin Knight, whose name appears at the head of this review. He early was obliged not only to provide for himself but for. other members of the family, and such education as he received has largely been acquired by contact with the world, his school training having been sadly interfered with by the necessity of labor. Mr. Knight, who is a well known farmer of this county, was born in Clark county, Illinois, April 11, 1860. He is a son of Joseph and Lucinda (Flenner) Knight, the father being a native of Virginia and the mother of Ohio. They met in this state and were mar- ried in Clark county. Joseph Knight was a soldier of the Civil war and after returning home engaged for many years in farming, retiring to the town of Martinsville, where he died in 1891. The mother departed this life ten or twelve years earlier. They were members respectively of the Methodist Epis- copal and the United Brethren churches and by their lives endeavored as nearly as possible to exemplify the teachings of the great book.
As stated above, Martin Knight had little opportunity for a common-school education and from early boyhood he worked out by the month, his salary going to assist in the support of the family. After reaching the age of maturity he continued working by the month, applying himself diligently and gaining a thorough acquaintance with all operations connected with the farm. After retiring he became connected with a bridge building crew on the Burlington & Missouri Railroad in Nebraska, continuing there for five years. However, he found that his interest was identified with the farm and in 1900 he began farming upon his own account upon property in this county owned by Charles Rice in Carroll township. This he conducted successfully for six years and in 1906 he secured a lease upon a farm of three hundred and twenty acres
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owned by Samuel Baum in Jamaica township. Here he has carried on opera- tions as a general farmer with marked success and is recognized as one of the most thorough and efficient agriculturists in his part of the county.
In 1884 Mr. Knight was united in marriage to Miss Maria Smith, of Mar- tinsville, Clark county, this state, and to their union nine children have been born, five of whom are now living: Frank, a farmer of Carroll township; and Vera, Leary, Walter and Edna, all living at home. Mr. Knight is fully alive as to the advantages of education and his children have been given every de- sirable opportunity of school training in the neighborhood. He is affiliated with the republican party and has for many years been identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Knight is a representative farmer and by his application and sturdy character he has gained many friends, and he and his estimable wife are held in high regard by all who claim the honor of their acquaintance.
FRANK A. JOHNSON. 3
Frank A. Johnson, registered pharmacist, is now conducting an extensive and profitable business as a druggist of Danville. His birth occurred in Rock- ford, Illinois, on the 15th of November, 1875, his parents being William A. and Christine (Matoon) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Sweden. They crossed the Atlantic to the United States in the early '6os, locating first in Cook county, Illinois, while subsequently they took up their abode in Rockford. The mother passed away in 1878 but the father still survives and is identified with the wholesale hardware trade as an employe.
Frank A. Johnson obtained his preliminary education in the grammar and high schools of Rockford and subsequently entered the Northwestern Univer- sity, from which he was graduated with the class of 1897-8 as a registered pharmacist. He first entered the employ of an uncle, Alfred Johnson, who was engaged in the drug business at Givin, Iowa, and with whom he remained for two years. On the expiration of that period he accepted a position with B. M. Weaver, of Pecatonica, Illinois, in whose service he continued for four years. It was after leaving that gentleman's employ that he took his university course and following his graduation he went to Princeton, Illinois, where for seven years he was connected with the drug firm of Palmer & Trulson. He then came to Danville and here embarked in the drug business on his own ac- count on the Ist of June, 1907, since which time he has conducted a successful establishment of this character at No. 18 East Main street. A drug store has occupied that location for the past half century. Mr. Johnson carries a large and well selected line of goods and his success is due to his honorable methods, earnest efforts to please his customers, judicious advertising and an attractive display of the drugs and druggists' sundries which he handles.
On the 24th of November, 1909, in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Titus Strass, whose parents are residents of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mr. Johnson is a republican in his political views
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and a Lutheran in religious faith. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks and the Masonic order, being a member of the Mystic Shrine. His social nature finds expression through his member- ship in the One Hundred Thousand Club and the Rod and Gun Club. He is fond of all outdoor sports, including hunting, fishing and baseball. He is a public-spirited man and popular, an unfeigned cordiality and uniform courtesy gaining him the warm friendship and kindly regard of the greater number of those with whom he comes in contact.
ELIJAH J. BOORDE.
Elijah J. Boorde, formerly identified for many years with the agricultural interests of this section of the state and now proprietor of the local telephone exchange at Hoopeston, was born in Oakwood township, Vermilion county, May 17, 1859. His father, George Boorde, a farmer by occupation, came to this county in 1852, removing to Illinois from Fountain county, Indiana. He married Sarah A. Bowling, a native of Ohio, and they became the parents of six children : A. E., a farmer living near Fithian, Vermilion county ; Martha, the wife of Joseph Fisher, a resident of Fithian; Elijah J., of this review; Enoch Fillmore, deceased; Rosina, who died in 1869; and Ida May, who has also passed away. Following the outbreak of the Civil war the father offered his services to the government and enlisted as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, continuing at the front until his death in November, 1863. His widow long survived him and died November 26, 1904.
Elijah Boorde pursued his education in what is known as the Black school- house, about two and a half miles west of Fithian, there attending school to the age of eighteen. After his school days were over he worked on the home farm, where he remained for a period of fifteen years, and then spent one year in South Dakota. He then returned to Vermilion county and was again closely identified with farming interests here until 1903, when he took up his abode in Hoopeston and purchased from U. S. Thompson the local telephone exchange. In this connection he has given to the people a good service, a fact which is indicated by the increased number of subscribers which have been secured. Mr. Boorde is still the owner of valuable farm property, comprising two hundred and twenty acres, from which he derives a good rental.
On the 9th of February, 1889, in Urbana, Illinois, Mr. Boorde was married to Miss Anna B. Thompson. She is a native of this county and a representa- tive of one of its oldest families. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children : Mabel Clara, born in Fithian, March 11, 1891 ; and John Ross- lyn, born February 23, 1893.
The parents hold membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church at Hoopeston and Mr. Boorde gives his political support to the republican party. He only takes an active part, however, in politics as a supporter of friends who are seeking office and never seeks political preferment for himself. He belongs
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to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to the Modern Woodmen camp and is also closely associated with the efforts for the business development of the city that are put forth by the Commercial Club of Hoopeston and the Business Men's Association. He is now one of the directors of the Commercial Club, and for a number of years he was a member of the board of education. His labors in behalf of the public welfare are effective, practical and resultant. He is a man of strongly marked character who has come to be recognized as a forceful element in the community and his sterling personal traits of character have won him the high regard and confidence of all with whom he has been associated.
FRED PARK.
Fred Park is president of the Hoopeston Ice & Cold Storage Company, in which connection he has won for himself a place among the substantial and progressive business men of the city. Thoroughness has characterized him in all of his undertakings and close application and energy have brought him to the creditable position which he now fills in the industrial and financial circles of Vermilion county.
He was born in Madison, Indiana, on the 17th of June, 1870, and is a son of William J. and Jane (Baird) Park, the former of Scotch and the latter of Irish descent. The father came to Vermilion county in 1876 and began farm- ing in Grant township, where he continued to follow agricultural pursuits for twenty-two years. He met with an accidental death when on a visit to the city to see his son. When crossing the railroad tracks within three hundred feet of his son's office he was struck by a train and instantly killed, passing away on the 15th of February, 1910. His widow still survives and is yet living in this county. In their family were eight children, of whom six are living: Joseph A., a resident of Quincy, Illinois; Nettie, deceased; Fred, of this review; Ralph J., who is proprietor of a steam laundry at Hoopeston and makes his home in Grant township; Mary, the wife of Edward Carter, who is engaged in mechan- ical pursuits in Hoopeston; Anna, the wife of Robert Baxter, a pattern maker for the Sprague Company of Hoopeston; Clyde, who is resident manager for the Standard Oil Company at Danville, Indiana; and Salome, who became the wife of Bert Hubbard and died in Hoopeston. The five eldest children were born in Madison, Indiana, and the latter three following the removal of the family to Illinois.
Fred Park, whose name introduces this review, spent the first six years of his life in the place of his nativity and then came with his parents to Vermilion county. His education was acquired in the public schools and in the high school, where he studied for one year. He put aside his text-books at the age of nine- teen and then began learning the trade of engineering. He was employed at the Hoopeston electric light plant for four years after obtaining a comprehensive general knowledge of engineering from his father, whom he assisted while the latter was engaged in threshing throughout the county. At the termination of
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his four years' connection with the Hoopeston Electric Light Company he re- moved to Clarksville, Tennessee, where he took charge of the plant for the Clarksville Electric Light & Power Company, there remaining for three and a half years. He then established his home in Flora, Illinois, where he was man- ager of an electric light plant for four years and in 1907 he returned to Hoopes- ton, where he became president and manager of the Hoopeston Ice & Cold Storage Company, which was incorporated with Jesse B. Evans as secretary and Ralph J. Park as treasurer. The business from the beginning has grown steadily and substantially and is now accorded a liberal patronage, making the enterprise one of success.
Mr. Park was married at Hoopeston, on the Ist of August, 1895, to Miss Alice Green, a daughter of John Green, a native of England, and they have two children, Madeline and Imogene. Theirs is an attractive home by reason of its warm-hearted hospitality, which is freely extended to their many friends. They are members of the United Presbyterian church and are highly esteemed throughout the community. Mr. Park has made a creditable record in business, his course being marked by steady advancement, gained through ready utilization of every opportunity that has been presented.
GUY S. ALBRIGHT.
Guy S. Albright, a well known and prosperous young resident of Danville is today successfully engaged in business as proprietor of the Lyric pharmacy. A native of Illinois, he was born in Colfax on the 4th of November, 1882, and on both the paternal and maternal sides comes of English origin. His parents, Dr. A. C. and Alice E. (Lowrey) Albright, became residents of Danville in 1907. Being a physician by profession, the father was successfully engaged in practice for many years but is now practically living retired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest.
Our subject began his education in the grammar schools of Sibley and was later graduated from the high school there. He next attended the University of Illinois, from which he was graduated in April, 1904, with the Ph. G. degree. After leaving school he was first in the employ of John Conrad, a druggist, at the corner of Forty-seventh street and Lake avenue, Chicago, with whom he re- mained for about nine months and then went to Gibson City, where he was em- ployed in the drug store of John Freeland until coming to Danville fifteen months later. Here he embarked in the drug business at No. 152 North Vermilion street and three years later also purchased the Oaklawn pharmacy. He is now conduct- ing both establishments and is regarded as one of the best representatives of his profession in the city. He not only understands the drug trade in all its depart- ments but is a very progressive, wide-awake young man whose success has been achieved through his own untiring efforts.
On the 4th of June, 1905, in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Albright to Miss Grace A. Hawk, a daughter of John Hawk
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of that city. Two children blessed this union: Stanley W., born May 4, 1906; and Alice P., born April 1, 1908.
Although he has never been an aspirant for official honors, Mr. Albright is a stanch supporter of the republican party and in religious faith is a Baptist. He belongs to the Order of Eagles and also to the One Hundred Thousand Club, and the Danville Rod and Gun Club. He is very fond of all outdoor sports, being a baseball enthusiast, but finds his chief recreation in hunting and fishing, making annual trips to the lakes in pursuit of his favorite pastime. Pleasant and genial in manner, he makes many friends and is popular in both business and social circles. Although still a young man, he has already met with most excellent success, and the prosperity that has come to him is well merited.
O. J. GUNNELL.
O. J. Gunnell, who is now prominently identified with the industrial inter- ests of Danville as the secretary and treasurer of the National Fibre Box Com- pany, was in former years successfully engaged in the real-estate, fire insur- ance and loan business. His birth occurred in Minier, Tazewell county, Illinois, on the 3d of March, 1879, his parents being J. L. and Catherine (Myers) Gun- nell, who are natives of Kentucky and Tazewell county, Illinois, respectively. The father came to this state in 1830, first locating in Tazewell county, while subsequently he was engaged in the practice of dentistry at Bloomington for many years. He is now living retired in McLean county.
O. J. Gunnell pursued his education at Minier, Illinois, until twelve years of age and then continued his studies in the public schools of Normal and in the Illinois State Normal School. Following his graduation in 1901 he be- came an instructor in the Danville public schools and for three years the pro- fession of teaching claimed his attention. On abandoning educational interests he embarked in the real-estate, fire insurance and loan business and carried on a very successful and extensive enterprise of that character until 1909. In that year, in association with J. W. Meitzler, he bought out the Already Box Company and organized the National Fibre Box Company with the following officers : J. W. Meitzler, president; O. J. Gunnell, secretary and treasurer; and Harrison B. Walters, vice president and general manager. Mr. Walters is the inventor of a fibre-bound box on which they have fourteen patents. The in- dustry bids fair to become one of the greatest importance to Danville, for the owners are men of excellent business ability, keen discernment and unswerving integrity.
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