USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century, Volume II > Part 60
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In his real-estate operations Mr. Gunnell won a gratifying measure of suc- cess. When the Adams, Lewman and Homles addition was opened in 1904 he undertook a contract to sell thirty-six lots in two months and disposed of the property in six weeks. Subsequently he sold the Summit addition, for which he had the sole agency, and later disposed of the McDonald Peyton addition and others.
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On the 30th of November, 1905, Mr. Gunnell was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Kemp, a native of McLean county and a daughter of J. J. and Nancy (Briggs) Kemp. Her father was a prominent pioneer resident of this state and became very wealthy, owning considerable property. He imported French horses on an extensive scale and was a member of the Board of Trade. Mrs. Kemp came to Illinois from Ohio in pioneer days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gunnell has been born a son, Edwin Kemp, whose birth occurred on the Ist of April, 1907.
Fraternally Mr. Gunnell is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. For two years he had charge of the Danville Chautauqua in connection with W. L. Primm and was instrumental in procuring some of the best speakers in the country to lecture here. He is alert and enterprising, possessing the progressive spirit of the times, accomplishing in business circles what he undertakes, while his geniality and deference for the opinions of others have won him a host of friends.
WILLIAM W. CURRENT.
William W. Current, a well known and respected resident of Danville, has for the past seventeen years ably discharged the duties devolving upon him in the capacity of deputy county clerk. His birth occurred in Newell township, Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 27th of November, 1842, his parents being Henry B. and Martha (Sroup) Current. The father was born in Randolph county, West Virginia, on the 8th of July, 1824, while the mother first opened her eyes to the light of day in Ohio on the 18th of January, 1820. Henry B. Current followed general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. William W. Current, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia and a wagon maker and blacksmith by trade. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Boston.
In the acquirement of an education William W. Current attended the district schools and also the public schools of Danville. After putting aside his text- books he devoted his attention to the work of the fields until eighteen years of age and then entered the service of the Wabash Railroad, working in the office and yards of that corporation for eleven years. On severing his connection with railroad interests he once more turned his attention to general agricultural pur- suits and was thus engaged until appointed to the office of deputy county clerk, which position he has filled in a highly creditable and satisfactory manner for the past seventeen years. There is also a military chapter in his life history, for at the time of the Civil war he enlisted in defense of the Union as a member of Company K, Thirty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Black.
Mr. Current has been married twice. On the 6th of November, 1866, he wedded Miss Margaret M. Ellsworth, who was born on the 9th of November, 1843, her parents being Sylvanus and Sarilda (Graves) Ellsworth. By this union there were three children, as follows: Oscar E., whose birth occurred Novem- ber 9, 1867, and who passed away November 9, 1874; Henry S., born December
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8, 1873, who died on the 25th of October, 1891 ; and Maude, twin sister of Henry, who gave her hand in marriage to H. H. Lattan on the 23d of October, 1895. The wife and mother passed away on the 10th of July, 1878, and on the 15th of February, 1880, Mr. Current was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary A. Makemson, whose natal day was June 8, 1858. Her parents were Hiram and Prudence G. Makemson, the former born on the 2d of April, 1826, and the latter on the 19th of September, 1834. Unto William W. and Mary (Makemson) Current has been born one child, Prudence, who first opened her eyes to the light of day on the 28th of August, 1890.
In his political views Mr. Current is a stanch republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church. His fraternal re- lations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Masons. He has remained in this county from his birth to the present time and that his life has ever been upright and honorable is indicated by the fact that the associates of his youth and early manhood are still numbered among his stanch friends and admirers.
CHARLES M. WINTROWD.
One of the prominent business men and representative citizens of Danville is Charles M. Wintrowd, who is now successfully engaged in the manufacture of ice cream. He was born in Tipton county, Indiana, on the 13th of January, 1859, and is a son of Daniel and Mary I. (Kellum) Wintrowd, both of whom are now deceased. The father was of Scotch descent but the mother's people came originally from Germany and were later known as Pennsylvania Dutch. Throughout his business career the father engaged in merchandising and died at his home in Kokomo but was buried in Tipton, Indiana. The mother subse- quently lived with our subject and at her death was interred at Fortville, Han- cock county, Indiana.
Charles M. Wintrowd obtained a good practical education in the public schools of Kokomo, Indiana, and later attended the high school at Ionia, Mich- igan. After laying aside his studies he became associated with his father in general merchandising under the firm name of Wintrowd & Son and for several years they carried on the business together, first at Greensburg, Indiana, and later at Tipton, that state. In 1873 the family moved west, settling in Nevada City, Missouri, where the father conducted a general store for about five years, removing at the end of that time to Kokomo, Indiana, where the father died. In the spring of 1894, after the death of his father, Mr. Wintrowd came to Danville, accompanied by his family and mother, and here he has since engaged in the manufacture of ice cream, associating himself in business with A. B. Shank, which partnership continued until 1905. He then purchased Mr. Shank's interest and has since been alone. Although he began here in a very small way, he has increased his business from year to year and now manufactures from eight hundred to one thousand gallons of ice cream per day and ships his products all over the surrounding country. His first location
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was at No. 706 East Main street, where he continued to carry on the business for ten years and then removed to his present plant on the southeast corner of Hazel and South streets. On embarking in his present business a great many of the leading business men of the city predicted his failure, but he surmounted all obstacles and is today the leading representative of his line of trade in eastern Illinois. He employs from twelve to fourteen hands and, owing to the superiority of his product, it finds a ready sale on the market.
Mr. Wintrowd was married at Logansport, Indiana, August 22, 1888, to Miss Tessie Williams, a daughter of Jerome Williams, who was one of the old residents of that city. They have become the parents of three children, namely: Ernest D., who was born in Tipton, Indiana, December 31, 1890; Wana, who was born in Kokomo, Indiana, December 16, 1892; and Amy, who was born in Danville, Illinois, July 28, 1900.
In politics Mr. Wintrowd is independent, voting for the man whom he be- lieves best qualified to fill the office, regardless of party lines. He holds mem- bership in the Christian church and is also identified with the Commercial Club at Danville, the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men and the Masonic fraternity, having taken all the degres up to the commandery in the last named order. He is also a member of the National Association of Ice Cream Manufacturers and in business circles stands deservedly high.
L. T. GRAVES.
For over sixty years L. T. Graves was a resident of Vermilion county and came to be numbered among its most worthy citizens. He was born on a farm which now adjoins the northern boundary line of Westville, his natal year being 1846, and he was a son of Greenville Graves, one of the pioneer settlers of this county. Upon the old home farm he grew to manhood and at the usual age began his education in the old McMillan schoolhouse near his home. After attaining his majority he came to Danville and commenced clerking for William Mann, who at that time owned the largest dry-goods store in the city. He con- tinued in his employ until Mr. Mann's death and later held positions in several other stores but finally turned his attention to real estate and in that business met with most excellent success from the start. A progressive and energetic busi- ness man, of known reliability, he usually carried forward to successful comple- tion whatever he undertook.
Mr. Graves was married in Danville in 1893 to Miss Alice Hiestand, a daugh- ter of William Hiestand, who came to this city at a very early day. Here she was engaged in the dressmaking business for a number of years, her patrons being among the leading citizens of Danville. To Mr. and Mrs. Graves were born two children: Margaret Marie and Mabel Alice, who are now attending school.
Mr. Graves was a very prominent and active member of the First Presby- terian church and died in that faith on the 10th of January, 1907. By his bal- lot he usually supported the men and measures of the democratic party and as a
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public-spirited and enterprising citizen took a commendable interest in those enterprises which he believed calculated to advance the moral, intellectual or material welfare of the community. He was actively identified with all church and philanthropic work and his aid was never withheld from any worthy object. A consistent and earnest Christian and an enterprising and loyal citizen, his death was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
JOSEPH HUTCHINSON DECKER.
Joseph Hutchinson Decker, proprietor of an establishment popularly known as the Young Men's store, is a prominent representative of the commercial in- terests of Hoopeston. A spirit of enterprise characterizes him in all that he does and his close application and energy have been the salient features in the success which he is now enjoying.
A native of Illinois, he was born in Richland county, August 21, 1882. His father, William King Decker, whose birth occurred in Lawrence county, Illinois, is now a resident of Hoopeston, where he is engaged in the real-estate business. In early manhood he married Emma Hutchinson, a native of Bremen, Fairfield county, Ohio. Both came of Scotch-Irish ancestry. They removed to Vermilion county, Illinois, about 1890, settling in Cheneyville, where the father engaged in general merchandising, there remaining until the beginning of the year 1910, when he came to Hoopeston, where he is now conducting a real-estate business.
In the family were twelve children, ten of whom yet survive. John W., born in Richland county, Illinois, is a painter by trade and resides in Hoopeston. Charles N., also a native of Richland county, is in the government postal service at Danville. Ida M., born in Richland county, is the wife of Nevin W. Raber, a telegraph operator in the railway service at Economy, Illinois. Joseph H. is the next of the family. Todd, born in Richland county, is a railway mail clerk on the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad and resides at Hoopeston. Edith, born in Richland county, is a teacher in the schools of Grant township. Gene- vieve, born in the same county, is engaged in teaching in Ross township. Tal- mage, born in Richland county, is a telegraph operator on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and resides at Lebanon, Illinois. Malcolm, born in Vermilion county, is a student in the Hoopeston high school. Albert, born in Benton county, In- diana, is attending the public schools of Hoopeston. The two who passed away were James Milton and Franklin Earl, both of whom were born in Richland county.
Joseph H. Decker acquired his early education in the public schools of Sumner and of Cheneyville, Illinois, and afterward spent one year in Greer College at Hoopeston. He left school when about eighteen or nineteen years of age and secured a position with the firm of Erickson & Swanson, general clothiers and furnishers, with whom he remained for six years, thoroughly mastering the busi- ness. His faithfulness and capability are indicated in his long connection with that house. Laudable ambition, however, prompted him to engage in business on his own account, and on the Ist of September, 1907, the firm of Decker &
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Goodwin was organized. They located at No. 209 East Main street, where they opened a line of men's furnishing goods, continuing at that location until June 1, 1909, when they removed to No. 210 East Main street in order to secure larger quarters, necessitated by their increasing business. On the 10th of November, 1910, they dissolved partnership, and Mr. Decker is now alone in business. He has today the only exclusive men's furnishing store in the city of Hoopeston. He carries a complete and elegantly asorted line of the most up-to-date goods on the market and his store and stock would be a credit to the first city of the land. His establishment is popularly known as the Young Men's store. He makes it his purpose to carry such a line as the general trade demands and is very careful to secure such style and workmanship as will make his goods most attractive.
On the 21st of June, 1906, Mr. Decker was married in Hoopeston, Illinois, to Miss Pearl Goodwin, the adopted daughter of D. H. Chapman, who was among the pioneer settlers of this locality. Mrs. Decker was born in Vermilion county and now has one daughter, Virginia Josephine, who was born in Hoopes- ton, September 10, 1907.
The parents are members of the First Presbyterian church and are active and interested in its work. Mr. Decker is a valued representative of the Masonic lodge and is serving as its secretary at the present time. In politics he is inde- pendent, voting for men and measures rather than for party, and at times he has been an active worker in support of those whose election he has deemed vital to the best interests of the community. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him to the office of city clerk of Hoopeston on the 15th of April, 1906, and he has since filled that position. He is a young man of many sterling traits of character as well as of good business ability, and high regard is uniformly tendered him.
GEORGE R. TILTON.
George R. Tilton, an attorney of Danville, is well known as an able and successful representative of the legal fraternity. His birth occurred in Ripley county, Indiana, on the 8th of October, 1860, his parents being William W. and Nancy J. (Robertson) Tilton. The father was a wagon maker and farmer by occupation, while the grandfather, Enoch Tilton, likewise followed general agricultural pursuits and also preached the gospel as a minister of the Baptist denomination.
After completing his studies in Moores Hill College of Moores Hill, Indi- ana, George R. Tilton entered the Wesleyan Law School of Bloomington, Illinois, from which institution he was graduated in 1884. Locating at Dan- ville, he soon won a good clientage and remained in active practice until 1897, when he became identified with journalistic interests as editor and manager of the Daily Democrat at Danville, publishing the paper until 1908. In that year he once more took up the legal profession and has since enjoyed an ex- tensive and lucrative practice, with offices in The Temple. Much of the suc- cess which has attended him in his professional career is undoubtedly due to
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the fact that in no instance will he permit himself to go into court with a case unless he has absolute confidence in the justice of his client's cause. Basing his efforts on this principle, from which there are far too many lapses in pro- fessional ranks, it naturally follows that he seldom loses a case in whose sup- port he is enlisted.
Mr. Tilton is a stanch democrat in politics and ably served as a member of the Illinois legislature in 1889 and 1890, his district comprising Vermilion and Edgar counties. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. In his profession he has made continuous and satisfac- tory progress, thoroughly informing himself upon the law bearing upon every legal interest entrusted to his care.
CHARLES E. RUSSELL.
The legal profession in Hoopeston finds a worthy representative in Charles E. Russell, a man of strong intellect and of high professional attainment. Rec- ognizing the fact that success at the bar must depend not only upon a compre- hensive knowledge of legal principles but also upon a thorough understanding of every detail of his case that he may strongly present his case before the courts, he has labored diligently and persistently to meet all the requirements of successful practice and is now accorded a large and distinctively representative clientage.
He was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, April 4, 1865. His father, Lemuel Baxley Russell, was a leading farmer of this section of the state, exclusively engaged in general agricultural pursuits. He was born at Williamsport, Warren county, Indiana, and removed to Fountain Creek township, Iroquois county, Illi- nois, in the '60s. Several years prior to his death he turned over the manage- ment of his farming interests to his sons and retired to private life, making his home in Hoopeston. He had become the owner of one thousand acres of land in Iroquois county and his success was attributable entirely to his intelligently directed labors. He married Anna Elizabeth Hickman, who is still enjoying good health at the old home in Hoopeston at No. 404 South Fourth street. Four chil- dren have been born unto them: Peter, who met an accidental death, being killed by a horse in Milford, Iroquois county, when but seven years of age; Charles E., of this review ; Dr. Lemuel B. Russell, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work; and Lawrence, who died in infancy. The surviving sons were each given fifteen thousand dollars in real estate by their father on arriving at years of maturity. Mr. Russell was a very prominent business man and his keen discernment and unfaltering industry constituted the basis of his success. In his business life, moreover, he exemplified the fact that honesty is the best policy, and his wise investments enabled him to prove that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.
Charles E. Russell attended the Amity district schools in Iroquois county and there pursued his studies to the age of sixteen years, after which he went to Bloomington. He also studied for a year in Grant Prairie Seminary at Onarga,
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at the end of which time he turned his attention to the profession of teaching, which he first followed in the Rudd district. Later he engaged in teaching at Goodwine, Iroquois county, Illinois, being connected with the schools there for five years during the winter months, while the summer seasons were devoted to farming. Later he concentrated his energies upon agricultural pursuits, to which he gave almost his entire time for ten years. While on the farm, however, he read law under the preceptorship of Isaac Miller Hamilton, now president of the Federal Life Insurance Company of Chicago, and on examination was admitted to the bar at Mount Vernon, Illinois, in August, 1896. He then began prac- ticing in Hoopeston, where he has since remained, a liberal patronage being accorded him. At the same time he superintends extensive landed interests in Iroquois county, Illinois, and Warren and Hamilton counties, Indiana, control- ling nine hundred and sixty acres. Aside from the private practice of his pro- fession he served as city attorney from 1899 until 1903 and ably defended those municipal interests which sought settlement in the courts.
On the 5th of April, 1887, at the home of her parents near Pine Village, Warren county, Indiana, Mr. Russell was married to Miss Anna Margaret Blind, a native of Warren county and a daughter of John and Mary Blind. They have two sons: Baxley Blind, born June 29, 1891; and Charles Elbert, March 17, 1893. Both were born near Hickman, Iroquois county, in Fountain Creek town- ship. The elder son is a graduate of the Hoopeston high school and is a student in the freshman class of the Princeton University of Princeton, New Jersey. The younger son is a senior in the Hoopeston high school. Mrs. Russell is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church and the family frequently at- tend the Universalist church.
In his political views Mr. Russell is an earnest democrat and at times an active worker in party ranks. He has been a delegate to the county conventions and in 1897-98 filled the office of alderman. He is also president of the school board at this time and is a stanch champion of the cause of education. He belongs to the Vermilion County Bar Association and to the Commercial Club and cooperates in all movements which he deems beneficial to Hoopeston, never at any time being neglectful of the duties of citizenship nor of his obligations to his fellowmen.
ROBERT KLEIN.
Robert Klein, who is successfully engaged in business as a cigar manufac- turer of Danville, was born in Germany on the 14th of February, 1873, his parents being Jacob and Katherina (Widman) Klein. In the year 1882 the father emigrated to the United States with his family, locating first at La Salle, Illinois, where he was engaged in railroad work. Subsequently he took up his abode in Aurora, Illinois, where his demise occurred in 1895 when he had attained the age of forty-eight years. His wife was called to her final rest in 1900.
Robert Klein attended the public and parochial schools of Aurora until four- teen years of age and then began learning the cigar maker's trade. In 1898 he
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embarked in business on his own account as a manufacturer of cigars at Aurora but came to Danville the following year. He first settled at Germantown but later determined to locate in the business section of Danville and erected his present fine store and factory at No. 513 East Main street, removing thereto in 1901. The enterprise has enjoyed a steady growth throughout the intervening years and Mr. Klein is widely recognized as one of the prosperous; progressive and representative residents of Danville.
In 1896, in Kendall county, Illinois, Mr. Klein was united in marriage to Miss Lena Zeiter, a native of Germany, who came to this country when a girl with her parents, William and Lena Zeiter. The family home was established in Kendall county, where Mr. Zeiter turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Klein have been born eight children, four sons and four daughters, namely: Jacob, Erick, Nora, Alma, Elsie, Elizabeth, Robert and William. The parents are devoted and consistent members of the German Lutheran church, exemplifying its teachings in their daily lives.
THOMAS CHESTER FORBES.
At the time of his death, which occurred on the 9th of January, . 1895, Thomas Chester Forbes was one of the oldest residents of Danville, having passed the ninety-second milestone on life's journey, and during more than six decades of that period he had been a resident of this city. The prominent part which he took in the upbuilding of the city and his active efforts to promote its welfare and progress caused him to be recognized as one of its leading men, while his many excellent traits of character gained for him a personal feeling that was deeper and stronger than mere regard and respect.
Mr. Forbes was a native of Connecticut, his birth having occurred in New Haven on the 12th of November, 1803. The ancestral line in America can be traced back to 1630. His grandfather, Captain Elijah Forbes, was closely con- nected with shipping interests, and Benjamin Forbes, father of Thomas C. Forbes, became a sea captain. The latter wedded Sarah Scott and always made his home in New England.
Reared in Connecticut, Thomas C. Forbes acquired his education in the schools of that state and remained a resident of New England until thirty years of age, when in 1833, attracted by the opportunities of the new but rapidly growing west, he came to Illinois, bringing with him a stock of goods in a trunk, of which he disposed. He then joined L. T. Palmer in conducting the land office and they also engaged in loaning money and bought and sold land war- rants until the land office was removed from Danville about the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. He utilized his opportunities for judicious invest- ment and in the course of time became the owner of much property which rose in value as the district became more thickly settled. Thus in time his realty holdings became extensive and as his prosperity increased he aided most gener- ously in supporting and furthering any movement which he deemed of benefit to the community. He was very active and his keen discrimination, sagacity and
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