|
OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES:
Source:
THE PAST AND PRESENT
of
VERMILION COUNTY, ILLINOIS
- ILLUSTRATED -
Published: Chicago
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
1903
| |
OSCAR F. MAXON.
High ideals and strong principles have ever been salient
features in the life work of Oscar F. Maxon, of Danville,
and have been manifest in his business dealings as well as in
all other relations with his fellow men. Widely known in
this city, the respect of all with whom he has come in contact
is tendered him, because of a loyal devotion to all the
principles in which he believes. Mr. Maxon is now
successfully controlling an extensive loan business and through
forty years he has been a factor in the business interests and
public life of the city.
A native of New York, he was born in Great Bend,
Jefferson county, in 1837, his birthplace being one of the
typical log cabins of an early day in a frontier region.
His father, Paul Stillman Maxon, was a
native of Rhode Island and after arriving at years of maturity
he married Lucy Ann Morris, a native of Saratoga county,
New York. The father was a miller by trade and was also an
excellent mechanic. Both he and his wife were strong New
England characters and lived useful and upright lives, which
commanded for them the respect and confidence of their
fellowmen. Their last days were passed in Danville and
both died at the age of seventy-seven years. They reared a
family of five children, three of whom are still living.
After acquiring his early education in the public
schools Oscar F. Maxon entered Lowville Academy, at
Lowville, New York, and on the expiration of a year he left that
institution to accept a clerkship in the bank of Lowville.
He gained much experience in business during his connection with
that enterprise, covering a period of twelve years. In
1863 he came to Illinois, making his way to Danville, where he
secured a position in the office of the county clerk, but his
previous training in banking made him desirous of again entering
that field of labor and he secured employment with J. C.
Short & Company, of Danville, acting as cashier and manager
of their bank during its existence. He afterward turned
his attention to the real estate business, in 1880, and has
developed a large loan business, his energy and his advancement
in these lines bringing to him desirable and well merited
prosperity. He was also the secretary and the treasurer of
the Paris & Danville Railroad Company before it became a part of
the Big Four system. He is also a director in the
Equitable Building & Loan Association, of Danville.
On the 24th of Jan., 1865, Mr. Maxon was united
in marriage to Miss Theodocia M. Yale, a daughter
of Rev. Calvin Yale, of Martinsburg, New York, who was a
pioneer Presbyterian minister and devoted fifty years of his
life to the work of the ministry. He passed away at the
very advanced age of eighty-nine years. Unto Mr. and
Mrs. Maxon have been born four children: Robbins
Yale, who is a graduate of the University of Illinois and
now a civil engineer in the employ of the Chicago & Eastern
Illinois Railroad Company; Oscar F., who is a graduate of
the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and now engaged in the
practice of medicine in Springfield, Illinois; Harold Allen,
who died Mar. 28, 1900, in his twenty-fifth year; and Edward
M., who is yet at home in Danville.
From the organization of the Republican party Mr.
Maxon has been a believer in its principles and he cast his
first presidential vote for Lincoln. When questions of
national importance are involved he is a strong partisan, but at
local elections, when there is no issue before the people, he
votes regardless of party lines, considering only the capability
of the candidate. In the year 1866 both Mr. Maxon
and his wife became members of the Presbyterian church, with
which they are still identified. Mr. Maxon has been
very active in church work and has held every office within the
gift of the people of his church. For many years he served
as a trustee and is now a ruling elder, putting forth in his
power to extend the influence and promote the growth of the
organization. He has contributed liberally to its support
and has been willing to make sacrifice of his personal interests
for the welfare of the cause, which is very dear to his heart.
With firm faith in its teachings, his life has long been imbued
with his Christian belief and his conduct has been guided by its
humanitarian rules.
Source: The Past & Present of Vermilion County, Illinois-
Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. - 1903 - Pg. 1128 ok |
NOTES: |
