My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES H. DOUGLAS, an early settler and a thrifty farmer of Franklin county, was born in Oswego county, N. Y., March 13, 1839, and is one of a family of six children — four boys and two girls — born to Ossian and Harriet (Calkins) Douglas, both of whom were natives of New York State, the former having been born in 1814 and the latter in 1820. The paternal grandfather of our subject, Sanford Douglas, was also a native of New York and was a volunteer soldier in the War of 1812, and the paternal great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather, Russell Calkins, is still living, and, although nearly one hundred years of age, is enjoying good health.

Our subject, Charles H., was reared on a farm in Oswego county, N. Y., until twenty-one years of age, when he moved to Lake county, Ill., settled on a farm and remained there one year. Then came the Civil war, and the demand for reinforcements being urgent, he responded promptly to the call, enlisting September 25, 1861, in Company H, Sixty-sixth Illinois regiment. His first battle, which was a good initiation, was that of Fort Donelson. He next participated in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and later on was in the siege of Corinth, at which place he was under fire every day for nearly the entire summer. He was finally taken prisoner while on garrison duty near Corinth, and was taken to Atlanta, where he was confined a short time, and then taken to Libby prison and later to Belle Isle, where he spent the entire winter. The following spring he was removed to Andersonville, and there spent the summer, and was transferred thereafter at short intervals, to Savannah and to Millen, sixty miles in the woods. He was finally sent back to Savannah, and November 24, 1864, paroled and sent to the hospital at Annapolis, Md. When the war was over, he settled down to farming in Lake county, Ill., where he resided till 1879, and in November of that year, he came West and settled in Franklin county, taking a homestead claim on section 15, township 1, range 16 west, now known as Turkey Creek township. He also bought a quarter of railroad land in section 13, and the right to a timber claim in section 22, same town and range. He lived in a 12x16 dug-out on his homestead claim, long enough to prove up on it. The first few years’ experience he had at farming was similar to that of other old settlers at that time. The grasshoppers and drought played havoc with his crops and he found it difficult to get along; but time, which is said to right all things, brought Mr. Douglas the reward he well merited for his patient industry and self denial. Better seasons brought better crops, and as he toiled along from year to year, he witnessed a gradual rise in his worldly affairs. He has come to be one of the most prosperous farmers in his county, owning a splendid place near Bloomington, which he has in a good state of cultivation, well stocked and ornamented with handsome groves, all the result of his own persevering industry and foresight.

Mr. Douglas married August 25, 1861, taking to share his life’s fortunes Miss Charlotte Stebbins, a lady who was in every way fitted to bear him the companionship he sought with her hand. She was born in Lake county, Ill., September 26, 1839. This union has been blessed with six children, four of whom are now living, these being— Albert, Ralph, Marshall and Willis. Mr. and Mrs. Douglas are both active and consistent members of the Methodist church at Bloomington.

In politics Mr. Douglas is a republican, being a stanch supporter of the principles of his party and well posted in the political history of the country. He has held a number of local offices, such as clerk of his township and justice of the peace. Being an old soldier, he naturally takes much interest in all matters relating to his old comrades. He is a member of Antietam Post, No. 131, G. A. R., at Bloomington, and at present is filling the office of senior vice-commander.