"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." (The Past & Present of Vermilion County, Illinois, 1903)
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." (The Past & Present of Vermilion County, Illinois, 1903)
"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." (The Past & Present of Vermilion County, Illinois, 1903)
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." (The Past & Present of Vermilion County, Illinois, 1903)
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