Biography:
CHARLES J. VAN PELT, station agent of the Illinois Central Railway at Minonk, is one of the oldest employes of that companv, having been in their service since March 20, 1870. He was born in Highland County, Ohio, Feb. 16, 1834, being a son of Jacob and Agnes (Johnson) Van Pelt, both natives of Ohio. His paternal ancestors were originally from Holland, but have resided in the United States for several generations, settling in the colonies prior to the Revolutionary War. In their religions views they were Quakers.
Isaac Van Pelt, grandfather of our subject, was born in Bucks County, Pa. He became a farmer and moved to Virginia, thence to Belmont County, Ohio, where he was among the original settlers, and as such assisted in clearing away the heavy timber from the site now occupied by the city of Zanesville. He there spent the remainder of his life, dying at the venerable age of ninety years. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Ellis, were born four children, Jacob, Ellis, Mary and William R.
Jacob {Van Pelt}, father of our subject, was reared a farmer, and marrying in Highland County, Ohio, subsequently removed to Illinois and settled near Bloomington, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1865, when he removed to Normal, where his death occurred at the age of fifty-nine years. He was a strong anti-slavery man, and always expressed his views on that subject very freely. He was a warm supporter of Henry Clay, and in the latter years of his life voted the Republican ticket. His wife survived him. They reared a family of five children, namely : Charles J.; Isaac N., a resident of Lamar, Mo.; Thomas and Garratt died in childhood; Rosetta B., wife of Jason D. Shipley, of Normal, 111.
The subject of this brief biographical record was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools, obtaining a substantial education, and afterward taught school a few terms, and for a while was employed as a clerk in a store. He came with the family to Illinois in 1858, and for some time assisted on the farm. The most important step in his life was taken three years later when he took as a life companion a most estimable Inriy Miss Helen M. Trowbridge. She was born in New
Haven, Conn., a daughter of Isaac Trowbridge, a sea captain, who, in a shipwreck on the Atlantic Ocean, lost all of his property. When she was a small child her parents removed from Connecticut to Louisiana and settled in Franklin. Several years later she visited relatives in McLean County, this State, and at that time formed the acquaintance of our subject which afterwards resulted in a most happy union, their nuptials having been celebrated Jan. 23, 1861. To them has come one child, Isaac Newman. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Van Pelt settled in Normal, where he at first dealt in coal and engaged in teaming. He identified himself with the best interests of the place and served for two years as Township Collector. In March, 1870, our subject entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railway Company, as station agent at Normal, and remained there until July '27, 1874, when he came to Minonk to accept his present position as station agent in this city.
In all of his duties he has proved faithful and trustworthy, winning the entire confidence of the company by whom he is employed, and his gentlemanly and courteous manners make him popular among the patrons of the railway. It is a matter worthy of recording that during the entire years of his services with the company, our subject has not lost one day's time. In politics Mr. Van Pelt is a firm Republican, but the duties of his present position prevent his taking any active part in public affairs. He is a man of good financial abilities, and has shown excellent judgment in his investments in real estate. He owns 160 acres of land in Kansas, eighty acres in Mississippi, and a very pleasant home in Minonk, where he and his amiable wife delight in entertaining their many friends.
