MARVIN E. LAPHAM
Was born in Wayne county, Michigan the 11th of March, 1843. Alfred D. Lapham, his father, was a native of Wayne county, New York. He is of Welsh descent. He immigrated from New York in 1833, to the state above named, and remained there until 1868, when he removed to Champaign, where he now resides. He married Hannah Southwick, a native of Vermont, but who was a resident of Michigan at the time of her marriage. She died in 1869. There were three children born to them, of which the subject of our sketch is the second and only male of the family. Two of them are yet living.
Marvin E., worked upon the farm and attended school during the winter season, until he was nineteen years of age, when the war broke out. He then like tousands of others of the sturdy yeomanry of the west, left the plow in its furrow and put aside the busy cares of the husbandman and donned the uniform of the soldier. he enlisted on the 16th of August, 1862, for three years, as a private in the 24th Michigan infantry. The regiment was ordered to join the Army of the Potomac under Gen. M'Clellan. It reported for duty and was ordered to do independent duty on detached service. Mr. Lapham being young, soon found the fatigue and toil incident upon a soldier's life, too severe for him. He was taken sick, and soon after was honorably discharged on account of ill-health. He returned home, and in March following, removed to Champaign and entered the service of Kumrey, Teas & Co., lumber dealers. On May 1st, 1865, he became a partner in the lumber firm of Walker, Lapham & Co. The firm continued for three years, when, at the end of that time, the firm of M. E. Lapham & Co., was formed, and which has continued up to the present time.
On the 9th of January, 1866, Mr. Lapham was united in marriage to Miss Ica A. Hedden, of Wayne county, Michigan. From this union there has been one child, a boy, to bless their union and cheer the lives of the parents as they tread the path that leads down to old age. Mr. Lapham is Republican in politics, and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, and has adhered to the fortunes of that party ever since. Mr. Lapham, during the many years that he has been a resident of Champaign, has been prominently identified with all the measures that have tended towards the city's interest. Being largely connected in the lumber business, and one of the principal business men of the city, he has, on all occasions, been foremost in advocating measures that would give Champaign a conspicuous place among the cities of Illinois. The firm of M. E. Lapham & Co., is one of the oldest in the city. They are, at the present time, the most extensive dealers in the county. In addition to the large yards at Champaign, M. E. Lapham, in connection with Mr. Southwick, has branch establishments in Rantoul and in Urbana, in connection with Besore & Co. The head of the firm, M. E. Lapham, is an enterprising, clear-headed business man, and in his dealings enjoys the reputation of being thoroughly honest, and entirely trustworthy. It is with pleasure that we present him to our readers.
