Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 628; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Charles H. Fuhrman, of the firm of Fuhrman & Wheelberger,
proprietors of the Merchant Exchange Mills, Canton, is one of the most
prominent mill men in the county. He was born in Saxony, Germany,
December 14, 1838, and was one of two children of August and Chestina
(Meihler) Furhman. His father was a miller and carried on his
trade in his native Germany, and still lives there. The mother
died when our subject was fourteen years old.
Charles H. passed his school days in the excellent schools of
his native country, which he attended quite steadily from the age of
six to fourteen years. He then began an apprenticeship of three
years to learn the trade of a miller, and at the end of that time he
traveled as a journeyman miller three years, visiting many of the large
cities and famous places of Prussia. In 1867 he decided to direct
his footsteps to the United States of America where he shrewdly thought
he could sooner acquire the competency for which he aimed. He
embarked on a Bessel bound for America, and finally landed at New York
City, whence he made his way to Philadelphia, Pa., where he stopped one
month. He proceeded from there to Massillon, Ohio, and to St.
Louis and Kansas City. He came to Lewistown in the fall of 868,
and went to work for Berger & Co. as head miller. He held
that position sixteen years, and then with the money that he had
acquired, he bought the mill and refitted it up and managed it with
excellent success. In 1885 he introduced the roller system, and
continued to run the ills in connection with T. H. Burgett until
1889. In that year he sold out his interests in that concern to
Mr. Burgett, and in March, 1890, purchased his present mills in Canton,
which contained the complete roller system, having all the best modern
machinery in use in such mills. The mills turn out flour of a
superior quality, and their capacity is fifty barrels per twenty-four
hours. Mr. G. Wheelberger, was admitted in partnership by our
subject at the time he purchased the mills.
Mr. Fuhrman was married in the year 1869, to Mrs. Cornelia B.
Harbison, whose maiden name was Rowley. She was born in Ohio, and
has made our subject an excellent wife, and is devoted to his
interests. Mr. Fuhrman was reared in the Lutheran faith, but is
now an attendant of the Christian Church. He began the struggle
of life without means other than a sound mind in a sound body, and with
that capital has acquired a goodly amount of property. He has
valuable possessions here, and also in Lewistown, where he owns
residences which he rents. For a number of years he voted with
the Republicans, but now affiliates with the Democrats. He is a
sincere Christian gentleman, and is truthful and upright in all his
dealings.
