CHARLES M. SAXBY is a general farmer and stock-dealer of Harlem Township. While he resides in that township he has large agricultural and stock interests in other sections of the country. He settled in Stephenson County in 1861, coming from Floyd County, Iowa. His parents were William K. and Nancy (Gile) Saxby. His father was a native of New Hampshire and the mother of New York State. They came West and settled in Boone County, whence they afterward moved to Beloit, Wis. In 1860 they moved to Freeport, and resided in that city until Mr. Saxby’s death, which occurred in October, 1886; the mother still survives. They had seven children, four boys and three girls, all of whom are living and married.

Charles M. was the second child in order of birth of the family of seven. He was born in Boone County, Ill., on the 19th of November, 1843. At an early age he went to live with his grandparents, in Boone County, and resided with them most of the time until he arrived at the age of fifteen, when he concluded to commence the struggle of life for himself. He crossed over into Iowa during the year 1860, and engaged in farm work there for about one and one-half years, when he came to Freeport, and was employed in the livery business for several months. His judgment and knowledge of horses attracted the attention of Miller, Hodges & Co., who employed him as their purchasing agent, and he remained with them for about one year. He then began trading and dealing in horses on his own account, and in November, 1864, in company with August Bergaman, bought out the livery business of I. H. Miller, which they carried on jointly for six months, when Mr. Saxby sold his interest and went to Monroe, Wis., and engaged in the livery business there from July, 1865, to 1871, and in February, 1872, he came to Freeport. During these years he found it profitable to cross the plains to Colorado and Wyoming, and in the year 1871 made three trips. On these trips he purchased various kinds of stock, which he shipped to the far West.

In 1878 Mr. Saxby began shipping stock to Florida, and has been engaged in that business up to the present time, making one of more trips during the winter months. He has been quite largely interested at different times in stock on the ranges in the West. He owns 100 acres of land in the vicinity of Freeport, and has also owned various tracts of land in the West. He, in company with S. Von Alstine, owns a herd of imported cattle in Pocahontas County, Iowa. He is largely interested in breeding horses and owns several stallions, some of which are in Freeport. The firm name of Saxby & Zimmerman is widely known throughout this section of country.

On the 30th of May, 1865, at the residence of James Benson, in Cedarville, Ill., Mr. Saxby was married to Eliza Benson, who was born in Lebanon County, Pa., on the 27th of February, 1842. Her parents were James and Mattie (Kratzer) Benson, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and who came to Stephenson County in 1847, and resided at Cedarville. Mr. and Mrs. Saxby have five children: Mattie, born Dec. 28, 1866; Clarence M., March 15, 1870; Charles B., May 31, 1873, Alda G., April 25, 1880, Aural G., Feb. 12, 1882.

Mr. Saxby has been Supervisor for his township several terms. He joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1865, and has always taken a lively interest in that organization. In politics he is Democratic.

As above mentioned, Mr. Saxby is largely engaged in raising fine horses, and we are pleased to present in this album, and in connection with his homestead, portraits of some of these magnificent animals.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 289