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Stephenson County
A spirit of progress and enterprise at all times characterizes the labors and business activity of Charles C. Van Brocklin, who is now well known as a real estate dealer of Freeport and resides at No. 167 Clark avenue. He is one of the native sons of Stephenson county, his birth having occurred in Florence township, March 24, 1863. His paternal grandfather, Conrad Van Brocklin, was a native of New York and a farmer by occupation. Believing that better opportunities were offered in the middle west, he came to Illinois about 18?? (illegible) and cast his lot with the early settlers of Florence township, Stephenson county, where he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred in 1878, when he had reach an advanced age. He married Harriet Searles, by whom he had three sons and four daughters, namely: Phoebe, Julia, William A., Sarah, James, Celia and Henry Orville.
William A. Van Brocklin, the father of our subject, was also a native of the Empire state but in his early childhood was brought to Illinois by his parents and was reared in Stephenson county, sharing with the family in the hardships and privations as well as in the privileges and pleasures of pioneer life. His early education, acquired in the district schools, was supplemented by study in Beloit College. He engaged successfully in teaching school for a number of years but afterward turned his attention to the grocery business, capably and profitably conducting a store for a number of years. He was also the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Florence township and while teaching school and managine his commercial interests he also operated his farm. After retiring from the grocery store he turned his attention to the live-stock business in Texas county, Missouri, and was murdered there for his money in 1873, when but thirty-six years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Angelia Wright, also a native of New York and a daughter of Dr. Charles Bingley Wright, likewise a native of the Empire state. He was a physician and became one of the early representatives of the medical fraternity in Freeport, where he practiced successfully for many years. He also served as a surgeon with the Union army in the Civil war. He married Augusta Minerva Sheppard and died at the age of sixty-eight years, while his wife still survives at the age of eighty-seven years. They were the parents of three children, two of whom died in childhood, while the other was Mrs. Angelia Van Brocklin, who long survived her husband and passed away in 1903 at the age of sixty years. Both were devoted members of the Methodist church. After losing her first husband she became the wife of Jacob Higley. By her former marriage she had four children, as follows: Charles C., of this review, Edith A., the wife of C. A. Alden, of Fulton, Illinois; Frank W., residing in Freeport; and Rozella A., the wife of E. J. Higley, of Hoffman, Minnesota.
Charles C. Van Brocklin was reared in this county and attended the district and city schools. He afterward studied medicine under the direction of his grandfather and also learned the machinist's trade, which he followed for several years. He afterward turned his attention to the real-estate business in which he has since continued and as the years have gone by he has secured an extensive clientage and has negotiated many important property transfers. He owns farm lands in Wisconsin, Missouri and Oklahoma and opened up the west end addition to Freeport.
On the 15th of November, 1905, Mr. Van Brocklin was married to Miss May Belle Oberholser, who was born in the town of Flora, Illinois, a daughter of Henry W. and Mary Margaret (Grayam) Oberholser. Her paternal grandfather was John Oberholser, a native of New York and a carpenter by trade. He lived to be ninety-three years of age. He married a Miss Wylan and their family included Nancy, Ida, Sue, Elizabeth, John, Chris and Henry Oberholser. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Van Brocklin were John and Catharine (Bixler) Grayam. The former was a carpenter and lived to be nearly seventy-three years of age, while his wife died when sixty years of age. The parents of Mrs. Van Brocklin were also natives of the Empire state and became early settlers of Boone county, Illinois. Her father died in Belvidere in 1899, at the age of seventy-three years, while his wife was called to her final rest in the fall of 1904 at the age of sixty-two years. They were the parents of six children, three of whome are living, namely: John Grayam Oberholser, of Belvidere; Helen Marie, the wife of John J. Wilson, of Alberta, Canada; and Mrs. Van Brocklin.
Mr. and Mrs. Van Brocklin occupy a pleasant home which he erected twenty-one years ago. He is a member of the Methodist church and his wife of the Baptist church. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, holding membership in Excelsior Lodge, No. 97, A. F. & A. M., while politically he is a republican. His life has been well and worthily spent and many substantial qualities have gained for him the high regard and unfaltering friendship of a large majority of those with whom he has come in contact."
Contributed by Karen Hammer (Genealogy Trails host for
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