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 RS. MARY S. TRAVER, the widow of
William Henry Traver, late of Charleston,
is pleasantly located on a fine farm of 114
acres, a part of which lies in the city limits,
and which through the industry and excellent judgment of her late husband, comprises a valuable and
beautiful homestead and assists largely in embellishing the landscape of Charleston Township.
Mr. Traver, a native of Schenectady County, N.
Y., was born June 11, 1843, and was the son of
William and Maria (Reese) Traver. also natives of
the Empire State. William Traver was a farmer
by occupation but later engaged in mercantile pursuits at Brooklyn. The son, Henry, was reared on the farm until fifteen years of age, in the meantime receiving a fair education in the common schools. He then engaged as clerk in a wholesale
grocery store in Brooklyn, where he remained two
and one-half years, after which his employer sent
him to Canada to sell fruit. He remained in the
Dominion one year, and returning to New York
engaged as clerk in a jewelry house. Subsequently
he returned to the fruit business and also dealt in
flowers. Upon the outbreak of the Rebellion Mr. Traver enlisted in the 176th New York Infantry, and followed the life of a soldier for over three years. His career in the army was creditable in the extreme, and he fortunately escaped injury and imprisonment by the rebels. After receiving his honorable discharge he returned to his native State, where he engaged in business for a short time, but in 1865 decided to make his home in the West. He first located in Clark County, this State, near the town of Marshall, and engaged in the raising of broom corn, which he shipped East at a good profit. Two years later he came to this county and engaged in the manufacture of brooms at Charleston, which he followed the remainder of his life. His death occurred at the family homestead on the 7th of August, 1878. The marriage of William H. Traver and Miss Mary S. Parker, of Charleston, took place in the spring of 1868, at the residence of the bride’s parents in Charleston Township. Mrs. T. is the daughter of Daniel and Dorcas (Heath) Parker, who were natives respectively of this county and North Carolina. Mr. Parker engaged in fanning the greater part of his life and was County Surveyor for many years. His father, Benjamin by name, was one of the pioneers of Coles County, and owned a large portion of the present site of the city of Charleston. He met his death while on his way to Texas in 1869, being killed by the Indians. The parents were married in 1845, and there were three children John H., Mary S., and Martha, now Mrs. J. P. Phillips. The farm of Mr. Parker in Charleston Township embraces 360 acres. The mother remained on the homestead seven years after the death of her husband, and passed away in 1876. Both parents were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and greatly respected for their excellent qualities of mind and heart. Mr. and Mrs. Traver early in life united with the Presbyterian Church, with which the former continued until his death, and with which the latter is still connected. Socially Mr. T. belonged to the Odd Fellows, and Mrs. T. is a member of the Royal Templars Society. They became the parents of three children Lelia, Orton, and Guyella. The latter is deceased; the others are at home. |
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