CHARLES A. WOOLLEY, an extensive farmer and stock raiser of North Otter Township, now residing in Girard, was born on a farm eight miles west of Carrollton, Bluffdale Township, Greene County, this State, May 9, 1835. His father, David Woolley, was born in Washington County, N.Y., and his grandfather, Tilton Woolley, spent his entire life in New York State. The grandmother's maiden name was Slocum.

The father of our subject was reared in his native county, and there married and resided until 1822, when he came to Illinois. There were no railroads or canals in that early day, and they came by the most convenient and expeditious route - by way of team to Olean Point, hence by the Alleghany and Ohio Rivers to Shawneetown, Ill. He resided in Hamilton County, this State, for one year and then removed to Morgan County. At that time Jacksonville boasted of but a few straggling houses and Springfield was unheard of. He bought a tract of land near Jacksonville and lived there for a few months. He then sold out and removed to Greene County, purchasing eighty acres of land in what is now Bluffdale Township. He made a fine bargain in purchasing this land. The man who owned it had got himself into trouble and a fine of $100 hung over his head. He told Mr. Woolley that if he would furnish the money with which to pay his fine he might have the land. He purchased Illinois scrip, which was then selling at fifty cents on the dollar, and thus secured eighty acres of land for $50 cash.

A log house was on the place when Mr. Woolley took it and into this he moved his family. Later he entered four hundred acres of Government land in the same township, but there were then no railroads and none came through that region for many years. Markets for grain and produce were inaccessible. he used to take the products of his farm to the river three miles distant and ship it on flatboats to Alton or New Orleans. He remained a resident of that township until his death.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Laura Hodge. She was born in Connecticut. She survived her husband and the last years of her life were spent with her daughter, Mrs. A. H. Eldred, in Polk Township. She reared to maturity nine of her twelve children. They are named as follows: John H., now deceased; James R., a resident of Western Mound Township; Norman C. and Edwin, who reside in Greenfield; Emeline, who married E. B. Eldred and is now deceased; Maria, who was the wife of W. H. Ellis, of Greene County, is now deceased; Laura, Mrs. A. H. Eldred, who resides in Polk Township; and Julia, the wife of John Ernst, of Western Mound Township.

The subject of this sketch was trained to agricultural pursuits and attended the public schools, which were then taught on the subscription plan, free schools not being yet inaugurated. They did not come into general use until this young man was nearly grown up. He resided with his parents until he had attained his majority, and after the death of his father bought the old homestead and resided there until 1865. He then sold his property and purchased a farm in Carlinville Township. There he made his home until the fall of 1867 , when he sold out and purchased ten acres of land in the city, which is now known as C. A. Woolley's Addition to Carlinville. he platted the land and in February, 1868, traded it for his father-in-law's homestead in North Otter Township, there resided continuously until 1882, when he purchased his present home in Girard. Although a resident of the city, he still superintends the management of his farm, where he is extensively engaged in raising horses, cattle, etc. This farm of three hundred and fifty acres is mostly in a finely improved condition and furnished with good buildings and all necessary accessories for farm work.

In 1858 Mr. Woolley was united in marriage with Miss Eunice M. Langley. She was born in Pennsylvania and is a daughter of James and Jane (Weston) Langley. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Woolley, namely: Della, wife of William M. Evans; Mae, James D. and Dale. Mr. Woolley is a wide-awake citizen and one who takes hold with energy of all movements for the promotion of progress and prosperity in the county. He is a Republican in politics but is not a seeker for office. He is a member of Hiawatha Lodge, K. of P., and a stockholder in the Macoupin County Agricultural Board. He is an active promoter of all movements which tend to the prosperity of the farming community, and he deserves the high esteem in which he is held by the neighbors. Mr. Woolley is engaged in the lumber business in connection with overseeing his farm. His office and lumber yard are located just south of the Public Square, where he keeps a full and complete stock of lumber, lime, cement, buggies and wagons.