Following is one of the Biographies and Stories which where gathered by Charles Sumner McKamy in the 1950s for publication in a Crawford County History Book. Unfortunately he passed away before the book was published.

Charles Hurst Olwin, born in Hutsonville, Illinois on July 26, 1867. His great grandfather, Anthony Olwin, a native of Pennsylvania, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His father, John Olwin, was for more than three years a soldier in the Union Army where he fought in many battles. He was captured and a prisoner in the famous Libby Prison.

Soon after he was mustered out of the army, John Olwin came from his native Ohio to Hutsonville, Illinois where he married Florence R. Hurst, daughter of John R. Hurst, proprietor of a general store in Hutsonville. At the request of Mr. Hurst, he took charge of the store, and in addition bought and shipped grain, some by boat to Vincennes and Terre Haute and some by wagon to Sullivan, Indiana.

Charles H. was the oldest of the nine children born to John and Florence Olwin. Five of these children are still living; viz: Charles H., Byrd G., Mrs. Georgia Swartz, Mrs. Nancy Palmer and Mrs. Lois Spencer. Dr. Fred S. Olwin, Ocie G. Olwin, Mrs. Clara Hodge and Lola May Olwin are deceased.

In 1883, Mr. Olwin's father, John, removed to Robinson where he built a large grain elevator near the Big Four railroad. Four years later, the father and son, Charles H., engaged in the business of selling dry goods and shoes in Robinson, on the North side of the Square. After some years, Mr. Charles H. became a traveling salesman for the Mishawaka Rubber and Woolen Co. of Mishawaka, Indiana, but in 1915 he resigned in order to devote all his time with his brother-in-law, L.G. Palmer, to the clothing business, first on the West side of the public square, and then on the South side. On the dissolution of this partnership, due to the ill health of Mr. Palmer, Mr. Olwin became the owner of the shoe store, which his brother, O.G. Olwin, had operated next to the clothing store. In 937, he gave up this business when he decided, as he says, that fifty years was enough time to spend in one business.

In 1902, Mr. Olwin married Etta Campbell of Kirksville, Mo., with whom he lived for nearly forty-nine years, until her death May 15, 1951. In 1948, Mrs. Olwin was honored by being designated as the outstanding State Mother in Illinois for that year.

Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Olwin, County, John and Beth. County, the oldest son, attended Culver Military Academy and later graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1926. While at Wisconsin, he met and married a classmate, Louise Anderson, whose home was in Springfield, Mo. They have two daughters: Gertrude, a graduate of Wellesley College, and Lynnabeth, a graduate of Denison University. Count is now Vice-President and General Manager of the Owens Brush Company of Toledo, Ohio.

The younger son, John, is a graduate of the University of Illinois, 1929, and of Rush Medical College, 1934. During World War II, he was called to active duty in the medical corps of the United States Army and served for more than five years, part of this time in the South Pacific Theatre, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and commanding the Surgical Service of the 29th Evacuation Hospital, clinical professor of surgery, College of Medicine, University of Illinois in Chicago, and consultant in vascular surgery at the Veterans Hospital, Hines, Illinois. In 1943 he married Betty C. Smothers of Evanston where they now live with their two young daughters, Holly and Barbara.

Beth, the daughter, was graduated from the University of Illinois, 1930. She married Harold S. Dawson. They have one daughter, Judy, and a son, Todd, and live in Champaign, Illinois where Mr. Dawson is head of the personnel department of the University of Illinois.

For many years Mr. Charles H. Olwin has been a member of he First Christian Church of Robinson and has filled many important official positions in the church, including Bible School Superintendent, Trustee and Elder. After serving as Elder for many years he asked to be relieved. After accepting his resignation, the official board elected him Elder Emeritus for life. At eighty-nine years, Mr. Olwin is still faithful and regular attendant at Sunday morning church services.