CHARLES LANCASTER, lumber dealer, Cairo, Ill., was born in St. Clair County, Ill., on the 15th of August, 1836. The father, Levi Lancaster, was of English parentage, though born in Virginia in 1801. He came to Illinois and to St. Clair County in 1822, and there married Elizabeth Terrey, by whom he had seven children, Charles being the fifth, and besides whom there is another member of the family in Cairo, Sarah, wife of Robert S. Lemmon. Levi Lancaster, Charles' father, died in Hastings, Minn., where he had gone for health, in 1859. The mother died in 1841, in St. Clair County, Ill. Charles was educated in the common schools of St. Clair County and in Collinsville, and learned the trade of carpenter in Minnesota and in Peoria, Ill. He came to Cairo, Ill., and engaged at his trade in 1862, and until 1874 was chiefly employed as ship car penter. In 1874, he began the lumber business, though on a very limited scale when compared with the present business. He has associated with him Newton Rice, and in 1881 they established a large planning-mill, in which they employ regularly several workmen. In addition to their mill, preparation is now being made to erect a large warehouse. In February, 1868, Mr. Lancaster was married to Miss Sarah Hodge. She was born in Kentucky March 4, 1846. Their family consists of Minnie, born October 27, 1868; Pearl L., born June 4, 1873; Mabel, born November 12, 1876, and Geraldine L. Lancaster, born December 16, 1878. Mr. Lancaster is a member of the I. O. O. F., Knights of Honor, and the American Legion of Honor.
Extracted 31 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from 1883 History of Alexander, Union, and Pulaski Counties, Illinois, Part V, page 28.
| Cape Girardeau MO |
Union | |
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Pulaski | |
| Scott MO | Mississippi MO | Ballard KY |
