Franklin Victor Addis was born on 7. Oct. 1865 at West Jersey Twp., Stark County, Illinois. He was the son of
Daniel O. Addis and
Margaret N. Caskey. Franklin Victor Addis married
Ellen Wiley on 9. Dec. 1891 at Stark County, Illinois. Franklin Victor Addis died a 1916 at West Jersey Twp., Stark County, Illinois.
Frank V. Addis, who is serving for the third year as a member of the county board of supervisors as the representative of West Jersey township, ranks not only as a public-spirited citizen but also as a progressive business man and farmer, his home being on section 10, West Jersey township. It was upon this farm that he was born October 7, 1865, and he comes of English ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Simon Addis, was a native of Warren county, New Jersey, born in 1804, and there he remained until after the birth of D. O. Addis, father of Frank V. Addis, on the 6th of September, 1838. It was in 1851 that Simon Addis removed westward with his family to Illinois, establishing his home in Stark county. D. O. Addis was at that time a youth of thirteen years and his education was largely acquired in the public schools of Warren county. He became the active assistant of his father in farm work and remained upon the family homestead in Stark county until after he attained his majority. It was in this county on the 13th of September, 1864, that he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret N. Caskey, a daughter of Silas Caskey, who removed to Illinois from Stark county, Ohio, in 1863, becoming a resident of Stark county, Illinois. Mrs. Addis was born and reared in Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Addis began their domestic life on the old homestead farm and he proved an industrious and enterprising agriculturist. His business affairs were wisely and carefully managed and from time to time he made judicious investments in property, becoming the owner of seven hundred acres of land in West Jersey township. He erected a pleasant residence on section 10, also put up substantial and commodious barns and outbuildings and his time was unreservedly given to his farm work until 1902, when he removed to Toulon, where he purchased a residence, there living retired until his demise, which occurred November 29, 1909. His business enterprise, his ability and his public spirit made him well known not only in Stark but also in adjacent counties. He was a man of the strictest integrity and honor and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He belonged to the West Jersey Methodist Episcopal church and served on its official board. Later he placed his membership with the Methodist church of Toulon and was likewise made a member of its official board, so continuing until his death. The influence of his life remains as a blessed benediction to those who know him and his memory is revered and cherished by those with whom he came in contact.
To Mr. and Mrs. D. O. Addis were born seven children, four of whom are living: Frank V., of this review; Flora O., the wife of Clyde Boyd, of Toulon; Evelyn B., who married John Kayser of Parkston, South Dakota; and Pearl H., the wife of Arthur Grange, of Toulon. Another son, Alvin W., reached adult age and passed away upon the home farm when a young man of twenty-five years. A daughter, Laura E., died at the age of six years, and another daughter Grace E., when three years of age. The mother, Mrs. Addis, resides at the old home in Toulon and she has been a loyal member of the Methodist Episcopal church since April 10, 1860.
Frank V. Addis was reared on the old home place and mastered the branches of learning taught in the district schools before entering the Toulon high school. He willingly performed the tasks assigned him by his father, whom he continued to assist in the work of the fields until he had attained his majority. He was a young man of twenty-six years, when, in West Jersey township, on the 9th of December, 1891, he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Wiley, who was born in Stark county, Illinois. They began their domestic life on one of his father's farms, known as the Hazen place, and there remained for a number of years. In 1901 his father removed to Toulon and Frank V. Addis then took up his abode on what is known as the old Addis homestead. Here he owns in one tract four hundred and eighty-six acres, upon which are two good residences with all the other buildings and improvements of a model farm of the twentieth century. His real estate holdings likewise include another quarter section. He has remodeled the residence, keeps all of the buildings and fences in a state of good repair and in addition to cultivating the fields in the production of large crops of corn, wheat and other cereals he is engaged in raising and feeding stock. He is the administrator of the Addis estate and is a careful and competent business man, readily discriminating between the essential and the non-essential and quickly recognizing and improving his opportunities.
To Mr. and Mrs. Addis have been born three sons, Earl R., who married Miss Maud Chamberlain, is now located on his father's farm, where his father has just completed a modern residence, one of the best in West Jersey township. Orville V. is farming one hundred and sixty acres of the home place. Glenn D., the youngest, is a student in the Toulon high school.
Frank V. Addis devotes his time largely to the management of his farming properties and interests yet finds opportunity to aid in promoting the public welfare. He is a stanch advocate of republican principles and for a number of years served as highway commissioner, while in 1914 he was elected supervisor of West Jersey township and a member of the Stark county board. In 1916 he was re-elected and is now the incumbent in that office, giving earnest consideration to all of the questions which come up in connection with the care of the business of the county. He belongs to the West Jersey lodge of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all of the chairs and is now a past grand, while for some years he has served as financial secretary. Both he and his wife are connected with the Rebekahs and they are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, Mr. Addis now serving on the official board. He was one of the promoters of the La Fayette Fair Association. His interests are broad and varied and in all of his business career the spirit of enterprise has enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path. He has advanced step by step, securing at every point in his career a broader outlook and wider opportunities and his ability and even paced energy have carried him into important relations.
Stark County, Illinois and its People: A record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, published 1916, p. 318-324.
http://www.geocities.com/karenh_55904/addis.htm.