Thomas J. Colvin

 

SOURCE: "A Standard History of Champaign County, Illinois," J. R. Stewart, Supervising Editor, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago and New York, Vols. I & II, 1918

SURNAMES: COLVIN, GOBEN, GORDON, MARKS, SALBERRY

Thomas J. Colvin was born February 14, 1858, in Scott County, Indiana, and is a son of John and Catherine (GOBEN) COLVIN.  His father, a native of County Down, Ireland, came to the United States in young manhood and engaged in working at the cabinet-makers trade in Scott County, Indiana, where he met and married Catherine GOBEN.  She died there in 1860, and in 1867 Mr. Colvin brought his family to Champaign County, Illinois, and settled on a farm in the vicinity of Tolono.  He became one of the leading citizens of his community, won an honorable standing in business life, and finally became interested in public affairs and was well known as one of the staunch workers in the ranks of the Democratic party.  Under both of Presidet Clevelands administrations he served Tolono as postmaster, and eventually was chosen mayor, in which ofrfice he was serving at the time of his tragic death.  On the day of his demise a fire had broken out, and Mayor Colvin, hastening to the scene of the conflagration, was struck and instantly killed by an Illinois Central train, the approach of which he had failed to note because of an umbrella which he was carrying.  His death was considered a great loss to the community, in the interests of which he had labored so faithfully.  There were five children in the family of John and Catherine Colvin, namely:  Martha, of Los Angeles, California, the widow of Ebenezer GORDON; Mary Jane, who is the wife of B. B. SALBERRY, of San Francisco, California; John M., a resident of Spokane, Washington; Thomas J., of this notice; and Edward, who enlisted in the army when a mere youth, and of whom the family has completely lost track.

Thomas J. Colvin was educated in the public schools of Tolono, and as a youth assisted his father in conducting a meat market at that place.  When he had $100 saved, at the age of nineteen years, he embarked upon an independent venture, which, starting in a necessarily small way, rapidly developed into a substantial house.  In 1882 he bought the business establishment which he now conducts, and which is accounted one of the leading markets of the city, it having been built up through a policy of honorable conduct, honest representation and straightforward methods of doing business.  In investing his profits Mr. Colvin has been loyal to his home city, and now has numerous holdings in a realty way, business and residential.  His standing in business circles is of the best, and as a citizen he has contributed freely of time, ability and means in furthering worthy projects.  Mr. Colvin is a Democrat, but not a politician.

In December, 1882, Mr. Colvin was united in marriage at Urbana to Miss Sadie MARKS, who was born in Champaign County, and to this union there have been born three children:  John T., who is associated with his father in the market business, one of the enterprising young business men of Urbana; Don Otto, who is now residing in Arizona; and Ernest M. whose place of residence is Middletown, Ohio.