William O. Shreve

 

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: NEVIN, SHREVE, SWOFFORD

WILLIAM O. SHREVE. This gentleman, who since 1870, has carried on the mercantile business at St. Joseph, and is a member of the present Board of Supervisors, was born in Brown county, Ohio, on the 28th of November, 1840. His grandfather moved to Ohio at a very early day. His ancestors on his mother's side were from the State of Maryland.

The first fifteen years of his life were spent in Brown county, Ohio. In 1852, his father, Orrison SHREVE, emigrated to Illinois, and settled in St. Joseph township, Champaign county. Mr. Shreve remained in Ohio with his uncle, A. N. NEVIN, with whom he came to Illinois in 1856. He lived with his uncle in La Salle county one year, and afterward in McLean county till 1859, and then came to St. Joseph township, and was working on a farm when the rebellion broke out in 1861. In August of that year he enlisted in the 26th Illinois regiment, in which he served three years. He took part in the battles of Corinth, New Madrid, Island No. 10, the siege of Vicksburg, and the engagements at Jackson, Mississippi, and at Chattanooga, and was also in the siege of Atlanta. He was wounded severely, confined to the hospital for two months, and was mustered out of service in September 1864.

Returning to Champaign county, he became clerk in a store at the old town of St. Joseph, and afterward at Champaign. In 1870, in partnership with Van B. Swearingen, he opened the first store ever established in the present town of St. Joseph. The firm has continued to do a large business, and Mr. Shreve has made a popular and successful merchant.

July, 1871, he was married to Martha SWAFFORD, of Urbana. In politics he has been a Republican. He was elected supervisor from St. Joseph township in 1875, and has been re-elected each year to the present time.