CHAMPION, Simon B. - 1914

CHAMPION, LAKE, WILL, SIDERY, RIDENOUR

Posted By: Colette Miles (email)
Date: 6/26/2009 at 17:44:45

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914

SIMON B. CHAMPION.

Simon B. Champion, filling the office of county supervisor of Cherokee county, was born in New York state on the 25th of December, 1852. He is a son of James A. and Olive D. (Lake) Champion, also natives of the Empire state, where the father was a minister in the Methodist church and engaged also in operating woolen and flour mills. He remained in New York until 1861 and then moved to Linn county, Iowa, renting a farm near Cedar Rapids, which he operated for two years. At the end of that time he moved to the vicinity of Wau- beek, in the same county, and there purchased and improved a farm, upon which he continued to reside for eighteen or twenty years thereafter. His wife died in 1883 and he afterward made his home with his son J. A. Champion, at whose residence he died in December, 1904, when he was ninetyone years of age.

Simon B. Champion was reared and educated in Linn county, Iowa, and remained with his parents until his marriage. He then began his independent career, renting a farm in Linn county, which he operated for two years. In 1881 he came to Cherokee county and assumed the management of a large dairy, conducting this enterprise for one year, during which time he also pursued his education, studying nights. He afterward moved into Cherokee and began his public career, serving as street commissioner for two years. When he went out of office he secured a position in a local hardware store and at the end of twelve years engaged in the retail oil business. When he abandoned this he purchased business property in Cherokee and engaged in buying and selling new and secondhand furniture. After conducting this enterprise successfully for six years he moved onto a farm, which he had previously purchased, and he concentrated his attention upon agricultural pursuits until February, 1900. He then moved to Cherokee and since that time has lived retired, owning a comfortable home at 628 North Roosevelt avenue. He was elected in November, 1912, supervisor of Cherokee county and took office in January, 1913. He has already proved a capable and farsighted public official and discharges his duties to the satisfaction of all concerned.

On the 28th of December, 1878, Mr. Champion married Miss Electa Will mott, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Sidery) Willmott, natives of England. The parents came to America and located in Linn county, Iowa, in 1854, and there the father purchased land, operating this until his death in 1896, he hav ing survived his wife three years. Mr. and Mrs Champion became the parents of seven children: Agnes and Olive, who died in infancy; Howard, who is engaged in farming in South Dakota; Gladys, the wife of Beach Ridenour, a druggist, by whom she has one daughter, Grace Arlene; and Harry, Glenn and Grace, who are attending school.

Mr. Champion is a member of the Methodist church and is connected fraternally with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Yeomen. He is a republican in his political beliefs and interested in public affairs, cooperating heartily in all movements and measures for the general good. In the office which he now holds he has made a creditable and worthy record and is accounted among the most publicspirited and progressive citizens of the city where he makes his home.