CHARLES C. CROMWELL is conducting an excellent business as insurance agent and real estate dealer in Springfield, with his office at No. 317, South Fifth Street, and for more than a decade has been an active factor in promoting the growth of the city. He is a native of Frederick City, Md. Born July 7, 1844, to George W. and Mary E. (Storm) Cromwell. His father was an old resident of that city, having gone there from New York, his native State, and he was one of the leading merchant tailors of the place. He was there married and reared a family. He closed an honorable and well spent life in 1886. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran Church and was in every way worthy of the high regard in which he was held.

Our subject passed the first sixteen years of his life in the city of his nativity. In 1860 he came to Christian County, this State, coming here in the spring and living in Taylorville until the fall of 1863 when he took up his residence in this city. Having served a regular apprenticeship at the carpenter trade he followed that business for some years and finally accepted a position as clerk in the store of J. H. Adams, who dealt in hats, caps, and gentlemen's furnishing goods. He subsequently began to mingle in public life and for two years was Deputy Sheriff of the county. In 1879 he established himself in the insurance business with E. P. Beach and was very successful in that venture. He was afterward associated with Beach & Ticknor, then with L. H. Ticknor, and finally the firm name was changed to Herman & Co., who still continue in the business; our subject being the oldest man connected with it and having the management of the insurance department, conducts the largest business in that line in this city, representing a number of prominent insurance companies.

Mr. Cromwell and Miss Phoebe H. Adams were united in marriage in the month of November, 1875. Mrs. Cromwell is a daughter of the late well-know Josiah H. Adams, an old settler of this city. He came here as a practical hatter and engaged in that business until within a few years of his death when he moved to Montgomery County, where he passed his last years on a farm.

Mr. Cromwell is a stirring, wide-awake man in business, is shrewd, keen and far-sighted in his transactions, and is withal honorable and fair dealing. He is prominently connected with Central Lodge No. 71, A.F. & A.M., and has held all the important offices, having been Master of the Lodge for three years, and he is also a charter member of one of the oldest lodges, Capital Lodge, No. 14, K. of P. He has never been an active politician but has given his attention exclusively to his business. Religiously he is a Lutheran, is an attendant of the church of that denomination in this city, and is very active in its support and in helping to carry on its good work.