VANDAWALKER, CHARLES, a retired engineer living in Springfield was for thirty years employed by the Wabash Railroad company, but since 1894 has lived retired from active life. He was born in Marcy, N.Y. July 25, 1831, son of Ephraim and Eva (Dillenbeck) Vandawalker, natives of New York, where they spent their entire lives. They lived on a farm and Charles Vandawalker received his education in the public schools of his native place. He then worked on his father's farm for several years, then moved to Michigan and for eight years carried on farming in Monroe County that State. He moved from Michigan to Springfield and spent a short time farming in Sangamon county, but about 1864 entered the employ of the railroad company, first in the capacity of fireman, and for twenty-five years was employed as engineer. He won the confidence and esteem of his employers and associates and was sober and industrious in his habits.

Mr. Vandawalker was married in Monroe County, Mich., to Miss Anna Dentel, born in Saxony, Germany, May 13, 1837. She came with her parents to America and the family were early settlers of Monroe County, where the father and mother died. Nine children were born to Mr. Vandawalker and his wife, namely: Ephraim, Charles and Mamie, deceased; Ada, wife of Dayton Webster, in the employ of the Springfield Consolidated Street Railway Company; Elizabeth, wife of William Friedlinger, in the employ of the Illinois Watch Company; Emma, wife of Albert Fields, a jeweler of Portland, Ore.; Esther, wife of Walter Page, a merchant of Denver, Colo.; Anna, wife of Desmond Stewart, of the firm of Stewart & Patterson, plumbers, of Springfield; John, a merchant. Charles Vandawalker has seventeen grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mr. Vandawalker and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, of Springfield; in politics he is a Republican, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic Order. He is well known in railroad circles and is universally respected. He owns a comfortable home at 1121 South Eighth Street.