Edward A. Green

Edward A. Green

Image Credit:
Champaign County Historical Archives at the Urbana Free Library

Edward A. Green, a freeman, became one of the first African Americans to settle in Champaign County in 1856. Born in North Carolina, he moved to West Urbana (now Champaign) from Union County, Ohio, with his first wife, Georgia Anne, and daughters, Anna A. and Florence E. Green. A carpenter by trade, in 1858 he began purchasing parcels of land throughout what would become Champaign and into northwestern Urbana, ending up with approximately 14 lots. Six lots were located in Urbana between Wright and Goodwin Streets, along Eads and Champaign (now Vine) Streets.

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After the death of his first wife, Green married Eva Derousse of Champaign on September 18, 1865. They had one daughter, Gertrude L. Green. He was well-respected and was reported to have spoken at the 1869 Celebration of the 35th Anniversary of the British Emancipation at Colter Stewart’s Farm.

Green died on April 27, 1870, at age 53. His obituary stated that, “He was a good neighbor, a skillful and industrious mechanic and an honest man.” He willed his property to his daughters, though his older daughters returned to Ohio. His widow, Eva, married Charles Lewis a barber with his own barbershop at 25 Main Street in Champaign. She became a noted hairdresser to the upper middle class. In 1885, they lived at 211 East University, Champaign. When Gertrude came of age in 1887 she obtained sole ownership of the remaining property, three lots on what is now Vine Street in west Urbana. Eva’s second husband died of a stroke in 1890 and, by 1900, she and Gertrude had moved to Springfield, Illinois.

SOURCES:

Champaign County Gazette, August 4, 1869, page 1

“Green, Deousse, Lewis Family,” Champaign County Archives, Urbana Free Library

Obituary, Champaign County Gazette, May 4, 1870

Decade:

1850-1859

People:

  • Edward A. Green
  • Eva Lewis

Location(s):

  • Champaign, Illinois
  • Urbana, Illinois
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