The History of Knox County
pub. in 1912 by S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. 

   ELIAS C. CALL.

     Elias C. Call, who is now living retired in Altona, Knox county, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, on the 22d of June, 1835, his parents being Osman and Olive (Clark) Call. His grandfather, Isaiah Call, was the first member of the family to leave his native state and locate in this county. He came here at the time the Mormons had extensive settlements in this locality. After settling in Walnut Grove township he devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits and the brickmaking trade, he being the first brickmaker in this county. Osman Call was born at Woodstock, Vermont, in 1808, and followed the brickmaker's trade until he removed to Illinois in January, 1855, and settled in Knox county. Later in life he became an authority on arithmetic and was the author of a well known text-book on that subject. Mrs. Call was a daughter of J. Clark, a native of England, and her death occurred in Altona in 1895, at the age of eighty-five years and six months. Of this union three children survive: Elias, the subject of this review; Roenna Seymore, who is residing in Indianapolis, Indiana; and Loyal, who is living in California and who served in the Civil war.
     Elias C. Call received his early education in the common schools, after which he accepted employment by the month on various farms and subsequently worked in a sawmill in New York state previous to coming to Altona in 1854. On the 22d of April, 1861, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, joining Company F of the Twenty-second New York Infantry under Colonel Phelps, serving in the Army of the Potomac near Washington. Because of severe illness contracted during the service he was mustered out in 1863, the same year in which his brother, who served in the Chicago Battery of Artillery, was made a prisoner at Andersonville. After Elias Call's honorable discharge he went to New York state and was again employed for a short time in a sawmill, but in 1864 he removed to Altona, making the trip by way of Canada. From that time he engaged in agricultural pursuits and, although he is now living retired, he still manifests an active interest in the farming problems of the county. In the cultivation of his property he met with the success which is usually gained in this rich agricultural district by the farmer who shows persistent and unremitting energy and who is willing to engage in constant labor.
     Mr. Call has been twice married. His first union was to Miss Olive Haines, and to them two sons were born: William H., who is a teacher in Utah; and Charles W., who is residing in Hubert, Crow Wing county, Minnesota. Mr. Call's second union was to Mrs. Mary Huntly White, who was the widow of Peter White and whose birth occurred in 1836 in McConnellsville, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Call is the mother of two children by her first husband, Joseph Stillwagon, namely, Alice Stillwagon and Elizabeth Stillwagon. Of her union to Peter White there were born eight children, Sadie, George, Levi, Henry, Ida, Mary, Delia and David.
     Without desire for office as a reward for party fealty Mr. Call gives his unfaltering allegiance to the democratic party. He was a representative farmer and by his application and sturdy character has gained many friends, and he and his wife are held in high regard by all who claim the honor of their acquaintance. (pages 646-647, submitted by Janine Crandell)