Charles F. Wendling’s farm enterprise is identified with the south-eastern part of Champaign County, in Raymond Township. His fine farm home is situated in section 10, on Rural Route No. 36 out of the town of Broadlands.
Mr. Wendling has been a man of affairs in this community for the greater part of his life. He was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, December 15, 1874, a son of John and Margaret (Monigan) Wendling. His father was a native of Alsace, France, and his mother of Ireland. The father was born in 1842, came to America in 1854, at the age of twelve, lived first in Macon County, Illinois, and later in Sangamon County, and in his early years, a young man with no capital, he did cattle feeding and farming. In 1876 he came to Champaign County, locating in Raymond Township, where he was successfully identified with the business of farming until his death in October, 1916. His wife also passed away on the old homestead in that township. They were the parents of six children, three of whom died in infancy. Annie is still at the home place and the mother of two children, named Roy and Ethel. The second in age is Charles F. The daughter Mary is also at home.
Charles F. Wendling acquired his education in the district schools of Champaign County and at the age of nineteen went to work on a farm, hiring out his labor for three years. He then rented a place of eighty acres, and subsequently one of 160 acres, and at his father’s death he took charge of the 180 acres comprising the fine farm in section 10 of Raymond Township. Here he followed general farming and stock raising and his work is marked by distinctive success.
February 5, 1902, Mr. Wendling married Bertha Vaden, who was born at Sidney, Illinois, daughter of William A. and Sarah Elizabeth (Hughes) Vaden. Her father was born in North Carolina and her mother in Virginia. The Vaden family came to Champaign County in 1865. Mrs. Wendling’s father is an attorney by profession and is now living at Pensacola, Florida, at the age of eighty-one. Her mother died in December, 1901. Mrs. Wendling was the youngest in a family of three children. Her sister Laura is the widow of Isaac Palmer. Her sister Mary is the wife of Thomas Peake of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Wendling have two children: Roy Vaden, born July 7, 1910; and Mary Virginia, born March 22, 1914. In his political support Mr. Wendling is a Democrat.
