Travis - Charles M.
Source: Crawfordsville Review 19 Dec 1913 p 7
Word received announcing the death of Charles M. Travis in a hospital at Danville, Ill came as a shock to his many friends in this city as it was not known that he was in declining health. The body will be brought to the city this afternoon and funeral services will be held at the first ME Church at 2 p.m. The interment will be in Oak Hill Cemetery. Major CM Travis was at one time one of the best known men in Western Indiana. He was for many years actively identified in politics and being an active worker in the GAR, he attained much prominence. Major Travis was a veteran of two wars. At an early age he enlisted in Co E 12th Ill Infantry and served three years in that service. At the end of the war he studied law in this city and was a partner for a time with General Lew Wallace and later with Hon MD White. Retiring from active practice, he opened a pension agency in this city, one of the leading agencies from obtaining pensions for veterans in the west. In this work he was for a time associated with CW Brown. At the outbreaking of the war with Spain, Major Travis offered his services to President McKinley and was appointed major in one of the immune regiments then forming. Completing this service, Mr. Travis returned to this city and again resumed his work in the pension agency he had established. Mr. Travis was prominent in GAR circles having served the order as state president. His wife, Mary D. Travis was also prominent in veteran circles and served as state commander of the Woman’s Relief Corps. About 10 years ago Mr. Travis sold out his local business and went to Chicago to take a prominent position with an insurance company. He made rapid advancement in this work but his health would not permit his active engagements and he retired a short time ago. His friends in this city however had not been informed of his late illness and the news came as a dampening effect to the Christmas cheer. CM Travis was a big man, physically and mentally, he made himself felt in any of the walks of life. His death will be mourned by many sincere friends.