1504
CHARLES EDWARD MAYNARD.
A man of broad ideas and wide vision, Charles Edward Maynard, former editor, part owner and business manager of the Greenville Sun, is one of the most intelligent news.paper men of Southern Illinois. He was born in Greenville, Illinois, May 10, 1884, a son of Alfred Maynard, and is of good old New England stock.
Born in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, Franklin county, Alfred Maynard was there brought up and educated. At the age of twenty years he made his way westward to Greenville, and soon found employment in the general store of W. S. Dann. A few years later, on the death of Mr. Dann, the business was reorganized as the F. P. Joy Company, and he has since been an active member of the firm, at the present time having charge of the shoe department. Mr. Maynard is a man of much force of character and is prominent in church and Sunday-school work. He was formerly a member of the Congregational church, and when that church united with the Presbyterian church under the name of the latter, he became a leading member of the Presbyterian church. In 1882 he married Mary Elizabeth Butler, a daughter of Elijah and Nancy Butler, the latter of whom died in March, 1911. Mr. Butler was a photographer in Effingham, Illinois, until 1904, when he retired from active business pursuits. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Maynard, as follows: Hattie N., who owned a half interest in the Greenville Sun; Charles Edward, of whom this brief sketch is chiefly written; J. Louise; Grace E.; and Ina A. In his political affiliations the father is a strong Prohibitionist, and fraternally he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
Educated in Greenville, Charles E. Maynard was graduated from the high school with the class of 1902, and subsequently continued his studies for a year at Greenville College. In February, 1905, having a genuine taste for journalism, he became connected with the Sun as a reporter, and he found newspaper work so congenial that in November, 1905, with Mr. F. H. Floyd, he purchased the paper from its owner, Mr. W. C. Wright. In the fall of 1909 Mr. Floyd sold his interest in the paper to Miss Hattie N. Maynard, a sister of Mr. Maynard, and the two have been conducting it most successfully. The Sun, a Democratic organ, with a decided inclination towards independence in thought and expressed opinions, has been a semi-weekly since 1905, and under the vigorous direction of Mr. Maynard came rapidly to the front, becoming one of the leading and progressive journals of Southern Illinois, noted for its fearlessness in attacking machine politics, and in its agitation of pure and clean municipal elections, as well as its progressive attitude in regard to city affairs. The plant was thoroughly equipped for job and advertising work, being modern in its improvements. Six men were employed in the printing department, four in the office, and in addition a large corps of county correspondents and city carriers were found on its pay roll. The paper had a wide circulation in the county, and was in every way in a flourishing and thriving condition when Mr. Maynard disposed of the plant early in 1912. Mr. Maynard is a Democrat and a member of the Maccabees.
On August 30, 1911, Mr. Maynard was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Pearl Jones, of Robinson, Illinois, a young lady of talent and culture, who for a year prior to her marriage was a student in the music department of Greenville College.