HAROLD CRAIGMILE VIAL FAMILY

Harold Craigmile Vial was born February 5, 1896 in LaGrange, Illinois; he died May 4, 1962 in Hinsdale, Illinois and was buried in Lyonsville Cemetery.

Harold’s great-grandfather came to Illinois from Elmira, N.Y. in 1834 (Joseph Vial) and settled on land at the corner of Wolf and Plainfield Roads. He farmed a large tract of land in that area.

Robert Vial, Harold’s grandfather, continued farming the land until his death in 1921, at the age of 97. Although Harold grew up in LaGrange, he spent the summers on his grandfather’s farm. Frederick Ketchum Vial, Harold’s father, was a 1887 graduate of University of Illinois School of Agriculture but was never an active farmer.

Harold attended the LaGrange public schools and was a graduate of University of Illinois College of Agriculture in 1918. After serving in the Army in World War I, he came to start farming a 232-acre farm on Hobson Road just east of Route 53, and he lived there until his death in 1962. At one time his dairy herd numbered 100. The milk was shipped to Union Dairy Co. in Lisle to be sent to Chicago. During World War II he was forced to sell his dairy cattle because it was impossible to hire men to help because of the draft. Harold and his wife, Abigail Candler Vial, raised 4 children: 1 daughter Mary Vial Anda and sons Frederick, William and Charles. Frederick and William both were graduated from Purdue in agriculture. Fred still works from Pfister-Cargill as a corn geneticist. Charles was graduated from University of Illinois in Agriculture and worked on the family farm in partnership with his father raising beef cattle and hogs for 8 years.

Riding on the grain truck to Boecker’s elevator in Naperville was a big adventure as a child.

Harold was active in many organizations: he helped organize and serve on the Lisle Fire Protection District-Trustee; helped organize the Pure Milk Association; was on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Agriculture Association; worked for the Production Credit Association; was active in the DuPage County Farm Bureau and Country Casualty Company; served on the DuPage Draft Board during World War II; served as a County Board of School Trustee; member of Kiwanis; was a member of First Congregational Church of Downers Grove various boards. After retiring from active farming he was owner and manager of Timber Trails Golf Course (built on the old Vial Homestead south of Western Springs); Treasurer of the Chicagoland Golf Association.

Abigail passed away January 1961 and Harold married Corabelle Ungrodt in October of 1961.