USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement and progress for nearly a century, Volume I > Part 1
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY ILLINOIS
A TALE OF ITS EVOLUTION, SETTLEMENT AND PROGRESS FOR NEARLY A CENTURY
By LOTTIE E. JONES Author of "Decisive Dates in Illinois History "
VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO PIONEER PUBLISHING COMPANY
1911
COPYRIGHT 1911 BY LOTTIE E. JONES
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. HOW THIS SECTION BECAME KNOWN TO THE CIVILIZED WORLD.
VERMILION COUNTY HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS -BY WHAT NAMES THE COUNTRY WAS KNOWN BEFORE THIS TIME-WHERE FIND EARLY HISTORY OF ANY SECTION EAST OF THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS -COLONIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, HOLLAND, AND SPAIN, WHERE LOCATED-WHAT NATION DISCOVERED THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY-EXPLORING EXPEDITION OF JOILET AND MARQUETTE-LA SALLE DISCOVERS THE WABASH VALLEY-VER- MILION COUNTY A PART OF NEW FRANCE. 5
CHAPTER II. THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS OF WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS VERMILION COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
THE AMERICAN INDIAN-THE TWO GREAT NATIONS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER - ORIGIN OF THE IROQUOIS-THE ALGONQUINS THE FRIEND OF THE FRENCH- THE IROQUOIS THE FRIEND OF THE BRITISH-THE MIAMI CONFEDERACY-THE ILLINI NEARLY RELATED TO THE MIAMIS- THE PIANKESHAWS A TRIBE OF THE MIAMI CONFEDERACY-THE HABITS OF THE MIAMIS-THE PIANKESHAWS ALONG THE WABASH RIVER-THE KICKAPOOS-THEIR VILLAGES IN THIS SEC- TION-THE PEACE MEDAL-THE KICKAPOO TREATIES-THE POTTOWATOMIES THE LAST TO LEAVE THIS TERRITORY-THE REMOVAL OF THE POTTOWATOMIES 12 IN 1838-THE PASSING OF THE INDIAN.
CHAPTER III. PIANKESHAW.
DANVILLE WAS BUILT ON THE SITE OF THE OLD INDIAN VILLAGE OF PIANKESHAW- PIANKESHAW AN IMPORTANT INDIAN VILLAGE-CHIPPECOKE, THE CAPITAL SEAT OF THE PIANKESHAW- ORIGIN OF THE NAME OF THE VERMILION RIVER- EXTRACT FROM THE JOURNAL OF GEORGE CROGHAN-AN ENTRY IN M. GAME- LIN'S JOURNAL, LOCATING THE VILLAGE OF PIANKESHAW-POTTOWATOMIES TOLD GURDON HUBBARD ABOUT PIANKESHAW-LIFE OF THE DWELLERS IN PIAN- KESHAW-MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE RACE WHO FIRST LIVED IN DAN- VILLE-FRENCII TRADERS IN VERMILION COUNTY. 24
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER IV.
GOVERNMENT OF THIS SECTION PRIOR TO 1819.
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY ANTEDATES ITS ORGANIZATION-FIRST GOVERN- MENT, THAT OF FRANCE-THE PROVINCES OF CANADA-OF LOUISIANA: WHERE WAS THE DIVIDING LINE ?- THE SEATS OF GOVERNMENT FOR DWELLERS IN WHAT IS NOW VERMILION COUNTY-A PART OF THE BRITISH DOMAIN-THE ILLINOIS COUNTY OF VIRGINIA-SEAT OF GOVERNMENT AT KASKASKIA-THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY; SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, MARIETTE, OHIO-INDIANA TERRITORY; SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, VINCENNES-ILLINOIS TERRITORY; SEAT OF GOVERNMENT, KASKASKIA- THE COMMONWEALTH OF ILLINOIS-VERMIL- ION COUNTY A PART OF SIX DIFFERENT COUNTIES, WITH AS MANY SEATS OF 32 GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER V. EXPLORING THE VERMILION RIVER FOR SALT.
INDIAN TREATIES DETERMINE THE EXPLORATION OF THE VERMILION RIVER FOR SALT-SALT THE DEMAND OF THE EARLY I9TH CENTURY-JOSEPH BARRON'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE SALT SPRINGS ON THE VERMILION-THE NORTH ARM PRAIRIE THE NEAREST INHABITED SPOT-SUPPOSED ROUTE OF THE FIRST EXPLOR- ING PARTY-KNOWN ROUTE OF SECOND EXPLORING PARTY 36
CHAPTER VI. THE VERMILION SALINES.
SALT WAS ANXIOUSLY SOUGHT BY EARLY EXPLORERS-THE SALINES OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS-SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN WORKED BY A PREHISTORIC PEOPLE- JOSEPH BARRON, FOR MANY YEARS GOVERNOR HARRISON'S INTERPRETER, VISITED THE VERMILION SALINES IN 1801-AGAIN AT THE SAME PLACE IN 1819 WITH A PARTY TO EXPLORE IT TO AFTERWARD WORK THE SPRINGS-SECOND EXPEDI- TION TO THE SPRINGS ORGANIZED WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF BARRON-LITTLE EVIDENCE OF ANY PREVIOUS ATTEMPT TO WORK THE SPRINGS TO PROFIT- BLACKMAN TOOK LEASE IN HIS OWN NAME-DIFFERENCES AMONG CONFLICT- ING CLAIMANTS SETTLED IN 1822-JOHN W. VANCE LEASED THE SALINES IN 1824 AND WORKED THEM TO PROFIT-EVIDENCES OF EARLY USE OF SALINES .. 40
CHAPTER VII. UNITED STATES LAND SURVEYS.
PLAN OF SURVEY OF THE EXTENSIVE TERRITORIES OF THE UNITED STATES-THE "HARRISON PURCHASE"-THE LATER SURVEY 49
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER VIII.
EARLY MILITARY INVASION OF VERMILION COUNTY.
INVASION BY SPANISH TROOPS-OBJECT OF THIS MARCH ACROSS THE STATE OF ILLINOIS-EVIDENCE OF THIS COMPANY OF SOLDIERS CROSSING VERMILION COUNTY-ILLINOIS RANGERS-THE COMMAND UNDER GEN. SAMUEL HOPKINS- GEN. HOPKINS' ARMY A BAND OF UNDISCIPLINED MEN-REGIMENT, A MOB ON RETREAT-CANNON BALL FOUND IN BLUFF OF MIDDLE FORK RIVER-WHAT DOES 53 IT PROVE?
CHAPTER IX. FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT WAS MADE AT THE SALT SPRINGS-THE NEXT WERE MADE AT BUTLER'S POINT AND JOHNSON'S POINT-BROOK'S POINT-MORGAN'S-THE M'DONALD NEIGHBORHOOD-YANKEE POINT AND QUAKER POINT-THE LITTLE VERMILION-VERMILION AND ELWOOD-WALKER'S POINT-DANVILLE; WHEN SETTLED-THE LE NEVE SETTLEMENT-SETTLEMENTS ON THE MIDDLE FORK OF THE BIG VERMILION-MOTIVES FOR SETTLEMENTS-DIRECTION WHENCE SET- 57 TLERS CAME.
CHAPTER X. TRAILS AND EARLY ROADS.
ORIGIN OF THE MODERN ROAD-FIRST THE BUFFALO, THEN THE INDIAN, THEN THE PACK-HORSE- THE DANVILLE & FORT CLARK ROAD-THE OTTAWA ROAD-HUB- BARD'S TRACE. 63
CHAPTER XI. PIONEER LIFE IN VERMILION COUNTY.
FOOD- SHELTER-CLOTHING-EARLY CONDITIONS AND CUSTOMS-MEANS OF TRAVEL-SICKNESS-PROVINCIALISMS 66
CHAPTER XII.
THE ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION OF VERMILION COUNTY.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION IN ILLINOIS DATES BACK TO 1779-THE COUNTY OF ILLI- NOIS-ST. CLAIR AND RANDOLPH AS COUNTIES OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY -KNOX COUNTY-KNOX AND ST. CLAIR COUNTIES-MADISON COUNTY-ED- WARDS COUNTY-CRAWFORD COUNTY-CLARK COUNTY-EDGAR COUNTY-VER- MILION COUNTY-REDUCED TO PRESENT LIMITS-BELONGS TO SECOND CLASS- GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION ; WHEN EFFECTED- ORIGIN OF NAME OF VERMILION COUNTY. 75
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XIII.
PHYSICAL FEATURES OF VERMILION COUNTY.
TOPOGRAPHY - DRAINAGE - RELIEF - PRAIRIES - RIDGES - VALLEYS - GEOLOGY -ROCKS SELDOM APPEAR AT SURFACE-COAL-BEDS-MORAINES-VERMILION COUNTY BELONGS TO THE ILLINOIS GLACIAL LOBE-THE CHAMPAIGN MORAINES -OIL WELL DUG AT DANVILLE WATER-WORKS-WELL DUG FOR SAME PURPOSE AT DANVILLE JUNCTION-ALTITUDE-EXTREME WEATHER EXPERIENCED .. 80
CHAPTER XIV. EARLY GROWTH.
THE FIRST COMMISSIONERS' COURT AT THE RESIDENCE OF JAMES BUTLER-AMOS WILLIAMS APPOINTED CLERK-AT THE SECOND MEETING THE COUNTY WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO TOWNSHIPS-FIRST GRAND JURY-WILLIAM REED APPOINTED ASSESSOR-AT NEXT SESSION CERTAIN PROPERTY WAS TAXED-COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED TO LOCATE COUNTY SEAT-PROVISIONS OF THE ACT ESTABLISHING VERMILION COUNTY- LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT AT THE SALT WORKS- MAJOR VANCE REFUSED TO GIVE UP LEASE-NEW COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED TO LOCATE COUNTY SEAT-DENMARK DESIROUS OF ITS LOCATION THERE-GUY W. SMITH AND DAN BECKWITH GIVE LAND AT MOUTH OF NORTH FORK OF THE VER- MILION RIVER-PRESENT LOCATION SELECTED-LOTS SOLD APRIL 10, 1827-NAME OF THE NEW TOWN-FIRST PUBLIC BUILDING THE STRAY POUND-FIRST COURT HOUSE-NEW COURT HOUSE BEGUN IN 1832-NAVIGATION OF THE BIG VER- MILION RIVER-RAFTS AND FLAT-BOATS CARRIED PRODUCE DOWN THE VERMILION RIVER-CONDITION OF DANVILLE AS LATE AS 1836-DENMARK-NORTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTY-THE FERRY ACROSS THE BIG VERMILION-PRODUCE HAULED TO CHICAGO-COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS-GROWTH OF DIFFERENT SETTLEMENTS. 87
CHAPTER XV. SOME OF THE MAKERS OF VERMILION COUNTY.
SEYMOUR TREAT-DAN BECKWITH-FRANCIS WHITCOMB-1820-HENRY JOHN- SON-JAMES D. BUTLER-HENRY JOHNSON-1821-ABSOLOM STARR-JOTHAM LYONS-JOHN JORDON-WILLIAM SWANK-JOHN MYERS-HENRY CANADAY- BENJAMIN BROOKS-THOMAS O'NEAL-JOHN HAWORTH-ACHILLES MORGAN -HENRY MARTIN-1822-ROBERT COTTON-STEVEN DUKES-ASA ELLIOTT- JOHN MILI.S-ALEXANDER MCDONALD-I. R. MOORES-1823-JOHN LE NEVE- WILLIAM M'DOWELL-1824-AARON MENDENHALL-CYRUS DOUGLASS-ROBERT DICKSON-JOHN SNIDER-DR. ASA PALMER-HEZEKIAH CUNNINGHAM-ELI HENDERSON-1825-AMOS WILLIAMS-LEVI B. BABB-1826-WILLIAM WATSON -MICHAEL WEAVER-ABEL WILLIAMS-SAMUEL GILBERT AND SONS-SAMUEL BAUM-JOHN LARRANCE-WILLIAM CURRENT-ANDREW PATTERSON-SAM- UEL COPELAND-LARKIN COOK-ANDREW JUVINALL-SAMUEL SCONE-WIL- LIAM JONES-WILLIAM WRIGHT-JAMES GRAVES-JAMES BARNETT-JOHN. 4 CHANDLER-ABSOLOM COLLISON-JOSEPH SMITH-SAMUEL CAMPBELL-OTHO
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CONTENTS
ALLISON-JAMES DONOVAN-WILLIAM BANDY-JAMES SMITH-WILLIAM BLAKENEY-CHARLES S. YOUNG-CHARLES CARAWAY-LATHAM FOLGER-WIL- LIAM CUNNINGHAM-WILLIAM CURRENT-JAMES ELLIOTT-JOHN D. G. CLINE -JOHN JOHNS-JOHN COX-EPHRIM ACREE-ADAM PATE. 98
CHAPTER XVI.
INDIAN WARS AS AFFECTING THIS SECTION.
INDIANS DID NOT ANNOY EARLY SETTLERS-PASSING OF THE INDIAN TO THE NORTH AND NORTHWEST-HABITAT OF THE WINNEBAGOES-INDIGNITIES ON THE WIN- NEBAGOES BY THE WHITE MEN-THE CAUSE OF THE WINNEBAGO WAR-GURDON HUBBARD'S NARRATIVE OF THE WINNEBAGO WAR-HEZEKIAH CUNNINGHAM'S NARRATIVE OF THE WINNEBAGO WAR-THE BLACK HAWK WAR-THE POTTA- WATOMIES DID NOT CONTEMPLATE THE CAPTURE OF FORT DEARBORN IN 1832- PART TAKEN BY THE CITIZENS OF VERMILION COUNTY IN THE BLACK HAWK WAR-COLONEL PAYNE'S BLOCK HOUSE.
139
CHAPTER XVII.
THE THIRTIES IN VERMILION COUNTY.
THE PERMANENT COURT HOUSE-WILLIAM MILLIKANS' CARDING MILL BUILT- FIRST LOG MEETING HOUSE BUILT-OPENING OF A ROAD FROM FORT CLARK- NEWCOMERS TO VERMILION COUNTY IN 1830-REVIVAL IN THE INTERESTS OF MORMANISM-LAND OFFICE-CONGRESS PETITIONED TO GRANT STRIP OF LAND BETWEEN CHICAGO AND VINCENNES FOR RAILROAD-NEWCOMERS TO VER- MILION COUNTY IN 1831-PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BUILT-FIRST NEWSPAPER STARTED IN VERMILION COUNTY-GOSHEN BAPTIST CHURCH ORGANIZED-POS- TAL ROUTE ESTABLISHED FROM CHICAGO TO VINCENNES-NEWCOMERS TO VER- MILION COUNTY IN 1832-BRADY BRANCH CORNCRACKER-NEWCOMERS IN 1837-EXODUS TO WISCONSIN LEAD MINES-NEWCOMER IN 1834-CHARTER FOR C. & V. R. R .- CHARTER SECURED FOR NORTH CROSS R. R .- NEWCOMERS IN 1835-KIRKPATRICK'S MILL ON STONY CREEK-KYGER'S MILL BUILT-STATE BANK CHARTERED-NEWCOMERS IN 1836-AMOS WILLIAM'S MILL-SAWMILL -FIRST STEAM SAWMILL-R. R. GRADED THROUGH VANCE TOWNSHIP-POSTAL ROUTE FROM DANVILLE TO SPRINGFIELD VIA DECATUR-POSTAL ROUTE FROM DANVILLE TO OTTAWA-POSTAL ROUTE FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO DANVILLE- NEWCOMERS IN 1837-GRADING ROADBED FROM CHAMPAIGN COUNTY EAST- SHEPHERD'S MILL-VERMILION RAPIDS PLATTED-NEWCOMERS IN 1838-SAW- MILL NORTHWEST OF ALVAN-NEWTOWN LAID OUT-CHRISTMAN MILL-NEW- COMERS OF 1839. 148
CHAPTER XVIII. MEN AND EVENTS FROM 1840 TO 1860 IN VERMILION COUNTY.
NEW COMERS IN 1840-REV. ASHMORE'S WORK-O. L. DAVIS CAME TO VERMILION COUNTY IN 1841-HENSON VINSON-NEW COMERS IN 1842 AND 1843-JOHN L. TINCHER-DR. SAMUEL HUMPHREY-NEW COMERS IN 1844 AND 1845-
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CONTENTS
WILLIAM I. ALLEN-SAMUEL H. VREDENBURGH, M. D .- OLIVE BRANCH LODGE ORGANIZED-FIRST BRASS BAND-NEW COMERS IN 1846 AND 1847-NEW COMERS IN 1848 AND 1849- DANVILLE SEMINARY INCORPORATED IN 1850- CHAS. WOLVERTON-ODD FELLOWS' CHARTER-HIGGINSVILLE POST-OFFICE ESTABLISHED-VERMILION COUNTY AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL ASSO- CIATION-UNION SEMINARY ORGANIZED-NEW COMERS OF 1850, '51 AND '52- VERMILION COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY-THOS. HOOPES-J. G. ENGLISH- NEW COMERS IN 1853, '54 AND '55-NEW CITY CHARTER FOR DANVILLE- NEWELL HORSE COMPANY-H. M. KIMBALL-A. C. DANIEL-RAYMOND W. HAN- FORD-CHAS. W. KEESLER-JAMES KNIGHT-JOHN BEARD-A. H. KIMBROUGH, M. D .- NEW COUNTY VOTED DOWN-NEW COMERS IN 1856, '57 AND '58- FARMERS AND MECHANICS INSTITUTE-VOTE ON FORMING FORD COUNTY-NEW COMERS-JOHN SIDELL 172
CHAPTER XIX. VERMILION COUNTY DURING THE CIVIL WAR.
PUBLIC SENTIMENT IN 1860-VOLUNTEERS TO THE SERVICE-REGIMENT FORMED FROM VERMILION COUNTY MEN WHOLLY OR IN PART-WHAT THE WOMEN DID-NEWCOMERS FROM 1860 TO 1864-RIOTS IN DANVILLE DURING THIS TIME . 197
. CHAPTER XX. AFTER THE WAR
CONDITIONS FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR-NEW COMERS IN THE DECADE IMME- DIATELY AFTER THE CLOSE OF THE WAR-BUILDING OF TOWNS AND CITIES- PROGRESS IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY-DEVELOPMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 218
CHAPTER XXI.
SOME ELDER SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF VERMILION COUNTY.
JAMES O'NEAL CLAIMS TO BE FIRST WHITE CHILD OF WHITE CHILDREN-MRS. ELIZABETH (MCDONALD) HARMON, ONE OF THE FIRST WHITE CHILDREN BORN IN VERMILION COUNTY-JAMES O'NEAL, BORN IN 1822-MARY (cox) PATTERSON, BORN IN 1823-WILLIAM P. SWANK, BORN IN 1824-PERRY O'NEAL, BORN IN 1825-JAMES H. STEVENS, BORN IN 1826-D. B. DOUGLASS AND RHODA M. HESTER, BORN IN 1827-ABNER SNOW, S. P. LeNEVE AND AN- DREW GUNDY, BORN IN 1828-SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF 1829-OF 1830-OF 1831-OF 1832-OF 1833-OF 1834-OF 1835-OF 1836-OF 1837-OF 1838 -HENRY FLETCHER AND LIZZIE (LOVE) PAINTER, BORN IN 1839-SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF 1840-OF 1841-OF 1842-OF 1843-OF 1844-OF 1845-OF 1846-OF 1847-OF 1848-OF 1849 228
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXII. AGRICULTURAL INTERESTS.
CATTLE RAISING-HORSE BREEDING-SWINE-FRUIT GROWING CORN PRODUC- TION- SHEEP INDUSTRY.
.260
CHAPTER XXIII. FAMOUS FARMS.
PILOT GROVE FARM-FAIRVIEW- THE MANN FARMS-THE ALLERTON FARM . . 275
CHAPTER XXIV. EARLY MILLS AND MILLING.
FIRST CORNCRACKER MILL WAS MADE BY JAMES BUTLER IN 1823-THE GILBERT'S MILL, BUILT IN 1828 AT DANVILLE-MILL ON THE SALT FORK, 1826-SHEP- HERD'S MILL-BRAZELTTON'S MILL-WHITSILL'S AND HOWARD'S MILLS ON THE MIDDLE FORK-THE HIGGINSVILLE MILL-KIRKPATRICK'S MILL-THE OLD KYGER MILL-AMOS WILLIAM'S MILL-THE HALE-GALUSHU SAWMILL-STEAM SAWMILL AT DANVILLE-THE WRIGHT-COOK FORD SAWMILL-THE HAWORTH MILL-THE MENELY MILL-THE MYERSVILLE MILL-THE MILL AT ALVIN- THE JAMES GEORGE MILL AT MIDDLE FORK-THE JENKIN'S MILL ON THE VERMILION- THE OLD WOOLEN MILL-THE STEAM MILL AT GEORGETOWN BUILT IN 1850-THE AMBER MILL-DOUGHERTY MILL AT FAIRMOUNT-THE WOOD'S MILL ON THE NORTH FORK-THE LUSTRO MILL AT DANVILLE- THE DANVILLE MILL-THE GARLAND STEAM STONE SAWMILL. 284
CHAPTER XXV.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS . . . . 297 .
CHAPTER XXVI. EARLY MERCHANTS.
INDIAN TRADERS-FIRST MERCHANTS-GURDON S. HUBBARD-BECKWITH & CLYMAN -FIRST MERCHANTS IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE COUNTY. .. .300
CHAPTER XXVII.
FIRST BANKS AND BANKING INTERESTS
305
CHAPTER XXVIII.
BUILDING ASSOCIATIONS
.307
CHAPTER XXIX.
THE PROFESSION OF MEDICINE IN VERMILION COUNTY. . ... 309
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXX.
THE BENCH AND BAR-THE FEDERAL COURT . . 315
CHAPTER XXXI. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION
FIRST SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY-HIRAM TINCNOR'S SCHOOL-SCHOOL IN NEWELL TOWNSHIP-HOW A SCHOOL WAS ESTABLISHED-ELISHA HOBBS-VERMILION SEMINARY-ONE OF THE FIRST SCHOOLS IN DANVILLE-THE DANVILLE ACADEMY -THE GEORGETOWN SEMINARY-THE DANVILLE SEMINARY-THE UNION SEMI- NARY- SEMINARIES GIVE PLACE TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL-SCHOOLS IN OAK- WOOD TOWNSHIP-SCHOOLS IN PILOT TOWNSHIP-SCHOOL AT DENMARK- THE LAMB SCHOOL-THE CUNNINGHAM SCHOOL-EARLY SCHOOLS IN DANVILLE- AMOS WILLIAMS BUILDS A SCHOOL HOUSE-JAMES DAVIS-MRS. CROMWELL- THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN VERMILION COUNTY-PRIVATE SCHOOLS. 326
CHAPTER XXXII. THE DANVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
DATE OF ORGANIZATION-OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS-THE CULBERTSON LIBRARY- REV. JAMES W. COE, FIRST LIBRARIAN-LOCATIONS-BUILDING- CIRCULATION-CLASSIFIED CONTENTS IN 1910. 338
CHAPTER XXXIII. CHURCHES AND MINISTERS OF VERMILION COUNTY.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-THE UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH-THE METHODIST CHURCH-THE BAPTIST CHURCH-THE CHURCH OF CHRIST-THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH-THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH-THE UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH-THE GERMAN UNITED BRETHERN -THE GERMAN LUTHERAN-THE GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH- THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH- THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS-THE OTHER CHURCHES-THE MORMONS-THE CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS. 342
CHAPTER XXXIV.
THE VERMILION COUNTY PRESS. . .359
CHAPTER XXXV.
TRANSPORTATION IN VERMILION COUNTY
.36
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE POSTOFFICE IN DANVILLE 367
CHAPTER XXXVII.
THE NATIONAL HOME FOR DISABLED VOLUNTEER SOLDIERS. 369
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
THE G. A. R. .... .371
CHAPTER XXXIX.
THE WOMAN'S CLUBS IN DANVILLE 372
CHAPTER XL.
THE D. A. R. 374
CHAPTER XLI.
COAL AND COAL MINES
..... .375
CHAPTER XLII.
ABANDONED TOWNS OF VERMILION COUNTY 378
CHAPTER XLIII. A FEW OLD BURYING GROUNDS.
THE MT. PISGAH BURYING GROUND-THE DALBEY BURYING GROUND-THE VER- MILION GROVE BURYING GROUND-THE GUNDY BURYING GROUND. .. 382
CHAPTER XLIV. HEROES AND DISTINGUISHED PEOPLE.
J. G. CANNON-W. J. CALHOUN-J. W. WILKIN-MRS. MARY HARTWELL CATHER- WOOD-HIRAM W. BECKWITH-GURDON HUBBARD- SAMUEL M'ROBERTS-REV. JAMES ASHMORE-HARVEY SOWDOWSKY-RT. REV. VICAR GENERAL O'REILLY- COL. O. F. HARMON-J. C. DAVIS-MICHAEL KELLEY. 389
CHAPTER XLV. TOWNSHIPS OF VERMILION COUNTY.
FIRST DIVISION OF THE COUNTY-PRECINCTS UNDER COMMISSIONERS' SYSTEM- TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION-CHANGES IN BOUNDARIES-DANVILLE TOWNSHIP- GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP-ELWOOD TOWNSHIP-CARROLL TOWNSHIP-VANCE TOWNSHIP-MIDDLEFORK TOWNSHIP-PILOT TOWNSHIP-ROSS TOWNSHIP- NEWELL TOWNSHIP-BLOUNT TOWNSHIP-CATLIN TOWNSHIP-GRANT TOWN- SHIP-BUTLER TOWNSHIP-OAKWOOD TOWNSHIP-SIDELL TOWNSHIP-JA- MAICA TOWNSHIP-LOVE TOWNSHIP 392
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
CHAPTER I.
HOW THIS SECTION BECAME KNOWN TO THE CIVILIZED WORLD.
VERMILION COUNTY HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE LESS THAN ONE HUNDRED YEARS -BY WHAT NAMES THE COUNTRY WAS KNOWN BEFORE THIS TIME-WHERE FIND EARLY HISTORY OF ANY SECTION EAST OF THE ALLEGHANY MOUNTAINS -COLONIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, HOLLAND, AND SPAIN, WHERE LOCATED-WHAT NATION DISCOVERED THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY-EXPLORING EXPEDITION OF JOILET AND MARQUETTE-LA SALLE DISCOVERS THE WABASH VALLEY-VER- MILION COUNTY A PART OF NEW FRANCE.
Vermilion County, as such, has been known less than a hundred years.
The territory now known as Vermilion County had been recognized by the civilized world as a part of variously named lands for a century and a half pre- vious to its organization as a county of the great state of Illinois.
First it was as a part of the "Country of the Illini," or maybe the "Valley of the Oubache ;" then, successively as the "Illinois Country," "New France," the "British Domain," the "Illinois County of Virginia," "the Northwest Territory," the "Indiana Territory," the "Illinois Territory" and at last, as a county of the state of Illinois.
Each name involves a different story, and although permanent occupation by the white man did not begin until after it became a part of the state of Illinois, yet the beginning of the history of Vermilion County, must be sought in the beginning of the history of the territory of which it is a part.
The account of the beginning of any section of the United States, east of the Alleghany Mountains is sought in the founding of Jamestown, the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, the discovery of the great river by Henry Hudson, or, it may be, the building of old St. Augustine.
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6
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
A study of the lives and service of John Winthrop, William Bradford, Capt. John Smith, Jacob Eelkin, and William Penn, becomes imperative that necessary sidelights be thrown upon the picture of any locality along the Atlantic coast. (And behind these lives, the influence of their old homes, whence they had emigrated, lies strong, so that their story must include the tale of Great Britain, Holland, and even Spain in the seventeenth century. Such is not, however, the necessity in investigating the beginnings of the history of any section in the Mississippi valley. Early explorations and settlements did not come from the nations which colonized the eastern coast. It was a century after the Mississippi was known to the white man before Great Britain, Holland, or Spain knew much of its fertile valley. A different nation than any of these discovered, explored, and, in a way, colonized this section, and claimed it for its own.
When Columbus discovered the new world, in the last decade of the fifteenth century, the pope decreed that Spain should have possession as far as forty degrees north latitude. Now Columbus did not discover the mainland of the continent ; that honor was left to the Englishman, John Cabot, a few years later. Consequently, Great Britain claimed the western continent. The king of Great Britain, being a Protestant, ignored the claim made by Spain because of the authority of the pope, and made a grant of land in America to the London company, which included six degrees already accorded the other nation by papal decree.
All grants of land in America made, stated that the territory included between the two oceans was given, yet neither the king who made them nor the men who received them, had correct ideas of the extent of the territory. The Alleghany mountains presented a barrier which time and exploration alone could level and show the extent of country beyond. Great Britain busied herself building homes and establishing institutions in New England and Virginia; Holland contented herself with the strip of country along the Hudson river, for a century and more, unconscious of the possibilities of the country beyond the mountains; Spain had been active in exploring the new world, but her object being the acquisition of wealth, of itself, defeated any permanent possession of the land.
During the sixteenth century Spain discovered, conquered, and might have to some extent colonized, a large portion of inland America. Indeed, she laid claim to the vast domain from Colorado to Buenos Ayres, extending from sea to sea. Her insatiate search for gold made her push to the north and northwest, leaving fertile plains for the Rocky mountains which might hold the coveted treasure. This was the direction of colonization of America by three of the great powers of Europe, in the early part of the seventeenth century: Great Britain on a strip along the Atlantic coast, Holland along the Hudson river, and Spain in South America, Mexico, New Mexico, and toward the Pacific coast.
France was a powerful nation of Europe at that time. She was neither disinterested nor idle in her explorations of the New World. Catholic France recognized the claim of Spain because of the decree of the pope, to forty degrees north latitude, and so directed her explorations north of that limit. Thus France discovered and profited by the valuable fisheries and fur trade of the north. In 1534 Jacques Cartier discovered the St. Lawrence river. This gave France a valid claim to it. Early in the next century, Samuel de Champlain
7
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
established New France there, by building Quebec. Two motives combined to further the extension of New France; one was the wealth in the fur trade and the other, the religious zeal of the Frenchman and his love for his church. The common spirit of the times was a love of adventure. This spirit took the hardy Frenchman further and further into the wilderness, even to the region of the Great Lakes. Wherever the explorer and trader went, he was accompanied by the priest, so that by a little after the middle of the seventeenth century, missions were established as far west as Lake Superior.
In about 1634, Jean Nicolet was sent upon an embassy from Quebec to the Winnebago Indians near the heart of Green Bay, to secure their trade. Thirty- seven years later, Sieur de St. Lusson Jean Talon, the Intendent of New France, through his deputy, formally took possession in the name of the king of France, of "Sainte Marie du Sault, as also Lakes Huron and Superior, the Manitoulin Islands, and all the countries, lakes, rivers and streams contiguous or adjacent thereto." In this way New France extended westward and as a matter of course it fell to France to discover and explore the Mississippi river ; that great, as yet, unknown waterway which ran through the heart of the continent, and at the same time to find the promising country of the Illini.
Although some knowledge, more or less vague, of the great river came to the missionaries and traders who had penetrated the wilderness, there was little definite information concerning it until, in a letter which he wrote to his superior while in charge of the mission at Chequamegon Bay in 1668, Father James Marquette made mention of it. This letter was written from the mission called La Point du Esprit, or Mission of the Holy Ghost, and is preserved in the Jesuit Relations for 1669 and 1670, and reads in part as follows: "When the Illini came to the Point (meaning to Chequamegon Bay where these Indians came to trade) they passed a great river which is almost a league in width. It flows from north to south and is so great a distance that this tribe, who know little of the use of the canoe, have never as yet, heard of its mouth. * "It is hardly probable that this great river discharges itself in Virginia. We are more inclined to believe that it has its mouth in California." The report of a great waterway, as yet unknown to the civilized world, came at a time when the idea of a direct and quick route to the Indies had not been abandoned. That this unknown waterway might be the coveted connection with the far East, was probably the great incentive to the exploration of the Mississippi river at this time. The government at Paris and at Quebec decided that the exploration should be delayed no longer. To this end, Sieur Louis Joliet was commissioned to go upon this expedition and Father Dablon appointed Father Jacques Marquette, the zealous priest at the Mission of the Holy Ghost, to accompany him. It was not a large expedition so far as numbers constitute size, which was sent. Two canoes were manned, each with an Indian oarsman and taking an Indian guide, these two Frenchmen set out to explore the unknown river. Courage and zeal were needed for this undertaking, and the two men chosen were indeed brave and zealous.
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