USA > Illinois > Champaign County > Early history and pioneers of Champaign County : illustrated by one hundred and fifteen superb engravings by Melville : containing biographical sketches of the early settlers, the early history of the county obtained from the most reliable sources and many graphic scenes and incidents from the bright and shady sides of pioneer life > Part 24
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ANDREW J. ROCK,
Is a son of one of the first settlers of Champaign county. He was the fourth child of William and Nancy (Beavers) Rock, who were natives of Maryland. They removed to Indiana in 1831 and came to Sadorus town- ship in 1835, where William Rock took up a claim of forty acres which is now owned by A. J. Rock. Here the first family house was built which was constructed of poles. In after years a brick house was built which is still standing. Young Andrew took several teams to Chicago and hauled the lumber, shingles, nails, ete., with which to build the house. The brick in the same was made by Asa Gere. assisted by H. M. Russell and others. of Urbana.
The subject of our sketch worked
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on his father's farm until nine- teen years of age when he left home to look around a little. He returned in 1852 and was married to Miss Mercy Peabody. They went to housekeeping in a house they built 011 ninety acres of land. In 1859 Andrew J. sold this property to his father and purchased 200 acres of land in Jasper county. Missouri. This land being wild he rented land in the vicinity but was driven out by the rebels. He shook the dust from his feet and in August, 1861. moved to Fort Scott. Kansas, where he left his family and enlisted in the 6th Kansas Cavalry During the war he served as a scout through Kansas and rendered invaluable service to the Union cause. His term of enlistment expiring in 1864. he was mustered out and returned to his family which had been made desolate by the death of his wife. October 6th. 1861.
Two children, Franklin and Nancy. were the result of this marriage. Franklin operates an extensive ranch near Leadville, Colorado, while Nancy is happily married to John Mattox, a farmer of Sadorus township. Mr. Rock was again united in marriage to Mrs. Martha (Merrick) Quick. daughter of Charles and Lucinda Merrick, of New York state. Mr. Rock and his family returned to his old home in this county where he spent the winter of 1864 and the following fall built a handsome brick residence opposite the home of his father and where he now resides. He went to Kansas again in 1867 and purchased a quarter section of land and engaged in stock raising for six years. In 1869 his wife died. leaving two daughters. Harriet and Ida. Harriet is now the wife of Orny Flat. a farmer of Sadorus township. Ida being at home. Mr. Rock was again married August 15. 1870, to Miss Elizabeth Burkhart, of Kansas. They resided there until 1874 and then returned to his present home in Hlin- vis.
His wife died in 1879, leaving Bertie, John H., Lulu and Maude all at home. Mr. Rock was married again in the fall of 1883 to Miss Elizabeth Griffin, daughter of Rov. and Mrs. Nathan Grillin. She was born in La Fayette county, Missouri. in 1818. His wife is a prominent
member of the Baptist church of Sadorus and an energetic worker. Mr. Rock having been a resident for over fifty-six years has a wide ac- quaintance and is considered one of the solid citizens and farmers of that part of the county. In polities he is a democrat. what is known as a war democrat. He is a fair man. a good husband and father, and wields a large influence for good in the com- munity where he has so long resided. He has near five hundred acres of well-improved land on which he ro- sides and he very pleasantly employs his time in looking after his farming interests and enjoying the comforts of his home, which is one of the happiest and pleasantest in the county.
LINDSEY C'ORBLEY.
Is one of the prominent oll settlers. large land owners and farmers of North Champaign county. He was born in Green county. Pennsylvania. His parents were William and Rebec- ea (Stephens) Corblev, both of Green county. Pennsylvania. The father died in 1875 and the mother in 1855. The subject of this sketch came to this county in February. 1853. and settled in Kerr township. The county at that time was wild and unbroken. seemingly too much of a wilderness to over be cultivated and too Far from market. Mr. Corbley is a man of nerve and plenty of grit and nothing
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
daunted. he set forward with the work, purchased a large tract of land. and in a few years made a great change. Other families moved in, the township was gradually settled and it is now considered the finest farming and stock raising township in the State. Rolling prairie, flowing wells and productive soil are some of the important features. Mr. Corbley was married at Danville, February 24, 1856, to Sarah Wood, who died in 1866. He was married again in 1868 to Mary A. School, of Meadville, Pennsylvania. The following children have been born to them, viz : Henry L., a farmer of Harwood township ; W. Sherman, who resides in Button township, Ford county : James L., residing in Kerr township ; Freddie M., Laura F. and Evaline, at home. Mr. Corbley has been an active member of the Metho- dist church from early youth and has done much to forward the cause of re- ligion in his part of the county. In polities he is a straight republican and has been from the formation of the party. He represented Kerr township on the board of supervisors for eleven vears and through his influence much was done towards making roads, bridges and in opening up the town- ship. He has given the matter of farming and stock raising his per- sonal attention and has been quite successful. He now has about 1600 aeres of improved land in Champaign and Ford counties. He has a hand- some residence in Paxton, where he makes his home. He is proud of his family and is giving his children ev- ery advantage of education. He is a matter of fact man. has amassed his fortune by hard work and close atten- tion to business. He has many friends throughout this part of the state and is enjoying the reward of an active life and a consciousness of having con- tributed in a large measure to the well being and prosperity of the north part of the county.
JOIN COLVIN.
Was born in Hilltown, county Downe, Ireland, December 24, 1824. His par- ents were Robert and Martha (Me- Clune) Colvin. They came to this country in 1842, from Ireland, and set- tled near Lexington, Scott county, Indiana. The mother died there. The father accompanied the subject of this sketch to Champaign county in April. 1866, and settled on a farm near Tolono. Mr. Colvin received a good common school education in the Hill- town school in Ireland. He was mar- ried at Lexington, Scott county, In- diana, in 1847, to Catharine Gobin She died, and was married the second time at the same place to Jane Laugh- ran in 1862, who still lives. There were eight children born by the first marriage, three died in infancy and five are still living. Martha A., the oldest daughter, married Cap. E. A. Gardin and resides in St. Paul, Minn. May J., second daughter, married B. B. Salsbury and resides in St. Paul. John Mc., the oldest son, resides in St. Paul. Thomas J., second son, ro- sides in Urbana. Edward. youngest son by first marriage, resides in St. Paul. There were seven children born by the second marriage, four boys and three girls. Two boys and one girl died in infancy. Clyde, the oldest son, is married and resides in Urbana. Court, the youngest son, is living at home. Ella E .. oldest girl.
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married Wm. Neu and resides in Phil- lipsburgh, Montana. Gay, the young- ost girl. is living at home. Mr. Colvin was elected treasurer of Scott county in 1860, and in 1862 was re-elected. serving four years, the constitutional term. He came to Tolono township in 1866 and in 1869 was elected super- visor of that township and served seven years consecutively. He was elected and served as town assessor three years. Was elected and served eight years as justice of the peace. Was elected and served as police magistrate of Tolono three years. Was elected and served as school trustee of Tolono township three years and was appointed post-master of To- lono during President Cleveland's ad- ministration and made one of the best postmasters Tolono ever had. He also served, by appointment. fifteen months as village marshal of Tolono. In 1889 was elected president of the board of trustees of the village of To- lono. In 1891 he was re-elected and is now the president of the board of trustees of the village. In 1891 he was elected as supervisor of Tolono township to serve for two years. Mr. Colvin has had a busy life. He is a man of more than ordinary ability and has the confidence of the entire comunity as is shown by his frequent selection by the people to fill im- portant offices all of which he fills in a conscientious manner and with satisfaction to everyone. He is and always has been a strong democrat yet he has the confidence of the mem- bers of all parties. Although advanced in years and in poor health there are few men who do more business than he. He is a firm friend and upright citizen and is honored and respected by all who know him.
PAUL W. WOODY.
Was born in Winchester, Randolph county, Indiana. August 30, 1852. His father, Dr. Robert Woody. was a na- tive of North Carolina. His mother was Caroline Way, a sister of Wm. Way. of Champaign, a native of Ran- dolph county, Indiana. Both father and mother were of Quaker parentage. The father died at Eaton, Ohio. in 1871: the mother in 1854. Paul W., at the age of nine years, came to Champaign and made his home with William Way. He attended the University of Illinois and was a member of the first class. viz: 172. He was then 16 years old. In September. 1874, he wasnnited in mar- riage to Miss Margarette W. Schweizer, only daughter of John F. Schweizer. of Champaign. Three children have been born to them, viz: Way, aged 16, attending school : Jamie E., aged 14, and Paul W .. aged 10. They are very proud of their children and have just canse to be as they are unusually bright and promising. In 1872 Mr. Woody commenced to clerk for .I. F. Schwei- zer and was admitted as partner in the extensive clothing and merchant tail- oring business in 1876. He has proven to be an excellent business man, doing much to bring the business up to its present high position. He has always been prominent in public matters and has satisfactorily filled the office of treasurer of the city of Champaign for four terms. Wasalderman of the third ward one term and wa- elected mayor of Champaign by a handsome vote. fill- ing the office with credit to himself and all concerned. Politically he was born a republican and has been active
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in matters connected with his party ever since his majority.
In 1890 he was nominated by the re- publican party for county treasurer and was elected by a large majority, and is now filling that responsible position in a manner very satisfactory to the people. Few men in the county have a wider acquaintance. Whether occupying the position of alderman. mavor, or attending the responsible position of county treasurer, he is the same plain Paul Woody. a friend of everyone. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the or- der ot Knights of Pythias. His pleas- ing address and obliging disposition make him a favorite with all who make his acquaintance.
JOHN F. SCHWEIZER.
Was born in Obersichumnngan. O. Stutt- gard, Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, March 14. 1827. His parents. Jacob and Margaret Schweizer, were natives of that country. There were eighteen children born to them, four- teen boys and four girls. The father died in 1865. Two of the children, the subject of this sketch and his brother, George G., who is a resident of Phila- delphia. came to America. John F. worked at home in his father's hotel until 21. He left home March 4, 1848. and arrived in this country June first. following. Ho worked on a farm in New Jersey for two months. after- wards wont to Philadelphia, He went from there to Cincinnati where he ob- tained a situation in the wholesale clothing house of Mack Brothers and
remained there until 1856, after which he engaged in the dry goods and no- tion business on his own account until May 24, 1857, when he came to Ur- bana and opened a clothing house. He won the confidence of the people and was quite successful in his busi- ness. In 1882 he removed his store to Champaign, where he is still engaged in business. In October, 1855, at Cin- cinnati, he was married to Ann Bar- bara Herbstreit, a native of Germany. Two children were born to them, viz : Margarette W., who married Paul W. Woody, the present county treasurer, and a member of the firm of Schweizer & Woody, Champaign. and William F., who is a tobacconist in Cham- paign, also married. Mrs. Schweizer died in Champaign July 1. 1878, at the age of 43 years. She was a mem- ber of the Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Schweizer is and always has been a sound republi- can. He cast his first vote for John (. Fremont in 1856. He has been eminently successful in business, ow- ing to strict attention and fair deal- ing. His stock and buildings were twice destroyed by fire, but each time he redoubled his efforts and regained his foothold. He admitted his son-in- law, Paul W. Woody, as a partner in 1876, which has proven to be a wise step. In 1868 the business was en- larged and merchant tailoring added. In 1890, a handsome business build- ing was erected by the firm and the largest plate glass front in the county put in. The building is a model clothing house and one of the finest in Central Illinois. The firm carry one of the largest stocks of goods outside of Chicago and do a corresponding large business. Although born in a foreign land, no one thinks more of his adopted country than he. He is especially proud of his palatial store- room, which is a justifiable weakness.
Mr. Schweizer seems to be in the prime of life and as active and ener- getie in his business as when he came to this county in 1856. He is a firm friend, sociable, just and cor- reet in all his dealings. No business man stands higher in the community than he, and no one in the county has more friends. With plenty of this world's goods, a good reputation and a growing business, he is enjoying life and laying up for his children.
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
JOHN DALLENBACH.
One of the solid German citizens of Champaign and one of the best known old settlers in the county is the sub- ject of this sketch. He was born in Berne, Switzerland, February 7, 1820. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Hausy) Dallenbach, both natives of Switzerland. In 1838 the subject of this sketch came to this country and settled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He received his education in Berne. Switzerland, which well fitted him for the battles of life. He was united in marriage March 7, 1848, at Pittsburg, to Miss Rosana C. Agler, who is still living. Eight children have been born to them. viz : Lizzie. now Mrs. Wil- liam Will, residing at 325 E. 43rd St., Chicago : Mary, now Mrs. Adam Imnig, of Sheboygan, Wis .: John and Wil- liam, now residing in Champaign ; Samuel, residing at 6320 Evans Ave., Chicago ; George and Fred, residing in Champaign. and Emma, youngest daughter, at No. 78 N. Ada street, Chicago. In 1857 Mr. Dallenbach came to Champaign, which was then in its infancy. He bought a farin and tried that at first, but soon becoming discouraged, he removed to town and opened a meat market Ho and his estimable wife were economical and determined to win, so they occupied a room. 14×26. in the front of which was located the meat shop and the back part served as parlor. kitchen, sleeping
and dining room. Here they lived, attended to their business, owing no man anything that they did not pay promptly, and it was not long until John Dallenbach was recognized as one of the solid men in many respects of the thriving young town of Cham- paign. Honesty and right was char- acteristic of Mr. Dallenbach. and it was with sincere regret that the peo- ple of Champaign learned that he in- tended retiring from a business he had honored and by which he had amassed a goodly portion of this world's goods. The weight of years however, and a (lesire to give his boys a chance, de- cided him to retire from business, which he did in 1877. He is liberal and publie spirited and freely con- tributed to the building of almost ey- ery church building in Champaign and vicinity and no worthy object was presented to him without receiving a contribution. His family is the pride of his heart. His children are all in- dustrious and economical and are among the best citizens and business men. He is a firm republican, also a member of the Masonic order. He is now advanced in years, takes life easy and no one. walking the streets, has more friends or is more respected than John Dallenbach.
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HENRY MORTIMER RUSSELL,
Was born in Pembroke, Geneseo eoun- ty, New York. November 18, 1826. His parents were Nathaniel Russell, whois still living. and Hannah (Gere) Rus- sell, who died in Clark county, Ill. When a lad of 13, his family and he came from New York to Walnut Pra- rie, Clark county, Ill., by wagon. Henry came to Champaign county, July 27, 1847, and stopped three miles south of Sadorns and worked at brick- making during the summer and on October 6, 1847, only a few weeks be- fore becoming of age, removed to Ur- bana where he has resided ever since. He received a good common school education in Clark county, Illinois. He taught school the winter of 1847-8, and in July, 1848, engaged with the Western Stage Co. and remained with them until staging ceased in this part of the country. He then went into the grocery and provision business with A. O. Clapp and Thomas J. Price. He first bought one out and then the other and continued in that business until 1860. He also started the first bakery in Urbana in connection with his other business. He was married to Miss Anna Waters, who still lives, and three children have been born to them. The two oldest, both girls, died in infancy. Charles M., the third child. is married and resides at Fort Wayne, Ind. Mr. Russell did not enter the army as an enlisted man, but was with the army most of the time during the war. He went from here with the 25th Illinois
Infantry. August 3. 1864. He was in the secret service of the government most of the time until the close of the war and in fact until the fall of 1865.
At. Donelson he took a hand in the light and helped to silence a battery, taking the place of a soldier who was unable to go in on that day. He was in the militia at. Memphis and also at Natchez for a time. He was chef of the military and detective police in the Natchez district during the year 1864, which was at that time a very impor- tant position. He has never aspired to office. but served his ward as alderman for about 14 years and we state . hat we know to be true, when we say he was one of the most efficient aldermen the city has ever had. He was a U. S. storekeeper from 1871 to 1874. He then established a real-estate and in- surance offire which he has carried on ever since successfully. Later he added the business of pension attorney. In all three of the branches of his business he is careful, methodical and reliable. His systematic method of doing busi- ness makes him a peculiarly safe man to entrust with either insurance, real- estate or pension claims. Mr. Russell has been an unswerving republican ever since that party was formed. and has frequently held important places upon its committees and has always been among its wise counselors and hard workers. His religious views are broad and liberal, which led him to unite with the Universalist church. He was long the superintendent of its Sabbath school and has been among its most substantial and conscientious supporters. The HERALD hopes that he and his estimable life companion may live many years to enjoy the com- petency he has accumulated by a life of temperance. economy and untiring industry.
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HISTORY OF THE SADORUS SETTLEMENT.
BY J. O. CUNNINGHAM.
The four townships of Sadorus. Pe- sotum, Colfax and Tolono, as now organized, embrace the scene of the second oldest settlement of this coun- ty, formerly known as "Sadorus Grove," from the name of the first permanent white family which made its hospitable shelter and fat lands their home.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS.
The territory of which we are to speak is a section of the valley of the Okaw river, which takes its rise but a few miles away. runs southwestward- ly one hundred and twenty miles, measured in a direct line, though mnuch farther by following the mean- derings of the stream, and after wash- ing the shores of the ancient Kas- kaskia, the first permanent seat of civilization in Illinois, empties into the Mississippi river. The land for some miles each side of the stream slopes gently to it, so as to afford natural drainage, and is as fertile as ever was the famed valley of the Nile. If the theory of geologists concern- ing the presence in this latitude of the glacier in pre-historie periods be true, then the Okaw valley entertained one of those chilly monsters if indeed it does not owe its origin to a furrow ploughed by one, for along the mar- gin of the stream and throughout its entire valley, are or were in early times numerous boulders of granite. gneiss and limestone, dropped by these visi- tants or surrendered by them when they went out of business. In no part of this county are these stranger rocks so plentiful as in the vicinity of this stream. One of these rocks lying a short distance southwest of the vil- lage, near Wm. Sadorus' sugar camp, measures seven stops around at the ground and five feet above the ground. How far the monster extends below the surface of the ground has never been ascertained. It must weigh many tons and challenges our admi- ration for the mighty force which bore it from its native ledge in the far away north and finally dropped it here at our doors and for our admiration.
FIRST VISITORS.
Who first saw these lovely and fer- tile plains? This question finds its answer only in conjecture. The mound builder, he of whom no one knows anything save that he was a mighty worker, has left monuments of his industry upon the Sangamon not far away, and doubtless looked upon this valley. The wild Indian. who was everything but a worker, was found an inhabitant of Illinois by John Nicholet, in 1634 and by Joliet and LaSalle, later visitants. But who of our race, for whom the Almighty seems to have fashioned this goodly heritage, first looked upon its gentle beauty and perhaps mentally measured its capabilities to meet the wants of man? Doubtless white trap- pers as captives ranged through this country, but not with thoughts of sub- duing and appropriating it. The first whites to look upon this valley, of whom we know anything, were a party of United States surveyors, under Richard T. Holliday, who in 1822 sur- veyed the four townships named. into sections and marked their corners. Three years before this, in 1819, by a treaty between the United States and the Kickapoo Indians, the title to the lands passed to our government, and were now ready for occupancy under the pre-emption laws though not in the market for entry.
FIRST PERMANENT SETTLEMENT.
We now come to the part of our narrative most important to us and of interest to those who may come after ns. for whose use largely all our re- searches are made. The history of the Sadorus family is so nearly the history of the towns of which we write and of the period about which we write, that the history of one tells the story of all.
Henry Sadorus, formerly known as "Grandpap" Sadorus, was born in Bedford county, Penn., July 26, 1783. four years before the adoption of the federal constitution. The spring of 1817 found him living, with his little family, of whom our follow citizen William Sadorus, then about five years old, having been born July 4, 1812. was the oldest. on Oil Creek. Crawford county. Pa. The "western fever." which has prevailed among Americans since the landing of the Pilgrims, at- tacked him and from the native tim-
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bers of that region he constructed a raft or flatboat, upon which he loaded his worldly goods and his family for a long journey westward. The flat- boat was built on the waters of Oil Creek, and down it the adventurers set forth in pursuit of a home in the west, they knew not where. Follow- ing this creek to its junction with the Allegheny that stream soon bore them to Pittsburg and from there their frail bark bore them to Cincinnati in safe- ty, barring one shipwreck at the head of the famed Blennerhassett's Island. The flatboat having served its purpose, was sold in Cincinnati for $1,700 in James Piatt's shinplaster money, making the traveller rich for the time, but in six months it shared the fate of its kind and was no good and Mr. Sadorus was poor again. The family remained in Cincinnati two years when they again drifted west- ward, stopping successively at Con- nersville. Flat Rock and Raccoon, in the state of Indiana, where they found themselves in the spring of 1824, still with a desire to "go west." Early in the year Mr. Sadorus and a neighbor. one Joe Smith, fitted themselvesout each with a team of two yoke of oxen. and a covered wagon, suitable for moving their families and goods. Thus accoutered they again set their faces westward intending to go to the Illinois country, possibly as far as Peoria or Fort Clark as the place was then known. An almost trackless forest then lay between them and their place of destination. They passed the site of the city of Indian- apolis, then but recently selected as the state capital, where the foundation of the old capitol building had just been laid, and crossing the Wabash river by a ferry at Clinton, Indiana, they soon encountered the Grand Prairie. After entering Illinois, they encountered only one house between the state line and the O'Kaw and that was the home of Hezekiah Cunning- ham. on or near the Little Vermilion river, where he kept a small trading post for traffic with the Indians. On April 9, 1824, the party reached the isolated grove at the head of the O'Kaw river, since and now known as " Sadorus' Grove," and as usual en- camped for the night, near the place which eventually became their perma- nent home. A brief survey of their
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