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 4
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Mr. Spence has made two trips back to his native land. The first in 1866, and the sec- ond in 1880. On the last he was accompa- nied by his estimable wife. They visited scenes of their childhood and renewed ac- quaintances of "Auld Lang Syne." They spent four months abroad and then returned to America, but before returning home visit- ed for several weeks in Vermont, the birth- place and home of Mrs. Spence. Mr. Spence was for many years one of the leading busi- ness men of Urbana, and as such built up a reputation for striet integrity and fair deal- ing. He was always publie spirited. Any enterprise having for its object the material increase or prosperity of the town or county found in him an active and liberal supporter and contributor.
DAVID B. STAYTON.
This gentleman who is now the oldest set- tler in St. Joseph township, was born June 3, 1818. in Mason county, Kentucky, nine iniles above Maysville. Joseph Stayton, his father, came to this eounty October 10th, 1830, with his family, including young David a lad of eleven years, and settled on section twenty-six, St. Joseph township. The tatlı- er died in 1858. David B. received a fair ed- ucation such as he could get in that day. As Mr. Stayton remembers the country in his boyhood days, it was wild indeed. His first playmates were Indians who used to camp on the east bank of the Salt Fork during the winter about five hundred strong, a little below where the state road now erosses the stream. He left home at the age of twenty- one and worked by the month for about six months; he then worked his father's farm on shares till 1848. He was married De- cember 28, 1847, to Sarah Bartley, daughter of Joseph Bartley; she was born April 2, 1826. They have four children living : Eliz- abeth, the only daughter, married John S. McElwee; Joseph is now out west; David a merchant in St. Joseph; and James. Mr. Stayton has been supervisor of his township and has been collector for 23 years-ever since the township was organized. He has held other offices from time to time. besides being assessor for several years. He used to make annual trips to Chicago to take grain and bring back provisions. He was first a democrat, casting his first vote for James K. Polk. Ile remained such until in 1860 he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and has since been a staunch republican. Ile has
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
always been consulted about county as well as township matters, and his influence has always been great in political matters. He is one of the leaders of the party in the county. His memory is good and it is inter- esting to hear him relate the habits, customs, hardships and incidents of the early days. Ile owns over 600 acres of fine farming and stock land and has it in a high state of cul- tivation. His memory is vivid as to the tow breeches the men and boys wore, made by themselves from flax of their own raising, and describes how they used to put a little stripe in it for the women to wear: also how they wore their winter clothing of yarn, made at home and woven by the good wives and mothers. Mr. Stayton is strong and ac- tive and is highly respected and beloved by all his neighbors. He is known well by the people of the country as one of our most reli- able and substantial citizens.
N. L.VILLE JUI
IlON. JAMES S. WRIGHT.
The paternal grand parents of Mr. Wright were born and died in Frederick county, Va. They were farmers and of Scotch descent. His maternal grand parents named Stevens lived and died in Pennsylvania, and were of German deseent. Ilis father, John B. Wright, was born in Virginia in 1785 and married Elizabeth Stevens in 1505. They re- moved by a family boat down the Ohio to a point near Leesburg, Va., where James S., as he puts it, without his knowledge or con- sent, was born, Aug. 4, 1516. In spring of 1517 they removed to where Winchester, In- diana, now stands. His mother died there in 1535, and his father died here in 1569. His
father served from 1818 to 1824 in the Indi- ana legislature at Corydon, the old capital. Here the boy James did pretty much as oth- er farmer boys, and in addition blowed the bellows and wielded the sledge on the off side of the anvil, for his father was also a blacksmith. He went to school three months each winter where the old Scotch teacher would vary the afternoon exercises by tak- ing a nap, a drink of liquor and whipping two or three boys. In 1830 the family came to this county and bought land just north of Homer, September 24, at $1,25 per acre. The agne then shook a man out of his boots in an hour, if he had any (such Inxuries were then unknown) and malarial fevers were quite prevalent. Many packed up and left this fertile county and wended their way back, disgusted, to Posey county, Indiana, or old Tennessee. Hay, corn and oats had no cash market value for many years. They sold corn as low as four cents per bushel. During these low prices Jackson vetoed the re-charter of the United States bank and advised the state banks todiscount liberally, which they were not slow in doing. The "Red dog," "Blue pup" and a variety of currency followed. Banks were organized in obscure localities and issued money, whose whereabouts were never learned. Thus in 1835-6 produce was booming in the worthless currency. Pork raised on the mast from the woods wa, worth five or six dollars per hundred and all were happy. The crash came in 1S37 and the hardest of all times followed. In 1837 when he lacked three months of being of age, James S. "struck" for the remainder of his minority, and after much persuasion, his father per- mitted him to go and work on his own ac- count, on the Illinois and Michigan canal from the village of Chicago to the Illinois river at the enormous salary of one dollar a day. He hired a farm hand at ten dollars per month to work in his place for his father for the three months of his minority. He remained there until he had made enough to pay the hand and buy 40 acres of land for $50.00. Ile then clerked for M. D. Coffeen until 1840 at $12.00 per month and then mar- ried Katherine Lander, whose parents John and Sophia W. Lander, moved from Bour- bon county, Kentucky, October 1st, 1830, set- tling near Mr. Wright's farm. John Lander died in 1837 and Sophia W. in 1849. Kather- ine, the wife of James S., was born in Bour- bon county, Kentucky, March 26th, 1823. William Elliott, Esq., of Homer, married a sister of Katherine the same day. The two conples were united by Rev. William Phil- lips (who married Charles Busey's daugh- ter). Mr. Wright thought then he had a
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
good wife, but now, after 46 years of wedded life, he says he knows it. Both had about $600 of this world's goods when they started on their joint journey of life. To support her he first organized a subscription school, but after two weeks of experience in "keep- ing school" on receiving the tempting offer of $25.00 per month to clerk again for M. D. Coffeen, he got William Elliott to take the school off his hands. lle spent the winter with Mr. Coffeen. He went to farming the next spring. In the winter and spring of 1842-3 he packed pork at Perrysville, Ind., built flat boats and shipped to New Orleans. In 1844 he went as supereargo with pork for Gen. Olds, of Circleville, Ohio. In 1845 he went to selling goods in Homer on his own account, and so continued till 1855. In 1846 he was the Whig candidate against Col. M. W. Busey, the democratie candidate for the legislature, and Mr. Wright was elected by 50 majority. He met in this legislature such men as Ex-Gov. Reynolds, U. F. Linder. Gov. Matteson and Stephen T. Logan, then leader of the house. Lincoln and David Davis were there, but not members. Ste- phen A. Douglas was elected senator, but Mr. Wright voted for Ben Bond, the Whig candidate. From 1838 to 1850 he held the office of county surveyor. He signed the first $1,000 to the subseription to build the old college building which aided this county so much in getting the University here. He afterwards gave $500 more to get it complet- ed. He looks upon his effort in that direc- tion as the crowning one in the interest of Champaign, Urbana and the county. He served at Danville as one of the enrolling commissioners for two years during the war. In 1866 he helped organize the First Nation- al Bank of Champaign and was cashier for three years. He sold out his stock in bank and tried farming for about ten years, most- ly stock farming. All this time he took an interest in polities. In 1880 he was nomin- ated and elected to the state senate for four years. Mr. Wright often speaks of the faet that it seemed to him that there was not the brains and talent there that he found thirty years ago.
Ile has neyer belonged to any church, nor to any order or organization except every ten- perance society that came his way. He is a firm believer in God and in the doctrine that all men will be rewarded according to their acts while here on earth. He has little faith in death bed repentance. For fifty-six years Mr. Wright has lived in this county and served faithful in many trusts, public and private. Ile has never betrayed them and has won an enviable place in the hearts of our people.
CH
MEL VILLE
ELI J. HELLER.
In the language of Prof. Draper: "Tell me of the country, the nature and fertility of its soil, the lay of its land, &c., and I will tell you the kind of men it raises." Nothing is truer. Good, rich, generous soil produces broad, liberal-minded men-no narrow con- tracted creeds or isms shrink and shrivel up the soul of the man who is born, lives and thrives on the broad fertile plainsof the west. Ohio has sent to Illinois a class of men who have been an honor to the state.
Eli J. Heller was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, Dec. 24, 1836. He is the off- spring of Thomas and Mary (Taylor) Hel- ler. His father brought his family to Ur- bana in the fall of 1851. Here young Heller grew to manhood. He remained at home until the breaking out of the late war. In July, 1861, he enlisted in Co. I, 2nd Illinois cavalry. He served three years when he veteranized with his regiment and remained in the service until the close of the war. He was mustered out and honorably discharged in 1866, having served four and a half years. Hle returned home to Urbana and engaged in draying, and in connection run a haek and baggage line. Ile subsequently added coal to the business. Under his industrious management the business grew to such pro- portions that he found himself unable to at- tend to it, and was compelled to call in as- sistance. He then formed a partnership with JJosiah Toy, and together they have built up a trade that is second to none in this part of the state. They are well equipped for the business, with carriages, baggage wagons, vans and drays, and at a moment's
4
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
notice will fit you out with an elegant turn- out, haul your baggage, move your furni- ture, supply you with soft or hard coal in quantities from a bushel up to a car load. Mr. Heller has grown up with the town and is numbered among its most respected citizens. He was a member of the board of aldermen for eight years, during which time many of the substantial improvements of the town were made. He is prominent in Ma- sonic circles and holds membership in vari- ous orders in that body.
Mr. Heller was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ella Black, Nov. 20, 1866. She died in April, 15$1, leaving three children, named Opal B., Birdie and Aaron T. Heller. Politically Mr. Heller comes from old line whig stock. Ile cast his first vote for Abra- ham Lincoln in 1860. He attested his ad- hesion to that party (republican) and loyal- ty to his country by his enlistment in the army, where he remained, as before stated. until the war was over. Political comment is unnecessary.
VIEL VILLC CHI
ARCHA CAMPBELL.
Mr. Campbell was born about 1812, at Campbelltown, Steuben county, New York, where he continued to live until near his majority, when he came westward in the pursuit of fortune. He first found employ- ment al Cincinnati, where he hired to a mor- chant to travel with a wagon and train through the west and sell goods. Reaching Covington, Ind., he received directions from his employer to eross over to the linois river and report there for duty. According- ly in February, 1539, for it is of that tune we
write, he passed through the scattered set- tlements of Champaign county and stopped over night in Urbana for the first time. So impressed was he with the beanties and prospects of this country that in 1842 he re- turned here and settled permanently at Ur- bana. Here he remained for more than a quarter of a century, with the exception of short sojourns ou farms opened by him, one at Mink Grove, now Rantoul, and one on the ridge, half way to Mahomet, in what is now Hensley township, and excepting also a few years spent as keeper of the Doane house, which house he built and named. While here he filled the office of probate justice for two years, from 1847 to 1849, and wisely administered the affairs of that office. He also filled the office of county commissioner for three years, from 1845 to 1848, and as such was very influential in the management of the county business, then done by a board of three commissioners instead of by a board of supervisors, as now. It was during his term as commissioner that the second court house, a one story frame building about 20x 40 feet, was moved from the public square and the first brick court house was built. He was often heard to speak of the popular uprising in the county caused by this inno- vation. He was not the man to be deterred or held back from the performance of a plain duty by the fear of what "they" might say, and never retaxed his efforts toward the consummation of his purpose until the public needs were fully met by a commodi- ous court house. The good sense of the peo- ple was not long in forgiving the extrava- gance of a three thousand dollar court house and commending the public spirit of the commissioners. Mr. Campbell was the first mayor of Urbana, also president of the Ur- bana railroad company, which obtained the right of way and graded the track of onr street railway. He was always foremost in every public enterprise, firmly believing in the future. He early became a member of the M. E. church here and was active and liberal in the construction and subsequent enlargement of the church building. His religion was not cast in narrow moulds nor his benevolence bounded by church organi- zation, so each church enterprise received his earnest aid. He was an outspoken Jack- son democrat until the advocates of slavery extension over-run the Missouri Compromise in 1854, at which he revolted and earnestly joined in the organization of the republican party, with which he thereafter acted, The settlement of Mr. Campbell here was instru- mental in bringing quite a number of others here also. His parents, Solomon Campbell and wife, came in a few years, as did also
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
several brothers and sisters, all of whom were well known and influential citizens in the earlier years of our history. Mr. Camp- bell was, while here, twice married. On February 16th, 1845, he was married to Eliza Buchtel, who died August 29th, 1854, leav- ing one child, Fanny, and with two children who preceded her, lies buried in the old cemetery. Her sudden and almost tragic death will not be forgotten by the residents of that day. On November 13, 1855, he was again married to Miss Matilda Hewett, who with one son and two danghters survive him. Many who survive Mr. Campbell and still romain here, will not soon, if ever, forget his many acts of kindness. He literally stood upon the threshold of his county and hell out a hearty welcome to all new-comers. Many were made welcome to his home and kindly remember his hospitalities. He took great interest in our old settlers' meetings, and although not present in person, wrote a letter to be read on each occasion.
THOMAS LINDSEY
Was born July 8, 1820, at West Middletown, Washington county, Pennsylvania. His father was Thomas Lindsey, his mother Permelia Williams. The subject of this sketch came to this county in November, 1841, and settled in Urbana-just after he became of age. He was married April 9, 1845, in Urbana, to Martha Ann Bruer, dangh- ter of Asabel Bruer; she was born April 26, 1829, and is still living. She is well and hearty, and Mr. Lindsey declares she can do more work than any girl in the county.
The children of this marriage were: Wil- liam, now residing in Humboldt, Kansas; Permelia, who married W. S. Mc Williams, residing at Fort Scott, Kansas; James and Charles, residing in Urbana; Laura Belle, who married James Thornton, residing at Yellow Springs, Ohio; George, and Thomas Edward, both of Urbana. all living. Mr. Lindsey, though not a member of any church, was raised and has always been a regular attendant on the Presbyterian church. Politically, he has been, and is now, a radical republican. He has never sought any office but has been school direc- tor pretty much all his natural life. He served an apprenticeship to the carpenter and cabinet maker's trade in Pennsylvania. tle followed the business here immediately upon his arrival and for twenty years he had the leading business in that line, in this city. 'To this he added the undertaking bus-/ iness. For many years he made all the coť- fins by hand, for this city and surrounding country. Hle charged $5.00 for the coffin and furnished everything else free. The Messrs. Harvey also dug the graves without charge, so that the funeral expenses cost but very little those days. When Samuel Brumley died, Mr. Lindsey made an extra tine coffin and covered it with velvet. The administrator objected to the cost which was twelve dollars, as being too extravagant and unnecessary. Mr. Lindsey supplied the whole county with furniture, made by hand, for many years, by laboring in his shop during the winter. During the summer months Mrs. Lindsey sold out the stock he had thus accumulated, while he was out working at the carpenter's trade. When he came here, Charles Tier- nan, father of Frank Tiernan, had the only store here. IIe relates an incident of at- tending the wedding of David Cantner, at the residence of T. R. Webber. He and others, during the night, tied a coon to a long pole and planted it in front of the house by way of celebrating the happy event. and T. R. Webber climbed the pole in the morning and cut it down. The even- ing Mr. Lindsey was married a rope was tied to the bell on top of the house and it was kept ringing all night.
Mr. Lindsey resides in peace and comfort on his splendidly improved farm, southwest of this city. Ilis health for the past few years has not been so good as for- merly. He spent last winter with his wife in Florida where he received great benefit, and will probably spend his winters there in future. It is to be hoped, however, that it may not be necessary to leave his pleasant home in search of health. For nearly half
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
a century he has resided here and his many friends, seenred by upright conduct and bus- iness integrity, sincerely wish for a much longer lease of life and prosperity.
MELVILLE CN
JOHN IL. STRONG
Was born Angust 18, 1830, in Vermilion county, Indiana. Orange Strong was his father and his mother was Nancy Hilder- brand, whose brother was murdered by Bill Weaver, which was the first murder oeenr- ring in this eounty. His parents came to St. Joseph, in this eounty, in 1831, bringing John H., then a little babe, with them. They settled on a farm one-half mile north of St. Joseph. Here the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. He owned, for many years, what was onee the old home place, and sold it some seven years ago. He was married at the residence of Thomas Swear- ingen, in April 1852, to Eliza Ann Rice who died in 1875. Hle was married the second time, Jannary 3, 1878, to Lida Little, who is still living. The children of the first wife are: William Henry, a farmer in this eoun- ty; Mary, who married A. C. Swearingen, a merchant in St. Joseph; Annie, who mar- ried Isaac Walker, now residing in Hast- ings, Nebraska, and John O., who is yet at home. By the second wife, the only chikl is Florence, a little girl of seven years. Mr. Strong was a whig until the republican par- ty was organized and has ever since been an unswerving republlean in polities. He first began business for himself by running a ditching machine, three springs, on the San- gamon, in this county. When he got mar-
ried he bought $0 acres of land and improved it, and in the meantime, for tive years, ran a breaking team, during which time he broke prairie for David Boggess, Doc Peters, Hen- ry Bartley and many other men who after- wards became well known as leading farm- ers. The last year he broke 213 acres of the Phinney farm. At the close of that season he grazed and fed his twenty-five yoke of cattle which had constituted his tive break- ing teams, and sold them. He then com- meneed buying and shipping stock and has been engaged in that business ever since. Hle has, doubtless, shipped more hogs than any man in the county, and has been longer, continuously, in the business than any other man in this eounty. He has dealt with and met sneh well known ohl stock dealers as Ben Hays, Allen and Tyrrell Poage, Ben Smith, Joseph T. Kelley, Hiram and Samuel Rankin, Billy {. Moore, and Ed Ater, all of whom are dead except Mr. Kelley and Mr. Ater. He has made many trips to Chicago by wagon, and recites some of the early in- cidents very graphically. He especially re- members of the time when he and Thomas Patterson (who was a step-son of John's grandfather, Cyrus Strong.) went to mill over on the Middle Fork, and got into a swamp in which the horses mired down so that John had to hold the horses heads np ont of the water while Tommy Patterson ran, barefooted, through the prairie stubble where there had been a prairie tire, for some four miles to the nearest house to get some help. Tommy's feet were seriously lacer- ated from the trip, while John was pretty well ont of wind wrestling with the team to keep them from drowning until the help eame. Mr. Strong is still engaged in ship- ping stock. He has the entire confidence of the producers of stock in this county because they have learned by many years dealing with him that be is a man who always keeps his word and fulfills every contract to the letter. He deals liberally with those who patronize him and does not try to make it all at one time. He is in reasonably good health and is as active and successful in bus- iness as ever.
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PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
MEL
ALLE CIU
WILLIAM RADEBAUGHI
Was born April 4th, 1818. at Bedford, Pa. Ile was married to Rebecca Manspeaker, April 26, 1846, at Bedford, Pa. She shared his lot in the hardships of pioneer life, bore him thirteen children and died February 15, 1875. Following are their names: Peter, Margaret A., William J., Elmora, Charles, Harry C., Lena R., Zoe W., F. A. Lincoln, Alvin B., Oliver, Olive, and Edward. Oli- ver and Olive were twins. All living ex- cept the following, to-wit: Peter W., Zoe W., F. A. Lincoln, Oliver, Olive and Ed- ward. and the little girl Margaret A., who was drowned on their way to Illinois. He, with his wife and three children, (the first three named) started for Urbana, III., from Bedford, March 1st, 1851. Coming by boat Kate Lowel down the Ohio river, from Pitts- burg. About 20 miles below Wheeling, the boat collided with a boat named the S. F. Vin- ton, and the Lowel was sunk. About twenty were drowned, among them the little three year old daughter of Mr. Radebaugh. He thought he had all on board the other boat but found he had not the little girl. He hur- ried back for her but it was too late; the boat had gone down so he could not reach the berth where she was sleeping. This was in the night. The next morning he and Mr. Samuel Waters took a yawl and went to the sunken boat and cutting through the roof they found the body of the little innocent lying as if asleep. They buried her at Pow- hattan, Ohio, and sorrowfully continued their journey to Evansville, Ind., thence to Perrysville, on the Wabash, and thence by wagon to Urbana. All their effects were 5
lost and they, therefore, arrived with only strong arms and brave, though sorrowing hearts, to carve out a home and a fortune. The journey took from March 1st to April 11th, a distance now traversed in twenty- four hours. Mr. Radebaugh has shot prai- rie chickens, frequently, on the prairie where Mrs. R. A. Sutton now lives. He counted twenty-five deer in one drove on Dr. Snyder's farm. There was about twenty houses in Urbana, then. He carried the flagstaff for Capt N. M. Clark, while sur- veying the Illinois central railroad. He helped built the culverts and stations from Champaign to Centralia. He owned the first house in Champaign, (then West Ur- bana) east of the track. He engaged in the mercantile business, there, for several years, but has been for twenty-eight years farming near his present residence, northeast of Philo, in this county. Here he has reared and educated his children and made him a pleasant and happy home. He is a republi- can in politics and belongs to the Christian church and attends at the beautiful sanetua- ry near his house, which he has done so much to build and sustain.
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