USA > Illinois > Ford County > Historical Atlas of Ford County Illinois > Part 22
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Stacy Daniels was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1825. His father, Stacy Daniels, was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio in 1821. 1Ie died in 1825. He married Lattia Carnahan, a native of Pennsylvania. She died in Cincinnati in 1877, at the age of eighty-one years. They had a family of four boys and two girls that lived to grow up; three others died in infancy. The subject of our sketch left Ohio in October, 1856, and settled in Prospect City in the spring of 1857. He built his house on the site now occupied by G. J. Shepardson's house, on College Hill. He was a mason by trade, and helped build most of the buildings in Paxton. In 1859, he went to California; came back in 1862, and enlisted in the Eighty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was in the service until 1865. In 1866, he built his present residence. Mr. Daniels has been thrice married-first to Margaret Rush, in 1849. She was a native of Germany, and died in 1859. His second wife was Mary Williams, of Cincinnati, whom he married in July, 1865, and who died in 1867. His present wife was Miss Rebecca Kempton, a native of Hartford, Conn. They were married in June, 1868. Mr. Daniels has two children living-Emma, wife of Ed Field, of Elliott; and Albert, a young man living at home. Mr. Daniels is one of the oldest living settlers of Paxton.
John M. Hall was born in Washington County, N. Y., Octo- ber, 1810. He was brought up on a farm. In 1832, he came to Fountain County, Ind. He held various offices of trust, being at one time County Recorder. In 1860, he went to Kirksville, Mo., and engaged in the mercantile business for two years, when he came to Paxton in 1862, where he has since lived. In 1838, he married Miss Nancy Nichols, a native of Ohio. They have had three children, only one now living, viz., George A. Hall, who is Clerk of the City Council and a reporter for the Paxton
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FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Record. Mr. Hall was Supervisor of Patton Township for sev- eral years, and has held the office of Police Magistrate for many years, being the present incumbent to that office. He is well liked, and enjoys the entire confidence of the people.
John P. Middlecoff was born in Wayne County, Ind., in 1838. His father, Daniel Middlecoff, was a native of Washington County, Md., born in 1800. He came to this township in 1861, and died in 1866. John P. came to Illinois in 1857, and settled in Lud- low, Champaign County, and engaged in the general . mercantile business. He moved from there to his farm in 1862, where he remained until 1867, when he came to Paxton and engaged in the hardware business. He continued in this for several years. He was elected Supervisor of Patton Township several times, being chairman of the board. In 1872, he was elected a member of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly. He is now engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile, being President and General Man- ager of the Paxton Brick and Tile Works. In 1863, he was married to Miss Mary Fox, of Cincinnati, Ohio. . They have had three children, one living. His mother is living with him in this city.
A. Croft is from Clinton County, Ohio, and settled here in 1877, owns a fine tract of 400 acres lying adjacent to the city on the west. The buildings and improvements on this farm are of the best.
W. W. Blanchard owns a well-improved farm in Section 29, Range 10, about two and a half miles south of the city. Mr. Blanchard is a native of Windham County, Vt., and settled in this township in 1856. Ile is at present living in town.
A. L. Clark is an extensive land owner, owning at the pres- ent time about 900 acres of excellent land, most of it lying in the southwest part of Button Township. Mr. Clark is a native of New Hampshire, settling in this county in 1864. He makes his home in Paxton.
C. M. Johnson, farmer, contractor and builder, is a native of Sweden. He came to the United States in 1846, and settled in the county in 1863. He lives on a good, rich farm, on Section 32. David Reep is a native of Butler County, Penn .; he settled on Section 28 in 1879 ; his farm of 106 acres is a fine piece of land.
F. Meharry came to Patton Township from Montgomery County, Ind., in 1859. He bought a tract of land in Section 10, where he has erected buildings and improvements equal to any in the county.
William Trickel came from Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1836. He is a farmer and resides on Section 27.
Peter Hanson is one of the large farmers of Patton. came here from Sweden in 1863. He lives on Section 4, Range 10.
William Grayson is a native of England. He settled in this township in 1858. He has 160 acres of land one mile south of Paxton. IIe is the present Assessor of the township.
W. II. II. Ijams is a native of Ohio. He settled in this town- ship in 1870, on Section 10, where he has a well-improved farm of 160 acres, and a pleasant home.
Robert Strong. a farmer, living on Section 21 ; is a native of Monroe County, Ind. IIe settled in Patton in 1865." He has a good farm of 160 acres.
Peter Anderson is a native of Sweden. He came to this township in 1864, settling on Section 31. He is one of the active farmers of the township.
Charles Leeper, farmer, is a native of Bedford County, Tenn., where he was born 1816. He came to this county in 1869. ITis son, G. W Leeper, owns a large farm in Wall Township, but re- sides in Paxton.
Albert Keith is a native of Madison County, N. Y. He set- tled in this county in 1866. He was at one time Mayor of Pax- ton, and now resides in a beautiful home in the city. He has a large farm in Dix Township.
Another large and extensive farmer of Patton is William Perdue, a native of Chester County, Penn. He came here in 1859. He owns about 700 acres of rich farming lands in Patton Township. He resides in Paxton.
C. E. Henderson, who resides at Henderson Station, on the L. E. & W. Railroad; is a native of Loudoun, Va. He settled in this township in 1865. He has a beautiful home and a fine farm.
One of the oldest settlers of Patton is John F. Stoner, son of Daniel C. Stoner. John F. came here in 1851 and settled on Section 9. Ile is a native of Indiana. His large farm is one of the best in the township.
C. M. Taylor, Principal of Collegiate Institute, is a native of Vermillion County, Ind., and came to this county in 1878.
J. B. Shaw, Cashier First National Bank ; a native of Graf- ton County, N. II .; came to this county in 1861.
R. Blackstock, Cashier Ford County Bank; a native of Can- ada West ; settled here in 1858.
II. A. Kelso, physician, is a native of Marion County, Ind .; came here in 1864.
S. M. Wylie, physician, is a native of Coles County, Ill .; settled here in 1869.
J. Y. Campbell, physician ; settled here in 1866.
Charles H. Langford, abstracts, is a native of St. Louis, Mo .; settled here in 1881.
G. J. Shephardson. Mayor, settled here in 1867.
George Grove, lumber, etc .; a native of Pennsylvania ; came here in 1875.
P. Hanson, druggist ; a native of Denmark ; settled here in 1865.
O. A. Swanson, stock and loans ; was born in Sweden; came in 1865.
George W. Cruzen, farmer; a native of Harper's Ferry, Va .; settled here in 1868.
W. B. Travis, merchant, was born in Indiana County, Penn .; came here in 1868. Charles C. Putt, importer of horses ; a native of Philadelphia, Penn .; settled here in 1875.
W. M. Wilson, groceries, was born in Monroe County, Ind .; settled here in 1866.
Harper & Co., dry goods, natives of Washington County, N. Y .; came in 1876.
N. Younggreen, merchant, native of Sweden ; came in 1871. F. Telander, merchant; born in Sweden ; came in 1869.
William R. Trickel, gunsmith ; a native of Knox County, Ind .; settled here in 1836.
R. S. Hall, agent, I. C. R. R .; came here in 1876 ; native of Middlesex County, Conn.
G. F. Sandburg, carriage-maker ; came here from Sweden in 1868.
E. L. Gill, auctioneer ; native of Jefferson County, Va .; set- tled here in 1859.
Henry Pearson, contractor ; born in Sweden ; came in 1867. White Brothers, lumber ; natives of Washington County, Penn .; came in 1864.
A. C. Thompson, banker ; came in 1868; a native of Lu- zerne County, Penn.
G. E. Abbott, agent L. E. & W. R. R .; a native of McLean County, Ill .; came here in 1878.
G. W. Leeper, wind mills ; a native of Bureau County, Ill .; settled here in 1869.
J. L. Larkin, restaurant ; came from New York in 1880. George Schlosser, grocer, was born in Pennsylvania, and set- tled here in 1862.
A. S. Hopkins, agricultural implements; a native of Ononda- ga County, N. Y .: came here in 1869:
Andrew Anderson, grocer; a native of Sweden ; came here in 1864.
L. H. Rodeen, grocer, is a native of Sweden ; came in 1867. R. Cruzen, hardware ; was born in Harper's Ferry, Va., and came here in 1868.
B. F. Hill, flouring mill ; a native of Erie County, Penn .; settled here in 1863.
George M. Dixon, barber ; born in Jefferson County, Ind .; came here 1866.
D. D. Denman, builder ; native of Montgomery County, Ind .; settled here in 1871.
L. S. Holderman, farmer on Section 8; a native of Grundy County, Ill .; came here in 1883.
DRUMMER TOWNSHIP. BY CHARLES IT. YEONANS.
Drummer Grove Township was organized and set off from Patton Township September 14, 1858, and comprised all of what now composes the townships of Drummer, Dix, Sullivant and Peach Orchard, or all of Ford County lying west of Range 9 east, and containing an area of 180 square miles.
The township took its name from the little grove called Drummer Grove, which lies about a mile northwest of Gibson, and which was so called in honor of & noted hunting dog named Drummer, that became overheated in a deer chase and died and was buried in the grove. The only authentic his- tory that has been preserved in regard to the life and character of the dog is that he was not a " yaller dog."
In 1864, there must have been some Congressional investiga- tion or something discovered derogatory to the character of the dog, for a petition signed by a majority of the voters of the town- ship was presented to the Board of Supervisors asking to have the name of the township changed to Dix, in honor of Gen. Dix, of New York, which was accordingly done, and the township was known by that name until 1869, when upon the requisite petition being presented to the Board of Supervisors the territory comprised in Towns 23 and south half of 24 north, Range 7 east, was set off from Dix and re-christened Drummer Grove, thus dividing the honors of the territory equally between Gen. Dix and the dog.
In 1870, the name being found too long for practical conven- ience the word " grove " was eliminated from the name by the Board of Supervisors.
The first settler within the present limit of Drummer Town- ship was Andrew Jordan, who was a native of Kentucky, where he was born October 28, 1828, and came to Illinois when twenty- one years of age, with a horse, saddle and bridle and $15 in money. He went to work by the month on a farm in Cass County, where he remained for two years, and then came into this vicinity and bought a small farm near the timber in Cham- paign County. He lived there a year, then married Miss Aman- da Devore, and moved on the prairie, where he now lives, in the fall of 1851. He has added tract after tract of land to his farm until now he owns 1, 100 acres of excellent land, all lying in one body. When Mr. Jordan moved here, Ford County had not been organized. His only neighbors were wolves and deer, which were exceedingly neighborly in their visits. His nearest milling accommodations were Danville, Ill., or Covington, Ind .; the nearest blacksmith shop or place to get a plow sharpened was Mohomet, twenty-four miles.
About a year or so after he came here, the town of Pera, now Ludlow, was started, which was for many years his only market, a distance of seventeen miles. Corn was then worth 10 cents per bushel and land from $3 to $8 per acre. Mr. Jordan has
improved all his lands, having them thoroughly tiled with tile of his own manufacture, he having established and is now operating on his farm one of the largest establishments for the manufacture of tile and brick in the county.
The next settler of the township was William Bridges, who came in 1858 and settled on the farm recently owned by J. A. Rockwood, of Gibson. During the same year, William Jordan, brother of Andrew Jordan, settled in an old house on Section 18, afterward owned by Leonard Pierpont. Lindsey Corbly came next and settled on Section 25, south of Andrew Jordan, on what is now known as the Weldon farm.
In 1855, Dr. J. E. Davis settled at Drummer's Grove, where he pursued farming and the practice of his profession for many years, taking an active part in all the affairs of the county.
The next early settler, who still retains his residence in the township, was Samuel J. Le Fevere, who was born in Montgom- ery County, Ohio, April 16, 1841, and settled with his parents on the farm now owned by him, in the year 1856, being then only fifteen years of age. Ford County was not then organized, this territory being a part of Vermilion County and all callod Patton Township, with Prospect City, now Paxton, as the only voting place in it. In 1862, Mr. Le Fevere enlisted in the Seventy-sixth Illinois Infantry and served until wounded at the battle of Vicksburg in the charge on Fort Blakely, April 9, 1865. His wound rendering him unfit for military service, he was hon- orably discharged, and returned to his farin again, where be re- mained until 1872, when he moved to Gibson and engaged in the lumber business. He has been almost continually in the discharge of some official trust since the organization of the township, hav- ing been School Treasurer four years, and Trustee six years ; member of the Village Board three years and President of the Board one year ; Supervisor of the Township three and a half years, and Chairman of the County Board two years.
In the same year, with Mr. Le Fevere's family, J. H. Dungan came and settled on the farm still owned by him adjoin- ing Mr. Le Fevere on the south, and alike with his neighbors en- dured all the hardships incident to that new and wild state of the country. He remained here improving his farm and pursuing the peaceful life of an industrious farmer, until he saw the thriv- ing town of Gibson springing up on the prairie near him, and then moved into town and engaged in the grain business, and has ever since been one of the most energetic business men of the town.
Thomas Stephens came next and settled in the south part of the township, turning his attention principally to cattle-raising, accumulating by successive purchases a large tract of land on the Sangamon. He followed the business of stock-raising and farm- ing until too old and feeble to manage his large farm himself, when he divided it among his children and settled down with them to spend the remainder of his days in a quiet, peaceful way, freed from the care and anxiety of any kind of business.
Among other early settlers who followed in a short time were Asa Canterbury, Caleb Mckeever, B. Il. McClure and family, John Pagel, William Reighley, Thomas Holloway and Lewis Weekman.
The first school taught in the township was at the residence of Dr. J. E. Davis, during the winter of 1863, taught by Miranda IIolloway. In 1866, Drummer Grove Schoolhouse was built and a school taught there by Mary Ann George. Among other pioncer teachers of Drummer were Miss Arabella Davis, now wife of Weaver White ; A. Forbes Irwin, now Rev. A. F. Irwin, of Peoria, and Weaver White, Circuit Clerk.
The soil of Drummer Township is the best in the county, though when surveyed by the Government a great proportion of it was returned as swamp land. Yet, by the system of drain- age which has been regularly and steadily followed during the past ten years, its value and productiveness cannot be excelled in the county. The Supervisors have been Andrew Jordan, 1861; William Snider, 1863; E. M. Blackford, 1865; Joshua E. Davis, 1866; Joseph H. Kendall, 1867; Joseph E. Davis, 18G8; Caleb Mckeever, 1869; B. II. McClure, 1870; J. M. Sudduth, 1872 ; John H. Collier, 1873 ; S. J. Le Fevere, 1877 ; Charles HI. Yeo- mans, 1881, and W. H. Simms, who is still in office.
GIBSON.
Jonathan B. Lott was born at Giraysville. Ohio, February 14, 1840. He came to Illinois when only eight years old, and lo- cated with his parents at Danvers, McLean County. His father died when he was fourteen, and he v. ng the oldest son at home, took charge of the farm. When the war broke out, he enlisted in Company C, Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, and served three years ; then re-enlisted as a veteran, remaining until the close of the war, when he was discharged on account of wounds. Ile was twice wounded at the battle of Spanish Fort, La. On his discharge from the army he returned to McLean County and en- tered Wesleyan University. where he remained one year.
January 1, 1857, he was united in marriage with Margaret A. Gibson, and in 1869 purchased from Jesse Whitehead, of Chicago, the town site of Gibson, and in February, 1869, built his house here. Mr. Lott, by his energy and personal influence, secured such changes in the surveys of the different railroads that brought about their junction at the present location of Gibson. In 1870, he secured the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield, now Springfield Branch of Illinois Central. The Lake Erie & West- ern was surveyed three miles south of this place, and the Chi- cago & Paducah, now Wabash, was projected and surveyed through Saybrook, but Mr. Lott succeeded in getting them to pass through this town.
Mr. Lott departed this life September 19, 1879. His widow. a very estimable lady for whom the town was named, still lives
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in Gibson, and notes with pleasure the realization of her hus- band's early hopes regarding the future prosperity of the town.
Gibson owes its existence and prosperity to the untiring zcal and energy of J. B. Lott. The original town of Gibson was plat- ted and laid out by J. B. Lott, the proprietor, on November 1, 1870, and was called Gibson in obedience to the Scriptural in- junction, "Remember Lot's wife," Mrs. Lott's maiden name be- ing Gibson.
On making application for a post office of the same name, the department added the word "City " on account of the similarity of the name with Gilson, Ill .; hence the name of the town as platted is Gibson, and the post office is Gibson City. '
The first inhabitants of the town were J. B. Lott and wife, their dwelling being on the site now occupied by J. L. Saxton's residence.
The first commercial business done in the town was com- menced by William Moyer December 1, 1870. He opened a grain office, which business he followed for a number of years. Com- mencing with a very moderate capital, by attention to his business and the exercise of superior judgment and discretion in its man- agement, he accumulated a fortune, which has caused him to bo recognized as the wealthiest man in Gibson.
Wilson Bros. next opened a general store in January, 1871, on the corner south of the Opera Hall. Next came II. J. Ring in the same month, and in April following his partner, J. H. Col- lier, came also, and T. D. Spaulding. The firm of Ring & Collier opened a hardware store at Mr. Collier's present stand, and Mr. Spaulding operated a lumber yard near the crossing of the rail- roads. About the same time came M. D. Worrell, J. F. Hicks, James Garbett, J. E. Lewis and others followed in such rapid suc- cession that to particularize would be very difficult.
The first single lady who settled in Gibson was Miss Mary Thompson, a milliner. The first school in the town was taught by Miss Caroline Williams, now Mrs. Smith, and was taught in a public hall.
The first preaching was conducted by Rev. Schlosser, of Pax- ton, in the Illinois Central depot.
Mr. C. II. Yeomans was the first lawyer ; Dr. Anderson was the first physician ; J. E. Cruzen was the first Postmaster, and M. T. Burwell the first banker.
The first railroad through Gibson was the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield, now operated by the Illinois Central, which was built in 1871, and was followed the same year by the Lake Eric & Western, but no regular trains were run until the following spring. The Chicago & Paducah, now the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific, was built in 1874.
The first church edifice was erocted by the Methodist denom- ination, and was followed by the Cumberland Presbyterian, the First Presbyterian, United Brethren and Catholics. There are quite a number of colored people in Gibson, who have built a church called the African Methodist Church.
The first wedding in the place was that of Bruce McCormick and Miss Hattie Gibson, a sister of Mrs. J. B. Lott.
The first death was a jeweler named Angel, which occurred in 1872, who committed suicide by cutting his throat in the rear of the New York Store.
The village was incorporated in 1872, with T. D. Spalding, J. H. Collier, S. J. Le Fevere, Bruce McCormick and w. T. Kerr, as Trustees. The business houses of Gibson consist of 1 bank, 3 dry goods stores, 1 clothing store, 2 hardware stores, 6 grocery and provision stores, 3 drug stores, 1 tile factory, 1 fence factory and feed mill, 2 hotels, several restaurants, 2 markets, 2 harness shops, 2 newspapers, 1 elevator and the usual comple- ments of wagon, repair and blacksmith shops.
In the year 1874, the school accommodations being entirely inadequate to the wants of the rapidly increasing population of the town, the thoroughgoing enterprise of the citizens was shown in the erection of what was and still is by far the finest public school building in the county. It is a two-story brick with a full story basement, 60x60, all finely furnished, and heated by furnace, with the most approved plan of ventilation. There are five departments in the building, with a capacity for accommodat- ing 300 pupils. The cost of this fine building was $12,000. In 1882, this becoming too crowded for effective work, another building, 40x60, was erected at a cost of $5,000, with a capacity for 100 scholars. Both of these handsome buildings are paid for, and no school bonds or city indebtedness exists to burden the people or hinder the prosperity of the town.
January 29, 1888, the town was visited by a destructive fire, which swept away in the course of a few hours about $50,000 worth of property, not more than one-fourth of which was covered by insurance.
lIere again the enterprising spirit of the citizens evinced itself, for in less than a month from the day of the fire, workmen were busy preparing the burnt district for rebuilding. In six months' time there was erected twelve elegant brick stores (all two stories high except two), from 80 to 100 feet in length, all furnished with large plate glass fronta, as fine as are to be found in any city in the State outside of Chicago. The improve- ments made during those six months cost, in an aggregate, near- ly 880,000. Among them, and worthy of special mention, is Burwell's Opers Hall, on the second floor of the block erected by M. T. Burwell; is 50x100 feet, with eighteen feet ceiling, and a self-supporting truss roof, leaving no columns or central supports to mar its beauty or obstruct the view. The stage scenery is, probably, as elaborate and complete as is found in any city in the State, except Chicago, consisting of sixty-nine different pieces of scenery painted in the most elaborate style. The building-hall, stage and foot-lights-is lighted by gas.
FORD COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
The following are the brief mentions of some of the leading business men and prominent farmers of Drummer Township :
Leonard Pierpont was born in Litchfield County, Conn., October 28, 1819. 1Ie came to Illinois in 1858, and settled in this township. He was a good farmer, an honest and industrious citizen and Treasurer of Ford County for four years. He died in April, 1874, leaving a large family, part of whom still reside at the old homestead. Three of his sons were killed in the war.
William H. Guthrie was born in Armstrong County, Penn., in 1332. He settled in Drummer Township in 1865. He has purchased from time to time until he now has a fine farm of 960 acres. He was married in 1868 to Miss Jennie Stewart. They have five children.
James B. Foley is a native of Adams County, Ohio, where he was born in 1847, and came to Putnam County, Ill., with his parents when three years old. He lived there twenty-four years ; then settled in this township on Section 20. He was married to Miss Olive L. Skeel December 24, 1874. They have two chil- dren.
There is no place in the southern part of Drummer that sur- passes the fine home of Joseph T. Roberts, on Section 35. Ho is a native of Tazewell County, Ill., and was married in 1857 to Mary C. Bosserman, a native of De Witt County, Ill. They have been blessed with a family of twelve children.
Nathan L. Skeel was born in Putnam County, Ill., August 19, 1848. He lived there until about twenty-four years of age, as- sisting his father on a farm, when he settled in this township and has made for himself a comfortable home. In 1873, he married Mary Wallace.
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