History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume One, Part 13

Author: Williams, Jack Moore, 1886-
Publication date: 1930
Publisher: Topeka, [Kan.] ; Indianapolis, [Ind.] : Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 552


USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume One > Part 13


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By taking hold of the pole with the hand near the burr, and exerting a "push and pull" movement, a rotary motion was given the mill. Its capacity, with a muscular man as motive power, was one bushel of cracked corn an hour. The corn was fed into the hopper with one hand while the burr was revolved with the other.


This crude mill served the needs of the settlement until the water mill was built on the North Fork at Danville. Afterward it was taken to Big Grove in Champaign Coun- ty by Robert Trickle, where it served the neighborhood for several years.


During the time this mill was operated, settlers to secure flour and good corn meal were compelled to go to the water mill on Raccoon Creek, across the Wabash River, below Montezuma, Indiana.


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In 1826, Marquis Snow, together with Seymour Treat and George and Dan Beckwith, of Danville, made a trip to Chicago to see what the country was like. They also wanted a glimpse of Lake Michigan. They carried sup- plies on a single Indian pony, which also served to carry them across the streams. They were gone two weeks, going and coming along Hubbard's Trace, which in later years became the Dixie Highway south from Chicago as far as the first road south of the North Fork, when the Trace branched off eastward into Indiana and thence south to Vincennes.


Amos Williams, who played so prominent a part in the history of the county and Danville, first came to Butler's Point from Paris to make his home, later moving to Dan- ville when the county seat was established there.


John Payne was an early settler of Catlin Township, whose family played a prominent part in the history of the county. He came from Orange County, New York, to Indiana, and from there to Catlin Township, or rather what is now Catlin Township, in 1827, and took up land where the county farm is now located.


He was a man of great force of character and early made himself recognized in the affairs of the new county. Late in life he sold out his holdings here and went to Liv- ingston County, where he died in 1864. He left a family of nine children, two sons living in Livingston County.


His son, Peter Payne, went to California. William Milton Payne was one of the early sheriffs of Vermilion County. Capt. Morgan L. Payne, one of the sons who died in Livingston County, left an enviable war record.


He raised a company in Catlin Township in the Black- hawk War and marched at its head to the relief of the citizens on Fox River. He owned a farm here and during


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the building of the grade for the Northern Cross Railroad in 1836 he had the contract for grading through the town- ship.


The panic of 1837 and the crash of the railroad project ruined Captain Payne, for contractors and workmen never received their money after the bottom fell out of the finan- cial world.


He went to Texas to recover his fortunes and at the outbreak of the Mexican War he commanded a company which did good service until his enlistment expired, when he returned to his boyhood home in Indiana to raise another company. The war closed before he could accomplish this purpose and he settled in Livingston County, where his father afterward removed.


It is probable that Captain Payne was the only Ver- milion County resident to fight in the Mexican War. Vet- erans of the Mexican War may have moved here after- ward. This was not Vermilion County's fault, however, as the political differences between the county and the governor prevented any Vermilion County companies, although they were recruited and ready to go, from being called into service.


At the outbreak of the Civil War, Captain Payne again raised a company and fought through that war, at its close resuming farming and later buying a hotel in Pontiac, which venture, through a fire, cost him all his money.


At the age of seventy years, this unusual man was serving as a constable and a deputy sheriff in Livingston County to make a living until he died.


Captain Payne was an aggressive type of man and never hesitated to resent a slight or wrong. While engaged in grading the railroad in Catlin, a dispute arose with a


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Mr. Frazier, the latter claiming that Payne was a tres- passer on his land.


This resulted in a fistic encounter in which Captain Payne was the victor and this was followed by a law suit. While the trial was in progress Abraham Lincoln was an interested spectator in the circuit court room in Danville and expressed admiration for the fighting qualities of the captain.


The sequel to this came during the Civil War when Captain Payne was mustered out of the service while home on a furlough. This aroused his fighting spirit and he secured a petition, signed by all his officers, seeking to set aside the mustering out order.


This he sent to Ward Hill Lamon in Washington, who brought it to the attention of Lincoln, who recognized the name.


Lincoln asked Lamon if this was the same Captain Payne who had a fight with Frazier while grading the rail- road near Danville. Informed that it was the same man, Lincoln said :


"Well, it's my opinion that he's just the kind of fighters we want down there."


Captain Payne was restored to his command.


Squire L. Payne, another son of John Payne, moved to Chenoa. John Payne, Jr., was killed in 1863 in a regret- table riot in the city of Danville. Martin Payne moved to Oregon. Three daughters ended their lives in the county.


The first school in Catlin Township was taught by Hiram Ticknor, just south of the old Thomas Keeney farm. Although three miles away the children from the Salt Works attended this school. There were fifteen pupils in the school.


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John Thompson, whose wife was a daughter of John Payne, came to Catlin Township with his father-in-law in 1827. He died there in 1864, leaving one son who after- ward was prominently identified with Rossville.


Charles Caraway was another early settler, coming here in 1829, although he had entered land here in 1824, while a resident of Green Briar County, Virginia. J. S. McCorkle and two brothers, brothers of Mrs. Caraway, came with Caraway in 1829 from Virginia. Thomas H. Keeney was another of the 1829 settlers.


Noah Guymon came from Ohio in 1830. He made the trip on foot, accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Lura Guymon, known all over the county as "Grandma" Guymon, who was on horseback, the couple bringing with them all their earthly belongings.


Mrs. Guymon originally came from the New England states. Her husband was Doctor Rutherford, a practicing physician. She was a graduate of a seminary and it has been claimed that she had attended, if not graduated from, a medical school, but this has never been substantiated.


Her first husband died in Ohio, where they had moved and she later married Noah Guymon and came on to Illi- nois with him. They established a home in a simple cabin and the husband took up a government claim.


There was a dearth of physicians in the pioneer days and Mrs. Guymon became the practical nurse who was called upon from far and near to help in case of sickness. She was particularly in demand at child-birth and it is probable that nearly a thousand men and women born in this section were administered to by "Grandma" Guymon at birth. No night was too dark or stormy for her to respond to a call for help, and she was known to have


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forded rivers even in the darkness of night to give medical aid.


This remarkable woman, although her medical training is in doubt, rightly deserves a place in the medical annals of the county, for she served where doctors could not be secured and her association with her first husband who was a doctor undoubtedly gave her a training that may have been the equal of some of the pioneer doctors.


Alexander Church, Joseph Davis and John Boggess came here in 1830 as did also William Yount and Ephraim Acree and his son, Joel. Jacob Hickman came in 1831. He died there in 1842. He had ten children, one of whom, Hiram Hickman, operated a hotel in Georgetown for a long time and was sheriff of Vermilion County about 1845.


G. W. Pate, long identified with the progress of Method- ism in this part of the county, came in 1830 to Butler's Point, with his father, Adam Pate. He was converted by Father Anderson and at once started his religious work, being selected as a class leader and soon commenced preach- ing. He was ordained a deacon in 1857 because of his work.


John Reynolds, a brother of Mrs. Pate, was also a religious worker and preached over this country from Georgetown to Homer for twenty years, finally going to Iowa in 1850.


Henry Oakwood came from Ohio in 1833 and took up land in what is now Oakwood Township. He was promi- nent in the affairs of the community and his son, Hon. J. H. Oakwood, came to live in Catlin in 1851. He was one of the earliest promoters of the Vermilion County Agricul- tural Society, a prominent farmer and cattle raiser and a member of the State Legislature in 1872 to 1878.


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Henry Jones came from England in 1849. He was con- sidered wealthy and bought the Whitcomb farm and adja- cent land until he had three thousand acres. He weighed more than three hundred pounds and was considered an English gentleman. He had fourteen head of oxen and considerable cattle.


He engaged with William Bentley and William Hinds in the tanning business and did a fair business, the only drawback being the inability to get enough tanning bark, the farmers being too busy when bark-peeling was at its prime. His oldest son, Richard Jones, was the first station agent on the Great Western in Catlin. He was also the first business man in Catlin village, was elected supervisor and served as president of the board.


Henry Jones, although English by birth, sponsored the first Fourth of July celebration in Catlin, shortly after the Great Western Railroad was in operation. The best band in Indiana was secured and Hiram W. Beckwith was the orator. There was a large crowd, plenty to eat and drink, and a good time.


The first officials of Catlin Township, after its organi- zation in 1858, were as follows: Supervisor, James Bur- roughs; clerk, J. M. Goss; assessor, Noah Guymon.


Rev. James McKain, who was in 1828 in charge of the Eugene, Indiana Methodist circuit, is believed to have been the first minister to preach in what is now Catlin Town- ship, and the early services were held at the Asa Elliott and the Adam Pate homes. About ten years later, Rev. James Ashmore, a Cumberland Presbyterian minister, began preaching in the west part of the township.


In Catlin Township is the first burying ground in Ver- milion County, "God's Acre," laid out by James D. Butler near Butler's Point in 1822. The last resting place of 16-Vol. 1


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Mr. Butler, members of his family, Major John W. Vance and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Noah Guymon, and other pioneers is in this spot, sacred to the memory of the Vermilion Coun- ty pioneers, and which was cleaned out by the board of supervisors about two years ago and some of the old stones restored and new ones placed on unmarked graves.


This burying ground, dedicated to the bones of those who lie there and the title to which is vested with the board of supervisors, may yet become a county park, a movement having been started two years ago to purchase additional ground for park purposes and build a road to it along the south side of the Wabash tracks. As it is, the old ceme- tery is isolated by reason of being at least a half-mile from any public highway.


This burying ground, after being forgotten for years and overrun by livestock, was "discovered" by Clint C. Tilton, whose ancestors are buried there, and through a campaign put on by The Commercial-News in Danville, widespread interest was aroused and the board of super- visors took action to restore it.


Frank Carrigan, of Catlin, and Walter V. Dysert and W. H. Baum, of Danville, were the supervisors appointed on a special committee by the chairman, Judge I. A. Love, to restore the historic spot.


A rededication was held, which was attended by thou- sands, Catlin Township assisting in the event, which cre- ated county-wide interest.


This pioneer burying ground is the only thing left to mark the site of Butler's Point, which was once a flourish- ing settlement.


The village of Catlin, which is only a short distance east of Butler's Point, was laid out in 1856 by Guy Merrill and Josiah Hunt, who platted twelve blocks north and south


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of the depot. At the same time Harvey Sandusky platted an addition south of and running from the railroad west of the original town. March 18, Josiah Sandusky platted another addition between the last addition and the railroad. In April, 1858, Josiah Sandusky platted his second addi- tion west of the original town. In 1863, Hon. J. H. Oak- wood laid out an addition of two blocks north of the original town, and in October, 1867, McNair & Company laid out and platted the Coal Shaft addition along the rail- road west, and west of Sandusky's second addition.


Although Richard Jones was the first business man in Catlin after the railroad started operation, Capt. W. R. Timmons came there in 1855 from Indiana, before the railroad was built, and commenced selling merchandise in a room he rented from G. W. Pate, just west of town.


This was at or near Butler's Point, which was on the old stage road between Crawfordsville, Indiana, and Springfield. Mr. Pate was then postmaster. Timmons had one room in the house, which served as a residence, store, postoffice and country tavern.


When the village of Catlin was laid out, Captain Tim- mons built a store building in the north part of the village and moved his store there, still keeping on the state road. He was appointed the first postmaster. He was in busi- ness for more than fifteen years, Harvey Sandusky and Mr. Wolfe being partners at different periods.


Albert Heath came to Catlin in 1857 and erected the large three-story building, which became known as "Heath's Folly," as its construction financially broke him and he disappeared. Six years later the citizens purchased this building and presented it to Mr. Jenkins, who installed a steam grist mill in it. Originally, the builder had


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planned three storerooms on the first floor, a hotel on the second floor and a ballroom on the third.


Fred Tarrant and John Swanell operated the first drug store and Henry Church, Sanford Calvert, J. H. Oakwood, G. W. Pate and Goss & Sandusky, later Goss & Lee, were among the early merchants.


At the close of the war G. W. and Sam R. Tilton came to Catlin. Both were educated young men and became actively identified with the business life of Catlin. Sam R. Tilton first became agent for the railroad, later starting a drug and notion business and finally operating general merchandise, drug and millinery stores. He was post- master nearly three years. February 7, 1868, he married Miss Lou G. Vance, daughter of Major John W. Vance. Their son, Clint Clay Tilton, is now a resident of Danville.


G. W. Tilton engaged in the drygoods and grocery busi- ness, but his first job after arriving in Catlin was to take charge of the schools, which he supervised for four years.


J. C. Clayton was the first blacksmith and Crosby, Cook & Company started a successful furniture factory in 1858, which they operated several years.


Catlin was incorporated as a village March 24, 1863, as the result of a special election, at which twelve votes were cast for and none against the incorporation. April 3, the following village trustees were elected: S. Hodges, San- ford Calvert, J. C. Clayton, G. W. F. Church and Thomas Church. Clayton refused to serve and the board selected Doctor Richardson to fill the vacancy. The board elected the following officers: President, Sanford Calvert; clerk, G. W. F. Church. Twenty-eight votes were cast at a special election July 25, and S. Calvert was elected police magis- trate.


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The Vermilion County Agricultural and Mechanical Association which held the first fair in the county, was organized in 1850. The first fair was held in Danville where the Presbyterian Church now stands. It was a free fair and forty dollars was paid in premiums, this money being derived from the concessions.


The second fair was held on the bottoms near the Red Bridge. This was a bigger fair and the farmers became interested. Harvey Sandusky, Samuel Baum, Martin Moudy and P. S. Spencer showed fine cattle and Ward Hill Lamon, Lincoln's law partner, showed a fast horse and a monkey.


J. H. Oakwood, Mr. Milligan and Mr. Catlett were appointed a committee to organize the fair association and forty acres of land were rented and fenced at Butler's Point. A race track was laid out, an amphitheatre, floral and mechanical halls erected, and successful fairs were held there each year until 1878, when the fair was trans- ferred to Danville.


The Catlin Brass Band, organized by Frank Champion in 1866, flourished for years, playing all over this section. This was one of the first, if not the first, brass bands organ- ized in the county.


Catlin Township has an abundance of coal. The Hinds shaft was sunk in 1862 by William Hinds. John Faulds put down a shaft near the railroad, west of the village, in 1863. He reached a six-foot vein one hundred and forty- seven feet down. That was considered a great strike at the time, and statisticians estimated that the coal under each section of land would be worth about twelve million dollars. The event was celebrated with a big banquet in June, 1864, which was presided over by Capt. W. R. Tim- mons. Faulds operated this mine until 1870, after which


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McNair & Sweany worked it for a while, finally abandon- ing it.


The Ohio shaft, one and one-half miles east of Catlin, was sunk by Youngstown, Ohio, men in 1865. They found coal at a depth of one hundred and twenty feet. This changed hands often and eventually proved a financial loss. Charles Gones put down a shaft one mile northwest of Catlin, striking a six-foot vein at seventy feet and at an expense of about one thousand five hundred dollars. This was later leased by James Payne.


The Taylor-English and Peabody coal mine, south of Catlin, are now operated on a large scale.


The first Methodist Church in Catlin was built by Mr. Mills in 1842, and it stood a half mile north of its successor. Rev. Mr. York was pastor and the charge was on the Dan- ville circuit. The second Methodist Church was built in 1857 when Rev. Peter Wallace was pastor.


The Christian Church was built in 1873. The Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, known as Mount Vernon, was organized in 1840 by Rev. James Ashmore, of Foster Pres- bytery. At one time it numbered two hundred and fifty members. The Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1876, although the society was organized in 1869 by Rev. John Helmic.


This brief resume of the historical points of interest about Catlin township justifies the claim of its being the cradle of Vermilion county and through the perpetuation of God's Acre, the traditions of Butler's Point, the first seat of government in the county, should be preserved for future generations.


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CARROLL TOWNSHIP


On March 18, 1826, at the second meeting of the coun- ty commissioners, the county was divided into two town- ships or divisions. That territory lying south of the center of Congressional Town 18 was called Carroll and all north of that line was named Ripley. This was twenty-five years before township organization was adopted and it is not clear why the division was made. The name Carroll was probably in honor of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who was ninety years old at that time.


Several townships have been taken from the original Carroll until its present size is about that of the regular congressional township of approximately thirty-six square miles.


Water and timber, the two prime necessities for early settlement, were found in abundance. These features made it an attractive location for the early pioneers, whether of the roving class or those seeking permanent homes.


John Myers, known as "Injin John," was said to have been the first settler in Carroll. He was here at an early day but whether he was the first is uncertain. He traded an eighty-acre farm in Ohio for eight hundred acres with Mr. Starr, of Palestine. Starr never lived here. He had bought this tract at the land sales at Palestine, where the land office was located at that time.


"Injin John" came here to live and gave his brother-in- law, Joseph Frazier, a quarter section if he would come with him. They came here in 1821. Frazier's quarter was covered with a heavy growth of black walnut, which was made into rails. "Injin John" was given that title because


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of the fact that he had been a great Indian fighter before coming here. He had also served in the Blackhawk War. He owned considerable land here at one time, but finally lost it all in one way or another and finally went farther west and settled on the Illinois River, where he died.


Barnett Starr, a nephew of the Starr from whom "Injin John" got his land and a brother of Absalom Starr, came here in 1821. Moses Bradshaw came here from Vir- ginia the same year but soon returned to Virginia on account of his health.


Simon Cox came in 1822 and took up land. He and "Injin John" Myers built a mill, about a mile southeast of Indianola. It was both a grist and sawmill, and at first was a water-power affair, and later they added steam power, but it seems that it was not much of a success.


William McDowell, from Kentucky, settled here in 1823. He died soon after, as did several of his family, and his son, John, carried on and became a large landowner.


"Old Abe Williams," as he was familiarly known, came from Tennessee in 1824. He made his home two miles south of Indianola. He was a very religious man and practiced his conviction in every-day life. He was inter- ested in building the first Methodist Church in the county -the "Lebenan"-which stood across the stream from his house. Before the church was built his home was the home of the itinerant preachers and at his home early services were held. He served in the Blackhawk War and lived to be nearly a hundred years old.


Mr. Helvenston was the first person buried in the Frazier graveyard. He was killed in Hickory Grove by a falling tree while hunting.


Robert Dickson came here in 1824. He had four sons. Silas Waters came here from Kentucky in 1828. They


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brought nine children with them, all of whom reached ripe old ages. John Reed came here from Kentucky in 1829. He later went to Navoo and joined the Mormons there. Aaron Mendenhall came here in 1827 and took up land in section thirty-four, in the eastern part of the township. He died in 1840. George Barnett came from Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1828. He had some means when he came here and became well-to-do. He was elected a member of the Legislature.


Robert E. Barnett taught the first school here, in 1829, in a little log cabin on his father's place. He had received a good education in Kentucky and was a competent teacher for those times. The text books used in the school were Webster's speller, the English reader, Murray's grammar, and Pike's arithmetic.


Some of the earliest settlements made in the county were on the northwestern edges of the timber which skirted the Little Vermilion in this and the adjoining townships. They came here, in 1820, the same year that Henry John- son did, who settled just across the line in what is now Georgetown Township.


William Swank settled here in 1820. A part of India- nola is located on his farm. Alexander McDonald came here in 1822. He and his father-in-law, J. B. Alexander, entered considerable land in this township. However, Mr. Alexander did not live here until 1826, when the county was organized. He was elected one of the first county commissioners. He had lived in Paris, Edgar County. I. R. Moore was another son-in-law of Alexander, who had preceded him here. Two daughters came with Alexander and they afterwards married Mr. Cunningham and Mr. Murphy, who later were leading business men of Danville.


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The first Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organ- ized at the home of Alexander McDonald and he was elected the first elder. He was an early justice of the peace and the first postoffice-Carroll-was at his house. This was the second postoffice in this part of the county, the first being at Georgetown. His daughter, Elizabeth, who later married Mr. Harmon, was one of the first white chil- dren born in the county.


Dr. Thomas Madden was the first physician in this township. He was a native of South Carolina and was reared and educated in that state. He was for some time the only doctor in this vicinity. Dr. Thomas Heywood, though long known as a leading physician here, did not come for some years later. He came from Ohio in 1828. After spending a few years at Georgetown he bought a farm south of Indianola and made his home there, continu- ing the practice of medicine. He married a sister of R. E. Barnett. He took an active part in politics and was a strong anti-slavery man, and thus a strong supporter of Lincoln and a member of the Republican party at its organization. He served in the legislature. Isaac and Abraham Sandusky came here in 1834. They were Ken- tuckians, members of a prominent pioneer family of Kentucky. Isaac had served in the War of 1812. They were among the prominent early settlers of the county and many of their descendants still live in the county. The original spelling of the name was Sodowsky. They were descendants of a Polish refugee, a member of an old Polish family, who came to Virginia in 1756.




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