History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume One, Part 18

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 18


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James Holmes was an early settler, coming from Ken- tucky. He was elected justice of the peace in 1846, before township organization was effected.


The northeastern part of the county was practically uncultivated prairie until after the railroad was built. William Allen was the pioneer settler in the northern part of the township. He came from Ohio in 1844 and taught school three miles south of Danville in the Jones neighbor- hood. He afterwards taught in Newell. He then lived in


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Danville and practiced law for a time and also served as assistant to W. D. Palmer, county superintendent. In May, 1850, he took up a farm on the prairie northwest of Hoopeston. The county line was the northwestern boun- dary of his farm.


Thomas Hoopes, for whom Hoopeston was named, bought land in the vicinity of the present Hoopeston in 1853 and came here in 1855 and commenced making some improvements. He specialized in raising sheep. Mr. Hoopes was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood. He went to Harrison County, Ohio, lived in Marion, Ohio, for a time and after buying land here came to make his home here, and spent the remainder of his life here.


The city of Hoopeston is located in the northern part of Grant Township, population five thousand four hundred and fifty-one; Cheneyville, in the northern part of the township, has a population of one hundred and twenty.


BUTLER TOWNSHIP


Butler Township is located in the northwestern cor- ner of Vermilion County. It was organized in 1864 and named in honor of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler of Civil War fame. The settlement of this part of Vermilion County seems to have been delayed for some reason, or rather for no reason at all. The land was originally entirely prairie, and, although embracing some of the finest farm land in the county scarcely any of it came under cultivation before 1855.


Probably the first farming was done here in 1854. In that year J. H. Swartz and several neighbors came from Ohio and entered land here. Mr. Schwartz entered land


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on section thirty, Mr. Yates on section nineteen; Phoebe Bennett on section thirty; and Mr. Bennett on section twenty-nine. Lewis John, a son-in-law of Mr. Schwartz, settled on section twenty in 1859. The hard times of 1857 coming soon after the first settlers located in this town- ship worked a very severe hardship on nearly all of them. Corn became the principal article of food. There was no money. All the paper currency of the west was based upon the faith the people had in bankers, many of which were foreign to the state or were myths. The various kinds of bank bills would be taken at par one day and refused at a heavy discount the next. The currency of the country was in fearful shape. Bank note detectors were consulted by every business man whenever he received money, to try to discover whether it was safe to take. Gold and silver was about the only standard money, but there was neither gold nor silver.


In 1855 Daniel Stamp came here from New York and bought land in section fourteen. Fred Stamp settled on section fifteen about the same time. James Dixon settled on section eleven. John Jones improved a farm just north of Schwartz's place. Caleb T. Beals came in 1856 and took land on section three. John Dapps started farming on section fifteen in 1855. David Dapps was with him. The Dapps brothers were pioneers of the Methodist faith here and the first Methodist class was formed at the home of Eli Dapps, another brother who lived across the line in Ford County.


Another early settler here was J. W. Shannon who came in 1855 and took up land in section thirty-five. About the same time Mr. Clark settled on section fourteen, C. McCune came from Ohio and settled on section seven in 1857. William I. Allen, a Grant Township pioneer, pur-


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chased land north of East Lynn in 1855 and had it im- proved. Ruffin Clark came from Indiana in 1856 and settled in section twenty-eight. He was a progressive citi- zen and took a keen interest in schools. He died in 1869. George Mains settled on section twenty-one in 1856. Daniel S. French settled on the same section in 1857. Jacob Swisher settled on section twelve (22-13) in 1855. Jesse Piles came here about the same time and settled on section ten (22-14) in the extreme southwestern part of the town- ship. Jonathan Dane came here in 1856 and settled on sec- tion 15 (23-14). John Pursley came in 1857. He bought half of section eleven, near Rankin. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted and died in the service.


The nearest mill for a time was at Myersville until Persons purchased and refitted the Ross Mill. The near- est trading point was at a place called Loda, twelve miles north, which was a famous point for trade for all this country until the distillery burned and the building of the railroad drew merchants away from there, and the town vanished as far as its importance was concerned.


The settlers here in the early days did not raise many cattle for some reason. They all tried wheat for a time, until continued failures used up all they had kept for seed without any return. Corn and hogs were the staple prod- ucts. Hogs almost always brought a paying price, and there was no cholera at that time. Flax was raised some. Land was worth from two dollars and a half to five dollars an acre.


As late as 1857 there were a great many deer here. Wolves were as thick as rabbits as late as 1858. Of a flock of sheep which had gotten away from a man in the northern part of the township eighty were killed in one night by wolves. There were lots of badgers, rattlesnakes


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were everywhere. They were so plentiful that on a single farm a hundred were killed in one season. They were dangerous neighbors. They seem as adverse to civilization as any of the wild animals. As soon as the prairie grass was plowed or cultivated they disappeared. Scarcely any of them have been seen here since 1870. Prairie chickens were very plentiful. Sandhill cranes were numerous as they nested here in the ponds.


The first Methodist class was organized at the house of Eli Dapps in 1855. C. Atkinson was the preacher in charge.


Wallace Chapel at Blue Glass and the old log house, called Partlow's Church, were the only churches in all this section of the country. They belonged to the Danville cir- cuit and Mr. Elliott was the presiding elder. After him W. H. T. Moore was presiding elder. The society at East Lynn was formed in 1869 and a church was built in 1875.


A Christian church, known as Prairie Chapel was built near Swishers in 1861. Elder Rawley Martin preached there, as he did all over the country. He was the pioneer preacher of this denomination. Jacob Swisher was one of the most influential members and was instrumental in having the church built near his residence.


A United Brethren church was organized about 1878 by Mr. Zigler, and Mr. Scott was the first preacher.


Rankin with a population of nine hundred and forty- four, and East Lynn, population, three hundred and fifty, are located in the northern part of the township. Reilly is a small station of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad.


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SIDELL TOWNSHIP


Sidell Township is located in the southwestern part of the county. It was a part of Carroll Township until 1867 when it was organized and given the name Sidell, in honor of Hon. John Sidell, who owned a large farm here.


This township was originally all prairie except a few small groves, aggregating less than two square miles. For this reason it failed to attract much attention during the first twenty-five years of the county's history. The little groves had been taken but the broad expanse of prairie re- mained unsettled. This stretch of prairie was noted in the early days for the millions of flies found there at certain seasons. During the month of August people found it necessary to travel by night to save their horses from being almost eaten alive by these pests. This condition was fre- quently found on the unbroken prairie in the early days.


It was not until 1855 to 1860 that anything like general cultivation can be said to have taken place in what is now Sidell Township, although there were a few scattered resi- dents there prior to 1850. In 1853 Michael Sullivant be- gan making large entries of land in this and adjoining counties. He entered forty-seven thousand acres lying in one body in Sidell Township and in Champaign County. About the same time he entered fifty thousand acres in Ford and Livingston counties. After Mr. Sullivant had brought his land in Champaign County under cultivation he sold it. He then turned his attention to cultivating his vast holdings in Ford and Livingston counties. No part of his land was leased. He depended upon operating it with hired help and raising grain for market.


That portion of the Sullivant land in Sidell Township came into possession of his son, Joseph. His plan of op-


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erating was different from his father's. He engaged ex- tensively in cattle raising and feeding. He bought cattle from the ranges in Texas, and the Indian nation and shipped them here for feeding. He prospered for a time but on account of a contagious disease among cattle known as "Texas fever" and restrictive legislation governing transportation of cattle and consequent litigation arising from it, Mr. Sullivant, in common with many other big cattlemen of the state met with great financial loss.


There were only a few straggling settlers here before the advent of Mr. Sullivant. A man named Boose who was a hunter of game and places lived at Jacksons Grove in 1828, but was soon on his way to some place else. Bob Cruisan lived at Sidell's Grove in 1830 but only remained a year or two. Hammer and Myers were first at Jackson's Grove but Thomas Brewer entered the land where they were "squatters" and they moved on into the wide open space of somewhere.


Josephus Collett, of Indiana, entered the land including the small groves along the Little Vermilion in 1844, know- ing that this land would be in demand by permanent set- tlers. These tracts entered by him included Sidell Grove, Jackson Grove, Garrett Grove, Rowan Grove and probably Twin Grove. Frank Foss is given credit for making the first permanent improvement in this township in 1851. When he settled there his nearest neighbor was four miles away. He built a house on his place and after living there a few years traded it to Edward Rowan and moved to Indi- anola. A man named Tole came here shortly after Foss. and started to farm at Garrett's Grove. He remained only a season or two when he resumed his journey to some other haven of disappointment.


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In 1852 John Stark came here with a large family and took up land on section twenty-nine. He was an enterpris- ing and successful farmer and much respected. He died on his farm in this township. William Gray came in 1858 and settled on section thirty. Archabald McDowell came here in 1855 and lived on section thirty-three. W. H. Sconce came here with his father in 1858.


Hon. John Sidell, after whom the township was named, came here from Ohio in 1861. He commenced life as a carpenter in Ohio and had considerable means when he arrived. He became the owner of a beautiful farm of about three thousand acres along the Little Vermilion, and he owned several thousand acres besides this. In 1873 he sold some of his land for one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars, and after that, he carried on, perhaps, the largest cattle business in Vermilion County.


Church organization did not seem to get an early start in Sidell. The Sidell appointment of the Methodist Church was organized in 1870.


The Cumberland Presbyterians organized at Sheridan School House in 1875 by Rev. H. H. Ashmore.


The Methodist Episcopal "No. 9," so called from being organized in school district No. 9, was organized in 1866 by Rev. Benjamin F. Newman. The leading members were James Currant, William Ray, Thomas Gibson, John Tal- bert, James Thomas and Mr. Welch.


Sidell and Allerton are located on the Chicago & East- ern Illinois Railroad in this township. The former has a population of eight hundred and the latter three hundred and seventy-one. Hastings is another station on the same railroad.


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OAKWOOD TOWNSHIP


Oakwood was created as a separate township in 1868. The territory comprising this township was taken from Pilot, Vance and Catlin townships. It was named in honor of Henry Oakwood, a pioneer settler in this part of the county.


The early settlement of this township was made in con- nection with the discovery and manufacturing of salt. This no doubt was the first settlement in the county. Capt. Truman Blackman with a party consisting of his brother, Remember Blackman, George Beckwith, Seymour Treat, Peter Allen and Francis Whitcomb, arrived here at the saline springs on October 31, 1819. After some experi- ments to satisfy themselves that they had found salt, Beck- with and Whitcomb were left in charge, to hold possession against the intrusion of other explorers, and go on develop- ing the saline waters while the others returned to Fort Harrison and procured a team, tools and provisions, with a view of future operations. In the latter part of November, 1819, Treat returned, coming up the Wabash and Ver- milion rivers in a pirogue with tools, provisions, and his wife and children. With the assistance of Beckwith and Whitcomb, a cabin was quickly erected and Treat and his family took possession. This was the first settlement within the borders of what is now Vermilion County. Treat's family suffered all the privations and hardships in- cident to pioneer life. Their nearest neighbors were forty miles away at North Arm Prairie. A year later Treat, writing to the governor, says: "That his family had re- mained on the ground ever since their arrival, except one who had fallen a victim to the sufferings and privations which they have had to endure in a situation so remote


ENTRANCE TO MEMORIAL BRIDGE, DANVILLE


Y. M. C. A. BUILDING, DANVILLE, ILL


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from a settled country, without the means of procuring the ordinary comforts of life."


There was considerable conflict of claims between the parties or their assignees, who discovered the saline springs and started operations, that were not adjusted un- til December 13, 1822, when the differences were settled before Governor Bond at Vandalia, in an agreement which defined the shares of each. After that the output of salt was increased and in 1824 John W. Vance obtained pos- session and began the manufacturing of salt on a large scale.


Mr. Bailey settled on Stony Creek in 1821 or 1822, on section sixteen. He sold out to Harvey Ludington. Stony Creek was called Ludington's Branch for a long time. Mr. Walker was the next settler. He went a little farther up Stony Creek to build his cabin. The settlements along Salt Creek on the south side of the township were first. The next settler who came after those already mentioned, built a water mill on the Salt Fork. This mill was in operation as early as 1826, and perhaps a year prior to that time. In 1826 Nathaniel Mead from Hartford, Connecticut, on a "prospecting trip," bought land. After a short stay here he went to Indiana, but returned in 1835, and spent the remainder of his life here. He lived to an advanced age. He was born in 1800. William Smith opened up a farm here in 1830. He took a prominent part in the early affairs of this section. Mr. Lander and Mr. Shearer came about the same time. Mr. Pogue settled farther west near the county line. Mr. Brewer and Stephen Crane were also early settlers, and Thomas W. and John I. Deakin came here in 1835. On the west side of Stony Creek Wm. Wright was an early settler. In 1832 Aaron Dalby came over from the south side of Salt Fork and settled on a farm one mile


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south of Muncie. He was a millwright and built the second mill on Salt Fork. John Shepherd, who came in 1836, was the proprietor, but Mr. Dalby was the architect and builder.


A little farther up Stony Creek we find John McCarty in 1836. Beyond him and later we find Harrison and Seneca Stearns. They came here later in the year of 1836. Harvard and Cast came in 1838.


James Norris, Henry Oakwood, and Mr. Roland made the first settlements in what was called the Oakwood neigh- borhood in 1833.


Henry Oakwood, after whom the township was named, remained here until his death. He took a prominent part in local affairs and his life's work was identified with the best interests of the community. Mr. Hubbard also came in 1833 and was prominent in early day affairs. Henry Sallee came here in 1834. He was a young man when he came here and married a daughter of Henry Oakwood.


Quite extensive settlement was made up the Middle Fork about the time the salt works began to be operated. There were quite a good many so called "squatters" who settled in the timber, but most of them were of the class that drifted from one place to another and finally ended in no place, so far as is known.


Jesse Ventres and James Howell came to this neigh- borhood about 1827. They were from Kentucky. Abra- ham W. Rutlidge came here about 1832. Henry Griffith settled here in 1826 or 1827. He was prominent in early day affairs and spent his life here. A Baptist preacher named Richard Gideon, also came about 1826. Thomas Makemson, a Revolutionary soldier, and his sons, Andrew, David, Samuel, John and James came here in 1828. A. W. Brittingham came here from Maryland in 1830. He was a


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young man and unmarried. He later married a daughter of Thomas G. Watson.


James Cox, a Kentuckian, settled here in 1828 and re- mained until his death in 1846. He had two sons, Stephen and William, who also spent their lives in this township. William Craig settled here on land which he entered in 1829.


William Parris claimed to be the first man that ven- tured out into the prairie to make a settlement in Oakwood Township. He moved from the state road where he had lived since 1834 to the edge of the prairie, northwest of Muncie in 1842. In 1844 he moved out on the prairie a little farther. At that time large tracts of land lay un- occupied and almost unfrequented within the present lim- its of Oakwood Township. All of the western part of the Township was unsettled and much of it sold afterwards at a very low figure. Such as was denominated swamp land was as low as twelve and a half cents per acre.


The first to settle on the prairie, northwest of where the village of Fithian now stands was James H. Black, in 1856. Even up to that time the average settler would not venture to make his home out on the open prairie, but Black was a venturesome soul and it seems that his vision was better than the average pioneer. He made good on his prairie farm and became very well-to-do. Shortly after this time William M. Rutledge located in the northwest corner of Oakwood Township. He was a son of A. W. Rutledge, who located southeast of New Town in 1832. These pioneers of the prairie enjoyed a remarkable degree of success. They bought their land for a trifle and were not under the necessity of clearing it before they could cultivate. They had many advantages over those who in- sisted on settling in the timber.


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Although the township system of organization was adopted in 1850, Oakwood was not created until March 9, 1868, although a movement had been on for its creation for about six months. The first election was held at Stearns' School House April 7, 1868.


The railroad was built through the township from east to west, in 1870 and 1871. It was then known as the In- dianapolis, Bloomington and Western, now a part of the New York Central System. This road opened up splendid shipping facilities much to the advance in land values and produce prices. The oldest wagon road in the township, or in the western part of the county, is the old state road which dates back to the very early settlements in this section.


The first organized church in Oakwood Township, of which we have any positive record was what was called at a later day "Old Bethel." It was a Methodist church and was located about a half mile south of New Town. The first preaching of this denomination was by Revs. Risley, Fox and Colston. Before the church was built meetings were held in private homes. The church was built in 1835 or 1836. It was one of the first houses of worship in the county. People came from remote points in order to get within a church. Twenty miles was not considered a great distance to go in order to attend a quarterly meeting. This old building answered its purpose until 1873 when a new house was built at New Town. Nearly all the Methodist societies in Oakwood township were the outgrowth of the original one at Bethel.


Finley Chapel was built as a union church, but under the supervision of the Christian Church. This was in 1854. Zephaniah Wilkins was the principal man in hav- ing the building put up. Later through financial difficul-


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ties the Methodists bought it in 1860. At this time the so- ciety was organized by Rev. John C. Long, who was the first who preached in the church. The first Methodist preaching west of Stony Creek was probably by Eli Hel- mick. John C. Long, while on the New Town Circuit, held meetings in the school house above Conkey Town. Revs. Bradshaw and Wallace held meetings there also. A society was formed and kept up until the building of the church at Fithian. Rev. Eli Helmick preached in nearly every neighborhood in the western part of the county. As early as 1830 he traveled all over the county.


The Regular Predestinarian Baptists were active here at an early date. They held the first meetings in the neigh- borhood of Conkey Town. Meetings were held in a log house and Rhodes Smith was the principal man of influ- ence in the church. He kept a small store on the east side of Stony Creek on the State Road. John Orr was the first Baptist preacher. About 1858 a society was formed far- ther up the creek near Crab Apple Grove. John Orr or- ganized that and preached there. Later a church was built at Oakwood Station.


The Missionary Baptists established a church on Stony Creek about 1854. This was known as Walker's Point Church. The first preachers were Carter and Blanken- ship. The building was erected in 1857.


In 1874 Rev. H. H. Gunn organized a society of Chris- tians (New Lights) at the Central School House. He was its first preacher.


The Campbellite division of the Christian Church be- gan holding meetings in the school house north of Conkey Town. William P. Shokey was the minister. The Chris- tians (Campbellites) organized a society at the Gorman School House in 1869, Rev. R. M. Martin was the minister.


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There are a number of villages in Oakwood Township. Oakwood, population, five hundred and seventy-three; Fithian, population, four hundred and eighty-two; Muncie, population, two hundred and forty-eight, and Bronson, Glenburn, and Pilot.


JAMAICA TOWNSHIP


Jamaica Township was organized in 1890 and taken from Carroll, Sidell and Vance townships. The early his- tory of these three townships which appears in this volume, relates the story of this sub-division of the county. The only village in the township is Jamaica, which is located near the center and has a population of two hundred and seventeen. It is a station on the Chicago and Eastern Illi- nois Railroad.


LOVE TOWNSHIP


Love Township was created in 1902. It was taken from Elwood and consists of about the eastern half of Elwood Township as originally organized in 1851. There- fore the early history and settlement of Love Township ap- pears in the history of the mother township-Elwood.


Love Township was named in honor of Judge Love.


The only village in the township is Humrick, which is a railroad station and has a population of one hundred and twenty-three.


MCKINDREE TOWNSHIP


McKindree Township was created in December, 1912. Its territory composes what was formerly about the east- ern half of Georgetown Township. The early history of


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this locality is treated in the history of Georgetown Town- ship.


There are no villages of importance in this township.


SOUTH ROSS TOWNSHIP


South Ross Township was created from the south half of Ross Township in June, 1927.


CHAPTER XVI


THE VERMILION COUNTY BENCH AND BAR (By Hon. James A. Meeks)


EARLY LAWYERS-FIRST COURT HELD AT BUTLER'S POINT-JAMES O. WATTLES FIRST CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE-OTHER EARLY JUDGES- DAVID DAVIS-INFLUENCE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN THE DANVILLE COURTS-"UNCLE JOE" CANNON-LATER DAY LAWYERS-PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE BAR.


There is not much authentic written history of early Vermilion county lawyers. It is not definitely known who was the first. For a time it was thought that Solomon Banta was the first lawyer in the county, but that is a mistake. The first who acted as attorney in the county, of whom we have any knowledge, was Joseph Sample. He is said to have been seven feet high and was at least mighty in physical strength. He is said to have had entered the first judicial order ever made by any court in the county.




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