USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois, Volume One > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
Vermilion County Star, Danville, labor weekly, edited by Frank A. Leven; Sidell Journal, Sidell, T. B. Williams, publisher; Georgetown News, Georgetown, Fred W. Cheney, publisher; Ridgefarm Republican, Ridgefarm, A. H. Glick, publisher; and the Rankin Independent, Ran- kin, Charles R. Hill, publisher.
Fairmount Review was the last paper in the county to suspend publication. Westville boasted a weekly paper for several years, but this ceased publication about eight or ten years ago, although Westville has been steadily growing and improving and today is a city of more than four thousand people. Potomac also had a weekly paper for many years and there have been numerous other pub- lishing ventures about the county.
CHAPTER XXVII
-
NATIONAL SOLDIERS HOME
ESTABLISHMENT IN 1897-ITS PURPOSE-WAR VETERANS-HOSPITAL- BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS-MANAGEMENT-"UNCLE JOE" CANNON.
Danville has one institution that can not be classed as an industry, yet it pours more than a million dollars a year into the channels of Danville's business life. Neither is it a recreational center, an educational institution nor a com- mercial organization and yet it is one of Danville's biggest assets, both from the standpoint of its annual expenditures and its attraction for the general public.
This is the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Sol- diers, more popularly known as the Soldiers Home. It was established in Danville by an act of Congress, approved June 4, 1897, and was ready for use July 1, 1898, after several buildings had been completed.
The cost of the grounds and buildings, at a time when building costs were not as high as they are now, was one million, three hundred and twenty-one thousand, six hundred and ninety dollars and sixty-three cents. Of this amount forty-five thousand, nine hundred and sixty-one dollars and twenty-five cents was paid for the three hun- dred and twenty-five acres of land which comprise the gov- ernment reservation.
483
484
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
It is one of a chain of national homes, controlled by a national board and at the present time houses approxi- mately two thousand three hundred and fifty men and women, for there are twenty women, who were either navy yeomanettes or army nurses, at the home. This number varies from day to day, as there are men leaving and entering every day.
It was originally established for the Civil War veter- ans, but today there are only four hundred and twenty-nine of the survivors of the struggle of 1861 at the home, and they are rapidly passing away.
There are one thousand nine hundred and thirteen vet- erans of the Spanish-American War at the home today, these ex-soldiers forming the greatest percentage of mem- bers. This number also includes the veterans of the Indian campaigns, World War veterans number eight hundred and fifty-nine. Ex-service men from the army, the navy and the Marine Corps are admitted to the national home.
There are a total of fifty-seven buildings on the govern- ment reservation, including everything. Col. O. K. Mar- shall, who came here about three years ago from the home in Los Angeles, California, is the governor. Colonel Mar- shall had been governor of the Los Angeles home for six years.
Governor Marshall has a staff of fourteen officers un- der him, besides the four hundred and twenty-five employes of the home, part of whom are civilians and part members of the home who prefer to work.
The operating expenses alone of this institution amount to an average of six hundred and twenty-five thousand dol- lars a year, which does not include the monthly pensions paid the members by the government, which will average
485
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
sixty-five thousand dollars a month, or seven hundred and eighty thousand dollars a year, the greater part of which is also spent in Danville.
There is a well equipped hospital of two hundred and sixty-five beds, with a chief surgeon and a staff of five assistant surgeons, three consulting doctors and twenty nurses. And a bill is now pending before Congress for an addition to the hospital.
The home maintains its own greenhouses, from which flowers are available at all times of the year for the hos- pital. The farm land which forms part of the reservation is cultivated. There is a home store, where the members can buy hundreds of articles.
The street railway system of Danville has a line ex- tended into the home grounds, where there is a depot, and ten minute service is maintained between the home and the downtown district.
The government has even seen fit to provide high class league baseball for the members by leasing the ground for the Three-Eye League baseball park, the members being permitted to view the games without charge.
During the years that have passed since its establish- ment, the trees and shrubbery have grown to a point now where the home grounds present the appearance of a beau- tiful park, well landscaped, with plenty of flowers bloom- ing through the summer months.
The various buildings are almost hidden among the trees and the whole gives Danville one of its most noted beauty spots, which is visited by practically everyone who comes to this city.
The home maintains a band, which plays concerts throughout the summer months, to which the public is in-
486
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
vited. Many of the members have purchased small homes in that section of the city, where they maintain their families.
The National Soldiers Home, which was secured for Danville through the efforts of Uncle Joe Cannon, is one of Danville's assets.
CHAPTER XXVIII
EARLY MILLS IN VERMILION COUNTY By Juanita Martin
TOWN OF ALVIN TODAY-IMPORTANCE OF THE MILL-OLD BARLOW MILL AND ITS CENTURY OF SERVICE-MILLING IN DANVILLE-AMOS WIL- LIAMS-A LIFE OF SERVICE-SIGNIFICANCE OF A PIONEER INDUSTRY.
It was in just such a town as one would expect to find an old mill-a town that "smacked" of the past. Such is Alvin, Illinois, of today! Entering the small town for the first time to view its famous old mill, I noticed especially its exterior. Leaving the paved road at its "city limits" we bumped along over deep ruts. We even doubted that we were in a twentieth century town, but wondered if old Time had not taken us back a hundred years. Not an automobile parked along its one business street! A garage-not a blacksmith shop-brought us back to the present century. It was Sunday-even the garage was closed. Not a living creature was in sight but ourselves. A train whistle and a fast non-stop express broke the still- ness of the little town. Somehow the present day sounds seemed out-of-place there. We preferred our train of thoughts concerning the past century unbroken by re- minders of the present. We seemed to be surrounded by virgin forests. The tall, gnarled, old oaks seemed to tell us that they had stood there for ages. From these trees
487
488
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
peeped little cottages-not our present day cottages-but those that brought before our view a page from our old history books, or an old engraving in grandmother's home -the picture of the pioneer cottage of the early nineteenth century.
Up slight bush-covered hills and down rock ravines! We were living in the past when we crossed the narrow, dirt dam and faced Barlow Mill. The mill was built on an embankment. Huge, rough-hewn posts supported the old, old building. Now and then a post showed its decay. We even doubted their ability to support the rambling struc- ture above. The building was weather-boarded-not with the narrow smooth, over-lapping boards of today, but with wide rough boards, that told their own story, of hours of labor and strain, with hand made tools, as the hardy pio- neer slowly cut them from the giant trees. The door was solidly built except for a little glass window about a foot square. Glass was expensive and scarce in those days.
The present operator of the mill-"mill wright and pat- tern maker," George Fusselman, still in his miller's clothes, took us through the mill. The ponderous door swung open, and, hesitatingly we entered. The odor of ground meal, corn, and buckwheat assailed our nostrils. An old green and white cat lay curled upon the sack of meal or flour (whatever it might be). Upon our entrance she slowly stretched, as if yawning, and, being a very affectionate kitty, accompanied us on our tour. The boards beneath our feet were worn. Through the cracks we could see the base- ment or, what was really the first floor of the mill. All the while the roar and swish of falling water filled our ears.
To our left was the office, the only modern and new part of the mill. The yellow, new, unpainted boards con-
489
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
trasted greatly with the dark worn floor. We went through a trap door (if it can be called such) down tottering stairs to the basement of the mill. By walking out on a narrow board, we could look down into a wooden bin or enclosure of about six feet square. The water poured through a nar- row opening, falling some four or five feet into the bin. On the outer edge of the bin, where the water seeped through were rows and rows of massive, clear icicles, a pretty sight.
The power generated by the water wheel and controlled by a turbine set several wheels rotating. Connected by bands these wheels, of which there were four or more in number, started the shaft turning which in turn started the motion of the stone burr. We had seen the mechanical power of the mill, so again we climbed the creaking steps to the upper floor.
Mr. Fusselman told us a little of the history of the mill. The mill was first built in 1838, almost a hundred years ago. The burrs now used, which are the original stones, came from France. They came by water to Perrysville, Indiana, from New Orleans, by way of the Mississippi, the Ohio and the Wabash. The remaining journey to Alvin was completed by wagon. Another set of stones was brought there to be used but did not prove as satisfactory as the original ones, so they were again used.
The mill is located on the East Fork of the North Fork River. The mill performs other services as well; hydro- electric power is generated for the surrounding com- munity, and ice is cut in the winter. Corn meal and buck- wheat flour are the main products of the mill, but no wheat flour because it could not compete with the white and re- fined flour of the great modern mills. Mr. Fusselman con-
490
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
cluded somewhat wistfully, shall I say, with the merits of the old time flour as, "good old wholesome stuff."
Mrs. Barlow, the present owner of the mill and the sister of Mr. Fusselman, told us much of its past history. The mill was built in 1832 by Joe Chrisman. He had started building a mill at Myersville, but during the con- struction an excavation fell on one of the Chrismans, kill- ing him. As the surroundings brought uphappy memories they bought the mill site at Alvin, where the present mill is located. The mill passed through various hands, but, perhaps, is best known to old settlers as the Ross Mill, or the Maines Mill, but to the present generation as Barlow Mill. The mill with a firm foundation would probably last for many years still, but the posts are now rapidly decaying and may soon fall. It is hoped that the mill will last four more years, thus completing its century of milling service. The mill now supplies some twenty-eight or nine stores of Danville with corn meal.
Many incidents of interest are connected with the mill. One that probably captures our interest, if not our admira- tion, was the murder of one of the mill owners, by the name of Persons. Persons and Miller were arguing over a small account. In the heat of the argument Miller dropped his pocket book on the counter and went off-for- getting it. He hired three men to either secure the pocket- book, or kill Persons. One of the conspirators, a little the worse for drink, followed Persons into the meadow one evening. Without giving Persons a chance to explain or return the pocket-book, the fellow shot him down.
At one time there was a little store built a few yards from the mill. With a small stock the mill owner supplied the simple necessities of the community. Looking across the rolling wooded land we could scarcely realize that once
491
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
it was a very famous Indian camping ground, and that often Indians visited the old mill and walked upon the very boards upon which he had just trod. A motley crowd of pioneers mixed with Indians would gather at the old mill on voting day. Many heated arguments, not a few fights, and an excessive flowing of "old corn whiskey" would ensue.
Barlow Mill is the only old mill still in use in Vermilion County, and is said to be one of the remaining two in Illi- nois. The mill has seen "a glorious past" and we hope it may last for many years to come.
In the vicinity of Danville, milling proved a profitable and wide-spread industry. Numbers of mills were erected here only to be destroyed or abandoned during the advance of civilization. The Bob Trickle Mill, better known as the Gilbert Mill, the first mill in Danville, the Kyger Mill, later the Amber Mills, and scores of others may awaken in some of the old settlers a reminiscent line of thought.
Amos Williams, "who held almost all the offices (in Danville) at that time from postmaster to poundmaster," bought a site on the Vermilion and probably built the mill that is better known as Cotton's Mill. The date has faded from memory. But it seems Williams was better fitted for municipal offices, for the mill proved a great expense. The mill was purchased, at William's death, by Mr. Cotton, who operated it until 1867, when modern milling forced him out of business.
At a time before the dam was built in the Vermilion River, when the water was low, an old stone could be seen in the bed near the present Memorial Bridge. "Thousands of people have seen it," either in the river bed or in front of one of Danville's residences. Little did we know that that stone had once been used in the old Gilbert Mill, that
492
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
it had been hewn from a rough river boulder by Amos Williams. For years the stone had turned and turned. Bushels and bushels of grain had been ground beneath its rough surface. It had performed its service for the mill and was discarded-probably thrown into the river. Years passed-the stone had probably been carried down the stream during high water.
The ferry boat needed a post of some sort to stay its river end. A pole could not be buried deep enough to withstand the surge of the waves. The old mill stone again performed a valuable service. "By framing the staff into the hole in the stone, however, all these difficulties would be obviated; and this plan was tried, which proved a great success." The years passed. The ferry no longer existed. Again the stone was forgotten. Perhaps many, passing over the wagon bridge, noticed with indifference the huge, peculiarly-shaped rock. Only a few knew its history and appreciated its service. One removed the stone and placed it in front of his home, where it stands today-a stone still intact, the grooves still as perfectly shaped as in their first years. Another service may be demanded of the stone -- that of becoming a stone garden table. The old mill burr has given Danville a "life" of service.
The cry of the Indian echoed over the hills and streams. The prairie fire lightened the gloom of twilight. An old log building stood in the foreground, silhouetted against the evening sky. Dusky figures crept stealthily into the shadows of the forests. The swish of the water and the creaking of the water wheel gained in volume. The war cry of the Indians became fainter-and then silence.
493
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
The dawn of a tomorrow flooded the skies! Dark masses of steel, brick, and stone were revealed in the morn- ing glow.
The old mills are gone, only an old stone or perhaps a few decayed logs mark their sites. The Indian cry is no longer heard, only the shrill whistle of the trains, as they rush over the old Indian hunting ground. The prairie fires are lost in the dazzling brightness of the age of electricity. The hum of hydro-electric driven motors take the place of the swishing water wheels. Twilight has only faded into -dawn.
CHAPTER XXIX
EXTINCT TOWNS (By W. H. Hackman)
THE PASSING OF SALEM-WEAVER CITY IN 1872-FATE OF THE TOWN OF GILBERT-PROSPECT CITY - LEESBURG - MONROE - FRANKLIN --- MYERSVILLE-GREENVILLE-EARLIER NAMES OF PRESENT TOWNS- EFFECT OF THE RAILROAD.
Many times you hear the expression : "The old town's dead, dead as a town can be."
Maybe you have used the expression yourself, without seriously considering what it means to be a "dead town." During the century which has elapsed since the formation of Vermilion County, nearly a score of towns have really died.
In many instances the "dead towns" have not even a little stone marker to tell where they once thrived-where the laughter of children once echoed in their streets. Some of them once had hopes of becoming the county seat of the great county of Vermilion. At least one of them, Den- mark, came near being selected as such. Where once the early settlers of the county were wont to race their fleet horses down the principal street of Denmark, on holidays, the waters of Lake Vermilion now flow gently toward the big dam which impounds millions of gallons of water for Danville's use.
495
496
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
These early towns have passed from the picture along with the pioneers who helped conquer the prairie, even their names being unfamiliar to the present generation.
In many instances the really "dead towns" did not die natural deaths, but were killed in their infancy by the com- ing of the railroads. During the early years of the county, as was the case in many other counties in Illinois, and during the half century before the great steel highways penetrated the wilderness of the extensive prairie, it was the custom to build towns at cross roads, and as roads were laid out villages sprung up as if by magic, only to wither and die as the inhabitants moved to other places which had a better chance to survive.
Usually the town was built around a plaza or hollow. square, with a blacksmith shop flanking the square and a general store at the other side. In this manner Danville was laid out by Daniel W. Beckwith, in whose honor the town was named. Georgetown is another example of this early custom.
For a few years the town of Salem looked like a "comer," but all that remains of it is a field just east of the Goodwine Cemetery, south of Jamesburg and east of what was once Higginsville. Salem was surveyed and platted, according to a deed on file in the office of County Recorder William H. Carter, in March, 1836, ten years after Vermilion County came into existence. The plat was filed for record on April 21 of that year by B. T. Herring, surveyor. It prospered for a time, or until the residents started moving to Vermilion Rapids, the town that appar- ently was destined to be one of the biggest on the prairie. This town was laid out in 1836 also and efforts were made to sell lots in New York, the promoters claiming that the Vermilion River was navigable to the rapids, where the
497
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
new town was built. Later, after all efforts to interest eastern capital in the city at the head of navigation, the town took on the name of Higginsville, after the name of its founder, Amando Higgins. With the construction of the Rossville-Sidell branch of the Chicago & Eastern Illi- nois Railroad, which missed Higginsville, the town of Jamesburg sprung up on the railroad, and all that remains of Higginsville is a memory, there being little to mark the spot where it once stood. There is still a ripple in the Mid- dlefork River, where the rapids of nearly one hundred years ago were supposed to head off any further navigation upstream.
Weaver City was another town with bright prospects, laid out and platted for George Weaver by Alexander Bow- man in 1872. Weaver, on whose land the town was built, conceived the idea that by building on both sides of the Logansport, Bloomington & Western Railroad, later the Lake Erie & Western, and now owned by the Nickel Plate, he could build a city that would stand forever and be a monument to his memory. For some reason the town failed, and there is nothing to mark its grave, just east of the present village of Cheneyville, near the state line between Illinois and Indiana.
A like fate met the town of Gilbert, which was named for Alvan Gilbert, pioneer resident of Rossville and for many years a prominent member of the board of super- visors of Vermilion county. Gilbert was just west of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad, about half-way be- tween the present village of Alvin and the unincorporated town of Bismarck. When the narrow gauge railroad, now known as the Illinois Central Railroad, was built from West Lebanon, Indiana, to Leroy, Illinois, Gilbert began to die and the town of Alvin came into being. Through an
498
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
error in getting up a petition for the location of a post- office in Alvin, the name of the town was given as "Alvin," instead of "Alvan." Both the Illinois Central and the Chi- cago and Eastern Illinois railroads called the station "Alvan" for many years, but the government would not change the name of the postoffice, and about twenty years ago even the railroads changed the spelling and "Alvin" it is.
Prospect City was another town laid out in the north part of the county, which has for a long time been in the discard, but which gave promise early of being a good town. It was laid out for Jane Taft, said to have been a distant relative of the late Chief Justice William Howard Taft of the United States Supreme Court, in 1857 by Ashel D. Southworth, surveyor. It was east of the present city of Hoopeston. The town failed to make good, how- ever, and when Hoopeston came into existence with the building of the railroad, Prospect City passed out of the picture.
Leesburg was for a time the metropolis of the southern part of the county. It came into being in 1850, being platted for Uriah McMillan by Joseph Smith. According to the plat on file in the recorder's office it was located about three or four miles southeast of Himrod, in McKendree Township.
Where the town of Monroe once stood is now a field south of the village of Humerick, in Love Township. Mon- roe grew for a time and disappeared almost as quick as it had sprung up. It was platted in May, 1837, for Stephen Mafield and James Haworth. Another town of some prominence in its day was Shepard, almost east of what is now Westville. This town was the idea of John Villars
499
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
and was platted by Owen West, county surveyor, in July, 1836.
Franklin was once a thriving village, being laid out in 1837, the plat being made for Jacob Fisher and Hezekiah Rogers and filed with County Recorder Amos Williams. It was located on the Hubbard Trail to Fort Dearborn. It stood on the southwest quarter of section five, township twenty, range eleven west, just north of where the Dixie highway now crosses the North Fork branch of the Ver- milion River, near Seaton hill.
The town of Myersville, where a mill was operated for many years, is given the credit for causing the death of Franklin. Myersville was located on the river, about a mile east of the Hubbard Trail, between Moore's Corner and the present unincorporated town of Bismarck. There was a mill at Myersville, operated by water power. Myers- ville took the count when Bismarck started up with the building of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad. Myersville was too far from the railroad and some of its stores and dwellings were moved over to the new village.
Greenville was platted in 1836. It was in Pilot Town- ship, southwest of Charity, which by the way also died many years ago, leaving only Hope, which is situated on State Route Forty-nine in the northern part of Pilot Town- ship. A church and a little school, together with one or two stores and a gasoline filling station is all that is left of Hope. Bluegrass, about midway between Potomac and East Lynn, was once a thriving village, but the railroads sounded its death knell and there is nothing to designate where it once stood.
A number of towns have changed names during the nearly one hundred years. Potomac was once known and
500
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
was platted as Marysville. Fairmount was first laid out as Salina and Indianola was christened Chillicothe and later was known as Dallas.
The phantom hand of time has laid heavy hold on many towns which once thrived in Vermilion County, and the old settlers, could they come back today, would find it a hard task to travel back to the towns and villages they once knew, and fondly visioned them as cities of the future.
"Killed by the railroads" might be a fitting epitaph for many of these villages of the past. The coming of paved roads, which made it possible for the automobile to get to the larger towns and cities during all months of the year probably caused the demise of others.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.