USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement and progress for nearly a century, Volume I > Part 22
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The Hon. John L. Tincher died at the Revere House, Springfield, Illinois, at half past six o'clock, on Sunday evening the 17th of December, 1871. His disease was pleuro-pneumonia. During the greater part of his life he had been in delicate health, and as far back as 1855 it was thought that his career would terminate in consumption.
In the Summer of 1869 he was attacked by apoplexy, and thenceforward, he complained of cerebral irregularities, and was never without apprehensions of a return of apoplexy. At the time of his death Mr. Tincher was in Spring- field attending to his duties, as senator. By common consent Mr. Tincher was recognized as the controlling spirit of the community. He made the poor man's cause his cause; he left no one to charge him with circumvention; he left no taint on his name and memory.
Samuel A. Humphrey, M. D., was one of the early day physicians of Ver- milion County, being located in Danville. He was just twenty-one when he came, being attracted thither on account of an uncle already located in the
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county. He came from Nelson County, Kentucky, a number of whose residents had already come to Vermilion County. Mr. Humphreys bought a farm on the Blue Grass prairie when he first came and lived there a year, when he took up the study of medicine and afterward went to Cincinnati at the Medical school there from which he was graduated in 1848. He returned to Danville and began his practice of medicine, at the same time establishing a drug store and a dry- goods store also. He kept up this threefold business as long as he lived, to a profit. Dr. Humphrey married Miss Mary Milton, who also was born in Nel- son County, Kentucky, and had come to Vermilion County with her mother some time after her father's death and become the wife of John Partlow. Dr. Humphrey was a nephew of the first wife of John Johns, an early pioneer in Blount township.
John Johnston was born in Mason County, Kentucky, and moved to Adams County, Ohio, in the latter part of the Twenties. He lived there until in 1844; he came on horseback to Vermilion County, Illinois, settling on the edge of the prairie, a mile and a half from the present site of Oakwood. While in Ken- tucky he worked as a farm hand for eight dollars per month and he continued to earn his living in that way until in 1850, when he secured three yoke of oxen. which he used in breaking the priarie. That fall, with the old Virginia wagon filled with apples he started for Chicago, peddling his fruit along the way. In 1852 he went to Chicago with a team of horses and brought back a load of shingles for a neighbor. He hauled oats to Covington, where he sold them for ten cents per bushel. In the fall of 1852, Mr. Johnston married Mary Britting- ham, a daughter of A. W. and Matilda (Watson) Brittingham.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnston began life in a primitive way. With the exception of a bedstead which her mother gave her, everything in the house was made by Mr. Johnston. He drove some wooden pins into the logs and placed some boards on the pins and there was a cupboard. All cooking was done in skil- lets or in kettles in the great fireplace and corn bread was baked upon a smooth board placed near the coals.
Andrew H. Kimbrough, M. D., was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, Feb- ruary 27, 1823. When yet a boy he was taken by his parents to Edgar County, Illinois, where he received his education, as far as it went. He was determined to make the practice of medicine his work, so he entered the Jefferson Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1858. He had practiced some before he had finished his course of study in Paris, while yet he lived in Edgar County. The year he graduated he located in Georgetown, Vermilion County, and in 1873 he came to Danville. He practiced continuously and with favor until in 1901, on account of failing health, he retired from active practice.
Dr. Kimbrough was a member of most all available associations and profes- sional societies. Dr. Kimbrough was very prominent in the Odd Fellows fra- ternity of which he had been a member for more than fifty odd years. For sixteen years he was elected High Priest, and for many years he was a valued representative of the Knights of Honor.
Dr. Kimbrough married Miss Sarah Ashmore in 1847. She was the daugh- ter of Amos Ashmore of Clark County. Her iincle was the Rev. Ashmore,
1
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whose name was connected with the great religious work of the early days of Vermilion County.
Dr. and Mrs. Kimbrough were both people of more than usual force of character, and were citizens of worth wherever they made their home. They were the parents of three children, two daughters and one son. The daugliters are well known in church work and socially in the county, and the son is, after holding many offices, at present judge of the circuit court. Judge Kimbrough has been mayor of Danville for one term and minority representative in the state legislature for two terms. He married Miss Julia Tincher, daughter of John Tincher, and they became the parents of one child, a son, who died in childhood. Mrs. Kimbrough died in 1908 and Mr. Kimbrough afterward married again.
Joseph Bailey came from Essex County, Massachusetts, direct to Vermilion County, Illinois, in 1845, when he was twenty-five years old. He settled in Georgetown, where his brother was postmaster. He became clerk in a small store there for which service he received six dollars per month. He clerked for three years, At the end of that time Mr. Bailey went into partnership with his brother under the firm name of W. B. & J. Bailey.
About this time he married Miss Sarah Ann Brachall, a daughter of Martin Brachall, an early settler of Vermilion County. Mrs. Bailey was born in Ver- milion County. After several years in this business Mr. Brachall went to In- dianola, where he formed a partnership with Mr. Sconce under the name of Bailey & Sconce, which firm dealt in general merchandise for three years, after which he bought a farm and remained on it for five years, meanwhile suffering loss from fire which destroyed his home. He then returned to Danville, where his children could have the advantage of good schools. During this time he was associated with Mr. Hall in a lumber yard in Tuscola, and also in Kansas City, Missouri, whither Mr. Hall removed. Mr. Bailey also dealt in land to a large extent, owning property in Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, as well as Illi- nois and Indiana. Mr. Bailey made much profit in buying and selling land.
In 1870 he became one of a company that organized to build the Paris & Danville Railroad. But the company failed and sold the road to the Big Four and more recently it has become the property of the New York Central system. Mr. Bailey's loss in this road was heavy. He lived retired in Georgetown until 1888, when he went to Kansas City to make his home, but remained only a few months, when he returned to Danville on account of his wife's health. Here he remained until his death. Mr. Bailey was the father of four children, two sons and two daughters,
William I. Allen, one of the prominent men of Vermilion County, in the latter half of the nineteenth century, came from Ohio in 1844, and entered land in what is now the northwestern part of Hoopeston. It, at that time, however, was a tract of uncultivated land over which deers, wolves, prairie chickens and other wild creatures, had up to this time wandered undisturbed by man. There was not a tree or brush in sight, and the pioneer after building his cabin, fre- quently stood in his doorway and counted numbers of deer, sometimes as high as sixty in a herd. Mr. Allen was not married when he came here, but in 1848 he became the husband of Miss Emily Newell, the daughter of William Newell. He broke his land and improved his farm, working during the summer months
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and teaching school in the winter. Mr. Allen was a man of fine classical educa- tion. When he graduated from his eastern college he wrote a letter home in Latin, which the family yet have in their possession. Finally Mr. Allen sold out his land to Mr. Hoopes and himself settled six miles west, where East Lynn now stands. By entry and purchase he acquired 3,200 acres of land which was mostly devoted to grazing. He built three houses and made other improvements re- maining there until after the breaking out of the Civil war. He enlisted in the 12th Illinois Infantry, which regiment was first ordered to Cairo and then to Paducah, Kentucky. After a little he was promoted to be the captain of his company, but became disabled for service and was returned home. He went back to his farm but in a few months bought 500 acres in the vicinity of Ross- ville. A few years after he sold out again and returned to the northern part of East Lynn. This town was located on a part of the old farm when the rail- road came through later.
In 1884 Mr. Allen moved to Cherry County, Nebraska, but he lived here only four years, when he returned to Hoopeston, where he spent the remainder of his days. Mr. Allen was the father of six children. One of them, Mr. Chas. Allen, has been a prominent citizen of Vermilion County, where he was born in 1851. Mr. Charles Allen has represented Vermilion County in the state legis- lature for many terms and been a conspicuous member of each session. His home has always been in Hoopeston. Mrs. William I. Allen was the daughter of James Newell and was born in Kentucky, in 1824, coming to Vermilion County with her parents when she was but a small child. Her father was a prominent early settler, the township of Newell being named for him. The father of William Allen did not come to Illinois to settle but remained in Indiana as long as he lived.
Lawrence Allen, the grandson of Mr. William Allen and son of Hon. Charles Allen, is at present county judge of Vermilion County. He is a practicing at- torney located in Danville. Mr. Charles Allen married Miss Mary Thompson, the daughter of L. M. Thompson. They are the parents of two sons, John N. and Lawrence.
William Allen bears the distinction of being the first settler of the northern part of the county.
Herald Catlett became a resident of Vermilion County in 1846, coming to. near Fairmount in Vance township. Mr. Catlett was born in Charlottesville, Virginia, and was taken to Tuscumbia, Alabama, when two years old by his parents, who changed their residence at that time. His father was not satisfied however, and in a few years he was found back in Virginia. There he remained until 1835, when he went on west to Ohio, and in 1846 he went on farther to Vermilion County, Illinois. Here he was a farmer until his death in 1861. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, was a Baptist in religious faith, and a democrat. He was a man of charitable impulses, generous and benevolent. His wife survived him until 1871. They had a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Three of these were prominent citizens of Vermilion County -Virginia, who became the wife of Dr. Chas. Lamon, of Fairmount ; Herald; and Hiram H., who has been a large dealer in hogs and cattle. His home is also in Vance township.
OLD LINCOLN HALL
HECH
PROPERTY OF WILLIAM GIDDINGS ON SOUTH HAZEL STREET
THE ENOCH KINGSBURY HOME ON SOUTHI WALNUT STREET
THOMAS FORBES PROPERTY Built in 1850, on North and Walnut Streets
HARMON PROPERTY ON E. MAIN ST. Built in 1850
IN USE AS A BUSINESS HOUSE SINCE IT WAS BUILT IN 1850
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The deals of these two brothers were perhaps greater than of any other per- son in the county at that time. Mr. Catlett not only bought and sold hogs and cattle but he became an extensive stock raiser. He had excellent executive ability, and keen business force, carrying to a successful termination anything he undertook.
Mr. Catlett was not a politician, but was an earnest democrat. He never aspired to public office. He was a member of the Baptist church from a child and in which he served as deacon.
Mr. Catlett died May I. 1902, and was buried in the Davis Cemetery in Vance township. He was the father of four children all of whom grew to womanhood and manhood, except the third child who died in infancy.
W. C. Cowan was a valued citizen of Vermilion County, coming in 1846. He lived through his youth in Edgar County, his parents having come into Illi- nois from Indiana, when he was about three years old. He was born in 1829 and while living in Edgar County, he was engaged helping his father in farm- ing and running a carding machine. When the family came to Vermilion County they located in Georgetown and engaged in wool-carding. This particular mem- ber of the family lived with his parents learning the wagon-maker's trade and helping in the mill until 1857, when he went to Northwest Missouri, where he had a carding-machine and also worked at carpentering. He stayed there but two years, however, and returned to Georgetown, where he worked at the car- penter's trade until 1862, when he opened a drug store. He was connected with the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment for three months as sutler. Mr. Cowan married Miss Sarah M. Tucker, of Indiana, and they became the parents of six children.
Dr. Samuel H. Vredenburgh came to Illinois in 1846 and began the practice of medicine at Newtown. He is one of the oldest living early settlers of the county, if it is permissable to call him an early settler. His memory is good and he has many interesting tales to tell of experiences of early day. No one conies so close to one as the practicing physician, and no one can paint more accurate pictures of conditions of living than the man who was the trusted and well loved family doctor. Dr. Vredenburgh was born in Indiana in 1820 and began life as a teacher but changed the profession when he was twenty-six years old, to that of medicine. He belonged to the old school of Allopathic practice and had a large territory over which he rode. Since he has retired from active practice he has made his home in Danville. The Masonic order was established in Vermilion County in 1846. At that time Danville was but a small village of perhaps 500 or 600 inhabitants, with six or eight stores.
The Grand Lodge of the state of Illinois was organized in 1844 and that Olive Branch chapter should have come into being but six years later is a fact quite suggestive of the spirit of this locality. Olive Branch Lodge, No. 38, A. F. & A. M. is comparatively one of the ancient lodges of the state. The first Worshipful Master was W. E. Russell. John Payne was the first Senior Warden and John Thompson was the first Junior Warden. This order had a great growth for forty or more years, and its influence was for good in the county.
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1847 was the year that John Charles Black came to Vermilion County with his mother. He was but a boy of eight years of age and he made Danville his home during his youth and young manhood. It was from Danville he went to college, and in Danville he lived after the war, in which he distinguished himself, was over. The subsequent career of General Black entitles him to a place in the list of distinguished citizens.
Victor and Prosper LeSeure were men prominent in the affairs of Vermil- ion County, coming sometime in the Forties. Victor LeSeure first located in Georgetown, where he remained for a while and in 1849 moved to Danville, where he became one of the most prosperous merchants. It was not, however, until after he had changed his residence to Georgetown and then back to Dan- ville in 1851 that he located permanently. In 1876 he entered the hardware business where he remained until his death.
Mr. LeSeure married Caroline McDonald, daughter of Alexander Mc .- Donald, one of the prominent pioneers of Vermilion County, in 1849. They were the parents of five children, four daughters and one son. Mr. LeSeure was mayor of the city of Danville and commissioner of highways three terms. He was connected with many enterprises of the county, being at one time sec- retary, treasurer and superintendent of the Danville Gas Light Company. Mr. LeSeure's wife died in the Seventies and he married Mrs. Mary McDonald (nee Smith).
Mr. LeSeure's oldest daughter became the wife of Charles Yoemans, his next daughter became the wife of Mr. Palmer, and the third daughter became the wife of T. W. Elliott. The youngest daughter, Callie, died in childhood. His son Frank LeSeure married the daughter of John Sidell, but died soon afterward when only thirty years old, leaving a little daughter.
W. J. Reynolds, who was a musician coming from a training in Boston, organized the first brass band in the state, in 1847. A reed band had been or- ganized the previous year.
Mr. Reynolds maintained a band here for thirty years, except a short time when the men in his band were in the war. He devoted his time to teaching music, and during the war there were twenty bands of which he had been leader in the service. Mr. Reynolds organized and led the first choir in Danville.
R. L. Porter, M. D., was a conspicuous man in Vermilion County during his lifetime. He was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and came to Danville in 1848. He was surely one of the successful men of the county. He had a large practice and his wife also belonged to the profession and while in Danville some- times did several thousand dollars of work in that line per year. Dr. Porter owned much land in the county, and was more or less eccentric as might be expected. When he felt his time to die was approaching, he asked some friend to take him out on his farm to a spot secluded but beautiful, which was formed in flat-iron shape by the two small streams of water flowing past. The spot was high and dry and it was there he wanted to be buried. Although away from any burial ground, his friends respected his wishes when he died and he lies in this spot away from both the living and the dead.
A. J. Richardson was a new comer in 1848 and settled in Georgetown. He was born near Boston, spent his childhood in New Hampshire, and brought his
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parents to Indiana, where he spent his active manhood, coming to Vermilion County when he was forty-three years old.
While in New Hampshire he learned the shoemaker's trade and took charge of the shop. After he came to Eugene, Indiana, he followed that trade but after he came into Vermilion County he spent his time as farmer and stock-raiser.
Solomon Mosier came to Pilot township in 1848 and bought his home. He brought his family with him and was always known as a well posted man. The Mosier family has been a credit to him and has been looked up to as one of in- telligence, talent, and general information, in the neighborhood. Solomon Mo- sier died in 1871.
Jesse Harris came to Illinois in 1848, and settled in Ross township. His son, a young man of twenty-one, came at the same time and worked in the employ of a farmer until election time when he went back to Ohio to cast his first vote which was given to Zachary Taylor. After he had voted he came back to Ver- milion County and soon had a farm rented and saved money to buy one, and, in time, acquired a good property.
He served for twenty-seven consecutive years as school treasurer.
John W. Goodwine came to Vermilion County in 1848, and settled in Blount township, where he bought 600 acres of good farm land. This he improved and began stock feeding to a large extent. From time to time he would add to his land until he had 6,000 acres. He was a good feeder, and would buy and feed cattle selling each year from 300 to 500 head from the farms. He had hogs to follow the cattle and from these sales he realized goodly sums.
In 1898 he retired from the more active labor of caring for his farms and retired to a home in Potomac. In the many years residence in Vermilion County Mr. Goodwine saw the improvement go on until the great change has come, and where it was wild and unimproved country the farms are to the utmost stage of development.
Rev. William H. Webster, D. D., came to Vermilion County in 1848 and is able to tell much of conditions in this section from that time to this. Rev. Web- ster came, an orphaned boy, with his sister who was a Methodist preacher's wife. She died soon after coming to this county, and her husband went away soon afterward leaving the lad to make his own way. He was born in New York state in 1835, and came west in 1848, and was left to make his way when he was fourteen years old. This he did by sawing wood, working in a livery barn, painting and in fact, doing anything he could find to do. He took care of fires for a lumber kiln at the corner of Vermilion and North Streets, where the Illinois Printing Company is now located. Across the street south, the little old frame building of the Methodist church stood. Here church services were held on Sunday and during the week school was kept by Mr. Munsell. This school was the beginning of the Danville Seminary. At recess time the pupils of the school would come over to see the lad who was attending the fires and talking of their studies he determined to go to school. So it was the next fall he was enrolled as a pupil. He worked nights and mornings and Saturdays to pay his expenses. Sometimes he had to stay out of school several weeks to get enough to pay his bills but he would go back and work harder than ever. In this way, working and going to school and teaching, he completed the course
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of study in the Danville Seminary, the Asbury University of Indiana and the Ohio Wesleyan University, where he graduated in the classical course in 1859. He joined the Methodist church at a camp meeting near Danville. He taught school at several places, among which the Seminary at Shelbyville is to be counted. While teaching there he was licensed to preach. In the winter of 1858-9, he was appointed as assistant preacher on the circuit that embraced the northern part of Vermilion County. He preached in private houses, groves. barns, and in fact, any where a congregation could be drawn together.
In 1859 he became a member of the Illinois conference and since that time his work has always been under the orders of that body. His salary for one year was ninety dollars out of which he was obliged to in part, at least, pay his board. For a time he taught school to pay his expenses as pastor of a church. He has served as pastor of the best churches in the conference and been given places of importance and trust. While he has been taken away from Vermilion County to fill these places, he has always had more or less interest in affairs of the section and owned property about.
After his term as presiding elder of the Danville district ended he was ap- pointed to the work of the domestic Missionary society, which he had helped to organize. Other work of the conference has been given him, which permits him to remain in his home. He has been treasurer of the board of trustees of the conference. Mr. Webster married Miss Augusta Robinson, the daughter of William Robinson, and they are the parents of but one living child, John W. Webster, an attorney of Danville.
Mr. Snyder came from Ohio in 1849 and became a citizen of Pilot township. His daughter afterward became the wife of Mr. Charles Keesler, who came to this township in 1858.
Dr. C. V. Baldwin was a prominent dentist of Danville, where he located in 1849, coming from Henry County, Indiana. He was but fifteen years old when he came with his parents to Vermilion County in 1849, and he lived here until in the eighties when he changed his residence on account of poor health to Cali- fornia. Dr. Baldwin studied dentistry in 1866 and became skilled in the profes- sion and very popular. He is yet practicing the profession in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Baldwin's first wife was Miss Williams, the daughter of Amos Williams. She died not many years after they were married and his second wife was Miss Pierce, of Indiana.
M. Ganor has been a well known man in Danville for many years. He came with his father from Long Island, where they had their home since coming from Ireland, in 1849. They made their journey from Chicago in wagons, hiring a man to bring them from Chicago to Danville for $15. Mr. Ganor had his farm in what is now northeast Danville and at one time was better known as Tinchertown.
In 1849 John Lawrence came to Vermilion County and located in George- town. He was a mechanic and brought his family with him. His son W. R. Lawrence was better known in Vermilion County than was his father. He was but nine years old when his father came to Vermilion County, and located in Georgetown and he received his education at the Georgetown Seminary. In 1862 he enlisted as private for three years and was promoted until he reached
OLD RED BRIDGE OVER THE VERMILION RIVER
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the rank of First Lieutenant. In 1864 he resigned and came back to Vermilion County. He then went to Bloomington, where he began the study of law with Tipton and Benjamin, and in 1868 he was admitted to the bar. He went to Boonesville, Iowa, and began the practice of law, coming to Danville in 1873. where he located and rapidly rose in his profession. Mr. Lawrence lived in Dan- ville until he received the appointment which took him to Oklahoma where he has remained ever since.
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