USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement and progress for nearly a century, Volume I > 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 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
Corinne, the youngest child, died unmarried in 1901. Mrs. Har- mon made her home in Danville after the death of Colonel Harmon until 1881, when she removed to Chicago. From that time on she divided her time among her three daughters, one of the Pacific coast, another in the middle west, and the third near the Atlantic seaboard. Her oldest daughter, Eleanor, became the wife of Mr. Short, and the second daughter died in 1871, shortly before her promised marriage with Mr. Nelson Kimball of Danville. Mrs. Harmon was somewhat of an invalid the most of her life up to middle life, but in later years she enjoyed good health and lived to the ripe age of eighty-two and a half years, and "fell asleep" in her daughter's New Jersey home on February 9, 1906.
Mrs. Mary (Cox) Patterson was born in Carroll township June 13, 1823, the daughter of Simeon and Nancy (Mundle) Cox. Her father was a native of Virginia and married a girl of Pennsylvania. They came to Vermilion County in 1823, settling in Carroll township. He secured a farm which he developed, and built a mill, but had little success at running it. His daughter Mary, the second child, so far as known, to be born in Vermilion County, grew to womanhood under the conditions of pioneer life. She was of good disposi- tion, and patiently endured all hardships. When she was eighteen years old she became the wife of Elijah Patterson, whose home had always been in Ohio. Although he had apparently settled in Vermilion County and was a citizen of Illinois, after his marriage, he moved back to Ohic. But he re- turned to Illinois after twelve or thirteen years, and lived in Carroll township until his death in 1875. Mrs. Patterson was the mother of ten children. She spent her last days in plenty and comfort at the same place where she first saw the light of day. She had a long life of usefulness and made many de- voted friends whose pleasure it was to care for her in her latter years.
John P. Swank was born in Indianola, December 18, 1824. Mr. Swank's parents came to Vermilion County at a very early date, being among the earliest pioneers. They were Ohio people and they came to Carroll township. Mr. Swank had three brothers and four sisters, and a family of that size had
1
230
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
much to make life happy, even if the luxuries of older communities were missing. Mr. Swank was born on a farm and spent his life as a farmer. Ile married Miss Phoebe Dickson of Indianola. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Doyle) Dickson, and was born in Vermilion County in 1829. They were the parents of five children. Mr. Swank died in 1894, leaving many friends to mourn his loss. He was buried at Woodlawn cemetery, In- dianola.
Perry O'Neal was born January 16, 1825, on the homestead in section 27. Georgetown township. He was the brother of James O'Neal, who claims to be the first white child born in Vermilion County. Mr. O'Neal lived all his life in Vermilion County, and was a citizen such as makes the best of any section.
James Stevens was born on his father's farm on section 9, near Brooks Point, in Georgetown township, Vermilion County, January 5. 1826, and there spent the first years of his life. He went to the subscription schools which were "kept" in the log house with a puncheon floor, seats and desks of slabs. greased paper for window glass, and whatever else was considered necessary to a pioneer schoolhouse. When he was a boy, the nearest mill was at Terre Haute, Indiana. He had to take his turn going with the bag of grain. There were but two wagons in the neighborhood of a radius of ten miles, and each farmer would send a bag of grain and two men would go along to attend to the grist. Later a mill was established within a half mile of the Stevens home and was considered a great convenience. Mr. Stevens married Miss Elizabeth Roundtree in 1857. She lived in Indiana near Crawfordsville, and he made lier acquaintance while teaching school. He had great success as a school teacher, and he was later offered a professorship in a college in Missouri, but because of the approaching war, declined it that he might go in the service. Upon the call for 75,000 men, he raised a company in and about Catlin, but when he reported, it was to learn that the quota was full and this company could not be accepted. Mr. Stevens always took a great interest in all educa- tional matters and was well posted in public affairs.
Dorman B. Douglass was born in Danville township, October 11, 1827. His mother and father were one of the two couples who were married first in Vermilion County. Annis Butler, the daughter of James Butler and Marcus Snow, were married first by Squire Treat at Denmark (he was justice of the peace while the territory was yet attached to Edgar County) and Cyrus Doug- lass and Ruby Bloss were married immediately afterward. Dorman Douglass was the second in order of birth of the children of Cyrus and Ruby (Bloss) Douglass. They lived about three miles south of Danville, where he lived until in 1865 he moved to Fairmount, where his wife died in 1866. Mr. Doug- lass lives at a little distance north of Danville and himself is an open book of history of Vermilion County. He remembers the stretches of forest and un- broken prairie, the log cabin homes, and the little huddles of houses which stood on the sites of the flourishing towns and cities. He remembers as well the flourishing towns which were promising seventy years ago, and now are hardly visible. He can remember Danville when it contained but three stores. and Denmark when it was a very promising town. He went to school in a
231
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
room which was heated by a great fireplace extending across one end of the house. Like the other boys, he sat on slab benches and conned his lessons in an audible tone. As soon as he was able to handle a plow he went to work in the field and thereafter was always busy. The first plow he used was a wooden mould board, and he drove a single line harness, and he did his har- vesting with a reap hook. After turning the furrow, the girls of the family dropped the corn by hand. . In 1851 Mr. Douglass went to the gold fields of the west, living away for three years. Coming back, he went to New. York by boat and crossed the land to Vermilion County.
In 1864 Mr. Douglass made that long trip crossing the continent going over the plains of Idaho and Montana, remaining about two and a half years. Mr. Douglass remembers well the first matches he ever saw. He remembers how the women did all the carding and weaving and spinning of the clotlı, as well as sewing of the garments. He has seen the whole family go two or more miles to church, walking all the way, the girls carrying their shoes to the church door to put them on and remove them when they started for home. Mr. Douglass married Miss Anna Downing. Her parents came from Vir- ginia and Kentucky, stopping a time in Indiana. She was born in Kentucky. Mr. Douglass was the father of five children, and twelve grandchildren and more. Mr. Douglass has lived through a wonderful period and his experiences have been many, and the tales he is able to tell are of intense interest. He has made trips down the Mississippi river when the sale of human beings on the public streets was a common occurrence. Twice he has crossed the plains behind ox teams, and now he sees steam and even electricity crowd the oxen out. He has a valuable property and is a man whose every want is supplied. In appearance he impresses one with his varied experience by a manner of having lived a life worth the while. He is a man of exceptional pleasing ad- dress and is a gentleman of the old school.
Mrs. Rhoda (Mills) Hester was born near Vermilion Grove, December 7, 1827. She was the daughter of Ira Mills, one of the pioneers of the county. Ira Mills came to Vermilion County in 1822 and located two miles west of Vermilion Grove on what was later known as the great Mills farm, and which has remained in the possession of the family ever since. Rhoda Mills was very industrious, as became a daughter of a well ordered family, and during her days of young womanhood made use of the education she had received in the Georgetown school; she herself became a school teacher and helped her family. Her parents were of the community of Friends, and in 1853 she became the wife of John Hester, a young man of the same faith. He was a farmer and accumulated a good property. Mrs. Hester was the mother of six children. Mrs. Hester was widowed in 1899 by the death of her husband and she moved from the farm to Ridge Farm. Her later life was a reward for the early days of patient forbearance and industry; for careful considera- tion of others pleasure, and straightforwardness of purpose.
Abner Snow was born at Butlers Point, Vermilion County, October 28, 1828, and he lived there all his life. His father, Marcus Snow, and his mother, Annis Butler, were one of two couples who were married in Vermilion County, the first wedding had in the county. Annis Butler was the daughter of James
.
232
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
Butler, the man who made the first settlement in Vermilion County after the salt works. When James Butler went back to Ohio for his family, he found that his neighbors would not share the wilds of the new country with him, but he was not obliged to come on entirely alone, for young Snow wanted to come and he drove one of the teams. Nothing was more natural than that he should become a suitor for Mr. Butler's daughter Annis (perhaps he had already selected her before he left Ohio) and that they should be married and begin their new life near the home of her father. When Marcus Snow and Annis Butler were married they settled at where Westville now stands, but lived there only a few years, going thence to Catlin township, locating on land which was situated on the state road. Here Marcus Snow and his wife pros- pered and spent their married life; here the boy Abner grew into youth with its dreams and manhood with its cares. Here the elder Snow died and after a time, the wife of Cyrus Douglass having died, Mrs. Snow became the wife of Mr. Douglass. Abner Snow lived his life in Vermilion County, a prosper- ous farmer and a contented citizen. He married Miss Ashman and became the father of five children, to all of whom he was able to give a start in life.
Samuel P. LeNeve is the oldest son of John and Rebecca (Newell) LeNeve, and together with his brothers and sisters, form worthy sons and daughters of Vermilion County. Samuel Perry LeNeve was born in 1828 and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Newell township on the home place. He spent his winters in school, as good as could be found in the schoolhouses of that period. The extravagance of the present school buildings and furnish- ings seems unreasonable when a comparison is made between them and those of even this period when it was thought a schoolhouse of any kind was good enough. The schoolhouse in Newell township where Samuel LeNeve and his brothers and sisters for some years went, had benches made by sawing off the logs and driving pins in for legs. He later went to George- town, where he attended the school there which was in truth an excellent one. In 1852 he went to California by way of New Orleans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Isthmus of Panama, crossing that neck of land by way of the Chagres river. When he reached the other side he found 7,000 passengers awaiting transportation to California. 'After a delay of nineteen days he secured pas- sage on a boat going to California, and was out fifty-three days, during which time he suffered for the scarcity of food. He stopped at the republic of Mex- ico, and remained there for twenty-two days, later buying a ticket on the Golden Gate steamship line, and went through to San Francisco. He soon secured work in Marysville, California, in the mines there. He received eighty, and later one hundred and ten dollars per month. He reached the limit of wages when he had one hundred and twenty dollars per month for work in Marysville. He later took up teaming, which business he followed for fourteen years. He then went to Nevada City and became identified with the grain and stock business, after which he made his home in Virginia City for two years. He then returned to his native place in Vermilion County, coming by way of New York City. Mr. LeNeve then engaged in farming on section 23, carrying on stock raising, particularly breeding the short horn cattle. He later moved to the farm three miles north of Danville. Mr. LeNeve was a
233
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
public-spirited man and has been a strong factor in the development of Ver- milion County. Mr. LeNeve was married in 1869 and settled in Pilot town- ship, where he accumulated much property.
The Gundy family is one which has been prominent in the affairs of Ver- milion County since when, in 1822, Joseph and Sally Gundy, his wife, came to Ross township and settled. He came from Indiana, being a native of Penn- sylvania or Ohio. Mr. Joseph Gundy was a useful and enterprising man and a pioneer such as make for the advancement of any section in which he may choose a home. He died in 1846 and was buried in the Gundy burying ground near Myersville. Andrew Gundy was born on the Gundy place near Myersville, November 20, 1828, the son of Joseph and Sally_(Davidson) Gundy. The first school Andy Gundy attended was one taught by George Stipp in a vacant house on the Luke Wiles place, just west of the North Fork at Myersville. He continued his studies in the schools of that section, going to Georgetown for his higher branches. He was busy on the farm dur- ing his youth, but when he was twenty-three years old he went into business for himself as a merchant in Myersville. He at the same time carried on an extensive trade in wool, grain and stock. He was a man of affairs and held many offices of trust and responsibility. He had a large private interest in coal lands, and when he was sent to the state legislature, was chosen as a member of the committee on mines and mining. He also served on two other committees, one of which was the finance committee. This was in the twenty- ninth general assembly. He was repeatedly elected as supervisor from Newell township, and he accumulated much property and his influence was extensive. He was identified with many important ventures of the county, one of which was the banking and other interests of John C. Short, in which he lost a large amount of property. Mr. Gundy was never married.
John P. Donovan, a son of one of Vermilion County's pioneers, was born August 27, 1829, on Stone Creek, about two miles north of Danville. Al- though starting life with so little promise, he had an experience of adventure equalled by few men. When he was sixteen years old he left home and was employed on a farm until 1861, when he was seized with the California gold fever and started on foot and alone to Fairmount, where he took the train for St. Louis, thence by the way of the Missouri river to Omaha. At this point a company of eighteen equipped themselves with wagons and mules to start on a land exploring trip. After traveling over southeastern Nebraska and northeastern Kansas, they finally set out across the plains from Ft. Leaven- worth. They were forty-one days on the road. Thence they went to Golden City, where young Donovan worked by the day for two weeks, then started over the range, wading in snow in June, until he came to Blue river. There he found much excitement about California, and he went on there. He took a claim and went to mining about July Ist in the snow, and after working two months, sold out, having made $1,600 as his share of the profits. He then went on to San Juan Mountains. At Taos the company, of which he was one, stopped to lay in a store of provisions and here fell in with Kit Carson who was organizing a company to go to the southwestern part of Arizona. Donovan was eager for this adventure, and they were soon on their way on
234
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
this long and perilous trip. They traveled through the Navajo country where no white man had ever before ventured and met many thrilling adventures. Kit Carson impressed young Donovan very favorably and was always said to be a man of rare charm. He was kind-hearted and well-disposed toward every one, and while rough at times in manner and speech, he was in every way a true gentleman at heart. The company of which Mr. Donovan was one explored the country along the Colorado and Gila rivers in southern Cali- fornia and divided at Ft. Garland, returning to Colorado by diverse routes. At Buckskin Joe they put their money into the Phillips lead mine and had poor returns. After this Mr. Donovan went to Denver and Central City, where he worked by the day, having as wage $8 per day. Here he stayed nine months and invested a portion of his money in No. 3 Nottaway lead, which he and his partner worked for six months and he made $25,000. Being satisfied with his profits, Mr. Donovan returned to Vermilion County and bought a farm in Carroll township, there to spend the remainder of his days. Jolın Folger was born in Elwood township, section 25, Harrison Purchase, on September 17, 1829. His father, Latham Folger, had a tanyard, and the son spent his early years in work about it. Later he helped on the farm, and when he came to choose his life work, it was that of a farmer. He went to school more than did most boys at that time, first to the Vermilion Grove 'Academy and afterward to Bloomingdale, Ind. Mr. Folger was, as may be inferred from this choice of schools, the son of parents who belonged to the Society of Friends. He taught school for three winters and then settled on a farm. He married Miss Reynolds, whose birthplace was in Indiana. They were the parents of nine children. Mr. Folger was both a farmer and a min- ister in the Society of Friends. As a farmer he paid much attention to stock raising, choosing pedigreed short horns and Durhams in cattle, Poland-China and Berkshires in swine, and in horses he had Clydesdale, Norman and Whip breeds. Mr. Folger was called away from home often and he traveled ex- tensively in the interest of his church work. He went as far as the meetings in Philadelphia and other eastern cities, and into Iowa and Indiana.
Minerva Martin was born in Newell township on August 16, 1829. She was the youngest of a family of eleven children, all of whom reached the years of maturity. She became the wife of Edward Rouse in 1846 and lived on the same place all her life. Mrs. Rouse was the mother of twelve chil- dren. Mr. and Mrs. Rouse celebrated their golden wedding October 4, 1896.
Silas Dickson was born in Carroll township May 25, 1830. He was the son of David Dickson, one of the pioneers of Vermilion County, and he has been a worthy successor of that worthy man. His life was spent in farming and stock raising, having more than once driven stock to New York City to market. That was before it was thought possible to ship them by train. Mr. Dickson lived at home until he was thirty-four years old. He always held an enviable place in the community. Henry Mills was born on what was known as the Thomas Brown farm near Vermilion Grove March 23, 1830. He was a son of Seth Mills, who with his parents came to Wayne County, Indiana, in 1815, and were pioneers of that section, he becoming in his turn a pioneer of Vermilion County, Illinois. He came to his farm near Vermilion Grove
E. C. B. FITIIIAN
N. R. FAIRCHILD
. ...
DIADAMA ATWOOD
MINERVA (MARTIN) ROUSE
AMANDA (SHEPPARD) DICKSON
JOTHAM LYON
ISAAC CURRENT
235
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
in 1828, and it has been in the family ever since. Henry Mills did not have his early education neglected, but as was the fact with the children of all those belonging to the Society of Friends, he was sent to school to the extent at least of a common school training. He followed the faith of his father, reach- ing the distinction of becoming an elder in the church at Elwood, and occupied the important position of "Head of the Church" at that place. In 1852 he married Mary Folger, herself a daughter of Vermilion County, she being born in Elwood township. They are the parents of eight children, all but two of whom settled not far from them. These two sons married sisters, and they all went to Oregon.
William White was born in Blount township of Vermilion County March 20, 1830. He was the son of James White, a pioneer of this section. James White was the father of fourteen children, ten of whom reached adult years and had families of their own. William had four brothers and a sister beside himself born in Blount township, and all but one brother settled in that neigh- borhood. The childhood and youth of William White and his brothers was spent in helping on the farm. A subscription school for three months during the winter was the only chance by which he could learn to read, write and cipher. More time was devoted to following the plow than to reading. From the time he was ten years old he followed the plow, driving oxen. At first it was a wooden mold plow, and afterward a single shovel plow, while the harness had a single line. He planted corn by hand, cradled the grain and bound the wheat by hand. He helped his mother "dip the candles" until they had moulds, and at times he saw a turnip hollowed out and filled with grease, into which there was a rag put and lighted for the purpose of giving desired light. People at this time rode to church on horseback, as many as three people sitting on one sheepskin. William White owned the last yoke of oxen in his neighbor- hood. It was a splendid team, weighing 4,700 pounds, but the work done on the farm did not require their strength and at last he sold the team. William White married Elizabeth Wiles, who was a daughter of Vermilion County, being born in Blount township March 20, 1840. She was the daughter of Langford and Mary (Cassat) Wiles. After they were married they settled on the eight-mile prairie, where there was not a house in sight. They lived in true pioneer style, but later all the conveniences of modern life were added to their home.
E. H. Palmer was a prominent son of Vermilion County all his life. He was born in the home at the corner of Walnut and Main streets in Danville, Illinois, August 10, 1830. He was a son of Dr. Asa R. Palmer, a native of Connecticut. Dr. Palmer came to Danville when it was in its infancy and became a strong factor in moulding its future. He had an extensive practice throughout Vermilion County and is well counted one of its makers. Eben H. Palmer went to such schools as were to be had in Danville until he was fitted to enter Wabashı College, at Crawfordsville, Indiana. When he was fifteen years old he went into the store of J. M. Culbertson, where he remained for a time, and then entered Wabash College, where he went for four years until he completed the course. Upon his return from college he clerked for a time and then entered into the partnership, being one of the firm of Humphry, Palmer & Co., general merchants and druggists. This was about 1885, and
236
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
from that time to his death he was recognized as one of the most active and successful and prominent business men of the county. When his uncle died in the office of county superintendent of schools, Mr. Palmer was elected to fill out his unexpired term. At the close of this term he was needed to help organize the First National Bank and he became associated in this business with J. G. English and J. L. Tincher, and remained in this connection for thirty years. Mr. Palmer was cashier of the bank from the first, and it was his popularity. as well as shrewd business insight that made the bank its suc- cess as much as anything. Mr. Palmer was interested in many enterprises, and accumulated much property. He was a valued member of the firm of Peyton- Palmer-English Co., which afterward became and yet is Peyton-Palmer Co., wholesale grocers, one of the firms to which Danville owes much. Mr. Palmer married Miss Frances B. Nelson of Urbana, in 1854. They became the parents of three daughters and one son. The youngest daughter became the wife of Loren Shutts, the son of John Shutts, the Wabash Railroad agent at Danville for so long a time. Mr. Palmer's son, Frank N. Palmer, is a minister in the Presbyterian church, who has risen in his profession to a high position. He is credited with being a recognized authority in the church on Bible study, as well as of ability in sermonizing. Mr. Palmer and family have always been prominent in the Presbyterian church. His father, Dr. Palmer, was one of the original members of the Presbyterian church of Danville, and Mr. Palmer took his place when he died. So closely was he identified with that church that there has always seemed to be an unfillable vacancy in the membership since his death. Mr. Palmer died in 1831.
Sally (Johns) Copeland was the oldest child of John and Mary Johns. She was born in Blount township, Vermilion County, September 4, 1831. When Johns and his wife came to Vermilion County they settled on the farm adjoin- ing that of Samuel Copeland, and the children of the two families grew up together. When the oldest daughter, Sally Johns, was seventeen years old, Samuel Copeland went courting and she became his bride. She had been his sweetheart from infancy. They made their home in Blount township and in Danville. She died suddenly in Danville. Perry Copeland and his wife, Sally (Johns) Copeland, were the parents of two children, daughters, who married. The oldest, Helen, became the wife of A. D. Shepherd, and the younger, Lida. became the wife of Harry Fowler of this county.
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.