USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement and progress for nearly a century, Volume I > Part 47
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In 1903 Michael Kelly bought out the Himrod Coal Company paying them $260,000. He then became the largest individual coal operator in the state. About 1900 the South Westville Coal Company was organized by Mr. Gerety and a large mine was soon in operation south of Westville. In 1905 W. B. McKinley formed a syndicate to take over the mines of Michael Kelly, for which they paid three million dollars. About this time the Dering Coal Company was organized by J. K. Dering and R. R. Hammond to take over the South West- ville Coal Company mines. They also bought more land and soon had four mines in operation. The coal industry in Vermilion County at this time had reached its zenith, some two and a half million tons were mined in 1906. The Dering mines were operated under the management of W. G. Halbert and the McKinley mines under W. G. Hartshorn.
In 1907 the Little Vermilion Coal Company was organized by L. T. Dicker- son, a large producing mine quickly followed its organization and was ope- rated under the management of Alva Halbert.
In 1908 the Bunsen Coal Company, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, a subsidiary of the Illinois Steel Company bought several thousands acres of coal land near Westville, Georgetown and Catlin, also they bought out the Little Vermilion Coal Company, later they acquired the Kelly properties from the Mckinley syn- dicate and the mines were opened up for extensive operations. The coal in- dustry in 1910 was brought down to three principal ownerships, the Illinois Steel Company and the Dering Coal Company in the south field and Hartshorn Brothers in the west field.
CHAPTER XLII.
ABANDONED TOWNS OF VERMILION COUNTY.
All the plans made by any one do not mature; all the flowers that bud do not produce flowers; all the towns which man plats do not come off paper. While attention is centered on the towns, villages and cities which have made a record why not take the time to consider the many promising places that have not come to the point of redeeming their promise.
Some of these villages never went off paper, and some of them have liad a few years of life to be abandoned and let go back to the wilderness from which they came. One of these is the once proud and promising Denmark. When it is considered that Denmark was a prosperous village before Danville was plat- ted, and then look at it now, it seems as though there must be a mistake. A few frame houses which have been built within the last few years stand along the country roadside at the front of the old Denmark hill; the river with a mod- ern bridge to span it where once there was the more romantic ford, and one, only one, old house to tell the tale of the past glory of the village where the citizens had made an attempt to become the county seat, when it was located on land which was, as yet, not even boasting of a house. This remaining house speaks in a strange tongue the tale of the rise and fall of Denmark.
Conkeytown and Higginsville will some time at no distant day be counted in the list of abandoned towns, but not now. A book to be found in the office of recorder of Vermilion County is of great interest. It is a record of towns and villages no longer, and for that matter in most cases never abiding places for human beings.
There are some villages which are not recorded, among which is the one called Vermilion Rapids. This was supposed to be located on the site of the town afterwards called Higginsville. In the thirties, there was much talk of making use of the Vermilion river for commercial purposes. The citizens of Danville tried to slack water the Vermilion river and make it navigable to its mouth. But this was never a practical idea, and the only use made of the waters was that on paper, when the effort was made to coin money by selling lots in an imaginary town called Vermilion Rapids, claimed to be "favorably located at the head of navigation on the Vermilion river."
It was in 1836, that Amando Higgins, (a brother of Judge Higgins) and Marcus C. Stearns entered the east half of the northwest quarter of 36 (21-13)
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and bought sixteen acres off the south end of the east quarter of the southwest quarter of section 25, to bring them out to the road, and laid it out in town lots. This was platted and recorded in 1836, just before the crash came, which made these kind of speculations cease. The town thus platted was called Vermilion Rapids. The plat was on both sides of the river, and showed the same to be about ten rods wide at this point, and large enough to float a steamer. The "rapids" were the main part of this enterprise, since no boat could pass any further up the stream on their account. The prospect of having boats take on produce from the rich land around and in turn deposit all the manufactured articles from the most distant clime were flattering in the extreme. No reason that direct communication might not be kept up with New Orleans and for that matter with Rio, Cuba and any part of Europe. Such was the foundation for the scheme, whereby the promoters of this swindle would coin money. The "rapids," unless removed by government authority and appropriation would always remain a barrier past which no progress could be made up stream, and the prospective city would become the great mart for trade for a hundred miles in every direction.
The principal streets in this prospective city running north and south to the river front were named Parish, Higgins, Chicago and Main; those running east and west were Williams, Buffalo, Bluff, Spring and LaPoer. A wide levee lay between these streets and the river, giving plenty of room for the immense busi- ness which was only awaiting the sale of land in this impossible town to be made. This prospective town was nicely platted and the paper taken to New York city to find buyers of the lots. This sort of speculation was carried to an incredible extent in the years just before the crash of 1837. No one knew the real value of land and this plat surely looked reasonable when the waterway Was very evidently all that could be desired ; every river town was looked upon as a promise of untold wealth. So it was Mr. A. D. Higgins took his plat to New York city to sell the land to speculators on Wall street, but he was too late. The crash of 1837 came and he had no sale at all. Western lots could hardly bring the cost of the paper upon which they were platted. Vermilion Rapids, was thereby relegated to the list of abandoned towns in the county.
An interesting record of the abandoned towns may be found in the county recorder's office.
The earliest recorded town is that of Morgantown or perhaps it should be called Morgans. This town a trace of which it seems impossible to find, is not located at all in the record, a small executed plat with the local coloring of a rep- resentation of the Vermilion river running alongside thereof, but not a single mark by which there could be found any idea of where this town was located.
The name is given as Morgantown, and the only reasonable conclusion to draw is that this town was identical with the old one of Morgans, or as often called, Morgan's neighborhood. This town of Morgantown was laid out by Achilles Morgan, and subscribed to before Jacob Brazelton, Jr., July 23, 1830. Each and every lot in this town contained one fourth part of an acre, and had a front of four rods, and extended ten rods back. The public grounds were three fourths of an acre.
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This record is in every way complete yet there is no one who has any knowledge of such a town in Vermilion County, nor of ever hearing of such a village, that can be found. Wherever it could have been there is no more trace of it, other than upon the books of the county recorder.
Lancaster is another of the abandoned towns in Vermilion County. It was laid out by Noah Bixler, July 17, 1832, on the north half of the east half of the northeast quarter of section six in township 19, north of range 9 east. The plat was recorded July 18, 1832. Whether this town ever was off paper is not known. Another one of the abandoned towns was laid out and surveyed in 1832. This was Greenville, and was laid off by Joseph Osborn. It was lo- cated on the west quarter of section No. 31, township 19, N. of R. No. 13 west in the county of Vermilion and state of Illinois.
All lots in this town were provided to be four rods wide except lot No. 5, in block No. I, lot No. 8 in block No. 2; lot No. I in block No. 3; and lot No. 4 in block No. 4, which were four rods square, with Main street running north and south and High street running east and west, both being four rods wide.
The plan of this street was a cross roads with a hollow souare where the streets crossed. The survey and plat of this town was recorded July 26, 1836. The town of Shepherd or as it appears on an early map Shepherdstown, was laid out in 1836. It was located directly east of Danville very near to the state line. This was one of those early towns which sprang into existence and while they were platted and attempts made to sell lots, yet never came off the paper used to plat and advertise them.
This town, unlike that of Greenville, was not built on the plan of many of those in Vermilion county, of which Danville and Georgetown are samples : namely, with a hollow square in the center of the town.
Provision was made in Shepherdstown for lots eight rods long by four wide, with Illinois street running north and south. This street was on the west of the platted town, and Chicago street running on the east of the lots. This lat- ter street was to be but two rods wide. Main street was to run east and west, and Prairie street was just north of it, while south street was to run sorth of Main street. All the east and west streets were four rods wide. This town was laid out by John Villars July 28, 1836. This town was on the map as Shepherds- town, but it is platted as Shepherds.
Franklin was a town laid out by I. Swisher, and H. Rogers, on March 13, 1837.
The town of Marion was surveyed by Dan Beckwith, May 23, 1835. He was at that time yet county surveyor of Vermilion County. The town was laid out by Alexander Bailey, but had no growth. Monroe was laid out on the south- west quarter of the Northwest quarter of section 36, T. 17, N. R. II W. It was surveyed and laid out by Stephen Nearfield, and J. W. Haworth.
Provision was made to have all lots four rods wide by eight long, with Main and High streets running north and south, both being four rods wide and Green and Prairie streets running east and west, the same width. Other streets were numbered Ist, 2nd, 3rd, etc. These were to be one rod wide each.
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
The town of Monroe was recorded, May 4, 1837.
The town of Leesburg was laid out by Joseph Smith. It was located on a part of the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section No. 14, in town No. 18, north of R. No. 11, W. It was surveyed by Uriah M. McMillen, May 1, 1850.
Prospect city was laid out by Ransom R. Murdock, William H. Pells, Leander Britt, Benjamin "Stites and Dryden Donelly. This village was located on the south half of southwest quarter of section 8, the northeast quarter of section 18, N., 20 acres of the west one half of the northwest quarter, of section 17, and the east one half of the northwest quarter of section 17, and the south east quarter of Section 7, and the west half (less twenty acres of north end ) of the northwest quarter of Section 17, lying in township 23, N. of R, 10 E. of the 3d Principal Meridian. The plat of this village was recorded July 31, 1857.
Salem, another of the abandoned villages of Vermilion County, was sur- veyed for B. D. C. Herring. Its location was somewhat complicated, being six and a half acres out of the north half of the southeast quarter of section No. 30, T. 21, N. of R. 12, west ; also three acres one pole out of the east half of S. W. quarter of three sections. Beginning at corner stake, in the south line of said section. Thence west 14 poles to a stone, thence north 31 poles to a stone; thence east 9 poles to a stone; thence north 9 poles to a stone; thence east 31 poles to a stone, thence south 40 poles to a stone; thence west 26 poles to the beginning. The plat contained nine acres, and seventy-nine poles of land.
This list of abandoned towns have been given without regard to the fact that some of the locations are at present in Champaign County. However, when they were platted it was before the division of the two counties, and when they were abandoned the division had not even then been made. That being the case, as abandoned towns or villages, they belong to Vermilion County and as such are considered here.
Gilbert may or may not be considered an abandoned village, since its suc- cessor has been built so near to the first town named for Mr. Alvan Gilbert, and was given a part of his name. Whether or not Gilbert is considered an aban- doned town depends on whether it is correct to consider Alvin the same town as Gilbert.
Salina might be also considered since it was the name given to the railroad station now known as Fairmount, although the latter name was given first. When the new name of Salina was given it was found that there had been another town in the state named Salina, and the old name of Fairmount was continued.
The present town of Indianola was formerly called Chillacotha and before then was called Dallas, yet it is hardly the correct impression to give to put either of the two former names in the list of abandoned villages of Vermilion County.
CHAPTER XLIII. A FEW OLD BURYING GROUNDS.
THIE MT. PISGAH BURYING GROUND-THE DALBEY BURYING GROUND-THE VER- MILION GROVE BURYING GROUND-THE GUNDY BURYING GROUND.
There is much of interest in the old burying grounds of any section and par- ticularly is that true of those of Vermilion County. An exhaustive study of these well repay the trouble. Silent as these spots are, there is a story for one who reads in the recorded lives the conditions of life at any period, better per- haps than in any other way. The old stones which marked the graves of the citizens of early times were much more satisfactory than are the monuments lately erected, massive and giving an assurance of long existence, but with the most meagre information recording only the date of birth and that of death, perhaps.
The earlier stones were largely made of sandstone, many times wooden slabs taking the place of more substantial material. These sandstones have almost all of them been destroyed. In another decade there will be even less. The men and women who lie in these old cemeteries determined the history of this section. Today it is well to wander among the markers of these lives and note how this one came to his new home with faith and trust, and that one came, each to take his place among men, to live his own life, and to help make the history of his own section of the country.
Mount Pisgah cemetery has some recent graves but many that are full of interest because of their being the last resting place for some kind and hard- working pioneer whose life was the sacrifice, no less noble because unconscious, to advancing civilization. Without his efforts the wilderness would not now be blossoming like the rose.
It was in the fifties that David Swank and Levi Long bought the site of the old cemetery and dedicated it for burial purposes. Before this time it must have been a private burying ground, for thirty or forty years. This cemetery is three miles west of Georgetown.
There are two graves made in 1827. Earlier dates have been found on cer- tain stones. Mr. W. L. Long claims he found a stone with the date of 1822, but it is not now to be found. It is possible that such stone was to mark the grave of one of the earliest settlers. Recently there was a record of a girl of thirteen who had died in 1815 and been buried at that place.
The first graves in this old burying ground were on the branch of the little stream called Concord branch now in the northwest part of new addition.
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The graves of two men in this part are surrounded with a rail pen. If any one in this community knows anything about these men it is hardly possible to learn it. There are old sandstones lying about from which the epitaph has been com- pletely obliterated. Old cedar posts are standing, with the inscriptions which were rudely made with a knife, yet plain and distinct. These are seventy-four years old. One of these have the inscription, "Nancy, wife of William Brown. Died June 17, 1863." Another cedar marker bears the inscription of Mary J. Gephart, Died May 15, 1838.
Many wooden markers have no inscription, and many of the sandstone markers are so obliterated that they have no definite information of who lies buried in that place to give the passing stranger.
Among the oldest graves the stones tell the resting place of Elizabeth, wife of J. J. Lyons, who died Christmas day, 1827. She was the first wife of Jotham Lyons, Sr. Jotham Lyons, Sr., died August 2, 1843, and was buried in this cemetery. Richard Swank, so says one marker, died 1827. His descendants in that part of the country are legion.
Absolom Starr died October 14, 1829, and was buried in this burying ground. Another marker gives the information that Kansander, wife of John Jones, died August 31, 1834, and yet another that John Jones himself, died October 26, 1837.
Brazelton Milliken died August 26, 1835.
Emmanuel Gephart died in 1838.
Josiah Long died about the close of the Mexican war. George M. Widener died in 1840.
This burying ground is the resting place for many of the Long and Jones, the Pantas and Hewitt families.
It was in the middle thirties that the Cumberland Presbyterians established a church in the Mt. Pisgah neighborhood and put up a meeting house on the site of the present house of worship, which was used until after the war, when the present church was built. This old burying ground is on a high rolling ele- vation and although is almost completely surrounded with water, is very dry in location.
To the east of the main highway between Muncie and Fairmount, about two miles south of Muncie, is the old Dalbey burying ground. It is a very wild part of the country. It is on a slight elevation, surrounded on the south and east by a small rivulet, beyond which are rugged hills. The trees fringing these hilltops, are as silent sentinels of the melancholy place of repose. All that is needed to make this a dreary spot is the yelping of the wolves and the braying of the panther, which were heard in the days of the pioneer.
This burying ground was laid out in 1838, and the accompaniment of the wild animals' call was not lacking. It was on the joint property of Aaron Dal- bey, and James Cass. When the land was donated for the purpose of a com- mon burial ground, Richard Cass, Jr., remarked, "I would not be buried in such a place." Alas the irony of fate; his was the first grave made in the grounds. This place was extensively used until the fifties; but the whole tract has been abandoned and is now turned over to weeds and wild grass. Grave stones have
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been displaced and markers no longer reliable in the information given because not in place.
The second grave made in the grounds was that of Elizabeth Cass, mother of Richard, Jr. Richard Cass, Sr., died in 1843. Aaron Dalbey died in 1855. Isaac and Felix Radcliff, both young men have markers to show how short their lives were. There are many graves here of people dying in the forties, fifties and sixties. The Casses, Dalbeys, McFarlands, Meades, Bayles, Parrish, Drapers, Whitmans and Radcliffs are to be found in this burying ground.
One of the prettiest spots in Vermilion County is the location of the Gundy cemetery. While a part of this cemetery is devoted to the last home of the pioneers of this locality, there has been a new part added and connected with the old part. The utmost care is taken with this "city of the dead," and there is no neglected portion on the grounds. This is the last resting place of many a man and woman in that part of the county whose efforts have made Vermilion County. Here rests the body of a revolutionary soldier as well as that of the later wars.
A careful and exhaustive list of those buried in the old part gives the fol- lowing names, and date of death.
In the southern part of the county where the early settlers lived, the bury- ing grounds are filled with interest. That of Vermilion grove speaks the story of faitlifulness to home ties and devotion to family interests by the many of the same name to be found in the graves. The Haworths, the Mills and the Rees family all rest together as they lived together in the Vermilion Grove and Sha- ron cemeteries. A careful list of these markers has been obtained through the efforts of Mr. Bertram Rees and follows :
VERMILION GROVE CEMETERY.
I. Elizabeth Harrell, wife of Elwade Harrell; died March 16, 1869. Age, 46 years, 6 months, 11 days.
2. Thomas Hester; died November 10, 1875. Age, 79 years.
3. Mary, his wife; died November 5, 1867. Age, 69 years.
4. J. B. McGown, Col. 63d. Reg. Ill. Volunteers ; died November 21, 1868. Age, 50 years.
5. Perry Mote; died October 8, 1872. Age, 49 years.
6. James C. Walker; died March 30, 1856.
7. Joseph Maddock; died May 11, 1860.
8. William Green; died February 19, 1875. Age, 49 years.
9. Elvin Haworth; died August 22, 1885. Age, 70 years, 4 months, 18 days.
IO. Almeda Haworth, wife; died January 2, 1876.
II. Aaron Mendenhall; died 12th month, 20, 1872. Age, 61 years.
12. Elizabeth Mendenhall; died 1886. Age, 65 years.
13. Nathan Elliott ; died, 1874. Age, nearly 64 years.
14. Naoma Elliott; died, 1886. Age, 67 years.
15. Elizabeth Rees, Ist consort of James Rees; died 2d month, 12, 1842. Age, 27 years.
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
16. John Rees; born June 7, 1801 ; died November 29, 1854.
17. David Haworth; born Jannary 28, 1813; died July 24, 1876.
18. Mariam, his wife; born June 12, 1809; died, March 14, 1894.
19. John M. Mills, born August 4, 1817; died March 1, 1845.
20. Elizabeth, his wife; born September 14, 1818; died April 18, 1904.
21. John Larrance; died, 1837. Age 41 years.
22. Ruth, his wife; died January 22, 1876. Age, 791/2 years.
23. John Mills ; born 7th month, 30, 1774; died 9th month, 19, 1846.
24. Charity Mills; born 9th month, 20, 1777; died 11th month, 5, 1858.
25. Wm. Mills; died March 17. 1872. Age, 731/2 years.
. 26. Hannah, his wife; died April 12, 1847.
27. Jane B., his wife; died May 2, 1880.
28. Thomas Haworth; died March 4, 1885.
29. Susannah Rees, wife of John Rees; died March 18, 1892. Age, 80 years. 30. Rachel Rees ; died Jannary 5. 1892. Age, 72.
31. Jenuince Rees ; died. 1886.
32. Deborah Rees; died September 9, 1885. Age, 87 nearly.
33. Labon Rees; died, 1878. Age, 22 years.
34. William Rees; died, 3d month, 17, 1890. Age, 70 years, II months, I day. 35. John W. Parker; died August 23, 1896. Age, 85 years, 2 months.
36. Hannah Parker; died July 26, 1890. Age 78 years, 9 months.
37 Wm. C. Morris; born December 16, 1822; died October 1, 1904.
38. Sarah, his wife; born January 21, 1828; died December 25, 1898.
39. John M. Elliott ; died November 6, 1892. Age, 52-10-14.
40. John Mendenhall; died May 3, 1897. Age, 871/2 years.
41. Richard Mendenhall; died 5th month, 24, 1889. Age, 67.
42. William Hester ; died, 1899. Age, 61 years.
43. Silas Mendenhall; May 23, 1829; died January 25, 1908.
44. Isaac P. Lewis; died May, 1885. Age, 81.
45. Asenatlı H. Mendenhall, Feb. 8, 1885. Age, 55-6-9.
46. Jesse Smith; died April 13, 1872. Age, 78.
47. Daniel Williams; died, 1868, 11, 18. Age, 72 years, 8 months.
48. John Haworth; died 8th day of 5th month, 1863. Age, 84 years, 6-8.
49 Sicily, his wife, died 3d day of 5th month, 1868. Age, 84 years.
50. Millican Mills; born, December 27, 1814; died January 28, 1891. 76
years. 51. Martha R., his wife; born April 24, 1818; died october 1, 1874. 52. William Holaday; died May 5, 1880. Age, 63-5-20.
53. Elizabeth Holaday; died August 18, 1899. Age, 80-1-21.
54. Thomas W. Lamb; died July 13, 1878; born February 1, 1840.
55. Dr. M. C. Mendenhall, 1835-1905.
56. Wm. Canaday; died, November 1, 1897. Age, 87-10-9.
57. James H. Judd; born, 1842; died, 1891.
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY
SHARON CEMETERY.
Moses Reynolds; born May 6, 1830; died November 28, 1904.
Elvira, his daughter; died February 24, 1878.
Wm. McNeese; died August 17, 1894. Age, 74 years.
Lydia, his wife; died February 8, 1906. Age. 83.
David R. Smith, 1824-1904.
David Ankrum; died February 24, 1867. Age, 69 years.
Abagail, his wife; died February 28, 1857. Age, 54 1/3 years.
Allen, son of above; died October 28, 1858.
George W. Smith; born September 19, 1819; died, July 14, 1900. Elizabeth, his wife; born June 6, 1831 ; died February 2, 1888.
John Kendall, Company E, Seventy-third Illinois Infantry. No date. Theodore T. Smith, son of G. W. and E. Smith; died October 9, 1864. Elizabeth, wife of J. M. Kendall; died January 28, 1852. Age, 35. Martha, wife of Wm. Hall; died March 12, 1849. Age, 55 years. Isaac Smith, Jr., died, 1849.
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