USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement and progress for nearly a century, Volume I > Part 53
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It is difficult to write the history of this township and give due credit to the men of sterling worth who figured so prominently in the affairs of the day in working and bringing out of the trackless prairies the homes, churches and educational institutions and all that which is necessary to build up and broaden the minds of men. Aside from the ones that have been previously mentioned, without any effort to give the date of their arrival into the township, or to fix in any degree the positions they occupied, but who were men of sterling worth, high noble character, and did much toward the development of the county are the following: James Dixon, Jonothan Doan, J. W. Shannon, Thomas Towe. Wm. I. Allen, Mr. McCune, Raffin Clark, George Mains, Daniel S. French, Jacob Swisher, John R. Bowers, E. S. Pope, J. J. Johnson, Adam Bratton, Dr. Griffin, Benj. Peterson, now of Henning, Illinois, and many others whose names
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ought to be mentioned that cannot now be remembered. These settlers were emigrants from northwestern Indiana, Ohio and many of the eastern states.
This township was not organized until 1864. Until that time it had been a part of Middle Fork, but the citizens now deemed it necessary to have a closer compact of government to better their condition financially, socially, and to be in a position to organize schools, began to take steps toward the organizing of a township. A meeting of a few of the citizens of this territory was called and Amos Hoff was appointed as a committee of one to make what was then a long trip over the country to the home of Squire Oakwood who then lived in the neigh- borhood of Bean Creek settlement to draw the necessary petition to set off this township and it was finally agreed and set off as has been heretofore described with Wm. Tennery, who at that time lived in Middle Fork township, as the su- pervisor of the joint townships, but J. H. Swartz was elected as the first super- visor of the joint townships, in 1865 with 37 votes. The early settlers being of an intelligent, bright, active people, early turned their attention toward schools. It is very difficult to say where the first school was organized, but it is quite probable that the first school in the township was what has been known ever since its or- ganization as the Bratton school, and the first term of school was taught in the smokehouse of Hiram Armentrout, and the next in order was probably the school that has been, ever since its organization, known as the Swartz school, and the next in point of organization was what was known as the Murphy school. All of these were held in temporary quarters. The first school building built in the Mur- phy district was nearing completion when it was entirely destroyed by a wind storm. The building that took its place and used as a school house for many years was quite small. It was used by the United Brethren for church purposes, and because of its structure and size was familiarly known all over the community as "The Box." At the time of the organization there was in the township not a solitary village, post office or any building of importance. The mail for almost the en- tire township was received at the post office at Blue Grass, which at that time was quite a flourishing village. The first post office in the township was Circle, and Jesse Piles was postmaster. Churches were early organized in the district. The first Methodist class formed in this township was probably what was afterward known as Swartz's chapel in about 1855. It was formed at the house of Eli Dopps. It was a very interesting class and from this class three distinct churches were organized, the Swartz church at Rankin, and the one at Pellsville, but the church at Pellsville has long since been disbanded. At the time it consisted of 16 members, C. Atkinson was preacher in charge, and John E. Vinson was as- sistant. It belonged to what at that time was known as the Danville circuit, and there was no other church in all this country but Wallace chapel, the one at Blue Grass and the old log house called Partlows church. The preaching appoint- ment was each alternate week, and it was a terrible winter, as all remember so that Atkinson did not reach his appointment at any time during the winter, but Vinson was very regular. Greenbury Garner, Milo Butler and W. H. McVey were on the Danville circuit before 1861. Mr. Elliott was presiding elder and after him, L. Pilner.
After this, W. H. M. Moore, was elder, Sampson Shinn and Enoch Jones, preachers, John Helmick, assistant, J. S. Barger and John Long, preachers in
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charge. In 1855 the Blue Grass circuit was formed and Swartz school house was built, in which they held services, Sampson Shinn was presiding elder. Prairie chapel, the Christian church, was built near Swisher's at the extreme southeastern corner of the township in 1861. Elder Rolla Martin used to preach there. He was for many years the pioneer preacher of this denomination. It is a pleasant church with a strong and active membership. Hon. Clay F. Gaumer is the present pastor. The organization of this church was effected at Blue Grass in 1859 by Elder Martin. Jacob Swisher who lived near where the present edifice stands was an influential member and had much to do with the removing of the organization to the present quarters. The frame work and much of the material used in the construction of the present church was a part of an old church that was bought by the organization many years ago that stood near Danville, but was torn down and removed to its present location. The U. B. church was organized at what was known as the Murphy school house, the ex- act date of the organization not being known, but it was probably between 1865 and '70. Mr. Zeigler was the first preacher in charge. For a number of years Sunday school and church services were held in the Murphy school house, but Mr. Stephen Biddle who owned the land adjoining the cross roads gave a plat of ground to the church upon which a very comfortable building was erected in about 1878. The denomination still occupies the same church and have a very active organization, and they now associate in the Rossville circuit and B. B. Phelps is preacher in charge. Besides the churches named, there are a number of very active organizations in East Lynn and Rankin, which are treated of elsewhere.
This township was void of railroads for many years after the first settlers entered it, and until the Lafayette, Bloomington and Muncie railroad which tra- versed the township from east to west, now known as the L. E. & W., and inter- secting the C. & F. I. R. R. at Hoopeston, there was not a village in the township. This road was built in 1872 and in that year W. P. Moore, in the southeast part of section 10, and T. J. Van Brunt in the northeast 1/4 of section 10, and John P. Dopps, in the northwest 1/4 of 11, and Aiken and White in the southwest 1/4 of 11 (in 23-13) platted and laid out the town site of East Lynne, giving it its name from the charming novel of Mrs. Anna S. Stephen. Henry Ludden was appointed first station agent and first postmaster and the first merchant. In the west part of the township, the laying out of the village did not run so smoothly. At a very early date W. A. Rankin's attention had been called to the fertility of the soil and the beautiful prairie, and he purchased eight sections of land lying near together and commenced improving it in 1867. He built a fine residence on section two, which had been beautifully surrounded by trees, chang- ing the bleak prairie of only a few years into the most delightful shady resort to be found in this part of the country and he early conceived, when the talk of the new railroad was on, the idea of establishing a station near his home. But there were others, and W. H. Pells, who lived just a short distance west of Mr. Rankin, owning but eighty acres of land conceived the idea of establishing a station at his place, hence the contest in site was on. The construction com- pany of which Col. Snell was the head, had the right under their contract to desig- nate the depot but were also authorized to receive payment for the same sufficient
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to cover expenses of side-tracks, depots, etc. When Mr. Rankin went to ne- gotiate for the location, he placed the argument that as the whole township was taxed for the road, a location should be selected as near equidistant as pos- sible, and the location that he proposed was as near the western line as East Lynn was the eastern, and that more people of this township would be ac- commodated by this location than any other; that he was ready at any time to pay the $2,500.00 required for putting in the job and any other little matters required could be easily arranged. On the other hand Mr. Pells pleaded that the custom of the road which had been to permit each director to name a depot ; that every other director had been accorded that privilege and that the farmers around the proposed location would give as much or more for the location. The citizens in the vicinity of Pellsville raised $3,500.00 by subscription and got their depot. The Rankin people paid their subscription and got theirs. It then became a question for the railroad company to decide which one should be re- tained and Mr. Boody was appealed to by both parties. At one stage of the contest a proposition was obtained to locate a station midway between the two places. This was accepted by one party, but declined by the other. After the matter had come into the jurisdiction of Mr. Boody, he proposed a plan which was very likely to decide matters, but just then the road was put into the hands of a receiver, who decided that he had no authority in such matter, and would not decide.
The village of Rankin was laid out in June, 1872, by A. Bowman, county sur- veyor, and J. R. Bowers, making twenty-four blocks, each of which were 240X 250 feet. The streets are eighty-five feet wide. It was laid out one-half on the land of D. and W. A. Rankin, in section 12, and one-quarter on each of the lands of George Gutherie and Mr. Johnson. The Gutherie portion was sold to Prof. Joseph Carter, of Champaign, Illinois, who still owns it. The two open strips between the blocks and the track were left for public use.
The first building was commenced by Mr. E. Wait, who lived in Loda, intend- ing to go into the grain and coal trade. Before it was completed he was killed on the construction train between Paxton and this station. Mr. F. A. Finney took Waits' interest and completed the building, which was afterward sold to Mr. Chapman. Rankin & Thompson put up the next building-a grain office. C. H. Wyman put up a store and put in a stock of drugs. Milton Holmes, from Bloomington, built most of the buildings that were put up the first year.
He and his hands had to camp out, sleep under work-benches or wherever they could find a chance, for there was no boarding place here. Cowell & Weaver built several. There was no lumber yard here, and the freight from Paxton was fifteen dollars per car. All the stone brought here for building purposes came from Kankakee. While the construction company retained the control of the road no less freight could be obtained, and thus it was necessary to pay at Paxton as there was no office here. Holmes built the drug store and grain office, and six dwelling houses for Mr. Rankin, a store and the hotel the first season. His family were the first persons who came here to live. They resided in the Wait House. J. T. Wickham was the second. They resided in the Wilson House.
The Campbell House which was put up among the very first buildings was at that time, without doubt, the finest hotel in the county outside of Danville. It
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was built for J. F. Campbell and was occupied by him continuously for many years. It with its appurtenances was built at an expenditure of $5,500.00. J. R. Bowers, who since the first opening of business in Rankin was one of the solid men of the village. He came to make a farm on section 7, two miles east of Rankin, in 1865. He remained there until the village was commenced and then brought the old flax-seed warehouse from Blue Grass and went into business.
Flax was for many years one of the leading crops in this part of the country. It was no uncommon thing to see large acreages of this crop sown, and it was indeed a beautiful sight when the flax crop was in bloom. A Lafayette firm which was interested in the business had erected a warehouse at Blue Grass which was then the great central point of trade and traffic. This firm planned their warehouse so as to keep the seed from one year to the other, and in the spring they would loan the farmer the seed to seed his land; attached to the loan contract was an agreement to sell the firm the seed when it was harvested, and as soon as the railroad was built this brought about the opportunity which Mr. Bowers seized when he removed the old warehouse from Blue Grass to the village of Rankin. Rankin and Thompson were the first to open up in the grain trade under the firm name of D. and W. A. Rankin. They built an elevator which was 30x50, 40 feet high, at that time was a great structure. This same elevator is in operation today, but its capacity has been much enlarged. The war between Rankin and Pellsville occasionally broke out, but it soon devel- oped that Rankin had come to stay and that Pellsville was doomed, and today there is scarcely a vestige, and not a house nor a corner stone to tell the story of what was once a flourishing village.
In 1902 the C. & E. I. R. R. built a branch road, leaving the main line at Woodland, crossing the county, making a short line to St. Louis. This road crossed the north line of Butler township at about 11/2 miles east of the village of Rankin, it crossed the township from north to south angling a little from the direct line to the westward and just south of Rankin was the little town or vil- lage of Riley. At this place sprung up a number of business houses, an elevator and excellent railroad facilities to the part of the township that heretofore found it very inconvenient.
Much of the early history of the township is a matter of tradition, and in- asmuch as the memory of man is fickle and many of the facts that would be of great interest to have recorded in this article, have long since been forgotten by the present generations and the ones who could relate them best have long since passed away. Only a few of the early settlers that occupied this country prior to 1860 are living to tell the story. As nearly as can be determined there are but very few of these early settlers living today who came to this township prior to 1859. Of these there are Hiram Armentrout and his wife, who settled on the south half of section two (22-13) in 1855, and resided on the same until a few years ago when they removed to Rossville, and reside there at the present time. Scott Armentrout their only son resides on the farm having lived where he was born and nowhere else all his life.
Mr. Armentrout is 81 past, very hardy and never used glasses and his eye sight is good to this day. Amos Hoff moved to the northeast 1/4 of the southeast 1/4 of section 9 and the northwest 1/4 of the southwest 1/4 of sections 10-22-13
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in 1857 and resided there until a few years ago when he and his life companion removed to Rossville where they now reside. Mr. Hoff is 78 and quite active, and his wife is 75. Wesley Blackford settled on the west half of the southwest 1/4 of sections 2-22-13 in 1859, where he now resides having lived there continuously ever since. His wife having passed on several years ago. As far as is known he is the only one now living in the township that was there at that time. The pictures of these very old people and the companions of the first two are given elsewhere in this volume.
Coal was unknown in this territory in these early days. It was a custom of the farmers who resided in this country to procure for themselves a small tract of timber to furnish them their supply of fire wood and material for their fences and building purposes. These years of hard times were full of many incidents that would be interesting to relate if they could only be procured and space could be given. In the absence of the railroads the markets for this township were Chicago and Danville after the railroad came, and later Loda and Paxton when the I. C. railroad had been built. During the winter months the farmers were busy marketing the grain because it took much time to deliver a few bushels as the distance was so great. An incident is told of Thomas Towe and Mr. McCune. Towe had come to this country in '56, settled on section 7-23-13. Along in the fall sometime Towe and McCune had gone to Middle Fork. Mc- Cune to get a load of wood and Towe for a load of sand. This timber, twelve miles away, was the nearest fuel they could obtain. They knew nothing of coal at that day. McCune had a good team of horses and his partner was driving three yoke of oxen-of course, he had to go on foot. Night overtaking them they became completely lost ..
To be lost on the prairie at night is the nearest thing to being "finally lost" that one experiences in this life. There is absolutely no clue by which the most skillful detective could work out. Especially is this so when the wind does not blow. Teams are liable to walk around in a circle, and in the absence of any light, which can be seen on such occasions many miles, the wanderers not unfre- quently find it necessary to spend the night on the prairie. In this case the be- nighted travelers set to hallooing with all their might, and after an hour of such exercise they were heard by Mr. Stamp, who fired a gun to attract their atten- tion. As soon as they could ascertain the direction of this first "gun at day- break" they started for it at double-quick; Towe ahead leading the van with his steers, and McCune following like a general officer on dress parade, glad to ride where Towe should lead. They came to one of those ponds which at that time were numerous on these prairies, and the leader fearing to turn to the right or the left lest he should lose his direction, plunged in knee deep, yelling at the top of his voice to keep up his courage, and to keep their gunner acquainted with their whereabouts. McCune rode out the storm like a major, and never looked on that pond after that without almost fancying he could see Towe knee-deep in the flood. Mr. Towe returned to New York, and John, who remained to carry on the farm, went to the army and was killed. Squire Bowers, in returning from Loda one night, got lost and became mired in a pond. He took off the horses and walked around all night to keep from being numbed with the cold. It was cus- tomary when the father of the family was belated, to place a candle in the win-
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dow which looked in the direction he was to come, and many a man has been saved a night on the prairie by "keeping the lower light burning."
The nearest mill for a time was at Myersville, until Persons purchased and refitted the Ross Mill. The nearest trading point was at Loda, twelve miles north, which was a famous point for trade for all this country until the distillery burned and the building of the railroads drew merchants away from there, until now there is nothing left of its former business importance.
In the early days the people here did not raise many cattle for some reason. As previously stated, all tried wheat for a time, until continued failures used up all they had kept for seed, without any return. Still they bought seed and sowed again. Corn and hogs were the staple. Hogs always brought a paying price, and it was before cholera had been invented. Stock and corn are the principal staples of the farmer yet. Flax has been raised some, and was considered a fair crop. To the renter it was considered an available crop, for it "turns" so much earlier than corn that it enabled him to get something to live on several months before he could for corn. It is doubtful, however, if there is a native of the township of the present generation that ever saw in its confines a crop of flax growing.
Land was worth from $2.50 to $5 per acre. Some sold as high as $9 before the railroad was built, and some sold in anticipation of that building as high as $12. Eight dollars was probably a fair average for land two years before the railroad was built. Twenty to twenty-five dollars could hardly be called an ex- orbitant price as late as 1885. The present price of land in the township is from $100 to $175 or probably $200 per acre.
McCune says that as late as 1857 he has seen here on this prairie as many as twenty deer at a time, and at one time he saw on section 7 fifty-four in one lot going in a northwesterly direction, and wolves were as thick as rabbits. As late as 1858, of a flock of sheep, which had got away from a man living north of here, eighty were killed in a single night. Badgers were also plenty. They were as large as a dog, and stronger, with a thick neck, and too strong for any dog to master. Rattlesnakes were so plenty that on a single farm a hundred were killed in a single season. It is a wonder that more people were not killed by them. Dogs that were bitten by them seemed to know how to cure them- selves.
Prairie mud was a very certain cure. They were really a dangerous neigh- bor, yet the children went bare-footed to school or hunting strawberries as now. They seem as adverse to civilization as any of their wild neighbors, and as the prairie-grass was killed out by being plowed and cultivated they disap- peared. The last seen of them here was about 1870. It is doubted whether any survived the shriek of the locomotive or the high taxes of modern civiliza- tion. We used to have squirrels here, red and gray, not unlike those in the timber but smaller, and with shorter tails. Prairie chickens were of course very plenty, and the reverberating "boom" of their matins, ushering in an Oc- tober morning, will never be forgotten by the old settlers, and probably never heard in its fullness by the new. Sand-hill cranes were very numerous, as they nested here in the ponds on this divide, and, if undisturbed, would make havoc of the corn in the spring, taking two rows at a time, as clean as any
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man could root it up, and in the fall would congregate in great numbers if not driven away. The writer remembers very distinctly when a boy of building a trap for the purpose of catching prairie chickens, that was in shape of an or- dinary square box about 18 inches wide by 4 feet long, and 2 feet high, and the top was simply a trap door. The trap was baited with corn and an ear of corn usually extended upright on a cross-piece. The prairie chickens would light upon these trap doors to peck the ear of corn and would be precipitated, before they could get away, into the box or trap, and it was not uncommon in going to the trap on the early morning to find from two to one-half dozen prairie chickens encooped therein.
William H. Tennery who lived across the line in Middle Fork township was known far and wide as the stock man of that country. It was he who turned the grand prairie of Butler township into a grazing field for the Texas cattle. The year the I. C. R. R. was built as far south as Loda, which at that time was the terminus, he bought from Butler township, mostly, and from adjoining ter- ritory a load of hogs for shipment, and this was in all probability the first and the largest drove of hogs that had ever been shipped out of the territory. He loaded his hogs on the I. C. R. R. at Loda, having 500 head, intending to ship them to Buffalo, New York. He landed in Chicago in due time, unloaded the hogs, was detained there three or four days waiting for cars to ship them from Chicago east, and at last he succeeded in getting cars enough for his hogs. He reached Detroit without a mishap, arriving there in the early winter, learn- ing that the Detroit river was frozen over and the railroad traffic between De- troit and Buffalo, by means of ferry, was closed. He unloaded his hogs, kept them in Detroit for several days, feeding them 60 cent corn. Early one morn- ing he conceived an idea, and he says to the landlord of the hotel, "Is there not a place in the river where the water is still that would probably freeze over?" The landlord advised him that there was, a short distance out of the city. Mr. Tennery procured a saddle horse and started out to investigate. He found the river frozen over and with an axe crossed the river testing the ice from time to time to determine whether it was solid enough to bear. He found the river covered with a coat of ice about six inches thick, and satisfied that his idea was good, he returned to the city of Detroit, engaged six teams for the next day to haul him straw. Early in the morning the teams arrived on the scene with the straw, which he had them scatter on the ice entirely across the river, then he had men cut holes in the ice, threw water on the straw until it was frozen fast to the ice. This done, it formed a footing for his hogs. He opened the gates in the stock pen, drove his hogs to the road, thus made across the river and drove the 500 head over the river on the ice landing them safely on the other side at which point they were reloaded on the railroad train and shipped into the city of Buffalo. Such was the transportation of stock in those days.
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