USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > History of Vermilion County, together with historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources > Part 100
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In political matters, the township is pretty nearly evenly divided between democrats and republicans. This has been the case for a few years only. Formerly, Oakwood stood republican by large majorities. On national and state questions they still hold the field, but in local elections we find a few democrats in office. Although, as a general rule, we find "stalwart" republicans in this part of the county, men whose opposition to democracy is as pronounced and vigorous as the most radical could desire, we do not find much bitterness nor party strife in local affairs.
RAILROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
As has been remarked elsewhere in these pages, the prairies of this country were not occupied until a comparatively recent date, but noth- ing has contributed more largely to this result than the railroads. Oak- wood is traversed its full length by the Indianapolis, Bloomington &
-
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Western railroad. This road enters the township from the east, near the southeast corner of section 8, town 19, range 12, and with the ex- ception of a short curve on the east side, follows the section line west through to the county line. This is two miles north of the south line of the township. The road was built in 1870 and 1871, and though many persons were cheated out of the pay for their work, it made lively times for awhile. Previously there had been a few little places which had been striving to attain the dignity of "town," so that when the railroad came much strife was manifested in securing the location of stations. But the three, though small, furnish so many shipping points for the farmer, and tend to give a lively competition in this line of business. Much grain and stock are shipped by this road. It furnishes direct communication with Indianapolis, and will be the means of in- ducing a thorough cultivation of this wonderful farming land. To one unacquainted with shipping figures, the amount already shipped from these small stations seems wonderful -both of stock and grain.
The oldest wagon-road in this township, or anywhere in the western part of the county, is the old State Road, which dates back to pioneer days. It runs obliquely through the south part of the township, pass- ing out at the south side about two and one-half miles from the county line. On this road the early settlements on the south and west side of the township were made. It is still much traveled. There were roads along the timber in various places at quite remote dates, but we found it impossible to trace their origin. At present nearly every sec- tion line in the township is a laid-out road, while there are many that do not follow lines. The level character of the country makes it neces- sary that these be either graded or drained. In some places we find thoroughfares that must be well nigh impassable in rainy weather, but generally the roads are in good condition. This is more especially true of those that lead east to Danville, and there are several.
ORGANIZATION OF OAKWOOD.
Although the system of township organization was adopted in 1850, Oakwood, as a distinct township, dates its birth from a much more re- cent period. What is now included within the limits of this township lay formerly in Pilot, Vance and Catlin. On the 2d day of October, 1867, Geo. A. Fox, supervisor from Vance township, offered a resolu- tion creating a new township from the territory of Vance, Catlin and Pilot, in accordance with the prayer of certain petitioners from said town- ships. At this time Mr. West was supervisor from Pilot and Mr. Church from Catlin. These gentlemen supported the motion, but the supervisors' court concluded to delay action thereon until the March
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session of the next year, in order that all persons affected by the pro- posed change, might have opportunity to approve or disapprove the change. Accordingly, on the 9th of March, 1868, the petition pre- sented in the fall of 1867 was again taken up, and Mr. Fox urged the passage of a resolution creating the new township. An effort was made to postpone again the consideration of this resolution, but without suc- cess. The prayer of the petitioners was then granted, whereupon the township was declared created, and an election ordered for the purpose of selecting township officers. This first election was held at the Stearns school-house on the 7th of April, 1868: Geo. A. Fox was elected su- pervisor; Henry Sallee, town clerk; J. A. Littler, assessor; J. A. Brothers, collector ; Joseph Truax, Levin Vinson, J. C. Jenkins, com- missioners of highways; Samnel Major and Thomas Makemson, con- stables; Geo. A. Fox and J. H. West, Justices of the peace. The present officers are (elected on the 2d of April, 1879) Henry J. Oak- wood, supervisor ; Henry Sallee, town clerk; W. H. Noble, assessor ; William Craigmile, collector; Joseph Mullins, commissioner of high- ways. Elected in 1878: James Hargan, commissioner of Highways. Elected in 1877 : J. A. Littler and William P. Van Allen, justices of peace ; J. K. Sowards and Charles N. Trimble.
There are two precincts in Oakwood township, called first and sec- ond; the line which separates them extends north and south between sections 21 and 22, 16 and 15, 9 and 10, 4 and 3, T. 19, R. 13, and be- tween sections 33 and 34, 28 and 27, T. 20, R. 13. Oakwood Station is the point of voting for the first, and Fithian for the second.
VILLAGES.
Oakwood can boast of the number, if not the size, of the hamlets with- in its borders. If, in considering these places, we begin with that which dates farthest back in the settlement of this country, the place around which early legends cling with the dim uncertainty that char- acterizes the history of a Thebes, a Cuzco, a Nineveh or a Jericho, we must turn our attention first to
NEW TOWN.
This village was surveyed and laid out by Benjamin Coddington, from the east half of the southeast quarter of section 25, T. 20, R. 13. The lots were made three rods wide and six rods long ; the alleys are one rod wide. Main street extends north and south four rods wide; High street extends east and west, of the same width. The plat of the village was filed on the 15th of June, 1838, and given under the hand of Owen West, county surveyor, and filed with the probate justice on
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the 27th of June, 1838. The first man to locate in the vicinity of this place was Stephen Griffith, whom we have referred to as coming to this neighborhood in about 1825 or 1826; but Mr. Griffith was not connected with the town. Mr. Coddington built the first dwelling. Within a year or two after the building of the first house in the village Hezekiah Miners built the second. About the same time Jonathan Harris put up the first store ; he ran the business for a short time, and then they were a long time without any store. William Reed, the early sheriff of the county, built a residence here in 1837. A black- smith shop was set up about 1838 or 1839; this finally failed and the second one was not started until 1857 or 1858. Thomas Henderson put up a store in 1849. In the mean time a few families had gathered around the spot, until at present there are nearly a score of buildings in that vicinity. There is one blacksmith-shop, one wagon-shop, one shoe-shop, one school-house, one church, one drug-store and postoffice, one general country store of dry-goods, clothing, groceries, etc. etc., one M.D., and one parsonage where a minister may generally be found. New Town lies off the railroad, and thus experiences a disadvantage in competition with its sister villages. The postoffice is kept by S. H. Oakwood. Its name is Pilot, and confusion is thus sometimes made from the fact that Pilot township lies so close to the north and that there is a postoffice there, near Pilot Grove. At New Town there is quite a flourishing lodge of
A.F. & A.M.
This lodge was organized through the efforts, more particularly, of Tilton and Payne, merchants here. For a short time they worked under dispensation with the following persons : Lonzo G. Payne, John O'Ferrall, T. J. George, Asbury Craig, A. J. Bennett, J. G. Kirsh, John Cork, jr., A. S. Tevebaugh, G. F. Hilliary, James Osborne, A. B. Tilton. Added to these were : D. Makemson, A. Me Vicker, Sam- uel Durham, J. H. Trimmell, S. H. Oakwood, C. W. Keeslar, C. Sum- ner, John P. Tevebaugh, Jesse Wilson, J. H. Van Allen, M. C. Davis, Samuel Solomon, F. A. Collison, C. J. Martin and Jesse Doney for charter members. Catlin Lodge is looked upon as the mother of this. The charter is dated Chicago, October 7, 1874. A. G. Payne was the first master. Since that time Dr. O'Ferrall and Thomas George have acted in that capacity. In the summer of 1874, Tilton and Payne, merchants, built a new storehouse, and above they made a hall and sold it to the lodge. This hall is 22 x 45 feet ; it is fixed up nicely, carpeted, and the rooms furnished with all the paraphernalia of a well- equipped lodge of A.F. & A.M. The society is out of debt and in
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
good condition. They have a membership of about forty. The officers at present are : John O'Ferrall, W.M .; J. G. Kirsh, S.W .; M. C. Da- vis, J.W. ; John Swift, Secretary ; J. V. Ludwig, S.D .; A. S. Teve- baugh, Treasurer ; C. Sumner, Tyler.
CONKEY TOWN.
Some years ago there was quite a cluster of houses, and a lively business was done, at what was called Conkey Town. At present it is difficult to find much of the place, but we can find where it was. Here is an instance of the influence that a railroad has on a small country village when it passes to one side a short distance. We have no record of any survey, or any laying off into a town; but O. M. Conkey came here about 1851, and operated a general country store. He came from Eugene, Indiana. A Mr. Denman set up a blacksmith- shop, and Mr. Conkey got a post-office. Conkey sold out to Rowe & Beatty, and they sold to Mattocks & Maters Brothers. These men finally closed ont about the time that the I. B. & W. came through. There was also another man, who kept a grocery, beer, etc .; but he, too, closed out and moved away. The first ideas of trade in this part of the country were entertained by Mr. Rhodes Smith. He began business on the State Road, just down close to Stony Creek, at quite an early day. Why he quit we did not learn, but suppose that this suggested the idea of Conkey Town, as well as the fact of a successful mill which had been operating from the earliest days. During the palmiest days of this little village Dr. Wilkins was their physician. He has left the reputation of being a good practitioner, and an upright man. But its days are over. The place reminds one of Goldsmith's words as he sings of the deserted village. W. R. Jones now owns the site of the village. He has a farm of two hundred acres here, and that includes the town.
MUNCIE.
This little village is pleasantly situated on the I. B. & W. R. R., about fourteen miles west of Danville. It is just west of the timbers of Stony Creek, and has a very desirable location, so far as the natural advantages presented by the surface of the country are concerned. At least, this is as nearly the case as any location that could easily be found in this country, where every place needs draining. Muncie was surveyed by Alexander Bowman for Edward Corbley, from the south- east corner of section 8, and southwest corner of section 9, T. 19, R. 13. Main street extends north from the corner of sections 8, 9, 16 and 17. This corner is marked by a stone 29} links from the railroad track. A plat of the village was filed with the recorder on the 7th of
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September, 1875. The streets extending north and south are named Main, Walnut, Ross and Craig; those extending east and west are Fowler, McCarty and Corbley. The first dwelling was erected by Elisha Henry. There are now a number of dwellings, one physician, one justice of the peace, one blacksmith-shop, and one firm selling goods and keeping a general country store. As yet, Muncie is without a school-house and church. The Baptist church is not far away, but the school-house is off' quite a distance. There is considerable shipping done from this point.
The station at Muncie was first opened in November, 1876. Will- iam Lynch was the first agent. The present incumbent is W. L. Spicklemire.
A post-office was first established at Muncie on the 21st of February, 1876. Frank A. Hickman was the first postmaster, William Lynch, the second, and Sanford S. Dickson, the third and last.
FITHIAN.
This is the most populous village within the limits of Oakwood township. It is situated in the prairie, three and one-half miles east of the county line, on the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western railroad. Its origin was simultaneous with this road through here. As Dr. Wi. Fithian owned vast acres of land in this part of the county, it was to his interest to secure the location of a station upon it. This he succeeded in doing, and, accordingly, Asa H. Guy sur- veyed and laid ont a village from the east half of the southwest quar- ter and the west half of the southeast quarter of section 7, and east half of the northwest fourth and the west half of the northeast fourth of section 18, in T. 19, R. 13. The plat was filed with the recorder on the 8th of April, 1870. The original plat was a perfect square, and contained eight full and eight fractional blocks, lying partly on each side of the railroad. The streets extending north and south are - beginning on the east side - Jefferson, Main and Adams; those run- ning east and west are Clinton, South Sherman, North Sherman and Washington.
Besides the original survey there was another on the north side of this, surveyed by Alexander Bowman, county surveyor, on the 12th of October, 1873. This is styled the Franklin Addition, and was laid off for W. H. Smith and J. C. Black. It consisted of four blocks of twelve lots each. On the north of this they opened a street and named it Franklin.
Henry Berkenbusch was the first to arrive at the new station. He had been keeping store about one mile north, but when the village had
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
been located he moved down to the road. He was the first to buy a lot here, and the first to ship goods on the railroad. After a year, he took in, as partner, J. P. Nichols. They operated together until 1875, when Berkenbosch sold out to Nichols, who has been in the mercantile business ever since. Burkenbusch opened his store here in March, 1871. The next merchant was H. Penrod, who sold agricul- tural implements. He was followed by F. M. Cannady, dry goods and groceries. S. Solomon came next with a drug store. At more recent date came Frisch, Littler and Booker, and Graham Brothers, who still remain. The first physician in the village was Dr. Rice. Dr. Smith, of Muncie, was located here for some time.
Fithian does quite a lively business for so small a place in the way of shipping, both of grain and stock. It has one of the largest ware- houses, on the railroad, in this part of the country. But there are a number of grain and hog buyers, and as much or more business is done outside of the warehouse.
The first postmaster was Henry Berkenbusch. The present incum- bent is George W. Graham, who has held the office since 1872. The school-house was built in 1873. This building shows the effects of constant wear, but the Methodist church recently put up here is an ornament to the town. Although there are few church members here, this edifice speaks well for the community.
OAKWOOD STATION.
This village was surveyed by the county surveyor, Asa H. Guy, on the 14th of April, 1870, for Clark R. Griggs, from the S.E. ¿ and S. W. ¿ of section 12, and the N.E. } of section 13, in township 19, range 13. It is composed of thirteen fractional and seven complete blocks, and five out-lots of various shapes and sizes. There are twelve blocks on the north of the railroad and eight and the five out-lots on the south. The first store began here was operated by Johnson & Stewart. It burned down in 1871. Henry Dulin put up the next. He has remained here ever since. He is the postmaster at present. Lonzo Campbell built a warehouse, and bought grain until his death. The property is now owned by his heirs, but is not operated. A storm took off the roof, leaving it in a dilapidated condition. This little village is like its most intimate neighbor, Muncie, in that it has neither school-house nor church. But the school-house is not far away, and Finley chapel is near. There is some shipping done here, particularly of corn, cattle, hogs and coal. The coal mines on the Salt Fork, which yield such an abundance of fuel, have this station as their principal point of ship- ment.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
John Makemson was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, on the 10th of February, 1809, and died in Bates county, Missouri, on the 15th of March, 1878. He was a farmer all his life. He lived in Kentucky till he was twenty years old, and then came to Vermilion county, Illinois. His father was one of the revolutionary soldiers. He stopped first north of Danville, but soon came to the east side of Oakwood township, and entered land here in 1829. Mr. Makemson lived on the original home-place, now occupied by his son David,
for forty-one years. He moved to Missouri in 1877, on account of his health, and died there. He married Elizabeth Partlow, on the 9th of March, 1837. They had six children, but only two are living,- a son and daughter. Mr. Makemson was a member of the Methodist church for forty-four years. He was a good man, much loved and re- spected by all who knew him. His widow still lives with the children.
Stephen Cox, pastor of the Regular Predestinarian Baptist church, in the east end of Oakwood township, came to this county in the fall of 1829, with his father's family, from Kentucky. Stephen, with the other members of the family, grew to years of maturity on the Middle Fork. He has lived in various parts of the neighborhood for fifty years. He has lived on the place that he now occupies, just north of Oakwood Station, since the spring of 1862.
Joseph V. Davis son of Joseph Davis, came to this county from Pickaway county, Ohio, with his father, in 1829. His father was a well-known early settler in the neighborhood of Catlin. Joseph V. was born in 1825, and died in November, 1852. He lived and died on his father's home-place. He married Cynthia McCorkle, on the 13th of March, 1851. They had one child, Joseph S. Davis, who now lives with his mother, Mrs. Doran, northwest of Oakwood Station. The original Davis was a man of large property. The children received their due portion, and the grandson is well provided for. The same year that Mr. Davis died a brother and brother-in-law died. Each left a widow and one child, and all had been married but a short time.
Samuel Dalbey, a son of the early pioneer, Aaron Dalbey, was born in Winchester, Indiana, on the 12th of October, 1829. He lived with his father there, and came to this county in 1831. His father had six children and one yoke of oxen and nine dollars in money at that time, but the boys grew and prospered notwithstanding. Here Mr. Dalbey remained on the old farm till grown. On the 28th of December, 1851, he married Sarah Watts. After his marriage Mr. Dalbey lived in va- rious parts of Oakwood township, in Indiana and Kansas, till the spring
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
of 1865, when he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land north of Muncie, and has remained here ever since. Besides the prairie farm, he has some timber land. The former is one mile north of Muncie.
Aaron Dalbey, deceased, was one of the earliest settlers on Stony Creek. He was born in Pennsylvania on the 3d of July, 1801. He was of English descent. He remained in Pennsylvania some time ; was married there. He came to Ohio, and then to Indiana, where his wife died, and he married Nancy Wright. She died, and he was married to Henrietta Catlin. Miss Catlin was living in Indiana at this time, June 27, 1837. Mr. Dalbey came to Stony Creek, and opened the third farm on the west side. He first stopped on the south side of Salt Fork in 1831, and staid one season. He then built the house on the west of Stony Creek, and opened the farm. It lies one and a half miles south of Muncie, and is still occupied by his widow and her husband, John McFarland.
Simon A. Dickson, deceased, was born near Dallas in 1833. His father came to this county in 1824. Simon grew up on a farm, and was married to Elizabeth Catlin on the 12th of September, 1854. He lived in the south part of the county at first, and then moved to three miles north of Fithian, and staid here about six years. He enlisted in the United States army in August, and left Danville with the 125th Reg., in Capt. Fellows' company. He was in the fight at Perryville. He took pneumonia, and died in hospital on the 2d of June, 1863, at Nashville, Tennessee. He was a good soldier. Resolutions of respect and sympathy for the afflicted widow were sent by the company to Mrs. Dickson. He had four sons, who still live in this section of the country.
Thornton Hubbard. Among the early settlers, no one is better known in this community than Mr. Hubbard. He was born in Ross county, Ohio, on the 20th of March, 1821. His father was Willis Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard has lived on a farm all his life. He came to Vermilion county with his father in 1833. They stopped on Henry Oakwood's farm. Here the father remained until his death, and the son until he was twenty-one. Mr. Hubbard worked for Major Vance at eight dollars per month, and earned money to enter the land where his new house now stands. « He married, on the 6th of April, 1854, Nancy Dickson. She died on the 25th of January, 1859. They had two children : Lily and Willie. He then married Elizabeth Dickson. They had two children : Olive and Charles. Mr. Hubbard was mar- ried to Sarah Hulick on the 25th of October, 1864. They have three children : Lulie, Mary and Willie. Mr. Hubbard owns three hundred and seventy-seven acres of land, and has a large new house, built in 1877,
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which cost about $3,000. Mr. Hulick, Mr. Hubbard's father-in-law, was one of the first settlers of Perrysville, Indiana. He was an under- taker and liveryman in Perrysville for a long time. He afterward moved to Illinois, and died in this state.
Henry J. Oakwood, the present supervisor from Oakwood town- ship, was born in Brown county, Ohio, on the 7th of March, 1819. He came to this county with his father, Henry Oakwood, in 1833. Ro- land, Norris and Oakwood were the first settlers in the neighborhood. When Mr. Oakwood first came to the county he stopped on the sonth side of Salt Fork, and then built on the north side in the spring of the next year. Henry J. grew to manhood on his father's farm, and began for himself by working around. He bought his first eighty acres of land on the north side of his father's farm. It was low prairie, and some of the early settlers were sorry that he should take hold of such a bad piece of property. But his land, when drained, proved to be a good investment. He taught school three years in his younger days, but now owns property enough to keep him employed looking after its interests. He has six hundred acres at present. He married Priscilla Saylor on the 9th of April, 1850. They have eight children. Besides supervisor, which office he has held for some time, he has held various positions of trust, but is chiefly known as a man of business, whose en- ergy and good sense keep things moving.
Henry Sallee is not only one of the oldest settlers, but he is one of the stanchest men of Oakwood township. Mr. Sallee was born in Brown county, Ohio, on the 3d of June, 1810. He removed to Ken- tucky at the age of five and one-half years, and stayed with his grand- parents till they died. He came to this part of Vermilion county with his uncle, Michael Hickman, in 1834. He stopped on the south side of Salt Fork until he married Matilda Oakwood, on the 8th of January, 1835. She was a daughter of Henry Oakwood. They had three children, two of whom are still living near their father. Mr. Sallee bought the place where he now lives and moved on it in the fall of 1837. He bought one hundred and sixty acres first and improved it, and afterward added more till his premises now include three hundred and fifteen acres. He was married a second time, in 1861, to Eliza- beth Jones, a daughter of William Jones, who settled quite early on the southeast of Danville. Mr. Sallee has been a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian church for thirty-five years, and an elder since 1850. He has been town clerk since the organization of the township, and school treasurer of town 19, range 13, for thirty-one years.
Francis M. Rankin resides on the old Young farm. His father, Montgomery S. Rankin, was born in Kentucky on the 15th of Decem-
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
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