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 104

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : H. H. Hill and Company
Number of Pages: 1164

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 104

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).

The Christian church was organized by the pioneer preachers of that faith, about 1834. Samuel Swisher, Samuel Bloomfield and James

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Magee were the first officers. Solomon Mckinney, Dr. Hall, from Lebanon, Indiana, Mr. Blount and Mr. Mapes, early held services here around from house to house-usually at Mr. Swisher's and Mr. Peters' houses. Jacob Swisher, Mr. Mckinney and Mr. Sears, kept alive the public services, and were joyfully assisted by Mr. Wm. Shockey until he fell from grace and adopted the doctrines of the "soul sleepers," after which the orthodox members of this pioneer watch-tower of Zion would not listen to him.

The church which stands just east of Mr. Copeland's was built in 1846. There were then about fifty members, and all took hold of the work in earnest, and very soon saw it completed. It is 36×46. Old James Magee, who had a saw-mill up in Middle Fork, sawed the lum- ber and gave the black-walnut boards for the seats as his part of the work. Mr. Hoskins had a lot of soft brick which he gave, and which were used to fill in between the joists to make the house warmer. A few years since, the house was remodeled and lathed and plastered. Elder Rawley Martin preached here once a month for fifteen years, and held protracted meetings. Since his time, John J. Cosat, Wn. Yates, of Ogden, Oscar Gravat, Theodore Stipp and Mr. Myers have successively acted as pastors or occasional supply. A Sunday-school has been main- tained summers, under the successive superintendency of David Cosat, Oscar Gravat, Wm. Hoskins and George Justice; Addison Justice is the present superintendent. It has always been a strong church, and its work as a pioneer in religious things has been marked by grand results. It numbers about one hundred and forty members. J. J. Cosat, Samuel Cosat and Oscar Gravat, are elders; H. Swisher and Joshua Chinoweth, deacons. It is called " Union " church.

The first public religious services ever held within the bounds of what is now Blount was held at the house of John Johns in 1829, under the following circumstances, the facts of which were kindly furnished by Mr. Johns, still a hearty, strong man, living at Danville. Mr. Johns and his young wife, whose feeble life is now almost gone, came into this town to make their home in 1829. They had in their former home had the advantages of religious services, and felt the need of them here. In December of that year (and this is now the jubilee year) Mr. Johns accompanied Reuben Partlow, of Middle Fork, to Danville, to attend the preaching service of Rev. James McKain, who was the first traveling Methodist preacher in the county. He was then in charge of Eugene circuit, which embraced Perrysville, Dan- ville, Georgetown, Big Grove and intermediate points. After service they remained to the class-meeting, and made themselves and their wants known to the preacher. They told him they had come to ask

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him to make appointments in their neighborhoods for the people, who were without religious teaching. Mr. McKain was a true pioneer. He had been engaged in mercantile business before commencing preaching, and had sufficient means of his own, so that he was inde- pendent of salary. While he did not refuse what pay was tendered him, he never would talk with his people about compensation, and seemed to prefer not to accept it. He was a very useful man, and zealous of good works, of sufficient education to be acceptable to all. He sent an appointment to Mr. Johns' house, and continued to fill the appointment every four weeks as long as he was on this work. He formed a class there, the first members of which were Mr. and Mrs. Johns, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Partlow, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wood, Nathaniel Blaze and wife, who lived up at Myersville, and Jesse Wood and wife. Mr. Wood was first class-leader. Daniel Fairchild, who had been a Cumberland Presbyterian, and Mrs. Hannah Fairchild, who had been a Baptist, soon joined this class. For seven years, and until Mr. Humphrey came here, and built a larger house, the service was continued at Mr. Johns', after McKain, Mr. Risley, Mr. Harshey and Mr. Buck were the regular preachers. About 1839 the small frame church was built, near Mr. Johns', a half mile north and east of the Christian church.

The Fairchild church, usually called "the Brick," was built in 1849. This was built under the supervision of Daniel Fairchild, but all the people in this part of the town gladly helped to get up their new house. It was quite a step in advance to build a brick church here in the woods, when so many lived in log houses; but it was like Mr. Fairchild, who always was a leader, and aimed to keep a step in ad- vance. It is 30 x 36 feet. A Sunday-school is maintained, of which Milton Fairchild is the present superintendent.

The Luman church was built in 1858. Mr. James Luman and John Wapples were interested in getting the work along. Old Peter Hast- ings, an itinerant preacher, whose life was entirely devoted to the work of preaching, used to hold services at Luman's house. He organ- ized the first class here, and it being several miles to any other house of worship, he urged the building of "Lebanon."

HIGGINSVILLE.

Higginsville consists of a store, a post-office, a doctor and a black- smith's shop. The name came very naturally from the Messrs. Higgins, one of whom engaged in the "Vermilion Rapids " speculation, near here, and the other being the owner of real estate. It was the center for a considerable population, and a post-office was needed. This was

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established in 1851, and Win. Maquess was appointed postmaster. The office was kept in Mr. Harpaugh's house. Robert Foster was first mail- carrier. The mail was carried from Danville to New Town, and thence here twice a week. Mason Wright built a store and stocked it with goods. He afterward, with his brother, engaged in trade in Blue Grass and Marysville. After Maquess' death, James Newlan was appointed. He soon afterward went to Texas. J. W. Harris was appointed and kept the office in connection with a small store two years. Alfred Maquess then held it a few years, then Mason Wright, and after him Marion Goodwine, then Charles Harpaugh, then Dr. Porter. John Smalley is the present official. Dr. J. L. Hull came here and commenced the practice of medicine in 1860, and his uncle of the same name a year later. Dr. Wm. Porter commenced practice here in 1864, and contin- nes to practice. The store-building now occupied by Mr. Smalley was built in 1853. Robert Lamon was the carpenter who put up most of the buildings in this vicinity. The fine brick residence now occu- pied by John Smalley was built about the same time by his father, James Smalley. It is one of the best residences in town. Mr. Smalley now carries on the mercantile business, keeping a full stock of goods and is doing a very fair trade.

About 1840 Mr. E. Oxley laid out a place which he called SALEM, near where the tannery was, one mile east of Higginsville. Elder Herron kept a store there as early as 1837. Dr. J. B. Halloway lived there and practiced medicine, and then went to Myersville. Mr. Bright kept a blacksmith shop.

OTHER ITEMS.

In 1859 Henry and Andrew Wood built a saw-mill and grist-mill on North Fork, near the northeast corner of the township. It was a good mill with two run of stones, and had sufficient water to run nearly all the time. They did a good custom business and some merchant work.

Allen Anderson came here from Michigan in 1866, and put up a steam saw-mill on section 26 (20-12). He bought sixty acres of timber land and cut it off for lumber. It was a splendid piece of timber. The mill ran here about eight years, and he then sold it to William and John Lee, who moved it to seetion 36.

Charles Deamude put down a coal shaft in section 21, near the sonth- west corner of the town. It has not been a profitable undertaking, though a good quality of coal is raised, and a good home market is had for a limited amount.

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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

The following is a list of all the officers who have been elected to township office since the organization of the town in 1856 :

Date. Supervisor. Town Clerk.

Assessor. Collector.

1857. George Y. Stipp. ... . Adam Albert ... David Clem Benjamin Hensley.

1858. Benjamin Fitzgerald. Adam Albert David Clem . Joseph Stephens.

1859. Benjamin Fitzgerald. Adam Albert

.David Clem Joseph Stephens.

1860. George Y. Stipp .. . Adam Albert .R. M. Hensley .Joseph Stephens.

1861.A. B. B. Lewis. Adam Albert .R. M. Hensley David Clem.

1862. George W. Knight. ... Adam Albert R. M. Hensley . David Clem.

1863. George Y. Stipp

Adam Albert R. M. Hensley

David Clem.

1864. George Y. Stipp

Adam Albert John C. Vose.

.Joseph Stephens.

1865. George Y. Stipp

Adam Albert

. Benjamin Magness. J. H. Leonard.

1866. John C. Vose

Adam Albert Joseph Stephens. . . Daniel Fairchild.

1867. John Garrard Adam Albert John F. Pilkington. Joseph Stephens.

1868. Joseph Stephens. . Adam Albert

. John F. Pilkington. G. G. Smith.

1869. George G. Smith .Joseph Stephens. . W. R. Burk. .George W. Hoskins.

1870. George G. Smith Jacob Clem W. R. Burk. George W. Hoskins.

1871. George G. Smith

.. Jacob Clem. . Joseph Stephens .. George W. Hoskins.

1872. George G. Smith

.. Samuel C. Rickart. Edward Duncan

.George W. Hoskins.

1873. George G. Smith Samuel C. Rickart Edward Duncan . George W. Hoskins.

1874. George G. Smith . John J. Cosat. . .. David Clem. .F. M. Clem.

1875. George G. Smith Adam Albert John J. Cosat. F. M. Fairchild.

1876. George G. Smith Adam Albert John J. Cosat. .George W. Hoskins.

1877. George G. Smith . . Adam Albert John J. Cosat. Wm. R. Firebaugh.

1878. George G. Smith . Adam Albert John J. Cosat Wm. R. Firebaugh.

1879. George G. Smith .John J. Cosat Barton Snider Wm. R. Firebaugh.

The justices of the peace have been John Rickart, George Y. Stipp, John Gerrard, J. R. Thurman, Adam Albert, William Fairchild, Da- vid Clem, J. J. Cosat, J. R. Downing.

The township has no railroad. The Danville and Paxton road was laid out and nearly graded, running very nearly through the center of the town in a northwestern direction, by J. C. Short, some six or eight years ago. When he failed, the enterprise stopped. He did not receive any local aid or township subscriptions, hence the town has no railroad or any other debt. The farmers are almost entirely free from mortgage debt, and there seems no good reason why, in the light of past experience, they should not continue so. There never has been any strife or dissension among the people, and very little to mar the friendship among neighbors. From an early day the institutions of religion, the doctrines of temperance, sobriety and frugality have held full sway.

LEGENDARY.

One of those singular things for which no satisfactory explanation seems known, is the so-called "twin farm" on section 29 (21-12) in this town. Every family which has lived upon the farm thus far has had born to them a pair of twins, and, indeed, the first one had two.

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BLOUNT TOWNSHIP.

Explanations are in order, and many have been offered, and none appear to entirely satisfy the investigators. It has been referred to the board of supervisors, who are popularly supposed to know everything, and they " appointed a committee," which is their usual custom. The committee recommended that the matter be further tested by sending a bachelor to live on it, and thus tempt fate, as it were. Mr. Sperry has recently purchased it for his son, who, " as yet," has no one to call a family save his own individual self, and the committee has " leave to sit " during the year to await developments and "report." While this waiting process is incubating, a newspaper reporter has interested him- self in the question, and has given the benefit of his investigation, which is strange, if true, and if true will cause future fathers to pause before purchasing this particular piece or parcel of land. Way back in the early days, where facts and rumors blend their uncertain lines, before whites sought to wrest the fertile valley of the Wabash from the dusky owners of these fruitful hunting-grounds, a contest long and deadly was waged between two tribes which claimed this Messopota- mia, - this land between the two streams, - and a great final battle was fought near Blue Grass. The two tribes had come to stay, and each expecting to conquer, was accompanied by their women and chil- dren, which were kept not far to the rear of where this deadly contest was waging all day, with uncertain and ever-shifting hopes. A young brave, named by his doting mother All-in-your-eye, was particularly active, and seemed almost inspired. His seemed a charmed life, and many an opposing warrior bit the dust in consequence of the deadly aim of his strongly-drawn bow. When asked why he fought so des- perately he replied : "I fight not for Blue Grass. If every blade of grass on its wide expanse was a hollow tree, with a nest of coons in it, I would not draw my bow for its possession. I fight for her," point- ing to a dusky maiden of comely form seated on a log far back in the rear, beyond the reach of the flying arrows. He had hardly ceased speaking when he received a fatal shot which pierced his heart, and he died without a groan. His wife, for such she was, saw her warrior husband fall, and rushed forward to seize his body before his exulting enemy could apply the scalping knife to his prostrate form. She car- ried his body miles away to the south, hoping to reach the spot where the two streams flow into one (the junction of the North and Middle Forks) to bury him where he could constantly hear the ripple of uniting waters, the Indian symbol for a happy married life. She had scarcely made half the distance when, overtaken by night, overcome with fatigue, hunger and weeping, she lay herself down to rest. In the first gray light of the morning she discovered that she was near the sod hut

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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

of a weird old priest of the opposing tribe, who had taken up his abode this far away from the strife of opposing arms that nothing might inter- rupt his incantations, or break the spell of his communion with the Great Spirit. His great joy on seeing her with the corpse of her dead warrior was inexplicable to her until he made known to her that dur- ing his incantations it had been made known to him that when he saw "two persons with but a single soul," that moment peace should be es- tablished between the warring tribes, and the ground upon which the phenomenon was seen should be blessed through all time to come with double productiveness. As if in verification of his vision, she gave birth to twin boys, which he wrapped in his own priestly blanket and bore back to the scene of the late carnage. The boys were adopted by the two tribes, and named respectively "Peace on Earth " and " Good Will to Men." When they grew up they became the chief's of the two tribes.

Jasper Atwood, Danville, farmer and blacksmith, was born in Ken- tueky on the 18th of Angust, 1818. His father moved to Ohio when he was very small, and there remained fourteen years. During this time Jasper worked on a farm, and in 1827 came to this state, settling twelve miles northwest of Danville. He has been four times married : first, to Eliza Guillin, in 1839. She was born in Indiana, and is now deceased. Mr. Atwood was then married, in 1842, to Lydia Watson, who is also deceased. His fourth marriage was to Delila Layton. Mr. Atwood has frequently gone to Chicago with an ox-team hauling pro- duce, and returned loaded with salt. He is an honest, hard-working man, well respected in his community. He has done considerable in the way of doctoring, and has a recipe that is almost a specific for chronic sore leg, never charging anything, however, for his services. He owns forty-eight acres of land, worth fifty dollars per acre.

Samuel Copeland, farmer, the subject of this sketch, and one of the old pioneers of Vermilion county, is the son of Samuel, sen., and Anna (Hays) Copeland. Samuel, sen., was born in Aramah, Irc- land, about the year 1755, emigrated to the United States in 1770, and became a soldier in the revolutionary war. About 1790 he married Miss Anna Hays, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They became resi- dents of Butler county, that state, where the subject of our sketch was born, on the 13th of August, 1801. In 1806 his parents became resi- dents of the Texas Valley, Virginia, and from there they removed to Gallia county, Ohio. In this latter place the early life of Mr. Copeland was spent. As the country was new, he had but little chance of acquir- ing an education, there being nothing but the old subscription system, and he being obliged to cross the Ohio River to attend these, which at

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some seasons of the year was impossible for him to do. While a resi- dent of that county, on the 15th of February, 1820, he married Miss Elizabeth Ham, she being a native of Virginia. He remained a resi- dent of Gallia county for eight years after marriage. Then, building a boat, he came down the Ohio to the mouth of the Wabash, and then up this to Perrysville, Indiana, this trip requiring six months' time. His boat was loaded with salt. He remained at Perrysville long enough to sell this, and then, buying plank enough to lay a floor, he moved to his present home, where he first built a house of "rails," and afterward a log-house. He was obliged to go from seven to ten miles to get men enough to help him raise the structure. He located in Blount township when there was not a single residence of a white man between his place and Chicago. He first entered the southeast quarter of section 11, town 20, range 12. With this small beginning he, by industry and economy, has accumulated a fine property. He has already given to his children four hundred and eighty acres, and has four hundred acres remaining, besides some valnable city property. There were born to them eleven children, all of whom married and set- tled in the vicinity of the old home. We have the authority from one of the sons to say that to these there have been born sixty-six children and twenty-three grandchildren. Mr. and Mrs. Copeland have lived to a ripe old age, and both are still smart and active. They are mem- bers of the Baptist church, which they joined about twenty years ago. Surrounded by an abundance of property, children, grand and great- grandchildren, they are certainly living to enjoy the fruits of the labors of their younger days.

Lewis Swisher, Danville, farmer and stock-dealer, section 35, was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the 31st of November, 1806. His father moved with him to Ohio when he was but twelve years of age, where he remained until the year 1827. He then moved to this state in 1828, being among the first settlers of the county. He settled two miles north of Danville. The subject of this sketch left there on account of milk-sickness, of which disease he had a slight at- tack, and settled where he now resides. Mr. Swisher was married on the 21st of January, 1830, to Elisabeth Starr, who was born in Ohio on the 14th of August, 1811. They have had by this marriage nine chil- dren, eight living. Mr. Swisher had but very little property with which to commence, but he has obtained a nice property consisting of one hundred and ninety-five acres of well improved land, with good dwell- ing-house and other buildings.

George Y. Stipp, Danville, farmer and local minister, section 22, was born in Warren, on the 13th of April, 1826. Until eighteen years

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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

of age he worked on the farm, having but ordinary educational advan- tages. In 1830 he moved to Illinois with his parents, settling in New- ell township. Mr. Stipp has taught about twenty-five schools in his life-time. Mr. Stipp has been three times married : first to Amer- ica A. Smith, on the 11th of November, 1847. She was born in this county on the 21st of November, 1831, and died on the 21st of July, 1870. They had nine children by this marriage, six living: Theodore L., Isaac N., Anna J., Sarelda A., Daniel V. W. and Samuel. The names of the deceased are Mary, Georgey and an infant. Mr. Stipp was then married to Mary E. Hewes, on the 3d of February, 1871. She was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, on the 27th of April, 1849, and died on the 24th of February, 1875. One child was the result of this marriage. He was then married to Elisabeth H. Hursely, on the 14th of January, 1877. She was born in Ohio on the 18th of July, 1838. Mr. Stipp has held the office of justice of the peace in this town- ship for seven years, and supervisor of township four terms. He is a Baptist minister of considerable natural ability. He has been engaged in several public debates on various theological questions, with other minis- ters; one with W. P. Shocky, a very noted Universalist minister, and another with Prof. Clark Braden, of Cornell University, and with sev- eral others of less note. He owns two hundred acres of land, worth $30 per acre.

William Potter, Danville, farmer and stock-dealer, section 27, was born in the state of New York, on the 16th of August, 1817. He came to this state in 1830, settling in New Town. He was married on the 26th of July, 1847, to Hester Lane, who was born in Franklin county, Ohio, in 1823. They have seven children by this marriage: Elijah, William H., Eliza J., John F., Mary E., Lincoln A. and Andrew J. Mr. Potter had but little property with which to start in life, his first tax being only six cents ; but he has by hard labor, economy and good management, acquired a property of four hundred acres of land. His taxes have since been as high as $250 a year. He went in an early day to Chicago from Blount township on foot, carrying his clothes on his back, and there worked for seventy-five cents a day digging the cellar for the first brick house ever built in Chicago. His father lived to be eighty-eight years old and his mother ninety-three. Mr. Potter is a republican, and does not belong to any church.

William White, Danville, farmer, section 13, was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of September, 1796, and was raised a farmer, and this occupation he has followed through life, making it a good success. He had no property when he was married to Betsy Guillin, in 1818, but by hard labor, economy and fair dealing, he has

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BLOUNT TOWNSHIP.

acquired three hundred and thirty acres of good land, and about $1,000 in money, which is on interest. And besides this he has given considerable to his children. Mrs. White was born in Ohio on the 12th of March, 1798. They are the parents of ten children, seven liv- ing. Mr. White has filled the office of justice of the peace. Though eighty-three years of age he has never in his life been so sick but what he was able to go about. He has been quite temperate in his habits. Mr. White frequently went to Chicago with team in an early day, haul- ing produce and returning with salt. He went there when there was. but one house between where he now lives and Chicago. He has been a very industrious man, and is a man well respected in the community in which he resides. He is a republican, and does not belong to any church.

Josiah Crawford, Danville, farmer, section 2, was born in Virginia on the 9th of July, 1811, and spent his early days on a farm. His father moved to Ohio in 1823, where the subject of this sketch was married, in 1833, to Hannah Watkins, who was born in 1812, and who died in 1860. They had ten children by this marriage, five living: Sarah J., William, Hester A., Benjamin and Mary E. The deceased were Sammel, Almira, Lucinda, James and Minerva. Mr. Crawford was then married in 1860, to Minerva E. Firebaugh, who was born in Ohio. They have had by this marriage three children, two living: Elizora A. and Frank. The deceased was Josiah. Mr. Crawford has held the office of road commissioner. He frequently went to Chicago with a team and produce, and returned with salt. There was at this time only one house between his and Chicago. He had, when he married, but seventy acres of land, but by industry and economy has accumulated a nice property of four hundred acres of nice land. His father was in the war of 1812.

Eli Fairchild, Danville, farmer and stock-dealer, section 2, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 11th of February, 1835, and is a son of Daniel F. Fairchild, who came with his father to this county in 1829, and settled about seven miles northwest of Danville, where his widow still lives. The subject of this sketch was raised a farmer, which occupation he still continues. He went to school some during the winter months. Mr. Fairchild was married to Clarisa A. Dermarest, on the 6th of March, 1856, who was born in this county on the 10th of Octo- ber, 1836. They are the parents of ten children, nine living: Alice J., Rachel A., Ida L., Jessie M., Logan A., and Milton E. and Elizabetlı E., who are twins, and Eddy and Eva K., also twins. The deceased was John. Mr. Fairchild has held the office of school director nine years, and overseer of roads eight years. He is a radical republican and a Methodist.

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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 104

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903 Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : H. H. Hill and Company Number of Pages: 1164

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : H. H. Hill and Company
Number of Pages: 1164