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 105
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898
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
William Lane, Danville, farmer and stock-dealer, section 22, was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the 6th of August, 1795. He had no property worth speaking of when he started in life, but he has had at one time fourteen hundred acres of splendid land, mostly in this county. He has divided it among his children, till he only has five hundred and ten acres. His father moved to Ohio in 1812. Mr. Lane eame to this state in 1835, settling seven miles northwest of Dan- ville, only two miles from where he now resides. He has been five times married : first to Phœba Blanch, now deceased, and the second time to Mary Steel, also deceased; he afterward was united to Nancy Lacy, deceased, and then to Nancy Yager, also deceased; his present wife was Minerva Connell. He is the father, by the first marriage, of one child, now deceased; by the second wife, two; by the third mar- riage, fifteen children, ten living, and by the fifth union, five children, four living, making Mr. Lane the father of twenty-three children. He frequently went to Chicago with team in an early day, traveling five and six miles on ice. His father was all through the revolutionary war. Mr. Lane is a democrat and a Baptist.
Enoch Vansickle, Danville, farmer, section 35, was born in But- ler county, Ohio, on the 26th of April, 1814. He was married to Nancy White (now deceased), on the Sth of October, 1837. She was born in Butler county, Ohio, on the 18th of June, 1819. They were the parents of ten children, six living: Robert, Andrew, who died in the army, Elisabeth, deceased, Sarah, Evart, William, killed by lightning in 1862, Harriett, John, Enoch, and one infant, deceased. Mr. Vansickle had only forty acres when he married. He tried hard for years to open up a farm in the timber, but as long as he worked at that he gained but little. Finally he went on the prairie, where he soon prospered. He now owns two hundred and ninety-six acres of land. He made a great many trips to Chicago with team in an early day, hauling wheat, oats and produce, and returning with salt. Mr. Vansickle was in the Black Hawk war, and was one of the early set- tlers of the county, helping to change it from a barren wilderness to its present prosperous condition.
J. H. Cramer, Danville, farmer, section 20, was born in this county on the 30th of May, 1838, and was raised a farmer, and this occupation he has followed through life. He was married on the 9th of Novem- ber, 1860, to Nancy Carpenter, who was born in Indiana. They have had by this union eleven children, seven living: William S., John W., Charles, Mary, Andrew, Fred and Lillie. The deceased were Dora A., Margaret M., and two infants. Mr. Cramer had but little when he was married, but by industry, economy and hard labor he has acquired
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a nice property, consisting of one hundred and nineteen acres of fine farm land. He has held the office of school director two years, and school trustee two years. ITis parents were natives of Virginia. He is a republican in politics.
E. P. Grimes, Danville, farmer, was born in Pike county, Ohio, on the 20th of August, 1822; was raised a farmer, and has followed that occupation successfully through life. He came to this state in 1838, settling five miles northwest of Danville, where he remained until within a few years. Mr. Grimes was married in this state, in 1852, to Elisabeth Cassia, who was born in 1835. They had by this union ten children, eight living: John M., Elisha C., Alvin, Ella, Charlie, May B., Austin and Edward. The deceased were Jacob and William H. Mr. Grimes has acquired a good property, consisting of three hundred and four acres of good land. In an early day he has frequently gone to Chicago with a team, loaded with apples, and came back with salt. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. He is republican in polities.
George G. Smith, Higginsville, farmer, section 33, owns three hun- dred and fifty aeres, worth $30 per acre, was born in Seioto county, Ohio, on the 31st of August, 1829, and was brought up on a farm. He went to school in winter and worked on farm in summer. He came with his father to this state in 1839, settling in this township ten miles northwest of Danville. He was married on the 25th of March, 1852, to Eliza A. Fairchild, who was born in this county on the 27th of No- vember, 1833. He is the father of nine children : Elisabeth L., John E., Elias D., Marshal M., Wesley C., Sarah, Eva J., Woodford G. and Josiah O. Mr. Smith has held the office of collector one term, office of supervisor of township ten years, which office he still holds. His grandfather on his father's side was in the war of 1812, and was in the battle at which Hull surrendered. His parents were natives of Vir- ginia. Mr. Smith has given entire satisfaction in the filling every office he has held. He is well respected by all who know him.
Harrison Fairchild, Danville, farmer and stock-dealer, section 34, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 25th of December, 1840. His father, Daniel Fairchild, was a very noted Methodist minister, and was one of the pioneers of this county, coming here in 1829. Mr. Har- rison Fairchild was married to Sarah E. Leanhorn on the 8th of March, 1865. She was born in this county on the 11th of September, 1845. They are the parents of seven children : Daniel W., born on the 28th of September, 1866; Lillie J., born on the 3d of January, 1869 ; Ettie O., born on the 23d of July, 1870; Oscar H., born on the 2d of Jan- uary, 1872; Joseph, born on the 13th of November, 1873; Myrtie, born on the 28th of August, 1875, and Roscoe S., born on the 12th of
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
May, 1878. Mr. Fairchild enlisted in 1861 in the late war, with Co. B, 25th III. Inf. Vol., and served three years. He was in the battles of Pea Ridge, Perryville (Ky.), Nolansville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, and was at the siege of Corinth. He received a slight wound in the arm, and another in the leg, and was mustered out at Springfield, Illi- nois. He lost two brothers in the war. Mr. Fairchild fattens from two to three car loads of cattle annually, and from seventy-five to one hundred head of hogs. He has held the office of school director five years, and overseer of roads five years. He owns three hundred and fifteen acres of land, worth $25 per acre. He is a republican, and in religion a Methodist.
Nathaniel R. Fairchild, Danville, farmer and stock-dealer, section 3, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 15th of August, 1843. He has followed the occupation of a farmer through life. He attended the high-school at Danville for four years. Mr. Fairchild has been twice married : first to Elisabeth Fitzgerald, on the 21st of April, 1869 .- She was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the Sth of November, 1844, and died on the 19th of August, 1874. They had by this mar- riage three children, two living: Marshal C., born on the 26th of Jan- mary, 1870, and Ada B., born on the 11th of September, 1871. The de- ceased was an infant. Mr. Fairchild was then married, on the 30th of March, 1875, to Sarah Dore, who was born in Vermilion county in 1842. They have by this union two children : Daniel J., born the 19th of January, 1876, and Wesley E., born on the 28th of July, 1878. The father of Mr. Fairchild, Daniel Fairchild, was one of the early settlers of this county, having come here in 1829. He was a very noted min- ister of the Methodist church. He is a republican and a Methodist.
John J. Cosat, Danville, minister of the gospel, section 13, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 13th of March, 1844, and spent his boyhood days on a farm. He had but little opportunity for acquiring an early education, but by close study at home he suc- ceeded in acquiring a sufficient education to enable him to teach school, which he continued for thirteen years. He commenced preparing for the ministry at the age of twenty-five. He was ordained in the Chris- tian church in 1873, and has charge of two churches. He is also elder in the church. He was married on the 11th of July, 1869, to Emma Cline, who was born in Vermilion county, this state, on the 30th of September, 1851. They have six children, three living: Ernest H., born on the 15th of May, 1870; Pleasant, born on the 5th of May, 1872, died May 8th, 1872; Theodore W., born on the 30th of Septem- ber, 1873 ; John D., born on the 25th of October, 1875, died on the 14th of November, 1876; Lafayette, born on the 26th of August, 1877,
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and died on the 2d of October, 1877; Everett M., born on the 25th of September, 1878. Mr. Cosat has held the office of town clerk one term, township assessor four years, justice of the peace two years, and this office he is still holding. He enlisted in the late war in 1864, in Co. I, 5th Wis. Inf., as corporal. He was one of the six men who cap- tured Lieutenant Ewell. He served one year and was in the battles of Cedar Creek, Petersburg, Sailor Creek, and several other engagements. He is a republican in politics. His parents were natives of Kentucky .. Mr. Cosat's father came to this state in 1831, hence was one of the early settlers of this county.
Elkanah Fairchild, Danville, farmer, section 2, was born in Ver- milion county, Illinois, on the 14th of June, 1845, and is a son of Daniel Fairchild, one of the pioneers of the county, and a minister of the Methodist church of considerable note, and a man of great influ- ence. The subject of this sketch was married on the 25th of January, 1866, to Emily Fitzgerald, who was born in Vermilion county, this state, on the 21st of May, 1847. They are the parents of five children, four living: Ina O., born on the 10th of April, 1869; Benjamin F., born on the 16th of January, 1872; Ella G., born on the 13th of April, 1873; Grant, born on the 1st of July, 1878; Minnie A., born on the 21st of October, 1866, and died on the 9th of January, 1867. Mr. Fair- child enlisted in the late war in 1864, in Co. B, 135th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served five months. He did pieket duty, and was mustered out at Mattoon. He sells a few cattle and hogs every year, and farms quite extensively. Mr. Fairchild owns two hundred and sixty acres of land, is all in all a well-to-do farmer, and well respected by all who know him. He is a republican and a Methodist.
Joseph M. Ingram, Danville, farmer, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on the 24th of July, 1844, and spent his early days in working on a farm. He came with his father to this state in 1852, settling ten miles north of Danville. He was married on the 17th of June, 1867, to Elizabeth Fairchild, daughter of Daniel Fairchild, quite a noted Methodist minister of this township. She was born in Vermilion county, this state, on the 9th of January, 1850. They have by this union seven children, six living: Harrison M., born August 9, 1869; Daniel E., born May 30, 1871; Earl R., born Sept. 6, 1873; Nora F., born January 21, 1876; Elsie R., born March 22, 1877; Ordilla M., born December 25, 1878; and one infant deceased. Mr. Ingram en- listed in the late war in 1864, in Co. K, 135th Ill. Inf. Vol. He served five months, and was mustered out by general order. His parents were natives of Kentucky and Virginia. He is a republican and a Methodist.
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
Johnson Gammel, Danville, farmer, section 34, was born in New Jersey in 1843. His parents died when he was but three years of age, and he was then raised by his uncle. He came to this state when he was twelve years of age. He enlisted in 1864 in Co. E, 51st Ill. Inf. Vol. He served one year, and was in the battles of Dalton, Dallas and New Hope. He received a gunshot wound in the left arm in the battle in Tennessee, for which he receives twelve dollars per month pension. Mr. Gammel was married on the 6th of October, 1871, to Mary Lemmon, who was born in this county on the 26th of February, 1844. They have by this union three children: Nettie, Eddy and Lula. Mr. Gammel has held the office of school director one year. He is a well-to-do farmer, and is in good standing in his neighborhood. He had but little property when he commenced for himself, but has acquired a good property consisting of one hundred and seventeen acres of splendid farm land. He is a republican and a Methodist.
John Brandt, Danville, farmer, section 11, was born in Pennsylvania on the 3d of October, 1825, and was raised on a farm. At the age of fourteen years he entered a general store as clerk, and there remained for a period of twelve years, after which he taught school four years. He was married in 1857 to Nancy Starr, who was born in Pennsyl- vania in 1826. By this marriage they are the parents of two children : Frederick E. and Abraham L. Mr. Brandt has held the office of school director several years. He had no property when he married; but, by economy, industry and perseverance he has acquired one hundred and fifty acres of land. His parents were both Dunkards. He is repub- lican in politics.
Francis M. Fairchild, Danville, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 10th of November, 1858, and is a son of Daniel Fairchild, one of the early settlers of this county, and a minister of considerable note of the Methodist church. He married more couples and preached more funeral sermons than probably any other man in the county. The subject of this sketch was married on the 30th of March, 1870, to Ina B. Fitzgerald, who was born in this connty on the 20th of April, 1848. They are the parents of five chil- dren, four living: Charles W., born December 4, 1870; Lola M., born August 14, 1872; Daisy W., born November 9, 1875; Oliver L., born June 28, 1877. Mr. Fairchild has held the office of collector one term, and has been Sunday-school superintendent. He fattens and ships from two to four car-loads of cattle a year, and some hogs. . He owns three hundred and eighty-eight acres. Mr. Fairchild is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics is a republican.
G. W. Justus, Danville, farmer and nurseryman, was born in Mont-
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gomery county, Indiana, on the 3d of May, 1834, and at the age of twenty-two he went into mercantile business, which he continued for a period of seven years. He has been three times married: first, to Eliza Smith, on the 18th of September, 1856. She was born in Foun- tain county, Indiana, on the 30th of September, 1841, and died on the 16th of September, 1860. They had two children by this union : Sarah C. and Clara D., now deceased. Mr. Justus was then married, on the 4th of August, 1861, to Margaret Graves, who was born in Ken- tucky on the 14th of May, 1829, and died on the 1st of February, 1872. One child by this marriage: Elizabeth, now deceased. He was then united to Hannah Cunningham on the 3d of September, 1873. She was born in Vermilion county, this state, on the 3d of September, 1840. They have had four children by this union, two living: Alla L. and Bertha; the deceased were William V. and one infant. Mr. Jus- tus has held the office of constable one year; justice of the peace, six years; school director, three years; postmaster, three years, and is deacon and elder in the Christian church.
William Vancamp, Danville, physician, was born in Clark county, Ohio, and was engaged working in an oil mill owned by his father until twenty years of age. His chances for an early education were limited. He came to this state in 1856, and settled in Coles county, where he remained one year. Some time afterward he removed to Indiana, where he practiced medicine thirteen years, and then, in 1869, came to this state, and settled in Pilot Grove, where he remained till 1871, during which time he had an extensive practice, attended with good success. From Pilot Grove he removed to Danville, where he practiced six years. In 1864 Mr. Vancamp enlisted in the late war in Co. I, 130th Ind. He had charge of the hospital, and during this time he discovered a remedy for cerebro-spinal meningitis that has proved to be almost a specific. The Doctor has been twice married : first, on the 15th of May, 1853, to Nancy A. Lymill, who was born in Indiana on the 13th of February, 1838, and is now deceased. They had by this marriage five children, four living. Mr. Vancamp was then married, on the 4th of July, 1865, to Elizabeth Sorett, who was born in Indiana on the 22d of Angust, 1837. They are the parents of six children, four living. The Doctor has been very benevolent, doc- toring the poor without any hope of pay. He is a Methodist and a Mason.
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
PILOT TOWNSHIP.
No section of country in this part of Illinois presents a more at- tractive view than that occupied by Pilot township. Pilot is one of the original townships reported by the committee appointed to divide the county into townships, in December, 1850. It has the name then given. The committee's report, submitted on the 27th of February, 1851, bonnded the township as follows: Beginning at the southeast corner of section 34, in town 20, range 12, go north to the east corner of section 3 in said town ; thence to the southeast corner of section 33, town 21, range 12; thence north to the northeast corner of section 21 in said town 21; thence west on the section line to the north- west corner of section 22, in town 21, range 14; thence south on the county line to the southwest corner of section 34, town 20, range 14; thence east on the south line of town 20, to the place of beginning. Since that time the township has undergone some changes in boundary, the principal one being the two-mile slice from the south side upon the formation of Oakwood township in 1868. At present it is bounded as follows : Beginning at the southeast corner of section 20, town 20, range 12, go north one-half mile; thence west one-fourth mile; thence north one and one-half miles; thence west to the northwest corner of section 17 in said town; thence north two miles; thence west to the southeast corner of section 35, town 21, range 13; thence north two miles ; thence west one-half mile ; thence north one mile; thence west to the county line; thence south on the county line to the southwest corner of section 22, town 20, range 14; thence east to the point of starting. From these boundary lines it will be seen that Pilot now contains sixty-five and one-eighth square miles; that it is ten miles from east to west in its longest portion ; that it is seven miles wide, and that it lies mostly in ranges 13 and 14, only a small portion being in range 12. Pilot is bounded on the north by Middle Fork township, on the east by Blount, on the south by Oakwood, and on the west by Champaign county. It occupies the middle of the western side of Ver- milion county.
The surface of this township is undulating, or gently rolling, in the central part. In the south and southwest portions the tendency is to flatten out and become too level. Along the eastern edge we have the brakes of the Middle Fork. There is a high portion of the town- ship which is known as California Ridge. It is the water-shed between the waters of the Salt and Middle Forks. It is exceptionally high ground for this country, and has on it some of the most desirable farms
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PILOT TOWNSHIP.
in the state of Illinois. Nearly all of the land is prairie. There is some timber on the eastern side along the Middle Fork, though not mneh of the Middle Fork timber extends into Pilot township, and there is a small grove near the center of the township known as Pilot Grove. This point of timber, away out in the prairie, away from any stream, and on the highest portions of land in the country, very natu- rally attracted the attention of early settlers. It was called Pilot on account of its peculiar situation, this rendering it a kind of guide,- a kind of beacon-light to the explorers of the prairie. The township de- rived its name from this grove. There are no streams in Pilot of im- portance, with the exception of Middle Fork, which skirts the edge on the east, now in and now without the limits of the township. The head waters of Stony Creek take their rise in the western part, and there is a small stream flowing into Middle Fork from the northeastern part, called Knight's Branch. But water is furnished by good wells in sufficient quantity for man and beast, and is elevated to the surface by the power of the wind, which in this country has free scope, and is almost constantly blowing.
There is no village within the borders of Pilot. It has one post- office and store, but a village has not been laid ont. Neither is there a railroad across its territory. It is entirely devoted to agricultural interests, and these are well represented. The soil is black, deep and fertile. In some places it is necessary to drain in order to secure good results, but there is a greater portion of this township that will yield good crops without draining than of any other, perhaps, in the county. Corn, wheat, oats, flax and grass, are the principal products. Cattle and hogs are grown in vast numbers. There is more than the usual amount of grazing and cattle-growing. Sheep are kept quite exten- sively by a few, and they report the business successful. It is said to be the best paying business that can be followed in this country. Very little of the vast acres of corn are shipped. It is generally bought up by the cattle-feeders in the neighborhood. A good thing in Pilot is the herd law. People fence in their stock instead of their grain. This they found easier and less expensive. Vast areas of corn and other grain may be seen growing by the roadside, with nothing in the shape of a fence anywhere in sight. Pilot, like some other portions of West Vermilion, suffers socially from a number of large land-owners. When this country began to settle up, men who realized the importance of the movement strove to get possession of large areas, that they might have the advantage of the rise in value. The prairies of Pilot offered as attractive farms as any in the country, and accordingly we find here a number of farms, each of which includes vast areas. These would
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
not have been as detrimental to the best interests of the community, had the owners been able, in every case, to improve them and keep them up with the progress of the times.
THE PIONEERS.
The points for early settlement were two,-the timber of Middle Fork and Pilot Grove. Accordingly, we find settlements made at the places at quite an early date. The first white settler within the limits of this township is not now positively known. So many conflicting stories reach the ear that one cannot positively affirm that such and such were actually the first persons withing certain limits. It is proba- ble that James McGee was the first man in here. He came, as near as can now be ascertained, in 1824 or 1825. The McGees (for there were a number of them afterward) remained in the neighborhood for a long time, but finally moved away. Mr. Griffith, we are told by some, came before this man. Griffith was in what is now Oakwood township, but just on the edge, and in the same neighborhood. In 1827 Morgan Rees and the Juvinalls came into the township and settled on the Middle Fork, above where the others had stopped. Morgan Rees is still living in Blount township, but on the west side of the creek, near where he settled fifty-two years ago. He has been most of his time right here, and is, perhaps, better acquainted with the history of this part of the county than any other man living. The Juvinalls were well known in this community, all through the years of pioneer life. The old man, father of a number of boys, came with his family at the early date before mentioned. His first name was John, and his sons were Andrew, David, James, and John Juvinall, jr. David and An- drew were married when they came. The children of Andrew still live in the neighborhood. The Juvinalls came from Ohio. The Mor- rison family came in a little farther up, about the same time. Morrisons were important elements in the neighborhood, but they finally went away. William Trimmell came about the year 1828. He settled in the same neighborhood. There are still a few of the name found in various parts of the county. Samuel Bloomfield came up to Middle Fork abont 1829 or 1830, to improve his farm. He had come to Quakers' Point as early as 1823, and had lived in other parts of the county, before he came up here, some six or seven years. His family was raised mostly here, and many comparatively old settlers have all the time thought that this was his first stopping-place in the county ; but we learn from his daughter, Mrs. Deamude, that her father came to the county in the spring of 1823. Mrs. Deamude was then but a child, but remembers the coming. She has been here, then, more than
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PILOT TOWNSHIP.
fifty-six years. She is much the oldest settler living in the township. Mrs. Atwood, her sister, who lives here, was born in the township.
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