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 108

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 108

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Elijah Henry, Potomac, farmer, was born in Mason county, Ken- tucky, in 1836. He lived there till fifteen years old, when he came to Fountain county, Indiana. He remained in Indiana till 1871, when he came to Bookwalters farm in Pilot township. He has lived here ever since with the exception of three years that he spent in Muncie, Illinois. In February, 1876, he married Mary Mahoma, of Fountain county, Indiana.

926

HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

NEWELL TOWNSHIP.

The pioneers were carly attracted to this section of country. Its rich soil, pure water, abundant timber, and picturesque configuration, afforded strong inducements to them to accept with cheerfulness the deprivations of the border. The earlier settlers came mostly from Ohio and Kentucky. In those theaters of stirring experience they had been trained to vigorous exercise and ingenious resource. Their capi- tal-steady and industrious habits, strong wills and constitutions-was the best for the times and the circumstances; with little else, they came to build homes and to gather around them the ordinary conveni- ences of civilized life. To leave comfortable firesides and happy asso- ciations and emigrate to this wild region, was no trifling episode in their lives. It was not unmixed with trials and difficulties, which abounded with disheartening constancy. The splendor and mazy activities of the present day so monopolize our interest that we cannot content ourselves, while looking back, to dwell on the picture long enough to get a distinct view of objects. The failure, therefore, nigh universal, to comprehend and appreciate the personal sacrifices of these resolute men and women, is not surprising. But the fact, however, is the same-that they laid the foundations of the local inheritance and prosperity of this generation. To the Le Neves must be accorded the honor of making the first beginning in Newell township. In the fall of 1823, Obadiah Le Neve journeyed on horse-back from Vincennes to St. Louis, and thence into Northeast Missouri, and on his homeward trip made a circuit in northern Illinois. With very correct judgment he pronounced the region enclosed in the present limits of Newell township the best that he had seen. Obtaining the numbers of the following tracts-W. ¿ N.W. } Sec. 23, and E. ¿ N.E. 4 Sec. 24, town 20 N., range 11 W., 3d principal meridian -he returned home, and a public land sale shortly after occurring, he purchased those pieces. Just prior to Christmas, in the year 1824, Obadiah and John Le Neve left their relations in Lawrence (then Crawford) county, Illinois, and with a team loaded with provisions and a small outfit of bedding, they set out for their future home. A third person accompanied to take the team back. On arriving at their destination, they rived a few rails and laid up a square, chinking and filling the interstices with pulled grass, and covering one half of the rude structure with puncheons. The Indians were numerous, and came to their camp with freedom, and behaved in the most friendly manner. They never disturbed anything while the men were away, though they often came about the place

927

NEWELL TOWNSHIP.

during their absence. They proved themselves honest and conscion- able neighbors. When the pioneers spread their homely meals, the Indians, if any were present, were invited to the repast, and they always accepted with the best familiarity which hunger and gratitude could prompt. The immigrants had other neighbors far less companionable. These were the wolves that came about in great numbers, making the woods resonant with their hideous nocturnal serenade. The two brothers had come to prepare for their ultimate removal, and during the whole winter, which they spent in this neighborhood, were splitting rails. Toward the latter part of February they began to prepare for their departure. They first erected a cabin on section 14, town 20, about forty rods west of where John Le Neve has always lived. This was for occupation by Ben. Butterfield, who was expected to arrive soon with his family. He came near the close of the month, and two or three days later the Le Neves went back. The actual settlement of Newell township was thus begun by Butterfield, in February, 1825. In the course of the summer and fall quite numerous additions were made to the number of inhabitants, as the following list will show : John Current arrived from Virginia. The Howards -Henry, Lack- land, Amos, Aaron and Nathan -and William and James Delay emi- grated from Ohio. Jeremiah Delay, son of James Delay, probably came at the same time. Oliver Miller settled on Stony Creek in sec- tion 14. The Le Neves returned in November or December. Samuel and John Adams and Joseph Martin came together, from Harrison county, Kentucky. The first located on section 22, town 20, where he has always resided. William Newell, from the same place, settled on section 23, just east of Adams. John Lamb and his son Simeon (Quakers), natives of North Carolina, came from Indiana. John Goodener, Elijah Hale and John Swisher settled in the timber between Samuel Adams' and Solomon Rodrick's. Three brothers of John Swisher-Samuel, Lewis and Jacob-also lived in the same neighbor- hood, but the date of their settlement cannot be given. All these per- sons were from Ohio. George Ware came to Vermilion county this year. He made a farm on section 16 in this township. The next year Adam Starr came up from Georgetown. Samuel Swinford, Richard Blair, William Adams, Edward Martin and James Newell came from Harrison county, Kentucky. The last came the year before to examine the country, and entered land on section 10, on the 5th day of October. Abraham and Frederick Stipp, from Virginia, settled on section 9. John Watson settled in the south part of the township. In 1827 Will- iam Current, from Virginia, settled on section 36, town 20. David Tickle, Jacob and George Swisher, and Eli Hewitt, came from Ken-

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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

tucky. Nathaniel Taylor settled in the Le Neve neighborhood, and afterward went to Denmark. Joseph Gundy began improvements near Myersville, but did not bring his family until the next year. Luke Wiles, from Indiana, settled across the Fork from Myersville. In 1828 Hugh Bolton and Solomon Rodrick emigrated from Ohio. The latter settled where he now lives, on section 34, town 20. Dr. Jolın Woods, a native of New York, located in the southeast part of the township as early as this year. It is believed that his father-in-law, Supply Butterfield, came not far from this time. Those from Kentucky were Thomas Hendren, Jehu Chandler, Jacob Eckler, James Duncan and his sons Asa, Alpha, Darius and James. In 1829 Ralph Martin and his step-son John P. Lindsey, Henry Ferguerson, William Cun- ningham and his minor sons James and Joseph, Harrison Oliver, George W. Smith, Samuel Oliver and his son Bushrod, John Shafer, and James and Andrew Makemson, arrived from Kentucky. Ambrose Andrews and his family, including his son Ambrose Phelps, just then of age, Nathaniel Glaze and family, Thomas Carter and family, Jacob Bumgardner, William Longshore, Robert Thornsburg, and John Stal- cup, came together. Abram and Josiah Henkle, Henry Wood, Peter Starr, a native of North Carolina, William G. Blair, a native of Ken- tucky, Andrew Davison and his sons James and Robert, Virginians, all came from Ohio. Samnel Torrence came this year or earlier. In 1830, George Stipp, Robert Price, Richard Brewer, William J. Barger, and Consider Scott, a native of New York, came from Ohio. Valen- tine Leonard and his sons-in-law, Charles S. Young, John Young and Otho Allison, emigrated from Kentucky. The next year Caleb Worley arrived from Kentucky, and George French from Indiana. Louis Neely came in 1832; also Daniel P. Huffman came from Kentucky. John Campbell, and Samuel Campbell, jr., migrated from New York in 1833. In the following year Harper J. and Joseph Campbell, brothers to these, and Samuel Campbell, sr., located in this township. Clarendon E. Loring, a native of Maine, came from Indiana. Zacha- riah Robertson, Jacob Huffman, John Deck and John Rutledge, arrived from Kentucky. Michael Deek probably came at the same time. Jacob Deck, a Pennsylvanian, settled here in 1835. John Stipp, a brother to those who had already located in the township, and John Williams, recently from England, came about this time. The following is a list of early settlers who came perhaps not later than 1835: Armenus Miller, Michael and James Leonard, Edward Morgan, Samuel Briarly, Isaiah Treat, William Stevens, a preacher, Robert Layton, from Kentucky, Abel and Vatchel Newborough, Duncan Lindsey, a man named Long, and another named Moss. The latter

929

NEWELL TOWNSHIP.

built a tannery on section 26, town 20, but in 1834 sold his place to Samuel Campbell, sr., and settled in Danville township, where he built another tannery.

Henry Wood came from Ohio about 1829, arriving in October. He split rails and laid up a square, covering it with clapboards, which he also rived, and this he occupied for a house. Mrs. Wood, with her four chil- dren, used to stay alone in this place over night while her husband was away at the Wabash after provisions. The wolves and Indians abound- ed in the neighborhood, seemingly in equal numbers; but, fortunately for Mrs. Wood's equanimity of mind, the former exhibited the greater anxiety to cultivate acquaintance. By Christmas they had a more substantial habitation enclosed. Though neither door nor floor was made, nor chinking and daubing done, they were forced to occupy it. One day about midwinter the Henkles came over, and the three men chinked and daubed the house. That night it set in cold, and con- tinned so a long time. The fire-place was planked up only as high as the mantel, and their experience with a "smoking chimney" was in- deed distressing. In course of time, as opportunity was given, the floor was put down, the door hung, and the flue raised to its proper height. This is a specimen of the experience of quite a number who came early. Those who came later were generally in better circum- stances. They had means to enter a little piece of land for a home, some eighty, some one hundred and twenty, and a few one hundred and sixty acres. Until they had built and become settled they camped out and bunked down in the most convenient manner. As a rule, all had to struggle hard to get a living, and were content if they could make a few scanty improvements. Making rails became the staple employment for those who could spare any time from home, and they eagerly sought the opportunity to work for thirty-seven and a half cents per hundred, and did not feel themselves unfortunate if they got but twenty-five.

In the summer and fall of 1832 John Johnson worked on the Wabash, rafting logs. He came home on foot Saturday nights, a dis- tance of thirty miles, bringing on his back provisions for his family. The hard situation of all things was so grievously borne by many that, could they have returned, they would gladly have accepted any occa- sion. About all they possessed was required of them to reach the place, and then it was only through much fortitude that they could remain, even after it seemed impossible for them to depart. It may seem strange to the later generation in Newell township that any dis- content should ever have been excited by the course of life here, and that there could have been a heart that yearned to leave the place for-

930

HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

ever; but many bitter thoughts and burning tears of women have indelibly impressed on the memories of many venerable ones now living, in the midst of every comfort, the simple story of their trials. Sickness added more, perhaps, to the discouragements of those who were heart-sick in their new homes than any other thing. The preva- lent diseases were ague, typhoid fever, milk sickness and congestive chills. Usually in summer and fall, sickness prevailed to a melancholy extent throughout the country ; very often, whole families were down together. Dr. John Woods was the first regular physician. James Makemson borrowed books and studied physic with the view to treat his own family, and his success soon became so conspicuous that his neighbors began to employ him, and in a little time he had a good practice and reputation.

James Makemson was one of the earliest blacksmiths. He worked some at his trade in connection with farming, until he got to doctoring. William Current, though not a shoemaker by trade, began doing such work as soon as he came. Richard Brewer, who came a little later, was a regular tradesman. Customers bought leather at Moss' and Tay- lor's tanneries, and employed the shoemakers to manufacture it into boots and shoes. The tanneries furnished a considerable business to the people in peeling and hauling bark, which increased either their available funds or their stock of leather. Their harnesses, which were of the chain-tug pattern, were home-made. The collars were fast at the top, and had to be forced over the horses' heads.

The "hard winters," universally mentioned as such, were in 1830-1 and 1831-2. Deep snows covered the ground all winter. The first was the more remarkable for the depth of snow and the severity of the weather. The snow began falling on the 27th of December, 1830, and lay on until March. Fences were buried out of sight. First a thaw and a rain came, and afterward a freeze, forming a crust, when stock roamed about at will, and teams were driven over fences and fields. The eaves of the houses did not drip for forty-one days. Game of all kinds perished in great numbers. Deer became a prey to the wolves who pursued them to the woods, where they slumped so as to be una- ble to escape, and were devoured. Wild turkeys totally disappeared.

At the time of which we write, the inhabitants of this region, lack- ing the agents of locomotion which annihilate time and space, were removed from the markets of the world by toilsome distances.

Flat-boating soon became general. Boats built on the Wabash were commonly about one hundred and twenty feet long and fourteen feet wide, but those constructed on the Vermilion were about sixty feet long. A Vermilion boat was manned by a steersman and two oarsmen.

NEWELL TOWNSHIP.

931

These boats were laden for New Orleans, and the freight comprised hogs, staves, poultry, produce, hoop-poles, baled hay, barreled pork, etc. The hogs and poultry were not fully fattened when put aboard, but became so on the trip, which lasted about six weeks. This time included numerous stoppages at points along the Mississippi, for trad- ing with merchants and planters. They sold their boats and cargoes for what they could get, and then returned,- some on foot, some buy- ing horses or mules and riding; but all, however, taking care to keep well baek from the river, to avoid the numerous banditti who infested the shores. After the steamboats got to plying the rivers they came back on them. William Guthrie was one who did much of this busi- ness. He walked back from New Orleans two or three times. Will- iam Martin was another.

Before the invention of matches, people used flint and steel to strike fire, igniting a piece of tow with the sparks. On one cold winter morn- ing, at the house of George W. Smith, the flint and steel would not fulfill their office, and one of the family was dispatched to a neighbor's for a coal. Mrs. Smith could not wait so long, so placing a handful of tow in the fire-place, she charged the gun with powder and fired into it, when she soon had a blazing hearth.

DENMARK.

This ancient town, situated on the left bank of the North Fork, two miles above Danville, was settled by Seymour Treat, probably in 1826. In "Coffeen's Hand-Book of Vermilion County " we find this informa- tion : "The first settler within the present limits of this county was Seymour Treat, in 1819, or perhaps in 1820. He came with a man by the name of Blackburn, to the salt springs, on Salt Fork, for the pur- pose of manufacturing salt. He afterward settled Denmark and built a saw-mill at that place." Treat's mill was a "corn eracker" and saw- mill combined. He was the first blacksmith in Newell township, and besides operating his mill, worked some at his trade.

In a few years a considerable settlement had been made. Two dry- goods stores were started, one belonging to Alexander Bailey and the other to Stebbins Jennings. Probably the former was the first estab- lished in business. He attained to much local prominence. Jennings was gifted with practical talents. His acquirements, also, were good for the times. He took a leading interest in business and educational concerns, and was freely intrusted with responsible duties. James Skinner, too, was an early settler and prominent citizen. He kept a store, and with William McMillin, purchased the mill from Treat. It is said by some that he opened the first inn. McMillin came from

932

HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

Franklin county, Ohio, about the latter part of 1832. He was a farmer. Before there was a tavern in the place he regularly furnished entertainment to whomsoever drew up to his door. Jonathan Patter- son settled here in quite an early day, and opened a public house. Robert and Thomas Wyatt and John Williams, also came quite early, the latter in 1834 or 1835, and the others about the same time. These and some others had, at different times, an interest in the mill. The Wyatts were the last owners who ran it with profit, either to them- selves or the community at large. Williams kept a general store. John Hunt and John Hathaway kept groceries. Several of these were supported in the place. A " grocery " was what is now called a saloon. Only liquors were kept and sold. Abel and Vatchel Newborough were early blacksmiths. John Young had a smithy in the neighbor- hood, across the Fork. John Knox, who settled in Blount, worked here at the shoemaker's trade. Solomon Kooder was the carpenter. He built the first bridge across the North Fork, which was located at the Denmark Crossing. Nathaniel Taylor, who settled in the Le Neve neighborhood about 1828, came the following year to Denmark and started a tan-yard. About 1835 an independent rifle company was organized, and regularly drilled here. William G. Blair was the cap- tain.

Denmark was laid out before Danville. During the final agitation of the county-seat question a strong effort was made to have the seat of justice located here. This desired object was nearly realized. As the history of this matter will be fully related in its proper connection elsewhere, no details upon the subject will be attempted at this point. Denmark became a noted place. The bad name it received was first deserved. Whisky brought it to ruin. Brawls and street fights were an everyday occurrence. Religious worship was scarcely known. Daniel Fairchild preached there some at an early time, but the obdn- racy of the place evidently caused it to be abandoned in despair. From 1835 to 1842 was the period of its greatest prosperity.

BLACKHAWK WAR.

Newell township, as well as other sparsely settled localities which contributed men, felt the serious burden of the Blackhawk war. The demand for volunteers fell chiefly and heavily on the frontier settle- ments. While these, lying first in the pathway of the savages, were the more concerned in the events of the war, they also needed, more than people in the remoter and older settlements, their whole time to raise a crop, and to fit up comfortable abodes. Those most exposed to danger are always justly expected to evince the greater alacrity, and to

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NEWELL TOWNSHIP.

make the greater sacrifice for their defense. So it devolved upon these people to leave the plow in the furrow, with but a part of the sod turned, and much of that unplanted, and to shoulder their pieces and go from the fields of domestic peace and rural song to those which resounded with Indian yells and mortal conflict. The following is believed to be a complete list of those who went from this township: Charles S. Young, Asa Dunean, Alpha Duncan, James Cunningham, Ambrose P. Andrews, Bushrod Oliver, Obadiah Le Neve, John Le Neve, William Current, William G. Blair, Soam Jennings, John Deck, Samuel Swinford, Jacob Eckler, Jeremiah Delay, John Watson, George Ware and Alexander Bailey. The two last commanded companies. Bailey's was the largest in Col. Moore's regiment. John Young went too, but, notwithstanding he was a leading spirit in Denmark, he does not properly belong to Newell township, for he lived across the Fork.

The only percussion-gun in the regiment was one owned and brought from Virginia by Abraham Stipp. Unele Charles Young borrowed it from Stipp, and bore it through the campaign. The people left at home were harassed with racking apprehensions, and, as a consequence, kept in continual readiness for surprise or flight. After the axes and pitch- forks had been brought inside at night, all the doors were safely barred. Many retired for rest haunted with the terrible fear that they would be killed and scalped before morning. Only a part at a time laid down, and those never with left-off clothing. The horses were kept standing in harness, and the wagons with covers on. Dishes and household utensils were buried. Only a few, to be placed in the wagon at the alarm, were reserved from concealment for present use. The number of those who "died a thousand deaths in fearing one " was in extravagant disproportion to the number actually harmed, for there were a good many of the former and none of the latter.

The volunteers, having returned home, set themselves industriously at work mauling rails to make a support, as they had lost by their service the season for raising a crop.

THE MORMONS.

The Mormon church was organized by Joseph Smith at Manchester, Ontario county, New York, on the 6th of April, 1830. This delusion was energetically propagated, and at once spread into Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri. No later than the following year missionaries, in the persons of Orson and Parley Pratt, appeared in Newell township. The former is now a prominent leader in the church at Salt Lake City. His brother Parley is represented as having been the abler and more eloquent of the two. It is conceded that he

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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

was one of the brightest intellectual lights in the church of the Latter Day Saints. The center of their operations was in Blount township. The first preaching point they made in Newell was at the house of Oliver Miller. Afterward they occupied the Eckler school-house, and made appointments at Harrison Oliver's and Jehu Chandler's. The latter neither joined them nor approved their customs. Elders Sherer, George Morey, Coon, Packard, Jackoway, and perhaps others, labored in disseminating the Mormon doctrine. Very bitter opposition was encountered from some. In preaching, they called themselves "the children of the kingdom"; they pretended to heal the sick, and talked some of raising the dead, but made very little point of this last ingre- dient of the imposture. The efficacy of their treatment consisted in the laying on of hands. In several instances they tested their healing powers with ignominious failure. Consider Scott was one of their first converts. Harrison Oliver, Louis Neely and Oliver Miller also em- braced their doctrine, and, taking their families, went to Independence, Missouri, with the missionaries, when the latter shook the dust of Newell township from their feet. A number who had joined them refused to follow.

The following grotesque incident is related : The Mormon elders made a convert of one Robert Baxter, an itinerant tailor, who was as deaf as a stone. A day was fixed for his baptism at Denmark; he attended punctually. It was winter, and pretty cold. On approaching the water he looked up and all around as if in torturing doubt whether to be plunged beneath the chilly wave, or openly and flatly to retract his profession before a crowd of gaping spectators. At length, with an uneasy twitch of his shoulders and a toss of his head, he cried out, abruptly, in wretched voice, "I guess I'll withdraw !" "Oh, no! you must not withdraw now," said the officiating elder. He looked pain- fully about him again for a moment, then blurted out, excitedly, "I guess I'll withdraw !" and at the same instant broke and ran at the top of his speed till he was out of sight.

SCIIOOLS.

Kentucky and Ohio gave liberally to Newell township of the flower of their emigrant population. These people had been reared in com- munities where habits of thrift and general intelligence were promi- nent objects of private care and public patronage. That they should cherish the sentiments which underlie these constituents of societary and political growth - which are the pabulum of the state- and labor to cultivate the same in their new position, was to be looked for with just expectation. They engaged early in organizing schools, and socie-

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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 108

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