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 41
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The old court-house was burned in 1872. by some one who wanted to see, a better one in the place of it, and the present very neat and commodious structure was erected in 1876. Col. Myers, of De- troit, Mich., was the architect ; N. C. Terrell, contractor. The build- ing committee were: J. G. Holden, A. Gilbert, A. H. O'Bryant, H. E. P. Talbott and B. Butterfield. The building cost, complete, in- cluding heating, etc .. $105,000. It is in the form of an L, having a front on Vermilion street and one on Main street, having the post office, the janitor's rooms and offices in the basement story; the offices
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of the county clerk, county judge, circuit clerk, sheriff and treasurer, with spacious vaults connected with them, and the county court-room on the first floor ; the court-room and jury-rooms and other offices in the upper story. The rooms are all nicely finished off, and well adapted to the uses for which they were intended, and convenient. The basement story is of Joliet stone, the superstructure of brick trimmed with cut stone. The first jail stood just north of the court- house which was burned. It was made of hewn logs, dovetailed to- gether and pinned through the corners. It was about thirty feet long, and had a partition across it near the center, to separate the two classes of prisoners which it was at that time legal to put in jail, criminal and debt prisoners. Large river stones were put on the ground and a floor of hewn logs placed on that. It was covered over with a similar floor of hewn logs. There were two windows in it, about eighteen inches square. It was thought to be a very secure institution until it was put to the test. Hiram Hickman, who had considerable to do with running it for several years, says that he never had any trouble in catching a horse thief, but they seldom had any trouble in clearing themselves without feeing a lawyer, for they were sure to dig out before the first day of the next term of court. This worthless old concern was re- moved in 1873. When the court-house burned it absolutely refused to follow suit. The new jail was built in 1874, and is large, well built. well ventilated and is a beautiful residence, having little about it to remind one of the nses to which it is put. It is built of Joliet stone and brick, and consists of two stories and basement. It has a front of forty-four feet on Vermilion street, and is one hundred and two feet deep, and cost $53,292. B. V. Enos, of Indianapolis, was architect. The building committee were the same as in the building of the court- house, J. G. Holden acting as chairman, and giving his best endeavors to the work of keeping everybody honest that had anything to do with it.
None of the old settlers will ever forget the occasion of the first female prisoner being confined in the county jail. No provision had been made for female prisoners. The jail had but two apartments, one for criminals, and one for those who had been guilty of being in debt. When Mr. Dawson came here with the blooming, dashing woman he introduced here as his wife, and occupied a little cabin where the National Bank now stands, the citizens little thought that she would be the first woman to occupy that old log jail. She was a woman of more than ordinary intelligence, and her behavior was above reproach. Her wardrobe was of the most extensive nature, and costly beyond any thing known by the people hereabouts. Silk dresses in the most lavish profusion were to be seen, while Dawson, in the plain garb of a day
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laborer, seemed illy mated to the magnificent woman who bore the air and dress of one who had been brought up in almost regal wealth. She fairly dazzled the entire neighborhood. A year later there appeared a worn and weary wanderer who said this woman was his wife, and that she had eloped with Dawson, and that he had been searching for her a year. He made the necessary affidavits, and the two were arrested and thrust into jail. Then all Danville wagged their heads. "I told you so," said the wise women, who seemed to rather delight in her misfortune, and the men who had bowed so obsequiously when she swept by, now just recollected that they "more than half suspected " all along that all was not right. It was then her woman's wits served her. Dawson got bail, and public sentiment began to turn in her favor. She had several consultations with her husband, and promised to return home with him if he would get her out of jail. To accomplish this, he went before another justice of the peace and made a counter affidavit, and then left suddenly, to prevent harsh treatment, which was pretty sure to follow if he remained here. As soon as she was liberated she joined Dawson in going west instead of returning to her persecutor.
The war and the activity of travel incident upon it made a strong demand for more hotel room in Danville, and in 1865 M. M. Redford built the north part of the present "_Etna House." and it became at once the popular resort for those whose business called them to the county seat. It was a large and magnificent building for the times, and, with the addition put on in 1873 by William Farmer and D. Gregg, is still the largest hotel in the city. It has a front of one hundred and twenty-five feet on Vermilion street and one hun- dred and thirty on North street; is three stories and basement, with seventy-six guests' rooms, and the entire block, including ground, has cost $62,000. William Farmer is proprietor. Messrs. Crane & Son and McCormack built the "Arlington Hotel" on Main street in 1875. It is 75x100. three stories high, having two stores besides the hotel office on the ground floor. It is a splendid building, and probably forms the neatest block in the city. It has fifty rooms. It is owned at present by J. M. Dougherty, of Fairmount, Mrs. Scott and C. R. Brown. White & Rick, who are in charge of it, have been for seven years in the hotel business in the city, having been five years in the ".Etna." Ed. Galligan built the "St. James," on Main street, three blocks east of the public square, in 1867, and in 1871 built the addition to it. It has two stores on the ground floor besides the office. It is the same size as the Arlington, and has forty-five rooms. F. B. Freese has conducted it ever since its occupancy. The Tremont, farther east on Main street, an elegant and tasty building, was put
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up by Anselm Sieferman, at a cost of over $16,000. It is 34x100, and is all occupied for hotel purposes, except the basement and two rooms on the ground floor, which are used as a cigar manufactory by the owner of the building. It is three high stories, besides the basement, and presents a fine architectural appearance on both fronts. It con- tains thirty-three guests' rooms. The Hesse House, on Hazel street, was built by Mr. Hommac, in 1874. It is four stories high, the two upper being thrown into one for a hall. It is a fine building, and cost $12,000. Hommae sold it to Hesse, who occupies it. The upper room is used by the military company for an armory. The "Sherman House," a three-story brick, is east of the railroad.
MILLS.
CITY MILLS.
CITY MILLS.
The present importance of the milling business in Danville, being now second only to the mining interests, makes a study of its growth a matter of interest. So we inquire into all the little doings and wise sayings of the early days-the baby days-of those who have waxed great in public estimation or in wealth ; search out, as if it were of importance, every minute circumstance of his boyhood, if it is creditable, and drop into oblivion all which tends to show that he was not great, even in babyhood, and we build up wondrous heroes, with shining new hatchets, who can't tell a lie : powerful heroes who, even before they are large enough to wear boots, can ride any horse bare- back, or change the natural gait of a trotter into a smooth pacer. Then after we have told our children and grandchildren these beautiful stories about cherry trees and the rugged moral development of " Truthful James," some Parton is raised up to tell us that all these wondrous stories that we had " built our hopes upon " were fables, and our idols
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
are dashed in pieces. The first mill built in this township, as far as the memory of those now accessible serves, was commenced by Bob Trickle, on the North Fork, near the lower end of Main street. He had not pro- gressed far toward completion before Solomon Gilbert purchased it, and it became known as Gilbert's mill. It was a log building, and the stones were ent ont of such as could be found in the stream near by. This answered the purpose of the neighborhood very well for a time, but it could not be deemed a great success in a money-making point of view. Grain was very cheap, and the commissions on grind- ing were necessarily small. The bolting was done by hand at first, and was a very slow process, but gave work for the boys who needed some- thing to keep them out of mischief. The date of building does not seem to be well settled, but it must have been about 1828, and about two years later a saw-mill was attached. All these old saw-mills used the "gate-saw," which has never been seen by the younger readers. The saw was fixed into a frame, which was about eight feet high by six wide, made so strong that it would hold the saw firmly to the work, and so heavy that it moved up and down very leisurely, which gave rise to the expression that it would go up in the spring and come down with the fall freshets. It moved in grooves cut in the upright timbers. Such an one would not be endured for a day now, but the men who were accustomed to run them could saw two thou- sand feet a day, and the writer well recollects hearing old sawyers tell of turning out twice that amount; but this latter story he attributes to the unfortunate habit which attaches to some elderly gentlemen of drawing rather strong on the resources of their early recollections. Of course about one thousand feet of lumber for a twelve hours' "trick " was very good work. The price for sawing was universally fifty cents per hundred feet, or a share, so that it will be seen that a saw-mill was about the best piece of property, financially speaking, which could be had in those days. It was better than a bank or county office-theo- retically, at least.
Mr. Amos Williams, who held almost all the offices at that time, from postmaster to poundmaster, thought so, and concluded to own one. He bought or built one-most likely both-on the main stream, long known as Cotton's mill. The date of this has also faded from memory. Benjamin Brooks, the relie of Brooks' Point, says that he helped cut and put in the first damn here, which, as near as he can now remember, was forty-three years ago-1836. There is a pretty generally received opinion that the dam was built before that date, but Mr. Brooks can hardly be mistaken in regard to date, though there is a possibility of his having helped to build the second dam at that time. Mr. Will-
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iams, while reasonably successful in everything else, found his mill a heavy bill of expense, and so it continued to be as long as he continued to run it. After Mr. Williams' death, Mr. Cotton pur- chased and refitted it, and continued to run it and the carding machine until. about 1867, when the building of the mills now in existence commenced, and he thought his water privilege more valu- able to him in another way. The fall was about six feet, and gave sufficient head for the modern wheels. He still keeps up the dam for its supply of ice.
Robert Kirkpatrick built a water-mill on Stoney Creek, in 1835-a saw-mill-and run it some years.
Hale & Galusha built a saw-mill in 1836. Mr. Hale had come here with some considerable money ; in fact, was the first "capitalist " who came here, but he soon found ways to dispose of it. Besides the saw- mill, he entered a large amount of land, and the "revulsion " left him with nothing to pay taxes with. Had he been satisfied with half the amount of land, it would have made him immensely rich. He became soured and found fault with " the way this government was run," and growled furiously at the "financial legislation " of the day, and wound up with endeavoring to get up a foray on Mexico-in all probability helped to carry on the war against that country to "extend the area of freedom."
In 1836 a company consisting of Thomas Willison, Thomas McKib- ben, J. H. Murphy and G. W. Cassady, and perhaps one or two others, built the first steam saw-mill on the river bottoms, just below the Wabash Railway bridge. The "panic " struck it soon after, and it was allowed to go to decay; even the logs which were drawn there to be sawed were permitted to rot on the yard.
The Kyger mill is also historical in its remembrance and its associa- tions. Mr. William Sheets, one of the most honored and respected citi- zens of Georgetown, a gentleman whose name will be kindly remembered by many long after he shall have passed away, and Mr. Thomas Morgan built the first mill there in 1835. After Mr. Kyger came into posses- sion of it, he built a large frame and got in new machinery, but has never yet got it to running. There was a corn-cracker and distillery on Brady's Branch, built as early as 1833. The distillery made a very good article of whisky for those days; it would tangle a man's legs just as effectually as any of the later improved varieties. It would run about a barrel a day, which was deemed sufficient for the actual needs of the dwellers along Brady's Branch-that is, to keep them from suffering. Mr. Froman owned the distillery and Mr. Wm. M. Payne had charge of it. Froman built the first flat-boat that ever ran
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out of this county, in 1834, to carry his produce to New Orleans. Mr. Payne went down with the boat as supercargo. The trip proved a successful one, no disaster having overtaken the "gallant ship" in her cruise. As is well known to the general reader, this flat-boating was a very important industry in those early days. The man who had never run the river did not know much worth speaking of. He was not considered educated, not fit to run for office, was like his first pro- genitor in the Garden-did not know "good and evil." A " hard- shell " preacher once described New Orleans as a city where "honest men were scarcer than hens' teeth," where "corn was worth six bits a bushel one day and nary red the next." The boats upon which the produce of the country was borne to market were made on the streams here, and when unloaded were sold there, and the crew found their way back as best they could-on returning steamers, on foot or horse- back. One man who was returning proposed to himself to purchase a pony which had been brought in from the western wilds. He bought the animal cheap, but it proved a dear bargain for the boatman. When out a day or two on his way home, the pony got loose from his fastening, and evaded every endeavor of his " master." so to speak, to catch him. After trying until he became thoroughly discouraged, he shouldered his wrath, his bundles and his saddle and started north. In this way he proceeded home, the pony keeping him company just far enough in the rear to keep out of his reach, still following "afar off." Leonard's mill was built about 1834, and Jenkins had one farther down stream, near the state line, which he continued to run until he went to Catlin and put a mill into the huge building which the citizens there pre- sented to hin. Henderson & Kyger put up the first steam grist-mill in 1854. The people had been going over to Indiana for their flour, and these gentlemen thought the time had come to make flour nearer home. Mr. M. M. Wright now owns the mill, and it is still in good running order.
The " Amber Mill," near the Wabash depot, was built by Shella- berger & Bowers in 1866, at an original cost of $28,000. It was burned in 1874 and rebuilt in 1875, by Bowers & Co. It is now owned and run by D. Gregg. It is brick, three stories and basement, 40x110. and has six run of stone. It was remodeled last winter by substituting the " new process." and is a first-class mill in all respects. Mr. Gregg is also largely engaged in buying and shipping grain. There are only three men now engaged in that business on the line of the Wabash railway who were in business when he commenced. The "Globe mill" is 40x80, and stands near the North Fork in the west- ern part of town. It was built by G. W. Knight in 1870. Smith &
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Giddings run it on enstom and merchant work. It has four run of stone, and has the " patent process ", machinery. The "City mill," on Vermilion street, opposite the jail, was built by Samuel Bowers in 1875 ; frame; is sixty feet front on Vermilion street and fifty-five on South ; cost $20,000. It has four run, and is supplied with all the ap- pliances for a first-class merchant mill. It has a working capacity of five barrels per hour. The old Bushong distillery, in the east- ern part of town, began operations in 1859. With the coming of armed rebellion, the stern necessities of the government called for a tax on whisky, commencing at fifty cents per gallon and increas- ing till it reached two dollars. This last tax made and destroyed
M+
+
AMBER MILL.
vast fortunes. The men who were in the secret of the proposed advance made large sums by laying in large stocks, for it was decided not to increase the tax on that which was on hand ; others evaded the tax, so that while the tax was $2, whisky was selling on the market for from $1.90 down to $1.75 per gallon. Mr. Bushong was running from eighty to one hundred barrels per day, and had about one hundred head of cattle feeding, and all the hogs he could get. When the tax was raised to the highest point he discontinued business. The ma- chinery was taken to Chicago, where they had a process of making $2 whisky and selling at $1.75, and the building was made into a mill with two run of stones. As now standing, the business amounts to twenty-two runs, all in active operations.
The first distillery started here was by W. D. Palmer and Peleg Cole, on the Chicago road, a mile and a half north of town, in 1830. This was before the temperance cause was a pronounced success along the tributaries of the Wabash. It did not continue long.
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A few feet above the wagon bridge over the Vermilion between Danville and South Danville, lies a mill-stone which at stages of low water can be readily seen. Thousands of people have seen it, without knowing its history. It is popularly supposed to have floated out there at some time of high water, from Gilbert's mill, where for some years it did service in the manufacture of meal and flour. Its story is this : It was one of the first run of stones ever used for milling here, and was cut out of the. boulders, usually ealled "nigger heads," to be put into the first mill built here. After due time, regular buhr stones were proenred, and replaced the old ones. When this was done a rope ferry was still in use there, and there was a necessity of some staff or pole toward the center of the stream, to stay the river end of the boat while landing. It was not possible to plant such a staff firmly in the ground, for the waves or ice would be sure to remove it. By framing the staff into the hole in the stone, however, all these difficulties would be ob- viated ; and this plan was tried, which proved a great success. The Historical Society propose to secure the mill-stone as a relic.
OTHER EARLY BUILDINGS.
In 1827 George Haworth built a substantial log store on the corner where the " Bateman Corner" now stands. It was made of hnge logs nieely hewn, and was two stories high, and took all the men in the country around to raise it. It was also provided with defensive port- holes above and below. In the eastern end of this formidable-looking "old barracks,"- as the boys would call it now -Mr. Gurdon S. Hub- bard had his stock of goods for trade with the "poor Indian." Twenty- five years later, Adams & Co. built a two-story frame building on the site of this, which was soon after burned. Mr. Bateman was occupy- ing a portion of this building when it burned, and soon after bought the lot, and erected the present one-story brick building in 1855. From the time that Hubbard commenced there, more than fifty years ago, it has always been a favorite point for trade, and it is often a matter of wonder that a better block is not erected there; but probably the owner is satisfied with the return which the property makes.
About 1830, Dr. Fithian fitted up a handsome residence, with a "planed floor " of hard-wood lumber. Such an extravagance was un- known in Danville until that time. Puncheon floors were all the rage, and some evil genius or something else put it into the doctor's head to have a planed floor; at least, so Harris McDonald thought before he got through with his first night's experience with "that floor." He coaxed the carpenter who was building the house to let the boys have
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just one dance on that floor before the latch-string was turned over to the stern physician, who, in all probability, would veto any such irregu- lar demonstration. Harris was a natural leader, and having been the originator of the night's frolic, he insisted on leading in the first reel, this, notwithstanding there were several older men and older residents in the crowd, whom a just man would have given precedence to. It caused no little feeling, but he carried the point, and placed himself, in dress gorgeously got up for the occasion, at the head of the first figure. Tight breeches, with straps passing under the shoes, had just come into vogue, and Harris was the only one of the company who had the good fortune to have a pair for the occasion. He was on the top wave of internal ecstasy when the music struck up, and the fantastic toe tripped lightly in unison to its mazy strains. Happiness in great solid chunks beamed from his delighted countenance, as he chasséd down the out- side, cutting enlarged pigeon-wings at every draw of the bow. No beau present "could hold a candle" to him, much less discount his graceful step. But, as if " pride must have a fall," as he attempted to bring up to a perpendicular at the foot of the set, he forgot, for the nonce, that he was on a new-fangled "planed floor," and his heels slipped out from under him, and he fell flat. He tried to recover his perpendicular, but the tight pants would not yield an inch and he was as helpless as a babe. After repeated trials, to the evident satisfaction of those who had felt snubbed at his course in assuming the lead, some friend unbuttoned the straps of his pants, and two strong men tilted him up onto his feet again, and the dance went on. It was thought by his simple-hearted comrades that it was " a judgment on him " for his lamentable behavior in thus thrusting himself before his betters.
Judge Samuel MeRobberts, who came here as Receiver of the Land Office, built the house south of the square now occupied as a boarding house by Mr. Poddinger. The honse was considered a very good one for its " day and age." The Judge had a fine pair of horses that he was sure could not be beat in Vermilion county; but they acquired the bad habit of getting into a neighbor's corn-field, and one of them was treated to a dose of salt from a shot gun -a remedy which, like many advertised at the present day, "proved so snecessful in its won- derful properties that unserupulous persons have counterfeited it." The fact was, that the horse never heard a gun afterward, that he did not "run like a white-head," no matter who was driving; so that the Judge decided to adopt the remedy of all respectable horsemen, and "get rid of that horse."
The first frame building put up in Danville stands still on the cor- ner south of the public square and east of Vermilion street. It was
.
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
built by Mr. Hubbard for his trade. The lumber and timbers in it were sawed at Denmark saw-mill, and time has shown that it was very substantially built. Murphy & Cunningham, live merchants of that day, built a little log store south of the square and west of Vermilion street, where they kept a "small and select stock of staple dry goods and groceries " for a year, and then built a large two-story frame store in front of it, where Martin's block now stands, in 1829. This building was a good one for the Danville of those times. The upper story was used for various purposes. Occasionally a sermon was preached there by anyone who chanced to be here, and the attendance on such services was always good : for, however the pioneer may have practically viewed the subject of personal religion, he always realized the stubborn fact that it is a good thing in a new settlement.
D. W. Beckwith and James Clyman had a small log store on Main street, opposite where Force's carriage factory now stands. The stocks of all these merchants were light at that time. There was, of course, only a limited trade; the people only being prepared to buy few, and those of the very commonest artieles. People made their own candles, soap, cloth and shoes, and, in a great measure, their sugar, tea, medi- eines, hats, and numerous other articles ; but they would at that time bny tobacco, axes, cutlery, tinware, and a few such things as they could not make at home.
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