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 42
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Few of the early comers staid more than a season or two, and pushed on further west or north. They were a class of minds who never find themselves satisfied with anything. Hunting and fishing were their principal employments, and their roving dispositions led them farther away from civilization.
The first brick building built in Danville was the one which has recently been demolished to make room for A. L. Webster's spacious hardware store on Main street. McDonald & Roliston were engaged in the business of harness making, and occupied a small building be- longing to Dr. Fithian. In 1832 they got the contract for making the holsters for the rangers who were out on the war path. Their contract was for $3.50 per pair, and it looked like a pretty good thing. They desired to increase their facilities, and commenced to build this brick building for their shop. They dissolved partnership, however, before the building was completed, and the property fell into the hands of "Citizen Smith," as he was familiarly called, and he occupied it for a long time as a small retail establishment. He made a very popular article of beer, which he kept on draught, and when General James Shields was here. after his return from the Mexican war, it was a favorite resort for the veterans; though it is thought that Smith did
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not always just exactly relish the free and easy manners which Mexican experience had engendered in these warrior friends; at least, a shade of countenance or mild shrug of shoulder seemed to cause that im- pression.
The first carding machine was put into a large wooden building on the corner just north of the " .Etna House," by Nathaniel Beesley. He put in a large circular tread platform or " horse-power," which was propelled by a lively pair of oxen. Mr. Beesley was a preacher of the Baptist denomination, with strong antinomian or "hard-shell " lean- ings. He frequently went away Saturdays, taking his wife with him, to preach on the Sabbath. He invariably locked up his building before going away, so, as he used to tell the boys, they would not be tempted to break the Sabbath running his tread-mill for fun. While he held strongly to the doctrine that " what is to be will be," he seemed to have a flickering hope or fear, as it were, that if he locked up his mill. " what was to be wouldn't be." The boys never failed to pick the lock while the good man was gone, and run his tread-mill " for all there was in it." They " wanted to see the wheels go round." On one occasion, the largest boy in the crowd, who was " big enough and old enough and ought to have known better," got his boot caught in between the re- volving platform and the side of the building, and the united strength of the frightened youngsters failed to extricate either the foot or the boot. In this predicament, brother Beesley returned home, full of wrath and righteous indignation at this shocking Sabbath breaking, and, but for the mediation of his good wife, would have given the youngsters an exemplification of Calvinistic retribution, as he under- stood and preached it, which would have been remembered by them until - the next good chance to break the Sabbath.
That which is now known as the woolen-mill was first built by Mr. Carter as a carding-mill. The carding process was much more in demand at that early day, when all the farmers kept a few sheep and made their own eloth. The water to run it was collected from the springs along the bank and conducted by a dike and flume to the overshot wheel, and answered the purpose very well. About 1850 Messrs. Hobson & Aylsworth bought the property and enlarged it, put in the present machinery and built the brick store. Riggs & Menig are the present proprietors. They run one set of machinery, employ about ten hands, and make a very excellent class of goods. The other woolen-mill is not now in running order.
OTHIER EARLY INCIDENTS.
W. J. Reynolds, a gentleman of musical tastes, and who had re-
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ceived in Boston a thorough musical education, organized the first brass band in the state in 1847, although a reed band had been organ- ized a year previously. He maintained a band here for thirty years, except a short time during the war, when pretty nearly all those who were members of his band were in the service of their country. He devoted his time largely to musie teaching, and during the war twenty bands of which he had been leader were in the service. He also or- ganized and directed the first choir in Danville.
The first newspaper established here was in 1832. It was of demo- cratic persuasion. It was started by Mr. Williams and R. H. Bryant. They run it a few years and then Williams sold to Bryant. He then took in Loveless as a partner, and then sold to Delay. Bryant after- ward bought it back and removed it to Milwaukee, Wis.
BANKS.
The State Bank of Illinois was chartered in 1835, to answer a demand of the public for such banking facilities as in a new country like this might be considered reasonably safe. Its pattern was the Bank of the United States, and, like it, had various branches in differ- ent parts of the state. In 1836 Danville had become, at least in pros- pect, so important a town that it was deemed suitable that a branch should be started here. The United States Land Office was here, the Northern Cross Railroad had been commenced by the state, and busi- ness bid fair to be lively. Mr. Mordecai Mobley was sent here to make the first venture in banking, and rented the little building now standing south of the public square and east of Vermilion street. He was president, cashier, teller and clerk ; was a competent and safe busi- ness man, and conducted a safe and very good business. He built a stone vault outside the building, which encased his safe, and was the first to make a gratuitous distribution of bank-books among his de- positors. This began to look like business. This branch did not issue any bills, but paid out the paper of the parent bank. Everything went prosperously until the crash of 1837 disorganized all business and put an end to the profits of banking here and elsewhere. Mr. Mobley was a lover of good horses and of hunting, and getting a good team he devoted much of his time, after business became dull, in the sport, sufficient provocation for which existed all around the bush. One morning he and his Danville branch of the great State Bank of Illi- nois, his family, team and all and singular the various " assets" there- unto pertaining were "found missing," to use a term which, notwith- standing its significance, was becoming alarmingly common at that time. But the singular thing about all this was that nobody lost any-
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thing by it. It is probably the only case on record where a banker ran away " between two days" withont defrauding anybody. The explana- tion of it is that he supposed that if it should become known that a re- moval of the bank was contemplated, measures would probably have been taken to prevent it, and that a removal could be made safer if secretly done, than if it had been noised abroad through the country that he was about to transfer his property.
The next bank was started by an eastern man by the name of Cullum, in 1852. It was what was known as a stock security bank- that is, a certain portion of his capital was invested in state stocks, usually in the stocks of Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and other southern states. The state of Illinois being bankrupt, not having paid even the interest on its debt for fifteen years, her bonds were not con- sidered bankable, and other bonds were sought after. Eastern state stocks could not be purchased, hence when a bank was started southern state stocks were of necessity taken. When the rebellion occurred, of course it became impossible for such states to pay their bonds or the interest on them, and it is believed that every bank which was estab- lished on this system, which had not previously failed, succumbed. While it was in one sense the fault of the system, it is proper to say that, in its day, it seemed like a safe and wise plan. Mr. Guy Merrill was appointed cashier of this bank, and it had quarters in the old frame building which stood then where Adams' block now stands. It had a capital of 850,000. Later it removed to a building opposite the Me- Cormack House, which was then the center of business. This was run successfully for three years, when it was sold to Daniel Clapp, who had neither the requisite capital or experience for safe business, and in 1856 he failed. As soon as he failed brokers all over the country stood ready to buy his bills for from fifty cents to seventy-five cents on the dollar. Messrs. Tincher & English, who had until that time carried on a large and growing business, were his assignees, and after closing up his business opened a private bank. They were men of large experi- ence in this vicinity, of sufficient capital for the then state of trade, safe and judicious, and, above all, enjoyed the full confidence of every per- son in the county. Their record since can be summed up in a few words : Commencing as a private institution in 1856, they successfully weathered the financial storm of 1857, made the first application which was received at Washington for a charter under the national bank act of 1864, in 1872 increased the capital to $150,000, went through the "panic" of 1873 without difficulty, and stand to-day a safe and secure institution. Mr. John L. Tincher, the head of the firm, was a man of rare qualities. With not many of the advantages of early education and 21
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culture, he grew steadily to a business man of first-class ability. During all of the latter years of his life, after he had become so established in his business relations that he could devote the time to the affairs of state, he served his county and district in public as faithfully, honestly and prudently as he had previously himself in business. He was elected to the state senate in 1866, to the constitutional convention in 1869 : again to the senate in 1870, and died at Springfield during the early part of the following session, a victim to the exacting labors which an honest devotion to duty there calls for. There are few men, if any, in Vermilion county who have left behind them a name more honored or a reputation so unsullied. Taken away in the prime of life, his death was mourned as a public loss.
The real estate firm of Short & Wright commenced banking in con- nection with its business about 1865. In 1867 Mr. Abraham Sandusky and Andrew Gundy became partners of Mr. J. C. Short, and continued the business under the style of the " Exchange Bank of J. C. Short & Co." This firm was, under Mr. Short's lead, largely engaged in plans for the development of the great coal interests here, and engaged largely in building railroads, which at that time bid fair to be largely remunerative, not merely to themselves, but greatly to the advantage of the community. That the plan should have proved a failure is not surprising ; neither should the plan itself be deemed rash. There was every reason to believe that' with the increased market which these new railroads would supply. the coal beds lying west of Danville would become very remunerative, and doubtless they will yet become so. When the Exchange bank failed, the " Danville Banking and Trust Company " was organized upon its ruins. This was of short duration. however, and very soon closed.
In 1873 W. P. & J. G. Cannon formed a partnership under the name and style of the Vermilion County Bank, with a capital of $100,000. and are carrying on a successful business. The junior mem- ber of the firm is now, and has been for several years, the representa- tive in congress from this district. There seems to have been a pre- disposition on the part of Vermilion county to put their bankers into legislative work. Besides Mr. Cannon's congressional service and Mr. Tincher's two terms in the state senate and seat in the constitutional convention, Mr. Short was a member of the house and of the state sen- ate, and his partner in the Exchange bank, Mr. Gundy, served as a member of the house.
LATER BUILDINGS.
In addition to the buildings spoken of, there are in Danville many which attract notice. The North-street Methodist church, by the taste
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shown by its designer and builder, Mr. Smith,-now deceased, -- by the nice proportions of its building and spire, delights the eye more than by any elegance which it may have. The Presbyterian church is a substantial and plain edifice, without being extravagant, or out of proportions with the general unassuming character of the buildings of the city. The citizens of Danville have almost universally been for- tunate in not spreading ont beyond their means in vain attempts at rivalry in building. . The Kimler church, in the northwestern portion of the city, is a comfortable though not elegant edifice. The residence of the late Hon. J. L. Tincher, with its ample grounds beautifully displayed with those things which make any home delightful, is one of the pleasantest in the city. Hon. J. G. English has a large and pleas- ant residence on Pine street, where it is easy to imagine the comfort he may enjoy after the busy hours are over. The fine residence of Mr. Blackburn, which was built by Mr. Townsend in 1874 and 1877, aside from its evident appearance of city airs, is one of the beauties of archi- tecture within and without, replete with evidences of elegant taste and home-like comfort. L. T. Palmer has a large and roomy home, which presents an air of pleasant " old homestead " life which time only can give to any edifice ; and near by, liis son-in-law, A. C. Daniel, has one in which it seems that a man of moderate means and home-like tastes, might enjoy the hours which are snatched from exacting busi- ness pursuits. That old pioneer, Dr. Fithian, who has seen a good many houses and other things "go up" in Danville, has a comforta- ble and pleasant residence; and Mr. Reason Hooton, whose life runs nearly parallel, has a good home over east of town. The residence built by Mr. Short is also a very good one.
The Vermilion Opera House on the corner of North and Vermilion, was erected by Messrs. English, Chandler and Dale, in 1873. It is a substantial brick building, with Milwaukee brick trimmings, 50×110, with two fine stores on the ground floor, and above, one of the largest halls in the state. Cost $20,000. Giddings' carriage factory on Hazel street, built in 1874, is of brick, 25×150, three stories high. It is one of the most substantial buildings in town, and constructed for mann- facturing purposes. Cost $9,000. Turner hall, on the east side, is a neat brick building, 24×80, built in 1875. The organ factory of Miller & Son is a two-story building, 30×78, built in 1875.
John Stein built the City Brewery in 1876. It is 60×74, brick, and has a capacity of 400 barrels per month. With its grounds and buildings it has cost $8,000.
The Illinois Printing Company's building, built in 1875, is two
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stories and basement, brick, 48×100, and was erected expressly for the large and varied business of the company.
Frazier block. corner of Main and Hazel. 48X85, two stories and basement, brick with cut-stone trimmings, was built in 1876 by Capt. Frazier, and is occupied by stores and offices. The Lincoln Hall block is older, and was built for stores below and offices in second story and hall in the third story. E. B. Martin & Co. put up the block south of the square and west of Vermilion street, in 1875. It is 50 x 80, brick, three stories high, and occupied by stores and offices. The Giddings' block on Main street, east of the public square, was one of the earliest good business blocks.
The Metropolitan block. built by Williams & Coffeen, was built about 1873. is two stories and basement, and is a well-built business house. The National Bank block is one of the finest, architecturally, in the city. Leseurs' block and Myers' block just west of the bank building, and Short's block and the marble-front block across Main street, are all first-class buildings ; this latter is a fine three-story and basement, with iron and stone front. and in its building no expense was spared to make as solid and substantial building as the best mate- rial could make. It is owned by Mrs. Eva C. Schmit and Mr. Bier, and cost upward of $30,000.
A. L. Webster built, during the past year. the fine large brick store, 37×80, which is occupied by Giddings & Patterson for their iron trade. It was built expressly for their use, is two stories and base- ment. and is all occupied by this firm.
The Union Depot building, at the junction in the northeast part of the city, is one of the prominent buildings. It was built to accommo- date the traveling public, as all the railroads which enter the city cross there. It is three stories, the first being devoted to the offices of the company, and waiting-rooms : the upper ones to rooms for guests. It is a fine building, and pleasantly arranged.
POST-OFFICE.
Amos Williams, a gentleman whose superiority as an official is recognized by every one who has ever looked into the records of the county offices, was the first postmaster at Danville. He kept the office at his residence in the south part of the town. sonth of the McCormack House. Mails were received twice a week from Vincennes and twice a week from the east. The mail route south went from here to George- town, thence west to a post-office that was kept for a while where Mr. Josiah Sandusky resides ; thence on to Paris, in Edgar county. When a change in administration called for a change in postmaster in Dan-
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ville (for in those " good old times " civil service reform had not become a party watchword), Col. I. R. Moore was appointed, and removed the office to a store on Main street, west of Smith's block. Josiah Alex- ander was postmaster for a while, and then Col. Othniel Gilbert was appointed, and removed it to the Pennsylvania House. There was a gentleman boarding there who seemed to have no very important busi- ness here; but he had access to the mails. Mr. Cassady mailed $1,000- to a firm in Cincinnati with whom he was transaeting some land busi- ness. It never reached its destination, and the genteel boarder leaving soon after that, suspicion attached to him; but he was never traced. Alexander Chesley was next appointed, and took the office to a little building which stood where Captain Frazier's block now is. After him H. G. Boise was appointed, and removed it to the building which has recently been moved back from Main street to make room for Webster's building. While there it was robbed of several small sums, and the depredator was discovered by means of decoy letters and sent to the penitentiary. In 1861 Rev. E. Kingsbury was appointed postmaster, and the office was removed to the old Presbyterian Church building, and another robbery followed. A man by the name of Smith, who was a music teacher, and who was generally respected in the community, was trusted by Mr. Kingsbury to help in the office; but he had not honesty sufficiently developed in his phrenological make up to with- stand temptation, and went to stealing. Suspicion turned so strong toward him that Dr. Fithian and Mr. Kingsbury took him one side and asked to search him, and found some of the missing property in his boots. He was put under arrest, but was bailed out and left the country. He was found, however, in Iowa, and had become quite a noted personage there. He was engaged in teaching a singing school, and the ladies had such faith in his honesty that they followed him to the train and cried after him. He was convicted and sent to the peni- tentiary. William Morgan succeeded Mr. Kingsbury. He had the office on the south side of the public square. Col. MeKibben followed him, and died while in office. He kept it in a store near the Etna House. Samuel Fairchild was next, and then C. W. Gregory.
MERCANTILE.
G. S. Hubbard was the first to open mercantile business here. He was an Indian-trader, and his business as such was very large. N. D. Palmer was a partner of his. They often had two or three clerks em- ployed. The furs which the Indians brought in needed a considerable labor. It was necessary to sort and pack the furs, and overhaul them frequently. D. W. Beekwith and James Clyman were early in the
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business; then came Murphy & Cunningham, the latter of whom is still residing in Danville, and is the oldest business man residing here. George Scarborough & Bro. were here in trade in 1831. Soon after then Dr. Fithian engaged in trade. He is still living, and has been one of the most important factors in the history of the town. Soon after this J. B. Williams & Co., I. R. Moore, Samuel Russell & Bro. and Galusha & Cole engaged in mercantile trade. W. H. Wells en- gaged in trade here, made a fortune, went to New York City and loaned his money in this country. Palmer & Leveridge carried on a large business and were prosperous. N. D. Palmer was school com- missioner and judge of probate. V. & P. Leseure commenced business and are still here. Frazier & Gessey engaged in trade, and abont the same time Tincher & English commenced a prosperous business. James Whitcom, Drs. Palmer & Son and E. P. Martin & Hesse engaged in trade.
Wm. Bandy & Son opened up trade. Mr. Bandy had been here almost from the very first, and had been engaged in nearly every line of business, and had known nearly every person who had ever lived here. Though not now by any means an old man, he has been more or less actively engaged in business since 1828, and has seen the town grow "from the stump." Among the names that follow after this the following will be recognized : Craig & Crane, Dr. Woodbury, Charley Palmer, Levi Klein, Joseph Peters, Yates & Murphy, A. G. Leverton and Short & Bro. There are now in the leading lines of trade nine dry goods firms, twelve clothing and tailoring, eight hardware and im- plement firms, two harnessmakers, two furniture firms, five booksellers, three drug stores, eight hotels, five milliners, and upward of thirty firms engaged in the sale of groceries, provisions and fruit.
The earliest settlers came mostly from the southern states and Ohio, few from New England and New York. Later, of those who are of foreign birth the Germans predominate. They enter into every line of business and labor. Those of Irish birth come next ; then Belgians, Welsh, Swedes and English, in the order named.
SCHOOLS.
The first school, so far as the writer has been able to ascertain the facts, was taught in a log house which appears to have been put up for this purpose, standing on the ground where Wright's mill stands. It was built of huge burr-oak logs, which were fully two feet in diameter, and the ends were left sticking out without being sawn off, with clap- board roof and puncheon floor. It was rough to outward appearance and had little to change that appearance inside. With the rudest benches,
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its walls devoid of anything which would give beauty or help in edu- cation, it had more the appearance of a prison than a modern school- house. Maps, charts, blackboards and desks were unknown to the first generation of Danville children, but it was determined that the children should not freeze to death at any rate. The huge fireplace extended nearly across the room. It was a peculiar institution in its way ; instead of the chimney beginning at the ground, strong braces extended from the wall near the floor out into the room and upward, and upon these for a "sure foundation " the chimney was constructed. It was not less than six feet wide, and large enough to hoist a good- sized dry-goods box up through it. The fire was built under this, and the first duty of the accomplished teacher was to teach the smoke to go up through this clumsy chimney. The smoke was not at first as prone to ascend as the sparks are to fly upward, but after a little it would make its way out. The wood did not need to be cut up for this fire-place ; anything short of "sled-length " would do very well, and after it was once burned in two in the middle the ends were rolled around into position for burning. This educational beginning must have been about 1830. The teacher was Mr. Clark, who, though he did not have to furnish a certificate, was a very successful and ac- complished teacher. After teaching very acceptably for a time he en- gaged in the tanning business, and soon after died. After this a house was built near where the planing-mill now stands, which was used as a school-house and meeting-house. Here several teachers whose names ought to be remembered conducted the school.
A charter was granted incorporating the Danville Academy, a stock company, in 1836. By its terms every "free white person " was en- titled to subscribe for the stock, and every subscriber entitled to a year's tuition for each share. No permanent organization was per- fected, however. Mrs. Cromwell was a successful school-teacher here at an early day, and several others engaged in teaching private schools up to 1850. The first school taught in the southwestern part of the township, at Payne's Point, was by Wmn. M. Payne, who, from that time to the present, has been one of the most enterprising and public- spirited men in the county. He has frequently been intrusted with the public affairs of the town, and served one term as sheriff.
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