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 48
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120
William Emley, Danville, farmer, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 11th of December, 1832, and is the son of Isaac and Rebecca (Hathaway) Emley. Isaac Emley was born in Virginia on the 21st of April, 1806. He moved to Ohio with his parents when he was about two years old, and here remained for a number of years, engaged in farming. From Ohio he went to Perrysville, Indiana, where he was married in about 1829 to Rebecca Hathaway, who was born on the 4th of May, 1810, and died about 1874. From Perrysville they moved to Vermilion county, and located about four miles east of Danville ; here he set ont in farming. He was for a number of years a preacher in the Christian Church, of which he was one of the founders in that neigh- borhood. He died on the 14th of June, 1877, on the farm adjoining that of Mr. E. P. Jones. Thus passed away another of the old settlers, honored and respected. Mr. William Emley, the subject of this sketch, has all his life been engaged in farming here in Vermilion county, with the exception of about two years, when he was herding and driving
376
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
cattle. He was married in Vermilion county to Catharine Lynn, of Vermilion county, Indiana. They have four children living. Mr. Emley owns one hundred and ninety-six acres of land.
Daniel Kyger, Danville, proprietor of Kyger's Mill. This gentle- man was born in Monroe county, Ohio, on the 22d of January, 1829, and is the son of John and Mary (Sheets) Kyger. He started from Grandview, Ohio, on the Ohio River, in a flatboat for Illinois. They floated down the Ohio River to the mouth of the Wabash, and with ropes pulled the boat up stream to the Vermilion River, and camped a short distance up that stream. They landed and located in Vermilion county, Illinois, on a farm near Georgetown. Here Mr. Kyger was raised on the farm until he was about eighteen years old. He then commenced to work at the millwright business. In 1849 he, in com- pany with Win. Sheets, Thomas Morgan and H. T. Kyger, commenced the erection of a steam flour-mill in Georgetown, which was the first steam flour-mill built in Vermilion county. In 1850 it was finished by Daniel Kyger, Thomas Morgan, N. Henderson and Son at a cost of about 86,000. This mill had three run of stone. Here Mr. Kyger re- mained in the mill until 1854. This year, in company with Nathaniel Henderson and Sons, he went to Danville and commenced the erection of what is now known as the Danville Flour Mills. This was also the first steam flour-mill erected in Danville. It had three run of stone and commenced grinding in 1856. Here Mr. Kyger remained about eight years. In 1865 he came to the present mill. This mill was first built by William Sheets and Thomas Morgan in about 1833, and com- menced grinding in 1834. It was known for a number of years as the Morgan & Sheets Mill. In connection with their grist-mill they erected a saw-mill. This was one of the first water mills in this neigh- borhood, and drew custom for forty miles around. They first com- menced with one run of stone, but soon after had two run of stone. Morgan & Sheets continued until about 1842. In 1850 Henry Kyger became owner of the mill. In 1865 the firm of Kyger Brothers was formed, and continued until 1873, when Mr. D. Kyger took full charge. In 1865 the Kyger Brothers made improvements to the mill at a cost of about $8,000.
Henry Martin, Danville, farmer, was born in Elwood township, Ver- milion county, Illinois, on the 22d of February, 1832, and is the son of Henry and Mary (Morgan) Martin, natives of Virginia, who made their home there at an early day. Mr. Martin, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on the farm and was engaged in farming until the breaking ont of the late war, when he enlisted, on the 27th of August, 1861. for three years, in the 4th Ill. Cav., Co. F, as private. He partici-
377
DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.
pated in some of the most severe battles during the war, such as Fort Henry, Fort Donelson and Shiloh. After serving his three years he reënlisted in the same regiment and served until the 29th of May, 1866, having served four years, nine months and two days. He entered as private, but was promoted, first to sergeant, then to orderly sergeant and from that to first lientenant. This office he filled for over one year. Mr. Martin had one horse shot from under him during one of the engagements. He was sick abont four months, and with this ex- ception he served full time. At the close of the war he returned to Vermilion county, and has been a resident there ever since. Mr. Martin was married in 1854 to Miss Miranda H. Gebhart, daughter of Anthony and Ellen Gebhart, who made their home here in Vermilion county at an early day. By this marriage they have seven children. Mr. Martin has held several offices of public trust,- that of justice of the peace, constable and town collector of Georgetown township. In these offices he has given entire satisfaction.
Martha McMillen, Danville, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, on the 13th of October, 1821, and is the wife of the late R. H. MeMil- len, who was born in Ohio, near Columbus, on the 17th of June, 1816. His father was a farmer and a miller by trade, having in operation a flour and saw-mill on his farm. Here Mr. MeMillen was engaged in working in the mill and on the farm. In 1832 he, with his parents, came to Illinois, and located in Vermilion county. His father built about the first saw and flour-mill in Denmark, and here Mr. McMillen helped his father. He was married near Denmark, in this county, to Martha Oder, the subject of this sketch. She moved with her parents from Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there to Vermilion county, Illinois, at an early day. Some twenty-two years ago they moved from Blount township to Danville township, on the farm oppo- site the present homestead, and from there they moved to where Mrs. MeMillen still resides. Here Mr. R. H. MeMillen died, on the 4th of May, 1876, with ulcer" of the stomach, after being sick some three months. Thus passed away one of the good old settlers of Vermilion county, and a man that was loved and respected by all. Hle and Mrs. McMillen had been members of the Christian Church for the last thirty years. They had two sons in the late war,-J. G. and Wm. M. Both enlisted in the 125th Ill. Vol. Inf., and did good service, being honorably mustered out. William is now farming on, the old home- stead, and J. G. is farming in the county. By the marriage of R. H. MeMillen to Martha Oder they had nine children, seven of whom are living.
Joseph Peters, deceased. Joseph Peters, the subject of this sketeh
378
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
and whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on the 19th of May, 1819. His father was a native of Pennsyl- vania, and his mother of Virginia. They were of English and German descent. But little of the surroundings of his early life is known. In 1833 he came to Vermilion county, Illinois. For several years he was engaged in almost any honorable employment that would furnish means for him to complete his education. After completing his literary studies he began the study of law under Mr. JJ. J. Brown, of Danville. In 1840 he went to the city of Springfield to be examined, with a view to being admitted to the bar. Here he was directed to the residence of Mr. Abraham Lincoln. Mr. Lincoln had been married but a short time, and when called upon by Mr. Peters was found sitting in the shade of a tree, reading to Mrs. Lincoln. He often remarked many years afterward, when hearing people speak lightly of her, that he could only think of Mrs. Lincoln as he saw her when making that eall -pleasant, social, and in every word and jesture a lady. After being examined by Mr. Lincoln, at the proper time and place he was admitted to the bar. From Springfield he went to Marion county, where he practiced law until 1845, when he returned to Danville. IIere he fol- lowed the practice of his profession as a principal business. For a time he filled the office of police magistrate, and in 1858 was elected county judge. He also represented the county in the lower house, and at the time of his death, which occurred on the 4th of July, 1866, he was a member of the state senate. During the rebellion of 1861-65 Mr. Peters served his country as quartermaster of the 135th Ill. Vol. Inf., a history of which regiment is found in this work. He was a member of the order of A. F. and A. M., and also of the M. E. Church. On the 20th of October, 1842, he was married to Miss Henrietta Blakeley, who is a native of Christian county, Kentucky. Their family consists of four children, as follows: Anna B., Mary E., Prier G. and Willie.
W. W. R. Woodbury, Danville, druggist and bookseller. One among the oldest residents of the city of Danville or of Vermilion county is Dr. W. W. R. Woodbury. Ile was born on the 19th of No- vember, 1824, in Ripley county, Indiana. In 1833 he came with his father's people to Vermilion county, Illinois. During his early life the Doctor had but few chances of getting an education. His father being permanently erippled, there were but few advantages to be had either by going to school, which was the old subscription system, or by study- ing at home. All dne honor, however, must be given his father, who, to raise money to pay for the Doctor's last term of school, sold the old family clock. Not being able to give him the advantages he would like, his father allowed him to become a member of old Dr. Fithian's
379
DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.
family, with whom he began and completed the study of medicine, graduating at Rush Medical College, of Chicago, on the 7th of February, 1850. Returning to Danville after graduating, he proposed to follow his profession ; but became interested in the drug trade with Dr. J. A. D. Sconce, and finally made it a permanent business. He began in the drug trade in April of 1850, and is now the only man engaged in the mercantile trade that was at that date doing business in the city of Danville. In company with John W. Myers, in 1859 he built the Lincoln Opera Hall, which at that time was the wonder of the country. The proprietors were laughed at very much for building their mon- ument of folly, as it was called. But real estate about that time taking an upward turn, Mr. Wood- DRUGS PAINTS & BOOKS bury came out all right. He has filled several public offices, among which may be mentioned that of commissioner of highways and the office of mayor of the city of Dan- ville. He has built some twelve or fifteen different buildings in the LINCOLN OPERA HALL. city and added four additions to the city plat. In 1853 Mr. Sconce sold ont to Stephen and John W. Myers. In 1857 Stephen died, and Mr. Woodbury then bought their interest in the business, and has sinee conducted it alone. It is now twenty- nine years since he began on the same ground where he is still engaged as one of the successful men of Danville.
Samuel Frazier, Danville. This gentleman, perhaps, is one of the best known and highly respected citizens of Vermilion county. He was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, on the 18th of September, 1806, and is the son of Sammel and Mary (Massey) Frazier, natives of Mary- land. His father was a boot and shoe-maker by trade; he was also a soldier of the war of 1812 - a major in General Harrison's army. In 1818 he moved to Indiana and located in Dearborn county. Here he commenced farming, and remained there until 1838, when he came to Vermilion county and located where Catlin township now is. Here they set out in farming and remained until they both died, in Catlin township, and were buried in the Danville City Cemetery. Mr. Frazier, the subject of this sketch, remained on the farm in Ohio until 1833; he then came to Vermilion county, Illinois, and entered two hundred acres of land. He returned to Ohio, and in 1834 came to Ver- milion county, which has been his home ever since; he came here
380
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
with his wife and one child, and settled in what is now Catlin town- ship: here he remained until 1838, when he moved to Danville. In 1840 Mr. Frazier was elected sheriff of Vermilion county, and filled this office until 1846: in 1850 he was re-elected to the same office, and · filled it until 1852; this office he filled with honor and credit to him- self and to the people of Vermilion county. When the announcement of the fall of Fort Sumter was made the people were at once aroused. and no time was lost in setting about to solve the problem as to what could be done to help to restore and save the union of the states. Captain Frazier raised company C of the 12th Ill. Vol. Inf., which was the first company raised in Vermilion county. It was mustered in for three months and did good service. Mr. Frazier was captain and William Mann first lieutenant. Edward, the son of Captain Frazier, enlisted in company A, 71st Ill. Vol. Inf., for three months. He took sick near Columbus. Kentucky, was brought home, and died with that dreadful disease. camp diarrhea. in 1862. His remains were interred in the Danville City Cemetery. Captain Frazier married in Ohio, to Benlah Ann Finley. by whom they have had twelve children.
Achilles Martin. post-office Danville; real estate and abstract office, township Danville, was born in Georgetown. Vermilion coun- ty. Illinois, on the 25th of February, 1834, and is the son of Henry and Mary (Morgan) Martin, who were both natives of Virginia and among the first settlers of Vermilion county, having made their home here at an early day. Mr. Martin, our subject, was brought up on his father's farm, where he remained until he was abont twenty-two years of age. In 1861, at the breaking out of the late war. he enlisted for three years in the 25th Ill. Vol. Inf .. Co. A, as private. He was in a number of the most severe battles fought during the war: Pea Ridge, Stone River, Chickasaw Mountain, siege of Atlanta and other engagements. He received a wound in the left arm. From private Mr. Martin rose to first sergeant, then to second lieutenant, and from thence to first lieutenant. In 1864 he was mnstered ont, at which time he returned to Vermilion county. In 1868 he moved to Danville. which he has made his home ever since, and has here been engaged in the real estate and abstract business. Mr. Martin married Miss Lucre- tia Underwood. of Wisconsin. She died in 1859. He then married Miss Helena Monroe, of New York. He is the father of one child by his first wife.
W. T. Cunningham, Danville, deputy circuit clerk. This gentle- man was born in Danville, Vermilion county, Illinois, on the Sth of February, 1834, and is the son of Hezekiah Cunningham, who was born in Virginia on the 3d of March. 1803. He was the son of David
381
DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.
and Nellie (Burnett) Cunningham. Both parents were of Irish descent. His father was a farmer. In 1819 Mr. Cunningham came west with his mother and the Murphy family, by wagon, taking them seven weeks in making the trip. They arrived and located on the North Arm, in Edgar county, Illinois, in the fall of 1819, there being but ten families in that part of the country. In 1825 Mr. Cunningham came to Vermilion county and married Mary Alexander, daughter of John B. Alexander, by whom they had five children, two of whom are liv- ing,-the wife of Judge O. L. Davis and of W. T. Cunningham, the subject of this sketch. In 1828 Mr. Hezekiah Cunningham moved to Danville, where he has resided ever since. While a resident here he has been engaged in the mercantile business some ten years. He was a soldier in the Blackhawk war of 1832-3. His wife was born in 1791, and died on the 5th of September, 1867. She was buried in the old Danville Cemetery. Mr. Cunningham helped to bury the first corpse in the Danville Cemetery, which was in 1828. W. T. Cunning- ham, our subject, was raised and educated in Danville. He was clerk in a drug store for five years, and for a number of years clerk in other departments here in Danville and Washington City. He was appointed collector of the seventh district by President A. Lincoln. During his term of office he collected over $3,700,000. He is now deputy cir- cuit clerk, which office he has filled for some eight years. Mr. Cun- ningham married, in 1859, Miss Lucy A. Lemon, daughter of John Lemon, one of the early settlers of Vermilion county. She died in 1876. By this union they had five children, four of whom are living, two boys and two girls.
Theodore Lemon, Danville, physician. Dr. Theodore Lemon, one of the old pioneers of Danville, was born on the 16th of December, 1812. He began the study of medicine in Bunker Hill, Virginia, coming to Vermilion county in 1835. His first business was to teach a term of school in what at that time was the Presbyterian church. After this he began the practice of his profession, and at that early day was sometimes called upon to ride fifteen miles to attend the calls of his patients. He has passed a long life of usefulness in Vermilion county, and has seen and helped to make many of the changes in the development and improvement that have taken place since he became a resident of the county. He married Miss L. E. Sconce, who is a native of Kentucky. They have a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters. The doctor is of that class of men who have not been seekers of notoriety, yet he has made many warm friends, and will long be remembered by the citizens with whom he has spent so many years.
-
382
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
William I. Moore, deceased. William I. Moore (now deceased) was probably as well known to the citizens of Danville and vicinity as any old resident of the county. He was born in the State of New Jersey in the year 1804, his ancestors being formerly of England. He came west and located in Vermilion county as early as the year 1835, beginning in the mercantile trade, which he followed until 1857, when he retired from active business. During the early days in this county, when it was impossible to do business with the rush and jam of the present times, Mr. Moore used to buy large quan- tities of flour, pork and other produce, which he used to stow away in a large wareroom which he had built at Perrysville, Indiana, and when sufficient quantities had accumulated he shipped to New Or- leans. His method of transportation was by the old-time flatboat. well remembered by the early settlers, who thus transported their goods down the Wabash and Ohio rivers. About the year 1844 or 1845 Mr. Moore served the people of this county as their represent- ative in the state legislature. In March of 1857 he was married to Miss Mary A. Rowland, daughter of Thomas Rowland, who was one of the early pioneers of Vermilion county. Coming to the county in the fall of 1826, he located at what was known for miles around as the salt-works. He remained there until the following spring, when he, with his family, moved to Champaign county, remaining there for about seven years. When he had completed all arrangements for returning to Vermilion county he was taken sick and died, leaving the family to return alone, which they subsequently did. Mr. Moore, after his marriage, remained a resident of Danville until his death, which occurred in April of 1877, he being in his seventy-fourth year. But little of the surroundings of his early life are known, but with over forty years of the latter part of his life many of the old citizens of this county are familiar. He was a man liberal in his support of all public institutions for the benefit of the people. After a residence of over forty years in this county he died, leaving a wife, but no children, to mourn his loss.
E. R. Lynch, Danville, farmer, was born in what was then known as Harrison county, Virginia, on the 16th of May, 1830, and is the son of John and Mariah (Campbell) Lynch. His father, born on the Sth of July, 1794, was a cabinet-maker by trade, but lived on a farm. He moved from Virginia with his family to Lancaster, Ohio, where lie remained abont three years. He then went to Illinois, and located in Pontiac, Livingston county, which at that time had but two cabins in the town. He remained there but a short time when, in 1835, he came to Vermilion county, and here, on the 21st of July, 1836, he
383
DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.
died, and was buried in the Lynch graveyard, being the first person buried in that graveyard. His wife (Mariah Campbell Lynch) died on the 22d of November, 1874; she was born on the 13th of February, 1802. Here, on the farm, Mr. E. R. Lynch, the subject of this sketeh, commenced farming at nine years of age, and has been engaged on the present farm since. He owns a fine improved farm, obtained by his hard work and industry. He was married on the 16th of September, 1850, to Elizabeth Villars, who was born in Vermilion county, Illi- nois, on the 14th of September, 1834, and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Magee) Villars, whose biographies appear in this history; they have had nine children, seven living.
E. W. Cramer, Danville, farmer, was born in Virginia, on the 9th of September, 1825; son of John Cramer, of Virginia; both parents were of German descent. His father was a farmer, but a carpenter by trade. From Virginia they moved to Ohio, and remained there for about eight years ; then, in about 1835, moved to Vermilion county, Illinois. They first located in Blount township on a farm, and his father and mother died at a good old age. Thus passed away two of the old pioneers of Vermilion county. Mr. Cramer commenced a poor man, but by hard work and good management he owns one hundred and twenty acres of fine improved land. He married Maria Jane Hiller : she died, and he was married the second time to Malindia Albart. They have one adopted child, Charles W. Mr. Cramer's father was a soldier of the war of 1812 in the six month's service.
C. J. Langley, Danville, farmer, was born in Vermilion county, Illi- nois, on the 25th of February, 1835, and is the son of Nathaniel and Margaret (Holthouser) Langley, both natives of Kentucky, who were married in Nelson county of that state, and with two children (Eliza- beth and Thomas) eame to Flinois and located on a farm in Danville township, Vermilion county, in 1832. Nathaniel Langley was a sol- dier of the war of 1812. Having come here with moderate means, he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, but with hard labor and good management he owned four hundred and eighty-seven acres. He died in March, 1848, at about sixty years of age. Margaret Langley died in 1864 or 1865 ; she was nearly sixty-five years old. Thus passed away two of Vermilion county's old and respected citizens. Both were buried in what is known as Langley's graveyard. Mr. Langley, the subject of this sketeh, was brought up on the farm, and this busi- ness "he has followed through life. He owns a fine improved farm of four hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Langley was married in 1865 to Miss Belle Anderson, of New York, by whom they have six children, Leona, Nora, Maggie, Hortense, Laura Belle and James Roseo.
384
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
Richard T. Leverich, Danville, farmer. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Queens county, New York, on the 27th of August, 1815, and is the son of John and Alletta (Berrien) Leverich. His father was a blacksmith by trade, and lived on a farm, and here Mr. Leverich was brought up, engaged in farming. In 1835 he, in company with Dr. Fithian, left New York for Danville, Vermilion county, Illinois. He had made arrangements with Dr. Fithian to elerk in his store. Mr. Leverich went to Dayton, Ohio, riding Dr. Fithian's horse from there to Indianapolis. From here he took the stage to Perrysville, Vermilion county, Indiana, and from there to Danville, where he arrived on the 14th of September, 1835, taking him about two weeks in making the trip. The first two years he clerked for Dr. Fithian at twelve dollars per month, and on account of business he worked for his board the third year. From there he entered into partnership with L. T. Palmer in the general store busi- ness. These gentlemen continued in partnership some fourteen years. From that he entered into partnership with his brother, J. G. Lev- erich, which connection continued abont five years. Then Mr. Lev- erich continued alone in business some five years longer. He then came to the farm, where he has resided ever since. He was married in Danville, on the 22d of November, 1843, to Miss Lydia F. Gilbert, who was born in Ontario county, New York, on the 15th of Septem- ber, 1822, and is the daughter of Solomon Gilbert, who was one of the pioneers of Vermilion county. Mrs. Leverich states that her parents brought the first stove to Danville. On her way to Danville from New York, with her parents, who came down the Ohio river in a flat- boat, she fell into the Ohio river at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and came near drowning. She was rescued by a stranger, after going under water the third time. By their nnion they have had seven chil- dren, five living.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.