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 51
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DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Two are deceased ; Lydia, born on the 15th of September, 1869, died on the 19th of September, 1870, and Lulu, born on the 7th of March, 1878, and died on the 7th of May, 1878.
R. L. Porter, Danville, physician, is a native of Pittsburgh, Penn- sylvania, and a physician of about forty years' practice. He is one of the early settlers of Danville, having been a resident of the place since 1848. His wife is also a graduate of medicine, and while a resident of Danville has sometimes done a practice of several thousand dollars per year. In 1874 the Doctor and his wife went to England, his objeet being to have a very difficult surgical operation performed upon him- self by the celebrated Sir Henry Thompson, of London, one of the finest physicians and surgeons of Europe. The operation was per- formed snecessfully, Sir Henry refusing any remuneration, though his usual price was $500 for similar service. Dr. Porter has not only proven himself a success professionally, but also as a financier. Be- sides his property in Danville he has a splendid farm of eight hundred acres, located on sections 28, 29 and 32 of Sidell township, this county. He can very truthfully be called one of the successful men of the county.
C. V. Baldwin, Danville, dentist, is a native of Henry county, In- diana, his people being among the early and prominent pioneers of that county. His father was the representative of Henry county in 1847. In 1849 Dr. Baldwin came to Vermilion county, Illinois, with his people, he being at that time fifteen years old. He has since remained a resident of the county. In 1866 he began the study of dentistry. On account of ill-health for the past ten years the Doctor has spent the winters in Franklin, Louisiana. There he has established a fine business in his line, the people waiting patiently his return for the execution of dental work at his hands.
M. Ganor, Danville, dealer in lime, cement, etc. There is probably not a resident of Danville who has been more observing of the changes that have been made during his time than Mr. Ganor. He is a native of Ireland, coming to the United States in 1844 with his parents. They located on Long Island, he being at that time about four years old. Here they remained about five years, and then came west, and on the 20th of September, 1849, arrived at the then village of Danville. They made the journey from Chicago in wagons, hiring a man to bring them and their goods from that point to Danville for $15. Mr. Ganor's father, who died on the 14th of October, 1861, aged sixty-one years and four months, probably did more toward clearing up the land where Danville now stands than any of the old pioneers. For years he carried on farming on the land now known as Tinchertown. Mr. Ganor tells us that he and his dogs have spent many hours of lively sport chasing
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
rabbits over what is now the eastern part of the eity, and is yet known as Rabbittown. He began business for himself in 1859, and is now located corner of Main and Hazel streets, where he is carrying on quite an extensive business in lime, cement, hay, oats, corn, etc., and is also interested with Mr. C. II. Giddings in the ice trade. He is a lively, energetic business man ; in the habit of looking out for No. 1, and managing his own business affairs.
Victor Lesenre, Danville, merchant, was born in France, on the 25th December, 1816, and is the son of Peter and Ann Lesenre, both natives of France. In 1832 Mr. Leseure immigrated to America, and located in Covington, Kentucky, where he was engaged in farming; from thence he went to Clarke county, Indiana, and from thence he came to Illinois. He first embarked in the mercantile business in Georgetown, Vermilion county. In 1849 he came to Danville, Illinois, where he remained for several years, when he returned to Georgetown. In 1851 he returned to Danville, which he has made his home ever since he entered the mercantile business, which he has followed princi- pally from that time. In 1876 he entered the hardware business. Mr. Leseure has held several offices of public trust. He was mayor of the city of Danville one term, and was commissioner of highways three terms. He is a republican in politics. He married, in 1849, Caroline B. MeDonald, daughter of Alexander McDonald, one of the old pioneers of Vermilion county. She died; he then married Mrs. Mary J. McDonald. nee Smith. Mr. Leseure is treasurer, secretary and super- intendent of the Danville Gas-Light Company.
W. R. Lawrence, Danville, attorney-at-law, was born in Blooming- ton. Monroe county, Indiana, on the 14th of January, 1840, and is the son of John Lawrence, a native of New York, who was a mechanic and farmer. He moved to Indiana, and located in Bloomington, Monroe county, about 1836, being among the early settlers. In 1849 Mr. W. R. Lawrence, with his parents, moved to Vermilion county, Illinois, and located in Georgetown, where he received his principal education at the Georgetown Seminary. In 1862 he enlisted, for three years, as private, in Co. C, 73d III. Vol. Inf. (of which a history appears in this work). He participated in a number of engagements : Perrys- ville, Stone River and Chickamauga, at which battle he received a wound in the face. At Stone River he was captured, and taken as a prisoner of war to Libby prison, but was exchanged, and rejoined his regiment. Mr. Lawrence, from private, was first made sergeant, and then second lieutenant, and afterward first lieutenant. In 1864 he resigned, and came home to Vermilion county. He went to Bloom- ington, MeLean county, Illinois, where he commenced the study of law
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with Tipton & Benjamin, and, in 1865, he was admitted to the bar. He commenced the practice of law at Boonesborough, Iowa, where he remained until 1873, when he came to Danville, and has here been engaged at his chosen profession ever since, ranking among the leading lawyers of the Vermilion county bar. Mr. Lawrence's political opinions are republican. He married, in 1867, Miss Josephine Frazier, daughter of John Frazier, one of the old settlers of Vermilion county ; by this marriage they have two children.
O. Lesenre, Danville, physician and surgeon, is a native of Danville, Vermilion county, where, in 1869, he began reading medicine under Dr. Morse. He later studied with Dr. Lemon, and became a graduate of medicine at the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in 1873. For a time succeeding this he was in the United States Hospital at Detroit, Michigan, where he remained but a short time, and then went to New York, and in 1874 became a graduate of the Bellevue Medical Hospital, and the same year began his practice in Danville, where he has since resided, giving his time fully and exclusively to the practice of his profession. He is a member of the Homeopathic Physicians and Surgeons of the Wabash, and though he has practiced in Danville but since 1874, he has already established a name and reputation pro- fessionally of which he need not be ashamed.
Charles Moran, Danville, groceries and provisions, is a native of County Antrim, Ireland. Before leaving his native country he had learned the trade of a brick and stone mason, the latter being worked by him the most. In September of 1850 he landed in the city of New York, where he remained a resident for nearly two years; then, in 1852, he came to Danville, where he has since resided. On the 18th of March, 1855, he married Miss Catharine O'Conner, who is also a native of Ireland. Until five and a half years ago, when he engaged in the grocery trade, Mr. Moran had been following his trade. There is probably not a single resident of the city of Danville who has made as many changes in the mechanical work of the city as himself. He used to employ a large number of men, and hardly a building of any importance in the city but of what he did the stone-work. Among them may be mentioned the residence of Mr. L. T. Palmer, the Dan- ville Mills, the Danville high-school building, H. W. Beekwith's resi- dence, and many others. His last job of stone-work was for the city, being a curbing contract of four thousand dollars, which he executed satisfactorily. His present place of business is No. 151 East Main street. His store is 22×80, and stocked with a nice fresh line of everything pertaining to the grocery trade.
James H. Miller, Danville, tax-collector, is one of the self-made men
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
of Danville. He was born in Jefferson county, Virginia, on the 20th of December, 1823. His mother died when he was four years old ; he then resided with his grandmother until he was ten years of age, and since then has been dependent upon his own resources. In the early part of his life he had but little opportunity of securing an education, but by his own efforts he became a fair scholar. In 1846 he went from Virginia to Pickaway county, Ohio, and there remained about six years. In 1852 he came to Danville, where he has since resided. He has built two residences and one business-house. He, by energy and good financiering, has accumulated a good property. For the last twenty years he has held the office of tax-collector, except during the year 1874, when Mr. Thos. Parks held the office one term; he is also assessor of Danville township, the entire revenue derived from taxation passing through his hands. Any man who, being left an orphan, as he was, and beginning work for himself as he did, at a salary of seventy- five cents per week, and paying his own expenses out of this, and who, by an honest and legitimate business, has accumulated a good property, is certainly worthy the respect of the better class of citizens of any community. He has not only won, but enjoys, and he is surely entitled to, the confidence of the citizens of Danville.
Colonel O. F. Harmon (deceased), the subject of this sketch, and whose portrait appears in this history, was born in the year 1827, in Monroe county, New York. But little of the surroundings of his early life are known. In 1853 he came west, and shortly after began the practice of law, this being his profession, subsequently becoming the partner of Judge O. L. Davis. with whom he practiced for many years, being well known as one of the leading attorneys of the county. In 1857 he served the people of Vermilion county as their representative in the state legislature. During the war of the rebellion of 1861-5 he, in August of 1862, entered the Union army as colonel of the 125th Ill. Vol. Inf. This regiment was made up almost entirely of Vermilion county men, a complete history of which is given in this work, written by William Mann, adjutant of the regiment. Colonel Harmon was much above the average height, being six feet three inches, and well proportioned mentally, morally and physically. No better man of the regiment could be found to be their commander. This regiment, with Colonel Harmon at its head, participated in many of the hard battles, among which may be mentioned the battles of Perrysville, Chicka- manga, Mission Ridge and the Atlanta campaign, during which, while making a charge at the head of his regiment at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, on the 27th of June, 1864, he was shot and almost instantly killed. In his death the 125th mourned the loss of a brave
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and honest commander, a family in the far north the loss of a father and husband's kind care and protection, and old neighbors and associ- ates the loss of a true and honest friend. Colonel Harmon was mar- ried in 1854 to Mrs. E. C. Hill, her maiden name being McDonald. Her father was one of the early settlers of Vermilion county, and this is Mrs. Harmon's native county. She still resides in Danville, one of the honored and respected ladies of the city.
J. M. Sirpless, Danville, as a grocer of Danville, requires more than a passing notice. He is a native of this county. His parents, James and Catharine (Wright) Sirpless came to the county as early as 1852, entering government land at that date. The name is of Irish origin. J. M. is a printer by trade. IIe first began learning the trade in Homer, Illinois. Previous to his engaging in the grocery trade, in March of 1878, he had for five years been at work in the office of the Danville "Times." He has been dependent upon his own resources in the ac- cumulation of property. The grocery business, when he began it in 1878, was entirely new to him, though he soon made himself thoroughly familiar with the business, and has already built up a good trade, run- ning a free delivery wagon in connection with his business. He is still a young man, but by his own efforts has acquired a fair property. Should he succeed financially in the future as well as he has in the past he will soon have established a business of which he may well be proud.
A. G. Webster, Danville, grocer, was born in St. Albans, Franklin county, Vermont, in 1822. Leaving there with his people in 1836 he went to Saline, Michigan, remaining there eight years, and then re- moved to Lafayette, Indiana, where he remained also eight years, dur- ing which time he was employed in the capacity of clerk. From there he came to Danville in 1853, bringing with him a small stock of dry goods. Here he was engaged in the dry-goods trade for about two years, and in 1856, after having closed out his stock of dry goods, he began in the grocery business, which he has principally been engaged in since, having for the past ten years been doing business in the build- ing he now occupies. He is now the oldest groceryman in the city, there being none other now engaged in the business who began as early as 1856. He is a man who has always been interested in any matters pertaining to the public good, and has done his share toward the development and improvement of Danville and Vermilion county, of which he has now been a resident twenty-six years.
C. D. IIenton, Danville, physician and surgeon, has been a resident of Vermilion county since 1853. He was located at Marysville until May of 1872, when he removed to Danville, where he has since resided.
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
He is a native of Fountain connty, Indiana. At the age of six his people took him to Hillsborough, Ohio, where the early part of his life was spent. In 1861 he became a graduate of the Rush Medical Col- lege, of Chicago. After graduating he located at Marysville, and began the practice of his profession, which he has since followed. The doctor is a man who has been wholly dependent upon his own resources both for his literary and medical education, having when only sixteen years old taught his first term of day-school. He is now a member of the Vermilion County Association of Physicians and Surgeons, and a man whose standing is high in the community, both in professional and private life.
Charles V. Guy, Danville, superintendent of public schools, was born in South Charleston. Clark county, Ohio, on the 28th of June, 1850, and is the son of Asa H. and Ruth (Iams) Guy, natives of Ohio. A. H. Guy was born in Ross county, Ohio, on the 16th of March, 1823, and is the son of Willis and Jane (Hawkins) Gny, of Virginia, they having moved to Ohio about 1808 or 1810. When Mr. Guy was young, his parents moved to Madison county, Ohio, where Mr. Guy was brought up on a farm. He entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, of Delaware, Ohio, and graduated in 1849. He then was engaged in teaching school in Ohio, where he remained until 1853, when he came to Vermilion county, Illinois, where he taught school in Georgetown, and other parts of Vermilion county. In 1855 Mr. Guy was elected by the republican party surveyor of Vermilion county. This office he has held off' and on for the last twenty-four years. Mr. Guy, in his official duties, has given entire satisfaction. He has laid out and sur- veyed the villages of Fairmount, Catlin, Paxton (Ford county). part of Hoopeston, and other towns. In 1862 Mr. Guy was appointed assistant revenue assessor, which office he filled until 1865. Mr. Guy married Miss Ruth Iams, of Licking county, Ohio, daughter of William and Lydia (Foster) Iams, of Pennsylvania. By this marriage they have had seven children, five living. Mr. Guy is a republican in politics, and has been a member of the M. E. Church for the last thirty-eight
years. Charles V. Guy, the subject of this sketch, with his parents, came to Vermilion county when he was three years old. He received his principal education at Georgetown. When sixteen years old he commenced teaching school, his first school being near Fairmount. Mr. Guy remained teaching school until he was nineteen years old. He then entered the State Normal School, at Normal, Illinois, where he received a good normal education. He returned to Vermilion county and was appointed deputy clerk, which office he filled for one and a-half years. In November, 1873, he was elected superintendent
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of the county schools, to which office he was reelected in 1877, and still holds. In this office Mr. Guy has given entire satisfaction, having proved himself a gentleman of acknowledged ability. Mr. Guy was also principal of the high school of Hoopeston, with his wife as assistant. He married Miss Ellen Bales, of Georgetown, Illinois, daughter of Elwood Bales, who was one of the early settlers. They have two chil- dren. Mr. Guy is engaged in conducting a Normal Summer Institute, which is meeting with good success.
Joseph G. English, Danville, president First National Bank of Danville, began his career a poor boy, and has by his own effort risen to an honorable position both in business and social life. He was born in Ohio county, Indiana, on the 17th of December, 1820, and is the son of Charles and Nancy (Wright) English. His mother was a native of England and his father of Connecticut. Mr. Charles English was a blacksmith by trade, and followed it for a time at the Washington navy yard, but in his latter days he was engaged in keeping tavern. In 1829 Mr. J. G. English, with his parents, moved from Ohio county, Indiana, to the Wabash valley, and located at Perrysville, Vermilion county, Indiana. Here his father was engaged in keeping tavern (the first tavern in Perrysville), which he did until his death, which ocenrred in 1856. Mr. English is a lineal descendant of the old Mayflower stock. The subject of this sketch at nine years of age entered the "district school of the period" here in Perrysville. He remained until 1834, finishing and receiving a common education in a log cabin with a puncheon floor. In 1834 he first embarked for himself by engaging himself as a elerk in a prominent dry-goods store in Lafayette, Indiana, where he remained until 1839, working for his board and clothes. He returned to Perrysville and again filled the capacity of clerk until 1843. In the fall of that year he married Miss Mary Hicks, who was born in Perrysville on the 13th of June, 1824, and is the daughter of George and Mary (Curtis) Hicks, who had located in Perrysville in abont 1820. In 1844, in connection with his father-in-law (George Hicks), Mr. English opened an extensive general store in Perrysville, which occu- pied his attention until 1852. During this time they traded very extensively in produce, which they sold at the New Orleans market. They would build a flat-bottom boat on the shores of the Wabash, load it with their produce, etc., and with assistance, and Mr. Joseph G. English acting as bow-hand, would float down to New Orleans; the voyage being long and tedious, taking them sometimes twenty-five days in making the trip. There they would sell their stock and return by steamboat to Evansville, Indiana, and travel from there to Perrys- ville by wagon. In this business Mr. English made some four or five
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trips, all being very profitable. In 1853, with his wife and four chil- dren, he came to Danville, where he entered the dry-goods business with John L. Tincher (whose biography and portrait appear in this work). They continued in the dry-goods business in a frame honse on the corner of the alley on Main street, above the present bank, until 1856. In 1856 they became assignee of the Stock Security Bank, which had failed. This bank was owned and operated by Daniel Clapp. They then commenced a general brokerage and banking bnsi- ness, doing business as private bankers until 1864. During this year the "National Banking Act" was passed and they were among the first to organize a national bank in the state. The "First National Bank" of Danville being established, Mr. English, at its first meeting, was duly elected as president, which position he holds to-day. This bank was owned by Messrs. English and Tincher, with the exception of three thousand dollars, which was owned by William I. Moore, Benjamin Crane and E. H. Palmer. Under Mr. English's management and con- trol the " First National Bank " has increased steadily from year to year, until now its business exceeds that of any national bank in the state outside of Chicago. Mr. English, in 1870 and 1871, was elected mayor of the city of Danville. He also was alderman of his ward. To these respective offices he was elected by the temperance people of Danville. In 1865 Mr. English was one of six who laid out the Spring Hill cemetery. In 1863 he had charge of the subscription list for fill- ing the quota of men for the late war from Danville township. This money was raised without tax. He is one of the original stock-owners of the Danville Gas Works, of which he has been president almost ever since its organization. Mr. English's political opinions are republican. He is a member of the M. E. Church, of which church he has been a member since 1856, being superintendent of the Sabbath-school for a number of years. He, in 1871, was selected by the lay delegates of the Illinois Conference of the M. E. Church to represent them in their general conference in Brooklyn, held in 1872. Messrs. English and Tincher were perhaps the largest real estate dealers in town lots and plats in Danville. They bought land cheap. Where the fair grounds are they paid $16 per acre. Where the junction now is they obtained for 810 per acre. In 1864 the wife of Mr. English died. By this marriage they had eight children ; six living. In the spring of 1865 he married his second wife, Mrs. Maria L. Partlow, née Casseday, who was born in Paris, Illinois, on the 10th of November, 1828, and is the daughter of George W. and Delilah (Murphy) Casseday, who were married in 1824. George W. Casseday was born in Bedford county, Virginia, on the 1st of De- cember, 1803. In 1825, with his wife, he moved to Vermilion county,
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Illinois, where he engaged in farming. In 1827 he went to Edgar county, Illinois, and from there he moved to Paris, of the same county. In 1834 he returned to Vermilion county, and in 1851 went to Joliet, where he died on the 23d of July, 1863. Thus passed away one of the old and prominent settlers of Illinois, and so, one by one, they are passing beyond the shores of the unknown river, and in a few years not one will be left of the noble band of pioneers who made their homes in what was then a wilderness, inhabited by red men. How- ever, their descendants, and those who come after them, will live to enjoy the full measure of happiness and prosperity built upon the solid foundations laid by the old settlers.
F. C. Hacker & Bro., Danville, dry goods and groceries. In 1873 the above named gentlemen opened their present business, and since then no men have been more uniformly successful than they. In the first place they rank among the shrewdest and hardest working citizens of Danville, while their complete knowledge of the business in which they are engaged, and their geniality to customers and all with whom they come in contact, give them many advantages of which all business men have not possession. These gentlemen were both born in Prussia. They emigrated to America with their parents, John and Dorthy (Lev- erence) Hacker, and came west to Illinois, locating in Chicago in 1852. In 1853 they came to Vermilion county, in which place they have made their home ever since. F. C. Hacker was for a short time en- gaged in farming, and from that was engaged in the woolen mills of Danville. He was also for a number of years elerking in Charles Palmer's store. In this way he saved enough money to embark in the mercantile business in 1872. Then, in 1873, he took in as a partner his brother, C. F. W. Hacker, which forms the well known firm of F. C. Hacker & Bro. Mr. C. F. W. Hacker was engaged for a number of years working for Peter Beyer, in the boot and shoe business. These gentlemen own one of the leading dry goods and grocery houses of Danville ; the size of grocery store is 20x 75 and the dry goods 22 x 85. They have eight or nine clerks, and are doing a good business.
Peter Beyer, Danville, boot and shoe dealer, is one of the old set- tlers of this county. He is a native of Germany, and at the age of eighteen years came to the United States, and located first at Rochester, New York, where he learned the trade of manufacturing boots and shoes. In 1854 he came west and expected to buy land or engage in the mercantile business, but unfortunately for him the bank where he had his money on deposit, like the majority of other banks of that time, failed, and he was obliged to begin at the beginning once more, which he did by going back to the cobbler's bench. From this humble beginning, in
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