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 53
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farming and dealing in stock. This he followed for about five years, when he moved to Danville and began the butchering business, and at the same time bought and shipped stock, horses being his principal line of stock-trade, of which he bought and shipped many a car-load to the east. He is one of the old residents of Danville and Vermilion county, and as an officer has probably traveled more miles, made more arrests, and sent more criminals to the penitentiary, than any officer of the law in eastern Illinois. He also has the supervision of the police department, and has been an officer so long that he seems to be recognized as authority in almost any of the city offices and under any circumstances.
Joseph Shipner, Danville, grocer, of the firm of J. Shipner & Son, grocerymen, No. 67 North Vermilion street, is a native of Prussia, Ger- many. He came to the United States in 1846, and for a number of years was located in Detroit, Michigan. He afterward came to Chicago, where he remained a short time, and in 1858 came to Danville. He is one of the old soldiers of the rebellion of 1861-5, having first enlisted in Co. C, 12th Ill. Vol. Inf., three-months service. At the expiration of this term of service he again enlisted in the same company and in the same regiment, three-years service. After this service he again enlisted, this time also in the same company. He served a longer time and saw more hard fighting than the average soldier. Among some of the hard battles in which he was engaged are the following: the sieges of Fort Henry, Donelson and Corinth, the battle of Shiloh and the Atlanta campaign, which was a succession of hard-fought battles. Returning from the war, he again became a resident of Danville, and for eleven years was superintendent in the mills of Samnel Bowers. He, in company with his son, as above stated, is now engaged in the grocery trade, in which they have already established a good trade, in connection with which they run a free delivery wagon.
A. H. Van Allen, Danville, car inspector of the Wabash Railroad. When speaking of the railroad men of Danville we wish to make a personal mention of Mr. A. H. Van Allen, who is a native of Paterson county, New Jersey. When he first left Paterson county he went to New York, and from there to Ontario county, New York. He re- mained there about eighteen years. In the spring of 1858 he came west and located at State Line, where for about three years he was engaged at the carpenter's trade. He then began work for the then Great Western Railroad Company, but what is now known as the Wabash road. In 1865 he came to Danville, still acting in the same capacity, that is, car inspector for the Wabash Railroad Company at this point. He has usually about three men in his department subject
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to his instructions. They have in all about four hundred cars on an average to inspect daily. Mr. Van Allen has been at this business so long that it is common for new men that he employs to come to the conclusion that he can smell a flaw or break in the mechanism of a car if by chance he should happen not to see it. He is a man possessing the confidence of both the company and the citizens of Danville, and has done his share of improving by providing himself with a good home on South Vermilion street.
Carl Leverenz, Danville, No. 69 Vermilion street, dealer in and manufacturer of boots and shoes, is a native of Prussia, Germany. He is now a man fifty-one years old. He came to Danville twenty-one years ago, after having spent a short time in Toledo, Ohio, when he first came from the old country. He has been a man of energy and hard work. For many years he had nothing to depend upon except the earnings of his day labor; but by this he finally earned and saved enough to engage in the boot and shoe trade- fourteen years ago. This he has followed quietly, doing a strictly cash business, until now he has a nice trade established, doing a business of abont $8,000 per year. This has been the result of his own efforts, energy and industry.
There are probably few people in Danville or vicinity who are not acquainted with T. H. Myers, " the express agent." He is a native of Jefferson county, Virginia, but left that county when fourteen years old, and in 1858 came to Danville. During his early life he had the advantages of none but the old subscription system of schools. When he came to Danville he opened a grocery store, and has been engaged in this business since in connection with his business as express agent. He has now been agent for the United States Express Company for twenty years, and for the American Express Company two years. Under his management the people have all the advantages that can possibly be given them by this method of transportation. His ex- press business in Danville requires the employing of five men; two wagons are also kept busy. This, in connection with his grocery busi- ness, does not leave much idle time on his hands. We may also men- tion that recently he has taken a partner in the grocery business, the firm now being Myers & Hessey. Their business house is located at No. 68 Main street, and is 20 feet front by 80 feet deep, with base- ment. This is stocked with everything pertaining to the grocery line.
Fred Buy, Danville, grocer, of the firm of E. B. Martin & Co., is a native of Prussia. He came to the United States in 1857 with his parents, they locating in York state, where he was for about one year. He then came to Danville. For five years he was engaged at work in
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the Danville woolen factory. He then began clerking in a dry-goods store, where he remained about one year, and then began as a grocery clerk. He is now junior partner in a firm that does a business of about $30,000 per annum. During the war of 1861-5 he entered the Union army, enlisting in 135th Ill. Vol. Inf., Co. K, a history of which regi- ment is found in this work. This was the hundred-day service in which he enlisted. After serving his time he again enlisted-this time in the 149th regiment, under Colonel Kefner. His wife, who is also a native of Germany, was a Miss Mary Stuebe previous to their marriage. They have a family of four children-three boys and one girl. Mr. Buy is a man who has been dependent upon his own resources, and by energy and industry has accumulated a nice property, and is now one of the honorable business men of the city.
Dr. A. H. Kimbrough, Danville, physician and surgeon, one of the successful men of Vermilion county, is a native of Hardin county, Kentucky. He was born in 1822, and at the age of three years came to Illinois with his people, locating in Edgar county, about nine miles southeast of the city of Paris. They were among the early pioneers of that county, it having been organized but a few years previous to their coming. Here the Doctor spent his early life, and in 1854 began the study of medicine with Dr. Ten Brook, of Paris. In 1857 he became a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia. He has since that period given his time and attention almost exclusively to his profession. In 1858 he located at Georgetown, Vermilion county, where he remained until 1873, when he removed to Danville. The Doctor is a man who has not only made a success of life professionally, but also financially. He is one of the old residents of the county, having long ago established a name and reputation of which any man might justly feel prond.
E. R. E. Kimbrough, Danville, attorney-at-law, was born in Stratton township, Edgar county, on the 28th of March, 1851, and is the son of Dr. Andrew H. Kimbrough, whose biography appears in this work. In 1858 Mr. Kimbrough moved with his parents to Vermilion county, and located in Georgetown, where Mr. Kimbrough received a common- school education. He entered the Normal University, of Illinois, and graduated from this school in the class of 1873. From there he entered school in Chicago. In 1873 Mr. Kimbrough commenced the reading of law with Judge Elias S. Terry. Then he commenced the practice of law with Wm. D. Lindsey, Esq. Messrs. Lindsey and Kim- brough rank among the prominent attorneys of the Vermilion county bar. Mr. Kimbrough was married on the 14th of September, 1876, to Miss Julia Tincher, of Danville, Illinois, daughter of the Hon. John
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L. Tincher, whose portrait and biography appear in this history. By this union they have one child,- a son.
Wm. E. Fithian, Danville, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 20th of July, 1858, and is the son of George and Edwilda An- derson (Cromwell) Fithian. The subject of this sketch received a common-school education at the Danville public schools. He in 1877 entered the Mayhew Business College, of Detroit, Michigan, from which he graduated. In 1878 he returned to Danville, and entered the Etna House office as bookkeeper, and by his accommodating ways won a host of friends, and was considered by the traveling public to have been the right man in the right place.
George Rust. Danville, was born in the city of. Hanover, Germany, on the 22d of January, 1827: came to America on the 16th of Septem- ber. 1858: landed in New York ; came west and located in Vermilion county, Illinois, near Rossville. He came here poor; was engaged in working on a farm for six years. In 1864 he entered the saw-mill business, and followed this some six years. This business was very profitable to Mr. Rust. In 1872 he married Louisa Blankenburg, of Germany. They have two children,-one boy and one girl. Mr. Rust has held several offices of public trust. He was commissioner of high- ways for three years, and trustee of Germantown from its organization until 1879. In these offices he acquitted himself in a very creditable and efficient manner. Mr. Rust ranks as one of the leading German citizens of Danville township.
Joseph E. Tincher, Danville, dealer in hats and caps, was born in Danville, Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 1st of April, 1858, and is the son of John L. and Caroline R. Tincher. Mr. Joe Tincher com- menced in the business of hats and caps in 1878. This house has the largest and most complete stock in the city. Since Mr. Tincher's com- mencement in business he has exhibited unusual energy and enterprise, and from time to time has increased his trade until now he has one of the finest trades in Danville. His store is located on Main street.
H. Raimer, the oldest merchant tailor in Danville, was born in Miff- lin county, Pennsylvania. in 1833. When fourteen years of age he learned the trade of a merchant tailor in Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and served his apprenticeship until he was twenty-one. In 1856 he came west and located in Logansport, Indiana, where he remained but a short time, when he returned east, and then went to La Fayette. Indiana. He was at Attica for a short time, and from there he came to Danville in 1858 and commenced to work at his trade, which business he has been engaged in ever since, and to-day is recognized as one of the leading merchant tailors of this vicinity. He employs some eight hands.
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N. A. Kimball, undertaker, No. 59 West Main street, Danville, is a native of Grafton county, New Hampshire. There the early part of his life was spent and his education received. In 1858, when he was nineteen years old, he came west, and until the spring of 1859 was a resident of Kendall county, Illinois. In the spring of 1859 he came to Danville, coming first to accept the position of weighmaster with Colonel Chandler, who at that time was operating quite extensively in the coal mines. This he followed for a short time, and then for three years was farming, and after this he engaged in different business en- terprises until 1872, when, in company with Charles W. Morrison, he engaged in the furniture trade. They did business together until 1874, when they dissolved partnership, or rather he sold out, in August, and in December took the stock of coffins, which had been one branch of their business, and since then has been engaged in the business of un- dertaking, and, as before stated, is now located at No. 59 West Main street.
After many years of experience people now see clearly the impor- tance of insuring their property. A leading newspaper, while com- menting on the business of insurance, says: "Insurance distributes over the multitude a loss that would crush the individual. Many who read these lines will be able to recall the time when men argued that if it was a profitable business for companies it might be the same for indi- viduals, forgetting that the company's risks are widely scattered, that the average could be predicted with tolerable certainty, and that the individual had no means of calculating chances, while his loss would in all probability prove his ntter ruin." Persons engaged in the business of insurance calculate the losses by fire with the greatest accuracy, and govern their rates for premiums accordingly. An active competition keeps the premiums as low as safety allows. Great care should be taken never to take a policy from a company which insures too cheaply, for exceeding low rates indicate either that a first-class swindle is intended or that the company taking such policies is now doing business on a safe basis. Peter Wilber, who was born in Germany in 1832, eame to America with his parents when very young. In 1862 he entered the insurance business, and has perhaps had as much experience both in life and fire insurance as any man in eastern Illinois. He has been gen- eral agent for the State of Illinois for two leading companies of the United States. Mr. Wilber has been a resident of Danville first in 1859, when he remained about three years; whence he went to Kanka- kee, Illinois, and in 1866 returned to Danville, which has been his home ever since. In 1877 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he now holds. Mr. Wilber has held the office of city clerk of
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IIISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
Danville for three terms. Mr. Wilber represents some of the leading insurance companies of America : Continental, of New York ; Phœe- nix, of Brooklyn, New York; North British and Mercantile, London and Edinburgh; Queen, of England ; Howard, New York ; Travelers' Life and Accident, of Hartford, Conneetient, with a total of assets of over $25,000,000. These companies are all old and reliable. Mr. Wilber is also engaged in the real estate and collecting business. He is agent for several mail steamship lines running to and from all Euro- pean and continental ports. Persons dealing with Peter Wilber may be sure of honorable treatment.
Miss Minerva Watson, Danville, teacher, was born in Vermilion county, near Danville .. Her father is John R. Watson, of Danville. Miss W. is one of the young lady teachers of the county. She taught in the summer of 1879 in the west end of Pilot. Her father provided not only for his sons, but gave his daughter a good dowry. Miss W. is amiable, intelligent, and a good exponent of the profession which she honors.
Gustav Klingenspor, the leading florist of Danville, is a native of Brunswick, Germany, where he was born, on the 13th of May, 1831. He came to the United States in 1856, and stopped at Baltimore about two years and a half before he was able to send for his family. Wish- ing to come west, he was obliged to pawn some of his clothing to buy a ticket to Chicago. There he remained about two years, at work to raise money to bring his family west ; and to add to his misfortunes, he was cheated out of some of his earnings. In 1861 he came to Danville, and worked one year to raise money to bring his family to this place. His friends finally made up a purse of $25 for him, with which he brought his family to the place which has since been his home. Before begin- ning his present business he had learned the trade of a painter, which he followed for some time, gradually growing into his present line of business. He now has a fine place of business located near the east end of Main street, and seems to have established a trade that is satis- factory to himself. As will be seen above, he has been dependent upon his own resources in the accumulation of property. He has probably seen as hard times as any one who came to the city in an early day ; but by hard work and economy he has provided for himself a good business and a good home.
Alexander Pollock, Danville, physician and surgeon. Before en- gaging in any profession it would be well for any person to thoroughly study his adaptability for that profession of which he proposes to make a life-study. No physician or attorney, from the time he begins his studies with Blackstone or Gray's Anatomy, can lay aside his books
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and say his days of study are over. It is the study of a lifetime. This Dr. Alex. Pollock, the subject of our sketch, and a leading physician and surgeon of Danville, seemed to comprehend when he began the study of medicine. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the 27th of May, 1829, being of Scotch-Irish parentage. In the fall of 1852 he came west, locating at Springfield, Illinois, where, for a time, he was engaged in teaching. Deciding to study medicine, he began with Dr. R. E. W. Adams, of Springfield. . In 1860 he became a gradu- ate of the Homeopathic Medical College of Missouri, at St. Louis. In the fall of the same year he came to Vermilion county, and began the practice of his profession, which he followed until 1862, when he en- tered the army in the war of the rebellion of 1861-65. He enlisted in Co. C, 125th Ill. Vol. Inf., as first lieutenant. When he entered the service he carried with him a private store of medicines, preseribing and filling his prescriptions free of charge so long as his store lasted. For this act of kindness he made more than one life-long friend who is now residing in Vermilion county. In 1864 he resigned his commission and returned to Illinois, locating at Decatur for about nine months, and then returning to Danville, where he has since resided, engaging in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the Wabash Val- ley Homeopathic Medical Society, and is the physician who first intro- duced the practice of Homeopathy in Vermilion county in 1860. Ile not only had the ignorance of the people to fight against, but the pre- judice of the allopathic school of physicians to overcome, both of which he has succeeded so well in doing that to-day his practice is so large that there is no room left for doubt. He is a citizen standing among the first in the community, and whose name and reputation are above reproach.
Dr. J. C. Winslow, Danville, dentist, a lineal descendant of the old Mayflower stock, is a native of Barnard, Windsor county, Vermont. He was born in 1819, and remained a resident of the old home until fourteen years of age. Ilis first occupation after leaving home was at the trade of manufacturing musical instruments. In a short time he began teaching music, and in 1846 began railroading, first with the Saratoga & Schenectady Railroad. Later he became master mechanic of the New York & New Haven Railroad, and in 1856 came west and accepted the position of assistant master mechanic of the then Great Western Railroad, but what is now known as the Wabash. This he followed until 1859, when he decided to give up railroading altogether, though he was offered full charge of the road as master mechanic if he would stay. But his decision to do no more of this kind of work could not be changed by these offers. In 1846-7 the Doctor had begun the
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
study of dentistry, and in 1859, when he left the road, he went to Springfield, Illinois, and spent six months more in the study of his pro- fession. In 1860 he came to Danville and began practice, where he has since resided. By his own efforts the Doctor has also become a geologist of so much note as to be quoted as anthority in some scientific discoveries that he has made, not only among scientists of this country but also in Europe. We may also mention a very complete article upon the geol- ogy of Vermilion county, compiled by himself and Prof. Wm. Gurley. To the Doctor must also be given the credit of agitating the movement which resulted in the organization of the Vermilion County Historical Society, of which he is the curator. He was the first mayor of the city of Danville, to which office he was elected in May of 1868. He is a man who has been identified with public improvements of almost every kind, and is so well known to the people that any compliments of the press are wholly unneeded on his part.
John W. Dale, Danville, county clerk, the subject of this sketch, was born in South Charleston, Clarke county, Ohio, on the 15th of January, 1842, and is the son of John J. and Elizabeth (Davison) Dale. His mother was a native of Ohio, and his father, who was born in 1809, of Maryland. Mr. John J. Dale moved to Clarke county, Ohio, and there married, and raised a family of eight children. In 1856 the fam- ily moved to Warren county, Indiana, and remained until 1860, when they moved to Vermilion county and located about six miles south of Rossville. Mr. J. W. was brought up on the farm. At the breaking out of the late war he enlisted as private in Co. B. 25th Ill. Vol. Inf., for three years. He participated in some of the most prominent bat- tles of the war, such as Pea Ridge, siege of Corinth, Perryville, Stone River and Chickamauga. At the battle of Chickamauga, on Sunday afternoon, September 20, 1863, he received a wound in the left elbow, and was then sent to the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, where he had his arm amputated. He remained in the hospital until 1864, when he was finally mustered out. He returned to his home in Vermilion county, and from there he went to Greencastle, Indiana, and attended college. Mr. Dale has held several offices of publie trust in Vermil- ion county. He was elected assessor and collector of Ross township, which office he held for two years. In 1869 he was nominated by the republican party and elected clerk of Vermilion county, and to this office he was reelected in 1873 and 1877, and is the present incumbent. The war history of Mr. Dale is that he did his duty. So might it be said in regard to his serving the people of Vermilion county as a county officer. Mr. Dale was married on the 26th of June, 1873, to
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Harriet I. Hicks, of Perryville, Indiana, daughter of Georg Hicks. They have two children.
John H. Long, Danville, saloon-keeper, was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, on the 31st of March, 1838. While in Pennsylvania Mr. Long was engaged in teaching school. He, in 1860, came west to Illinois, and joined a circus at Freeport. He remained with the circus but a short time, and in 1860 he came to Danville, where he has been a resident ever since. When he first came here he was engaged in teaching school in South Danville, thence as superintendent of the Carbon coal mines, which was a very extensive mine, employing as higlı as two hundred and fifty hands, with the capacity of mining five hun- dred tons of coal daily. He remained with the coal company for four or five years. He then entered the grocery business, which he con- tinned for about one year. Then he opened a billiard-room, where he was very successful. Then in the saloon business, and this he has carried on in a very orderly manner. He is now improving his room to enter into the theater business, and will be known as Long's Gaiety Theater. Mr. Long represented the first ward as alderman for four years, in a faithful manner. He was married in Columbia City, Indiana, to Phobia Shavey, a native of Paris, France, by whom they had two children. She died on the 15th of February, 1879, of consumption, after suffering many weary months.
We do not expect to give a history or biography of the life of the detective, T. E. Halls, of Danville, for a detailed sketch of some of his exploits alone would make a good-sized book, a number of which have already been written by sensational writers. He is a native of Enfield, Middlesex county, England, and is a man now abont thirty-four years old. At the age of twelve years he came to the United States, and became a resident of Warren county, Indiana, where he remained until 1861; then came to Danville. In 1865, while filling the office of dep- uty sheriff, under Joseph M. Payton, his ability in arresting and hand- ling criminals was first taken particular notice of by the people. In 1865 there was an old man by the name of Ball living on the banks of the Vermilion, near Dallas, Vermilion county, called out of his door after night and shot by some unseen person or persons. Six persons were charged with this murder, warrants issued for their arrest, and placed in the hands of T. E. Halls. A posse of men was offered him to help make the arrests, but this he refused and started after them alone. It is not necessary to detail the manner in which he made these arrests, but enough to say that the next day after starting after them he came into Danville on horseback, driving the six prisoners before him. This starting ont alone to arrest a lot of men seems to be
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