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 55

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : H. H. Hill and Company
Number of Pages: 1164

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 55

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).

439

DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.

Kumler, Mark D. Hawes and Charles M. Swallow, the two former of whom are now ministers of the gospel, and the latter a prominent at- torney of the Vermilion county bar. Mr. Evans' political opinions are republican. In 1876 he was a delegate to the republican presidential convention which was held in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was one of the five delegates who worked so hard for the nomination of Mr. Bristow. Mr. Evans married Mrs. Edwilda Anderson (Cromwell) Fithian. By this marriage they have had three children -two deceased.

Oliver P. Kistler, Danville, farmer, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, on the 20th of January, 1837, and is the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (King) Kistler. His father was a farmer and a native of Pennsylvania, he moving to Ohio at an early day. Here Mr. Kist- ler, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on the farm, and en- gaged in farming from the time he was able to hold the plow. In 1864 he came to Vermilion county and located on the present home- stead, which has been his home ever since. He was married in Ohio to Miss Mary C. Lake. They have four children. He owns four hundred and eighty-eight acres of fine improved land. His father and mother died in Ohio; his father being seventy-four years, nine months and thirteen days old, and his mother about sixty-nine years old, when they died.

Robert D. MeDonald, Danville, attorney-at-law, was born near Co- lumbia, Tennessee, on the 23d of June, 1834, and is the son of C. R. and Nancy (Baldrich) McDonald, of South Carolina. His father was a tanner by trade, and followed farming. Here, on the farm, Mr. McDonald remained until he was about thirteen years of age. He then came to Danville and clerked in a store, where he remained about six years. He then went to Pontiac, Livingston county, and entered the mercantile business, where he remained about five years. He then returned to Danville, where he was engaged in the mercantile business for about four years longer, and afterward in the real-estate business. In 1870 Mr. McDonald commenced the study of law, and in 1872 he was admitted to practice law at the Illinois bar, and began business in Danville. To-day he ranks among the prominent attorneys of the Ver- milion county bar.

The dry-goods store in Schmitt's new marble block, 75 Main street, and managed by Mr. Albert Oberdorfer, of Danville, is an institution that takes rank with the very leading ones of Danville, and one that does an extensive business, and which has been in successful existence during the past fifteen years. Mr. Oberdorfer is a gentleman full of vim, enterprise and business capacity, and thoroughly alive to the wants of his patrons and the necessities of the trade. Mr. Oberdorfer

440

HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

was born in Austria on the 15th of September, 1838, and is the son of Moses and Thresa (Bernheimer) Oberdorfer. His mother was a native of Prussia, and his father of Bavaria. Mr. Oberdorfer came to Amer- ica in 1859, and first located in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was engaged in the dry-goods business. Since then he has been engaged in the same business in Tennessee, and Versailles, Kentucky. From there, in 1864. he came to Danville, where he entered the dry-goods business on Main street. He then removed to the present stand, which consists of two floors, each 22×100. Here may be found a full line of dry goods and carpets, and patrons will be well treated by his four accommodating clerks.

Dayton C. Moorehouse, Danville, county sheriff, was born in War- ren county, Ohio, on the 1st of September, 1818. His parents were Nathan B. and Mary (Potter) Moorehouse, natives of New Jersey, they moving to Ohio at an early day. His father was in the war of 1812. Mr. Moorehouse was brought up on his father's farm, where he remained until he was about fourteen years old. He then went to Greenville, Ohio, and was engaged in his uncle's store, as a clerk, where he remained about six years. In 1837 he went to Covington, Indiana, and here was engaged in the mercantile business. He remained until 1856, when he moved to Galesburg, Illinois, and there staid about three and a half years, when he returned to Covington, Indiana. Here, in 1861, he enlisted in a company as first lieutenant which went to Washington city and finally disbanded. Mr. Moorehouse then entered the govern- ment department in Washington city, and remained in service until 1864. He then returned to Covington, Indiana, and in December of 1864, with his family, came to Vermilion county, Illinois, and located in Danville, where he has remained. Since Mr. Moorehouse has been a resident of Vermilion county he has held several offices of public trust; that of deputy county sheriff for four years under J. W. Myers, and the same office for four years under E. S. Gregory. He then, in 1878, was elected sheriff of the county by the republican party, which office he still holds. Mr. Moorehouse has given entire satisfaction, having proven himself a gentleman of acknowledged ability. He is a republican in politics. He was married in 1841 to Miss J. W. Bils- land. They have three children living.

Alexander Bowman, Danville, civil engineer, was born in New York city on the 26th of November, 1826, and is the son of Alexander and Catharine Bowman. His father was a native of Georgia, and was a captain on the sea; he died in Savannah. His mother, a native of New York, died in Florida. Mr. Bowman, when a young man, was engaged in teaching school in New York state, and while east was

441

DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.

there engaged in his profession. In 1864 he came to Danville, Illinois, where he has been engaged principally at his vocation. He has drawn the plan of a number of prominent buildings: the court-house of Champaign connty, Illinois, the plan of the Episcopal church, Short's block, and the city building of Danville, Illinois. He has drawn and published two maps of Danville and one map of Vermilion county, Illinois, which are pronounced the best maps yet published. Mr. Bowman has held several public offices. He was county surveyor four years and city engineer of Danville three terms. Mr. Bowman has surveyed and laid out perhaps more villages in Vermilion county than any other one man. He laid ont Rankin, Pellsville, East Lynn, Marysville, Alvin, Bismark and a portion of Hoopeston, Ridge Farm, Danville, and other places in the county.

George Walz, Danville, furniture dealer and undertaker, was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, on the 1st of October, 1830, and is the son of Martin Walz, who was a farmer. Here, on the farm, Mr. Walz re- inained until he was sixteen years of age. He then learned the cabi- net-maker's trade near his native home. At twenty-one years of age he enlisted in the German army and served for three years. In 1854 he emigrated to America, and landed in New York city with but little money. He worked at his trade in New York, Philadelphia, Mauch Chunk, St. Louis and Pike county, Illinois. In Williamsport he first embarked for himself in the furniture business. He came to Danville and commenced business in 1864, and here he has gradually improved his stock so that to-day he ranks among the leading houses of this vicinity. He occupies two rooms and has in his employ four men. Mr. Walz is also doing a very extensive business in the undertaking line, owning a fine hearse, and he is now prepared to do this business at any time. Mr. Walz was married in Danville, in 1864, to Miss Fred- ericka Steebe, of Germany, who came to America when she was a child. By this marriage they have five children.

C. F. Hankey, who has been for many years engaged in Danville in the business of contracting and building, and now in the lumber trade, is a native of Germany. At the age of ten years he was brought to the United States by his parents, they locating in Washtenaw coun- ty, Michigan. For the following sixteen years this and Jackson county were his home. It was in the latter that he learned the trade of a car- penter and joiner. In 1861 he was on a trip through Illinois, and when he reached Galesburg he enlisted in the federal army. He first entered company C, 10th Ill. Inf., three-years service. He served most of his term of enlistment as sergeant. As the expiration of their term of en- listment drew nigh, he, with most of the regiment, reënlisted, they

442

HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

being granted a short deduction of time of service for so doing. This last enlistment was for three years, or during the war, he still being connected with the same company and regiment. During the last six months of his service he held the commission of second lieutenant. In all, he was in seventy-four different engagements, the first being at Island No. 10, which is said to have been one among the sharpest en- , gagements of the war. Following this was the siege of Corinth, Mur- freesborough, Mission Ridge, the Atlanta campaign, and Sherman's march to the sea. He was finally mustered out of service in Chicago in 1865. This same year he came to Danville, and in company with his brother, began contracting and building. He later sold ont to his brother, and has since entered into a partnership with Mr. G. W. Hoo- ton in the lumber trade. Mr. Hankey deserves much credit for the introduction of a superior style of architecture in and around Danville. The firm sometimes employs as many as fifty men. Among some of the buildings designed by him and constructed by the firm may be mentioned the Arlington Hotel, Byers' block, Chas. Palmer's residence and that of O. F. Maxon.

M. D. L. Adams, Danville, butcher, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of June, 1841, and came to Freeport, Illinois, in 1865. He thence came to Danville in the same year, where he has been in his present business ever since. In 1860 he married Miss Ame- lia Lubt. She was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, in 1842. They have eight children : Chas., Victory, Alice, William, John, U. S. A., Flora, Elizabeth. Mr. Adams served in the late rebellion, in the 69th Penn. Vol. Inf., in company A. He is a member of the I.O.O.F., 499, and of the K.P., of which he has passed all the chairs.

Geo. W. English, agent of the C. & E. I. railroad, is a native of Vermilion county, Indiana. He is a man who is well known to the people of Vermilion county, Indiana, as from 1856 to 1860 he filled the office of county treasurer, and was auditor of the county from 1860 to 1864. Previous to tilling the office of county treasurer he had been in the mercantile trade in Perrysville for about six years. His father was one of the early settlers of that county, having come there from Rising Sun, Indiana, in 1830. It was he who built the first rolling mill west of the mountains. Mr. English came to Danville in 1865, and began in the furniture trade, but lost in this business, by fire, about six thousand dollars. Later he was elected police magistrate, and in 1870 began railroading with what was then the C. D. & V. railway, but in 1877 the name was changed to C. & E. I. railroad. He has also been ticket agent for the E. T. H. & C. railroad since 1872. He is a

443

DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.

man who has met with a good many adversities financially, both by fire and the failures of other firms.

Dr. J. A. Hall, Danville, physician and druggist, of 68 Vermilion street, is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, though his people left there when he was quite small. Later in life he returned to Cincinnati and began the study of medicine with Dr. Kelly. He began his studies in 1844, and in 1847 became a graduate of the Nashville University of Medicine, of Nashville, Tennessee. IIe has also given much study to the eclectic theory and practice of medicine, and is at present a member of the Illinois State Eclectic Medical Society and of the National Eclec- tic Medical Association. In 1861 he entered the army, remaining in the service four and one-half years. He is now located at 68 Vermilion street, where he has fitted up one of the finest drug establishments in the city, the firm name being J. A. Hall & Son. Their store is twenty- two feet front by eighty-seven and one-half deep, three stories and base- ment. Here they have everything pertaining to a full and complete line of drugs and druggists' sundries. The Doctor has been a resident of Danville since 1865, and is well known to the people.

There are many men in every city who are known and honored by the title of M.D. from the fact of a diploma having been granted them ; there are others who have earned the title by years of hard study and a close attention to business. Among this latter class we find Dr. Geo. Wheeler Jones, of Danville, the subject of this brief notice. He was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1839. At the age of nine years his people moved west, locating at Covington, Indiana, where his father began the practice of his profession, that of an M.D. Here Geo. W. received his literary education and began the study of medicine with his father. In 1861 he became a graduate of the Northwestern Med- ical College, of Chicago. The same year he began practice in Terre Haute, Indiana, where he remained but about three months, when he entered the army of the war of 1861-65 as a volunteer surgeon, being among the first to enlist. He was consigned to the 26th Ill. At Pitts- burg Landing he was attacked by yellow fever. His term of enlistment being but for three months, upon recovering from the fever he returned to the north, and again in 1862 entered the army ; this time with the 63d Ind. Vol. Inf., as senior assistant surgeon, remaining with this regiment until the close of the war. He did a great deal of extra and detached duty in the field hospital and on the operating board, doing the duty of the latter for two years in connection with the third division of the 23d army corps. In 1865, after the close of the war, the Doctor came to Danville and began his practice. Here, by a close attention to business, he has become the most popular of the allopath physicians,

444

HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

his practice being large and increasing gradually. He is a member of the American Medical Association and State Medical Society; has been surgeon of the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes railroad : is con- nected with the Vermilion County Medical Society, and is vice-president of the State Medical Society; also chairman of the Committee on Prac- tice of Medicine.

One of the leading business men of Danville is Mr. E. A. Leonard, president of the Danville Lumber and Manufacturing Company. He was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, in 1828. During his early life he had the advantage of none but common schools, yet by his own efforts he has acquired a good business education. About 1853 he went to California, where he spent five years and a half mining, prospecting, etc. Returning in 185S, he located in Defiance county,

DANVILLE LUMBER & MANUFACTURE CCO

PLANING

DANVILLE PLANING MILL.

Ohio, where he remained until 1865, when he came to Danville and began in the lumber trade with Mr. Holden, the firm name being Leonard & Holden. In one year he bought Mr. Holden's interest, and conducted the business alone until 1871, when the firm became Leonard & Yeomans. In 1873 there was a change made again, which resulted in the establishing of the present company. with Mr. Leonard as presi- dent, which position he still holds. They employ from fifteen to twenty men, and do a business aggregating from $75.000 to $80.000 per annum. In 1872 there were consigned to them at this point 258 cars of lumber and building materials: in 1873, 194; in 1874, 202; in 1875, 195: in 1876, 133. They are the leading business firm of Dan- ville in this line of manufacturing, their facilities for furnishing good stock at low prices being unequaled.

445

DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.

Edward S. Gregory, Danville, deputy county sheriff, was born in Broome county, New York, on the 29th of July, 1843, and is the son of Henry W. and Phrelove (Seamon) Gregory, who were the parents of eleven children-seven sous and four daughters. Mr. Gregory's grand- fathers were Continental soldiers in the Revolutionary war. His ancestors were in this country very early during the colonial period of the nation's history. In May, 1865, Mr. Gregory came to Danville and entered the drug business with J. Partlow, and remained in this business about five years. In 1869 he was elected marshal of the city of Danville, which position he filled some six years. He was then elected sheriff of Vermilion county, which position he held until 1878. He is now filling the office of deputy county sheriff. Mr. Gregory was married on the 16th of June, 1868, to Miss Anna M. Maxon, of Dan- ville. They have one child.

William A. Young, Danville, attorney-at-law, was born in Dan- ville, Hendricks county, Indiana, on the 9th of December, 1839, and is the son of John A. and Mary B. (Blair) Young. His father was a native of Kentucky and followed farming. Mr. Young made his home on the farm with his parents until about 1859 ; he went to Martinsville, Clark county, Illinois, where he was engaged in teaching school. From here he went to Charleston, and in this vicinity he was engaged in teaching school and practicing law before a justice of the peace. In 1861, at the first call, he enlisted as private in the Sth Ill. Vol. Inf., Co. C, for three months. He served until the expiration of this time and was honorably mustered out in 1862. He then reënlisted for three years, but on account of disability was rejected. He then went to Indianapolis, Indiana, and was engaged in recruiting soldiers. Here he remained until 1865, when he came to Vermilion county. He lo- cated at State Line, where he was engaged for the first three months in teaching school. From this he entered the drug business. In 1868 Mr. Young was admitted to practice law at the Illinois state bar, and commenced his practice at State Line. In 1870 he moved to Danville, where he has been engaged at his profession ever since. In October, 1877, he entered as law partner with Frank W. Penwell, Esq. (whose biography appears in this work), and formed the present law firm of Young & Penwell, who stand high among the leading attorneys of the Vermilion county bar. Mr. Young was elected alderman from the third ward in the spring of 1878. In 1879 the temperance people of Danville nominated and placed him on their ticket for mayor of Dan- ville, but he was defeated on account of the city being strongly anti- temperance. He married Miss Elizabeth Maddox, who was born in Danville, Illinois, daughter of the Rev. Nelson Maddox, who was

446

HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

among the first settlers of Danville. By this union they have one child.

James Bracewell, Danville, justice of the peace, was born in what was then Mason county, Virginia, on the 29th of January, 1838; his parents are John and Minerva (Lewis) Bracewell ; his father was from England, and was engaged in working in the coal mines. When Mr. Bracewell was very young his parents moved to Ohio, and here, when he was but seven years old, he entered the mines with his father. He remained in Ohio until 1865, when he came to Illinois and located in Danville. He first commenced to work in the mines of Chandler & Donlan. In 1873 he was elected justice of the peace, and in 1877 re- elected to the same office, which he still holds; he is also commissioner of highways, to which office he was elected the same year. Mr. Brace- well also holds the very important office of inspector of mines of Ver- milion county, having been appointed in 1878. He married in Stark county, Ohio, on the 18th of May, 1857, Miss Mary Jones, of England. They have five children. Mr. Bracewell is agent for the Inman line of steamships.

Adolph Rudolph, Danville, saloon-keeper, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, on the 17th of August, 1840 ; coming to America in 1865, direct to Illinois, and locating in Danville, where he has been a resi- dent ever since. He married Martha E. Lingner, of Hesse-Cassel, Ger- many, who came over at the same time that Mr. Rudolph did. They have three children. When he first came here he commeneed to work in a brickyard, and followed this business about three years; then he was engaged by Mr. John Long in attending bar, and from there he entered into business for himself, which he has continued since. Mr. Rudolph was alderman of Germantown, and filled that office with eredit. In 1872 he made a trip to Germany, to see his old friends. Mr. Rudolph keeps a model saloon and restaurant, and a first-class stock of wines and liquors.

John E. Davis, Danville, proprietor of J. E. Davis' coal mines, was born in South Wales on the 15th of April, 1826; his father was William Davis, a coal miner in South Wales. Mr. Davis commenced work in the coal mines when he was abont eight years old, working with his father. In 1838 he sailed on the ship "Tobarions" for America, and landed in Baltimore, Maryland. He was first engaged in working in the coal mines in that state, and remained there some four or five years, his father then moving on a farm where he was part of the time engaged in farming, and part of the time working in the coal mines. He went to Ohio, and was working in the coal mines near Youngs- town, and after this he worked in the coal mines in different parts of the

447

DANVILLE TOWNSHIP.

country, on the Alleghany and Ohio rivers, where he remained until 1865. When he came to Danville he worked for A. C. Daniel some seven years, and then purchased ground and commenced mining for himself. He owns eight acres of land where his coal shaft is, which was sunk in 1878; employs from six to seven men, and is able to mine from ten to twelve tons per day, for which he finds sale in Danville and vicinity. Mr. Davis was in the late war and did good service, enlist- ing in the 97th Ohio Vol. Inf., as private in Co. F, for three years; participating in the battle of Murfreesborough and several skirmishes. He was detailed to carry the wounded from the battlefield, and in carrying one of his wounded comrades he slipped and strained the main artery of his stomach, which was very painful to him, and he states that to-day he suffers from the effects of it. He was then trans- ferred to the 1st Battalion 7th Veterans, Co. B, and stationed at Wash- ington, D. C., and was honorably mustered out in 1865. He married Martha McNabb, of Coshocton county, Ohio. Mr. Davis has been treasurer and a member of the board of trustees of South Danville.

Alexander Moore, Danville, was born in the county of Kildare, Ire- land, on the 19th of December, 1843, and is the son of Richard and Mary Ann (Hannagen) Moore, of Ireland. His father was a farmer, and here Mr. Moore spent his boyhood days. In about 1852 his parents sailed for America, and located in Brazil, Indiana. Here his father died in 1875. His mother is still living at Brazil. Mr. Moore remained in Ireland until 1865, when he emigrated to America, eame west and located at Danville, in which place he has been a resident ever since. When he first came here he was engaged in weighing coal for Chandler & Donlon for about two years. He was then bookkeeper for Patrick Carey for some five or six years. He then started a sample and billiard room, which business he has carried on ever since. Mr. Moore was married in Danville, in 1872, to Miss Mary Doyle, of County Clare, Ireland. They have two children. Mr. Moore was elected a member of the city board of education in 1877, and still retains the office.

J. G. Holden, Danville, lumber dealer, was born in Charlestown, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, on the 3d of June, 1835, and is the son of Richard Holden, a native of New Hampshire, who was engaged in the dry-goods business in Charlestown. His mother was Sophia (Allen) Holden, also a native of New Hampshire. In 1851 Mr. Holden, with his parents, came west to Illinois, and located in Winne- bago county. His parents moved then to Kane county, and from there to Chicago. Mr. Holden entered a dry-goods store in Winnebago county and filled the position of elerk about four years. He was

448

HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.

also a elerk in a grocery store in New York state. In 1861 he went , to Dayton, Ohio, and was married to Edena Vanburen, of Genesee county, New York. By this marriage they have had four children, one deceased. After his marriage he returned to New York state, and then went to Defiance, Ohio, where he entered the grocery business. He remained there abont four years, and in 1865 came to Danville, and has been a resident here ever since. In 1865 he entered the lumber business, and to-day is one of the leading lumber merchants of this vicinity. We may say here, he has represented the people in Danville in a great many public offices, and has always proven himself a man of acknowledged ability. He was a member of the city council two years. In 1872 the people of Danville township elected him super- visor of Danville township, which office he has held ever since. He was a member of the city board of education for two years. He has held all the prominent offices of the Agricultural Society. In 1878 he was elected by the republican party a member of the state legislature. He was appointed one of the committee on finance, insurance and drain- age. Mr. Holden, when supervisor, was chairman of the building committee that built the new court-house and jail of Vermilion county. Mr. Holden's political opinions are republican.

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.

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 55

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903 Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : H. H. Hill and Company Number of Pages: 1164

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : H. H. Hill and Company
Number of Pages: 1164