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 58
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serving a regular apprenticeship, and remaining until 1859, when he went back to Ohio and located at Akron, where for a time he did " jour" work. In 1862 he began business there on his own account, continuing (excepting time spent in the army) until 1870; he then came to Danville. During the war of 1861-5, he in 1863 entered the Union army, serving in the 124th O. Vol. Inf., Co. I. During this service he was wounded so badly as to be discharged. At present we find him one of the honorable citizens of Danville.
C. B. Fenton, Danville, hardware dealer, who for twenty-three years has been familiar with the hardware business, and is now one among the leading hardware dealers of Danville, is a native of Pennsylvania, though at the age of four years he went with his people to the state of Ohio. The early part of his life was spent, and his education received, in that state. He is also a practical tinner by trade, having learned this branch of his present business at Conneaut, Ohio. In 1861, at the
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breaking out of the war of the rebellion, he became a volunteer in the Union army, joining the 2d Independent Battery of Ohio troops, three-years service. He remained in the service about fourteen months, when, on account of disability caused by hard marching and sickness, he was discharged at Helena, Arkansas. During his service he saw some hard fighting, the battle of Pea Ridge being one of the engagements in which he participated. Returning from the army, he again became a resident of Ohio, subsequently removing to Danville, where from 1870 until 1876 he was engaged in business alone; he now has a partner, the firm being C. B. Fenton & Co. They are now located on East Main street, in what is known as Kelley's new block, and are occupying a space 20 feet front by 100 feet deep, second story and double basement. This is stceked with everything pertaining to a general hardware business, including stoves and tinware. In addition to this he has some novelties, among which may be mentioned the new gasoline stove, the advantages of which are very apparent, especially to the ladies.
James A. Outland, Danville, attorney-at-law, is, perhaps, respected and known as well as any man of the Vermilion county bar. He was born in Northampton county, North Carolina, on the 25th of February, 1848, and is the son of Thomas J. and Asenath (Prichard) Outland, both natives of North Carolina and members of the Quaker Church. In 1858 the subject of our sketch, with his parents, came to Illinois, and located in Ridge Farm, Vermilion county. His father was a farmer, and here on the farm Mr. Outland remained until 1862. When only fourteen years of age he entered the army and participated in the late war. He enlisted for three years in the 79th Ill. Vol. Inf., a private in Company A (the history of this regiment, written by Mr. Outland, appears in this work). Mr. Outland participated in some of the most severe battles-Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickasaw Mountain, Mis- sion Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain and the siege of Atlanta. At Franklin, Tennessee, on the 30th of November, 1864, he received a very severe musket-ball wound in the thigh, from the effects of which he is a cripple. He was taken prisoner by the enemy, where he was very poorly cared for. He was recaptured by the Union army and sent to the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, where he remained until the close of the war. He then entered the Illinois Soldiers' College, at Fulton, Illinois, where he remained for five years, and from which he graduated in 1872. He then was engaged in teach- ing school one winter. He then read law with D. D. Evans, Esq. In 1873 he entered the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he graduated from the law school in 1875. He then returned to
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Danville and commenced the practice of law. In 1876 he was elected city attorney of Danville, which office he filled with marked ability for two terms. Mrs. Outland's maiden name was Mary S. Peters. She was born in Licking county, Ohio, on the 13th of December, 1855, and is the daughter of Oliver E. (a physician, now residing near Bismarck, Vermilion county,) and Margaret (Walcutt) Peters.
E. Winter, Danville, deputy elerk, was born in Kenton county, Ken- tucky, on the 10th of July, 1847, and is the son of Charles HI. and E. A. (Herod) Winter. His father was a native of London, England, and his mother of Kentucky. When Mr. Winter was very young, he, with his parents, moved to Indiana, where they were engaged in farming about four years, when they moved to Columbus, Indiana, and entered the mercantile business. In March, 1864, Mr. Winter enlisted in Bat- tery F, 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery, and participated in several severe engagements, such as the siege of Fort Morgan, siege of Mobile, etc. He did duty at Fort Darranens and Fort Pickens. He was mustered out on the 15th of January, 1866, when he returned to Indiana. He entered college at Moore's Hill, where he received a sufficient education to enable him to teach school at Versailles, Indiana. He then studied law and was admitted to practice in 1868. He went to Vermilion county, Indiana, and remained there until 1870, when he came to Dan- ville, and in 1873 was admitted to the Illinois bar. In 1873 he was appointed deputy county clerk, which office he has filled ever since, and in which he has won a host of friends. Mr. Winter was married in Versailles, Indiana, to Miss Belle Wilson, of Indiana. They have two children. Mr. Winter is captain of Battery A, 1st Illinois National Guards.
The firm of Messrs. Good and Cowan, Danville, saddle and harness makers, which has been established since the year 1874, is one of the largest, most reputable and successful in the city, and holds a position for integrity in business above an average character, and has gained a popularity of which it may well feel proud. The members of the firm stand among that liberal class of business men who believe in the vari- ons enterprises of the city being pushed forward. Their store is located at No. 38 Vermilion street. They employ four men. The proprietors have attained a prominent business position, and socially are blessed with a large number of friends. Elias Good was born in Pennsylvania in 1841. He learned his trade-that of a harness-maker -in Pennsyl- vania, where he followed it for a number of years. He came to Illinois in 1865. Mr. Good was a soldier in the late war. He enlisted in April, 1861, in Co. C, 1st Pa. Vol. Inf., and did good service. He was honorably mnstered ont, but again enlisted, this time in the 34th Pa.
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Vol. Inf., Co. D, for three years. After serving about sixteen months, and participating in some very prominent battles, he was honorably discharged on account of siekness. Amos S. Cowan was also a soldier of the late war. He enlisted, Angust, 1861, in Co. G, 11th Ill. Vol. Inf., for three years. He enlisted as a private, doing good service, and participating in a number of the most prominent battles of the war. He was at the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, Champion Hills. siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, ete. He received two slight wounds in arm and leg at Champion Hills. He was first lieutenant of the 46th U. S. Col. Troops, which did skirmishing near Memphis, Tennessee. He was then assistant inspector-general of the 2d Brig. 1st Div. 25th Army Corps ; was mustered out at Brownville, Texas, 1865, and was finally discharged at Little Rock, Arkansas. He returned to Illinois, and entered the Normal University, where he re- mained one year. In 1870 he came to Danville, which has been his home ever since. Mr. Cowan is major of the 9th Bat. Ill. N. G.
J. M. Clark, Danville, merchant, was born in Waldo county, Maine, on the 21st of April, 1824, and is the son of Stephen and Prudence (Martin) Clark. His father, a native of Maine, was engaged as a sea- faring man until he reached the age of forty-five ; after this he followed farming. His mother was a native of Massachusetts. Mr. Clark was raised on the farm, where he remained until he was twenty-one years old. He then went to West Virginia, where he remained about two years ; from there located in the southern part of Ohio, near Gallipolis. Here he was engaged in the dry-goods and general store business some twenty-two years. While in Gallia county, Ohio, Mr. Clark held the office of county commissioner, which office he resigned when he came to Danville, Illinois. In 1861 Mr. Clark enlisted in the 36th Ohio Vol. Inf., Co. I. as first lieutenant. He was with the Army of the Potomae, and participated in some of its most severe battles. Mr. Clark was in the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Lewisburg and several skirmishes. In 1863 he was detailed to organize militia, and was made colonel of the 1st Ohio Vol. Inf., which regiment helped to capture the notorious guerrilla, John Morgan, during his raid through Indiana and Ohio. At the elose of the war Mr. Clark returned to Gallia county, Ohio. He married Miss Lucy Chambers, of Marietta, Ohio, by whom they have ten children. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Clark came to Dan- ville and commenced the dry-goods business, and to-day he owns one of the leading dry-goods and carpet stores in Danville. He is located at No. 66 Vermilion street. He employs five salesmen, doing a busi- ness amounting to as high as $50,000 a year. Mr. Clark is a member of the school board.
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James Knight, Danville, boots and shoes, was born in Clinton county, New York, on the 12th of May, 1833, and is the son of James and Alice (Henderson) Knight, both natives of Scotland. His father was a farmer here, and Mr. Knight was brought up on the farm and there remained until he was about fifteen years old. He was then en- gaged in helping to survey the Ogdenburg railroad, and was then clerk in a hardware store. About 1843 he came west to Illinois and located in Chicago. He then returned east and clerked in the hardware business, but returned to Illinois and was connected with the Great Western railroad, running a train to Champaign. He followed rail- roading abont thirteen years; but was in Texas a short time engaged in trading in Texas cattle. In 1869 he went to California where he remained until the following year, seeking for his brother Robert. He returned to Danville and has been engaged in the mercantile business principally ever since. Mr. Knight was married on the 15th of Feb- ruary, 1860. to Miss Mary E. Probst, of Danville. They have three children. Mr. Knight is now filling the position of assistant supervisor of Danville township, which office he has held for the last six years. He is a republican in politics.
Irad Abdill, Danville, retired, was born in Cadiz, Ohio, on the 29th of October, 1812, and is the son of Connell Abdill, who was a hotel- keeper in Cadiz. Mr. Abdill, the subject of this sketch, remained in his native place until he was about seventeen years of age, when he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and learned the tinner's trade. In 1830 he went to Paris. Kentucky, where he engaged in work at his trade, and on the 5th of September, 1833, he married, near Lexington, Kentucky, Rebecca Ann Watson. In the same year he moved to Har- rodsburg, Kentucky, and there set up a tinshop and carried on busi- ness until 1836. when he moved to Indiana and located in Vincennes, where he was also engaged in the tin business. In April, 1839, he moved to Perrysville, Vermilion county, Indiana, and commenced the tin and hardware business on a very large scale, doing an extensive business until abont 1869, when he retired from business. In 1862 Mr. Abdill was elected a member of the legislature by the republican party, from Vermilion county, Indiana. On the 4th of October, 1871, Mr. Abdill moved to Danville, where he has been a resident ever since. His first vote cast for president of the United States was for General Andrew Jackson, and he was a Jackson democrat. In 1860 he voted for President Abraham Lincoln, and since then he has been a republi- can in politics.
Matthias Brandenberger, Danville, sign-painter, was born in Ger- many on the 27th of January, 1840, and came to America when about
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fourteen years of age, first locating in St. Louis in 1857. He went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and while there learned his present trade. The following year he went to New Orleans where he remained one year, and then went to Baton Rouge, bnt afterward returned to St. Louis and enlisted, in 1861, in Co. A, 13th Mo. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war, engaging in some of the prominent battles, such as Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing, where he was wounded, a ball passing through his right arm, which caused his absence from the regiment for seventy days. He afterward participated in the battles of Inka and Corinth, and was engaged in the three-months siege of Vicksburg and Little Rock, also in other minor engagements. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war, returned to St. Louis, and from there came to Springfield, Illinois, where he remained until 1867. He then went to Kansas City, and in 1871 came to Danville. He was married in 1870 to Miss Julia Getiser. She was a native of Switzer- land, and was born in 1847.
A. J. T. Joslin, Danville, photographer, was born in Montgomery county, New York, on the 16th of June, 1839. At the age of sixteen years he went to Osage, and from there to Waukegan, Illinois. From there he moved to Gilman, and then to Danville, where he has made his home since. At Osage he built the third log house of the place, and painted the first sign ever put up in that town. He remained a resident of that place about thirteen years. He first learned the trade of a carriage and sign-painter, but subsequently took up photography, and now has had in all sixteen years' experience in this business, six years of the time in Danville. He first began alone, but the firm afterward became Jos- lin & Phillips. They continued to do business together about four years. He is now located at 112 East Main street, where, by close atten- tion to business, and keeping pace with the improvements made in the art of photography, he has established a good business.
E. C. Winslow, Danville, of No. 107 Main street, dealer in drugs, is a native of Hampshire county, Massachusetts. He came west in 1871 and began business in Danville, after having spent twelve years in the drug trade in Boston. He is a graduate of pharmacy and is thor- onghly educated in all the details of the drug trade. His store is twenty-five feet front by eighty feet deep, two stories and basement. He has it thoroughly stocked in everything pertaining to a full and complete line of drugs, cigars, tobacco, perfumeries, etc. These are all conducive to his success, which he has gained and earned by an hon- orable and upright method of business.
L. James, Danville, contractor and builder, is a native of Montgom- ery county, Pennsylvania. He was born in 1840. The early part of
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his life was spent in his native state, where he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner. In 1861, at the breaking ont of the war of the rebellion, he entered the army and enlisted in Co. E, 45th Pa. Inf., three- years service. He was in many of the hard fought battles, among which may be mentioned those of Stoner Landing, Antietam and Fredericksburg. At both of the latter battles he was wounded, though not crippled, and in 1864 was mustered out at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania .. He has now been a resident of Danville for eight years, most of which time he has been engaged at his trade. At present he has on hand the contract of doing the woodwork on the Gernand building. By honest work he has won for himself a good reputation, both as a workman and a citizen.
Chas. T. Yeomans, Danville, hardware dealer, of the firm of Yeo- mans & Shedd, is a native of Wyoming county, New York. He has now been engaged in the hardware trade abont eight years. Previous to his entering business in this line he had been a resident of Chicago, where from 1866 until 1871 he was employed at keeping books. In 1871 he came to Danville, and in partnership with Mr. A. L. Webster engaged in the hardware trade ; they continuing to do business together until 1875. when the present partnership was formed. When leaving Mr. Webster, he took the shelf and general hardware, while Mr. W. kept what is known to the trade as the heavy hardware. Under the management of the present firm they have established quite an exten- sive business, a more detailed account of which is given elsewhere. They are both good financiers, and are known as one of the solid, sub- stantial business firms of the city.
Every business man dependent upon the"patronage of the public for success must endeavor to please that public. This Mr. J. A. Phillips, the photographer. of Danville, and the subject of this sketch, has seemed to do, if we may judge of his success by this rule. He first began the business of photography in 1864. He followed it for two years, then quit and began painting, which he continued for about six years. In the spring of 1871 he began business in Danville. He has kept pace with the progress made in the art of photography. This assertion may be very easily proven by a visit to his parlors, which are located at the southwest corner of the public square. He is a native of Fountain county, Indiana. Though not a resident of the city so long as many, he has established a good name and reputation.
Chas. M. Swallow, attorney-at-law. Danville, was born in Enzerne county, Pennsylvania, on the Sth of September, 1844, and is the son of George and Sallie (Thompson) Swallow. Mr. Swallow's father was a native of Pennsylvania, and followed farming. Here on the farm Mr.
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Swallow remained until he was about seventeen years old, at which time he went to Pittston, and from there to Scranton, where he entered a printing-office and commenced to learn his trade. This he followed for several years, and was the main support in getting money to school himself. Mr. Swallow received his principal education at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Cazenovia, New York. In 1869 he entered the law school of the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, where he graduated in 1871. In April, 1871, he came to Danville and entered the office of Messrs. Davis & Mann, and remained with that law firm until 1872. He was then admitted to practice law at the Illinois state bar. In 1874 he entered partnership with D. D. Evans, which firm continned until January of 1879. Since then Mr. Swallow has been practicing alone. He held the office of city attorney for one term, and performed his duty in a faithful manner. Mr. Swallow was married on the 15th of Decen- ber, 1874, to Miss Clara A. Northup, who was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of May, 1850. She died on the 7th of Feb- ruary, 1879. He is the father of one child, Howard A., born on the 18th of August, 1878.
We believe that many people fail of success in the livery business through a lack of attention to the general wants of the public, coupled with a disregard for proper neatness and cleanliness. Knykendall Bros. & Craig, livery-men, of Danville, own two livery stables, one located east side of Hazel, between North and Main streets. and the other on North street, in the rear of the .Etna House. At both livery stables is kept a fine lot of stock and a number of vehicles which, for style and quality, cannot be excelled in Danville. The firm is com- posed of William and Jacob Kuykendall, who were born in Hampshire county, Virginia. With their parents they moved to Indiana, and from thence to Vermilion county, Illinois, and located on a farm in Middle Fork township. Here they were engaged in farming until 1871, when they came to Danville and entered the livery business. In 1875 they entered partnership with William Craig, and thus formed the above named firm. Mr. Craig was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1848. These gentlemen are courteous and gentlemanly in their busi- ness, and prompt in transactions, all of which has made them popular and successful livery-men.
The Chicago Store, 53 Vermilion street, Danville, Illinois, was first opened at No. 41, Vermilion street, on the 22d of July, 1872, and on the 7th of August, 1872, H. B. Villars, the youngest son of the Rev. John Villars, commenced clerking for S. T. Kern at $1.50 per week, and remained as general clerk until the spring of 1873, when Mr. Rob- ison left, going farther west. H. B. Villars, being the oldest clerk with
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the firm, was made head clerk, and manager of the business in Mr. Kern's absence, holding that position until about 1874, when he left, taking a rest for about six weeks. He, however, returned to his former position as manager of the business in the absence of Mr. Kern, this being at Mr. Kern's request. About two years after opening at No. 41 Vermilion street, Mr. Kern moved to No. 53 Vermilion street, the present location. H. B. Villars still held that position until the death of Mr. Kern, on the 18th of April, 1876, after which the store was left to W. T. Kern, the business, however, being still in the charge of H. B. Villars. In July, 1876, Mr. Kern was taken sick in Logansport, and lingered until the 13th of November, 1876, when he died, leaving the store to his sister, the firm name becoming C. J. Kern & Sister. Mr. C. J. Kern, having a store in Logansport to look after, still left the Danville store in charge of H. B. Villars until the 28th of March, 1877, when, desiring to discontinue the business in Danville, he sold the stock to the firm of Villars Bros. & Co., who are now doing a large busi- ness in the same room.
B. M. Chaffee, Danville, freight and ticket agent, is a native of Rochester, Windsor county, Vermont. He came west in 1869, and for one year was engaged in business in Chicago. He then went to Kentland, Indiana, where, for two years, he was located in the employ of the Pan-Handle railroad. He resigned his position and returned to Chicago with the intention of again engaging in business there, but instead he came to Danville, and accepted the position of station-agent on the I. B. & W. R. R. He is now also doing the business for the P. & D. road, and is both ticket and freight agent for both roads. The receipts and shipments of the I. B. & W. are much greater than the P. & D .. though the transferring of all east and southward bound freight on the latter road is necessary at this point; this also comes under his charge. He has, in all, six men under his supervision. Mr. Chaffee has been a resident of Danville only since 1872, but is already as well known as many of the old settlers.
J. A. Patterson, Danville, hardware dealer, of the firm of Giddings & Patterson, is probably the most thoroughly educated man in the hardware line of any dealer in this line of goods in the city, he having had the advantage of five years' experience as traveling-man for a job- bing-honse in the line they are now handling. He is a native of Vir- ginia, his early life being spent in that state, Ohio and Indiana. He has now been a resident of Danville seven years, three years of which time he was with the firm of Webster & Yeomans, and four years with A. L. Webster. In February of 1879 he engaged, in company with Mr. Jno. W. Giddings, in the heavy hardware trade, they being suc-
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cessors to A. L. Webster. Their trade extends to a radius of about one hundred and twenty-five miles. Mr. Patterson, being used to the road, does this part of the work when necessary. Though they have been in business as a firm but a short time, they have every reason to hope for success, if the future may be judged by the past. They are both men of that caliber who seldom fail to carry any enterprise undertaken through successfully, and in this undertaking they propose to stop noth- ing short of success.
Robert Pollard, Danville, gas-fitting and foundry, of the firm of Thompson & Pollard, was born in London, England, in 1848. At the age of twenty-two he came to the United States, and located at La Fay- ette, Indiana, where, for about two years, he was engaged in the busi- ness of gas-fitting, a trade which he learned in England. In November of 1872 he came to Danville and began, with Mr. Thompson, in the same business. He first began as a "jour" with Mr. Thompson, but in a short time became a partner. They are now conducting one of the largest manufacturing establishments in this part of Illinois, a more complete description of which has already been given.
Watson Bros., Danville, butchers, located at No. 45 Vermilion street, have a very neat, well arranged meat market, which they con- duct and own; besides which they have a fine farm in Vermilion county, where they raise the stock for their market. They are practical butchers of long experience, and have the reputation of exposing for sale the finest quality of fresh meat, through which and their fairness of prices and strict probity in business transactions they have secured them a paying business. They have, in connection with their meat market, a steam power sausage mill, with which they furnish the surrounding towns with sausage. Alva Watson was born in La Salle county, Illinois, in 1845, and is the son of Stephen Watson, of Rhode Island, who came to Illinois about 1840, and was engaged in stock raising and farming. Mr. Alva Watson remained on the farm until he was about fourteen years old and then entered a grist mill and learned the engineer's trade, which he followed for a number of years. He then went into the butcher business in Danville. He has also been in the hotel business, managing for a time the St. James Hotel of Dan- ville. Daniel Watson, a brother of Alva, is with these two gentle- men. They compose the oldest butcher firm in the city.
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