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 65
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James Pribble, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, on the 21st of September, 1826, and lived there three years. In 1829, with his parents, he settled in Vermilion county, Illinois, near his present place, and lived with his parents until their death. In 1853 he began farming on his own account, farming part of his father's place. He married Miss Susannah Haines. She was born in Virginia, and died in the fall of 1860. They had four children,- three living, viz : Mary E., Deborah V. and Flora L. His present wife was Miss Catharine Yoho. She was born in this county, and married on the 4th of May, 1861. They had nine children, six of whom are living, viz: Richard, Andrew, Robert, Ellen, Rachel and Justin. Mr. Pribble owns one hundred and twelve acres in this county, located three and a half miles east of Georgetown. His parents, Thomas and Deborah Dickinson, were natives of Pennsylvania and Virginia. He moved to Ohio when young, and followed keel-boating. He died on the 10th of September, 1872, and she departed this life on the 13th of September, 1851.
James Ashby, Westville, farmer, was born in Bourbon county, Ken- tucky, in September, 1817, and lived there until 1829, when, with his parents, he came to Illinois, and settled in Vermilion county. He lived with his parents twenty-eight years, and then rented a farm and worked for himself. In 1863 he came to his present place, which con- tains sixty-four acres. On the 3d of April, 1845, he married Miss Sarah J. Blakeney ; she was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky. They had nine children, seven of whom are living: Milton, Liza Ann, Mar- tha E., Paulina J., Pleasant, Emma L., and Medora L. Mr. Ashby
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GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP.
has hauled apples to Chicago as early as 1851. His parents, Joseph and Naney Cloe Ashby, were natives of Stafford county, Virginia ; they were married there, and came to this county in 1829; he died in the fall of 1845, and she in 1861.
Thomas Pribble, 'Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Ohio on the 1st of March, 1828, where he lived one year. He then, with his parents, came to Illinois and settled on his present place, coming down the Ohio and up the Wabash to Engene, settling on his present place in 1829. In 1854 he took the management of the farm. In 1862 he enlisted in the 125th Ill. Regiment, and was in service until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Perryville, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Dallas, Georgia, where he was wound- ed and confined to the hospital until his discharge. He returned to the farm and has lived here since. He owns eighty-two acres of land, located three miles east of Georgetown. On the 25th of December, 1866, he married Miss Cynthia Morgan ; she was born in this county. They have four children : Commodore, Hamilton, Snowden H. and Minnetta. His parents were James and Flora (Cree) Pribble.
Levi Long, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Nicho- las county, Kentucky, on his father's farm, on the 20th of October, 1810, and lived there until the fall of 1830. He then, with his brother- in-law, Mr. Jones, came to Illinois, and settled in Vermilion county, and, after living here one year, went to Kentucky and assisted in moving his brother-in-law's family to this county. On the 15th of December, 1831, he married Miss Celia R. Jones; she was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, and died here on the 5th of June, 1876. After his marriage he rented a place, and farmed it one year ; he then went to Elwood township, and farmed three years. On the death of his father-in-law he bought ont the heirs and moved to the place, and has lived here since. He assisted in laying out the roads of this town- ship, and served as road commissioner for some time. Of the ten chil- dren, seven are living: John E., William L., Charles F., Naney J., Josiah S., Sarah F. and James P. Mr. Long owns five hundred and forty-eight acres of land in this county, which he has earned by his own labor and management. As early as 1833 he hauled potatoes to Chicago for twenty-five cents per bushel, and he has made a number of trips since.
Gabriel Pribble, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Monroe county, Ohio, on the 14th of June, 1826, and lived there four years, when, with his parents, he settled near his present place in Ver- milion county, Illinois, and lived with them until he was twenty-eight years of age. He then farmed a portion of his father's farm for one
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
year, when he bought eighty acres adjoining, and moved on the same, and there remained for twenty years, when he moved to an adjoining eighty, which he bought. He owns one hundred and sixty acres in this county, located four miles east of Georgetown. He has made a number of trips by team to Chicago, the first dating back to 1846. In the fall of 1858 he married Miss Moriah Ramsey: she was born in Ohio, and died on the 23d of June. 1873. They had seven children, five of whom are living: Jerome, James, Flora B., Isadora, and Sarah M. On the 13th of November, 1876, he married Miss Jane Canaday.
Silas D. Underwood, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 23d of November, 1830, and lived with his parents until he was twenty-four; he then moved to a farm north of Georgetown, thence to Iroquois county, Illinois, thence to his present place. February 12. 1856, he married Miss Nancy Bow- man. She was born in Indiana and died in the fall of 1861. His second wife was Miss Nancy Haworth. She was born in this county and died in the spring of 1866. His present wife was Miss Martha Lewis. She was born in this county. There is one living of the three children by first marriage: Catharine; of the nine by second mar- riage seven are living: Oliver, Lyman. Lorie, Thomas. Charlotte, Colfax and Maimie (Grant, deceased, Charlotte and Colfax were trip- lets). Mr. Underwood is living on the old homestead which he is farm- ing for his mother, with whom is living John A. Thompson, a son of her deceased daughter, Broakie C., who married Alex. Thompson, and died May S. 1870.
John C. Jones, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, on the 25th of December, 1820, and lived there eleven years : he then, with his parents, came to Illinois and set- tled in Vermilion county, and has lived here since,- with the excep- tion of one year in Missouri ; - he lived with his parents seventeen years ; then after the death of his father he began working for himself teaming to Chicago one year. He subsequently worked on the railroad between Danville and Fairmount, and afterward went to Missouri, remaining one year. He then bought one hundred acres here on credit, and was five years in paying for it. On the 30th of November, 1850, he married Miss Martha J. Dye. She was born in Mason county, Kentucky. They had eight children, seven of whom are living: Win. C., Charles F., Lydia J., Jethro R., Zebedee, Joanna and Arius C. Mr. Jones owns four hundred acres of land in this county, the result of his own labor and management. His parents (John and Casander Parrish Jones) were natives of Kentucky. He died in October, 1837, and she in June, 1833.
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GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP.
Harvey Cloe, Georgetown, farmer, was born in Clark county, Kentucky, on the 26th of April, 1822, and lived there until 1831, when, with his parents, he came to Illinois and settled in Vermilion county, and engaged in farming. He lived with his parents until he was mar- ried, November 27, 1842, to Miss Elizabeth Eslinger. She was born in this county, and died October 16, 1849. After his marriage he set- tled on his present place. They had four children, three of whom are living: Henry, Harvey T. and Susan H. In February, 1850, he mar- ried Miss Amanda Cowell. She was born in Illinois. They had seven children, two living: Mary E. C. and Elizabeth R. Mr. Cloe owns 287 acres in this township, which he has earned by his own labor. His parents, Henry and Ann Constine (Foxworthy) Cloe, were natives of Virginia. They were married in Virginia, and went to Kentucky in 1813, to Illinois as stated, and to Iowa in 1855, where they died.
John Kyger, Georgetown, retired, whose portrait appears in this work, is a native of Virginia, and is a son of Daniel and Annie (Hen- thorn) Kyger. He was born near Morgantown on the 6th of May, 1799, and lived until 1806 in his native state, at which time his parents moved to Monroe county, Ohio, where they engaged in farming. At the age of eighteen Mr. Kyger commenced flatboating, and this he followed for a number of years. He would load one of these boats with produce and sell it along the banks of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as far down as New Orleans, it taking him from five to seven days to make the trip. On the 7th of June, 1821, he married Miss Mary Sheets, a native of Washington county, Ohio. She was born on the 27th of November, 1799. They continued their residence in Ohio until 1832, when they came to Illinois, taking a keelboat down the Ohio and up the Wabash, and settling in Vermilion county same year. He engaged in farming, and has lived? in this county since. In 1858 he moved to his present residence, where, on the 6th of January, 1870, his wife, Mrs. Mary Kyger, died. By the marriage there were seven children, four of whom are now living: Henry T., Daniel, Annie and Sarah. Mr. Kyger is one of the early settlers and well-known citi- zens of this neighborhood. He remembers well the early times in the county when they marketed produce in Chicago-he making his first trip of this kind in 1838. Born on the farm, he has always followed farming, in which he has been successful, and has made liberal provi- sions for his children upon which to begin life, having divided upward of three hundred acres of land among same. Hannah Kyger, a sister of Mr. Kyger, was born on the 3d of February, 1797, and is now a resident of Georgetown township.
D. F. Graves, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
Georgetown township. Vermilion county, Illinois. He was born on his present place, on the 8th of November, 1832, and lived on the same until he was thirteen years of age. He then, with his parents, moved to an adjoining farm, where he lived until 1858. On the 1st of January of that year he married Miss Mary Martin. She was born in this town- ship, near Georgetown. After his marriage he came to his present place, and has lived here since. He is no office-seeker, and has held no offices except those connected with the school and road. They have five children : Margaret E., Clara F., Katie, James H. and Nellie. He owns one hundred and eighty-five acres in this county.
John Dukes, farmer and stock-raiser, Westville, was born near his present place, on the 21st of March, 1832. He lived at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when, on the 19th of April, 1855, he mar- ried Miss Rubie Lacey. She was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, on the 24th of December, 1838, and came to this county with her parents when she was fourteen years of age. After his marriage he moved to a residence on his father's place, and farmed a portion of his farm. He lived there thirteen years, and then came to his present place. He has hauled produce to Chicago, making his first trip as early as 1844. During the late war he aeted as enrolling officer for the first district. He has been assessor of this township for eleven years and collector for ten years. By the marriage there have been nine children, seven of whom are living: Rachel, Sarah S., Mary, Martha, Susannah, Will- iam and Naney. Mr. Dukes owns three hundred and twenty-seven acres of land in this county, which he has principally earned by his own labor and management. In 1864 he engaged in buying and shipping stock, and has done an extensive business; in that line. His parents, Stephen and Rachel Ellis, were natives of Virginia and Tennessee. They were born on the 25th of June, 1796, and 25th of October, 1804, respectively. He came to this county at an early date, and she came in 1821. They were married in this county, on the 23d of Jannary, 1826. Mr. Dukes died on the 18th of July, 1847. She is living here on the old homestead. Miss Rubie Lacey was the daughter of William and Salona (Sanderson) Lacey. They were natives of New Jersey and New York. They came to this county in 1853, where they died, on the 27th of September, 1873, and 28th of December, 1859, respectively.
Jotham Lyon, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Vermilion county, Illinois. He was born on the 25th of September, 1833, and lived at home until he was twenty-three. He then took a trip to Minnesota and Wisconsin, returning the same year, and again going there the following winter. The following spring he came here and engaged in farming, on the old homestead, for two years. He then
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came to his present place. On the 26th of January, 1858, he married Miss Sarah Worth. She was born in Wisconsin. They had six chil- dren ; five are now living: Mary, William, Datns, Noah and Elmer. He owns ninety acres of land in this county, which he has earned by his own labor and management. His parents, Jotham and Mary Harrington Lyon, were natives of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. They were married in Indiana, and came to this county in 1827, though he had been here before that time. He assisted in laying out the old Salt Works road. He died on the 2d of August, 1843, aged sixty-one years, four months and twenty days. She is living with her son in this township.
Isaac A. Brown, P. O. Eugene, Ind., retired, was born in Washington county, Tennessee, on the 6th of October, 1816, and lived there seven- teen years, when, with his parents, he moved to Illinois, and settled in Elwood township, Vermilion county, and lived there until 1836. They then moved to Danville, and engaged in coopering. He there built a house in South Danville (the first, after the laying ont of the place), and engaged in the grocery business. He then went to Sidney, Illi- nois, and engaged in general merchandise, and then went to Le Roy, and engaged in general merchandise. Afterward he went to Lyme Grove, Champaign county, and engaged in farming. From there he went to Vermilion county, Illinois, and engaged in farming and cooper- ing in Elwood township. He then came to his present place, thence to Perrysville, and from there back to his present place. In 1834 he made his first trip to Chicago by team. On the 14h of April, 1836, he married Miss Eunice Beasley ; she was born in Vermilion county, Illi- nois, and died in May, 1848. They had six children, four living : Elijah, Joseph, Elizabeth J. and Phæbe. On the 26th of July, 1848, he married Miss Cordelia M. White; she was born in Clermont county, Ohio. They have eight children : Isaac A., jr., Ennice, Hannah, Lilly G., Naomi, Edmoni, A. Lincoln, and Patience. His sons, Milo G. and Joseph B., enlisted in the 8th Ill. Reg. and 21st Ind. Reg. respect- ively ; the former was in the service one year, the latter, three. The present place is known all over the county as "Browntown." On the place is a store 20 × 40, two stories and good basement, formerly used by Mr. Brown in the general merchandise business ; over the store is a hall used as a lecture room and church. The store is complete and ready for occupancy. There is also on the place a large coopering es- tablishment.
James Clifton, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, near his present place, on the 8th of Oc- tober, 1833. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-three years
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
of age ; he then came to his present place, and has lived here sinee. On the 15th of June, 1855, he married Miss Martha Barnhard; she was born in this county. They had seven children, five living: Ellen, S. A. D., Olive, Lanra, and James, jr. Mr. Clifton owns two hundred and five acres in this county, located three miles dne east of George- town. His parents, William and Jane Brown Clifton, were natives of Ohio and Tennessee. They were married near the present place. Both died in this county; he in the winter of 1869, and she in the winter of 1877.
J. K. Richie, Georgetown, general merchandise store, the subject of this sketch, was born in Jefferson county, Tennessee, on the 24th of October, 1826. Soon after his birth his father died, and his mother moved to New Market, in the same county, where he lived until he was six years of age, when he came to Vermilion county, Illinois, with his mother and grandfather. They wintered in Georgetown, and in the spring (1833) they moved to a farm southeast of the same village, where he lived until the fall of 1843. He then went to his native place in Tennessee, living with his uncle, Gen. William Battleton. On arriving he entered Holstine College, attending his uncle's store morn- ings, evenings and Saturdays. This continued two years, when he engaged regularly in the store, and remained in it until October, 1847. He then visited Georgetown, and, in the spring following, he went to New Market, and remained but a few months, when he engaged as clerk in a store in Dandridge, Jefferson connty, this being his first position under salary. He remained until the 1st of April, 1850, and then came north to Georgetown, and engaged as elerk with B. Canaday & Son, who occupied the present location of Mr. Richie's business. He elerked twelve months, and then formed a partnership with I. B. Haworth in the business of general merchandise. They continued until Angust, 1854. Mr. Richie then formed a partnership with B. Canaday & Son, the firm changing to B. Canaday & Co. This con- tinned until 1869, when the firm changed to Canaday & Richie, and in 1871 it again changed to the present style, and has continued so since. On the 31st of May, 1854, he married Miss S. R.Canaday. She was born in Georgetown. They had seven children, three of whom are living : Morris E., Benjamin C. and Mary A.
A. J. Niccum, Gessie, Indiana, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 15th of June, 1833, and lived there eighteen years. His parents then moved to Indiana, and he lived there two years. On the 25th of September, 1853, he married Miss Sarah Ann Niccum. She was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 12th of October, 1830. They moved near Catlin and lived
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there six years, and then came to his present place. In 1854 they took a relative, Frank Billings, to raise. He was born on the 27th of De- cember, 1853, and lived here until the 4th of September, 1878, when he went to Stafford county, Kansas, and is now farming there with his brother. They also, in 1863, took the present Mrs. Henry Bonton to raise until her marriage. In the fall of 1876 they took Miss Mary B. Davis, then about six years of age, and she is living here at present. His parents, William and Elizabeth (Smith) Niccum, were natives of Ohio, and came to this county at an early date. She died in 1854. He is now living in Indiana. Her parents, James and Catharine (Croll) Nicenm, were natives of Kentucky. He came to this county in 1824.
Levi C. Underwood, farmer and stock-raiser, Georgetown, is a na- tive of Vermilion county, Illinois. He was born near his present place, on the 21st of October, 1834, and lived at home until the fall of 1870, having farmed his father's farm since 1858. On the 27th of Sep- tember, 1870, he married Miss Sarah Kyger. She is also a native of this county. After the marriage they moved to the wife's home, where they have since lived. They have three children, viz: Evie, Annie M. and Evert. Mr. Underwood owns two hundred and fifty- five acres in this county. His parents, John and Drusilla Morgan Un- derwood, were natives of Virginia, born on the 19th of January, 1794, and the 2d of April, 1801, respectively. They were married on the 10th of December, 1818; came to this county in 1827, and settled where she now resides in 1828. He died on the 25th of September, 1858.
Jacob Gants, Georgetown. farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and was born on the 15th of July, 1815. He lived there nineteen years, and then came afoot to Illinois. He settled in Vermilion county, near his present place, and has lived here since. In 1840 he went to Texas and remained three months. In 1846 he went to Iowa and was gone six months. He settled on his present place in 1858. On the 7th of July, 1842, he married Miss Elizabeth Jenkins. She was born in Miami county, Ohio. They have three children : John J., Eli M. and William T. John J. was in the 125th Ill. Reg. for nearly three years. Mr. Gants has served as con- stable of this township, and has held the office of justice of the peace for about eighteen years; road commissioner eight to ten years ; also supervisor of township. He owns one hundred and eighty-four acres, which he has earned by his own labor. He spent the first seven years here in teaching school. He then rented until 1849, when he bought ninety acres, on which he settled. He then came to his present place. He learned the carpenter's trade in Pennsylvania. Soon after
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
arriving here he was hurt by a runaway horse, thereby losing the use of his arm.
J. H. Hewit, Georgetown, retired, was born on his father's farm, one mile west of Georgetown, on the 26th of May, 1834, and lived there until 1861, farming the place since he became of age. He then moved to a farm of his own, about five miles northwest of Georgetown. In September, 1862, he enlisted in the 125th Ill. Reg., and was in ser- vice until the close of the war. He was in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Atlanta campaign, and all the battles of the regiment. At Jonesboro' he was struck with part of a shell, but it occasioned but slight injury. On his return from the army, he lived on his farm until 1867. He then moved to Georgetown and has lived here since. On the 16th of May, 1861, he married Mrs. Aboline Green. She was born in Preble county, Ohio. His parents, Eli and Mary A. (Prather) Hewit, were natives of Ohio and Kentucky. He settled near Danville in 1828, and died on the 17th of October, 1874. She died on the 1st of October, 1874.
James Gibson, Danville, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Ver- milion county, Illinois, on the 5th of December, 1835, and lived there six years, when, with his parents, he moved to Clermont county, Ohio, where he lived until 1857. He then came to Vermilion county, Illinois, and worked with Larken A. Cook until 1862. On the 12th of June of this year he married Miss Elizabeth Ogden. She was born in this county. They have had five children, three of whom are living: Franklin, Mary A. and Kate A. Mr. Gibson owns sixty-nine acres of land in this county. In August, 1862, he enlisted in the 125th Ill. Reg., Co. K, and was in service until the close of the war. He was for the greater part of the time teamster. After the fall of Atlanta he and others were captured, and were confined in Andersonville and Millen prisons.
J. H. Lockett, Georgetown, miller, the subject of this sketch, was born in Wythe county, Virginia, on the 2d of December, 1819. He lived in Virginia about fifteen years, when, with his parents, he moved to Knox county, Indiana, and engaged in farming, living there one year, when they came to Illinois and settled in Georgetown township, where he lived with his parents twenty-two years. He then moved to Perrysville, Indiana, and engaged in farming for ten years. He then came to this county and settled on a farm two miles north of George- town, where he lived until 1857. He then engaged in the stock busi- ness. In 1861 he bought an interest in the present mill, and followed the milling business about five years, the firm being J. H. Lockett & Co. He then sold his interest and engaged in the general merchandise
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GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP.
business in Georgetown for eight years, when he sold out and again engaged in the present mill. On the 22d of December, 1843, he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Smith. She was born in Virginia, and died on the 3d of June, 1857. They had three children, two living: David and Mattie. On the 20th of December, 1860, he married Miss Ella Wals- ton. She was born in this county. They have three children : Frank, Grace and Jessie. In early days Mr. Lockett has hauled wheat to Chicago by team, making his first trip in 1837, and has delivered wheat in Chicago at sixty cents per bushel.
William R. Richards, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Frederick county, Virginia. He was born on the 16th of April, 1809. At the age of six years, with his parents, he moved to Washington county, Tennessee, where he lived twenty years. They then came to. Vermilion county, Illinois, and settled in Georgetown. While there they entered land in this township. Mr. Wm. R. entered his present place and began improving the same. On the 8th of October, 1844, he married Miss Cynthia Parks. She was born in Monroe county, Indiana, and died on the 10th of August, 1846. After the death of his wife he sold out his stock and rented his farm. He worked at milling and other trades until 1850, when he married Miss Mary Jenkins, of Ohio. They moved to the farm and have lived there since. They have six children : Julette, Martha, Mary, Lillie, Lydia and John. In 1835 Mr. Richards walked to Chicago and worked in a warehouse. He has hauled produce there by team a number of times. He owns two hundred and twenty-two acres of land in this county. His parents, Henry and Hannah (Reiley) Richards, were natives of Virginia, where they were married. They came here as stated. He died in October, 1837, and she in January, 1838.
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