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 67
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William V. Jones, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born on his present place, on the 25th of October, 1846, and has always lived
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on the same place. On the 1st of February, 1877, he married Miss Ettie Richards. She was born in Indiana. The parents of Mr. Jones were Parrish N. and Polly (Long) Jones. They were natives of Nicholas county, Kentucky, and were married there on the 27th of May, 1830. They came to Vermilion county, Illinois, in the same year, and engaged in farming. He died here on the 22d of May, 1850. Mrs. Jones is living with her son on the old homestead, which contains one hundred and seventy acres, and is located about two miles and a half northwest of Georgetown.
James B. Cook, Westville, farmer and stock-raiser, was born on his present place on the 24th of November, 1847, and has always lived on the same place. At the age of fifteen he took the management of the farm, and for the first few years paid a light rent. In 1875 he came into full possession. On the 6th of July, 1865, he married Miss Annie L. Black ; she was born in Kentucky. They have four children : John E., Oliver A., Clara A. and Kate. Mr. Cook owns one hundred and six acres of land in this county. His parents, James W. and Nancy (Bowen) Cook, were natives of Indiana and Kentucky; they were married on the present place, and were the parents of one child : J. B. Mr. Allen Cook came to this county about 1845, and engaged in teach- ing school. He died in Fountain county, Indiana, in 1847. Mrs. Cook married Mr. Ellis Dukes, and died in Kansas about 1877. Mrs. Cook's parents, John and Susan Leseure (Black) Cook, were natives of Ken- tucky, and came to this county in 1852. She died in 1868, and he lives in Indiana.
A. J. Richardson, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born near Boston, Massachusetts, on the 26th of June, 1805, and lived there seven years. He then, with his parents, moved to New Hampshire, and lived there until 1831. He then brought his parents west, to Engene, Indiana, and lived there until the spring of 1848, when he came to his present place. While in New Hampshire he learned the shoe-making trade in his father's shop, and took charge of the same in 1824, and managed the business from that time on, there and at Eugene. On the 27th of September, 1825, he married Miss Moriah Taylor. She was born in New Hampshire. They had nine children, five of whom are living: George T., Martha A., Sarah E., Ferona A. and Francis A. While in Indiana, he served fifteen years as justice of the peace. He owns two hundred and eighty aeres in this county, located three miles east of Georgetown. Abont 1834 he made his first trip to Chicago by team from Eugene. His parents, Sceva and Esther Hickson Rich- ardson, were natives of Massachusetts. He died on the 11th of May, 1841, at Eugene, and she on the 22d of February, 1848.
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
R. W. Cowan, Georgetown, druggist, is a native of Warren county, Ohio. He was born on the 20th of March, 1821. When one year of age his parents moved to Johnson county, and thence, in 1830, to Ver- milion county, Indiana. Two years later they moved to Edgar county, Illinois. In 1849 he came to Georgetown, and farmed one year; he then engaged in carpentering and building. From 1857 to 1858 he managed a carding machine in Missouri, but, returning to Georgetown, he worked at carpentering until 1862. He then enlisted in the 73d Ill. Reg. and was in the service six months, taking part in the battle of Perryville. He received his discharge owing to ill health, and returned to Georgetown, and engaged in the grocery business. He has since been identified with the drug, boot and shoe business. On the 26th of April, 1879, he engaged in his present business, the firm being, "R. Wilson Cowan & Co., druggists." On the 14th of March, 1841, he married Miss Louisa W. Camerer. She was born in Ohio.
Valentine J. Buchanan, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Lawrence county, Illinois, on the 3d of September, 1826, and lived there fifteen years; he then went to Ohio, and from there to Perrysville, Indiana, and attended school, making his home with Mr. H. C. Benson, present editor of the "California Christian Advocate." He lived there five years. On the 8th of July, 1848, he married Miss Sarah Craig; she was born in Ohio. In 1850 he came to Illinois, and settled on his present place. He owns four hundred and twenty acres in this county, which is the result of his own labor and management. Of his seven children, five are living: Melvina, Sarah K., George, Mahala and Melvina S. In 1843 he joined the Methodist church. He was licensed to exhort by H. C. Benson in 1846; ordained by Bishop Scott in 1863, and licensed to preach by Hiram Buck, of the Illinois Conference, in 1852. He now acts as local minister. His parents, John and Mahala (daughter of Col. Spencer Buchanan) were natives of Ohio. They were married in Illinois. They died in 1852 and 1834, in Crawford and Lawrence counties respectively. His grandfather, John Buchanan, was a consin of ex-President Buchanan, deceased.
A. Leseure, Georgetown, grocer, was born in Nancy, France, on the 31st of August, 1816, where he lived until the fall of 1831, when, with his parents, he came to the United States and settled in Kentucky, near Cincinnati ; then went to Clark county, Indiana, and in 1847 came to Illinois and settled in Shelby county. In 1851 he came to George- town and engaged in the dry goods and grocery business, the firm being Leseure & Probst. They continued in business two years, when Mr. Probst sold out to Mr. Leseure, who continued the business until
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1861, when, on the 10th of August, he enlisted in the 7th Ill. Cav., and was in service until the elose of the war. He was second-lieutenant of Co. M, and was in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Mobile, and the other battles of his regiment. On the 24th of April, 1844, he married Miss Sarah Brightwell, a native of Maryland. They have had six children, four living: Desiree, Victor, Susan and Hattie.
William Hess, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser. The birth- place of this gentleman was in Coshocton county, Ohio. He was born on his father's farm on the 10th of February, 1837, and lived there until he was fourteen years of age; with his parents he then moved to Clay county, Indiana, and lived there one year. In 1852 they came to Illinois and settled at Brooks' Point, Vermilion county. He lived with his parents until the death of his mother, on the 4th of Angust, 1854, after which he worked abont on the farm for four years, and then went to Champaign county and engaged in farming on his own account, and lived there three years. On the 1st of September, 1861, he married Miss Jane Clifton, who was born in this county. He left Champaign county and settled on his present place of eighty-eight aeres in this township. His family contains three children : Albert J., Emma R. and Alman.
Amos Boekoven, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, on the 3d of February, 1810, where he lived twenty-two years. He then, after spending a few months in Penn- sylvania, went to Clermont county, Ohio, and lived there three years. He then moved to Vermilion county, Indiana, where he lived until 1852, when he came to his present place and has lived here since. He owns one hundred and sixty acres in this township, which he has earned by his own labor and management. On the 28th of March, 1844, he married Miss Margaret Sigler, a native of Ohio. They have no children.
Z. Morris, Georgetown, grain dealer and farmer, was born in Wayne county, North Carolina, on the 5th of December, 1824, and lived there three years, when, with his parents, he moved to Parke county, Indiana, and lived there until he was of age. He then came to Illinois and settled in Georgetown. In 1849 he engaged in general merchandise business at Montezuma, Indiana; he then returned to Georgetown and engaged in general merchandise business with the firm of B. Cana- day & Co., and was identified with this business for twenty years ; he then sold his interest and bought a stock-farm two and one-half miles northeast of Georgetown, and has owned the same since. In Angust, of 1878, he engaged in the grain business, at this point, with the firm of Richie, Thompson & Co. On the 12th of November, 1850, he mar-
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTT.
ried Miss Mary H. Canaday. She was born in Georgetown, and died on the 15th of September. 1869. On the 23d of February. 1871, he mar- ried Miss Elizabeth E. Partlow. She was born in Vermilion county, Illinois. They had four children. Two are now living: Fannie P. and Wright E.
John Cage. Westville, farmer and stock-raiser, was born on a farm in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of December, 1829: and in 1830 his parents moved to Athens county, Ohio, and farmed until he was twelve years old. He then went to Muskingum county ; from there, the next year. he went to Shelbyville. Indiana, and the next year to a farm near by, where he lived until he was twenty-one. He then worked at millwrighting and chair-making about two and one- half years. He then came to Vermilion county, Illinois, and engaged in running the Denmark Mills. On the 12th of October. 1868. he married Miss Lucinda Keck. She was born in Shelby county. Indiana. He next engaged in farming in Georgetown township, renting the Mc- Carty farm for two years. He then bought his present place. He owns one hundred and eighty-four acres in this county, besides prop- erty in Danville, all of which he has earned by his own labor and management.
Benjamin Haworth, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser. is a na- tive of Rush county, Indiana. He was born on his father's farm. on the 11th of April, 1828, and lived there eight years: then, with his parents. he moved to Wayne county, Indiana, and lived there until January of 1853, farming and learning the brick-making trade. In 1853 he came to Illinois and settled in Vermilion county, renting the Benjamin Canaday farm for twelve years. He then went to George- town and engaged in the stock business. He then bought a farm, and farmed some five years, when he sold out and moved to Hendricks county, Indiana. He lived there one year, and then bought his pres- ent place and has lived there since. On the 25th of December, 1849, he married Miss Rebecca Ann Colton. She was born in Wayne coun- ty. Indiana. They had eleven children, nine of whom are living : Letha Ann, Marietta. Ella. Louisa J., Allen W., Edwin. Horace T., Dillon and Vida G. He owns one hundred and eighty-five acres in this county, which he has earned by his own labor and management.
Joseph Thompson, Georgetown, general merchandise, was born in Salem, New Jersey, on the 4th of Angust, 1848. and lived there until the spring of 1853. He then, with his parents. came to Illinois. and settled near Georgetown. where they lived two years. His father was then appointed postmaster, and they moved to the village of Georgetown, and he has lived here since. In May. 1864, he engaged
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as clerk in the general merchandise business of B. Canaday & Co., and clerked in the business until the 1st of January, 1871, when Mr. Can- aday retired, and the firm of Richie & Thompson was formed and has continned since. He has held the office of township treasurer and vil- lage trustee, of which body he is now president. On the 6th of Sep- tember, 1870, he married Miss Lillie O. Canaday. She is a native of Georgetown, Illinois, born on the 29th of July, 1853. They have two children : Chas. E. and John A.
James Armour, Eugene, Indiana, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, on the 14th of February, 1800, and lived there three years, when, with his mother, he came to the United States, and settled in Pennsylvania, where his father had previously moved, and who died a few weeks after their arrival. In 1816 Mrs. Armour died, and James continned his residence there until 1822. He then moved to Indiana, and helped to build the Groomback mill, and he also helped to build the first house of the present village of Engene, in 1823. In 1824 he went back to Pennsylvania. While there, on the 10th of August, 1826, he married Miss Elizabeth Deardurff, a na- tive of that state. They had twelve children ; six are living: George J., Van Buren, Charles, Franklin P., Francis E. and Annie M. In 1828 Mr. Armour moved to Engene, Indiana, with his family, and engaged in boating to New Orleans and boat-building. In 1832 he engaged in the steam flour and saw mill at Engene, and was burned ont in the winter of 1834. He then established a boat-yard, and built boats until 1854, when he came to his present place. While at En- gene he served as postmaster and justice of the peace for twenty years. He owns one hundred and forty acres in this county. All his children are married, and live in this neighborhood, except George J., who resides in Kansas.
Jacob Yapp, Georgetown, hardware, was born in Alleghany county, New York, on the 12th of June, 1822, and lived there nntil 1854. In the fall of 1840 he apprenticed to the harness trade, and after serving three years traveled a year, and then engaged in the business on his own account at Cuba, New York, for two years. He then engaged as foreman of a harness and trunk factory, and followed the same for seven years. He then, with J. R. McKee, opened a harness and trunk fac- tory under the firm name of Yapp & McKee, and continued until May, 1854, when they removed the business from Cuba to Georgetown, Illi- nois, taking Mr. Thomas Briggs in as partner, and forming the firm of Yapp & Co., which continued one year, when Mr. Yapp bought ont the business and formed a partnership with James Jackson, which con- tinned until the death of Mr. Jackson, after which he conducted the
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
business alone until 1861. He then engaged in the hotel business which he had opened in 1858, and continued in this until 1865. He also conducted the hack line between Danville & Paris, which included the mail route. In 1864 he was elected justice of the peace. In 1868 he engaged in his present business. On the 4th of March, 1844, he married Miss Ambrosia C. Sheldon. She was born in Cuba, New York, and died on the 12th of February, 1848. They had one child : Helen A. On the 13th of February, 1851, he married Miss Adelia E. Palmer. She was born in Warsaw, New York.
Solomon Haworth, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Rush county, Indiana, on the 28th of August, 1829, and lived there six years. He then moved to Wayne county, where he lived until 1855, when he came to Illinois and settled in Vermilion county, and engaged in farming in Georgetown township. In March, 1879, he moved to the village, and farms a place on the Wabash in Indiana, near Eugene. On the 22d of September, 1850, he married Miss Kezia Mendenhall. She was born in Wayne county, Indiana. They had three children, one of whom is living: Alice. Mr. Haworth lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, when he began farming for him- self, and this he has followed since. He has served as road commis- sioner for five years in this township, and has also served as school director and trustee.
Phillip C. Jeffers, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Gallia county, Ohio, on the 12th of April, 1833, and lived there until 1855, when he came to Illinois and settled in Vermilion county. On the 19th of March. 1858, he married Miss Elvira Dye. She was born in Gallia county, Ohio. They have five children : Florence P., Sarah E., William I., Charles G. and Arthur H. He is no office-seeker, and has held no offices except those connected with the school and road. He owns one hundred and thirty-seven acres of land in this county, located two and a half miles northeast of Georgetown. His wife was the daughter of Robert and Priscilla (Sheets) Dye. They were natives of Washington county, Ohio, where they were married. They came to this county in the spring of 1856, and settled on their present place. He died on the 25th of April of the same year. She is living here with her daughter.
Robert Boyd, Perrysville, Indiana, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Alleghany county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of June, 1827, and lived there five years. He then, with his parents, moved to Ver- milion county. Indiana, and in 1855 came to his present place. At the age of twenty-one he began farming on his own account. On the 27th of February, 1854, he married Miss Margaret Hughes. She was born
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in Mason county, Virginia, and moved to Vermilion county, Indiana, when young. They have four children : John C., Mary E., Melvin M. and James T. Mr. Boyd owns one hundred and thirty acres of land in this county, which he has earned by his own labor and management. His parents, John and Sarah (Stewart) Boyd, were natives of Ireland and Pennsylvania. They came here as stated, and died March, 1853, and December, 1869, respectively.
William H. Alexander, Georgetown, retired, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of July, 1807, and lived there abont thirty-one years, during which time he learned the wagon-maker's trade. He then moved to Engene, Indiana, and lived there seventeen years, carrying on wagon manufacturing and blacksmithing. He then came to Vermilion county, Illinois, and engaged in farming. In 1874 he came to Georgetown, and has lived here since. On the 29th of June, 1831, he married Miss Hester Henry. She was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania. They had nine children, seven living: Mar- garett, Harvey, William, Ann, Thomas P., Jane and Daniel. His son William H. Alexander, was born in Eugene, Indiana, on the 23d of June, 1850. On the 1st of Angust, 1876, he began in the grocery business in Georgetown. The business was very small, and located near where the post-office is now. On the 29th of January, 1877, he bought of W. O. Mendenhall the stock of goods formerly owned by E. L. Carter, and moved his business to the northwest corner of the publie square, where he enjoys his full share of the patronage of the place.
J. P. Cloyd, Georgetown, physician, is a native of Washington county, Tennessee. He was born on the farm, on the 28th of June, 1838, where he lived eighteen years. He then came to Illinois and settled in Vermilion county, teaching until 1862, when he began read- ing medicine with Dr. J. C. Cook, near Newport, and read with him about two years. He then attended a course of lectures at Rush Med- ical College, Chicago. After this he practiced medicine in the eastern part of this county until the fall of 1868, when he again attended lec- tures at the Rush Medical College. He graduated from this institution on the 3d of February, 1869, and moved to Georgetown on the 1st of May following. He has practiced here since. On the 28th of October, 1859, he married Miss Hannah Golden. She was born in this county, near Georgetown. They had six children, four living: Richard A., Frazier N., Belle and Darlie.
John Bennett, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born on his father's farm, in Mason county, Kentucky, on the 5th of August, 1828, and lived there seventeen years. He then apprenticed to the black-
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
smith's trade, in Maysville, to Mr. Atherton, for three years, losing but three and a half days during that time. He then took charge of a shop on his father's farm. On the 24th of April, 1849, he married. Miss Julia A. Bayless. She was born in Mason county, Kentucky. He continued in the shop until 1857, when he came to Illinois and settled on his present place. Here he carried on farming and blacksmithing. In 1876 he opened a carriage and wagon factory at Indianola, but sold the same in 1878. He also had a saw-mill in operation on his farm from 1876 to 1878. Of late he has confined himself to his farm, located a mile and a half northwest of Georgetown, which consists of four hun- dred acres. He also owns land in Edgar county. He is the father of four children, three living : William, Laura Ann and Samnel.
W. O'Neall Mendenhall, Georgetown, physician, is a native of Montgomery county, Indiana. He was born on the 28th of April, 1834, and lived there fourteen years, when, with his parents, he moved to Tippecanoe county, and lived there until 1857, when he came to Georgetown and engaged in teaching, following the same for two years in Vermilion Seminary, one term at Ridge Farm and two terms at Georgetown. In 1864 he moved to Iroquois county, Illinois, and im- proved a farm of wild land. In 1866 he taught in the seminary at Watseka. From the time he was eighteen he read more or less medi- cine, and while at Watseka he read one year under Drs. Jewett and Alter. He then attended Ann Arbor, Michigan, for six months, and began practice in Iroquois county, Illinois. In 1870 he graduated from the Rush Medical College. In 1872 he came to Georgetown, and has practiced here since. He was also identified with the drug trade a part of the time. On the 15th of September, 1859, he married Miss Lydia J. Haworth. She was born in this county. They have had five chil- dren, three of whom are living: Edwin, William and George W.
J. D. Shepler, Georgetown, farmer and miller, was born in Fayette county, Indiana, on the 12th of December, 1828, where he lived until he was twenty-two. He then apprenticed to the milling trade in Shel- byville, Indiana. After learning his trade he followed the same at various places in Indiana, until 1859. IIe then came to Illinois, and settled in Vermilion county, at Myersville, where he took charge of Smith's mill. In the spring of 1860 he came to Georgetown, and has lived here since. He has had charge of the mill here since he came, except two years. In 1864 he bought a farm south of Georgetown, and has carried on the same since. The present farm contains one hundred and sixty-six acres. On the 13th of September, 1859, he mar- ried Miss Mary E. Gaudy. She was born in Newman county, Indiana. They have three children : Alonzo L., Alma M., and Frank C.
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GEORGETOWN TOWNSHIP.
James Moore, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Scioto county, Ohio, on the 12th of March, 1819, and lived there two years. Then, with his parents, he moved to Montgomery county, In- diana, and lived there forty-two years. In the fall of 1862 he came to Vermilion county, Illinois. He has always followed farming. On the 28th of January, 1842, he married Miss Elizabeth Lee. She was born in Kentucky. They have three children: William J., Howard, and James A. The two former are married, and live in this county; the latter lives at home, and assists in the farming; he also buys stock. Mr. Moore has, by his own labor, earned his present farm, which con- sists of two hundred and twenty-two acres. His parents, William and Elizabeth Snook Moore, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio. They were married in Ohio, and moved to Indiana, as stated, where he died about 1870. She is living on the old homestead in Indiana.
Moses Meeks, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Washington county, Ohio, on the 13th of August, 1820, and lived there until 1865. He lived with his parents twenty-seven years. On the 20th of April, 1847, he married Miss Susan Heckathorn. She was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. After the marriage he moved on his farm, and farmed same until he came west. In 1864 he came to Vermilion county, Illinois, and bought his present place, having sold out in Ohio previously. and settled on the same the year following. He acted as enrolling master for the fifteenth sub-district, in Washing- ton county, Ohio. He owns one hundred acres, which he has earned by his own labor and management. They had ten children, eight living: F. J., George W., Sarah E., Samuel L., Margaret E., Sarah J., Andrew J., and Ida V. William E. and Ann E. died in this county.
Lorenzo Bennett, Georgetown, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Mason county, Kentucky. He was born on the 27th of December, 1836, and lived there nineteen years. He then came to Illinois, and settled in Vermilion county, remaining two years. After this he went to Kentucky, and lived there six months, when he returned here, re- maining a few months. He again left for Kentucky, and lived there until 1866. He then came here, and in 1868 settled on his present place. He owns one hundred acres of land in this county. On the 19th of May, 1863, he married Miss Mary Chandler. She was born in Kentucky, and died on the 5th of June, 1865. They had one child : John W. On the 16th of November, 1865, he married Miss Mary Sherer. She was born in this county. They have two children : Sallie J. and Lula F.
Kinzer Rhenby, Engene, Indiana, farmer, was born in Ver- milion county, Indiana, on the 18th of April, 1836, and lived there
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
until 1867. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-two. On the 16th of October, 1859, he married Miss Mary C. Fultz. She was born in Vermilion county, Indiana. After his marriage he engaged in farming on his own account. In the spring of 1864 he enlisted in the 34th Ind., and was in the service until the close of the war. Of his eight children, seven are living: Elizabeth E., Sarah J., William L., Rachel Ann, John K., Bell and Andrew J .; Lilly died. He owns one hundred and forty acres in this county, and twenty-five in Indiana, which he has principally earned by his own exertion.
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