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 74
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CATLIN TOWNSHIP.
Sandusky and moved to Kansas. Mrs. Stansbury, who at that time was plain Jane Woodin, came here to the salt works in 1824. Francis Whitcomb and John Vance were then carrying on the salt business. Mr. Woodin was a cooper, and was at work at his trade there. He worked there three years and then entered four hundred acres of land near Catlin, which is now owned by Charles Gones. At that time Paris was the place of trade and milling, but afterward they used to go to Eugene. They took their produce to Hubbard and other traders, and took their furs to Lafayette, where they could always get cash for them. Mr. Woodin kept boarders for $1.50 per week. At that time salt sold for $1.50 per bushel. Mrs. Stansbury went to Danville once to a party. There was only one house on the road, at the head of the Froman hollow. Dan Beckwith was keeping bachelor's hall at D., and was very attentive to the party which had done his new town the honor of a visit.
The first school that was kept here was taught by Hiram Ticknor, just south of where Thomas Keeney now lives. The children from the salt works had to go three miles to this school. He was a good teacher, and put his fifteen scholars through readin', 'ritin' and 'rithmetic in a satisfactory way.
The first meetings were held at the house of Asa Elliott. Father Kingsbury, who came here to preach to the Indians, occasionally preached for the people at the salt works. The first Sabbath-school in the county was established by the Methodists at Mr. Elliott's, probably about 1836. Mr. Woodin died here in 1837. Of ten children, only four are living. Mrs. Stansbury and Mrs. Price live in this county. When the first conrt was held at Elliott's, Mrs. Stanbury went over to help Mrs. Elliott to do the house-work.
Francis Whitcomb was for several years engaged in the salt works. He came there in 1821. He afterward took up the farm which Rich- ard Jones lived on. He worked this farm for several years, and sold it to Henry Jones, and went to McLean county, and lived on the Kickapoo, seven miles this side of Bloomington, where some of his family still reside.
Amos Williams, from Pennsylvania, lived here at Butler's Point a short time. He was the first county clerk after the county was or- ganized, and had been a teacher and surveyor, and county clerk of Edgar county before. He was a man of most accurate habits. The records show more in his favor than any other pen can tell. He was circuit clerk, probate justice of the peace, poundmaster, postmaster at Danville, and may have held all the other offices too. He helped to survey out the town, and was almost the first to become interested in
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
having good schools. He was a competent surveyor, a thorough teacher, a natural clerk. If he could not do everything, it is evident that he did everything well which he undertook to do at all, which is better. He died in 1857, and his children still reside in Danville.
John Payne, the father of a family that has since the very first his- tory of the county been an important factor in its affairs, came from Orange county, New York, to Indiana, and from there here, in 1827, and took up land where the Poor Farm now is, in section 24. His family all came with him, and for some time lived around him here. He was a man of great force of character, with strong will and energy, and he soon made himself felt in the affairs of the new county. Late in life he sold out here and went to Livingston county, where two of his sons resided, and died there about 1864. He left a family of nine children, who have long been known as among the most enterprising and public-spirited citizens. His son Peter went to California. William Milton was at one time sheriff of Vermilion county, and now resides in Danville. Captain Morgan L. Payne, another son, who has recently died in Livingston county, has left a record of which any man or fam- ily might well feel proud. He raised a company here for the Black- hawk war, and marched at its head to the relief of the beleaguered citizens on Fox River. He owned a farm here, and during the era of railroad building, in 1836, took a large contract of grading the North- ern Cross road through this township. By the failure of the company he was ruined and went to Texas, hoping to recover his fortunes. At the breaking out of the war with Mexico, he commanded a company, doing good service until the expiration of his term of enlistment, when he returned to his former home in Indiana to raise another company. The close of hostilities occurring before he could accomplish his desire, he again engaged in farming and removed to Livingston county, in this state. At the breaking out of the rebellion he raised a company which did gallant service in defending the old flag. He again engaged in farming, and later, while keeping hotel in Pontiac, lost all by a fire, and when seventy years old served as constable and deputy sheriff to earn an honest living, until stricken with disease, which proved fatal. He was a man of most intense patriotism, and showed it by gallant heroism in three wars, and never lagged when duty called. An inci- dent which occurred is so characteristic of the two principal actors that it is recorded here: While engaged in grading the railroad in Catlin, a dispute arose with a Mr. Frazier in regard to his right to cross the latter's land, Mr. Frazier claiming that he was a trespasser in going on his land to grade the road. The result was a fight, in which the pluck and fighting qualities of both participants were pretty fully
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tested. After a most fearful contest, in which the captain seemed to be the vietor, a contest in the court followed, which created a good deal of interest. Mr. Lincoln was at Danville, attending court, and became much interested in the matter, and could not but admire the plnck of the captain, who contested his case as stoutly in court as he had on the field. While he was serving in the rebellion he was home on furlough, and not getting back on time was minstered out of service. This was not what he had gone to war for, and he set about getting the order mustering him out set aside. Procuring the names of all the officers to his petition, he sent it on to Washington, to his old friend Ward Hill Lamon, whom he rightfully supposed could get the ear of the President on all occasions. When the matter was brought to the attention of the President he looked it over, noticing the name. The old affair with Frazier at once came back to him. "See here, Hill," said he, " is this the Captain Payne who had the fight with Frazier about that railroad grading down in Danville?" Being told it was, he said: " Well, it's my opinion that he's just the kind of fighters we want down there," and at once wrote the order to reinstate him in his position. Squire L. Payne, another son, is an extensive farmer near Chenoa. John, Jr., was killed in a riot in Danville, in the summer of 1863. The affair was unfortunate in all its bearings. He left seven children, four of whom live in this county. Martin, another son, went to Oregon. Mrs. Miles lived near here. Mrs. Thomas Douglas, who lived near here, had a large family of children, several of whom still live here. Mrs. Thompson lived here on the farm until her husband died, and now resides in Danville.
John Thompson came from Canada. He came here with his father- in-law, John Payne, and took up a farm in 1827 about one mile north- east of Catlin. He died there in 1864. One son is now a prominent citizen of Rossville. He was a good citizen, and a very worthy and successful farmer. Some of his children live here yet, and are among the well known citizens of Vermilion county.
Charles Caraway entered land here in 1824. He lived in Virginia, and had an interest in the Sulphur Springs in Green Briar county. He entered about a section of land in all, and came here to live in 1829, and made his home on section 33, where Hon. J. H. Oakwood now resides. He was a man of education and enterprise, and at once became thoroughly interested in the affairs of the new county. He died early in 1836, before his plans had become fully developed. He left one son and four danghters. His son Charles still lives in the township. One daughter, Mrs. Oakwood, lives on the farm her father made here. Mrs. Arrowsmith removed to Iowa, where she still re-
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
sides ; Mrs. Buoy went to Oregon, and died in California, and Mrs. G. W. Wolfe still lives here. The three brothers McCorkle, who were brothers of Mrs. Charles Caraway, came here from Virginia with the latter in 1829. J. S. MeCorkle took up a farm northeast of Catlin in section 23, and was a very prosperous and successful farmer. He en- gaged in stock-raising and feeding, and acquired considerable property. He died in 1858, and his family are scattered, a portion of them still residing here. The other brothers engaged in teaching and other vocations for a time. Thomas H. McKeeney came here at the same time, and took up land in section 28, where he still resides, though bed-ridden for some years. He has four children residing here.
Noah Guymon came from Ohio in 1830. He came on foot, bring- ing his wife - known all over this country as "Grandma" Guymon - on horseback, which conveyance also served to pack what earthly possession the two jointly and severally owned. He took a claim on seetion 29, and got up a little cabin, which served the double purpose of residence and a place of shelter for the faithful old mare, which had transported his plunder from Ohio. They proved an in- dustrious and economical eonple, and soon prospered in their worldly affairs. Mrs. Guymon was a Connecticut Yankee, and, in the crowd of folks with whom she found herself here, whose ideas of a live Yankee were purely traditional - which traditions were strained through several generations of stories and theories,- she was fond of boasting of her pure New England nativity. It is needless to say that she was never called on to prove her identity, for, with the native shrewdness of a born Yankee of the typical kind, she made the most of the situation and surroundings. She almost at onee commenced the practice of a profession, then, and since, in universal demand. Doctors were not numerous here in the early days, and for miles around, this patron saint of the "rising generation," went the darkest nights and in all sorts of weather to aid the cause of progressive humanity. The walls of her sitting-room are hung with the portraits of the great men, living and dead, of republican views.
"By these insignia," said her visitor, "we are led to mistrust that you have been a republican in your sentiments?"
"Yes," she replied, " a real abolitionist! and when the war was go- ing on it seemed as if I must read everything about it. I could count almost a regiment of my boys there, -- that is, of those whom I had dressed the first time; and I read so much that I almost destroyed my eyes. Oh! it was awful to think of those brave men starving in rebel prison pens !"
Now at the age of $6, though her eye is dimmed and her step feeble,
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her mind is as free, her voiee as clear, and her laugh as hearty as it was fifty years ago, when she first set foot on the soil of Vermilion county. Her life has been an active one; both she and her husband worked hard and managed frugally, have accumulated and saved. In the place of the old log-cabin of which they were joint occupants the first year of their life here, a tidy brick house was built. Few people who have lived in Catlin during the past fifty years will ever forget "Widow Guymon."
Alexander Church eame from Virginia in 1830, and farmed a part of Mr. Caraway's land for ten years, when he bought the land where he now is, in section 28. This was the school section which had been given in lieu of the Saline section 16. The law of congress gave all sections 16 to the state for school purposes, but another law reserved to the state all Saline lands. The Saline section had been taken pos- session of by the men who were making salt and living there; henee this section was given in lieu of that.
John Boggess took up land in sections 29 and 30, in 1830. He made a considerable farm, and continued to live there until 1875, when he died. His son resides on the farm. The old log house still stands there, which his father built nearly fifty years ago. Joseph Davis set- tled here on section 36 (19-13), in 1830. He was an energetic man, and acquired ownership of considerable land. He engaged in raising and feeding stock, and used to drive to Ohio frequently. He was a very successful farmer. His son Jesse still lives here. Frank Foley settled on section 36 in 1831. He was here when the soldiers were going to the Black Hawk war. He sold to J. Allen in 1835, and went to Stephenson county, where he entered land which has since be- come a portion of the city of Freeport. Jacob Hickman came in 1831 and took up land in section 35 (19-13). He died there in 1842. He had ten children. His son R. C. Hickman still lives on the farm. One son, Hiram, kept hotel a long time in Georgetown, and was sheriff of the county about 1845. He had been very successful in business, but complications growing out of his office embarrassed him. William Youst came on a farm in the western part of the county in 1830. He lived there the winter of the deep snow, and then settled on section 36, where he died soon after. His wife died in 1872. His son, James T. Youst, lives on the farm still, and his daughter is the wife of Joel Acree. Ephraim Acree, and his son Joel, came here in 1830, and took up land where the latter lives now. There had been a short corn crop that year, and when the deep snow followed they were just able to hive up for the winter like the bees. At this time game of all kinds was plenty, but that winter made it very scarce. The snow was so
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
deep that there was nothing for the game to live on. The wolves seemed to prosper. Joel Acree still lives on the farm which his father took up fifty years ago. W. H. Butler was an old settler near Dan- ville ; he settled on section 35 (19-13) in 1834. G. W. Pate, whose name and whose life is so identified with the growth and progress of the Methodist church in this portion of the county, was born in Indi- ana in 1815, and came here to Butler's Point with his father, Adam Pate, about 1830. He was converted under the preaching of Father Anderson, and at once commenced his labors in the cause of religion. He was selected as class-leader, and soon commenced preaching. He lived in the house which stands opposite the fair grounds, where his widow still resides, and kept a country tavern there for many years. Very early preaching service was held at Elliott's house, at Adam Pate's, and later at the school-house. Rev. James McKain, Mr. Hall and Mr. French were among the first preachers. The circuit was a four weeks' one, and the intervening Sabbaths called for the services of Mr. Pate and other local preachers. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop Scott, in 1857. Most of his time was spent on the farm, of course, but he was often called away on various matters in which he took a deep interest. He was long a member of the Masonic order, and was held in high estimation by members of the craft for his faith- ful devotion to the principles of the order. He was a man of kind, conciliating disposition, and loved the peace and good of the church and the neighborhood. He died a few years since. His widow is still living, and his only daughter, whose husband, Thomas Keeney, was killed in the army. Two sons of the latter are left to honor the mem- ory of their father and grandfather.
John Reynolds, a brother of Mrs. Pate, was a prominent promoter of the cause of religion. He was a man of no especial culture for the work, but was zealous and earnest. He preached all over this country, from Georgetown to Homer, for twenty years. It was never too stormy nor cold for him to go forth to fill an appointment, or to perform an act of kindness to the sick or suffering. In 1850 he went to Iowa.
Mrs. Ray came here with her seven children, from Indiana, in 1842. Though not among the earliest settlers, she and her family took an im- portant part in strengthening the religious interests of the town. She was a sincere christian mother, whose every thought, wish and desire was for the cause of religion and for her children's best interests. She died at the age of eighty-seven, in 1877, sincerely loved by the entire community. Her sons William and S. S. still reside here.
Henry Oakwood came from Ohio in 1833, and took up a farm in what is now Oakwood township. He was a prominent and public-
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spirited man. His son, Hon. J. H. Oakwood, came to reside in Catlin, where he now lives, in 1851, on section 33. He has always been a leader in public matters; was one of the earliest and staunchest friends of the County Agricultural Society, and of every matter of permanent interest. He has been in past years largely engaged in farming and cattle-raising. Mr. Oakwood was elected to the legislature in 1872, and served during the protracted sessions of 1873 and 1874, at the time when the revision of the statutes was being passed upon. As the personal representative of a farming community, while he did not for- get his duties as a representative of other interests, he became strongly identified with every matter which had a bearing on the farm. Mr. Oakwood was again elected in 1876, and proved a very valuable and nseful member. During this last term he was the colleague of Hon. Alvan Gilbert, one of Vermilion county's most honored and valuable citizens.
Henry Jones came here from England in 1849. He had amassed a considerable fortune in the energetic prosecution of his trade, and, having a large family of boys, eame here to make his home. He bought the Whitcomb farm, and entered and bought land all around it, until he had about three thousand acres. He provided himself with fourteen yoke of cattle to break prairie with, and stocked up pretty heavily with cattle. He was a very large man, weighing over three hundred pounds, and had all the traits of a hospitable, well educated "English gentle- man; one of the real old stock." He engaged in partnership with William Bently and William Hinds, in the tanning business, and did a pretty fair business; but they were never able to get enough bark, the people all being too busy with their farm work when bark-peeling was in its prime. Nothing is left of the old tan-yard but a fine spring of water. The eldest son, Richard, was the first station agent and first business man of Catlin ; was in trade a long time; was frequently elected supervisor, and was president of the town board. His tragic death- tragic in its surroundings-will never be forgotten by the citizens of Catlin. His sister, Mrs. Church, was entertaining her family and friends in honor of her fiftieth birthday. Dinner was served at six o'clock, and at the moment when joy and musie were filling the man- sion of the hospitable lady, and everyone present was given over to gladness, three young ladies were invited to sing. They commenced to sing a sad, though favorite song, " Mother, I've come home to die," when Mr. Jones straightened baek in his chair and expired in an instant. The sadness which shrouded that gay company when it was known that death had taken from their very midst the good man who, since the death of his father, had been looked up to by every member
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
of the family as their head, was terrible to endure. The descent from unmixed joy and hilarity into the grief which surrounds death, was shocking, if not tragic.
Soon after the railroad was in operation, and Catlin had begun to grow into a place of note, the people concluded to have an "old- fashioned Fourth of July celebration." It was one of Henry Jones' favorite desires to show these Yankees how they would celebrate such an occasion in England, if they had ever been so fortunate as to have such an affair there. He had been brought up under the "lion and the unicorn," and had never been accustomed to see a "Fourth of July," and had held to the traditions of his fathers, that "St. George was a bigger man than ever fourth of July was." But, on coming to America, he changed his mind, and became a thorough Yankee. To have the biggest celebration ever seen in the Wabash Valley was what the people of Catlin proposed, and preparations were made accord- ingly. Mr. Jones told them to go into his herd and slaughter all the fat steers they wanted. "If a dozen won't do'em, take a hun'erd," said the earnest Jonathan ; "give 'em enough to eat, or they can't be 'appy." He was unanimously chosen president of the day. The prep- arations went forward on the grandest scale. Twenty stalwart men were sent out, who spent a week soliciting provisions. Wagon trains were pressed into service to bring in of the abundance of the land. No such sight was ever seen until the commissary trains of the grand army of the Union took up the line of march into the sacred soil of Virginia. The best band in Indiana was engaged, and Daniel Voor- hees was sent for, but previous engagements prevented his attendance, and Dan Beekwith came in his stead. The preparations which had been going on for weeks finally ushered in the glorious day. A whole flock of eagles could not have added to the patriotic enthusiasm of the occasion. Crowds of people came in from all the surrounding country, and father Jones was "'appy." Catlin had not as yet been captured by the Good Templars, and the boys did not forget to drink bumpers to the old Englishman who had been converted into a live Yankee. The fund of provisions was ample, and the baskets full of fragments which they took up were never counted, but there was enough to keep Jones' hogs for weeks, after having given away to all the poor they could find. Catlin can be depended on when her citizens get aroused.
Below is a list of the township officers elected in Catlin since it was set off as a separate township in 1858:
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CATLIN TOWNSHIP.
Date. Vote. Supervisor. Clerk.
Assessor. Collector.
1858. Jesse Burroughs .J. M. Goss Noah Guymon.
1859. Jesse Burroughs
.. W. R. Timmons. . C. L. Pate.
1860. .. 208. .. Jesse Burroughs .J. Crosby
J. Thompson .. . J. A. Church.
1861. .. 153. .. G. W. Pate.
.J. Crosby
J. Thompson .. . G. W. Cook.
1863. .. 274. .. Jesse Burroughs
G. W. F. Church. . N. C. Howard .. J. A. Church.
1864 ... 168 .. Richard Jones . W. L. Hind.
. F. Allhands .... F. Allhands.
1866. A. G. Olmstead
A. A. Sulcer
.R. Clearwater .. R. Clearwater.
1867 J. A. Church
.C. L. Pate
E. P. Boggess . . E. P. Boggess.
1868 Richard Jones P. Hains .W. M. Ray . W. M. Ray.
1869. .G. W. Pate. P. Hains W. M. Ray J. W. Newlon.
1870 G. W. Wolfe . J. H. Hartley W. M. Ray. J. W. Newlon.
1871. .G. W. Wolfe J. H. Oakwood . W. M. Ray S. W. Black.
1872. .G. W. Wolfe Ed. Winter W. M. Ray S. W. Black.
1873 ... 160 ... G. W. Wolfe
Ed. Winter W. M. Ray .. W. F. Wolfe.
1874 ... 221 ... G. W. Tilton W. R. Timmons .. J. W. Newlon :. W. F. Wolfe.
1875. .. 199. . . Richard Jones. F. Tarrant . J. A. Church ... Henry Lloyd.
1876. .. 211 ... Richard Jones
Albert Church. .. .J. A. Church ... Henry Lloyd.
1877. .. 195. .. G. W. Wolfe Albert Church .... Wm. Jameson .. G. W. Wolfe, jr.
1878 ... 239. .. G. W. Wolfe
Albert Church. .. . Wm. Jameson .. Albert Church.
1879 ... 246 ... J. W. Newlon Albert Church. ... Wm. Jameson . . Albert Church.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION.
It is believed that Rev. James McKain, who was, as early as 1828 or 1829, minister in charge of the Eugene circuit, was the first Meth- odist minister to preach in this part of the county. Mrs. Pate speaks of him and of Messrs. Hall, Anderson and French, as among the first preachers here, and says the earlier preaching services were held at Father Pate's, and at the house of Mr. Elliott. Her husband and her brother, Mr. Reynolds, are deserving of mention as among the early local preachers who in those times had much of the pastoral labors put on them. Father Kingsbury is the only minister of the Presbyterian denomination found mentioned at that early day, and the names of none of other denominations are found in any account, or in the mem- ory of any of the oldest inhabitants. About ten years later, Rev. James Ashmore, of the Cumberland Presbyterians, commenced preaching in the western part of this town.
The first edifice erected by the Methodists was the small building now occupied by Mr. Tarrant at Catlin village. It was built a half mile north of its present location. Francis Whitcomb, David Finley, Adam Pate, Thomas Keeney and wife, John Finley and wife, Mrs. Ray and her children, were the leaders in getting up this house of worship. Rev. Mr. York was then pastor, and the charge belonged to the Danville circuit. The building was 20 x 30, and was built by Mr. Mills, probably in 1842. The charge was soon after this made a part
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