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 80
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The Presbyterian church was built about the same time, and is a neat frame building 32 x 54, with vestibule at the corner surmounted by a belfry. It cost about $3,000, and was dedicated in October, 1870. The Christians built a church which is 30 x 46, which they afterward sold to the United Brethren.
The Rossville Mill, a large and in every respect a first-class mill, was built by Tuttle & Ross in 1875, and the large elevator of Com- stock & Co., 40 x 60, in 1873.
North Fork Lodge, I.O.O.F., No. 245, was chartered in 1857. James Holmes, Lewis A. Burd, J. H. Gilbert, Fulton Armstrong, A. Gilbert, J. R. Stewart, J. Dixon, John Rudy, J. Helmick, J. P. Jones and L. M. Thompson were charter members, of whom the last is the only one left in the lodge. The first officers were: Fulton Armstrong,
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
N.G .; Alvan Gilbert, V.G .; L. M. Thompson, secretary; J. R. Stewart, treasurer : L. A. Burd, chaplain ; J. Uler, lodge deputy. The lodge owns its hall, and has been fairly prosperous, especially since the war: during that, the number did not often exceed six or eight. The present officers are: W. W. Phillips. N.G .; W. W. Lettrill, V.G .; D. W. Foulke, secretary; L. M. Thompson, treasurer.
The first meeting of Rossville Lodge, A.F. & A.M., working under dispensation, was held November 23, 1866. Henry C. Ellis, W.M .; John Ridgway, S.W .; N. Griffing, J.W. pro tem. ; R. Potter, S.D. pro tem .; J. V. Blackburn, J.D. pro tem. ; E. S. Pope, secretary pro tem. ; Jacob Haas, tyler pro tem. Rossville Lodge, No. 527, was chartered October 1, 1867. The charter members were John Ridgway, S. D. Lewis, H. C. Ellis, E. S. Townsend, D. P. Haas, John R. Jerauld, H. D. Campbell, A. M. Davis, William York, J. D. Bingham and Jacob Haas. The first officers were: John Ridgway, W.M .; H. C. Ellis, S.W. : James D. Bingham, J.W. The charter was signed by Jerome R. Gorin, grand master, and H. G. Reynolds, grand secretary. The lodge has at present some forty or forty-five members. The present officers are: W. W. Phillips, W.M .; Harry Shannon, S.W .; J. C. Gundy. J.W .; J. R. Livingood, secretary; D. C. Deamude, treasurer; E. F. Birch, S.D .: Patrick Pendergrast, J.D .; Thomas Dengler, tyler.
The Rossville Lodge, No. 650, Knights of Honor, was chartered by the Supreme Lodge of the World, May, 1877. The charter members were J. J. McElroy, W. D. Foulke, William Vining, G. G. Ruth, J. C. Gundy, John Milligan, J. Warner, A. Grant, J. R. Livingood, S. A. Watson, W. H. Oakwood. J. C. Gundy was past dictator; W. D. Foulke, dictator; J. R. Livingood, vice dictator; J. B. Warner, assist- ant dictator; J. Milligan, chaplain ; S. A. Watson, guide; G. G. Ruth, reporter ; A. Grant, treasurer : Messrs. Gundy, Milligan and Vining, trustees. The lodge meets in the Odd-Fellows' hall. Their objects are not unlike those of the Odd-Fellows order, having an established widows fund, in addition to other regular beneficiaries. The supreme lodge makes regular assessments on subordinate lodges to meet the necessities of obligations to the representatives of deceased members. During the devastations of the yellow fever last year the lodge was taxed heavily, assessments following each other in quick succession, all of which were promptly met in the spirit which actuates the order. There are now eighteen members. The present officers are: J. C. Gundy. dictator : J. R. Livingood, vice dictator : J. J. McElroy, assist- ant dictator: William Vining, chaplain : A. Grant, guide: W. D. Foulke, reporter.
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ROSS TOWNSHIP.
In 1873 the Rossville "Observer," a six-column folio, was started by Mr. Moore. It was republican first, but in 1876 went with the " greenback " or national cause. Mr. Moore discontinued its publica- tion after three years, and removed to Champaign, where he became connected with the " Union." In 1876 Mr. J. Cromer commenced the publication of the " Enterprise," a republican paper, and continued it for nearly two years. He then went to Homer, where he is still en- gaged in publishing. Rossville now has no paper.
ALVIN.
When the Havana, Rantoul & Eastern railroad was built it was ap- parent that at its crossing with the Chicago & Danville road there would a station of some importance grow up. As early as 1872 a sta- tion had been established on the Chicago & Danville road a mile south of where Alvin now is, called Gilbert, from Hon. Alvan Gilbert, who had been so long identified with all the material interests of Ross, and who had been, more than any other man, instrumental in saving the township aid which had been voted by Ross to this railroad. A post- office was established, which, for some reason, did not bear the name of the station -probably because of the similarity between its name and that of some other post-office in the state. To compromise mat- ters, they attempted to name the post-office for Mr. Gilbert's given name, which was Alvan; he always persisting in that spelling, which violated the theories and practices of the post-office department, and by the officials it was spelled as indicated at the head of this article.
L. T. Dixson laid out the town of GILBERT on section 8 (21-11), and Bruce Peters and D. MeKibben started a store. Peters was postmaster. Soon after this the store was sold to J. D. Williams, and he was ap- pointed postmaster. John Davison afterward bought it, and put in a stock of dry-goods. Dr. G. W. Akers started in the drug business in August, 1875, and continued there for one year, at which time the narrow-gauge road was a fixed fact, and drugs, store, post-office, station and all moved a mile farther north, and Gilbert went where Jim Fisk's profits in the great "crop-moving" Wall street speculation went.
In laying out and giving name to the new town the officials showed the good judgment of following. not only the name but the spelling of the post-office which was moved there from Gilbert.
The building of this road only called for private subscriptions, as the law and the constitution under which the people, the townships, cities and counties had run headlong into debt in aid of useless railroads had been repealed, and the voting " local aid " is among the things of the past. The company bought twelve aeres of land of Samuel Kuns,
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
on section 5, eight of which they laid out in town lots and recorded as the town of Alvin. John Davison and W. D. Fonlke laid out additions west of this, and Samuel Kuns north of it. J. W. Stansbury laid out an addition west of these, making in all about seventy acres now within the unincorporated village of Alvin.
Riley Yatman, a carpenter, built the first house in Alvin, which he sold to James Caldwell and went to Monticello. Abram L. Buckles built, in December, 1875, the hotel building at the railroad crossing, which he now occupies. Dr. G. W. Akers built the drug store he now occupies in 1876. George Ford, an old resident of Knox county, came here from Rantoul in 1876 and put up the fine, large boarding-house, the "Alvan House," which he now occupies. This was built on the original town.
Rev. J. D. Jenkins (Presbyterian) commenced preaching here occa- sionally in 1877, and in the spring of 1878 a petition was presented to the Bloomington Presbytery to send a commission to organize a church here, according to the rules of that church. The prayer was granted, and Rev. Mr. Brooks, of Danville, Rev. John H. Dillingham and Elder Grant, of Rossville, were appointed to visit Alvin and organize a church. April 30 Messrs. Dillingham and Grant organized a church of nineteen members, ten of whom came by letter and nine on profes- sion of their faith. It was decided by the church to adopt the rotary system of eldership, and George L. Caldwell, Charles Peterson and Dr. Akers were elected elders; J. O. Andrews, Dr. G. W. Howard and J. Q. Tyler were elected deacons. A Sabbath-school was estab- lished, of which Mr. Tyler was elected superintendent. Jas. McDonald, S. Kuns and Dr. Akers were elected trustees, and the church engaged Mr. Jenkins to preach each alternate Sabbath. The trustees at once set about building a church edifice, 28×40, and have it so far completed that they have been occupying it during the winter. It has been used by the district school for the winter, as the district has no school-house. It is proposed to complete the church as fast as means are collected for that purpose. . It will cost, completed, $1,000. There are now twenty- five residences in Alvin, and the grain trade amounts to about forty-five thousand bushels annually. J. H. Braden is postmaster.
Rayville is a station on the Havana, Rantonl & Eastern railroad, with a post-office and one store, established on the land of R. R. Ray, of Rossville.
BIOGRAPHIICAL.
Alvan Gilbert, deceased, was born in Ontario county, New York, on the 11th of July, 1810, and was a son of Samuel and Mary (Morse) Gilbert. Abont 1825 he emigrated with his parents and two younger
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brothers (James H. and Elias M.) to Crawford county, Ohio, and tarry- ing there a year, continued their removal westward, settling in Ver- milion county, Illinois, two miles south of Danville, at which place no settlement was begun till about two years later. His father having become early interested in a ferry,-the first ever established at Dan- ville,- he was employed some years as ferryman, transporting men and teams across the North Fork of the Vermilion. In 1831, on the 18th day of April, he was married to Miss Matilda Horr, a daughter of Robert Horr. In the spring of 1835 he moved on a farm situated on the north side of the North Fork, west of the Chicago State road, and opposite Mann's Chapel, which he had purchased from his father-in-law. When he had, by successive additions, increased the area to two hun- dred and forty acres, he sold it to his father and younger brother, James H., and bought another from his uncle, Solomon Gilbert, which in- cluded the present northern limits of Rossville. After occupying this place three years he again sold, and bought the Daniel Liggett home- stead, embracing the present southern limits of Rossville, on which he afterward lived and died. Subsequently he dealt largely in real estate and personal property. He owned at the time of his death nearly one thousand acres, besides some valuable lots in Danville and Chicago, and a tract of land in Iowa. His business transactions were distinguished by the utmost fairness and the strictest honesty. His first wife died on the 13th of March, 1849, leaving two children : Sarah E., wife of Geo. C. Dickson, and Nancy J., wife of Frederick Grooms, both residents of Vermilion county. His second wife, sister to the deceased, to whom he was married on the 14th of November, 1849, was formerly Miss Nancy Horr, and relict of Samuel Elzy. She was born Sunday, on the 20th of January, 1815. Mr. Gilbert was one of the first volunteers in the Sac war, and was enrolled under Capt. Dan W. Beckwith. After his return, a young man of resolution was required to convey dis- patches to Gen. Atkinson, at Ottawa. The distance was two hundred miles and the country infested with hostile Indians, but he volunteered to perform the mission at every hazard ; and taking another young man of daring qualities in his company, he successfully executed his trust, being but once chased by the red foe. Mr. Gilbert was prominently before the public many years, and his name was a household world. He was honored beyond most men of local reputation, and in spirited contrast to the aspiring demagogues who throng the arena ; his stead- fast integrity, uniform goodness and strength of character, his even, unvarying merit, preceded and invited every honor. He was one of the commissioners appointed by the legislature to divide Vermilion county into townships, on the adoption by the county of that system of
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
organization. He was one of the three commissioners to divide the swamp lands between this county and Ford, when the territory of the latter was detached from Vermilion,-himself and Mr. Lamb aeting on behalf of the old county, and Judge Patton of the new. Their labors covered a period of three months, and gave entire satisfaction to both sections. In 1876 he was elected to the state general assembly. He was a member of one of the visiting committees, and while in perform- ance of his duty inspecting some public work, the chilly, humid atmos- phere within the freshly erected walls, caused him to contract a violent cold which brought on an excruciating attack of rheumatism, pros- trating him several weeks, and from the effects of which he never com- pletely recovered. He was a member of the board of supervisors eighteen years, and chairman of that honorable body most of the time during his faithful service. He was intimately associated with the ma- terial growth and prosperity of the county. When a young man he hauled material to build the old court-house, and as chairman of the board and of the building committee, assisted in the erection of the new. His quiet but useful life terminated on the 18th of October, 1878. The following honorable tribute to his character is taken from the " Hoopes- ton Chronicle," of October 24th: "Alvan Gilbert was a man who loved his fellow-men, and in turn was held in close affection by all who knew his noble qualities. He was the self-constituted guardian of the poor and oppressed in his vicinity. They felt that no harm could befall them, no grinding landlord could turn them into the street, so long as their benefactor lived. In every public enterprise, in every private benefaction, in all enterprises redounding to the general good, Mr. Gilbert was ever in the van, and his hand was ever willing to be- stow an equable portion of his substance, not for ostentatious display, but purely and simply out of his native generosity. Prominent in local matters, he was equally conspicuous in the developments of the county where he passed more than half a century. Elevated to posi- tions of honor and trust, he performed his duty faithfully and well." The " Danville News" of the 25th, contained the following: "At the outbreak of the rebellion his whole soul was enlisted in the cause of maintaining the Union. His activity as a private eitizen, and in his public capacity on the board of supervisors, was untiring in keeping the quota of Vermilion county more than full in the field, while his generosity, aid and sympathy, through all the war, was liberally -nay, even bountifully - bestowed upon the wife, children and parents of the absent soldier. Of the thousands of men, the patriotism and bener- olence of Alvan Gilbert shone through, conspicuously, all the dark hours of that terrible struggle. The soldiers and their families, of Ver-
-
William Giddings DECO.
DANVILLE.
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ROSS TOWNSHIP.
milion county, can never forget this noble trait of his character. He was a public spirited man in every sense of the term. Anything that would promote the general good, whether of religion, education, public roads and railroads, always found him an early and persistent friend." He was a consistent and liberal member of the Presbyterian church, and aided largely by his influence and means to build up the denomi- nation. Politically, he was firm in his principles, but moderate in the expression of his views, and charitable toward opponents ; first a whig and afterward a republican. Mr. Gilbert's funeral was the largest ever had in Vermilion county,-over a thousand people turning out to testify how deeply the public heart was moved, and how sincerely his loss was deplored. The Rev. J. H. Dillingham, of the Presbyterian church, conducted the service, assisted by the Rev. James Shaw of the Methodist denomination. There were one hundred and seventy-five carriages and wagons in the procession, which was just one mile and a half long. He was buried in the cemetery at Mann's chapel, three miles south of Rossville, with the honors of Odd-Fellowship. The Gilbert family are descendants of English stock, and their ancestors were early settlers of Massachusetts colony. Mr. Gilbert's grandfather was a native of that commonwealth, and a soldier in the war of the rev- olution. His uncle, Solomon, served in the war of 1812, and in 1831 migrated to this county and spent the remainder of his life. His grandfather, Zebedialı Morse, was also a revolutionary soldier, and a progenitor of the celebrated Morse family, including the inventor of the electric telegraph - Prof. S. F. B. Morse. This family traces its lineage to pilgrims of the Mayflower. Mrs. Gilbert's ancestors, the Horrs, formed a part of the first hardy band of pilgrims. Her father, grandfather and great-grandfather, each bore the christian name of Robert, and her father and grandfather were each born in the same house in the town of Plymouth and near the Plymouth Rock. Her grandfather bore arms for his country in the revolution, and her father in the war of 1812. The latter, Robert Horr, was born on Monday, January 19, 1781, as has been already stated, in Plymouth, Massachu- setts. In 1812 he moved to Niagara Falls. The American troops, in winter quarters at that place, were destitute of elothing, and Mr. Horr conceived the idea of making a supply, not hesitating to ply the needle with his own hands, though he had never done so before. Taking in company with him a seamster, they went to work, and with the help of a force of sewing girls, during the winter, furnished the soldiers a complete outfit. At the close of the war he came west and settled where Columbus, Ohio, is situated, and bought a tract of land on which the state penitentiary has since been built. In 1827 he sold his
43
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
home and removed to Illinois, stopping the following winter with Gnr- don S. Hubbard, at Bunkum, a trading post on the Iroquois River. Hubbard had opened a small store in Danville, at this time, and a few families had knotted together in a settlement. Next spring Mr. Horr, accompanied by Hubbard, came and looked out a place on the North Fork of the Vermilion, a little distance west of the present site of Mann's chapel. Here he died on the 10th of August, 1834, aged fifty- three years, ten months. The death of his wife, Lavina (Hamm) Horr, who was born Tuesday, August 1, 1782, followed close upon his own, occurring on the 26th of October, 1834.
James H. Gilbert, deceased, was born in Rushville, New York, on the 15th of August, 1817. When a small boy, his parents, Samuel and Mary (Morse) Gilbert, moved to Danville, Illinois. After a few years' residence there the family moved up on the North Fork, a short dis- tance west of where Mann's Chapel now stands. He was married on the 14th of October, 1838, to Elizabeth W. McHenry, who died on the 1st of May, 1844. He was married again, on the 10th of July, 1845. to Sarah Mather, who was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on the 11th of March, 1822. Mrs. Mary Mather, Mrs. Gilbert's mother, spent the latter part of her life, a considerable period, with her daughter. She was a sister to James Davison, Mrs. Joseph Kerr, and Mrs. Joseph Gundy, all pioneers of Vermilion county. Mr. Gilbert's family con- sisted of nine children, as follows: Samuel, born on the 15th of August, 1839; died on the 26th of August, 1839. Twin brother (un- named), born on the 29th of November, 1840; died on the 24th of January, 1841. William Henry, born on the 29th of November, 1840; died the same day. Alvan Ambrose, born on the 26th of July, 1842; died on the 9th of Angust, 1842. Lydia A., born on the 9th of August, 1846; Elias M., born on the 13th of May, 1848; Mary Elizabeth, born on the 27th of August, 1850; died on the 13th of January, 1866. Jane, born on the 1st of July, 1852; Samuel H., born on the 12th of April, 1854. Mr. Gilbert died on the 15th of January, 1861. His influence was always felt for good, and he was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was charged by his fellow-citizens with the duties of town- ship offices at different times. He was descended from the Puritans, his ancestors having been among those who embarked in the May- flower; and was remotely related to Prof. Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor of the magnetic telegraph.
John H. Johnson, Bismark, farmer, was born in Jackson county, Ohio, on the 3d of Jannary, 1821, and is a son of Richard and Milbrey (Graves) Johnson. He was reared behind the counter of a dry-goods store. At the age of twenty-six he engaged in trafficking and farming.
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His operations have always been confined to the Wabash Valley. In 1826 his parents removed and settled at Fort Harrison, Vigo county, Indiana, but, remaining there only a short time, went to Lafayette, where his father died on the 30th of August, 1830. Mr. Johnson has held various township offices; was alderman of the fourth ward in Danville four years. In 1866 he was elected secretary of the Wabash General Association of Detective Companies, which position he has held to the present time. He was an old-line whig, sealing his fealty to that party by voting for Henry Clay in 1844. He has been an odd- fellow since 1846. His family now consists of six living children : Ora C., Mary H., Annie, Richard, Edward H., and Barton. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land, worth $9,500. His political views are republican.
Lonis M. Thompson, Rossville, farmer, was born on the 31st of May, 1829, in Dearborn county, Indiana, and is the son of John and Esther (Payne) Thompson. He came with his parents to Vermilion county, Illinois, in the fall of 1831, and has lived here since that time. He was married on the 17th of August, 1848, to Judith A. Burroughs, and the same year moved and settled in Ross township, on the farm he still owns, which lies southeast of Rossville, and corners with that cor- poration. Since 1873 his family has lived in the village. Mr. Thomp- son is a stirring man ; a community with a few such never stagnates. He has farmed, bought, raised and sold stock; been town clerk of Ross seven years, collector twice, road commissioner, taught school one term. He is the father of six living children : Viola, Mary, John, Etta, Lena, Hattie. He owns seven hundred and eighty acres of land, worth $23,000. In politics he is a republican.
William Songer, Rossville, farmer, was born in Danville township, Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 26th of June, 1832. He is the son of Samnel and Sarah (Parker) Songer. His father was a native of Virginia and his mother of Maryland. He was married on the 19th of May, 1857, to Miss Sarah A. Daugherty, who was born on the 30th of October, 1839. In 1867 he moved on the farm which he now owns, three miles southeast of Rossville, which lies in sections 17 and 18, town 22, range 11. He is at present commissioner of highways for Ross township. He carries on a considerable stock business in con- junction with farming. He is the father of four living children : Charles W., born on the 4th of August, 1858; Mary Adeline, born on the 1st of March, 1860; Samnel W., born on the 28th of July, 1862; and Gilbert W., born on the 15th of May, 1868. He owns two hundred and sixteen acres of land, worth $6,500. He is a greenback republi- ean in politics.
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
Abraham Mann, Rossville, farmer, was born at Leighton Buzzard. Bedfordshire. England, on the 17th of February, 1830. He is the son of Abraham Mann. About 1835 his father immigrated to America, and after stopping a few months in New York, came to Vermilion county and purchased a large tract of land, embracing several thousand acres, in Ross township, making his residence in Danville for a while at first. Soon afterward Mrs. Mann died, and in about 1840, the fam- ily returned to England and remained until about 1846, the children being educated in the meantime. From 1846 to 1851. Mr. Mann, together with his sons, Abraham and John, made several trips between the two countries, but finally. in the latter year, settled down and resided permanently in America. The family had valuable landed interests in England, which they retained until a recent date. The head of the family, Abraham Mann, Sr., died on the 17th of October, 1865. He was a large-hearted, benevolent man. Instances of his generosity, and of his concern for the welfare of his neighbors are men- tioned by early settlers. The subject of this sketch had a sister older, and a brother and a sister younger, than himself. His brother John took great delight in the chase, and always kept mettled horses and a pack of English hounds. His fine social qualities, kind heart and obliging nature made him greatly beloved ; and while he lived he was a leading man in the community and enjoyed a wide and honorable reputation. His death occurred on the 19th of October. 1873. Mr. Mann is one of the largest farmers and stock-raisers in eastern Illinois. His estate comprises upward of four thousand acres of rich farming land, with an abundance of good timber. His mansion, whose erection was begun in August, 1874, and which was finished the next summer, and occupied in November following, is the finest edifice of its kind in Vermilion county. It contains twenty spacious rooms, including dairy and laundry, and exclusive of the large halls, closets and garret. It was built at a cost of about $30,000. The adjoining grounds are laid ont with taste and planted with flowers and evergreens. A greenhouse is attached to the premises. Mr. Mann is an extensive stock-raiser. and a lover of fine horses, of which he keeps a considerable number, mostly English draft. He is fond of sport and recreation. and often makes considerable trips, generally to the west, with a party of his chosen fellows, to hunt, travel and otherwise seek adventure and amusement. He is liberal to all worthy objects of charity, and emi- nently public-spirited. His donations to schools and churches and the varions public institutions reach a large sum. Honest worth and enter- prise find him a ready patron : and the poor have learned that his kind- ness is as abundant as the sunshine. His genial nature makes him the
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