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 99
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In following up Stony Creek the early settlers began to get out into the prairie somewhat. At the "Crab Apple Grove" we find Joseph L. Shepherd, in 1849. He bought land there, and has remained near the same place ever since. A little farther up, and more decidedly in the prairie, we find James Gorman as early as 1853. From about this time the active occupation of the prairie may be dated. When we look over this broad area of productive farm-land, and see the immense crops of corn, oats, wheat and potatoes that are annually produced, and the herds of cattle and droves of hogs that go to feed the hungry multitudes of our large cities, and then remember that twenty-five years ago all of this was unknown ; that croaking frogs and creeping serpents occupied these rich fields, the progress of a quarter century provokes our wonder as well as challenges our admiration.
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.
Like all other branches of society's interests, the items of interest in Oakwood, of a religious character, are diversified and peculiar. Not only do we find the various denominations represented, but we have a complicated history of almost every one. The various points of settle- ment and their peculiar relations make it almost impossible to give a correct and intelligent account of the progress of religious interests in
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the township. If we are to judge of a people's piety by the number of ecclesiastical organizations which they maintain, then Oakwood might be accounted righteous. So far as we have been able to learn, there are nine regular places of holding religious services. There is a provoking indefiniteness in facts and traditions handed down from the origin of things through the lips of generations. Taking into account the probabilities, we suppose that the first preaching in this coun- try was among the Indians by missionaries. And here we do not refer to the original efforts in this direction by Marquette and his followers, but to more recent work. Near the old Oakwood farm the Indians had meetings quite regularly, until some time after the settlement of the pale-faces in their immediate vicinity. As a minister among the white inhabitants the earliest was, probably, Mr. Richard Gideon, a regular Predestinarian Baptist minister, who lived one and a half miles southwest of New Town. He came about 1826 or 1827, and held meetings occasionally in various parts of the country. But he soon went away, and whether he organized a band of followers we know not. There is a society of the same faith near where he lived, but its origin does not date back to his day. The first organized society of which we have any positive information, was what was called, in a later day, "Old Bethel." This was a Methodist church, and stood one-half mile south of New Town. The first preaching of this denomination was by Revs. Risley, Fox and Colston. Before the building of the church meeting was held in private houses. "Old Bethel " was built about 1835 or 1836. It was one of the first houses of worship in the county. It was 30 x 40 feet, and cost about $500. It was erected by Ashley Southerland. Prominent members of this society at that time included Eli Helmick, Stephen Griffith, Mr. Haston, and many others. The " Bethel Circuit " included a vast scope of territory. People came from remote points in order to get within a church. Twenty miles was not considered a great distance to go in order to attend quarterly meeting. This first building answered the purposes of the society until 1873, when a new house was erected at New Town. This is a large, com- modious and well-finished frame building. It was put up by Mr. Kirsh, at a cost of $2,100. The society is a strong one, and keep a flourish- ing Sabbath-school in operation throughont the year. New Town is the head of a circuit and contains a parsonage for the pastor. Eli Hel- mick has charge of the work, at present, as a supply. The circuit in- cludes the societies at Pilot Chapel, Emberry, Finley and Bethel, with others where no buildings are erected. The society at Bethel, as well as the circuit of which it is the head, represents the most influential elements in the community in which they exist. In following up the
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history of Methodism in this township we shall find that nearly all of these societies are an outgrowth of the original one at Bethel. Pleas- ant Grove class is one of the most recent. It was organized at Pleas- ant Grove school-house in February, 1879. It began with forty mem- bers, and although only a short distance from Bethel, the good people there propose building a house of worship. This society originated in a remarkable religious interest which manifested itself among a people who had hitherto been outside of church faith or creed. Forty new members were formed into a society, and others withdrew their mem- bership from elsewhere and put it in here. John Cook was made class leader, and services are regularly held in the school-house. This soci- ety also keeps up a flourishing Sabbath-school. They have a large attendance, and a manifest interest in the study of the scriptures. At the Brown school-house there was a class of Methodists organized in 1873. Rev. Mr. Cline put this society in working order. A. J. Bennett is the class-leader. Preaching is held regularly. There is a membership at present of about thirty. They, too, keep up a Sabbath- school.
Finley Chapel was built as a union church, but under the super- vision of the Christian (New Light) church. This was in the summer of 1854. Zephaniah Wilkins was the principal man in having the building put up. James C. Osborne was the mechanic, and he had a mechanic's lien on the property. When he failed to get his pay, he sold the property to Enoch Kingsbury, of Danville. Mr. Kingsbury sold to the trustees of the Methodist church. The Methodists came into possession of Finley in 1860. About this time the society was first organized by Rev. John C. Long. Mr. Long was the first man who preached in the church. It had not been finished up until these men took hold of it. At the beginning there were about thirty mem- bers. Prominent among these were: John Makemson, John M. Doran, Martin R. Oakwood, George Cadle, Lonis Anderson, L. G. Collett, George A. Fox, and the wives of most of these. William C. Harrison was another whose influence and money helped the good canse along. He gave the ground on which the church stands. John M. Doran was the first class-leader. George A. Fox has been class-leader for a num- ber of years. George A. Fox, W. H. Fox, Charles Hillman, E. C. Layton, Joseph Truax, are the trustees. The church cost the Method- ists altogether about $1,000. It is getting a little old now. The intention is to build another before many years, and locate it in Oak- wood Station. There are at present about one hundred and thirty members. In the history of Finley there have been three extraordi- nary revivals. The first was under the care of Rev. B. F. Hyde, in the
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winter of 186S. This was first in importance, though not in time. One hundred and thirty-five persons, mostly heads of families, united with the church at this place during a series of meetings. In 1876, under the administration of G. Louther, one hundred and thirty-three joined. These were mostly young people. In 1866, under the efforts of John C. Long, there was quite a manifestation, and thirty united with the church. In the western end of the township this denomina- tion did not flourish so early as in the east. The first to begin church organization were the regular Predestinarian Baptists. The first Methodist preaching in west of Stony Creek was probably by Eli Helmnick. John C. Long, while on the New Town circuit, held meet- ings in the school-house above Conkey Town. Revs. Bradshaw and Wallace preached here in the same place. A society was formed, and worship kept up until the building of the church in Fithian. In 1859 there was a society of Methodists formed at the Central school-house. The first preaching here was by Eli Helmick. Mr. Helmick preached in nearly every neighborhood in the western part of the county. As early as 1830 he traveled over this country. He of course did not preach on the prairie at that time. Joshua Worley preached at Cen- tral school-house quite early. John E. Vinson did the first preaching after the organization of the society. The Central appointment has continued ever since the first organization.
The Regular Predestinarian Baptists, or, as they have been nick- named by some, the Hard-Shell Baptists, were early occupants of the religious field here. They held the first meetings in the neighborhood of Conkey Town. These were in a log school-house near the old Aaron Dalbey farm. Rhodes Smith was the principal man of influence in the church. At that time he was keeping a small store on the east side of Stony Creek, on the State road. John Orr was the first Baptist preacher. At a later date Mr. Smith moved farther up the Creek, near "Crab Apple Grove," and a society was formed and met at his house regular- ly. This was in 1858. The organizer and minister for some time was Elder John Orr. The members of this society, as it was first organized at Mr. Smith's, were the following : John Orr and wife. Rhodes Smith and wife, Jesse Berk and wife, Thomas Cox and wife, James Smith, William Smith, Martin Orr and wife, Nancy Truax and Rebecca Truax. After some time the meetings were held in the Gorman school-house. They continued in the school-house till the building of their church, one and one-half miles north of Oakwood Station. This was put up in the spring of 1876. It is 26×36 feet. It cost $800. The ministers at the time of the building of the church were R. A. Rabourn and Stephen Cox. They still officiate in that capacity. This society has a
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neat country church. It has a membership of forty-one. After the first organization it grew till it had thirty members. Then it expe- rienced a season of decline. At one time there were but nine belong- ing. It then took new life, began to prosper, and has continued with the result above mentioned.
The Walker's Point Church of Missionary Baptists was established on Stony Creek about 1854. The first preachers were Carter and Blankenship. The society contained at first the following members : Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Stearns and one daughter, Seneca Stearns, Joseph Jones and wife and two daughters and one son, Nancy Hart and Nancy Deakin. Harrison Stearns and Joseph Jones were appoint- ed deacons at the first organization. The church edifice was erected in 1857. It is 36×45 feet, and cost $1,200. There is a membership of one hundred and five. F. P. Dalbey is clerk. Mr. Stearns is still dea- con. In addition to the regular services of the church, a Sabbath-school is kept in good running order. This is the only society of this denom- ination that we have found in the township. It is in a prosperous con- dition, so far as we learned. Its church building was the first in this part of the township. It was the second in the township, so far as we can ascertain.
That branch of the Christian church which has been called New Lights ever since the time of Stone, of Kentucky, manifested quite an enterprising spirit in the early settlement of the west. Isaac Emly and Zephaniah Wilkins were the principal men in the first efforts here. Religious services were held in the Conkey Town school-house, and a society organized that continued seven or eight years. Mr. Emly did the preaching here. The Peytons and Elizabeth Cast were the most important members of this society ; but for some reason, which we did not learn, the society failed to keep up an organization here. The efforts of the same denomination in the Oakwood neighborhood have already been noticed. Stephen Griffith built a brick church and gave it to these people conditionally. There was an organization at this place for some time, but Mr. Griffith finally took the building back, and the place of meeting was changed to the Craig school-house. Services were held here until 1862, when the organization was re- moved to Pilot township, where the reader will look for a contin- nation of its history. In 1874 Rev. H. H. Gunn organized a society of Christians - New Lights-at the Central school-house. He con- tinued to preach there for two years, and then Rev. John Green moved into the neighborhood and took charge of the church. He is the present pastor. His church numbers forty members at this point. Richard A. Friedrich is the clerk of the society. They seem in a pros-
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perous condition, and though they have no church, they have one of the best school-houses in the township in which to hold their meetings.
The Campbellite division of the Christian church began meetings in the school-house north of Conkey Town a number of years ago. William P. Shockey was the minister. He organized a society here. Thomas Deakin and wife, William Fellows, and Cyrus Ratcliff and wife, were among the more prominent members. The organization was kept up for a half dozen of years, and then discontinued. The number of religious organizations that sprung up in this vicinity is remarkable. The Christians (Campbellites) organized a society at the Gorman school-house in 1869. The Rev. R. M. Martin was the first to hold meetings at this point, but the organization was perfected by Rev. W. F. Yates, of Champaign county. Isaac Davis, James Rice and wife, Marcus Davis and wife, Thomas Cox, William Dearth and P. T. Hedges were the principal members at the organization. They enrolled forty-two names at the beginning ten years ago. There are about sixty at present. At one time they reached nearly ninety men- bers. There are at present two elders and one deacon. P. T. Hedges and James Rice are the former, while William H. Dearth fills the position of the latter. These have served in their respective positions from the first organization of the society. Thomas Cox wss deacon from the organization until the fall of 1878. The present pastor is John C. Myers. A Sabbath-school of considerable interest is kept up at this point. It will be seen that the people are not without oppor- tunities of moral culture, and that a variety of persuasions offer a number of creeds sufficient to meet the religious predilections of a much diversified population.
EARLY INDUSTRIES.
First and foremost among things of this kind must be placed the salt-works. This enterprise called the first settlers to the county; it supplied them with a necessity that was hard to obtain anywhere else ; its importance was recognized by Indian and white, and by govern- ment as well. But as the work and its influence are discussed else- where, it is unnecessary to dwell long upon it here. The one hun- dred kettles in which salt was made were scattered over the country, and occasionally one may still be seen.
In point of time, the old water-mill on the Salt Fork came in next after the industry above mentioned. It was put up at a very early date ; in 1826 it was in active operation ; it continued for a number of years. At that time people would come all the way from McLean county in order to get their grinding done. The mill stood out in the middle of
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the stream just north of the present mill ; it was built of logs, and ran, as all other mills did at that time, by water-power. It was succeeded in about the year 1837 by a mill put up by Aaron Dalbey for Mr. John Shepherd, who came to Illinois from Ohio in 1836. Mr. Shepherd put $3,000 in this mill, and then died before he could realize anything from his expenditures. The mill then fell into the hands of Aaron Dalbey, and from his possession to Mr. Parris. Parris operated it awhile and then sold out to John Hay. In 1873 C. M. Berkley bought the mill and has been running it since that time; the same building that Shep- herd put up is now used ; it shows very evidently the marks of time ; it was moved from the position that it first occupied to the bank of the creek ; this was only a short distance. It is 30 x 42} feet; it has both water and steam power. The supply of water is so constant that the steam is seldom used. The mill is situated just north of the south line of Oakwood township.
The first mill on Middle Fork is in dispute. It is frequently impossible to get two stories alike. One old settler tells us that Mr. Whitsill built the first mill on Middle Fork about 1832 or '33, that he operated it several years, and then it fell into the hands of the McGee family ; this was a grist-mill with a saw-mill added ; it finally went down on account of age. Another man, who has been in this country more than fifty years, tells us that James Howell built the first mill on Middle Fork; that he operated it a short time and died, that his son did likewise; that a Mr. Downing then took it, and next James Cunningham ran it till it went down. This was first a saw-mill, but it finally had a corn-cracker attached before it elosed. About forty years ago James George built a grist-mill on the Middle Fork and operated it eight or ten years ; he then sold to Mr. Watts. The last named ran the mill seven or eight years and sold to Phillips. Mr. Phillips then sold to Abisha Sanders. Done & Byerly rebuilt the mill and set it to going with new energy, but it soon passed into the hands of Swift, of Danville, who owns and runs it at the present time.
COAL.
Aside from the fertility of the soil, the most valuable natural endow- ment of Oakwood township is her coal. It is of good quality and very abundant ; there have been such quantities taken from the banks that the farmers could almost get it for hauling away. For a number of years in the first opening up of the business, any who wished could dig all the coal wanted and take it away free of charge. The first use made of this coal was probably by Mr. Vance in boiling salt-water; he began using coal about 1830. The first who mined and hauled coal
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
away to sell were Rice & Co. ; they would haul with teams to Champaign and adjoining counties. The first bank opened was about three miles southeast of Oakwood Station. We find the following in the business at present : John Thomas, B. Coffeen, William Moore, McBroom & Yerkis, G. L. Hiatt, L. Veach, Valentine Shock, Francis and Charles Moore; these nearly all ship coal. The number of bushels annually taken out is immense; the exact amount we have no means of ascer- taining, but the enterprise seems destined to increase in magnitude and importance until it will be second to no interest in the township.
EDUCATIONAL.
In discussing the educational condition of affairs, we can find noth- ing new. It is the same old story that we have all heard our grand- parents tell,-of log school-houses, of smoking fire-place, where the full length of one side of the house was devoted to the purpose of warming the others, of stick-chimneys in many cases, of greased paper for glass, of an absent log for a window, of puncheon benches for seats, where little fellows' legs might hang over and go to sleep all they chose, so that the eyes were on the book ; in short, of all the trials, tempta- tions, hardships and vexations of pioneer pedagogy. As a remarkable instance of the elementary condition of the early schools, we were told of a little incident in the school life of Michael Oakwood. At times they had had a good teacher in the Oakwood settlement, one who could go beyond the "double rule of three." Young Mr. O. had pro- gressed finely in his studies, as things were counted then, and as he was a young man, and still desirous of attaining more knowledge than the curriculum of the common school afforded, he was advised to begin this advanced course of culture by a study of English grammar. Such a course could be pursued only by the thoroughly ambitious and quali- fied pupil. Mr. O. was fortunate enough to have a teacher who had been through the labyrinth of English syntax, but said pedagogue had not yet learned our present habits of oral instruction. It was therefore necessary that a text-book be purchased. The free-hearted disciple of Pestalozzi of to-day would have loaned so ambitious a student anything in his library, but the library of the teacher in this case contained no treatise on this abstruse science. The young man was advised to apply to the book venders of Danville. He did so, but without success. He was told that English grammars were not used in the schools of Vermilion county, that they never before had any call for such an article, and that in the city he would find his search vain, unless certain families of culture, lately from the east, should happen to have the article, and would be kind enough to benefit him with a
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loan of the same. The search terminated as anticipated. Mr. O. found a Kirkham with the compendium gone. He used this until he had an opportunity of sending to Chicago, by Mr. Rankin, who took up a drove of cattle, and brought back the necessary books. We were further told of the ignorance of some of the early instructors in these schools by a man who attended one of the first in the country. It was simply the inability to work through the fundamental principles of arithmetic. Our informant said that he "stalled " his teacher in long division. Whether he worked out himself, or whether the teacher finally mastered the "sum," or whether teacher and pupil remained on the elementary side of long division, we were not told, but certain it is that much of the early teaching bore about the same relation to our modern successful teaching that the old wooden mold-board plow bore to the present riding plows. But why should not we expect the same relations ? This is an age of progress, and he who thinks he sees some great things in " the good old times" needs but go back to his wooden mold-board plow, his reap-hook and his sled; and in school facilities to the testament for a child's reader ; to a book on geography without any maps; and to the days when none but men dare teach in winter, and dare not refuse to treat on holidays without the penalty of a ducking and a barred door against him.
The first school building in the township was built about 1829 or 1830. It was of the usual pioneer pattern, and stood close to the pres- ent site of New Town. 'Squire Newel and a Mr. McGuinn taught in this house soon after it was built. This house continued in use for some time, but another was built on what has a long time been known as the parsonage hill, just south of New Town. Another of the early school-houses was built on the State Road, near Stony Creek. At present the contrast is great between the building, their conveniences and number as compared with the condition forty years ago. Large, commodious and well-furnished school-houses may be seen in almost every district. There is, generally, a good class of teachers, and the progress in school work is rapid and practical.
WAR AND POLITICAL RECORD.
In the Indian war of 1832 Oakwood had its representatives. Ste- phen Griffith, David Makemson and Samuel Makemson were in the war. At least, they went out as the threatenings of Indian invasion became evident. The volunteers from this part of the state did not reach the scene of action in time to participate in the illustrious cam- paign at Stillman, but they were on hand at a later period, ready to enter "the thickest of the fight." Mr. Crawford, from Indiana, went
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HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY.
out with the company of Independents. He still lives, and resides in the western part of the township. He is the only man living in the township now that was in the Black Hawk war. There were a num- ber in the Mexican war from this township, it is said; but they have either moved away or died, as we met no man who volunteered from this part of the county. In the war of 1861 Oakwood furnished her full proportion. Captain Levin Vinson led his company mostly from the east side of this township. All over the country we meet men who braved the cannons of a confederate foe. Here and there may be found a widow with a number of children whose father perished in his country's service. Among those who left a wife and children we found the following: George Boord, of Co. C, 125th Reg .; William Hart, 2d Lieut. Co. G, 125th, and Nathan C. Howard, Co. D, 135th Reg. Of Mr. J. H. Black's four sons that were in the army, two died, one in Jefferson City, Missouri, of typhoid fever, and another near Washington, of the same disease. Thomas W. Smith, of Co. F, 26th Reg., was wounded in the second day's fight before Atlanta. He was taken to Chattanooga and interred in section F, grave 670, in the general hospital cemetery, on the 13th of September, 1864. In the cemetery on the State Road several soldiers are buried. Two were buried in one day at one time. Although their deeds were among the bravest of warlike feats on record, others rest in their unknown graves with their praises sung only in the general patriotic anthems of the nation. But the results of their labors are the same as though their names were inscribed on every tombstone in the land, and their deeds in the mouths of all who enjoy the blessings of liberty, prosperity and happiness so dearly bought and bravely won by the nation's gallant men.
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