USA > Illinois > Edgar County > Our first one hundred and fifty years : Hunter, Stratton, Elbridge Townships, 1818-1968 > Part 2
USA > Illinois > Edgar County > Stratton > Our first one hundred and fifty years : Hunter, Stratton, Elbridge Townships, 1818-1968 > Part 2
USA > Illinois > Edgar County > Elbridge > Our first one hundred and fifty years : Hunter, Stratton, Elbridge Townships, 1818-1968 > Part 2
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Col. Mayo and John Stratton brought the first sheep from Kentucky into Edgar County. They consisted of 130 head which they sold for $2.00, per head to people wanting to raise sheep. Col. Blackburn mowed the first timothy meadow in the County. It took him and a hired man all day to cut and cure a load, and put it on a wagon and took him with two yoke of cattle another day to haul it to Paris and he sold the load of hay for $2.00. This was the first hay ever sold in Paris. He also sold the first lot of fat cattle sold in the County. It consisted of twenty head of two, three and four year old steers and for the lot he got $200.00.
The record of the first child born in Stratton Township was Hiram Sanford, a son of Isaac Sanford. The first death was the wife of a man named Laswell. She died in 1821 and was buried on the Col. Blackburn farm, later this plot of ground was laid out as a burying-ground and known as the Blackburn Cemetery. Col. Black- burn deeded the ground to the neighborhood. When the lady died, Blackburn went to a workman who lived seven miles distant for a coffin. The man worked all night
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and finished it the next morning - Then Blackburn carried it home before him on his horse. Another Cemetery was laid out on the Sanford farm and another at the church at Little Grove. The first school was thought to be on the Trogdon farm and taught by Richard Kimbrough in the winter of 1825-1826. The second school, soon after the first, was built on the Col. Blackburn farm. The teacher was Mr. William Doning. He was from Kentucky and had been educated under the old dispensation, had learned to spell from Dillworth's old speller and perhaps had never seen any other. In such words as half and calf, it gave the "L" the full sound, and ge-o-graph'y was spelled thus, with the accent on the third syllable.
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THE VILI AGE OF KEI TUCKY
The Village of Kentucky was laid out by J. Mayo Deputy Surveyor for C.B. Jones, County Surveyor for Isaiah Welsh, the owner of the land embraced in the original plot, and is on the Northwest Quarter of the Northwest Quarter of Section 11, Town 13 North, Range 11 West. The plat was recorded November 23, 1854. An addi- tion was made to the village of Kentucky August 30, 1866, by D.A. Morrison, being a part of the Southwest Quarter of the Southwest Quarter of Section 2, Town 13 North, Range 11 West, and was surveyed by Lewis Wallace County Surveyor.
Kentucky, at one time, was quite a little village, with two or three small stores and groceries. James Gordon kept the first store, and perhaps, the largest the town ever had about 1866-67. He continued in business about a year, when he sold out and went to the village of Redmon. A man named Henderson also kept a small store and another by the name of Ewing. The railroad put in a side track, and for a time much grain and stock were shipped from the place. A Depot was put up by Morrison at his own expense and a grain warehouse. Morrison and Allen built a saw-mill here and operated it for ten or twelve years, then sold it for a stave-factory. After changing hands a few more times it took fire and was burned to the ground.
But after Vermilion was laid out, it grew more rapidly than Kentucky ever had, so Kentucky began to lose out. The trains quit stopping there and finally removed the side-track. Morrison tore down the depot building which he himself had built and haulod it away. Those who had been in business there sought other fields and the place of Kentucky was through. In later years 1922 Schuyler C. (Tibe) Wright and Grant Wright built a store building and had a nice grocery store until the year of 1932. At the present time there are only two houses in what was a one time nice little village.
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I Store 2. BANK 3. Hardware Store
9. Fessant Implements 10. Masonic Hall 11. High + Public School
VERMILION 1910
4store 5.Md. office
12. Fessant. Home
6. Barber Shop 1. A. York 8.T.J. Hamilton
13. A.W. WilKIN 14. O. M WILKIN 15.C.A. Hornberger 16. J.P. Hornberger 17. SAM Lamb
STRATTON TWP. Scale: 300 ft to linch
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Line between STRATTON TELBRIDGE
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ELBRIDGE RD
1 STLOUIS RB
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When Vermilion was quite new there were two doctors. One was Dr. Ferris, who also owned the drug store. The other was Dr. McCloud. One of Dr. McCloud's daughters, Myrtle, married Oliver Wilkins. The other daughter, Lula, married Dr. Joseph Kilgore. Dr. Kilgore practiced medicine here until his death in 1931. Other doctors were Dr. Johnson and Dr. Pinson. Harry Lycan in 1902 and mar- ried Coral Wilkins. His office was located where the Honor Roll now stands. The first baby to be delivered by Dr. Lycan was Crville Wright. Dr. Lycan passed a- way in 1942 at the age of 69. The last baby which he delivered was Larry Truelove, six months prior to his death.
The Post Office was established in Vermilion on July 24, 1856 with James S. Vermilion being the first Postmaster. Irs. Vivian Perkinson who is serving at the present time is the fourteenth postmaster. It was during the year of 1892 that the Post Office made the correct spelling of Vermilion with only one "L". However, this only applied to the Post Office and otherwise, Vermilion continued to be spelled with two "Ls" until 1949. Different locations of the Post Office were Wilkin Bros. store, Old Bank Building, Dailey's Feed Vill and others.
D.S. Vansickle - One of the leading General Merchants of Vermilion carried a line of Drugs, Groceries, Notions, Boots, Shoes and Rubber Goods. Mr. Vansickle owned his business room which was 22 x 80 feet on the corner just north of the Big Four Depot. He started in business November 5, 1878.
O. N. Koontz - Contractor and builder of Vermilion. His shop was located North of the Big Four Depot and had a full outfit of everything used by first class con- tractors.
J.A. Hornberger - Had an extensive business in several different lines such as General Hardware, Lumber and Building Material, Stoves, Ranges, Tinware, Window Glass, Cutlery, etc. The upstairs was used for an Undertaking Establishment ex- clusively. The Lumber Yard occupied the lot south of the store. Mr. Hornberger started in business in 1861. His first car of lumber was shipped to Kentuck Sta- tion and hauled to Vermilion, as at that time the Railroad Company had no side track at Vermilion.
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Oliver Stubbs - The Village Blacksmith started in business August 9, 1878. Wm. F. Dinkins, the Woodworkman employed by Mr. Stubbs was an expert in his linc. W.W. & F.D. Downing - Proprietors of the Vermilion Machine Works did all kinds of repair work in their line. They repaired engines, pumps, plows, reapers, binders, mowers, etc.
There were also two grocery stores at this time who wore operated by Samuel Dancy and A.J. Boyer.
Dresser and Martin - Operators of the Vermilion Mills, who were manufacturers of choice flours. They were in business from 1837 to 1844.
Michael Hornberger - A carpenter who came from Indiana and settled in Vermilion in 1865.
Christopher Stivle - Blacksmith and Farmer, who camo here from Chio in 1852. H.W. Tweedy - Carpenter and Farmer, who also ceom to Vermilion from Indiana in 1833.
Vermilion was incorporated as a village April 1, 1872, and the following trustees elected, D.A. Kimbrough, James Frazier, Geo. W. Tillcy, R.B. Wright, and W.A. Koho. The board organized by clecting D.A. Kimbrough, President and George W. Tilley, Clerk. At this time they began to make their Ordinances and tho following are a few of the outstanding onos made :
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF VERMILION
That all side walks hercafter built shall be built by the Town of Vermilion in front of and adjoining any promises on any street within the limits of said Town as hereinafter provided except in special cases which shall be by resolution of the Council -- and shall appropriate money out of the Town Treasury for the payment of the same.
All sidewalks built within the limits of said Town shell bo four feet wide and at least six inches from any fonce, the material shall be good sound oak or other dur- able lumber. The boards shall not be less than one and a half inches thick, six to twelve inches wide and from ten to fifteen fect in length.
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When Vermilion was quite new there were two doctors. One was Dr. Ferris, who also owned the drug store. The other was Dr. McCloud. One of Dr. McCloud's daughters, Myrtle, married Oliver Wilkins. The other daughter, Lula, married Dr. Joseph Kilgore. Dr. Kilgore practiced medicine here until his death in 1931. Other doctors were Dr. Johnson and Dr. Pinson. Harry Lycan in 1902 and mar- ried Coral Wilkins. His office was located where the Honor Roll now stands. The first baby to be delivered by Dr. Lycan was Crville Wright. Dr. Lycan passed a- way in 1942 at the age of 69. The last baby which he delivered was Larry Truelove, six months prior to his death.
The Post Office was established in Vermilion on July 24, 1856 with James S. Vermilion being the first Postmaster. Mrs. Vivian Perkinson who is serving at the present time is the fourteenth postmaster. It was during the year of 1892 that the Post Office made the correct spelling of Vermilion with only one "L". However, this only applied to the Post Office and otherwise, Vermilion continued to be spelled with two "Ls" until 1949. Different locations of the Post Office were Wilkin Bros. store, Old Bank Building, Dailey's Feed Mill and others.
D.S. Vansickle - One of the leading General Merchants of Vermilion carried a line of Drugs, Groceries, Notions, Boots, Shoes and Rubber Goods. Mr. Vansickle owned his business room which was 22 x 80 feet on the corner just north of the Big Four Depot. He started in business November 5, 1878.
O. N. Koontz - Contractor and builder of Vermilion. His shop was located North of the Big Four Depot and had a full outfit of everything used by first class con- tractors.
J.A. Hornberger - Had an extensive business in several different lines such as General Hardware, Lumber and Building Material, Stoves, Ranges, Tinware, Window Glass, Cutlery, etc. The upstairs was used for an Undertaking Establishment ex- clusively. The Lumber Yard occupied the lot south of the store. Ir. Hornberger started in business in 1861. His first car of lumber was shipped to Kentuck Sta- tion and hauled to Vermilion, as at that time the Railroad Company had no side track at Vermilion.
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Oliver Stubbs - The Village Blacksmith started in business August 9, 1878. Wm. F. Dinkins, the Woodworkman employed by Mr. Stubbs was an expert in his line.
W.W. & F. D. Downing - Proprietors of the Vermilion Machine Works did all kinds of repair work in their line. They repaired engines, pumps, plows, reapers, bindors, mowers, etc.
There were also two grocery stores at this time who were operated by Samuel Dancy and A.J. Boyer.
Dresser and Martin - Operators of the Vermilion Mills, who were manufacturers of choice flours. They were in business from 1837 to 1844.
Michael Hornberger - A carpenter who came from Indiana and settled in Vermilion in 1865.
Christopher Stivle - Blacksmith and Farmor, who camo hore from Ohio in 1852. H.W. Tweedy - Carpenter and Farmer, who also ceom to Vermilion from Indiana in 1833.
Vermilion was incorporated as a village April 1, 1872, and the following trustces elected, D.A. Kimbrough, James Frazier, Goo. W. Tillcy, R.B. Wright, and W.A. Koho. The board organized by electing D.A. Kimbrough, President and George W. Tilley, Clerk. At this time they began to make their Ordinances and tho following are a few of the outstanding ones made :
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF VERMILION
That all side walks hercafter built shall be built by the Town of Vermilion in front of and adjoining any promises on any street within the limits of said Town as hereinafter provided except in special cases which shall be by resolution of the Council -- and shall appropriate money out of the Town Treasury for the payment of tho samc.
All sidewalks built within the limits of said Town shall bo four feet wide and at least six inches from any fence, the material shall be good sound oak or other dur- able lumber. The boards shall not be less than one and a half inches thick, six to twelve inches wide and from ten to fifteen fect in length.
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The foundation or stringers not less than three by five inches in size, and three feet apart and four feet long, except in special cases provided in Section one of this Article
Passed January 6th. 1873
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING PERMISSION AND AUTHORITY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF AN ELECTRIC RAILWAY IN THE VILLAGE OF VERMILION:
Be it and it is hereby ordained by the Board of Trustees of the village of Vermilion, in Edgar County, Illinois that consent, permission, and authority is hereby given and granted to Stone and Webster, Boston, Massachusetts, their suc- cessors, assigns and grantees, to construct and operate single or double tracks of electric street and interurban railway with necessary switches and turn outs, for a period of twenty years from the date and adoption hereof, in, upon and along RailRoad Street of the said village, but no car or cars shall be hauled or pro- pelled on said railway by steam locomotive. The right is hereby reserved by said Board of Trustees to reasonable exercise its police powers to regulate the opera- tion and business of said electric railway so far as the public safety and con- venience may require. The track, switches and turn outs shall be of uniform guage or width; shall be of standard rails; shall be laid so as to conform to the grade of the street in use at the time laid; and shall thereafter be relaid whenever necessary to conform to the surface of said streets so that the rails shall not project above it in such manner as to be any unnecessary impediment to the ordinary use of the whole of such streets for wagons, buggies and other vehicles, along up- on or across the same, at any or all points and in any and all directions and wherever any track, switch or turn out crosses any ditch, drain or gutter, the per- sons or company constructing, owning or operating such railway shall bridge such ditch, drain or gutter at their or its own expense, so as at all times to permit the free passage of water. The board of trustees of the village of Vermilion shall at all times have the power and right to cause such electric railway track, switches and turn outs, or any part thereof, to be taken up and relaid wherever necessary for for the grading, regrading or improvement, by paving or otherwise,
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of any streot upon which the same is laid, or for laying, repairing or replacing gas or water mains or electric light wire or other conduits or constructing, re- pairing or building drains or sewers, and the persons or company operating said railway, shall at their or its own expense at all times keep the part of the street between the tracks, switches and turn outs in the same condition and repair, and improved in the same way, by paving or otherwise, as the remainder of the street at said point or place is improved and kept; and so long as said street is gr graveled by the public the persons or company operating such railway shall gravel between its tracks and for four feet on either side thereof. All tracks, switches and turn outs shall be laid in or as near the center of the street as can be safely or roasonable done, unless provision and consent to do otherwise is hereafter granted. This franchise is granted on the express condition that an electric railway is constructed and in operation and said street in the village of Vermilion within eighteen months of the date of its passage and adoption, unless additional time be granted therefor, and on failure to comply with this condition all the consent, authority and permission given by this ordianance shall be absolutely forfeited; Provided, however, that if such construction or operation is prevented by any injunction or injunctions, or other causes beyond the control of the grant- ee hereof, the dolay caused thereby shall not be counted as a part of such eigh- teen months, but shall be excluded therefrom, and such terms shall not be held to have elapsed until that much time shall have passed, exclusive of the delay caused by such injunction or injunctions or other causes as aforesaid. An emergency ex- isting for the immediate taking effect of this ordinance the same shall be in full force and effoct from and after its adoption.
W.H. Mings President
I, the undersigned, clerk of the Village of Vermilion, Edgar County, Illinois do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance concerning the Interurban Railway was adopted and approved by the Board of Trustees of said village of Vermilion on tho 17th. day of April 1905. This 20th. day of April 1905.
T.R. Crawford Village Clerk
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VILLAGE ORDINANCE - ELECTRICITY
Be it ordained by the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Vermilion, Edgar County, Illinois. Permission and Authority is hereby granted and given to T.F. Grover, his heirs, Administrators, Lessees, Executors and assigned for the teemmoffffffty 50 years from and after the 7 day of January 1907 to lay and main- tain during the term of this grant in or on the ground or string on poles, all necessary wires over and by which electricity for lighting purposes for fuel and for all lighting purposes for which electricity can or may be used or may be con- veyed for public or private use in the following named streets and any future ex- tensions thereof namely -- Walnut St., Main St., Water St., Church St., Edgar St., Purcell St., Vine St., Fremont St., Lincoln St., the county road RailRoad St., Maple St., and that part of the right-of-way used for a highway of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company together with all alleys and pub- lic grounds in said village and future extensions thereto and authority is also given to place and put upon said streets, alleys and grounds all necessary wires, conduits, poles, fixtures and apparatus necessary to be used in the distribution and conveying of electricity over and upon any of the aforesaid streets, alleys and public grounds and any and all extensions theroof for any of the purposes for which the same may be as aforesaid. Whoever shall injure, disturb, break, destroy, deface or in any manner interfere with any of the wires, poles, lights and appara- tus or any fixtures herein authorized to be placed in and upon the aforesaid streets or alleys of public grounds in said village of Vermilion shall be fined in any sum not less than three 3.00 or more than twenty-five 25.00 dollars. Read and adopted by the President and board of village trustees county of Edgar and State of Illinois at a regular meeting held on this 6th. day of January 1908.
J.D. Thompson
President
W.F. Dinkins
Clerk
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The Rebekah Lodge was instituted July 14, 1908. The officers at that time were as follows :
Kate Quick.
Noblo Grand
Maggie Huffman
Insido G.
Juretta Dodd. Vice Grand
J.W. Martin
Outside G.
Mary Bartholomew Secretary
Special Deputy Mary Moody
Anna Fenton
Treasuror
Mary Walling
R.S.N.G.
Carrie Huffman Financial Sec.
Cynthia White
L.S.N.G.
Janna Raines
P.N.G.
C.B. Raines
R.S.V.G.
Grace Mason
Warden
Lou Kilgore
L.S.V.G.
Grace Martin
Conductor
Ella Huffman
Chaplain
The lodge met on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in the Odd Fellows Hall.
This organization was closed on July 16, 1936 by Muriel Dawson, Spec. Dep. who also was past President of R.S.A. The officers at that time were:
Edith Tosser Noble Grand
Mary Hamilton
Vice Grand
Lloyd Tosser
Secrotary
Ethel Ford
Treasurer
The members at the time of closing:
Bessie Augustus
Faye Metcalf
Rhoda Vance
Pearl Bledsoe
Mary Hamilton
Edith Tosser
Ethel Ford
Zeta Martin
The above were all Fast Noble Grands
Others:
William J. Frye Joe Augustus E.H. Sanders Lloyd 0. Tosser
Mary Bedwell
Margaret Newcomb
Jane Frye
Lillie Raines Nila Stewart
Hattie Fessant
Ellon Hickman
Allie Shell
Bothe Masons and Odd Fellows were represented by flourishing Lodges: Both the Masons and Odd Fellows were represented by flourishing Lodges: Stratton Lodge, No. 408 A.F. and A.M. was organized in January 1863. The first officers were D. A. Morrison, Worshipful Master; Nathan Sanford, Senior Warden; F.T.D. Vale, Junior Warden and Ira K. Elliott, Secretary. The present officers are: Worshipful Master, Eddie Jones; Senior Warden, Donald Fox; Junior Warden, Larry Beasley; Secretary, H.W. Raffoty; Treasurer, Henry Walling; Senior Deacon, George Gore; Junior Deacon, Melvin Bach; Junior Steward,
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John Mullenix, Chaplain, Richmon Dennison; Marshall, Carl Winans; and Tyler, Cash Wright, Jr. There are approximately 100 who belong to this lodge.
Lecture Lodge, No. 563, I.O.O.F. was organized January 13, 1875. L.P. Besier was the first Noble Grand; C.A. Sisk, Vice Grand; and J.A. Castle, Secretary. In 1954 this lodge was closed and to this time have never re-opened. In connection with t the Masonic fraternity, they owned an elegant hall worth about $3,000. It was a brick edifice, and the lower part was owned by Mr. Showalter, while the upper story belonged to the Masons and Odd Fellows.
A telephone switchboard operated in Vermilion for many years, the first place being south of the railroad by Margaret Newcomb. Later the office moved to the present location of Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Raffety, with other operators being, Mae Duncan, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Bledsoe, Mr. and Mrs. John Vestal and Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Ford. The switchboard closed in 1931 with the Fords being the last operators.
Until 1942 there was a rural route out of Vermilion. People who lived at Kentuck came to Vermilion once a week to pick up their mail. Some of the mail carriers were: Otis Wright, Owen Rowe, Ernest Guymon, Harvey Sanders, Andrew York and John Martin.
In about 1929 a large strawberry shed was erected at the North edge of Vermilion. There were approximately 3000 acres of strawberries grown by various farmers and this shed was used as a distributing center. Many were shipped to Montreal, Chicago, Kansas City, etc. Strawberries sold as low as .40 per case. This place of business was active for about twelve years. Then in 1943 the build- ing was used as a distributing center for 600 acres of tomatoes grown by different farmers in this community. They were trucked to a canning factory in Terre Haute, Indiana, and this business was in operation for ten years. The last few years this building, which was purchased by the Dailey Bros., is being used for storage of bulk fertilize.
The town of Vermilion dug deep wells and put in city water in 1959.
Natural gas was piped into Vermilion from the large pipe line east of
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Vermilion in 1963.
Places of business which are now operating in this town are:
Stott's Grocery -- Evinger's Seed and Grain Company -- Stott's Laundramat and Car , Wash -- Post Office -- Fire Department -- Dailey's Feed Mill -- Frye's Welding Shop -- Standard Oil Fertilize Plant -- Englum Elevator. .
VERMILION SUNSET
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Like soft purple pansies drifting to earth Twilight is falling to-night; In the west, fading embers still glow on the hoarth : ·But day has taken it's flight. The problems I faced, the sorrow, the tears Are forgotten, erased as twilight appears.
The world has locked shop and stopped the mad rush-
You can hear a leaf drop; there's a pause, there's a hush. The moment commands all nature, "be still!"
A solemn moon stands with respect on the hill. Enraptured, enchanted, I breathlessly wait While a whippoorwill answers the call of it's mate.
Now night shadows hover and stars by the million, Sleepily blink, "good night Vermilion".
Orville Wright
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THE CHURCHES OF STRATTON TOWNSHIP
The Vermilion M.E. Church was built in the summer of 1865. The foundation was built with brick from the old brick church that stood on the Sanford farm and the body of the building was frame, the total cost of about $1500.00. The Deed for the ground on which the M.E. Church was built was of May in the year of One Thousand eight hundred and sixty-two between James S. Vermilion and Elizabeth Vermilion his wife, of first part and trustees of the Methodist Church and their successors of the second part.
In 1922 the Church building was raised and a basement put under the entire building, making it the same as today. In 1956 the old coal furnace in the Church was replaced by a new gas furnace which used propane gas. Natural gas was piped into Vermilion in 1963 and the furnace at the Church and parsonage were then changed to natural gas. In 1959 the church put in city water and changes the water system at the parsonage to city water.
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