USA > Illinois > Vermilion County > Portrait and biographical album of Vermilion county, Illinois, containing sketches of prominent citizens of all the governors of the state, and of the presidents of the United States, Volume I > Part 20
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At the time the War of the Rebellion broke out Mr. Butler was a half owner in a shop. and had just passed his honeymoon. There was every inducement for him to remain at home, and pros- per in his business, but his duty lay in enlisting in the Union army, which he did in May, 1861, by joining Company D, 25th Illinois Infantry, being mustered into service on June 1, following, at Danville. His regiment drilled at Arsenal Park, St. Louis. for two months, and here he was elected Captain of his company. He was young and in- experienced, and being modest, he refused to serve, but afterwards accepted the position of Sergeant. On account of a severe wound in the right foot. he was honorably discharged, after which he came home, and devoted his entire attention to his trade. His army record was a brilliant one. and the men are very few who would refuse a commission as he did, which exhibits his entire. unselfishness and patriotism. He remained in In- dianola until 1879, when he removed to Ridge Farm, there engaging in business at his trade until 1887, when he came to his present location.
Mr. and Mrs. Butler have had five children: Mel- vine S., Gracie E., Adoniram J., Leslie F., Bessie and Willie. Melvine S. was educated at the Jack- sonville Blind Institute. He died, and his parents deeply felt his loss. Gracie E. is the wife of John Fletcher, a farmer of Edgar County, Ill .; they have three children: Henry T., Howard and Charles. Adoniram J. and the rest of the chil- dren are living at home. Mr. Butler is a stanch Republican, and for several years has served his party on the County Central Committee. He has always been in favor of temperance laws, and their strict enforcement, and it was largely through his instrmentality that the sale of whisky was finally abolished in Carroll Township. Mr. But- ler is one of the very best men of Vermilion County, and is so regarded by his neighbors.
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ILLIAM CAST. The subject of this notice is numbered among the pioneer residents and well-to-do farmers of this county. who carved out their fortunes by the labor of their hands, and to whom we are indebted for the devel- opment of the rich resources of the Prairie State. Mr. Cast has been a resident of Danville Township for a long period, and is held in high repute among its best citizens.
The subject of our sketch was born in Vernon Township, Clinton Co .. Ohio, April 17.1821, and is the son of Aquilla and Mary (Villars) Cast, the former born in Kentucky, Dec. 7, 1799, and the latter born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 13, 1798. The paternal grandfather, Ezekiel Cast, is supposed to have been likewise a native of Kentucky, whence
Mr. Butler is one of the original members and organizers of the Baptist Church of Sidell. which came into existence May 2, 1889, and of which he was elected Deacon. Ile has belonged to this church since he was eighteen years of age, and for twenty-two years was Superintendent of a | he removed to Ohio in 1805, while it was in the
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third year of its dignity as a State. Ile was one of the earliest pioneers of Clinton County, and pur- chased a tract of timber land in Vernon Township, where he improved a farm and resided until his death.
. The father of our subject was quite young when his parents removed to Ohio. He was reared and married in Clinton County, and purchased land in Vernon Township, where he engaged in farming until his death in September, 183t. The mother sur- vived her husband for a period of twenty-five years, and died in Clinton County in 1856. Her father, James Villars, is supposed to have been a native of Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Ohio in 1806. making the journey down the river, and landing at Cincinnati, which was then in its embryo state. He also, like grandfather Cast, was one of the earliest pioneers of Clinton County, and like him cleared a farm from the wilderness, where he spent his last days. He married Miss Re- beeea Davis, of Pennsylvania, and she also died in Clinton County, Ohio.
"Aquilla Cast, and his estimable wife became the parents of eight children. seven of whom grew to mature years, and of whom William, our subject, was the fourth in order of birth. He was only ten years old when his father died, but remained on the farm with his mother, acquiring his education in the common school and becoming familiar with the labors incident to the routine of farm life. Ile continued a resident of Clinton County until 1843, then started ont to seek his fortunes, his destination being this county. Ile was equipped with a team of horses and a wagon and accompanied by his family, they bringing with them their household goods. After fourteen days' travel they landed in Danville Township, and Mr. Cast, in the fall of that year, purchased 100 acres of land. the nucleus of his present farm.
There were no railroads in Illinois for some years after Mr. Cast settled in this county, and for a long period Covington and Perrysville were the nearest markets. Deer, turkeys and other game were plentiful. The Cast family battled with many dif- ficulties and some hardships, and underwent the usual experience of life on the frontier. Our sub- jeet proceeded steadily with the improvement of
his property, and was greatly prospered in his la- bors. As time passed on. he added to his landed estate, and now has a well-improved farm of 320 acres. He has erected good buildings, and has gathered around himself and his family all the comforts and conveniences of modern life.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Rachel Villars was celebrated at the bride's home in Clin- ton County. Ohio, Oct. 28, 1813. Mrs. Cast was born in Vernon Township, Clinton Co., Ohio, May 16, 1823. Her father, William Villars, was born in Pennsylvania, Aug. 31, 1802, and is the son of James and Rebecca Villars, who removed to Ohio when he was four years old. He was reared in the Buckeye State. and married Miss Ruth Whittaker, a native of Clinton County. Her parents were Oliver and Mary Whittaker, natives of New Jer- sey, who removed to Clinton County, Ohio, during its early settlement. The father of Mrs. Cast in- herited a large tract of land in that county, where he carried on farming until 1813. He then came to this county. purchasing land in Danville Town- ship, and has been a resident here since that time, and is now in his ninety-seventh year.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cast there were born four chil- dren, the eldest of whom. James W., married Miss Ella Farris, and is the father of two children- Mabel and Minnie. John Oliver married Mary Thayer. and has two children-George and Carrie. Mary is the wife of Perry Brown, of Chetopa, Kan. George Aquilla died at the age of nineteen months. In politics Mr. Cast has been a staunch Democrat, as was also his father. and Mrs. Cast also.
NDREW H. KIMBROUGH, M. D., was born near Elizabethtown, Hardin Co .. Ky .. on the 27th day of February, 1823. His father, Richard C. Kimbrough, was a native of Wexhall County, S. C., and his grand- father, Goldman Kimbrough, was born in the State of Virginia. The Kimbrough family settled early in Virginia, and in Colonial times owned a large tract of land and were extensive farmers. They served with distinguished ability in the Revolu- tionary War. The grandfather of Andrew H.
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Kimbrough removed from Virginia to South Caro- lina after the Revolutionary War and later to Alabama, where he bought large blocks of land. and where he died in 1835. Ile was a large slave- owner.
Richard C. Kimbrough, the father of Dr. Kim. brough, was under age when the War of 1812 broke out, and in order to enlist, he ran away from home and served in the army until the close of the war. He was in several battles including the llorse Shoe fight and was with Gen. Jackson at New Orleans. He was wounded in the former battle: After the close of the war he went with some of his comrades to Hardin County, Ky., and there taught school until his marriage, and then with a brother, he engaged in the business of tan- ning. In 1825 he emigrated to Illinois and was therefore a pioneer of Edgar County. The re- moval was made with teams, bringing all the house- hold goods along. camping out on the way. lle entered a tract of eighty acres of land in Wayne, now Stratton Township. There was no house on the place and he was compelled to rent a cabin, but in the following spring he erected a house on his his own land, which was surmounted by a stick and clay chimney. There were no sawmills in the county, a fact which compelled him to make his own boards in order to build the doors. He had no nails and so used wooden pegs instead. The old fashioned fire-place was used to cook food in those days, stoves being an unknown utensil in the economy of kitchen work. The cloth with which they made their clothes was constructed from yarn spun entirely by hand. He bought another eighty acres of land which added to his former purchase made a good farm. Ile died in 1833. The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Jane Morrison, a native of Kentucky. Her father, James Morrison, it was thought was born in Vir- ginia and removed from there to Kentucky and settled in Ilardin County. He was a farmer and spent his last years there. The maiden name of bis 'wife was Mary MeWilliams. She was born in Virginia and removed to Kentucky with her par- ents in 1791. This family were pioneers of Hardin County, where they brought a large tract of timber land and improved a farm which Mr. MeWilliams
afterward lost on an old claim. Mr. Mc Williams spent his last years in that State, The mother of our subject was married a second time in 1847 to Ilall Sims and resided in Edgar County until her death.
Andrew II. Kimbrough was eleven years old when his father died leaving his mother with six children to care for. He resided with his guard- ian until 1842, and then returned home and man- aged the farm for his mother until her second marriage, when he purchased her interest in the farm. He continued farming until 1851. He had some time before resumed the study of medicine, but had to abandon that on the account of the lack of funds, hut later he again took up the study and grad- nated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in March, 1858. In that year he commenced practice at Georgetown. this county, and contin- lied so doing until 1873, when he removed to Danville and has practiced there continuously since that time. Ile married Sarah Ashmore, who was born in Clark County, April 10, 1820. She was a danghter of Amos and Patience Ashmore, natives of Tennessee. They were truly pioneers of Clark County, Il.
Andrew HI. Kimbrough is the father of three children-Laura II., E. R. Eugene, and Lillie A. T. Politically, he is a Democrat, and socially, is a member of Franklin Lodge K. of II. He joined the I. O. O. F. in 1850 and has filled all the chairs.
ENRY DAVIS. The man who ventured into Central Illinois during its pioneer days is worthy of more than a passing mention. Few who did not undergo the experience can have a full realization of the hard lot of the early settlers. The distant markets, the inadequate price for the crops which they raised under great difficulties, the inferior educa- tional advantages, and the miasma from the fre- quently low, wet land. which confronted the pioneers with illness-a physician miles away --- and the generally wild condition of their surround- ings. no railroads or stage lines, and in some sections scarcely a well-defined wagon track, made
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life in the pioneer times a dire struggle frequently. for existence.
The subject of this sketch has had a full exper- ience of pioneer life in all its details, but at the same time he has been the privileged witness of changes almost miraculous. He was born in this county. May 5, 1841. his father, William Davis, being among the earliest pioneers. The latter was a native of Ohio, and descended from excellent Scotch-Irish stock. He was prospered in his labors as a tiller of the soil of Illinois, and in due time became the owner of 2,000 acres of land, a large portion of which he gave to his children.
The father of our subject still has about 1,000 acres of land, all in this county, and is likewise in- terested in the hardware business at Fairmount, while he has considerable other property. The mother, Mrs. Elizabeth ( Hayes) Davis, was a na- tive of Ohio, and the parental household included ten children, six of whom are living, and of whom Ilenry is the fourth in order of birth. He, like his brothers and sisters, pursued his carly studies in the old log schoolhouse. the system of instruction of that day being fully in keeping with the fashion and furnishings of the temple of learning, into which light was admitted through greased paper. and the seats and desks of which were made of slabs. the floor of puncheon. a wide fireplace ex- tending nearly aeross one end. and the chimney built outside of dirt and sticks. Young Davis at- tended school mostly on stormy days, when he could not work at home. Ile had few companions and little recreation, as the county was very thinly settled, and for a distance of forty miles south there was not a single cultivated farm.
Our subject remained at home working with his father until about twenty-two years old. and then determined to strike out for himself. The first in- teresting event which followed was his marriage with Miss Naney Cox. on the 24th of December, 1863. This lady remained the companion of her husband less than nine years, her decease taking place Oct. 24, 1874, leaving no children. Their wedded life had been begun in a log house on the present farm of Mr. Davis, and that humble dwel- ling is still standing. Mr. Davis was married a second time. Sept. 7. 1875, to Miss Rebecca E.
Baird. This union resulted in the birth of three children-Fred L., born May 21, 1876; Grace Elizabeth. JJuly 30, 1877; and Sarah Mabel, Dec. 18. 1878. Mrs. Rebecca E. (Baird) Davis de- parted this life July 18, 1880.
On the 5th of April. 1881. Mr. Davis was mar- ried a third time, to Miss M. Belle, daughter of Nathan B. and Mary F. ( Wilson ) Pemberton. Mr. Pemberton was a native of Ohio, and his wife of Ken- tueky. The father of Mrs. Davis left his native State, when twenty-one years old, going to Kon- tucky, where he engaged in farming and was married. Nineteen years ago they left the Blue Grass State for Indiana, where they lived on a farm for seven years, then came to this county. and settled two miles northwest of Fairmount. After living there two years they made another removal, and are now living one and one-half miles west of Catlin, in the enjoyment of good health, Mr. Pemberton being sixty-seven and his wife fifty-eight years old.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pemberton there were born seven children, five of whom are living. and of whom Mrs. Davis was the third. She first opened her eyes to the light in Maysville. Ky .. July 29. 1855. She received excellent educational advan- tages, and grew up an attractive and accomplished young woman, fitting herself for a teacher, and pursuing this calling in Indiana prior to her mar- riage. Mr. Pemberton some years ago was wounded by an ax in his own hands, which struck his knee, and which resulted in confining him to the house for three years thereafter. Ile has suffered from this alnost continuously since that time. He has been a plain and upright man and a member of the Baptist Church. while Mrs. Pemberton belongs to the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Davis erected his present residence about 1874, and in connection with his farming opera- tions gives considerable attention to live stock, raising about seventy-five head of swine annually, besides graded cattle and horses. Ilis farm com- prises 120 aeres of land, including a timber strip of fifteen acres. One year he was engaged in the grocery trade at Fairmount. Politically he has always been a strong Democrat, and has held the office of Commissioner of Highways for the past nine years. Ile is a School Director in his district,
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and for five years past has been President of the Vermilion County Agricultural and Mechanical As- sociation. lle is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Fair Association, and is crop re- porter for the Agricultural Department at Spring- field. Hle has exercised no small influence upon party politics in this region, officiating as a mem- her of the Central Committee, and as a delegate to the various county conventions. Both he and his excellent wife are members in good stand- ing of the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Davis has labored faithfully in the Sunday-school, and offic- iated as Librarian. Without making any preten- sions to clegance, the Davis homestead is without question the abode of peace and comfort, and while the head of the family has acquitted himself in a creditable manner. his very intelligent and amiable partner, a lady of great worth and refinement, has fulfilled her whole duty in making home the most attractive spot on earth for those dearest to her.
ABAN GRITTEN is classed among the lead- ing farmers and stock raisers of Pilot Town- ship, he having contributed much towards making it a great agricultural center. His farm on section 22 is comparable with the finest and best in this section of Vermilion County, is so cultivated as to produce large harvests, and its buildings and all other appointments are first-class. Mr. Gritten has evolved this desirable farm from the wild prai- ries of Illinois, as they were many years ago. before they had been changed by cultivation. it having been government land when he purchased it more than thirty years ago, and situated in the midst of a sparsely populated. scarcely civilized country.
Mr. Gritten is a Kentuckian by birth, born in Mercer County, JJan. 19. 1832. His father, John R. Gritten, was born in the same county in 1807. He married Nancy Atkinson, who was born there in 1806, and they came to this county with their family in 1812, and located on a farm of 120 aeres, pleasantly situated in Blount Township, where they have built up a comfortable home, and now, in life's decline are enjoying the hard-earned fruits of their united labor. Three of the children that
have blessed their union are still living: Ann, re- siding in Danville Township. is the widow of Frank Watson, of Ohio, and has five children-William, John, Nancy J., Margaret and Martha ; Lloyd mar- ried Sarah Gritten. daughter of one of the first set- tlers of the county, and they have four children -- Wesley, Annie, Ella and Elisha; Laban is the subject of this sketch, and we will write further of him.
We have seen that his parents brought him here in pioneer times, when he was a mere lad, and here they bred him to a life of usefulness. and fitted him for an honorable career. and to their careful training he doubtless owes much of his prosperity. Ile became manly, self-reliant and a good worker, and in early manhood prudently invested his money in government land, proposing to make farming his life work, and purchased 320 acres of land at twenty-five cents an acre. He now has the land all under excellent cultivation. and has greatly in- creased its value by the many fine improvements that he has made, including substantial buildings, etc. He does a general farming business. has his farm well stocked with stock of high grades, from the sale of which he makes good profits, and he raises a good deal of grain and other farm produce. from which he derives an income amply suflicing to carry on his agricultural operations in good shape, and for all his personal wants.
Mr. Gritten has been twice married. His first wife was a Miss Sarah Potter, who was of English descent, and her father, an early settler of this part of Illinois. took part in the Black Hawk War under General Taylor. Five children were born to our subject in that union, of whom one died ; the others are Orsmus, Charles, Edward and Thomas, Orsmus, a carpenter in Danville, married Miss May Gritten; Charles, living with his father on the homestead, married Matilda Gritten, and they have seven chil- dren-Clarence, Arthur, Orsmus, Elzora, Oliver, Ross and Rock. Edward, a farmer in this county, married Miss Belle Davis, of Ohio, and they have one chikl, desse B. ; Thomas, a blacksmith at Bixby, married Martha Sebank,and they have three children -Earl. Mande and Olive.
For his second wife Mr. Gritten married Miss Lydia Pile, a native of Breckenridge County. Ky ..
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and of their eleven children the following five are living: Oracena, Alvina, Jacob, Eli and William.
William and Elizabeth Pile were the parents of Mrs. Gritten, the father a native of Virginia, the mother a native of Kentucky, and both are de- ceased.
Mr. Gritten may well be proud of his farm, whose increased value is due to his hard labor and excel- lent business capacity and management. lle pos- sesses sober judgment, keen discernment and a resolute nature that has overcome all obstacles in the path to success. In his political views he sides with the Democrats. and gives his hearty approval to party measures.
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Z ACHARIAIL C. HOLLOWAY. Among quite a company of young men who came to this county at different times in the spring of 1853, was a young man named Holloway, plainly attired and with no means to speak of. quiet and unobtrusive in his demeanor but with the fixed pur- pose of giving the Western country a fair trial in the building up of a future home. He was not pre- pared to purchase land and so was obliged to locate upon a rented farm in Blount Township which had been but slightly improved and offered few advan- tages to the pioneer. 'Upon this amid many difli- culities he prosecuted farming for a period of four years. then changed his residence to Newell Township where he sojourned two years. His next removal was to a farm adjoining that which he now owns and occupies. in the southern part of Ross Township. This brought him up to 1859 in which year he purchased eighty acres of wild prai- rie and two years later established himself upon it with his young wife in a log cabin.
Mr. Holloway began the cultivation of his'land with an ox team and in the meantime made his home in Newell, then a very unimportant village. In the spring of 1860 he hired thirty acres plowed, which he planted in corn. From that time on he labored industriously early and late until he had eighty acres under a high state of cultivation and had erected a neat and substantial house and barn besides effecting other improvements. As oppor-
tunity permitted he planted fruit and shade trees and after a number of years found himself in a con- dition to purchase aochtional land and thus in- vested his surplus capital until he became t! : owher of 100 acres. For many years he has deah in cattle realizing therefrom handsome returns.
Our subject generously acknowledges that he has been greatly assisted and encouraged in his labors and struggles by his excellent wife, who bore with her husband the heat and burden of the day and assisted him in saving as well as carning. They are the parents of four chiklren, all living, namely : Albert. Alford, Frank, and Ivy, the wife of C. R. Crawford. of Ross Township.
Upon becoming a voting citizen Mr. Holloway identified himself with the Republican party and later cordially endorsed Republican doctrines. He has made a speciality of attending to his own con- eerns and consequently has meddled very little with public affairs, having no desire for the re- sponsibilities of office. His pleasant home with its attractive surroundings and his intelligent family have largely supplied his social needs, although he is not lacking for troops of friends among the peo- ple whose intelligence always leads them to respect the man who has been the architect of his own for- tune and who has made the most of his opportuni- ties. adding to the talent with which nature en- dowed him.
lolin Holloway. the father of our subject, was the son of Elijah Holloway, a native of Maryland and one of eight children. The others were named respectively, Adam. William. Elijah. Armel. Fran- ces. Ilettie and Mary. John also was born in Mary- land, where he was reared to man's estate and mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Davis. About 1804. with a party of probably eighty persons. they set out across the mountains with teams and landed in Ross County, Ohio, where it is believed the grand- parents also settled. The journey at that time was a dangerous one, the country being infested with des- perate characters, who frequently murdered trav- elers for their money. The trip ocenpied about six weeks and the Holloway family fortunately were not molested.
The parents of our subject settled in the heavy timber of Ross County, Ohio. where Zachariah C.
" WALNUT GROVE FARM" RESIDENCE OF J. S. CHRISTMAN , SEC. 22. (22 .- 11.) ROSS TP. VERMILION CO.
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