USA > Indiana > Vermillion County > Biographical and historical record of Vermillion County, Indiana : containing portraits of all the presidents of the United States from Washington to Cleveland, with accompanying biographies of each; a condensed history of the state of Indiana; portraits and biographies of some of the prominent men of the state; engravings of prominent citizens in Vermillion county, with personal histories of many of the leading families, and a concise history of the county and its villages > Part 23
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in the war of 1812 under General Harrison, and died March 25, 1879, a good man and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. George, Jolin and Michael Helt-all now de- ceased. C. B., Thomas, Hiram, E. B. and F. M. Ilelt were all born here in pioneer times. Augustus Ford, from Ohio, long since de- ceased. His son John, born in Ohio in 1809, came with him, and died May 6, 1882, an exemplary member of the Methodist Episco- pal church, after having lived upon the farm first occupied for half a century. Mr. Rod- ney, from Maine. John Skidmore, who died at the age of eighty years. Hon. William Skidmore, who was born February 19, 1819, died several years ago. George Skidmore was born in 1824, and Josiah Skidmore in 1831. Samuel Rush, father of James, who was born in Ohio in 1817. This year, or soon afterward, C. C. Hiddle (or John Hiddle, ac- cording to one authority), and John Martin came and built the first cabins on Hiddle's Prairie.
1819-Samuel Ryerson, who died January 31, 1862, at Clinton. His wife, Phebe, died in the fall of 1874, at the age seventy-nine years. She was a remarkable woman. At
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HIELT TOWNSHIP.
the age of twelve years she had never heard one pray. At that time she attended a Methodist meeting, where the expected preacher did not arrive. and the class-leader sang and prayed, which was the means of her convietion and conversion, and she remained a zealons member of the elmurch all her life. She and her husband formed the first Method- ist elass on Helt's Prairie, consisting of eight persons, soon after their settlement here. A short time before her death she willed $1,500 to the Missionary Society, $500 to Asbury University, $200 to the educational fund of this county, and 8200 to the Biblical Institute at Evanston, Illinois, besides other sums, to various individuals.
Matthew Harbison came this year. Joseph Harbison was born in this township in 1834.
1820 .- Mr. Hood, father of Charles D. and S. S., both of whom were born in Ten- nessce, in 1814 and 1815, and are still living here. According to one authority, Joel IIol- lingsworth arrived in IIelt Township this year.
1821 .- Abraham and Enoch White. The latter was born in Kentucky, in 1814. James Harper. Stephen IIarrington, who was born in Ohio in 1814, was a resident here during most of the county's existence. Warham (or " Wirum ") Mack, born in Ohio in 1801, died here. The other Macks came later: see under 1832 and 1836.
1822 .- William Andrews, Sr., tanner and farmer, born in Ohio in 1807, (see under 1832), and died of heart deeease in De- cember, 1879, two miles southwest of St. Bernice, a member of the United Brethren church. (For others by the name of Andrews, see under 1832.) John Conley. M. A. Con- ley, long a resident, was born in this town- ship this year. James Conley, born in Ohio in 1817, is still living here. William Conley was another pioneer.
1823 .- Alanson Church. His son Josiah
was born here, September 29, 1823, and died January 7, 1884, two and a half miles west of Summit Grove. Eleven of his twelve children are still living. John Peer, Sr., born in Virginia in 1803, and deceased. John Peer, Jr., a resident, was born here in 1834. The Pearman family; of the younger mem- bers, John is living, Benjamin is dead, and besides these there were S. D. and William.
1824 .- John Van Camp, whose house this year was where the first township election was held, moved to Missouri. John Langs- ton, father of Oliver, of Dana. William L. Malone, born in Obio in 1805, deceased. Richard, his son, was born in the same State, in 1826, and lives in Dana.
1825 .- Caleb Bales, Sr., from Virginia, died in 1836. Caleb Bales, Jr. is living. George Bales, early settler, father of Robert, is dead. William Bales, born in Virginia in 1827, settled in this county in 1831. Will- iam F. Bales was born here in 1829. Chandler Tillotson, who came to the county about this period, is dead. Daniel G. and G. B. Tillotson were born here in 1825.
1826 .- Edwin (or Edmund), William and Elijah James. S. R., Joseph, W. A. and S. S. James are all natives of this county. Mr. Keyes, father of Dr. C. F. Keyes. The doctor was born in Indiana, in 1822, brought up in Helt Township, became a competent physician, although somewhat eccentric in style, and died at Dana, February 8, 1884, leaving a wife and five children. John Van- duyu born in New Jersey in 1803, still re- sides in this township. M. Thompson. Mr. Rhoades, father of Stephen, was born in Kentucky in 1822. William Kearns, born in Kentucky in 1806, is dead. John, his son, was born in 1332, and is still living here. Samuel Pyle, was two years old at this time, when he was brought here; he is still a resi- dent of this township.
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
1827 .- Washington Engram, born in Ken- tneky in 1812. John O. Rogers, born this year in Helt Township, resides in Dana. Asa Mack came this year or previouely. His son, Dr. Erastus Maek, was born this year, and another son, N. B., born in 1832, went to California.
1828 .- Joel Hollingsworth, who was born in South Carolina in 1801, died May 30, 1875, in this township. (See sketch of Simon Hollingsworth, in the biographieal de- partment of this work.) George Hollings- worth, a carpenter, was born in 1827, In- diana, and was brought here in 1839.
1829 .- The French family. F'elix French, born here this year, went to Michigan. Sam- uel French, long a resident. Joseph and John Staats, brothers, are still living here. Joseph, born in Virginia in 1801, eame in 1830, and John, who was born in Ohio in 1806, eame in 1829. Israel and Abraham Leatherman were lads when they arrived this year. Samuel Hoagland (deceased), was born in this county in 1829, and was a eitizen liere for a life time. Wesley Southard (deceased), was born in Virginia in 1811. William Russell, Sr., born in Virginia in 1797, is still living here. David and Mahlon Russell were born here, in 1830 and 1833.
1830 .- James L. Wishard, born in Ken- tucky in 1794, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and died two or three years ago. John O. Wishard, born in the same State, in 1805, eame in 1834, and is now deceased. J. H. Wishard, a life-long resident, born this year. James L. Payton, born in Kentucky in 1800, is dead. James Payton, born in 1835, also deceased. A. M. Payton, born in Kentucky in 1823, was seven years of age when brought here. James A. Edmanston, born in Indiana in 1828, was brought here in 1830 and lived here many years, but is now living in Illinois. Robert Norris, born in South Carolina in
1796, died here in 1873. Ilis sons, John and Lewis, are living. John T. Boren, Sr., born in Tennessee in 1800, is not living. J. T. Boren, Jr., was born in this eounty in 1831. Jacob Miller, born in Kentucky in 1818, is still a resident here. Mary E. Mil- ler, born in North Carolina in 1816, came in 1831. John and O. R. Blakesley, born here in 1830 and 1833, remained as residents until their death.
1831 .- Josephi Jones, born in Kentucky in 1810; Matthew Jones, born in North Carolina in 1818; Thomas Jones, shoemaker, born in the same State in 1820; and Wiley Jones, born also in the same State in 1824, all came this year. Wiley soon moved on to Illinois. William Jones, an old resident, was born in Indiana in 1829.
1832 .- James Andrews came previously to 1834. John Andrews, still living here. Sara Eliza Andrews, born in 1820, married Mr. Dethriek and moved West. Hannah Andrews, born in Massachusetts in 1823, eame to this connty in 1839. John W. Reed, born in North Carolina in 1822, resided here from 1832 until his death September 14, 1885, at Dana. David Reed, born in North Carolina in 1825, is still living. P. M. Stokesberry, born in Ohio in 1808, is not now living. James H. White, who was born in Tennessee_in 1805; and O. J. White was born this year in Helt Township. William Higbie, born in Ohio in 1814, lived here until recently.
1833 .- J. S. Fisher (deceased), born in Kentucky in 1808. Benjamin, James and Joseph Fisher, pioneers, and life-long citizens, are all deceased. Benjamin Miles, born in Kentucky in 1813, is still living here. Mr. Foncannon, from Virginia. H. W. and John R. Roshstan, living in Dana. James A. Elder and James R. Finnell, the former from Ohio, and the latter from Kentucky, were
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HELT TOWNSHIP.
both eleven years of age when brought here in 1833. and are still living in Helt Town- ship. O. Chambers and Charles Craig were born here this year.
1834 .- Samuel Aikman, born in Indiana in 1814, is living in Dana. Robert Me- Dowell, born in Kentucky in 1820, is deceased. J. D. MeDowell, born in this county in 1836, is a life-long resident. Mr. Johnson, some time this year or previously. John R. Johnson, born in Ohio in 1833, was brought here in 1834; and S. Johnson was born here in 1835.
1835 .- Samnel Tullis, born in Virginia in 1794, resided here until his death, at Bono, October 14, 1877, a member of the Christian church. Ilis wife died two months previously. John Jenks, born in Vermont in 1803, is not living. S. Ponton, born in Virginia in 1787, is deceased. Jolin S. Ponton, born in Ohio in 1831, died here about a year ago. John Jackson, who had several sons, and is deceased. Andrew Jackson, born in Ohio in 1823, is still living here. Joseph Jackson. James C. Burson. Isaac N. Bullington, born in Kentucky in 1807.
1836 .- Cephas Maek, born in Massachu- setts in 1815, died April 29, 1885, in Helt Township. His brother, Spencer, born in the same State, in 1818, settled here in 1838, and is not living.
1837 .- Benjamin Harper, born in Virginia in 1796, died August 2, 1877. His wife, Charlotte, died March 2, 1884, aged nearly eighty-two years. John R. Porter, born in Massachusetts in 1824, died in 1878. James F. Barnett, Sr., born in Kentucky in 1815, after settling here became a merchant in Eugene.
1838 .- Henry Mitehell, blacksmith, born in New York in 1809, died here, June 20, 1881. William M. Price, born in Maryland in 1811, is still a resident of this township. W. C. and Abel Randall, from Ohio. 17
1839 .- William Thompson, born in Ken- tueky in 1818, died here in the spring of 1887. David D. Thompson, born in the same State, in 1827, died February 1, 1880. Erastus Crane, born in Vermont in 1804, resided in Helt Township from 1839 to the time of his death. Elijah and N. E. Taylor, Reuben Puffer, F. S. Aye and many others.
1840 .- Stephen Milliken, born in Pennsyl- vania in 1803; deceased. J. L. Powers, born in Virginia in 1803; also deceased.
Other early settlers were-Samnel Rice, William Hays, Peter Higbie, Henry Bogart, Richard, Isaac and John Short, Carmack, ete., etc., nearly all of whom are dead.
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
The first white child born in Helt Town- ship was Honorable William Skidmore, in 1819; and it is not a settled point whether he or Jolin Vannest, Jr., of Clinton Town- ship, was the first born in the county.
The first church building in the township was the Salem Church, on Helt's Prairie, erected in 1848.
The first school was taught on this prairie, prior to 1830.
The first mill in the township was built npon the bank of Coal Branch, a little stream which takes its rise in the central part of the township and flows southwest. This mill was built by William Anderson in 1836, but it has long since fallen into disuse, and Coal Branch looks as if it could never have run a mill.
The Davis Ferry, at Opeedee, about three and a half miles below Newport, was a fa- mous place in early day, as it was the favorite place of erossing the Wabash for those who were traveling north, the second bottoms on the west side of the river affording much better wagon roads than the east side. By
C
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
this route some teaming was done even to Chicago.
Helt Township has contributed an inter- esting share to the science of archaeology. In the summer of 1884, a number of workmen, while digging gravel in the mound just east of William Bales' place, brought to light the skeletons of more than half a dozen of the aborigines. Various relics were found, con- sisting of bone and stone. There was no metallic tool of any sort in the grave. Under the skull of the first skeleton found,-un- doubtedly the chief or sachem of the tribe,- was perhaps half a bushel of arrow-heads. A pipe was found, the bowl of which was per- fectly hollowed. It was made of a hard species of soapstone. Was it his calumet of peace? Two pieces of what one would sup- pose to be a fish-spear, made from the antler of a deer, was procured from the heap of arrow-heads, together with the jaw-bones of a dog and several beaver teeth. One spear- head, six inches long, the middle portion of which was gone, had barbs, about an inch apart, on one side only. The absence of fire- arms indicates that these remains have been lying here since a period prior to the advent of the white man.
March 31, 1883, occurred the first " fox drive " ever held in Vermillion County. The citizens placed themselves, according to ad- vertised programme, in a kind of circle around a large section of territory, mostly in Helt Township. They started forward at 9:30 A. M. All the marshals exercised due diligence to keep the men in proper shape, none of whom were allowed to be intoxicated or to have a dog or gun. The east and north di- visions, having to travel over a very broken section of the country, and some of the men also disobeying orders, permitted eight foxes to escape. At half past 11 o'clock men and boys could be seen in every direction, about
800 strong, approaching the center; and it was also observed at this moment, that three red foxes were surrounded. Forming into a ring about forty yards in diameter on the meadow near the Conley school-house, three of the most active young men entered the ring to capture the game by their unassisted hands. One fox, which was crippled in try- ing to pass out, was soon caught; but the other two were chased for some time, when finally one of them broke the line where some women were standing and got away. The remaining one, after being chased for some time by different ones, was finally caught by Fred Ford.
William Darnell was called for, who at auction sold the two foxes to the highest bidder, Richard Wimsett, of Opeedee. Every one present enjoyed the sport.
It could plainly be seen that many impor- tant improvements could be made in the plan and execution of the " drive," and accordingly the next spring, March 15, 1884, they tried it again, on a larger scale, without catching a single fox. The conclusion was that there were no foxes on the ground to be caught; but some say the territory was too large. It comprised a portion of Helt and Vermillion Townships.
In looking through the files of the Hoosier State five to twenty years back, one finds many crimes and misdemeanors reported from every part of the county,-appropriate enough for a newspaper but inappropriate in a general history like this. The execution of Walter Watson, for the murder of Ezra Compton at Highland, has already been related in this work. We hope every reader will pardon us for introducing one more item from that newspaper, as an example of the amusing style in which many of the squabbles in this county were related.
" Hair Pulling: a Church Scene in Helt
TT
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HIELT TOWNSHIP.
Township: Two Belligerent Females Get on Their Musele and Make the Hair Fly. It becomes our sad duty this week to record a big hair pulling by a couple of young women of Helt Township. Both bear a respectable character, and also a first-class temper. The time was Sunday, December 20, 1874, and the Briek Church, three miles west of High- land, was the place. The young ladies met in the aisle after services were over, and, after a few hot words, the hair pulling commenced, and was continued with fury for several minutes, hair, curls and chignons flying in every direction, to the dismay of the as- sembled multitude, Both will now have to wear wigs for a spell, to conceal their prairie heads from public gaze. It is through fear that we withhold their names from the public; for we don't want to be put to the necessity of buying a wig these hard times."
TORONTO.
This is the name of the postoffice at the village called Bono, in the southwestern part of the township. The village was started in 1848, by Tilly Jenks and others, when the site was covered with a thick growth of tim- ber and under-brush. The first store was established by James Bacon, between 1850 and 1860. In the spring of 1863, Edward English established a grocery, selling out in August of the same year to Franeis M. Austin, who now keeps a "general store " at the place. John F. Hays is another merchant here. The village, although never laid out and platted, has all the elements of a little town. The population now is over eighty. There is one physician here, three church organizations, - Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist,-one church building, a school- house, blacksmith shop and a post of the Grand Army of the Republic. In early day a society of Sons of Temperance existed here,
and later, in the '60s, a lodge of the Good Templars. The postoffice was established here in 1871, with Francis M. Austin as post- master, who still holds the office. There being another Bono in Indiana, the postoffice was named Toronto, the office by this name a mile and a half north having been previously discontinued.
John C. Jenks Post, No. 263, G. A. R., was chartered with the following officers and members: Francis M. Austin, Post Commander; William L. Kerns, Senior Vice- Commander; Henry Barnhart, Junior Vice- Commander; George W. Campbell, Quarter- master; Edwin Tiffany, Chaplain; Lewis Il. Beekman, Adjutant; Henry II. Aye, Officer of the Day; A. J. Pitts, Surgeon; Solomou Carpenter, John Beard, William F. Morrison, Francis C. Combs, William A. Goodwin and Jolın Myers. The post is in good working order, enjoying peace and harmony. Mein- bership, twenty-six, meeting the first Satur- day of each month. Present officers-Henry H. Aye, Post-Commander; W. F. Kerns, Senior Vice-Commander; Henry Barnhart, Junior Vice-Commander; Stephen Jenks, Quartermaster: William A. Goodwin, Chap- Jain; L. L. Goodwin, Adjutant; F. M. Austin, Officer of the Day; Edwin Tiffany, Officer of the Guard.
This is the most appropriate place we can find for the list of deceased soldiers of the last war, from Helt Township, compiled under the auspiees of the Grand Army of the Republie.
Aikman, Elijah Andrews, Edward
Aikman, James Andrews, John
Aikman, William Andrews, James
Amerman. Henry Anderson, John P. Bride, James Blakesley, Albert,
Brady, James Burnett, Samuel
Burnett, William Clark, John
Castle, Dirah
Crane, Benjamin
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HISTORY OF VERMILLION COUNTY.
Curry, John
Ford, Henry
Foncannon, Joseph
Foncannon, John
Gamell, Charles Gerrish, Lucien Ilendrixon, Elliott
Ilarper, Daniel
Homiday, David
Hunter, Solomon
Gosnold, Oscar Harbison, James Harris, John Hamilton, Benjamin James, Joseph L.
James, Solomon R. Luck, Edward
Malone, William
Mitchell, Benson Mack, Reuben McNamer, John Martin, Levi
Nebeker, Jasper
Pearman, Sebert
Potteroff, Marion Paulley, James Skidmore, Asa Smith, William
Price, David Staats, George Smith, John
Southard, John P.
Strain, George Spriggs, Enoch Taylor, Leroy
Straight, Elmor
Tullis, Samnel
Thompson, James
White, Frank
Wellman, Louis Whitehead, Thomas Winesburg, Henry.
Asbury Lodge, No. 320, F. c A. M., was organized at Bono in 1861, but the member- ship is now transferred to Dana, which see.
Toronto Presbyterian Church was organ- ized as early as 1850 or '51, by Rev. Gerrish, the house of worship was built during the latter year. It is a frame, 36x40 feet in dimensions, and is still in a good state of preservation. Among the early members of the church were James A. Elder and wife, Samuel Elder and wife, etc. Rev. John A. Tiffany was pastor from 1858 to 1866. There are now about twenty communicants; a large proportion are changing their membership to Dana. Rev. Thomas Griffith is the present
pastor. A union Sunday-school is kept up throughout the year: Edwin Tiffany, super- intendent. A union prayer-meeting is sus- tained in the church by the Presbyterians, Baptists and Methodists.
Iliddle's Prairie Baptist Church .- In 1852 a branch or " mission " of the Bloom- field Baptist Church was established at Toronto, and July 23, 1853, it was organized as a separate body in the Toronto Presby- terian Chapel, by Rev. G. W. Riley. The constituent members were Chandler Tillotson, John Depuy, James Drinen, Reuben Puffer, Daniel G. Tillotson, John Newton, A. II. Depuy, Hannah Martin, Mary Newton, Eliza J. Depuy. Harriet Puffer, Elizabeth Tillotson, Rebecca Tillotson, Rametha Scott, O. Z. Derthic, Harriet Derthic, Adaline Derthic and Mary Derthic.
Revs. John and G. W. Riley were preach- ers in 1852, the latter being the first pastor. Up to Angust, 1861, the following were either pastors or supplies: Revs. Joseph Shirk, William McMasters and A. J. Riley; thence to the present, Revs. William McMasters 1861-'62; Melvin McKee, 1862-'63; Will- iam McMasters, 1863-'65; Melvin McKee, 1865-'66; D. S. French, 1866-'68; William McMasters, 1868-'77; A. J. Riley, 1877-'79; G. T. Willis, 1879-'82; J. M. Kendall, 1883; no pastor, 1882-'86, except a few months in 1883; W. T. Cuppy, 1886-'87.
Services every fourth Sunday.
Toronto Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in February, 1853, by Rev. John Lach, who had just conducted a successful series of revival meetings here. He died twenty years ago. Among the first members were John Jenks and family, William Jordan and wife, Mrs. Tiller Jenks, John R. Wish- ard and wife, Almeda Jenks (now Eaton), and others. In 1875 a great revival was held by Rev. Jacob Musser. There are now about
Dorsham, Christopher Ford, Josephus, Lean- der and Perry Fisher, James
Gerrish, Charles
Jackson, Ross Longfellow, William Malone, William C. Millikin, Lintott Miller, II. B. Martin, William Morgan, Marion Osborn, William Pollard, Absalom
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HELT TOWNSHIP.
sixty members, with Stephen Jenks as elass- leader. Services every two weeks, by Rev. William Smith, in the Presbyterian church. Sunday-school, union: Peter Aikman, super- intendent.
JONESTOWN.
This point is at the southwest corner of Helt Township. It was named for Philip Jones, who owned a part of the ground upon which it was founded. It was laid out in 1862, by Jones & Wellman, the surveying being done by James Osburn, now of Dana, assisted by Joseph C. Lane and De Witt Wat- son. A log cabin was upon the site, and also a better dwelling, ereeted by Dr. Grimes the previous year. John Ammerman established the first store. There are now two general stores, one drug and grocery store, a flouring- mill, built in 1879, a blacksmith shop, a car- penter and a cabinet-maker, a post of the Grand Army of the Republic, a brick sehool- house, a United Brethren church, one phy- sician, a justice of the peace, a constable, and a postoffice, named St. Bernice, there being another Jonestown in the State. The office was established here in 1863, with Dr. Wil- son Grimes as postmaster. It was first named "Jones," but it was soon found that there was already a Jones postoffice in Indiana.
The population is about 100. There are four briek buildings in the place,-the school- house, a store and two dwellings. The store, a fine business block, was built in 1880, by William D. MeFall, who occupies it with his large stock of goods and the postoffice, he being the present postmaster.
Dr. Thomas M. Lownsdale, practicing phy- sician at Jonestown, was born in Petersburg, Indiana, August 12, 1841, graduated at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery in February, 1875, and came to this place in October, 1885.
Pleasant Chapel United Brethren Church was organized first at Sugar Grove, Edgar County, Illinois, in pioneer times, and re- moved to Pleasant Hill School-house, No. 13, about 1867. Their present commodious church edifice, 30 x42 feet in size, and cost- ing $1,350, was erected in 1875. There are now eighty or ninety members. Services every two weeks, conducted by Rev. S. S. Sims. Prayer-meeting, Wednesday evening. Sunday-school all the year, at 9:30 A. M. Class-meeting when there is no preaching.
A Christian Church was organized here in April, 1883, with nineteen members, now increased to fifty-two. Elders-Walter Paul- ley and James Holston. Pastor-Elder Williams, of Parke County. Sunday-school during the summer.
HILLSDALE,
situated mostly on section 2, Township 15 north, range 9 west, Helt Township, was laid out in 1873, by E. Montgomery. The first house was built by Hart Montgomery soon afterward, and the same year he and his son established the first store, comprising a gen- eral stock. A saloon came next, and the third building was a dwelling, erected by Levi Bonenbrake. There are now two general stores, a restaurant, a church (Methodist), and one physician, Dr. Erastus Mack. The Chicago & Eastern Illinois and the Indian- apolis, Decatur & Springfield Railroads eross at this point, having a union depot.
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