1886 Early History and Pioneers of Champaign County IL --

Transcription

1886 Early History and Pioneers of Champaign County IL
--- along with 1891 2nd edition additions - A - p. 107-164
107
PIONEERS OF CHAMPAIGK COUXTP
LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT.--PROCEEDINGS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S
COURT.--COUNTY OFFICERS A N D TERMS OF SERVICE.--SURPLUS REVENUES.--FIRST SCHOOL HOUSE.--INTERESTING INCIDENTS, ETC,
&lay6th, A. I>. 1S.33, Isaac Busey. Jxcob
ISartley ancl George Akers liaving been
clectetl as the first county commissioners,
met at the house of Phillip Stanford and
orgaiiized the first county co~llmissioners
conrt for Champaign comltv. The first act
the court did was to appoint Tho~nsonR.
Webber as clerk. The nest was to appoint Garrett Moore as constable, then
Moses Thonlas assessor and treasurer of the
county. The nest meeting of the court was
held June 3rd, at xvhich time 'I'. R. Webher
was recommelldetl to the governor to be appointed recorder, which mas done, his cornmission dating July %, IS?. At this meeting Garrett &ore was appointetl snrregor.
A t the same meeting Moses Thomas the
assessor reported the revenue of the county
to be .S71.:37.
The court divided the eo~ultyinto two
election districts, calling one the Salt Fork
precinct hnd appointerl Moses Thomas, Robert Prather, and Capt.Win. Nos, jr.,as judges. The other precinct was called the Big
Grove, and Matthew Busey, Joshua Trickle
and John IVhittaker were appointecl judges.
The court then adjourned to assemble at
the call of the clerk, when the commissiollers, appoiuted by the act of the legislature
to locate the county seat, should be ready to
report.
On the 21st day of June, Stephen B. Shelledy and Johil F. Richardson presented to
the court a written report locating the county seat at Urbana. The court allowed them
the snms of $16 and S'!, respectively, for
their services. Some interesting incic!ents
connected with the location of the county
seat will be found in the article written by
.Jndge Cunningham.
la September, 1SS3, a plat of a state road
rvas filed, running from Pekin, in Tazewell
pounty to the 40 mile post near the "Big
Grove." This was located by the legislature.
The meetings of the court had been heretofore held at the house of Phillip Stanford,
but at the September meeting it was ordered
that hereafter they be held a t the ho~tseoi
Natthev- Busey. John Salisbury was appointed sheriff' soon after the orgnnization,
and September 2nd. lSS3, he was ordered to
proceed and collect the revenue, amounting
to SSl.%. As it was necessary to Iiave a
source of revenue, Xoveniber 7th: 1s:3, a
license was grttnteil to 1s;iac 13. Alesantler
to retail goods, wares and merclia~~riise
until
tlie end of the next te1-m of the court-the
license being 8.5. Afterwards tlie tiiile u7as
estended 53.00 \t70rt11. Soon after this blic
commissioners fixed the followillg rates of
prices to be charged the public, viz: For
keeping n nian and horse one night, inclutling supper, bed and horse feed, 7Sce11ts:
single meal, 1Sx cents; horse feetl, l 9 x
cents; one-half pint whiskey, 6% cent,s; onehalf pint French brandy, 1Sx cents; 36 l~int
wine, 1Sx cents;
pint gin, 19% cc~lts;
pint runi, 1Sx cents;
pint domestic
brandy, lux cents.
The first fiscal statement was made by .'l
R. Webber ancl shower1 county ortlcrs tuipaid, 5S5.25; fees for surveying S-l. lots in
the town of Urbana. $91; recording plat,
$ 3 3 ;fees of co~n~nissioners
ancl for stationery, 817.75; nlnkiug a total indebtetlness of
deducting the revenne, 571.:37. left
sv- ..sb;
"'
855.99; tlle~ldeductinglicense of Alesantler,
$5.00, left tlie indebt.edness of tlie county,
December 2, 1S33,:it $50.99.
,March 3, IS:%, the county urns divided into
road districts and Wm. Peters, 1);miel T.
Porter, .John G. Robertson, &Iij:unin Bycrs,
I'ilillip M. Stanford, Wm. Nox, jr., Jolln
Whitaker were appoiutetl road supervisors.
March 4, IS%, tlie first grant1 and petit
juries were appointed as follows: Grantl
jnry-Thomas Deer, Jefferson I-luss, Wm.
Sos, sr., Joseph Thomas, Henry Thomas,
ltcbert Trickle, James Browntield, Walter
Rhodes, James 5ohnson, Samuel G. J3eckley,
John W. Sweariiigea, John B. Swearingen,
John Zanes, ltobert Prather, TTalentinelliff,
Gabriel G. Itice, Xatthew Busey, Joh11 Tineman, Samuel Bromley, Srthnr Beaird, Hnrris Wilson, Wi1li:ini Corrny and James 0sbour~ie. Petit jury-James 310s~.i\Lattlle\r~
'CV- Basey, Elias Stanley, Daviil Gabbel-t.
Willia~iiT. Webber, hugustine i\I. Webber.
Larkiu Deer, Stephen Bovtl, Elijah Jackson,
Andreiv Wilson, -%damTeazle. James Freeman, Jacob T. Hobbs. John Coddington.
Jacob Heater? 5Ioses Kirby, Elias Kirby.
John Bran-ntield, sr., William Coddington,
Eli% Thomas. Xoses ~ l r g o .L\'illiain I. Peters ant1 IIirxm Itankin.
><
Public Domain Book - Found at COAN.NET / VermilionCounty.INFO
At n il~cotinzof the county coilllnissioners.
11(~1(1 1)eceitiber 1, IS:-%. it was ortlcrc(1 tliat
hchrciaftcAr the co~urt uleet a t the llouse of
Isaac. Ihlsey, The collrt appointcrl T. K.
\.\.'chWjc11..
agcAnt,in .July I\:>>. to bell tlic lot.;
i l l I!'r?)alin. at follo\vili~ prices:
Col-ner
lots 011 JItxi11 strwt. on lx~blicsquilre :tt +:>O
(1:1(.11 : col.ncr lots clsc\vllel*c. 3.20 ; b:~c.l;lot.;.
5 10.
,Jail11;11.ylb;3G. a tell11)orarj-col~rt 1 1 0 1 1 3 ~
\\-as or(lthi.c'tlto l)ti t,r[ilt on lot 2.5. to he1 o f
11e\v11loes, eooci sizc. 'l'lic i)rliI(liliziv;~.; to
bcb '2-ls'?U l'clct, ollc t111t1 olic-half story. sllingI.lc
roof', Ilc~\vlljoists nntl ~ 1 ~ e l ) f ~ollc
r q .( l ( ~ oall(!
r
t\\,o wiiltlo\vs on c;icll sicle. Tilcl c*onti.:~ct
t Jolul Craic. but the bniltlil~gwas
ivi~sl ~ to
never fillisllctl to tllc satisfaction of the conl11lisi;ioller.;ant1 court co~ltilllletlto be heltl
ill ])~'i~ilt(l
Iloll~cslilltil IS:%'. when a fl-anle
collrt Ilorlsc 22s:';O feet, with two rooins, was
1b11ilt1)y3losc.s ant1 Tl'illiiims IIarvej-. This
I)l~iltli~lq
I Y : I ~ rcplaced in 1549 by n brick
:<Ox40feet, two stories, with offices
t)l~il(lii~g
bt~loivan(\ co1u.t ant1 jury rooms above. In
IY.?!) tllis builtli~lgwas torn clo\v11 ailcl thc
pi-clseilt court Ilousc erc~ctetl at a cost of
~-10,000.
'I'lli. t'~llo\\~ing
is n liht of' the colnn~issiontArs.t l l ~tirst t1lrc.c alrc;x(ly having been 111~11tioiltbc!. 111 IS:?-!. .John Bro\vilfic~ld.\Villianl
S o s , I )nnicI 7'. Pc~rtvr: l S G , Cyrus Strong,
IIirn~n.Johnson cunl \Vm. X o s : IS:?S. .Jt~lnes
(:lcnlr~iits ~ v t ~elcctecl
s
for our! year, 1)aniel
'I'. I'ortcbr for two iI~ld Jeffel-son Nrlss f o r
three J-thnrs. Aftel- this one \\'as electetl
c.ac.11 \-tA;lr :xs follo\vs: Janles Clements.
IS::!). I)t~nieI1'.'I'ortcr, Is-iO. Jefferson Eluss,
F
~llt~tle..I. ( ). Cunningllanl ~ v a sclectecl co~uit y ju(lge allti servcttl four ye:xrs. being suecectlc~tlby tl. 11. ;\yers. in lsii:',, 1~110servt?cl
111;til IS:-;: ,J. \I7. Sin1 ill IS':?, .I. lIT.L : ~ l q l e ~ - .
1S77, the ~)resclltillc.11r:lhell:.
,\loscis ' l ' l ~ o l i ~
was
; ~ ~iirst conl1t~-ttrc:isurclr
allti st11-vetl llllt i l 1":;7, \\-11c11(;rcY11 ;I t\voc )tl
\v:is electetl. Jacob 13ratl..;ll:~wwas thltlett.tl
in 1<:3'3 nncl st?rvt?cl un.til 1%; when Col. 11.
\j'. i311sey \ViIs t31ect:J(i\v11o sel.vetl1111til1 S l .
\vlle11 Elisha 11;11-1<11ess
~ v a seiecte[l. i1'1:l.
11. l'earc!? \v;~st:ltl(:ttA(lin lF.33, C. 11. Slieri'y.
i11 ls.55. \L-l11. > I ~ I l ~ l t i I lin
l 1557. 1'. 11. 1':1rl<~
IS.?!). 1
:
. 'l. Miller 1501. re-eIect(?tl i l l 1st;:;.
(i. IV. I<t?~l~iiI~*tl
in lS(i.7 slid l S 7 , n11(1,J. 31.
l)ix\.ics i l l IS;!), u-110 \\-as sncceetlctl in IS; 1
hy 5o1m \V. IIill, ~ ~ lini o
turn was snrcctvlt?tl
by Thoinns A. Tie\\-is, the present illcnnlbent.
The Sheriff's of the comity are a s follo\~-s
:
John Salisbury in lS:iS, A. H. Steveltsoll in
IS34 ant1 IS;%, Davit1 Cos 1S:S to 1W.\Vilsoll
Lewis lW to 1S50, Eclwarcl h t e r 1S30, F. 11.
O ~ - C I 1S4,
~ S Peilrose Stidhai~l1S5G. X. 31.
~ 1 h r k1S5S, I-:. C. IVrigllt ISGO, Xsthnn To\vl
1SC,.2, J . I). .Jollnson ISM, T. J. Scott lS(i(i,
.Yeter Nyers, Iscis, H. C. Core 1870 to 1S74.
J. 1). Jollnson 1Si-4 to 1STs. J . E. Oltlhnln
I S 3 t,o ISS:!, J . (2. Ware lSS:! to lSS(;.
Scliool comlnissiollers are a s f o l l o ~ ~ ~ s :
Moses Tliomns N O , Jolizl
.Jolin ,\Ie:tct
B. Thoinas 1Mi and IS-iS,
Peters 1S31,
Sheghercl IS.?:?, J. \V. Jaquitll 1S3,
John B. Thollzas 1S.3, Tlzolllns E. Len1 lS.57
to 1S7:3, S. I,. IVilson lSX, Calist,a E Larneci
1SX ~ 1 1 0resigned in lSSl anct G. R. ShawIl:tn, the yresent illcumbent, 11-aappoirltt?tl.
cOllllt)-nlld circuit clerks were r-i\-iclptl, 'r.
;\. 31cIAnurie I$.?:-; to iS.57, S. J. Toy 1557 to
The pn)b;ltc ju(l_ves;UP a s folioms : lloqtL.; IS!;;, S. 11-~ 1 . ~ ~t o 11~69.
~ J.
~ l ~ ~ ~ ~ l ;
rl'liomas tblc~ctr(1i l l ls:%:, nuti servrd lilltil
to 1s;;; J .
JICCnllollgh
tile l)reSIS:??. \vl~cn .iohn 13. 'I'llolnns WiIS clcr.iec1.
,,,t inculllbellt.
was clecteci ill 1S30. .J01111
circuit clerks are as follo\vs:
n. \vpbJI. \V. 1311s~~P,1~o\villic3ltl.
1S1.Daniel T. Porter. I%:<. wllo
ber IS:$-; to 1S.76. \V. 11. Sorllers lS5R to I%&.
srb~.vccilunt il IS<. when ;lrclln Canll~belI 1~~1.; 0. 0. 2 ~ l e s ; ~ nlSG4
~ l ~ to
~ r 1575, E. .'I' IViiit(:lcctctl. 111 1S-l'; the lie\\- coil.;titutir:l~ ('I'.
corub 1qW to 1%(i, .J. \Y.Porter IsiCi. tlltA
1:. \Vci)l~erbeing a mer~iberof tllc convcnpresent incumbellt.
tion \vllirli ntloptetl i t ) lnnclr a c.11anet3, or'Tile rel-cnne increasetl in lS:3(i, to S%S.S.'i.
I ~
0;1t% jll(1ge a11~1 I )ecel~lber :;. IS:;$.
g:tnizi~!c;I C O I I ~ ~ ~J -O I I \\-it11
Jonatllan Osbonlct ant1
nasoc.ititt1 juclges. IT~ltlcrt!?is Iaiv. i l l 1%) Iwnc Ensej- were al1poi11tc'cla collllllittcc to
.Joilil L;. Tiloni;~s\vas clectetl count)- jnJgr:
Ioc.:~tc;I stilt? rontl froill Urbt~nnto 1SIoouiJesse \V. J;tclnith ant1 llntt!ic\v .Joh~lsoll. irlgtoll. to r111- ,1 the !lonse of .Jol:;i !3rj-a11.
:~.isc;ctiat,c.s. IS.?:?. El ish;~ 1 I : I ~ I < I I ~ S S\ v ; ~ s .iosch:):l Staj-toll :?ntl Elins 'rl!orllns. on s;7,1ntl
t~ic~cttltl
j i 1 ( 1 ~i11itl
~ ,\I. !I. COITC.:~II
ant1 \ V I I ~ . ti:xtc. n - ~ r appointctl
to locate n roar1 fro111
c
1 :\ t ~ ? rr!)nllz to 1';iris. ,it tile l)cccrnl,er ttr!n.
Stc\\':~rt. :~s>o:.!;~ies.1111$.57. Eil\\-:~r(
l,v;is eitt~tctljtitlgc, 1,civis .Jo;~tls;xl~tl.Jo!lr:
IS:';(;. a iicpl?.;e \\-:IS grantetl I l - ~ n .Os'norn 11)
1'. ' I ' P ~ ~ ~ I T o2ssor.intcs.
o?~.
I n lq.';!]. E'itlitlinz keep a fen.? on illc Sangamon river a t ;7,
i,. Scott \vils clectetl in place of .Jolle.;.
yoillt where the state road crosses it. leacl111lS(j0 ;llc county atloprctl the to:vnrl~llt ing from 31oscs Tho!nn.;' to Eloomingtanoremlizntioll alltl ~viti!it almthcr cllaliqc u'::..; Os!,orn to pixy 3-2-00 Iicen.;~. 'rile f f i ~ ! o ~ ~ i l l ~
I
.I
. 3.
i
. 1
.
1
O
X
I
.
; I I I I ~ S( ' ! ( > I ~ I ~ lY4S.
II~S.
-:
1
109
PIONEERS OF CI-IAMPBlOiV P0UNT17.
................................
ferry rates were established a t the same
nleetiug, viz: Ferrying one inan, 6% cents';
one horse, 6% cents ; one-horse wagon, 2.5
cents; two-horse wagon, :37% cattle per
head, 6% cents ; sheep and hogs per head,
:i cents.
S t the Jlarch nleetiug IS:%, it was ordered
that the ofice of assessor and treasurer be
let to the lowest bidder; ancl Thomas L.
Freeman having bid the snrn of 518.50 was
appointed to that office and qualified as such.
In IS37 the liabilities of the county were
S21G.SX; and the revenue being S23S.S5,
the county had money in the treasury for
the first time, aniounting to $32..56%, to
which add $431.50, notes 011 sale of town
lots in Urbana, and cash clouations, unpaid,
$45, illade the cash and. resources of the
county $476.50.
March 1S3'7, it was ordered that the following property be taxed oilehalf per cent.,
viz : Horses, mares, mules, asses and neat
cattle over the age of three years, clocks
and watches with their appendages, and
pleasure carriages.
111 IS37 licelise to retail goods were granted and llcenses charged as follows: A.
Bruer, $5.00; James T. Xoe, 85.00; 'I'. R.
Webber, $15.00; James H. Lyons, $25;
Uauiel T. Yorter, e.5.W ; Noah Bixler, 85.00.
June, 1S37.ordered that Xatthew NT. Busey
have a writ of ad quud damnuin, for concienlii~llg a mill seat on north end of Ex
S W g Sec. 8,10, 9. Same year Green Atwood was allowed a license to keep a tavern
a t Homer. Also a liceuse was granted to
lsaac A. Brow11 to keep a tavern at Sidney,
each to pay a license of 54.00.
September, 1S:37, a writ of acl qusd daninum
was granted to Charles Haptonstall to build
a Inill. h like writ was grantecl at same
meeting to A. H. Jose for ;I rnill seat on
Sangamon river, on lot 15, See. 16, T 20 R '7.
At same meeting it was ordered that a bridge
be constrncted over the Salt Fork at Cyrns
Strong's ferry and that 31ajor N o s attend
to advertising 101- bids ancl to insert an advertisellleiit in the D a n ~ i l l eEnquirer. The
building of this bridge was let October, IS?';.
to Wnl. I. Peters, for the suni of 84% and
1:e to have one \'ear to build it.
The first county prison. to be conlpletecl by
JIarc.11, 1S:39, vrasanangecl for .January IS:%;
it Lvas to be IS feet scluare, Tile lower story
to h : ~ ~two
e win(lotvs, one foot square each.
Building was to linve a brick and log founclatioil ;xncl to be built of logs, and to be two
stories. It w:ts strucl; off to Col. 31. IV. Busey at the saill of 5S.50.
Xarcil 19, lSB, it u-;xs orderect, that an
election yrecillclt be establishecl 011 the 3Iidclleforl< anti that. rlections he held at Ilonse
of John hlauning, near the tow11of Brothertoil in sald precinct.
June lS:%S, a license as grantecl Groenealdyke 3i Coffee11 to retail goods at Honler,
anct that they pay for same, $15. A t the
same nl@etin,va county road was ordei-ed
fronl south end of Market street, ia IJrbitna,
to Sidney. Decembel. IS:% A. R~.iler.was
gralltecl a license to keep a tavenl in lirbana aaricl that he pay 32.00 for siinle.
At tile Decernber term. lS:39, it ~ v a sordered the clerk convey to the officers of the
Methodist Episcopal church, a lot to be selecteci by them, if tiley shall have erected a
house of worship thereon in twelve ~llonths.
And we also make to the Baptist society the
same offer in all respects. The i\.letliodist
people raised the money and built a cliurcli
which was afterwards k i ~ o w ~asl Henue~.'s
livery stable. The Baptist people, howevc~r,
did not comply at that tlme.
Col. M, FV. Busey i~avingclonntetl a three
acre tract to tlie county, pernlission nras
given to erect a school house OII same. 1)ecenlber IS%, Col. Bilsey, .Jacob f3rlzcIsl~an.
and Elias Stanley were :~l)pointetlit con)nittee to se1ec.t a suitable sl)ot 1'01. saicl
house.
June terrn, 1<W, it was "ordered that we
sell to Rev. A. Bradshaw, lot 51 (where
Ht~bbard's hardware store now stands) for
the sum of 53, tile saine to be deeded
to tlie Methoclist society wlleil it shall be
shown that the society has a legal right to
receive a deed. Also t h a ~we sell to David
Cox, for Balltist cfi~uchwith same restricttion, lot '76, east of Kerr's tavern, for S2.00.?'
The salary of T. R. Webber, as clerk, .was
not very heavy; he was allo~vedS'i7.9S in
full for his sel-vicesas ~Ierl;for year. eildiiig
Julie 7 , l'd41.
At the June term, 1M2, 31. 1).Coffee11 represented that it was too far for the people of
Homer to go to the house of James Copeland, in the Salt Fo1-I<1)recinct. to vote; h e
therefore presented a petition Illat the ilanle
of the precinct be changed to Homer precinct ancl the voting be done at the school
house in Honler, which was ordered done.
October 2. 1S3, the contract for building a
bridge across tlie Saiigan~olla t >Ial~onlet,
was nwarcied JVilliams Harvey of Urbana.
June, 1 W . on petition of citizens, an
e1ec:tion precinct know!? as the 3IicldIefork
precinct, was ordered, ancl that the voting
glace be a t house of Samuel Swinford, and
Samuel S~vinford. Sa~tluelKerr and James
Kellor were a1)pointecl judges. A t same
meeting, James Orr, sr., Henry Swearingen
slid Elias Thomas were appointed judges of
Homer. Xarshall Cloycl, Jollii Crabb ancl
.I arnes lIyel-s, of Urbana. anct Jonathrtll
.
31aswel1, Belljalnill F. Harris aucl .Joseph
'1'. Everett of Saligamon precincts.
'l'!le tax books for the year 1 W sliow that
the taxable property is increa.sing, the
anlount returlied being S:%34,:37:3. The lev?
was as follows: O!: cents on the $100 for
state purposes, making SGGS.75 ; 20 cents for
county, $M;S.7.5, a n ~ i10 r.ellts for road making $334.:37.
\Villianl 1). Somers seems to have been
tile county physician in lM. At the I)ecenlber meeting of the county court it was
"orelereti that fir. William D. Sornel-shave
;nl order on the treasury for the sun1 of 82.00
in full for ineciical charge for attending
liobert H. xewlon.
At the June meeting, lM5, IVilliam l).
So~nerswas appointed to take the census of
tile county.
Col. -%I. \V. Rusey, county treasurer, nlade
his report J u l y IWi. He reports a balance
on hand of 5.561.37 as follows : $:3?2.00 in
paper money: .$1.55..32 in gold and 57:3.&5 in
silver. The county seems to have been in
good condition as Co1. Bnsey was ordered to
loan the county funds at G per cent. interest,
I-eserving a sufficient suin to pa)- outstancting orders, aild that he take ample security
in all cases anti that he ctoliect the interest
in aclvance, that the notes be so tlrawil that
acltlitional security may be reqlli1~~1
if it is
ciet~lncd~lecessal-yI)y the treasurer or corniuissioners.
At the July term, 1S23, Col. X. \V. Busey was appointed a messenger to carry the
vote of this county, for senator, to I~anville,
for tile pnrpose of being canvussecl, ant1
Willianls Harvey was appointee1 a like mes~ for repsenger to Decatur, to carry t h vote
resentati ve.
May 2, lM9, the new court house having
beell cotnpletecl, tiif3 0 1 ~ 1 one was solcl to the
tyrbalna school district for $105 on a credit
(if 13 ~iionths. At tlie J une nieeti~lgabridge
was orttereti to be constructed at Hoiner,
proviclecl tlie cost ditl not esceed 8400. June
20 the contract was struck off to 31. D. CofSt?en, Jaines S. IJright, Harmon Stevens.
,Jc?l.i~l R. 'l'iiolnas, Sololnon Dill. Sa~lluel
,4.
f Iarvey 1111ti IV. S. Coe for $600 : 2400 to be
psiti b - the county and the balance by yrivate doiiatious,-the bridge to be conlpletetl
by t h e f olloriring 1)eceliiber.
~ ~ S
that Clapp 3;r
October, 1S9,it L L ~ ordered
Russell have lea\-e to renew their lice~lseto
retail goods on sanie tenus as before. illarch
tern1 1S50. Henry 31. Kussell h ; t ~ - i nbought
,~
out -1.0. Clapp was granted license for one
year by paying .$%.
The county court cut and carved the bills.
in the olden time, very mnch as is (lone in
Inter days. JIarch, 1Si0, Benjamin C. 31or-
ris presented a bill of S22.25 for services,
boa-el, medical atteiida~iceand funeral espelises of Daniel Wheat, a poor person.
The court, after esamining into the matter,
decided that said Morris is justly entitled to
pay for the coffin aucl shroutl and therefore
allowed lliiil 37.25 allel rejected the balance
of his claim.
At the Jlarch tenli, lS51, it \\-as clecided to
enclose the public square with a fence
~vhichcontract was let to Win. Park and
Johll Cantiler for $SO. At the July tenli,
1S.51?011 yetitioil of Samuel I)ean and 1)avie1 Caniner, pel.rnission was granted them
to establish a ferry 011 the Sa~iganlon river
a t the crossing of the state road leading
f roil1 Urbnna to Bloomington. The f olloiving rates were fixed as ferry charges: For
111an and horse, 10 cents ; footmau, .5 cents:
wagoil and one horse, 15 cents; wagon and
two horses or oxen, 20 cents ; each additional horse or os, .5 cents: each head of cattle,
4 cents; each hog or sheep, 2 cents.
At the October telm, 1S1, J. W. Jaqnith,
Jolln Gere, Calvin Higgins, president and
trustees of the tow11 of Urbana, and William
1). Somers, clerk, presented to the court a
poll book of an eleci;iou, whereby it appears
that a t an election held in the town of Urbalm, September S, 1S.51, for the purpose of
voting for or against the incorporation of
said town tlie followiiig votes were cast in
favor of same, viz: W. D. Sorners, Geo. 0.
Potter, Wilson Lewis, IV. S. Garman, Joseph 31. Harry, Elisha Harkness, Wm. Park,
John Cantiler, Calvin C. Higgins, Wm. Abel,
Robert Logan, W111. Waters, Lewis Higgius,
John Black, Edward Ater, 3 s a Gere, Wm.
Gill. Sanluel 31. l,ogan, 'rhoinas J. Xewport,
Silas Chad~vick,John C. Hankins, David 31.
lrelancl. J . ITr. Jaqnith, Samuel Mraters,
(ieorge W. Toy, 2.5 *4,oaiust, Thornson K.
Webber. At tile election Joseph 31. Harry
was the judge, ancl John Ireland, clerk.
The foregoing is a synopsis of the business tr.;~nsactectin the county froni 1833 to
and inclnding February term, lSP2. While
some of the business might seen1 iilsigilificant, yet it was entered of record by the
clerk, T. R. Webber, in detail, anti there
m-na 110 mist:xkitlg the ~nenningof tile persons (loin? t h e hnsiness for the people.
SCHOOLS.
\.Ye have the record of two school houses
in the county in 1 9 2 . One was on the west
side of the Big Grove and was taught by
Claude Tholnpkins. The other i ~ a sin the
vicinity of the old Brumley place, near Urbana, the latter being the first school house,
as far as we can learn, erected in the county.
.III
PIONEERS OF CEJALWP-~
lGAT CIU TATTI'.
catcllilig 'L'rickle, threw open the door ail(i
evctry one pilecl ont silloke ancl all.
FIBST SCIFOOI, I'FOUSE.
lt is a snbstantial structure. I t will bc
~ioticeclthat the ~ ~ i n c l o ware
s sinall. ancl insteacl of \j-in(1ow glass, greased paper was
usecl. The light thus aclnlittetl nligllt h ; ~ w
snswerecl all purposes on a briglit clay bnt
no one sufferecl f roin its being too bright. The
seats cf this sell001 house were
slabs
and not he\vn so very s~nootlleither. As far
as we call learn, the first teacher in the Big
Grove was a lady who boarded at the house
of 3fartin Reinhart. I n IS:?!, Asahel Bruer
tanglit school iu the school house above dtlscribe4 in fact he tanght eighteen inontl~s. I ~ S A I I E IISltUEIi
~
SJIOIiI?u'(; OIT'L' TIIE E O l - S
'l'he first Christmas he treated the scholars,
Tlle boys soon c:lught Mr. 131-ner ant1 beaccording to the custoiu, to one galloll of
gan rollillg lliill i l l the snow, alitl he saitl,
whiskey and a bushel of apples, anti every- pulling his hair. lIe 11rotc:stecl that they
thing passed off harnloniously. JVIlen the hacl no right to tlo tllis, n-l~r?ii t,he boys ~ 1 1 1 ) nest Christmas came arouncl, on arriving a t nlittetl the matter to Stepllen I<oy(l:u1(1311..
tlie scllool house he fo~ulcithe cloor barred, Brornley who tl~citltvl that tlithl- hati n 1-ig1it
and in answer to his request for admittmlce t,o bar him out of the school llollst: btlt ilot
a note was hanclecl hiin througli the crack to pull his hair or roll l l i i l l ill the snoiv. ;Is
between the logs asking that he treat to a
soon as JIr. Eruer was releasecl hc ~naticn
busllel of s ~ p l e ancl
s one gallon of 1~1iisBey rrlil for the school house, closely foIlo\vet L
a11cl that he give the scholars n vacation for by .James Kirby nllti the balance, but tlit? oltl
one v-eel:. He nnswerecl that he ~voulclnot,
gentleina~i was lirst in the school Iionsi..
and sooil n~ountecl the l~ouse. T h e clap- w1lel-e he was inaster of tlit? sitlintioll Sol.
a short tiille, \vllen the boys s~u.i-ol~iitlcvi
boards being held on the roof of the house
by \ireigllt poles, lie had 110 clifficulty in t;k- him allel lie snrrentlerecl saylny. "I just
wailtecl to see if you Iiaci all>- lr(entucf\ing out enough to cover tile top of the clliill- bloocl in 5-ou." tie the11 told the boj-s
ney. As there was a large fire ~l:aclefronl
wllere to iincl :I gallon of \v!~isl:ey, a i ~ l
green wood, in tlle lire place belo~v. the a bnshcl of a;,ples, hit1 a short clistallccl
fro111the st~hoolI~ouse,\vhich were soon 1)rorooin \Y;IS sooil tillecl with sllloke. .J:uues
rtrlcecl ant1 tlie fterlloon sl~?iitin roastill?
Kirby, one of the olcler scllol:~rs. tool< tllc apples ;x!!el tlrlnking a l ~ p l etotl(1y. Jaillt>s
'J'rickle. .J:x1ilths
poker. piece of n pole. ancl by tllro\viilq it Kirby I F lI!i:iln ;~ndA-lslifc)r(l
W. floj-{l. JIOSCS Deer. Jrrs. 1\Iary .IIII~
L I the
~
cl~iillne?: 1;iiocl;ecl tllc bo:i:-(ls of-?. Moore,
of I)a~lvllle, Fount !Srrsc>-.Sol S o x .
'l'lley were soon re1,lacecl by Jir. l?r~it$i.
ant1 .James 1-tolantl.Susan 'I'ricklc.. 11o\v 3Ir. I<ilnby's wife. were !)resent : 1 1 ~ 1 will long I-(.oil :\ sr~colic!atten1l)t to l<nocl; tile111 o!? Xr.
.
the circu:nst:t~~ce: I ? I O \ - ~narr:tte(l.
Brucr cauglit rlie 1)ol;er aixl t1lrtAn-It oil tllc iuember
I t is es;)ecialIy v i ~ i t lill the 111ill(l of Jixll~t~c;
outsitlc ailtl rcl-eoveretl tlle (+!!i!il~ithy. '!'I!e
Kirby. (me of ille exr1~-sc;trler.s \vho cave 11s
of tilth
11011sc\\.;IS tllclli soon fil!c(l \ v i ~ l l b:~iol<c~, these ft~cts. Mr. Kirby, :ii sl~eai<i;lc
saitl. t l ~ a tiio hptlvi;:i iiiv~t:xalillost to si~t'rocniio~l.The sitlt1llc.r c!iilt?rc~il e:xrlj- \vetidi~~zs
\Yere issl~e(lto :~:t(l:~(l.h i 1t evtl~j-oiie
beqlul to cry 1111(1 evthl-1one secl:!:ch;l io \vish tioils
:~ttentlecl \ ~ 1 1 o fthlt so illcli~icti. I\-?ii~lichy
tlierc \\.as :ui ellti to the iilatter. ,lbo~!tthis v
as r e 1s r
;It o11(~
:vec!tli!le lie
~lo\viivi~lc3{4(.:.~st!lc
time \\-iIlia~ii 'i'~.ic.l;lt.cr;~\v!ctiillto tlle gal'- attenclecl (tlit. ;\;~rrici.;
n i ~ i eg:~llo~ls
of \i-Ili.;l<i.\wcl1.c.
rett, pulleel t~sicic the boarcis :mtI j~iilp(~cl yrovc)
The (lri111<<
2111~1not a. 111;111 i v ; (1r11111<.
~ ~
out a~lclelon-11to the grou~ltlwith 1\11.. I3rucr
usec'l those daj-s n.erc ?:lillt -lilies. I,I;t:Al;
l
a t e I
The hoj-s seeiilg >I;.. I3r11clr strop. tans)- l)itt:>~..:; ~ l l ( czc-lioe.
11sc2tl
nlay be seen yet. Then there were Joli~l
URBANAAND SOMERTOWNSHIPS.
Light \vho ha&a cabin where Tom Brow-11Read at Old Settlers' Reunion, JziLy 29, ISSG.
The local history of these two townships.
and in fa-t the early history of the county
during the period to which I shall refer,
\vliic!l mi!l be anterior t o the period of histor y of others given here teday, are practicalIj- one, for around the Big Grove, and upon
territory embraced in both townships, were
made the first settlemeilts of the county.
Our earliest historic accoullts accord the
territory in this part of Illinois to tlle ownership of the Kickapoo Indians, as Indian
titles were tile11 regarcled. I11 the year 1S19,
a t Ed~varclsville,Illinois. at a treaty bettveen
the Kickapoo nation and the United States
goven~ment, representecl by Xinian Edwards, a treaty was concludecl by wl~icli
that people rehnquislled their rights here,
and then passed west of the Mississippi.
The Inclian occugation spoken of here toclay, was s:lbseque?lt to this date, and by
bancis of the ~6ttnwotanlieswho hunted,
and at times abode here. Tr~clitio~?,
supported by the testi~nony of nmny old settlers,
sollle of ~ ~ 1 1are
0 1here
~
t ~ i a y$3:-s
, that the
site of Urballa and along the Uone P a r d
Branch was the site of an Indiail illa age of
tlle Pottn~votalnies. Tlie presence there of
good water. fuel anct an abundance of galne,
made it n favorite camping ground wit11
them, They also frequently camped at the
Clenients or Clay Bank ford, further d o n
tile creel<. They buried their dead at Adkins' Point, near where John Thornburn
null- lives.
FIGST TVITITE OC'CUPASCT.
So far as I nm informed the first white
men to see this countr>-, %\-erethe United
States surveyors who divided the country
into townships and scdtions. These townships were surveyed in the summer of 1321
by Benjamin Franklin Nessenger, under
the authority of the Fedwal government.
There do~lbtlesswere hunters, trappers and
traders, and perhaps squatters here before
that date, but they left no name. The earliest sqnattcrs known to us, were Runnel
Fielder, who is said to have been the first
whik inhabitant of the county. who settled
in lS22, near the north cast corner of Sec.
11. Urbana, and built a cabin there. n-hich I
have often seen. Fielder entered no- lanci
until Jnne 21, IS%, when he entered tlie W g
KIT Sec. 19, a part of the Roe farm now
onTned by Bate Sm'.th. on which he planted
an orchard. the first in either tom1 i;f not
the first in the count?. Some ot the trees
field now lives; Gabriel Rice. wllo had his
cabin on Sol Sox's place : Phillip Stauforci,
\vho li\ed near where 11-illtarn 1:oberts now
lives and afterwards entered part of that
fxnr~,a:l:l D ~ J - ~Gabbert,
cI
1~110built his
cabin just north o i t l ~ spark. This cabin
was the iirst home ot the fanlily of Col. 31.
W.Bnsey, who came here in 1gX. The Colonel had been here before. tor he entered
tlie bO where \re now are, in 1S0. Besides
t!lese, there were Daggett. ~ v h osettled on
the \Test side of the qrove, and IT-m. Tompliin- \ ~ h o
built his cabin on t!ie creek. near
\vlicre 1It:lberstadt's mill is. afterv~rds.in
1S"Y, elitering the 1anC -:;!lich
11e sold to
Isaac Busey in Id:%. 'I'on~pklns had a son
living in a cabin near the iiarr-ey cemetery,
who was also a squatter for he never owiled
anj land. 111his cabin, it is said. was ooiu
the tirst white child in the co~uity. Soon
after 192s. gennanent settlers began to come
in. Tllomas Rolland, in 1923, Xattlle\v Busey, in 129. Isham Cook, in ISO, and soon
thererlfter, and in some cases before, came
Jrl~nesT. Roe, John Brownfield, T. ft. Webber, W. T. Webbey, Jacob Smitli, Jacob
Heater. Jolil~G. Robertson, Isaac G. Beckley, Sainple Cole ant1 .Tames Clements. Before rllany of these. perhags, n-as l'liillip
M. Stanford. Sarah Coe, the Trickles,
Robert and ITillian~.Elias Kirby, Mijamin
Byers. the latter of whom xvas a justice of
the yeace for this part of Vermilion. the^
all settled tout tlie Big Grore in these hvo
to\\.ns!lii!s and soon began to enter the lands.
Tliese names i love to recall as being the
iianws of those \\-!lo Iaid the fou~ldat~ioll
of
oily present greatness.
E'i1:S.T L X S D ESTEIES.
Tlie first entry in Urbana was made by
Fielder, as above stated, in l*??S, and the
f i r z ~ nSonler was made by Sarah Coe, ~ h o ,
in 1Sf29, entered the W x S EM Sec. 17. no17
111 Williaiii Roberts' :'dnn.
nuring the three
\-ears followiny, enhies of lnncls now lying
in both tonnships. were made b ~ l l i j a m i n
Byers. Isaac Busey, Jolin Whitaker, Killianl 'Toinpkins, Philip Stanford. Charles
Bwey, 3iariin Rhineheart. \\Talter Ellodes.
Jolin Light. John Rro\~nhelti, Robert
Trick!e and others.
DISEASES.
Like all new countries, blessetl with a
soil !lo!di::g the elements of: IT-ealth, this
countrl-. \-illen first settled, ancl until by cultivation and artificial drainage facilities
were afforded for the surface water to pass
rapidly away. was the home and nursery of
malarious ciis?ags. They appeared in the
form of apue. chill ferer. flus. and other
22
113
.... .
PIONGELLS OF Glld
.
. .. . ..... . .. .
..
bowel co~n!)laints and were a g r e ~ ~hint
drance to tile rapid settle~nentof the country. These diseases were universal alltl tile
latter part of every sunllller allel every fall
people lookecl for a visitatioii fro111 t l ~ e s e
diseases as ulucli as they looketl for the
ripenmg of their crops. It was understoocl
that unless tlie work of the season \\-;IS vo111pletecl before the sicl;ly season c;l~ut?
on, it
llati to go over. for during that periorl all
\voultl be sick, or if snine were spiuctl. their
time n'onld be lnonnpolized in the care of
their sick. Many times there wcre not \veil
gersolis ellong11 i l l t t falnily or neigllborl~ootl
to care for tlie sic:;. 1'11)-sic.ia~;swere few
oi. entirely xvnnti~~g.Dr. Fitl~iall,the veteran physician of Dan\-ille, was often c;~lled
to this county. while Dr. S t e ~ e i jof
s Homer,
mitl Dr. Soniers of Urbana, who \\.ere early
on the ground, had a ivitle range of prncticc?
in these diseases. The effect of these xnnua1 recurrences of ~eiasniatic,cliseases ui,on
tlne indi\-idual was to weaken ancl sap the
constitution of tlie strongest. The death
roll of the tirst thirty >-ears of our history,
if it coultl be callecl, \voold startle us even
a t this distance of tilne. Strong men and
woineli gr:tdually weakened and linxlly Sell
before the unseen foe, while little chiltlren,
ague ridden froni their birth. enclnreci a
dwarfish growth fgr ;L few years, anil weut
shaking to their graves. Wliile this is true
of many, we yet have monlunents of the
olden time in many \vlnitened heads all
around us, which have reached or long since
passed the :~llotteclthree score years and
ten, and still linger as good spec:innens of
well preserved ma~inooclancl \vorna~lhoocl,
equal in liealthf ul appearance to any found
i11 onr more favored localities-men and
woman who have here spent tlieir thirty,
forty, fifty, or even near sixty years. TVe
may now congratulate ourselves that, drninage acconlplishect. we call compare with ally
country for healtlnfulness.
EAR1.T DEATHS.
So f a r as I can ascertain the first deatln
among the white inhabitants of the county.
was Ishall1 Cook. I n 1S::3 he enterecl land
in section .i
north
, of Urbana. 111 the fall of
that r e a r he clied and was buried there.
The farni is ~ < ~ I O W as
I I the Dean farm. In
1SS1, a Lvollian named Pngln. a member of a
family traveling throug11,- tlietl a t lthinelieart's, and was t!ie first cleat11 in Sonler
to~~rnship.The wife of Isaac Busey died in
IS:%, ancl was the first tr, be 'unriecl in the
olcl cemetery in Urbana. I n IS%$ se\-era1
melllbers of the 3 1 0 ~ s fanlily and otllers
cliecl of cholera. nortli of the grove. Tile
deaths were startlizg a~icispreacl consternation among the people. I mention also
others who died \vithin a few years after
corning here, as follomrs: James Brownfield,
brother of John, and lather of Robert.
Thomas Rolland, father of ZIrs. \Vm. I.
ZIoore of Danville. Isaial~Corray, father
of Elislna. J o l i ~ lTruman, tile ancestor of
those remaining of that name. Willia~u
Eoyd, the granclfather of Jalnes Boyd.
Isaac Busey. and his soil John, an(i gra~id
so11 Isaac. Davirl Sheplinrd, father of Parris. JVi:liam T. \Vehber. fi~tlicr.of T. 1:.
and UT. H. Webber. Jannes Brownficlcl.
gmildfather of \ITillianl ancl T l ~ o ~ n a sJesse
.
Totnpkins. \vlio was a squatter on the qovern~uentl:-tind~. Sal~luelU r ~ i ~ ~ l lfather
e y . of
3Irs. T. L. Trmi1;ln. Jacob Bradshnw, Stephen Gt~licl;, Cliarles Busey, ;~ildt l ~ clist
might be ~nucliesteiidecI+~~tspace forbicls.
Two of the earlier tleatli.; were of lneii 1vho
were veterans of the re\-olutioiiary war.
One mas Robert Bro\viifield, above noteel,
who cliecl iu 1W1. The otlier was Willianl
Hays hV11o diecl since that date. Both are
buried in Soll~er,and in unmar1;etl graves.
I t would redound to tlie c r e d ~ of
t the people
to erect lasting nlonuiuents to 11lxrlithe last
resting places of tllese patriots! and to keep
these spots i : ~remembrance u yon each recurring decoration clay.
SCI~IOoLS.
Jollil Light. the squatter, probablv taught
t.he first school within t h e territory of these
to\\,nships, in a cabin near wl~ere Frank
Apperson now lives.' Janles Boyd, who is
with us to-day, mas a pupil of Light's and
believes this to have been the tirst. I t was
taught in the winter of lS:?!-:3.
Charles
Fielcler anct. John 13. Tl~omas,after\krarcls a
lawyer and joclge of the county court, aiso
taught school in tlne settlement in the north
part of the grove. Asahel Bruer, a veteran
of the war of 1Sl2,wlio died rive years since,
also taught early in the thirties. in the grove.
The first mill for grinding corn was
brought by Robert Tricl~lefrom Butler's
Point, in 15%.
I t coilsisted of a liollo\v log
or "gum" in \viiich were inserted the upper
and the n e t l ~ e rmill stones. These stones
mere wol.l;ed out from r011gh boulders and
with the applixnees for ~ n a k i n gthe upper
stone revolve served a very good purpose.
Fielcler in 1S?S and .John Bro~vnfieIdin 1S:3(i,
built horse mills which were i~nprovetnents
on tlie hand mill. Broivr(:-:d's 11niZ n-its
quite pretentions and \\--us builr by Janles
Holnles. a preacher of tlie 11. E. church.
The frannc of the bni!ding nwd still stantls.
The stoues were subsequeutlj- remol-eci to a
water mi!l built OII tile creek in I S 2 by Mr.
Brownfieid. n-liicli sl?perseded the !lor<?
mill. These ston,os an. still preserved by
Ton1 Bro1\7nfield as mementoes of other
claps. John Haptenstall built a saw mill on
the creek below to\vn about 1M,and Jacob
3Iootz in 1W2 built another on a site here i11
tile park for Col. Busey. Tllese ~llillsmere
llot attended with success ancl \\-ere SNpersecled by the first steal11saw aucl grist mill
built in tile couilty erected in Urbana in IS50
by \Villi:~~nParl;.
act
~~h~~F.~
i
~ of clark
h
~
~
P. J
~ of coles
~
county,
~
~
~
stephell B. slle1ledy, of ~d~~~ countv,
colllmissioners to locate rrballa, n-hich it
declared should be the coulntv seat.
Tllese Illell lllet. as requirecl bb- la\\-, at the
llousc of pllillip 11.stallford alld foillid varioas poillts colltestillg for tile llollor of beiilg tlie capital of the new county. Stanford
PIITSICIASS.
\~aiitecl it at his l~onse,liortll of the grove?
The lirst pliysiciaii who located here was where the principal part of the population
Dr. Fall<ersou. who came in LS:iO ancl board- of the settleilleilt \v<istlleii located. in \i'iiieh
ecl wit11 Mrs. C O ~a, ~;idoiv lady wlio had
r s joilietl hiin. At that time
his ~ ~ e i g h b oali
tlie only post oftice in this part of the couuiniprovecl laiicl in See. 97 Soiner. He did
not remaill long but ~ilovecl011. Dr. Lyons
ty, l;~ioiviias GanBure~i,:\.as kept on the
stoppecl a t Jollil Shephercl's in Urbana to\~~11- adjoini~ig farxi 0:' Nat!lias R!iiueheart.
ship for a tilne, before lo-nting per~llnilelltiy Isaac l3use)- ti~lcl \Vi!lia~n T. Webber, owners :.espectirely of the \\->: 111~xand e:<
at Sidney. Ile subsequelltly represented
t!ie couiity ill the legislature. Dr. John ne?: of sectioil 17, in Urbzna. aild Col. JI.
Saddler locatecl i11 U r b a ~ i ain lY:39, learing
W.Busr:y \ ~ ~ io\vneil
l0
co~ltiguonslauds,\\-ere
not long after ailcl was folIo\i'ed by Drs.
maliinz liberal of£ers of land for county purWilistoil aiid IT. I). Sorners in 15-10 ancl 4:;. . poses. Tile Stanford location \vus on the
Tlle forlller honored his pr\f:ssion until E't. Clark roxd au:l as surro~ulldedby a conhis de:itll, in 1S71, the latter soon entered siderable population, ~vlliletlie latter site
the law practice as thc first lawyer of the was covered by hazel brush anrl clecicledly ill
eonnty.
the bacli\\~oods. It was thou,~llttlixt the
I:ISLIGIOUS.
coin~~~issioness
had decided in favor of StanOne Jlahuriil, a Baptist, was the tirst foril's, when Isaac Busey l~revailednpon
minister to proclaim tile gospel here. He tlie~llto yo lloiiic with hi111 to stag all night
becai~lechaplaiil of x regi:nent in the Black before driving the stake that was to settle
lia\vk war and never returned. John D~ul- tile controversy. Theg- went, and before
ham, of tlie Ullitetl Brethren chnrch, early another su:1 rose. tradition iilforlns us, the
became noted as a religious leacler all stake 1 ~ 1 driven
s
in a patch of hazel brush
tlirougll this part. -Ilesander Holbrook,
\vilere tlie court house now stands. The
who lireil \vl~ereCapt tIowel1 now lives, driving of that stake. although a n unirnpod\bras a Xethodist eshorter and often made ant circmnstance at that time, has proved
tlie \voocls ring with his wild eloquence. an eventful oiie upoil illally thiugs happenWilliacl PhilIips, known to the settlers ss ing since. Tliere are those \\-110 indulged in
"Bnb Phillil~s."and Rev. J. Ilolnles, who mas dark hints ;it the tiiiie of undue influences,
a tra~lsieiltillill w i g h t , v e r e local preachers the echo of \vhich nlay be heard yet, but 110
of the same persuasion and nlaterially aided doubt the commissioners acted from honest
the moral work. Father John G. Robertson,
motives. Had Staiiforcl's been accepted
who in IS33 entered laud in See. 10, Urbanrt, Somer ~ ~ o uhare
l d been the site of the counand ~7110,a s a Baptist layninn, \vas ever a ty seat instead of Urbana. The circumzealous christian morlcer, is said to have held
stances soo~l began to work necessary
the tirst religious llleetings in the then chaiinyes. Population began to gather ou the
village of U r b ~ n a . H e died a t JIahomet a south side of the grove; stores, li~nited
few years ago. The first Xethodist class however to a few articles only, mere openallti the # e r n of the present sociexy in Ured in Urba~la. Cmlrts were held here and
baaa. \\-as orga~lizedin IS:%. at tlie house of r:)ads were opeilecl leading to other parts of
Walter Rhocle~,the tirst leadgr. The Bap- the county. The postofiiee had its name
~
Buren to Crbana, and T.
tist church of Urbana was organized in 1841, ciiailged f i o ; \-ail
R. \l7eb%er.in addition to the office of clerk
nt the Brunlley sc!lool house. two miles east.
The Roes, Grumleysl Trumans, Cooks, Coses of the circuit conrt. and perhaps other offices.
a:incl Sancy IVebber were among the con- beca:;le postmaster.
stitueilt me;nt)ers. The offi~iatillg
clergymall
Tile los;ltio:l of the count- so far froln the
was Kev. Ne\vell.
Wabniil and Illinois rivers and fro111 Lake
C O U S T I - SEAT.
.\iic!li~.ln. the on!? public lnealls of transportatio~l.
from necessitv niade -its gr0Ttll
On February 2Oti1, 1S%3, John ~efno!ds,
goverilor of Illinois. signed the act of the in gopalation S~OTF*. It is r~robablet!lat in
legislature creating the county of Champaign ls:;:$: w!-!len ;his count,>-came illto esistencc.
irolri the l:~ndsattached to Vcrrnilion. T h e its popl~lation(lid not es?eed 503. 111 1s:x.i.
J~~~~~
d
,
,,
~
~
~
115
PIONEERS OF CHAMPA41Qh7COLrETr.
it was only 1250 and in IS50 only 2,649.
man, James T. Roe, Jollil Gilliland, John,
Kobert,Benj aniin,.Josepli, Samuel and 3 osep h
I n 1S53, twenty years after this became it F. Brownfield, Jacob Heater, James and
county, I first saw these beailtiful lancl- Waitman T. Somers, Lewis Aclkins, Mathias
scapes, then ahnost i11 a state of nature, and and Martin Rhineheart, James C. Young,
William Aclams, James Dean, John Cantcletermined to make this lny future ho:ne.
Escept in the limited increase in popul,~tion, ner, Dr. 'SVinston Somers, A. G. Carle, J.
the county had made but little adva~icenlellt D. Wilson, Stephen Boyd, Elishn Harkness.
in twenty years. From ttvo postoffices, Van IVilson Lewis, Asahel Bruer, C. 11. VanBnreil aild Luddingtou, .af terwarcls ctlanged derveer, IYiIliam a i d %. E. Gill, John Crabb.
to Bonier, the nurnber had iilcreasecl to live James IIyers, James Clenlents, John Sheponly. Soile of the streams were bridged herd, John Campbell and Benjamin Cllilexcept the Sslt Fork at Homer. The roads ders.
There mere few houses in the settlement
were little better than traces across the
prairie allel tl~roug!l timber belts. with but of a character much above the pioneer cabin
little improvelne~ltin the 1:uies in the way or blocli house and few pel.lllitnent banls.
of grading and culverts. The settlen~ents The people were mostly fro111 Indial~zand
were confined to the groves ancl timber belts the southern states, with a few from New
almost exclusively. I only remeuber a fen- York and the eastern states. Frorn habit
farms opened a mile from the ti~nber. The and taste llospitable, the stra;lger \vho cnlne
roaci frorn Urbana to Blahoinet-from timber among tlienl was kinclly received and 110sto timber-had perhaps not to exceed six pitably entertained. What they wanted
farms opened upoil it. Few could be found most was emigrants to fill up their magwho were daring enough to assert that these nificent couutry, and so the stranger wits
prairies would ever be settled. Lailds could warmly ~velcomed. The principal busiiiess
be hacl at fro111 a few cents per acre for gov- of the farmers was tlie raising aiid fattenerilment lands uncler tile gracluation law, to ing of cattle and hogs for th2 market. Very
$10 per acre, for choice implSovedlocations. little grain was raised for sale, other t!ian
There were, perhaps, five or six cheap to cattle feeders, owing to tlie want of
Such was this couilty
church ba~lclings.one of which was in Ur- transportation.
bana, and not to exceed a dozen scllool hous- nrllen in 1S.53 my eyes were glaclened by
es of all kincls. No railroad or other public what seemed to my entl~usinsticgaze t21c
means of conveyance touched the county, rnost enchanting prospect under the sun.
The next gear, 1S.54, the trains of the Illi,
although the llliilois Central, the pioneer
railroad, was located and partly graded. nois Central railroad awoke the echoes on
Transportation -to the county was col~cl~~ctedour prairies ancl in our groves zncl proved,
entirely by private conveyance, and ~uostly in fact, the turning point in tlie history of
from the Wabash to~vns,to which merchan- this county. Popuiation flon7edin and capidise was brought froin the eastern cities by t a1 sought investment. Lailcls were greedicanal and by river steamers. 'L'hi: couilty ly sought out and the echoless prairies behacl advancecl to its third court house, a fair came the home of civilization. The piolooking two story brick structure. The neers became restless under the pressure
public business was iiiostly transacted by and many of those above named sought
T. R. Webber, Escl., then and for 1;1any broader fields in the far west. Scllool
years clerk of both courts and ~nasterin houses, churches ancl railroads multiplied,
chai~cery. His office held all the records of our villages Secame cities and populous vilthe county, which were well and neatly lages sprang up all over the county. The
kept. The population of these two toivt-ns, State University came and sat down in orrr
not then as now divided into ttvo towns, for midst, b r i ~ g i n gwith it culture, taste and
not until long ihereaf ter was to~\~nstlip
or- refinement in the liberal arts, and the hamlet, which i found in 1S.53, with bul; one litganization adopted, was conSnec1 e:iclusively to a little belt immediately about the Big tle wooden church and :lo house fit to be
Grove, there being no settler in the neigh- called a school-house. has become a great
borhood more than a mi!e from the timber. seat of learning where our soils alld our
Of those knoxn as old settlers ~ 1 1 0have daughters n~ay.if they choose, drink deeply
since removed or died, I kne~t-and call name from wisdom's f01i1it. The population of
many: James and Asa Gere, Archa C a m p less than 3000 ha:< become 50.0a0 and the
bell, Edward Ater, 11. P. Snelling, Robert county holds a position in the political and
Logan, T. R. Webber, James Porter, J. W. educational affairs of the state second to
Jaquith, Penrose Stidllam. Jacob Smith, few.
All this and much more has been brought
31athew Busel-, Bartlett Elrodd. 3 oshua Taylor. Jollil Sheplierd. D. 0.Brumlep,T. 1,. 'l'ru- about in this one county under the liberalizPublic Domain Book - Found at COAN.NET / VermilionCounty.INFO
ing influences of our free i~stitutions,in a
third of a century.
Loooking to the near future to be participated in by many of us we n70nderingly
ask, "What next." Withdrawing our gaze
from what me may yet see and participate
in, and looking to the far away future of
our county and city, when we and those
with us shall have been gathered to our
fathers, we also naturally ask:
Who'll press f o r gold this crowded street,
A huudred years t o come?
Who'll tread yon church with I$-illinyfeet
A hundred years t o come?
Pale, trembling age and fiery youth,
And childhood with its brow of t r u t h ,
The rich and poor, on land o r sea,
Where will t h e mighty million be,
A hundred years t o come?
W e all mithin o u r graves shall sleep
A hundred years t o come:
No living soul f o r u s shall weep,
A hundred years t o come.
But other men o u r land mill till
And others t h e n o u r streets will fill,
And other words millsing as gay,
And bright t h e sunshine a s to-day,
A hundred years to come,
CONDIT,BROWN, NEWCOMB AND
EAST BEND
TOV~~NSHIPS.
Read at Old Settlers' Reunion. Jr~1uZ , I S S 6 .
BY F. B. SALE.
-
CONDlT.
This township was formerly the east half
of Newcomb and was organized into a township ill lS67. The first settler was Ethan
Newcomb, who settled in the county in 1*B
at what is kllown as Yen-comb's Ford on the
road or trail from Big Grove to Cheney's
Grove and Bloomington. The following
are among the old A t l e r s : Fielding Loyd,
mllo settled in IS&; John Phillippe. m 1837;
Steven Pusey, in l S 9 ; Lewis Xdkins, son of
one oi the oldest settlers of Big Grove and
son-in-law of John Phillippe, in 1 W ; C. I?.
Columbia, in 1%; William and Dave Hawk.
John and Xbe Fisher and Wm. JIorain, in
1ST; the Cramers in 1S32; the Gulicks in
1850; B. Ham in 1853; Alfred. Zack, Richard,
Dock, John, Harrison 1V.and Deskin Gulick,
with a widowed mother, all came from Virqinia in the year luentioned; Hale A. Johnson, the Pntnams, F. B. Sale, Wm. Lennington, Newark L a s and many others, came t~
the township i11 1S56. Sale had bee:. :i the
county since October, 1G3.
The Erst school teachers were Columbus
Taylor, JIiss Betsy Banes. Miss Discy A.
Newell, David Cheney, Nancy Butler and
F. 13. Sale.
The first preaching place was at Phillippe's. The Methodist elder John Brittenham: first preachers, Levi Pitner, A- Bmdsham, d. C. Long and IIr. -1rnold.
z3
The first postoffice was established in 1S7,
F. B. Sale postmaster; it was called Newcomb and retained that name until the completion of the narrow gauge railroad in IS%,
when the name was changed to Fislier and
the office removed to that place.
The first supervisor was A. B. Condit, in
honor of whom the township x a s named.
The township now has eight school houses,
three churches, has neither railroad. village,
saloon. blacksmith shop nor nlanufactory of
any liind, does not oTve a cent. and has no
dead beats. I t is strictly an agricultural
township.
-BROWS.
Organized froin East Bend in 1869. First
sett!er one Wm. B. King, in IS:%, ~ 1 1 0was
the only one for years in n-!iat is now Brown
to\v\.nship. The first entrr of land was in
1H.7 in Sec. 4. Wm. Brown was an early
settler on See. 3. The town takes its name
from him. Thomas Stevens, a ~vealthycattle dealer, settled in the north part in 1555,
(now in Gibson), Ithainan Maroney in the
estreme northwest corner about same time.
He enlisted in the army in IS62 and did not
return to this county. Wm. H. Groves, tke
oldest living settler, came in lSS, and still
lives on section 3. Among the earliest settiers we inent.ion Carl Dobson, C. C. Harris,
now oP Champaign. \Vm. Peabody, now in
Oregon, Davicl Cooter, Johu Strauss, Lyman Smith, - Adams, Steven Brown and
others.
The Chicago branch of the Wabash R. R.
cuts through the northwest corner of the
town and a flourishing village called Foos
is the stntion. The H., R. & E. also runs
through the south and on it Fisher is situated.
-
3EWCO&iB.
Xemcomb, formerly composed of range 7
and S, in town 91, divided in 1S67. Smgamon river runs through east side. First settier is said to have bee11 one Xitchell in IS35
at Pancake's Point. He was a Kentuckian
and did not remaiu long. Wm. Panca!ie
and Jesse W. Pancake came in lS37; Joseph
T. Everett, 1S41; Xnjor Sam'l Houston, 1.99;
J . S. H:%nnahand J. J . Hannah, 1831; Wm.
Lane, G:o. Kimble. P. Hinton, Augush~s
Blacker. Sam'l fthodes, Sam'l and Allen
Hnbberd, R. Lester, Banes Broderick, 1558;
Rector and Xerrill E. Holloway, J. H.
Fnnston nlid Hiram Trotter, 1 S 6 . First
school teacher. Uiss Martha Newell, at Jesse
Pancake's old house in 1S1. First birth,
son of Wm. P. and xife.
Joseph Pancak~?.
First prenching a: J. S. Hannah's, Jlethodist
Episcopal, b3- Rev. Parker. First postoffice,
Shilnh 'entre, m IS74 Shiloh church built
in 1Sfi5:
B. ch~irch.section 3. built in iS74.
117
PIOKEEZtS Oh' CH.4
EAST BEND
Derives its name from the bend in the Sangamon river, which extends further east in
this township than at any other point. It
ancl Brown township once had the name of
Sodom, which was the name of the tirst postoffice, Thompson Dicksoii, 1'. 31.
First Settlers: Franklin Dobson ancl Lot
King in 1S37; Sicholas Devore in 1&1, his
sons, A. J. Devore and John Devore, still
live in same; Harvey Taylor, lS15; Garduer
Sweet, 1SsS: J . L. Cosner (still there),
Tlion~psollDickson and Harmon IIilberry.
18.32: Ben Dolpll ant1 Kicharcl Chism. 1S.54;
Noble Bjers, John Stansberry and Isaiah
Ferris, I h X ; Xlfred Honston, Josliua Peclrham, Phillip I-Iunllnel. Charles Knapp anrl
Jolln IIarnit, 18%.
The H., R. &k E. R. R. rim3 through the
south part. The principal station is Dewel-.
about ZOO inhabitants. l~lostly German. l n
the town are three stores, besides Bne large
implement warehouse, one blaclrsmith shop,
one church, German Lutheran, school house,
mill, and an extensive business is done in
grain and produce. The principal operators
are E. C . Sale, John Heineman and J. IT.
Linebarger.
ST.JOSEPH,
STANTON
AND
OGDEN
TOWNSHIPS.
-
Eiend at OM Settlers' Reuniost, J a l ~2.9, I S K .
BY C . H. GALLION.
-
ST. JOSEPH.
Geographically, St. Joseph township lies
ln the sccond tier of townships fro111 the
east county line, and is bounded on tlie
north by Stanton. oil the east by Ogden and
Homer, on the south by Sidney, ancl on the
west by Urbana. The original survey was
made in 1531 by Jacob Judy, then tieput!,
surveyor-general, and it mas nlatle a polltical township when the county aclopted
township organization.
The Aboriginal history of St. Joseph
township is identical with that of the whole
county. However, when tlle Eed rnen
roamed this country in search of a suitable
burxing ground for their dead braves, they
chose the site where the present village of
St. Joseph stands. This fact is still evidenced by several rnounds which are yet
visible, and from some of which have been
exhumed the bones of human beings.
But when the Indian yielcled the territory.
and i t was opened to settlement for the
white man, such names as the Staytons, tlie
Swearingens, the Peters' aiid the Bartleys,
came into prominence. The first settler in
the township w:rs Xicholas Tolunt. \vho
came in IS%, and built a log cabin on the
farm where Jno. M. Peters now lives. Two
years later, Joseph Stayton, father of David
B. Stayton, moved from Kentucky, and was
the first permanent settler in the township.
In the spring of 1S:3l Pount sold his improvenlent to W. 31. Peters, also from Kentucky,
who for lliany years acted as justice of the
peace, and \-?hose desce~lclantsconsist of the
numerous families by that name \vho still
reside in the township. The next fall. Jno.
\V. Swearingen, also from Kentucky settled
near Hickory Grove. In the spring of IS??
came the Bartleys, and soon afterward
Caleb Shreve and Jno. H. Strong's father.
Orange Strong, settled on the banks of tile
Salt Fork.
.
The first person ever buried in St. .Joseph
township mas the mother of Kicholas Yount,
and the !irst child ever born in the township
was a child of Joseph Stayton's, which died
in infancy. The first school was taught ill
I S 3 by J n o Ford, and the school house was
the kitchen of Squire Peters' residence.
The first village in the township was the
Old Towii et' St. Joseph, situated on the
State Road at the Salt Fork crossing. A t
the height of its glory, this village could
boast only of three stores, a post office, a
tavern, a blaclismith shop aiid several
dwellings. The naming of St. Joseph is
described by the foIlowii~gcircumstance.
I t is related that at one time, ~vhenJoseph
Kelley kept the tavern stand, a stranger
came alollg ancl stoppecl wit11 Mr. Kelley,
and the two became quite agreeable friends
and for several days had a jovial time tcr
gether. When the strangerdepal-ted, Kelley,
out of conbideratioll for the good time they
had had in company, refused to charge him
anything, whereupon tlie nlysterious stranger told the landlord, that he wonld "do
something for him" for his kindness. Soon
afterward, the stranger, whom it seems was
some politiciail of more tllan ordinary influence, and in some way connected with
the administration, at Washington, secured
the establishment of a post office, the neecl
of which he had perhaps learned during his
stay at Kelley's. Kelley was appointed post
master, and in !)is honor it was callecl St.
Joseph, from Kellel-'s first name.
The present tliriving village of St. Josepli
dates its esistence from the building of the
Indiana, Blooinington and Western railway
in 1S66. The earliest settler on tlie sit,e of
the town was Catharine Hoss. who entered
40 acres of land in 1S39. The first business
ho:~se was opened in 1S;O. in the v e s t part
of town by \V111. 0. Shreve and Van 13.
Swearingen. These gentlenlen have since
%>en actively identiliect I\-ith the business
interests of the place, and have contributed
not a little to its prosperity.
Shortly after, A. H. Ralph moved up a
store building from the old to~vn.and opene d the first business house in the east part
of the village.
I11 t h e early part of 1SS0, the village was
incorporated under the laws of the state.
and a t present comprises some twenty-tiye
business firms, two public halls, two handsome churches and a large and well conducted graded school.
On the construction of the I., B. ancl W.
Ey.. a station called Mayview was established in St. Josepll township about 4 miles
\vest of the village, and now consists of a
store, post office, blacksmith shop, grain
elevator and a 11audson:e Sletllodist cliurch.
St. Joseph to\vnship has held its place
among the forenlost to\vnships, ancl in an
early day, had mucli to do 111 :he civil
government of the co~ulty. The law establishing this county provided for the
election of three colniilissioners, to be the
highest in autllority in the county. Jncob
Ihrtley, of St. Joseph, was a nieinber of the
first board. Six of the members of the first
grand jury, and three of the first petit jury
were from St. Joseph. 'L'he first poor farm in
the cou~ltyn7as in St. Joseph township, the
o:le 1 1 0owned
~
by d b e Hoy. The first bridge
in the county spa~ineclthe Salt Fork wliere
:t 1s crossed by the State road in St. Joseph,
and the first regular preacher in the county
inade St. Joseph one of his appointments.
The first organized drainage district in the
state uncler the new law, was in St. Joseph,
ancf :~nclerthe head of public improvements,
St. Joseph ton-mhip donated .F;25,000 for the
constrr~ction of the I., B. and W. Ky. The
first supervisor was S. S. lianliin, and the
subsequent representatives in the county
board have beell Jlahlon Glascock, V. B.
Swearingen, H. W.Drullinger, G. W. Doyle,
Jno. L. Smitll. David B. Stayton, 9 b e
Thoinpson, IT.0. Shreve and the present
incumbent, V. J. Gallion.
berg was tlle first man to settle in the west
part of the township. The Whitzell brothers came soon after and Jonathan Hunt,
who made a settlelnent there in lS3 was
one of the first justices of the peace. The
Yaymorths moved on the farm they now
occupy in IS61 and are well k:lomn and respected citizens. E. W. Swisher has long
lleld the oflice of justice of the peace in tlle
towiiship. and Erastus J. Clark figured
largely in political circles. llthough Stanton tomlship contai~isno I-illzge, the residents iind excellent marketing facilities at
St. Joseph? aucl to the indilstrious farmers
of Stnnton is the r~~oiiderful
growth of that
village largely due.
This to\jlnship is sornewllat noted as contailling tile largest settlement of Friends or
Qualcers ill the county.
The rirst supervisor of: Stnnton was L. C.
Yelettel who was folIomed by Isaac Weaver,
J. D. Whitzell, E. T. Johnson, L. H. White,
E. 31. Russel, Isaac L. Lefever, Jesse Mellette anil David Maddock, the present supervisor.
-
OGDEN.
Ogdex to\viiship is situated in the estremt. eastern part of the county, and is
so:newliat irregular in shape, being 10%
miles long from north to south, and 3%
miles \vide from east to west. The first survey was inade in lF31 by James Thompson,
deputy surveyor, and the organization of
the to\viiship was effected in 1573. The tirst
settleineilt was made in Hickory Grove by
Hiram Rankin, who soon after nloved to St.
.Joseph. The nest settlement was made in
Burr Oak Grove, in the northein part of the
t o ~ ~ - i l ~ h iGarrett
p.
Moore, who was among
the earliest inen to inake il?provements in
Ogden township mas the rirst constable in
Champaign co~ulty. The Richards, F r e e
mails and the Firebaughs are all familiar
llames anlong the old settlers. The first
supervisor was E. S. JIiles. Eleazer F r e e
111anis a t present supervisor.
-
STANTON.
Stanton township a t one time formed a
part of St. Jo-sph, but was cut ofT in IS69
and in 1S7S it mas reduced to its present
limits by the incorporation of part of it into
Ogcien township. 'l'he first settler of whom
we call learn was John Trilnble, 11110 entered SO acres of land on the east side of the
Spoon river, near the Vanfleet farm. Bnt
chief amcng the early settlers n a s Levi
Crayne. TI-110 settled on Salt Fork when the
whole township was a vast prairie. H e
came from Ohio and lived lonqer in Stanton
than any other nlan. Fredericlc 0. Franken-
,
RAETOUL
TOWNSHIP.
Rend at Old Settlers' Rel~nion.July 3.1W.
BY J O R S ROTGETOX.
The conntry now k n o ~ as
~ nRantoul mas
fornlerlg lrnown as 3Iink Grove, from the
grove bearing that name near the present
town of Rantoul, which mas a general
renrlezvous for the Indians. The first white
settler was Archa Campbell. who built a
house in the tovnship in the fallof lW.
T h e house was fourteen feet square. one
story, and built ot split loss. it \\-as roofed
wit11 rough boards trx-elve or fourteen feet
long.
JIr. Campbell's nearest neighbors were
Bl-anklin Dobson, on the Sangamon river,
nine miles west, and Lewis Adliins, at
north end of Big Grove, eight miles south.
Mr. Campbell farmed until lS5S, when he
sold out to Guy B. Chandler. It was
through the influence of Sir. Campbell that
tlie Illinois Central railroad located the
present station where it now is.
I n 1632 Lewis L. Hicks entered a section
of land two miles north-east and was followed by his brother-in-law and sister, Gilbert Martin and wife in 18.73. In 1SW John
W. Dodge cane here from Ttvinsburg, Ohio,
for the purpose of pre-empting land tor the
Ohio colcny. He reinnifieci ~intilNovember
andby that time had causeci to be erected
no less tllall eighteen cheap houses, on as
many quarter sections, within a radius of
six miles of the grove. He caused to be
bought for himselt and his friends 3,295
acres of land, costing, including commissions 83.09 per acre. John Penfield, one of
the prominent men of the township removed here in 1S56. I n IS55 John Ronghton
started a blacksmith shop near the residence of A. Darnell. J. TV. Dodge permanently located here May 9, 1556, soon
after his brother-in-law, James T. Herricli,
arrived, followed by James Smithers, John
B. Perry, .Columbns Canles, Frank Ends
Anderson Brown and Benjamin Uradleg.
J.J. Boiswas appointed agent of the I., C.
It. R. May 1, IS57 and holds that positioll a t
present. He was also agent for the American express company until January %.1S66,
when he was succeeded by E. J. Udell, the
incumbent, who discharges the duties of
that office to the entire satisfaction of
everyone. Xr. Udell has also beell telegraph operator since September l, 18134.
G. W. Carter settled in 1SS6, Abraham Cross
in same year, doh11 A. Benedict arrived
November 1, l S , he has since died, his
biography and portrait appears on allother
page of this book. Wm. 0. Bissell came
in 18.55. The town plat of Rantou~ rvas
platted in the sumiller of 1S.56, by John
and Guy D. Penfield, who have done much
to build up the tow11 since. Among the
new comers to the town were ~Vuns\.liest,
C. F. Post, T. E. Frederick, Dr. D. 31. Marshall, Wm. E. Johnson, Zimri Kej-nolds,
Dr. J. Sweatt, Isaiah Estep and Mrs. 3. L.
Seaver.
The tonn is well supplied with stores,
which are supported by arich country. The
gromth of the to~vnshiphas been wonderful and it is not surpassed in improvernellts
and energy of its citizens by any to\vi~ship
in the county.
LUDLOW,HARWOODAND KERR
TOWNSHIPS.
Rencl at Old Settlers' Ranion, July 29, I=.
B Y J. 31. HSRSIT.
The Illiilois Central R. R. was completed to
Pera, now Ludlow, in 16.73, and a turn table
put in there, ~vhic.11mas i~iovedto Cliampaign iu 18%. The first agent mas John
Lucas. He died in Ludlow in lS7O. Tlie
first school was taught by Aliss Alary Wood,
in the R. R. freight house, in IS.%.
The first settler, not considering the employers of the 1.,C. R. R. were Dr. Emmons,
Jas. Barklow, B. F, Dye, Isaiali Estep, L.
L. Hicks, K. LV. Claypool, A. lluilt and Seth
Parsons.
John W. Dodge, now of Iiantoul, and
others, lillown as the Ohio settlement,
settled in t!ie years IS%, G and 7; abo~itthe
same time Uncle Sam'l Lewis, and his son
Wm. and family, G. C. and W. H. Walker.
with their father, now dead. Z. Genung,
John Ilonghton. Sam'l Livillgstoll and James
and Patrick Malloy, a n~miberof whom are
still residents of the township have witnessed the growth of the county from raw
prairie land to a fine farming couiltry.
Squire Roughton's f arrn being now regarded
as the best improved in the township. There
was but little improvement fro111'56 to '65,
after which the township settled rapidly
and is now very largely under cultivation.
John Springsteen was the first blacksmith,
John P. and Sauluel 31iddlecoE the first
merchants, Uncle John, as he is called, still
resides here, John Y.Middlecoff resides in
Paxton and his brother Samuel died in the
service of his couutry-in the war of the rebellion. I believe M. Huffman was the first
post master. The town, to-day, has two
gene121 stores, three grain buyers, one
harGware, two grocery and provision stores,
one boot and shoe store, two blaclrsrnith
shops, a graded school and two churchestlie M. E. and Christian, and it is said there
are but two statioils on the line of the Illinois Cetltral froa which that co~ilpal~y
transporr;~more grain than they do fro111
Ludlow.
-
HBRWOOD.
Jeremiah Delay was the first settler locating on section :3O, in 1SS9; Jacob Huffman
settled on section 1 the same year. ailct
Rlichael Huffman the ne i t year 011sectio1l:j.
He mas the first Jiistice of the P3ace in
Pera township. Mr. Bullock sett!ed on section 33 shortly after, but in what year 1 am
not informed; James Custer settled on section 1 in 1SX; A. 1.and Wm. Leneve settled on section 13 in is%, allti J. D. L~lcIIoi\-
on sectioii 7 ; .John and William Crawford,
0. P. alitl Holsoiilber Soper, settled in the
to~nlship,shortly after; Dr. 1. C. Maswell,
James Xarlatt, R. W. and A. Claypool,
made inlprove~uelits in 1S5F. T h e first
school taught i11 the township was taught in
a log building, on seeti01111, where Jolin S.
Weber's farm reside~lce now stands. (anti
liacl previously served as n pre-einption
shanty for several different parties) in the
year ISGO, by Augustus 3. Crawford, fro111
this until t,he close of tile war, the settlenleilt was slow, but in IS65 the township began to settle rapidly, until to-clay, there is
uot a quarter sectioii of untillecl land in tlie
town. The tow~lsliipis dividecl illto school
districts two iiiiles square.
-KEKK.
Wm. AIc~Iillen was the first settler-he
settlecl at Sugar Grove in 1S:Sl; John Xanniilg settled there shoitly afterwards, ant1
died soon after; Salnuel Kerr settled near
Sugar Grove in IS&; ~ l l l e iSl~iiiner
i
settled
where Lewis Kucler now lives, iu IS:%, and.
entered lailcl there; L). S. Holber located on
section 21, perhaps in 1SY6, and Jolill Walker
ill 1W. 'l'lle log liouse built by him is stili
st.xncling and ownetl now by \Ym. Ton~linson. Solornoll Wilsoll came shortly afterwards, ancl the saiue year Sainnel Sailforct
and ltobert Brian came, likewise Thoii~as
Short and Wrn. Caner. L. Kucler, the oldest
settler now living in the township, locatecl
there iii the fall of 15'3s. His brothers, Solomon, Cllristogher, ,John a i ~ dElias, were
early settlers ill this tuw~?shil),
also Josephus,
Jaines and Perry Miistin and Levi IVood,
and all were largely engaged in growiiig and
feecling stock. Linc1se~- Corbley was all
early settler here, aiicl becaille wealthy (lealing in stock, and 111aliiiiggood use of the
rich pasture lands owned by him in this
townshiy. Solonloll Xercer, Lafayette Patton, William Siigcler and %
,. C. Hilard, were
likewise early settlers in this township.
The first school was taught by Levi Aslier,
in 15'33, ill a log school house on section 21.
CHAMPA~GNAND
--
HENSLEY.
Kead at Old Settlers' Reunion. Julg 29, ISSG.
G T H. .T. DTSI,AP.
Although the history relating to the settlement of both the towns of Chanipaign
ant1 Hensley has been assigned to nie, I believe that Champaign was fully rliscusseci
last year, \\-liile Hensley, so far as I am able
t,o learn, has never had any well organized a t
tenil~tmade to set forth in uoperishable 11%tory the ilames of her first settlers. The first
settlers of any conilnunitp are not ai~vays
the niost pcrnl;~:ient.althougli, ill the case of
this township, many ~ \ ~ l icame
o
at all early
clate yet remain. I am indebtecl to Lothrop's
history for some of my facts; to Salenl
Eicnsley a l ~ dJoshua Dickerson, for others.
When I first saw tlie to~vmhipin Apri! or
JIay, 15.56. there were but fen7houses escept
in the north\\-est corner, now it is one of the
most l>rosl)rrous towns in the count)- and
better farmers, farin buildings anel farm surrom~di~igs,
it \vo~ild be hard to find. I belieye that a lxail nalned Robert Chililreth
was the first riian to locate alid he settled in
the north~vestportioil of the town but ilicl
not reillain long: Ile came about the year
18:s. After liini canie Isaac and Jacob Hammer in 1S:35. They located near Chilclreth
?.nd built a log house. These men \\-ere follo\vetl short ly afterwarci by John Philips,
; ~ n dFountai~iBusey and, in 18:<7, by Heze1ii:~ll PliiIlippe \vho iiioved fro111 Condit.
Mr. Pllillippe died several years ago Snt the
homestead is
occupied by his son, Anthew J. r'liillippe. 1 iind among those n7110
came sooil before IS55 the names of Andrew
ant1 Josliua Dickerson, Jarnes 31. Graham,
no\v in Kansas, TVillianl Fisher, Richard
TiTaugh,1~110now lives in 3Iahoniet township, a inan iialnetl TVarerman who built a
Ilouse on the Bloo~liingtonroad near where
a new honsr was recently built by A. C.
Burnhain, Cliarles Miner and Sariiuel IIycle,
1)oth good farmers and who hare gone to
their renrard, Dacicl Wolfe \\rho still lives,
Sat. C. Beasley. w h o died several years ago,
Saiuuel and James S h i v , both dead. Thomas Herriott who r e ~ n o ~ elater
d
to Kansas,
H. C. BTest still a resident, ancl John S.
Beasley also cleceasecl. -Iii~onuthose who
caiile in lS.5.5 xere A. P. Hensley and his
sons, t\vo of whom, Sale111 and P. S., still
remain in the to\vn. Tlle first. house was of
loys ant1 I presume that the first frame
house was one built 111 IS53 or '54, on the
Sinlpsoii fann as it was known, for Willis
King. Joshua Dickerson built a frame house
for Mr. Ross on the David King place in '55.
and sags that there were only three houses
visible from the ridge. The first school was
held iii a log house built by the Hammers in
the north\\-est part of the town and the first
school house was built in the Waugh neighborhood later. I am unable to tell niuch
about the early settlers of the town although
I was personally acquainted with many of
them; but I never had tlie least idea that I
shouId be called upon to teil of their virtues.
for I am sure they had but few if any faults,
but liar1 1 li1101v11of i t I might have asked
nially questions that ~ ~ o u lhave
d
brought
out interesting answers.
24
of the state was appealed to for its decisioa.
I n tltat court the speculztor obtained a vicA S .LCCOUST. O F TIIE II-IOTLY COSTESTEI)
tory. I t was, horn-ever, currently believed
B a T T L E BY THE PKEEAIPTOItS O F CEXthat the victory was obtained by collusion
TIiBL ILLISOIS I S 1)EFESSE O F TIIEII:
with the preemptor 11~1lomas defendant in
LASD.
the case. A number of suits in ejection followed in the iuferior courts anti as a matter
GT .JOIIS IZOUGIITOS.
Thc grant of lands made by congress to of course tlie salne decisio~lrendered. The
the IIlinois Central R. R. Co., desiened tc: preenlptors of the coul~tymet together in
aid in the construction of their road, inclu(1- council, a t Champaign, organized a preempecl every alternate or even numbered section tors? protective association, appoiilted a conon either side of the entire length. All lallds vention to be held at Onarga and elected
still in possession of the goverlimellt and delegates to the s m e . Sotices were scat1~i11g
u-ithin fifteen 111iiesof the roncl Lvere tered abroacl an:'. every one interested was
inritecl to be ; ~ r e s e ~ i~t n c lparticipate in its
reservecl to the u~litedStates (talien out of
proceedings.
J o h i ~ Roughton and S. L.
rnarlcrt) so that the company illifiht select
otlier lands in lieu of even ilulrlbered sec- Seaver. of Rantoul and Luther Eads, of
tions on its immediate line wllidl had ;)re- Champaign, attended tlie convention fro111
cou~ltyas delegates. Quite a
viously been taken up for settlelnent. I n Cl~a~npaign
number also attended from counties on the
1S.5.5 the railroacl company having made
nlain line of the I. C. I<. R. The convention
their selections those still remaining were
again brought into market by the procla.ma- passed a series of resolutions espressive of
tion of tlie president, Franklin Pierce. Pre- its inclignation against its oppressors, levied
vious to the tinie-appointed for public sale a a t a s of 90 cents per acre upon every prelarge rnajority of said lands were entered enlptor with a view of raising a defense
fund and appointed John Roughton to wait
under the then existing Preemption Act.
A t said sale, which soon follomec!, all the upon the111 and talie their notes for that
lands in the then: Danville district, those a~nomitpayable in one year aftercla,te to the
order of X. L. Seaver, who had been elected
which were as \v\-ellas those which were not
preempted were solcl, provided that should treasurer of tlie association. I t also n p
the- preei:iptor make satisfactory proof to pointed a11 esecutive comnnttee and inthe government the purchaser ~vould re- structed that committee to select a suitable
ceive back his rl~oneyxvitliout interest. The case for a13pealto the supre~necourt of the
speculators, lvho in those days were dubbed United States and to enlploy a cnmpetent;
"Land sharks," tzxed their il~ge~iuity
in de- attorney to prosecute the same. I t also
listened to an a d d 1 . e ~delivered
~
by an atvising n:etliods by which to entice, or if
need be, to drive away tlie poor niau froni torney from D a n ~ i l l e ,who came there f o r
his ho~!?e and fireside. With snrne who the purpose of snbrnitt,ing to the convention
carer1 not to beconie actual tillers of the soil a propositioc to carry up to the supreme
they easily effected a coulpromise. Others court any case that might be selected for
afirighted by threat5 of litigation accepted a that purpose. H e asked that a con~mittee
s n l a l bonus ancl left their lailds. Those re- be appointed to confer with him. John
in Clialnpaign county, occupginp Koughton, N. L. Seaver and a gentleman
~liai~liilg
as they then did ]]early four tiiousa~idacres from Woodford county were appointed as
being Illore resolnte coulcl not be intimidated. that committee. They retired to a private
'l'hen carrie the tug of war and in dead earn- room, received his proposition m ~ drepoked
est [lid Greek meet Greek, ench determined to the conve~ltion. lt was as follows: For
to fight it out to the bitter end. =ere t'nose For taking up a case from the circuit court
lancls subject to preeaiption was tfie only and carrying it on to its completion, if sucissue. The speculrator set a p the plea that cessful, eight thousand dollars; if unsuccessful, five thousand. The proposition was
"they rvere reservecl to the United States,"
and therefore e s e m l ~ t by the act under rejertrd by nearly a unanimous rote and
\vhicli tlie preen~ptionswere made. On the the executive conl~nitteeurged to prosecute
other lia~ltl it was clain~eclthat while it was its mission as sl~eerlilyas possible. A fern
true that these lands had been ' i r e ~ e r ~ e d " weeks aftern-ard Mr. A. B. lves, a n attorfor the purposes above set forth, it mas ney wno resiclecl at Bloolnington and who
equally true tlvat the president bj- his proc- had been employed ill defending some of
lamation put a n end to the reservation and the cases which liar[ been tried reported t o
by ilis tieelaratioll that they were no\v snb- S. L. Seaver and John Roughton, one of
ject to private entry he aniioui~cecltile fact t-!]ern at t!ie same tirue espressi:lg it 8s his
that they \\-ere also subject to preen~ption. opiilio~lthat it mas the best that could be
found. EIe also espressed n desire to meet
1,itigiltioll co~n~nenced.
The supreme cntrrt
the committee wit11 a view of being employed by then1 as their attorney. Luther T.
Eads, who had been appointed chairman of
the com~ilitteewas therefore urged to call
its members together. He, however, having
become solnewhat &appointed in consequence of the rejection of Nr. Drake's p r o p
osition at tile co~lve~ltion
refused to do so.
hlr. Ives being ad17ised a s to the condition
of atfairs ca=e to Rantoul where he entered
into an agreement with 3lessrs. Roughton
and Seaver to earn; up the case he reconlmended and continue the same until a decision was obtained. I11consideration for which,
Mr. Itoughton was to collect the t a s levied
by the coilvelltioll and turil the notes over to
him at their face value. Afterward the gentleman in Woodford county agreed to do the
same. Nr. Ives went t o Washington and
Nr. Koughton visited every preeinptor in
Champaign county, from whom he c,ollected
n0tc.s amounting to between seven and eight
hundred dollars and turned them over to
him. The first and second winter sessions
of the supreme court dragged along their
weary length and no decision was obtained.
"Uncertainty!
Fell demon of o u r fears! the human soul.
That can support despair, supports not thee."
When the third came the yearnings of erery heart were those expressed by Fromde in
his "Fall of Y:~gunt~trn:"
"But be nc!t long, f o r i n t h e tedious minutes,
E s q u i s ~ t Interval,
e
l'm on t h e rack:
For sure t h e greatest evil man can know,
n e a r s n o proportion t o t h e dread suspense."
I-lowever, before the expiratio11 of this
term victory perched upon the preemptor's
bal~ner-for ill the month of September of
the gear 1860, Nr. Ives comm~ulicatedthe
intelligellce from Washingtoll City, that the
slipreme court of the Uniteti States had given their decision reversing the decisio~lof
the suprenie court of the state of Illinois.
Iiow many of the old preemptors of 1855
now remain 011 their lands it would be difficult to deter~i~ine.Snfice it, ilomewr, to
say bj- \Tray of conclusion, that this writer,
aided by his only son, Reuben Roughton,
has succeeded in rearing ugon his a pleasant
home wllere he now lives and where during
the rernaii~derof his earth life he expects to
"So live, that, when his summons ccmes t o
join
?he innumerable caravan, t h a t moves
To t h a t mysterious realm, where each shall
atlie
His chamber in the silent halls of death,
And g o not, like t h e quarry-slare a t night.
Scourged t o his dungeon; b u t sustained and
sooth'd
I3y a n unfaltering trust. approach his ,qave,
Like one t h a t draws t h e drapery of his couc:
About hirn, and lies down to pleasant dreams.
EARLY SUNDAY SCHOOLS,
A. 0. HOWTELL.
31yself and family reliiovecl to this
towuship in October, 1:'-33, and purchased
the farill 011 which we now reside. I organized a Uilioll Sauday scllool in the oltl
brick court house, April 9, 1SS. The officers
were A. 0. Howell, superintendent, and 31.
8.Barnes. secretary. Rev. TI-.\V. Blancllard was pastor of the Coiigregatiol~alchurcil
at that t i u e and had lwany c1011btsabout the
success of the enterprise. The rirst Sullday
there were 30 Inembers in atte~~daace
: the
second, 53: Nay tllirtll 18:;. The llethodists anit Bapt,ists were cordial, in good
feeliug and co-operated with the new
school. Many of our members were preparing to build and remove to '-the depot," after\vards called "West Urbana," now Cliaml~aigncity. Sunday school, with its ofiears, library, kc., mas removed to an unlinished building of Deacon Moses Snelling, oil
University avenue, now the residence of
Dfi. James Wright.
We had rough
boards for seats and a goods bos for n yulpit. Here we re-opened and re-organized
the first Sullday school ever held in Champaign, on the 4th day of AParch, 1S.53. We
changed our name from "First Union Sunday school of Urbana, ill.." to First Congregational Sunday school of Champaign.
We built the first Congregational church on
corner of Uiliversity avenue and 6th street,
(sometimes callecl the "Duck Pond church)
where our Sunditp school numbered, on one
Sabbath, ' 2 2 . 'Chus I supposed for many
years, that I had the honor of armaqing and
superintendillg the first Su~ldayschool with
a library and regular ogauizittion iu this
count.]- for 4 years, bnt Inany years after I
learned from B. F. Harris that he had auticlated rile two years. His Sund&yschool \%-as
held in a little cilurcll on his farm on the
Sangamon. He carried his library to his
Sunday school every Sabbath in a red nandkerchief and back to his house at night. I
carried rny library to the court house in a
candle box, in lily the11iiew rockaway buggy.
and back at nigllt. The four years' war killed off and scattered OLW tlloroi~ghmembers,
and since then. oh, how sad11 cha:iged is
our once hulfiblt: a2d thorough cilurch ancl
Suncla)- school. I \\-is11 to say here that this
was not the beginnii7g of al! the good
church aud S~uldayschool \I-srt dvile in this
county. It ~ ~ o ube
l d difficult to over %timate the noble n-orli done bj- our reneiable
F;tther Bradshi\v for many years prei-ious
to thix, but in consequence of his irnmenseI y large circuit. the me~tiiigsa n d sessions
of cl~urcliand Sunthy school work were
necessarily quite semi-occasionnlly.
-
BEV. A. BLi-DSIIAX'V.
I find froill the old nliiiutes of llliilois
Conference of 31. E. church that in 1S:39, in
the month of September, I was appointetl to
Urbana mission. 111 Cktober I lailtietl in
Urb;tna with my family. I do not know
what liacl beell done abont a Sabbatli school
prior to that time. but the spring following
we organizecl a Sabbath school, in which
Baptists and Presbyteriaiis took a part, especlally AIil~on Vance, a dry goocls nlerchant, but the Sabbath school v a s under the
auspices of the 31. E. church. I t ~ v a in
s the
sprilig of 1'W I made tile purchase of a
ciiurcli lot froun the county for S8. aiid the
sumiier follo~ving me erected a church
builtiiilg 30x40 feet, enclosii~git, but clid not
iinish it for some time. Tlie Baptists had
no church organization in Urbana, but I
think they had iin the Brumley neighborhood. But from the spri.ng and su~rlrnerof
1SU)the M. E. church had a sil~allSabbath
sclioo: organized in Urbana. I can not give
particulars, nor can I say at what date the
Baptist cliurcll orgnnized a Sabbath school
i n Urbaila or organized a church in Urbana,
or built a church, kc. 1 know the little
chiurcli house we put u p in 18-40was the first
in the county. Fro111?SO to IS50 the S a b
bath sclloo!~in Urbana were no big thing.
-
~
OLD SETTLERS' MEETINGS.
To tlie meetings of the old settlers, where
they attempted to rescue from oblivioi~tlie
incidents and recollections of tlie early days.
we are largely iilclebted for the successful
carrying out of tlie enterprise of pubiisliillg
this book.
A number of the old settlers, feeling the
need of an oryalllzation of the peoplc who
settled this cou~ityand bore the brunt of
frontier life, alicl desiring that tlie llistory of
the county illight be collected fro111the settlers theniselves while they stiil lived.
assenlbled at the court house in Urbaii;~,
May 16,ISTO, and were called to order by
Thomson K. Webber, \vho nolllinatetl Henry Sp.dorus, of Sadorus, as president, who
was elected by acclarn;~tion. J. S. 1FTright
was then elected vice-president. Tlie qualifications lieccssary to be an old settler mere
as follo~vs: '-Those who mere twenty years
of age in 1S-Nand resided in this county a t
that time." Tile following persons then
registered ns old settlers :
Hellry Saciurus, \F7illianl Saclorus, J. S.
FVrigLt, T. It. \Yebber, John G. Robinsont
Fielcli~igScott, Stephen Boyd, John Xasfi~:ltl:rlsahel Brewer, Janles Clcments, Jos.
Xaswell, Paris Shephercl, \Vm. Kocl;, Robert Brownlieltl, Jo!ln Corray, Janles Xyers,
D. 0. Brurnley, T. L. ~ r u l n a nJames
,
Kirby.
-4brallalil Yeazel, H. TV. Drulliager, Jalues
Bal-tley. B. F. Argo, John I(. Patterson,
Hirn~nRankin, Davicl Sweariugen, Snrnuel
Xapes, 'Tlionlas Ricllards, 31icheai Firebauyli, J. J. Sivearingeii, F. J. Busey. I3arrison Ileater, Join1 ll. Browntielll, Tlio~iias
Stvearingen, Win. lionline, David Argo, B.
F. Harris. Mrs. Elizabeth Busey. Mrs.
Stephen Uoycl. Mrs. Bryant, 3lrs. JVm. Harvey, Xrs. Jollil 3L~srnel1,Mrs. Sarah Xobertson, Mrs. Fielding Scott. JIrs. TVm. llock.
A t this meeting T. I<. TVebber. Janles S.
Wright ancl B. F. Harris were appointed n
conlliiittee to prepare a constitution and hylaws for n permanent orzanizatinn. T. It.
Webber snggested tliat as ;lrclla Ca11111bell
Incl~eda little of conline n-ithin the rille
and in consequence of his long resitie~lce
and tllorongh acquaintance, that the rnle be
suspended and that he and C. P.Colnlnbia
and .J. T.Everett be atlmitted a s me~nbers,
whicl~was done.
This meetiiig adjonrnetl to Jrme 15, 1~70,
whet1 it agnin met. The co~llrllittee reportr
ell a constitutiol~ant1 byln~vs,whicli were
adopted. The constitutiol~ provicled for a
president and vice-presicient, a secretary and
treasurer; an election was lleicl alltl resultcci
in the electio~iof Hcnry Sadorus as president, Janies S. Wright, vice-president and
T. R. Webber secretary and treasurel; to
hold their ofice until October 1571. 'Ilhe
meeting adjounlecl to October 5, lSW. The
n e s t meetmg of which there is any recorcl
to be found was held Auznst 16,lS62, a t the
fair gronnd. J. 0. C~uniinghan~
was selected as chairman ant1 E. Eatoli a s secretary.
They resolved to hold a. general meeting of
the old settlers at the fair ground August
29, 1SY2, being the first (lay of the coullty
fair, and d. W. Langley, S. I*. Busey and
W. F. Hardy were appointed a coninlittee
to prepare a prograill. The meeting was
held August 29, and was largely attended.
-4new constitution and by-law.; were ntlopted, ancl J. 0. Cnll~lingharnmas elected president, E. Eaton secretary and F. B. Sale
treasurer. Robert Fisher, J. S. TVripllt anel
S. 13. Busey, were apgoiiited a co~nnlittecto
make arrangements for nest meeting. The
next nieeting was held in Crystal Lake
Park, Urbana. Jmle 2.5, 1W3.
This was the celebratio~lof the semi-Centennial of t h e couilty of Champaign, ancl
this meeting was in every :vay a success.
T h e old settlers gathered i~o111Inany cou~nties ancl gave the clay to talking over tlie
olcl tiiiles aiid in jogging the lnerilory of
txnr:li other a s to Illany lan~liablr. as \\-ell
as irialiy serious i1:ciclents of half
century
ago.
.J. 0. Cunninghani iilvitecl the old settlers
\\rho hati been residents for fifty years all(\
over to colile forward, ancl J . F. Scoqg~n,the
photograpiler, \vould take a photograpll of
tlleln. Tllose who canie forward x e r e Silas
Johnson, Rev. il. Bradsha\v. F. J. Busey,
31. E. Eusey, 1)avicl Swearingen, Eleazer
Freeman. Jnnles Brownticlcl, Eti~\~arci
Bter,
Mrs. tV. I. Noore, Xrs. L. B. G~uin,Jaliles
1V. Boyd. Nathan Ifaline. Janles Icirby,
J. C. J o!inson, Harrison Heater, Mrs.
31aiinda Bryan and Xrs. Elllily Scott. After
wliich the liieetilig was called to order anti
l i s t c l i ~to
l an adilress of welcoilie by 31. I\-.
AIathe\\-s, editor of C11:irnpaign County
~II<RALD.He was follo~verlby J. 0. Cullningliain, who sl>oIie at length on matters
pertaining to the early history of t!lecounty.
J . C. Slielclon ant1 J. S. Busey, also made
short addresses on saiile subject. ,411 election
of officers was held, wiiicli resultecl as follows: IIon. S. H. B~zsey,president; E.
Eaton, secretary ;F.B. Sale, treasurer. The
liest lneeting was helcl at Crystal Lake
Park, June ISM- T h e meeting was called
to orrler by its president, S. H. Busey, 1vno
delivered an aclclress of welcoille. J. 0.
Cnnningham then read interesting letters
from A. Snedaker, J. IfT. Somers, -4rcha
Canisbell, James H. Webber and W. H.
Somers. Addresses were then made by J.
0. Cunningham, Hon. 0. B. Ficklin, Rev.
1). P. Bunn, of Decatur, J. 31. Dougherty,
of Fairmount, Gen. J. C. Black, Henry Sadorus, A. J. Devore, W. H. Drullinger, Mrs.
Moore, Mrs. Bryan and Dr. S. H. Peabody.
The follc.ving oficers were chosen: J.
C. Shelcion, president; E. Eaton, secretary;
S. 1%.Busey, treasurer. J. S. Busey, H. 11.
Russell and Wiley Davis, executive conlnlittee.
The nest nleeting was held at Crystal
Lake Park, June 1SS5. The forellooil was
spent in a social way and relating incidents
of the early days. I n the afternoon the
meeting was addressed by Z. Reynolds, fi.
J. Dunlap, J. 0. Cuaninghan~, W. I).Soiners, Joseph T. Kelleg, 3Iartin Kinehart. Rev.
A. Bradshaw and others. J. 0. Cunningh a ~ nalso read letters froill David Davis, of
Bloomingtoll :John Wentworth, of Chicago :
13. W. Drullinger, Chester, Nebraska, and
Arcna Canipbell, Grove Springs, K.I-.
The electioii of officers for the ensuing
gear resulted as follo~vs: Col. J. W. Laugley, president; L. A. RIcLean, secretary: H.
31. Ei.issel1, treasurer.
The time of holding the nest meeting was
cliangecl to July 29,1S6, the better to accoiiilnodt~te tlie farnlers. The attendance
was larger than usual. J. JV. Lallgley clelivered the address of welcome. The secretary then reat1 the list of deceased me~rlbers
2s f ~ l l o ~:i ~Hen.
s 0. B. Ficklin, lla_v5. 1S6;
Jonathan C. Thonil)so?l, Harwood, July 4,
1SS.i; Jennie C. Kinnear, Hnrwood, Jfay Sl,
1SS6; Mrs. Mary L. Condit, Ra~ltoul:Mrs.
Lucy Clements, widon- of Janies Cleinents.
July 'S9.1SS6 ; Cyrns Holmes. Ludlow. 3Iay
7,1SSB.
F. B. Sale, J. J1. Harnit. John Roughton,
J. 0. Cunninglinm, C. N. Gsllioli, for JV. 0.
Shreve, and H. J. DutiIn;), rend histories of
their to\\-nships (whicli tvill be fouild pubiished ill this book.) The election of ofiicers for
the ensuing year resulted as follows : John
Rought~n, Itantoul, ~)resic\ent: L. A. JlcLean, Url~ana,secretary; Col. S. T. Busey,
Urbana, treasurer.
J. W. L,zngley, J. 0. C~iiliiillgll~,nl,
L. 11.
McLean, \%ley Davis, Thomas L. Butler,
Jos. Peters, Samuel Craw and A. L. Lyons,
were agpoilited delegates to attend tile annual liieeting of tlie old settlers, of Vermilion county, to be held at Georgetown,
August 26,ISM.
The old settlers of Yhilo township effected an organization and have held annnal
lneetings for the past thirteen years. The
thirteenth annual meeting being helcl at
Itidge farm school houce, .Juile 12,18S6, and
was well attended.
The old settlers of Rantoul ton-nship organized an old settlers society several years
since and hold their meetings regularly.
'l'he old settlers of St. Joseph township
held a meeting in Robert Peter's Grove,
Saturday, September Bd, 1SS3, and effected
a permanent organization. A number of
persons froin different parts of the county
were present and much valuable history was
eatliered, and which has been filed with the
secretary of the co~uitysociety.
25
ERRATA.
1;1 tht: biogl-aplly of 'l'hoillas L. i3utlcr7 ill giving naincs of c!iililretl, we otnittecl Evaline, 1vho married James 'L'1lo1npso11,~ 1 1 ( Susie,
1
W I ~ O :t~:~rrie(l
Aubert Co~lliey,1111 rt~sitling
near Homer.
I n that of J o h n Roger-sol],thv Ilarne of his old paltlit:r dio111tlhave read N." C. Wilson, and the name of his eltlcst cllilci should read Sarah "Ca~lti~lt?."Mrs. hi1t11.e~
"Rupel"
should read "Russell.': He and his ancestors have al\m ys been "l're~byterians~~
instead
of "Episcopalians," as we have it.
I n that of Jchn Bra\-vntielci, in the second ~~nragraph
"1851" sho~zltlread "1S:?2.77
I n that of John 31. Spencer, the name of the town where 11e was irlarried slloul(1 read
Troy, instead of Tracy.
I n that of F. B. Sale, in speaking of his chilcireil it should read. Charles and family
are now living with his parents. James 1'. lives near home on adjoi!~ingfnrxn. Fannie is
married to J. 0.Sayers and resides in East Bend township.
I11 that of E. Halberstadt, grandfather ant1 great-grandfather on mother's side were in
war of Re volntion, illstead of that of 1S12.
"
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I t is Reprrblicaiz in Politics, Wide Arunke, nncl Spores
No Experzse t o Get
THE BEBY $cR1iEf13 .]fl -RLL DlZpflR7/VKvTS.
One of :he most 11111~- coniincteti countr;Ch>~mp:licn
collnty shonl,i feel proud of it.nclvspnpcrs in Illinois.-Chicfr{lir Ttl'l17ttrc.
, Al!anlirltt xerc.s.
Al\vI~ysu clean, bright, news;- palper t ~ n d/ I t is I L credit t o t h e people 0:' Champaign
ul,ly cciitcc~.-Chicciyt, 1irlct.-Ucmit.
; county.-Diron Snit.
I t is tlic no st ably cunclucted country news- i !r shows niore enterprise : ~ n dability t h a n
])ii])cr th:lt comes to our t t l b l ~ . - x ~ ki)).l:
~
j tiny other ~$-ceh-ly know of.-Hot Sp,-it~gs
(Ark.)A-cmn.
TriI~~ine.
Thc clcuncst, briahest und ncntest newspa- j I t t t ~ k c st h e premium as R county new-spnlllinois.
pcr published in
I t s cditor kco\vs per, and is a.~nngnifjcent>$drertigcnlcntof the
kio\v t o ~(IuCCZC' iln enorlllous ILrnount of resd- i enterprise n ~ l dthrift of Chtimpaign connty.inp lna~ttcrinto a small epnce.-Briclr l'omc?.- i JIcrao?~Count]] Rcp~thliean.
I I t takes the enkc.-Pwis Rcptthlican.
i)~'4cnlrx?'clt,Keul 17r~t.irit^.
I t is coc!!ucted by one of the brightest news- 1 It is
nentls printed.-Chwtopaper \\-ntcrs in Illinois,
is as gooti >L fum- i T,.it,tLILC.
ily newspaper nsis printed nny~~1irrc.-Btt1icii~:I Sceh IL paper is only possiblc in 11 county
trpolis h'evcltl.
' populuted by u vide-uwalcc, entcrPrisin,rr pcoThe KEllALLl is
escellent
l'le.-Chnrlmto'L Pzff'i'itlenLer.
of the countg ought t o s ~ i p p o rsuch
t
fi
paper with c~~ttlusiasni.-Uanvillc A.cu:s.
,
Onc of t h c best \\-eeklies in t h e state.I t i s x cmdit to the editors and the count)- B ~ ; : . ~ ~ f ~ ~ , f : l ~ ~ ~ , " p e PIllinois
it represents.-I'c~xtoi~ h'ecf~id.
,.
in Illi- I is always brim full of nev-s.-T~tswln R e p J ~ l i of tile
counts
can.
nois.-Schuyler Clt~zer~.
-4s a fxmily newspaper the HERALDis unRcaiew.
I t i s in t h e f r o n t rank of jonrnalisn~.-Pitts- surpassed.-Do2cglrrs
hwry Ohueroc~.
proud
Of'-J'eksO'acill'
of Illinois,- j
paper to
7t is t h e nlodel county
Tcz~lZo7-~'ille
Iiey~iblicn?l.
/
ornament t o journ:~lism.-Afcrttootr Jourof our oschtinpcs. LIny county
Ttle
the state \\-oulc! bc prouci (IS the iIk;~;~r.n.S~~lEivnt~
A-ems.
!
The most cntcrprising : ~ n d1rb1yconducted
It shor\.s great cdirorial
:Ind
I journtil in central illinois.-Cl1risma7tAdvtr.7lcc.
prisc and is t h e model country ncmspnper of 1 The mOSC enterprisillg Ilelvspnper in t h e
the state of Illinois.-3ionticellu U Z L ~ ~ C L ~ ? L .sttitc.-Grcenoilk Advocate.
Onc of t h e LminicSt pxlpers in t h e district.- ' One of t h e best familg newspapers in t h e
Paris Bcnco?~.
state.-C'n?.Zi?laille Democ~nt.
) ~ oft ~t h~c nlost cntcrprising newsptipelY in
one tilc best papers in ~ l i i ~ ~ i ~ . . - lOne
1:egxiblicciti.
t . i ~ sratc.-Pontinc
e
Gazette.
one of the yerJ- best coulltry I,c-,vsytLl,ersiI1 I t eclipses uli conipetitors.-l~oqcoi T i m c ~ .
Illinois.-heu:rnnn
Itrdcpcndo~t.
:
I+ 15
. u clean and :?tile paper c~ndone of the
people of chlLlnpniFn
slloulti n10X noted nc\%-spnyersin t h e s:atc.-Jlii,tr171k
feel p r o i ~ dof t h e Hxn,\r,u.-Eti~u~ai~ds~?iI1e
1;e- HndcI t s editors ure t h e ablest and most cntcrp1t?)iica7~.
qy-,e Grbnna HERALD stands atlC1ldo< thelil prisinp ne\\-spuper nlcn in t h e state.-B~Ghtoitr
:~ll.-Tolono Herald.
Y'I.~~)u~Lc.
~t is ,$-hole bouqllct
~ i l i s i c 3 s . - ~ ~ c t o . , ~ ~ r t L r VI t is u wide itxs-zil<cpaper.-Ju1i1.t Iiccir?vi.
Detti~~ont.
Edited by enterprising ~ l n dnbic journnlists
Gh:tm;>nit.n county should s~lstninit libelc
-qt >111 times one of the best local p n p c y irl
nliy and hc-nrtils-.-Ilc7tr?l licp~!ilico?i.
the state.-I<cwoncc C'o~~ri~r.
'
'
.,...,,,
,
JtE,!:at
,;I
.
:,
'
Th,e Hc7,nlcl is P ~ & ! . l i s hfr,t
~ ~L lJ ~ h m ~ zILlin.ois,
a:
bg
Second Edition.
The following pages were issued by
the CHAXPAIGS
COVXTY
HERALD
August
26, 1591, as an addi5ion or supplement
to this book. The familiar faces here,
we are satisfied, \\-ill be appreciat.ed
by those who are living, and their
friends who are in the first issue, and
we can say the same of those in the
supplement in regard to the biographies and portraits in the original
I1ook.
XARKCARLET.
The subject of this sketch n-as born
in the ton-n of Hancock, Hillsboro
county. Sew Hampshire. August 24.
1799, His grandfather. Joseph Carley, was born in Spencer. Mass., in
1715, died in 1510. H e nlarried Sally
JTashlsurne. sister of Elijah Wash1,urne. Sr., of Satick. Nass ; she was
born Sept. 14,1729 ; died Jan. 6.1516.
They had eleven children. His father.
Elijah Carlej, was the vou~lgestchild,
I,or~lin 'i\-are. Mass.. M a j 21. 1771 :
(tied Yeb. 11, 1856, at Champaign, Ill.
He married -Agnes Graham. of Hancock. N.H., Sep:. 3. 179.5. who died
in 1531 at Felicity. Ohio. The? had
ten vhildren, tm-o older than the subject of this sketch. Xr. Carley. on
the "7th of April. 1 S 0 . was united in
marriage to Miss Abigail '\I-. Stel-ens,
Ste~-ens.
of Spring(laughter of S i l s l ~
field. 1 - ~ r n ~ o n tXrs.
.
Carlq- was horn
Jan. 7, 1Si0, at A c l i ~ ~ ~ rCheshire
th,
Co., New Hampshire, died Sov. 1'3.
1871, in Champaign, Ill. Air. Carley
had a family of eleven children, but
three now living, Mary A. C. (Mrs.
Kizlcaid) Graham and Isotta C, voungest child, (Mrs. H. TT. Nahan.) Mr.
Carley's grandmother, Sally Washburne, was connected \\ith that numerous family of Washburne's who have
since filled so large a space in State
and Sational affairs of this country.
Some of Elijah's elder brothers-Jlr.
Carley's uncles-n ere soldiers in the
revolutiouarj- war, and one of them.
(Jonathan) has left behind him a soldiers discharge signed by the hand of
TT-ashington himself, that is now carefully preserred among the papers of
the fa mil^. But although Mr. Carley's
father \\?astoo young to take a hand
in the revolution, he and one of Mr.
Carlej's elder brothers (Hugh) served
in the war of 1S12, first in the dragoons and afterwards in the heavy artillery, and the family have now in
their possession one or two articles of
uniform worn by the grandfather during that term of service. While yet a
boy, in 1510, Elijah Carley removed
from New Hampshire to TTermont,and
Xark, 11years old, went with the family, remaining with it until 1816. I n
1815, he commenced work as an apprentice to the millwright business.
When 20 Sears old, the spirit of selfreliance, n-hich made life a success in
after years, began to assert itself, and
he resolved to see more of the world.
Accordingly, in 1819. he went to New
Brunstrick. a f t e r remaining there
several months. he concluded to go to
Sen- Orleans by sea, and about the
first of January, lPPO, sailed from the
mouth of the Penobscot River for that
destination. While off Cape Hatteras
the bow-sprit of the ship as carried
away in a gale, his ship sprung a leak
and. after pumping tn-elre days and
nights, he succeeded in reaching the
port of Savsnnah. Georgia, where.
after stopping for a fen- d a ~ s ,he
shipped as a sailor for Havana. Cuba.
After spending some time, and his
money, in Havana. he shipped for
Sew Orleans. where he arrired April
24th. 1s-20. On reaching the mouth
of the 3Iississippi river, in his voyage
from Cuba. he had a narron- escape
from dron-ning. His vessel ran on a
$and-bar. and the mate. himself and
-1)
130
PIONEERS O F CHAMP-4IGN COL-LVTI'.
- -- - - .-. -- - --
three sailors got into a small boat,
which was capsized, and the mate
drowned. Marli was only saved by
clinging to the boat and getting
astride its inverted bottom, on which
he drifted for sereral miles before he
was taken off. After stopping for
sometime in Xem Orleans, h e went to
Lafourche, La., and commenced work
at $1per day, with board, at his trade
of bullding mills and cotton-gins.
Here he spent his summers for three
seasons. spending each winter in New
Orleans. In 1823, he went to the parish of Peliciana, where he remained
until 1837. I n Louisiana Xr. Carley
found a people and climate suited to
his task, he continued to live there.
with occasional visits East and North,
for a period of 17 years. During one
of his visits to Vermont. April 27,1S;30,
he was married at Springfield, Vt.
Locating his wife in Clemout county,
Ohio, he returned to the field of his
labors in Louisiana to accumulate
something for his future support and
comfort. I n 183'7 Le joined his wife
in Ohio, where he purchased 500 acres
of land and engaged in agricultural
pursuits. He subsequently added to
his possessions, engaged in farming
and boating wood down the Ohio river
to Cincinnati until 1850, when he was
attacked by the prevailing California
fever and. in the spring of that year
started, by the way of the Isthnlus,
for the gold fields of the Pacific coast.
During the passage from Wen; Orleans
to Chagres, owing to adverse winds,
the vessel stopped a t Grand Camar
island in the Carribbean Sea, which
he found inhabited by the descendants of the old buccaneers. with an
English resident governor.
From
Panama the vessel went to Cocos island for a supply of water. \hThile
there he saw chiseled in the rock the
names of the three small vessels commaiided by Captain Cool< in his first
voyage around the world. together
with the day and 1~011thof his landing. After arriving in California. Mr.
Carley soon won the confidence of the
xiliners to such an extent that he was
chosen one of the three judges of the
i~liniiigregion. about 60 b j 80 u'iles
in esteut, requiring grezlt prudelice.
good judgment a i d discrirnination.
\iLelt-' 110 statute or csollllllolllair \vas
in force. a i d the judge hrltl iu his
hancls the li\-t>s a11(i propert>- o f iill
concerned. He remained in Califorrlia
and Oregon until 1852, when he returned to Ohio. H e spent the summer
and fall of 18.72 traveling through 11liuois on horseback, starting at East
St. Louis and visiting nearl? every
county in the State, his brothers-inlam, the late B. Y. Yrather, of Sonier
township. and David Howse, of Champaign, being his traveling cornparlions
a part of the time and Edmui~dand
Willianl Daties, of Piatt count?-, a
part of the time. He reinailled a resident of the Buckeye state until 1853.
hen he decided to malie his home iu
Champaign county, being as he saw it
the 'bgarden spot" of Illinois. I11
August, 1SS-3, he re~noredto Urbana
and in May. 18-54. to what is noiv
Champaign. but then a raw prairie.
dotted with only a far111 house or two.
He erected and occupied with his
fanlily the first permanent dwelling
house on the original town plat, on the
ground xvhere TVm. Dodson's residence
now stands, on State street, which was
afterwards removed to Randolph-st.
He also erected the first grain warehouse in Champaign, and put in the
first steam engine to operate a corn
sheller and g a i n elevator. This elevator and cribs were burned ,lug. 24,
1872. H e t h ~ i ibuilt the brick a p i cultural warehouse on Main street and
brick livery stable on Market street, in
1861 brick residence on Church street.
I n 1857 he purchased lots in Tolono,
and erected a stearn grain elerator-the first one there-and g r ~ d e dand
laid the rails to the lcng sidetrack at
his own espense. He also h i l t and
owned two large residences and store
building there. 111 his domestic relations he was affectionate and iuclulgent. Two of his daughters. (Mrs.
lcincaid and Airs. Mahan), and one
graild-daughter. (31rs. Weston) iilade
the tous of Europe at his recluest. I n
his social anti business relatioils Mr.
Carley enjo>-edto an unusual degree1
the conficlence arid esteem of all with
\vhom he \\-as connected. IVhen \Vest
Urbai~a (11o1~Cllampaign) adopted
tow~lshiporganizatioil. he as its first
supervisor, also the first justice of the.
peace elected in 'l'olouo. but uot wishing to be bothered nith the office,
never q~ralified. I11 religion he was
rstiemely unorthodos. 2nd clid not avcept ally theorj or system of faith that
start^ olit nit11 a direct as5ault upon
PIOMEERS OF CHALMPAIGN COC-VTP.
131
county, 0. Judge J. 0. Cunningham
and Edwir. W. Cunningham. of E m poria, Kansas., are his brothers and
Orton Cunningham, (now deceased j.
was a brother. Hon. .J. C. Sheldon is
a half brother. A. P., remained upon
the farm unt,il 20 years old, receiving
a good common school education and
completed his studies in Oberlin College. He came to Illinois in 1SSS:
clerked for three months in a dry
goods s'ore. He occupied the positicn
of assistant cashier in t,he Grand Prairie Lank from 1853 to 1862. I n that
year he enlisted in Company G, '76th
Ill.? Vol. Infantry. His soldierly qualities were soon recognized and he became second lieut,enant. After two
vears of hard service he resigned on
account of ill healt,l~. He took an active part in the seine and capture of
Vicksburg. After an honorable dis"Boin of good lineage, be was possessed of
charge he entered the drug business
3. native integrity and honesty of character
in Urbana. where for years he was
th&tinspired the oonfidence of his neighbors,
a ~ n o n gthe brightest and most successand gave him a n enviable reputation a s a man
ful of her business men. During his
and a citizen. He was identified with the enresidence of twenty-five years in Urtire history e f the city of his adoption. He
erected the first pezahi>cntrlwelling house in
bana he was elected to several offices
it, and watched the rising of every house, the
in the city, serving two or three terins
improvement of erery street, and the corning
as elderman from his ward, was also a
of every fsmily: and here a t his death the
illember of the b3ard of education and
whole city mourns."
was twice elected as mayor. He aided
in founding the CHAMPAIGN
COUNTY
HERALT),
of :which he was a n editor for
about one year, and proved to be possessed of considerable literary talent
bhat would have irlsured success in the
editorial field, but he returned soon to
the drug business and located in Champaign ir, ISSO, in which he had spent
]nore time than a t anything else. He
is to.day, and has been for many years,
proprictzr of one of the neatest and
most prosperous drug and book stores
in Centr 11Illinois. His trade is constantly increasing. . H e has served one
term as trea.surer of the Illinois Pharlnaceutical Association and one term as
its president. Tn 1855 he married Xiss
Ophelia J. Seger, daughter of A. W.
Peper, a native of Connecticut.. Four
children have been born to them, Elmer? George, Clara and Ralph. 3Ir.
Cunningham is a man of wide information in general as well as a thorocph
business man. Interesting in conversation, cultivated in manner, a man of
h. l'. C E S S I S G H ~ ~ J ~ ,
mcst pleasing address, he wins friends
Tlie leading druggist of Champai yn wherever he is, whether with his comcounty. mas born in Lanraster, Erie rades who viith him braved the dangcount.?-, N. Y.. Aug. 11, 1832. the son ers of war, or among the members of
of Hiranl \V. and Euniez (Ero~i-n) the fraternal societies of which he is a
Cunningham. The same year of his valued brother, or anlong his neighbors
b i r t h his family removed to Huron and business ahqualntances. he is a
reason, or was in conflict it-ith the established t r u t h of science. I n politics
he was equally pronounced, his maxim
being, '.The wise man changeth, the
fool never." H e was a Clay Whig,
then voted with the republican party
until 1872, when, believing that the
republicans were mismanaging the
government, he ever after voted with
the opposition. Xrs. Carley followed
those who had gone before, a n d on
November 14. 1571, her remains were
laid t o rest in t h e fanlily vault in Mt.
Hope cemetery. Mr. Carley departed
this life February 3, 1888, a t his home
in Champaign a n d February 5, 1888,
his remains were put in the family
vault a t Mt. Hope cemetery. Remarks of Rev. I. S. Mahan a t funeral
of Mark Carley :
prime favorite. Politically he is a
thorough republican, and next to his
religion, which is of the Presbyterian
faith, he values the doctrines of the
grand old Darty which brought the
nation safe and undivided from the
Southern rebellion. His home, on
West Washington street in Champaign
is pleasantly situated and surrounded
ky ail the comforts that make life wortqh
living. It is tohe hope of the HERALD
that he may be spared for many years
to his falnilv, his friends and to the
business cil-cies of the enterprising city
i n whicll he is a prolnilzent 1)uslness
Inan and highly esteemed citizen. He
has always been active in Grancl Ariny
circls and is the present conlniander
of Col. Nodine Post, No. 140 G. A. E.
1552 to 1839, but having always had
a,
strong desire to study me 'icine which
increased as he became older, in 183s
he commenced the study, finishing in
1841 and graduating a t the medical
college a t Louisville, Ky. In 1843 he
located in old Homer, situated then on
the bank of the creek about one and
a haif miles north of the present site
of Homer. Here he engaged in the
practice of medicine and soon became
known as a skilful physician. He continued the
i n t i 1 1550, when,
being tired of the heavy work connected with it, he purchased a farm a short
distance west of Homer, where he now
resides. Xr. Conkey said that the village of Homer i n 1843 had less than
ten families and in the present limits
of the township not to exceed nineteen outside of the village, making a
total af about 26 families. The census
would have been 130. The town was
first built near the timber, for the
prairie land was coilsidered as valueless for agricultural purposes when
located a 1-sasonalle distance from the
timber, besides t h e settlers deemed it
very unwise to erect s home on the
prairies where they would he exposed
tto the bleak cold winds and snow
storms. The doctor was one of the
first to brave the terrors (3 of the
prairies and open up a farm, b u t his
good judgment was soon admitted and
his model farm was soon the admiration of every one and he demonstrated
the fact that the most fertile ground
in the world n-as the black soil on
the prairies. H e took a prominent
part in the removal of the town of
Homer, in about 1856, to its present
site, which vras accomplished during
a heavy >now, when the l~ousesmere
moved o u t on sleds. 31. D. Coffeen bei n g instrunlental in having this done.
In &lay, 1849: Dr. Conker was united
One of the oldest and most respect- in marriage to Miss Sarah V. Saddlel..
ed citizenc of the east, p w t of this who is still living: i*; a n excellent wife
county is Dr. William A. Conkey, who and mother and laas the love and recame to this county in November. spect of every one who knows her.
TS#, and has been a useful citizen and There ha- been born t,o then1 the foldone much to bring Champaign coun- lowing children, viz: A u l x r t who is
t y u p to its present high posit,ion as 111arried and is a farlner near Honlei-:
one of the leading counties i c the Lucy. a t hnme: I!ruc.e, is a mail agent.
state. He was born in Charlen~ont,. r u n n i n g from Toleclo to St.. Louis. is
Franklin county. 3Iassachussetts. De- married and has a pleasant in Honicember 6. 1520. His father's name e r : Carle. is at home: Frank. is a
\%-asAlexander Conkeg and that of his dent,iit, living in Sprin'gfield. 3lassamother Lucy ~ I c ~ u l 1 o u g hboth
.
of chussets, and 1:as a good p~act~ice:
EmJlassachusetts. They removed to Ed- ma, married E. P. Ba,bl). a 1~7ealti1~gar c o ~ n t y .Illinois. in 1830, \\--here j-orng fai-mei*, of Comp1.o1nise townthey made their. horne. The subject ship: F r e d , is at 11onle. In pc1it.i~~.
of' this sl<etth clerked in 2 s t o w f'~-onl t,he Doctor 1vas a \T*l~iqin older day.-;
P I U S E E K S OF CHAMPAIGK COZ:^?'TI7.
and a republican ever since. H e has
always taken a prominent part in
matters pertaining to the public good
and has for several terms represented
Homer township cn the Board of Snpervisors of the county. Although Mr.
Conkey is now seventy years of age
he is hale and hearty and bids fair to
live for many years and enjoy the
1)eautiful home he has built on the
former bleak prairie which is now
blooming like the rose. He has only
:&I0 acres of the finest land in the
county left after dividinq u p with
some of his children, pet he has sufficietit to keep him in ease and coinfort should his life and t h a t of his estimable viik be spared for a quarter
of a century.
133
from which he graduated i n 1877 with
the honors of his class. H e mas married i n November. 18%" t o Isabella S.
Harwood. daughter of Hon. Abel Harwood. of Champaign. She died Fehn a r y 10. 1888, leaving three children.
Isabella, Eliza and Annie. Judge Staley has been a consistent christian and
member of the Presbyterian church i n
Champaipn since 188.2. His first cote
was cast for the republican ticket and
has remained unswervingly of that
faith ever since. His voice has been
heard in almost every school house i n
t h i - county i n favor of republican
principles and candidates. Upon graduating in 18'77. he formed a partnership wlth Col. Langley. which contined in the practice of the law alone until June. 1890. when be was appointed
by Governor Fifer, county judge of
Champaign county. to succeed J u d g e
Langl y. who had resigned. The republican primaries of 1890 resulted i n
tlie choice of J u d g e Staley by t h e republican party as its candidate for t h a t
responsible office. H e mas elected in
Xovember and ha since filled that
office with credit to himself a n d his
party and to the entire satisfaction of
the members of the bar and of the
people having business i n his court.
H e is studious. careful, painstaking
and faithful to his trust. H e has
splendid natural abilities: is a hard
worker and will, we confidently 'believe, take still higher position at the
the hands of his constituents.
Few men have done more work in
t h e way of public speaking for his
party o n t h e s t u m p a n d in other
ways t h a n J u d g e Staley. He i s a
fluent a n d convincing speaker, knows
what is fieeded by t h e people a n d
speaks accordingly. H e is always
m-elcomed in whatever locality h e is
caXed. He h a s h a d t o fight t h e bread
a n d butter question single handed,
having had m u c h h a r d experience in
this line v h e n h e was attending t h e
Unit-ersity of Illinois, as h e t h e n h a d
to earn his o m support while pursui n g his studies; this h a s in a great
measure tended to bring h i m into
contact with t h e world i n a veq- emphatic manner.
JUDGE
CALYIX C. STXLET.
J u d g e St:ile\- was born near Guandotte. West. Virginia. J u l g 14. 1850.
He, wit11 his family, came to Urbana
i n 1851. and i n tlie s p r i n g his father
bought a rarm on which the Cnivei-sity
now stands and 1)uilt t,he first house
west of t.hs ~nechanicalbuilding, where
t.hej-.resided until the spring of 186C,
\v~ien11iey i.emoved to their farm, now
Staley stai ion. Here his father died
in 1863. Calvin worked Itpon the farm
w-bile receiving a common school education. ~~-ol-liinz
a part of the time for
I Y . H. Bomine for his b ard iv11ile at.tending hiah school. Then took acourse
at the L-ni~ersity of Illinois and folI o ~ v i n gt,bat. he at.tecded the Michigan
Univemit!-. tnkinp the law ~c-ourse.
27
and also appreciating the excellent
service Mr. Brown had rendered his
country, elected hill1 in November,
l88S, to the oflice of Circuit. Clerk, a
positio~l he occupies wit11 credit. to
himself and satisfaction to all with
1vhon1 he has busiuess. H e is affable,
accoil~lnoclitti~g
and makes a popular
officer. He was married April 12,
186.7. to J1iss Harriet A. Wolfe, who
clied in lSS2. There were born to
t llem four vhildrea : Mary A., married
to Orvillr L. Davis. local editor of the
clail~ (;c~xottc>.
CLaiupaigu : Fred G.,
all arc*llitchct. rrsiciiug ill Cilicaago ;
Inez L). autl \Yilliiull Jay, at honlr.
Mr. BI-ow11is and lras I~t.c.11for many
'C17as bor11 31arc.h 29, IS40, in Hoscz.
Coshoctoll county, Ohio. His fat81:er7s
name \\-as John G. Brown and was
born ill Massachuset,ts. His t1lother's
name n-as Clarirlcia Ho~ve.They came
to Url>ana >larch 27, 1855. Killiain
G. accolnpanied his parents. He attex~dedthe public schools in Ohio and
Crbaua, and received a good common
school education. He farmed in his
boyhood and engaged in niercautile
pursuits for about four gears. When
the late war brolre out,, he at once enlisted in conlpaq Ii, 25th Illi~loisInfantry, serviug eight xnout,hs, when he
was t,ransferred to Battery Lt Seco~lcl
RegimentJ: Illinois Light Artillery.
where he served for tll~reeyears, making t.hrre years and eight month's
ser~ire. His health was very seriously
impaired ill the army and at this time
it is only by taking the best care of
himself t,hat he is able to discharge his
duties. After his. return from the war,
and partially regaining his health, he
took a pcsition as Deputy Circuit
Clerk, which he held for nearly ~lirre
rears, then entered t,he Couut.~Clerk's
b e c e and staid there about nine
years, nlaking eighteen years of contiuuecl n-ork. This long ttlrnl of ser:S the tax and
vice in the cuuri a~ ~1-el1
probat t. clrpart nient s o E tile co7ul;...,,,I., c him one of the l)~.;t i~lforllleci
~ u e nin inattti~sprrtaiuillg to these departnlents in t llt~c ~ ~ l l ~ l t Tl1e
y . people
r ~ c o ~ y u i z ihis
n ~slrpol-io~-(111:ilificntions
,%I
K
CHALMERS
M. SHERFT
Was born in Hagersto~vn,Bilargland.
His father's name was Jacob Sberfy, of
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. of Dutch
descent His nlotl~er'sname was Amelia
3IcNu11, of London ~ o u n t ~Virginia,
y,
of Sc0tc.h-German parentage. For the
solid. sterling qualities possessed by
s-;ubjectof this sketch he is indebted
in R great ~lleasareto his parents. His
parents 1-elnoved t o Indiana and afterwn1.d~1.e1noved to P e r r ~ s v i l l ein~ same
state. in 1S:;J. I n 1S4-5 voung Chalmcl-s, haying formed a 11i;~hopinion of
t llf: art uresel-vative. entered a ~ r i tins
n
(sficae; t i -.devil." He worked & i n
1-ysvillr till. allout :I year. then went to
'l't.1.1.t. F-1 ut e where lie ivolwked fro111
PIONEERS O F CHAMPA IGX' COC'ST F.
1:35
--
l a 5 to 18.51 and then returned to Perryville. Not liking the printing I~usiness as well as he expected and an advantageous offer being made him, he
entered the mercantile business. At
the end of a year a proposition was
made to him to go to Urbana and take
charce of a general store there. So
M a y 25, 185'2, he arrived in Urbana.
tnok charge of the store and sl~owed
t h a t he possessed abiliry i n this line.
In a short time he associated with him
in business Williitin Geaiie, and .purchased the store he had charge of.
The firin was known as Gessie k.
Sherfv and was one of the well.known
firms in the early days. I n 1855 he was
elected as county txeasurer and assessor and serve? i n that responsible po+ition fortwnyears. TheIllinoisCentral road having been built in 1854
through the present corporation of
Champaign, he saw a ])right future fnlthat city and at the close of his term of
ofice, engagtd there i n the banking
business in which he continued for 22
j-ears. He also did a large business in
1-pal-&ate and insurance, being the
second insul-ance agent in the county.
I n 1879 he formed a partnership with
G . C . Willis, of Champaign, as Wllia
k Sher fy,for t he dealing in real-est ate,
insurance and loaning money, w hicli
partnership c o n t i n u 4 nnfil January
1, 1891, when Nf r. Sl~rl-fypurchased the
interest of Mr. Willis and n o w conducts
the business alone. He w2s united in
ma]-riage October 13, 1869. to Miss
Eunice h1. Heach, of Champaign, now
deceased. There was born to them one
child. Fannie Belle. who is now a n accomplished young lady and the pride
of Lei- father. Tn religious matters,
althoagh Mr. Sherfy is not a church
member, he is a constant attendant a t
the First I'reshvterian church of Champaign. I n politics he is an unswerving
repu bliean and takes a prominent part
i n forwarding the interests of his party.
On account of partial paralysis Mr.
Sherfv is not as active as he was in his
early hays, yet his long years of experience and wide extended acquaintance
give him a business second to none i n
his line i n Central Illinois. H e is a
member of t h e executive board of the
Champaign County Old Settler's Associatim and is energetic i n rescuing
from oblivion the things pertaining to
the early settlement of thls county.
.-SAMITEL
V ~ s l 3 ~ e . n0
~ ~- ~b
Was born Septeiuber 1. I M l ? in Dnrke
county, Ohio. His father's name was
Samuel Van Brunt, of Eew- Jei-se:;.
14 ib nlot,her's name t*fas Melvilla
EL-own. of Virginia. Samuel. .I r.,
came wit11 his father i n 18-53, to this
county and located in Sidney township
where he, engaged in farming. His
education was obtained a t the public
schools. April 19. 1866. he was united
In niari-iage to Rachel 13. Sampson.
daughter of Willard and Margaret,
Sampsou. She was born in 1846.
The following children were born to
them : Marcus G.. 110 was Billed on a
I-ailroad near Lesington: Mo , in ISSS:
Raymond B.. Gertrud- R.. Earl I.,
Edgar. Merton C.. Chest r S., Clyde
died in the Fall of 188s. Mr. VanBrunt
is an active n~erriberof t!le Christian
church, of which denoll~ination he llas
been a member for the past eighteen
vears. I n politics he 11asalways been
& strong. republican and a leader i n
his vicinity. His occupation has been
t h a t of a stock dealer and farnler. H e
was driving oxen breaking prairie
when t h e war broke out and he
'promptly answered the call of his
country and enlisted Companv I. 10th
Illinois Cavalr-, September -2'2. 18131.
and was mustered out .January ti. 1StiG.
He was careful of his slz;a!l v;2g!.es
while in the service and inveFted the
same in land. He now owns :GO acres
of well-improved l a ~ wit
d 11 very cttluaide buildings. His home is one of rhe
236
PIOiVEERS OF CEAMPAIQN COLTNTI'.
handsomest and most pleasant in the
township. He is also engaged in the
mercantile and grain business a t
Deers station. While he has always
taken an active part in politics, he yet
finds his time so fully occupied that he
has no time to bother with offices. although he has filled the office of l&&uTavCorn missioner for two terms and
ha; been school director for a number
of years. Mr. Van brunt is an every
day sort of a man, LLs the confidence
of all who know him and 4s an excellent citizen and neighbor.
rooms and a leanto with a lynla bark
loft, puncheon floor, no windows. we
were happy and thought we were forunate in having such a good house.
Monday after we came the first town
lots in Urbana were sold at auction.
The Brumley school house near us
was the first school house in the
neighborhood, Andrew Stephenson,
John Gardner and Chancy Standish
were among the first teachers. Mr.
Smith built a new house in '1837,
which was a good one for that day.
The flooring was sawed by a whip
saw, and the lath mas made by hand,
all by Mr. Smith." Mr. Smith was
school director, road oyerseer, etc..
but did not .care for offices, found
enough t.o do t o attend to his own
business, which he did, and by industry and good management, in
which he was ably assisted by his
wife, had sis hundred acres of wellimproved land all paid for when he
died, in March, 1854. - The%abits of
economy and thrift have extended to
the children who, to-day, gre among
the best and most successful farmers
in the county. There meie born to
Mr. and Mrs. Smith the fo,llo~ving
children : Elizabeeh, who is at h'ome ;
Malinda J., died at the age of 3 years ;
James N., farmer, living near ; Eliza
A., married a Mr. Turner, and lives in
wood bur^-, county, Iowa ; Sarah Margaret, married Mr. Shroyer and lives
in Osmego, Kans.; Willianl H., a
farmer, living in Kimball county,
Texas ; Armstro~lg B., a farmer, in
Urbana township ; John T., died in
infancy ; David M., a farmer, and Jacob Mervin, a farmer. Mrs. Smith has
been a member of the Baptist church
in Urbana for over 30 years and is an
earnest, faithful Christian. -Shelives
quietly on t.he old farm ~vhichshe has
seen lp-ought from a wilderness until
it now is in a high state of cultivation.
Her daughter, Elizabeth, and her son,
Mervln, and family share the old home
with her, and here, slirrol~ildedby
grand-children, she enjoys the fruit of
a well-spent life of 'industry and t,akes
pleasure in looking back and talking
of the privations as well as t,he joys of
t,he early days.
'
Is one of the oldest living settlers in
the county, having been a resident of
this immediate vicinity for near sixty
years. She was born December 13,
1814, in Washington county, West
Virginia, a t Glades Springs. Her
father's name was James Beatty, of
same county. Her mother's name
was Hester Fult,on, of London county,
Virginia. Her parents died when she
was about seven gears old. She was
married January 31st, 1533, to Jacob
Smith, in Shelby couuty, Kentucky.
Mr. Smith \%-asborn in Shelby county,
Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Smith came
to this county October 16,1833. They
came in an old Virginia wagon: dran-11
by oxen, and settled on a part of the
farm now owned by the family, about
a &ile east of Crbana: where they
built a log cabin. Mrs. Snlit,h says.
"TVe first. l i ~ e d
in this c>abinwith t i ~ o
Rice has always taken a pronlinent
part in polities, being a straight republican. H e wields a n-ide influence
politic all^. and at the same time cominailds the respect of all parties, which
was e~idencedin the spring of 1891
\Then he was elected supervisor from
his towuship ~$-.;hichusually sends a
~Ieniocraticrepresenlatire. Mr. Rice
is the ou-ner of 520 acres of well improved laud, which he has become the
n
possessor of by dint of his o ~ eneraand thrift. H e has recentlj purchased
a cosy honlr in Sadorus n-here he takes
life easier, yet his attention is fully
occupied in looking after his farms
aucl stock. He being considered one
of the best stocknlen in the county.
DAVID
RICE.
.
I\-as born in West Virginia April 'ith,
1836. His father was Shelton Rice, of
East Virginia. E i s mother's maiden
name was Elizabeth Brown, of near
Richmond, Cirginia. His parents removed t,o Sadorus township in March,
1854, when that part of the county mas
wild and almost unbroken. The sub- .
jrct of this sketch attended the public
scllools in Virginia aud obtained a
good comnloil school education. Early
in life he conlnleiiced business for himself and (lid mnch to i~hprorc!the land
which he now owns. 011their settlement in the western part of the ton-nship of Sadorus. they had to come to
Urbana for mail also brought their
wheat and corn to the mill at the saine
place. They frequent17 took their
grinding to Terre Haute wtterc. they T;Va,s born March 28. 18-33, near Belpurcallasc4 their groceries. Mr. Rice fast,. Ireland, and was the seventh
child of Robert and Maria (Jackson)
\YiLs 0 1 1 0 of three >-onllginen who purRobinson.
His mother was a first
cllasc~ctthe first thrasher brought to
cousin
of
General
Andrew Jackson,
that pi~rto f the c*ouizt-. Tllr nla(>hi~le
was 111a(irat Pic<i:;a. t>llio. For l ~ i i n y who with her husband named the
of this sketch after the uncle
years t!ltis,. vu:illy lllrn tll!t'sllecl the subject
of
Andrew
Jackson, viz: Hugh Jackgraiu for alkost the entirr western son. 11is grandfather.
Robert, the
part of the county. March 3rd. lS.59. htllel-. emigrated trothis country
when
Mr. Kice ~ v a s1narriec1 to Miss Sarah Hugh was a child and settled in Dutcb-l.
Haines, dauglit er o f E:lijall C. Haines. ess county, Xew York, where he atof Sadorus towuship. formerlj- of Ohio. tended the public schools and received
Two childreti hare been bonl to theui. a good conlrl~onschoo' education while
~ i :zCarrie 31.. 1)orn in IS60. tnarried l ~ e i n gtrained in practical farnling.
to .J. T. H~ltc~hi~isoll
aucl lives in Sa- R.ol)ert Robillson removed with his
~ i o r ~ ton--llship
ls
: Carrie 31.. married
fami1.~-t,o Fon du Lac countj-, Wisconto Dr. C. 31. Craig. a prolninrnt phy- sin, in the spring of 1849, where he
sician ntl{'l ctr~lg-gistof To1one. 311.. pul-i:ilas~d11-ilct land and ]milt for h i m %
self a home where his earthly labors not a church member, favors the docwere brought to a close by death i n trines of the Universalist church. He
June, 1852. Young H u g h J., not be- is now president of the Champaign
i n g satisfied with the country, and be- C o n n ~ yOld Settler's Association a.nrl
i n g thrown on his own resources: went, takes a lively i n t e r 4 in everythinfi
to Chicago by steamboat a n d walked pertaining to the perfecting and acenfrom that city to Urbana, Illinois, a r - ~ n u l a t ~ i nof
g the early history of this
riving here October 6, 1852, foot sore. (:nunty.
weary and lonesome, with b u t three
dollars and fifty cents in his pocbet.
There were n o settlements on tlie road
except along the timber a n d groves.
which were few and fa- between ant1
no p u b l ~ c conveyance of any kind.
Young Robinson at once got employment with J. & J. S. Gere, who were
then getting out t,ies tor the construction of the Illinois Central road. He
hauledand unloaded the ties in the high
prairie grass where Champaign now
stands. I n the following spring he
went with his employers t o Hcrurhon.
i n Douglas county, and helped build a
mill, and i n fillinga contract for 250,000 ties for the Central and Wabash
Becoming a partner with J. S.
. roads.
Gere, they p u t 6,300 cords of wood on
the track of the Central road. ,He was
thusengaged .until 18%when he bought,
his first piece. of land, which he now
occupies as his home. H e ma:: married
on October S: 18.56, to Miss Jane, daughR ~ E E I : TPETEI:~.
t e r of Dr. .Jacob Thrasher. of G e a u g ~
county, Ohio. Three children were
One of the oldest. and mnat re-peetecl
born to them, viz : Robert T.. IVilliam o f t h e old settlers of St. .Jo.epll townCullen and Martie J . Robert, marl.iec1 ship i5 Iiolm-t Peters? \vhu has 1)et.n ;L
Miss Lillie Kellnr. Win. Cnller~mkrried resident f i ~ r over sist,y yetir?. His
Miss Edit.h St.yan. ant1 Mattie was mar- farber's name w;~sM:illi;~nl Petrrs a::tl
ried t? Williani R. hliile~.. The wife !)is motller's S ~;111I WcNnkt. both o f
and mother died a t her home .Tulj- -2.
Ken tuc.ky. T11f.y came to I 11i.scon11t,\Krntncky in 1S:N and seitlcbll
1874. Mr. Robinson \%-asnest m x ~ ~ i - i ~ ti-om
ii
to ;Miss Jennie Hutchinson, d a u g l t,er
~
about tt mile south of old St. doseph.
of Capt. Scott Hutchinson, of Calhuun At t,his time there were about nine
county, Michigan. The result, of this l ~ u n d r e d lndians camped near Mr.
marriage was a so::. .John W., who Peters' farm. He said t.hey hauled all
died at the age of four and a-half years. their grain to Chicago, grew their o ~ v n
Mr. Robinson is and always has been flax and made all t.heir own r:lothing.
a. strong ciemocrat i n politics, but was IZoLert Peters at,tended school in a log
never a n office-seeker. although his house near his father's farm. Pal-t of
party has honored him m a n y times. the time the school was held in t.he
H e has filled the office of supervisor ot' kit,cl~enof his fat,herqs house. 'She
his township the greatest part of t h r scl~ool::in t.liose rliiys were sul)seription
t.ime since the county adopted town- scliools. educ-atinnal advantages b e i n g
ship organization. He was elected as very limited. I!r. l'et,er.;; \vas inarriecl
vl~airluanof the board of supel.viso~.s in A u ~ u s t181s.
~
to 31a1-y E. Swearin lSI!O a.nd filled the position to tilt: inper, who was h i - n 1Ia1-cb:>l,1S:Sl.
sat.isf;lction of,eve].yone. Sociall_v.few 'l'here hare I ~ e e n I)ol-u to t , ! ~ r ne1evt.n
~
inen liave a 1arxer rtunll~eror warmer chilnrea. r i z : Sarah C;itli~~~.ine.
Isaac
t'riends than 11(+. He was a c1in1-ter S., Jolin H.. Fl.anklin, Susan .J., Elizn.
~neillberof .J. R. Gorin Lodge, A. F.
.J.. Tlionlas *J., Cl?a~.lesV.. Alta 1:rllp.
:I. 11.. at. Sadorns. ancl served as its IYillialn A. and Mary E.. all 1 x-iny es11la.sterfoi. several !-ears. I11 reliqion
cept i'ranklin. Tl~onias. Cl~;irlesand
he as raised a n Episcopalian. but -4lta. : all are 111ari.iecl escepr .John H.
tnkrs n Innrplillprnl .i.i~>rr.;lilt1 nltllnn~11 ?r!-. Pet~1.qw a s ~ ; I I .~I ~
1 I. a1 ~lc'111t3cl.ilt
~
in
p,llitics, llut voted for 1,incoln for his
second term and has voted the republican ticket ever since. I n religious
iliatters he is ver;; zealous. He has
been fbr a numl~erof years a consistent
n i e m l ~ eof~ the Chri~tianchurch. MI-.
Peters n7a3 born .Jnnuary S, lS"'7, in
Rush c:ountv. Indiana, and is in the
sist.y-5tt.h ?-eal. ot' hi-. aye. He has
lived in St. .Joseph fo~.nearlysisty-two
years ancl is kauri-a IJY a l ~ ~ i oevery
st
(-rilein tlie ea>t.ern 1);1rto t ' t i ~ rcounty.
l y lias
He is veq- proud of' his f ~ u ~ i and
good reason to be, as his cl~ildrenare
ctniong the Ijest and mo:;t th1.i t'cy citizens of the co1nni1111it.y."l;ncle Rob,"
as he is fcimilix~.lycalletl. has a reputntion that any nne ~ l i i y l ~
envy.
t
\Ye
have I)etmn over t,he tc>wnship.are well
acquainted and we hear every nne referring t o Uncle Hol) as one of the best
inen in the vctrlllty and 11e is honot-ably
untit.led t i , I liis l~ighopinion ot his
neighboi.~. He lives 011 t h e old farm
near t,he thriving town of St. .Joseph
with his wife and in a few years will,
if spar d ? celelwatp their golden anniversari.. Here, surrounded by their
children and grand-children, loved and
respected by their neighbnrs lie and his
wife are plea3an tl y spendin a t.lnei~declining yen 1.s a n d patiently muting
for t,hr tiliie when they shall he called
to their llotne acrw:: the river.
NARY
ASS MOORE.
TYas a nlrrnt>i~r
of one of the first faulilies to settle in the big grove and before Chanlpaigt~countj- was formed.
Her father's llailie was Tllomzis Rol1
I
i
e
~
i Her.
mother's name was Bailey, born in
Maryland, but aftenvards removed to
Maj-sville, Kentucky, where she was
married to Mr. Roland. They came
to this county, m-hich was then part of
Vermilion, Octobor, 1S26. and was
the third xvhite familj- in the county.
They first settled at the old salt works
near Oakrvood. Vermilion county and
in April, lS'27, moved to the big grove
and settled about .5 miles northeast of
Urbana. Xrs. Xoore \%-as born in
Xasou county, Kentucky. Februaq- 7.
lS2l. aud came with her parents to
this couilty October. 1S26. She attended school in the old log school
lio~zsenear the Brumley farm and was
one of the scholars who Kere in the
school house ivhen they barred out A.
Bruer, the teacher, and he \vent on
top of the house, corered the chimney
with clap-boards. smoked the scholars
out compelling them to open the
door. Mrs. Moore said when they
first came the country was full of Indians and some settlers were massacred within 10 miles of them. They
raised their onn flax, also quite an
axllou11t of cotton and had usually
good luck wit11 the cotton when it was
not killed by the frost. She said,
"My father, John IT. Vance and a Mr.
Prince staked out the town of Urbana.
It was a cold, r a x day and snowing
some." I n regard t o the smoking out.
at tlie school house. she said, "I remember it well. There mere there
three Trickle boys, Mat., Elizabeth.
Mary, Fount and Rod Busey, Jim
Boyd, Jim Kirby, the Rinehart boys.
the Trurnen's, Jane Busej and Larkin
Deer's girls. Jane and Francis." She
said they used to have their log raisi n g ~merry
,
nrakings, kc., but that she
never attended but one dance and that
\!-as at Robert Trickle's. She went to
sc.11001 first to Mr. Crane, then to John
B. Thomas and last to I.Bruer. Mrs.
JIoore was married near D a n d l e to
Joh11 J . Scott in 1W. He died in
lS.54. She x a s married in March.
1S.56. to Villiam I. Moore. a prominent merchant of Dan~ille. The wedcling took place in Urbana. The folloxving childre11 I\-ere born to her bjher first busL>cud: T. IT-.Scott. who
resides in Fairfield, Illinois ; Callie.
married to Ti-m. 0. Corberl~.and died
i11 Id;"
James R. Scott. lii-ing in the
;iorthr.c-estern t e r r i t o r ~of the British
p o < s ~ s ~ i o na s~.l dCllarl~sG. Scott. who
education in log school houses with
greased paper windows. Although his
opportunities in this direction mere
limited, he seems to have improved
them and has a good practicai educatier, which has h p p ~fin_iched by l?js
battle with the world, His ideas on
the topics of the day are common sense
and his judgment on all subjects good.
I n politics he was first a Whig then lz
republican. Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick
are the parents of the following children ; Narion F.,Albert .James, Elizabet.11, married J. R. Dilling, these live
a t Mayview : Hattie Belle, married
Charles Barricklow. junior Par:cer of
J. C. Kirkpatrick & Co., ' Urbana :
Samuel A . , residing near Mayview ;
Dr. charlei S., was
youni
~hvsician who died about two vears
ash in the prime of manhood a i d his
usefulness ; Jessie C . and Fannie, both
reside a t home. Mr. Kirkpatrick is
justly proud of his children who are
among the best citizens of the county.
He has always been an active worker
in religiouswmatters, having been a
n~em
ber of the Methodist church since
18.5'2. He is a strong workar in the
temperance cause and has by precept
and example exerted a wide influence
in this connty. He lived on a large
farm near Mayview for Inany years,
and assisted largely in building the
Methodist church building at that
place and served as trustee of the same
for mnny years. He built the first
house in the present limits of Chainpaign city, before that town was laid
out and before the Illillois Central
road was built. He hauled the larger
part of the lumber to build his house
from beyond Covington, Indiana. H e
Among the old settlers of tJhecaountjy has made il Lusizess of' stock r ~ i a i n g
fen- have contrilmted more t o inlprov- a n d Palming and has been very sueing t,he same o r are better kuown t,han cessful in both. He now- has ovei.John C. Kirlipatrirk of Urbana. He 1.:300 acres of inlproved !'arm land a s
11-as born in Piqua, county. Ohio, good as can be found in t h e connt,y.
October 25. 15-25. His father's name besides town property in Grbana and
xvas.James Kirkpatrick. of Ross county, Champaign. He has a pleasant 11ome
Obi;>. He died i n 18'71. His mother's
in Urbana where he is engaged in
naine was Jane 1'ort.el.. also of i>hio. I)nsiness. but he especially enjoys tnkw110 died in 1343. He came to Lr1~..ina8 ing his estin~al~le
wife a n d driving out
in 1849, and in 0ctol)er of that, year to visit his children and gi-and-c-hiI(11.rn.
il~al-ried11ary C. T3use.v. second &tug!]- for. ~ v l ~ i clle
h says he is living. He is
ter of Col. Mathew L'I'I. Eusei. anit wife. I ~ i g h l prespeete3 by all ~ v h oE;no\v liinl
Jli.. Kirkpatrick purchased land. part as an honest. upright Inan a n d c.i tizen.
of which 1s now occ:upied b y the city
of Champaign, and in A ~ u s t 1S50.
.
having built a house. he llloved in to
it. The land ha:<all I)een laic1 out into
town lots. escept zt I~lo'k whicli was
ti^? I-esidence of t h e fa~ilil!-. >TI-. Kirkpatrii-k 1.ec.ei1-etl t>l~c-l
li!;~ in !);~i.t
of' his
resides with his rnother a t Danville.
Mrs. 3Ioore is a strong Methodist,
having been a member of that church
for near fifty years. Her husband,
Mr. Moore, dying several years ago.
She is Living in Danviiie, having oniy
her son Charles with her. She has
recently built a handsome residence
and has pleptj- of this world's goods
t,o satisfg every want. S h e is well
known by the old settlers of both
Vermilion and Champaign counties
and respected bj- all \ d o &e acquainted wit'h her.
a
and hix practice is constantly growing
in volume as well as in importance.
TJThenI f r . Cleveland mas inaugurated
president. the ad mini st ratio:^ recognized his political labors and power
by tendering him the position of chief
of one of the principal divisions of
the Second Xuditor's ofice. a t a salary
of $-2.0110 and later the oftice of Federal
Attorney. i n Indian Territory, both of
which poritions he declined. on a t - count of his growing practice and of
his disire to succeed in his profession.
Politically, Mr. Rea is a rock-rooted
democrat and he is easily the leader
of his party. H e has been elected four
times supervisor in a repuhlicaa t o ~ n hhip, which suficiently indicates his
popularity among the people of all
parties
-4s a lawyer Mr. Rea has eshibited
marlied a6ilitp a n d h a s already at,tained a wide reputation a s a n escellent i u d z e of law a n d is considered
one "of -the best speakers i n the
county.
.J OHS .I. K.1<.\.
Mr. Iieu was 1)oi.n twn nliles west of
31; hornet., Ill.. Oct,ober 11. ISS. His
parents, .lohn J . R'ea, and darah 1'.
c,Hendel-son, Rea. were bot,h born in
1,ewia count.y, Kentucky. T h e ~were
i ~ l i ~ r r i etlierc
d
and lived on what is
there lino\vri as t h e Rea i~ornesteacl,
nntil they calne to this cou11t.y i n thc
fall of 1849 and settled upon the farin
(13the Bloominphon road, where the
subject of this sketch was born. H e
received a good common school education in the illahornet and Farmer City
Sck~ools. He was married a t firbana.
to Miss Minnie k'l~gate. of t,his citv.
They ha.ve t w o c-hildren. Tl~urst~on
1Yavne. aged 8 and John Carlysie.
aged 5 years. H e clerked while a
ynuth for 'r. 31. Brown, for J a m e s M.
Graham anti for P. H. Scott, a t &fahoniet. Ill.. and enpxged for n, short.
t.ime in businsss tor himself. H e
taught school seven terms. and i n the
meantime wits studying law and had
an ambition t o become a lawyer. H e
spent his evenings and spare moments
in studying t h e hooks. until i n Xarch:
1379. he began to read law with Somtxrs 6- 1%*right.HI: w a s nd~nittedto tbe
1)ar .;IIII? 5. 1880. 'rile class then esiimined nunibe~.ed40. and Xt-.Rea was
tsue of t11e three t!lat were ai, the head.
He immediately f'orined a partnership
with .Tudge J . 11'. Sim. 1~11ic11existed
for t..rvo and one-half years. H e has
since continued in the p r 2 c t . i ~
alone
~
:lad with uniform SU(:C~~SS. He has
, ,ne ot' 1lit- Iwst ii bra
in TI!? ,vwnTy
.-.
D.\STEL n. C.\rsor
ITaa born in Shelby count-. Ohio.
1
1 10. 1
. His father's name
was Riellard 11. Cannon. born in Ireland. H e died i n Ohio. at the advanced age of n i n e t y - t ~ o . H i s mother's name was Mary Broderick. born
in Sex\- =Jersey: she died in Ohio i n
1865. The subject of this sketck lired
in Ohio. \{-here he receired a good common zchonl rclucation. Tn -1upuct.
.>a,
PIONEERS OF CHr131PP4I G S COLZ;ATT
'1
1856, being then nineteen years of
age, he left Ohio for the west. and decided t,o locate in Urbana, which was
then a in new country. The Illinois
Central road had only been built
through this county about two years
previous and he saw splendid opportunities fdr the future. For several
years he worked on a farm, then at
the trade of a carpenter: then for several years he engaged in mercantile
business. When the civil w a r broke
oat he was among t.he first to enlist?
going out as a private in Company I.
in t,he Second Illinois Gavalry and
served three years. In IS58 he was
united in marriage to Mias Mary E.
Black, of Urbanit. Two children were
born to them, Ada F., who inarried G.
W. Scott, a passenger conductor on
the J. & S. E. railroad and resides at,
Eureka, Illinois, and ?JennieE.. who
married James FV. Braddock, a passenger engineer on the C.? C., C . (C- I.
railway and resides at Inrlianapolis.
Indiana. Mrs. Cannon died in l8Sti
and 811. Cannon married Miss -4senetJ1
Black in August, 1890, of Grbana,
who is still living. He has been a
inember of' the Presbyterian chn~.chof
Ur bana for over twenty - five yeai-s,
having filled t.he oEce of deacon for
many years. Politically, he has always been a republican casting his
first vote with that party and for each
candidate of that party ever since.
After he returned fiom the army he
was elected to the office of constable
and has made an efficient IgEcei-9filling that ofice with satisfaction to all
concerned for eighteen years. He
was appointed to the office of deputy
. sheriff' and has filled that responsible
position for the past eight years
and now holds that ofice under
S. C. Fox, the present sheriff. His
long experience as constable during
which time he was more or less connected with the sheriff's office. and his
t e r m of eight years as deputy makes
him one of the most efficient officers: in
the county. He is thoroughly conveyant with all the duties of t.he oifice. is
acquainted throughout. the en tire
county xncl a lai-ge part of cent,l.al
Illinois and is almostt invaluable in his
poait.ion. He ha.s t,he reputation of
being one of the best officers in this
part of the state and has, during
the t,wenty-six -ears of his official
life proven himself to he possessed
of nlore t.hiin oi-r!ill;~l-y
exe~'nt
ive ~ - 1 ) iit,y
l
and the right. man in t . 1 1 ~right.
place.
Prominent alllong the Inen m-ho have
developed and made St. Joseph township what is. is 3Ialllon Glasc-ock. 1~110
was born in Fauquire co~uity,Pirginia
in 1815. H e inherited all the sturdy
qualities charac*trristic of the oldlashioilrd Virginian. His fat>herwas
nanlrd &loses? a ~iativeof the sanle
State. His mother, Rebecca Bishop.
was also of old Virginia stock ; shp
died in 187.5, Noses o111y living until
1829. The su11jec.t of this sketch removcad to Ross-c.ount,y. Ohio, where,
in 154.5, he n-as united in marriage to
Xiss Jest,er. 1~it.h
v-ho111 he lived happily until ilrr death: which took place
in lS.58. 111 the f d l of 18.54 he reinovecl from Ohio to Illi~lois,stopping
a t Sic1ne~-uut.il the nest. s ~ ~ r i nwhen
g?
he moved to ~vht!rcl lle ilow resides on
the state road. in St. Josctph tow;lship.
I
1
1 IS61 lie ~ilsrriedXiss Mar? Gill, of
Urbaz~a?who (lied in 1Sfil. I n 1865
he n-as agaiu ir~arriedto JIrs. Ivlary
Rankiu. w h o is still living. 3lr. Glnss<*o~li
has llacl right c~llilcli-ellto help
l l ~ a l 11%
i ~ ~ I O ~ h:~pp~-.
~ I P
i - i ~B
. ~ I ~~I 1- .1 0
livtls at holxe 2nd !)as vhttl-gv:.c.of the
large farm : r
w!\o is c!ead :
Aquilla. a n-\-till-to-c!o fanner. living in
the vic*ir;itr : 'il-iliialn. who died ill inf:*nc*_v : -il~e.-;en-t-rc c'rliidreu 1 ) - the
first ii-iftl. Th!. l-il.-;rlltof the last mar'iage is G~-a;!t..I clssr. T,l(t;?. : L ~ (Alt:~.
I
:dl ;it 1;o:lle.
111
l ) ~ I i t i \ . ~SI. I-. t2+l i ~ ~ t ' < ) ~ * '\\ V< L ~ G
old time m-hig, and cast his iirst vote Jerusha Gage, of same state, and from
for General Harrison. and at the last whonl C a l ~ i nJ. inherited many of the
presidential electiorl voted for General qualities vhich hare made him sucBenjarniil Harrison. and for every re- cessful iu social as vell as business
publican canctidate I~etsveeu. H e at- liEe. His parents not being possessed
tended tllc great Harrison ulerting in of an overabundance of the goods of
Coluulbus, Ohio, in 1840. and went this world, the education of Mr. Sabin
from Bain1)ridgc. in ~vagonsto Chille- depended in a great measure upon
cothe and on a canal boat to Columbus. himself, so at the age of 16 we find hini
He has always been a strong partisan working during the daj- and studg-ing
and a staunch friend of the old flag. at uight. I n this riay he secured a
His sons, Burr and Aquillu. were both fair education vhich was in everj \\-a?
soldiers ill the late war. 111 relig- practical. H e early learned the trade
ious ~natters 1
Glascock is a of a inachinist, which Las been of great
JIethociist. hal-ing joiuecl that de- scrriur to hinl in his business. His
llomirirltio1l in early 5-outh. He has special liking was railroading. H e
until late Fears been prominent in went to Galena, Oct. 29, IS54 and, a s
public matters and represented his eugineer, took in the first passenger
township on the Board of Supervisors trail1 from Galena to Dunleith. H e
for four years. Although advanced f~llowedthis occupatioll until 1866,
in years >Ti.. Glascock is hale and coming to TT'est Urbana, now Chamhearty, ha,, a large and pleasant home paign, and for s e ~ e r a lyears mas pason 540 ac.res of 11-ell-improved land, senger engineer on the Illinois Cenwhere, alllid peace ancl plenty, he is tral. On quitting the road, he enenjoying life, loved and respected by gaged in the agricultural implement
I~usinessnith Mr. Angle as Angle &
all wlLoknow him.
Sabin. He finallv succeeded to the
business, and ha; since Jan. 1, 1S77,
been conducting it by himself. H e
has the reputatlon of having the most
conlplete stock of goods in Central 11linois. His large trade and t d e reputation would seem to bear us out in
this statemect. December 13. 1855,
he was united in marriage to idiss
Hannah E. Whitcomb, of Ransom,
31ich. There has been born to them
Irwin C., ~ v h ois doing a prosperous
implement business in Farmer City ;
Elmer C and Frank C., firemen on the
Illinois Central ; Irle C., a clerk in the
trainmaster's oEce of the I. C. R. R.
at Champaign ; Roy C. and Nellie I.,
at home. I n politics Mr. Sabin is a n d
nln-ajs has been a republican. H e
does not interest himself in public
nlstters very much, haying his hands
full of his own business, yet is an alderman and finds time to look after
the interests of his constituents in matters pertaining to the city and its
C.\r,vrr J . SAEIS.
growth. His Fears of esperience and
Alnong t l ~ cbusillrss lnrri of Cham- practical ideas of business. make hinl
paign 110 one stands higher for moral a valued citizen and no one occupies a
J\-ortli a n d strict busin~ss integrity higher position in the conlmunit_v
t h a ~ the
l
sul,ject, of this sketch. He than he.
n-as !lorn in Hanowr. Chautauqut~
c.o~uit~-.
Sew Tork. .Tune S. l M i . His
i'athclr's iialilr was El~rnrzer Sabin.
1)o;n ill -Jau~aic.a. ~l-indonl c~ount-.
T-clr~ilollt. His 1not1lt.f.; nan:r wtts
township. Mr. Stamey Ivas nlarried
t o Mary T. Broshar in lS74. and three
children have been born to them, viz :
Frank. born December& IS75 : Belle.
born Sovember 1. lS7S : Daisy. born
May 11,1882. I n politics Mr. Stamey
1s and has always been 3 rcp~tblican.
He has taken quite an interest in public matters and has represented Hensley tol~nship01: the Board of Supervisors. also served several trrnls as
Highway Commissioner. He has also
engaged in business. hut has given his
attention mainly to farmiug and dealing in real-estate in which. on account
of his general l:no~lt.dg~
of the count!
and excellent judgment. h(b has been
quite successful and 11oi.r o~vns325
acres of well iniproved land in this
county and about the same numberof acres in other states. H e resides at
103 Prospect avenue, Champaign.
where he has a pleasant home. He is
ill the prinle of nia~lhood.surrou~~deti
MATHEW
N. L5 TAYE1.
with a fine family and cousequently
Is a son of one of the oldest fanlilies rnjoys t h e blessi~~gs
of life.
of this county and who came here before the county was organized. and
while Chicago was yet in T'ernlilion
county, which then occupied almost
the east half of the State. The subject of this sketch was born Sove~nber
16, 1835, in what is now known as
Somer township. His father's name
was Ellis Stanley, who came from
North Carolina. His mother's name
was Dnlsilla Busey, daughter of Mat.
E. B u s e ~ ,who came from Kentucky
to this county in 1S29. and set,tlle near
rrbana. They m-ere among the first
settlers and did much towards improving the country. The subject of this
slietch attended school in the old log
school house on ;\I. E. Busey's farni.
also later attended school in T-rbana.
He hunted deer on the present location of Chan~paignlongbefore a house
was built there. H e assisted in planting man- trees which now malie a
forest. He aisisted in breal~ingup
Josxl-.I Ssrr-rti.
the v i ~ g i ~prairie,
l
and fro111 a wikt
~
29. IS:%. ill L'iqua
waste of land. seenlingly too bleak tct \ l ' a s b o r ~.June
live upon. there has grown u p beau- couuty. Ohio. He w a s t h e so11 ot
tiful, $yell inlproved tarnls with fine Westlay Snlitli, of nrar Soriolk. f i r groves and orchards. and t h e wild land ginia.al~dEliza [C'isna~Sn~ith.ofPenuis the inost productive in the world. s-lvania. His graudfathrr fornlerly
IIr. S t a r n e ~was married to Miss Ida owned the land or fort: acres of thr
0. Gray at Rantoul. >larch 2s. 1S65. same. on which Harrisburg. 1'enlts.l*he died in .January. 1872. leav~ng mnia, is now built. The parents with
one son, \Yilliam, born -1auua1-y 19. .Joshua came to tiiis county in
. allkt ~ , t t ! t ~
oill rhth ha:~ga
Isti$. ;t:r(l i i u r , \ V fal-mitlu i l l Coriclit \ I a r ~ . t ~IS42
,
rnon River, near the farm of Phil Seymour. Here the subject of this
sketch was raised attending a subscription school occasionally. until he
was old enough to work for himself
when he worked in the summer acd
went to school through the winter.
H e afterm-ards learned the trade of
blacksmithing but preferred farming.
:.ihich
he followed successfullj-.
Narch 6,1860, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha Dickson, of r;ear
Mahornet. Three children have been
born to them. viz. :Eliza Jane. married
to Albert Wright, livirg near Mahornet; Luella Kate, who died ~vhen
xoung. and Clara Belle. who nlarried
0. M.Brown, living in Piatt county.
He has been a member of the Xethodist church since 1858. I n politics
he has always been a straight republican and takes a deep interest in such
matters. H e has served as assessor
for t ~ Fears
o
and acceptably filled
the office of school director for the
past tu-entj- years. April S, 1862. he
enlisted in Company D.. 26 Regiment
of Illinois Infantry. H e was hurt in
June 1862, and in October lW2, mas
discharged on account of his injuries.
I n the earl1 d a ~ he
s hauled grain to
Park's mill in Crbana, and passed
over the present site of Champaign
when it was wild uncultivated land,
and when there mas not a house between Urbana and Sangamon. Socially Mr. Smith has a wide acquaintance
and manT Tvarm friends. H e is a
member of Mansfield Lodge, S o . 773.
9.
F. and -4. M..Crbana Chapter, No.
SO. R. A. M., and Urbana Commandery, Xo. 16. Knights Templars. H e is
also a member of E. Scott Post. Grand
Army of the Republic, at Mahornet.
I n all of the societies he takes a li-rel~
interest. H e has a farm of 110 acres
well improved. large enough to occupjall his time and affords him a comfortable living. He gi-res his atteution to stock raising m which he is
very successful. Xr. Smith is a good
citizen and neighbor. attends to his
on-n business and enjovs the respect
of the e n t i r ~cornmunit~-.
Sruos BALTZELL,
Was born October 28, 18%: in Ohio.
His- parents nrere George and Lydia
(Lag-man)Baltzell, of Ohio. The great
grandfather of Simon came from Germany and in t,he early days settled in
Kentucky. They crossed the Ohio on
a raft. It is claimed that the great
grandfather was the first white man to
set foot on Kentucky soil. On the site
xvhere Cincinnati now stands he built
a cabin and there lived and died. The
grandmothtr of t.he subject of this
sketch was chased by lhe Indians so
close that she jumped int,o the Ohio
river and swam do\\-n some two miles
to a settlement. General Jackson was
then in command of some t.roops. He
soon learned her story, after she had
recovered sufficiently to tell it, and at
once pursued the Indians. The father
and motl~erof the subject of this sketch
were both born in Hamilton county.
Ohio. The father died in Oglaze count ~Ohio,
.
in 1835. The mother remained
a widow and ra.ised ihe family of seven
children. She sheared her sheep, carded
and spun the 1%-001.also raised flax and
wove and made the clothing for the
f'a.mi1:-,-. She also made all the shoes
for the family and supp2rted them until her boys ,prerv large enougl~to help
her. She removed wit,]>her farnil1 to
Champaign county in the f r ll of 1S.56,
and settled on a farm six miles southeast of Urbana, adjoining the farm of
.I. P. Powell, where she died in 1863.
and her remains rest in >It.HopecemI ~ ~ P I - yF;.n
.
~vnn~en
I\-ere more devntcil
or made more sacrifices for their children than she. The subject of this
sketch enlisted i n the late war September 23, 1861, i n Company 1: 10th Illinois Cavalry as a private. He went
through the several lines of pro~notion
and was first lieutenant when he was
mustered out a t Springfield: January
6, 1866. The old tenth cavalry tcok
part in all the principal batkles and
skirmishes west of the Mississippi
river. 3fr. Baltzell was married J a n uary 1, 1868, t o Viola M. Powell, oldest daughter of J . S. Potvell. One child
has been born to them, Estelle F., who
is a t home. Nr. Baltzell was a blacksmith i11 Urbana previous to the w a r
and a nleinber of the firm of Bal tzell &
Sper;:y. H e has been a resident of this
vicinlty since lS56, with exception of
the time he was in the army and in
1859 when he took the Pike's Peak fever. In 1868 he removed west of Champaign where he purchased a good farm.
has the same well improved and enjoys
life. H e is a good citizen and i: 1 onored and respected in the entire c?mmunity .
followed that bu iness there and a t
Milan and Cleveland, Ohio. becoming
quite proficient in the art. Often when
a craft had been completed, he shipped
as one of the sailors to m a n her, and
thus became sometl~ingof a seaman.
He received a good conlmon school
education and atten3ed Baldwin Institute a t Herea. O., for one year. H e
married Eunice 31. %lead. a farmer's
daughter, who m - 2 ~ educated
~
in t h e
corninon schfiols and at Ol~el-linCollege. Five children were lmrn tto t,helll
of whom only one is now living, Xellie, wife af Rev. C . B. Taylor, formerly
of this citv, now located a t Kantoul as
pastor of the 31. E. church. Their son.
Clarence C:., d ~ e d only a few weeks
ago. and is sadly moui.necl l ~ yt . 1 1 ~
whole c o r n m ~ ~ a i t ~ y .
Mr. Sheldon came to this connt,y on
31:a.g 11. 1553, he having t a u g h t school
the previous winter near Perrys-?illel
Ind., footing i t all the w3.y 2 n d carryi n g a.11 he possessed on earth, wbicii
consisted of a s ~ c o n dsuit of clothes, ;-I,
40-acre la.nd wal-rant and $60 in cash.
With the cash and warrant he entered
40 acres of land three miles south of
where Champaign now st,ands. T l ~ e
same fkll he, sold i t for $5 per acre. He
sougl~tnud found eniplo~rn~ent
st*once
with the engineering;.ol:ps in the consti-uction of the I. C. R. K.. then beinc
tluilt. He received one or two contracii
i n itq c.onst,rutt8ion. o u t of ~+-hic:hhe
made some money: ~11i(:lllie caved until he got enough to purcha.se a horiict
for himself and wife. 1v11ich he had
married as before stated. I n 18.55 he
entered the law office of \;ST. N. Coler as
student. and was admitted t o the ba.r a t
the fall term. Abraham Lincoln. t-hen
practicing in this court. bring the committee qtl~ointedto esainine him. In
t.he fail bi' 186i he formed a partnership with Fra.nk G. Jacjues, then ancl
now of TTrbana. whicl-! w a s very sue:cessful froin a financial point. of' view,
2nd was continued ui~t.ilIS66 1%-hen3,)1..
S.retired taking t h e real estate branc:i~
of t h e business. to wljich l?e liad given
special ;tr.t:ention. In tll is kc IV;.LS enH o s . .LI i:r;s C'~o~:~nox
SI~E:I.I,OS. til-eiy suc:c-essli~l. Inv~st,ingti)l.c-)thtbt.s
iVas I)orn in ('lal.encc.. Et.it1 (-oilnt,y. a n(1 o~:~:zsion::l
ly ~ ' ( I I - \iiinself. 1:~: hiis
XPM' y ~ r k .Ki)v~1111)ei.
211~1.1827. His si~c.cecde(-Li n I)t?co~ningt . l ~ t : ow 11e1- of
aci-e.-:o f n-el l-ilu lti-c~vt-:(l
~)al-ent.: wtlrtx ('orydon ; ~ n d Eunice ovt.1. :I t,llo~ls;~nli
t 131-OLI-nSlieldoi~. The firmer w s a
land in t.11is crount,>-,free fi.oin incn~rlnative of N e w York. the latter of 1 - e ~ - 1.x-nnce. H e \\-as elect~ctt,o the I ,egisnol lit. IVllen six yem-s old lie 1.ernoverl 1;zt.ni.e i n 1870 and se~.vedi n the 5 t l l
to CIarkslicld. Hul-orr c.oilnt?-. Ohio. G;enez-;~lA i s s e n ~ i ~ li)eing
y.
ttl~t.first. ses\\-hen about 21 years old. he ; ~ p p i - e n - \ion ;xft.er ilie ;i.doption of the neiv conticed himself to ;L ship I~nildera t H n - stitution ot'lS70. in IS72 lit. was elec:t~(l
rnn. (311in. a n d t;,r ai)nnt fo111. 1-(.:;11-s ;IS Sen;xtor t.i-o~nt ]:is- * i l ( ~13It11 (list i-it:t
aud served four ycnre. Uurinc this
time he was succe.;sful in get,ting the
&ppropriat.ion for the main and mechanical buildings of the University of
Illinois. His first vote was fol- Zacharia11 Taylor and he was in tbe republican pal-t,y when it was fnrnied. He
remained n republican until 1885,when
he voter1 for Clinton 1:. Fisk. t.he Prohihition candidate for President. He:
was t,he prohibiticn candidate for cong r e s in thc 15th distriet in 188s.
311.. S!leldon has long been ti, t.onsist,e n t ancl pronlinent ~neinberof the $1.
E. church. He is :a, 1il)eral contribut,or
t,o its treasu1.y and lives u p to it,steachiugs I11 a ivny t h a t causes all to r e ~ a r d
11inl a < tr~11y:L c:hristi;~ngent.len~an.
His record :I.S :I, uian, n citizen, a.
c.lirist.in11 :lnd his .;.elations as husbancl
n.ncl ikthe~- are ivit.hont, 3 blemish.
h11,l.r nercl not I)e said.
aton county. Here 11e had the nsnnl
experiences of settlers.in the unbroken
prairie when neighbors -.\-erefar aviaj-.
Getting lost a t night with a n ox team
in charge. encountering fierce blizzards. and being chased by starving
prairie wolves. are among his early
recollect one. For about eight years
he taught school i n Livingston. Grundy and 3larsliall counties, and in 1361
removed to Rantold where he l ~ a ssince
resided. He !\-as, upon I is arrival. employed as manager of the Tllinois Cent,~-a.1telegraph ofice a t Rant,oul, and
served in t h a t capacity until Sept. 1.
1890; jnst 26 years. In 1855 he was appoint,ed agent of the American Espress
Co.? which positinn he still holds. H e
112s for lilany years done a thriving
husiness ns real-estate and collectio~l
;+gent. H e w a s married October 4:
1S6.5. to Helen Ostxan 'el-, nea-r Ottaw a . 111. Mrs. Cdell st.ill lives and has
!been and still is an :~ctiveworker in
the 31. E. church and in the temperance cnuse. She is also a member of
the board of education. Nr. TSdeIl,
t.11ongh a prohationary member of the
M. E. chnrch. is rather inclined to Unitarianisnl or Universalism. The children of the marriage are Rudolph S.,
telegraph operator a t Makanda, Ill. :
Eugene V., who is assistant railroad
agent and telegraph operator a t Assumption. I l l . Hert,ram C.! a lad of 13;
the five-pear old twin boys, John L.
and Paul L., and a bright little twoyear old girl, Rcth. They lost a boy
and a. girl i n infancy and a chel-ished
daught,er. Etka Minerva. was taken
froin them i n 1851 i n her fifteenth
year. H e is a straight republican i n
polities and is prominent in the councils of his party. He has held the local
offices of township collector, village
trustee, village clerk and treasurer,
and has served 12 years on the school
E:I)~-I?:.TT-STIS IITXLI,.
board. I n 1880, President Hayes ap'rl.;t+ s1111jt.c.t of' this slietcll is t,he pointed him supervisor of the fifth
ti)n~.tllso11 and eigllt,l~r l ~ i l dof a family census district of Illinois, composed of
of six sons and fonr daughters. His 14 counties and 233 enumeration disfill lies. (;ardiner !-dell. J\-as n thl-ift.- tricts. 'I'hi4 work mas faithfully done,
f'i~~.lll~r,
o\vnil~,g
~IIC
tultivnt.in:.
I
a st11all as Mr. Udell does everptlling entrusted
f ; i i , ~ t ~in t11etcbiv~~
o f fT7t+ter1ooz.Ilban~- to his hands. H e has been townchip
<:aunt.!-. 3t.n-'iorli. ~vllel-eEdn''in was irea.surer for several years. and last
1~1kl.nOc-tnlm 2::. IS:{$. He at.tended --Ipril was elected justice of the peace
tlit. c.lisi-1.ic.t sc!ionl and assisted his tn succeed Daniel Steele, deceased.
!lither on the farm un! il he was seven- 31r. liTilell has good literary abilities.
teen. when lie (,Arne to Illinois in com- He has v;ritten a ereat deal for news!);211y wit11 :in elder t)rotllel-. Calt~inG.
papers znd magazines. He has good
! e l :\fter rrnii~ininga few ~ l l o n t l ~ s poetic: imagination and has 11-ritten
n t x i l l . I-)~:.in!:et~~l:.Bureau conn t,!-. t h e - quite a number of real poetic gems.
!o~:ated011 a fii.111(ra.1~-prairie i seven Such publicat.ioils 9 Potter's Xaga11iilr.s nortlic.asi tit' I'ontiac, I;jvin:zinc. Ho*on l'ilni. E outhts Companion
of l4-illiain Sadorus. who was l)orn
J u l y 4, 1812, being tlie first born of
the family.
In the spring of 1517. when ilTillialn
was a little lew than five years old, his
parents einbarlred upon a flat-hoat.
built for the purpose, on 0-1 cl-epk.
Crawford county. Pa., and set out for
a home ;11 the west. They little
thoucht of the untold melzltl~t h a t there
lay beneath their feet ttl read. oozing
farom every spring and bayou, or of the
world-\vide reputation which t h e creek
and tlie tokvii. subsequently to grow u p
and be named after t.lle fBin11y of >Ira.
Sadorus. ive1.e to achieve. They knew
thev were leavins a, cold. unf'riendlv
sail; h u t did not dream oi' the -.oil
kings" it, was 1 o produce nor of the fa.1,i'aiued citv of 'l'itusville 1vhic11 was t o
be called into life by tlle oil which the
soil contained. 9 few weeks brought
the fdlllily to Cincinnati. then 1he risi n g weste1.11 town, by way of the ,411~gheny and Ohio r i v e r . Here the?dwelt two years a n d then, b y successive moves, 1.eachecI (:onnersville, Flat,
Itock and Raccoon. Incl., fro111 \vhich
latter place the?- again. in hllzrch, 1S2-l.
set out for tlie webt,. this time making
their ti>-rt ancl final stop on the banli.
of tlie Okaw. in ivhat was then Edgar
county, 111 This: point chey reached
on April 9th anci s e t u p theil- camp.
brief survey of tlieir surroundings satisfied Mr. Sadorus t h a t 11eneed look n.>
farther.
soil of nnesanlpled fel-tility. with a broad expanseof timber and
prairie, ivelc.oir,ed them. Here he deternlinrd t o make a home tor himself
ancl his descendant.^. It ivas veritablv
a land of nromise. This Iaqt move mas
~ V I L L I ~SM
XD~KCS.
made in a' wagon d r a . ~ v nby t,wo yoke
To write a histor:: of this man ~ v h o . of oxen. The wagon contained the
for rver fi; years bas been a resident of wife and motllei- a n d six cllildren of
n subject ot' t3h-ssketch was
C h a i ~ ~ p a i gcounty.
n
is t o write a hi<- ~ l - l ~ o rthe
t,oi-y o t t lle county. ;;juch 11-e canuot t h e eldest. lle then ]wing- a little less
hen: ~ ~ ~ i J e l . t x k1)u
t ?t. n ~ l ~ scontent
t,
our- t.han t.n-elm veal-. old : Henry T.Sa a
briefly sketch- dorus being the youngesC.a. babe in his
selves wit 11 :I l ~ i o g r yhy.
i n g t h e i~~c.ic?ents
of a career which inotijer*sar-nls. -1fanlily named Smith
spans Inore t.ha IL thl-ee-fourt 11s of o u r accompanied the Sadorus family and
national lit+ a n d whose residence here stopped one snmnler in the new home.
anti-dates t h e county's esiatence as a and then mntred ltrestt~arcl leaving
alone in the tvilde1.county b - nearly ter, years. 'l'he name their con~panions
r 7
i.: probably of Gernian origin aucl t h e nes.;. l lie nt.a~.cst.neigh lsors of the
fh~llilydesc~endedfrom f he stock of t h a t fiinlily u-ei-t. K n i l i ~ lE ' i ~ l ~ l ear .squatter
in the last. centur-y on lailcls two miles no!-t\l~asto f the sitti
people ~ v i ~ i c tial*l?ll
took posse+ion of t h r ei~stei-11c.entra 1 of 1-rlx~tla.: m i .I a 1 1 1 ~H~a y - , \ f : ~ ~~ L- tI Il-~ .
' . t lit' >i tt: of .\I olit i (.()unties of Yennsi-lvania. nn(l ivliose o;lrer -q11;3t , t ~ ~011
l,re.;tlnt.r? t l ~ e li.;- ~attested el-en llij-,\vhj- l
l I'x1.i~. Eclcnl. t-oun t v. w:~s t he
t lie thrift and well-earned lvealth of
the '. Penns?-lvania I)ntchman." Hen~my
SaJoi-us. 1)oln in liS:3. and 31al.y 'llitn<.
* t ; ~ t\\-PI-?
~. tli~-p;~t-~~lt~
n ; i t i v ~ sibi*tl~ii~
a n d Chicago Tribune ha.ve published
many of his poems. Anlong the m a n y
good poems he has written we mention
those which haxe attracted t h e most
marked attention, to-wit : "The Clock
upon t h e Shelf," "Erin,
..
W h y Thy
Tears." "December.
..For a Son's
~ l b u m ' ,a n d "Days 'dgone."
Mr. Udell has lived for more t h a n
a quzrter of a century among o u r people and he holds to-day the high regard
of all good people who know him.
Public spirited, pushing and reliable.
he has been prominent in all departments of sociai and business life in the
community in which he resides.
,,
a
1)anville. 'l'!iese nanies. like t h e coun- t,he srtrne section, on which the family
ties of 1v11ic.11 they a r e the seat.; of jus- home had been located. These were
tice. were yet to appear on t h e map. the first. entrles of lands 0.1 t h e Okaw.
,I simple wagon t e n t did tluty us rt W i l l i m l Sadorus now lives on tile land
home for the ~)ioneei->u n t i l aftel. so entered by him almost hrilf a cenground !lad I,t.on broken L\-itb the i.nde. t u r y since. Wit11 no people i n this
c\-ooden ~ n o ld-boai-(1.
u
I !-on ploiv-share
count.ry iirhen tile Sadorus famiiy
plow I~rocgllt ivitli thew. a n d sonle came. of (:onrse theye 11-ere no schools.
seed put in the 91-onnd a s a provi.;ion
unt.il h:i the corning of population a
t'ol- t h e f u t u ~ . ~ \Iwl1ile
.
livinz ill tliis dellland was ci~eutecl. 'l'hjs event. ilo\i~frail hoine. the heads 'of' t h e ti:-() f'2111- ever. did r:ot take place until 'II-illiarn
had passed the school age. ,111 the opilies wit11 a11 the i r i ~ i n l ) e ~except
-:
CYillii-~mand a S m i t l ~bo>- a l ~ o n t his on-ii port~rnitiest ; ) ~schooling he had, after
age, left t h e t \YO lmys for foul \\week> corning to Illinois. \s7ere 1.eceived tzt a
school t a u g h t a t Georgetown. Illinois.
i n the tenr to cai-e f o r the goods and
siock. while the\- nladt: a n escursion t o 11-herehis ft~thel*s e c t him for sonir
Gonle cliytanc.(b. 1he 110.3 11e1~1the ii)l.t niont,hs when a _voung illan.
su I-1.o~zlldc.d
as they 1vei.e 1))- wild men
J'op~llwtion begall T O fioiv illto their
~
hi.perillanent residence
:111(l h o ~ v l i n givo1vi.s. Tl:e ten1poral.y n e i g ! bo1.1lood
I i o ~ ~Ii:~ppenecl
it~
t o 1)e bet, u p within a i i ! ) ( ~ ~ twelve
~t
!-ears after t8heirconlii~g
t'eki- ~ . o d of
s the spot ivllicll a fterv--xi.(ls i11ltl slon-ly inc.1.rzsei? until the c o ~ n i i ~ c
1,ec.a ille tlie pel-l~iiinciit11~nleof tlie c-)f t h e rai11-oad era. s i ~ c ewllich? as it'
f'ainily. Soon after setting u p their
magic. the prairies have been seized
Iloine. tlie fa 111ily\s';~sviNite(1 by indii111~ upon and n?ncle t o serve t h e uses of
111all.
uf the Kickapoo. D e l ; ~ w a r ea:ld t'ottaOn t,he l l t l ~daj- of March, 15358, ail..
\vattoil~ietril~es. ~.t~lllnants
of \vllich
tribes \\-ere still rosining t11~0ilgllthe Sadorus was married t o Mary A n n
corrntr~-and h n n t i n g wild par-lip. 111.. 3Iooi-e7 of Lake Foric, and soon afterSadorns we1 l renlcm bers $ h e ~ l ~ a n c i - e . wards mads for himself s cabin home
or '.Old sol die^.." as he called hinlselt: on lands owned by him near his fathand Wall homing. chief> of tile Potta- er's. Of this marriage were born :
i-catto-rliie and l>elaii-ai-e tri1)es. 1vl1o. (.+eorge W. I;. a n d H e n r y TAT., who live
with their i'ol1owei.s. often resorted t o near their faxher ; Margaret, E.. wife
t h e Saclol-us home for shelter zinc1 food. of 0. C. RlcConney, of Sadorus : Sam'l
S..w l ~ olives i n Xevada : Sarilda, marI llese pel lple n7ere a1~vaj-s ti-eatecl
kindly 1,- the frlmilj- a n d in r e t u r n re- i.iect to 'l'homas Hison, of Jasper coun~
ceived notiling but kindness fro111 tile ty: No.: S a r a h S., Married t . Charles
wild Illen. 13efore IS:>:-:
t h e Indians 3iiils. of Fztna. .IN.:a n d John T., dellrtd nil ief'tr t,his part of Illinois and ceased. Mrs. Sadorus died about 1848.
S u bseciuentl J Mr. Sadorus was married
ive1.e seen no rnore.
Hefol-e the tirst winter set ill tilt: to Xiss Jincey A n n Brumley, of E r fami 1y had heen corn ti>rtal31-housecl i n k i n a , from 11-hieh marriage were born
a c a I ~ i nof plit logs. well chinked ant1 ;Lso11 and daughter, both of whom died
tliinl,cd. aftel. t l l ~fas;;l1i011 of' the id- )-oung. ,A ft.er t h e decease of t h e secnee1.s e\-eq-w11ei.e. 1)11t, t!~oncI! the ond 311-s.Sadorus. Mr. S.a t h i r d time
fi~:~iil!- Ilonic t'1'01li t \lilt t i ltle on foi- entered i n t,o t h e marriage relation.
111:1n>.~-val.s.I 11t. caLiil dic! 1101- 11tti-e ;L this t,ilne with Mrs. Charity Hastings.
clazed windon. tor six years. Before One daughter. Ida, has been born of
t l ~ a t i m e the ]:ole in t h e 1%-allwhich this 111al:riage whol now a young
~znsiv~l-rcl
i'or i t ~ v i n d o ~11;iiI
l - nothing in woman. is a t home with her parent,^.
it t o keep out tllr cold b u t ;i piece of' George 1'. B. Sadorua entered the
gareahecl rriuslin. 'rile I\-intel-foundtlie ;irin?- in 1Sii2in Co. E;. 1-15 Ill. R e q .
and ~ a , i l l oe u t i n IS65 as captain of hls
c-onlpany. H e n r y 11.. Sadorus enlisted
in Co. G. -15 111. Reg.. August 2-3, 1861.
honorabl- mustered o u t of t h t ~
1 1:e ! ) l ~ l ) l i c . lt~ncisin t!lei 1. neig11ftu~.- and
I1oot1llti(! iwen bnl-\-t.yed L)LI~ ti\-o Tears service September 1, IS64.
;11:(-1 \vei.t' i1(3t ~ e in
t market. arid the
XI.. Sadorus has a l l !iis life been enI':~iniiv \i-vre >c!uatterh on I he>? lands gageit in f a n n i n g , a t \\-hich busincss
o i
t t i n
years h e f ~ ~r n~t r i t t s tie has rwdized a handsome compe~v bi.t. lui~clr. On 1)ecernber 11. 1S34. ten;:_\-. He was Ibr a t.irne the oivnpr
\V i l l ~ ~ I Sado~-11s.
I I
being the11 22 years of r l small stock of general merchanold. extered tllr n:.) ne; Sec. 1, T. 17. dise. one af t h e first sfores i n his to~x~rl.
1:. 7 , ;~ncihis i \ t ! l ~ ' ~t -s l l t ~ r ~tdh e GP: of 1 1 1 : ~ so(111 r ~ired
t i ' r o ~ ~t ih a t 1111siness1 '
r
-7
4
,
r
7 %
:1
t,ion for liberality. in helping tlle :poor
and needy.than Hiram Rankin. Here
t h e subject of our sketch, ~ ~ 1 .wa.s
10
born in Kentucky. near Llaysville:
was raised. When about eisliteen years
of age. she was united in marriage to Benjamin Hartley, whose
parents came tn this .same ])art of the
county about 1830. There mere born to
them four children. riz.. Mary. Elizabeth .J.ane. Catharine a i d IJydi;~. 'l'he
youngest clrt~~phter,
Lydia. \vns mari.ied,to Yan 13. Swearingen, one of the
leading. men of this toxvnsl~ip. One
child. Grant, was bol-n to Mr. and
Mrs. Swearinpen, wlro isstill living a t
St. .Josep:l'. 3 n d . i one
~ ofthe prnr;pe,l-ous
business Inen of the, c,onnty. Mr.
13artley die(] anrl B11.s. 138 1.t lry afterwa~:ds iriarl-ied .Stephen Boyd. o ~ i eof
t.he old settlers of Urbana township.
H e died and several years nft,el-rvards
Nrs. Boyd wa.: again m a r r ~ e dto .James
Ha.i.tley a consin of her first. husband.
They resided near St. Joseph. About
twelve years, ago Mrs. Bartley met
with an accident whit11 caused her to
lose her 11fe. A team ran away wit11
her, t h r o ~ i n gher and others from the
buggy, so injuring her, that she only
lived three days. Mrs. Bartley mas a
t~horough christian \iT\ioman in everv
.
respect., from early life taking an
active interest i n religous matters' and
was anmember of the Christian church
when shedierl. . Mrs. Bartlev inherited
from her father a charitable dispo>ition and no one e v e r : went from
person :~vho
her door in want.
knew lrer fbr. many years said : "Xrs.
anany
ljartley did Inore fbr t,he poor t h-.
person . in St,. .Joseph township. ,She
was of s,hopeful, jovial disposition.
and although she' had her full shape of
sorrow she aimed t o make the best of
everything and made everyone4feel
better i'01- having the pleasure of her
known
acquaintance. . - She wss
thronghowt the , connty and every
.man, woman. and child respected and
loved "Aunt. Lin" as she wa.s familiarl y called., She \\-as ,z neighbor i n
deed and the entire comrnnnit,y
.\I.\LIsD.\ E.\I:TLET.
rnonl.ned her cleat11 when. she -was
c.n.llec1t o her, llorlie heynnd.
\\-as ;.he oldest daupht.er of Hirani c-nrl
.lane I Swearinyen I Ilankin. !l'Iiey
vawe in this colrilty fro111 near $hiy+ville. lien t,nr:lcy. bout 1S"S and settled
east of I he pre-ent town of St. .Josepli
and in a frw- y?-Pars nlovecl to 1vI1a.t i-;
1inn~r.nas :he Itankin farm. on the oltl
state ro;~(.!.
of nlrl S t . -1iisepl1. H e w
t 1 1 ~ livtbtl
1111.many years wilt1 no one
i l l :I11 the I Y ~ Llit!J
l:;111 :I \ Y ~ L ~ P Y~Y>~IIT:I-
H e has always been a democrat i n politics and believing i n t h e . democratic
maxim, t h a t the "office should seek the
Inan and not the man the office,". has
never sought nor held office above t h a t
of school director. For many years he
has been a member of the B3ptist
church and one of the active promoters of t,hat faith i n his .neighborhood..
I t will be seen by those knowing
anything of t,he early history of this
county, t h a t Y r . Sadoi-us is the oldest
resident of Champaign .county. His
t~rother.Henry Ti. came t o the c ~ u n t y
1). the same wagon but. mher. quite a .
young man: he went to Califbrnia a n d .
took u p his residence in the mountains,
where lie spent nfteen years. t,hus removing hiln f'ronz this field of,colnpeT
tition. A t the annual Old Setders'
Meeting held forthi<county in August. .
1890, 31 r. Sadorus presen~eb l~iniaelf
as a candidate for t,he prize oflel-ed for
the oldest person in citizenship and
witshout a quest.ion bore off the,prize, a
gold-headed cane. H e is now venerable i n years. hocored by his neighbors
and highly favored by his Maker. of
whonl he is a sincere mor3hippei-. His
children live n e a r him and the.evening
of life promises a n honored close.
field was a
in early dajs. but
says his trip to California changed his
views and he no\\- rotes with the democratic party. H e has satisfactorily
filled the position of Commissioner of
Highways of Sidney township and in
April, 1890, was elected to represent
the tcwnshiip an the Board of Supervisors. He is one of the solid citizens
of the to~vnship and has done much
i11 his thirty ears' residence to improw the count^. H e says when he
first pnrchased his farm. the countqwas so bleak and nild looking that he
:lever thought it could possibly be
I~roughtto the high state of cultivation it has.
\Yas born in Arnistrong r o u ~ l tPenn~,
sylvania, Jalnlarj- 1.J1Y2i. His father's
name was Samuel : his mother's name
,
was Sancy Da-i-is. both of Pennsjlvania. His father came to Sidney ill
1SGS. 1)ulying t o \ ~ - ~propert1
i
and a
Earn]. Tht. subject of this sketch resided in Pe~liisyh-ania ancl attended
the public schools. receici~ig a fair
education. lil 1S32he went to California, where he inined and traded in
stock for ~iiiieTears. when he returneci
to the states and. in the Fall of 1861,
. raulr to Sictnej-. where his brother.
. the well-linoivn .I. B. Porterfieid resided. ailtl at hi.s earnest solicitation
hr purcliasetl ;L farm iin bectiou 26 uE
t hizt tuwnrllip aud l ~ a hrc'si(1ed there
evrr si11c.c.. Dt?c.eu~l>rr
4, lSti'2. he was
uuiited in marriage, at Siiluej, Ill.. to
Elizabeth France. formrrl_v of -41x1strong clount-, 1'enns;lvania.
There
were born to t h e n the following c*hildreu : Chambers Roland. who is now
and has for serpral years been occupgiug 2% pohition iii i!?rtredsurv departnieut at lT-ashiugtoil : Lill-. Etta.
liezzje. Tioy and Jessie. who are at
tlomt~. Mr. Porterfield is justly proud
of his fauiily. His Ilonie is one of the
uiost pleasant and hospitable to be
found in the romlty. Religious11 the
Family are Jletllodi~ts.and alt hougli
Jlr. Porterfield ih not a ulember of the
c.11urc.h. Ilc gives his aicl and support
. t o the c.::~~sc~.1 1 1 1)olitic.- l l r . Porttlra
ASDREWJ. ROCK.
I s a so11 of one of the first settlers of
Champaign county. H e n-as the
fourth child of Killiarn and Nancy
(Beavers) Rock, who were n a t i ~ e sof
Maryland. They removed to Indiana
in 1831 and came to Sadorus tomnship in 1535. where William Rock
took up a ciairn of forty acres which
is now owned b_r A. J. Rock. Here
the first family house \%-asbuilt which
n-as constructed of poles. I n after
\-ears a brick house Kas built vhich
is stillstanding. Young Andrew took
several teams to Chicago and hauled
the lumber. shingles. nails, etc.. with
nhich to buiid the house. The brick
in the s a u e was made b Asa Gere.
assisted hr H. 11. Russell and others.
o f rrbaiia.
Thc. snbject of our sketch ~vorliecl
on his father's farm ulltil nine- ~nenlber of the Baptist church of
teen years of age when he left Sadorus and an c~iiergt~ticworker.
home to look around a little. Hcl Mr. R0c1i having heen a resiclrut for
returned in 1S.2 and was married t o over fiftv-six years has a ~vicie ac3Iiss Mercy Peabod?. They went t o quaintance and is cunsiclcrecl one oi'
houselieeping in a house the1 built, the solid citizens ant1 farmer3 of that
on ninetj acres of land.
111 part of the coniltj-. I11 politic5 he ih
1S.59 -Andrew J. sold this propert)- to a democrat. what is li110~11'as a wz:.
his father and purchased 200 acres of cleniocrat. He is a iair man. il gooci
land in Jasper county. 31issouri. liushallcl and father. ancl \vit.lds :L
This land being wild he r ~ n t e dl a ~ l t i large ilifluence for good in rllc. c.0111in the ~ i c i n i t ybut was driven out b?- ~uuilitywhere Iic has so long rcsicieti.
the rebels. H e shook the dust froin He has liear five 1nmd1-1.c1ac.rcls of
his feet and in -August. 1cSfil. ~uovetl well-i~iiprorc~r!land on 1~1lii.l;lie rckto Fort Scott. Kansas. here hc left hides ;?l?d
!LC vCTY 1)I~tisantl~c>:llp10~+
liis faillily aiid elllisted in the 6th his tiliir in looki~ipa f t s his i'arnii~i;?;
Icansas Cavalrj- During the war h e interests aild enjo\-ing the c.onl:'ort+ of
served as a scout through Kailsah aiid his home. \vhic.b is one of' tlie i l ; ~ p p i ~ s t
rendered i~iva!uable service to t ilt. ;ind pleasaiitrst in tlir c-ornit?.
Lnioil cause. His tclrrll of ~ n l i s t n l c ~ l t
cl
c!spiring in 1864. lit. was i l l u s t ~ r ~out
and returned t o his family wllic11
had beer1 made desolate b ~ -t h e
tieat11 of his wife. October (it11.
1561.
Two chilctren, Franklin and Sitlic.~-.
\\-ere the resulr of this aarriagr.
Franklin operates an extensive ranch
near Leadville. Colorado. while Sancjis happilj ~narriedto .John Jlattos. a
farmer of Sadorus township. 31r.
Rock was again united in m a r r i a g ~t o
Mrs. Nartlia (Jlerrick)Quick. daughter
of Charles a i d Lucinda Merrick, of
S e u I'ork state. JIr. Rock and his
lamil? ret~lrnrdto llis old liomr i l l
this county \\-here he spent the winter
of 1864 a:~d the following fall bnilt a
hand some bricli residence opposite
the home of his father ancl where he.
now resides. He I\-eiit to Eiallsas again
in 1867 and purchtised a quarter sectioli
of lanil aiid rngaged i r ~storlr raising
for s i l years. 111 1869 his ~vift. tiithd.
lea\,iilg two
Harrivt aiitl
~
Ida. Harriet is nun. the wife. ol' Oi-lij- I s ollch of tlic. l . ) r o u i i t ~ to~l c~l ~sckttlrhrs.
Flat. a i'arnirr of Sac!orl~s tox~ilsliiy. iargr !an:i o\\.tit1rs allti i'arrl~c\r.-;of
I d a 1 ) t b i r i ~ at Iioilicb. 311.. 1joc.k \vas Xortll ( ' ~ ~ : I I I I ~ : L ~ <~ *I Io ~ I I I ~ ~Htb
.
IYCLS
;~gaill ~llarrit>cI-illgust 15. 1 SiO. t o l)orl~i l l ( 4 r \ ~ 1<.o111it~.
1
!'t.i~l~~~l~a~~i:l.
\\-t\nhiVilliil~lli t ~ ~Hthl~~c.d
JLiss Elizabetll Bur!;hart. o f Kansas. His pa~t~11ts
is!
l)ot!i o f t+rt*t.11
'She>-rc~sirlecltllerr u11ti1 lS7-4 arid the11 (.a t S t t ~ ~ ) l l c ~('c~rl)lth>.
I . Y ~ I I ~ t- oI Ihis
( A presrut
~
ho~~itb
i l l Il!ilic . u l ~ : l t ~ . I'~.III!S?-~V:~II
ia.
'I'ht. fat.!lt>l.
1iitw1i t 1 IS75 ii11(! I I F > 111o11it~r
i u IS?):).
015.
His n.if!x tlichcl ill I S7!L i ~ a v i n ~'1'111. hul)jt;~.tOF this s l ; t % r c . l ~ ~il111c.t o
13~rtie..Joh11H.. L1111i
Jl:itt(l~a1I t h i s (~:111>ty~ I I l.'eI)rt~:tr!-. S S-5:;. : L I I < ~
t i 1
t
o
i T i l l . c.otu~tjat houlc.. l i r . Rock was ~iittr-:.it~ci t
;1gai11 ~ I I
fall of IS$:; t o l l i s s at t ha; tinlt. \.-as \\-Iid alltl 1~1:1)rol;t.11.
I<lizai,rtfI ( ifiti it ill, (Lar~ghtt.!.of 1it.v. s e r ~ i i i r i ~ lt oyo 1:1li(-11o f ;t n.ilclt~r~lrss
to
tbrtbr
c ~ liv;:~(hd
t
ai~cttoo f:~rfro111
:~ii(lJlrs. Satiiall C;riiStill. Silt3 \v:is
111an oi'
I ) ( ~ Y I I ill lial.'aetttb c.ollrit\-. 1Iissor:ri. 111:irlct~. 3lr. CiorI)it~y is
i i i I $.IS.
His wiftt is ti ~ ) r o ~ ! i i r >I L~( ~~I . ~V I;1;::1
>> ~ 1)!(.11tyof y'ri~ti11(1 l l o ~ t ~ i ~ ~ g .
~~~~~~~~~~~s.
t
h
b
l ) c b
cla~ultecl, he set forward ~vith the
lt-orli, purchased a large tract of land,
and in a few Fears made a great
c~hange. Other families rzoved in, the
to~vilshipu-as g~ac-iualljsettled and it
is now collsiclerecl the finest farulillg
axid stock raising to\\-nship ill the
State. Rolling prairie, flowing xvells
and prochlctivo soil are some of the
i~riportantfeat~rrtzs. Mr. C o r b l e ~was
x~larrird at D a n d l e , February 24,
IS(<.to Sarah ix;ood, who died in 1866.
H e was married again in lS68 to Mary
A. S ~ h o o lof
, 35eadville, Pe~lns~lvania.
The f o l l ~ ~ v i children
ng
have been born
to them. viz : hen^ L., a farmer of
Harn-ood t.ownship ; IT. Sherman, who
rrsides in Button township, Ford
r + o ~ ~:nJames
t~L., residing in.Kerr
totvnship : Freddie M.,Laura F. and
Evaline, at home. Mr. Corbley has
been an active member of t,he Methodist church from early youth and has
clone illuch to forward the cause of religion iu his part of the c o c n t ~ . I n
.Jorir COLTIS.
politics he is a straight republican and TVas born in Hilltort-n, county Dowue,
has been from the forrnat.ion of the Ireland, December 24,15224. His parparty. H e represented Kerr ton~ns&p ents were Robert and Mart,ha (Mc011 t,he board of supervisors for eleven
Clune) Calvin. They came to this
years and through his influence much country in 1~W2,from Ireland, and set;vas done to\.vards
roads, t,led near Lexington, Scott county,
bridges and in opening up t,he town- Indiana. The mother died there.
ship. He has givell the lnatter of The father accompanied the subject of
farlni~lgand st,ocB raising his per- this skc?t,eh to Champaim county in
solla1 attelltion and has been quite April. 1866, and settled on a farm near
succ.essfu1. He llow has about 1600 Tolono. Mr. Colvin recei~eda good
acres of improved lalld in Champaign comlllon school education in the Hilland Fort] count.ies. He tyas a hand- t o ~ school
n
iu h l a n d . H e was ma.rsome resiclei~ce in Paston. where he ried at Lexington, Scott county, Inmakes his llome. He is pro~zdof his diana, in 184'r, to Catharine Gobin
fanlily arid is giving his children er- She died, and was married the second
ery advantage of educat,ion. He is a time at the same place to Jane Laughlnatt,er of fact, nlan, llas amassect his ran in lS6'21 who still l i ~ e s . There
fort>uneh_v harcl work a ~ l dcalose att,en- were eight children born by the first
tiori to basiness. He llasnlany friends marriage, three died in infancy and
throughout this part of the state and five sre still living. Martha A., the
is e n j o ~ i n gthe reward of an active life oldest daughter, married Cap. E. 9.
and a, c.onscio,lsress of having con- Gardin and resides in St. Paul, X n n .
tributed in a large measure to the May J., second daught'er: married B.
well being and prosperit.. of the north B. Salsbury and resides in St. Paul.
.John Me.. the oldest. son, resides in
part of the count-.
St. Paul. Thoinas J.. second son'. resides in rrbana. Edward. ?-oungest
son I)>- first luarriage. resides in St.
Paul. Thex-1. \\-ere seven children
1,c;rn bj- tllr srcollct inarriage. four
boys and t llrrr girls. TII-obo_vs and
one girl died in infaucj-. Clvde. the
oldest son. is rliarrirci and resides in
Urbana. Court. the voungest son, is
1ivi11g at hotntb. Ella E.. oide.;t zir-1.
ruarried TVm. Xeu and resides in Phillipsburgh, Montana. Gay, the youngest girl, is living at home. Mr. Colvin
was elected treasurer of Scott count1
in 1860, and in 1862 was re-elect.ed.
serving four years, the constit~~t~ional
term. H e came to Tolono township
in 1866 and in 1869 was elected saperiso or of that t o ~ ~ n s h i and
p
served
seven years consecutively. He was
elected aild semed as to~vnassessor
three rears. Was elected and served
eight years as justice of the peace.
Was elected and served as poiice
magistrate of Tolono three fears.
Was elected and sen-eci as school
trustee of Tolono ton-nsilip three )-ears
and was appointed post-ulaster of Tolono d ~ i l i u gPresident Clereland's adinirrist~rat.ioiland made one of the best
postmasters Toloiio ever had. Hr
also served. by aappointme~lt.fif iecw
nlonths as village nlarshal of Tolono. K as horn ill \.Vinchester. 12antlolph
In lSS9 was elected president. of t;he eouxty, Indiana, August $0, 18-52. His
l~oardof t,rust,eesof the ril1a.g~
of To- t&tl?.el.,Dr. Robert Woody. was a analono. 111 IS91 he was rc~-elecic~d
and tive of N ort.li Cal*olina. Tiis inoti~eiis no\\- tthe president of the board of was Caroline \.Vay, a sister of 1T7111.
trustees of tlie rillage. I:] 1891 he Way, of Cllampaign? n native of Ranmas elected as supervisor of Tolono dolph county. Indiana. both fathey
mo.tl~erwere of Quaker parentage.
t.ownship to serve for t,m-o rears. Mr. and
The Father died at.Eaton. Ohio. in IS71 :
Colrin has had a busy life. He is a the lnother in 18-54. Paul JV., a t the
inan of inore than ordinary abilit'y age of nine years, caille to C11ampa.ign
.and has t,he confidence of the entire and made his l~omewith TVillianl Way.
comiinity as is shov-n by liis frequent He attended the University of Illinois
selection I)? t,he people to fill im- and ltrasa inember of the first class: viz :
port'ant offices all of n-hiel1 he fills in '72. He wa.; t,hen 16 years old. In
a conseicntious manner anct n-it.h Septem her: 1874, he ~vaqunited in ma]-satisfaction to e\-cqoile. He is and riage to Niss 3largarett.e 12'. Schweizer,
al~vagshas I~een a st,rong cienlocrat onlj- daughter of John F. Schtveizer,
yet he ha,s the co~lfidenceof t.he nlenl- of Chainpa.ign. T111-ee children have
hers of all parties. Although advanced been born to t,hem, viz: \Va.!-, aged 16,
in gears and in poor health there are attending scl~ool: Jamie E.. aged 14.
few men who do more business than and Paul W.. aped 10. The$ aiLeverv
he. He is a firm friend and upright ~ r o u dof their children and have just,
vit izcw a ~ l dis honored and rrspected caase to be as they are unusnally bright
and pi-omising. I11 lSi-2 Xi-. IVoody
l ) all
~ I Y ~ Oli1101\- hiln.
eoiz~n~enc:ed
t o vler!; fol- .-I-. F. Schweizel- and n-as adnlitt,ed as partner i n tI~c?
t:st.ensive ciothing ;.,nil nle~.chant.tniloring business in iS7ri. He has prove]:
t o be an excellent business nlan. d o i n g
much ti) i)~.ingtile I,usinrss up to it;
1)1*esent.
Iiigh po:;iti:,n. He has aln-a-s
1)tien p~.olni~lri!fin l.)u:jlii' ln~tttersaui?
!las sritisfi~~t.o~ily
filied tile oiiice of
t rt!iis~~i-c~:o f ~ i 1 t - j(aitv oi' C ! ~ a n ~ p ~fi11.
ig~i
,LIY t ~ i ~ i \\-as
~ ~ s: ~. l d ~ i - lof~ t~J a~ eithii-(I
~
\v;i.rcf ontt icl'lll ;!l:~l iva- e!ecteci :llajolof C.11~l11l)aigil n 11~?11d~oille
vote. filli n c t h e t 7 f I - i ~ ' ~\\-it11 c~e:!it to !lin~self
t
I ! 1 I'c-)lit-it:.all>he \ ~ t t s
1101-11 r l i - ~ ~ ~ ) ~ - ~ i ~;in,?
l i c . II;\s
a t l I,~API? ; ~ ~ . t i \ - l ?
A
in matters connected with his p a r t ~ - rc~nainedthere until 1S56, after which
ever since his majorit,y.
he engaged in the dry goods and noI n 1899 he was nominated bj- t h e re- tioli business on his o1~i.naccount until
publican pa~t,:: f j r county t'reasul-er > l a - 24. 1S5i. when he came to Ura n d was e1er:ted by a large ~najoritj-, l ) a ~ ~and
u openecl a clot!ling house.
aild is 11011- filling that responsible He wou the conficlence of the people
posit.ion in a nlanney l - e ~ ~sSa.is.;f'~~~t~o~~y
and was quite successful in his busit o the people. Few men in r.he county ness. I n lSS2 he removed his store to
ila.1-ea wider acquaintance. W llether Champaign. vhere he is still engaged
occupy in^ tlle posit ion of aldernlan, in busiuess. I n October, 1S55. at Gin~na\-or.or attending t h e responsible
position of county trei~surer,he is t.he cinnati. he n-as married to Ann Barsame plain Paul TTroody. a friend of bara Herbstreit. a natil-e of Germany.
everyone. He is also a inenlber of TIYOchilclren were born to thenl. viz :
t h e 3Iasonic fraternit*? and of the or- 3Iargaret:c IT..who married P a u l IT.
der or Knigl~t~s
of Pothias. His pleas- Wood)-. tile present county treasurer.
i n g n d d r w s i111d o b l i g i n ~dijposit,ion :~:ltl a ulemb~rof the firm of Schweizer
make llinl n f'avol.ite k171th ali who A: \1700d~.Champaign. and I\-illiam
I?., who is a tobacconist ill Cha~rluaign, also married. Xrs. Sch1.i-eizer
i
i Cha~npiligilJ u l ~
4. lSTS' at
the age of 43 -ears. Slle was a 1l;rnlher of the Erangvlical Lutllerall
chilrc-11. 111 politics Mr. Sdln-eizer is
ancl aln-a)-s has i ~ ~ ae sou~ld
n
republi(*an. He caasi his iirst vote for Sotm
C. F~.enlont ill 1S.56. H e has been
ckmillcntl~s:lc.cessful in b~zsiness?
'OIY-
'
iug to strict at.t.ention and fair dealing. His stock and buildings \\-ere
twice dest,royed by fire? but each t4ime
h a redolibled his efforts and regained
his foot.hold. H e a.dmibt.edhis son-inla\\-, Paul JV. Woody, as a partner in
ISSR. which has proyen to be a wise
step. I11 lS6S the business was enlarged and merchant t,ailoring added.
I n 1S90. a liandsome business building was erected bj- the fbm and the
largest plate glass front in t.he countjt
i
The building is a model
,TOHS F. L?(~YJI-EIZEI;.
c.lot,hing house and one of the finest
Was born in Oi~ersielil~l
ngau. ( !. St i~ t t - in Central Illinois. The finn carry one
gard, Kin gclom of I1.-c~rt,eull)clrg-,Ger- of t,he largest stocks of goods outside
many. March 14. 1 S 3 . His ~ ~ a r e n t s .of Chicago and do a corresponding
*Jacob anci Margan,t Scli\\-c+i~(.r,
~~;.;erc~
large business. ..llt~hough born in a
natircs of illat coll~liq-. Tliertl wertl foreign land. no one thinks more of
cig,.htr:l11 cIli!cll-t.n !IOX to them. fol~r- his adopted c o u n t v than he. He is
tibi1rli)oj-s and four girls.
The fatiler rspeciall~proud of his palatial storei d i .
T i ~ of
o t h r childrell. t h r room. which is a justifiable weakness.
s111)jcc.tof this skctcll and his I~rother,
Xr. Schil-eizer seems to be in the
(itlurg-1 G.. ~ l l is
o a resident of Plliia- prime of life and a s active and enerdcllpl~ia,cai:lr to .A~j~eric.a..John F. getic in his business as when he came
i\.oriic.(! nt !lon~ci:l his fatller's hoiei to this count- in 1S.56. H e is a
i1 t i I .
tie lei: homr _\larch4.
fir111 friend. sociable. just and cor1
r
i1 t
I
I
s t . rect iil al! his dealings. S o business
o
l
o Htl n-urlietl u11 ;i fami in 11~x1stands higher ill the communit>Xcn. .Icrsr_r- for t11-o :ilcntlls. after- than he. and no oue in the count>- has
\vilrc!s 51--rnt to Pldadelphia, He \vent laore friends. With p1ent.y of this
l'ronl t!lrrt. to Cinciii~~ati
\\-here he 011- world's goods. a good reputation and
t zi:lrc! a sit rlatiun iil thc TJ--holes.ale a growing business: he is enjoying life
(101
I
of 1
s o t 3 - 1 1 ;:TI(] la-ing up for his childrerl.
and dining room. Here they lived,
attended to their business, owing no
man anything that they did not pay
promptly, and it was not long until
John Dallenbach was recognized as
one of the solid men in many respects
of the thriving young town of Champaign. Honesty and right was characteristic of Mr. Dallenbach, and it
was with sincere regret that the people of Champaign learned that he intended retiring from a business he had
honored and by which he had anlassed
a goodly portion of this world's goods.
The iveight of jears however, and a
desire to give his boys a chance, decided him to retire from business,
rrhich he did in 1857. He is liberal
and public spirited and freelj- contributed to the building of allllost eye r j church building in Champaign
and vicinity and no worthy object was
presented to him without receivmg a
contribution. His family is the pride
J o ~ DILLESB.%CII.
s
o f his heart. His children are all inOne of the solid German citizens of dnstrious and economical and are
Champaign and one of the best known among the best citizens and I>usiness
old settlers in the county is the sub- men. H e is a firm republican, also
ject of this slietch. H e was born in a lllember of the Masonic order. He is
Berne. Switzerland, February 7, 1820. now advanced in years, takes life easy
His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth and no one. walking the streets. has
(Hausy) Dallenbach, both nati~-esof more friends or is more respected than
Switzerland. I n 1838 the subject of John Dallenbach.
this sketch came to this country and
settled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Me received his education in Berne.
Switzerland. which \yell fitted him for
the battles of life. EPmas united in
marriage SIarc.11 '7. 1848, at Pittsbu~g.
to Xiss Rosana C. Agler, who is still
living. Eight children have been born
to them. .iiz : Lizzie. now Mrs. William TT7ill,residing at 325 E. 43rd St..
Chicago : Xaq-. now Xrs. Sdam Imig,
of Sheboygall. TI-is.: John and Williani. now residing in Champaign :
Sauuel, residing a t 6320 Evans Ave.,
Chicago ; George and Fred, residing
in Champaign. and Emma. youngest
daughter, at So. 78 S. Ada street,
Chicago. 111 1857 Mr. Dallenbach
came to Champaign. xvhich was thexi
iu its infarlq-. He bought a farm and
tried that at first. but soon t~ecoming
discouraged. Ilc- rr~no\-er\t o tolvn ancl
upelled a rlieat iuarket Hc. allti hi:,
estimable nifr werp eco~lomicalaucl
clrternline~clto n iil. Yr: they oc*c.upirda
I-oorn.1 4 ~ 2 6i.l l r t ~ efront uf \\hich was
lovatrci tllcx 111eat shop ancl t h r back
[)?!IT* t > t . ~ ( :i*
~ ] l):ll.l(
)Y.
kit ( . l l t b l l .-ltlP])illx
IntLntl-1. :luguit 1.: 18til. He was in
t.lle secret. scrvier: of the government
i ~ l o ~oft . the time until the c-l~hcnf the
war and in fa(-t anti1 the f.2~11 of
1SG.i.
H E S I : ~ - ~IORTI~II.:I:
RL-SSELL.
Was born in Pembroke, Geneseo county. New York. November 1s. 182-6. His
parent,s were Nat,lianiel Russell, who is
still living. and Hannah ( G e r r ) Russell, who died in Clark county. Tl!.
When a lad of 13, his famil- and he
came from New York to M7aluut Prarie, Clark couni,y, Ill., by wagon.
Henry came to Champaign county,
.July 27,181'7: and stopped three miles
south of S a d o r l ~ and
s
worked at briekmaking during the summer and nn
October 6, 1847, only a few weeks before becoming of age, removed to Urbsna where lie has resided evel: since.
H e received a good con~inon school
educat,ion in Clark county, Illinois.
H e taught school the winter of 1347-8,
and i n J u l y , 1848, encaged with the
M'estel-n Stage Go. and remained with
them uneil staging ce:~sedin this part
of the country. H e then went into the
grocery xnd provision business with A.
0. Clapp and Thomas -J. Price. He
first I ~ o n g h one
t out and then tlie other
5.nd continued in t,llat business until
18fic). H e also started the first bakery
i n Urbana in connection \~-it,hhis otller
l>usiness. H e was married tci Miss
Anna \Vat.ers. tvho stdl lives. and three
cliildren h a r e been b3rn to t l ~ e m . 'l'lie
imo oldest: I)oth cirls, died in infancy.
Charles 31.: t.he third child. is married
and resides at Fort 1T7ayne, Ind. 1Ir.
Russell did not enter the army as an
enlist,ed man. but was i ~ i t htlie army
~riostof the tiille during the war. He
vb-enr ti.oru here I\-it11 the 25th Illinois
:it. 1)nnelson lie tooli s lrand in tilt:
fiwht a n d helped to silent-! a, 1)atter.v.
t a k i t ~ ntlie plttce of a soldier ~ v h owas
1111:tblet,o ~o in on t h a t day. Hi. was
i n t l ~ cmilitia at. 1Telnphis and a l w at.
Satcbez t'cr n tinie. He ivas eclllef of
tlie ~i~ili~;xl*y
a n d detective police in th2
S : ~ t c h e ztii.sti.ir:t during the ye;ir ls!if.
\\llicil w.ti a t that r.inln a very import;lnt. pn;it,it~n.He has never a ~ p i r e dto
oflice. I)IIT, s rveil hi.: \v;ird as alderfilm
1'01. ;~I,out14 y(>;l~.s
a n d tve st3t.e . h a t
\ v ~ !know t o be t r ~ ~ tcv. h ~ nwe say he
tvn5 one of :lie nlnst eiiicirnt aldrrnien
tlie city ]la.: ever hr~tl. He \\-as a U.S.
st,orelre~perfro111 18'71 t o 187-4. H e
then estitl,li-l~c~~l
A rcvl-eitattt and insurilnce n'fi,:e tvllich he 11a.scnrl-icd nn
ever sili!:i~.~~~c~:esafully.
Latzr lie added
the bnsinrss of pension attorne-. In
all three of the branches of his business
he is careful: methodical and reliahlr.
His systemat.ic: method of doing bnsinesa 111alies him a peculiarly safe man
to entrust ic-it11 either insurance. realestate or pension claims. Mr. Etussell
has been an n n s ~ v e r r i n g republican
ever einre that party was formed. and
has freqnent.ly held inipnrtant places
u i ~ o nits cominittees and has alwars
b e ~ namong its wise counselors and
hard ~vorliel-s. His relizious views are
l)road and liberal. which led him t,o
unite ivit.11 the Lnirersdlist church.
He was long the huperintendent of its
Sabbath scllool and has been among its
most substantial and conscientious
,supporters. The HEIULD hopes that
ile and his estiinable life companion
i i ~ d vlive many - e a r s to enjoy the competexc: he has accumulated by a !ife
of temperance. econolnr and u n t l r ~ n g
indust,!-y.
..I
-t>
HISTORY O F THE SADOR,GS
SETTLEIVIEST.
The four townships of Sadorus. Pesotug, Colfax and Tolono, as now
organized. embrace the scene of the
second oldest settlement of this count ~ - , forlnerl~ known as ..Sadorus
Grove." from the name of the first
permanent white familj which made
its hospitable shelter and fat lands
their home.
FIRST VISITORS.
Who first saw these l o v e l ~and feytile plains? This questiorl finds its
answer on11 ill vonjrcture.
The
inound builder. he of whom no our
liuo\~sanythin:; save that hc was s
mighty rvorker. has left 1uonuinenta
of his industry upoil the Sanganlo11
iiot far aivaj-, and doubtless looked
upon this valley. The wild Indian.
xvho was everything but a worker. xras
found an inhabitant of Illiilois b John Sicholet. in 16% a t d by Joliet
and LaSalle. later visitants. But \vllo
of our race. for whoin the I l m i g h : ~
seem:, to have. fasllioned this goodly
heritage. first, lookccl i1po11 its gontlv
I)eauty
ailci perhaps ~ileiltallj
ineasurecl its capabilitips to meet thc.
wants of man? Doubtless white trappers as captives ranged through this
comltr-. but iiot with tl~oughtsof subcluing and appropriating it. The first
whites to look upon this vallej-, of
~ h o i 1.rie
1 know an~tliiiig.\verrbn part)of United States smvtyors. uncler
Hichsrd T. Holliday. lvho in 182%snr\-eyed the four to\vnsliips named. into
sections and rnarked their corners.
Three years I)efore tilis. irl 1319. I,)- a
treat?. between the L-niietl States a1?(1
the Kickapoo Tndiaus, tile title to tlicb
iands passed to our governnleilt. and
were now r ~ a d yfor occupancy under
the prt.-enlption laws though not i l l
the market for entry.
The territory of \x--hic.h we are to
speak is a sect,iui~of tlie vallGy of tllc
Okaw river, 11-hich takes its rise but a
few nliles away. runs south^\-estn-ardIJ- one hundred and twenty miles,
~neasured in a direct line. though
lnmicll farther i>gfollowing the ineanderings of the stream. anct after washing the shores of the ancient K n s kaskia, the first permarlent seat oE
civilization iu Illinois. empties into
the Mississippi river. The land for
soille miles each side of the stream
slopes gently to it. so as to afford
natural drainage. aiid is as fertile as
ever n-as the famed valley of the Sile.
If tlie theory of geologists concerning the presence in this latitude of
the glacier in pre-historic periods be
true, then the Okaw valley entertained
FIRST P E R 3 I 1 S E S T SETTLE3IEST.
one of those chilly moiisters if indeed
We now conic to the part of o u r
it does not owe its origin to a furron- narrtltil-e most important to us and of
ploughed by one. for along the mar- interest to those who inay come after
gin of the stream and throughout its us. for whose use largely all our re. or were in early tiriles sc.arvhes are made. The historg- of
entire v a l l e ~are
numerous boulders of granite. gneiss the Sadorus fanlily is so nearly the
and limestone. dropped br these visi- history of the towns of IT-llich i v r
tants or surrendered t ) then) xvllen writt. and o f the period allout lvhicll
they \vent out of I~usfiless. 111 no we write. that the histor>- of one tells
part of this co~ulltyare these strauger the story of all.
rocks so plentifui as in the vicinity of
Henr3- Sadorus. fornler1:- Brlonli as
this streanl. One of these rocks 1)-i11g
Grandpsp Sadorus. was born ill
a short ciistance sonthn-est of the vjl- Bedford c o ~ n t y Yen11..
.
Jul? 26. l'iS3.
lage, near 11-111. dadonls' sugar caamp. four -c>tirsI~eforet h :icIoption
~
of thc~
ineasnres seven steps aro11nd :it the federal constitution.- The spriiig of
i~rou::d an(! f i r c x feet at~orcthe gr ounti. 1317 touncl 1:ir:l iiving. n-ith his litrltx
Ho\\ far the nionqter ckstends l~elon- Fanlii?-. ot n livr!~ our fellow (aitizcn
of t h t ground has 11e.r-er l\-illiai?: Saciori~.;.then ahout five >-tars
t ! snrfacc~
~
1)rcn asvc>rtailirc!. I t ixlust wclipi: old. haring bee11 t)orri J n l - 2--. 1811'.
!llall>-~ U I L S:~il(l~ l l d l ~ 0~1 1~~ t~(Ii11ig t ~ ~ was tilcb oldest. o:i Oil C'rec!i. Cruu-fcrci
ratio11 for t11t~illight~forcts nlllch !)orit cou:1;y. Pa. T!P -- ivestern fever...
lr fro111it, ~intivtb
ledge it1 the far aria? \rllich has preruiled txmoiig Anlericnns
~!ort!i a ~ i t ifiria!l~-droppt~clit herc at since .ihe l~nclingo f the Yilgrirns. atolir
nl!ci for our adnliratioll.
ta(*lif~:l!;in) ru~rl ii-oll~thc. xatir-tl ti!.\
"
1!001.-
hers uf that region he constructed a surroundings satisfied t.he party that,
raft or flatboat, upon which he loaded a point had bpen reached n-hich fully
his \i~ol-ldl!- goods and his fa~nilyfor met all their demands for a home. So
a long journty w e s t w a d The flat- far as they then knex they mere 30 or
boat ~ v a sbuilt on the waters of Oil 40 miles from neighbors, surrounded
Creek. anti don-11 it the adventurers ?.ITas fruitful a couutrj- as was to be
set forth in pllrsuit of a h o ~ n ein the
found, in ~\-hichn-ild game abounded
west, they kuen- not x-here. E'ollon-- and \I-liere el-cry want might e a s i l ~
be
i ~ l gthis creek to its junction with the supplied. -4ccordi ngl? t h e - determini l l l e g h e ~ ~that
y st i-eanlso011 bore t hen1 ed here to reniai~rand set about nlakto i3ittsb;~rganti from there their frail ing tht.:nselves conlfortable. They
])ark ))orethen1 to Clinvinuati in safe- found that the groi-e whose shelter
ty, barring ontl s1lipI~rt~c.k
at the head t h y hacl accepted TI-as 3 or -4 miles
o f t lle falnect Blen~lerhassett'sIsland. long and near11 equally dirided b~ a
The flatboat having served its narrow place in the-timber where the
purpose. Iyas sold ly Cillcinnati railroad ~ O I Vcrosses the stream. so
for $1 ,i(K)ill *JamesPiatt's shinplas~er the tn-o heads of families partitioned
motley, ~ ~ ~ a k the
i n g traveller rich for tlre tract bet~vc~en
themselves. Smith
tlit. time, but iu six ~rlonthsit shared taking the sotit11 end and Sadorus the
the f:itr fif its liincl and was no good north end. The bbSarro\x*s" a s it
a n d Mr. Sadorus was 1)oor again. The was called. being the line.
famil? remained i s Cincinnati tn-o
A brief anrveJ- of the sul~orlndings .
years n-hen they again drifted mest - of Ihe situation will give a better idea
ivard. stopping suvccssi\-ely s r Coil- of the actual condition 9f these pioneers: Illinois had then been a stat3
11ei-s~ille.Flat Roc.1~and Eacvoo~l.ill
the state of Indiaua, where thej- found in the 'linion six y a r a and Edward
Coles, its second governor, was still in
t 1lt~nlsc.lvt.s
ill the spring of 1524. still
wit11 a desire to *' go TI-~s~."
Earl)- in ofice. Its population which was then
the year SIr. Sadorus aud a neiglll~or. leas than 100.000 was confined to the
southern counties. Xeither Cham- ,
one .Toe Smith, fitted themselves 'out
each with a team of t'i-o ~ o k of
e oxen. paign. Yiatt nor Vermilion counties
been established and their terri- .
a n d a (*overed \\-ayon. snital>le for had
tory
and all north of them to the \%-ismo\-ing their fanlilies and goods. consin
line belonged to Edgar county.
Thus accouterec2 they again set their 'rhere was then no Danville, Urbana, . '
faces n-est\~arcliut ending t o go to the Charleston, Decatur nor &Ionticello.
Illinois comtrj-, possibly ;is far as not to speak of their younger anit
Peoria or Fort Clark as the place was Inore brilliant rivals. Five years
then k110v-11. All almost trackless previously. in 1819. by a treaty between
forest then lay t)et~~--een
the111 and the U. S.Government and the Indian'
their piac." of cirstinatioll. They tribes the Indian title to this country
p ~ ~ s wtllc.
t i site of tlle 'it?. of Iuciiall- ancl to all south of the Kailkakee river:
apoiis. t hell i ~ l trwelltly selec.tec1 as had been relinquished and only two
t Le state ci~pitai.~ v h t ? rtLe
( ~ folinciation years before the C. S. surveyors had
performed their work. and the mounds
of tlie old capitol 1)uildillg lmd just
by which the section cornzrs were
I~tlt.11 laict. anti v:.ossillg t the \\-:hash
I-ii-rrI,?- ;L ft~rry at C'l&to~l. Indiana, marked were yet fresh. Xot an acre
t h ~ _ vsoon rllcounttlred the tirand of land had been entered which now
Prairie. After entering Illinois, they forms this county and so far as we are
encountered only one house bet weeu informed on]>-one n-hite man's cabin.
the state h e anti the O'Kaw aucl that that of Runnel Fielder. tmo miles
\\-as tllr home of Hezilliiall Cunni~tg- northeast of the site of C-rbana. was tc)
be foxnd in thesame territory. Fieldilanl. on or llear t hi. Little Ter~nilio~r er had then been here two years and
I-ircr.wllrrr he kept a small traciin:,.
\mia squatter on the public domain.
l?o.it for trafiica wit11 the Indians. 011 The only residents of what is no\%-YerApril $1. 1S%. the part>- reached t h e ltlilion count\- was .James D. Butler.
Isolated grcve at the head of the a t Butler's Point. near Catlin. and
O'Kan- river. since anct 1 1 0 ~ k11o1v1
as
his neighbors. John Light. Robert
-- Sadorris' Grove." and as rlsual en- Trickle and -1sa Elliott and Dan
camped for the night. near the place Becki\-it11 and Jesse Gilbert at Dan\\-llic.h event ually became their pernla- \-ilie and Hezekiah Cunningham on
1lc:lt ilonltl. -% I>ric).f?;llr\-t3-of t l l ~ i r Tlittle T-errnilion, The ~rhole.state of
-
160
I'IONEEIIS
OF C H A.MPrlTC3- C:OL-s2'1'.
-~---
Illinois north of us was uninhabited
by white men, except the military
station a t Chicago, and wild Indians
roamed and hunted 3t pleasure over
these prairies and through these
groves.
H a v i n ~ so d i ~ i d e d the beautiful
grove OF timber bet,ween them the
two pioneers proceeded to make arrangements for a permanent stay i n
the place chosen for a home. by buildi n g for each a cabin. Smith who had
chosen the southern part of the grove.
erected his cabin near where the old
Grandpa Sadorus' old home now
stands. It mas built cf split linn
logs. 16x16 feet. covered with split oaken boards with linn puncheons for a
floor. The roof. after the manner of
cabin building, was laid upon lops o r
p o l ~ laid
s
lengthwise of the cabin, each
succeeding pole being a little higher
t h a n the last, and converging towards
the ridge. These boards. for t h e want
of nails, which were not to be had,
were held i n place by poles !aid lengthwise over the buts of each course. The
door was made of split boards held in
place by wooden pins. The window
was only a hole c u t in t h e wall to let
i n the liyht. subsequently covered
with greased muslin to keep o u t the
cold.
.
... . .
.--
--- -
.-
sence of t w o weeks. they found everything
quiet. S u ~ i t ha t ouce sold liis cabin and improvements to Sadorus, t h e c o ~ ~ s i d e r a t i n n
baing t h e hauling of a load of goods f r ~ i n
t h e O'Kaw t o t h e Illinois xiver, which was
paid according t o t h e agreen'ent, a n d t h e
south end of t b e grove with all of its ailgurtenanccs, passed t o Mr. Sadorus. T h u s
came 2nd welit t h e first representative crf
t h e numerous a u d respectable family of
Smiths of this county.
I S THEIR PERX-4SEST HONE.
*
T h e Sadorus family lost r ~ tiuie
o
in taking
possession of the Smith cahin. I t s conit'orts
w e r e exchanged f o r t h e "half-facsd camp,"
and all claim t , ~
t h e ~ p y r r ~ t i aof
l f the grove
w a s abaudo~ied. T l l r laud t h u s c~ccupied
by t h e Sadorus fanlily sub>rquerltly,9 years
tbereafter. b r c a u ~ et h e home of J a n ~ r sMiller. T h e S m i t h cabin was "daupra" that
s
fall, which lllralls t h a t the ~ r ~ t r r s t i c ebrtween its logs were fillrd with ~ h i l i l and
i~
mud to p r e v r ~ t~hte cold frorn intruding and
its foundations were bankrc! with earth
with a l i k e yfirpose. A i n r ~ dchir~lneywas
built outside with a fireplace o l t r ~ ~ i inside
r~g
t h e cabill, and carried up above tilt. cabin
roof with $ticks and mnd. A comuanicr~~
cabin. a f e w f r e t away, i n l i k e manllrr supplied with a mud alrd >tick c h i u ~ ~ i t -ay ~ ~ d
neat.ly "daubed" in time was added t o t h e
ccrnlforts and cor~vrriiencrsof t h e fanlily.
The S a t l o r ~ l sIlome, which was b u i l t t w o A s i l ~ g l e w i ~ l d o w sash was b ~ l u r t i t in
Eugene, I I I ~ . five
,
o r s i x gears thereafter,
iniles n o r t h o n section 3G i n Colrax, b u t in
s n d t h a t glazed with glass. gave t,hr falllily
t h e g n ~ v r ,w a s less pretentious. It w a s
one glass window-the first ~ I Ct.an1paig11
I
bnilt of t h e same material 10x20 feet, bnt
county-and irl time o t h r r o p e n i ~ l g sallswrrentirely oprll 011 one side, what is called a
irig to \vi~idom, were I i k r ~ i s esripylied.
"half-faced camp."
Windows a n d doors
T h e s e cabins did duty a s t h e Sadorus domid
Settled in
w e r e entirely d i s ~ ~ e n s ewith.
cile until 1S3S-fonrtee~l grars-when
the
these crude homes, t h e pioneers s e t about
p e r r n a r i e ~ ~hor~lc?
t
was errctrd. Until IS%,
planting a n d preparing f o r t,he future. T h e
m o r e t l l a t ~ t r n years, Mr. S a d o r l ~ swas a
s u m m e r -&.a5 spent in cultivating little
squatter on rlir public t l o l ~ ~ a i0
~1~
1.Drc.
patches of corn and garden with a c r u d e
l l t h , of t h a t year, t ~ a v i r ~gotten
g
togrthrr
prairie illow th*y had brought with them
~ g g a m e for t.l>eirn ~ e : ~ t b200 11e rnterecl the southeast quarter of
a ~ ~int l h n ~ ~ t i rwild
srctlon one, township sevrnteen range Rev; u ~ dyrltrirs, t h e result being t h a t a s fail
r n , w h r r e his cabill stood. T h a t tract with
agpr~rachedr h e larders of t h e families were
t h e nclrtt~eighty i r ~t h e rlorthrast quarter of
well suyl~lietiwith t h e best t h e country afforded. 'I'he wolvrs. Ilowrver, a t e t11.j n ~ u c l i t h e salllr s r c l i o t ~ , entered O I I t h e sallle d a y
of their sod C I I ~ I I .
by Williani Sadorus, i h e 33
~ ~yr:trs old, \\,ere
I n t h e fall t h e heads of the t w o families,
t h e tirst e n t r i r s of land in t h e grove or i l l
havirig laid in for their families, coxlclndrd
t h a t part crf 1 1 1 ~
C O L I I I ~ ~ .'IIlle j o n r ~ ~ etyo
Vaiidalia t h r tl1r11 capital of ttin s t a t e and
t o k n o w what lay t o t h e west of then^. Fill1ocatio11of t h e lalld office, w a s 11iadt:by Mr.
l
of proi n g their yac-1;s with a s n ~ a lsupuly
Sadorus i n corllpany with J a m r s Piatt, who
visions, with their rifles on their shoulder$,
had bought o u t Ja111es Hagwor:h, first +Quatt h e y srb o u t ( I I I foot for t h e weat again,
t e r on t h e yrerent site i ~ f&lorrticrllo ant1
leaving their f ~ r u i l i e shoused as w r have
was t h e lirarret lleighbor o f t h e Sadorus
srelr. T h e y traveled a s f a r a s l a k e Peoria,
hourrhoid. P r a c e w a s ~llairltainedbetrreen
\irl!ere S~uitt! d e t e r m i l e d to removc: his
t hga t tllr eight llllle s!ougil
fanlily. 'l'liey went by way of h l a c k i ~ i a w tliem by a g r r e i ~ ~
should be t h e dividing line between their
a n d Kickayoo Creek. through 1ndia11counranges, ;ill t h e Zrnss on this side belonging
try. l:-tnr~lirig a s t h r y went a f t e r an ilb-
to Sadorus and his hertls and all on that
setlled on section thirty i : ~Tolono township,
side helonging to Piatt, a11 A b ~ ~ i i ? a ~n i~d where he died over thirty years since. The
Slillers, Isaac, Janles, Beiljau~inand Jolm,
Lot a@air, that had
disturba~lcefrorn intruders for tiiol-e rllan
quarter of a ceri- came at all early day from Indiana, and elltered ;anti and became yermanen t residents.
tury.
IS TH!-: S E I < i H i ; O K U O O I )
Uefore I heti) came W il liar11 Kock, in lS.36,
It will be i~lfrrredrhat the terr11"t~riyli- and set:lt.d oli the 1;rlid where he sub?;+
bor," hati a so;newlliit dl!fere~l~~ ~ ~ r a t i i ~quer,
l g tly dird. Fol loaring him and settling
tilati f rc:xu that giver: i?.now. 1i11d it is a fact
lower down were Ezra Fay. the fir3t S e w
Light preacher ill the courlty, who settled
that "dist;~rlc.e 1e11t e ~ ~ c h a r i t r ~ i eto
n t the
view" o f the few they i~:id. A s already
o n tile Ellars farni: J o h ~ lXair~es.father o f
E. C. Hai I I ~:SLatvsot~Laugh lin and bViilia111
scdrrl wsidel~tsat f)a~~vii!e,
hIontic:e!lo, UrI
I
011 t i 1
l i t 1 T-e~.illili:)n 'I'olet*, his father-in-law, the tirst to be burietl in tile Kock yravvyard; and John
11eig1lt~)rs
o f ttie Sarivrr Ivere i 1 1 ~1!(~3re+;t
0' Bsyai~, wirh his 3ons llrilliarii, Joseph
ciorus falllily, hut it u l ~ ~ riot
: . be +upposeci
that. tl:e ilitt.rvr11ing distances p:-rvt.~ited anti l-ii~.a~~l.
Friy a f t e r ~ i i ; . d~noved
~
to Lalir
~ieigliborl y iicts or cut off sc )cia1 i~~ii.l-conrsc~.Fo1-k.
1S ~ ) I - ~ S S .
A1 r. k\'i1lia111S:i(lorus, S i * : t i i ~ tvllotli 1 tiit ye
rrcbriveti rllo3t of t,tlr fiit:ts here proi~oecltoXlthuugtl itle ltldiari title t o these lands
grtiler, w a s twrlve ~ Y H : ' > old tvliell tliey
11;ttl breli ~sti1lruis1lt.db _ ~treaty ill lSl9.
tool; t i p ilwir ~.->ide~l(*e
011 the OSKanr,
arid
yet. a s latr as IS33 these wilti men w a ~ d e r e d
is now i r l 1ii> SO!ii J ear. si.)e:ikswith r ~ ~ t i i u s i - xt will and h~lrrreclover t!lrse prairies. Bec ~ f y Fears ago atid
aslii of t l i t . i i . : ~ r i g i l t ) t ) r ~six1
lore t11e Sitciorus fatilily had b:\iIt their first
the warn1 1losj)itaiity eltcouxttered i r l every
cilutp 0 1 1 tilt.: O'Kaw, tiley were visited by
;.tibit),oi' t i j L'raisi~,,vs,"
~
tile " I I L I S ~ ; ~ I I ~ ~ a" ~ t d strollit~g bands o f these red Inen. Their
rlle "ilur~ri~lg
circ:rs" wl)icti brougl~tthe
tog
chief errands were to procure s o l ~ ~ e t h i n
scar tt-t-ed svtt lers toget l ~ r ratid kellt a1i v e
eat, and they always got what they came
sociability. l i e r e n l r r ~ ~ b e rr slit! Cook famifor, says IVxli. Sadorus. This hospitality
ly which settled 0 1 1 ttle west side o f the Uig
was rlot thro\vn away for the red men were
Grove i l l Is:3O, anci before being donlicileri
always the fast friends of the Sadorus famburietl the hitsbarid and father, ttir lirst
ily. T h e lndians were of the Pottawaiomie,
tleatli of a wllite settler of the cour~tg. H e
Kit-kar~oo and Delaware tribes. TVillian~
also rc+~iiembe~.s
t.hr cornlng of Stephen
Sadorus renlenibers Shemaugre the P>ottaBoyd. J a k e Heat.rr, the Buseys, Charlie
watorriie chief and says the chief never
Matthew a11d lsaac, l h e lat?er h e sajs, kept
failed to call whexl passing through this
t h e first lirst-claw 1ic;trl i n Urbar~ai11 his
country orl his llnntinp expeditions, always
cabin o n the creek bank. H e . also rerllt.:tldividing with the family his supply of
hers the cborllirlyof Xoble Eyers, the only
game. Shenlaugre then !ived a t the ford of
the Ka~ikakeerivernear Bourbonnais Grove.
.J nstice of the Peace in this part of Vermill i e claimed the Indian camping ground
ion coul~ty, of *X01111 G. Robertson ar~clof
on the site of Urbana as his native place,
tile IVebbers. 'rhese are warmly renlcrttlh e r e d by Mr. Saciorus for the f r i r ~ ~ t i s h i y s and is still reiuembered by many of the
pioneers of the Big Grove as the friend of
wtiict.ll grew 1111 hetiwe11 thetu ;IS yiorleers,
the early 1vhi:s settler. H e is remembered
;111(1ceasetl ollly a t iheir death.
by marly a s the "Old Soldier,'' a name some'r11e first iicit-litior~st o the population in
t he i1111uediatttr~eigilborlioodo f the Sz~ctoriis tiuies assurlled by hiui. His name is seen
f:~rnilywere Henry Ewing, w h o with his
affixed to sonle treaties with the United
fatilily, c.anw froul Colrrtersviile, l i ~ d . ,t w o
Ee
States rvvernment as "Shemaugre."
years :tftt.'r Mr. S ~ ~ O I . carne
I I S and built a
was disowned by his people and lived by
c:;ibin in the grove r1:)rt.h of where tlie viihinlself when known to cur people.
Izg-e Iron- is. He stmaida. year and nloved 011
\Vallhon~irig,a Delaware chief, was also
~ s e s t . \Tilliaiu Jiarcllii5 sooil af t ~ cbatiie,
r
:t frequetit visitor at the Sadorus borne. At
t o o k :.)osst.ssior~o f :lie Ewilig cabill, staid
9 came
orre t i ~ r ~ lie,
t . wit11 several follower.-,
t w o or tllree years aucl ca.!rarrti w >111iti1 plat
over froul the A ~ u b r a wriver, bearing a keg
:,f i;\rlcl and the11 h e too, werit west. Orle
o f \t-lii:k~-, nhich tiley tiad purchased of rt
t IS30 :i~idsettled
Ai liens Vk'righi (*atilt,a'no~~
trader, saying they wanted to stay and have
west o f tile creek. a, lllile or rllore away. l i e
;L h i g drunk, wilich they did, but all the
was a desperado a r ~ dhad %: bari reyutatior,
t i ~ n epeaceable. T h e supply lasted them
alllong h i s neighbors anti final!y inoved
several -daxs, not\vittistanding the leak in
t h e end opposite the spiggot, s h i c h Jlrs.
aivay u~itier colnylrixion. John Cook arid
t ' i ~ ~ l ~ ithe
l x . secorld yernianent settler in t h e
Sadoras hac! made to facilitate consumption.
move, caille xbor~ti!lr begi~iingof 1x39 and
,It the close lVallhor??ing arid his friends
:;-I
In t;ucIi escu:-sio!;s Ile ivo~il(lbe gone solliegave a n all night exhibition of Indian
t i ~ u e s as 1011q :is three \veei;s, c.al;l!Jdances, which tile Sadorus boys witnessed
in^ out arid livii~gb y t.!lct cliase. ll'itliiri ::
with interest. Big John Lewis, a Delaware,
ft?\v years! his pashion f o r l i u ~ l t i ~ i!gi,~ ! d i l * ~
was one of the party. About a year after
110 .<i.ati!ic.atioxl i ! ~ i!I(> lirl(!s so 1011s a,go
the bie drur~klVallhonlirig callle again, this
time sober, bringirig nlitt: hirn 2 2 cool1 skills,
lluliteti over by 1ii111,
i1e i i i t ~so!!;;'llt out lltll~twhich he gave 3fr. 3adorus, saj-i11g tltcAy ing grO~lll(i311 ~ \ ~ ~ i i l ! i ~
:!:~d
: l h 01 ilr!' \i'?>iPI'!:
were to "pay for big druuk."
states.
At awlher' time wi~ell Mr. Sadorus hat1
I'osT-ol~I~I~~
- \ '-!X~I ); sri'O!:F:,<.
gone beyolid t!le I'VaSasl! to nli!l ;inct Xrs.
lt'lle:~ the S ~ t i c i r u sfa~ili!_vfirst. c.ai1lr to
Sadorus t111d Iwr little c.lliidrc-:l were left
tl!ci cl'ovr t llri!' ~~e:di'rst
j~o*t-ofticr
a lit1 tljt.il'
alone, a yal'ty of 111cIIarlscalile to the cabill,
C01i1lty SY:~: [\,as 1':~ris: S(l$iir ( . O I I I I5~~~1, t
:tsl;ec! for Nr. Sador us aiiti were iiiforl~led ilitvil!y ilo !lt>rciOt' i ) o ~ t i i if:tciiiti?~li!ry ciic!
tlltit
had golle to mil:. '!'iley ii~iorrlit~d 1 l t ) i >aIro~lixetl\e ~ O L Y I I ?or ~ ; t \ ! tj):iri~ose.
~r
r i
i.lle \\'Ilite I I ~ : ~ I I ' S ~ ( ~ L I ~tl12.t.
L V SIIP
IVOL~I(~
!!I(+ ~.o::ti ol1ici;ils :IT ;';iris ;it. 0 i I t A t i : ~ ~ e
starve, brit were assured t11;lt tl!rs 11;ttl
~
tile :yt].p(~ts
~va~-lie(i
J ~ I -? $. ; ~ ( ~ ! ; Y I I si ~; l); ) ; : ? i ~ 011
plenty. Tlley tlleri Iri't tlie (*abill l'or !lie
01' ! ' a ~ i():I
~ :: ~ i l ' e l l~j;tyT O \V:il'!<
i ; i ~ .
chase awl i l l ;L t ' r i ~hours retilr~i:?tlbrari:ig
b ~ i t~beii~g
t
t i t ' i ~-in-o I I I ! ! ~ ;:.oil!
.~
I;O!IIP
tlie
tile Ilanls of several Orrr u7\,l;icllt i ~ c ~h?i ~ ( l I I J ~ I I was
~ ~ ~ (1Pi~obe;e(1sia111an(i gave t1le11! to t!le S ~ I I I ~All-5.
!~.
'l'i~eil.lir3t t l x ( i t~ig,a ~ i (for
l
i i t'retb:l ye:irs,
Sado:'us returrred the favor b y ii~structtiltg was tictl~ri i t Eugt2i:r, ! I I ( ~ .\villi
,
t l i ~Collrtrs
ihe boys to go to t!l$ cor'u s11ocl;s it1 tile
~
(;I.o~-'I~PII~~~~Y.
allti uftt.rn;irtf ~ v i t ;S;l!t~ut.l
corn tields and roll out ;t s~rj.)yly
o f yeilo~v r 1i ~ e ei~t'l!
~ e ti11I 1 I:P>.(Irovr 1t i ~ i y11ozs. 'l'liey
pu1liyl;ills, w1;ich had bee11 ptit there to
raise(1 fro111100 t o :.XI0 P;:C!I:;tAar.. 'I'i~eirI i ~ r t i
save tlletn frolu the frost. \Irii1l I I I L ~ ~ I I : L ~ llari ille ~ I I I Iot'
'
tile :il~it>er; i l l t i t'iii trlteti oil
espressioris of I~illdlyferli~tgsthe red cisitt!le 11li1~t
t\;ttil ille ~ ) 1 ' 1 1 ~li11'(1~!1~(!
i ! ~1 1 1 ~tiill
ors and i i i ~Siidortls fanlily separatt-cl 2s
\il!'ell
"l'O[l~ld L I ~ J " w>LS Ililti ali(i 1 1 1 ~/it'l'(i
Itley had often dolie before.
1.1r1t111 21, lieI(1 a i ~ d te(l u ( 1 : i I tile ; ~ i i ( * k i ~ ~ g
Tile cabit! of Mr. Sado1.u~ ufas a l n r ~ y s ~ ( ~ a s oi 1
l l 1E ~ ! g e l ~ r\~11rli
.
;L f o ! ~ : e<:~:lic.irtit
~ l i a d ea st ouping plate by S h r a ~ a ~ ~; tr~r~r c t \!?;..s s : l r n ~ ! ~ o ~ ~i trrt~it i tilt. t 1 1 . c ) ~ ~t ; t l ; t > l i t o
\Vullhonlin,v atld their Iluuil~!g !~:irties, S u i
~~ii;rket.'j'lte ;~orl<
b1.011<117
t:.o:ri -51t o ,$:2 .-A)
not a single act of tlostiliby or of tli~ttve~'y l.)er C W ~ . , 211d ?;lo tril) ( ~ ~ l t s ~ l <t i l' t )lI I~i tell
(~
~ v a ever
s
perpetriited by thrr:l.
U T ~ ~Sal.
daxs 10 t w o ~ ~ ' i r r of
k 3 ti::^^.
ciorus r r t u e t ~ ~ b rthe
~ . s call at their cabill o f
1 1 1 :llr (:OLII.S~
of a f e ~ vyv::i-s D ~ i ~ ~ ~
]lad
iIle
an lildiarl rta~~~ticl
'l'oti~ Jr1lowa.y a r ~ d11is a l)r.),.;t-vflice
; ~ t ~ twcanlt!
t i
!Ilrir tl'atiitr,v poir~t.
ciaugtitrr, O I I t heir \Yay to s!;ule \vesterr1
The tirst I r i ; t a i ' receive(! tty t.lir family cal~lc:
was cilargecl with
poirlt wtlerr t lie d:i~~gllter
throug:1 itlat ofrictr. -1!l;ail rclutr, \vas early
Ilaving killrti a sclua~v, ailci ivllit!~er the
i ~ i ~ Sprirlgtieltl,
( l
establ~sllecl b t t t t ~ ~ l'n1.i~
l!
father wzs \-olu~ltari:_vtaklrlg her to meet
and :tie 111nilc*itt'riergtt~~ri.iili).
(.;i~:!e!::; $.*:;IY
t h e charge. 'l'lie result of the irial h e never.
o f Sricir~ri:~
(;I'oY~,x ! \sit).'; s!clp:)l;~'.r;
ict t !lrir
heard.
110~1$?. 'l'lie 111ai\-Sa(;!;. l~<)Lvt~vk?r,
\.\7;:s 110t
S1ielr;;iugre ciiecl xrltl was b~lrithtlO I I tlio
t < ;~oii ~ t s .
urliockrti t ) e t ~ v r e rt t~~ o ~two
k)alllis o f tile Ka~lkakee,iv11rr.eIle llact livecl.
1 1 1 t i i l l r cilj(;:igo
C!;~lli*to bil (jtiite i L ti.;l(!\
SOCI-\I. I.:\-EST<.
As befti:.e stateti, t h e early s r t t l e r s were,
o o : ~ i i so r , i
i
I
t hry
:!;o~lgI! liviljg f a r apart,very soc:iiiblr amoilg
torrlicl tile Ka.r~ki..lirt:1ivt.r. 11siii!~t-tlevery !il?l!:.-?I~eh aliri IlosyitaDlt: t o a!! strarlgers.
tfiiy O l i tilt' \\a?. ;ili;i tilrv x'A';::l! r'lrt.k.; allti
'Tilt! joutiv pt>o:~leu:xtlirrrci : o u r t l ~ e rfro111
Xi?!! :~ic!!F r i ~ r y c.o:i>itirrab!e di<:.m;crh 1'0:. eor!l "l~u>iiings"
rivers r i e ~ ? :ill?c2s
~ ~
a11ti'-ra.i-i~!x<.':t!!i.i ctdiebra:e<i :lie c o r ~ c l ~ ~ s i o ! ~
Oi' ZllC \ V C ~ Y\Vi?!l
~
;i (1;ii;Vr. \i'lii>:i~y L V i i s
pir~i:?' :it rwrlrty c.ei,T a gallot! atid tiici nor
[~i'o(!iit?11var a> I ) ; I ~ :i drc111k:is iiir li:qL~l)taseti ~LII!! ~II'LI'Y~:! i i r t i ~ l ac~f this clay. Mr.
hi~,.:or:~>
I~irilt:L lo< bzxr11 :;OxiiO S ~ e ttic o t ~ e
1 i1!ita :!1111 t.?:iii+!
I L L S !l~~ig~\!)~~L'S
fSOI11 tkle Ei<
( 4 ? 0 ~ t *SLilt.
~
k ' ~ ) r l <Alor~iirelio.
~
L'iLiV Fur:<,
allti niv:iy < i r ~ u .oil
~ i C)'.ETan, io Ile! y t o raihr
i i . 11 lo!>!<l\vo < i : i > h l o ~ i o
tilv \ ~ o l ' kbllt tile
> ~ ! : i ~g~oib!r
ig
(la11cet1;i!i 11igl11tile at't.011d
I
. -4 t~;i:.i'ri of n'!iis!<ry a:ltl large
: ; I I I O ~ I I I ? ~ of ~ t ~ ~ ~ ~ v ivc-re
i s i o ~: i!s .~~d , b11i 110
i!;i(i ~ l ~ - i < !I ~I Il ! i~ ~I i c ! l l ~ rr>tllt?(!. 11?1iii{ia
i<~is!dl( a ~ i e ~ . \ \ ; ~ ! . ( ! h !31')~:?1:)11f Klb;~~i?l,
\ V ; l s <11iv
t ; i ? h e collii~:Li!~.
111111i> \\.;I! ;:ccl~i;ti~irii:~ces
wrSth i ~ ~ a tn!ld
le
l ; r l ~ t I:!).
~ ~ ~ ; t ; . r ' i a gwc-re
ts
(.O!iIrd~tt!d and
!
l
oS
I
! r e ~d . \ V : ~ I . Sadorus
i l l lS:-;S, \ v i ; r ~ ti r ~ r ~ ~ t x -year's
s i x old, rliarried
of i,:llie Fork, SllelSy c o u i ~ t y ,
31:11.)- lI:~c~:t>,
aliii ~ r l t ! e t l or] 1i~11tl
ile IIitd entered Sour
yeiirs bvf'ort., blrii:.lit;g for I r i ~ ~ ~ s aal l!og
'
c;lCli: ss \\,as i ! ~ rcusto~ii e ~ e r g \ ~ l ! e r e ,but
rrvt-ivi11g ill?aid of his ~leighbuf*.
SC'I1C)oLs.
So >c.i~oolswvrv opelied in tile ~ e t t l e i l ~ e l ~ t
uii:il lSS!;, wilt-11 a man :muled Hootell
1 1 Nr. Sadorus7
tnug!!t a fiul~ilj-~ ~ l i o < iu
ki:cl:rii f ( ~ ar bliort tilite. Air. Saclorus s e n t
his so11 \'ill liar11to a scllool at G e o r g e t ~ ~ r l ,
\ - ~ Y I I J ~ I ~ O I IC O I ~ I I T~ ~~. .1 1\vt~i!t.
~ 1
11e was t h e r e
tlie slu'veyor \V:ts eugayeci in p l a t i ~ r gslit!
! R J . ~ OLII
I I ~t h e IO\TI:. It aSter\va~.dsbecarur
the s w t of i l ~ rGei,rgetown Seminar)- aud
(,nit? arl rciacatioual celltre. Henry Saciorrts
l
niiles this side
\ r a s also s e i ~ tto a ~ c i i o a ten
o f L)a~~\-i!lt.
'l'ilc: firat pilblic schuol in the aettieuient
w a s truelit by J t ~ h i i l l a ~ ~ ~ i l t ill
o n1S0.
,
in a
log s c l i o t r i - l ~ ~ ~bi!ilr
~ r e , abuut one mile 11orth
of t:le viLlare. in rllr u2per en$. of urove.
l t i 3. hn~ti
.,- this acl~ool\Yas taught before a
tioor lind bran 1;iitl or a \vii!dow pat in tile
!ioi;sr ::11tI brt',lrt. it ii;i(i bee11 '-cllinkrtl autl
ti;itiberl."
1:EI.IC.Ior'.
\VilIi:~l~i
Sadoru.i h a s t h a t t h e first senlion
i,l.raci?r~ia r ~ dill? f r + t religious exercises
lir!c.i ill ri:r Grovr was b5- l'rter Cartwrigilt,
l i e \ras
btii !:r car: n o i give tile cia:e.
foilo~veti by ;Irt!i~!r Brad+t;aw, who was
2gr;vi:l:etl l o t ! ~ e U r b a n a ulis3ion ill il':<Y.
I!is tie:ci rrl!brnceiI :lie territory f o r a !o!lg
(ii.::~!iPt> cio\vrl ti!? O'Kaw a 1 ~ -?.!t~braiv.
1
.:i
I'ICJSJ;~;E;X OF C:119 .31P-41C;S f:OCS1'1-.
;.,
-.
-
-
~
-
-
.-.--
.
-
--
- --
-- -----
!and entered by William Sadorus in IS%.
I n the period of the state internal inlprovemerit craze in 1537 a line was run
throllyh t h e grove for this road about half
a mi!e north of t h e present l o c a t i o ~ ~but
,
nothing more came of it, until eightee:l
years afterwards, in The fullrleas c+f t i t ~ l ~ ,
t h e Wabash road was bullt aud Zij?; its
P B R U A S E S T HOME.
thirty trains a day thunder past W i l l i a ~ ~ r
I n 1SB JIr. Sadorus built f o r himself and
Sadorus' door and through the siivan shades
family a very pretentious permanent home,
where he and 111s faelier, a!~no.t s r v r n t y
after having lived i l l their cabin home fouryears since, tirst brolie t h e solitude..; which
teen years. i t was a two-story franie buildprevailed since Creaiion's rilorn.
ing about 50 f e e t front by 20 feet, attached
Mr. Sadorus. 11or\~a patriarch of alnlost
to which was an ell of considerable size. If
eighty years. lives
his third w i f e riot
had f o r its supports big granite boulders.
f a r a w a y fro111 :he yoir~t where they tirst
gathered from t h e fields. T h e siding was
hauled froln Coal Creek, lnd., whiie o t i ~ e r pitei~edtheir C ~ I I I I o, n April !~th.1924, while
r twelve years,
his brother H r r ~ r y >, o i ~ n y rby
portions of t h e sawed lumber w a s brouzht
le
A dense pol~olxtio~r
has
livrs a r ~ ~ iaway.
frour Moses Tholnas' mill near Homer,
taken possessiorl of the adjacer~tt i ~ t ~ bant!
er
while some w a s brought from Heptonstall's
prairies anrl elbowed the hunters and their.
mill, a short distauce below Urbana.
T h i s house was roomy and afforded t,he ganle therefron~.
T h e old ~ ~ i c r ~ ) r tIr11ry
er,
S R ~ O ~die(?
~IS,
host better facilities f o r extending that
J u l y IS, 1S7S, aged a l n ~ o s tnirrrty-live gears
hospitality t o strangers f o r which h e was
x~lcl~iocv
\vlit~ liis faithful wife who t i i d
noted. T h i s home a n d t h a t of William
Kocs, three miles farther south, were ~ I I t!lirty years befort., s!eeys irt tlir little
cemetery near his lrornr. bat in~mediately
their time t h e best o n t h e creek and were
upo11 the b a r ~ k sof t h e str.eari1 Ile loved s o
often t h e scenes of social gatherings arld
well and s o long. klis naurr ia borne by his
always of generous hospitality.
township and village :lnd mill never h r
JIILLS.
forgottell.
T h e Brst milling facilities er~joyeclby lllr
settlement were a choice between a n ~ i l ill
l
Norgan courlty, Illinois, and rl~illsbeyond
tile3 Wabasll in Indiana. T h e s e were in
part supplied by a horse n11ll made by Jlr.
Sadorus in 1Y30. l t was 111ade of dressed
boulders anti run by horse power. It wo11lt1
grind only a btlshel of corn in t w o hours o r
four or tive bushels in a day. It woiiltl
grind but not bolt t h e grain and was hatter
than ro g o one hundred miles east o r west
to mill. T R r y s u b s r q u e ~ ~ t l resorted
y
to
,John %ro\vntield's niill in t h e Big Grove
and TO 'rllorl~as'n ~ i l al t Homer.
T h e settlers prepared a set of puncheon
benches, which were hauled from house t o
house, where appointments were made by
Sradshaw. T h e tiinber was of linn a n d so
was light a n d easily handled. T h e s e a p pointments were n o t very freqiietlt hut
were well attended.
CRIIIR.
'l'lir o ~ ~ t~ornicides
iy
were t h e k i l l i r ~ gof l)r
Haven by Patterson, in IS%, and later t h e
killinz of .Joli~iK i r ~ .by 'rhon~psonT,xrrg-hlin. Dr. Haven w a s !<illetl by a w e i ~ h t
thrown by Patterson and Kice b y a gunshot,.
Patterson was trirti ant1 sent t o tlir y ~ n i tentiary anti I,auqhli~lnxns trietl nnd nc.1~11ittecl.
C'OXC'T,L7SlOX.
Iri tile c o ~ ~ r of
s e tinip. liere as everytvlierc:
elsp in our country. t h e seclnsion o f tli?
frontier gave way t o t h e forces of c.ivilizntior). xncl the iron horse plounllrtl its way
t l i r o ~ ~ gSatl(>rirs'
h
Grovt? abont on t h e lirie
of t h e "Sarrows," adopted by Sadorus anti
his feIlow pioneer, .Joe Smith, a s t h e line
t ) ( - ' t w t > their
~ ~ ~ possessions a;ld across tile

1886 Early History and Pioneers of Champaign County IL --

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