Vermilion county Illinois, JOSEPH J. SIDELL ==================================================================== Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Joy Fisher ==================================================================== p. 251-252, 255 JOSEPH J. SIDELL. The son of the founder of the village of Sidell, naturally occupies no secondary position among the people, not only of the village but the township at large. The late Hon. John Sidell, after whom the township was named, was long recognized as one of the leading men of Vermilion County, and possessed those talents, both natural and required, which distinguished him as a character more than ordinarily forcible and efficient, and one who had a sensible and permanent influence on the community where he was so favorably known for so many years. The father of our subject was born at Hagerstown, Washington Co., Md., June 27, 1816, and his early life was spent in Maryland and Ohio. His father having died when he was a lad of eight years the boy was thrown largely upon his own resources, but he seemed to have within him the elements of success, and those years which were fraught with perhaps hardship and privation sufficed to develop a character of more than ordinary excellence. At the age of nineteen years, being dissatisfied with his condition and his prospects in his native state, he emigrated to Ohio and engaged to work out by the month in Greene County on a farm at $12.50 per month. Saving what he could of his earnings young Sidell in due time purchased a horse and mounting it started for the farther West. He crossed Illinois and visited Iowa, but finding nothing particularly desirable returned to Ohio and took a contract to cut cordwood at thirty-three and one-third cents per cord. This was extremely hard work for such small pay, but he persevered at it until he was able to do something better. While a resident of Ohio he was married Jan. 20, 1846, to Miss Elizabeth Cline, who became the mother of two children and died in 1854. He was then married to Miss Ada B. Ransom, who also died after a comparatively short period of married life. Mr Sidell came to the county in 1860, and for the first few years occupied himself in agricultural pursuits. Later he drifted into stock- raising and became one of the leading men in this industry in Vermilion County. His eldest son, George A., started West at the age of nineteen years and prospected for gold in and around Fair Play, South Park, Col. He was one of the first men to discover silver at Leadville, and was founder of the town. He became owner of the celebrated Beaver Creek Silver Mine, eight or ten miles southwest, and continues his residence there. Allie E., the daughter of his first wife, married Mr. C. C. Tincher, who is well known in the financial circles of Danville. Mrs. Ada B. (Ransom) Sidell, mother of the subject of this sketch, was born in the city of Toronto, Canada, and being left an orphan when quite young, was reared to womanhood by an excellent family who gave her a good education. She left the Dominion when a young lady, and going to Greene County, Ohio, engaged in teaching, and formed the acquaintance of her future husband. There were born to them two children. Mr. Sidell in coming to Illinois settled near Paris in Edgar County, and having some means engaged at once extensively in the cattle trade. He had learned carpentering early in life. Before locating, however, he traveled extensively on horseback in the West, crossing Illinois nine times and through portions of Texas and Iowa. He was in the Lone Star State before its admission into the Union. It will be remembered that Samuel Houston was chief sovereign of that country at that time, and John Sideli erected a residence for him at Houston. The live stock enterprise of Mr. Sidell prospered very well, and not finding a sufficient area of land to suit his purpose in Edgar County he came to this county where in due time he became the owner of 7,000 acres. Upon becoming a voter he had identified himself with the Old Whig party, but upon its abandonment allied himself with the Republicans. He interested himself greatly in political affairs, and was elected a representative to the Lower House of the Legislature, in which position he acquitted himself in a manner reflecting great credit upon his good judgment and honesty. He was instrumental in defining and improving the road laws of Illinois, and was an influential member of the General Assembly, participating in most of its important deliberations. In later years he gradually retired from public life. At the suggestion of Mr. John C. Short, one of the earliest settlers of Sidell Township, it was given its present name. Mr. Sidell was very liberal and public spirited and cheerfully gave of his time and means to encourage the enterprises calculated for the general good. Several years ago he decided to open a portion of his lands to settlers who would locate and make homes for themselves, and thus disposed of a large tract at a very reasonable price, realizing from the sales the sum of $115,000. At the same time he retained a large portion of land himself and was instrumental in bringing the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad to this section, freely donating the right of way. The town of Archie had been laid out and was booming before Sidell had an existence, but finally was practically absorbed by the superior advantages offered by the founder of Sidell as a business point, and consequently enterprising men invested their capital here. Mr. Sidell at one time chartered a train and ran it free from Columbus, Ohio, for the benefit of those desiring to make a home in the West. Sidell was laid out in 1884, and its illustrious founder lived to note its phenomenal growth and prosperity. He departed this life Jan. 29, 1889, after a severe illness of eleven weeks. Although not a member of any church he donated generously toward the erection of the various church edifices in this region, giving to the Kimber Methodist Episcopal Church alone $500, this structure being located in Danville. He had identified himself with the Masons some years before his decease and was buried with the honors of the fraternity. To Mr. Sidell and his second wife there were born three children, Jennie H., Joseph John and Luella Blanche. The eldest daughter is now the wife of William Southwick, a clothier of Streeter, Ill.; Luella married Frank Hastings, an extensive cattle breeder, and they live in Essex, Page Co., Iowa; Mr. Hastings makes a specialty of three different breeds of cattle, the West Highland Scotch — the first ever bred in America—the Hereford and the Short-horn. The subject of this sketch was born March 14, 1862, at Dudley. Edgar Co., Ill., and the scenes of his first recollections were in connection with the first cattle ranch of his father near that place. He began at an early age to assist his father in looking after the cattle, and mounted on his broncho scoured the country for many a mile in the fall enjoyment of boyish youth and strength. He attended the schools of his home district. While a boy of seven he went in charge of a train load of cattle from Farimount, Ill., to Buffalo, N.Y. In case one of the bovines sought repose by lying down at the risk of being trampled to death, he exerted himself to keep it in a standing position, and if not able to do this alone would solicit the assistance of a brakeman. When a youth of seventeen our subject entered the Russell Preparatory School for Yale College, but he was Western in his mode of thinking and in his habits and manners, and an utter stranger to the mode of living of the light-headed Eastern students, so he abandoned his first intention of entering Yale, and returning home continued with his father in the cattle business. He is now revolving in his mind the plan of embarking extensively in this in the near future farther west, probably in Nebraska, but will make his home at the old place, which is beautifully situated 240 rods northwest of Sidell. The marriage of our subject with Miss Maude C., daughter of Michael Fisher, of Indianola, took place at the bride's home in 1884. Mr. Fisher is a hardware merchant and one of the leading men of his town. A sketch of him will be found elsewhere in this ALBUM. Mrs. Sidell was born at Indianola, where she completed her studies, being graduated from the High School. Of her union with our subject there are two children: Rozalia and Zelda Luella. Mrs. Sidell belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject, like his father before him, is Republican in politics and belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Vermilion Lodge, No. 265, of Indianola. He is endeavoring to comply with his father's wish of having a Masonic lodge established in Sidell, and is a charter member of the M. W. C. at this place. He is a young man of sterling worth and very popular both in business and social circles.