Full Text of History of Vermillion County Illinois -- Chapter XI

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CHAPTER XIV. 

EARLY GROWTH.

THE FIRST COMMISSIONERS' COURT AT THE RESIDENCE OF JAMES BUTLER--AMOS . WILLIAMS 
APPOINTED CLERK--AT THE SECOND MEETING THE COUNTY WAS DIVIDED INTO TWO 
TOWNSHIPS--FIRST GRAND JURY--WILLIAM REED APPOINTED ASSESSOR--AT NEXT SESSION 
CERTAIN PROPERTY WAS TAXED--COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED TO LOCATE COUNTY SEAT--
PROVISIONS OF THE ACT ESTABLISHING VERMILION COUNTY--LOCATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT 
AT THE SALT WORKS-- MAJOR VANCE REFUSED TO GIVE UP LEASE-NEW COMMISSIONERS 
APPOINTED TO LOCATE COUNTY SEAT--DENMARK DESIROUS OF ITS LOCATION THERE--GUY W. 
SMITH AND DAN BECKWITH GIVE LAND AT MOUTH OF NORTH FORK OF THE VERMILION RIVER--
PRESENT LOCATION SELECTED--LOTS SOLD APRIL 10, 1827--NAME OF THE NEW TOWN--FIRST 
PUBLIC BUILDING THE STRAY POUND--FIRST COURT 'HOUSE--NEW COURT HOUSE BEGUN IN 
1832--NAVIGATION OF THE BIG VERMILION RIVER--KAFTS AND FLAT-BOATS CARRIED 
PRODUCE DOWN THE VERMILION RIVER--CONDITION OF DANVILLE AS LATE AS 1836--
DENMARK--NORTHEAST PART OF THE COUNTY--THE FERRY ACROSS THE BIG VERMILION--
PRODUCE HAULED TO CHICAGO--COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS--GROWTH OF DIFFERENT 
SETTLEMENTS.

	The official life of Vermilion County began at Butler's Point, by the 
holding 'of the first Commissioners' Court at the residence of James Butler, 
March 6, 1826. Two members of this Court, James Butler and Achilles Morgan, were 
present. The third member, John B. Alexander, was not present until the second 
session of the court. These Commissioners had been elected under the enabling 
act of the state legislature for the organization of Vermilion County. This 
Court appointed Amos Williams, Clerk, and Charles Martin, Constable. John B. 
Alexander had just come from living in Paris, in Edgar County, where Amos 
Williams had served the county acceptably as clerk, and it doubtless was his 
adaptability to the duties of this office known by Mr. Alexander that he was 
made clerk of Vermilion County. A man who could write the clear hand and make 
the neat showing of his books as the records of his term testify to this day, 
was unusual, and desired in public office. At the next meeting of the court held 
at the same place less than two weeks after, the county was divided into two 
townships. The portion south of town 18, was called Carroll township and that 
north of this line was to be called Ripley township. Why this division, is 
unknown and cannot be ascertained. Township organization itself originally was 
an institution of New England, and was not adopted in Illinois until after the 
northern part of the state was settled with people from the east, and their 
influence could be felt. Maybe this division was due to the influence of James 
Butler, who was lately a citizen of Vermont.

	A grand jury was selected at this second meeting of the Court. The names 
on record comprising that first Grand Jury are as follows: John Haworth, Henry 
Canady, Barnett Starr, Robert Dixon, Edward Doyle, John Cassidy, James McClewer, 
Alexander McDonald, Henry Johnson, Henry Martin, Jonathan Haworth, William 
Haworth, Jacob Brazelton, Peleg Spencer, Sr., Isaac M. Howard, Robert Tricle, 
John Current, John Lamm, Francis Whitcomb, Amos Woodin, Jesse Gilbert, Cyrus 
Douglass, Harvey Luddington and George Beckwith. William Reed was appointed 
assessor.

	At the next Commissioners' Court, June 5, 1826, an order for the payment 
of $1.00 was granted in favor of Charles Martin for his attendance at the March 
term of Circuit Court as constable. This was the first money paid out by the 
county. At this session, certain property was made subject to a tax of one per 
cent. This property included "horses, and cattle over the age of three years, 
watches, clocks, pleasure carriages and stock in trade."

	September 4, 1826, a new Commissioners' Court was organized. The members 
newly elected were Achilles Morgan, Asa Elliott and James McClewer. The next 
meeting of the Court was yet held at the residence of James Butler. It was on 
December 11, 1826. Here the record shows that "William Reed, this-day appeared 
in Court and produced his tax book, by which the levy of the year 1826 appears 
to be $205.59 in state paper, on which he claims a deduction for delinquents of 
$7.03 and also 7 1/2 per cent for collecting ($14.89) leaving $183.07, which is 
equal to $91.83 in specie."

	On the first Monday of June, 1827, the Commissioners met at the house of 
Asa Elliott and on the first Monday of September following, the Court met at the 
county seat at the home of Amos Williams in Danville. The second section of the 
act for establishing Vermilion County, made provision for the location of the 
county seat, by appointing "John Boyd, and Joel Phelphs, of Crawford County and 
Samuel Prevo of Clark County, as Commissioners to meet at the house of James 
Butler on the second Monday of March, then next; and, after taking oath for a 
faithful discharge of their trust, to examine for, and determine on, a place for 
the permanent seat of justice of the county, taking into consideration the 
convenience of the people, the situation of the settlement, with an eye to the 
future population and eligibility of the place." The act further required that 
"the owner of the land selected as the County Seat should donate and convey the 
same to the county in a quantity not less than twenty acres in a square form, 
and not more than twice as wide, to be laid off in lots and to be sold by the 
County Commissioners for the purpose of erecting public buildings. In case of 
refusal of the owner to donate the required land the Commissioners were required 
to locate the County Seat, on the land of some other person who would make the 
donation contemplated by the act." A further provision was made that, in the 
event the County Seat was located within the bounds of the Saline reservation, 
on the Big Vermilion river, the County Commissioners should, as soon as 
practicable, purchase of the state, the quarter or half section designated for 
the use of the county. The Saline Lands had, by act of Congress become the 
property of the state. The same act provided also that "all Courts should be 
held at the house of James Butler until public buildings should be erected for 
the purpose, unless changed to another place by order of the County 
Commissioners."

	These three Commissioners met, made a superficial examination of the 
county and sent in a report. They had located the County Seat some six miles 
west of the North Fork of the Vermilion river and back a distance from the Salt 
Fork. The selection was a most unfortunate one. The surface of the ground here 
was cold and flat clay, which made drainage difficult if not impossible. Wells 
could hardly be dug and a city never could have been built upon such a site. 
There surely was little thought spent in its selection. Fortunately Major John 
Vance had leased the Salt Works for a term of years, and refused to yield his 
rights. The citizens of the entire territory, now Vermilion County, were 
dissatisfied, and sent a remonstrance to the legislature, coupling with it a 
prayer for the removal of the County Seat to a more favorable location. Because 
of this plea, the General Assembly of 1826-27 passed an act December 1827, which 
in its preamble reads: "Whereas the seat of justice of Vermilion County has been 
located by the Commissioners appointed at the last session on land which was 
then and is now, leased by the Governor for a term of years to certain persons 
for the manufacture of salt; and whereas, the said lessees are unwilling to 
surrender the same or any part, for the use of the county, in consequence of 
which, no improvements can be made thereon, and the citizen having petitioned 
for its removal, and for remedy whereof, it was enacted that William Morgan, 
Zachariah Peters, and John Kirkpatrick, of Sangamon County, be declared 
Commissioners, to explore the county and designate the place, which, on being 
located should forever remain the permanent seat of justice of Vermilion 
County."

	Up to this time no settlement had been made on the Big Vermilion river at 
the mouth of the North Fork, on the site of the old Indian village of 
Piankeshaw. Denmark was an ambitious town to the north and was desirous for the 
County Seat, and would have secured it could the Commissioners have agreed.

	This land at the mouth of the North Fork, had been entered by certain 
people among them being Dan Beckwith, who lived at the Salt Works and was one of 
the men who claimed its discovery. Guy Smith was another who had entered land at 
this place. Together these two men made an offer to donate to the Commissioners, 
the required amount of land and after due deliberation this offer was accepted, 
and the location was decided in the report sent in by the Commissioners, dated 
January 31, 1827, that in their opinion, "the lands donated by Guy W. Smith and 
Dan W. Beckwith, near the mouth of the North Fork of the Vermilion river, was 
the most suitable place in the county for such county seat." Guy Smith's 
donation was 60 acres and Dan Beckwith's 20 acres.

	The report of these Commissioners being accepted, the deed conveying the 
donated land was executed by Guy W. Smith and Dan Beckwith, and the board of 
County Commissioners ordered the land surveyed, and laid off in town lots. The 
survey was made by Dan Beckwith, who was the County Surveyor, and was laid off 
in town lots. According to instruction, there were one hundred lots. April 10, 
1827, was the day upon which the lots were to be offered for sale. The sale had 
been advertised in the Intelligencer, published at Vandalia and an Indianapolis 
paper. They were the nearest papers to be found. The sale was an odd sight. The 
bluffs along the rivers and Stony creek were a mass of underbrush. There was no 
sign of a prospective city, and many amusing stories are even yet told of 
killing rattle snakes on the day of the sale.

	The fact of the appointment of Amos Williams as clerk of the court the 
year previous to this sale has already been mentioned. During this year the 
friendship between him and Dan Veckwith [sic] had grown and possibly been made 
more deep because they had married sisters. How be it Amos Williams and Dan 
Beckwith were devoted friends and it is reasonable to assume that they found 
opportunity to help each other when the county seat was being located. Amos 
Williams lived at Butler's Point the year after he became the clerk of the court 
but they saw much of each other and together planned to secure the location of 
the seat of justice where it was placed. Dan Beckwith was a, man tall of stature 
and of commanding presence while his friend was a small man with a serious view 
of life. Although the one man stood physically above, the other he was very apt 
to defer to his opinion and consider his wishes, acting on his clear and just 
decisions. The two men were together the day of the sale, as was apt to be the 
case when opportunity made such companionship possible. The advertisement in the 
Illinois Intellegencer brought many to bid on the lots. Beside this word had 
been passed around throughout the country, each man telling his neighbor, and 
many present made the bidding lively. Harvey Luddington acted as auctioneer. 
Forty-two lots were sold for which the county received the sum of $922.

	The lots averaged about $22 each. Since these lots were largely in the 
vicinity of the public square, it is a matter of interest to compare these 
prices with the value of the same lots at the present time. After the town was 
surveyed the county commissioners, who at that time were Achilles Morgan, Asa 
Elliott and James McClewer, with Amos Williams as clerk, proceeded to discuss 
its name.

	Amos Williams talked the matter over with Dan Beckwith, so the story runs, 
when Williamsburg, Smithville and other names were mentioned; all at once Amos 
Williams turned to his stalwart friend and, laying his hand on the tall man's 
shoulder said, "Dan, it shall have your name. Why not? You have done all the 
work. We will call it Danville." And Danville it became and has always remained 
in honor of the man, not so much who had the land to give for its location but 
who had the friendship of a man whose sentiment caused him to perpetuate the 
memory of his friend by naming the new town for him.

	The public building in the county was the Stray Pound. This was erected in 
December 1827. It was built 40 ft. square, of good sound white oak, posts 4 by 8 
in. set firmly 2 1/2 ft. in the ground. The enclosure was 6 1/2 ft. high, made 
"in such a manner as to keep out hogs, etc." Phillip Stanford erected this 
enclosure at a cost of $99.3 3/4 to the county. Amos Williams was appointed 
keeper of the Stray Pound.

	The next public building was the jail. It was built of heavy oak timbers, 
17 by 29 ft. The space of the interior was divided into a criminal department 
and a debtors' department. This jail was located on the block southeast of the 
Public Square. Court met at the house of Amos Williams until the county bought 
the log house built by Reed which stood on a lot now occupied by the Woodbury 
drug store on the south side of West Main street near Vermilion. This building 
was one story high, with a space for a low attic above, about 16 ft. square, 
made of heavy logs, hewn inside and out. The county bought this with the 
expectation of fitting it up for public use. The plan was not carried out, 
however. In the latter part of 1828, proposals were solicited for the building 
of a temporary court house, and also proposals for the building of a permanent 
court house. Hezekiah Cunningham bought the building on the Main street lot, 
together with the lot, and agreed to provide the county for the term of two 
years (unless the new court house could be built before that time), with a place 
for holding court, in the upper story of the large frame building he and Murphy 
had erected on the southwest corner of the Public Square. In December, 1831, 
notice was given that bids would be received at next term of court for a court 
house. The new court house was begun in 1832. Gurdon S. Hubbard was the 
contractor.

	The selection of the site of Danville as the county seat attracted 
settlers to this place, but not until its resources in coal land, and the 
railroads were established were its possibilities as a future city revealed. 
Situated as it was a dozen miles from the Wabash river, there was no water way 
to connect it with markets no matter how much could be raised to market. 
Attempts were made to utilize the Big Vermilion river but to little purpose. An 
act of Congress late in the twenties declared this river navigable as far as the 
range line, one and one-half miles west of Danville, but it was impossible to 
prove this by the river itself. Mr. John Coleman had built a mill dam at Eugene, 
Indiana, and when the Illinois legislature determined upon improving the 
navigation of the Big Vermilion, the Court of Vermilion County made the 
following order which is recorded in Book A, in the County Records of 1829, page 
80:

	"Ordered, that the Clerk of this Court inform John M. Coleman, of 
Vermilion County, Indiana, that the obstruction of the navigation of the Big 
Vermilion River, by his mill dam, across said stream is much in damage, of the 
citizens of this county, and as the legislature of the state have appointed 
funds for the improvement of the navigation of the Big Vermilion River, within 
this state, therefore it will be necessary for you to cause a good, safe and 
convenient passage at your mill, up and down said stream within six months of 
the date hereof, otherwise the legal course of law will be resorted to; and that 
Peleg Spencer be the bearer of this notification." Mr. Coleman refusing to do 
anything, William Kidd and James Clyman were authorized to proceed against him 
by an indictment and prosecution in the courts of Indiana. The following year 
they were authorized to "use such measures as they may think advantageous to the 
county and the citizens thereof."

	Nothing was done, however, and the year following this the county offered 
a premium of $50 to the first captain who should land a steamboat opposite the 
town of Danville. A suit was instituted in the Indiana Circuit Court, by agents 
of the county and the next year Gurdon S. Hubbard, with two other men waited 
upon the Indiana legislature relative to the same matter. All that ever was 
accomplished, however, was a decree to the effect that Coleman should make a 
lock for the passage of flat boats and barges through his dam. Not being 
particularly inclined to accommodate those who had given him so much trouble, he 
merely filled the conditions of the decision by making a lock of his flood gate, 
which was quite a narrow passage and ran under his mill.

	For several years rafts and flat boats were passed down the river from 
Danville to the Wabash, passing the narrow boats through the lock in the dam, 
when the water was too low to pass over the dam in safety. These boats were 
built about 60 ft. long. They were manned by a steersman and two oarsmen. They 
were loaded with produce and taken to New Orleans, and sold, boat, cargo and all 
for what they might bring. The cargo consisted of flour, corn, pork and live 
hogs and poultry, hoop-poles, baled hay and, in short, any thing salable. The 
hogs and poultry were not fully fattened when put on board, but became so on the 
trip, which lasted about six weeks. This time included numerous stoppings at 
points along the Mississippi river, for trading with merchants and planters. 
When the boats and cargo were sold for what they would bring, the men returned, 
some on foot, some having bought mules or horses, but all taking care in 
choosing their route. Great precaution had to be taken lest the traveler fell 
into the hands of the banditti which infested the banks of the river, and to the 
end of avoiding trouble, every one kept well back from their haunts. Many men 
who lived in Vermilion County and the adjoining counties in Indiana, have 
proudly told of their experiences on trips to New Orleans and return. The last 
boat that passed out from Danville was in 1852 and was sent out by Colonel 
Gilbert. In this way a market was made for produce that was to be sold here. 
That which was to be brought in must come from the east and had to be carried by 
way of the Ohio river to the mouth of the Wabash river, thence up stream to 
Perrysville or perhaps Covington, Indiana, and be hauled from the river to 
Danville. The navigation of the Vermilion river was never satisfactory other 
than on paper. In 1836, two Chicago men, Amando D. Higgins and Marcus C. Steams, 
began a speculation in Vermilion County, based upon the navigation of the 
Vermilion river. They entered some land and bought other at a nominal price and 
proceeded to lay it out in town lots, recording it as "Vermilion Rapids."
This plat was made to show both sides of the river and the stream appeared to be 
about ten rods wide at this point. To know the exact location of this town, it 
is needed to understand that it is now known as Higginsville, in Blount 
township. The "rapids" were the main feature of this speculation since much 
matter could be made of the fact that no boat could pass beyond them. The 
impression was given that the Vermilion river was a water-way of importance and 
was navigable to this point, but beyond this the "rapids" kept boats from going. 
That this town would be at the head of navigation of the Vermilion river, that 
along the river front of this town, boats could take on the produce of the rich 
farming lands for miles around, and to this town the merchandise of foreign 
lands would be brought. The promise of direct communication with New Orleans, 
Cuba and all the ports of Europe, seemed reasonable when this prospective city 
was viewed from paper. The rapids, unless removed by government authority and 
appropriation, would always remain a barrier to extending navigation further up 
stream. "Vermilion Rapids" promised to be the head of navigation for all time.

	This might have netted the speculators much money had the plat been put 
upon the market sooner, just as many no more to be commended speculations did. 
The platting of this town was done just before the financial crash of 1837, and 
by the time Mr. Higgins reached New York, the land was utterly valueless. The 
account of this speculation only finds a place in this chapter on account of the 
stress put upon the navigation of the Vermilion river years after it could be 
depended upon even in places where there was some water. It is not an instance 
of early growth.

	A number of buildings were put up within the county seat in the years 
immediately folowing its location. These were at best but primitive log cabins. 
The location of Danville admitted of no other source of livelihood than trade 
with the Indians. Gurdon Hubbard had the principal trade, while Dan Beckwith and 
James Clymer carried on a more limited barter of this kind. A small space around 
what was made the Public Square was cleared of hazel brush, and rattlesnakes, 
but outside of this, the dense brush covered the entire territory up to the 
timber along the Big Vermilion river on the south, the North Fork on the west, 
and Stony creek on the east. So destitute of means to get a living in the 
immediate surroundings were the people in this town which was made the county 
seat before it had even come into existence, they were drawn away from home to 
find work elsewhere; cutting hazel brush and killing rattlesnakes were neither 
lucrative employments. Henry Harbaugh is one of the oldest men in Vermilion 
County, claiming to have been born in 1804. He came to Danville first in 1836 
and gives a vivid picture of the place at that time. He is yet, in both body and 
mind, well preserved and recalls affairs of the county at that time, clearly and 
accurately. He tells how he left Cincinnati by the steamboat "Utah, which was 
bound for Perrysville, Indiana." He came down the Ohio river to the mouth of the 
Wabash river, and thence up that river to Perrysville. Here leaving the boat, he 
walked across to Danville, Illinois. The impression made upon him by Vermilion 
County's seat of justice is well given in his own words: - "Well, Danville was a 
poor town. It was the miserablest town I ever did see. I did not want to stay 
here. Why nobody wanted to stay here. There was nothing but hazel brush. Many of 
the cabins which had been built were abandoned, while those who owned them had 
gone to the edge of the timber to herd their stock and raise something to eat. 
Danville was most all hazel brush and deserted log cabins."

	Mr. Harbaugh goes on to tell his eagerness to leave Danville to the extent 
that he continued his walk two miles along the North Fork to Denmark, a town up 
that stream which ten years before this time had been a competitor of Danville 
in determining the location of the county seat. It was a promising town at the 
time of the fight for the honor, but had not grown much during the interim, and 
now was found to be the resort of rowdies. The public house which yet carried 
the sign of good food was nothing but a bar, and its patronage was a set of 
rowdies. Mr. Harbaugh's experience at this place was such that he found that 
flight was the better part of valor, and he hastily took himself on toward the 
prospective town of "Vermilion Rapids," afterward the better known town of 
Higginsville.

	At that time the town was only in prospect built, as it proposed to be on 
a great scale, but its fame had spread abroad and here Mr. Harbaugh located and 
spent his life.

	Denmark had its beginning as a town in about 1823 or 4, when Seymour Treat 
built a mill at that place. The exact time of building this mill is not known, 
but record is made that in 1826, the mill had been running for several years. 
This was a saw-mill and a corn-cracker combined. Treat was also a blacksmith at 
Denmark. The prosperity of Denmark did not outlast the first decade of life in 
Vermilion County.

	It was in 1828 that the first settlement was made in the northwest part of 
the county. This settlement was made by Mr. Partlow, with his son-in-law, Asa 
Brown, who came from Kentucky. There were four sons, all of whom were married, 
who came with their father. These sons were Samuel, James, Reuben and John. They 
built a cabin at what was afterward known as Merrills Point and the sons took up 
land to the south at where Armstrong was located. John and James were licensed 
preachers. They brought a number of cattle with them and every thing looked 
promising when the second year was a most severe winter. This was the winter of 
the deep snow when one snow was not melted until another came, until the amount 
on the ground was a matter of record.

	Mr. and Mrs. Partlow, the father and mother, both died and the others 
became discouraged. The snow was so deep that the cattle died from lack of food 
and care, there was no way to reach a market, and the sons all went back to 
Kentucky as soon as the weather permitted. Asa Brown, the son-in-law, alone 
remained in this first settlement. They returned later, however.

	In 1827, the Juvinalls and Morgan Rees settled just south of the Partlows 
and with others coming, partly, at least, settled this part of the country. 
Among these new comers were the McGees and Stephen Griffith. Samuel Bloomfield, 
who had come into the county in 1823, and settled at Quakers Point, moved to 
this neighborhood on the Middle Fork, in 1829. He had entered a farm in this 
more newly settled part of the county and left the older farm to improve the new 
one. In 1828, Absolom Collison came into this neighborhood. He was a friend of 
the Juvinalls, coming from their old home in Ohio. Mr. Chenowet came into this 
neighborhood the same year and the following one, his daughter Mary became 
Absolom Collison's wife. The Atwoods came to a point further down the river, in 
1829. Although no permanent settlement was made nor any town established, these 
families coming into the northeast part of the county gave impetus to its 
growth.

	Samuel Copeland came to the Middle Fork in 1828, and settled further to 
the south than did the Atwoods when they came the following year. When he came 
he found Ware Long living to the east of him in the timber. Soon Amos Howard, 
Mr. Shoky and Mr. Priest came and settled to the south of Copeland, forming what 
was long called the Howard neighborhood. John Johns settled about three-fourths 
of a mile northeast of Copelands. Later Copeland's son married John Johns' 
oldest daughter. In 1828, Daniel Fairchild and his five sons, Timothy, Zenas, 
Orman, Lyman and, Daniel, together with his married daughter, Mrs. Blevens, came 
to the Middle Fork and located two miles northwest of Samuel Copeland. The 
father was very old, nearly blind, and lived but a short time after moving into 
this neighborhood. The sons and daughter, however, were all married with young 
families, and they took their place making a lasting impress on the community. 
The waning interest in the production of salt was the reason that newcomers were 
not attracted to the region of the salt works, which had been the source of 
employment to a large number in the early twenties. Mr. Lander and Mr. Shearer 
were in the neighborhood of the later well-known J. R. Thompson farm, some time 
previous to the coming of William Smith, in 1830. A Mr. Progue settled about 
this time further to the west, near the county line. Mr. Brewer lived further 
down the creek and close to what was later Conkey town, Stephen Crane had 
settled. About the year 1827, Jesse Ventres and James Howell came from Kentucky 
into the neighborhood which was afterward Newtown. Mr. Ventres bought a piece of 
land half a mile southeast of Newtown from Mr. Indicut, who is supposed to have 
come to this locality at perhaps a time not far distant from the discovery of 
the salt springs. The year after Jesse Vantres came, John Cox from Big Sandy 
made him a visit. He left his son with Mr. Ventres.

	A ferry was established across the Big Vermilion, in 1828, the court 
granted license for the same and fixed the following lawful rates: - "For 
crossing man and horse, 12 1/2 cents; wagon and horse, 18 3/4 cents; wagon and 
two horses or oxen, 25 cents. Persons going to mill, one-half rate." Solomon 
Gilbert built the mill this same year. He built the log tavern in 1827.

	John Payne came from Indiana to Butler's Point, in 1827. His son-in-law, 
John Thompson, came with him and settled one mile northeast of Catlin. Charles 
Caraway came from Virginia in 1824. Noah Guyman, with his wife, who became the 
best known and best loved woman in this section of the country, for years, came 
on foot from Ohio, in 1830.

	James Stevens came to Brooks' Point, in 1826. Isaac Gone had come a year 
previous to this time, John L. Sconce came from Kentucky, in 1828. John Cage and 
James Graves with his two sons, O. S. and L. H. came about this time. Daniel 
Darby set up a wagon shop near here about this time. The post office was 
established in Georgetown, in 1828. The mail route ran from here by way of 
Carroll, an office in the McDonald neighborhood, to Paris.

	William Swank took up his residence in Vermilion County in 1823. He came 
from Putnam County, Ohio. His farm occupied the present site of Indianola. Aaron 
Mendenhall came from Greene County, Ohio, to Vermilion County, Illinois, in 
1824. He brought his fifteen year old son John with him. The Community of 
Friends which settled early about Vermilion, was strengthened and increased in 
numbers in the years immediately following the establishing of Vermilion County, 
by others of this faith coming from North Carolina and Tennessee. Their life was 
calculated to form a high standard of living and their influence was long a 
strong factor in the development of Vermilion County. Dr. Thomas Madden and Dr. 
Thomas Heyward were practicing physicians in this county prior to 1828. J. B. 
Alexander, together with his son-in-laws, Alexander McDonald and I. R. Moores, 
entered land which afterward was known as the McDonald neighborhood, in 1822. 
Mr. Alexander, himself, did not make this section, which was then Edgar County, 
his home, until after it became Vermilion County. He was very prominent in the 
early affairs of the new county. The settlement in the southern part of the 
county was strengthened in 1824 by the coming of Abel Williams. He was a most 
remarkable man and one who would be a help to any neighborhood. He came from 
Tennessee. The same year brought Robert Dickson from Kentucky with his four 
sons. Silas Waters and George Barnett came from Kentucky the same year. Thye 
Makemson and family first came to Vermilion County in the fall of 1828 and 
located one and a half miles north of what is now Oakwood. The family consisted 
of Thos. Makemson, a revolutionary soldier, and his five sons, Andrew, David, 
Samuel, John and James. They lived together until after the death of the father, 
when they were scattered. William Craig became a resident of this neighborhood 
in 1829. The first attempt at settlement on the North Fork was made in 1824. In 
the fall of 1823, Obediah LeNeve came through this part of Edgar County on a 
trip he was making on horseback to select a location of a home. The land in the 
region now known as Newell township, took his fancy and before he returned to 
his home he took the number of the tracts he desired with an idea of buying 
them. At a public sale soon afterward he bought them and before Christmas of 
that year he and his brother, John LeNeve, came overland from Vincennes to this 
new home. Reaching here in safety, they found the Indians friendly and soon had 
a cabin built on the land. Soon Ben Butterfield came and occupied the cabin 
until the following fall. It must be remembered that this was the year before 
Danville was contemplated. This location became a popular one and a large number 
of people came, mostly from Kentucky and Virginia.

	Joseph Gundy began improvement in what was afterward Myersville, in 1827, 
but did not fetch his family until the following year. Luke Wiles settled on the 
other side of the river the same year. He came from Indiana. John Woods, a 
native of New York state, came to this part of Vermilion county as early as 
1828. His father-in-law, Supply Butterfield, came about this time.

	The first settler in the western part of the county, south of the salt 
works was Thomas Osborn, who, in 1825, built himself a little cabin a mile or 
two northwest of what is now Fairmount. There he fished and hunted until the 
game began to grow scarce when he moved further west. A year or two later, James 
Elliott, James French and Samuel Beaver came to the same neighborhood. Beaver 
was a tanner and owned and worked a small tanyard for some time.

	Henry Hunter took up a claim in 1828, just north of what is now Fairmount, 
but sold it in 1833 to Jennings. Mr. Stewart took up land nearby in the same 
year but died in 1833. He was buried in the Dougherty burying ground, his being 
the second grave. Thomas Redman and Joseph Yount came to this neighborhood m 
1828, from Ohio. The next year John Smith opened a farm near by. W. H. Lee 
settled a little further to the east in 1829, and William Hardin settled here at 
the same time. These people are all supposed to have come from Ohio. In taking a 
survey of the growth of Vermilion County in the decade immediately following the 
first settlement within its borders, it must not be forgotten that these years 
included but three years of its official life as a county separate from Edgar. 
So it is that a survey of conditions in the last days of the twenties, while the 
section has been attracting settlement for ten years, yet the county has counted 
its existence but since 1826.