Full Text of History of Vermillion County Illinois -- Chapter XV - Part 2 Scanning and OCR by Joy Fisher, jfisher@us-genealogy.net ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- HEZEKIAH CUNNINGHAM. Hezekiah Cunningham, who was a prominent citizen of Danville at an early day, was born in Virginia, whence he came in 1819. He was accompanied by his mother and with them were the Murphy family. They came in wagons, it taking them seven weeks to make their trip to the North Arm in Douglas county. At that time there were but ten families in that part of the country. In 1825 Mr. Cunningham came to Vermilion County following Mr. J. B. Alexander, and married his daughter, Mary. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham were the parents of five children, two of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. These were Mr. W. T. Cunningham, who was well and favorably known and the daughter, who became the wife of Judge O. L. Davis. In 1828 Mr. Cunningham moved to Danville where he lived the remainder of his life. While a resident of Danville he was interested in all affairs for the advancement of the town. His name is written frequently in the history of the county. He built the storehouse which had a hall in the upper story where meetings of all kinds were held. He was a merchant for many years. Mr. Cunningham, together with his brother-in-law, Mr. J. H. Murphy, were men of public spirit and to them there is much of the prosperity of Danville in its growing years due. ELI HENDERSON. Mr. Eli Henderson came to the country about the Little Vermilion in 1824 and brought his son, Elam, a boy of about fourteen, with him. Mr. Eli Henderson lived in this community until his death in 1833. Soon after the death of his father, Elam Henderson married Mary Golden and they moved to Georgetown township, where they accumulated a large property. Mr. Henderson was elected to the office of County Commissioner in 1836. After filling this office three years, he was elected associate justice. He kept this office about nine years or until the county went under township organization. Mr. Henderson became a merchant in 1853 and continued in that business for more than twenty years. With the exception of two years he was supervisor of his township from 1857 to 1873. Mr. Henderson was an old line whig up to the dissolution-of that party after which he was a staunch republican. He was connected with the Society of Friends, as was his father before him. JOHN BROWN ALEXANDER. It was while yet the present United States were the colonies of Great Britain that a ship crossed the Atlantic, having on board a man who was to be a strong factor in the making of Illinois. This man was John B. Alexander. On board the same vessel was another young man who, too was seeking a home beyond the sea whose posterity was destined to be a conspicuous part of the history of this section. Beside these two men there was a family whose acquaintance they made on the passage. The family consisted of at least two daughters and a son of a Scotchman by the name of King. The acquaintance which might have been of longer standing than the weeks on shipboard, and might not, ripened into ardent affection on the part of young Alexander and McDonald toward the daughters of Mr. King. The result of this or rather these romances was that both the young men, Alexander and McDonald, married his daughters. Mr. King and both John B. Alexander and Donald McDonald, located in Tennessee and there remained for some time. In due course of time, Donald McDonald's son, Alexander McDonald, together with J. B. Alexander's son, came to the then new state of Illinois. Since the wife of Alexander McDonald, was Catherine Alexander (the daughter of Mr. Alexander) and his son as well were seeking homes in the new country, the father came with them. Mr. McDonald and his wife came on to the attached part of Edgar County, soon after reaching Illinois, and located in the neighborhood of the Little Vermilion, but Mr. Alexander and his son located in Edgar County, at Paris. There they remained until the new county of Vermilion was formed when Mr. Alexander came to that territory and had much to do in putting the machinery of the new county in working order. Mr. Alexander was a man particularly fitted to do this work, and it is a fortunate thing that he was willing to cast his lot with the fortunes of the new county. He was the first commissioner and it was through his influence doubtless that Amos Williams was brought here from Edgar County. Mr. Alexander did not come into this wilderness without a sacrifice. -His was of a nature that could find expression in intercourse with men. He was a well read man and could give as well as find pleasure among men of letters. His library was a wonder, and his manners were far from those of the pioneer. A memory of his granddaughter that she cherishes with fondness is, when she was a girl of perhaps nine he took the trouble to take into his private room and unlocking the desk, unwrapped a book which he showed her, telling her that it was the first book he procured for her father, Gen. M. R. Alexander. Then he carefully wrapped it up and put it away in the desk which he locked. Mrs. McMillen, his granddaughter, goes on to say, Grandfather told me of his young manhood, he was but a boy when he saw his future wife on ship board, near Charlotte, N. C. How on one occasion riding through the British camp on his way with a sack of corn on his horse going to mill to have it ground. He also told me what an exciting time they had when the whole community assembled in Charlotte to sign and ratify the Declaration of Independence in May, 1775. I said, "Grandpa, were you a democrat then?" Throwing his hands on his breast he said, "Politics, we had no politics, we were patriots." This answer and earnestness impressed me greatly. I thought he was the grandest man I ever had seen. WILLIAM TRIMBELL. William Trimbell came to Vermilion County in 1826, riding on horseback. He was accompanied by his wife who also rode her horse all the way from Kentucky to this county. He was one of the first settlers in what is now Pilot township. He came direct from Kentucky but was born and raised in New Orleans. He made money in feeding cattle and became possessed of land of value. Mrs. Trimbell long kept the dress she wore on her trip into this county and showed it to her children and grandchildren. It was made of some wool goods which she had spun and woven herself and had dyed a blue color. Mr. and Mrs. Trimbell were the parents of nine children all but two of whom grew to maturity, and had families of their own. Of these children William, the eldest, was the only one not born in this county. Elizabeth became the wife of John Vinson, Sarah became the wife of Gentry Williams, Mary became the wife of George Brown and Harvey Piper married Rebecca, the youngest. John Trimbell married Clara Meade, the daughter of Nathaniel Meade, William Trimbell, Jr., married Zeila Outan and Paris Trimbell married a Miss Cook. When William Trimbell took the lone ride from Kentucky, with his wife, who carried their boy on the horse with her the country was rough and unsettled. He entered land, as did all the early settlers near a stream and did not dare go outside the timber to build his house, but stuck to the timber and put the prairie to the apparent natural use as grazing ground for the cattle which brought him great wealth. When his daughter married he gave her a farm on the prairie that her husband could care for the stock. AMOS WILLIAMS. Amos Williams, one of the most prominent among the makers of Vermilion County, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1796. He came to Illinois in After going to he settled in Paris where he was clerk of the court and surveyor. It was Amos Williams who surveyed Paris and platted it. When in 1825, the newly organized county of Vermilion was in need of a man to act as clerk, J. B. Alexander was one of the commissioners and much depended upon him to set the machinery going. He knew the ability of this young man and at once took steps to secure his services for Vermilion county. Mr. Alexander had, until quite recently, lived in Paris where his son, at that time, was in business, but his sons-in-law had lived in this part of the attached territory to Edgar County and he had kept in touch with the needs of the territory. He knew not only that it would be a hard matter to get as good a clerk as Amos Williams made, but that there was not the material for such use in this section. The commissioners sent for Mr. Williams to change his residence. Amos Williams consented, and there is a letter in the possession of one of his grandsons written to his mother just before he left Paris, which shows with what serious thought he contemplated the change of location. He also states that he had just married the daughter of Judge Shaw, of Paris. The other daughter of Judge Shaw became the wife of Dan Beckwith, afterward. Mr. Williams, located at Butler's Point, that being the place where the Vermilion County Court was held until a county seat was located. Amos Williams became an active citizen of the county from the first. He assisted in surveying the county, locating the county seat and he built the first house in Danville. He was both clerk of the circuit court and judge of the probate. He was appointed the first postmaster of Danville and also Notary Public. He held all these offices without interruption from the organization of the county until 1843, and some of them, until 1849-a period of twenty-three years. So faithful was he in his service that many thought there was no other man in the county qualified to do his work. The records need but to be seen to show his proficiency as a scribe. Amos Williams was anxious for all measures which promised the betterment of Vermilion County. He was most active in advancing education in the county and particularly in Danville. For many years he personally owned the only schoolhouse in Danville, which he had built for that purpose. This building was opened to the use of all denominations as a place of public worship, also for public speaking, lyceums, and all entertainments of an educational or instructive character, and always without charge. Although in public office for so long a time, there was never a charge of incompetency or questionable business methods made. He died November 15, 1857, and was buried in the Williams burying ground. When this burying ground was sold to the city that a street might be extended further east, his remains were removed to Spring Hill Cemetery. LEVI BABB. Levi Babb was born in Green County, Tenn., Dec. 26, 1788. He came to Vermilion County, in October, 1826, and stopped near Yankee Point for a short time. In December of the same year he located on section 14, range n, Elwood township. He remained there about three years and a half, entering the west half of the southeast quarter of the section named, where he built the house which not only served him but his son after him for a home. During the time of his early residence in Vermilion County, Mr. Babb entered in all about six hundred acres of land. The Indians had their camping ground about the house he built. There has been much evidence of this particular place being the scene of an Indian battle in the long ago by the many flint arrow heads found on the grounds. There was even a stone axe discovered there at one time. In the early days of his first coming Levi Babb was obliged to go to Raccoon and Sugar creeks to mill. He endured many hardships and privations as did all the pioneers. He came from; Tennessee in a five horse wagon, riding a distance of six hundred and fifty miles. He became a fluent speaker of the language of the native Indian and taught the son of the chief to plow, and in many ways endeared himself to them, and made them his friend forever. He was a tireless worker and in every thing that pertained to his farm he spared no pains to procure the best. He would haul his produce to Chicago and return with salt and groceries. He was offered forty acres of land where Chicago now stands for a yoke of oxen, but he thought the land would never be of any account and so refused the wonderful bargain. Mr. Babb was married twice and was the father of thirteen children. He died March 23, 1872. His first wife was Susannah Dillon, and his second wife who survived him less than a year, was the daughter of Alexander Prevo, a pioneer of Fountain County, Indiana. WILLIAM WATSON. William Watson was a native of Nelson County, Kentucky, and he went from there to Harrison County, Indiana, thence to Vermilion County, Illinois, in 1826. He bought land and developed a farm, at least was doing what he could, when three years later he died. His son John was not much more than a boy, but boys grew up quickly in those days of responsibility, and John Watson was the same as other boys and early took a man's part. He served in the Black Hawk war and shared all the privation of a pioneer's life. His capital of determination and a pair of good strong arms and willing hands was worth more than money would have been at that time. He entered and bought land until he owned about a thousand acres. His home was about five miles northeast of Danville. He remained on his farm until, in 1873, when at the age of sixty-three, he bought residence property in Danville and made that his home for twenty-five years. MICHAEL WEAVER. Michael Weaver was born in Washington County,. Maryland. His father died while yet he was a lad and his mother took him to North Carolina, but he ran away from home with a cattle drover's outfit and he returned to Maryland where his older brothers yet were. From that time he made his way in the world. When he became a man he married Elizabeth Specard, of Hagerstown, and about a year later they moved to Pennsylvania. They later made their way down the Ohio to Kentucky where Mr. Weaver bought a farm and they lived here for three years when they crossed the river into Clermont County, Ohio, and soon afterward went to Brown County in the same state. He remained on that farm for ten years when he put his wife and ten children in a big covered wagon and well supplied with provision and all needed for a new home, they started for Sugar Creek, Indiana. He did not like this location when he reached it, however, and so went on beyond to Vermilion County, Illinois. He settled in what is now Carroll township and entered land which he proceeded to improve. He had to go to Palestine to enter the land. The Weaver family found a cabin which someone else had built, which had two rooms and a kitchen built on. This they made do until they could get something better. A part of Mr. Weaver's family was his son-in-law and his family. They arrived here November 12, 1828. Mr. Weaver was a man of a high sense of honor and justice. He would never accept more than six per cent interest for money loaned, nor would charge or take more than twenty-five cents for a bushel of corn. He declared that was all it cost to raise it. He was very benevolent and always had his house open for any one. Nothing pleased him more than to help those who tried to help themselves. Mr. Weaver lived to be more than one hundred years old and in his old age he was a man of great wealth. He was the father of seven children who married into the families of the prominent settlers and settled in the neighborhood so that many in that part of the county are direct descendants. ABEL WILLIAMS. Abel Williams came into this county in 1826, bringing his wife and four chil- dren. They came from Tennessee, his father having gone there from North Carolina. He and his wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal church and when he came here the first thing he did was to build a place of worship. He did it without help from any one until it was almost completed. It was the first house of worship ever built in Carroll township. It was built about a mile southwest of Indianola, and was the center of Methodism for many years and several counties. Mr. Williams was the first advocate of "total abstinence" in Vermilion County. When he first came there was not a man but who drank more or less intoxicating liquor. The church members were no exception. When Abel Williams began to advocate "teetotalism," as it was caller, he made many enemies as may be supposed. He lived, however, to see intemperance discounted in the church and public sentiment banish it from the best society. Abel Williams was the second justice of the peace and held the office twelve years. It was well known that he would not issue papers for law suits until he had exhausted every means of other settlement. His decisions were always sustained by the higher courts. Abel Williams came of Quaker stock. SAMUEL GILBERT AND SONS, AND SOLOMON GILBERT. The family of Gilberts are well considered together, since all of them were more or less great factors in the making of Vermilion County. Samuel Gilbert, with his family, consisting of his wife and three sons, Alvan, James and Elias, came to Vermilion County from Ontario County, New York, in 1826. They had really come west the previous year but stopped in Crawford County until this time. When they came to Vermilion County they settled two miles south of Danville. There was, at that time, no town in the county containing more than fifty white families. The nearest mill was at Eugene. The great need of this section was a mill and in 1831, Mr. Solomon Gilbert, the brother of Samuel came from the east and put up one at near the mouth of the North Fork of the Big Vermilion. Another brother, Jesse, established a ferry across the Vermilion river, a much needed improvement. Mr. Samuel Gilbert lived in Danville until 1839, when he went to Ross township and there was made the first justice of the peace. He was also the first postmaster, serving in this office for twenty years. He held the office of justice for ten years. Mr. Gilbert's wife died the year he moved from Danville, and was buried in the Williams' burying ground. Mr. Gilbert afterward married Mrs. Elizabeth (Dougherty) Ferrier, the daughter of one of the early settlers of Varice township. Mr. Samuel Gilbert lived to be seventy-two years old. He died and was buried in the Williams' burying ground. Alvan Gilbert, the oldest son of Samuel Gilbert, was fifteen years old when he came to Vermilion County. He spent the first years after coming here in the work provided by the many interests of his father and uncles. In 1831 he married Miss Matilda Horr and the following year he went with his father to Ross township, where his father-in-law owned land. Mr. Gilbert bought a small farm of his father-in-law which he afterward enlarged to 240 acres. This farm he afterward sold to his father and brother James, and bought another farm of his uncle Solomon. This later farm included the northern limits of Rossville. He lived her about three years when he again sold and bought another farm of Mr. Leggitt which included a part of the southern limits qt Rossville. He traded extensively in real estate and personal property, and it has been claimed that during his life he had more deeds recorded than any other man in .the county. Mr. Gilbert's first wife died in 1840, leaving two daughters, one of whom afterward married George C. Dickson and the other became the wife of Frederick Grooms. Mr. Alvan Gilbert served as Supervisor of his township for many years, being president of the Board for a part of the time. Upon the adoption of the township organization he was one of the three commissioners appointed to divide the county into townships. He was also one of the three commissioners appointed to divide the swamp lands between this county and Ford, when Vermilion lost that territory. Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Lamm represented the old county and Judge Patton, the new one. He had Judge (Guy) Merrill and John Canaday as associates in the act of making the division of the county into townships. The three who divided the swamp lands were about three months in making the division. Mr. Alvan Gilbert's second wife was Nancy (Horr) Elzy. SAMUEL BAUM. Samuel Baum came to Vermilion County at the same time as his father-in-law, Michael Weaver, and settled on the Little Vermilion. His brother Charles came nine years later and together they became the founders of the family of that name of whom there have been many in Vermilion County. Samuel married Sarah, the daughter of Michael Weaver, while they were in Ohio and had a family of two children when he came west. After coming to Illinois there were six more children born to them. Sarah (Weaver) Baum died and Samuel Baum married Mrs. Polly Matkins, the widow of William Matkins, and they became the parents of four children. Samuel Baum was a large, powerful man, six feet one inch in height, and weighed three hundred pounds. He was jovial and good hearted, always a good tempered man. He took the first produce he raised in Vermilion County to Chicago, driving five yoke of oxen. His sole possession when he came to Illinois was a horse, a bridle and a saddle, and at the time of his death in 1861 he was the owner of 1,500 acres of well cultivated land, besides personal property. He belonged to the Republican party and died at the age of fifty-six. His brother, Charles Baum, who came to this county some years after took up 160 acres of land from the government, and made later purchases until, at one time, he owned 1,660 acres, besides the 200 acres that was the gift to his wife from her father. Charles Baum was married three years after coming to Vermilion County to Miss Catherine Weaver, who was the fourth daughter and sixth child of Michael Weaver. Mrs. Baum was born in Clermont County, Ohio, and came to Illinois at the same time as her father, she being but eight years old at the time: Mr. Baum lived on his home farm which his wife's father gave her. JOHN LARRANCE. John Larrance was a native of North Carolina, but he came to the Little Vermilion directly from Tennessee in 1827. He had his choice of almost the whole of Vermilion County at that time and he made a good one. He entered 240 acres of land, paying the government price, and thereon built a cabin made of round logs. It had but one room and was not at all luxurious. The floor was logs split in two with the flat side up, a clapboard roof and doors of the same material. They lived happily for one year in this house and were determined to make a comfortable home of it in spite of inconveniences. For nine years Mr. Larrance's wife cooked all the meals on the fireplace, using a long handled skillet and a brick bake oven. At the end of that time he went to Chicago for some purpose and brought back a cook stove. This was the first one in the neighborhood, and was a great curiosity. The maiden name of Mrs. Larrance was Ruth Mills, she being the daughter of John Mills. She was the mother of nine children. Mr. Larrance's oldest son was nearly ten years old when they came from Tennessee, and he soon grew to take his place in the affairs of the county. His education in books was had in die old school-house with greased paper for windows, stick and clay chimney, slab benches and wall desks, of the pioneer days of Illinois. The school course was limited to two or three months in the winter. Moses Larrance married Nancy, the daughter of Aaron Mendenhall. Mr. Mendenhall had been living in this part of Vermilion County for three years when Mr. Larrance came from the same place in Tennessee. Mr. Mendenhall owned the same farm that Silas Baird later purchased. Mr. Moses Larrance was the father of thirteen children, who have married among the children of the early settlers until they are related to many. He and his household have, as had his father before him, been strong supporters of the Society of Friends. WILLIAM CURRENT. William Current came to Vermilion County in 1827 and settled five miles northeast of Danville in Newell township. He was a man of twenty-four and his wife, hardly more than a girl, being but twenty, yet having been married five or six years. They came from Pennsylvania and endured the common trials of pioneer life. Mr. Current secured a good tract of land and built up a fine homestead. The family came in time to experience the suffering of the winter of the deep snow. Mr. Current volunteered in the Black Hawk war and served until discharged with the other troops. William Current was the father of thirteen children and died in 1851 at the comparative early age of forty-three. His wife survived him, remaining a widow for thirty-three years. She died in 1884. ANDREW PATTERSON. Andrew Patterson brought his family to Vermilion County in 1827 from East Tennessee. He was a native of Granger County, East Tennessee, as was also his son William who was at that time three years old. Andrew Patterson settled his family at Yankee Point among Indians and wild animals. Like all the pioneers they settled in the timber, thinking the prairie could never be used for anything but grazing. William Golden, the father-in-law of Andrew Patterson, had come to the Little Vermilion country three years before this date and located at Yankee Point Mr. Golden later had the distinction of having the first frame house in the neighborhood. It was not only a frame house, but it was painted. His grandson, the son of Mr. Patterson, tells about this house which he recalls distinctly. It was two rooms long and one room deep, and painted red. Mr. Golden's half brother, Tom Whitlock, painted it, using a brush as any one would do today. There is no doubt the strongest ties were between William Golden and his daughter Amelia, who became the wife of Andrew Patterson, and followed her father to Illinois. Her oldest son was named William and her youngest one was named Golden, both bearing the name of her father. Andrew Patterson was the father of six children. William Patterson, the oldest son of Andrew Patterson, grew up in Elwood township and married the daughter of Eli Patty, in 1853. He was born February 22, 1824, in Granger County, East Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are the parents of seven children of whom four are yet living. Mr. Patterson has been a resident of Elwood township ever since 1827, with the exception of a few years shortly after his marriage, when he improved a fine farm at Broadlands in the southwestern part of Champaign County. SAMUEL COPELAND. Samuel Copeland was among the first, if not the very first, settlers of Blount township. He came to Vermilion County in 1827. The family made the journey from Ohio in a keelboat down the Ohio river and up the Wabash river to Perrysville, Indiana. Mr. Copeland made the boat himself and brought not only the household goods but also a boat load of salt. Out of the sale of the salt he made his start in the new life. He sold the salt at Perrysville and hired a man to haul his household goods and family seven miles northwest of Danville, where he entered eighty acres of land, part timber and part prairie. His first house was made by laying one pole from one tree to another about ten feet apart on a fork in either tree, against which poles and rails were leaned on each side for a roof. In that tent they lived until they could build a log house. He had brought a load of planks with him from Ohio. These planks he put on the ground for a floor and bed and began hewing rails. As soon as he could get enough rails he sent word to the State Line for help to raise the house. Such a labor always took the entire neighborhood and in his case other neighborhoods had to be called upon for help. All that was necessary in the case of a house to raise was a notice sent; every man took it for granted that he must go and it was never thought that the man whose house was being built should offer wages for the help. Such as that would be considered an insult. Steady work and willing effort soon conquers any obstacle, so it was on this farm. After getting the first eighty acres into cultivation, Mr. Copeland would buy more land and improve it until he had increased his farm to a great extent. LARKIN COOK. Larkin Cook was born and married in Ohio, where they lived on a farm for some time before going to Indiana. In 1887 they again moved, this time coming to Vermilion County, Illinois. Mr. Cook was a man of strict integrity. He was cordial and hospitable and his wife was particularly fond of company. Their home in Vermilion County was a happy place to visit. They were, with their families much in demand at merrymakings. They were the parents of ten children. ANDREW JUVINALL. Andrew and Mary (James) Juvinall cast their lot in with the white settlers of Vermilion County at an early day, coming in 1827. They were both natives of Ohio and made their new home in Pilot township. SAMUEL SCONCE. Samuel Sconce was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1802, and there they had all the trials of pioneer life, so that the change to the new country along the Vermilion river was not the place of hardship it might have been to one from more densely populated section. He left his old home in 1828, and made his permanent settlement in Vermilion County the following year. The year following this, Nancy Waters, who had come to Vermilion County with her father from Bourbon County, Kentucky, the old home of Mr. Sconce, and located in Brooks' Point, became his wife. For a few years this young couple lived in Brooks' Point and Mr. Sconce turned his attention to farming, but later he became a merchant in Indianola, under the firm name of Bailey & Sconce. He was very successful in this business but after the building burned he retired from business life. Mr. Sconce died in 1874 at the age of seventy-one years, and his widow survived him until 1897 when she died at the age of eighty-nine. WILLIAM JONES. William Jones and his wife were both born in Harrison County, Kentucky, where they were married and lived for the first dozen years of being together. In 1828 they, with their family of six children, cast their fortunes with the pioneers of Vermilion County, locating near Danville in Danville township. They lived for a short time on section 16 and then he bought a tract of land on section 11. It was heavily timbered and the family lived in a rail-pen for a time until a log house could be built. Mr. Jones improved a part of his land and then moved to another part of the township. He died October 30, 1859. He was a faithful soul receiving the well-earned respect of all who knew him. His wife survived him eight years. They were the parents of eight children. Of these one became the wife of Henry Sallee, of Oakwood township and another became the wife of Dennis Olehy. WILLIAM WRIGHT. In 1828 William Wright with his family came to this county, coming directly from Rush County, Indiana. At that time there were but three children. They had not been living in Indiana more than one year, having gone there from Kentucky. The first settlement made was three miles north of Danville. At the time of his location here there were not many families in Danville, it was so recently made a town. The land was not yet in the market, and settlements were not attempted. He, however, ventured to settle in the timber, having the universal mistrust of the prairie. He built his house of logs and the chimney was constructed of a substance called stone-coal, which was thought to be fire- proof. This was a mistake, however, for the fire was no sooner built than the chimney began to burn and it was with difficulty that the cabin was saved. The little log house was soon surrounded by a well cultivated farm and in time a neat and comfortable house was built. During this time the village of Denmark had been growing. Because of the disadvantages of living so near this rough frontier town, Mr. Wright sold his farm and moved to Danville township. Here he spent his last days. He died in 1845. His wife survived him by thirty- six years. JAMES GRAVES. James Graves and his wife were both natives of Kentucky. He showed rare soldierly qualities in the war of 1812 and made General Harrison his personal friend. Mr. Graves and his family came to Vermilion County in 1828. He had made a trip previous to this time in company with Isaac Sandusky, and both took up land in Vermilion County about a half mile apart. They brought their families in 1828 and in October of the same year the Graves settled on their new land. Mr. Graves prospered and became the owner of four hundred acres of land in Georgetown township. Mr. Graves was a cabinet-maker by trade and he followed that for a dozen years after he came to Vermilion County. After that time however, he practically abandoned it, and turned his attention to fanning. Mr. Graves lived on his farm until 1857, when he died. His wife survived him thirty years, remaining a widow until her death in 1887. JAMES BARNETT. James Bamett was a native of Kentucky and settled in Vermilion County in 1828. He was married twice, the first time to Miss Conway and the second time to Rosa Neil. He owned about six hundred acres of land near Indianola and was one of the prominent farmers in that part of the country. His ancestors were from Ireland and when they came to America they settled in Pennsylvania. Mr. James Barnett, Sr., died in 1866. ANDREW MAKEMSON. Andrew Makemson was a resident of Kentucky until, in 1828, he with his wife and family, came to Vermilion County, Illinois, to make their future home in Newell township. Mr. Makemson was a stalwart Republican and both he and his wife were good members of the Methodist church and were highly esteemed for their honesty and sterling qualities. Mr. Makemson died in 1880 and his wife in 1889. They were both buried in the Lamm cemetery. JOHN CHANDLER. John Chandler, like so many of the pioneers of Vermilion County, was a native of the "Blue Grass state," where he lived until he had reached manhood's estate, and in 1828 determined to go into the state of Illinois. Making their way to this county they located on a tract of wild land in Newell township where he tilled the soil and made such improvements as to sell it to a profit in 1853 and take up .his residence in Danville. Mr. Chandler lived in Danville until he died in 1859. His wife died before he left the farm. ABSOLOM COLLISON. Absolom Collison was a native of Pike County, Ohio, and in 1828 came to Illinois. He entered forty acres of land from the government and began the development of a farm. So well did he succeed that he became a land owner well known. He married Mary Chenoweth, who was born near Columbus, Ohio, but came to Illinois with her father. Mr. Collison was the father of seven children who have been conspicuous in the affairs of Vermilion County. He died in 1849. His widow afterward married John Smith. JOSEPH SMITH. Joseph Smith was a native of East Tennessee and lived there until, in 1828', when he with his family came to Vermilion County, Illinois. It had been but ten years since Illinois had become a state and but three years since Vermilion County had been created. Joseph Smith took up his abode in Georgetown township and improved a farm there upon which he spent the remaining years of his life. He lived to the age of seventy-three in this home. SAMUEL CAMPBELL. Samuel Campbell came to Vermilion County about 1828, settling on section 26, Newell township. He made his journey from Seneca County, New York, overland in a covered wagon. He first stopped in Ohio and waited while some of his sons came ahead to Vermilion County, following them later. They lived at first in a little cabin surrounded by Indian neighbors. There they underwent all the hardships and trials incident to the establishing of a home on the frontier.' Later the log cabin was replaced by a modern house where Mr. and Mrs. Campbell spent their last years. They were the parents of eight children. After the death of his father the youngest son bought the interests of the others and carried on the farm until his death in 1855, when he was but forty-one years old. OTHO ALLISON. Otho Allison was a resident of Harrison County, Kentucky, until he came to Indianapolis, Ind., in 1826, where he stayed two years and then came to Vermilion County, Illinois. He was a miller as well as a farmer. Upon coming to the county Mr. Allison entered a claim of one hundred and twenty acres, five miles from Danville, in Newell township. This included eighty acres of prairie and forty acres of timber land, and it was in a raw state; not a bit of improvement had ever been made. During his boyhood days, Alfred Allison went with his father, Otho Allison, to Chicago, and saw the Indians paid off after the Black Hawk war. His father also showed him the first brick building ever put up in that city. Otho Allison was the father of thirteen children, eleven sons and two daughters. JAMES DONOVAN. When James Donovan was a youth of sixteen years he served in the regular army under Gen. Jackson, as private in a Kentucky company. Returning to his home in Bourbon county, he settled down and after awhile married Mary Perkins. In 1828 they moved to Vermilion County. He was employed in the salt works for a time and afterward he hauled produce to Chicago and took charge of the same down the river to New Orleans. He had a life of hardship and died when he was about sixty years old. Mrs. Donovan died at the age of sixty-six years. They were the parents of fifteen children. WILLIAM BANDY. William Bandy was a prominent citizen in the affairs of Vermilion County at an early day. He was born in Bedford County, Va., and when a boy of sixteen came to Vermilion County, where he lived until his death. William and Washington Bandy came with their foster parents, making the trip in a four-horse team wagon, taking thirty-six days to come from their old home to Danville, Illinois. The wagon was filled with household effects and provisions, leaving but room for the family. In it their beds were made at night and they took their meals by the side of the road. When they reached Danville, December 13, 1828, there were but nine families living here. There was no cabin for them to rent, while they were providing a shelter, but they at last succeeded in securing a temporary abiding place in a log house which already contained two families. This building was 16x16 feet, and stood on the northwest corner of the square upon the present site of the First National Bank. Mr. Howell, the foster father of William and Washington Bandy, kept his family in this house until spring, because he could do no better. The land office was at that time located at Palestine, ninety miles away. Mr. Howell went there right away to enter or purchase land, but could not do so because the officer in charge would not take the Virginia money which he offered in payment. After some delay, this difficulty was overcome and he entered 480 acres of land. He put four cabins up on this land, the principal one being that which was located one mile southeast of the public square. This house was made of rough logs with a puncheon floor, two windows and a door, with greased paper for use in the windows in the place of glass. The building was 16 ft. by 18 ft. and boasted window shutters of rived boards. An opening was made in the logs eight feet wide, and built out three feet, and this was lined with earth for a fireplace. The chimney was built outside six feet high and covered with mortar. This rude contrivance lasted for years and furnished enough heat for cooking and Warming of the building in the winter. The furniture was equally crude and homely. The bedstead was made of riven boards and set on wooden legs; the table was made in a like manner, only the legs were made higher. The family had brought two chairs which were given to the father and mother and the boys had to make stools for themselves to sit on. A tick was made which was filled with straw and another filled with feathers, and put on the bed. While game was plenty, and the family never lacked for meat, the groceries had to be brought in from Terre Haute and sometimes failed to be as plenty. After the cabin was built, water had to be carried 300 yards, until a well could be dug. Mr. Howell made a contract to get out 10,000 black walnut rails at twenty-five cents per hundred, and in the meanwhile he and the boys carried on the improvement of the farm. They broke the first timber land about Danville and raised some very fine corn which they were obliged to feed to their swine and sell the pork at from $1.00 to $1.50 per hundred. There was no market for the corn. The wage of a day's work was equal to ten or twelve pounds of salt pork or eight bushels of corn, or, from thirty-seven and a half to fifty cents in cash, and only the extra good workmen could command that price. William Bandy remained a member of this home until he was nineteen years old when he went into the Black Hawk war in Colonel I. R. Moore's regiment with Captain J. Palmer. This regiment went first to Joliet to build a fort. Thence they went to Ottawa, and yet later William Bandy joined the United States Mounted Rangers, which comprised six companies. They found the dread scourge of cholera at Rock Island and many fell victims to it. This company finally returned and wintered southeast of Danville until in January they were ordered to the other side of the Illinois river, but there being no need of their further service they came back to their camp. They remained ready for duty all summer, reconnoitering in different sections until, in the fall of the year, they were discharged. Mr. Bandy, in company with Mr. Howell, began work as a carpenter, and that year built a house on what was called Sulphur Springs Place, about one mile southeast of the court house. In the following spring they built a flat boat upon which Mr. Bandy loaded great quantities of pork and took it to New Orleans. When he reached his destination he found an epidemic of cholera, and he waited only to sell enough to pay expenses when he came home, having left the rest of his pork to be sold by others. Two years later he had a letter from the man who undertook the sale, stating that it was all sold, and enclosing the price thereof in a draft on a Louisville bank. Mr. Bandy built another boat and took another load of produce down the rivers, and continued these trips year after year excepting in the time of the Mexican war, when he abandoned the river until after its close. Later he furnished the Illinois Canal company with packet horses and also was a merchant in partnership with his father-in-law, William Murphy. He later had a hardware store, conducting the largest business of this kind in the county, for years. He spent the last years of his life in the real estate business. His first residence was on North street, east of Vermilion, where he had a half acre of ground. He was appointed as one of the commissioners to make the slack water of the Vermilion river, in 1835, but did not see it practical; later he was appointed marshal of the Eastern District of Illinois, but there being nothing which appealed to him in the office, he withdrew. Mr. Bandy represented his township two terms as supervisor; he also served the city as president of the city council and as alderman. Mr. Bandy married Miss Harriet J. Murphy, in 1833. They were the parents of seven children. Mrs. Bandy died in 1872, and nine years later he married Mrs. Deborah (King) Johnson. JAMES SMITH. James Smtih was one of the first, if not the first man to settle in Vance township. He came from Ohio, where he was a farmer, and entered eight hundred acres of land in Vermilion County in this section. During his life he improved all this land and gave each of his children a portion before he died. He came to Vermilion County in 1829 and lived here until his death in 1872. His wife died ten years before him. WILLIAM BLAKENEY. William Blakeney was a native of Kentucky, and his wife Susan (Ellis) Blakeney, was born in Greene County, Ohio. Susan Ellis came to Vermilion County with her father about 1821, but Mr. Blakeney came in 1829. He came to Illinois earlier than this but did not locate in Vermilion County for some time after he left Ohio. He traveled over the state on foot, visiting the lead mines at Galena. He served in the Black Hawk war in 1832, three years after coming to Vermilion County. Physically, William Blakeney was a splendid specimen of manhood. He was tall, had a powerful frame and was very active. He was acknowledged the strongest man west of the Wabash, and could outrun any man in this section were he white man or Indian. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeney were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom grew to mature years and married and had families of their own. Mr. Blakeney's home was in Georgetown township. One of his sons, well known as Sergeant Blakeney, married the daughter of Benjamin Brooks, the founder of Brooks' Point. CHARLES S. YOUNG. Charles Young became an extensive land owner in Vermilion County, coming at the early date of 1829. He was a Kentuckian by birth and lived in that state until after his marriage, January 14, 1829. He lived in Harrison County, until in the following October when the young couple decided to change their residence and go to the new county of Vermilion in the new state of Illinois. They arrived here on October 14, and took their life up in Newell township. The amount of his wealth at the time of his coming to Vermilion County was an eagle, a half dollar and twenty-five cents in his pocket. He bought eighty acres of wild prairie land and by careful management he became one of the richest men in Vermilion County. He bought and sold all kinds of stock, having driven horses to the Cincinnati, Chicago, Racine and Milwaukee markets. Mr. Young was the father of nine children. His wife died in 1871. CHARLES CARAWAY. Charles Caraway was the son of Thomas Caraway of Greenbriar County, Virginia. He was born in 1788, and came to Vermilion County in 1829. He had been married to Elizabeth McCorkle of the same county a few years previous to his coming west. They located not far from Butler's Point and established a family, the decendents of whom have been prominent in affairs of the county since that time. Mr. Caraway lived in the county nine years and died in 1838. His widow afterward married Anson Butler, and lived until 1848. LATHAM FOLGER. Latham Folger entered land in the Harrison Purchase, and was a tanner, a shoemaker and a manufacturer of horse collars. He ran a tannery, a shoe shop and-a horse-collar shop in Elwood from 1829 until 1845, when he settled on his land in the southern part of Elwood township, where he carried on farming extensively. He died early in the year of 1852, but his wife lived nearly thirty years more. Latham Folger lived in Nantucket Island in his young days. He was a whaler, and was taken prisoner while whaling during the war with Great Britain, and because he refused to fight, was left on a small rocky island to die, but he was fortunate in having an American vessel come along and rescue him before he starved to death. WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM. William Cunningham was born in Pennsylvania about 1778, and shortly after his marriage to Mary Humes came west and settled in Kentucky, coming thence to Vermilion County in 1829. They settled on the prairie in Newell township at what was afterwards called Cunningham Grove. The family traveled in a prairie schooner drawn by oxen, and much time was consumed in coming from Kentucky, the roads being none of the best. Mr. Cunningham settled on section 11 and there built him a house after the fashion of the day. Mr. Cunningham was married twice and was the father of twelve children. Chicago was the trading point where Mr. Cunningham exchanged groceries for farm produce hauled there in wagons drawn by oxen. Mr. Cunningham died at his home in Newell township May 11, 1852. WILLIAM CURRENT. William Current came to Vermilion County in 1829 with his brother and sister, settling in Newell township. He was a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade and after he came west sold some of the wagons he had made to people in Chicago. Chicago was the market where he sold his eggs, butter and other farm produce. Mr. Current was a native of Virginia, whence he came west. He lived in Newell township until his death in 1851. He was the father of fourteen children. His wife, Mary (Bastwin) Current survived her husband by more than thirty years. JAMES ELLIOTT. James and Elizabeth (Smith) Elliott lived on a farm in Ohio until 1829 when they came to Vermilion County, Illinois, where Mr. Elliott bought land in Vance township. Mr. Elliott lived in this section all his life, a good citizen. He was three times married, having a family of seven children. Of all these children but two lived to maturity and they both lived in Vermilion County. The oldest son of Mr. Elliott, Milton, who came to this county with his parents was a farmer all his life. He married Miss Elizabeth Smoot, who lived near Fairmount and they were the parents of six children. Mr. Milton Elliott died in 1884 and Mrs. Elliott died in 1895. JOHN D. C. CLINE. John D. C. Cline came from Kentucky in 1829 and settled in Blount township, where the name has been a familiar one ever since. The old homestead was on section 26. Mr. Cline was a potter and frequently made trips as far as Wisconsin to sell his goods. His son, Spencer Cline continued the clearing of the farm and lived in the house which his father built. Spencer Cline died March 27, 1893. He was a raiser of small fruit. JOHN JOHNS. John Johns was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, May 25, 1805. While he was quite young his father moved to Owen County, Indiana. Most of his early life was spent flatboating down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He was married to Miss Mary Humphrey at the residence of Uncle Reuben Partlow, Owen County, Indiana, in 1826. He went to Kentucky to live with his wife's father, John Humphrey, until 1829, when he came to this county and made his home in Blount township in the Copeland neighborhood. His brothersin-law, Benjamin Stewart and John Mills, with his father-in-law, Mr. Humphrey, came here a few years later. John Johns came in a wagon from Kentucky, bringing provisions enough to last one year until he could raise a crop. Mr. Johns remained in Blount township until 1852, when he removed to Danville. After coming to Danville he engaged in the lime and plaster trade for many years. He had lived a retired life for some years at the time of his death in 1886, at the age of 81 years. He died at the home of his son-in-law, Charles Hacker, after a short and painful illness. He was known to the people as Father Johns, and his quiet demeanor made every one fond of him. He was like wheat ripe for the sickle. He had been a church member for sixty years, and the first religious services ever held in Blount township were held at his house. After he removed to Danville he united with the North Street church and was buried from that church, his interment being in Springhill cemetery. An old friend of his wrote at the time that he "was sound in judgment and very decided in his principles, and so far as he knew the right nothing could cause him to swerve from the right." JOHN COX. John Cox came to Vermilion County in 1829 and settled on the Middle Fork six miles west of Danville. He was a carpenter and also owned a fine farm, which he entered and himself improved. John Cox was in the Black Hawk war. Both he and his wife belonged to the Baptist church. Mr. Cox died May 23, 1846, and his wife on September 2, 1851. They were the parents of six children. Thomas, who was a baby but six weeks old when his parents came to Illinois, grew up to a life of success and usefulness. He had much land and was ordained a minister in the Baptist church in 1886, after which time he had either a regular charge or a circuit. ADAM PATE. Adam Pate was born in Virginia, married Elizabeth Owens, of Kentucky, and began their wedded life in Dearborn County, Indiana. In 1829 they came to Vermilion County, and located in Catlin township, where they lived all their remaining days. They experienced all the pleasures and the trials of pioneer days. Mr. Pate died February 24, 1867, and Mrs. Pate died in 1864. EPHRIAM ACREE. Ephriam Acree came to Vermilion County directly from Alabama in 1829. He made a settlement in Catlin township. He bought 130 acres of raw land upon which he built the house that all had at that time and fenced, and broke six acres the first season. The next year he managed to put thirty more acres under cultivation. The corn raised could not bring more than six and a fourth cents per bushel and the mills were so far away that it was hard to get it ground so as to use it for food for the family. Joel Acree, his son, often took a sack of corn on horseback ten and sometimes fifteen miles to get it ground. Mr. Acree died in 1835 and was buried in the Butler burying ground. Joel Acree lived with his mother until 1848, when he was married to Elvessa Yount, daughter of one of the old settlers. After his marriage Mr. Joel Acree purchased the interest of his brothers and sisters in the home place and as the younger children grew up he purchased theirs until it all was his. He bought other land from time to time until he was a great land owner in the county, beside having valuable land in Missouri. Ephriam Acree was the father of eleven children, many of whom beside Joel were settled comfortably in Vermilion County. Joel Acree and Elvessa (Yount) Acree, his wife, were the parents of but two children who grew to maturity. Of these two daughters, the eldest became the wife of Thomas A. Taylor. DR. HEYWOOD. Dr. Heywood came to Vermilion County in 1829, and settled in Georgetown township, becoming the first regular physician of that village. At-that time there were but three other physicians in the county. These were Dr. Holmes, Dr. Wood and Dr. Smith. After ten years of practice Dr. Heywood moved on his farm m Carroll township, where he remained until 1871, when he moved to Indianola. He married Miss Sarah Barnett, in 1831. She was the daughter of George Barnett. Dr. Heywood was a politician as well as a physician. He represented his county in the legislature in 1855. He was very familiar with Mr. Lincoln. JOHN W. VANCE. John W. Vance came to Vermilion County from Ohio in about 1823 or 1824. He was born in 1782 and died at the home of his son in 1857. He leased the Salt Works and developed them, running them to their greatest capacity, as long as there was any profit in them. Mr. Vance was very prominent in the affairs of the county at an early day. He represented the county in the legislature for two terms. Mr. Vance married Miss Deziah Rathburn who was the daughter of Mrs. Lura Guymon by a former marriage. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Vance were Horace W. Vance, and J. Col. Vance, his sons, also Helen, who became the wife of J. Wilson; Lura G., who became the wife of S. R. Tilton; and Josephine L., wife of L. Steele; with Bridget, Marion, Mariah, and Joseph, the last three of whom died young. While Mr. Vance was working the salt springs, the land upon which the works were located was selected for the county seat, but he refused to surrender his lease and the location was changed, thereby giving Danville a chance to secure it. Had it not been for his position at that time, the county seat might have been permanently placed at that place and the history of the county would have been radically different. ANDREW DAVIDSON. Andrew Davidson came to Vermilion County in 1828 after their family were pretty well grown, and settled near Myersville. They brought seven children, two of whom were married. Very soon afterward another was followed by Joseph Kerr who married her. Andrew Davidson saw his children all nicely settled before he died in 1841. His children were all girls excepting two sons. One of these sons remained in Myersville and the other came to Danville. One of Mr. Davidson's daughters became the wife of Joseph Gundy, before they left Ohio and came to Vermilion County. SAMUEL ADAMS. Samuel Adams was a pioneer of that part of Vermilion County now known as Newell township. He came in the year 1825, and with his wife settled among the Indians, who outnumbered the white people for some time ten to one. There were three families who came together from Harrison County, Kentucky, at this time all coming in two horse wagons, and it took three or four weeks to make the trip. The party camped along the roadside as they were coming. The party consisted of Samuel Adams, John Adams his cousin, and Joseph Martin a brother- in-law of Samuel Adams' father. Samuel Adams had his wife and two children with him on this trip. They all took up their abode on the state boundary line and soon Mr. Adams had a log cabin erected with a stick and day chimney. This stood on section 22 Newell township, the old family homestead. He entered eighty acres of land from the government for which he paid one hundred dollars. This property has always been in the hands of the family since. Samuel Adams was a noted dealer in hogs which he raised for the home market. His earliest trading points were Eugene and Perrysville on the Wabash River, and later he hauled produce to Chicago. It took about eighteen days for the trip. It was necessary to ford the rivers, for no bridges had been built, and to camp out along the road at night. Homemade clothing was used and the second wife of Mr. Adams was noted for her skill in weaving. She made blankets and coverlets for the beds and material for the household use. Mr. Adams' wife who came from Kentucky with him died in the 'forties and he married Sarah Rayle as his second wife. She was a widow with five children. She was the daughter of Luke Rayles who was an early pioneer of Vermilion County, and was the first owner of land on the North Fork, of the Big Vermilion River. Samuel Adams died at the age of eighty-one years in the year 1881, and his second wife, one year later at the age of seventy-four. He was the father of thirteen children by his first wife. This list of the makers of Vermilion County is of necessity limited. There are other citizens of this decade who have been overlooked without doubt. The omission of any name of men who came to this section previous to 1830 is not intentional and comes only because of lack of information regarding such. True this period covering the time of the coming of the makers of Vermilion County from 1819 to 1829 includes but three years of the actual existence of Vermilion County as an organization, but it is the first decade of the life of the white man in the section of country now known as Vermilion County and as such, gives the story of the first settlers of the territory.