Full Text of History of Vermillion County Illinois -- Chapter XXI Part 1 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER XXI. SOME ELDER SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF VERMILION COUNTY. JAMES O'NEAL CLAIMS TO BE FIRST WHITE CHILD OF WHITE CHILDREN--MRS. ELIZABETH (MCDONALD) HARMON, ONE OF THE FIRST WHITE CHILDREN BORN IN VERMILION COUNTY-- JAMES O'NEAL, BORN IN l822--MARY (COX) PATTERSON, BORN IN 1823--WILLIAM P. SWANK, BORN IN 1824--PERRY O'NEAL, BORN IN 1825--JAMES H. STEVENS, BORN IN 1826- -D. B. DOUGLASS AND RHODA M. HESTER, BORN IN 1827--ABNER SNOW, S. P. LeNEVE AND ANDREW GUNDY, BORN IN 1828--SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF 1829--OF 1830-OF 1831--OF 1832--OF 1833--OF 1834--OF 1835--OF 1836--OF 1837--OF 1838 --HENRY FLETCHER AND LIZZIE (LOVE) PAINTER, BORN IN 1839--SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF 1840--OF 1841--OF 1842--OF 1843--OF 1844--OF 1845--OF 1846--OF 1847--OF 1848--OF 1849. James O'Neal and Mrs. Elizabeth (McDonald) Harmon have both been credited with the distinction of being the first white child born in Vermilion County, in the same historical volume, but as the date of each birth is easily found, there need be no disagreement in regard to the matter. James O'Neal was born April 20, 1822. It was the year before this that the parents of this child came to Vermilion County, and the father took up a farm on what later was known as the Caraway farm near Brooks Point. He lived on this farm for three years and then moved to the eighty acres of land he had entered on the Big- Vermilion. It was during the time the family lived near Brooks Point that James was born-the first white child to see the light of day in Vermilion County. Mr. O'Neal had a tan yard and made shoes for himself and family and leather for the moccasins the Indians wanted. James O'Neal grew up in the midst of wild life; his companions were the Indians and his associates the other boys of pioneer families who occasionally came into his life. He was skilled in all the arts of hunting' and trapping, and he well knew the habits of the wild animals which were so plentiful in the timber about him. As soon as he was old enough, he went to work for himself finding employment in the mill on the Vermilion river afterward called the old Kyger mill. Mr. O'Neal married Miss Vesta Pratt, herself a daughter of Vermilion County, seven years younger than he. Mr. O'Neal lived all his life in Vermilion County. Elizabeth Catherine (McDonald) Harmon was the third of the eleven children of Alexander and Catherine King (Alexander) McDonald. She was born August 16, 1823, on her fathers' farm home in Carroll township, near Georgetown, and claimed to be the first white child born in Vermilion County. She received a common school education in the nearby country schoolhouse. She was married in 1844 to Hardy Wallace Hill M. D., a rising young physician, and went with him to his new home in Cincinnati, where they lived for five years. In 1849 a scourge of cholera visited this city and Dr. Hill, through his professional duties, fell a victim. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Hill came back to her father's Illinois home, bringing her little daughter, Eleanor, with her. Six months later her other daughter, Lillian, was born. A few years afterward she took her two children to her uncle Cunningham's home in Danville, where she lived until the time of her marriage to Mr. O. F. Harmon, on February 22, 1854. Mrs. Harmon was again widowed after ten years by the death of her husband, then Colonel Harmon. They were the parents of three daughters and one son, who died soon after his father. Lucy, the oldest daughter, became the wife of Rev. McPherson, Fannie, the next daughter, became the wife of Frank Brooks, and after his death of [sentence unfinished]. Corinne, the youngest child, died unmarried in 1901. Mrs. Harmon made her home in Danville after the death of Colonel Harmon until 1881, when she removed to Chicago. From that time on she divided her time among her three daughters, one of the Pacific coast, another in the middle west, and the third near the Atlantic seaboard. Her oldest daughter, Eleanor, became the wife of Mr. Short, and the second daughter died in 1871, shortly before her promised marriage with Mr. Nelson Kimball of Danville. Mrs. Harmon was somewhat of an invalid the most of her life up to middle life, but in later years she enjoyed good health and lived to the ripe age of eighty-two and a half years, and "fell asleep" in her daughter's New Jersey home on February 9, 1906. Mrs. Mary (Cox) Patterson was born in Carroll township June 13, 1823, the daughter of Simeon and Nancy (Mundle) Cox. Her father was a native of Virginia and married a girl of Pennsylvania. They came to Vermilion County in 1823, settling in Carroll township. He secured a farm which he developed, and built a mill, but had little success at running it. His daughter Mary, the second child, so far as known, to be born in Vermilion County, grew to womanhood under the conditions of pioneer life. She was of good disposition, and patiently endured all hardships. When she was eighteen years old she became the wife of Elijah Patterson, whose home had always been in Ohio. Although he had apparently settled in Vermilion County and was a citizen of Illinois, after his marriage, he moved back to Ohio. But he returned to Illinois after twelve or thirteen years, and lived in Carroll township until his death in 1875. Mrs. Patterson was the mother of ten children. She spent her last days in plenty and comfort at the same place where she first saw the light of day. She had a long life of usefulness and made many devoted friends whose pleasure it was to care for her in her latter years. John P. Swank was born in Indianola, December 18, 1824. Mr. Swank's parents came to Vermilion County at a very early date, being among the earliest pioneers. They were Ohio people and they came to Carroll township. Mr. Swank had three brothers and four sisters, and a family of that size had much to make life happy, even if the luxuries of older communities were missing. Mr. Swank was born on a farm and spent his life as a farmer. He married Miss Phoebe Dickson of Indianola. She was the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Doyle) Dickson, and was born in Vermilion County in 1829. They were the parents of five children. Mr. Swank died in 1894, leaving many friends to mourn his loss. He was buried at Woodlawn cemetery, Indianola. Perry O'Neal was born January 16, 1825, on the homestead in section 27, Georgetown township. He was the brother of James O'Neal, who claims to be the first white child born in Vermilion County. Mr. O'Neal lived all his life in Vermilion County, and was a citizen such as makes the best of any section. James Stevens was born on his father's farm on section 9, near Brooks Point, in Georgetown township, Vermilion County, January 5, 1826, and there spent the first years of his life. He went to the subscription schools which were "kept" in the log house with a puncheon floor, seats and desks of slabs, greased paper for window glass, and whatever else was considered necessary to a pioneer schoolhouse. When he was a boy, the nearest mill was at Terre Haute, Indiana. He had to take his turn going with the bag of grain. There were but two wagons in the neighborhood of a radius of ten miles, and each farmer would send a bag of grain and two men would go along to attend to the grist. Later a mill was established within a half mile of the Stevens home and was considered a great convenience. Mr. Stevens married Miss Elizabeth Roundtree in 1857. She lived in Indiana near Crawfordsville, and he made her acquaintance while teaching school. He had great success as a school teacher, and he was later offered a professorship in a college in Missouri, but because of the approaching war, declined it that he might go in the service. Upon the call for 75,000 men, he raised a company in and about Catlin, but when he reported, it was to learn that the quota was full and this company could not be accepted. Mr. Stevens always took a great interest in all educational matters and was well posted in public affairs. Dorman B. Douglass was born in Danville township, October 11, 1827. His mother and father were one of the two couples who were married first in Vermilion County. Annis Butler, the daughter of James Butler and Marcus Snow, were married first by Squire Treat at Denmark (he was justice of the peace while the territory was yet attached to Edgar County) and Cyrus Douglass and Ruby Bloss were married immediately afterward. Dorman Douglass was the second in order of birth of the children of Cyrus and Ruby (Bloss) Douglass. They lived about three miles south of Danville, where he lived until in 1865 he moved to Fairmount, where his wife died in 1866. Mr. Douglass lives at a little distance north of Danville and himself is an open book of history of Vermilion County. He remembers the stretches of forest and unbroken prairie, the log cabin homes, and the little huddles of houses which stood on the sites of the flourishing towns and cities. He remembers as well the flourishing towns which were promising seventy years ago, and now are hardly visible. He can remember Danville when it contained but three stores, and Denmark when it was a very promising town. He went to school in a room which was heated by a great fireplace extending across one end of the house. Like the other boys, he sat on slab benches and conned his lessons in an audible tone. As soon as he was able to handle a plow he went to work in the field and thereafter was always busy. The first plow he used was a wooden mould board, and he drove a single line harness, and he did his harvesting with a reap hook. After turning the furrow, the girls of the family dropped the corn by hand. In 1851 Mr. Douglass went to the gold fields of the west, living away for three years. Coming back, he went to New York by boat and crossed the land to Vermilion County. In 1864 Mr. Douglass made that long trip crossing the continent going over the plains of Idaho and Montana, remaining about two and a half years. Mr. Douglass remembers well the first matches he ever saw. He remembers how the women did all the carding and weaving and spinning of the cloth, as well as sewing of the garments. He has seen the whole family go two or more miles to church, walking all the way, the girls carrying their shoes to the church door to put them on and remove them when they started for home. Mr. Douglass married Miss Anna Downing. Her parents came from Virginia and Kentucky, stopping a time in Indiana. She was born in Kentucky. Mr. Douglass was the father of five children, and twelve grandchildren and more. Mr. Douglass has lived through a wonderful period and his experiences have been many, and the tales he is able to tell are of intense interest. He has made trips down the Mississippi river when the sale of human beings on the public streets was a common occurrence. Twice he has crossed the plains behind ox teams, and now he sees steam and even electricity crowd the oxen out. He has a valuable property and is a man whose every want is supplied. In appearance he impresses one with his varied experience by a manner of having lived a life worth the while. He is a man of exceptional pleasing address and is a gentleman of the old school. Mrs. Rhoda (Mills) Hester was born near Vermilion Grove. December 7, 1827. She was the daughter of Ira Mills, one of the pioneers of the county. Ira Mills came to Vermilion County in 1822 and located two miles west of Vermilion Grove on what was later known as the great Mills farm, and which has remained in the possession of the family ever since. Rhoda Mills was very industrious, as became a daughter of a well ordered family, and during her days of young womanhood made use of the education she had received in the Georgetown school; she herself became a school teacher and helped her family. Her parents were of the community of Friends, and in 1853 she became the wife of John Hester, a young man of the same faith. He was a farmer and accumulated a good property. Mrs. Hester was the mother of six children. Mrs. Hester was widowed in 1899 by the death of her husband and she moved from the farm to Ridge Farm. Her later life was a reward for the early days of patient forbearance and industry; for careful consideration of others pleasure, and straightforwardness of purpose. Abner Snow was born at Butlers Point, Vermilion County, October 28, 1828. and he lived there all his life. His father, Marcus Snow, and his mother, Annis Butler, were one of two couples who were married in Vermilion County, the first wedding had in the county. Annis Butler was the daughter of James Butler, the man who made the first settlement in Vermilion County after the salt works. When James Butler went back to Ohio for his family, he found that his neighbors would not share the wilds of the new country with him, but he was not obliged to come on entirely alone, for young Snow wanted to come and he drove one of the teams. Nothing was more natural than that he should become a suitor for Mr. Butler's daughter Annis (perhaps he had already selected her before he left Ohio) and that they should be married and begin their new life near the home of her father. When Marcus Snow and Annis Butler were married they settled at where Westville now stands, but lived there only a few years, going thence to Catlin township, locating on land which was situated on the state road. Here Marcus Snow and his wife prospered and spent their married life; here the boy Abner grew into youth with its dreams and manhood with its cares. Here the elder Snow died and after a time, the wife of Cyrus Douglass having died, Mrs. Snow became the wife of Mr. Douglass. Abner Snow lived his life in Vermilion County, a prosperous farmer and a contented citizen. He married Miss Ashman and became the father of five children, to all of whom he was able to give a start in life. Samuel P. LeNeve is the oldest son of John and Rebecca (Newell) LeNeve, and together with his brothers and sisters, form worthy sons and daughters of Vermilion County. Samuel Perry LeNeve was born in 1828 and spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Newell township on the home place. He spent his winters in school, as good as could be found in the schoolhouses of that period. The extravagance of the present school buildings and furnishings seems unreasonable when a comparison is made between them and those of even this period when it was thought a schoolhouse of any kind was good enough. The schoolhouse in Newell township where Samuel LeNeve and his brothers and sisters for some years went, had benches made by sawing off the logs and driving pins in for legs. He later went to Georgetown, where he attended the school there which was in truth an excellent one. In 1852 he went to California by way of New Orleans, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Isthmus of Panama, crossing that neck of land by way of the Chagres river. When he reached the other side he found 7,000 passengers awaiting transportation to California. After a delay of nineteen days he secured passage on a boat going to California, and was out fifty-three days, during which time he suffered for the scarcity of food. He stopped at the republic of Mexico, and remained there for twenty-two days, later buying a ticket on the Golden Gate steamship line, and went through to San Francisco. He soon secured work in Marysville, California, in the mines there. He received eighty, and later one hundred and ten dollars per month. He reached the limit of wages when he had one hundred and twenty dollars per month for work in Marysville. He later took up teaming, which business he followed for fourteen years. He then went to Nevada City and became identified with the grain and stock business, after which he made his home in Virginia City for two years. He then returned to his native place in Vermilion County, coming by way of New York City. Mr. LeNeve then engaged in farming on section 23, carrying on stock raising, particularly breeding the short horn cattle. He later moved to the farm three miles north of Danville. Mr. LeNeve was a public-spirited man and has been a strong factor in the development of Vermilion County. Mr. LeNeve was married in 1869 and settled in Pilot township, where he accumulated much property. The Gundy family is one which has been prominent in the affairs of Vermilion County since when, in 1822, Joseph and Sally Gundy, his wife, came to Ross township and settled. He came from Indiana, being a native of Pennsylvania or Ohio. Mr. Joseph Gundy was a useful and enterprising man and a pioneer such as make for the advancement of any section in which he may choose a home. He died in 1846 and was buried in the Gundy burying ground near Myersville. Andrew Gundy was born on the Gundy place near Myersville, November 20, 1828, the son of Joseph and Sally (Davidson) Gundy. The first school Andy Gundy attended was one taught by George Stipp in a vacant house on the Luke Wiles place, just west of the North Fork at Myersville. He continued his studies in the schools of that section, going to Georgetown for his higher branches. He was busy on the farm during his youth, but when he was twenty-three years old he went into business for himself as a merchant in Myersville. He at the same time carried on an extensive trade in wool, grain and stock. He was a man of affairs and held many offices of trust and responsibility. He had a large private interest in coal lands, and when he was sent to the state legislature, was chosen as a member of the committee on mines and mining. He also served on two other committees, one of which was the finance committee. This was in the twenty-ninth general assembly. He was repeatedly elected as supervisor from Newell township, and he accumulated much property and his influence was extensive. He was identified with many important ventures of the county, one of which was the banking and other interests of John C. Short, in which he lost a large amount of property. Mr. Gundy was never married. John P. Donovan, a son of one of Vermilion County's pioneers, was born August 27, 1829, on Stone Creek, about two miles north of 'Danville. Although starting life with so little promise, he had an experience of adventure equalled by few men. When he was sixteen years old he left home and was employed on a farm until 1861, when he was seized with the California gold fever and started on foot and alone to Fairmount, where he took the train for St. Louis, thence by the way of the Missouri river to Omaha. At this point a company of eighteen equipped themselves with wagons and mules to start on a land exploring trip. After traveling over southeastern Nebraska and northeastern Kansas, they finally set out across the plains from Ft. Leavenworth. They were forty-one days on the road. Thence they went to Golden City, where young Donovan worked by the day for two weeks, then started over the range, wading in snow in June, until he came to Blue river. There he found much excitement about California, and he went on there. He took a claim and went to mining about July 1st in the snow, and after working two months, sold out, having made $1,600 as his share of the profits. He then went on to San Juan Mountains. At Taos the company, of which he was one, stopped to lay in a store of provisions and here fell in with Kit Carson who was organizing a company to go to the southwestern part of Arizona. Donovan was eager for this adventure, and they were soon on their way on this long and perilous trip. They traveled through the Navajo country where no white man had ever before ventured and met many thrilling adventures. Kit Carson impressed young Donovan very favorably and was always said to be a man of rare charm. He was kind-hearted and well-disposed toward every one, and while rough at times in manner and speech, he was in every way a true gentleman at heart. The company of which Mr. Donovan was one explored the country along the Colorado and Gila rivers in southern California and divided at Ft. Garland, returning to Colorado by diverse routes. At Buckskin Joe they put their money into the Phillips lead mine and had poor returns. After this Mr. Donovan went to Denver and Central City, where he worked by the day, having as wage $8 per day. Here he stayed nine months and invested a portion of his money in No. 3 Nottaway lead, which he and his partner worked for six months and he made $25,000. Being satisfied with his profits, Mr. Donovan returned to Vermilion County and bought a farm in Carroll township, there to spend the remainder of his days. John Folger was born in Elwood township, section 25, Harrison Purchase, on September 17, 1829. His father, Latham Folger, had a tanyard, and the son spent his early years in work about it. Later he helped on the farm, and when he came to choose his life work, it was that of a farmer. He went to school more than did most boys at that time, first to the Vermilion Grove Academy and afterward to Bloomingdale, Ind. Mr. Folger was, as may be inferred from this choice of schools, the son of parents who belonged to the Society of Friends. He taught school for three winters and then settled on a farm. He married Miss Reynolds, whose birthplace was in Indiana. They were the parents of nine children. Mr. Folger was both a farmer and a minister in the Society of Friends. As a farmer he paid much attention to stock raising, choosing pedigreed short horns and Durhams in cattle, Poland- China and Berkshires in swine, and in horses he had Clydesdale, Norman and Whip breeds. Mr. Folger was called away from home often and he traveled extensively in the interest of his church work. He went as far as the meetings in Philadelphia and other eastern cities, and into Iowa and Indiana. Minerva Martin was born in Newell township on August 16, 1829. She was the youngest of a family of eleven children, all of whom reached the years of maturity. She became the wife of Edward Rouse in 1846 and lived on the same place all her life. Mrs. Rouse was the mother of twelve children. Mr. and Mrs. Rouse celebrated their golden wedding October 4, 1896. Silas Dickson was born in Carroll township May 25, 1830. He was the son of David Dickson, one of the pioneers of Vermilion County, and he has been a worthy successor of that worthy man. His life was spent in farming and stock raising, having more than once driven stock to New York City to market. That was before it was thought possible to ship them by train. Mr. Dickson lived at home until he was thirty-four years old. He always held an enviable place in the community. Henry Mills was born on what was known as the Thomas Brown farm near Vermilion Grove March 23, 1830. He was a son of Seth Mills, who with his parents came to Wayne County, Indiana, in 1815, and were pioneers of that section, he becoming in his turn a pioneer of Vermilion County, Illinois. He came to his farm near Vermilion Grove in 1828, and it has been in the family ever since. Henry Mills did not have his early education neglected, but as was the fact with the children of all those belonging to the Society of Friends, he was sent to school to the extent at least of a common school training. He followed the faith of his father, reaching the distinction of becoming an elder in the church at Elwood, and occupied the important position of "Head of the Church" at that place. In 1852 he married Mary Folger, herself a daughter of Vermilion County, she being born in Elwood township. They are the parents of eight children, all but two of whom settled not far from them. These two sons married sisters, and they all went to Oregon. William White was born in Blount township of Vermilion County March 20, 1830. He was the son of James White, a pioneer of this section. James White was the father of fourteen children, ten of whom reached adult years and had families of their own. William had four brothers and a sister beside himself born in Blount township, and all but one brother settled in that neighborhood. The childhood and youth of William White and his brothers was spent in helping on the farm. A subscription school for three months during the winter was the only chance by which he could learn to read, write and cipher. More time was devoted to following the plow than to reading. From the time he was ten years old he followed the plow, driving oxen. At first it was a wooden mold plow, and afterward a single shovel plow, while the harness had a single line. He planted corn by hand, cradled the grain and bound the wheat by hand. He helped his mother "dip the candles" until they had moulds, and at times he saw a turnip hollowed out and filled with grease, into which there was a rag put and lighted for the purpose of giving- desired light. People at this time rode to church on horseback, as many as three people sitting on one sheepskin. William White owned the last yoke of oxen in his neighborhood. It was a splendid team, weighing 4,700 pounds, but the work done on the farm did not require their strength and at last he sold the team. William White married Elizabeth Wiles, who was a daughter of Vermilion County, being born in Blount township March 20, 1840. She was the daughter of Langford and Mary (Cassat) Wiles. After they were married they settled on the eight-mile prairie, where there was not a house in sight. They lived in true pioneer style, but later all the conveniences of modern life were added to their home. E. H. Palmer was a prominent son of Vermilion County all his life. He was born in the home at the corner of Walnut and Main streets in Danville, Illinois, August 10, 1830. He was a son of Dr. Asa R. Palmer, a native of Connecticut. Dr. Palmer came to Danville when it was in its infancy and became a strong factor in moulding its future. He had an extensive practice throughout Vermilion County and is well counted one of its makers. Eben H. Palmer went to such schools as were to be had in Danville until he was fitted to enter Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Indiana. When he was fifteen years old he went into the store of J. M. Culbertson, where he remained for a time, and then entered Wabash College, where he went for four years until he completed the course. Upon his return from college he clerked for a time and then entered into the partnership, being one of the firm of Humphry, Palmer & Co., general merchants and druggists. This was about 1885, and from that time to his death he was recognized as one of the most active and successful and prominent business men of the county. When his uncle died in the office of county superintendent of schools, Mr. Palmer was elected to fill out his unexpired term. At the close of this term he was needed to help organize the First National Bank and he became associated in this business with J. G. English and J. L. Tincher, and remained in this connection for thirty years. Mr. Palmer was cashier of the bank from the first, and it was his popularity as well as shrewd business insight that made the bank its success as much as anything. Mr. Palmer was interested in many enterprises, and accumulated much property. He was a valued member of the firm of Peyton-Palmer-English Co., which afterward became and yet is Peyton-Palmer Co., wholesale grocers, one of the firms to which Danville owes much. Mr. Palmer married Miss Frances B. Nelson of Urbana, in 1854. They became the parents of three daughters and one son. The youngest daughter became the wife of Loren Shutts, the son of John Shutts, the Wabash Railroad agent at Danville for so long a time. Mr. Palmer's son, Frank N. Palmer, is a minister in the Presbyterian church, who has risen in his profession to a high position. He is credited with being a recognized authority in the church on Bible study, as well as of ability in sermonizing. Mr. Palmer and family have always been prominent in the Presbyterian church. His father, Dr. Palmer, was one of the original members of the Presbyterian church of Danville, and Mr. Palmer took his place when he died. So closely was he identified with that church that there has always seemed to be an unfillable vacancy in the membership since his death. Mr. Palmer died in 1831. Sally (Johns) Copeland was the oldest child of John and Mary Johns. She was born in Blount township. Vermilion County, September 4, 1831. When Johns and his wife came to Vermilion County they settled on the farm adjoining that of Samuel Copeland, and the children of the two families grew up together. When the oldest daughter, Sally Johns, was seventeen years old, Samuel Copeland went courting and she became his bride. She had been his sweetheart from infancy. They made their home in Blount township and in Danville. She died suddenly in Danville. . Perry Copeland and his wife, Sally (Johns) Copeland, were the parents of two children, daughters, who married. The oldest, Helen, became the wife of A. D. Shepherd, and the younger, Lida, became the wife of Harry Fowler of this county. George W. Hoskins was born three and one-half miles southwest of Georgetown, near the Little Vermilion river, February 20, 1830. His father, Azariah Hoskins, came to Vermilion County in 1825, by flatboat from their home in Virginia, down the Ohio river to Cairo, in Illinois, where they took wagons and came to Vermilion County. It took several weeks for them to make this trip. Mr. Hoskins, the father of George W. Hoskins (who was born in Vermilion County) settled on what was known as the Helt Prairie, and later removed to the vicinity of Georgetown in the timber, and married Sarah Swisher. When George W. Hoskins was about a year old his father moved to what is known as the Walnut Grove, or where Rossville is now located. He had bought a tract of land there and it did seem to be very near to the end of the settlements. There was only one family living in the grove and only one white family living between their house and Chicago, which was better known as Fort Dearborn. Danville had only one store in it at that time. George Hoskins never had any but home-made clothing, up to the time he was twenty years old. The material from which his garments were made was the product of his mother's spinning wheel and loom, and the cut and making was her work as well. When he was twenty years old he bought some cloth, hired a tailor to cut it, and had a neighbor woman sew it. They had no matches but hunted punk in the woods and made a fire by using flint and tow. This fire was carefully kept, and if by any misfortune it should go out, someone must run to the neighbors and borrow a little on the shovel. The corn they raised was worth ten cents per bushel and other produce corresponding in price. He married Mary E. Gritton, who was born in Indiana in 1850, and afterward bought a farm in Ross township for which he paid $6 per acre. Mr. Hoskins was the parent of six children who lived to maturity and others who died in infancy. All of their children married and settled within six miles of them; they had bought the old home farm in 1867. Mr. Hoskins has served as tax collector and school director and been identified with the building of churches and schools in that neighborhood. James S. Sconce was born at Brooks Point November 14, 1831. There was no citizen of Vermilion County better known or more respected than this son. His father was Samuel Sconce and his mother Nancy (Walters) Sconce. Mr. Sconce came to Vermilion County in 1829, and here found Nancy Waters, who had come with her parents to near Brooks Point the previous year. James Sconce had one brother and one sister. These children were early taught industry, and James lived on the farm until he was twenty-four years old, when he went into the store of Sconce & Bailey, drawing a salary of three hundred dollars per year. In 1859 he went to Kansas and preempted 160 acres of land, which, after a time, he traded for land in Illinois. It was when he began feeding cattle for himself that his fortune began. James Sconce, it is said, was the best feeder in Vermilion County, and no one has ever excelled him. His judgment was good and he seemed to know instinctively how to proceed. He married the only daughter of Harvey Sodowsky, the well known shorthorn breeder of Vermilion County, and the man to whom a debt of gratitude is due as having introduced shorthorn cattle into this section. After his marriage, Mr. Sconce lived for one year in the home of his father-in- law, after which he located on the farm which has been made famous because of what he and his wife and son have done to improve it. At the suggestion of Mrs. Sconce, the name of Fairview has been given the farm, and each year it has grown more appropriate by reason of improvements made. Mr. Sconce bought and fed cattle and swine and rapidly accumulated a fortune. At his death in 1888, Mr. Sconce was estimated to be worth from $200,000 to $300,000, every cent of which he had accumulated by farming and stock raising. The memory of this good man has not dimmed, and now he is spoken of to strangers in terms of praise not often given. His life was simple, his methods straightforward, his manner gentle. He was kind-hearted to those in distress, generous to the poor, indulgent to the weak, and charitable to the erring. Mr. Sconce was a man of pleasing appearance, tall with keen blue eyes. He was a man who would naturally have many friends; he was popular and worthy the friendship of any man. He took great interest in matters educational, and particularly made the Wesleyan University his charge, making generous provision for its welfare. He was ever ready to help any struggling young man who was trying to help himself, and in his death such as they lost a friend indeed. In brief, Mr. Sconce proved by his life that he was a man any county might be proud to call son. Mrs. Sconce, the wife of James Sconce, was herself a daughter of Vermilion County, of whom no less can be said. She was the only child of Harvey Sowdusky, and by reason of her lifelong wealth might have indulged herself in any luxury possible, but her disposition was otherwise, and she has lived in a spirit of unselfish helpfulness to others that is as rare as it is admirable. She makes her home on the well loved "Fairview" farm, which she shares with her only son, Harvey. Her works of kindness are many, and her charities extended. Her home is ever the home of the preachers of the Methodist church, and to her any good cause appeals and receives her aid. Mr. and Mrs. Sconce were the parents of two children. The daughter became the wife of Mr. Will Cathcart, who is a banker of Sidell and lives at that short distance from her mother and brother. Harvey Sconce, the brother, has proven that he is as capable of the management of Fairview as the son of James Sconce and the grandson of Harvey Sowdusky should be. Jonathan Pratt and Nancy Stevens, natives of Indiana, both of them met and were married in Danville and began their married life at Brooks Point, but afterward moved from there into the Big Vermilion district. While living there Mr. Pratt enlisted in the Illinois Rangers, soon after the Black Hawk war, while yet they were located about Danville. He proved himself a fearless soldier, when he was taken ill with cholera near Galena and died within six days of the expiration of his term of enlistment. This couple were the parents of two children, a son and a daughter of Vermilion County. Thomas, the son, was the youngest and was born at Brooks Point, as was his sister. When he reached manhood he, living in Brooks Point and the vicinity of the Big Vermilion, having- received as good an education as was possible at that time, went off for himself, and for one year was a butcher in Danville. He was also interested in a market in that city. He afterward went to Westville, in Georgetown township, and was buying and shipping grain from that point for five years. For the next fifteen or more years he bought and shipped stock of all kinds. He lived in Georgetown township until 1880, when he went to Catlin township, having bought the farm of Mr. Sandusky. Mr. Pratt married Miss Nancy Scott in Brooks Point in 1851. She was a daughter of Vermilion County, and was born in Brooks Point January 23, 1829. She died at Brooks Point December 5, 1870. Mr. Pratt afterward married Miss Mary E. Clayton. He was the father of ten children. Mr. Pratt has always been a man of unsullied reputation and a creditable citizen of the county. Amos Smith Williams, the son of Amos Williams, the man who held all the offices in Danville at the time of its first being, was a prominent citizen of Vermilion County for many years. He was born in Danville August 22, 1831, in the home place on South Walnut street. He was one of six children, all but one of whom were born in Danville. The exception was the oldest child, a daughter, Maria Louise, who was born at Butlers Point. Amos Smith Williams or "Smith" Williams, as he was better known, went to school in Danville, and when he was ready for the higher studies, he went to Paris, Illinois. He spent seven years in California, at the expiration of which he came to Danville and opened a hardware store. He was later interested in a queensware store and in the coal interests, and the last years of his life he was retired from all business cares. He had accumulated much property, besides that which he had inherited from his father's estate, and left his family with means of a luxurious living. He was associated with many interests of the city, and in most of them he was successful. He was instrumental in establishing the Iron Wagon Works and the starch factory, also a box factory, and he was vice president of the first street car company organized in Danville. Mr. Williams was a man of rare business sagacity, and energy to put through an enterprise when his judgment showed it to be a good one. He was wise in worldly works, and besides, was a man of the kindest heart, whom to know was to admire. Mr. Williams died February 14, 1891. In 1860, Mr. Williams married Miss Sarah Jane, a daughter of George Greyson, a pioneer of Vermilion County, who came in the early thirties. Miss Greyson was herself a daughter of Vermilion County, she having been born in Danville, October ^9' ^SS. Mr. and Mrs. Williams were the parents of five children, all boys but one. One of these children died in infancy. Of the others, Lynne, the oldest, became the wife of Well Beckwith and always lived across the street from her mother. Carroll has always lived with his mother, a devoted son. Mr. Williams and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church in their younger life, but in later days Mr. Williams became very much interested in the Episcopal church, and went into its communion; but Mrs. Williams never left the church of her youth. Diadama (Bloomfield) Atwood is a daughter of Vermilion County, whom all who know her life, love to honor. She was born in Pilot township in 1832, and has always lived there. Her father, Samuel Bloomfield, came to Vermilion County a pioneer, and became the father of twelve children. Mrs. Atwood was taught to read and write and whatever more was possible to crowd into the schools, which were in session only during the winter months about the neighborhood. After her father died she bought the old home place of ninety-two acres, and she secured forty acres through the division of the estate. They lived on the home farm and Mr. Atwood not only supervised its management, but was also a preacher in the Christian church. Mr. Atwood enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Illinois Infantry, under the command of Colonel Harmon and Capt. Vinson, but he was not in any battle, yet his health was so completely undermined that he came home and died in less than six weeks from the exposure of the army life. Mrs. Atwood has lived her life since, a widow indeed, spending her time in the care of their children and grandchildren and in useful work. Her youngest child was but four years old when Mr. Atwood died, so that her task of rearing these little ones was no light one. When Mr. Atwood died the, farm consisted of 160 acres of land, but before the property was divided she had increased it to such an extent that there were three hundred and seventy-two acres. She gave each of her children forty acres and kept one hundred for herself, upon which she lives, and besides this has other farms elsewhere. She has been prosperous and at one time has fed more than forty head of cattle. She deserves much credit for her pluck and good management of her affairs.