Champaign County, Illinois - The whole text, 1891 (part 7 of 7)

In the spring of 1817, when W^iUiam was a little less than five years old, his parents embarked upon a tlat-boat. built for the purpose, on Oil creek. Crawford county. Pa., and .set out for a home ^n the west. They little thought of the untold wealth that there lay beneath tlieir feet already oozing from every spring and bayou, or of the world-wide reputation which the creek and the town, subsequently to grow up and be named after the family ot Mrs. Sadorus. wei-e to achieve. They knew they were leaving a cold, unfriendly soil, but did not dream of the "oil kings'' it was to produce nor ofthefarfanied city of Titusville which was to be called into life by the oil which the soil contained. A few weeks brought the faiuily to Cincinnati, then the rising western town, by way of the Alleglieny and Ohio rivers. Here they dwelt two years and then, by successive moves, reached Connersville, Flat Rock and Raccoon. Ind., from which latter place they again, in March, 1824. set out for the we^t. this time making their ti'st and final stop on the bankof the Okaw. in what was then Edgar county, 111 This point chey reached on April 9th and set up their camp. A Ijrief survey of their surroundings satisfied Mr. .Sadorus that he need look n"> farther. A soil of unexampled fertility, with a broad expanseof timber and prairie, welcomed them. Here he determined to make a home tor himself and his descendants. It was veritably a land of promise. This last move was made in a wagon drawn by two yoke of oxen. The wagon contained the wife and mother and six children of whom the ^^ubject of ths sketch was the eldest, be then being a little less than twelve year< old : Henry T. Sadorus being the younges*. a babe in his mother's arn)s. .V family nnmed Smith accompanied the Sadorus family and stopped one snmmer in the new home, and then moved westward leaving their companions alone in the wilderness. The nearest neigh i)ors ol' the family were Runiel Fielder, a squatter on lands two miles northeast of the site ofl ilxiiui, and .lame.-. Hayworth. another .-quatter. on the site ot .Monticello. I'aris, Edgar county, was the nearest post-otfice in Illinois, though Enyene. Indiana, was nearer than I'aris. Thei-e was then no hecatur. .M(int irelln. Cliarleslon. I rbana nnr

Danville. These names, like the counties of which they are the seats of justice, were yet to appear on the map. A simple wagon tent did duty as a home lor the pioneers until after irround had lieen broken with the rude, wooden mould-board, iron plow-share plow brought with them, and some seed put in the ground as a jirovision for the future. While living in this frail home, the heads of the two families with all the members except William and a Smith boy about his own age, left the two boys for foui weeks in the tent to care for the goods and stock, while they made an excursion to some distance. The boys held the fort surrounded as they were by wild men and howling wolves. The temporary liomn l)appened to be set up wiihin a few rods of the spot which afterwards became the permanent home of the family. Soon after setting up their home, the family was visited by Indians of the Kickapoo, Delaware and I'ottawattoinie tribes, remnants of which tribes were still roaming through the country and hunting wild game. Mr. Sadorus well remembers Shemaugre. or -"Old Soldier." as he called himself, and Wall homing, chiefs of the Pottawattomie and J)elaware tribes, who. with their followers, often resorted to the Sadorus home for shelter and iood. These people were always treated kindly by tlie family and in return received nothing but kindness from the wild men. Before I800 the Indians had all letb this part of Illinois and were seen no more.

Before the Hrst winter set in the family had been comfortably housed in a cabin of s[)lit logs, well cliinked and daubed, after th(* fashion of the pioneers everywhere, but though the family home from that time on for many years, llie cabin did not have a glazed window tor six years. Before that time the hole in the wall which answf^rnd for a window had nothing in it to kenp out the cold but a piece of greased muslin. The winter found the family well supplied with provisions, grown upon tlit- sdil or caught liy the chase.

The public lands in their neigh borliood had been surveyed but two years and were not yet in market, and the fainilv were sfjuatters on these lands for more than ten years before entries w^re made. On December 11, 1834, William Sadorus. being then 22 years old, entered the n^a ne4 Sec. 1, T. 17, R. 7, and his father entered the se-^ of the same section, on which the family home had been located. These were the tirst entries of lands oa the Okaw. Willi.im Sadorus now lives on the land so entered by him almost half a century since. With no people in this country when the Sadorus family came, of course there were no schools, until by the coming of population a demand was created. This event, iiowever, did not take place until William had passed the school age. All the opportunities for schooling he had, after coming to Illinois, were received at a school taught at Georgetown, Illinois, where his father sent him for some months when a young man.

Population began to flow into their neigiiboi-hood for permanent residence about twelve years after their coming ard slowly increased until the cominy^ of the railroad era. since which, as if by magic, the prairies have been seized upon and made to .serve the uses of man.

On the nth day of March, ims, Mr. Sadorus was married to Mary Ann Moore, of Lake Fork, and soon afterwards made for himself a cabin home on lands owned by him near his father's. Of this marriage were born : (xeorge W. B. and Henry W., who live near their father ; Margaret E., wife of 0. C. McConney, of Sadorus ; Sam'l S., who lives in Nevada : Sarilda, marlied to Thomas Hixon, of Jasper county, Mo.; Sarah S., Married to Charles Mills, of Pana. 111., and John T., deceased. Mrs. Sadorus died about 1848. Subsequently Mr. Sadorus was manned to Miss Jincey Ann Brumley, of (Jrbana, from which marriage were born a son and daughter, both of whom died young. After the decease of the second Mrs. Sadorus. Mr. S. a third time entered into the marriage relation, this time with Mrs. Charity Hastings. One daughter, Ida, has been born of this iTiarriage who, now a young woman, is at home with tier parents, (xeorge W. B. Sadorus entered the army in 1862 in Co. E., 12') III. Reg , and came out in 1865 as captain of his companv. Henry W. Sadorus enlisted in (;<.. (i. 25 111. Reg.. August 25, 1861. and was honorably mustered out of thr service September 1, 1864.

Mr. Sadorus has all his life been engaged in farming, at which business he has realized a handsome competency. He was for a time the owner of a" small stock of general merchandise, one of the tirst stores in his town, but soon retired from that business.

He has always been a democrat in politics and believing in the democratic maxim, that the "otKce should seek the man and not the man the office," has never sought nor held office above that of school director. For many years he has been a member of the Baptist church and one of the active promoters of that faith in his neighborhood. ft will be seen by those knowing anything of the early history of this county, that Mr. Sadorus is the olde.st resident of (Miampaign county. His i-rother, Henry T., came to the county by the same wagon but. wher. quite a young man. he went to (,'alifornia and itook up his residence in the mountains, where he spent fifteeii years, thus removing him from this field of,coiripeT tition. At the annual Old Settlers' Meeting held fortius county in August. 1890, Mr. Sadorus presented hiiiiself as a candidate for the prize offered for the oldest person in citizenship and without a question bore off the prize, a gold-headed cane. He is now venerable in years, honored by his neighbors and highly favored by his Maker, of whom he is a sincere worshipper. His children live near him and the evening of life promises an honored close.

Was the oldest diniglitci- of Hirniii i.nd .lane ( Sweiiringen i Wankin. They cauH^ to this (-(Minty from near Maysvillf. Kfiilurky. ai)()Ut 1S2S and s«>tt!t'd cast of the pre-ent town of St. .loseph and in a few years moved to what is known as the IJankin farm, on ihc nhl state road, cast of old St. .loseph. ileic ihey lived lor maiiy years ami no one ill ill! llie county Ii.mI a wider repnlaliun for liberality in helping the poor and needy than Hiram Rankin. Here the subject of our sketcli, who was born in Kentucky, near Maysville, was raised. When about eighteen years of age_ she was united in marliage to Benjamin Bart ley, whose parents came to this same ])art of the county aliont 1880. There were born to them four children, viz . .Mary. Elizabeth .lane. Catharine and i^ydia. The youngest dantrhter, Lydia. was marlied to \'an B. Swearingen. one of the leading men of this township. One child. Grant, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Swearingen.' who is still living at St. .Tosep:!', and is one of the pro-porous business men of the county. Mr. Bartley died and Mrs. liartley afterwards niariied Stephen Boyd, one of the old settlers of Urbaiia township. He died and several years afterwards Mrs. Boyd wa>^ again married to .lames Bartley a cousin of hor first husband. They resided near St. .Joseph. About twelve years ago Mrs. Bartley met with an accident which caused her to lose her life. A team ran away with her, throwing her and others from the buggy, so injuring her that she only lived three days. Mrs. Bartley was a thorough christian woman in every respect, from early life taking an active interest in religous matters and was a member of the Christian church when she died. Mrs. Bartley inherited from her father a charitable dispo.^ition and no one ever went from her door in want. A person who knew her for many years said: "Mrs. Bartley did more for the poor than any person in St. .Joseph township." She was of a hopeful, jovial disposition. and although she had her full share of sorrow she aimed to make the best of everything and made everyone ' feel better for having the pleasure of her acquaintance. She was known throughout the county and every man, woman and child respected and loved "Aunt Lin" as she was familiarly called. She was a neighbor in deed and the entire community mouined her ilcalh wlien, she -was called to hev honie liev(md.

Was born in Anu.strougoountA, IVniisylvania, Janmirv ],,1827. His father's name was Samuel ; liis mothers name was Nancy Davis, both of Pennsylvania. His father came to SidiniM' in 1863. I)uying town property and a farm. The subject of this sketch resided in Pennsylvania and attended the public schools, receiving a fair education. In 1852 he went to California, where he mined and traded in stock for nine 3" ears, when he returned to the states and. in the fall of 1861, came to Sidney, wheie his l)rother, the well-known A. B. Focterfieid resided, and at his earnest solicitation he purchased a . farm in section 26 of that township and has resided tliere ever since. December i, 18t)2, he was united in marriage, at Sidney, 111., to Elizabeth Fram-e, formerh' of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. There were born to them the following children : Chaml)ers Roland, who is now and has for sevi^ral years been occupying a ])osition in the treasury department at Washington ; Lilly, Etta, Kezzie, Koy ami -Jessie, who are at home. Mr. Porterfield is justly proud of his family. His liome is one of the most pleasant and hospitable to be found in the county. Religiously tlu' family are Methodists, and althougli Mr. I'orteifield is not a member of the church, he gives his aid and support to the cansc. In politics Wv. I'orterfield was a \\ liig in early days, but sa3's his trip to California changed his views and he now votes with the democratic party. He has satisfactorily filled the position of Commissioner of Highways of Sidney township and in April, 1890, was elected to represent the township on the Board of Sup(>rvisors. He is one of the solid citizens of the township and has done nuich in his thirty years' residence to improve the county. He says when he first purchased his farm, the country was so bleak and wild looking that he never thought it could possibly be brought tf) the high statt' of cultivation it has.

Is a son of one of the first settlers of Champaign county. He was the fourth child of William and Nancy (Beavers) Rock, who were natives of Maryland. The}^ removed to Indiana in 1831 and came to Sadorus township in 1835, where William Rock took up a claim of forty acres which is now owned b}' A. J. Rock. Here the first family house was built which was constructed of poles. In after years a brick house was built which "is still standing. Young Andrew took several teams to Chicago and hauled the liunber, .shingles, nails, etc., with which to build the house. The brick in the same was made by Asa Gere, assi.sted l)y H. M. Russelland others, of Urbana.

on his father's farm until niueteeu years of age wlieu lie left home to look around a little. He returned in 1852 and was married to Miss Mercy Peabody. They went to housekeeping in a house they built on ninety acres of land. In 1859 Andrew J. sold this property to his father and purchased 2(K) acres of land in Jasper county. Missouri. This land being wild he rented land in the vicinity but was driven out by the reix'ls. He shook the dust from his feet and in August, 18B1, moved to Fort Scott. Kansas, where he left his famih' and enlisted in the (Jth Kansas Cavalry During the war he served as a scout through Kansas and rendered invaluable service to the Union cause. His term of enlistment expiring in 18()4, he was mustered out and returned to his family which had been made desolate bj' the death of his wife. October 6th.

Two childi'en, Franklin and Nanc}-. were the result of this marriage. Franklin operates an extensive rancli near Leadville, Colorado, while Nancy is happily married to John Mattox. a farmer of Sadorus township. ]\lr. Rock was again united in marriage to Mrs. Martha ( Merrick ) Quick, daughter of Charles and Lucinda Merrick, of New York state. Mr. Kock and his family returned to his old home in this county where he spent the winter of 1864 and the following fall built a handsome brick residence opposite the home of his father and where he now resides. He went to Kansas again in 1867 and purchased a quarter section of land and engaged in stock raising for six years. In I86i( his wife died, leaving two daughters, Harriet and Ida. Harriet is now the wife of Orny Plat, a farmer of Sadorus townsliip. Ida being at home. Mr. Hock was again married August b"), 1870. to Miss i'^lizabeth liurkliart. of Kansas. 'I'liey resided thereuntil 1871 and then returned to his present home in llliii (lis.

His wife (lii'd in 1871), leaving Mertie. John H.. Lulu and Maude ail at tioMie. .Mr. Hock was married again in the fall of 188.") to Miss Elizabeth (iriltin, daughtei- of iiev. and Mrs. .Natiian (irilliii. She was hoiii ill Lal-'avette coiuitv, Missouri, ill I8|S. His wife is a prominent member of the Baptist church of Sadorus and an energetic worker. Mr. Kock having been a resident for over fifty-six years has a wide acquaintance and is considered one of the solid citizens and farmers of that part of the county. In politics he is a democrat, what is known' as a war democrat. He is a fair man, a good husband and father, and wields a large influence for goo<l in the comnuuiity where he has so long resided. He lias near five hundred acres of well-improved land on which he resides and he very pleasantly employs his time in looking after his farming interests and enjoying the comforts of his home, wliich is one of the happie.st and pleasantest in the county.

Is one of the proiiiiiieiit old settlers, large land owners and farmers of North Champaign county. He was born in (ireen county. I'ennsylvania. His j)aients were \\ illiain and Hebecca (Stephens) Corbky, iioth of Cireen county, Pennsylvania. The father died ill 1875 and the mother in 1855. The snl)ject of this si;etch caiu(> to this county in l'\'briiaiv, 185.'). an<l settled in Kerr townslii]^. Thet'ounty at that time was wild and unbroken, seemingly too much of a wilderness to ever be cultiv;ited and too far from nuirket. Mr. Corblev is a man of nerve and plenty of grit .-iinl nothing" daunted, lu' sot forward witli the work, purchased a large tract of laud, and in a few years made a f;reat change. Other families moved in. the township was gradually' settled and it is now considered the finest farming and stock raising township in the State. KoUing prairie, flowing wells and productive soil are some of the important features. Mr. Corblej' was married at Danville, February 24, 185(3. to Sarah Wood, who died in 186(5. He was married again in 18(58 to Mary A. School, of Meadville, Pennsylvania. The following children have been born to them, viz : Henry L., a farmer of Harwood township : AV. Sherman, who resides in Button township, Ford county ; James L., residing in Kerr township ; Freddie M., Laura F. and Evaline, at home. Mr. Corbie}' has been an active member of the Methodist church from earlv youth and has done much to forward the cause of religion in his part of the county. In politics he is a straight republican and has been from the formation of the part}'. He represented Kerr township on the board of supervisors for eleven years and through his influence much was done towards making roads, bridges and in opening up the township. He has given the matter of farming and stock raising his personal attention and has been quite successful. He now has al:)out 1(5(X) acres of improved laud in Champaign and Ford counties. He has a handsome residence in Faxton, where he makes his home. He is proud of his family and is giving his children every advantage of education. He is a matter of fact man, has amassed his fortune by hard work and i-lose attention to business. He has many friends throughout this part of the state and is enjoying the reward of an active life and a consciousness of having contributed in a large measure to the well being and prosperity of the north part of the county.

Mas born in Hilltown, county Downe, Ireland, December 24, 1824. His parents were Robert and Martha (Mc- Clune) Colvin. They came to this country iu 1842, from Ireland, and settled near Lexington, Scott county, Indiana. The mother died there. The father accompanied the subject of this sketch to Champaign county in April. 1866, and settled on a farm near Tolono. Mr. Colvin received a good common school education in the Hilltown school in Ireland. He was married at Lexington, Scott county, Indiana, in 1847, to Catharine Gobin She died, and w'as married the second time at the same place to Jane Laughran in 1862, who still lives. There were eight children born liy the first marriage, three died in infancy and five are still living. Martha A., the oldest daughter, married Cap. E. A. (rardin and resides in St. Paul, Minn. May J., second daughter, married B. B. Salsbury and resides in St. Paul. John Mc, the oldest son, resides in St. Paul. Thomas J., second .son, resides in I'rbana. Edward, youngest son by first marriage, resides in St. l^aul. There were seven children Itoru l)y the second marriage, four boys and tluee girls. Two boys ami one girl died in infancy. Clyde, the oldest son, is married and resides iu rrl)ana. Court, the youngest sou, is living at iioMie. Ella' P:.. oldest girl.

the constitutional term. He came to Tolono township in 1866 and in 1869 was elected supervisor of that township and served seven years consecutively. He was served as town as.sessor Was elected and served as justice of the peace, and served as magistrate of Tolono three Was elected and served as tru.stee of Tolono township three years and was a})pointed post-master of Tolono (luring President Cleveland's administration and made one of the best postmasters Tolono ever had. He jilso served, by appointment, fifk^en months as village marshal of Tolono. In 1889 was elected president of the t)oard of trustees of the village of Tolono. 1 n 1 891 he was re-elected and is noAv the president of the Ijoard of trustees of the village. In 1891 he was elected as supervisor of Tolono township to serve for two years. Mr. Colvin has had a busy life. He is a man of more than ordinary ability and has the confidence of the entire comunit}' as is shown by his frequent selection hy the people to fill important offices all of which he fills in a conscientious manner and with satisfaction to everyone. He is and always has l)een a strong democrat yet he has the confidence of the members of all parties. Although advanced in years and in poor health tliere are few men who do more business than he. He is a firm friend and upright citizen and is honored and res]jected bv nil who know him.

Was horn in Winchester, Randolph county, Indiana, August oO, 18-52. His father, Dr. Robert Woody, was a native of North Carolina. His mother was Caroline Way, a sister of Wm. Way, of Champaign, a native of Randolph county. Indiana. Both father and mother were of Quaker parentage. The father died at Eaton, Oliio. in 1871: the mother in 1851. Paul W., at the age of nine years, came to Champaign and made his home with William Way. He attended the Univer.<ity of Illinois and vvas a member of the first class, viz : 72. He was then 16 years old. In September. 1874, he wa* united in marriage to Miss Margarette W. Schweizer. only daughter of John F. Schweizer, of Champaign. Three children have been born to them, viz: Way. aged 16, attending school : .lamie E., aged 14, and Paul W., aged 10. They are very proud of their children and have just cause to be as they are unusually bright and promising. In 1872 Mr. Woody commenced to clerk for J. V. Schweizer and was admitted as partner in the extensive clothing and merchant tailoring business in 1876. He has proven to he an excellent business man, doing much to lii-iny: the business up to its l)res(mt- hitjh position. He has always been prominent in i)ui)lic matters and has satisfactorily lilled the otfice of treasurer of tin- city of ('hanipaiyii for four terms. Was alderman of the third ward one term and wa- elected mayoi' of Cliampaijj:n liy a handsome vote, Hlliiiii' the ofticc with credit to himself and all conccriicil. I'olit ically he was liorn a icpiiblii-an and has been active

In 1890 he was nominated by the republican party for county treasurer and was elected by a large uiajority, and is now tilling that respon>ible position in a manner very satisfactory to the people. Few men in the county have a wider ac(iuaintan(e. Whether occupying the position of alderman, mavor, or attending the responsible position of county treasui-er, he is the same plain Paul Woody, a friend of everyone. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the order or Knights of Pythias. His pleasing address and obliging di.-position make him a favorite with all who make his acquaintance.

Was born inObersioluuiigau, (). Stuttgard, Kingdom of Wurteniherg, Germany, March 14, 1S27. His parents, Jacob and Margaret Sehweizor, were natives of that country. There were eighteen children boni to them, fourteen boys and four girls. The father died in 18G5. Two of the ehikhen. the .subject of this sk(^teh and his brother, George G.. v>ho is a resident of Philadelphia, came to America. John F. worked at home in his father's hotel until 21. He left home March -4, 1848. and arrived in this e{mntrv June first, iollowing. He workcnl on a farm in New Jersey for two mouths, afterwards went to Philadelphia. He went from there to Cincinnati where he obtained a situation in the wholestale eloihing house of Mack Brothers and remained there until 1850, after whicli he (uigaged in the dry goods and notion business on his own account until May 24, 18r)7, when he came to I'rbana and opened a clothing house. H«> won the confidence of the peoi)le and was quite succe.ssful in his business. In 1882 he removed his store to Champaign, where he is still engaged in business. In October, 1855, at Cincinnati, he was married to Ann Barbara Herl)streit. a native of (iermany. Two cliildreu were born to them, viz : Margarette W., who married Paul W. Woody, the present county treasurer, and a member of the firm of Schweizer A: Woody, Champaign, and William P., who is a tobacconist in Champaign, also married. Mrs. Schweizer died in Champaign July 4. 1878, at the age of 4i5 years. She was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church. In politics Mr. Schweizer i.s and alsvays has been a sound repulilican. He oast his first vote for John C. Fremont in 185B. He has been eminently- successful in busine.ss, owing to strict attention and fair dealing. His stock and buildings were twice destroyed by fire, but each time he redoubled his efforts and regained his foothold. He admitted his son-inlaw, Paul W. Woody, as a partner in 187(), which has proven to be a w'ise step. In 1868 the business was enlarged and merchant tailoring added. In 1800. a handsome business building was erected by the firm and the largest plate glass front in the county put in. The building is a model clothing house and one of the finest in Central Illinois. The firm carr}' one of the largest stocks of goods outside of Chicago and do a corresponding large business. Although born in a foreign land, no one thinks more of his adopted country than he. He is especially proud of his palatial storeroom, which is a justifiable weakness. Mr. Schweizer seems to be in the jnimeoflife and as active and energetic in ills business as when he came to this county in 185(5. He is a firm friend, sociable, just and correct in all his dealings. No business man stands higher in the comnuMjity than he. and no one in the county has more friends. With plenty of this world's goods, a good reputation and a growing business, he is enjoying life and laving up for his children.

Que of the solid Germaii citizens of Champaign and one of the l^est known old settlers in the county is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Berne, Switzerland, February 7, 1820. His parents were Jacob and Elizabeth (Hausy) Dallenbach, both natives of Switzerland. In 1838 the subject of this sketch came to this country and .settled in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He received his education in Berne, Switzerland, which well fitted him for the battles of life. He was united in marriage March 7, 1848, at Pittsburg, to Miss Rosana C. Agler, who is still living. Eight children have been born to them, viz : Lizzie, now Mrs. William Will, residing at 325 E. 43rd St., Chicago ; Mary, now Mrs. Adam Imig, of Sheljoygan, Wis.; Jcjhn and William, now residing in Champaign ; Sanmel, residing at 6320 Evans Ave., Chicago ; (ieorge and Fred, residing in Champaign, and Emma, youngest daughter, at No. 78 N. Ada street, (Miicago. In 1857 Mr. Dallenbach came to ('ham]xiign. which was then in its infancy. He bought a farm ami tiietl tliat at first, but soon becoming discouraged, he rem(ne(t to town and opened a meat market He and his estimal)lc wife were economical and determine<l to win, so tlu'V occupied a room, 14x20. in the front of which was located lh<' meat shop and the l^ack pari seived as |>arl()i'. kitchen, sleeping and dining room. Here the}' lived, attended to their business, owing no man anything that they did not pay promptly, and it was not long until John Dallenbach was recognized as one of the solid men in man}- respects of the thriving young tow-n of Champaign. Honesty and right was characteristic of Mr. Dallenbach, and it was with sincere regret that the people of Champaign learned that he intended retiring from a business he had honored and by which he had amassed a goodly portion of this world's goods. The weight of years however, and a desire to give his boys a chance, decided him to retire from business, which he did in 1877. He is liberal and public spirited and freely contributed to the building of almost every church building in Champaign and vicinity and no worthy object was presented to him without receivmg a contribution. His family is the pride of his heart. His children are all industrious and economical and are among the best citizens and business men. He is a firm republican, also a member of the Masonic order. He is now advanced in years, takes life easy and no one. walking the streets, has more friends or is more respected than John Dallenbach.

Hkxijy Moktimkk Russkll. Was born in Pembroke, Geneseo county, New York. November 18, 1826. His parents were Nathaniel Russel', who is still living, and Hannah (Ger^) Russell, who died in Clark countj', HI. When a lad of lo, his famil\- and he came from New York to Walnut Prarie, Clark county, Hi., by wagon. Henry came to Champaign county, July 27, 1847. and stopped three miles .south of Sadorns and worked at brickmaking during the summer and on October (5, 1847, only a few weeks before becoming of age, removed to Urbana wh^ re he has lesided ever since. He received a good common school education in Clark county, Illinois. He taught school the winter of 1847-8, and in July, 1848, engaged with the Western Stage Co. and remained with them unMl staging ceased in this part of the country. He then went into the grocery and provision business with A. O. Clapp and Thomas J. Price. He first bought one out and then the other and continued in that business until 1860. He also started the first bakery in Urbana in connection with his other business. He was married to Miss Anna Waters, whostill lives, and three children have been b:)rn to them. The two oldest, l)oth girls, died in infancy. Charles M., the third child, is married and resides at Fort Wayne, I nd. Mr. Russell did not enter the army as an enlisted man. but was with the army most of the time during the war. He went from here with the 2r)th Illinois

.\t Donelson he took a haml in tiie tight and helped to silence a battery, taking t In; place of a soldier who was nnal)le to go in on that day. He was in tlie militia at Memphis and also at Natchez i'or a time. He was ch'ef of the mili'ary and detective police in the Natchez district during the year 1864, wliicli vv.is at that time a very important po-;ition. He has never aspired to orticp. Itut s rved his ward as alderman for al)out 14 years and we state - hat w' know to be true, when vve say he was one of the most efficient aldermen the city has ever had. He was a U. H. storekeeper from 1871 to 1874. He then establi-<lied a reil-estate and insurance office which he has carried on ever sinei^ successfully. Later he added the business of pension attorney. In all three of the branches of his business he is careful, methodical and reliable. His systematic method of doing business makes him a peculiarlv safe man to entrust with eitlier insurance, realestate or pension claims. Mr. Russell has been an unswerving republican ever since that party was formed, and has frequently held important places upon its committees and has always l)epn among its wise counselors and hard workers. His religious views are broad and liberal, which led him to unite with tlie Universalist church. He was long the >uperintendent of its Sabbath scliool and has been among its most substantial and conscientious supporters. The Herald hopes that lie and his estimable life companion mav live many years to enjoy the conipetency he has accumulated by a life of temperance, economy and untiring industry.

The four townships of Sadorus, Pesotum, Colfax and Tolono, as now organized, embrace the scene of the second oldest settlement of this county, formerh- known as -' Sadorus Grove,"' from the name of the first permanent white family which made its hospitable shelter and fat lands their home.

Physical Characteristics

The territory of which we are to speak is a section of the valley of the Okaw river, which takes its rise but a few miles away, runs southwestwardly one hundred and twenty miles, measured in a direct line, though much farther by following the ineanderings of the stream, and after washing the shores of the ancient Kaskaskia, the first permanent seat of civilization in Illinois, empties into the Mississippi river. The land for some miles each side of the stream slopes gently to it, so as to afford natural drainage, and is as fertile as ever was the famed valle}' of the Nile. If the theory of geologists concerning the presence in this latitude of the glacier in pre-historic periods he true, then the Okaw valley entertained one of those chilly monsters if indeed it does not owe its origin to a furrow ploughed by one, for along the margin of the stream and throughout its entire valley, are or were in early times numerous boulders of granite, gneiss and limestone, dropped by these visitants or surrendered by them when they went out of business. In no ])art of this county are these stranger rocks so plentiful as in the vicinity of this stream. One of these rocks h'ing a short distance southwest of the village, near Wm. Sadorus' sugar camj), measures seven steps around at the ground and five feet above tlie ground. How far the monster extends below the surface of the ground has never bcicn ascertained. It must weigh many tons and challenges our admiration for the might}' force which ))ore it from it.^ native h'dge in tlie faraway north and llnally dropped it here at our doors and for our arliniration.

First Visitors

Who first saw these lovely and fertile plains? This question finds its answer only in conjecture. The mound Ijuilder. he of whom no one knows anything save that he was a mighty worker, has left monuments of his industry upon the Sangamon not far awaj-, and doul)tless looked upon this valley. The wild Indian, who was everything liut a worker, was found an inhabitant of Illinois by John Nicholet, in 1634 and by Joliet and LaSalle, later visitants. But who of our race, for whom the Almighty seems to have fashioned this goodh^ heritage, first looked upon its gentle beauty and perhaps mentally measured its capabilities to meet the wants of man? Doubtless white trappers as captives ranged through this country, but not with thoughts of subduing and appropriating it. The first whites to look upon this valley, of whom we know anj'thing, were a party of United States surveyors, under liichard T. Holliday, who in 1822 .surveyed the four townships named, into sections and marked their corners. Three years l)efore this, in 1819, by a treaty between the United States and the Kickapoo Jndians, the title to the lands passed to our government, and were now ready for occupancy under the pre-emption laws though not in the market for entry.

First Permanent Settlement

We now come to the part of our narrative most important to us and of interest to those who may come after us, for whose use largely all our researches are made. The histor}' of the Sadorus family is so nearly the history of the towns of which we write and of the period al)t)ut which we write, that the history of one tells the story of all.

Henrv Sadorus, formerly known as *' Orandpap " Sadorus. was born in Bedford county, Penn., July 2(i, 1788, four years before tlie adoption of the federal constitution. The spring of 1817 found him living, with his little family, of whom our fellow citizen William Sadorus, then about live years old, having been born eJuly 4, 1812, was the oldest, on Oil Creek. Crawford county. Pa. The " western fever," wliicli has prevailed among Americans since the landing of the Pilgrims, attacked him and from the native tim- bers of that region he constructed a raft or flatboat, upon which ho loaded his worldly goods and his faniil}- for a long journey westwardT The flatboat was buift on the waters of Oil Creek, and down it the adventurers set forth in pursuit of a home in the west, they knew not where. Following this creek to its junction with the Alleghen}' that stream soon bore them to Pittsburg and from there their frail J)ark l)ore them to Cincinnati in safety, barring one shipwreck at the head of the famed Blenuerhassett's Island. The flatboat having served its purpose, was sold in Cincinnati for .|1,7(H) in James Piatt's shinplaster money, making the traveller rich for the time, but in six months it sliar(»d the fate pf its kind and was no good and Mr. Sadorus was poor again. The family remained in Cincinnati two years w'hen the}' again drifted we.stward. stopping successively at Connersville. Jr'lat Rock and Raccoon, in the state of Indiana, where they found themselves in the spring of 1^24, still with a desire to "go west." Early in the year Mr. Sadorus and a neighl)or, one Joe Smith, fltted themselves 'out each with a team of two yoke of oxen, and a covered wagon, suitable for moving their families and goods. Thus accoutered the}' again set their faces westward intending to go to the Illinois country, possiblv as far as Peoria or Fort Clark as the place was then known. An almost trackless forest then lay between them and their place of destination. They passed the site of the city of Indianapolis, then but recently selected as the state capital, where the foundation of the old capitol l)uilding had just l)een laid, and crossing the Wabash river by a terr}- at Clinton, Indiana, they soon encountered the Grand Prairie. After entering Illinois, they encountered onl}- one house l^etween the state line and theO'Kaw and that was the home of Hezekiah Cunningham, on or near the Little Vermilion river, where he kept a small trading post for traliic with the Indians. On April i(, lS2-t, the party reached (he isolated grove at the head of the OTvaw river, since and now known as " Sadorus' Grove."' and as usual encamped for the night, near the place which eventually became their permanent home. A brief .survev of their surroundings satisfied the party that a point had l^een i-eached which fully met all their demands for a home. So far as the}' then knew they were 30 or 4() miles from neighbors, surrounded by as fruitfid a coimtry as was to be ' found, in which wild game abounded and where every want might easily be supplied. Accordingly they determined here to remain and set about making themselves comfortable. They found that the grove whose shelter they had accepted was 3 or 4 miles long and nearly equally divided by a narrow place in the timber where the railroad now crosses the stream, so the two heads of families partitioned the tract between themselves. Smith taking the south end and Sadorus the north end. The "Narrow's" as it was called, being the line.

A brief survey of the surroundings of the situation will give a better idea of the actual condition of these pioneers: Illinois had then been a stat3 in the Union six years and Edward ('oles, its second governor, was still in office. Its population which was then less than 100,000 was confined to the southern counties. Neither Champaign, Piatt nor Vermilion counties had been established and their territory and all north of them to the Wisconsin line belonged to Edgar county. There was then no Danville, Urbana, , Charleston, Decatur nor Monticello, not to speak of their younger and more brilliant rivals. Five years previously, in 1819, by a treaty between the U. S. "Government and the Indian* tribes the Indian title to this country and to all south of the Kankakee river; had been relinquished and only two years before the U. S. surveyors had performed their work, and the mounds bv which the section corners were niarked were yet fresh. Not an acre of land had been entered which now forms this county and so far as we are informed only one white man's cabin, that of Runnel Fielder, two miles northeast of the site of Urbana. was to Ite found in the same territory, Fielder had then been here two years and was a squatter on the public domain. The only residents of what is now Vermilion c-ounty was James D. Butler, at Butlers Point, near Catlin, and his neighbors, John Light, Robert Trickle and Asa Elliott and Dan Beckwith and Jesse Gilbert at Danville and Hezekiah Cunningham on Little Vermilion. The whole state of

Illinois north of us was uninhabited by white men, except the military station at Cbicaofo, and wild Indians roamed and hunted at pleasure over these prairies and through these groves.

Having so divided the beautiful grove of timber between them the two pioneers proceeded to make arrangements for a permanent stay in the place chosen for a home, by building for each a cabin. Smith who had chosen the southern part of the grove, erected his cabin near where the old Grandpa Sadorus' old home now stands. It was built of split linn logs, 16x16 feet, covered with split oaken boards with linn puncheons for a floor. The roof, after the manner of cabin building, was laid upon logs or poles laid lengthwise of the cabin, each succeeding pole being a little higher than the last, and converging towards the ridge. These boards, for the want of nails, which were not to be had, were held in place bj poles laid lengthwise over the buts of each course. The door was made of split boards held in place by wooden pins. The window was only a hole cut in the wall to let in the light, subsequently covered with greased muslin to keep out the cold.

TLe Sadonis home, which was built two miles north on section 36 in Coltax, but in the firove, was le.^-s pietentinus. It was built of the same material 10x20 feet, but entirely open on one side, what is called a "half-faced camp." Windows and doors were entirely dispensed with. Settled in these crude homes, the pioneers set about plantinK and preparing for the future. The summer was spent in cultivating little patches of corn and garden with a crude prairie plow they had broui^ht with them and in luuitint: wild (canie for their meat and peltries, the result beint; that as fall apiiroached the larders of the families were well supplied with the best the country afforded. The wolves, however, ate up much of their sod corn.

In the fall the heads of the two families, havinfj laid in for their families, concluded to know what lay to the west of them. Filling their packs with a small .supply of provisions, with their rifles on their shoulders, they s«-t out on foot for the west again, leaving their families housed as we have seen. They traveled as far as lake I'eoria, where Smith detei mined to remove his family, 'i'hey went by way of Mackinaw and Kickapoo Creek, through Indian country. Kt'iurniny; as they went after an absence of two weeks, they found everything quiet. Smith at once sold his cabin and improvements to Sadorus, the consideration being the hauling of a load of goods from the O'Kaw to the Illinois liver, which was paid according to the agreen'ent, and the south end of tbe grove with all of its appurtenances, passed to Mr. Sadorus. Thus came and went the first representative of the numerous and respectable family of Smiths of this county.

In Their J'Ermanent Home

The Sadorus family lost no time in taking possession of the Smith cabin. Its comforts were exchanged for the '-half-faced camp," and all claim ti) the upper lialf of the grove was abandoned. The land thus dccujiied by the Sadorus family subsequently, 9 years thereafter, became the home of James Miller. The Smith cabin was "daubed" that fall, which means that the interstices between its logs were tilled with chinks and mud to prevent the cold from intruding and its foundations were banked with earth with a like purpose. A mud chimney was built outside with a fireplace opening inside the cabin, and carried up above the cabin roof with sticks and mud. A c<mii)anion cabin, a few feet away, in like manner supplied with a mud and stick chimney and neatly "daubed" I'^n time was added to the Comforts and conveniences of the family. A single window sash was bought in Eugene, Ind., five or six year.t thereafter, and that glazed wild glass, gave the fauiily one glass window - the first in CLampaign county - and in time other openings answering to wiiidow, were likewise supplied. These cabins did duty as the Sadorus domicile until 18.38 - fourteen years - when the permanent home was erected. Until 1834, more than ten years, Mr. Sadorus was a squatter on the public domain. On Dec. 11th, of that year, liaving gotten together .1*200 he entered the southeast quarter of section one, township seventeen range seven, where his cabin stood. That tract with the north eighty in the northeast quarter of the same section, entered on the same day by William Sadorus, then 22 years old, were the first entries of land in the grove or in that part of the county. The journey to Vandalia the then caiiital of the state and location of the land office, was made by Mr. Sadorus in company with James Piatt, who had bought out James Hay worth, first s(|uatter on the present site «d' Monticello anil was the nearest neighbor of the Sadorus household. IVace was maintained between tliem by agreeing that the eight nnle slough should be the dividing line between their ranges, all the grass on this side belonging

In Thk Neighborhood

It will be ii'ferred that the term 'iieifi;!!- bor." had a somewhat dillereut meaiiini? than from that given it now. and it is a fact that "dist.Tnce lent enchantment to the view" of the few they liad. As already seen residents at Danville, Monticello, Urhana and on tlie lower Little Vermilion river were liie neare.>t neighbors of the Sadorus family, hut it must not be supposed that the intervening distances prevented neighborly acts or cut off social intercourse. Air. William Siulorus, from whom 1 have received mii>t of the facts here Kf'i'l'ed together, was twelve year.-< old when they took upilieir residence on the OKaw, and is now in hi> 80ih jear. speaUs withenthusiasuiof their neighbors (.f sixiy years ago and the warm hospitality encountered in every cabin, of the "raisings,"' the "huskillg^^" and The "hunting circles" which brouglit the scattered settlers together and kei>t alive sociability. He remembers the Cook family which settled on the we.st side of the 13ig Grove in 1880. and before being domiciled binied the husbanfl and father, the hrst death of a white settlt-r of the county. He also remembers the coming of Stephen Boyd, Jake Heater, the Buseys, Charlie Matthew and Isaac, the latter he sajs, kept the first lirst-class hotel in Urbana in his cabin on the creek bank. He also remembers the coming of Noble Byers, the only Justice of the Peace in this part «if Vermilion c<UMity, of Jt>hn G. Robertson and of the Webbers. These are warmly remembered by Mr. Sadorus for the friendships whicli grew np between them as pioneers, and ceased only at their deatli.

The tirst additions to the population in the immediate neighborhood of the Sadorus family were Henry Evving, who with his family, came from Connersville, Ind., two years after Mr. Sadorus came and built a cabin in the grove north of where the village now is. He staid a year and moved on west. William Martpiis soon after came, took possession of the Ewing cabin, staid two ov three years and cleared a small plat of land and then he too, went west. One Aikens Wright came about 18:30 and settled west of the creek, a mile or more away. He was a desperado and had a bad reputation among his neighbors and finally moved away under compulsion. John Cook and family, the second permanent settler in the grove, came about the begining of 1><39 aud settled on .section thirty inTolono township, where he died over thirty years since. The Millers, Lsaac, James, Benjamin and John, came at an early day from Indiana, and entered land and became permanent residents. Before 1 hem came William Kock, in lJS.36, and settled on the land where he subse- (juertly dit-d. Following him and settling lower down were Kzra Fay. the first New Light preacher in the county, who settled on the Ellars farm: John Haines, father of E. C. Haines; Lawson Laughlin and William Toler, his father-in-law, the first to be buried in the Kock graveyard; and John U'Bryan. with his sons William, Joseph and Hiram. Fay afterwards moved to Lake

Although the Indian title to these lands had been extinguished by treaty in 1819. yet as late as 1833 these wild men wandered at will and hiinied over these prairies. Before the Sadorus family had built their first camp on the O'Kaw, they were visited by strolling bands of these red men. Their chief errands were to procure something to eat, and they always got what they came for, says Wm. Sadorus. This hospitality was not thrown away for the red men were always the fast friends of the Sadorus family. The Indians were of the Pottawatomie, Kickapoo and Delaware tribes. William Sadorus remembers Shemaugre the Pottawatomie chief and says the chief never failed to call when passing through this country on his hunting expeditions, always dividing with the family his supply of game. Shemaugre then lived at the ford of the Kankakee river near Bourbonnais Grove. He claimed the Indian camping ground on the site of Urbana as his native place, and is still remembered by many of the pioneers of the Big Grove as the friend of the early white settler. He is remembered by many as the "Old Soldier," a name sometimes assumed l>y him. His name is seen affixed to some treaties with the United States government as "Shemaugre." He was disowned by bis people and lived by himself when known to our people.

Wallhoming, a Delaware chief, was also a frequent visitor at the Sadorus home. At onetime he, with several followers, came over from the Ambraw river, bearing a keg of whisky, which they had purchased of a trader, saying they wanted to stay and have a big drunk, which they did, but all the time peaceable. The supply lasted them several days, notwithstanding the leak in the end opposite the spiggot, which Mrs. Sadorus had made to facilitate consumption. At the close Wallhoming and his friends gave an all night exhibition of Indian dances, which the Sadorus boys witnessed with interest. Big John Lewis, a Delaware, was one of the party. About a year after the bie drnnii VVainumiing came again, this time sober, bringing witli him tiicoon skins, which he gave Mr. badorus, saying they were to "pay for big drunk."

Ata(u)llier time when Mr. Sadorus had gone beyond the Wabash to mill and Mrs. Sadorus and lier little chiidri'ii were left alone, a party of Indians came to the cabin, asked for Mr. Sadorus and were informed that he had gone to mill. They informed the while man's squaw that she would starve, but were assured that they had plenty. They then Jeft the cabin for the chase and in a few hours returned bearing the hams of severa' deer which they had siaui and gave them to the family. Mrs. Sadorus returned the favor by instructing the boys to go to the corn shocks in tlie corn lields and roll out a supply of yellow pumpkins, which had been put there to save them from the frost. With mutual expressions of kindly feelings the red visitors and the Sadorus family separated as they had often done before.

The cabin of Mr. Sadorus was always made a stouping place by Shemaugre and Wallhomiug and their hunting parties, but not a single act of hostility or of thievery was ever perpetrated by them. Wm. Sadorus remembers the call at their cabin of an Indian named Tom Jelloway and his daughter, on iheir way to some western point wliere the dauuhter was charged with having killed a squaw, and whither the father was vtilmilrtriiy taking her to meet the charge. The result of the trial he never heard.

P.efoie the Sadorus family came here tlie BulTalo and the larger game had di>appeared irom the country, leaving only the bones of deceased members of the race and their wallowing holes, as evidences of their former occupancy. The bones have disappeared and the sink holes in the prairie where tliey took their recreation^, we me now engaged in tiling out and reclaiming for agriciiltnral inriioses. Of deer. wolve>, raccoons, minks and rabbits, there was plenty at the time of the settleni'iit of the country. Foxes and groundhotrs have come to the country since. As late as iN'Ji* a lynx was killed l)y John Cook on the creek. The Sadorus men svere great hunter^ in early dajs and William sa.\s he has huiiled norih as far as Spring ('reek, in lid(|Uois coniily.

lu such excursions he would be gone sometimes as long as three weeks, camping out and living by the chase. Within a few years, his passion for hunting, finding no gratitication in the lields so long ago hunted over by him, he has soiishtout hunting grounds in Arkansas and other western states.

I'Ost-Offick And Stokks

When the Sadorus family tirst came to the grove their nearest post-oflice and their county seat was I'aris, Edgar county, but having no need of postal facilities they did not patronize tlie town for either purpose. The road oHicials at Paris at one time warned Mr. Sadorus to appear on the streets of Paris on a given day to work his poll tax, but it being Hfty-two miles from home the mandate was disobejed.

Their first trading, and for tifteen years, was done at Eugene, Ind., with the Colletts and afterward with Samuel Groenendyke. There each fall they drove their hotfs. 'Ihey raised from 100 to oOOeach year. Their herd had the run of the timber and fattened on the mast until the corn hardened in the fall wl'en a "round up" was had and the herd put in a tield and fed until the packing season in Eugene, when a force sufficient was summoned and the drove taken to market. The pork brought from -31 to 52.50 percwt., and the trip consumed fnnn ten days to two weeks of time.

In the course of a few years Danville had a post-otiice and became iheir trading point. The tirst letter received by the family came thr<iugh that oHicte. A mail route was early established between Paris and Sprlnglield, and the mail carrier generally came liy way of Sadorus Giove, always stopping at their house. The mail-sack, however, was not unlocked between those two points.

In time Chicago came to be (piite a trading point and was visited Oy people fnnn this region. In the fall of V6M Mr. Sadorus made a trip there, prol)ably his first. His son IJeory, then eleven years old, gives me the particulars of the journey, which Igive for the benefit of those who uo there now on the vestibule tiaiii in ">'.i lioiirs. The trip to Chicago of tho-e days was most comfortably ma<ie in companies of two or more wations tmd so this one was made. Four wagons, each diavvii by live yoke of oxen, constimted the caravan. Mr. Safloius and Henry manned their oiiltic which whs freighted with oats. The other members of the party were Uncle Mai liusey and his son Fountain J.; Capt. Nr»x, of Sidney, father of Sol Nox; Pete Bailey, of Salt Foru, and lliram Jackson. The company met t»y appointment at Poaties, north of

Homer and from there turned their faces northward by the way of I'ilot Grove and Bourboiinais Grove, at which point they forded the Kankaltee river. It. raineti every day on the way and they swam cret^ks antl rivers eleven times. Each iiittlit. tiiey camped out and occupied tweoty-noe ilays in making the jiuirney. Mr. Sadoiussold his oats, which inid sprouted t'lom one to two incthes, to Capt. A.llen, in cumniaud of the Giirrison at Fort Dearborn, at 50 cents a bushel, and puicha^ed for his return trip salt, sugar, coltVe and other family supplies, it may he iniereslin>; to know that these Koods were l)ouglit of (iurdou S. Uul)bard, then and fur many >ears before and since an extensive trader with the frontiersmen and lndi.in.->. He had stores at Chicago, on the lro(|uoi-* river at a place called BuiK'omb and ai D.invllie. and was well-km)vvn t<i ihe early >eitler.-.. The return trip was made by way of Si.iing Creek and Mink Grove to Urbaua. Only one house was seen between the Kaidiakee river and Urbaua, that of Charley Busey, twu miles north of Urbana, on what is know.i as the John Stewart farm. Mr. Henry Sadorus says of Chicago then, that il was "very .-«cafteriiig and its streets were as full of dog-fennel as are those of 8adorus village now."

William Sadoius relates a similar triji to Chicago in 1S4(), in the big Pennsylvania wag(»n, loHtbd with si.xty bushels of wheat. This trill was made by way <if Trickle's Grove on ihe Middle Folk and Bouibonuais.

Before 1840 small stores had been opened at lJrt)aua and Houn-i', and these became their points of trade. When a post-ofiice was established at Urtwna it became their post-olTice. Not until the opening of the Great Western railioad, n<iw the Wabash, about 18.5.5, was a post-office bearing Mr. Sadorus' iiame, established near liim in the town laid <itf l)y his son VN illiam.

Urbana was their voiing place until the eslahlishmetiC of Sadorus precinct in 1854. Mr. Sadorus prouilly says that at their first election there, ihe voters were all democratic but one, and might perhaps have remained so, but Dr. Somers converted Ike and John Miller to the republican jiaity in 18.56, antl ihtis the repiU)llcans got a foothold in their limner.

When the county of Champaign was established in 18;>i, courts were opened in due time and Mr. Sadorus, as the record will show, took an early part in the pioceedings. He well remembers the early judges, Harlan, Treat and Davis, and the early sherifls, Saulsbnry, Stevenson, Cox, Ater, IjCwis and Stidham.

As before stated, the early settlers were, though living far apart, very so(!iable among themselves and hospitable to all strangers. The young people gathered together from considerable distances for corn "huskings" and "railings" and celebrated the conclusion of tlie Work with a dance. Whiskey was plenty at twenty cents a gallon and did not produce near as bad a drunk as the highly taxed and drugged article of this day. Mr. Sadorus iniilt a log barn :^0.\00 feet at one time and called his neighbors from the Big (irove. Salt Fork, Mouticello, Lake Fork, and away down on OKaw, to help to raise it. li took two days to do the work but the young peoiile danced all night the second night. A barrel of whiskey and large aumunts of provisions were used, but no bad drunks nor fights resulted. Melinda Jiusey (nflerwards Mis. Bryan) of Urbana, was one of the company.

Ill this wa> acquaintances were made aiul kept up, marriages were contracted and life-long friendships formed. Wm. Sadorus in 1838, when twenty-six years old, married Mary Moore, of Lake Fork, Shelby county, and settled on land he had entered four years before, building for himself a log cabin as was the custom everywhere, but receiving tne aid of his neighbors.

No schools were opened in the settlement until 1839, when a man named Hooten taught a family school in Mr. Sadorus' kitchen for a short time. Mr. Sadorus sent his son William to a school at Georgetown, Vermilion county, and while he was there the surveyor was engaged in plating and laying out the town. It afterwards became the seat of the Georgetown Seminary and quite an educational centre. Henry Sadorus was also sent to a school ten miles this side of Danville

The first public school in the settlement was taught by John Hamilton, in 1840, in a log school-house, built about one mile north of the village, in the upper end of grove. It is said this school was taught before a lloor had been laid or a window put in the house and before it liad been "chinked and daubed."

William Sadorus says that the lirst .sermon preached and the first religious exercises held in the Grove was by Peter Cartwright, but he can not give the date. He was followed by Arthur Bradshaw, who was aiipointetl to the Urbana mission in 1839. His field embraced the territory for a long distance down the O'Kaw and Ambraw.

The settlers prepared a set of puncbeon benches, which were hauled from house to house, where appointments were made by Bradshaw. The timber was of linn and so was light and easily handled. These appointments were not very frequent hut were well attended.

Permanent Home

Id 18.38 Mr. Sadorus built for himself and family a very pretentious permanent home, after having lived in their cabin home fourteen years. It was a two-story frame building about m feet front by 20 feet, attached to which was an ell of considerable size. It had for its supports big granite boulders, gathered from the fields. The siding was hauled from Coal Creek, Ind., while other portions of the sawed lumber was brought froui Moses Thomas' mill near Homer, while some was brought from Heptoustall's mill, a short distance below Urbana.

This house was roomy and afforded the host better facilities for extending that hospitality to strangers for which he was noted. This home and that of William Rock, three miles farther south, were in their time the best cm the creek and were often the scenes of social gatherings arid always of generous hospitality.

Crime

The first milling facilities enjoyed by the .settlement were a choice between a mill in Morgan county, Illinois, and mills beyond thej Wabash in Indiana. These were in part supplied by a horse mill made by Mr. Sadorus in 1830. It was made of dressed boulders and run by horse power. It would grind only a bushel of corn in two hours or four or five bushels in a day. It would grind but not bolt the grain and was better than to go one hundred miles east or west to mill. They subsequently resorted to .lohn Brownlield's mill in the Big (Jrove and to 'I'honias' mill at Homer. CRIME.

The r)nly homicides were the killing of I)e Haven bs I'atterscm, in 1S5M, and later tiie killing of .John Itice, by Thompson Laughlin. Dr. Haven was killed by a weight thrown by I'atteison and IJice by a gun^^hot. Patterson was tried and sent to tlie penitentiary and Lauglilin was tried and acqiiitled.

In the course of time, here as everywhere else in our country, the seclusion of the frontier gii\ e way to the forces of civili/ation, and the iron horse jdouKhed its way through Sadorus' Grove about on the line of the "Narrows," adopted by Sadorus and his fellow pioneer, Joe Smith, as the line between their possessions and across the land entered by William Sadorus in 1834. In the period of the state internal improvement craze in 1837 a line was run through the grove for this road about half a mile north of the present location, but notliing more came of it, until eighteen years afterwards, in the fullness <>f time, the Wabash road was built and now its thirty trains a day thunder past William Sadorus' door and through the silvan shades where he and his father, aluio-t seventy years since, tirst broke the solitudes which prevailed since Creation's morn.

Mr. Sadorus. now a patriarch of almost eighty years, lives with his tliiid wife not far away from the point where they tirst pitciied their camp on April 0th. 1S24, while his brother Henry, younger by twelve years, lives a mile away. A dense population has taken possession of the adjacent timber and prairies and elbowed the hunters and their game therefrom.

The old pioneer, Henry Sadorus, died July 18, 1S78, aged almost ninety-five years and now with his faithful wife who died thirty years before, sleeps in the little cemetery near his home, but immediately upon the banks of the stream he loved so well and so long. His name is borne by his township and village and will never be forgotten.