Vermilion County, Illinois - Chapter 15: Some of the Makers of Vermilion County, 1911 (part 2 of 2)

William Golden, the father-in-law of Andrew Patterson, had come to the Little Vermilion country three years before this date and located at Yankee Point. Mr. Golden later had the distinction of having the first frame house in the neighborhood. It was not only a frame house, but it was painted. His grandson, the son of Mr. Patterson, tells about this house which he recalls distinctly. It was two rooms long and one room deep, and painted red. Mr. Golden's half brother, Tom Whitlock, painted it, using a brush as any one would do today. There is no doubt the strongest ties were between William Golden and his daughter Amelia, who became the wife of Andrew Patterson, and followed her father to Illinois. Her oldest son was named William and her youngest one was named Golden, both bearing the name of her father. Andrew Patterson was the father of six children. William Patterson, the oldest son of Andrew Patterson, grew up in Elwood township and married the daughter of Eli Patty, in 1853. He was born February 2.2, 1824, in Granger County, East Tennessee.

Mr. and Mrs. Patterson are the parents of seven children of whom four are yet living. Mr. Patterson has been a resident of Elwood township ever since 1827, with the exception of a few years shortly after his marriage, when he improved a fine farm at Broadlands in; the southwestern part of Champaign County.

Samuel Copeland

Samuel Copeland was among the first, if not the very first, settlers of Blount township. He came to Vermilion County in 1827. The family made the journey from Ohio in a keelboat down the Ohio river and up the Wabash river to Perrysville, Indiana. Mr. Copeland made the boat himself and brought not only the household goods but also a boat load of salt. Out of the sale of the salt he made his start in the new life. He sold the salt at Perrysville and hired a man to haul his household goods and family seven miles northwest of Danville, where he entered eighty acres of land, part timber and part prairie. His first house was made by laying one pole from one tree to another about ten feet apart on a fork in either tree, against which poles and rails were leaned on each side for a roof. In that tent they lived until they could build a log house. He had brought a load of planks with him from Ohio. These planks he put on the ground for a floor and bed and began hewing rails. As soon as he could get enough rails he sent word to the State Line for help to raise the house. Such a labor always took the entire neighborhood and in his case other neighborhoods had to be called upon for help. All that was necessary in the case of a house to raise was a notice sent; every man took it for granted that he must go and it was never thought that the man whose house was being built should offer wages for the help. Such as that would be considered an insult. Steady work and willing effort soon conquers any obstacle, so it was on this farm. After getting the first eighty acres into cultivation, Mr. Copeland would buy more land and improve it until he had increased his farm to a great extent.

Larkin Cook

Larkin Cook was born and married in Ohio, where they lived on a farm for some time before going to Indiana. In 1887 they again moved, this time coming to Vermilion County, Illinois. Mr. Cook was a man of strict integrity. He was cordial and hospitable and his wife was particularly fond of company. Their home in Vermilion County was a happy place to visit. They were, with their families much in demand at merrymakings. They were the parents of ten children.

Andrew Juvinall

Andrew and Mary (James) Juvinall cast their lot in with the white settlers of Vermilion County at an early day, coming in 1827. They were both natives of Ohio and made their new home in Pilot township.

Samuel Sconce

Samuel Sconce was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, in 1802, and there they had all the trials of pioneer life, so that the change to the new country along the Vermilion river was not the place of hardship it might have been to one from more densely populated section. He left his old home in 1828, and made his permanent settlement in Vermilion County the following year. The year following this, Nancy Waters, who had come to Vermilion County with her father from Bourbon County, Kentucky, the old home of Mr. Sconce, and located in Brooks' Point, became his wife. For a few years this young couple lived in Brooks' Point and Mr. Sconce turned his attention to farming, but later he became a merchant in Indianola, under the firm name of Bailey & Sconce. He was very successful in this business but after the building burned he retired from business life. Mr. Sconce died in 1874 at the age of seventy-one years, and his widow survived him until 1897 when she died at the age of eighty-nine.

William Jones

William Jones and his wife were both born in Harrison County, Kentucky, where they were married and lived for the first dozen years of being together. In 1828 they, with their family of six children, cast their fortunes with the pioneers of Vermilion County, locating near Danville in Danville township. They lived for a short time on section 16 and then he bought a tract of land on section n. It was heavily timbered and the family lived in a rail-pen for a time until a log house could be built. Mr. Jones improved a part of his land and then moved to another part of the township. He died October 30, 1859. He was a faithful soul receiving the well-earned respect of all who knew him. His wife survived him eight years. They were the parents of eight children. Of these one became the wife of Henry Sallee, of Oakwood township and another became the wife of Dennis Olehy.

William Wright

In 1828 William Wright with his family came to this county, coming directly from Rush County, Indiana. At that time there were but three children. They had not been living in Indiana more than one year, having gone there from Kentucky. The first settlement made was three miles north of Danville. At the time of his location here there were not many families in Danville, it was so recently made a town. The land was not yet in the market, and settlements were not attempted. He, however, ventured to settle in the timber, having the universal mistrust of the prairie. He built his house of logs and the chimney was constructed of a substance called stone-coal, which was thought to be fire-proof. This was a mistake, however, for the fire was no sooner built than the chimney began to burn and it was with difficulty that the cabin was saved.

The little log house was soon surrounded by a well cultivated farm and in time a neat and comfortable house was built. During this time the village of Denmark had been growing. Because of the disadvantages of living so near this rough frontier town, Mr. Wright sold his farm and moved to Danville township. Here he spent his last days. He died in 1845. His wife survived him by thirtysix years.

James Graves

James Graves and his wife were both natives of Kentucky. He showed rare soldierly qualities in the war of 1812 and made General Harrison his personal friend. Mr. Graves and his family came to Vermilion County in 1828. He had made a trip previous to this time in company with Isaac Sandusky, and both took up land in Vermilion County about a half mile apart. They brought their families in 1828 and in October of the same year the Graves settled on their new land. Mr. Graves prospered and became the owner of four hundred acres of land in Georgetown township. Mr. Graves was a cabinet-maker by trade and he followed that for a dozen years after he came to Vermilion County. After that time however, he practically abandoned it, and turned his attention to farming. Mr. Graves lived on his farm until 1857, when he died. His wife survived him thirty years, remaining a widow until her death in 1887.

James Barnett

James Barnett was a native of Kentucky and settled in Vermilion County in 1828. He was married twice, the first time to Miss Conway and the second time to Rosa Neil. He owned about six hundred acres of land near Indianola and was one of the prominent farmers in that part of the country. His ancestors were from Ireland and when they came to America they settled in Pennsylvania. Mr. James Barnett, Sr., died in 1866.

Andrew Makemson

Andrew Makemson was a resident of Kentucky until, in 1828, he with his wife and family, came to Vermilion County, Illinois, to make their future home in Newell township. Mr. Makemson was a stalwart Republican and both he and his wife were good members of the Methodist church and were highly esteemed for their honesty and sterling qualities. Mr. Makemson died in 1880 and his wife in 1889. They were both buried in the Lamm cemetery.

John Chandeer

John Chandler, like so many of the pioneers of Vermilion County, was a native of the "Blue Grass state," where he lived until he had reached manhood's estate, and in 1828 determined to go into the state of Illinois. Making their way to this county they located on a tract of wild land in Newell township where he tilled the soil and made such improvements as to sell it to a profit in 1853 and take up his residence in Danville. Mr. Chandler lived in Danville until he died in 1859. His wife died before he left the farm.

Absolom Collison

Absolom Collison was a native of Pike County, Ohio, and in 1828 came to Illinois. He entered forty acres of land from the government and began the development of a farm. So well did he succeed that he became a land owner well known. He married Mary Chenoweth, who was born near Columbus, Ohio, but came to Illinois with her father. Mr. Collison was the father of seven children who have been conspicuous in the affairs of Vermilion County. He died in 1849. His widow afterward married John Smith.

Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith was a native of East Tennessee and lived there until, in 1828, when he with his family came to Vermilion County, Illinois. It had been but ten years since Illinois had become a state and but three years since Vermilion County had been created. Joseph Smith took up his abode in Georgetown township and improved a farm there upon which he spent the remaining years of his life. He lived to the age of seventy-three in this home.

Samuel Campbell

Samuel Campbell came to Vermilion County about 1828, settling on section 26, Newell township. He made his journey from Seneca County, New York, overland in a covered wagon. He first stopped in Ohio and waited while some of his sons came ahead to Vermilion County, following them later. They lived at first in a little cabin surrounded by Indian neighbors. There they underwent all the hardships and trials incident to the establishing of a home on the frontier. Later the log cabin was replaced by a modern house where Mr. and Mrs. Campbell spent their last years. They were the parents of eight children. After the death of his father the youngest son bought the interests of the others and carried on the farm until his death in 1855, when he was but forty-one years old.

Otho Allison

Otho Allison was a resident of Harrison County, Kentucky, until he came to Indianapolis, Ind., in 1826, where he stayed two years and then came to Vermilion County, Illinois. He was a miller as well as a farmer. Upon coming to the county Mr. Allison entered a claim of one hundred and twenty acres, five miles from Danville, in Newell township. This included eighty acres of prairie and forty acres of timber land, and it was in a raw state; not a bit of improvement had ever been made. During his boyhood days, Alfred Allison went with his father, Otho Allison, to Chicago, and saw the Indians paid off after the Black

Hawk war. His father also showed him the first brick building ever put up in that city. Otho Allison was the father of thirteen children, eleven sons and two daughters.

When James Donovan was a youth of sixteen years he served in the regular army under Gen. Jackson, as private in a Kentucky company. Returning to his home in Bourbon county, he settled down and after awhile married Mary Perkins. In 1828 they moved to Vermilion County. He was employed in the salt works for a time and afterward he hauled produce to Chicago and took charge of the same down the river to New Orleans. He had a life of hardship and died when he was about sixty years old. Mrs. Donovan died at the age of sixty-six years. They were the parents of fifteen children.

William Bandy

William Bandy was a prominent citizen in the affairs of Vermilion County at an early day. He was born in Bedford County, Va., and when a boy of sixteen came to Vermilion County, where he lived until his death. William and Washington Bandy came with their foster parents, making the trip in a fourhorse team wagon, taking thirty-six days to come from their old home to Danville, Illinois. The wagon was filled with household effects and provisions, leaving but room for the family. In it their beds were made at night and they took their meals by the side of the road. When they reached Danville, December 13, 1828, there were but nine families living here. There was no cabin for them to rent, while they were providing a shelter, but they at last succeeded in securing a temporary abiding place in a log house which already contained two families. This building was 16x16 feet, and stood on the northwest corner of the square upon the present site of the First National Bank. Mr. Howell, the foster father of William and Washington Bandy, kept his family in this house until spring, because he could do no better.

The land office was at that time located at Palestine, ninety miles away. Mr. Howell went there right away to enter or purchase land, but could not do so because the officer in charge would not take the Virginia money which he offered in payment. After some delay, this difficulty was overcome and he entered 480 acres of land. He put four cabins up on this land, the principal one being that which was located one mile southeast of the public square. This house was made of rough logs with a puncheon floor, two windows and a door, with greased paper for use in the windows in the place of glass. The building was 16 ft. by 18 ft. and boasted window shutters of rived boards. An opening was made in the logs eight feet wide, and built out three feet, and this was lined with earth for a fireplace. The chimney was built outside six feet high and covered with mortar. This rude contrivance lasted for years and furnished enough heat for cooking and warming of the building in the winter.

The furniture was equally crude and homely. The bedstead was made of riven boards and set on wooden legs; the table was made in a like manner, only the legs were made higher. The family had brought two chairs which were given to the father and mother and the boys had to make stools for themselves to sit on. A tick was made which was filled with straw and another filled with feathers, and put on the bed. While game was plenty, and the family never lacked for meat, the groceries had to be brought in from Terre Haute and sometimes failed to be as plenty. After the cabin was built, water had to be carried 300 yards, until a well could be dug. Mr. Howell made a contract to get out 10,000 black walnut rails at twenty-five cents per hundred, and in the meanwhile he and the boys carried on the improvement of the farm. They broke the first timber land about Danville and raised some very fine corn which they were obliged to feed to their swine and sell the pork at from $1.00 to $1.50 per hundred. There was no market for the corn. The wage of a day's work was equal to ten or twelve pounds of salt pork or eight bushels of corn, or, from thirty-seven and a half to fifty cents in cash, and only the extra good workmen could command that price. William Bandy remained a member of this home until he was nineteen years old when he went into the Black Hawk war in Colonel I. R. Moore's regiment with Captain J. Palmer.

This regiment went first to Joliet to build a fort. Thence they went to Ottawa, and yet later William Bandy joined the United States Mounted Rangers, which comprised six companies. They found the dread scourge of cholera at Rock Island and many fell victims to it. This company finally returned and wintered southeast of Danville until in January they were ordered to the other side of the Illinois river, but there being no need of their further service they came back to their camp. They remained ready for duty all summer, reconnoitering in different sections until, in the fall of the year, they were discharged.

Mr. Bandy, in company with Mr. Howell, began work as a carpenter, and that year built a house on what was called Sulphur Springs Place, about one mile southeast of the court house. In the following spring they built a flat boat upon which Mr. Bandy loaded great quantities of pork and took it to New Orleans. When he reached his destination he found an epidemic of cholera, and he waited only to sell enough to pay expenses when he came home, having left the rest of his pork to be sold by others. Two years later he had a letter from the man who undertook the sale, stating that it was all sold, and enclosing the price thereof in a draft on a Louisville bank.

Mr. Bandy built another boat and took another load of produce down the rivers, and continued these trips year after year excepting in the time of the Mexican war, when he abandoned the river until after its close.

Later he furnished the Illinois Canal company with packet horses and also was a merchant in partnership with his father-in-law, William Murphy. He later had a hardware store, conducting the largest business of this kind in the county, for years. He spent the last years of his life in the real estate business. His first residence was on North street, east of Vermilion, where he had a half acre of ground. He was appointed as one of the commissioners to make the slack water of the Vermilion river, in 1835, but did not see it practical; later he was appointed marshal of the Eastern District of Illinois, but there being nothing which appealed to him in the office, he withdrew.

Mr. Bandy represented his township two terms as supervisor ; he also served the city as president of the city council and as alderman. Mr. Bandy married

Miss Harrie J. Murphy, in 1833. They were the parents of seven children. Mrs. Bandy died in 1872, and nine years later he married Mrs. Deborah (King) Johnson.

James Smith

James Smith was one of the first, if not the first man to settle in Vance township. He came from Ohio, where he was a farmer, and entered eight hundred acres of land in Vermilion County in this section. During his life he improved all this land and gave each of his children a portion before he died. He came to Vermilion County in 1829 and lived here until his death in 1872. His wife died ten years before him.

William Blakeney

William Blakeney was a native of Kentucky, and his wife Susan (Ellis) Blankeney, was born in Greene County, Ohio. Susan Ellis came to Vermilion County with her father about 1821, but Mr. Blakeney came in 1829. He came to Illinois earlier than this but did not locate in Vermilion County for some time after he left Ohio. He traveled over the state on foot, visiting the lead mines at Galena. He served in the Black Hawk war in 1832, three years after coming to Vermilion County. Physically, William Blakeney was a splendid speciment of manhood. He was tall, had a powerful frame and was very active. He was acknowledged the strongest man west of the Wabash, and could outrun any man in this section were he white man or Indian. Mr. and Mrs. Blakeney were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom grew to mature years and married and had families of their own.

!Mr. Blakeney's home was in Georgetown township. One of his sons, well known in Sergeant Blakeney, married the daughter of Benjamin Brooks, the founder of Brooks' Point.

Charles S. Young

Charles Young became an extensive land owner in Vermilion County, coming at the early date of 1829. He was a Kentuckian by birth and lived in that state until after his marriage, January 14, 1829. He lived in Harrison County, until the following October when the young couple decided to change their residence and go to the new county of Vermilion in the new state of Illinois. They arrived here on October 14, and took their life up in Newell township. The amount of his wealth at the time of his coming to Vermilion County was an eagle, a half dollar and twenty-five cents in his pocket. He bought eighty acres of wild prairie land and by careful management he became one of the richest men in Vermilion County. He bought and sold all kinds of stock, having driven horses to the Cincinnati. Chicago, Racine and Milwaukee markets. Mr. Young was the father of nine children. His wife died in 1871.

Charles Caraway

Charles Caraway was the son of Thomas Caraway of Greenbriar County, Virginia. He was born in 1788, and came to Vermilion County in 1829. He had been married to Elizabeth McCorkle of the same county a few years pre- vious to his coming west. They located not far from Butler's Point and established a family, the descendents of whom have been prominent in affairs of the county since that time. Mr. Caraway lived in the county nine years and died in 1838. His widow afterward married Anson Butler, and lived until 1848.

Latham Folger

Latham Folger entered land in the Harrison Purchase, and was a tanner, a shoemaker and a manufacturer of horse collars. He ran a tannery, a shoe shop and a horse-collar shop in El wood from 1829 until 1845, when he settled on his land in the southern part of Elwood township, where he carried on farming extensively. He died early in the year of 1852, but his wife lived nearly thirty years more.

Latham Folger lived in Nantucket Island in his young days. He was a whaler, and was taken prisoner while whaling during the war with Great Britain, and because he refused to fight, was left on a small rocky island to die, but he was fortunate in having an Americn vessel come long and rescue him before he starved to death.

William Cunningham

William Cunningham was born in Pennsylvania about 1778, and shortly after his marriage to Mary Humes came west and settled in Kentucky, coming thence to Vermilion County in 1829. They settled on the prairie in Newell township at what was afterwards called Cunningham Grove. The family traveled in a prairie schooner drawn by oxen, and much time was consumed in coming from Kentucky, the roads being none of the best. Mr. Cunningham settled on section n and there built him a house after the fashion of the day.

Mr. Cunningham was married twice and was the father of twelve children. Chicago was the trading point where Mr. Cunningham exchanged groceries for farm produce hauled there in wagons drawn by oxen.

William Current came to Vermilion County in 1829 with his brother and sister, settling in Newell township. He was a blacksmith and wagon-maker by trade and after he came west sold some of the wagons he had made to people in Chicago.

Chicago was the market where he sold his eggs, butter and other farm produce. Mr. Current was a native of Virginia, whence he came west. He lived in Newell township until his death in 1851. He was the father of fourteen children. His wife, Mary (Bastwin) Current survived her husband by more than thirty years.

James Elliott

James and Elizabeth (Smith) Elliott lived on a farm in Ohio until 1829 when they came to Vermilion County, Illinois, where Mr. Elliott bought land in Vance township. Mr. Elliott lived in this section all his life, a good citizen. He was three times married, having a family of seven children. Of all these children but two lived to maturity and they both lived in Vermilion County.

The oldest son of Mr. Elliott Milton, who came to this county with his parents was a farmer all his life. He married Miss Elizabeth Smoot, who lived near Fairmount and they were the parents of six children. Mr. Milton Elliott died in 1884 and Mr. Elliott died in 1895.

John D. C. Cline

John D. C. Cline came from Kentucky in 1829 and settled in Blount township, where the name has been a familiar one ever since. The old homestead was on section 26. Mr. Cline was a potter and frequently made trips as far as Wisconsin to sell his goods. His son, Spencer Cline continued the clearing of the farm and lived in the house which his father built.

John Johns

John Johns was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, May 25, 1805. While he was quite young his father moved to Owen County, Indiana. Most of his early life was spent flatboating down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

He was married to Miss Mary Humphrey at the residence of Uncle Reuben Partlow, Owen County, Indiana, in 1826. He went to Kentucky to live with his wife's father, John Humphrey, until 1829, when he came to this county and made his home in Blount township in the Copeland neighborhood. His brothersin-law, Benjamin Stewart and John Mills, with his father-in-law, Mr. Humphrey, came here a few years later. John Johns came in a wagon from Kentucky, bringing provisions enough to last one year until he could raise a crop. Mr. Johns remained in Blount township until 1852, when he removed to Danville. After coming to Danville he engaged in the lime and plaster trade for many years. He had lived a retired life for some years at the time of his death in 1886, at the age of 81 years. He died at the home of his son-in-law, Charles Hacker, after a short and painful illness. He was known to the people as Father Johns, and his quiet demeanor made every one fond of him. He was like wheat ripe for the sickle. He had been a church member for sixty years, and the first religious services ever held in Blount township were held at his house.

After he removed to Danville he united with the North Street church and was buried from that church, his interment being in Springhill cemetery. An old friend of his wrote at the time that he "was sound in judgment and very decided in his principles, and so far as he knew the right nothing could cause him to swerve from the right."

John Cox

John Cox came to Vermilion County in 1829 and settled on the Middle Fork six miles west of Danville. He was a carpenter and also owned a fine farm, which he entered and himself improved. John Cox was in the Black Hawk war. Both he and his wife belonged to the Baptist church. Mr. Cox died May 23,

1846, and his wife on September 2, 1851. They were the parents of six children. Thomas, who was a baby but six week old when his parents came to Illinois, grew up to a life of success and usefulness. He had much land and was ordained a minister in the Baptist church in 1886, after which time he had either a regular charge or a circuit.

Adam Pate

Adam Pate was born in Virginia, married Elizabeth Owens, of Kentucky, and began their wedded life in Dearborn County, Indiana. In 1829 they came to Vermilion County, and located in Catlin township, where they lived all their remaining days. They experienced all the pleasures and the trials of pioneer days. Mr. Pate died February 24, 1867, and Mrs. Pate died in 1864.

Ephriam Agree

Ephriam Acree came to Vermilion County directly from Alabama in 1829. He made a settlement in Catlin township. He bought 130 acres of raw land upon which he built the house that all had at that time and fenced, and broke six acres the first season. The next year he managed to put thirty more acres under cultivation. The corn raised could not bring more than six and a fourth cents per bushel and the mills were so far away that it was hard to get it ground so as to use it for food for the family. Joel Acree, his son, often took a sack of corn on horseback ten and sometimes fifteen miles to get it ground. Mr. Acree died in 1835 and was buried in the Butler burying ground. Joel Acree lived with his mother until 1848, when he was married to Elvessa Yount, daughter of one of the old settlers.

After his marriage Mr. Joel Acree purchased the interest of his brothers and sisters in the home place and as the younger children grew up he purchased theirs until it all was his. He bought other land from time to time until he was a great land owner in the county, beside having valuable land in Missouri. Ephriam Acree was the father of eleven children, many of whom beside Joel were settled comfortably in Vermilion County. Joel Acree and Elvessa (Yount) Acree, his wife, were the parents of but two children who grew to maturity. Of these two daughters, the eldest became the wife of Thomas A. Taylor.

Dr. Hey wood came to Vermilion County in 1829, and settled in Georgetown township, becoming the first regular physician of that village. At that time there were but three other physicians in the county. These were Dr. Holmes. Dr. Wood and Dr. Smith. After ten years of practice Dr. Heywood moved on his farm in Carroll township, where he remained until 1871, when he moved to Indianola. He married Miss Sarah Barnett, in 1831. She was the daughter of George Barnett. Dr. Heywood was a politician as well as a physician. He

John W. Vance

John W. Vance came to Vermilion County from Ohio in about 1823 or 1824. He was born in 1782 and died at the home of his son in 1857. He leased the Salt Works and developed them, running them to their greatest capacity, as long as there was any profit in them. Mr. Vance was very prominent in the affairs of the county at an early day. He represented the county in the legislature for two terms. Mr. Vance married Miss Deziah Rathburn who was the daughter of Mrs. Lura Guymon by a former marriage. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Vance were Horace W. Vance, and J. Col. Vance, his sons, also Helen, who became the wife of J. Wilson; Lura G., who became the wife of S. R. Tilton; and Josephine L., wife of L. Steele; with Bridget, Marion, Mariah, and Joseph, the last three of whom died young. While Mr. Vance was working the salt springs, the land upon which the works were located was selected for the county seat, but he refused to surrender his lease and the location was changed, thereby giving Danville a chance to secure it. Had it not been for his position at that time, the county seat might have been permanently placed at that place and the history of the county would have been radically different.

Andrew Davidson

Andrew Davidson came to Vermilion County in 1828 after their family were pretty well grown, and settled near Myersville. They brought seven children, two of whom were married. Very soon afterward another was followed by Joseph Kerr who married her. Andrew Davidson' saw his children all nicely settled before he died in 1841. His children were all girls excepting two sons. One of these sons remained in Myersville and the other came to Danville. One of Mr. Davidson's daughters became the wife of Joseph Gundy, before they left Ohio and came to Vermilion County.

Samuel Adams

Samuel Adams was a pioneer of that part of Vermilion County now known as Newell township. He came in the year 1825, and with his wife settled among the Indians, who outnumbered the white people for some time ten to one. There were three families who came together from Harrison County, Kentucky, at this time all coming in two horse wagons, and it took three or four weeks to make the trip. The party camped along the roadside as they were coming. The party consisted of Samuel Adams, John Adams his cousin, and Joseph Martin a brother-in-law of Samuel Adams' father. Samuel Adams had his wife and two children with him on this trip. They all took up their abode on the state boundary line and soon Mr. Adams had a log cabin erected with a stick and clay chimney. This stood on section 22 Xewell township, the old family homestead. He entered eighty acres of land from the government for which he paid one hundred dollars. This property has always been in the hands of the family since. Samuel Adams was a noted dealer in hogs which he raised for the home market. His earliest trading points were Eugene and Perrysville on the Wabash River, and later he hauled produce to Chicago. It took about eighteen days for the trip. It was necessary to ford the rivers, for no bridges had been built, and to camp out along the road at night. Homemade clothing was used and the second wife of Mr. Adams was noted for her skill in weaving. She made blankets and coverlets for the beds and material for the household use. Mr. Adams' wife who came from Kentucky with him died in the 'forties and he married Sarah Rayle as his second wife. She was a widow with five children. She was the daughter of Luke Kayles who was an early pioneer of Vermilion County, and was the first owner of land on the North Fork, of the Big Vermilion River. Samuel Adams died at the age of eighty-one years in the year 1881, and his second wife, one year later at the age of seventy-four. He was the father of thirteen children by his first wife.

This list of the makers of Vermilion County is of necessity limited. There are other citizens of this decade who have been overlooked without doubt. The omission of any name of men who came to this section previous to 1830 is not intentional and comes only because of lack of information regarding such. True this period covering the time of the coming of the makers of Vermilion County from 1819 to 1829 includes but three years of the actual existence of Vermilion County as an organization, but it is the first decade of the life of the white man in the section of country now known as Vermilion County and as such, gives the story of the first settlers of the territory.