Vermilion County, Illinois - Chapter 23: Famous Farms, 1911

Chapter 23: Famous Farms

Vermilion County is eminently an agricultural section. Few are the factories, and, spite of every reason to the contrary, scattered are the manufacturing interests. The county is second to none in the state in the number and value of the farms. Some of these farms are historic, and some of them are of particular interest because of the variety of production. Space only permits the consideration of a few of these farms, and those have been chosen which are representative. These are the Pilot Grove farm, the Fairview farm, the Mann farm and the Allerton farm.

Pilot Grove Farm

The Pilot Grove farm located in the middle and western part of Vermilion county, secured its name from the fact that almost in the center of its 3,600 acres, stood the Pilot Grove. This was a tract of timber of 200 acres, which was the only timber in the county not bordering a stream and which, standing on the top of the old California ridge in that vast prairie could be seen for many miles from all directions. It was a guide to the traveler in an early day ; hence its name.

The first settler in this locality was Moses Girard, who entered from the government 160 acres in 1831 and 160 acres adjoining in 1835. Of this man's courage enough can not be said, as it was considered almost foolhardy to attempt a residence away from timber protection then, and for many years after, but he chose a cosy spot for a house in a little locust grove on a knoll and here built a part of the famous old Half Way House.

Its architecture was peculiar in many respects, it had no windows on the west, the better to protect its inmates from the winds and storms. Its frame was of heavy oak timber and between the walnut weather-boarding and plastering was a wall of brick. These were evidently made on the farm as traces of a kiln can be seen today by the ploughman; so we see he had quite effectually fortified himself to battle with the elements. Cattle raising and grazing was his chief occupation.

In 1839, he sold this farm to Wm. I. Moore, who in 185052-53, entered from the government 3,366 acres adjoining it, and to the house Mr. Moore built an addition twice as large as the original, and of the same solid materials. Several of the rooms had large fireplaces, with cupboards, built to the ceiling on either side; underneath the whole was a brick foundation and basement, called cellar in those days. When completed, this great old house presented a commodious and imposing appearance, and standing as it did on an eminence like the Pilot Grove, which was less than a quarter of a mile to the west, it could be seen for many miles in that vast expanse of unbroken prairie, and has furnished shelter and food, day and night, to many weary travelers. It was known for almost two score of years as the Half Way House, being almost midway between Danville and Rantoul, and, while several miles to the north of a direct line between Danville and Champaign, it was about midway of the course the early traveler chose (taking the uplands to avoid the swamps) and he found it most convenient to stop for the night at the Half Way House.

Over 2,000 acres of this land which Mr. Moore obtained from the government cost him $1.25 per acre, but for 1,300 acres he paid only 12% cts. each, it being swamp land and considered worthless. Now this same land is the best on the farm and easily worth $200 per acre. This is due to the extensive tiling which has been done. Mr. Jno. Scott managed this farm for Mr. Moore for many years and was a loyal tenant, which fact is demonstrated by the following incident : Two men came to the Scott home for the night ; they were looking over the country for a promising location, on land yet owned by the government; in the course of the evening they stated that they intended to enter the land on which stood the Pilot Grove. Now this grove was in the center of Mr. Moore's farm, and Mr. Scott realized that it would be a bitter disappointment to him for these men to get possession of it. After the strangers had retired for the night, Mr. Scott mounted a horse and rode into Danville, a distance of eighteen miles and notified Mr. Moore, who presented himself at the patent office and secured for himself this land. Mrs. Scott, who was a daughter of Thomas Rowland, an early pioneer, and who afterward became the wife of Mr. Moore, often said that she would take the field glasses in the morning and survey the whole country, and if she saw a drove of cattle anywhere in the distance, she knew they must expect company, and proceeded to prepare for them. She was the mother of Thomas Scott, recently deceased, who was an important man in the affairs of this state and who resided at Charleston.

After Mr. Scott's death Mr. Moore leased the farm to Willy Fowler, who had come to this country from Ohio, looking for a good location for the sheep business. This farm more nearly met the requirements than any he had seen, and in 1864 he took possession, and for the first time in the farm's history, the cattle business was at low ebb and sheep held sway. Heretofore the dangers from wild animals had been considered too great for this industry to thrive here, but as profits in this business were greater than ever before or since (wool selling for $i per lb.), it was worth taking some chances on it. Wolves and foxes were numerous, and the greatest care was taken to protect the flocks, but notwithstanding this, their depredations were appalling, and often led to wolf chases and fox hunts, which were enjoyed by all settlers for many miles

Old Half Way House

Deer abounded in numbers and raised their young in the wild grass, which grew as high as a horse's head. There is an idea extant (but for the truth of which I cannot vouch) that the very young fawn has no spots and no odor until it reaches the age of activity, thus being protected from beasts of prey, as it lay hidden in the grass. Wild geese and ducks, prairie chicken and quail were numerous, too, and these furnished great sport for the hunters.

Mr. Fowler was a famous shot and kept splendid hunting dogs, and many friends from the neighboring towns and from his old home in Ohio enjoyed vacations with him on this farm.

But to retrace - Mr. Fowler came here a widower with three children and a widowed mother, Mrs. Cynthia Fowler, who, well-loved, soon became Grandma Fowler to everybody. She witnessed the development of Pilot township from an uncultivated swamp region to farms unsurpassed for fertility and good improvements, and died at the ripe age of 91 years.

In 1865 Mr. Fowler returned to Ohio and married Mary Dillon, a girl of unusual courage and energy, who made a noble mother and an untiring helpmate, and to whom he gives great credit for his later success. Few women, even in those early days have given such aid with heart, hands and brain as did Mrs. Fowler. Devotion to family and home was her watchword, and her beautiful Christian character shone with brightness throughout her life and none have gone to their reward more revered by her family than was she.

In 1868 Mr. Fowler bought the Pilot Grove farm of 3,686 acres for $51,- ooo, paying $10,000 in cash, the remainder in notes. This seemed an enormous price, and it was predicted freely that the venture would bankrupt him. These predictions proved to be false, however. He continued handling sheep for several years, when on account of disease among them he abandoned that industry for a time and devoted himself to the cattle business, and from that time until he retired from the farm, there was not a year that he failed to market a drove of fat cattle. He was considered an expert at producing heavy beeves.

The cattle business in connection with farming has been general throughout the county, until recent years. Now, herds of cattle are rare indeed. Land has become too valuable to be kept in pasture, which is a necessity in the handling of cattle. Conditions improved and Mr. Fowler again embarked in the sheep business together with cattle and hogs. He followed this policy successfully almost twenty years. He was an ardent admirer of horses and usually had a drove of about forty on the farm, among them were always some very good ones of the draft variety, which he often exhibited at the county fairs and rarely failed to carry away some of the honors.

When he took possession of this farm there were no fences or other improvements, except the house and two orchards, which were then in their prime. There were five acres of apple trees, from which were gathered and buried for winter's use hundreds of bushels every fall, and apple butter was made by the barrel. About the first step towards the improvement of the farm was the changing of the roads from the zig-zag courses across the country to straight roads; then came the fencing, which was an enormous undertaking. A force of twenty men worked three years planting hedge, of which there were forty-five miles. This involved great expense and much hard work for the women of the household. The question of drainage came next. It was necessary to tile this land in order to cultivate it. It is estimated that seventy miles of tile have been laid on this farm.

As fast as the fields were drained they were used for the cultivation of corn, wheat and oats, alternately, that their fertility might be maintained. The corn was rarely marketed, but fed to stock which method also increased the fertility of the soil. About 1,000 acres were retained in pasture, as there were from six to twelve thousand sheep handled annually. In the course of a few years houses were built for tenants who raised the crops on shares. This, of course, lessened the labors of the women, which, to recount, would seem almost impossible. Aside from the never ending cooking, there were the candledipping seasons, when a sufficient number of candles for the whole year were made. Then came the sugar-making times, which were fraught with a great deal of pleasure as well as labor, when sugar enough was made to last a year, which meant many barrels. These sugar trees were in the heart of the Pilot Grove, and were only a small part of the riches confined in its cloisters.

Wild fruits such as blackberries and plums grew in abundance, and none were permitted to waste. But its greatest treasures were the huge black walnut trees, thousands of which were sold for milling purposes. This grove, too, furnished fuel for many families, and many, many miles of fencing have been made from its timbers; and now there remains only a skeleton of its former self, it being deemed best to clear it, on account of milk-sick or trembles that lurked in it, for which sunshine is a specific it seems, since wherever its rays permeate, there is none of this deadly disease, the cause of which scientists have failed to fathom.

During the early years of Mr. Fowler's residence on this farm, there was no school house for miles, and a private school was conducted in his home, attended by his own and the children of Mr. James Exton, who had a most excellent family, and who lived in a nearby tenant house from which they moved several years later to a farm of their own.

The hospitality of this old home was unbounded; there was scarcely a day when some wayfarer was not cared for, and no one was ever refused food or shelter, and it was a great place for people to congregate for a good time. Often, on Sundays, there would be fifty people there for dinner, and little was thought of the work this necessitated, for all enjoyed it. In the way of amusements these pioneers had little, yet they were very happy. The quilting bees, the writing, spelling and singing schools, and an occasional dance were all sufficient to drive dull care away.

A little incident is related by an old drover, which illustrates Mrs. Fowler's kindness of heart. He and several men were going through that country with a herd of swine, which were not allowed to stop on the farm on account of the damages by rooting up the ground. Mrs. Fowler prepared a basket of food and handed it to these men as they passed the house. This was so much appreciated by them that they never tired telling of it.

Home Of D. Ii. Fowler The Hexxett Home

In 1880 a new home of twelve large rooms was built (not on the site of the old one, but on a knoll at the east side of the grove) facing south and commanding a view of many thousands of acres of beautiful land sloping gradually downward to the Salt Fork river, seven miles below.

In this home death visited the family three times, and Mr. Fowler being depressed by the death of three of his children and the illness of others, decided to give up active farm life and go west for a time. In 1891 he leased the farm to his son, U. G. Fowler, who operated it very successfully for thirteen years. He confined his stock mainly to sheep and horses. His methods of handling sheep were different from his father's, but equally as profitable. He introduced the feeding of western sheep in this county, which has proven very popular.

By this time the foundation under the old house had begun to weaken and the plastering to fall ; it was therefore razed. The frame was so amazingly good, better than could be purchased then, that Mr. Fowler used it in the construction of a bank barn; thus the old landmark disappeared, but the picture of it is herewith shown, reproduced from memory and perfected by the young artist, Herman Tengen, Jr.

In 1904 David M. Fowler, another son, took charge of the farm and occupies the family home. He bought several hundred acres of his father, adjoining that which he had given him, and now owns about 1,50x3 acres in the heart of the farm, and on which the Pilot Grove stands. The remainder of the farm Mr. Fowler has divided among his other children, none of it having left the family.

George M. McCray, a grandson of Willy Fowler, now has charge of 800 acres of the south side of the old farm. He is extensively interested in sheep, but is a great fancier and good judge of horses". For the last few years he has been breeding English shire horses, and at the International Stock Show, held in Chicago in December of 1910, he captured first premium on a pair of Shire mares and second and fifth on other stock shown. So it would seem that the reputation the old farm enjoyed in other days was to be maintained.

Ever since the ownership of the principal part of the Pilot Grove Farm by David Fowler, he has kept up continual and effective building, and now it is in a high state of improvement and is a beautiful place. He has built new fences, barns, tenant houses, immense cribs and sheep sheds, and he, like his predecessors, is a full grown sheep man, following the custom of feeding western sheep. He has been wonderfully successful, and the future certainly looks bright for him. His home is modern in every respect, having hardwood floors, a water plant, a gaslight plant, and hot water system of heating. Certainly, farm life is idealized here, and the spirit of hospitality that pervaded the old home almost a half century ago, is continued in this home today.

Fairview Farm, Sidell, Ill

Fairview Farm is situated near Sidell, 111., in Carroll and Sidell townships, with a small part in Jamaica township. This farm is owned by Mrs. Emma Sconce and her two children, Harvey J. Sconce and Mrs. W. G. Cathcart. The farm is, however, under the direct management of Harvey J. Sconce,

The fact that over fifty per cent of the land comprising this farm was entered from the government by Harvey Sodowsky and Samuel Sconce, the grandfathers of the present owners, makes it very valuable and brings with it a sentiment that few farms possess, as over 1,500 acres have never been out of the possession of the Sconce family since being entered from the government.

This farm, containing 3,000 acres, including the 450 acres of Woodlawn, Harvey Sodowsky 's old homestead, contains just enough wood land to lend beauty to it, and makes ideal pastures for cattle that are to be found on this farm. When the land was first taken over from the government, it was either heavy timber along the streams, or raw prairie farther back, and it was the work of years and two generations to bring it to the high state of efficiency that it now occupies. The prairies were first drained by the obsolete method of mole ditches, and open ditches, but as soon as the tile drain was invented and manufactured in the county, these replaced the old methods, and miles of tile drains were run through these fields and pastures till at present the swamps and sloughs that were, are now the heaviest producing fields.

The eighty acres on which the elegant home now stands was obtained from the government in 1832, James Monroe signing the land patent, and all the presidents from this time to 1850 have their signatures to land patents, that are in the possession of the family.

Samuel Sconce, the grandfather of the present owners moved to the farm in 1834, built a small house and later added to it just a short distance from the present home, and he built so well that the old original house is still in use, being remodeled several times.

James S. Sconce, after being united in marriage with Emma Sodowsky, moved into this house in 1863, and ten years later built what was then the finest country farm house in the county. This house stood till last year, 1909, when it was remodeled and a new modern home took its place. The present home is of colonial design, is located toward the north center part of a tenacre lawn shaded by immense forest trees and the immediate lawn and foreground around the house is banked with masses of beautiful shrubs and flowers. This work was designed and executed by the landscape architect of the University of Illinois, and shows how a country home can be beautified by the addition to its surroundings of well selected shrubbery and flowers.

At present the farm is under a system of grain farming, and livestock is handled in a small way only, compared to what has been the rule, but the methods employed in the grain operations are entirely new to the average farming community.

Scientific corn breeding in its advanced forms is employed in the broad fields of this farm, and the resulting yields show the advancement made in this important branch of agriculture. The fertility of the soil is carefully studied, and by crop rotation with the principal grains, the addition of a legume crop and commercial fertilizers, such as rock phosphate, is returning the fertility to the soils that are depleted, and these fields are regaining the place they once occupied, when they were in their virgin state. The breeding of wheat and oats on a scientific scale is being practiced in connection with the corn breeding, as well as several experiments in different characters of grains.

The methods of corn growing and of scientific cultivation the selection of seed, the storing, preparing for the planting of the same, and of the hand pollination and methods of operations in the breeding plots, will be found in the chapter on corn production found in this volume and written by the owner of Fairview Farm.

The Mann Farm

It is two miles south of Rossville, in Vermilion County, that the well-known Mann farm is located. To appreciate this farm it is necessary to recite a little of the history of the Mann family. To do this one must needs go back in the history of America in the colonial period, when this section was but the hunting ground of the Indian. It was at that time a young Englishman, Mr. John Mann, was sent by his employers in London to America in the interests of his business, which was that of the sale of paints. He was located in New Orleans, and a part of his duties was to extend the trade up the Mississippi river as far as possible. This took him as far into the Illinois country at least as the French towns on the river. After a time he went back to England. For some reason the new world did not attract him, or home ties bound him so closely that he could not make a permanent settlement in America. But that he was pleased with the life on this side of the water cannot be doubted, since when his son was a man he turned his face to the new world and to the, at that time, west of this new world.

Mr. Abraham Mann came to America in 1832. He came from Leighton- Buzzard, Bedfordshire, England, bringing his family with him. They came in a sailing vessel and it took them seven weeks to come from Liverpool to the States. Besides his immediate family, which consisted of his wife, one daughter, Mary Ann, by a former marriage, his two sons and a daughter, Catherine, he was accompanied by his brother-in-law, Joseph Smith. They made their way from New York to Detroit, by way of the lakes, where they bought saddle horses and rode to Vermilion County.

Mr. Mann entered a claim of 640 acres from the government, on which he built a log cabin. This was the beginning of the Mann estate. It was not long before he had made an impression on the fertile land and, with his ideals brought from the old world, the prairies of Illinois took on the appearance of an English estate. Mr. Mann brought the ideas of England and the advanced farming ways to his new home, and his farm showed the advantage of skill in farming. His farm soon became a pride to Vermilion County.

Mrs. Mann lived but seven years after coming to America. She was buried in the private burying grounds located on the farm. After her death the twoolder children, Mary Ann and Abraham, Jr., went to Crawfordsville to school, and later all were sent to England, where they stayed for four years. Mr. Mann's oldest daughter, Mary Ann, was a girl of perhaps fifteen when Mrs. Mann died, and from the time she came back from England, was mistress in her father's house. And a more gracious mistress was never in any man's home. Miss Mann was the heart of that home as long as she lived. She was a mother to the younger children, a companion to her father, and a model to the neighborhood.

One word would describe Miss Mann : she was in very truth a gentlewoman. In the social relations of the life of this family she was a leader. The hospitality of the Mann home was limitless, and in all the duties devolving upon the mistress of such an establishment, she never failed to do her part. She had a custom of always having the children of the neighborhood come to the house during the holiday week and giving them the pleasure of the season. When she lay in her home after death one of these children, then a grown woman, voiced the sentiment of the community in saying, while the tears ran down her cheeks, "The glory of the Mann house has departed." Miss Mann was not only her father's companion and counselor, but his helper as well. By reason of inherited wealth, she was able to add to the extent of the farm, and her income was freely drawn upon to that end. The farm of 640 acres was increased to that of 5,000 acres before the death of Mr. Abraham Mann, Sr. in 1875.

During the time of his life, John Mann, the younger son of Abraham Mann, shared his brother's care of the home place. After John Mann died in 1873, his two children lived on the home place with their mother, their aunt, Mary Ann, and their uncle, Abraham Mann. During this time Mr. Abraham Mann bought other farms, but the original farm of 5,000 acres owned by Mr. Abraham Mann, Sr., was not changed by additions nor divisions, excepting the share the youngest daughter had received. The youngest daughter married Mr. Thomas Bennett in 1858, and her share of the estate lies adjoining and a part of the farm. Mr. Bennett has added to this land by his own purchase, and himself has a fine farm. His home is one of the finest in the county.

Mr. Abraham Mann, Sr. laid out his grounds in true English style, and during his lifetime the habits of the family were in keeping with the place. His sons, and later his one son, Abraham, Jr., took charge of the place after his death. A handsome house and stables are on the place well set back from the highway. It always has been a well appointed English gentleman's estate. The three sons of Abraham Mann now live on the farm. They, with their mother, have taken charge of it since the death of the father.

The Allerton Farm

One of the moneyed men of Chicago is the well known Samuel Allerton. His land is in various parts of Illinois, one farm being in Vermilion County. This is in the southwestern part. The western boundary of the farm is the boundary line between Vermilion and Champaign counties. This farm is separated from the Edgar County line by the so-called Allen farm. The Allerton farm comprises four thousand acres, and at the time Mr. Allerton bought it, it was of little value other than to graze cattle and fit them for the market.

The farm was the property of the famous Sullivants of Champaign County, and came into Mr. Allerton's hands through a misfortune of Mr. Joseph Sullivant. Mr. Sullivant had taken this land in Vermilion County which adjoined his large landed possessions in Champaign County, intending to make it a vast estate. He began by taking great pains in beautifying it, rather than in improving it, to the end of its becoming a profit to him. Soon he became involved, and was obliged to give up the land. He had borrowed money from eastern capitalists, and the Singer Sewing Machine Company closed up the matter, Mr. Allerton being the buyer. The farm comprised four thousand acres.

After Mr. Allerton bought this vast extent of land, he put Mr. Herron in charge. Mr. Herron was a man who had an extensive knowledge of conditions controlling the value of this property, having long been acquainted with this section. Mr. Allerton trusted him implicitly, and agreed to all his plans for the improvement of the property. Mr. Herron's plan was to, in the first place, make it a well drained farm. He did this and converted the wild wet land into profitable fields of growing grain. The first years of his stay on the Allerton farm, Mr. Herron fed cattle. He did not like the Texas cattle, but bought calves from other farmers in Illinois and Indiana. Seeing greater possibilities than came from the sale of cattle, this farm was tiled and cultivated so that grain could be raised in profitable amount.

When Mr. Herron went to the farm it held several ponds and the wild fowl were very plentiful. It was the home of the wild duck and prairie chicken and the paradise of the hunter. Mr. Herron had no half way nor experimental farming done. Mr. Allerton wanted the farm developed as it should be, and Mr. Herron carried out his ideas to his satisfaction as- long as he remained on the place. When the time came that a station on the railroad was possible to make a shipping point, Allerton was built. No pains were too great to make this a model town; churches were encouraged, and a school which would furnish the best instruction was helped to be built. Mrs. Allerton herself, at the suggestion of Mr. Herron, took a great interest in the school, and made it possible to have special instruction given in domestic science.

The problem of having help to carry out the great project undertaken was solved by adopting the community plan of farming. This plan has been well tried, and to Mr. Allerton's satisfaction. The farm is divided into a number of small farms, each of which is put under the care of one man. These farms are carried on under the partial, at least, supervision of the man in charge of the entire place. The financial profit of each farm is shared by the farmer and Mr. Allerton. Mr. Allerton does not spend his time on this farm, nor has ever spent much time there. His home is in Chicago, but he is interested in the farm in Vermilion County, as he is in those he owns in other localities.