Hope, Illinois

Christian chapel, located in the south edge of Pilot township, was built by the Christians (New Lights) in 1873. It is a neat country church, 26x40 feet, and cost $1,200. The society that meets here had its origin in Oakwood township, for the first efforts of Emly and Wilkins are recorded there. When the society left the Craig school-house it met at the Snyder school-house next. The meetings in the Snyder school-house were first held in 1862. There was a time when it became almost disorganized; some of the members were gone away to the army, and others had moved away, until things were in rather a dilapidated condition. But a revival of the work was begun, and has continued ever since. Meetings were held in the Snyder school-house until the building of the church. Since that time services are regularly held in the chapel. A flourishing Sabbath-school is generally kept going; good feeling prevails; there is little clashing with other denominations, and the society holds a membership of about one hundred and thirty. Thomas Snyder is the present pastor, and has held the position for sixteen years. He resides in the neighborhood, being a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of the county. There is a society of this denomination in the western part of the township, which meets at the Hope school-house. It was organized on the 4th of April, 1874, with forty-four members. It was organized under the supervision of Thomas Snyder. Previous to the organization of the church here, J. K. Butz and wife, Mr. Hedge and wife, and Mr. Thompson, were the only members of this denomination in the neighborhood. Meetings are now held monthly. The Rev. Mr. Rippey is the present pastor; before him, Elder Green officiated. There are now about fifty members. The school-house at Hope is one of the best country school-houses in the county. It was put up with a view to the accommodation of religious, as well as educational, enterprises. In this house there is a well organized and enthusiastic Sabbath-school. The parents take an interest in it. ' They see that their children have a good place to go to on Sunday.

Passage source: History of Vermilion County, Together with Historic Notes on the Northwest, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, Private and Official Correspondence, and Other Authentic, Though, for the Most Part, Out-of-the-way Sources, published 1879.

Although Pilot cannot boast any villages, it has its post-office. We have yet to find in this part of the county a lovelier place for a little village than the spot where the post-office is located. But these people seem not to be ambitious in this line. No railroad facilities can ever be expected here, and these are necessary for a successful village in these days of fast traveling. This office is in the southwestern part of the township. It was first a special office, the people paying their own carrier. J. K. Butz was the first postmaster. The carrier at this time, came to Hope from Compromise, in Champaign county. In 1873 a regular office was established, and Mr. Butz was made postmaster, and continued till 1875. Since that time E. A. Donaldson has held the office at the " Cross-Roads." They now have two mails a week. The school-house here and the society of New Lights were noticed under the heading "Churches." In 1876 Mr. Butz put up a blacksmith-shop. Wicoff and son worked in it a while, and then J. T. Johnson swung the hammer and blew the bellows. At present, Gr. W. Cool manages the fires. Ezra Harrison began a mercantile business at this place in the spring of 1878. Although he has been operating for so short a time, he has built up a successful trade. He occupies a store-room 16x38 feet. He carries on a general country trade, dealing in such things as are in demand in a farming community. Mr. E. A. Donaldson, the postmaster, who is also a school-teacher, carries a small stock of goods, for the benefit of the community and himself.

Passage source: History of Vermilion County, Together with Historic Notes on the Northwest, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, Private and Official Correspondence, and Other Authentic, Though, for the Most Part, Out-of-the-way Sources, published 1879.

George Watson, Hope, farmer, is another of those whose parents came to Vermilion in the earliest days of pioneer settlement. George was born in this county on the 27th of February, 1844, in Newell township. He lived there till he was twenty-three years old. He moved to Pilot township in the fall of 1867. He has three hundred and eighty-two and a-half acres of land and is in good condition. He married Rebecca J. Olehy, daughter of John Olehy, on the 30th of July, 1865. They have four children living.

Passage source: History of Vermilion County, Together with Historic Notes on the Northwest, Gleaned from Early Authors, Old Maps and Manuscripts, Private and Official Correspondence, and Other Authentic, Though, for the Most Part, Out-of-the-way Sources, published 1879.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Pilot Township - it names this place 9 more 9 times.