Westville, Illinois

Georgetown township lies in that portion of the county which is south and east of the center. It is in the second tier of townships from the south boundary line of the county, and has the Indiana state line on its eastern border. It embraces all of congressional township 18 north, range 11 west, and the fraction of 18-10 which lies between the former and the state line, and six sections in the southeast corner of 18-12. The Yermilion River runs across its northeastern corner for about five miles, and so deep down is its bed that the surrounding country is easily and perfectly drained into it. The Little Vermilion makes a short turn into its southern border, running through sections 33 and 34. The "State Road," from Vincennes to Chicago, runs across the township, and the "Salt-works Road," on which the products of the salt springs were carried into eastern Indiana (long before commercial intercourse had become so perfected that salt, boiled at Syracuse, could be transported to Danville and sold cheaper than it could be made here), ran diagonally across it. The Danville & Southwestern railroad runs through the town almost parallel with the " State Road," and has on it the two stations of Georgetown and Westville.

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.

The Westville Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized on the 17th of June, 1871, by the veteran minister, Rev. W. O. Smith, with the following membership, most of whom had been members of Mount Pisgah : D. G. Lockett and wife. R. J. Black, John Cage and wife, Rachel Dukes, Sarah A. Graves, Susan J. Baldwin, Ann Sconce, Mary Lacey, Tabitha Cook, S. W. Black and wife, Sarah E. Walls, Elijah Timmons and wife. D. G. Lockett, R. J. Black and John Cage were elected elders. The society worshiped at Brooks' Point schoolhouse until February, 1877. The present church edifice, a neat and substantial building 34x48, with belfry and bell, was erected in 1876, and dedicated on the 19th of February, 1877, Rev. J. H. Hendrick preaching the dedicatory sermon. The cost of the building was $1,600. Rev. W. O. Smith continued to act as pastor for the church only one year. He was an old man, and full of faith and good works. Finding his strength failing, he resigned to go to Kentucky, the home of his childhood, to die. He had well filled up the measure of his time, and left among the people with whom and for whom he had so long labored a kind remembrance of the faithful pastor and christian teacher. His pastorate was followed by that of Rev. James Ashmore and Rev. W. R. Ilendrick. The present membership is 67. Present session, J. W. Lockett, Hiram Baldwin and A. M. Bushong. The Sabbath-school has been under the superintendency of W. D. Spencer, A. M. Bushong and J. W. Lockett, successively. It has an average attendance of fifty, with seven teachers.

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.

Westville, a station on the Danville & Southwestern railroad, four miles from Georgetown, was laid out by William P. West and E. A. West, on the southeast corner of section 6, in May, 1873. Two blocks only were platted for record. Parker & Ellsworth commenced business in 1872, west of the railroad. When thev moved across to the east side, Cook & Alexander bought them out, and began a general mercantile trade. Dukes & Doops succeeded that firm, and Boone & Jumps Brothers followed them. They continued in business here only a short time, and were succeeded by J. W. Lockett & Brother, who are carrying on a fair trade in general merchandise, and bujring country produce. H. C. Myers opened a drug store in 1877, and has been succeeded by Dr. W. D. Steele, who is engaged in the practice of medicine. Jonathan Clayton commenced the blacksmith business in 1872. He died three years ago. Mr. Haller had the shop a year, and was followed by J. F. Hutchinson. The post-office was established in 1876, and S. W. Dukes was appointed first postmaster. He was succeeded by J. W. Lockett, the present incumbent. John Dukes is engaged in buying and shipping stock.

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 Georgetown Township - it names this place 11 more 11 times.