Carroll Township

Carroll Township

At the second meeting of the county commissioners' court ever held in the county, on the 18th of March, 1826, the county was divided into two townships, all that was south of the center of town 18 was called Carroll, all north of that line, Ripley. This was twenty-five years before township organization was adopted, and just what this division was adopted for, and what end was accomplished by such division, is not apparent, or why those names were changed is not definitely known, but some allusion is presumed to have existed in the minds of the commissioners to former places of residence. It is believed by some that the name was selected from a feeling of respect and reverence for Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, then ninety years old, and the last to

Carroll, as now constituted, has for its northern boundary the same line which was designated in 1826. Georgetown and Elwood have been taken off from the eastern side, and Sidell from the western, and it now embraces the western two-thirds of town IT, range 12 ; the eastern half of town 17, range 13 ; the western two-thirds of the south half of town 18, range 12, and the southeastern quarter of town 18, range 13, is nine miles long by seven miles wide, and contains sixty-three sections, or nine less than two congressional townships. The Little Vermilion runs across its southern end, which, with its numerous branches, gives free watering to nearly all its territory, making it one of the most desirable for stock farms in the county. Originally the water in this stream was sufficient for mills during a considerable portion of the year, now, however, it has materially lessened. The timber along this stream was magnificent, and covered about sixteen sections, or about one-quarter of its territory. There is quite a high ridge along its southern boundarv which marks the southern line of the vallev of the Little Vermilion. Water and timber, the two prime necessities for early settlements, were here found in such quantities and of such good quality, that it early afforded a home for those coming into the new country.

Early Settlers South Of The River

As in all new places, a majority of those who first came were of that roving, uncertain class of people, who sell out and move on the slightest provocation; who never know when they are well off; or who, on the other hand, never know how to make a home anywhere, - squatters, who stay in one " neck of timber " one winter, and then go on to the next.

One account makes John Myers - " Injin John" - the first settler in Carroll. This is probably incorrect, but there is no doubt that he came among the first. He v<as a character. Free with what he had, brave, self-willed, and on the water would have become a buccaneer. He had little love for property which was his own, and less for the rights of others.

About the year 1820 Mr. Starr, an uncle of Barnett and Absalom, bought, at the land sales at Palestine, eight hundred and eighty acres of land near where Mr. R. E. Barnett now resides, and proposed to make his home there. He was then living at or near Palestine, where Henry Johnson and his nephews were living. If he ever came here to live it was only temporarily, for, either that year or the following, he traded the entire tract to John Myers for his eighty-acre farm in Ohio.

" Injin John " came on here to live, and on the way here came across his brother-in-law, Joseph Frazier, in Indiana, and offered to give him a quarter-section if he would accompany him. Frazier agreed to this, and the two came on here in 1821. This particular tract which he gave Frazier is now a portion of the Sconce farm. Frazier sold to Sullivant in 1853. It had on it the most beautiful growth of black walnut timber in this section. The Sullivants cut it off and made it into rails to fence " broad lands." The timber, if standing there now, would be worth a fortune at the rates now given. About ten years before Myers came here he had an Indian hunt in Ohio, which shows the character of the man. A man and his two sons were out in a sugar bush, in the spring of the year, at work, and were killed by three Indians. Myers at once raised a company of avengers, and started in pursuit. They struck the trail in the new snow, and followed until all but three gave out from sheer exhaustion. The great physical endurance, pluck and determination of Myers, whetted by a keen desire for revenge, now asserted itself. His two remaining comrades threatened to leave him, and he told them that he would shoot them if they turned back. This " nerved their courage," and soon they came in sight of the smoke of the Indians' camp. All three men shot at once and killed two of the Indians. The third escaped and hid in a hollow tree. Myers soon "treed him" and shot him, and recovered the three scalps of his white neighbors. Myers was one of the first to go to the Black Hawk war, and there made a great deal of trouble by his insubordination. By this time habits of intemperance had grown on him, and about the first thing he did after arriving in the Indian country was to get drunk and go to abusing the officers and everybody else for not going into the fight at once. He knew no such thing as discipline; abhorred tactics; did not believe in waiting for orders or for supplies. He came there to " fight Injins," and fight he was going to. He was ordered under arrest for conduct unbecoming a soldier and a gentleman. He had told some of these new-fledged officers that they did not know anything about "fighting Injins" more'n a bear did about a camp meetin'. His brother-in-law, Davis, was killed there at the block-house. Myers was a powerful man. He could crack a black walnut with his teeth, and in his fights had disfigured more than one face. He once offered Jack M'Dowell, then a spruce and lively young chap who was striving to get along in the world, a half-section of land if he would marry his daughter. Jack wanted the land, but was afraid of the incumbrance. He gave away or fooled away all his land, and went out to the Illinois River and died. While here he had a hand in all that was going on. He used up a portion of his means in helping Simon Cox to build that mill that never would run for any of them. Frazier went to Iowa. Barnett Starr settled here in 1821, or about the same time his brother Absalom did.

Moses Bradshaw came here from Virginia in 1821 and cleared a place in the timber, near by Mr. Barnett's present residence. He had several sons, two of whom, Daniel and William, were able to help him in making a farm in the timber-land; but it was sickly here, and he took the first opportunity to sell oat, and went back to Virginia. The Richmond family lived in the timber here one winter and summer. The boys were William, David, James, John, and Lewis, " the squealer," and there were four girls. They went to Douglas county before there was a house in Charleston. Simon Cox came in 1822 and took up land. He and Myers commenced to build a mill. First they tried a watermill, and then put in steam ; but neither were practical millwrights, and did not succeed in their enterprise. Peter Summe assisted in building the mill. It was both a grist and saw mill, and, like all these old ones, the stones were cut out of boulders found here. It stood -where the first county road running from where Abraham Sandusky's house stands, south across the stream, and about one mile southeast of Indianola.

Though not next in chronological order, William McDowell settled next in this neighborhood, south of the creek. He came from Kentucky in 1823, with four sons, John, Archie, James and William, and two daughters, Mrs. Starr and Mrs. Ayers. He lived seven years in Palestine, in Crawford county, before coming here, wrestling with poverty before his children had become able to help him. When he had saved enough to enter eighty acres ($100), he entered land here in sections 35 and 36, range 13, and came here to live, with little else than his own hands and his brave, though not very strong, boys. When he arrived here he built his cabin on a piece adjoining what he had bought, intending, as soon as he was able, to enter that also. He learned one dav that Peter Summe had gone to Palestine to enter him out. Without a dollar in his pocket, he started on to try to save his land. Riding all night, he got there before business hours in the morning, and went directly to the house of the register, with whom he was acquainted, and told him his trouble. To save him, the register agreed to do what would have lost him his position if it had then been known, which was to let McDowell have the land, trusting him to pay for it in sixty days, although Summe was there with the gold in his hand. McDowell came back in triumph, but it cost him dearly. He was in such constant anxiety over it, working night and day, scheming and contriving how to get that hundred dollars, finally having to sell part of the land to get it, that it threw him into a fever, from which he died. Several members of the family died at the same time. The death of his father left John McDowell to care for the family, and work out his fortune as best he could. He had not a dollar, but he was plucky. He worked as he could find employment, which in those days was not very steady or lucrative. He split rails for Mr. Barnett a few years later, to pay for the land he is on, and worked away - did not propose to sell out and move away - until he had bought and paid for eleven hundred and fifty acres of land, most of which he has given to his children, and still lives on the land which his father made that night ride to Palestine to buy on trust.

" Old Abel Williams," as he is familiarly called, came to this neighborhood from Tennessee in 1824, and made his home two miles south of Indianola. He was a man who could not well have had an enemy ; singularly pure in his life, and free from even the appearance of evil. His house was early the home of the itinerant preachers, and at his house their first services were held, or at least some of the early services were held there. He was early interested in securing the building of the first Methodist church in the county, the " Lebanon," which stood across the stream from his house. Mr. Williams still lives with his son about twelve miles west of his former home, in Champaign county, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years, full of years and full of the good esteem and love of all who know him. He was so anxious to go to the Blackhawk war that he went without a gun, trusting that one would be supplied him.

The first person buried in the Frazier grave-yard was Mr. Helvenston, who was a son-in-law of Bradshaw. He went over to Hickory Grove on a hunting excursion; he treed the game and cut down the tree, and while the tree was falling, his dog, who had a habit of running for the falling game, made for the tree. In trying to get the dog away the tree fell on him and killed him. His widow married Mr. Clayton.

Robert Dickson came from Kentucky when his son David was only eighteen years old, in 1824. Their journey here was made by keelboat to Coleman's Prairie, thence across the country with teams. They made their first home near -where David now lives. Mr. Dickson had four sons : David, who still resides here and is well known over the county ; John, Amos and James. He died here, much respected, where his children and grandchildren grew up around him. The young man David worked around as he could find employment; went to the salt works and worked a while ; walked to Galena at a time when nearly all the money that came to these parts came from there in payment for produce and cattle, and when it was popularly supposed to be a place where money grew on every bush. On the 3d of August, 1829, he was married to a daughter of Mr. Silas Waters, who had recently followed on from Kentucky, with some just as fine girls as the " blue grass1' region ever presented to the world. A few days since, this pleasantly married and well preserved couple celebrated their golden wedding in a becoming and pleasant way. The little matter of a houseful or two of their friends got together under the grateful shade of their grounds, and there told over old facts and pleasantries, incidents of early life here, which might fill a book. Neither were the substantial of life forgotten ; if the tables did not groan it was because they are better material than are used in most of our dining-rooms. The historian will only find room here for one among the many reminiscences which came out on that occasion, and selects as the best one :

John Stark'S Dream

It was late in the forties (so runs Jack}' McDowell's version) that Johny Stark, Moses Scott and some others of our good neighbors who have since got away, were the active makers of history on this side of the Vermilion. They were neighborly people, and would turn out to a logging-bee or a horse-race, kindly, without a second invite, as readily as they would go to a meal's victuals or any other ordinary duty. Of course there were the usual little banters among them, as to who could rake and bind the most wheat or shuck the most corn. Their women folks would lend a drawing of tea, or the best brass kettle, without snarling about it; and the young misses never thought of turning up their noses at each other because they happened to wear a better frock. Politics was about the only disturbing influence, when some good democrat would shout " fifty-four-forty-or-fight," and his whig neighbor over the way entered a protest a little too vigorous in reference to the last syllable, we soon managed to smooth it over. One day a matter occurred that came near dragging the whole posse of us off to Danville to court, but for the timely and wise counsel of good old Father Williams and Parson Ashmore, who had more sense than any of us. We were all out to a "Fourth of July " on a liberal scale, before that pesky word "picnic" was invented, when Johny Stark, who had never been accused of knowing more than the law allowed, said he had the curiousest dream the other night he ever heard tell of. He said he dreamed he was wandering around one dark night, and came upon a great lot of men who were molding men and all kinds of animals, out of material that was especially prepared for each. The work was progressing finely when, through a mistake of the molding-boss, he got some of the hog metal and run it into a man mold, when out jumped Mose Scott, as large as life and twice as natural. He was making for the timber as fast as his new-made legs would let him. " Catch it, catch it," shouted half a dozen of the molders at a breath. " No," said the molding-boss, "let the d - d thing go, and let's see what it ivill amount to." After telling this " curiousest dream," Scott threatened to sue him for slander, but old Abel Williams told him he never heard that you could sue a man for what he dreamed ; and Mr. Ashmore told him that if he was called on as a witness he would be obliged to swear that Johny Stark never had wit enough to make up such a yarn, and the probability was that the fellow actually dreamed it, - probably had more sense asleep than awake. Scott took the advice of the two sensible men, and saved us all a trip or two to Danville.

Later Settlers

Silas Waters came from Kentucky in 1828, and took up a farm just east of where Mr. Dickson lives. Mr. and Mrs. Waters died here, but the nine children they brought with them are still living. The mother of this family of old folks was for many years a member of the Methodist church, and inspired their young steps in the paths she delighted in. The eldest of this remarkable family is eighty-one, and the youngest is sixty-live. The united ages of the nine is six hundred and fifty-seven years. The remarkable instance is so much more remarkable in view of the liability to sickness which those who came here fifty years ago were under. There were few families who remained here during the pioneer times without having their circle shattered by the hand of death. The children of old Silas Waters, Silas, Mrs. Kiel, Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Crumbaugh, live at LeRoy, in McLean county, where the former has, for almost fifty years, been the stay and strength of the Methodist church at that place. John is in Shelby county, James in Georgetown, Mrs. Wright in Middlefork, Mrs. Dickson and Mrs. Sconce here.

John Reed, familiarly called " Dasher," came from Kentucky in 1829, and after living a few years at Hickory Grove came here and lived on the McDowell farm. He afterward wandered off to Nauvoo, and joined the Mormons, among whom he found more congenial society than here. Aaron Mendenhall came here in 1827, and took up land in section 34, near the eastern line of the township. He had eight children. He died in 1840. Two sons live in the vicinity yet, and three daughters, Mrs. Baird, Mrs. Mills and Mrs. Lawrence, live near by.

1828. He was a man of considerable experience in the affairs of the world, and had some means - enough to get a fair start in a new country. lie had got tired of the influences of the institution of slavery, and, while not an abolitionist in sentiment, like many of the Quakers who came here at that time, was not so in love with the institution as to remain with it any longer. He had purchased a part of the farm of Mr. Bradshaw before removing here, and entered more after coming. He had a family of eight children. He came in those old-fashioned four-horse wagons of that day, bringing such goods and other things with him as he needed. He commenced farming operations, and soon engaged in raising stock, having bought the farm with especial reference to that business. He bought some "prairie rooters" of Mr. Bradshaw, who was to deliver the sow and pigs to him in the pen, and, as they were as wild as young deer, Robert felt a little anxious to know how Bradshaw was going to deliver the "goods." He went along with him into the timber to see him capture them. It was a new business to the lad just from the blue-grass pastures. Bradshaw provided himself with the "implements" of chase - a pony and a bob-tailed dog - and took for the timber. As fast as "bob" would catch the pigs, Bill would tie them on to the pony, and then the "nursing mother" of the litter was made fast to the same patient horse, two of the pigs were tied together and slung over his own shoulder, and, thus loaded with the trophy of the chase, he made his way back to the pen. As fast as he could he got his land into blue-grass pasture. He was early elected a member of the legislature. Of his children, Albert and George are in Oregon ; Robert E. lives on the place his father first purchased ; James lived near Indianola, and died there ; William died in Douglas county ; the girls are dead, except Mrs. Morris, who lives in Edgar county. Indian wigwams were plenty in the timber when he came here ; they were made of poles slanting up to a peak, and covered with bark and bushes.

John Stark came from Bourbon county in 1831, and lived at Brooks' Point a while, and then came to Mr. Barnett's place and worked his farm several years. He had fourteen children. The old folks died where William lives now. They were industrious people, and did their fair share, for the opportunities they had, toward settling this part of the country. Five of their children are in this county, two in Indiana, three in Colorado.

Eobert E. Barnett taught the first school here, in 1829, in a little log house on his father's place. He had received a good education in Kentucky, and was competent for the work. He used Webster's Spelling Book, the English Reader, Murray's Grammar, Pike's Arithmetic

He got along- so well the first term that he commenced a second. Just after he got started he went with his father to Eugene to butcher their hogs. In those days they drove their hogs to Eugene and butchered them tuere, and sold them to Mr. Collett in that shape. While weighing and figuring he attracted Mr. C.'s attention, and he engaged him to clerk for him. He remained there thirty years, giving strict attention to business, and investing his means, as he could spare them, in land here. The first $100 he ever earned he used to enter eighty acres of land. He has here, running along south of the stream, fifteen hundred acres of as good land as one need wish. For forty years those portions which are intended for pasture have been in blue-grass. The theory in regard to pastures is, that they grow better with age. More particularly is this true of blue-grass. Its roots penetrate farther into the ground, thicken up the growth, and make two blades of grass grow where only one grew before. When white folks came to live in those points of timber where the Indians had made their little villages, and had, by killing out the prairie grass, caused nature to supply its place with the more nutritious and valuable blue-grass, they found a rich and luxuriant growth, which spread all through the edge of the scattering timber. In their ignorance, they did not know that these patches of pasture were the richest legacy left us by the aborigines, but went to work and plowed it up, thereby destroying at least half its value.

Early Settlers North Of The River

Some of the earliest settlements in the county were made on the northwestern edge of the timber which skirts the Little Vermilion in this and the adjoining township. John Hoag and Samuel Munnel are the first who are now remembered. They came the same year that Henry Johnson did (1820), who made his home just across the line in what is now Georgetown. If there were any others along that line they were in all probability only temporary, and have now even disappeared from the memory of those who are now residing here. Harvey Luddington, as quoted by Coffeen in his " Hand-Book of Vermilion County," p. 27, says that only eight families resided in the county in the spring of 1822, and does not name any of these in Carroll. He was probably in error, for while it is not so certain as to the date of the arrival of Hoag and Munnel, there cannot be any doubt as to the date at which Win. Swank, the " father of Dallas," came. His recent death deprived the writer of an opportunity to collect many interesting facts, but his neighbors all know that he was here as early as 1820. Mr. Hoag owned the place now owned and occupied by Dr. Ralston, just took up land near him and remained here until 1831. Win. Swank made his home where Michael Fisher lives, and his farm covered a part of the town of Indianola. He afterward owned a farm in section 5, two miles north of the village. He died in 1876, being at the time of his death the oldest resident of the county.

Alexander McDonald came to this town in 1822. He, in company with his father-in-law, J. B. Alexander, entered considerable land in and around what for a long time was known as the McDonald neighborhood. Mr. Alexander did not come here to live until about four years later. His son, Col. Alexander, was in the mercantile business at Paris, in Edgar county, and the old gentleman remained there until this county was organized, in 1826, and then came here. He was elected one of the first county commissioners. He was a man of considerable acquaintance with public affairs, and made his influence felt in putting the machinery of the new county into running order. When he came here to live, his sons-in-law, McDonald and I. R. Moore, had preceded him. Two daughters came with him, who afterward married Cunningham and Murphy, who were long among the leading business men of Danville. Alexander and Moore sold to Abraham Sodowsky when he came here in 1831, and Moore went to Oregon, where he died. Mr. McDonald made the farm where Abraham Sandusky now lives. He was a man of strong mind and good judgment. It was at his house that the first Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized, he being elected the first elder, an office in the church he continued to hold till his death. He was also very early a justice of the peace, and at his house was the first post-office (Carroll), next to Georgetown, in this part of the county. His daughter Elizabeth - Mrs. Harmon - was one of the first-born in the county. It is possible that some of those good families who were in here in 1820 and 1821 may have produced an heir to the title and inheritance of first-born in the county, but if such is the case an absence of any record of it must be Mrs. Harmon's justification for appropriating the " lapsed title." Mr. McDonald, later in life, removed to Georgetown, where he died. His sons became merchants at Danville, where they have long maintained the honor and good name of the ancient name of the McDonald clan. His widow lives with her children, and is, next to her old neighbor out on the road leading from the McDonald neighborhood to Georgetown, Mr. Jones, probably the oldest resident in the countv.

Dr. Thomas Madden was the first physician in this township. He was born and educated in South Carolina, and while pursuing his studies there, was teaching school. Zimri Lewis, who afterward was one of the leading citizens of Elwood, was among his pupils. He owned

Dr. Thomas Heywood, though long known as the leading physician here, did not live in this township until some years later. He came from Ohio in 1828, and after a few years spent at Georgetown, he bought a farm south of Indianola, and made his home there, continuing the practice of his profession. To a thorough knowledge of his profession he added, by reading and study, a fund of information, not only in the line of his profession, but in general intelligence, which made him one of the best educated men in the township. He married a sister of Mr. R. E. Barnett. He always took a lively interest in politics. In early days a whig, a follower of the political fortunes of the "Mill boy of the Slashes," his firm anti-slavery convictions made him one of the earlier members of the republican party, and his large acquaintance with public affairs, his earnest devotion to the doctrines of that party, as well as his strong adherence to the personal political fortunes of the " rail-splitter," made him one of the first members of the legislature after the great anti-slavery, or " anti-Nebraska," as it was then called, revival in the state. Dr. Heywood and his wife both died in 1878, at nearly the same time. His family still reside in Vermilion and Edgar counties, where his long medical career had made him so well known and greatly respected.

Later Early Settlements

Among the men who have made Carroll noted as one of the finest farming towns in the county are the Sandusky family, or, as more properly spelled, Sodowsky. The name has become anglicized, though one branch of the family retain the former spelling. The family is of Polish origin, and the head of the family was banished from Poland in 1756, and was sent to Richmond, Virginia, where he married the sister of Governor Inslip. He was killed by Indians while on his return from a trip to the vicinity of Lake Erie, where he had been sent in an official capacity. The stream and the city there received its name from that occurrence. His three boys grew up, and two of them followed the lead of Simon Kenton into the wilds of Kentucky. They were driven out, but returned to the "dark ground" with Daniel Boone and about one hundred others. They made Fort Jefferson, where Louisville now stands, and went back into the interior, where they helped to make the dark ground bloody by continual contests with the Indians all during the revolutionary war. Here James Sodowsky was the companion of Daniel Boone in all his adventures. He settled in what is now Bourbon county, married Miss Brown, and raised a family of six children :

Thomas, Andrew, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob and Abraham. With two of the last three we have to do in this sketch. Isaac was engaged in the war of 1812, and, being taken prisoner in Hull's treasonable surrender, he escaped and made his way back to Kentucky, passing across this county in his return. As soon as he could, after the admission of Illinois into the union, he came here to live. His younger brother, Abraham, had in the meantime acquired a fair property, and become interested in thoroughbred cattle, or English cattle, as they were then called. Almost the first importations from England came into the famous bluegrass region of Kentucky. In 1831 he sold out there and moved to Indiana. He brought with him ten head of the Patton stock, which were, as far as known, the first importation of shorthorns into that state. It is not easy to calculate the value to the stock-raisers of this region from this timely movement. It not only brought here the only strain of blood which could improve the existing herds, but it put into the minds of everyone who had aught to do with the cattle business the idea of improving what they had.- In 1834 he came to live where his youngest son, Josiah, now lives. By this time his herd had increased to twenty-seven. He purchased the farms of Alexander McDonald, Col. I. R. Moore, and their father-in-law, Mr. Alexander, besides entering a large amount of land. He is spoken of by the old residents as a man of strong convictions, of untiring energy, good judgment, and an excellent manager, strictly honest in all his dealings. One of the best things that can be said of him is that he brought up his boys to work. He was a Presbyterian in his religious views. He gave his children as good education as the opportunities of the times permitted, and as soon as they were old enough to know a short-horned calf from a sheep, he put them to the work of taking care of the young stock. In that way they grew into a knowledge, as by intuition, of the line of business which they were to make their life's work. He became well off financially, - rich, perhaps, for the times; was kind, hospitable and careful of what he had. He left four sons, who all still live on the lands their father divided among them. Harvey, the oldest, lives on " Wood Lawn Farm," near by Indianola. He married Miss Susan Baum, by whom two children were born to him, one of whom is living, - the wife of James S. Sconce, Esq. A son died after having grown to manhood, in 1873, and is buried in the cemetery at " Wood Lawn." With his death went out the fondest hopes of parents, whose hearts were bound up in a worthy only son.

Mr. Sodowsky is largely engaged in the raising of thorough-bred cattle, and in his herd are some of the most perfect specimens of welldeveloped short-horns that can be found in the country, - perfect beauties, which one never tires of looking at or living among. "Wood Lawn Farm," with its hospitable roof, is one of the beauties of rural life in Vermilion. Splendidly located, its adaptability to the line of farming which he follows is perfect. During the long course of breeding lie has aimed to reach perfection in cattle.

Mrs. Sodowsky is a daughter of Mr. Charles Baum, who came here in 1839, and who left a large family at his death, who have been more than usually prospered, both in worldly affairs and in the esteem and love of those among whom they dwell. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven, and died in 1871. He was for many years a firm and consistent member of the Methodist church, and his faith and good works were known and read of all men. Of his children, Samuel, who lived here, is dead, but his children are still here, his daughters being married to William Sandusky, Mr. Pugh and Mr. Rice. Dr. John Baum, another son, was the physician here for a long time, and died here. Charles, another son, lives south of Indianola, in this township, and has five sons. Gideon, another son, lives in Missouri with all his family except one son, Charles, who is a partner with Mr. Green in the extensive mercantile business here. Of Mr. Baum's six daughters, three are living: Mrs. Sodowsky, Mrs. Carter, who has two sons who are at work at " Wood Lawn," and Mrs. Weaver, who lives in Kansas, having twelve children, all grown up, for her heritage.

Abraham Sandusky lives about three miles northeast of Indianola, on the farm which formerly was McDonald's. The old McDonald house still stands on the place, and is in use. He has a fine farm of seven hundred and seventy acres, and an elegant house, which stands just outside of a fine grove of second-growth native timber. The house is one of the finest country residences in the county, and, like all the farmers hereabouts, he has made cattle-raising and feeding the principal business, but also engages largely in grain-raising. Josiah, the youngest son of the family, lives on the old homestead, where his father first settled when he came to the county. He has about one thousand acres, and has gone extensively into cattle-raising and feeding.

" Old Michael Weaver," as everyone seemed to call him, who died here in 1875 at the age of one hundred, came here from Brown county, Ohio, in 1828. Past the meridian of life when he came here, he had in mind only the welfare of a large family at heart, and desired to provide for them farms such as he had heard, but did not more than half believe, lay along the Little Vermilion in this new country. He entered all the timber land that was left subject to entry, along this stream, and bought out McClure, who went west, and Sam. Mundel, who went over on the Embarras, and Hoag and Enoch Pugh, who went to Yankee Point. Here were four of the early settlers that seem to have left the very finest farming country in the world, and have gone to some other places, apparently in the expectation of bettering their condition. And thus it has ever been in the history of this and other counties. "Where you find one family like the Sanduskvs, who are willing, and to all outward appearance satisfied, to remain here, grow rich, raise children to add to the census as well as to the wealth and enterprise of the community, you will find a hundred like those just above named who will stay just long enough to get what is needed to pa}7 the expense of moving. This is not the view Mr. Weaver took of the matter. He put his children on the land which he had bought, and made both the land and the children useful. Of his nine children, seven were daughters; three became Baums by marriage, two Fishers, and one was the wife of James Gains, and one the wife of John Cole. John Weaver went to Kansas, where he has had the good luck to place twelve grown-up children on farms or in business. With the exception of deafness, Mr. Weaver's faculties were retained till near his end. He is everywhere spoken of as a man of great force and management, but singularly unassuming; and though he became, both in his lands and in his children, one of the wealthy men of the town, it did not seem to put any pride in him ; and it is told to his credit by his neighbors that he never would take more than six per centum for money loaned. A rare old man ! the reader says. His death occurred after he had completed his one hundredth year. What is that which an old author says about " that thy days may be long in the land"?

David Fisher came here from Indiana in 1834. He had been at work a season or two at what is now Chicago, a city of some note near the head of Lake Michigan. The river there, or creek, as they usually called it, appeared to be a very good place for a harbor, but no boat drawing more than three or four feet of water could get into it, on account of the sandbar running across the mouth. The government had made an appropriation to open a channel through this bar, and build a breakwater of stone to keep the passage open. He had a job on this work, his business being to load seven cords of stone six miles up the south branch, and bring it to the harbor each day. This was done seven days in the week. It is well to call the attention of those who mourn over the degeneracy of the age to the fact that no Sunday was recognized on public works in those days. Contractors seemed to believe that they had the right to use the Lord's day, and did use it. When Mr. Fisher came here he bought one hundred and sixty acres of school land, at $3.31 per acre. He built there, and married Jane

Weaver. With the habits of industry which he possessed he soon became one of the leading farmers of the town. Pie acquired one thousand acres of land, and engaged in feeding cattle and hogs. He usually sold his cattle at home to drovers, and, following the custom of the day, he drove his hogs to Eugene, where the}' were slaughtered and packed. Eugene was a busy town in those days. For a few years people general]}7 went there to trade. The business prostration of 1837 came at a time in his affairs when Mr. Fisher could ill afford it. Prices depreciated fearfully; good three-year-old steers being only worth about eight dollars per head, wheat, twenty-five cents per bushel. A silver dollar looked as big as a cart-wheel, and ten or fifteen of them paid for a pretty large store bill. There was any amount of hard work to do, and the conveniences were of a decidedly primitive nature. The plowing was done with the "bare-shear" plow, or the Carey plow, which was considered a great improvement, having an iron point and wooden mouldboard. Afterward the shovel plow came into use for 'tending corn. It did good work, but we had to go three times in a row. Wheat was all cut with a sickle, and the man who could cut and bind an acre a day had to be up with the sun. The women folks did not can fruit, but they did dry a great deal. Withal, they seemed to enjoy life better than they do now. Anyone who had health, and perseverance enough, could get rich in time in this country. Four of his five children are nowT living. Michael lives near him in a neat brick house, and has long been recognized as one of the most enterprising business men. He was educated at Georgetown Seminary in its palmy days, married a daughter of Dr. Baum, and has been fairly successful in his business enterprises. John Fisher lives here, and George, the other son, in Edgar county. His only daughter is the wife of L. C. Green.

Gabriel Neal is one of the old settlers, and was probably the first colored child born in the county. His mother, "Aunt Polly," had been the property of Abraham Sodowsky, in Kentucky, and preferred to take her chances with the family here than to remain on the " dark and bloody ground," which, incredible as it may seem, appears to have grown darker and bloodier during the entire century of its history. We had in this state certain laws which later came to be known as "black laws," which, in the mild form then, required that any one bringing a colored person into the state should give a bond against the said colored person becoming a public charge. We had besides this a law taxing " slaves and servants of color." It is generally supposed that the right of property in human beings was never recognized in this state. This is a mistake, for the revenue law of fifty years ago provided that county commissioners should levy and raise a tax on a schedule of personal property, and among the items of this schedule were "slaves and servants of color." Mr. Neal, with very poor opportunities for schooling, for it was against the law of this state to send a colored child to school, became a careful, shrewd business man. He is a dealer in stock, and a man of good judgment and business habits.

Samuel Porter came from Woodford county, Kentucky, in 1834, and staid the first night where his son William lives, on section 19, one mile southwest of Indianola. Joseph Purkins was then living on the place. He had eight children, four of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Porter were members of the Baptist church, and were earnest, devoted christian people. The good mother, whose greatest care was the welfare of her children, died in 1838, and did not live to see what would have been the fulfillment of her heart's desire, the establishment of a church of her choice, which occurred only a year after her death. All her children followed her footsteps, and became members of christian churches. Mr. Porter died in 1847, aged eighty-five, strong in the faith in which he had so long lived, and in the love of his children and of the community in which he had lived. He was buried by his wife at the Weaver grave-yard, and was the first adult person buried there. William, who yet lives on the old homestead, raised a family of seven children.

There is no railroad in Carroll, but the Danville, Charleston & Tuscola railroad has been graded through the township. No township aid was voted, but local subscriptions of right of way and notes were given, on condition that the road should be completed and the cars running by a given time. The grading was done by Mr. Brown, who, with his brother, had the contract for building it; but his death put a stop to the work. Plans are now being matured for its completion.

Some of the earliest preaching services of the Methodists in this county were held in Carroll township. By reference to the history of Blount township the reader will see that credit is there partially given to the published statement that Rev. Mr. McKain was the first regular preacher of that denomination laboring in the county in 1829. Since that was written facts have come to light which render the doubt there expressed well founded. Certainly three years before that date, possibly as early as 1824, - the date cannot be certainly fixed, - Rev. Geo. Fox preached at the house of Mr. Cassady, who was a local preacher of that church, and the house of Abel Williams was an "appointment" at about the same date. " Brinks' Historical Atlas of Vermilion County" gives the date of the first organization as 1826, and the building of the first meeting-house as 1827. Notwithstanding the glaring inaccuracies of that work, there is other evidence which fixes these dates as very nearly correct. Mr. David Dickson says that the meetings were held at Cassady's in 1826, and that is undoubtedly the time the class was formed, which is the earliest organization of that church, and was only antedated in the matter of organization by the Friends at Vermilion Grove and the Newlights in Henry Johnson's neighborhood. Mr. Dickson, whose recollection of earl j matters has been freely drawn upon, and whose accuracy is admitted, says that Mr. Fox was the first preacher that he knew here. Two preachers from Kentucky held meetings at the house of Mr. Williams. Meetings were held at the camp-meeting grounds near Mr. Cassady's, and the old log meetinghouse, which was the first building erected for a house of worship (except the one built bj7 the Friends at Vermilion) in the county, was erected through the exertions of Mr. Williams and Mr. Cassady, as early as 1830, and possibly a year or two sooner. Every effort has been made to learn the real facts, so as to state them with historical accuracy, and the above is as near the truth as it is possible at this time to reach. This old log meeting-house stood on the north side of the creek, southwest of Dallas, near the present residence of Andrew Martin. Rev. John E. French, the father of Mrs. Reed, of Georgetown, had an appointment here in 1829, and Collin James in 1830, at which time these appointments in this county belonged to the Eugene circuit; but all endeavors fail to get any information as to what circuit it belonged previous to that date. The meetings continued to be held at the old log meeting-house until about 1850, when the two churches were built in this appointment, one at Dalias, which is still occupied, and one on Mi'. Williams' land, which has disappeared. This was from the first known as Lebanon. Among the early preachers here were Mr. Harshey, Mr. Fairbanks and Mr. Bradshaw. During the latter period Mr. Charles Baum was one of the most earnest friends of the church. His house was the home of the itinerants, and himself and the members of his family were free in support of the institutions of religion. Since the above was written a letter has been received from Mr. Elvin Haworth, to whom, more than to any other one man, the writer is under obligations for many interesting facts. Not only is his memory accurate, but his judgment so unbiased and his mind so methodical, that the writer is certain that full dependence can be placed on his statements. The portion of his letter which refers to this particular appointment is given : " In the year 1824-5 John Cassady settled five miles west and Abel Williams six miles west, near Indianola.

They were two substantial Methodists. In the winter of 1825 - 6 Rev. Elijah Yager, my school-teacher, held meetings near here. Mr. Cassady used to come down to his meetings. Pretty soon Messrs. Cassady and Williams built a church near their places, say in 1827 or 1828, so that the Methodist church, with all its vicissitudes, has been a church from the first." In regard to Mr. Yager, he adds: "The second school was taught by Elijah Yager, a Methodist preacher from East Tennessee, in the winter of 1825-6, in a cabin, one mile northeast. He introduced more studies and taught declamation." This, of course, was over in Elwood township, but is introduced here to show that these men, who were building up religious institutions, had a healthy belief in the efficiency of common-school education. Some of the preachers whose names are now recalled were Mr. McReynolds, Mr. Buck, Mr. Crews, Dr. Butler, Grenbury Garner, Dr. Davies, Mr. Davidson, Mr. Minier, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Hopkins. Most of the old members have gone; Mr. Abel Williams only, of the old band who helped to establish religious institutions here, is alive, but has left the county. This appointment is now known as Indianola circuit, with four appointments: the Dallas church, Dickson's school-house, and Gilead and Barnett schoolhouses. Flourishing Sabbath-schools are maintained at each of the appointments. The new church at Indianola is one of those beauties in proportions and architectural beauty that one meets seldom in the country. Situated on the beautiful hill just west of the village, its elegant spire pointing heavenward, a constant reminder of the hopes and aims of l'eligion, over-looking one of the plainest and unsightly villages, its beauty, and especially its perfect proportions, its substantial workmanship and its tasty appearance are a constant surprise and delight. If it is not the handsomest church edifice in Vermilion county, it may well be taken for a model for those which are yet to be built. It is 37x65, brick, and finished off in the neatest style, and has cost $5,000.

The Baptist church was organized in 1839 by the Bloomfield Association, and was called the Little Vermilion church. Those members of the Bloomfield church who lived on the Little Vermilion, met on the Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in August, 1839, and agreed to be constituted a church. On Saturday before the fourth Sabbath in September, Elder G. W. Riley and Stephen Kennedy constituted a presbytery for the purpose of organizing the church. Then several members of the Bloomfield, Middlefork and Brueletts Creek churches, who were present, were invited to sit in council. Mr. Kennedy acted as moderator and Elder Riley as secretary. The following members were then constituted a church, council agreeing thereto: John Rich- ards, Samuel Porter, Win. Porter, Elisabeth Waters, Mrs. M. Richards, Jane Yarnell and Sarah Barnett. Mr. Malichi Mendenhall, who would have been of the number, and who was in many respects one of the fathers of this pioneer organization, was absent in Ohio. Mr. Porter, Mr. Mendenhall and Mr. J. Parker were elected trustees, and Mr. Mendenhall, deacon. Elders G. "W. Riley and John W. Riley and Freeman Smalley preached for the infant church, and the former was chosen the first pastor in 1844. This organization took place at a log school-house known as the Yarnell school-house, which stood on the land now owned by Mr. Barnett. The church, which is still occupied, was built in 1843, is 30x35, and cost $600, and is supplied with a bell. J. W. Coffman, is the present pastor. A Sabbath-school has been maintained nearly all the while. It numbers eighty, and W. T. Butler has acted as superintendent for twenty years. The church numbers eightyone members. E. B. Willison, W. H. Adams and Wm. Porter are deacons. The church is at Indianola.

The "Prairie church'' of the Cumberland Presbyterians, usually called the Miller church, was organized in 1866, by Rev. James Ashmore, with fourteen members, at the Miller school-house. Silas Clark, Albert Voores and John Carter wrere the first elders. Mr. Ashmore continued to preach for this congregation ten years. Rev. H. Van Dyne followed him and served the church two years. Rev. J. H. Hess, of Fairmount, is present supply. The church edifice was erected in 1870, on land donated by John Carter- - a frame building, 40x50. Sabbath school is maintained summers. The present church membership is about fifty.

The old "Newlights" or Christians, were the first to hold religious services of a general or protracted nature in this county. In 1824 Rev. Samuel Magee held a camp-meeting in the neighborhood where Henry Johnson and Absalom Starr settled, which was on the line between this township and Georgetown. He could command but few hearers, as all that is known as Vermilion county was a howling wilderness, with here and there a little log-cabin. He showred, however, a large amount of religious zeal and enthusiasm, and collected into his fold nearly all who were not of the Friends persuasion, and under his ministration this branch of Zion grew and multiplied. The old gentleman was a master in organization, and did not fail to make friends wherever he went. He was succeeded by his son, who had lacked the ability or discretion of the father, and in a few years succeeded only in scattering the fold his good father had collected, and this first church organization was blotted out and forgotten, except by a few of the old residents.

The town of many names and few historical incidents which now is known as Indianola, is situated on section 17 (17-12), and is about one mile from the Little Vermilion, about seven from Georgetown, and sixteen from Danville. It was laid out and recorded on the 6th of September, 1836, as Chillicothe. David Baird platted a part of the east half of the southwest quarter of 17, and William Swank a part of the west half of the southeast quarter, making one hundred and four lots. The public square in the center had on its north side, i^orth street, on its south side, Main street, on its east side, Vermilion street, and on its west, Walnut street. These four streets extended through the plat, were four rods wide, and were the only streets in the original town ; all others were alleys. In 1865 John Gilgis, who had become proprietor of the town, caused a re-survey, which did not change its geography. John Weaver, John Gilgis and W. B. Foster have laid out additions. It was named Chillicothe, probably from Mr. Swank's old home in Ohio, until it came to demand a post-office in 1844, when, owing to there being a town of that name on the Illinois River, a change was necessary, and the citizens then selected the name of the popular candidate for vice-president. After it had been so named, another postoffice in the state was named Dallas City, which had the effect of annoying the postmaster, Mr. Culbertson, who, without the knowledge or consent of the citizens, requested the department to change the name to Indianola. This was very unpopular, and it has never been accepted, thus giving rise to the confusion of names which still attaches to the village. Indianola has never had railroad facilities, and has never outgrown its primitive backwoods appearance. There are more old shabby , little houses, with huge out-door chimneys and old-fashioned slab-sided shanties, than in all the other villages in Vermilion county. Surrounded on all sides by the wealthiest farming community in the county, it stands, with here and there a notable exception, a memento of days gone by, an architectural phenomenon, which time and taste have had no impression to remove. Its early growth was retarded by the circumstances which, in 1837, overthrew the hopes of all men, and deranged all plans. Mr. Atkinson built, in 1837, a small log house with a frame addition, and kept a few goods there. After his business days ceased, Guy Merrill became the center of business activity. Mr. A. H. O'Bryant came here in 1839, after having lived a year in Georgetown, and commenced the business of shoemaking, which he has carried on here nearly forty years. He is now the pioneer resident, business man and statesman of the village. Besides this Merrill building, there were three log cabins here. Dr. J. W. Baum, the pioneer physician, lived in the one now occupied by Rockhill, where he dispensed calomel and ague medicine to all applicants. David Whittaker lived in a cabin which stood where the hotel now stands, and another stood on the hill east of where the Baptist church now stands. Mr. McMillen lived in a little frame building opposite Dr. Baum. Mr. O'Bryant bought the Guy Merrill building in 1841, and for a number of years carried on the most extensive business in this part of the county. Sale shoes had not yet come into fashion, and people must have shoes. He used to keep three or four hands most of the time. He usually bought his stock in Chicago. The custom then was, among those of the farmers and pioneers who had sufficient skill and mechanical ingenuity, to make their own shoes and even lasts. Some tanned their own leather; but, as tanneries grew up the customs changed. For many years it was common to do custom work at the tan-yards, and every frugal family had their roll of leather laid by, made from the skins of their slaughtered animals, from which the shoes for the family were made by the nearest shoemaker. The farmer no more expected to buy shoes for his family than to buy pork or lard. Mr. Folger had a tan-yard over at El wood, and there the "slaughter" hides went, and the honest leather returned. Nearly everything went to Chicago in those days, and the wide-awake shoemaker soon learned that he could turn an honest penny by taking horses or produce to that new mart, and buy his leather. He says that he has camped at the Kankakee when there were a hundred teams there. Teams were constantly going there with grain, bacon, apples and produce of every kind. The hogs were usually driven to Eugene or Perrysville, in Indiana, where large packing establishments cut up nearly the entire hog crop of this country. The hogs from all the country west to the Sangamon went through here to the Wabash on foot, and troops of the pioneers, with coon-skin caps with tails hanging down the back, from over on the Embarras, used to come through here going to mill. They were a rough-looking set, and did not belie their looks.

Mr. Atkinson was, in all probability, the first to go into trade here, but he was not heavy enough to carry on trade as was then the custom. Twelve months' time was the rule with merchants, and nobody expected to give any less. There was no crop which would bring money till about Christmas. Some would carry off their wheat to Chicago, but whatever small proceeds came from that was seldom brought back in money, but usually in some commodity which was needed in the family. No one bought hogs or cattle till fall, and usually it was mid-winter before any one had any money to pay a debt at the store or shops. Mr. O'B. once, before he had become acquainted with prices, agreed to take his pay for shoeing a family, in pork. When winter came, the farmer brought in a wagon-load of dressed pork to pay the bill.

Mr. Wm. Swank put up a house to live in, and had a still-house down in the bottom where he used to make an occasional barrel of primitive cure-all and health-preservative, for the neighborhood. He had attached a little corn-cracker which was run by tread-mill power, which served to do the neighborhood grinding. The post-office was established in 1844, with Dr. Baum, postmaster. That this little neighborhood was soundly democratic, in a political sense, is sufficiently attested by their choice of a name - Dallas. They held strongly to all the doctrines held dear by the party of Jacksor* and Douglas ; were for " Polk and Dallas and the tariff of '42 " ; were for " fifty-four-forty-or- fight," and "extending the area of freedom" by marching on Mexico. The township retains its democratic majority to this day. Dr. Banm kept the office at his house. The office was served from Georgetown twice a week on foot or horseback, cross-lots, or wherever Hall - who carried the mail for a given amount a trip - could find his way. Hall was a very successful mail-carrier. He used to go by Dave Fisher's house, and David wanted him to leave his mail there as he went by. Willing to accommodate the neighbors, he asked the Doctor to let him carry the key with him so that he could distribute the mail as he came along the road. The worthy postmaster could not do it, as at that time congress had not provided a distributing railroad postal service. At that time every letter had to be way-billed, and entered upon the list kept in the post-office, as express packages are way-billed now ; and every letter cost twenty-five cents postage, usually payable by the person who received it, for it was thought to be the writer's part to write the letter, and the receiver's to pay for it.

John Williams kept a general store for a while, and Mr. O'Bryant added a stock of harness, saddlery and clothing to his business. John Gilgis came here about 1842, and commenced selling goods where Dr. Ralston lives. About 1844 he changed his location to where Frank Foos lives, north of the square. Samuel Sconce came here soon after. He had lived on the farm west of town where his son James lives, since 1831. His wife was one of the famous Waters family before alluded to, and is still living. He was a wide-awake business man, and was really the first to work up a large mercantile trade. The country was filling up by this time, and Mr. Sconce found plenty to do in the business he had undertaken. His son commenced business life in this store, and the characteristics which made the father a leader in business circles, and would have brought success in any business enterprise anywhere, have had a controlling influence on the son. For a time Mr. Sconce had as partners in the mercantile business here, Mr. Joseph Bailey, long a prominent business man of this county, and Mr. Gilgis. Mr. Bailey retired in 1857. During the business operation of Bailey, Sconce & Co., it was not an uncommon thing to sell five hundred dollars' worth of goods a day. It was before railroads were built, and this was as good a point to trade as in Danville. This was the golden era of mercantile business in Indianola. Sconce and Gilgis are both dead. Dr. Baum continued to live and practice here until his death. William James was in business here a few years. John U. Grace has had the longest experience of any now here. Mr. O'Bryant is still "pegging away," as the shoemakers would say. The first school-house was built-in 1843. This was a log house, and answered every purpose until about 1850, when the seminary was built. This was built by donations, and for a number of years a successful school was carried on. Some of the best educators in the country were employed here, and the institution was a success. Among those whose work here was strikingly successful, were Prof. Brownell and wife, and Prof. Marshall and wife. After the state adopted the plan of levying a school-tax, it became evident that this school could not be carried on as it had been, and the building was sold to the district, with the understanding that the upper story might still be at the disposal of the seminary. The present high school system has taken the place of all these seminaries.

Biographical

J. B. McDowell, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Christian county, Kentucky, on the 26th of January, 1802, and lived there about fourteen years. He then, with his parents, settled in what is now Crawford county, Illinois, and lived there seven years. They then, in 1823, came to his present place, and he has lived here since. On the 20th of March, 1834, he married Miss Eleanor Yarnell. She was born in Harrison county, Kentucky, and died here. They had five children, four living : Jane, Wm. R., John A. and Sarah. On the 20th of April, 1850, he married Miss Nancy Ellis. She also died here. His present wife was Miss Sarah Purley. Mr. McDowell was in Capt.

Hult's company, Col. Rossmore, during the Winnebago Mar. They marched to Joliet and built a fort, and scouted along the Fox River. He has hauled produce to Chicago by team as early as 1836. When he first came to this county they had to camp out, and they did considerable hunting. He has owned over eleven hundred acres of land, but has given all to his children except one hundred and ninety-five acres in this county and one hundred and sixty in Douglas, which he reserves as a competency for his old age. His father died in Crawford county, Illinois, on his return from a visit in Kentucky, in 1824. His mother died here on the present place about 1849.

David Dickson, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Lewis county, Kentucky, on the 13th of December, 1806, and lived there until March, 1824, when he came to Illinois with his parents, and settled on his present place, locating in Carroll township, Vermilion county. At the age of twenty he began working for himself, going to the salt works, where he worked until the 15th of February, 1827. He then went to Galena and worked in the lead mines until the fall. While there he saw the vessel on which the Winnebacmes fired and caused the war that followed. On the 3d of August, 1829, he married Miss Margaret Walters. She was born in Stafford county, Virginia, and moved to Kentucky with her parents in 1824, and to Illinois in 1828, settling at Brooks' Point, this county. They had four children, three living: Silas, Parmelia J. and Jamina; Robert died. Mr. Dickson being one of the earliest settlers of this part, knows well the meaning of pioneer life. He has hauled produce to Chicago as early as 1835. He has driven stock to New York and Philadelphia, going on foot, making the trip in eighty-five days, and the fat cattle he fed in 1839 were probably the first ever fed on the Little Vermilion. His three living children are married, and live near by. He has four hundred acres of land, which he reserves as a competency for himself and wife, having given one thousand acres to his children. Among the many pleasant incidents of his life was the golden wedding celebrated by himself and wife, on the 3d of August, 1879.

J. P. Swank, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 18th of December, 1824, on a farm on the present site of Indianola, and lived there with his parents until the 18th of February, 1850, when he married Miss Phebe Dickson. She was born in this county on the 27th of May, 1829. After his marriage he engaged in farming on his own account, and in 1855 came to his present place. They had five children : Albert D., Gilbert, Robert P., Nancy S. and Edward. He owns three hundred and thirty acres in this county, which he has earned by his own labor. His parents, Capt.

William and Pollv Llovd Swank, were natives of Putnam county, Ohio. He served in the war of 1812, enlisting as a private, and was promoted to captain. In 1>23 he settled in Younts Grove, Yermilion count}T, Illinois. They had eight children.

John Mendenhall, Ridge Farm, farmer and stock-raiser, is one of the early settlers of this county. He was born in Greene county, Ohio, in 1S09, and lived there fifteen years. He then with his parents came to Illinois and settled near his present place. He lived with his parents twenty-two years. On the 24th of November, 1831, he married Miss Rebecca Mills, who was born in Tennessee. After his marriage he began farming on his own account, improving some wild land belonging to his father. In 1834 or 1835 he hauled his first load of produce to Chicago. He is no office seeker. He owns two hundred and twenty acres of land in this count}", which he has earned by his own labor and management. Bv his marriage there have been eleven children born, seven living: Miliken, Jane, Sarah, Aaron, John, Rebecca E. and Louisa. His parents, Aaron and Lydia Horney (Anderson) Mendenhall were natives of Xorth Carolina and Xantueket Island. Thev were married in Greene county, Ohio, and settled here in 1824, where both have since died.

Wilson Swank, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Yermilion county, Illinois, born on the 15th of July, 1825, in Elwood township, where he lived twenty-five years. He then went to Wisconsin, and lived there five years. On the 25th of January, 1825, he married Miss Mary Jane Dickson. She was born in this county, and died in 1856. In 1858 he went to Minnesota, thence to Texas, and in 1859 he returned to this county. On the 20th of March, 1865, he married Miss Eliza Bayless. She was born in Mason county, Kentucky. They have four children, three living: Emerson, Rosa A. and Annie. He is no office seeker, and has held no offices except those connected with the schools. He owns one hundred and seventy acres of land in this county, which he has earned by his own labor. He has hauled produce to Chicago as early as 1838, and is well acquainted with the hardships of early days in the county.

Samuel P. Donovan, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Yermilion county, Illinois, on the 27th of August, 1829. His father died when he was about sixteen years of age. He continued to live with his mother until the 17th of March, 1860, when he went to Colorado, and took up a claim and worked it three months, clearing $700. He then went prospecting. At one time he was one of a party of fiftv-two commanded bv Kit Carson, and for one Year of the time he did not see a white woman. They traveled in Colorado, Arizona,

New Mexico, Utah, California, and at the end of two years he returned to Central City, and worked by the day for one year, receiving eight dollars per day, thus saving $2,000. He then went in partnership with Mr. Charles Jones, of Brandon, Vermont. They worked thirty hands two years, then sold out for $25,000. Mr. Donovan then came home and bought his present place. On the 28th of September, 1865, he married Miss Lydia A. Stunkard. She was born in Indiana, and died on the 10th of November, 1872. On the 8th of February, 1S74, he married Miss Sarah Jane Pollard, who was born in England. They have two children : Martha L. and William O. Mr. Donovan owns two hundred and eighty-eight acres of land in this county.

Silas Dickson, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Vermilion county, Illinois. He was born on his father's farm in Carroll township, on the 25th of May, 1830, and lived here until he was thirty-five years of age, when he moved to Edgar county, and lived there seven years. He then came to Indianola, and has lived here since. On the 13th of October, 1864, he married Miss Frances Foos, who was born in Ohio, and came to Vermilion county, Illinois, with her parents. They have three children : Evalena, Robert and Alburtus. Mr. Dickson is no office-seeker, and has held no offices except those connected with the schools. He owns six hundred acres of land in this and Edgar counties, part of which adjoins the village of Indianola.

James S. Sconce, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Vermilion county, Illinois, born on the 14th of November, 1831, and has always made his home in this county. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-four years of age, during which time he received a libera] education, and at the age of twenty-three he took a drove of cattle to Wisconsin, and sold out the same during the summer. In 1855 he took a position as clerk in the store of Bailey & Sconce, at Indianola, Illinois, and remained in this until 1859, when he went to Kansas, and preempted one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lyon county. At the end of three months he returned to Illinois, and traded his Kansas farm for land here in Illinois. He then en^ag-ed in stock business - buying, selling and shipping - which he continued until fall of 1860, when he married Miss Emma, daughter of Harvey Sodowsky. She was born in this county. After his marriage he lived one j'ear with his father-in-law, and then came to his present place, and has lived here since. They had three children, two of whom are living: Anna and Harvey J. The farm contains twenty-one hundred acres, well located, and upon which is a very elegant brick residence. His parents, Samuel and Nancy (Waters) Sconce, were natives of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and were born on the 29th of October,

1802, and on the 2d of September, 1808, respectively. He came to Illinois in 1828, and settled in this county in 1829. Mrs. Sconce came here in 1829 with her parents. The marriage took place at Brooks' Point in this county, in 1830, at the residence of Mr. Waters. They engaged in farming, and continued this until 1852, during which time he was very successful, and was one of the prominent and well-known farmers of this section of the county. In 1852 he engaged in the general merchandise business in Indianola, the firm being Bailey & Sconce, which continued until 1858. Mr. Sconce continued until the big fire in the village, since which time he lived a retired life until his death, on the 9th of January, 1874. Mr. Sconce was one of the early settlers of this township, in which he served, a number of years as assessor and collector. In 1849 he drove about two hundred fat cattle to Philadelphia, where he sold about half the lot, and drove the balance to New York, going afoot the entire trip. He also hauled produce to Chicago in early days. Mrs. Sconce is living here with her son.

Abraham Sandusky, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, born on the 24th of March, 1833. In the fall of the same year he with his parents came to Vermilion county, Illinois, where he lived with them until he was thirty-five }Tears of age. On the 16th of December, 1869, he married Miss Ella Baird, who was born in this county. After his marriage he began improving his present place, and in 1871 he settled on the same, and has lived here since. He owns seven hundred and seventy acres here in one body, located fourteen miles southwest of Danville, and three and one half miles from Georgetown or Indianola. It is well adapted to stockraising, in which he is largely interested.

David P. Fisher, Indianola, retired, was born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1809, and lived there until he was eighteen years of age. He then moved to Indiana. He lived there seven years, and in 1834 he came to Yermilion county, Illinois, and settled on his present place. In 1833 he worked in Chicago. On the 22d of April, 1834, he married Miss Jane Weaver. She was born in Clermont county, Ohio, and was raised in Brown county, of the same state. In 182S she came west with her parents, who settled in Yermilion county. Mr. Fisher owns thirteen hundred and twenty-five acres of land in this county. They had five children, four living: Michael, John, George and Lucinda. Mr. Fisher knows Chicago from the very earliest periods, for, in addition to having worked there in 1833, he has hauled produce there, having made his first trip as early as 1835.

this lias been his home since. On the 22d of March, 1861, he was married to Rebecca Carter, daughter of Harvey and Charlotte (Clark) Carter. She was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1839. They have a family of four sons and five daughters : James T., William C, Victor L., Frank, Yea A., Dolie M., Minervia, Lottie C, Lydia. Mr. and Mrs. Ross are members of the C. P. church, and own a fine stock farm of four hundred acres, with good improvements.

James A. Dickson, Fairniount, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 5th of December, 1834. His father died in 1837, and he lived with his mother until he was twenty years of age. He then moved near his present place and improved a farm. Afterward he moved about three miles south, thence to his present place. In November, 1860, he married Miss, Amanda J. Sheppard. She was born in this county. They had four children, three living: John W., Simon A. and Charles E. Mr. Dickson owns four hundred and forty acres in this county, which he has principally earned by his own labor. He hauled apples to Chicago as early as 1857. He is no office seeker, his only office being connected with the school and road. His parents, John and Elizabeth Doyle Dickson, were natives of Kentucky. They were married in Kentucky, and came to Illinois in the spring of 1824, and settled in Vermilion county, where they lived until their death.

Josiah Sandusky, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on his present place in Carroll township, on the 11th of September, 1837, and has always lived on this place. At the age of twenty-two he began doing business on his own account, farming and raising stock, and has followed the same since. By the death of his parents his present, the old homestead, farm became his property. On the 18th of December, 1873, he married Miss Margaret Moreland. She was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky. They had two children, one living: Pearl. He owns one thousand acres in this county. He is largely interested in stock-raising, and confines his business to the finest breeds. At the present time he has eight trotting horses, among which is Denmark, with a record of 2.40, and promises 2.20 at no distant day. The group also includes Black Cloud, who has made 2.40.

E. B. Willison, Sr., Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Alleghany county, Maryland, on the 15th of December, 1804, and lived there until 1831, living on the farm twenty-one years. He then learned the carpenter's trade. In 1831 lie moved to Ohio and engaged at his trade. In 1835 he married Miss Deborah Bryan. She was born in Ohio, and died on the 17th of April, 1849. In 1839 they came to

Vermilion county, Illinois, and settled near Indianola. On the 4th of November, 1849, he married Mrs. Briggs, formerly Miss Ruth Davis. She was born in Ohio. By his first marriage there were six children, three living : James B., John C. and Mary E. ; and by the second marriage six children, five living: E. B., jr., Joseph A., Elmar A., Nancy M. and Deborah R. He owns two hundred and ninety-eight acres of land in this county, which he has earned by his own labor. He has held the offices of justice of the peace, road commissioner and school trustee and director. He is a well known and highly respected citizen.

W. H. Adams, Indianola, tile manufacturer and farmer, was born in Carroll township, Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 17th of January, 1840, and lived with his parents twenty years. He then learned the wagon manufacturing trade, and in 1862 enlisted in the 25th 111. Reg., Co. D, and remained in service over three years. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Nashville, Atlanta campaign, etc. etc. He was wounded at Murfreesborough ; again at Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. After his discharge he returned to Vermilion county, and followed his trade for four years. On the 1st of February, 1866, he married Miss Lydia Mendenhall. She was born in this county. In 1869 he engaged in farming, and has continued the same since. In 1878 he erected a kiln and a 200 x 20 shed and 40-foot drain mill, and engaged in the manufacture of tile, and has now facilities for making five thousand 4-inch per day.

J. A. McDowell, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, is a native of Vermilion county, Illinois. He was born in Carroll township, on the 16th of November, 1841, and has here always made his home. He lived with his parents until 1863, when he took charge of his sister s farm, and in 1864 he moved to a place of his own. On the 25th of April, 1865, he mar ried Miss Mary Ramsey. She was born in this county, and died on the 26th of November, 1866. On the 18th of November, 1869, he married Miss Emma C. Porter. She was born in this countv, on the 3d of April, 1849. They had six children, five living: Grade P., Jennie E., Carrie, Freddie W., and Ray W. In November, 1869, he came to his present farm, and in 1875 he occupied his present elegant brick residence. He owns six hundred acres of land in this countv, located in the southwest part of Carroll township and the southeast part of Sidell township.

John B. Hildreth, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 19th of March, 1842, and has always lived in this county. At the age of twenty-one he began working for himself, farming part of his fathers farm until 1870, when he got control of two hundred acres. On the 10th of October, 1869, he married

Miss Philette Ross, who was born in Indiana, and died here on the 20th of March, 1875. They had four children, three living : Carrie A., Alice and Philette. On the 26th of August, 1875, he married Miss Eliza Barnett, who was born in this county near their present place. They had two children, one living, Daisy. Mr. Hildreth owns five hundred and thirty-three acres of land in this and Edgar counties. His parents, Alvin K. and Sarah E. (Ritter) Hildreth, were natives of Bourbon county, Kentucky. They came to this county about 1832, and lived here until their deaths, on the 19th of July, 1874, and on the 4th of July, 1877, respectively.

M. L. Hill, Catlin, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, on the 15th of October, 1828, and lived there two years. He then, with his parents, moved to Crawford county, Illinois, where he lived until he was twelve years of age. They then moved to Clark county, where his mother died. He next moved to Owen county, Indiana, thence to York, Illinois, where he learned the carpenter's trade, and in 1848 he went to Danville, Illinois, and lived there until 1853. He then moved to Georgetown, where, in the spring of 1854, he married Miss Nancy E. Hewitt, who was born in this county. They have seven children: James W., M. L., jr., Charles W., Eli E., George, Oscar W. and Archie H. In 1859 Mr. Hill engaged in farming on his present place. In 1862 he enlisted in the 125th 111. Reer., Co. D, and remained in the service till the close of the war. He was in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga, the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea. He owns two hundred and thirty-four acres of land in this county. He returned to his farm after the war, and has lived here since.

Dr. J. W. Ralston, Indianola, physician, was born in Williamson county, Tennessee, on the 12th of February, 1834, and lived there twelve years, when, with his parents, he moved to Indiana, and settled in Rockville, where he lived until 1855. In 1852 he began reading medicine under Drs. Rice and Allen and Dr. Strieker. He next attended the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, for about six months. He then attended the Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and then came to Indianola. He began practice on the 1st of June, 1855, and has practiced here since. In the winter of 1867-8 he graduated at the Rush Medical College. On the 15th of October, 1856, he married Miss Permelia, daughter of Mr. David Dickson, one of the early pioneers of this county. She was born in Vermilion county, Illinois.

Johnathan Gaines, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Greene county, Ohio, on the 23d of May, 1827, and lived there nineteen years. He then came to Illinois, and settled in Edgar county, where he lived until 1856, when he came to Vermilion county, and settled on his present place. In September, 1854, he married Miss Lucinda Gilkev. She was born in this county. They had twelve children, ten living ; Laura A., William, James S., Ralph, Eva, Charles, "Walter, Ernest, Fred, and Gracie G. In 1848 Mr. Gaines drove cattle to Philadelphia, going on horseback, and made the trip each of the following eight years, and has shipped cattle every year since. He took cattle to Chicago in 1852, and has been in that city every year since. He owns eight hundred acres of land, which he has earned by his own labor and management.

Source changes here: from History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a Tale of Its Evolution, Settlement, and Progress for Nearly a Century, by Jones, Lottie E, published 1911; 1,362 words in this source stream.

Carroll Township

Carroll township is the one which has, more than any other, suffered from division and restriction. Originally it was that portion of Vermilion county which lay south of the center of town 18 and until Jamaica township was established the northern boundary of Carroll remained unchanged. Now, however, not one boundary is the same as the original township.

In 1826 the townships were fixed and Carroll became one of eight, instead of two, divisions of Vermilion County. After that Carroll lost a portion of territory to Georgetown township, and another portion of the east part to Elwood township. Yet later, the territory of Sidell township was lost from the western side. This was in 1867.

This part of the county was settled quite early. The Little Vermilion river runs across the southern end and has numerous branches which altogether makes it the best portion of the county for stock raising because of the inexhaustible water supply. This demand of the first settlers for streams of running water seems odd at this time when it is considered a disadvantage to have such on a farm, and the driven well has been made so easy to obtain. The timber along these streams was excellent and the township was covered for about a third of its territory. Water and timber, the two considered necessities, were plentiful and good. The first settlers south of the river came from Palestine, in 1820. Others followed these and a little later there were settlers on the north of the river. Of these early settlers there were John Myers, and his brother-in-law, Joseph Frazier, the Starrs, Moses Bradshaw, William McDowell, Abel Williams, and Robert Dickson. Silas Waters, John Reed, George Barnett and John Stark all came later. The earliest settlers on the north arm of the Little Vermilion were John Hoag, Samuel Munnel, William Swank and Alexander McDonald. Dr. Thomas Madden was the first physician in this township. Abraham Sandusky came to this township in the early thirties and both had large families. His brother, who settled in Catlin township, grew to prominent citizenship in this section.

The Sidell division of the C. & E. I., runs through Carroll township. Indianola has been a town of many names and little things of importance attached to it. It was laid out and recorded on the 6th of September, 1836, as Chfllicothe. It is but one mile from the Little Vermilion river. David Baird and William Swank platted and made arrangements for one hundred and four lots. The public square in the center of the platted town had on its north side a street called North street, on its south side Main street, on its east side, Vermilion street, and on its west side, Walnut street.

When Chillicothe demanded a post office it was found that there was a town of the same name on the Illinois river, and a change of name was necessary. This resulted in calling the village Dallas. This was in 1844. After the change was made another postoffice in the state was called Dallas City and Mr. Culbertson, the postmaster, was so annoyed that, without knowledge or consent of the citizens, requested the post office department to change the name' of Dallas to Indianola. For a long time this name was not accepted by the people, and a confusion of names resulted. For many years Indianola had no railroad facilities and when this means of transportation came it was too late to have the village make use of it other than a means of seeking trade in more favored localities. The village was established in 1836 and its early growth was retarded by the commercial depression of the following year. Those early days have associated with them the names of Mr. Atkinson, Guy Merrill, A. H. O. Bryant, Dr. Baum and Mr. McMillen.

S. Harvey Black, age 83, born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, 1827, came with his parents here and settled in Carroll township within a mile of where he is now standing in 1834. About 20 feet to the right of the tree where Mr. Black is standing is the depression of the old trail which is now in Mr. Black's door yard.

Mr. Black and wife, formerly Miss Hutt, who came from Kentucky with her parents in 1834 and settled near her present home and to her right a few feet was the old trail. Mrs. Black is 82 years old and she and her husband have been married sixty odd years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Black we are indebted for the facts concerning the once famous Indian trail. Then can describe the passing of the last few small bands of Indians over the famous trail.

Nos. i and 2 are the same place, the two pictures being taken at different angles looking up the hill. The hill where these were taken slopes toward the southeast on the north bank of the Little Vermilion river very near the center of Sec. 25, town 17, north range 13, west of the second P. M. In No. 2 a large rock is shown at foot of picture.

No. 8 is near the south bank of the Little Vermilion river sloping north toward the river and is about 30 rods south of Nos. i and 2. Just in front of the automobile the depressions are plainly visible. This place is located about 20 rods south of the center of Sec. 25, town 17, north range 13, west of the second P. M.

Nos. 3 and 4 are the same hill. No. 3 is looking up the hill toward the southwest. The white spot in the center of picture is a rock. The man to the left hand is standing in the depression where the road wound around and up the hill, the man to the right in another depression and man in center on the knoll between the depressions of the trail. ,

No. 4 is looking down the same hill toward the northeast, our coats lying in the depression. This hill slopes to the north and lies near the center of the

No. 5 shows the depressions to the left of the stack of posts and just to the right of large tree in the center of picture. This view is toward the northeast and on level ground. On the left hand lower corner and to the right of the tree is two plain depressions. From this place the trail led northeast to the present village of Indianola.

This photo locates the trail near the center of the west line of the S. W. J4 of the S. W. J4 of Sec. 19, town 17, north range 12 west of the second P. M.

Indian Trail

This "Indian Trail" after leaving Indianola wound in a southwesterly direction across the northwest corner of Sec. 20, through near the center of Sec. 19, town 17, north range 12, west crossed the river near the center of Sec. 25, then along the north side of Sec. 35 and continued west along the north side of Sec. 34 for one-half mile, then took a southwesterly course across Sec. 33 and intersected the Vermilion and Edgar County lines one-half mile west of the southeast corner of Sec. 33, town 17, north range 13, west of second P. M. After reaching Edgar County the trail continued on southwest three miles to

Major Croghan "of the British army" and his party after leaving the old French fort of Guatonan near the present town of LaFayette, Indiana, came along the above described trail through the present site of Indianola to Sec. 7, town 16, north range 13, west of second P. M., Edgar County, where they met the great 'Indian Chief" July 18, 1765, where a conference was held between Major Croghan and Chief Pontiac which resulted in the formation of a treaty of peace between Pontiac tribes and the British or English speaking people. After this treaty Pontiac accompanied Major Croghan back over this same trail to Ft. Guatonan, Indiana.

The following illustrations of the old Indian trail from Kaskaskia to Detroit which is yet visible in southeastern part of the county tells its own story.