Danville Township (part 4 of 5)

William A. Young, Danville, attorn ey-at-1 aw, was born in Danville, Hendricks county, Indiana, on the 9th of December, 1839, and is the son of John A. and Mary B. (Blair) Young. His father was a native of Kentucky and followed farming. Mr. Young made his home on the farm with his parents until about 1859 ; he went to Martinsville, Clark county, Illinois, where he was engaged in teaching school. From here he went to Charleston, and in this vicinity he was engaged in teaching school and practicing law before a justice of the peace. In 1861, at the first call, he enlisted as private in the 8th 111. Vol. Inf., Co. C, for three months. He served until the expiration of this time and was honorably mustered out in 1862. He then reenlisted for three years, but on account of disability was rejected. He then went to Indianapolis, Indiana, and was engaged in recruiting soldiers. Here he remained until 1865, when he came to Vermilion county. He located at State Line, where he was engaged for the first three months in teaching school. From this he entered the drug business. In 1868 Mr. Young was admitted to practice law at the Illinois state bar, and commenced his practice at State Line. In 1870 he moved to Danville, where he has been engaged at his profession ever since. In October, 1877, he entered as law partner with Frank W. Penwell, Esq. (whose biography appears in this work), and formed the present law firm of Young & Penwell, who stand high among the leading attorneys of the Vermilion county bar. Mr. Young was elected alderman from the third ward in the spring of 1878. In 1879 the temperance people of Danville nominated and placed him on their ticket for mayor of Danville, but he was defeated on account of the city being strongly antitemperance. He married Miss Elizabeth Maddox, who was born in Danville, Illinois, daughter of the Rev. Nelson Maddox, who was

James Bracewell, Danville, justice of the peace, was born in what was then Mason county, Virginia, on the 29th of January, 1838; his parents are John and Minerva (Lewis) Bracewell ; his father was from England, and was engaged in working in the coal mines. When Mr. Bracewell was very young his parents moved to Ohio, and here, when he was but seven years old, he entered the mines with his father. He remained in Ohio until 1865, when he came to Illinois and located in Danville. He first commenced to work in the mines of Chandler & Donlan. In 1873 he was elected justice of the peace, and in 1877 reelected to the same office, which he still holds ; he is also commissioner of highways, to which office he was elected the same year. Mr. Bracewell also holds the very important office of inspector of mines of Vermilion county, having been appointed in 1878. He married in Stark county, Ohio, on the 18th of May, 1857, Miss Mary Jones, of England. They have five children. Mr. Bracewell is agent for the Inman line of steamships.

Adolph Rudolph, Danville, saloon-keeper, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, on the 17th of August, 1840 ; coming to America in 1865, direct to Illinois, and locating in Danville, where he has been a resident ever since. He married Martha E. Lingner, of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, who came over at the same time that Mr. Rudolph did. They have three children. When he first came here he commenced to work in a brickyard, and followed this business about three years; then he was engaged by Mr. John Long in attending bar, and from there he entered into business for himself, which he has continued since. Mr. Rudolph was alderman of Germantown, and filled that office with credit, In 1872 he made a trip to Germany, to see his old friends. Mr. Rudolph keeps a model saloon and restaurant, and a first-class stock of wines and liquors.

John E. Davis, Danville, proprietor of J. E. Davis' coal mines, was born in South Wales on the 15th of April, 1826 ; his father was William Davis, a coal miner in South Wales. Mr. Davis commenced work in the coal mines when he was about eight years old, working with his father. In 1838 he sailed on the ship " Tobarious " for America, and landed in Baltimore, Maryland. He was first engaged in working in the coal mines in that state, and remained there some four or five years, his father then moving on a farm where he was part of the time engaged in farming, and part of the time working in the coal mines. He went to Ohio, and was working in the coal mines near Youngstown, and after this he worked in the coal mines in different parts of the country, on the Alleghany and Ohio rivers, where he remained until 1865. When he came to Danville he worked for A. C. Daniel some seven years, and then purchased ground and commenced mining for himself. He owns eight acres of land where his coal shaft is, which was sunk in 1878 ; employs from six to seven men, and is able to mine from ten to twelve tons per day, for which he finds sale in Danville and vicinity. Mr. Davis was in the late war and did good service, enlisting in the 97th Ohio Vol. Inf., as private in Co. F, for three years; participating in the battle of Murfreesborough and several skirmishes. He was detailed to carry the wounded from the battlefield, and in carrying one of his wounded comrades he slipped and strained the main artery of his stomach, which was very painful to him, and he states that to-day he suffers from the effects of it. He was then transferred to the 1st Battalion 7th Veterans, Co. B, and stationed at Washington, D. C, and was honorably mustered out in 1865. He married Martha McNabb, of Coshocton county, Ohio. Mr. Davis has been treasurer and a member of the board of trustees of South Danville.

Alexander Moore, Danville, was born in the county of Kildare, Ireland, on the 19th of December, 1843, and is the son of Richard and Mary Ann (Hannagen) Moore, of Ireland. His father was a farmer, and here Mr. Moore spent his boyhood days. In about 1852 his parents sailed for America, and located in Brazil, Indiana. Here his father died in 1875. His mother is still living at Brazil. Mr. Moore remained in Ireland until 1865, when he emigrated to America, came west and located at Danville, in which place he has been a resident ever since. When he first came here he was engaged in weighing' coal for Chandler & Don'lon for about two years. He was then bookkeeper for Patrick Carey for some five or six years. He then started a sample and billiard room, which business he has carried on ever since. Mr. Moore was married in Danville, in 1872, to Miss Mary Doyle, of County Clare, Ireland. The}' have two children. Mr. Moore was elected a member of the city board of education in 1877, and still retains the office.

J. G. Holden, Danville, lumber dealer, was born in Charlestown, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, on the 3d of June, 1835, and is the son of Richard Holden, a native of New Hampshire, who was engaged in the dry-goods business in Charlestown. His mother was Sophia (Allen) Holden, also a native of New Hampshire. In 1851 Mr. Holden, with his parents, came west to Illinois, and located in Winnebago county. His parents moved then to Kane county, and from there to Chicago. Mr. Holden entered a dry-goods store in Winnebago county and filled the position of clerk about four years. He was also a clerk in a grocery store in New York state. In 1861 he went to Dayton, Ohio, and was married to Edena Vanburen, of Genesee county, New York. By this marriage they have had four children, one deceased. After his marriage he returned to New York state, and then went to Defiance, Ohio, where he entered the grocery business. He remained there about four years, and in 1865 came to Danville, and has been a resident here ever since. In 1865 he entered the lumber business, and to-day is one of the leading lumber merchants of this vicinity. We may say here, he has represented the people in Danville in a great many public offices, and has always proven himself a man of acknowledged ability. He was a member of the city council two years. In 1872 the people of Danville township elected him supervisor of Danville township, which office he has held ever since. He was a member of the city board of education for two years. He has held all the prominent offices of the Agricultural Society. In 1878 he was elected by the republican party a member of the state legislature. He was appointed one of the committee on finance, insurance and drainage. Mr. Holden, when supervisor, was chairman of the building committee that built the new court-house and jail of Vermilion county. Mr. Holden's political opinions are republican.

George Dudenhofer, Danville, cigar manufacturer, was born in Hesse Providence, Germany, in 1834. He learned the trade of a cigar-maker in Germany. In 1856, with his parents, he emigrated to America and landed in New York city. He came west to Indiana, and located in Fort Wayne, where he remained about two years, when he went to La Fayette, and there he remained about one year. Here he was married to Elizabeth Burkley, of Germany, who came to America when she about eleven years old. By this union they have five children. In 1859 they went to Alton, and there remained one year and then returned to La Fayette, and in 1865 came to Danville. Here Mr. Dudenhofer has remained ever since. He employs four hands in the manufacture of cigars, and has made as high as twenty thousand in one year, and paid to the government $14,000 taxes on cigars for the same length of time. He finds sale for his goods in this vicinity. Mr. Dudenhofer enlisted in the 76th Indiana, and was in the campaign after the guerrilla John Morgan. His parents were George and Eliza Dudenhofer. His father died in Germany and his mother died in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

J. L. Hill, Danville, contractor and builder, for about twenty-three years a resident of Edgar and this county, is a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania. During his early life he had but little opportunity of getting an education, there being nothing but the old subscrip- tion school system then in vogue, and he not having the advantage of even this but about nine months altogether. He, for some time before coming west, was engaged in the mercantile trade. This he gave up on account of ill health. In 1856 he located in Edgar county, Illinois, in what is now Ross township, where for about ten years he was engaged in farming. While a resident of Edgar he was drafted for the army of the war of 1861-65, but on account of disability was rejected, very much against his wishes, as the entreaty of his family and friends had only kept him from enlisting long before. While a resident of Pennsylvania he had learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner. This for several years has been of advantage to him, though it is but for the past year or two that he has built much for other parties, most of his time being occupied by building residences upon his own city property, of which he owns considerable. This, as well as all his property, has been the result of his own energ}' and good financiering.

S. EL. Riggs, Danville, of the firm of Riggs & Menig, woolen manufacturers, is now about thirty-five years old, and a wide-awake, shrewd business man. His native place is Gallipolis, Ohio. He has been a resident of this place for about thirteen years, and has thus far been dependent upon his own resources in the accumulating of property, of which, if we may judge by appearances and reports, he has succeeded very well. He is a thoroughly practical man in the manufacture of woolen goods, having had about ten years' experience in the business. Previous to becoming interested in the Danville mills he was in a mill at Perrysville, Indiana. He first became interested in this mill in connection with a brother, in 1875, they renting the mill and running it together for aboiLLpne year. He then managed it alone for one year, and then formed the partnership now existing. Mr. Riggs spends the most of his time at the factory which he superintends. In connection with the factory they have two well-stocked stores, one located near the mill and the other on West Main street. These come more particularly under the care of Mr. Menig. Their soap business is probably of more importance than many of the citizens of Danville are aware of. They are manufacturing four different brands, and shipping quite large quantities to Indiana, Ohio and through Illinois. They have also shipped some as far as Colorado. They are already classed among the leading business houses of Danville. By their energy, industry and good financiering they have established a business of which they may well be proud.

J. W. Elliott, Danville, bookkeeper, Vermilion County Bank, is a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, though when he was one year old his people moved to Warren county, Ohio. This was in 1831. In

184:2 he went to Shelby county, Indiana, and from there to Indianapolis, where he learned the trade of a printer with Messrs. G. A. and J. P. Chapman, state printers, and publishers of the " Sentinel." In 1861 he entered the army as chief clerk of Captain H. H. Boggess, A. Q. M. In 1861 he was appointed paymaster, which position he held until he was mustered out of the service, in August of 1865. In 1866 he engaged in the dry -goods trade in Danville, which he followed until 1S71, when he went to the village of Hoopeston, Vermilion county, which was then just being founded. Mr. Elliott erected the third house ever built in that city. He remained there but about one year, when he returned to Danville and engaged in the grocery trade, which he followed until December of 1878. He then sold out and accepted the position of book-keeper in the Vermilion County Bank, where we at present find him, a man whose reputation is above reproach, and whose word is as good as his bond.

John W. Lowell, of Danville, Illinois, although a young man at this time, has an extensive and valuable experience. He was born at Noblesville, Indiana, on the 16th of January, 1846. His parents (Andrew J. and Nancy Lowell) soon afterward removed from thence to their old home in Brown county, Ohio, four miles north of the city of Maysville, Kentucky, where the family resided but a short time, again removing to Benton ville, Adams county, Ohio, for a permanent home. John was about three years old at this time. The most of his boyhood years were spent in school, where he learned rapidly, always being among the first in his class. When the cloud of war burst upon the country he was eager to join the LTnion forces ; but, being young and delicate, did not find an opportunity to get into the ranks until in 1863, when he joined the 4th Ohio Battalion of Cavalry, under Col. Wheeler. He served in Kentucky and east Tennessee in scouting expeditions until mustered out in 1864, at Cincinnati, Ohio. He was home only a few weeks when he again enlisted in the 173d O. Vol. Inf., and September, 1864, the regiment encamped at Xash ville, Tennessee. Here he was soon detailed by Gen. Miller, commanding the post, as a clerk in his headquarters. His regiment was afterward ordered to Johnsonville, on the Tennessee river; he therefore resigned his position at headquarters and went with the regiment, where he received a responsible position at the hands of Col. Hurd, which he held until discharged, after the close of the war. at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in July, 1S65. After his discharge he spent a few weeks among his friends in Adams county, and then bid adieu to the scenes of childhood, for a home in the west, landing in September of that year in Lafayette, Indiana, where he taught a winter school. He arrived in Danville on the 1st of March, 1866, and on the same day John C. Short, county clerk, engaged his services. The first work he did for Mr. Short was to prepare a set of abstract records of the lands in Vermilion county, and which are now owned by A. Martin, after which Mr. Short appointed him deputy county clerk. He remained in the county clerk's office for nearly three years, afterward serving with Mr. Dillon as his deputy circuit clerk from the 1st of February, 1869, to the 1st of December, 1876. He was a very efficient and accommodating officer, a splendid penman, quick and accurate in his work. Thus has Mr. Lowell served not only his country well, but also the people of his county, devoting to them the most valuable period of a young man's life (that from seventeen to thirty). After leaving the clerk's office he read law in the office of Mr. Townsend, of this city, and was admitted to practice law at Springfield, in January of 1878. In politics Mr. Lowell is a republican, and he cast his first vote for Lincoln, while in the army. He has been a member of the M. E. Church since he was nine years of age. Certain it is that so far Mr. Lowell's life has been full of labor and usefulness, and the prospects in the future are bright, and we wish him all the success which a young man of talents, character and energy deserves to have. At present he has a law and abstract office opposite the First National Bank, Danville, Illinois.

There are employed in the coal mines of Vermilion county about six hundred men, and John Timm used to be one of this kind of workmen, but by economy and good management he saved money enough to engage in business. He now has a neat little grocery store located on College street, between South and Main, where he is doing a fair business, in connection with which he runs a delivery wagon. He is a native of Prussia. He came to the United States in 1866, and stopped at New York for a short time, and then came west and located at Danville, where he began working in the coal mines, which business he followed for eleven years, being "laid up " one year with the rheumatism. Nine years of the time he was engaged in laying track in the mines, and the last two years he enjoyed the responsibilities of boss. He was married in 1870. His wife, whose name previous to their marriage was Dora Wanderlich, is a native of Germany also.

E. C. Abdill, of the firm of Abdill Bros., hardware dealers, Danville, is a native of Vermilion county, Indiana, his old home being Perrysville, where he was born on the 14th of May, 1840. In 1861, when he was twenty-one years old, he entered the Federal army of the war of 1861-65. He enlisted in Co. B, 11th Ind. Inf., Col. L. Wallace. For eighteen months he was with Gen. Grant, he and three other parties having charge of the dispatches and mail. After serving this length of time he was appointed assistant adjutant-general of the 23d army corps. During his service he passed through many of the heavy battles, among which may be mentioned the battle of Fort Donelson and those of Vicksburg, Dalton, Buzzard's Roost, Peachtree Creek, Lost Mountain and Kenesaw Mountain, and many others of the Atlanta campaign. He remained in the service a little over three years, when he resigned on account of ill-health. Upon returning from the army he became a resident of Danville for a short time, being engaged in the provost marshal's office. In 1S66 he went to Fairmount, and engaged in the hardware trade. This he continued until 1868, when he came to Danville, and engaged in business with his brother. His wife, who was a Miss Peters, was the daughter of Judge Peters, one of the first judges and early settlers of Yermilion county.

James C. Thompson, Danville, machinist, is a native of Wayne county. Indiana, and was born in 1836. He has had twenty-five years' experience as a machinist, having learned the trade in Logansport. Indiana, serving a three years' apprenticeship. He first came to Yermilion county in 1866, coming to accept the position of foreman, which he filled for five years. He then was engaged in the business of gasfitting for about the same length of time, and in 1877 bought an interest in the Great Western Machine Works. Some time afterward Mr. Pollard became a partner. They are now one of the leading manufacturing firms of the city. They are still doing an extensive business in the gas-fitting line, though their specialty is steam engines and mill machinery. Their engine is about forty-horse power, and in all they employ about fourteen men. Mr. Thompson is one of the honorable business men of the city, who. by a just and fair treatment of all men, has won for himself a name and reputation that perhaps may outlive him in the memory of the better class of citizens of Danville and Vermilion county.

There is probably no man engaged in the milling trade in Vermilion county who is better or more favorably known in connection with the milling trade than Mr. Samuel Bowers, the subject of this sketch. Since his residence in Danville he has erected two large flouring-mills, known as the Amber and City Mills, an illustration of each appearing in this work. He is a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, though he left there at the age of seven years and went with his people to Eichland county, Ohio. This was in 1846. He remained a resident of Ohio until after he had arrived at man's estate. While there he learned the miller's trade. He has made two trips to California, going first by water about the year 1865, and returning via the Platte Piver route. He went back to Ohio, where he again engaged in the mill business for a time, and in 1866 came to Danville, where he has since resided, except a short time in 1874, when he, with his family, made a second trip to California, returning the same year. He finished building the City Mills, which he is now running, in 1875. During the four years since it has been completed it has never stood idle a single day for want of work. The mill has four run of stone, with a capacity of five barrels per hour. He gives employment to about six men. He has also built two very fine residence buildings in the city : one corner of Depot and North, and the other where he now resides, corner Franklin and Harrison streets. During the war of 1861-65 he entered the Federal army, enlisting the first time in the 32d Ohio Inf. ; the second time in the 82d.

J. B. Mann, Danville, attorney-at-law, is perhaps known throughout this vicinity as well as any attorney of the Vermilion county bar. He was born in Somerville, New Jersey, on the 9th of November, 1843, and is the son of John M. Mann, who was a native of Pennsylvania, and a prominent attorney of Somerville, New Jersey, where he was elected to the legislature for two terms and refused the nomination for congress. His mother, Eliza (Bonnell) Mann, was a native of New Jersey. Mr. Mann, the subject of our sketch, received his principal education in New Jersey, where he graduated from one of the leading colleges of that state. In 1865 he entered the Michigan University of Ann Arbor, and graduated from the law-school in 1866. He then came to Danville, and here entered the office of Judge O. L. Davis. In 1867 he was admitted to practice law at the Illinois state bar. He associated himself with Judge E. S. Terry. When this firm dissolved Mr. Mann formed a partnership with Judge O. L. Davis, and since then he has formed a partnership with W. J. Calhoun and D. C. Frazier, forming the law-firm of Mann, Calhoun & Frazier, which is one of the strongest of Vermilion county. Mr. Mann, in 1867, was elected city attorney of Danville, and was the first that Danville had. His political opinions are democratic. Mr. Mann was married in 1874, to Miss Lucy A. Davis, daughter of Judge O. L. Davis, and by this union they have two children.

David Mayer, Danville, farmer, was born in Wedenburg, Germany, on the 7th of March, 1826. He came to America in 1851 and went to Sandusky, Ohio, where he met a sister. He was married in Sandusky, to Annie Shroder, of Hanover, Germany. With his wife and sister he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where his wife died. He then went to Illinois, and worked at the carpenter's trade. From there he went to Missouri, locating on two hundred acres of land. He returned to Illinois, and then went to Kansas and located in Anderson county, near

Greeley. Mr. Mayer was in the late war, and did good service. He enlisted in the 2d Kansas Battery as bugler, and served for three years. This battery did noble service. He remained in Kansas some fifteen and a half years, and had some experience with the grasshoppers, which caused such havoc in Kansas. Mr. Mayer states, however, that the grasshoppers bothered him but little. Mr. Mayer was engaged in farming three hundred and twenty acres of land. He was married the second time, to Rosie Fritz, of Wedenburg, Germany. They have five children : Rosie, Caroline, Fredericka, David and Annie. Mr. Mayer is bugler of Battery A, 1st Brigade Illinois National Guards.

Charles Hesse, Danville, proprietor of the Hesse House, was born in Germany on the 18th of March, 1833, and came to America and landed in New York city in 1855. Mr. Hesse was engaged in farming in Germany. His father, Trangott Hesse, was a very prominent man in Germany. He was assessor and collector. Mr. Hesse came to America with about §500, and came west to Illinois, locating in Scott county, wdiere he had a brother in the confectionerv business. Here Mr. Hesse remained about six }7ears, engaged at work in a brickyard, and also learning the trade of a brick-mason. In 1861 he enlisted in the army, and participated in the late war. He enlisted for three years in the 4th Mo. Cav., Co. C, as orderly-sergeant. He participated in twentysix severe battles, such as Pea Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, siege of Corinth, Iuka, Dallas, Resaca, Farmingtown, etc. He never received a wound, but had two horses shot from under him. His brother, Fred Hesse, was a brave soldier. He enlisted in the 129th 111. Yol. Inf., and was in the battle of Resaca when the 129th was making a charge on the rebels' intrench men ts. He was planting the Union flag on the fortifications, and was shot dead. Mr. Hesse, our subject, was honorably mustered out of service. He then went to St. Louis, and at that place and Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois, was engaged at his trade of brickmaker and contractor. He then came to Danville, where he was engaged at his trade and contracting. He has contracted and built some of the finest buildings in Danville. Mr. Hesse was made a member of the I.O.O.F. in 1864 at Lincoln, Illinois, and to-day is one of the leading Odd-Fellows of Illinois. He is a member of the Grand Lodge of the state. He was married in St. Louis, to Lena Dhuernan, of Germany. By this union they have six children.

Mr. A. C. Garland, Danville, proprieter of the Stone Steam Saw- Mill and Tile Factory, was born in New Hampshire, where he learned the trade of a stone-mason. He was engaged east at his trade and was a large bridge contractor on the Erie railroad. He also superintended the stonework in the erection of the water-works reservoir at Brook- lyn, New York. Mr. Garland came to Danville in 1866, and since his residence here has built and contracted for stonework on some of the prominent bridges in Vermilion county. He in 1S75 erected the present steam stone saw-mill, and since then most of the best business houses and private residences in this vicinity have been furnished with stone from his establishment. Recently Mr. Garland has established a tile factory, size 210 x 20, where he is able to turn out the finest quality of tile at from two to eight inches in size. His capacity in the manufacture of tile is six thousand per day. He has all the latest improvements, and when in full blast emplo#ys ten men. He is also engaged in the manufacture of brick of a superior quality. Mr. Garland's son, Ira, is engineer of the steam saw-mill.

August Blankenburg, Danville, jeweler, was born in Prussia, Germany, on the 12th of October, 1S45, and is the son of Frederick W. and Catharine (Torge) Blankenburg, of Germany. When Mr. Blankenburg was fourteen years old he commenced to learn the jewelry trade in Stettin, Germany, and served an apprenticeship of four years. He followed his profession up to 1866, when he embarked for America. He came direct to Danville, Illinois, and commenced work in the employ of S. N. Monroe. He then went to Kansas and worked about six years at his trade in Baxter Springs. He returned to Danville in 1874 and commenced the jewelry business in the present establishment, which is located at 60 Vermilion street, where may be found a full line of watches, clocks and jewelry.

In the line of sporting goods Mr. John Schario, the gunsmith of Danville, is the principal dealer. His establishment is located at No. 124 East Main street. Here he has on hand a full line of guns of all descriptions (except cannon), ammunition, fishing tackle, and in fact everything pertaining to his line of trade. He is a native of Dansville, New York. The early part of his life, or until he had become a man, was spent in different parts of the United States and Canada. It was at Waterloo, Canada, that he learned the trade of a locksmith. This being so closely related to the gunsmith trade he very readily mastered the latter. In 1867 he became a resident of Danville, and engaged in the manufacture and sale of sporting goods. His sales will probably aggregate $3,000 or $3,500 per year. In 1876 he was elected a member ( if the city council, and again in 1878 he was called upon to fill the same office. This is the second term and third year that he has been a councilman. He is one of that class of men who do not make so much fuss and noise over their affairs, but go quietly about their own business but nevertheless a citizen whose word may be depended upon and whose influence is felt.

A. J. Cox, the leading blacksmith of Danville, is a native of La Fayette, Indiana, where he was born on the 12th of February, 1839. At the age of .sixteen years he began learning the trade of a blacksmith and wagon manufacturer. This he followed as a business until 1863, when he entered the army, enlisting in Co. A, 76th Ind. Yol. Inf., three-years service. In 1865 he veteranized, which connected him with Co. B, 37th regiment. He remained in the service until the close of the war. He was in many heavy battles, among which we mention the siege of Yicksburg, battle of Jackson, Mississippi, and that of Mobile, Alabama. After the close of the war he came to Danville, where he has since remained.

The Amber mills were built in 1866 by Bowers & Shellebarger, burned in 1875, and were rebuilt by S. Bowers & Co. In 1878, when it came into the hands of the present proprietor, Mr. D. Gregg, it was what is known as a four-run mill. Mr. Gregg has remodeled and changed the mill to six run of stone, and to what is known as the patent process of manufacturing flour. This patent process is to make as large a quantity of middlings as possible, and these, after regrinding and passing through several processes of purifying, furnish a much finer grade of flour than that obtained by the first grinding. Mr. Gregg is also engaged quite extensively in the grain trade, bivying about 250,000 bushels per year. In all he gives emplo}7ment to about twenty men regularly, sometimes there being more than this number. He pays out to these about $15,000 per annum. Since his residence in Danville he has invested about $20,000 in buildings, the ^Etna House block being one which he built. He was born in the north of Ireland in 1831. There he received a good education, and in 1850. when nineteen years old, came to the United States. From this date until 1867 he was engaged in different kinds of business enterprises, and in different states. From 1853 to 1866 he was engaged in the dry-goods trade in Bluff ton, Ohio. In 1867 he came to Danville and began buying grain, and has now been running the Amber mills about one year. He is one of the self-made men of Danville, having been dependent upon his own resources in the accumulation of property, and is now well known as one of the substantial men of Danville.

D. M. Gurley, Danville, retired, was born in Bennington county, Vermont, in 1808. When he was twelve years old his people moved to what they then termed the western frontier - Oswego county, New York. Here the early part of his life was spent. His chances for schooling were very poor, though by close attention he acquired a good education. In 1853 he moved to Quincv, Michigan. He remained a resident of that place until coming to Danville in 1867. During his residence in Oswego comity he became the first abolitionist of the county, but becoming somewhat disgusted with the political movements of the day, he for eleven years refused to cast a vote. His business for many years was that of a hide and leather dealer. He continued in this until the change in the financial prospects of the country, in 1873, when he closed out, and has not since been actively engaged in business.

Judge J. W. Stansbury, Danville, justice, was born in the city of New York in 1808, where he remained a resident until twelve years old. Then he became a resident of New Haven, and afterward became a graduate of the schools at Schenectady. At the age of twenty-five years he began reading law at Geneva; went to New York city to be examined, and was admitted to the bar, after which he went back to Geneva and practiced his profession for three years. From there he went to Detroit, Michigan, where he remained but a short time, and then went to Livingston county, Michigan, where he remained a resident for about sixteen years. While a resident of this county he was elected to the office of probate judge, which office he filled for four years. From Livingston county he went to New York again, locating at Ithaca, where he resided about fifteen years, and in 1867 came to Danville. Two years after he came he was elected justice of the peace, which office he has now held for ten years. In 1838 he was married to Miss L. Dudgeon, of New Hartford, New York. By this union they have had a family of five children.

In 1867 Mr. A. L. Webster, of Danville, in company with G. B. Yeomans, engaged in the hardware trade in Danville. They remained in business together about four years, when G. B. sold his interest in the business to his brother, Charles T. Yeomans. This firm continued to do business together about three years, when they dissolved partnership, Mr. Yeomans taking the light and shelf hardware, and Mr. Webster retaining the heavy. From this time until February of 1879 he was engaged in the heav}^ hardware trade, which is almost entirely a jobbing trade. At the date above mentioned he sold out to the firm of Giddings & Patterson, they becoming his successors and occupying a new building which he has just completed, located at the corner of Main and Franklin streets. Mr. Webster is a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. For sixteen years he has been engaged in the hardware trade, a part of this time in Ohio and at Aurora, Illinois. At present he is engaged in' settling up old accounts relating to his business in Danville.

L. T. Dickason, the present mayor of the city of Danville, is a native of Marion county, Ohio, where most of his early life was spent. In 18<il he entered the Federal army, in the war of 1861-5, enlisting in Co. H,

4th Ohio, three-months service. After serving this term he reenlisted in Co. D, 64th Ohio, three-years service. He participated in many of the heavy battles, being engaged at the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River, the siege of Corinth and the battle of Chiekamauga, being severely wounded at the battle of Chiekamauga, on account of which he was discharged from further service, though he had served nearly his full term of enlistment. In 1867 he came to Vermilion county, where he has since resided, being one among the most active business men of the county. For a time he was engaged in buying and shipping grain, being located at Fairmount. Moving from there to Danville, he soon became very popular politically, and is now enjoying his "third term" of mayorship. He is also very extensively engaged in the coal and timber trade, in company with Charles L. English. They give in all employment to about four hundred men, their timber contracts with the different railroad companies amounting to hundreds of thousands per year, and extending over several different states.

Charles W. Gregory, postmaster of Danville, is a native of Bloomville, Delaware county, New York. He was born on the 11th of November, 1833. His father, Henry W. Gregory, was born in New Bedford, Westchester county, New York, where he served for many years at the trade of a blacksmith and carriage-maker. He made the first blister-steel axes in New York state. These celebrated Maxwell & Gregory axes, are known all over the country. He followed farming in his latter days. He was in the war of 1812 as fife-major. He died in Danville, Yermilion county, on the 18th of September, 1873, at the age of seventy-nine. When Mr. Gregory, our subject, was but ten years old his father moved on a farm, where he remained until he was about seventeen years old, when he was connected with a surveying party as roadsman, in surveying the New York & Erie railroad. He followed surveying about four years; he lost one eye from this. Mr. Gregory gave up surveying, and then commenced to learn telegraphing. He went to Canada and served the Great Western railroad as telegraph operator about three years and a half, and then, in 1856, he came to Illinois and went to Springfield, where he was engaged in helping to erect a telegraph line from Tolono to Danville. He then received an appointment as telegraph operator at Danville, also acting / as express and ticket agent. Here he remained about one year, and then accepted a similar position at State Line, where he remained until 1862, when he received from Abraham Lincoln an appointment as mail ? agent on the Toledo & Wabash railroad, running from State Line to Springfield. He held this position about five years and a half, when he came to Danville and entered the mercantile business, which he continued up to 1878. In 1S75 he was appointed by Gen. IT. S. Grant postmaster of Danville. This position he has held ever since. Mr. Gregory was married in 1805, to Miss Charlotte A. Neher, of New York, daughter of Anther Neher. By this marriage they have had three children, one of whom is deceased.

William C. McReynolds, Danville, book-keeper in the Danville Mills, wras born in Edgar county, Illinois, on the 16th of September, 1825, and is the son of the Rev. John W. and Lean (Morgan) McReynolds. His father was a Methodist preacher, and was born in Culpepper county, Virginia. From there he moved to Allen county, Kentucky, and then to Indiana. He then removed to Edgar county, Illinois, where he was among the first settlers of that county. When Mr. Mc- Reynolds was but a few months old his parents moved to Indiana and remained there until he was ten years old, when they returned to Edgar county. Here he remained until he was about twenty-four years old, when he embarked in the mercantile business in Paris, Illinois, and Terre Haute, Indiana. He then went to Rushville, where he was made cashier of the Rushville Bank, a branch of the Indiana State Bank. Here he remained about seven }7ears. He then went to Chicago, where he embarked in the commission business, which he followed about one year, when he came to Danville, in 1867, and here entered the coal business. He then went into the mill business, in which he is now engaged as book-keeper in the Danville Mills. This is one of the largest flour mills in this vicinity, and was erected by Daniel Kyger. N. Henderson & Sons commenced building it in 1854, and it was completed in 1856; this was the first steam flour mill in Danville, and the second one in Vermilion county. Mr. McReynolds is a democrat in politics. He was elected alderman in 1875, and reelected in 1877-79. He married in Danville to Miss Elizabeth M. Pearson, of New York, daughter of the Hon. John Pearson. By this marriage they have nine children - five boys and four girls.

Mary Gattermann, Danville, proprietor of the garden on the Covington road, was born in Germany, on the 25th of August, 1845, and is the wife of the late William Gattermann, who was born in German}7 in 1835, came to America in 1857 and landed in New York. He was engaged in the manufacture of soda-water. In 1867 he came west with his wife and located in Danville. Here they remained until 1871, when they went to New York, and afterward returned to Danville and purchased the present place, where lie commenced to make improvements. He first paid some three hundred dollars for the property; since then he made all the improvements, amounting to some five or six thousand dollars. He was a soldier in the late war, and did good service; he was also a soldier of the New York state militia, being a member of the 3d New York Militia ; he was also a member of the German Aid Societ}7 and a member of the Turn Yerein Society. He died in 1878, and was buried on the 1st of January.

Ernest and L. Blankenburg, Danville, proprietors of the ^Etna House saloon and billiard room, were born in Germain-. Ernest Blankenburg was born on the 6th ol October, 1813. He emigrated to America and landed in New York in 1867, and came direct to Danville, first commencing work as a clerk in a dry-goods store. Here he remained about four years, when he entered the saloon business. L. Blankenburg was born on the 11th of July, 1853, and emigrated to America in 1867. He came direct to Danville and commenced clerking in a retail grocery store, and afterward in a wholesale grocery house. From there he entered the saloon business in company with his brother. These gentlemen keep one of the leading saloons and billiard rooms in the cit}r, located in the basement of the ^Etna House.

H. A. Coffeen, the enterprising bookseller of Danville, was born in Gallia county, Ohio, on the 11th of February, 1811, being now thirtyeight years old. His parents, Alvah P. and Olive Coffeen, have lived in Champaign county, Illinois, on a farm near Homer, since 1852. They gave their children a good collegiate education, and this, with good habits and character, was the stock with which they started in life. Henry A. Coffeen, the second son, whose portrait appears in this work, started for himself at the age of eighteen as a school teacher, using such means as he could thus earn in furnishing his scientiiic course, receiving his diploma at the age of twenty-two. He continued teaching, at constantly advancing salaries, until he was twentyseven years old, lastly at Hiram College, in Ohio, as teacher of natural sciences, and at Bement, Illinois, as superintendent of a fine graded school that he developed at that place. AYe extract the following reference to Mr. Coffeen' s singular abilities as an educator from Jud^e Speare's "History of Bement" : " Mr. Coffeen was a superior instructor for young men and young ladies. The course of study was most thorough and diversified. All his plans of inculcation were of a character to lead the student of abstruse science interestingly on, affording a wide range of thought, giving strength and vigor to mind, and with his pleasant, forcible and peculiar faculty drove the roots of moral and scientific subjects so deeply into the minds of the most stupid, that the same could not be eradicated ; but to-day his reflex influence is most strikingly apparent, and will reach far down into the future. Such teachers are rectifiers of society, like a fountain of pure water sending limpid streams through fertile fields, from which many parched tongues of the thirsty world may be slaked." This brief extract from Judge Speare's eulogy upon the character and abilities of Mr. Coffeen serves also to show the thoroughness and spirit with which he engages in whatever work there is before him. In an earnest, unflinching manner he stands by the convictions of a clear head and pure purpose in every department of life, and considering this his success as a merchant has been somewhat singular, for he turns neither to the right nor the left either for men or parties, in his pursuance of what he believes to be right. It is generally found that less decided minds succeed best as merchants. Besides building up one of the finest bookstores in the country, he has accumulated some additional property, and is developing a fine fruit farm, or garden, on the north side of the city. He takes a lively interest in the political movements of the times, but from an independent standpoint rather than as a partisan. He has been a member of the Grand Lodge of Illinois Knights of Honor ever since it was organized, and has for two years represented his state in the Supreme Lodge meetings at Nashville and Boston, commanding the respect and confidence of the supreme assemblage as well as that of his own state. The first history of Vermilion county, a little book of considerable merit, published in 1871, owes its publication to the pen and enterprise of Mr. Coffeen. Charles A. Pollock is now associated with him in the book business, and their store is one of the finest in the city, as will be seen by reference to an interior view of their store, given on another page of this work.

A. H. Doane, Danville, freight and ticket agent for the Wabash road, is a native of the State of Wisconsin. He has now been engaged at the railroad business since 1862. His parents, F. W. and Angeline (Holmes) Doane, were natives of the State of New York. His father was a railroad man, having first begun the business when roads were built with the old strap rail. He was killed while running a passenger train over the same road with which A. H. is now connected, though at that time it was known as the Great Western road. A. H. first began the business at Tolono, Illinois, in the employ of the Illinois Central road. For a time he was on a switch-engine, and then did office work for awhile. From Tolono he went to State Line, and there was check clerk in the employ of what was then the Toledo, Wabash & Western road. After a time he again entered the employ of the Illinois Central road, though he remained with them but about one year. Quitting the business of railroading, he tried hotel keeping, but in May, 1868, he accepted a position with the then Toledo, Wabash & Western. For eleven years he has filled the position of ticket agent. In addition

H. K. Gregory, Danville, dealer in railroad timber, though a young man, has probably been as extensively engaged in contracting as any man of his age in Vermilion county. He is a native of Broome county, New York. In 1868 he, with his people, came west, locating at Danville. His father died in 1871, aged seventy-nine years. His mother now resides with him, and is now eighty-four years old. H. K. and his brother, C. W. Gregory, were for several years associated together in furnishing large supplies of ties, posts, bridge timbers, etc., to the different lines of railroad in progress of construction. Among them was a contract for supplying the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western road, between Crawfordsville and Urbana. They dissolved partnership in 1872. Afterward Mr. H. K. Gregory became associated with J. Knight for three years in the same line of business. During this time they put out about six hundred thousand ties. This was on a contract in the construction of the L. B. & M. R.R. He then did business alone until the winter of 1879, when Mr. W. H. Alexander became his partner. Mr. Gregory is now a man but little past thirty years of age. His standing in the community as a business man and an honorable citizen cannot be questioned by any.

George W. Abdill, Danville, hardware, was born in Warsaw, Kentucky, in February, of 1838. When two years old he was taken by his people to Perrysville, Indiana, and there he remained a resident until he came to Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1868. His father, I. Abdill, who is now a resident of Danville, was one of the early settlers of Perrysville. For many years he was engaged in the hardware trade and in the manufacture of tinware, at which he used to do a large business, supplying about thirty-two points between Terre Haute and La Fayette, and employing about ten men in the manufacture of this line of goods. George W. has been familiar with the hardware trade, as he says, " since he has been large enough to black a stove." In later years he became a partner with his father in the business, the firm being known as I. Abdill & Son ; this partnership lasting about ten years, or until the firm of Abdill Bros, began business in Danville in 1868. The firm is composed of George W. and E. C. Abdill, and they located at No. 57 Vermilion street where they have erected a fine building twentythree feet front by one hundred deep, two floors and basement, all well stocked with goods in the line of hardware, stoves, tinware, oils, glass, paints, etc. etc. George W. is a very active member of society, giving liberally to any enterprise pertaining to the public good and especially to the churches, he being a very active member of the M. E.

Anselm Sieferman, Danville, cigar manufacturer, was born in Baden, Germany, on the 10th of November, 1836, and is the son of Joseph and Mary Ann (Adam) Sieferman, of Germany. In 1853 he started for America, and landed in New York on the 15th of August of the same year. He came direct west and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he first commenced to work in a machine-shop, remaining some three years, when the shops closed. In 1861 he commenced in the tobacco business in Cincinnati, and followed this there until 1868, when he came to Danville, which has been his home ever since. He here commenced the tobacco business, and has in his employ three hands. In 1879 he was elected alderman of the first ward, which office he still holds. He was married on the 1st of September, 1859, to Agatha Kreuzburg, of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. They have one child. Mr. Sieferman 'has taken a very active part in the welfare of the city of Danville, and ranks as one of its leading German citizens.

W. E. Shedd, Danville, hardware merchant, of the firm of Yeomans ifc Shedd, is a native of Ohio, and has now been in the hardware trade about ten years, most of which time has been spent in Danville. He was three years with the firm of Webster & Yeomans ; two years with the hardware-jobbing house of Pratt & Co., of Buffalo, New York, and the present firm was organized in January, 1875. During the war of 1861-5 he, at the age of sixteen years, entered the Union army, enlisting in Co. C, 15th Ohio Vol. Inf., three-years service. Like many another Union soldier he has a tale to tell of southern prisons, he having with others spent five months in the famous Anderson ville prison. Yeomans & Shedd's business house is located on West Main street, and is twenty feet front by one hundred deep, and stocked with a general line of hardware. They do not seem to complain of hard times or poor trade, and the indications are that they are doing their share of the business that is done in Danville.

C. B. D wight, Danville, dentist, though not the oldest of the ci t j , is certainly one of the leading and most popular. His popularity has been earned by a straightforward, honorable course in his professional life and lyy his pleasant and courteous treatment of his now large circle of friends. He is a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, though he left there when quite small, and came west with his people, they locating in Peoria county, Illinois. This was as early as 1839. In 1858 he began the study of dentistry, but gave it up to enter the Federal army in the war of 1861-5, enlisting in Co. B, 92d 111. Inf., three-years service, from Byron, Illinois. He served his full term of enlistment, and returned to Illinois somewhat broken down on account of long and hard marching. Regaining his health, he again took up and finished the study of his profession at Rockford, Illinois. He first began his practice in Rochelle, Illinois, in 186T, remaining there two years, when he removed again, locating permanently in Danville. He is a member of the Illinois State Dental Society, and has made frequent contributions to the different journals of the day, treating upon his profession. Though he has been a resident of the city of Danville but about ten years, he has probably as few enemies and as many friends as any man in the city.

John Lane, Danville, was born in Eugene, Yermilion county, Indiana, on the 3d of November, 1839, and is the son of Enoch W. and Christina (Washburn) Lane. His mother died at Eugene on the 15th of January, 1841, being but twenty-eight years of age. His father, John Lane, was born on the 21st of May, 1798. He was raised in Pickaway county, Ohio, and in 1S29 moved to Eugene. Yermilion county, Indiana, where he was engaged at his trade as cabinet-maker. He died in Eugene on the 12th of December, 1875. Mr. Lane, the subject of our sketch, was raised and received his schooling at Eugene. On the 17th of May, 1869, he left the scenes of his boyhood. At that time there were no railroads from Eugene to Danville, so he started on foot and walked from Eugene to Danville, where he has remained ever since. He was married to Miss Julia Davis on the 1st of November, 187<>, by whom they have had three children.

The firm of C. B. & J. R. Holloway, Danville, is one of the leading dry-goods and carpet houses in this vicinity. It is located on the northwest corner of Main and Walnut streets. These gentlemen commenced business in Danville in 1869, and ever since have constantly improved in trade. Cornelius B. Holloway was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1826. His experience in the dry-goods business has been very extensive, having entered a dry -goods store with his father in Smyrna, Harrison county, Ohio, when he was a boy. He came to Danville in 1862, where he has resided ever since. Jesse R. Holloway was born in Winchester, Virginia, and moved to Yermilion countv with his parents at an early day. He settled near Georgetown, where he was engaged in the dry-goods business for some twenty years, being among the first dry-goods merchants of that place. He came to Danville and was connected with the Yermilion County Bank for several years, and then returned to the dry -goods business, which business he has continued in ever since. They erected their present store at a cost of some $18,000, and are doing a business amounting to some §50,000 per year.

E. P. Doll, No. 121 East Main street, Danville. He lias now been engaged in this business about two years. When he began business in 1877 he was in company with Mr. Smith, but later he purchased Mr. Smith's interest in the business and has since been conducting it alone. He gives employment to about live men, on an average, and manufactures per annum about $5,000 worth of goods. His style and manufacture of goods has gained so much of a reputation that he is not troubled with any old or dry stock on hand. Pie is a man who has had nearlv twenty years' experience in the boot and shoe trade. His trade h asincreased so much now as to warrant him in the use of machinery so far as can be done without the durability of the goods being- lessened. He is a native of Ashland county, Ohio, and has the energy and enterprise about him that we usually find about a man who has been dependent upon his own resources. Should no misfortune befall him he will yet be known as one of the largest manufacturers and dealers in his line.

Edward Jones, Danville, engineer, who is holding quite a responsible position with the Ellsworth Mining Company, is a native of Brierley Hill, South Staffordshire, England. He was born in 1842. The early part of his life was spent and his education received in that country. He also learned the trade of an engineer with the British Iron Company. In 1868 he came to the United States and stopped at Pittsburgh^ Pennsylvania, for six months, where he was engaged with Marshall, Graft & Co. Then he went to Sharon, Pennsylvania, for about a year and a half, and in 1870 came to Danville, and in January, 1876, began work for A. C. Daniel, who is manager of the Ellsworth company. Mr. Daniel tellsus that for over three years Mr. Jones has never but once failed to blow the whistle regularly at 6.40 and 7.00 o'clock a.m., and that once wasforgetful n ess, as he was at his post as regular as at any time. He does his own firing, and keeps the machinery in order himself, and is a healthy, robust " Johnny Bull," free from intemperate and other bad habits; a man always ready for duty and competent to attend to it. This fact is apparent to Mr. Daniel, who has concluded in this instance that he has the right man in the right place.

George W. Daines, Danville, real estate agent, though not so old a resident as many of the citizens of Danville, is yet a man well known in the city and in the county. He is a native of Miami county, Indiana. His home has been in Danville since 187<». From 1870 to 1876 he was general western agent for the American Lubricating Oil Company. Leaving the road in 1876, he opened a real estate office in Danville, his office being in Gernand's block, on Vermilion street. Here he is which lie lias already pretty well worked up. This, in connection with his insurance business and his own real estate which is on the market, warrants us in classing him among the leading business men of the city. In the fall of 1878 he added to the city plat what is known as Daines' addition. He has already built a number of new residence buildings. He is constantly improving property in different parts of the city, and were all the real estate holders of Danville equal to him in enterprise and improvement, the city would soon outstrip herself.

William Whitehill, the subject of this sketch, a cut of whose establishment appears in this work, is the leading manufacturer of buggies and carriages in the city. He began business in Danville in 1871, under circumstances that would have made many men hesitate before investing money, the competition being more than commonly strong ; but understanding that "opposition is the life of trade," he opened his factor}- with a full understanding of the difficulties to be surmounted. The result has been success; this has been accomplished by giving to his patrons the very best line of goods possible for the money invested. He has acquired for his work now such a reputation as any dealer or manufacturer may well feel proud of. He is a native of Summit county, Ohio. In 1856 he came to Attica, Indiana, and there began learning his trade, serving a regular apprenticeship, and remaining until 1859, when he went back to Ohio and located at Akron, where for a time he did "jour" work. In 1862 he began business there on his own account, continuing (excepting time spent in the army) until 1870 ; he then came to Danville. During the war of 1861-5, he in 1863 entered the Union army, serving in the 124th O. Vol. Inf., Co. I. During this service he was wounded so badly as to be discharged. At present we find him one of the honorable citizens of Danville.

C. B. Fenton, Danville, hardware dealer, who for twenty-three years has been familiar with the hardware business, and is now one among the leading hardware dealers of Danville, is a native of Pennsylvania, though at the age of four years he went with his people to the state of ( )hio. The early part of his life was spent, and his education received, in that state. He is also a practical tinner by trade, having learned this branch of his present business at Conneaut, Ohio. In 1861, at the breaking out of the war of the rebellion, he became a volunteer in the Union army, joining- the 2d Independent Battery of Ohio troops, three-years service. He remained in the service about fourteen months, when, on account of disability caused by hard marching and sickness, he was discharged at Helena, Arkansas. During his service he saw some hard fighting, the battle of Pea Ridge being one of the engagements in which he participated. Returning from the army, he again became a resident of Ohio, subsequently removing to Danville, where from 1870 until 1876 he was engaged in business alone; he now has a partner, the firm being C. B. Fenton & Co. They are now located on East Main street, in what is known as Kelley's new block, and are occupying a space 20 feet front by 100 feet deep, second story and double basement. This is stocked with everything pertaining to a general hardware business, including stoves and tinware. In addition to this he has some novelties, among which may be mentioned the new gasoline stove, the advantages of which are very apparent, especially to the ladies.

James A. Outland, Danville, attorney-at-law, is, perhaps, respected and known as well as any man of the Vermilion county bar. He was born in Northampton county, North Carolina, on the 25th of February, 1«48, and is the son of Thomas J. and Asenath (Prichard) Outland, both natives of North Carolina and members of the Quaker Church. In 1858 the subject of our sketch, with his parents, came to Illinois, and located in Ridge Farm, Yermilion county. His father was a farmer, and here on the farm Mr. Outland remained until 1862. When only fourteen years of age he entered the army and participated in the late war. He enlisted for three years in the 79th 111. Yol. Inf., a private in Company A (the history of this regiment, written by Mr. Outland, appears in this work). Mr. Outland participated in some of the most severe battles - Stone River, Liberty Gap, Chickasaw Mountain, Mission Ridge, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain and the siege of Atlanta. At Franklin, Tennessee, on the 30th of November, 1864, he received a very severe musket-ball wound in the thigh, from the effects of which he is a cripple. He was taken prisoner by the enemy, where he was very poorly cared for. He was recaptured by the Union army and sent to the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, where he. remained until the close of the war. He then entered the Illinois Soldiers' College, at Fulton, Illinois, where he remained for five years, and from which he graduated in 1872. He then was enirasred in teaching school one winter. He then read law with D. D. Evans, Esq. In 1873 he entered the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he graduated from the law school in 1S75. He then returned tc

Danville and commenced the practice of law. In 1870 he was elected city attorney of Danville, which office he filled with marked ability for two terms. Mrs. Ontland's maiden name was Mary S. Peters. She was born in Licking county, Ohio, on the 13th of December, 1855, and is the daughter of Oliver E. (a physician, now residing near Bismarck, Vermilion county,) and Margaret ( Walcntt) Peters.

E. Winter, Danville, deputy clerk, was born in Kenton county, Kentucky, on the 10th of July, 1847, and is the son of Charles H. and E. A. (Herod) Winter. His father was a native of London, England, and his mother of Kentucky. When Mr. Winter was very young, he, with his parents, moved to Indiana, where they were engaged in farming about four years, when they moved to Columbus, Indiana, and entered the mercantile business. In March, 1804, Mr. Winter enlisted in Battery F, 1st Indiana Heavy Artillery, and participated in several severe engagements, such as the siege of Fort Morgan, siege of Mobile, etc. He did duty at Fort Darrancus and Fort Pickens. He was mustered out on the 15th of Januaiy, 1800, when he returned to Indiana. He entered college at Moore's Hill, where he received a sufficient education to enable him to teach school at Versailles, Indiana. He then studied law and was admitted to practice in 1808. He went to Vermilion county, Indiana, and remained there until 1870, when he came to Danville, and in 1873 was admitted to the Illinois bar. In 1873 he was appointed deputy county clerk, which office he has filled ever since, and in which he has won a host of friends. Mr. Winter was married in Versailles, Indiana, to Miss Belle Wilson, of Indiana. They have two children. Mr. Winter is captain of Battery A, 1st Illinois National Guards.

The firm of Messrs. Good and Cowan, Danville, saddle and harness makers, which has been established since the year 1874, is one of the largest, most reputable and successful in the city, and holds a position for integrity in business above an average character, and has gained a popularity of which it ma}' well feel proud. The members of the firm stand among that liberal class of business men who believe in the various enterprises of the city being pushed forward. Their store is located at No. 38 Vermilion street. They employ four men. The proprietors have attained a prominent business position, and socially are blessed with a large number of friends. Elias Good was born in Pennsylvania in 1841. He learned his trade - that of a harness-maker - in Pennsylvania, where he followed it for a number of years. He came to Illinois in 1805. Mr. Good was a soldier in the late war. He enlisted in April, 1801, in Co. C, 1st Pa. Vol. Inf., and did good service. He was honorably mustered out. but again enlisted, this time in the 34th Pa.

Vol. Inf., Co. D, for three years. After serving about sixteen months, and participating in some very prominent battles, lie was honorably discharged on account of sickness. Amos S. Cowan was also a soldier of the late war. He enlisted, August, 1861, in Co. G, 11th 111. Vol. Inf., for three years. He enlisted as a private, doing good service, and participating in a number of the most prominent battles of the war. He was at the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Pittsburg Landing, Champion Hills, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, etc. He received two slight wounds in arm and leg at Champion Hills. He was first lieutenant of the 46th U. S. Col. Troops, which did skirmishing near Memphis, Tennessee. He was then assistant inspector-general of the 2d Brig. 1st Div. 25th Army Corps; was mustered out at Brownville, Texas, 1865, and was finally discharged at Little Rock, Arkansas. He returned to Illinois, and entered the Normal University, where he remained one year. In 1870 he came to Danville, which has been his home ever since. Mr. Cowan is major of the 9th Bat. 111. N. G.

J. M. Clark, Danville, merchant, was born in Waldo county, Maine, on the 21st of April, 1824, and is the son of Stephen and Prudence (Martin) Clark. His father, a native of Maine, was engaged as a seafaring man until he reached the age of forty-five ; after this he followed farming. His mother was a native of Massachusetts. Mr. Clark was raised on the farm, where he remained until he was twenty-one years old. He then went to West Virginia, where he remained about two years ; from there located in the southern part of Ohio, near Gallipolis. Here he was engaged in the dry-goods and general store business some twenty-two years. While in Gallia county, Ohio, Mr. Clark held the office of county commissioner, which office he resigned when he came to Danville, Illinois. In 1861 Mr. Clark enlisted in the 36th Ohio Vol. Inf., Co. I. as first lieutenant. He was with the Army of the Potomac, and participated in some of its most severe battles. Mr. Clark was in the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, Lewisburg and several skirmishes. In 1863 he was detailed to organize militia, and was made colonel of the 1st Ohio Vol. Inf., which regiment helped to capture the notorious guerrilla, John Morgan, during his raid through Indiana and Ohio. At the close of the war Mr. Clark returned to Gallia county, Ohio. He married Miss Lucy Chambers, of Marietta, Ohio, by whom they have ten children. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Clark came to Danville and commenced the dry-goods business, and to-day he owns one of the leading dry-goods and carpet stores in Danville. He is located at No. 66 Vermilion street. He employs five salesmen, doing a business amounting to as high as £50,000 a year. Mr. Clark is a member of the school board.

James Knight, Danville, boots and shoes, was born in Clinton county, New York, on the 12th of May, 1833, and is the son of James and Alice (Henderson) Knight, both natives of Scotland. His father was a farmer here, and Mr. Knight was brought up on the farm and there remained until he was about fifteen years old. He was then engaged in helping to survey the Ogdenburg railroad, and was then clerk in a hardware store. About 1813 he came west to Illinois and located in Chicago. He then returned east and clerked in the hardware business, but returned to Illinois and was connected with the Great Western railroad, running a train to Champaign. He followed railroading about thirteen years; but was in Texas a short rime engaged in trading in Texas cattle. In 1869 he went to California where he remained until the following year, seeking for his brother Robert. He returned to Danville and has been engaged in the mercantile business principally ever since. Mr. Knight was married on the 15th of February, 1860, to Miss Mary E. Probst, of Danville. They have three children. Mr. Knight is now filling the position of assistant supervisor of Danville township, which office he has held for the last six years. He is a republican in politics.

Irad Abdill, Danville, retired, was born in Cadiz, Ohio, on the 29th of October, 1812, and is the son of Connell Abdill, who was a hotelkeeper in Cadiz. Mr. Abdill, the subject of this sketch, remained in his native place until he was about seventeen years of age, when he went to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and learned the tinner's trade. In 1830 he went to Paris, Kentucky, where he engaged in work at his trade, and on the 5th of September, 1833, he married, near Lexington, Kentucky, Rebecca Ann Watson. In the same year he moved to Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and there set up a tinshop and carried on business until 1836, when he moved to Indiana and located in Yincennes, where he was also engaged in the tin business! In April, 1839, he moved to Perrysville, Yennilion county, Indiana, and commenced the tin and hardware business on a very large scale, doing an extensive business until about 1869, when he retired from business. In 1862 Mr. Abdill was elected a member of the legislature by the republican party, from Vermilion county, Indiana. On the 1th of October, 1871, Mr. Abdill moved to Danville, where he has been a resident ever since. His first vote cast for president of the United States was for General Andrew Jackson, and he was a Jackson democrat. In 1860 he voted for President Abraham Lincoln, and since then he has been a republican in politics.

fourteen years of age, first locating in St. Louis in 1857. He went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and while there learned his present trade. The following year he went to New Orleans where he remained one year, and then went to Baton Rouge, but afterward returned to St. Louis and enlisted, in 1861, in Co. A, 13th Mo. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war, engaging in some of the prominent battles, such as Fort Donelson and Pittsburg Landing, where he was wounded, a ball passing through his right arm, which caused his absence from the regiment for seventy days. He afterward participated in the battles of Iuka and Corinth, and was engaged in the three-months siege of Vicksburg and Little Rock, also in other minor engagements. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war, returned to St. Louis, and from there came to Springfield, Illinois, where he remained until 1867. He then went to Kansas City, and in 1871 came to Danville. He was married in 1870 to Miss Julia Getiser. She was a native of Switzerland, and was born in 1847.

A. J. T. Joslin, Danville, photographer, was born in Montgomery county, New York, on the 16th of June, 1839. At the age of sixteen years he went to Osage, and from there to Waukegan, Illinois. From there he moved to Oilman, and then to Danville, where he has made his home since. At Osage he built the third log house of the place, and painted the first sign ever put up in that town. He remained a resident of that place about thirteen years. He first learned the trade of a carriage and sign-painter, but subsequently took up photography, and now has had in all sixteen years' experience in this business, six years of the time in Danville. He first began alone, but the firm afterward became Joslin & Phillips. They continued to do business together about four years. He is now located at 112 East Main street, where, by close attention to business, and keeping pace with the improvements made in the art of photography, he has established a good business.

E. C. Winslow, Danville, of No. 107 Main street, dealer in drugs, is a native of Hampshire county, Massachusetts. He came west in 1871 and began business in Danville, after having spent twelve years in the drug trade in Boston. He is a graduate of pharmacy and is thoroughly educated in all the details of the drug trade. His store is twenty-five feet front by eighty feet deep, two stories and basement. He has it thoroughly stocked in everything pertaining to a full and complete line of drugs, cigars, tobacco, perfumeries, etc. These are all conducive to his success, which he has gained and earned by an honorable and upright method of business.

his life was spent in his native state, where he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner. In 1861, at the breaking ont of the war of the rebellion, he entered the army and enlisted in Co. E, 45th Pa. Inf., threeyears service. He was in many of the hard fought battles, among which may be mentioned those of Stoner Landing, Antietam and Fredericksburg. At both of the latter battles he was wounded, though not crippled, and in 1864 was mustered out at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He has now been a resident of Danville for eight years, most of which time he has been engaged at his trade. At present he has on hand the contract of doing the woodwork on the Gernand building. By honest work he has won for himself a good reputation, both as a workman and a citizen.

Chas. T. Yeomans, Danville, hardware dealer, of the firm of Yeomans & Shedd, is a native of Wyoming county, New York. He has now been engaged in the hardware trade about eight vears. Previous to his entering business in this line he had been a resident of Chicago, where from 1866 until 1871 he was employed at keeping books. In 1871 he came to Danville, and in partnership with Mr. A. L. Webster engaged in the hardware trade ; they continuing to do business together until 1875, when the present partnership was formed. When leaving Mr. Webster, he took the shelf and general hardware, while Mr. W. kept what is known to the trade as the heavy hardware. Under the management of the present firm they have established quite an extensive business, a more detailed account of which is given elsewhere. They are both good financiers, and are known as one of the solid, substantial business firms of the city.

Every business man dependent upon the^patronage of the public for success must endeavor to please that public. This Mr. J. A. Phillips, the photographer, of Danville, and the subject of this sketch, lias seemed to do, if we may judge of his success by this rule. He first began the business of photography in 1864. He followed it for two years, then quit and began painting, which he continued for about six years. In the spring of 1871 he began business in Danville. He has kept pace with the progress made in the art of photography. This assertion may be very easiW proven by a visit to his parlors, which are located at the southwest corner of the public square. He is a native of Fountain county, Indiana. Though not a resident of the city so long as many, he has established a good name and reputation.

Chas. M. Swallow, attorney-at-law, Danville, was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on the 8th of September, 1844, and is the son of George and Sallie (Thompson) Swallow. Mr. Swallow's father was a native of Pennsvlvania, and followed farming. Here on the farm Mr.

Swallow remained until he was about seventeen years old, at which time he went to Pittston, and from there to Scranton, where he entered a printing-office and commenced to learn his trade. This he followed for several years, and was the main support in getting money to school himself. Mr. Swallow received his principal education at Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and Cazenovia, New York. In 1869 he entered the law school of the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, where he graduated in 1871. In April, 1871, he came to Danville and entered the office of Messrs. Davis & Mann, and remained with that law firm until 1872. He was then admitted to practice law at the Illinois state bar. In 1874 he entered partnership with D. D. Evans, which firm continued until January of 1879. Since then Mr. Swallow has been practicing alone. He held the office of city attorney for one term, and performed his duty in a faithful manner. Mr. Swallow was married on the 15th of December, 1874, to Miss Clara A. Northup, who was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on the 30th of May, 1850. She died on the 7th of February, 1879. He is the father of one child, Howard A., born on the 18th of August, 1878.

We believe that many people fail of success in the livery business through a lack of attention to the general wants of the public, coupled with a disregard for proper neatness and cleanliness. Kuykendall Bros, ik Craig, livery-men, of Danville, own two livery stables, one located east side of Hazel, between North and Main streets, and the other on North street, in the rear of the ..Etna House. At both livery stables is kept a fine lot of stock and a number of vehicles which, for style and quality, cannot be excelled in Danville. The firm is composed of William and Jacob Kuykendall, who were born in Hampshire county, Virginia. With their parents they moved to Indiana, and from thence to Vermilion county, Illinois, and located on a farm in Middle Fork township. Here they were engaged in tanning until 1871, when they came to Danville and entered the livery business. In 1875 they entered partnership with William Craig, and thus formed the above named firm. Mr. Craig was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1848. These gentlemen are courteous and gentlemanly in their business, and prompt in transactions, all of which has made them popular and successful livery-men.

The Chicago Store, 53 Vermilion street, Danville, Illinois, was first opened at No. 41, Vermilion street, on the 22d of July, 1872, and on the 7th of August, 1872, H. B. Villars, the youngest son of the Rev. John Villars, commenced clerking for S. T. Kern at $1.50 per week, and remained as general clerk until the spring of 1873, when Mr. Robison left, going farther west. H. B. Villars, beina' the oldest clerk with the firm, was made head clerk, and manager of the business in Mr. Kern's absence, holding that position until about 1871, when he left, taking a rest for about six weeks. He, however, returned to his former position as manager of the business in the absence of Mr. Kern, this being at Mr. Kern's request. About two years after opening at ]STo. 41 Vermilion street, Mr. Kern moved to Xo. 53 Vermilion street, the present location. H. B. Villars still held that position until the death of Mr. Kern, on the 18th of April, 1876, after which the store was left to W. T. Kern, the business, however, being still in the charge of H. B. Villars. In July, 1876, Mr. Kern was taken sick in Logansport, and lingered until the 13th of November, 1876, when he died, leaving the store to his sister, the firm name becoming C. J. Kern & Sister. Mr. C. J. Kern, having a store in Logansport to look after, still left the Danville store in charge of H. B. Villars until the 28th of March, 1877, when, desiring to discontinue the business in Danville, he sold the stock to the firm of Villars Bros. 6z Co., who are now doing a large business in the same room.

B. M. Chaffee, Danville, freight and ticket agent, is a native of Rochester, Windsor county, Vermont. He came west in 1869, and for one year was engaged in business in Chicago. He then went to Kentland, Indiana, where, for two years, he was located in the employ of the Pan-Handle railroad. He resigned his position and returned to Chicago with the intention of again engaging in business there, but instead he came to Danville, and accepted the position of station-agent on the I. B. & W. R. R. He is now also doing the business for the P. & D. road, and is both ticket and freight agent for both roads. The receipts and shipments of the I. B. tfc TV", are much greater than the P. & D., though the transferring of all east and southward bound freight on the latter road is necessary at this point ; this also comes under his charge. He has, in all, six men under his supervision. Mr. Chaffee has been a resident of Danville only since 1872, but is already as well known as many of the old settlers.

J. A. Patterson, Danville, hardware dealer, of the firm of Giddings ife Patterson, is probably the most thoroughly educated man in the hardware line of any dealer in this line of goods in the city, he having had the advantage of five years' experience as traveling-man for a jobbing-house in the line they are now handling. He is a native of Vir- ginia, his early life being spent in that state, Ohio and Indiana. He has now been a resident of Danville seven years, three years of which time he was with the firm of "Webster 6z Veomans, and four years with A. L. Webster. In February of 1879 he engaged, in company with Mr. Jno. TV. Giddings, in the heavy hardware trade, they being sue- cessors to A. L. Webster. Their trade extends to a radius of about one hundred and twenty-live miles. Mr. Patterson, being used to the road, does this part of the work when necessary. Though they have been in business as a firm but a short time, they have every reason to hope for success, if the future may be judged by the past. They are both men of that caliber who seldom fail to carry any enterprise undertaken through successfully, and in this undertaking they propose to stop nothing short of success.

Robert Pollard,. Danville, gas-fitting and foundry, of the firm of Thompson & Pollard, was born in London, England, in 1848. At the age of twenty-two he came to the United States, and located at La Fayette, Indiana, where, for about two years, he was engaged in the business of gas-fitting, a trade which he learned in England. In November of 1872 he came to Danville and began, with Mr. Thompson, in the same business. He first began as a "jour" with Mr. Thompson, but in a short time became a partner. They are now conducting one of the largest manufacturing establishments in this part of Illinois, a more complete description of which has already been given.

Watson Bros., Danville, butchers, located at No. 45 Vermilion street, have a very neat, well arranged meat market, which they conduct and own ; besides which they have a fine farm in Vermilion county, where they raise the stock for their market. They are practical butchers of long experience, and have the reputation of exposing for sale the finest quality of fresh meat, through which and their fairness of prices and strict probity in business transactions they have secured them a paying business. They have, in connection with their meat market, a steam power sausage mill, with which they furnish the surrounding towns with sausage. Alva Watson was born in La Salle county, Illinois, in 1845, and is the son of Stephen Watson, of Rhode Island, who came to Illinois about 1840, and was engaged in stock raising and farming. Mr. Alva Watson remained on the farm until he was about fourteen years old and then entered a grist mill and learned the engineer's trade, which he followed for a number of years. He then went into the butcher business in Danville. He has also been in the hotel business, managing for a time the St. James Hotel of Danville. Daniel Watson, a brother of Alva, is with these two gentlemen. They compose the oldest butcher firm in the city.

H. P. Blackburn, Danville, attorney-at-law, was born in Fountain county, Indiana, on the 23d of August, 1850, and is the son of John T. and Mary A. (Powell) Blackburn, both natives of Kentucky, and early settlers of Fountain county, Indiana. Mr. Blackburn received his principal education from the Wesley Academy, near Crawfordsville,

Indiana, Blooniingdale Academy, near Annapolis, Indiana, and the Illinois State University at Champaign. He then entered the Michigan University of Ann Arbor, Michigan, from which he graduated in 1872. He then came to Danville and commenced the practice of law. Since he began here he has associated himself as partner with ¥m. H. Mallory, B. F. Cook, George W. Gere and General J. C. Black.

E. R. Danforth, dealer in groceries and provisions, No. 86 Vermilion street, is a native of Wabash, Indiana. He began business in his present location in January, 1879, by buying the grocery establishment of J. W. Elliott. He began his mercantile life in his old home, Wabash, Indiana, where he spent several years as a clerk in a general store. In 1869 he left Wabash and located in Homer, Illinois, where he spent three years clerking in a grocery establishment. In 1873 he accepted a situation as clerk with Mr. Win, Hesse}7, dry-goods merchant of Danville. He remained with Mr. Hessey until he decided to engage in business on his own account. His store is eighteen feet front by one hundred feet deep, located where there is but little doubt of success and stocked with a line class of groceries and provisions, queensware, crockery, tinware, and many other useful and staple lines of goods that experience and good judgment have taught him were necessary for success. For a man who has never been engaged in business for himself, Mr. Danforth is certainly exhibiting some very good financiering qualities. Should his business in the future be conducted as carefully as it has been in the past, there is but little doubt of his ambition for success being realized.

C. M. Axtell, Danville, is a native of Washington count}7, Pennsylvania, though at the age of four years he was brought to Iroquois county by his parents, they coming to that county in company with eleven other families from Pennsylvania. There the early part of his life was spent, and an education received from such facilities as the country afforded at that time. He remained a resident of that county until 1873, when he came to Danville. For some time before leaving Iroquois county he had been engaged in business on his own account : in the harness trade for three years, and in the livery business four years. He built the building on the corner of Madison and Pine streets, which he still owns. This he occupied for about four years, engaged in the grocery business, Mr. Sirpless becoming his successor in business. In 1878 he was elected a member of the police force of Danville, but failed to be renominated again in 1879 on account of not supporting the administration, which declared in favor of licensing the sale of liquor.

tembnrg, Germany, on the 28th of April, 1840. He remained a resident of bis native country until be bad received a good education, and had learned the trade of a tanner. In 1867 he came to the United States, first locating at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where be remained about one and a half years. He then went to Loudon ville, Ohio, for about the same length of time, and then to Augusta, Kentucky, where he was engaged in business on his own account as a tanner. He remained in Augusta about three years, and in 1873 came to Danville. Where he is now, on East Main street, he has a store 22 x 70, with basement. He pays out annually about twenty thousand dollars for hides, furs, tallow, "sbeeps," etc., shipping most of these goods to Boston, Mass. He also carries a tine stock of leather and findings. He is a man who pays little attention to anybody's business except bis own, but is one of that class of men who are ranked among the best citizens of any community.

G. L. Klugel, Danville, of No. 17 West Main street, dealer in and manufacturer of galvanized-iron work, is probably a better workman, and is engaged more extensively in this business, than many of the citizens of Vermilion county are aware of. He has had sixteen years' experience in this line, first serving an apprenticeship of seven years with his brother. He is a native of Berlin, Prussia, coming to the United States in 1859, when he was six years old, becoming a resident of Dayton, Ohio. It was there he learned his trade. He has traveled over quite a number of the states, executing large contracts in his line of business. Among these we mention a few. In 1870 he first came to Danville, and did the iron-work of the high-school building: in 1872 he did the cornice-work on Abe Sandusky's residence; in 1877 he did that of the court-house of Washington, Indiana, and in 1878 finished the Ann Arbor court-house; in 1879 he finished the Wabash courthouse of Indiana. These are some of the important jobs he has done, and are certainly evidence enough of his ability as a workman and contractor. In 1873 he became a resident of Danville, and now gives employment to about four men regularly, and is doing a business, in point of execution, equal to any in the west.