Danville Township (part 5 of 5)

D. C. Vaughn, Danville, saw-mill, is a native of the state of Iowa, and has been a resident of Danville since 1873. He was for five years connected with the 'bus line of S. B. Holloway & Co., the last two years as a partner in the business. In the summer of 1879 they (he and S. B. Holloway) purchased the saw-mill located at the I. B. & W. depot, and formerly run by Noah Wilkins. This business now comes directly under Mr. Vaughn's supervision. Their specialty is hardwood lumber, of which they have a manufacturing capacity of about 6,000 feet per day. In all they give employment to about twenty men, seven of whom are at work in the mill. Their annual pay-roll amounts to about $4,000. They have an engine of forty-horse power. The mill is new. Mr. Yanghn is a live, energetic business man, and though the enterprise is a new one there is every probability of their success. Mr. Holloway is an old mill man.

Among the few large grocery and bakery establishments of Danville is that of Bred eh oft Bros., located at Xo. 135 East Main street. The elder of the two, George W., has had about six years' experience in the business in Danville, and in that time has become a thoroughly practical business man. In 1873 he engaged in the trade in company with Mr. Charles Stellner, they doing business together until the present firm was organized. Their store-room is twenty-four feet front by eighty feet deep, with basement. In addition to this they have the Lossom bakery, built in the rear of the store. This is 20 x 24. In this line they have acquired a reputation that keeps them very busy delivering goods, their business aggregating now about $50,000 per annum in both lines of trade. They give employment to about four men regularly, and should their trade increase in the future as it has in the past they will shortly be the leading house in the city in their line. Their business is a fair illustration of what may be accomplished by pluck and perseverance. They have worked for the trade they now command, both by means of a pleasant and courteous treatment of their customers, supplying them with nice fresh goods, and by keeping their place of business neat and clean.

The largest and most important clothing and gents' furnishing establishment in the city of Danville is that of H. Kahn & Co., the members of the firm being H. Kahn and the subject of our sketch, Mr. Isaac Stern, who was born in 1846 in Wurtemberg, Germany. There he received a good education, and had six years' experience in the clothing trade, and at the age of twenty years came to the United States, locating at Champaign, Illinois, where for four years he was engaged as a clerk in the clothing trade. He then went south and located near Salem, Alabama, where for three years he was engaged in the mercantile trade. Returning north in 1873 he located at Danville and engaged in business, where we now find him one of the most successful merchants of the city. Their establishment is located at No. 51 Vermilion street, and is known as the Arcade Clothing House. The building is 100 x 24 feet, and they occupy the first floor and basement with a stock of goods not equaled in the city. Mr. Stern, though a resident of the city but a few years, is already well and favorably known both in societv and business circles.

William P. Cannon, Danville, president of the Vermilion County Bank, was born in Morgan county, Indiana, September 18, 1841, and is the son of Horace F. Cannon, who was born in North Carolina, and was a doctor by profession. He moved to Indiana in 1840. Mr. W. P. Cannon, after receiving his principal education at the Earlem College of Indiana, commenced the study of law with his brother, Joseph G. Cannon. In 1862 he was admitted to practice law at the bar. He entered partnership with his brother and commenced practice at Tuscola, Illinois. In 1865 he entered the private banking business with Wyeth, Cannon & Co., and remained there, acting as manager until 1870, when he organized the First National Bank of Tuscola, and was made president, maintaining this position until 1873, when he moved to Danville and organized the Vermilion County Bank, of which he holds the position of president. The other officers are : Thos. S. Parks, cashier ; J. W. Elliott, book-keeper, and Chas. Knight, teller. This bank is doing a general banking business, and is in a very flourishing condition. In 1864 Mr. Cannon married Miss Anna M. Wamsley, of Indiana, daughter of William Wamsley, and by this union they have three children.

Frank W. Penwell, Danville, attorney-at-lawr, was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, on the 14th of September, 1843, and is the son of Enos and Martha (Holloway) Penwell. In 1853 he, with his parents, moved to Illinois, and located in Shelbyville, Shelby county. Here his father was engaged in the practice of medicine. Mr. Penwell received a common school education at Shelbyville. He then completed his studies at South Bend, Indiana. He was a soldier in the late civil war. In 1862 he enlisted for three years as sergeant in the 21st Ind. Battery, Light Artillery. This battery did service with the army of the Cumberland, participating in some of the most severe battles: Chickamauga, Nashville, etc. At the close of the war Mr. Penwell returned home and commenced the study of law. In 1867 he graduated in the law-school of the Michigan Universit}^ of Ann Arbor. In 1867 he commenced the practice of law. In 1873 he came to Danville, and associated himself with W. J. Henry, and formed the lawfirm of Henry & Penwell, which continued until 1876, when the present firm was formed of Young & Penwell. His political opinions are republican. He married Miss May Bowman, of New York.

J. E. Field, Danville, merchant tailor, was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, on the 28th of July, 1843. He learned the tailor's trade in Lorain county, Ohio, in 1866 and 1867. He then went to Michigan and located at Three Rivers, where he worked at his trade until 1868, when he came to Illinois, and worked at his trade at Rockford. Here he remained until 1873, when he came to Danville, and has here been engaged at his trade ever since. He opened his present merchanttailor establishment in 1878. He is one of the leading merchant tailors of Danville, having in his employ six hands. Mr. Field, in 1861, enlisted in the late war. He entered, from Lorain county. Ohio, the 2d Ohio Cavalrv, Co. H. ; he enlisted for three vears, and did good service, being in a number of battles and >kirmishes. He served full time and was honorably mustered out. He reenlisted in the same regiment, and served until the close of the war. lie was with Gen. Grant, on his eastern campaign, in the battles of Cold Harbor, the battle of the Wilderness, St. Mary's Church, Fairfax Court House, and other battles and skirmishes. In his first enlistment, on the 9th of September 1861. until his final discharge, on the 20th of September, 1 865, he was sick but two weeks, and during these two weeks he remained with his regiment. Xeither he nor his horse received the slightest wound. The 2d Ohio started from Lebanon. Kentuckv, on the 4th of July, 1863, after the notorious guerrilla John Morgan, at the time he made his raid through Kentuckv, Indiana and Ohio. The 2d Ohio was in the engagement when Morgan was captured at Columbus county, Ohio. The 2d ( )hio, during its service in the war, traveled over thirty thousand miles through the various states. This was the greatest distance traveled by any regiment during the war. Mr. Field has a medal that was given to him at the first reunion of the 2d Ohio ( Javalry at Cleveland, O. Mr. Field is first lieutenant of Battery A, 1st Brig. 111. Nat. G., of which he has been a member for over three years.

Among the leading merchants of Danville may be mentioned Win. Woods, the hatter, who was born in London, England. A number of years ago he came to America, where he has been engaged in different pursuits. He has had a wide experience in the shirt, hosiery and glove business, having been connected with one of the leading houses of that kind in the country. In 1873 Mr. Woods came to Danville and entered the hat and cap business with his brother, A. Woods, on Main street. Since the retirement of his brother, Mr. Woods has continued in the business alone, and to-day is the oldest hat and cap merchant in Danville. His present new store on Vermilion street is one of the most attractive and finest stores in the city. Here may be found a full line of bats, caps, furs and gents' furnishing goods.

J. C. Helm, Danville, W. IT. telegraph agent, is a native of Marion county, Indiana. The early portion of his life was spent in the country, on a farm. He has now for ten years been engaged at telegraphing. Those who are familiar with the business pronounce him a fine operator. He began learning telegraphy at Anderson. Indiana, in 1869. In October. 1874. he took charge of the Western LTnion business at Dan- ville, which was then in connection with the railroad, being located at the Wabash depot. In October of 1878 they moved to their present quarters, which is No. 108 East Main. Here Mr. Helm has a ver\ neatly arranged office, having in all seven wires, viz: three of the Wabash, the I. B. & W., P. & D., E. T. IT. & C. and C. & E. I. The business is so extensive as to require an assistant, this gentleman being Mr. E. C. Dodge, of Erie county, New York. The aggregate business, strictly commercial, now done by the office is about $250 per month. Though Mr. Helm has been a resident of Danville but a few years, he already is known as a man whose word and promise may be relied upon.

The Arkansas & Texas Railway Land Company, located in the "Times" building, is probably a much more extensive institution than many of the people of this county are aware of. It is a business, too, that would well repay many people who contemplate buying real estate to examine. Mr. E. D. Steen, the gentleman in charge at this point, is a native of the old Keystone State, his birth-place being near the city of Pittsburgh. He has been a resident of the State of Illinois for about twenty-seven years, though of Danville but for five years. When he came to the city he began business in the furniture trade, in company with Mr. J. W. Dove, the firm name being Dove & Steen. This they followed until 1878, when Walker & Staymen became their successors. The land office of the company named was located in Danville in the summer of 1879. They have in Texas 3,000,000 acres ; Arkansas, 30,- 000 ; Kansas, 10,000 ; and Nebraska 10,000, besides a large number of improved farms in the state of Missouri. There is probably no realestate firm in the west that otters such inducements as this one. Mr. Steen is treasurer of the Vermilion County Historical Society, and a man having the respect and esteem of a large number of citizens.

Win. Stewart, Danville, machine and boiler manufacturer, successor to the firm of Reynolds & Stewart, manufacturers of boilers and machinerv, is a native of Scotland, where he was born on the 26th of January, 1840. He came to the United States in the fall of 1861. Before leaving his native country he had acquired a good education, and had learned the trade of a machinist. He first located at Fort Wayne, Indiana, where for eleven years he was employed in the shops of the Wabash Railway Company. On the first of January, 1874, he came to Danville and took charge of the shops of the C. D. & V. R. R., where he remained for two years, then in 1877 he became a partner of Mr. Reynolds in the foundry and machine shops, later succeeding Mr. Reynolds in the business. He is a thorough machinist, having, served a five-years apprenticeship in learning the trade in Scotland. He is now giving employment to about tifteen men, and is already designing a new boiler factory in addition to bis present works, a more complete conception of which may be bad by referring to bis card in tbe directory of tins work. Mr. Stewart, though a resident of Danville but a few years, has already establisbed a name and reputation of which any man who is a native of a foreign land may well be proud.

II. L. Dunham, Danville, was born on the 12th of March, 1848, at JNTorthfiehl. Vermont. When he was about fifteen years old he entered the office of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad as clerk. Here he remained for a number of years. He then accepted a position with the Union Pacific railroad as superintendent's clerk, which place he filled about three years. Then, for a time, he was in the employ of the Southern Minnesota railroad. On the 17th of April, 1871, Mr. Dunham entered the service of the Chicago cv; Eastern Illinois railroad. He was first stationed at Momence as shop-clerk, and from that he was appointed superintendent's clerk, making his headquarters at Chicago. In 1872 he was made paymaster of the same road, which place he filled until 1874, when the company adopted the plan of paying off by checks, and by this system they dispensed with the paymaster. In 1874 Mr. Dunham came to Danville, and was made shop-clerk, which position he has filled since.

To the men who can look back upon the trade in the early days of Danville, the magnitude of some of the present business establishments must look amazing. A few of them, in immensity and in the variety, quality and quantity of goods offered for sale, fully equal the stores in cities of fifty thousand inhabitants. Among them the establishment of Messrs. Hull & Hnlce is a notable example of the progress made in the past few years in the agricultural department. Their valuable experience in all matters pertaining to this business; their keen appreciation of the wants of the farmer ; their promptitude and the completeness with which thev meet these wants: their resources and extended facilities for supplying every demand of the farm, together with the careful and systematic methods followed in the management of their affairs, afford some little explanation for the prosperity which has attended their business career. This, the largest agricultural establishment in this vicinity, is owned by James G. Hull and Martin H. Hulce. The former, James G. Hull, was born in St. Lawrence county, Xew York, in 1841. He, with his parents, came west in 1851, and located on a farm in Marshall county, Illinois. Here Mr. Hull was engaged in farming until the breaking out of the late war. He enlisted in the 11th 111. Cav., Co. H, and participated in some of the most severe battles of the western campaign : Shiloh, Corinth, siege of Yicksburg, etc. ; was with the noted Garson raid through to the Gulf. For six months the soldiers of the 11th were never known to have their clothes off. Mr. Hull has had two horses shot from under him. He enlisted in 1861 as private; from that he rose first to corporal, then sergeant, and then to first lieutenant, and finally to captain of Co. H. He served until 1805, the close of the war, when he returned to his home, and embarked in the agricultural husiness in Henry, Marshall comity, Illinois. In 1868 Mr. Martin H. Ilulce entered partnership. This gentleman was born in New Jersey, having come west when a young man. He is a carriage-maker by trade. In 187-1 these gentlemen came to Danville, and commenced business in the present building: size, 18x132, two stories. This establishment is the largest in this section of Illinois, and perhaps sells as much as any other three establishments of the kind in Danville. Here may be found all kinds of implements that are used on a farm, from a linch-pin up to a steam threshing machine. They keep constantly on hand a fine stock of seeds.

F. W. Button, Danville, manufacturer of boilers, proprietor of the Button Steam Boiler Factory, is a native of the state of New York. Previous to his engaging in the manufacture of this line of goods in Danville, he had for some time had charge of the boiler works of the Wabash railroad, at Springfield. He is a thoroughlj- practical man in his line of trade and manufacture, having had about twenty years' experience in the manufacture of boilers. In 1866 he came west as far as Chicago, where he remained but a short time. He then made a trip through the southern states during the same year and 1867. Returning north, he spent some time in Galesburg and Springfield, as before mentioned, and located in Danville in 1875. Here he has established something of a name and reputation, and has a trade established reaching about forty miles around the city. On an average he employs about four men, and is doing his work in such a manner that his trade has been gradually increasing. He is giving his customers such goods as will bear inspection.

C. V. Feldkamp, Danville, dealer in confectionery and fruits. North Vermilion street, is a native of Germany, where he remained a resident until nineteen years of age. There he received a good education and served an apprenticeship of three years learning the wholesale and retail grocery business. In addition to working three years he was obliged to pay the firm $125. He has now been engaged in business in Danville about four years, though previous to this he had spent three years in Springfield, Illinois, in the same line of trade. When he began here he had a partner in the business, but now is conducting it alone. His place of business is neatly fitted up and well stocked with fresh fruits and confectionery. He has an elegant soda fountain which cost him $1,000. By a pleasant and courteous treatment of his customers he has established the leading business in the city in his line.

Among the business men of Danville who have been dependent upon their own resources we mention Mr. W. A. Clements. He is a native of the District of Columbia, was born in 1827, and while yet a child became a resident of Maryland, where his people remained but a few years, he coming to Shelbyville, Illinois, with his mother in 1836. At the age of nine years he began to support himself. He first worked about four years on a farm, and then began carrying the United States mail between Shelbyville and Vandalia, a distance of forty miles. This he followed for seven years, and then entered the army in the Mexican war, enlisting in Co. G, 1st 111., Col. E. W. B. New by. He remained in the army about two years, most of the time on detached duty. Returning from the war, he again became a resident of Shelbvville, where he resided until 1S75, engaging indifferent lines of mercantile business. In January, 1875, he came to Danville and embarked in the grocery trade, in which business he is still engaged, located at old No. 54 Vermilion street, where he has a good establishment, well stocked with everything pertaining to a general line of groceries. This has been the result of his own energy and industry. He can certainly be classed among the self-made men of Danville.

Will. Bahls, Danville, dealer in and manufacturer of boots and shoes, is a native of Prussia, and came to the United States in 1S54. When he was seventeen years old be began railroading, which he followed for a time. He then served a three years' apprenticeship in La Fayette, Indiana, in learning the trade of a boot and shoe maker. He has now been in the business about ten years, the last four of which have been in an establishment of his own. His specialty is fine sewed work. He has now established a trade that requires the employment of three men; and in connection with his manufacturing, he carries a stock of ready-made goods, and has a trade now established amounting to about $6,000 per year. Though he does not claim to do the largest business in the city, he has succeeded in doing one that gives satisfaction to his customers.

C. E. Doyle, railroad agent at the Danville Junction, is a native of the state of Florida, and is a man now about twenty-eight years old. He has had about thirteen years' experience in the. railroad business. He began first with the Iron Mountain road, in 1866; he was afterward located for two and a half years at La Fayette, Indiana, in the employ of the Wabash road ; in 1875 he came to Danville and accepted the position of ticket agent at the Junction. Here he has the ticket business of five different roads to which to attend. In 1878 the ticket sales of this office were $50,000. Daily, he has about eighteen regular passenger trains. He also understands telegraphy, but he has a man to attend to this part of the business. Though he has been a resident of Danville but a few years, he has already won the respect and confidence of the better class of the citizens.

George Gordon Mabin, Danville, attorney, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on the 30th of March, 1853. Through the misfortune of his parents, he was thrown upon his own resources at the early age of ten years. By the assistance of Prof. H. S. Perrigo, he was sent to school at Mount Carroll Seminary, of Carroll county, Illinois. There he made rapid progress in the common branches, and in 1871 entered the Illinois Industrial University, and began a literary course which lie pursued for three years. He then left college without completing his collegiate course, and began the study of law with T. J. Smith, of Champaign, Illinois. In 1875 he came to Danville and finished his course of law under W. R. Lawrence and Young & Penwell. In 1877, at the age of twenty-four, he was admitted to the bar at Ottawa, Illinois, and began the practice of law in Danville the same year, where he has since resided, engaged in the practice of law.

F. G. Irwin, Danville, druggist, corner Main and Hazel streets, is a native of Bartholomew county, Indiana. He was born in 1846, and remained a resident of that county until 1863, when he removed to Rnshville, Indiana, and from there to Eugene, Vermilion county, of the same state, where he was engaged in the drug trade from 1865 to 1875; he then removed to Danville and began business in the same line. Many men with less enterprise would have feared to engage in a business which was already so well represented ; but understanding from past experience that ''opposition is the life of trade," he began with a full understanding of the difficulties to be overcome. His store is twenty-four feet front by seventy deep, and stocked with a full line of pure drugs and medicines, perfumeries, cigars, tobaccos, etc. etc. These, with a neat and tastily arranged store, are all conducive to his success; but no more so than a tine family recipe department, over which he presides personally. He is a thoroughly educated druggist of sixteen years' experience. By his close attention to business, and polite and courteous treatment of customers, he has already established a fine business in Danville.

W. F. Baum, one of the popular druggists of Danville, is a native of Fountain county, Indiana. He has had ten years' experience in the drug trade, - beginning in the business first in Covington, Indiana. From there he went to Marshfield in August of 1872, where he spent three years in the business, - one year of this time he managed an establishment of his own. Closing out in business there lie came to Danville, where he now has one of the neatest and most centrally located establishments in the city. He was first located on Vermilion street, but in December of 1878 removed to his present quarters, northwest corner Vermilion and Main streets. Here he has his establishment stocked with a nice fresh line of goods, consisting of pure drugs, medicines, perfumeries, paints, oils, cigars, tobaccos, etc. etc. He lias a neat and tastily arranged store, and is enjoying the success merited by his enterprise and close attention to business.

It is seldom we find a man at the age of Mr. John Stein, the brewer of Danville, - -he being twenty-eight years old,- - who by his own efforts has accumulated the property that he has. He is a native of Germany ; there he learned the trade of a brewer with his father, who followed the brewery business in Germany. In 1868 he came to the United States. For a time he was located near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but later moved to Covington, Indiana, where he lived for a time engaged in his line, and in 1875 came to Danville and began business for himself. Here, by a close attention to business, he has accumulated a fine property and established a good business. He built the brewery he is now running, and though he at one time lost heavily on account of not having ice in proper time, he still has a property valued at near Si 2,000. Some idea of the extent of his business may be gained when it is known that he manufactures from eighteen to nineteen thousand barrels of beer annually, - his business aggregating about $18,000 per annum. He supplies a large part of the home demand and does some shipping. Should he be as successful in the future as he has been in the past, he may yet rank among the large brewers of the west.

Frield Miller & Son, Danville, manufacturers of what is known as the Beethoven organs, is one of the most enterprising firms of the city. Frield Miller, the senior member of the firm, is a native of Baden, Germany, and in 1830 came to the United States with his parents, he being six years old. His parents first located in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, where they remained about seven years, and then removed to Richland county, Ohio. It was there, while Mr. Miller was yet a boy, that he received his education at the country schools, and was employed for a long time when the feeder of the canal through Mercer county was built, using his earnings in the support of his parents. He has had thirty-two years' experience in the manufacture of organs. He first learned the trade of a wagon-maker, and afterward learned the trade of manufacturer of organs in Williams county, Ohio. From there he went to Canada, locating at Woodstock, after having spent about three vears at Tillsonburg in the making of wagons and carriages. At Woodstock lie began the manufacturing of organs, remaining there about eight years, when he went to Toronto, where he became a member of a joint stock company for about eighteen months, during which time he had charge of about one hundred men. In 1875 he came to Danville and began the making of the Beethoven organ. At this time his son, J. M., became a member of the firm, the firm name being F. Miller & Son. They first began their work in what was known as the old Schroder building, and in 1 s 7 < built their present factory on East Main street. Here they have a capacity for manufacturing ten instruments per week. They have in all three different styles of organs. Though they have been here but a few years, their work has already a name and reputation ranking with old established houses.

William J. Calhoun, Danville, attorn ey-at-1 aw, was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the 5th of October, 1S47, and is the son of llobert and Sarah (Knox) Calhoun. II is mother was a native of Pennsylvania, and his father a native of Ireland, having emigrated to America when he was about ten years of age, and engaged in the mercantile business in Pittsburgh. When Mr. Calhoun was about two years old he. with his parents, moved to New Castle, Pennsylvania, and from there they moved to Mt. Jackson, the same state. Here his mother died in 1857, at about thirty-two years of age. 1 1 is father remarried to Mrs. Sarah Taip, of New Brighton, Pennsylvania. The family then moved to Ohio, and on a farm Mr. Calhoun worked until 18(54, when he entered the late war in the 19th Ohio Vol. Inf.. as private in Co. B, for three years. He participated in a number of very severe battles when he was with General Sherman on his march to Atlanta. He returned with General Thomas to Nashville. After serving until the close of the war he was mustered out at San Antonio, Texas, and received his final discharge at Columbus, Ohio, December, 1865. He then entered the Polland Union Seminary of Ohio, where he graduated. He then came to Illinois and located in Areola. Douglas county. Here he commenced the studv of law and entered the law school of Chicago. He came to Danville and entered the office of J. I>. Mann, Esq., and in 1875 was admitted to the Illinois Bar. The same year he entered as a law partner with J. B. Mann, Esq., and to-day it is the firm of Mann, Calhoun & Frazier, one of the strongest law firms of this vicinity. Mr. Calhoun was married in December, 1876, to Miss Alice Harmon, of Monroe county. New York, and by this marriage they have two children.

North Carolina, on the 7th of May, 1836, and is the son of Dr. Horace F. Cannon, a native of North Carolina. When Mr. Cannon was four years of age he, with his parents, emigrated west to Indiana and located in Annapolis, Parke county, where his father followed the practice of medicine up to his death, which occurred in 1850. The subject of our sketch received his principal education at the Bloomingdale Academy of Annapolis, a leading Quaker school. At fifteen years of age he entered as clerk in a general store, at Annapolis, where he remained until twenty years of age. He then began the reading of law, entering the Cincinnati Law School, of which he is a graduate. He then came to Illinois, locating at Tuscola, and commenced the practice of law, where he remained until 1876. While a resident of Tuscola he held the office of state's attorney for eight years, practicing in Ford, Champaign, Douglas, Coles, Vermilion, and Edgar counties. In 1872 he was elected congressman by the republican party, and reelected in 1874-76-78. In 1876 Mr. Cannon moved to Danville, which has since been his home. He was married in 1862 to Miss Mary P. Reed, daughter of John C. and Frances M. Reed. By this marriage they have had three children.

George Kamper, Danville, news-dealer and stationer, was born in the kingdom of Hanover, Germany, on the 28th of February, 1854. He came to America in 1868, and commenced his first experience in the news line as newsboy on the Indianapolis & St. Louis railroad. From that one he has run on most of the principal railroads west. In November, 1876, he came to Danville and commenced his present business, and to-day he is doing the leading business in his line. He is the general agent for the leading daily newspapers of Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Cincinnati. His sales in this line have been as high as eight hundred and fifty daily papers in one day in the city of Danville. Mr. Kamper has the general run of the daily papers from Chicago to Danville, furnishing most of the towns between these two points.

Thomas J. Elliott, Danville, dry-goods dealer, is one of Danville's enterprising merchants. He was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, in 1829, and is the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Zeigler) Elliott, of Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer; Mr. Elliott was brought up on the farm. He received a common-school education, and then began to teach school. At twenty years of age he entered a dry-goods store as clerk. He then came west and located in Attica, Indiana, where he was engaged in the dry-goods business. From there he went to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he remained about six months. He then went to Wabash, Indiana, when in 1876 he came to Danville and entered the dry-goods and notion business. He employs three clerks.

His store is located at No. 70 Main street. Mr. Elliott was married in 1859, at Attica, Indiana, to Miss Josephine Hobert, of New York. By this union they have three children.

There always seems to be room in any city for a good, wide-awake business man, in whatever line of trade he may choose to engage. A practical demonstration of this fact has been made by Mr. J. H. White, proprietor of the Danville Fruit House. Some men in engaging in a business seem to gather their ideas almost wholly from other dealers in the same or similar lines of business. This does not seem to be his method of success, as he is constantly on the watch to add some new public want to his already extensive business. When he began business in Danville, on the 12th of June, 1877, it was in a little cramped-up corner of his present place of business, Nos. 56 and 58 North Vermilion street. By good financiering, or a wonderful run of luck (a risky thing to depend on), he has gradually increased his business, until now he is doing both a retail and wholesale business in oysters, fruits, nuts, confectionery, etc. He is also manufacturing extracts, baking-powders, washing-blue and New York beer. During the season he also does a commission business in domestic fruits ; this, in addition to a fine stock of fancy groceries, which he also earries, makes up a business of which he, or any other "White" man, ought to be proud. We may also mention a new $250 steam peanut-roaster that he has recently purchased. This has proved to be a curiosity which thus far has been liberally patronized by all classes. Mr. White is a native of Scott county, Illinois. In 1855 he went to St. Louis, and in 1858 began boating, which he followed until 1869. He then began traveling, remaining on the road until 1877, when he came to Danville and engaged in business as above stated.

In speaking of the railroad men of Danville we mention Mr. D. G. Moore as holding the most responsible position of any of those who are residents of the city. January 1, 1866, he first began his railroad life by entering the employment of the C. B. & Q. K. Ii. Company, at Chicago. In October of the same year he engaged with the T. W. & W. road, and has since been connected with this road, though the name of the line has recently been changed to the Wabash Railway. From October, 1866, to August 1, 1S77, he was located at Springfield, Illinois, being connected there with the treasury department. When he came to Danville, August 1, 1877, it was to take charge of all business pertaining to the road at this point. This being what is known as the joint station between the eastern and western divisions of the road, the importance of the work and responsibility connected therewith is greatly increased. Mr. Moore has about thirty men under his super- vision, some of whom are also filling very important positions, though the responsibility of all rests with himself. To give a detailed history of the Wabash road at this point would require too much space. We may add that under Mr. Moore's management the business has been done in the best order possible, there being few men equal to him in similar executive ability.

Dr. H. H. Clark, physician and surgeon, who has been a resident of Danville only since 1877, has had a very exciting and eventful life, and to give a complete history of it would require a book half as large as this volume. He is a native of Onondaga county, New York. His ancestry is French, though his parents are natives of Massachusetts. He was eight years old when his people went to Walworth county, Wisconsin ; he remained there till fourteen years old, when he went to the city of Chicago. After leaving there he spent several years in travel, finally locating in Edward sville, Illinois, in 1854. In 1861 he entered the regular army, remaining in the service for five years. These five years were spent on post duty and at the operating board and in the field hospital. These five years of the practice of surgery in the army has probably made Mr. Clark more perfect in the science of surgery than any physician in Vermilion county. He resigned his position of surgeon at Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1866, and returned to Edwards countv. He was elected six times coroner of that county, and upon the death of the sheriff filled that office for a time. He was also examining surgeon from 1866 to February of 1877, when he removed to Danville where he has since resided, giving his time exclusively to his practice. His specialty is surgery and diseases of the eye. He is also, at present, surgeon of the C. & E. I. K. R. at this point.

The old woolen mill, now run successfully by Riggs and Menig, is one of the old landmarks of Vermilion county. It was built in 1841 by Hopson & Ailsworth, and has been through many hands since, and has undergone many changes of remodeling. It has been operated by hand, water, and the present method of driving the machinery - steam power. There is probably not another manufacturing establishment in the county so well known as this one. It is located on the bank of the north fork of the Vermilion, just above the bridge, and is supplied with an abundance of water for all purposes by a series of fine springs located farther up the bluff. Since it has been in the hands of the present firm they have added the manufacture of soaps; this they have also made quite an extensive business. They have been running the mill since 1877. In all they give employment to about ten men. Mr. F. Menig, the subject of this sketch, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born in October of 1840. In 1857 he came to the United

States and began learning the baker's trade. In 1858 he enlisted in the IT. S. regular army, Company C, 4th artillery ; here he remained for live years and then was three years in the ordinance department. During his service as a soldier he spent two and a half years in Utah fighting Indians. He still has a couple of scars to remember them by, ou the knee and head, where he was wounded by arrows. During his service he was, among other battles, at Antietam, the seven days' fight and retreat at Richmond, and at the battle of Gettysburg. He certainly is entitled to a full share of the honors due the soldiers of our great war. He has had eleven years' experience in. his present business. He lost his right arm in 1873 in this same business in which he was engaged in Ohio. His life certainly has been a varied and eventful one, though now we find him in a quiet, steady business, one of the honored and respected business men of Danville.

Allen Cooke, Danville, was born in Worcester, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 19th of September, 1829, and is the son of Welcome B. Cooke, of Massachusetts, who was a farmer there. On the farm Mr. Cooke remained until he was about seventeen years old. From the farm he entered the employ of the Boston & Worcester R. R., in the freight house, at Milford, Massachusetts, engaged in loading freight. From that he entered the engine-house of the same railroad, and from there he entered, in 1852, the employ of the Cleveland & Toledo R. R. In 1853 he was made engineer, and ran on the C. & T. R. R. from 1853 to 1859. He then was appointed foreman of the round-house at Norwalk, Ohio, which place he filled until 1869. He then was made master mechanic, which position he "tilled but a short time, as the company did not pay sufficient salary. He resigned and accepted a position as master mechanic of the Atlantic & Great Western R. R., making headquarters at Galion, Ohio. There he remained in the employ of this company until 1873. Mr. Cooke was in the employ of the railroads from about 1846 till 1873, a period of twentyseven years. His intentions were to retire from railroad life, and he went to Rhode Island, locating at Allenville, and commenced the grocery business. Here he remained until 1877, when he came west and accepted a position with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois R. R., taking charge of the engines and cars at this place. This position he has occupied ever since.

George Leslie and Silas Black, natives of Belfast, Ireland, came to this country in October, of 1869. They first located in Indianapolis, and were there engaged principally trading in real estate up to 1871, when they removed to Brazil, Clay county, Indiana. There they were engaged in dry-goods business, with a branch house at Alexandria, in the same county, where they handled dry goods, groceries and general merchandise, and had, also, charge of the post-office at Alexandria. In these places they did the largest trade in the county up to September, of 1877, when they felt compelled to look up a location where they would have better facilities for the extension of their business. They located here at Danville at 109 and 111 Main street, in the Giddings block, where they were engaged in the dry-goods business exclusively up to March of 1879, when they took in an additional room, No. 113 Main street, in which they put a stock of groceries. These three rooms all communicate by means of arches. Taken as a whole, this business is one of the most extensive in the state outside of Chicago, doing a business of over $65,000 per year. Their parents, John and M. E. Black, are natives of Belfast. Mr. John Black engaged principally in loaning money, being a member of a loan fund society of which he has been a director for over thirty years. All the members of the firm of Black Brothers have had an extensive experience in the drv-goods business in Belfast. Silas Black, the junior member of the firm, was a student of the Queen's College, Belfast, for four years; also of the Indiana Medical College and College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Indiana, of which latter he is a graduate, with honor, in token of which he obtained a fifty-dollar gold medal. He is not a practicing physician.

Isaac Porter, Danville, dealer in dry-goods and notions, was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, on the 13th of January, 1833, and is the son of Judge John R. and Mary (Worth) Porter, who were among the early settlers of Vermilion county, Indiana, having made their home there in 1826. Judge John R. Porter was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, on the 22d of February, 1796. He entered Union College, New York, in 1813, from which he graduated in 1815, taking the first honors of his class. -.He then entered upon the study of law, and in 1818 became a partner of his preceptor. The year 1819 found him on his way to the far west. Armed with letters of introduction to Henry Clay and others, he landed in Louisville, Kentucky, in December, 1819. Finding nothing to induce him to remain there, he went to Indiana and located in Paoli, Orange county, where he commenced the practice of law. Soon after this he made the acquaintance of Charles Dewey and others of the bar, who became his life-long friends. Mr. Porter was commissioned postmaster of Paoli in 1822. In 1825 he was appointed circuit judge, and the same year was one of the commissioners to locate the seat of justice of Fountain county, Indiana, which was formed from the counties of Montgomery and Wabash. He was married on the 13th of November, 1825. to Miss Mary Worth. The legislative changes of his judicial circuit were so frequent and so great that he held courts during his term of service from the counties on the Ohio river to those of the lakes. In 1832 he assisted in making a treaty with the Indians. Many of the early courts of Judge Porter were held in private residences selected by the legislature. Judge Porter assisted in laying the foundation of Indiana jurisprudence. In 1833, by the act of the legislature organizing the eighth judicial district, he was greatly relieved by having his circuit cut down to a civilized boundary, which gave him more time to be at home with his family, which he loved so well. His term as circuit judge expired in 1837, and he was afterward elected judge of the court of common pleas for the counties of Vermilion and Park, which office he held at the time of his death, which occurred on the 23d of April, 1853. Isaac Porter, the subject of this sketch, during his residence in Vermilion county, Indiana, was one among the most prominent citizens of the county. In 1860 he was elected sheriff of Vermilion county, Indiana, which office he filled with honor and credit for four years. He was married in 1860 to Miss Alice Millekin, of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio. They have one child, Harry. Mr. Porter moved to Danville, Illinois, in 1877, where he commenced in the dry-goods business, and to-day ranks as one of Danville's leading business men.

The establishment recently conducted under the firm name of Brand & Harper, dealers in millinery and notions, was founded in 1878, and is now one of the largest, most reputable and successful business houses in the city, and holds a position for integrity above an average character. William F. Brand has purchased Mr. Harper's interest, and now manages the business alone, having removed from their old stand, 50 Vermilion street, to No. 46 on the same street. Mr. Brand was born in Germany, and having come to America in 1865, he came west, and located in Quincy, Illinois, where he was connected with a prominent dry-goods house. From there he went to Spring-Held and accepted a similar position with Kimber, Ragsdale & Co., filling the very important position of purchasing agent. In Springfield he met Mr. Harper, who afterward became his partner. Mr. P>rand's stock is the largest and among the finest in this vicinity. He employs some eight hands, and the work turned out of this establishment is of a superior quality.

In speaking of Mr. J. S. Frantz and his business as a druggist, we cannot give a better idea of the good taste and judgment he has used in fitting up his new store, 135 East Main street, than to repeat the remark made by nearly every passer-by, especially after gas-light, viz: " What an elegant new drug store! " He has had twelve years' expert- ence in the drug trade. Though lie lias been engaged in the business in Danville but one year, yet in this short time he has become well known, having already established a good trade, which bids fair to increase, now that he has fitted up a store that in point of neatness is equal to anything in the west. Mr. Frantz is a native of Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. He came west in 1858 and located at Sidney, where he remained a short time. In 1801, at the breaking out of the rebellion, he entered the Union army, enlisting in the 2d 111. Cav., Co. T, three-years service. He participated in many of the heavy battles, among which may be mentioned the battles of Bolivar, Holly Springs, Baker's Creek, Jackson, Mississippi, the Black Hills fight and the Red River campaign of forty days. He was in the service three years and three months, being mustered out at Springfield, Illinois. After the war he located at Homer, Illinois, and came to Danville, as above stated.

Prof. A. B. Chilcoat was born in Huntingdon comity, Pennsylvania. He came to Ohio when he was but a year old, and here received a common-school education. In 1861 he came to Illinois, and located in Paris, Edgar county. In 1872 he graduated at Duff's Mercantile Business College, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He has taught school some eleven years. Prof. E. Chilcoat was born in Ohio, and is a graduate of one of the leading colleges of that state. Pie has taught school for a number of years. In 1878 these gentlemen came to Danville and commenced their present school, which is in a very nourishing condition, and has fair prospects of becoming one of the leading institutions of learning in this vicinity.

William Hoi burn, foreman of Stewart's foundry and machine shops, Danville, is a native of Ayrshire, Scotland. He has had about eighteen years' experience in his business, serving first a five years' apprenticeship in Scotland. Coming to the United States in 1868, he spent three years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and then went to Port Wayne, Indiana, where he spent about the same length of time; thence to Lafayette, where he was also about three years. He then returned to Fort Wayne for about a year and a half, and in March of 1879 accepted his present position in Danville. He now has about eighteen men under his charge, and has thus far conducted the business to the satisfaction of his employer.

Charley Kaufmann, Danville, clothing, or better known as Cheap Charley, has probably established himself in business and made his name familiar to the people of Vermilion county in a shorter time than any business man who ever attempted to do business in the city. The establishment, of which he is manager, is a branch of an extensive manufacturing house of Chicago, known as Kaufmann & Bachroch, they having in all about fifteen different stores, located in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Indiana, Kansas and Missouri. They employ about seventy clerks and managers. The advantage of these branch houses may readily be seen when it is known that goods are bought by the firm direct from the manufacturers and made into clothing and supplied to the different stores, as needed, at much less cost than other firms are able to buy the same quality of goods. Their establishment in Danville was opened by Cheap Charley on the 15th of March, 1879. He is a native of Germany. There he received a liberal education, on account of which he was exempt from all but one year of military service, instead of three years, as was the law. His brother, who is now in Chicago, has resided there for fifteen years, and was superintendent of the German Aid Society during the fire of 1871. Though Cheap Charley has been a resident of the United States only since 1878, he has already become so well acquainted with the customs of the people as to be a successful business man, as has already been proven by his success in the city of Danville, there being already no name more familiar to the people than that of Cheap Charley.

The first institution of importance to point out to the traveling public is a good hotel, at which to stop and refresh, satisfactorily, the wants of the inner man, and this can conscientiously be said in naming the iEtna House. Before reopening the JEtna there was expended a large amount of money in furnishing, all of which has been recently newly furnished and the whole interior renovated, giving to the hotel a very home-like and cheerful appearance. Mr. W. G. Sherman, the present "mine host," was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1810. He commenced life by clerking in a grocery house. From there he became partner in one of the leading wholesale grocery houses of Evansville, Indiana, where he remained until 18G6, when he went to Chicago and entered the hotel business by taking charge of the Metropolitan Hotel. From there he removed to the St. James Hotel, of the same city, where he formed a great many acquaintances and made a host of friends. In 1871 he went to Grand Haven, Michigan, where he was engaged in conducting two first-class hotels, the Cutler and Kirby houses. These hotels have a wide reputation of being among the first hotels of Michigan. Mr. Sherman remained at Grand Haven until 1877, when he went to Indianapolis and took charge of the Grand Hotel, the leading first class house of that city, where he remained about nine months, when he came to Danville, and in July, 1879, he took charge of the /Etna House. This is the most centrally located hotel in Danville, and is surrounded by beautiful shade trees, and contains the greatest number of outside cool and pleasant rooms of any hotel in the city. It is just the place to spend your Sundays. Mr. W. G. Elliott, recently of the Grand Hotel, Indianapolis, and the Arlington, of Danville, and Mr. Charley Parker, are the accommodating clerks. Mr. Sherman was for a short time connected with the St. James, of this city. These gentlemen have made many friends by their uniform kindness and pleasant manners.

William P. Black, lawyer, Chicago, was born in Smithland, Kentucky, on the 11th of November, 1842, and is the son of Rev. John and Josephine L. (Culbertson) Black. His father was a Presbyterian minister; he died at thirty-seven years of age in 1847, in Alleghany City, Pennsylvania, at which time he was pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church at that place. In 1847 the mother of Mr. Black, with a family of four children, came to Danville, Illinois. In 1860 the subject of this sketch entered the Wabash College at Craw ford svi He, Indiana, but the breaking out of the war interrupted the collegiate course, never to be resumed. On April 15, 1861, Mr. Black enlisted with about forty others of the students of the college, including his only brother, as a private soldier in Co. I, 11th Ind. Zouaves, commanded by Colonel (afterward Major-General) Lew Wallace. He was mustered out a corporal, and at once engaged in assisting in the work of recruiting a company in Vermilion county, Illinois, for the threeyears service, of which company he was elected captain, and with which, as its captain, he was mustered into the service as Co. K, 37th 111. Vol. Inf., a history of which appears in this work ; his commission as captain, dated September 1, 1861, being received before he had reached his nineteenth birthday. This position he filled faithfully for over three years, - sharing with his regiment in its marches, skirmishes and battles, chief among which may be mentioned Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove and siege of Vicksburg, in the latter part of which Captain Black held the responsible and most dangerous position of brigade picket officer, - having charge of the rifle-pits of his brigade, the occupation of Texas, and the observation of the empire of Maximilian. Captain Black returned to Danville, Illinois. In the fall of 1865 he commenced the study of law in the office of Arrington & White, in Chicago; he was, in about sixteen months thereafter, admitted to practice. He returned to Danville, where he remained for only a year engaged at his chosen profession. In March, 1868, he returned to Chicago and formed a partnership with Mr. Thomas Dent, which has since continued. These gentlemen have secured one of the largest and most respectable clientages in their city. Captain Black, in his political views, is an Independent ; he is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. Mr. Black was married May 28, 1869, to Miss

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; 632 words in this source stream.

Danville Township

Danville township remains the same territory that it was in the first formation of townships. As the territory containing the county seat this township has been pretty well considered in former pages. The story of Danville township is very nearly the story of Danville itself. This was true of the first half century at least, although other towns have sprung up since and now Danville township means more than Danville and the farms surrounding it. The population of Danville township outside of the city is 8,362.

The original plan of the present city of Danville included Main street from perhaps about Franklin, on the west to Hazel on the east and from the river on the south to north of North street on the north. Within the memory of some of the sons and daughters of Vermilion county the lots north and west of where the Presbyterian church is located was a vast cornfield. The old log building which was known as the Gilbert tavern with its old sign, according to the custom of the times, hanging from a tree near by, gave place to the more pretentious Pennsylvania House, and its rival the McCormack House, to in due course of time make way for the modern hotel. So it is the old buildings have all made way for the new ones with the single exception of the first Presbyterian church building and the parsonage where Father Kingsbury lived during his service to that church, these two buildings yet standing on South Walnut street. The historic corners of the public plaza are now covered with modern buildings. The court house, rapidly becoming in itself of little merit other than historic, covers the place where the former court house stood. The old Hubbard building gave place to the Danville office building known as the Daniel block some years ago; the old Shorts Bank corner has had a modern building on its site for several years while the First National Bank building yet makes a good showing. The Palmer National Bank has but this summer built a new and handsome building on the southeast corner of the plaza where they have been established for several years. The Temple building, the Baum building and the Second National Bank building are all of recent construction and buildings of which any city might be proud. A number of beautiful houses have been put up during the past half dozen years. The Lindley house on North street, the Kimbrough house on North Vermilion street and the Powers home on North Vermilion street are perhaps the finest resident property in Dan- ville. The new government building will be a great addition to the city. It is located on the site of Judge Davis' home, on Vermilion street.

The early buildings of Danville have all been lost to view these many years with the exception of the old Presbyterian church and Rev. Kingsbury house, both on the west side of south Walnut street. Other old land marks which existed for a long time have all been transformed into modern buildings. There was the old log tavern which Solomon Gilbert built on the west end of Main street. This was a pretentious house, for the time, and no criticism was due with its sign swinging from the limb of a tree near by. Everything which would tend to recall that familiar house of early day is long since passed out of sight of the interested. Even the tree and all its descendents have been converted into ashes and scattered to the four winds of the heavens. This hostelry gave place to the old Pennsylvania House and its rival, the McCormack House. The Pennsylvania House stood on Vermilion street and the McCormack, was on west Main street between Walnut and Franklin streets.