Edgar Township

Edgar Township

simply as a pasturage, and, erelong, breaking-plows were invented, which were able to turn the tough sod and allow it to decompose. These prairie-plows were a cumbersome affair compared to the modern contrivances of to-day. It required three or four yoke of oxen to pull one of them through the sod. They did an effectual work, however, in subjugating the Western domain and were the advance guard in their own way. Their more ancient predecessors, the bar-shares, with wooden moldboards were the early friends of the pioneer. They could be used in the porous soil of the timber-land, and were constantly required there. After the breaking-plow came a variety of others, each one an improvement on its predecessor, until now the Diamond, the Cary, and others equally as good, seem to stand at the climax of these tillers of the soil.

Early Settlement

The early settlers of Sims Township came principally from Kentucky, Tennessee and the Carolinas. Their coming, settlement and their privations endured are the interesting parts of these pages, and to them we will devote the remainder of this history. The first settlers in Sims Township were Jacob and Thomas Rhoades, who, with their families, came from Kentucky as early as 1819 or 1820. Mr. Hall Sims, who came to what is now Elbridge Township in March, 1821, mentions Thomas Rhoades as living in Elbridge on his arrival. He afterward removed, he says, to near Big Creek. This was done the next year, from the best accounts given. Mr. Rhoades married a daughter of Thomas Foster, one of the pioneers on Sugar Creek. In after years, when the Mormon excitement came over this part of the State, it carried Mr. Rhoades away in its doctrine. He went with them in their journey West, it is stated, and from Utah to California where he became quite wealthy. He was not alone, by any means, in his infatuation for this peculiar sect, as Edgar County furnished several adherents to the church of the " Latter-day Saints.'' Almost contemporary with them were William Janes, Moses Williams, Aaron, Moses W., and John Darnall, Samuel Wells and William Craig. Mr. William Darnall, now living in Paris, says that when the county was organ¬ ized, in the spring of 1823, he thinks that Thomas and Jacob Rhoades and Mr. Wells were about the only settlers in this part of the new county. The others came in very shortly after, if indeed, some of them were not already located.

When the first settlers arrived, they found their neighbors were in what is now Hunter Township and on Sugar Creek in Elbridge. It is not likely there was any mill in the county at that date, and they were obliged to go to Palestine or to Terre Haute did they wish to avoid the laborious task of the mortar or grater. Each one of those named came in wagons, crossing the Ohio River at Louisville, or below the mouth of Salt River, thence to Vin¬ cennes, thence to Palestine where the land office was at that date, and where they could ascertain about unsold lands and unsettled parts of the State.

William Janes and Moses Williams came early in 1823. Each entered eighty acres of heavy- timbered land, at the land office at Palestine. Until they could erect a small cabin, they w'ere obliged to crowd in with some one already possessing such a commodity or sleep in their wagons.

The cabin was constructed of unhewn logs, notched at the corners so as to fit closely together. The cracks were then chinked with split oak pieces, and daubed with mud. When dry, the wall was complete. A door was made by cutting out a place in the logs of the required width and height, the upper and lower log being cut only half through. " Jambs," as they were called, were next pinned on ; a door made of split slabs, hung on wooden hinges, and -fastened with a wooden latch, whose motive power was a leather thong hang¬ ing outside through a small gimblet-hole, bored a few inches above the latch. At night, the latch-string could be drawn in, and the door was secure. In pure pioneer times, it always hung out in the daytime, and was, in its silent way, a mute welcomer to all. It gave rise to the old expression, so fraught with cheer and hearty hospitality, and so well remembered by all. " My latch-string is always out," was a synonym for "you are always welcome," and was given with a true pioneer unselfishness. The roof of this humble abode was formed by shortening the logs at the end of the cabin after they reached the eaves, until the last one formed an apex. From one to the other was laid a stout pole, whose ends, like those of the two end-logs first laid above the eaves, projected several feet beyond the walls. Two or three feet farther down, another pole of a similar length was laid on, and so on until the end of the two logs referred to were reached. On these poles, layers of clapboards, "shakes" they were called in many localities, were laid, overlapping each other, and held on by weight-pples, which, in turn, maintained their position by means of short sticks of wood laid lengthwise between them. An aperture was next made in one end of the cabin, similar to the one made for the door and small windows, save that it was much lower and very broad. Stout oak pieces, about two feet in length, were split out, one end placed just inside the aperture, the other reach¬ ing outward, where it was crossed by a similar piece as long as the width of the aperture in the wall. These pieces formed a solid pen, and were carried up a little distance, where they were supported by smaller sticks, whose length and size diminished as they neared the top of the chimney. At the top, the open¬ ing would be little more than one foot square. These sticks were held in their place by being securely and thoroughly daubed with a mixture of mud and prairie-grass or straw. This mixture was very thickly applied to the inside of the fire-place and chimney ; while at the lower portion, flat stones were used for the inner wall and bottom. This completed the fire-place, and a very good one it was, too. Around it, in the evening, the family could gather to discuss their condition and prospects, visit with a neighbor, or entertain a stranger. A crane was fixed in the inside of it, on which kettles were suspended for the family cooking. Stoves were then not known here, and had they been, the pioneer could not have owned one. The cabin contained one room, which answered all purposes, and often accommodated as many as could find room to sleep on its floor. The furniture was, in many respects, fully in keeping with the other articles of household use. In many cabins, the writer has seen the bedsteads made by inserting a stout pole in one corner of the room, about four feet from one wall and six feet from the other. It was fastened at the bottom in the puncheon floor, did the cabin have one, or in the solid earth ; while the top was secured in a pole joist, or in the floor if a loft had been made. About three feet from the lower floor, a pole reaching from this post to the farther wall was placed, one end projecting through between the legs, the other fastened to the post, which, at this height, generally had a stout prong sticking out where a limb had been cut off. From this horizontal pole to the wall, slabs were laid, whose outer ends were supported between the logs comprising the wall. A short pole was commonly laid just inside the post to the wall, to form a counter support. On the slats, the bed was made, sometimes composed of dry grass, over which was fastened a quilt or sheet. If these could not be had, buffalo-skins could, forming a good substitute. Thanks to the provident ideas of the time, the wife had generally supplied herself with an outfit for a bed or two before her entrance on the matrimonial stage. It was then expected of her, and was considered a part of her marriage dowry.

Underneath the bed we have described, a trundle-bed was made for the lit¬ tle ones, w'liich was drawn out at night and shoved under again out of the wav in the morning. Often at a height of two feet above the main bed, another would be made, and again another, not unlike the berths in a steamboat. Bv this means, space w'as utilized and beds for all provided.

A table made from a long, broad slab split from a large oak-tree, and sup¬ ported by four stout posts, and not always provided writh a cover, several threelegged stools and a few other necessary articles, generally comprised the furni¬ ture of the cabin. A spring or creek near by furnished them water until a well could be dug, and frontier life to them was a reality.

Many, however, at first did not enjoy the luxury of even a cabin. They often lived for weeks in their w'agon, or in a pole-pen, which at best afforded a very insufficient shelter.

Aaron. Moses W. and John Darnall were voung men when they came to Edgar County. They arrived in the spring of 1822, w'hen that county was yet a part of Clark County. John cleared a small farm, and made some improvements during jthe summer, but unfortunately took w'hat was know'n as the "Orleans fever,'' a kind of malarial disease, from which he died. His was probably the first death in this settlement. His brothers had settled at first in w'hat is now' Grand View Township, but the next year entered the claim made by John and moved to it. Here they remained about four years, improv¬ ing the claim, when they sold out, Aaron going to Embarrass Precinct (then not named), and Moses to Wisconsin. Aaron remained in Embarrass about ten years, when he moved to Edgar Township, where he resided until 1875, when his death occurred. He was all his life a firm Baptist in his religious belief, was a minister in that denomination, sturdily refusing to accept any pay what¬ ever for his ministry, believing it wrong. Moses is yet living and is also a minister in the Free-Will Baptist Church. Thomas Craig, father of Isaac and William, came to Clark County in 1822. The next year, Isaac came to Big Creek settlement and entered a claim. He lived here till after the close of the late war, when he removed to Charleston, Coles County, where he yet resides. He has lived to see the country he found a wilderness, abounding in plenty, and the abode of industry and wealth. William came to the settlement with his brother. He was a resident here many years. In after life, he moved to the west part of the county, where he died.

Samuel Wells came with his family, in 1822, from Kentucky. He settled in the northwest part of the township, and was an active man in after life. He was an ardent admirer of old "By the Eternal!" and would fight for him at a moment's warning. Indeed, he was rather noted for his combative qualities, never stopping to consider the odds, if there were any, against him. Once or twice his impetuosity brought him to grief, as he attacked a man who proved his superior in physical strength and gave him a terrible thrashing. His courage was not daunted, however, and often after he defended his hero against the calumny of his foes. About 1835, he removed to Indiana where he resided until his death. He was, despite his combativeness, an excellent man and a good citizen.

Through the first and second years of settlement the people experienced a good many hardships. The advance-guards of civilization find every obstacle in the path, and are the ones that must make a way. They find no cabin built for their reception - they must build one. They find no cleared field planted for them - they must clear the field and plant it. They find no mill to grind their corn or wheat - they must build it. So on through the entire list of the necessities of life. They are to be provided, and they are the ones to do it.

As far as we have been able to discover, those that settled in the latter part of 1823, after the county was created, and in 1824, are the following :

Those of 1825 and 1826 were John and Michael O'Hair, Bartley Dixon, Fred Uncel, Robert Downs, Jonathan Newman, Middletown White, Nelson W. Nunnally, and Mike, John and Daniel Ripple. Those coming later w^ere : Thomas McCord, Isa;c Neeley, William Laughlin, the Hanks, Lycans and others.'

Mr. Hanly came from Kentucky, with a large family. His own household filled his cabin, some asserting now that there were twelve or fourteen children.

James Adams came from Scott County, Ky., with his family, bringing a sijiall outfit for commencement in the West. Yet, as they were industrious, and worked, they soon made a home in the forest. They built a small cabin, cleared a field, around which they made a brush fence, and soon had a comfort¬ able and provident home. Mr. Adams was for many years a Justice of Peace in this precinct, and was a much-respected man. After a residence here of nearly thirty-five years, he sold his farm and removed to the State of Kansas, where he lived until his death.

William Young came from Kentucky, some assert as early as 1823, and located on Big Creek. Here he opened a farm, and lived a useful, quiet life until his death, some three years ago. He had seen, as few others were allowed to see, the town grow from a population of a few families to be filled with people enjoying all the comforts of life.

Michael and John O'Hair came, one in 1825, the other in 1830. The latter is yet living, over eighty years of age. Michael was one of the most prominent men in the county in after years. He was for some time an officer in his own township, and for two terms Sheriff of the county. At his house the first township meeting was held, and through his influence was the precinct kept separate* At a meeting of old settlers, in the summer of 1873, Mr. O' Hair was called upon to narrate his early experiences here. This was preserved in one of the local papers, and is worth repeating. He said :

" I was born in Montgomery County, Ky., on the 10th of July, 1801, and was married on the 16th of November, 1820. In October, 1825, I started for Illinois. All of my goods were soon made ready for the long journey. I was the owner of four common horses. Two of them were rigged with packsaddles, and upon them I loaded all my worldly goods. The other two were used to pack myself, wife and two children. Thus equipped, we started for the ' Far West,' and on the 28th day of October, 1825, I landed on what is now my farm, five miles south of Paris, on Big Creek. On the place there were about three acres of cleared land ; the balance of the region roundabout was heavy timber. I immediately examined my finances, and found I had a frac¬ tion over one hundred dollars in silver, which I used in entering the first 4 eighty ' I ever owned. I at once proceeded with my own hands to clear up my land for cultivation. I hardly ever hired my work done, for hands were scarce, and I had no means to pay them. There was a small cabin on the three acres that were cleared, that I occupied as my residence for sixteen years.

''Thomas Rhoades, Jacob Rhoades, John House, William Janes, Elijah Elledge, Samuel Handley, Thomas O'Hair (a half-brother), Fred. Uncell, Aaron Darnall and brother, who were then baching '' it, and Mike, John and Daniel

Ripple. These were the families that constituted the first settlement on Big Creek. The above named are all dead, except Aaron Darn all, who is now living near Bloomfield, in this county." It is well to note that some of these named were not residents of Sims Township, at that time not created, but were included in the Big Creek settlement.

"There was," continues Mr. O'Hair, "a settlement east of me, on the waters of Sugar Creek. Among the settlers were Hall Sims, Thomas Foster, John Elliott, the Knights, Rays and Ewings. Mr. Sims is the only living man in his township that was a grown man when I came to this country.

Mr. O'Hair's portrait appears elsewhere in these pages, and in the biograph¬ ical part of this work the reader will find a history of his life.

Fred Uncel built the first water-mill in this part of the county. It was on the east fork of Big Creek, about five miles south of Paris. Before this was erected, the settlers went to Mr. Andrew B. Ray's mill on Sugar Creek, referred to in the history of Elbridge Township, or used the mortar or grater. These appliances are the oldest known for grinding or crushing corn. The mortar is referred to in the Bible, while the grater is as old as America. The mortar was made by burning a concave hollow in a stump or block of wood, for which a pestle was made. In the end of the pestle an iron wedge was often fixed to give it more weight. The cavity would be partly filled with corn, and crushed by pounding it with the pestle. Often this was made very heavy, and rigged to a crossbeam with a sweep. The grater was made by simply punching an old pan full of holes from the inside with a nail, leaving the ragged pieces of tin on the outside. Against these the corn, when well dried, would be vigorously rubbed until worn to the cob. This was not easy work, by any means, and generally fell to the male members of the household at the close of a day's labor. It was not the kind of entertainment the boys favored for a winter's evening ; but boys do not always get the privilege of disposing of their surplus time, and, notwithstanding their protestations, it was either grate or go hungry.

Bartley Dixon brought his family from Kentucky. He built a cabin on Big Creek and cleared out a farm. He afterward purchased one of the mills in this locality, which he ran for many years. It became known as " Dixon's Mill," and had a good trade. He remained in the township till his death.

Another mill in this township was owned and run by Robert Downs, Jr., who came with his father when only a boy. His father came from Kentucky, and was a resident of this township several years. Robert, Jr., ran the mill in this neighborhood about fifteen years, when he removed to Kansas, in the west part of the county, where he managed a steam-mill, quite an improvement over his old water-mill. He remained here five or six years, when he returned to the old place and resumed control of the mill there. He is now running a steam saw and grist mill and managing his farm. His mill is known far and near by the name of its owner.

Jonathan Newman brought his family from the blue-grass region, entering a claim on Big Creek, where he built a cabin, and in time made a good farm. He lived in the south part of the township. After a residence of a little over ten years, he sold out and went to Clark County.

Middletown White brought his family from Kentucky in 1826 or 1827, and located in this neighborhood. He was in indigent circumstances when he came, but, by industry and prudence, accumulated a good fortune. He died many years ago. At one time, during his early life here, he lost a child under very distressing circumstances. He had a small drove of hogs, which, as was then customary, were allowed to run wild in the woods, fattening on the mast found there. In the herd was an old sow, rather savage in her nature, but not considered dangerous. She was allowed to wander about the place, often com¬ ing to the cabin to pick up stray particles of food thrown out in the kitchen slops. One day she came up as usual, and, during a momentary absence of Mrs. White, entered the cabin, seized the baby in her teeth and started to run away with it. Its cries brought the mother immediately to its relief, and before the brute had gone far it was made to drop the precious burden. It was thought at first the infant's clothing had protected it, but it was found other¬ wise, and after a few days' suffering, the little one passed away. What the feel¬ ings of the father and mother were can only be imagined. The father imme¬ diately shot the hog on learning of its work, and ever after had a strong aver¬ sion to such animals.

Nelson W. Nunnally was prominently known in the early educational efforts made in this settlement. He was a teacher, and as such exercised no little influence. It is hardly probable that he was a resident in this township in the sense the others were ; but owing to the position he held, he is deserving of more than a passing notice. He lived many years in Grand View Township. He was a member of the Legislature two or three terms, and was rather a prominent and active man all his life. It will be noticed in this narrative sev¬ eral names appear not mentioned by Michael O' Hair in his speech. He seems to give only the settlers in his own neighborhood. He mentions Mike, John and Daniel Ripple as living here on his arrival. They were from Kentucky, near the Sandy Salt Works, in that State. Each brought a family and squatted in true pioneer style. All cleared farms, which, in after years, they sold and removed to Clark County.

William Laughlin came in 1829, and for four years lived in Paris Township. He then obtained a farm on Big Creek, where he resided until his death, in March, 1861.

Thomas McCord came from Tennessee in 1833, and located in Coles County, where he lived two years. He then came to this precinct, where he resided until about two years ago, when he removed to Paris, where he now lives. . He states that when he came there was not a sawed board to be had unless it was one a settler had brought. As Paris was the only town in the county then, it contained all the shops, stores, offices, etc., and to it they came for all produce needed by themselves.

Mr. McCord hauled a great many goods for the merchants from Louisville and Cincinnati. The journey was a long and tiresome one, and required two or three weeks' time. After, as the country began to settle, roads were made and the time of the journey lessened. Mr. McCord says when the road from Paris to Springfield was made, the surveyor was followed by two men with an ox-team and plow and a furrow plowed all the way - 102 miles. Persons could follow this and not get lost.

The others mentioned were early settlers in this settlement, but as their experiences are almost analogous to those described, we will not repeat it, and pass to other parts of the history.

The narrative brings us down to the Black Hawk war. The Winnebago war of 1827 was too far north, and of too short a duration, to cause any wide¬ spread apprehension. It had hardly passed out of the minds of the people when the news of Black Hawk's invasion, as it was termed, brought dormant fears into life, and the call for volunteers was responded to with great prompt¬ ness on the part of the settlers. In Edgar County, nearly three hundred men enlisted. They were divided into four companies, and marched to the conflict without delay. Sims Township furnished quite a number of men for this expe¬ dition. Each man was required to furnish his own provision until they could reach the Government stores ; he also furnished his own rifle and ammunition, and horse, if he wanted one. Robert N. Griffin was Captain of one company of infantry and Samuel Brimberry of a rifle company. The Indians were tolerably well prepared for the war, and prolonged it several months, more by their tactics exhibited in avoiding the whites, than in open conflict. Whatever may be said about this war, the Indians were certainly not alone to blame. Black Hawk stoutly contested the right of the whites occupying the site of his village, one endeared to him and his followers by all the ties of humanity. Here for more than one hundred years had been the home of his nation. Washed on one side by the majestic waters of the Mississippi, over which the evening sun cast a fiery glow, on the, other by the rippling, limpid waters of Rock River struggling between the dark, forest-clad islands which obstructed its channel, was the home of his ancestors - the graves of his kindred. On this romantic spot, washed by these two rivers, lived for many generations the tribe of wfiich Black Hawk was now chieftain. Loath to give it to the whites, whom he saw day by day encroaching on the domain of the red man and deny¬ ing the validity of the treaty of 1804, he refused to live on the western shore of the "Father of Waters," and with an army of 300 warriors recrossed the stream, attempted to retake the home of his youth. White power was stronger than he, and refused to go. In the end, he and his tribe were conquered, him¬ self taken prisoner, and after an imprisonment and trip through the domain of the white man, to show to him how futile the attempt would be for him to con¬ quer them, he was returned to his nation, where he lived in peace and quiet until his death.

The close of this war insured peace to the inhabitants of Illinois. Black Hawk was captured late in the summer of 1832, which event ending hostilities, the troops were, as soon after as practicable, discharged and returned to their homes.

From this time forward until the war with Mexico, an uninterrupted period of peace existed. Settlers came in with great rapidity until the collapse of the great internal improvement system, which checked them only for a short time. This is more particularly referred to elsewhere is this volume, and repetition here is not necessarv. That had, however, hardlv been settled, and the -wheels of progress been fairly started, when the war with Mexico opened. This was brought about by the resistance of the Mexican Government to the annexation of Texas to the United States. The citizens of that empire becoming tired of the puerile government afforded by the Mexicans, seceded, and, by their own request, were allowed to become an integral part of the American Union. As early as 1836, residents from the States had been desirous of this step, but as the Mexican Government had repeatedly notified the American Congress that such a step would be considered and treated as a cause of war, nothing definite had been done.

The question entered into the presidential election of 1844. The ascend¬ ency of Polk to the chief executive chair of the United States was construed as a popular approval of the step, and Congress hesitated no longer.

In the war which followed, Illinois furnished six regiments of infantry, in addition to the cavalry; hence in the last war, the number of the regiments began at the seventh and continued. Enough men presented themselves for enlistment in this struggle to have filled six more regiments, but were not needed, and, much to their chagrin and disappointment, were refused. The capital of Mexico fell late in the summer of 1847, practically closing the war, though the treaty of peace was not consummated until February 2, 1848.

The return from this war was followed by a series of years of unalloyed peace and prosperity. Railroads began to appear in various parts of the West. The dor¬ mant energies of this system of improving the country, received a great awaken¬ ing about 1852. The project of completing the Illinois Central Railroad awoke the people to a realization of what it would do for them, and the pushing for¬ ward of great Eastern thoroughfares to the West, gave an additional value to lands and land products. The inhabitants of Sims Township profited by these advances in civilization, though not on the direct line of any one of them.

During the war' of the rebellion, several of her yeomanry went forth in the defense of their country. Some of these never returned, and sleep now in an unknown soldier's grave. Others came back maimed or marked for life, while still many others returned strengthened in their love for American institutions. Since that time the progress of the township has been forward. The completion of the Paris & Danville Railroad, in 1875, gave a direct outlet to the North and South, and an easy means of communication with the East and West. It also gave birth to the villages of Oliver and Swango, each of which will be noticed hereafter. We will now retrace our steps in our story, and notice what has been the .

Educational And Religious

life of the township. As was stated on a preceding page, Mr. Nunnally was one of the earliest teachers here. He was not a resident of this township in the same sense as those mentioned as settlers ; yet he came here as a teacher of their children and exerted a wide influence.

The early schools of the neighborhood would hardly compare with those of to-day. An improvement has been steadily carried on here, as well as else¬ where, and juveniles of to-day receive the benefit of a training largely built on the experience of their parents.

The first schoolhouses were built of unhewn, round logs. A door was cut in one end, a fire-place opposite, a window on each side gave light, a clapboard roof, and puncheon floor completing the building. The furniture was primitive, like its surroundings. Slab seats, without backs ; a broken-back chair or threelegged stool served as a seat for the master ; and a desk made from a long slab, supported by horizontal pegs driven into auger-holes in the wall, com¬ pleted the outfits. They were often built without a single piece of iron being used. The smaller scholars thumbed an elementary spelling-book what time they were not in mischief, or " saying" their lessons. These were generally heard once or twice per day, sometimes oftener, and consisted, at first, of simply attempting the recital of the alphabet, "on" and "off" the book. After a term or two, this would be mastered, and spelling simple words began. When he got as far as " b-a-k-e-r," baker, he was allowed a first reader, and from that to a second and third. After awhile, the arithmetic came in, writing with a quillpen began, and, having safely passed these stages, the common school was com¬ plete. By these means, only a limited education was obtained. Pupils learned to read, write and cipher to the rule of three, and that was considered enough to fit them for the ordinary pursuits of life. In early times, it was all that the boys or girls could get time to learn ; but yet many affirm that education is enough for any ordinary occupation, especially farming. Such persons seem to forget that the world is moving onward, and that progress is made in farming, as in every other branch of industry. An intelligent farmer, who studies his

The time the first schoolhouse was built in the Big Creek neighborhood i& not well settled now. Only one or two were built here prior to the Black Hawk war. This may be true, but it is pretty certain there were several terms of school taught previous to that event. They were generally in an unfinished or unused cabin, or in the room of some one's house who had such a room to spare. Michael O ' Hair was among the foremost residents to advocate and aid in supporting a common school. At that date, each parent paid in proportion to the number of children he sent. This pay commonly consisted in peltries,, coonskins, beeswax, or any article he could use in barter.

The first law in Illinois, favoring the establishment of a system of common schools, was introduced to the Assembly of 1824-25 by Joseph Duncan, then a Senator, afterward Governor. The provisions of this bill were, however, in advance of their time. They favored taxation, an idea not then well entertained by the masses, and. at the next session, the law was virtually repealed. The people preferred to pay tuition, or do without education, even if the burden fell upon the wealthy class of citizens. In 1844-45, the subject was again revived, and a better class of schoolhouses appeared over the country, Sims Township sharing in the general advance. In 1855, the foundations of the pres¬ ent system were laid, and since that time vast progress has been made in education. As the general discussion of this subject belongs to the history of the county, rather than to any township, the reader is referred to that part of the work, where he will find it more fully explained.

The advent of the new system brought a newT order of things with it. New frame houses took the place of the log houses of the pioneer period, and educa¬ tion in all its phases is to-day well sustained here.

The religious life of this settlement was, in one sense, co-equal with the educa¬ tional. Before churches were built, the cabins ot the settlers afforded shelter to those who chose to gather together on the Sabbath Day for religious worship. This was the common practice in pioneer days. As soon as a schoolhouse was built that could be used, and in many places was all the public house erected. They were also accustomed to go a long distance to church. In the Big Creek settlement, those who desired to attend divine worship came to Paris, or went to the old Liberty Meeting-house near the present town of Elbridge. Others went to a church in Grand View. By such means no church was built in Sims for a number of years after the town was settled. At present there is one, con¬ trolled by the Disciples, while near Nevins, in Elbridge, is another of the same denomination. At these and the churches in Paris, most of the people attend. Occasionally, services are held in schoolhouses by ministers of different denom¬ inations, who find some of their people here ; while it is a common affair for the pastors of churches in Paris, or in the vicinity of Sims, to hold Sabbath afternoon services in the schoolhouses.

The Villages Oliver

was started in 1875, under the name of Big Siding. Mr. Oliver Davis, living in the immediate vicinity, took an active part in starting a village here, and in honor of him the name was changed. A store and post office were opened, a few dwellings erected, and the village life begun. Mr. Charles Link began making charcoal soon after. To this business he has also added that of making staves. The timber is very abundant in this vicinity, and affords him an excellent trade.

consists at present only of a store and post office. The store was built by Mr. Jesse Swango, who owned the land on which it is situated, and who took considerable interest in the building of the Paris & Danville Railroad. The station received its name from him. There is no survey of a village here. The store and post office accommodates the inhabitants in the vicinity, who thereby avoid going to Paris for small errands. Mr. Swango ships considerable grain from this place, and may in time get a town. The store is now kept by Mr. D. W. Walls, who is also Postmaster.

Edgar Station was laid out in 1872, for Napoleon B. Stage, by George W. Foreman, County Surveyor. The railroad had just been located through here, and this was the occasion for the enterprise.

The pioneer of this town was Gideon Minor, who had been keeping store at Bloomfield. He built the first house, a dwelling, and then brought out from Bloomfield, on trucks, his store-building. He also brought over the post office, having been appointed Postmaster, with authority to remove the institution to the new town. The same fall, Charles Earhart moved a dwelling from Bloomfield and built a blacksmith-shop. Then, N. B. Stage, the pro¬ prietor of the town, brought two dwelling-houses from his farm, and the next year, built a wagon-shop. In the fall of 1872, Hunter & Burns built a dwell¬ ing and barn and commenced pressing hay. They did a good business for a couple of years, when their barn was blown down, and since then it has not been operated.

The same fall, William Porter put up the store-building now occupied by Edward Kirby, with a stock of drugs and began selling groceries. In 1873, Alexander Somerville moved two dwellings from Bloomfield, and other build¬ ings were erected by other parties.

The town now contains three stores, several shops and other business in proportion. No schoolhouse has been erected yet. The school is kept a halfmile south of town.

No church-building has yet been provided by any denomination, though it is in contemplation to bring out the old Methodist building from Bloomfield, this year.

Village Of Horace

This place was laid out only two and a half years ago. Horace is another offspring of the Paris & Danville Railroad. It was laid out for A. Tucker, by H. Guthrie, County Surveyor, June 6, 1876. A store had been kept at this place for some years before the town was laid out, by Horace Johnson and Osborn Tucker. The Tuckers were some of the oldest settlers of this part of the county, and lived here before the road was built. They continued the store until about two years ago.

F. M. Rannev built the first dwelling, in 1875. He also put up a black¬ smith-shop the same year. The Baptist Church had been erected the year before. Avery convenient and substantial school-building was erected in 1878.

Wilson McCarty built a storehouse two years ago, which he sold to the Tuckers, they renting the same to C. C. Cook, who bought out Tucker's goods and commenced merchandising.

Wetzel Station

At this Station, a store is kept by Jacob Wetzel, who also buys grain and acts as agent of the Railroad Company. No post office or other business is found here.

Description

Edgar Township is bounded on the north by Ross and Prairie, on the east, by Brouillett and Hunter, on the south by Paris, and on the west by Buck and Shiloh. Most of the eastern part of the township is, or wTas formerly, covered by timber, which borders on the little streams of water which pass through that part. The west part is nearly all prairie, and here is found the richest land. The east part was the first to settle, it being covered by timber and supplied with water, both of which the early settlers considered essential to a good farm¬ ing country. The Paris & Danville Railroad, finished through here in 1872, passes almost from north to south through the middle portion. On the east side of the township, and forming part of the line, will be seen, on the map, a straight line, bearing toward the northeast, and terminating in Vermilion County by meeting another line coming from the southeast, thus forming a kind of wedge-shaped piece of land. These lines have an interesting history. They, with another line connecting their southern terminations, embrace what is known as Harrison's Purchase. The Indians did not understand the use of the compass, and, having many times before been swindled by the whites, would have nothing to do with the "Devil's box," as they called it. They had, how¬ ever, a method of surveying that they understood, and their method must be adopted, or none. Their plan was to run a line from a certain point toward the sun at 10 o'clock in the forenoon, and another, from the same place of begin¬ ning, at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. These lines were to extend to certain points designated, and then be connected by a straight line. It is said that even, as proposed bv the overwise chiefs, the whites, after all, beat them out of a few thousand acres of the best land in the Wabash Valley.