Pilot Township

Pilot Township

No section of country in this part of Illinois presents a more attractive view than that occupied by Pilot township. Pilot is one of the original townships reported by the committee appointed to divide the county into townships, in December, 1850. It has the name then given. The committee's report, submitted on the 27th of February, 1851, bounded the township as follows : Beginning at the southeast corner of section 34, in town 20, range 12, go north to the east corner of section 3 in said town ; thence to the southeast corner of section 33, town 21, range 12 ; thence north to the northeast corner of section 21 in said town 21 ; thence west on the section line to the northwest corner of section 22, in town 21, range 14 ; thence south on the county line to the southwest corner of section 34, town 20, range 14 ; thence east on the south line of town 20, to the place of beginning. Since that time the township has undergone some changes in boundary, the principal one being the two-mile slice from the south side upon the formation of Oakwood township in 1868. At present it is bounded as follows : Beginning at the southeast corner of section 20, town 20, range 12, go north one-half mile ; thence west one-fourth mile ; thence north one and one-half miles ; thence west to the northwest corner of section 17 in said town; thence north two miles; thence west to the southeast corner of section 35, town 21, range 13 ; thence north two miles; thence west one-half mile ; thence north one mile; thence west to the county line ; thence south on the county line to the southwest corner of section 22, town 20, range 14; thence east to the point of starting. From these boundary lines it will be seen that Pilot now contains sixty-five and one-eighth square miles ; that it is ten miles from east to west in its longest portion ; that it is seven miles wide, and that it lies mostly in ranges 13 and 14, only a small portion being in range 12. Pilot is bounded on the north by Middle Fork township, on the east by Blount, on the south by Oakwood, and on the west by Champaign county. It occupies the middle of the western side of Vermilion county.

The surface of this township is undulating, or gently rolling, in the central part. In the south and southwest portions the tendency is to flatten out and become too level. Along the eastern edge we have the brakes of the Middle Fork. There is a high portion of the township which is known as California Ridge. It is the water-shed between the waters of the Salt and Middle Forks. It is exceptionally high ground for this country, and has on it some of the most desirable farms in the state of Illinois. Nearly all of the land is prairie. There is some timber on the eastern side along the Middle Fork, though not much of the Middle Fork timber extends into Pilot township, and there is a small grove near the center of the township known as Pilot Grove. This point of timber, away out in the prairie, away from any stream, and on the highest portions of land in the country, very naturally attracted the attention of early settlers. It was called Pilot on account of its peculiar situation, this rendering it a kind of guide, - a kind of beacon-light to the explorers of the prairie. The township derived its name from this grove. There are no streams in Pilot of importance, with the exception of Middle Fork, which skirts the edge on the east, now in and now without the limits of the township. The head waters of Stony Creek take their rise in the western part, and there is a small stream flowing into Middle Fork from the northeastern part, called Knight's Branch. But water is furnished by good wells in sufficient quantity for man and beast, and is elevated to the surface by the power of the wind, which in this country has free scope, and is almost constantly blowing.

There is no village within the borders of Pilot. It has one postoffice and store, but a village has not been laid out. Neither is there a railroad across its territory. It is entirely devoted to agricultural interests, and these are well represented. The soil is black, deep and fertile. In some places it is necessary to drain in order to secure good results, but there is a greater portion of this township that will yield good crops without draining than of any other, perhaps, in the county. Corn, wheat, oats, flax and grass, are the principal products. Cattle and hogs are grown in vast numbers. There is more than the usual amount of grazing and cattle-growing. Sheep are kept quite extensively by a few, and they report the business successful. It is said to be the best paying business that can be followed in this country. Very little of the vast acres of corn are shipped. It is generally bought up by the cattle-feeders in the neighborhood. A good thing in Pilot is the herd law. People fence in their stock instead of their grain. This they found easier and less expensive. Vast areas of corn and other grain may be seen growing by the roadside, with nothing in the shape of a fence anywhere in sight. Pilot, like some other portions of West Vermilion, suffers socially from a number of large land-owners. When this country began to settle up, men who realized the importance of the movement strove to get possession of large areas, that they might have the advantage of the rise in value. The prairies of Pilot offered as attractive farms as any in the country, and accordingly we find here a number of farms, each of which includes vast areas. These would not have been as detrimental to the best interests of the community, had the owners been able, in every case, to improve them and keep them up with the progress of the times.

The Pioneers

The points for early settlement were two, - the timber of Middle Fork and Pilot Grove. Accordingly, we find settlements made at the places at quite an early date. The first white settler within the limits of this township is not now positively known. So many conflicting stories reach the ear that one cannot positively affirm that such and such were actually the first persons withing certain limits. It is probable that James McGee was the first man in here. He came, as near as can now be ascertained, in 1824 or 1825. The McGees (for there were a number of them afterward) remained in the neighborhood for a long time, but finally moved away. Mr. Griffith, we are told by some, came before this man. Griffith was in what is now Oakwood township, but just on the edge, and in the same neighborhood. In 1827 Morgan Pees and the Juvinalls came into the township and settled on the Middle Fork, above where the others had stopped. Morgan Rees is still living in Blount township, but on the west side of the creek, near where he settled fifty-two years ago. He has been most of his time right here, and is, perhaps, better acquainted with the history of this part of the county than any other man living. The Juvinalls were well known in this community, all through the years of pioneer life. The old man, father of a number of boys, came with his family at the early date before mentioned. His first name was John, and his sons were Andrew, David, James, and John Juvinall, jr. David and Andrew were married when they came. The children of Andrew still live in the neighborhood. The Juvinalls came from Ohio. The Morrison family came in a little farther up, about the same time. Morrisons were important elements in the neighborhood, but they finally went awa}\ William Trimmell came about the year 1828. He settled in the same neighborhood. There are still a few of the name found in various parts of the county. Samuel Bloomfield came up to Middle Fork about 1829 or 1830, to improve his farm. He had come to Quakers' Point as early as 1823, and had lived in other parts of the county, before he came up here, some six or seven years. His family was raised mostly here, and many comparatively old settlers have all the time thought that this was his first stopping-place in the county; but we learn from his daughter, Mrs. Deamude, that her father came to the county in the spring of 1823. Mrs. Deamude was then but a child, but remembers the coming. She has been here, then, more than

In 1828 Absalom Collison came to the settlement on the Middle Fork. He stopped with the Jnvinalls for a while. They were all from Ohio, and Mr. Collison was a single man at the time, and needed a home. He did not content himself with that kind of a home long - he concluded to have one of his own. He paid his respects to Mary Chenoweth, who accepted his offer for better or worse, and they were married in 1829. This, we presume, was the first marriage in that neighborhood. Miss Chenoweth had come to the neighborhood in the same year with her father's family. They went to the farm that they occupied so long, immediately. Here they remained and brought up their family, and here Mr. Collison died in 1853. The widow still survives at an advanced age, living on the same farm that she began her married life upon " full fifty years ago."

The Atwoods came to the east end of Pilot township in 1829. They, too came from Ohio. Alfred Atwood, whose biography appears elsewhere, was a prominent member of society. He came with his parents when only six years old. Eli Helmick, who came first to Salt Fork in 1833, came to the east side of Pilot township in 1836. At an advanced age he still lives and enjoys good health in the same neighborhood where for forty-three years he has been one of the principal men. When we remember that this man came here at the age of thirty-four, and that a man in the middle of life may go into a new country wrhere there is nothing but vast wastes of unoccupied land, and where but few white men are to be seen, and yet live to see a populous, thriving, well-to-do community spring up around him, with all the facilities for culture and refinement to be had in any locality, no matter how old, we realize that this is an age of progress, and that life means more than it did a hundred years ago. What if Methuselah did live nine hundred and sixty-nine years ; did he see such progress as " Uncle Eli " has seen within his days.

We have mentioned the principal pioneers of Middle Fork in Pilot ; others may have lived here who deserved a preservation of their deeds in the history of their community, but no matter how deserving, unless some one is left to tell the story, their deeds of heroism must sink into oblivion, or, perchance, live in the better lives of those wrho have been led they know not by whom. The first settler at Pilot Grove is in dispute. Rumor has it that a man by the name of Girard, - a relative of old Stephen Girard, of Philadelphia, - was the first white man who lived there ; but others tell us that Mr. Allcorn was the first. Certain it is that Mr. Allcorn was there in 1830.

It is said that he was succeeded by a Mr. Wheat. The grove, and quite a large scope of land around it, is now occupied by W. H. Fowler. For some time this has been the seat of a large farm. It certainly is a good place to excite the energy of an ambitious man. The -first settler in the western part of the township, in the prairie, was Robert Butz ; but this was recent as compared with the settlements on the Middle Fork. His son, J. K. Butz, has one of the best improved farms in the county. He began on it as wild prairie in 1859. Ephraim B. Tillotson was the first settler in the northwest part. He came to section 31, T. 21, R. 13, in 1856 ; he has remained there ever since, and has one of the best farms in the township. The earliest settler in the northeastern part was a Mr. Knight, who settled on a branch that has since borne his name. In here the only old settler still living, so far as we could learn, is William R. Furrow, who came with his mother and her family in 1841. He has held on to his early efforts here with advantage and profit.

Educational

The early settlements in Pilot township were so scattered along the creek that they did not become sufficiently numerous in any one vicinity to support a school until a comparative recent date. In the neighborhood of the Juvinalls, but just across the creek in Blount township, school was taught at a very early day by Morgan Rees. Children from this settlement would attend the school across there, and consequently in those days school was not necessary on the western side of the creek. The first school-house built in Pilot was put. up on section 20, T. 20, R. 12. This was in 1836 or 1837. Ezekiel Lewton taught the first school in this building. There had been, however, a school previous to this, in a cabin, taught by a Mr. Beard. This was about the year 1834. These schools possessed the usual primitive character. The days of loud schools had not gone. The ambitious youth were taught to exercise their vocal organs, and the more noise made the more successful the school. The present condition of educational affairs is quite satisfactory. Good school-houses are seen in nearly all the districts, and competent teachers manage successful schools as a rule.

Pilot is without villages, but is not lacking in churches. Within the narrow limits of one small township we find five churches and several societies that hold meetings without owning any house of worship. Not only do we find a number of churches, but there is a large membership.

The very first meetings within the limits of this township were held, as nearly as we can ascertain the facts, under the auspices of the McGees. As before noted, these people came here very early. The elder McGee was a minister. These were one branch of the Christian church. They seem to have been neither what is called Campbellite nor New Light, though probably a branch of the latter. They had an organization quite early. Stephen Griffith was one of the members at that time, - or, at least, an influential man among them. They held meetings in private houses for some time. It is related that, about 1828 or 1829, they got up quite an excitement. They concluded to follow the apostolic order and have all things common. But this did not suit all concerned, and difficulty arose in camp. They did other things not considered orthodox at present : such as meeting and waiting for the descent of the Holy Ghost. This society was strong and influential in the first days of the neighborhood, but it finally succumbed, and left no vestige of its former strength.

Christian chapel, located in the south edge of Pilot township, was built by the Christians (New Lights) in 1873. It is a neat country church, 26x40 feet, and cost $1,200. The society that meets here had its origin in Oakwood township, for the first efforts of Emly and Wilkins are recorded there. When the society left the Craig school-house it met at the Snyder school-house next. The meetings in the Snyder school-house were first held in 1862. There was a time when it became almost disorganized; some of the members were gone away to the army, and others had moved away, until things were in rather a dilapidated condition. But a revival of the work was begun, and has continued ever since. Meetings were held in the Snyder school-house until the building of the church. Since that time services are regularly held in the chapel. A flourishing Sabbath-school is generally kept going; good feeling prevails; there is little clashing with other denominations, and the society holds a membership of about one hundred and thirty. Thomas Snyder is the present pastor, and has held the position for sixteen years. He resides in the neighborhood, being a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of the county. There is a society of this denomination in the western part of the township, which meets at the Hope school-house. It was organized on the 4th of April, 1874, with forty-four members. It was organized under the supervision of Thomas Snyder. Previous to the organization of the church here, J. K. Butz and wife, Mr. Hedge and wife, and Mr. Thompson, were the only members of this denomination in the neighborhood. Meetings are now held monthly. The Rev. Mr. Rippey is the present pastor; before him, Elder Green officiated. There are now about fifty members. The school-house at Hope is one of the best country school-houses in the county. It was put up with a view to the accommodation of religious, as well as educational, enterprises. In this house there is a well organized and enthusiastic Sabbath-school. The parents take an interest in it. ' They see that their children have a good place to go to on Sunday.

There are several members of the Campbellite division of the Christian church within the limits of Pilot, but those on the south side belong to the society that meet at the Gorman school-house in Oakwood township. The people of the north have built themselves a very pleasantl}7 appearing church on the north side of the township. It is 24 x 36 feet, but cost them only about $400. There is quite a flourishing little society here. The main man of this organization is Ephraim B. Tillotson.

In the northeast part of the township is located Knight's Branch church, as it is generally known. It is so called from its location on the branch first settled by a Mr. Knight. The proper name of the church is Olive Branch. This society is the only early organization of United Brethren in this part of the county. The first member of this society, or of this denomination, in this part of the country, was Abraham Peterson. He came in here about 1839 or 1840. The next man of influence of this persuasion was P. A. Canady. He arrived in this neighborhood about the year 1850. Peterson was a minister and did the first preaching for these people. He held meetings at his own house. The class was soon organized. They built the church in 1867. It is 42 X 50 feet. It cost $2,700. It was dedicated by Bishop Weaver. At the time of the dedication there were nearly one hundred members, but the society has not been prosperous of late years. There are now only about twenty-five persons belonging to the church. The present pastor is the Rev. Scott. They have a Sabbath-school in successful operation, superintended by Elon Sperry. Before the building of the church, while meetings were held in the school-house, there was a great interest manifested. During harvest-time, prayer meetings were kept up every day of the week. Men would stop the reaper to go to meeting. As a result of this deep interest, there were seventyfive or eighty additions to the church at that one time.

Pilot Class of United Brethren was organized about seven years ago, at Pilot Grove school-house. The first members included D. C. Butz, W. B. Tillotson, H. K. Curtis and wife, Mrs. Endicott, Austin Endicott and wife. The first to hold meetings for this society were Ira Mater and Joseph Cooper. There are about twenty members in this class. W. B. Tillotson is the class-leader, and H. K. Curtis is steward.

We have yet to notice the Methodists in this township. They are among the strongest here, and their origin in this country dates hack to the earliest pioneer days of the white settlements in this part of the country. The Morrison's and Juvinalls were Methodists. Their early settlement here has already been noticed. Meeting was regularly held at the residence of Mr. Morrison till he went away to Wisconsin. This was for some years after the first settlements. The earliest minister recollected is the Rev. McKain, who was here in the earliest times. Meetings were sometimes held at the residence of the Juvinalls. After the school-houses began to be built, meeting was held in them. The Pilot chapel organization met in the Collison school-house till the building of the church. Pilot chapel was built in the early part of the year and dedicated in June, 1871. The Rev. David Brewer was the pastor at the time of building. This is a well-built, attractive country church, and has a flourishing society with a good membership. The preacher in charge, at present, is the Rev. Eli Helmick. His career has already been dwelt upon at length in these pages, and will simplj' mention here that he is one of the old wheel-horses of Methodism in this country. He came in here as early as 1830. He traveled all over this country, at that time and subsequently, and preached in almost every settlement in early times. In 1830 he traveled with " Old Freeman Smalley," whom the old settlers will recollect as one of the most remarkable pioneers of early times. The author of these lines met the old man, in late years, on the frontier, where, at an extreme old age, he still made his way to the school-houses wherever Baptist congregations gathered to worship. But he is gone ! His comrade lingers on the shores of time, but will soon join the innumerable hosts of pioneers, where nearly all the old settlers have already gone.

Emberry is the name of a church built by the Methodists on the south side of the "California Ridge," and within two miles of the south line of the township. The society that occupies this church was organized by Rev. John E. Vinson. This was at what was called the Sand Bar school-house, about the }7ear 1857. Mr. Vinson was a member of the Illinois Conference of Methodist Itinerants. He was, at that time, appointed to the "circuit" that included this territory. The Sand Bar school-house continued to be a regular place appointed to hold services for this membership until the building of the church. The first members of this society consisted of Rev. Vinson, wife and two children, and William Price and wife. If there were others their names are forgotten. In 1855, while Rev. John Long was on the circuit, there was an extensive revival here. More than forty persons united with the church ; the Cassell family, the Deamude family, the

Cannon family and others were taken in at this time. The church was built in 1875. This was during the pastorate of Rev. I. Groves. The building is an elegant frame, and cost $2,300. When the day of dedication came this amount was all provided for, and nothing was asked of the congregation. There is a prosperous society, and a reasonable membership.

In the western part of the township there are a number of persons of the Roman Catholic faith and practice. They have no church, but we understand that services are held semi-occasionally in private houses whenever the priest can come out from Danville.

Political And War Record

In politics, Pilot is not only republican, but radically so. In all state and national elections, Pilot heaps up heavy majorities for the regular republican candidates. The township offices are seldom changed. Little ambition is manifested in securing them.

In war, as in peace, the people manifest much interest in the general welfare of the country. There is one soldier of the Black Hawk war living in the township, and one living just across the line in Blount township, that went from this. The former is John Cassell, and the latter, Morgan Rees. They were under Col. Moore. These two companions of forty-seven years ago remain with us. If there were others from this part of the county their names are not remembered. These linger at advanced ages, but they will soon be gone, and the soldier of the Black Hawk war will be of the past. If there were any in the Mexican war we failed to find them; but, during the stormy days of the republic, when men were rushing to the front to stop the ravages of an infuriate foe, Pilot furnished her own proper proportion. Eli Helmick lost two sons: George and Eli R. George was in the 21st 111. Inf. under Gen. (then Col.) Grant. He died at home. The other was in the 35th, under Capt. Timmons. He died at Otterville, Missouri. Mr. Atwood also died from the effects of disease contracted in the army. We learned the names of no others. We are inclined to think that the soldiers from Pilot did not experience as great a mortality in their ranks as many sections have known. Within a limited area, smaller by far than Pilot, we have found the homes of nearly twoscore men who lie on southern fields. But a good portion of Pilot lay open and unoccupied in 1861.

A Tile Factory

Is in successful operation in this township. The surface of the country here is not particularly level, but it soon runs into that kind of surface as we go out from the " California Ridge." This factory was built in the fall of 1877. It is located in the northeastern part of the township, and was put up by James Acton. The factory is composed of kiln, shed and round-house. The kiln is 15x17 feet, the shed 24x100 feet, and the round-house forty-two feet in diameter. The machine for molding the tile and grinding the clay is a four-horse Pennfield patent. It is capable of turning out two thousand six-inch tiles per day. It will mold tiles of 3, 3-J-, 4, 5 and 6 inches in diameter. They make the flat-bottomed tile. The factory is owned by James Acton and Conrad Friedrich, the latter having charge of and operating it. They make tiling from remarkably peculiar, tough, blue clay. This is said to be the best for the purpose ; it certainly makes very good tile so far as appearance goes. The manufacturers claim that their tile is harder than the usual kinds ; it is almost, if not quite, as hard as the best burned brick. They are selling quite a large number of tiles. This country when thoroughl}T drained will be unsurpassed in fertility, as it is now in soil, in the United States. It is certainlv commendable that an effort be made to manufacture so necesml

As Pilot lies principally on a prairie ridge, there were few public thoroughfares in early days. Persons traveled across the prairies in those days without roads, or even paths. For many years after settlements were made along the timber, the traveling over the prairie was done by direction. The traveler would ascertain the direction he must take to reach his desired destination, and then keep to his course, over pathless waste, crossing streams and swamps as best he could. A few roads along the Middle Fork date back to the days of early settlement; more recently nearly all the section lines have been made public highways. As the herd law is operative here, all that is necessary for a road in many places is a space left between the cultivated portions of adjoining farms. There are few streams, and consequently few bridges are required. In many places the roads present a pleasing appearance on account of the clover and timothy that grow beside them.

Organization Of Pilot

This was one of the first townships, as before stated. The committee who fixed the original boundary and gave it the name Pilot, was composed of John Canady, Alvan Gilbert and Hamilton White. The township was represented in the first supervisor's court that met on the 13th of June, 1851, by Samuel Partlow. The next supervisor was

Eli Helmick, who continued in the office a number of years. As before remarked, the people of Pilot are not given to a great deal of changing of officers. Mr. J. E. Vinson was justice of the peace for twenty years, and the present supervisor, Mr. Keeslar, is serving his ninth term. At the election held on the 1st of April, 1879, the following officers were chosen : Charles W. Keeslar, supervisor ; L. Tillotson, town clerk ; J. C. Tevebaugh, assessor ; T. C. Smoot, collector ; John Z. Selsor, commissioner of highways ; J. A. Knight, constable, and F. A. Collison, pound-master. The latter i-esigned and C. O. Ball was appointed to fill the vacancy.

Hope Post-Office

Although Pilot cannot boast any villages, it has its post-office. We have yet to find in this part of the county a lovelier place for a little village than the spot where the post-office is located. But these people seem not to be ambitious in this line. No railroad facilities can ever be expected here, and these are necessary for a successful village in these days of fast traveling. This office is in the southwestern part of the township. It was first a special office, the people paying their own carrier. J. K. Butz was the first postmaster. The carrier at this time, came to Hope from Compromise, in Champaign county. In 1873 a regular office was established, and Mr. Butz was made postmaster, and continued till 1875. Since that time E. A. Donaldson has held the office at the " Cross-Roads." They now have two mails a week. The school-house here and the society of New Lights were noticed under the heading "Churches." In 1876 Mr. Butz put up a blacksmith-shop. Wicoff and son worked in it a while, and then J. T. Johnson swung the hammer and blew the bellows. At present, Gr. W. Cool manages the fires. Ezra Harrison began a mercantile business at this place in the spring of 1878. Although he has been operating for so short a time, he has built up a successful trade. He occupies a store-room 16x38 feet. He carries on a general country trade, dealing in such things as are in demand in a farming community. Mr. E. A. Donaldson, the postmaster, who is also a school-teacher, carries a small stock of goods, for the benefit of the community and himself.

Biographical

Samuel Bloomfield, deceased, was one of the earliest settlers of Vermilion county. He was a native of Ohio, and came here in the spring of 1823. He stopped awhile in Indiana. The first place that he occupied in this county was Quaker's Point. He was the first settler there. He remained here two years and then moved close to

Georgetown. After a short residence there he moved to six miles southeast of Danville, and then two and a half miles below Danville. After a stay here he came to Middle Fork. He lived and died in that neighborhood. He died on the road home from mill, in 1862, of heart disease. His wife lived until 1871. They had five daughters and four sons. The eldest, Mrs. Deamude, lives on her farm in Pilot township. She was married to Samuel Deamude on the 3d of April, 1842. He was born on the 16th of August, 1807. He, too, was an early settler. He came in 1835. He had married Miss Hillery previously. Mr. D. died on the 27th of January, 1868. He had five children by first wife and four by second. They came to the farm in Pilot in 1848. He bought four hundred acres of land here. Mrs. D. still lives on the place. It has been divided up among the children, but the mother has a large and pleasant house to live in, and she still carries on a good deal of business.

S. P. Leneve, Pilot, farmer, is one of the oldest persons that we have found who were born in this county. He was born here on the 23d of December, 1828. His father was one of the very first in this country. S. P. Leneve grew to manhood on his father's farm. He then went to California in 1852. He had received a fair education at the Georgetown high school, and was prepared to make his way in the world. He went by way of New Orleans and the Isthmus. They touched at Acapulco. On the way they had some difficulty in regard to food. He first went to Mary ville. He worked in the mines at $110 per month. From this he went to teaming, and followed the business fourteen years. He then went to Nevada and dealt in stock and grain. He made his home in Virginia City two years. He then came back to this county by way of New York city. In 1869 he married Adaline Wilson. He has since lived on his farm in Pilot township.

Alfred Atwood, deceased, Pilot, was a well-known character in the community in which he lived. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, on the 10th of October, 1823, and died on the 2d of June, 1865. He died of chronic diarrhoea, contracted in the United States service. He came with his parents to Illinois at the age of six years. They first stopped on Middle Fork, in the east end of Pilot township. Here he grew up, and on the 21st of January, 1847, married Diadama Bloomfield. She was born here on the 18th of June, 1832. She still lives here with her children. Mr. Atwood joined the Christian church in 1850, and was ordained elder in 1852. He enlisted in the 125th Reg. 111. Inf. in August, 1862. ^He maintained his Christian character through all the trials of war. He was earnest, devout, and often preached to his gathered comrades. On the 1st of May, 1864, he was sent to the hospital, and was discharged in 1865. He then came home and died as above. Funeral services were not held till the return of his comrades, on the 3d of September, 1865. He left a wife, three sons and one daughter to mourn his loss. He owned at that time one hundred and ninety acres of land in east end of Pilot. Mr. Atwood's Christianity was unchallenged. The goodness and piety of his life threw a radiant halo of eternal glory around his every action. Men loved and admired him, while his faithful performance of duty ennobled his life and established confidence in humanity.

David H. Lindsey, Higginsville, farmer, is a native of Kentucky, having been born in Harrison county on the 26th of July, 1817. His father died when he was young, and his mother married Mr. Martin. They came to Illinois in the fall of 1829. David came along, and has made this his home ever since. They stopped close to state line, where the family grew up. Mr. Lindsey married Mariah Boyd on the 30th of June, 1839. She died, and he married Sophronia Canady on the 19th of March, 1844. Upon her death he took to himself Minerva J. Wood, on the 30th of April, 1852. He was united with his last wife, Ordelia Anderson, upon the death of the third. Her father was a pioneer Methodist preacher in earl}T times. Mr. L. has five children living. He came to Pilot in 1849. He bought a large tract of land here at first. He now owns two hundred and fifty-four acres. He is a member of the M. E. church, being steward and trustee.

W. H. Price, Pilot, farmer, came to Vermilion county when young. He was born in Ohio on the 4th of July, 1827. He reached Illinois in 1830. His father's family came to two miles north of Danville. Here the son stayed till he was sixteen years old. At that time he began life for himself, with nothing but his ability to start on. He worked out three vears. He remained in the neighborhood of State Line till twenty-three years old. He was married in January, 1850, to Mary A. Cazzatt. He moved to where he now lives in Pilot township, in the spring of 1852. He bought two hundred acres of land when nineteen years old, and paid for it by working at nine dollars per month. He now has six hundred and forty acres. He has five children. He is a member of the M. E. church, and of the A.F. & A.M.

"Uncle Eli," as Eli Helmick, retired farmer and minister, is known all over the country, is one of the few remaining old settlers who came here at a very early day, and yet was old enough to have quite a family when he came. He was born in Randolph county, Virginia, on the 4th of August, 1802. His father, Jacob Helmick, was in the war of 1812. The family had moved to Warren county, Ohio, in 1805. Jacob Helmick died there in 1815. While his father was in the war, Eli thought to go ahead with the work, and in making a wooden wedge for the purpose of rail-splitting, he cut off his thumb with the ax. He lived in Warren county from 1805 till 1819, and in Clinton from 1819 till 1833. In 1830 Mr. Helmick and old Mr. Freeman Smalley, whom the old settlers will remember, came to Illinois on horseback. They traveled all over this country, and would have moved the next year had not the threatening Indian troubles kept them back. But when things quieted down after the war of 1832, they began fixing up for the journey. They reached Vermilion county in 1833. They first stopped two and a half miles east of where Homer now is. Mr. Helmick hauled the first load of goods that ever went to Homer, in 1834. He stayed on this place till 1836, and then came to the east side of Pilot township, where he has lived ever since (residence first in section 20, town 20 north, range 12 west ; residence now in section 13). When he first came to Pilot he bought six hundred acres of land, but has sold off and given to his children till he now owns three hundred and thirtyeight acres - two hundred and forty prairie, and ninety-eight timber. On the 28th of July, 1825, Mr. Helmick was married to Rachel Villars. They had nine children, eight of whom lived to be grown. Four of these are now living. His son George was in the 111. Vol. Inf., 21st Reg. He went out with the first three-years men. He was in Grant's regiment. George took sick at Iron Mountain and came home and died on the 28th of March, 1862. Eli R., a younger son, volunteered in August, 1861, and went with his regiment (35th) to Otterville, where he died on the 7th of October, 1861. These sons were both buried in Mt. Pleasant cemetery. Thomas A. was also in the army, but he returned. John W. is a traveling minister in the Illinois Conference M. E. church. Thomas A. was also a minister, but died in August, 1877, in Kansas. Eli Helmick was married a second time on the 8th of February, 1848, to Amanda Oakwood, daughter of Henry Oakwood. They had three children. Amanda died on the 19th of January, 1875. His first wife had died on the 7th of March, 1846. "Uncle Eli" has been a member of the M. E. church for fifty-seven years. He was ordained local deacon in the M. E. church on the 22d of October, 1843, by Bishop Andrews, at Crawfordsville, Indiana. He was ordained elder at Decatur, Illinois, on the 4th of October, 1857. He now has charge of the Pilot circuit. He was elected supervisor from Pilot township to fill vacancy made vacant by Samuel Partlow. He was thus second supervisor from the township, and continued in the office for a number of terms. He is now growing old, but is vigorous and hearty for one in his seventy-seventh year, he spending

Matthew Laflen, Pilot, farmer, is one of the oldest settlers of this township now living. He was born in Monroe county, Ohio, on the 13th of September, 1816. He stayed in Ohio till fourteen years old, and then came to Indiana in 1830. He then came to Vermilion county, Indiana, in 1832. He remained in that place two years and then came over to Illinois in 1834, to two and a half miles east of Danville. He remained there till 1843, when he came to where he now lives, town 20, range 13, section 13. He then bought one hundred and ten acres of land, now he has four hundred and fifty acres. He was married to Eliza J. Lamm in 1836. She is a daughter of Edward Lamm. She is the mother of twelve children, all of whom are living. They had two sons in the late war. Amos W. was in the 125th, and William A. was in the 4th Iowa under Col. Dodge. He was in the Pea Ridge fight, but went into invalid corps ; was discharged and enlisted again. Amos W. went through with the 125th. Matthew Laflen has been a member of the M. E. church since 1833.

Andrew J. Michael, Pilot, was born in this county on the 30th of December, 1834, at New Town. His father is Robert Michael. He came to this county in October, 1834. Mr. Michael was brought up on a farm near the place of his birth. In 1856 he began for himself. In 1859 he went to the gold mines in Colorado. He broke prairie previously with ox-teams for five years. His health had failed, and the western trip restored it. He came back in 1860. He went to farming where he now is in 1863. He married the widow of Joseph English, of the 25th 111. Vol. Inf. They have five children. Mr. Michael has made all his wealth since 1856. He owns two hundred and fifteen acres of land, which is clear of incumbrances of all kinds.

John Cramer, deceased, was born in Virginia on the 22d of March, 1815. He moved first to West Virginia, and then to Ohio. From Ohio he came to Illinois in 1835, and settled about five miles northwest of Danville. In 1836 he married Malinda Lewman, daughter of Aaron Lewman, who came to Illinois from Kentucky in 1827. After their marriage they lived in different parts of the same neighborhood, till he bought land near the West Lebanon church. They remained at this place till 1857, when they moved to the prairie, in Pilot township, where they bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, and where the family still live. Mr. Cramer died on the 8th of November, 1865. He left a wife and six children. He was a member of the M. E. church for more than twenty years.

western part of Vermilion county. John E., farmer and minister, was born in Kentucky on the 10th of November, 1823. His father, Henson Vinson, sen., was one of the earliest settlers of Parke county, Indiana, having reached that state in 1828. Mr. Vinson, sen., came with his family to Middle Fork in 1837. John E. grew to manhood on his father's farm, southwest of New Town. On the 12th of June, 1844, he married Elizabeth E. Trimmell, daughter of William Trimmell, sen. She was born half a mile north of New Town. They moved, first, to the east side of Pilot township, and staid there three years. They then moved to their present home farm on the highlands of Pilot township. Here they were alone in the prairie for some time. Mr. Vinson first bought land here in 1845. The home place has four hundred acres. Besides this, he owns land in Kansas and some other land in this state. Mr. Vinson has been a member of the M. E. church for forty-one years. He has been a local minister for twenty-two }7ears. In 1853 he was elected justice of the peace, and served in that capacity for twenty years. Mr. Vinson went out with the 125th in Co. I, as first lieutenant, his brother, Levin Vinson, being captain. He remained with the regiment till they reached Nashville. He was taken sick just after the Perryville fight. He resigned his commission in January, 1863, and came home. He was sick for some time, but recovered in time to recruit a new company in the spring of 1863. Mr. Vinson started out as captain of this company, but gave it up in order to hasten the organization of the company, and took the first lieutenancy again. They were mustered in at Mattoon. They were now in company I, 135th. Their service was mostly in Missouri. They went out as one-hundred-day men, and were mustered out in the fall of 1863.

Martin H. Watson, Fithian, farmer, is a native of the county. He was born on the 6th of May, 1840. His father, John R. Watson, of Danville, came to the county at a very early date. Martin was born on the farm three miles north of Danville ; he grew to manhood on that farm. On the 3d of April, 1860, he married Martha A. Cunningham, and moved to Pilot township the same year. They have eight children. Mr. W. owns three hundred and sixty acres of land, lying in a square on the southwest corner of section 24, T. 20 N., R. 14 W. They have lived on this place since 1860. Mr. W. is a member of the regular Predestinarian Baptist church.

Matthew Barkman, Higginsville, farmer, resides on section 1, T. 20, R. 13, where he owns one hundred and seventy-five acres of land. He came to this place twenty-five years ago, and has been living here ever since. He was born in Licking county, Ohio, on the 16th of April, 1824. He remained there till he was eighteen years old, and then came to Pilot township, this county ; this was in 1842. Mr. Barkman married Ruamia Juvenal, a daughter of one of the first settlers here, in 1847. Mr. B's early advantages were very limited, but he has by energ}' and perseverance gained a competency.

George Watson, Hope, farmer, is another of those whose parents came to Vermilion in the earliest days of pioneer settlement. George was born in this county on the 27th of February, 1844, in Newell township. He lived there till he was twenty-three years old. He moved to Pilot township in the fall of 1867. He has three hundred and eighty-two and a-half acres of land and is in good condition. He married Rebecca J. Olehy, daughter of John Olehy, on the 30th of July, 1865. They have four children living.

Few grown men have been in Pilot township longer than W. R. Furrow, of Potomac, and but few can show as good a record of success under difficulties. He was born in Madison county, Ohio, on the 9th of May, 1826. He stayed there till eighteen years old. He went to school till his father died, and then he had to work out. His mother was left a widow with five children. She settled on Knight's Branch in 1844. Mr. F. says that next season would have seen them in Ohio, but they were too poor to go back. At one time he walked to Indianapolis ; he also went to Arkansas, but didn't stay. He married Avarilla Bailey, daughter of Henry Bailey, in 1850. He moved to his present residence in 1865. The}7 have four children. Mr. F. has two hundred and forty acres of land which he puts mostly to grass, and pastures it. He is a member of the Knight's Branch church of United Brethren.

Dr. Samuel H. Yredenburgh, Higginsville, physician, is one of the oldest practitioners in this part of the county. He was born in Indiana on the 3d of September, 1820. His father was a Methodist preacher, and the Doctor began life as a teacher. He followed this profession five years, and then changed off to the practice of medicine. He began the latter at the age of twenty-six years. He came to Illinois in June, 1846, and began the practice of medicine in New Town. He has since remained in this part of the county, running a farming business and practicing medicine. He belongs to the old school of allopathic practice and has been quite successful in life. He still superintends his farm and waits upon the afflicted.

John Cessna, Hope, farmer, is a native of Ohio. He was born on the 29th of June, 1833. He lived there three years, and then moved to near Toledo. The family then moved to Cairo, this state. At this time there were only three houses in Cairo. His father died there. He then went to Ohio and sta}^ed till lie came to this county, in the fall of 1848. His mother had married again, and he came with the family. He remained in Blonnt township till twenty-four years old, and then went to California. He was on a ranch there two years. He came back in January, 1860, having had a profitable trip. He was married on the 12th of July, 1862, to Ann R. Truax. She died in January, 1876. They have five children. On the 14th of June, 1877, Mr. Cessna married Nancy J. Reed. They have one child. Mr. C. bought first one hundred and twenty acres of land here, but has increased it to two hundred and twenty.

Nathan Smoot, Pilot, farmer, was born in Ohio, on the 31st of March, 1840. He came to this county in 1849, with his parents. They stopped first in section 13, town 20, range 13. His father bought one hundred and eighty-seven acres of land here. Nathan now has one hundred and sixty. He was married on the 12th of October, 1871, to Minnie Michener. He was in the 125th Reg., Co. I, under Capt. Yinson. He was with the regiment at all times, except when he had the measles, at Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was then away from the regiment only one month. Otherwise he was in all the actions of the 125th, and was mustered out with it at Washington. He is now commissioner of highways in Pilot township; was elected in April, 1877. He has been assessor five years and collector one year. He was also town clerk for five years.

J. C. Mosier, Pilot, farmer, lives in the east side of Pilot. His father's name was Solomon Mosier, who was born in Virginia, on the 15th of September, 1796. Solomon lived in Virginia till the war of 1812. He was in the latter part of this war. He came to Ohio in 1818, and from Ohio to Indiana in 1836. He came to Pilot and bought his home in 1848, and moved in 1849. He had five children. He died on the 1st of April, 1871. J. C. was elected justice of the peace in 1874, and has been since. The Mosiers are noted for their intelligence, talent and general information. The father was particularly noted in the neighborhood as being well "posted."

Clapp Sumner, Pilot, farmer, a Yankee by birth and training, has become thoroughly westernized. He was born in Corinth, Orange county, Vermont, on the 19th of November, 1831. He remained there till twenty-one years old. He came to Vermilion in July, 1852. He worked at the carpenter trade for two years, after first coming to Danville. He came out to Pilot township in 1854. He owns forty acres of land in section 13, town 20, range 13. He has lived in this part of the township since 1854. He married Mary Smoot in the spring of 1854. They have five children. Mr. Sumner was one of the charter members of the New Town A.F. & A.M. He was special deputy under

J. K. Butz, Hope, farmer, is the elegant man of the township. He would take the premium for taste in fixing up his residence, and for neat farming, too, perhaps. He was born in New Jersey, on the 17th of September, 1835. He came with his father's family to Macon county in 1852. He then came to Vermilion county in 1854. He married Rebecca Tillotson in 1859. They have six children. They moved to the place where they now live in 1861. They have four hundred acres there. They began on wild prairie, and now have one of the finest farms in the state of Illinois. He keeps his place mostly in grass, and raises stock. He has a great number of trees of different kinds on his place, both fruit and forest trees. He is an active member of the Christian church, and by his efforts it has gained a good footing in his neighborhood.

J. P. Tevebaugh, Pilot, farmer, is a native of Virginia. He was born in Hardy county on the 1st of July, 1835. At the age of twenty he came with his parents to Illinois and settled on Middle Fork, near Higginsville. He has remained in this part of Vermilion county ever since that time. In 1858 he was married to Catharine McScott, daughter of Charles McScott, of Pilot township. In 1867 they moved to the south side of Pilot township, where Mr. Tevebaugh bought eighty acres of prairie. They have remained here ; have improved the wild prairies, bought more land, and become independent. Mr. Tevebaugh is a member of the New Town lodge of A.F. & A.M., and has belonged to the horse compauy for twenty years.

Newell E. Rice, Hope, farmer, was born in Alleghany county, New York, on the 22d of December, 1823. His -father was a farmer, and taught his boy to be skillful in the art. Mr. Rice lived in New York till the 27th of August, 1855, when he started for Illinois. He stopped in Danville in 1856. He went up to Will county, but came back and began making ties on the T. W. & W. R. R. He first farmed on the Spencer farm. He was here one year, and then went to Warren county, Indiana, and staid two years. He then staid one year on the Neal farm, and then went to southeast of Catlin and remained two years, and came to the west side of Pilot on the 11th of April, 1866. He has remained here ever since. He married Vilinda B. Hartley in 1861. She died on the 29th of June, 1873. They had two sons. Mr. Rice is a member of the A.F. & A.M.

Jacob A. Freese, Hope, farmer and shepherd, is noted for his fine sheep. He has over two hundred American Merino. His main ram that he had a short time ago yielded fifteen pounds of wool at one year old, and when two and three years he gave twenty-three pounds. He also has a fine ewe that yields sixteen pounds every year. Quite a number yield ten pounds apiece on the average. He now has a fine lamb, a few weeks old, worth $25. Mr. Freese came to Illinois from Ohio, where he was born, in 1836. He came, in 1856, to five miles west of Danville, and then to near Catlin, in 1862. In 1869 he came to his present residence on section 11, T. 20, R. 14. He owns half of a section here. He was married in 1867 to Lisle Fleming, of Muskingum county, Ohio. They have four children - two sons and two daughters. Mr. Freese is a member of the New Town Lodge of A.F. & A.M.

E. B.' Tillotson, Hope, farmer, is one of those men that you often hear of when in their neighborhood, both on account of his public spirit and his integrity as a man. He was born in New York on the 28th of December, 1811. He lived there only two years, and then came to Hamilton county, Ohio. Here he remained fourteen years, and removed to Warren county, Indiana, in 1825. His parents both lived and died in Warren county, Indiana. Here Mr. Tillotson remained until January, 1856, when he came to section 31, T. 21, R. 13, where he has since remained. He bought government land here then. It was comparatively cheap. He was married in 1833 to Mary Cronkhite. They have reared nine children. Mr. T. is a prominent member of the Christian church. By his industry he has made a competency and the desert to blossom as the rose.

Charles W. Keeslar, Pilot, farmer, president of the board of supervisors, deserves an extensive notice, but as we have not sufficient data, we must content ourselves with a bare outline. Mr. Keeslar was born in New York on the 13th of January, 1835. He went to Branch county, Michigan, in 1837, and there he remained till 1858. At this time he came to Danville. Fourteen years ago he came to the farm where he now lives. In October, 1860, he married Sarah Snyder. Thev have three children. Mr. Keeslar is now serving his ninth term in the supervisor's court, and is president of the same. Township offices have been put on him quite frequently, having always had the pleasure of holding some kind of an office. He is a member of the Christian church, and of the New Town Lodge of A.F. & A.M. He was one of the charter members of the last. He is also anxious that it be known that he is a temperance man, and will not support anyone who indulges.

Lonzo Campbell, deceased, was a native of New York state. He was born near Adamsville on the 3d of June, 1824. Mr. Campbell came first to Cook county, and lived there a while. He came to Ver- milion county in 1859. He lived on his farm in Pilot township until his death on the 22d of July, 1871. His widow carries on the farm of two hundred and forty acres, raising cattle and hogs, and conducting other farming interests with a great deal of skill. In 1877 she built a very pretty residence at a cost of $1,000. She has only one child, a daughter fifteen years old. She has one of the most attractive residences in the township.

Still clinging to life at a good old age, we found Anthony Long, on the extreme border of the county. He was born in Pennsylvania, near Harrisburg, on the 5th of April, 1805. He lived there about twent}T-one years. He began the carpenter's trade at seventeen. He lived in various parts of Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio till 1851, when he went to California. He went overland, and came back by sea. He worked part of the time in the mines and part at his trade. He went back to Ohio and staid till 1863, when he came to this county. He has one hundred and twenty acres of land here. He was married twice, and had six children by his first wife and three by the second. Those that are living are scattered abroad in different parts of the Union. Mr. Long has been a member of the M. E. church for a long time.

Thomas Collison, Hope, farmer, is a native of England, having been born in the county of Kent on the 12th of April, 1S36. He was farmer, and his father was farmer and huckster there. He was married in April, 1849, and set sail for America the same spring. He went to Oneida after landing at Long Island ; from Oneida to Buffalo., and then to Cincinnati in 1851. He went to Bartholomew county in 1853. In 1864 he came to Danville, and remained six years, and then came to the west end of Pilot. He bought two hundred and forty acres where he now lives in 1869. He has seven children living. Mr. Collison was a member of the Independents in England, but belongs to the Christians here. Mr. Collison had only five shillings when he landed in New York. His ancestors were wealthy, but were cheated out of the property on the death of his grandfather.

Samuel Freese, Hope, farmer and dealer in fine stock, is one of the neat farmers. He is not so extensive a dealer as some men in Pilot, but he maintains that all that he handles is his own. He is a native of Licking county, Ohio, born in 1832. He remained in his native state till 1865, when he came to this county. He staid near Catlin seven years, and then went to Danville and remained two years, and then came to the southwest of Pilot township and bought eighty acres of land. Mr. Freese has been dealing in American merino sheep. He has taken the prizes in nearly all the fairs in this part of the country.

He also keeps fine horses and cattle. His aim is to stock up his place with thoroughbreds of all stock. He married Mary E. Evans in 1857. They have six children. Mr. F. is a member of the A.F. & A.M., and also of the M. E. church.

Dennis S. Blew, Hope, farmer, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on the 6th of November, 1833. He was reared on his father's farm in that county. He remained in that part of Ohio till April, 1866, when he came to section 10, range 14, town 20. They bought the place in 1877. Mr. Blew was married in Ohio, in 1856, to Lucy Helmer. They have five children. Tan is the oldest, then come Henry H., Abraham H., Jesse J. and Cora A. Mr. Blew is laboring under a chronic attack of disease that has made him unable to work for several vears.

Jacob Y. Ludwig, Pilot, farmer, is a young farmer with flattering prospects. He occupies one of the most desirable situations in the county. He was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the 13th of November, 1853. He came to this county in 1867. His father came with his two sons and bought four hundred and eighty-six acres of land. There are two hundred and forty acres in the farm that J. V. occupies. He was married on the 20th of November, 1875, to Charlotte G. Stevens. They have two children. Mr. L. is a member of the New Town Lodge of A.F. & A.M.

Ezra Harrison, Hope, merchant, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, on the 24th of September, 1848. He was reared on a farm. He remained a farmer till "of age." He came to this county in 1867. He came to Danville first. His parents reside in this township on a farm. Ezra began merchandising at Hope post-office, in March, 1878. He has done a good business for a country store. He remains in single blessedness, notwithstanding he is the only successful merchant and consequently the most desirable man in a large scope of territory.

Elijah Henry, Potomac, farmer, was born in Mason county, Kentucky, in 1836. He lived there till fifteen years old, when he came to Fountain county, Indiana. He remained in Indiana till 1871, when he came to Bookwalters farm in Pilot township. He has lived here ever since with the exception of three years that he spent in Muncie, Illinois. In February, 1876, he married Mary Mahoma, of Fountain county, Indiana.