Sidell Township

Sidell Township

The township of Sidell occupies the southwestern corner of the county, having Edgar and Champaign counties respectively for its southern and western boundaries, and Vance on its northern and Carroll on its eastern sides. Until 1867 it formed a portion of Carroll township for political purposes. When it was erected into a separate township the name was given to it in honor of Hon. John Sidell, who owned an extensive farm here. The valley of the Little Vermilion, here an inconsiderable stream, runs nearly through its center, having the ridges or strips of high land which bound this valley on the northern and southern boundaries of the township. This beautiful valley, more of a basin in appearance here, because so nearly destitute of trees, encloses within its pale some of the richest farming lands of Vermilion county. It was all originally prairie, except six small groves, aggregating less than two square miles of timber land. For this reason alone it failed to attract attention for the first twenty years of the county's history. The little groves had been taken, but the broad expanse of prairie, which forms the real wealth of this prairie township, was inhabited only by those pestiferous things which are disastrous alike to the peace of man and beast. Perhaps there never was, in the same range of country, so many inhuman flies as only a few years ago lived and made day noxious in the limits of this prairie basin of the Little Vermilion, now known as Sidell. "Flies till yon couldn't rest" is a mild way of putting it. During the month of August people found it necessary to travel by night to save their horses from being almost eaten up.

There were a few scattering residents in the township before 1850, but it was not until 1855 to 1860 that anything like general cultivation can be said to have taken place. In 1853 Michael Sullivant, whose recent sudden death, followed so close upon the loss of his large property, was so startling, began making his large entries of land in this and the adjoining counties. He entered forty-seven thousand acres lying in a body in Sidell township and in Champaign county. About the same time he entered over fifty thousand acres in Ford and Livingston counties. The portion which was in Sidell came into possession of his son Joseph, and he has from that time been managing it as a 6tock farm until last year. The Sullivant land in Champaign county, after having been brought into cultivation, was sold to Mr. Alexander, when Mr. Sullivant concluded to bring his large farm, lying in Ford and Livingston counties, into cultivation. His ambition was to have a large farm and work it by hired help. No portion of his land was leased, and he depended entirely on the grain that he raised and the sale of it.

The farming operations of Joseph, in Sidell, were of a different nature. He went largely into cattle feeding with ver}r fair results and flattering prospects. About 1867 the attention of farmers here was first called to the cheap cattle in Texas and the Indian Nation, where upon the large prairies they were raised cheaply until three or four years old, and then collected and driven across the country to be grassfed, and then grain-fed. The increasing demand for cattle, the reduced range in Illinois, and the other circumstances consequent upon Illinois emerging from a " state of nature," had so restricted the supply of " stackers " that cattle-men began looking elsewhere for them. The

"Texan steers" could be bought for about thirty or forty per centum less than the high grades which were raised here. They were hearty feeders, and when well fatted were worth only a trine less than the short-horns. Here then was a sufficient inducement for men who, like Mr. Sullivant, had large tracts like this Sidell farm, to take cattle where the}7 could buy them cheapest. It looked like a very sure road to fortune. Mr. Sullivant put seven hundred Texans on his farm about this time. These cattle, before becoming acclimated, were liable to what was familiarly called the " Texan fever,'' a disease which prevailed among them during the first summer of their life north, and which was so contagious that the natives here contracted it, and great numbers died. It was more fatal to the natives than to the Texans. This disease, like most of the other prevailing contagions, seems to have lost, with time, a portion of its virulence, and is hardly known now, or owing to the different treatment of the Texan herds, it has so nearly ceased to exist that the present generation hears nothing of it. It was a terrible blow to cattle men in this state. Instances occurred where train loads of cattle were unloaded in consequence of an accident on the road, and were left to wander over the prairies for a day or two, thus carrying the infection, which proved fatal to all cattle in the vicinity. The authority of the state was invoked, and the legislature passed stringent laws forbidding the importation into the state of Texan cattle. This proved only a partial remedy, as, when caseswere tried in the courts, defendants pleaded the unconstitutionality of the act of the state legislature, claiming that under that clause of the national [constitution which gives congress authority "to regulate commerce among the several states," the state could not interfere to regulate or prohibit such importation. This had the effect to protract legal proceedings, and gave to the corporations a chance to worry the farmers out. Some of these cases are still in court.

From this disaster Mr. Sullivant was never able to recover, and after years of heroic trials he saw his splendid farm sold out, and nothing was saved out of the wreck of a magnificent fortune. Edward Clark became the purchaser of most of the land, and still owns it.

A few only had found homes in this township before the advent of Mr. Sullivant. A man by the name of Boose, about whom little is known, beyond that he was one of those uneasy, roving specimens who never do much but hunt places and game, made a settlement at Jackson's Grove in 1828, but did not stay long. Bob Oruisan settled at Sidell's Grove a year or two later, but soon after went to Douglas county. Hammer and Myers were first in Jackson's Grove, but Thos. Brewer " entered them out " and they went awav. Brewer sold to

Collett when the latter made his purchases of lands in this township. Josephus Collett, of Indiana, about 1844, entered the lands which covered the small groves along the Little Vermilion, knowing that they would first be in demand by actual settlers. These tracts entered by him included Sidell Grove, Jackson Grove, Garrett Grove, Rowan Grove, and probably Twin Grove. Frank Foos is supposed to' have made the first permanent improvement in this township in 1851. He had lived at Marysville and had heard of the wonderful fertility of the valley of the Little Vermilion. When he made his improvement there, he was four miles " out from land " - or from neighbors, which is the same thing. He built a house there, and after working the place a few years traded it to Edward Rowan, who brought it into its present cultivation. Mr. Foos now lives in Indianola, and the farm is still in the possession of the heirs of Mr. Rowan.

A cheap kind of a character by the name of Tole commenced farming operations about the same time at Garrett's Grove, a mile up stream from Jackson's Grove. He was in some respects a sample of the then existing fault-finders, who never saw any good in their present condition, but are always "hoping for better things." With thousands of acres of the best land lying around that needed only to be plowed to produce the most luxurious crops without further work, he spent his time during all the early spring, cutting off the fine timber in that grove, and when planting time came he went off several miles to get men to come and help him roll up the logs which he was unable to handle, so that he could burn them up. By the time he had his logs nicely burned up it was too late to plant ; the frost caught his crop when it was nicely in " roasting ears" ; and he made up his mind that this country was not adapted to farming, and went off to Missouri or some other haven for the disappointed, where he could find logs to roll at all seasons of the year, and where they were small enough for him to " skid " them.

At that time people supposed it took six or eight yoke of oxen to break prairie, and did not know that the red root could be destroyed by hitting it with the sharp edge of a plow, even without cutting it off. A person who could not command a " breaking team," or pay two dollars and a half per acre for " breaking," must get along without. A gentleman who decided in his own mind that he could break prairie with a horse team, by dodging around the " red roots " as he would around stumps or stones, aroused so much ridicule (this was about 1853) that men went miles to see the trial, and to laugh at the new-fangled notions of a book-farmer. This was Hon. W. T. Stackpole, who has recently given to the world a system for the permanent improvement

The Jacksons (Adam, William, Thomas and James) had been in the employ of Mr. Josephus Collett in various employments, and concluded to try farming for a while. Mr. Collett had a lot of cattle out on the prairies, and wanted some one to look after them. The "Jackson boys" were industrious and saving, and were trusted by Mr. Collett - a trust which they never betrayed. After making a farm at Jackson's Grove, and remaining there a few years, somebody put it into their heads to think that Mr. Collett was getting the best of the bargain. They adopted some of the ideas of recent reformers in regard to capital oppressing labor, and abandoned Mr. Collett and his place, and purchased a small farm in Carroll township. Soon they concluded that they could do better on Collett's job, and came back to the Grove, where they have since made their home. Adam, who died in 1860, purchased about seven hundred acres of this land at and around the Grove, and it still remains in the family. The widow and children of Adam, and a sister, reside here. William died last year. They were in some respects a singular family. They would never take township office, and would never assume any of the responsibilities which leading citizens usually assume. They kept their money hid away, and all attempts to get them to loan it " where it would do the most good " were unavailing. It is believed that they had gold hidden away all during the time of greatest inflation, only to bring it out again when the premium had disappeared.

John Stark came here with his large family in 1852, and took up land in section 29. He was an enterprising and successful farmer, and much respected. He died a few years since. William still lives here, and his brother, J. M., is in Colorado. Two other children are in Golorado. Mrs. Barnett is in Indianola, and Mrs. Bennett in Sidell. William Gray came in 1858, and settled on section 30 in the south part of the township. Archibald McDowell, who was among the first young men who came to live in Carroll township, made his home here on section 33, in the south part of the town, about 1855. W. H. Sconce has been in the county fifty years, and has seen it grow from a wilderness to its present condition of wealth and importance. His father first settled at Brooks' Point, and in 1858 bought the land on section 16 of Ward H. Lamon for seven dollars and fifty cents per acre. William H. still remains on the farm.

Hon. John Sidell, after whom the town was named, at the suggestion of Mr. John C. Short, owns a beautiful farm of about three thousand acres, on both sides of the Little Vermilion. He commenced life as a carpenter, in Ohio, and advancing cautiously, with the aid of his clear judgment, he found himself in 1861 in possession of sufficient means to carry on a more extensive business in a newer country. He had been up and down the river a good deal, had been nine times to Iowa, and had looked over the country pretty thoroughly, until he found here just the place which would suit him. Alexander Rowan had some years before this purchased the Collett Grove property - about thirteen hundred acres - of Josephus Collett, and was improving it, when Mr. Sidell bought him out, and added to it by the purchase of nearly six thousand acres more. While living in Danville his wife died. After that he removed to the Grove, and has made this his home ever since. In 1873 he sold off a portion of his land to the amount of one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars' worth, and with the bounds thus reduced, he has carried on one of the largest, if not the largest, cattle business in Vermilion county.

The Danville & Charleston railroad has been graded through the township, running almost directly in a westerly direction through it. There is a prospect that it will be built soon.

The only post-office in Sidell is the one at Sidell's Grove, established about two years ago, of which Mrs. Sarah Webster is postmistress. The office is served with tri-weekly mail from Indianola.

There are three church organizations, but none of them have church buildings. The Sidell appointment of the Methodist church was organized in 1870. For some years it belonged to the Dallas circuit, but is now a separate appointment. Rev. J. H. Williams, a local preacher, is in charge, and arrangements have been made to build the coming season. Mr. Williams has shown great zeal and energy in his work, and is meeting with marked success.

The Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized at the Sheridan school-house in 1875, by Rev. H. H. Ashmore. In the fall of 1874 he commenced preaching there on each fourth Monday. In January, 1875, he protracted his meeting over two Sabbaths, at which time nineteen persons were enrolled for membership in a church organization. The following persons were the first members: William Hinton and wife, James Allison and wife, E. Douglass and wife, A. Abbott, wife and two daughters, Mrs. Rawlins, Miss S. Rawlins, Miss T. Rawlins, Mrs. Grimes, Mrs. McDaniel, daughter and son, A. Nebb, James Hinton and J. Barnes. The church chose the name of Sheridan church, and was duly recognized by the Foster Presbytery at its session in April, 1875. Mr. Ashmore was chosen to supply its pulpit one fourth of the time. James Allison and William Hinton were elected first elders, and a year later David Eaton was added to the eldership. A Sabbath-school is

The Methodist Episcopal "No. 9," so called from being organized in school district No. 9, was organized in September, 1866, by Rev. Benjamin F. Newman. The leading members of this class were Mr. Welch, James Thomas, John Talbert, H. B. Gibson and Thos. Gibson. James Currant is class-leader, and William Ray is steward. The class numbers seventeen members. The Sabbath-school numbers fifty.

The township was cut off from Carroll in 1867. W. A. Moore was the first supervisor, and was twice reelected. H. E. P. Talbott was elected in 1870, and James Thomas in 1871-2. John Sharp was elected in 1873, and resigned. W. A. Moore was appointed in his stead. H. E. P. Talbott has served since. H. Gibson was the first clerk, serving two years; J. H. Oakwood, one; John Smoot, three, and Alfred Gray, five. W. P. Witherspoon served four years as assessor, John Smoot three, and Mr. Witherspoon continually since. The justices of the peace have been Wm. Gray, R. R. Smith, J. G. Colburn, H. E. P. Talbott, W. A. Moore and S. Gray. The commissioners of highways: Wm. Gray, J. M. Sulivant, R. E. Page, John J. Jackson, Wm. Stark, Matthew Trimble, J. E. Allison and J. H. Parish.

Biographical

A. McDowel, Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, section 33, was born in Todd county, Kentucky, on the 13th of September, 1814, and came with parents to Crawford county, Illinois, in about 1817. He came to Vermilion county in 1827. His father was a native of Greenbrier county, Virginia, and died in Crawford county, Illinois. His mother also was a native of Virginia. Mr. McDowel has been twice married. His first wife was Mary F. Hildreth. She was a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, and was born in 1813. They were married in 1838, and she was a faithful wife and mother until her death, in 1854. Mr. McDowel the second time married S. A. Seals, in 1860 ; a native of Edgar county, Illinois, born on the 6th of January, 1842. He has five children by his former wife : Louisa, wife of Mr. Epley ; Margaret, wife of Wm. Parish, during his life; Columbus William and Nancy A. James H. is deceased. By his present wife he is the father of John I., Alice J., Amanda, Thomas, Cyrus and Ora, and two deceased : Mary M. and George B. Mr. McDowel has been a hard working and energetic man, commencing without anything but good health and a determination to have a home. He has succeeded, for he now owns a fine farm of four hundred and fifty acres under good cultivation, which was accomplished by his own industry.

W. W. Stark, Sidell's Grove, farmer, section 29, is a son of John and Mary Stark, who were natives of Bourbon county, Kentucky. They removed to Parke county, Indiana, at an early day. From there he came to Vermilion county, in about 1828, and settled at the old Sandusky farm at Brook's Point, where W. W. Stark was born, on the 17th of October, 1832. They removed to Sidell township in 1855, where they lived until their death. Mr. Stark was married on the 10th of November, 1868, to Miss Mary, daughter of Dr. J. B. Mc- Hoffee ; they have three daughters and one son : Viola, Blanche, Daisy and James R., - William B. died. Mr. Stark has crossed the plains several times. He went to Pike's Peak in 1859, and returned in 1862. He made a trip to Montana in 1864, and back in 1866, and to the Black Hills in 1876, where he had a fight with the Indians. He then went to Colorado, and spent the summer, and then returned home, where he has been engaged in farming. Mr. Stark is a member of the A.F. & A.M., and in politics is a democrat.

William R. McDowel, Indianola, Illinois, farmer, section 29, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 7th of September, 1839. His father is one of the early settlers of the county. Mr. McDowel married, in 1864, Miss Sarah Ramsy, daughter of Thomas Ramsy - She was born in Miami county, Ohio, in 1844, and the result of their union is six children: Ella, Effie, Evaline, Jessie, Tillie, Nellie, living, and two deceased : Katie and Bell. Mr. McDowel owns two hundred and eighty acres of land, and his political views are democratic.

H. E.- P. Talbott, Sidell's Grove, farmer, section 9, is a son of Augaustine and Drusilla (Parker) Talbott, who were natives of Kentucky. They came to Madison county, Ohio, in 1826, where the subject of our sketch was born, on the 7th of August, 1831. His father died in that county, and he and his mother came to Vermilion county, in 1851, where his mother died, in 1864. Mr. Talbott served in the late war, in Co. G, 79th Ind. Vol. He was in the battle of Perryville, and was discharged on account of disabilities received.. He returned to Indiana and remained one year, and then came to Vermilion again in 1866. Mr. Talbott was united in marriage in 1867, to Miss Lucy E. Utterback, daughter of H. Utterback. She is a native of Ralls county, Missouri, born in 1841. The result of this union is two sons and one daughter : Augustine, Hugh H. and Sarah E. Mr. Talbott is a member of the Capitol Lodge, Indianapolis, Indiana, 124, I.O.O.F., and Mrs. T. is a member of the M. E. church. Mr. Talbott has been honored by the citizens of his township with the office of justice of the peace and supervisor. He is a staunch republican.

of Lewis and Mary Gray, who were natives of New Jersey, but of English descent, and came to Hamilton county, Ohio, in 1800. They then went to Butler countv, Ohio, where Win. Gray was born, on the 9th of May, 1816. Mr. Gray remained at his birthplace until after his marriage, in 1841. His wife was Miss Sarah A. Harmon, daughter of Samuel and Mary Harmon, who were of German and Scotch descent, and came to Warren county, Ohio, in an early day. This was the birth-place of Mrs. Gray, who was born on the 14th of October, 1822. Mr. Gray removed to Clinton county, Indiana, in 1844, where he engaged in farming for some time, and in 1859 removed to Vermilion county, Illinois, where he has been known as an energetic and publicspirited man, and respected by the community in which he lives. He has raised a respectable family of one son and four daughters : Mary J., wife of J. Mills ; Alfred ; Elizabeth A., wife of J. Wilson ; Clara L. ; Alice, wife of S. Gurthrie. The deceased members of his family are! Harvey, who died while in the rebellion ; William H., Milton and Sarah. Mr. Gray served the people as justice of peace seven years, and in other minor offices of the township. He is in his political views a republican.

What is usually termed genius has little to do with the success of men in general. Keen perception, sound judgment and a determined will, backed by persevering and continuous effort, are essential elements to success in any calling, and their possessor is sure to accomplish the ends hoped for in the days of his youth. Our subject is another example of what can be accomplished by honest, steady and industrious application to business, and his name is worthy a place in history. John Sidell was born in Washington county, Maryland, oft the 27th of June, 1816. His father died when he was eight years of age, and he remained in his native countv until nineteen years old, working by the month on a farm. For the first month he received one and a half dollars, and, not being satisfied, in 1838 he came to Greene county, Ohio, which place he reached with but nineteen dollars and a limited supply of clothes. He was soon engaged to work on a farm for twelve dollars per month, and as soon as he had saved enough money, came west on horseback, passing through Illinois and into Iowa, not finding a location at that time. He returned to Ohio, this time taking a contract to cut wood for thirty-three and one-third cents per cord, this being the hardest work he ever undertook. This was his starting-point of success, for from that time on he became a dealer in stock, and since he came to this county (1860) has been one of the largest stock-dealers in the county. Mr. Sidell has been twice married. His first wife was Elizabeth Cline. Thev were married on the 20th of January, 1846. She was a native of Greene county, Ohio, born on the 16th of December, 1823, and died on the 1st of May, 1854. He was married the second time to Miss Ada B. Ransom, on the 20th of January, 1857, a native of Canada, born on the 15th of June, 1837, and remained his wife until her death, on the 4th of October, 1868. He is the father of one son and one daughter by his first wife : George A. and Allie E., and, by his second wife, three: Jennie H., Joseph J., and Lula B. Mr. Sidell has served the people of the county as representative. He was a whig until the organization of the republican party, when he joined its ranks.

W. P. Witherspoon, Fairmount, farmer, section 20, was born in Morgan county, Alabama, on the 4th of November, 1825, and came with his parents to Gibson county, Indiana, in 1828, where his occupation was that of a farmer. He remained there until 1861, and then removed to Vermilion county, where he has resided, as one of the prominent citizens of Sidell township. His father was born in Virginia in 1798, and died in Gibson county, Indiana, in 1862. His mother was a native of Alabama, and was born in 1833. Mr. W. has been three times married. His first wife was Julie Lynn, and they were was married in 1817. She was a native of Gibson county, Indiana. He married the second time, to Sitha McDaniel, in 1850. She was also a native of Gibson county, and was born in 1834, and died in 1877. Both wives died with consumption. His present wife was M. Orr, a native of Indiana, and they were married in 1878. He is the father of eight children by his second wife: John D., George W., Lawrence M., Hattie R., Elmer E., Mable, Nora R., Lillie A., and two dead : James M. and William C. Mr. W. has served as assessor of Sidell township, and collector, and other offices of the township. He and his wife are members of the M. E. church, and he is a republican.

A. W. White, Broadlands, Champaign county, farmer, section 35, is a descendant of the first of the Whites that came to America on the Mayflower. They were of English descent. Mr. A. W. White was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 20th of March, 1843. He came to Champaign county in 1861, but returned soon after, and attended military college, from which he graduated in 1863. During this time he was in active service under McClellan in the summer of 1862, and in the spring of 1863 he was commissioned first-lieutenant of the 7th Ohio Cav., and was detached as body-guard to the President during the war. He was at the siege of Richmond, and was engaged in the second battle of Bull Run and Harper's Ferry. Mr. White returned to Illinois after the close of the war, and in 1870 was married to Miss Lora J. Stevens, daughter of Dr. H. Stevens. She was born in Champaign

C. L. Eaton, Broadlands, Illinois, farmer, is the son of Benjamin and Hannah Eaton, who were of English descent and were natives of Massachusetts. They removed to Ross county, Ohio, in about 1818, where C. L. Eaton was born in 1820. He received his education and remained there until 1854, then made a trip to Europe and Australia, and returned in 1860. In 1861 he came to Champaign county, Illinois, where he was manager of twenty-five thousand acres of land for the Broadland estate until 1871. He then came to Vermilion county. Mr. Eaton represented Franklin county, Ohio, and the cit}' of Columbus in 1853-54 in the legislature of that state. He was formerly a whig until the organization of the republican party; he then joined its ranks, where he has acted without any cause of regret. Mr. Eaton has the confidence and respect of those with whom he comes into business relations. He has seen much of the world, and is wide awake to all matters of public concern.