Stratton Township (part 1 of 2)

Stratton Township

Every American reader is familiar with the romantic tale of Rip Van Winkle as told by Washington Irving, which recites the strange adventures that befell the long sleeper in the Catskill Mountains, only to serve as a prelude to the surprise that fell upon him when he awoke no longer the loyal subject of George III, but the free and sovereign citizen of this great republic, then for a decade of years or more piloting its way in " the full tide of successful experi¬ ment." Could some of the early settlers of Illinois, who came to it fifty years ago, and after spending a year or two in the wilderness, have fallen asleep and prolonged their nap until now, then awaking to a full realization of all the changes that have taken place, we doubt not but their surprise would be even greater than that of poor Rip Van Winkle. The forests and prairies, then undisturbed and unbroken except by wild beasts, reptiles, birds and Indians, now the abodes of white men, and all the concomitants of civilization - the grand transformation is far more wonderful than in the little village of the Catskills. Especially is this true of the township heading this chapter, as 'well as every other section of the State.

For years after township organization, Stratton bore the honor of contain¬ ing the first settlement of white men made in Edgar County. More than sixty years ago were settlements made in this town, as originally bounded ; and what changes have been wrought in that period, go ask the Mayos, Blackburns, Simses, Scotts, Darnalls, and the few others still remaining, whose memories run back to the early times. This township took its name from John Stratton, one of the five first white settlers in this section of the country, and who is said by some to have been the first white man " who ate his dinner in his own house on this side of the Wabash.'' This assertion will probably admit of some modification, and his settlement confined to Edgar County, instead of this side of the Wabash. He located in the territory now embraced in Hunter Township. Some time after township organization, a new town was made between Stratton and Brouillett (most of the territory comprising it being taken from Stratton) and named Hunter, for one of its estimable citizens, John Hun¬ ter, Esq. This division gave to Hunter Township the honor that had originally belonged to Stratton, that of the first settlement in the county. Stratton was from Kentucky, and for many years was an honored citizen of the " North Arm " settlement ; but as his history is given in Hunter Township we will not repeat it here.

The first settlement made in Stratton Township, as bounded at present, is supposed to have been made by Daniel Lane in the spring of 1818, whose land lay partly in this and partly in Hunter Township, wLere he is more particularly referred to.

Edward Purcell was probably the next to locate in this township. He was born in Knox County, Ind., and came to Edgar County in the fall of 1818, and has been dead a number of years, but has a son living near the village of Vermilion. Mr. Mings now lives on the place where he originally settled. William Van Houtin, James Farnham, Chancy Adkins and John Van Dewson came from New York, and settled in this township in 1818-19. Van Houtin died here years ago, but has two sons, Benjamin and Thomas, who are still living here, enterprising men of the community. James Farnham was a son-in-law of Van Houtin. He has been dead some time, but has several sons still living. Adkins came to the town with the Van Houtins, and after remaining here a number of years, sold out and removed North, perhaps to Wisconsin. Van Dewson came also with the above named, and was a brother-in-law' of Adkins, and he and Adkins moved away together. Isaac Sandford settled in the south part of Stratton, and was the richest man in the neighborhood. He came also from New York, in the fall of 1819, and has been dead many years. He was Captain of the company formed in Stratton and Elbridge Townships in the

Grand View Tr

Col. J. M. Blackburn was born in Bourbon County, Ivy. His parents were from Pennsylvania ; were opposed to slavery, and when Kentucky adopted a Constitution admitting slavery, they removed to Ohio, where they remained until 1816, when they emigrated to Knox County, Ind., settling in that portion that afterward became a part of Sullivan County. The elder Blackburn died in 1817, but his wife lived to be ninety years of age. Col. Blackburn, after the death of his father, came here, to look at the land and to enter land for the benefit of his father's children, During that trip, he entered the land upon which he now lives. In August, 1820, he came again to Edgar County, built a cabin and a stable, and dug a well on the land; returned to Indiana, and the next year moved to the county, and settled on the place where he still lives. He is upward of eighty years of age, in apparent good health, and an active memory for his years. He says that Col. Mayo, of Paris, is the only man now alive who was living here when he came to the county in 1820. There are a few who were children then, but "he and Mayo are the only two old stagers left." Col. Blackburn's first wife was Miss Cassandra Widener, who is sup¬ posed to have been the first citizen white child born in the State of Indiana. Her father's (John Widener's) family was one of five, viz., John Widener, Col. Small, Dr. Curtandall, Col. Snapp and William Hogue, wTho came from the James River country, Virginia, in the latter part of the last century, and set¬ tled at Post St. Vincent, as Vincennes was then called, and were the first American citizens who settled in Indiana, Post St. Vincent being, at the time, the only settlement, camp or post in what is now the " Hoosier " State. And there his wife was born, in February, 1798. Blackburn took an active part in the Black Hawk war, as noted further on in this chapter. He has always been an active man in the community, full of energy and enterprise, and succeeded in accumulating a fine property. The Colonel sometimes entertains his friends with the following

When the seat of government was moved from Vandalia to Springfield, there was no road or trace from this section of the country to the new capital, and a movement was at once inaugurated, the object of which was the layingout of a public highway from Paris to Springfield. Amos Williams was appointed to make the survey, and went to Springfield with his " surveying traps," chain-carriers, etc., started at that point to run a line to Paris, but not allowing sufficiently for the variation of the compass, struck the Sugar Creek timber a mile and a half northeast of Paris. He switched ofif to the southward, however, when he found where he was, and finally got his line into the town. He had planted a stake about three feet high every forty rods along the line to note its location, and on the prairies these stakes were not quite as high as the grassland, consequently, the route was not easily followed. The route as sur- veyed led through the timber bordering the two branches of the Embarrass River, and also the Big and Little Okaw Rivers. A day was appointed when the citizens of Edgar County would turn out en masse and cut a road through the timber named, dig down the banks of the streams so that teams could cross, and make their way through the timber. The appointed day came, bringing with it but three men to do the work, viz., Col. Blackburn, Samuel Vance, and David Crosier. After waiting long enough to find that they comprised the crowd of workmen, they started out, determined to cut the road through them¬ selves. Each man was mounted and carried a little sack of corn to feed his horse, and also carried a lunch for himself. ' They cut through the timber of the two Embarrass Rivers and the Big Okaw, and it was seventeen miles across the prairie to the next or Little Okaw timber, and the afternoon fast wearing away. It was with much difficulty they could follow the route over the prairie by the stakes, which, as before observed, were not as high as the prairie grass. Night overtook them when not more than half way between the two Okaw tim¬ bers. (The panthers will come in by and by.) After looking about for a camping-place, they could find nothing better than to " squat " in the middle of the prairie. Vance and Crosier ''hobbled their horses, so that they could not get off, fed them the corn they had with them, while Blackburn intended, before going to sleep, to tie his bridle around his wrist, so that, should his horse become restless, he would awake him, but dropped to sleep without doing so. After attending to their horses and feeding them, they sat down on the ground back to back and talked awhile, when, being much fatigued from their day's work, they all fell asleep. Sometime during the night, Blackburn was awakened by the neighing of a horse, and, springing to his feet, found his animal gone, having dropped off to sleep without fastening his bridle to his arm as he had intended, as above stated. He mounted Crosier's horse and started back on the trace, thinking he would soon overtake his own, but, arriving back at the Big Okaw timber without seeing anything of it, gave up the chase, conclud¬ ing, however, to search through the timber, and to keep a lookout, lest he had passed it on the prairie before reaching the timber. When they had passed through this timber in the afternoon, they had noticed on the margin of the prairie adjoining it, quite a number of piles of prairie-grass half as bio- as an ordinary hay-cock, but had not paid a great deal of attention to them ; they had also noticed an old dead hickory-tree standing by the/ "trace " on fire, and burning up toward the top. This served as a wav-mark, a kind of beacon-light, to guide him across the prairie through the darkness. At this burning tree he made him a torch, with which he rode through the bottom and the timber, and along the margin of the prairie looking for his horse. He finally came to where another large hickory had been shivered by a bolt of lightning, and literally torn into splinters. Here he replenished his torch, and, turning away from the tree, he discovered a panther, one of the largest he ever saw, scarcely ten feet from him, its eyes shining like two balls of fire. His horse had not yet seen it. Turning toward it, he shouted, Charge ! and spurred directly at it. The animal jumped to one side, as if attempting a flank movement, but he wheeled his horse with the Rapidity he used to .do in the Black Hawk campaign, but Mr. Panther had "fallen back in good order" and disappeared. Thinking he might still be lurking near, and knowing the mortal fear of wild animals of fire, he set his torch to the old splintered hickory and soon had a considerable bonfire, and by this remained until the welcome light of day. Not finding his own horse, he returned to the place where he had left Crosier and Vance, told them the story of the panther, after which they went on and finished the road, then started on their return home. Having now but two horses, it was necessary to "ride and tie," that is, to take it by spells walking. When they got back to the Big Okaw timber, he and Crosier concluded to examine some of the piles of prairie-grass, there being quite a number in the vicinity. He was walking at the time, and carry¬ ing the one gun they had with them, while Vance and Crosier were carrying the tools they had used in making the road. They examined five of the grasspiles alluded to. In the first pile was a fawn partly devoured ; in the next, a full-grown deer also partly eaten ; in the third, another fawn; in the fourth, a raccoon, and in the fifth, a wild turkey, or rather skeleton, for nothing was left but the bones and wing-feathers, while the stench of the place was equally strong, and very similar to the animal cages of Van Amburgh's menagerie. Thinking it rather an unhealthy place to loiter, they retreated as fast as cir¬ cumstances would permit. (Our readers will think, perhaps, that this is not much of a panther story after all ; but we have not opened all their cages yet.) Some months after the occurrence above related, some one (he never knew to whom he was indebted for it) sent Col. Blackburn a Kaskaskia paper contain¬ ing an account of a party of hunters going out from that town, and "where the Springfield and Paris trace crossed the Big Okaw timber, had killed seventeen full-grown panthers." This was the interesting little family, or a part of it, that Col. Blackburn had spent the night with there but a few months before. It is his opinion, and doubtless it is a correct one, that the piles of grass was the family pantry, and contained provisions laid up by the panthers for future use.

Other Early Settlers

Hiram Newlon came from Virginia and settled in Stratton Township in 1824. He and his wife are both still living and in good health for their time of life. He is in good circumstances, and one of the prosperous farmers of the country. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace. A. G. Fitzgerald came from Meade County, Ky., in 1825, and settled about a mile east of Col. Blackburn's, and very near to the center of the township. He is still living. Though he came from Kentucky here, he is a native of North Caro¬ lina. He is a brother-in-law of Col. Morrison, his wife being a sister to Mor¬ rison. Col. D. A. Morrison was also from Meade County, Ky., and came to this township in November, 1826. He rented land the first year, and the next November settled where he now lives. His farm is just in the center of the township, and here he has lived for over half a century. He has been quite a stock-raiser, and also quite a dealer in that line. George King came from New York in 1825. After remaining here a number of years he removed to Wisconsin, where he became quite a noted man, serving with some distinction in the Legislature of the Badger State. Solomon Douthard was from some of the Eastern States and settled here in 1827. He sold out and moved West, and there died.

George Board came from Bourbon County, Ky.', and settled in Strat¬ ton Township in 1822. He died on the place of his original settlement many years ago ; has a son living in Terre Haute, and another somewhere in the Wabash Valley. He was the first Coroner of Edgar County, and filled the office almost from the time of the county's organization to his death. Matthew R. Scott, mentioned in the list of early settlers of Brouillett Town¬ ship, first settled in this neighborhood, but did not remain long, when he sold out and removed to the place where he now lives. Edward Wheeler, another of the early settlers of Brouillett, located here first, where he remained but a short time. Thomas Cox, a son-in-'law of William Van Houtin, came from the same place that Van Houtin came from, and settled in this town in 1827. He died on his original settlement about three years ago. Garrett . Harrison settled about one mile from Blackburn's in 1824-25 ; remained but a few years, when he sold out and moved away. Richard Kimbrough settled in the town in 1825, and is alluded to as one of the early school-teachers. Samuel Trogdon, mentioned as one of the early comers in Elbridge Township, after remaining there a few years removed to this town, where he died in 1840. George and Abram Welsh were among the early settlers of Stratton. George came here in 1824 and bought out John Lowry. He has been dead thirty years or more. Rev. Samuel McGee was one of the early preachers, and was from Tennessee. He came here in 1825, and is mentioned further in connec¬ tion with the early church history. James Cummins came in the spring of 1830, and entered the land where the town of Vermilion now stands. He was from Kentucky, and a brother, Robert Cummins, came here with him. James Cummins sold out to James S. A ermilion, who came out that fall and was also from Kentucky.

Hon. George W. Rives, now of Paris, was from Virginia, and came here in 1839, looking after lands belonging to his father, and liked the country so well that he remained. He is a son of Hon. Joseph Rives, who served two or three terms in the Congress of the United States from Virginia. Hon. William C. Rives was a brother to Joseph, and was for some time in the United States Senate, and was also Minister to France under President Jackson. John C. Rives, another member of the family, was for years editor of the Congressional Globe. Hon. George W. Rives settled, as above stated, in Stratton, where he married Col. Mayo's youngest sister, and where he lived until 1851, when he removed to Paris. He wTas a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1847. He has also served three terms in the State Legislature and eight years as County Clerk, and wTas the first United States Assessor appointed foi this district by Abraham Lincoln. As a coincidence in his public life, ho served in the first session of the Legislature after both the Constitutional Con vention of 1847 and of 1869-70.

The Black Hawk War

As frequently noted in this work, there were plenty of Indians in this section of the country when white people first came here. But, as much has already been said on the subject, we will not repeat it, but, with a few words in regard to the Black Hawk war, will pass on to other matters. Blackburn was Colonel of the militia of the county when the war assumed its most violent aspect, and in that capacity was called upon by the Governor for four companies (200 men). He received his orders on Saturday, and so rapidly did he push forward his recruiting that on the Monday week following he marched for the front, with the full complement of men. Of the eight townships in the county at that time, each formed a militia company for the regular drills, and from each two companies he called for a company of volunteers. The townships of Stratton and E'lbridge made one company ; all volunteered as privates. After the complement was made up, the company proceeded to elect its officers, with the following result: J. M. Blackburn, Captain; Isaac Sanford, First Lieutenant, and Aloysius Brown, Second Lieutenant. LTpon the arrival of " our army in Flanders," they elected field officers, and Blackburn was elected Colonel of the regiment (other officers of the regiment have been given in another chapter), and Isaac Sanford wTas elected Captain of the Stratton and Elbridge company, in his place. In the election for " field officers," Blackburn, Mayo and Sanford were candidates for Colonel, and Blackburn, receiving a majority, was elected to the position. The regiment was known as the " First Regiment of Illinois Mounted Volunteers," and was out about ninety days. It participated in most of the fighting after it arrived in the field, and was present at the battle of Bad Ax.

Game of all kinds was plenty here at the first settlement of the country. Deer and wild turkeys, bears and other species of birds and animals were abun¬ dant. Prairie wolves were more than plenty. Col. Blackburn describes a wolfhunt he and nine others had one day in midwinter, when the snow was deep. They would start up a wolf, gallop after it, and the man with the fastest horse would knock the wolf down with a club. By the middle of the afternoon they had killed ten and he had knocked down nine of them. He had a good horse, was fond of the sport, and when a wolf was started, he says it was kill wolf or kill horse. The wolves wTere the great pests of the people, as it was almost impossible to raise pigs or lambs on account of them. Col. Blackburn says he

Col. Mayo and John Stratton brought the first lot of sheep from Kentucky introduced in Edgar County. It consisted of 130 head, which they sold at $2 apiece to people in this section who wished to embark in the business of raising sheep. Col. Blackburn says he mowed the first timothy meadow in the county, and sold the first load of timothy hay ever sold in Paris. It took him and a hired hand all day to cut and cure a load, and put it on the wagon, and took him with two yoke of cattle another day to haul it to Paris, and then he would get §2 for the load. He sold the first lot of fat cattle sold in the county. It consisted of twenty head, principally twro, three and four year old steers, and for the lot he got two $100 United States notes. The buyers took them to White River and shipped them to New Orleans.

First Shops, Roads, Officers, Etc

Michael Step was one of the first blacksmiths in the towmship. It is thought by some, however, that there was a shop before him, down on or near Sandford's farm, though the name of the man wrho kept it is now forgotten. Samuel Trogdon also was a blacksmith, and kept a shop early in this neighbor¬ hood. The first settlers in this part of the country went to mill at Shakerstown, near Vincennes, Ind. Afterward a mill was built near the mouth of Brouillett's Creek, which transferred the custom to that locality, as noted in the history of Hunter and Brouillett Townships. And these outside mills, as they might be termed, were the sources of supply, until a mill was built at Ver¬ milion, which nowr supplies the demands of a large section of country. A hat¬ ter's shop was opened in this township at a very early day, and was the first institution of the kind in the county. It wras carried on by James and Thomas Butler, who settled about a mile east of where Col. Morrison now lives. They sold out in a few years and moved aw'ay. The first regularly laid out road through the township was from Paris to Durgis Ferry, on the Wabash River. From Blackburn's Cemetery to Paris, that old original road is still used. The next road was one striking oft' from the one just mentioned and running to Terre Haute.

The first Justice of the Peace in the town was Hiram Newlon, who held the office so long ago that no one can tell when he wTas first appointed. Josiah Harrison was also one of the early Justices of the town, probably the next after Newlon. The present Justices are John Duck and James Castle. When the oounty adopted township organization, Stratton and Hunter being then all one town, John Hunter, now of the latter, wras elected the first Supervisor from Stratton Township, and wras chosen Chairman or President of the Board of Supervisors. The present Supervisor is Benjamin Allen, and David Mason is I own Clerk. A full history of the formation of Hunter Towmship (which was made mostly from Stratton and leaving it fractional in size) is given in

Hiram Sandford, a son of Isaac Sandford, and an esteemed citizen of Paris, is supposed to be the first white child born in Stratton Township. The first death was the wife of a man named Laswell, who died in 1821, and was buried' near Col. Blackburn's, and where the beautiful little burying-ground known as Blackburn Cemetery has since been laid out and deeded to the neighborhood by him. When this lady died, Blackburn went to a workman, who lived seven miles distant, for a coffin. The man worked on it all night, and finished it the next morning, when Blackburn carried it home before him on his horse. Another cemetery was laid out on the Sanford farm, and still another, at the Christian Church at Little Grove. The first wedding that occurred in the township is not remembered. That there has been " marrying and giving in marriage,"' the present population is prima-facie evidence.

Educational And Religious

The first school in Stratton was probably taught by Richard Kimbrough in the winter of 1825-26, in the schoolhouse that stood on Trogdon's farm, and is supposed by some to have been the first schoolhouse erected in the county. William Doning taught a school soon after this in the schoolhouse that stood near Blackburn's. He was a good, honest old Kentuckian, who had been edu¬ cated under the old dispensation ; had learned to spell from Dill worth's old speller, and perhaps had never seen any other. In such words as half and calf, it gave the " 1 " its full sound, and ge-o-graph'y was spelled thus, with the accent on the third syllable. As stated, the schoolhouse near Trogdon's was the first schoolhouse in the township, and the one at Blackburn's was the next. The latter was torn down last fall, after having served as a schoolhouse for over forty years. The town has now seven schoolhouses and seven districts, besides the village of Vermilion, in all of which excellent schools are maintained for the usual term of months each year. In a word, the schools of Stratton are in a flourishing state and liberally patronized.

Rev. Samuel McGee is one of the first preachers remembered in Stratton Township. He was from Tennessee, and came to the settlement as early as 1825. Rev. Mr. Ward came a few years later. They first preached the New Light doctrine, but is what is now the Christian Church belief. The Little Grove Church was built under the administration of Rev. Mr. McGee, and was one of the first church edifices built in the county. The society was originally formed in a schoolhouse at Sassafras Grove, about 1832-33, and the first church built in 1834-35. It was a frame building, 36x40 feet, and in this edifice they wor¬ shiped until 1864, a new house was built, 30x40 feet, at a cost of $800. They have had no regular Pastor since the Rev. J. G. Burroughs, who was with them about three years ago. David Kimbrough and A. G. Fitzgerald are Elders in the Church, and conduct religious services. There is at this time a membership

Blackberry Chapel, of the M. E. Church, was built about eight or ten years ago. Rev. Mr. Dillon was the first preacher. The Church membership is small, it being merely a neighborhood organization. Rev. Mr. Hedges is the present Pastor. He has in charge this Church, and the " North Arm " Church, that at Vermilion, together with one or two others. The Church his¬ tory will be again alluded to in the history of the village of Vermilion. Col. Blackburn says he is the only one now alive of the first members of the Pres¬ byterian Church in Paris. Though he was not one of the original organizers of it, he became a member at the first meeting after its formation.

Topography, Politics, Etc

Stratton Township is generally rather level, though sufficiently rolling to drain well. It has no water-courses of any consequence, Coal Creek and one or two other small branches running through it. The town is pretty well diver¬ sified between timber and prairie, the former, perhaps, predominating. It is traversed from east to west by the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, which has proved of great value to the town and its inhabitants, both in giving them a market at home, and in moving the large quantities of grain and stock pro¬ duced in the neighborhood. As a full history of this road is given in the gen¬ eral county history,, we will not go into details of it in this chapter. Stratton is bounded on the north by Hunter Township, on the west by Paris, on the south by Elbridge, and on the east by the State of Indiana, and, as elsewhere stated, is only about two-thirds the size of a Congressional town.

Politically, Stratton is one of the Republican strongholds of this Demo¬ cratic county. In the early days, and when Whigs and Democrats were the two great political parties, it was Whig, and since the organization of the Re¬ publican party, it has been of that color on the questions of the day, giving usually some 200 Republican majority. In the late war, no township of its population turned out more soldiers. As an example of their loyalty : A son of Col. Morrison's, a son-in-law, a brother-in-law and two hired men left at one time for the army. This left him alone, and at the time he had 1,500 head of sheep and about 80 head of cattle on hand, and no one but himself to take care of them. In our war record, in another department of this work, will be found the names of all who went from this township, as well as all who went from the county.

The Villages

^ ermilion, a village of several hundred inhabitants, is situated on the I. & bt. L. R. R., about eight miles east of Paris. It was surveyed and laid out by Edward W olcott, County Surveyor, in 1856, for James S. Vermilion, the pro¬ prietor of the land. But few lots were sold, one of which was bought by Abram Showalter, and on it he hired Vermilion to build him a storehouse and residence. Showalter opened a store in it about 1856-57, and the house is now occupied as a saddle and harness shop, by John Rafferty. A post office was established in 1860-61, and Christopher Showalter was the first Postmaster. The present Postmaster is A. J. Boyer. Quite an extensive business is carried on here in grain. J. C. Besier, Sims and Burns all handle grain, and a large amount is annually shipped from this point. There are two large grain ware¬ houses, capable of storing some 20,000 bushels of grain. One belongs to J. C. Besier and the other to Burns. Vermilion is also a large shipping-point of stock, principally hogs. A large flouring-mill was built in 1861 by Henderson Burson at a cost of about $23,000. It is a five-story frame building, with three runs of buhrs, and is capable of doing a much larger business than the demands of the country at present require. It is rented by Thomas Parrott, who runs it but little over half the time, we are told.

A summary of the present business of Vermilion is about as follows: Two dry goods stores, Christopher Showalter and J. C. Besier ; two drug stores, William Valker and Dr. Ferris; two grocery stores, Samuel Dancy and A. J. Boyer, the latter is Postmaster; agricultural store, millinery store, blacksmithshops, harness and saddle shops, wagon-shops, house carpenters and joiners, and shoe-shops, butcher-Ghops, etc., etc. It is quite a business town, live and wide¬ awake, and its citizens energetic and prosperous. Several very handsome brick buildings, a number of elegant churches, and an excellent public school-build¬ ing are ornaments to the place.

The first school taught in the village of Vermilion was by Edward Eldridge, and the first schoolhouse built in the town was sold some years ago to the Universalist Church. The present elegant brick was erected in 1870, at a cost of about $5,000. It is modern in its arrangements, well-furnished and well-adapted to school purposes. The school at present is in charge of Prof. Chilcoat. Thus it will be seen that the little village is well-supplied with educational facilities, and none need be deprived of these benefits.

The first church built in the village was by the United Brethren, and was built about 1856. It cost originally about $500, and is now occupied by the Missionary Baptists, they having bought it. The present elegant brick church of the United Brethren was built at a cost of about $2,500. The pres¬ ent preacher is Rev. Mr. Peters, who has in his charge a large and flourishing membership. The Pastor of the Baptist Church is Rev. Jarrett Riley, with a membership of some thirty or forty. The M. E. Church was built in the summer of 1865. The foundation of it was built with brick from the old brick church that stood on the Sandford farm, and the body of the build¬ ing is a frame, the whole costing about $1,500. Rev. Mr. Hedges is the Pas¬ tor, with a large and flourishing membership. A brick church, and the one referred to, was built on Sandford's farm about 1842, and belonged to the M. E. Church. It was the second church edifice in the township. As already noted, the Universalist Church was originally built for a schoolhouse, and bought by the Church when the new schoolhouse was built. They remod¬ eled it, and made quite a handsome little church of it. They have no regular Pastor, and but a small membership. Rev. Mr. Bunn was their last Pastor.

* Both the Masons and Odd Fellows are represented here by flourishing Lodges: Stratton Lodge, No. 408, A., F. & A. M., was organized in Jan¬ uary, 1863. The first officers were D. A. Morrison, Worshipful Master; Na¬ than Sanford, Senior Warden ; F. T. D. Vale, Junior Warden, and Ira K. Elliott, Secretary. The present officers are as follows: Charles A. Sisk, Worshipful Master ; William M. T weeding, Senior Warden ; 0. N. Kountz, Junior Warden, and D. A. Kimbrough, Secretary, with sixty members.

Lecture Lodge, No. 563, I. 0. 0. F., was organized January 13, 1875. L. P. Besier was the first Noble Grand ; C. A. Sisk, Vice Grand ; and J. A. Castle, Secretary. The present officers are G. A. Kimbrough, Noble Grand; J. E. Mason, Vice Grand, and S. J. Sheppard, Secretary. In connection with the Masonic fraternity, they own an elegant hall worth about §3,000. It is a brick edifice, and the lower part is owned by Showalter, while the upper story belongs to the Masons and Odd Fellows. The latter organization was organized in the village under the following circumstances : Something more than four years ago a man named William Given, a minister of the Lmited Breth¬ ren Church, advertised to deliver a lecture at Vermilion, on the baleful influ¬ ences exercised by secret societies. All secret organizations were included in the reverend brother's ecclesiastical condemnation, but Masonry and Odd Fellowship particularly were, in the slang of the period, to be "sat down on." He had once been a Mason, or, more properly speaking, belonged to the Order - a true Mason he never had been. He was a member of the lodge at Vermilion, and just before the lecture made a request to withdraw from the lodge, on the grounds that "his Church was opposed to secret societies.' After his lecture was over, Col. Morrison, a leading member of the Masons, said to Mr. L. P. Besier, whom he knew to be an Odd Fellow, " Whv don't you start a lodge of Odd Fellows ; now is a good time to do it." Said he, " We have no place to meet. Morrison told him he would use his influence with the Masons for the Odd Fellows to have the use of their hall six months, rent free. Besier went to work, and in a few days their lodge was organized ; and to-day they have a flourishing body of sixty members or more. Another proof that these mighty institutions, embracing almost every people under the sun, cannot be disturbed by the puny opposition of a few religious fanatics.

A ermilion was incorporated as a village April 1, 1872, and the following Board of Trustees elected, viz., D. A. Kimbrough, James Frazier, Geo. W. Tilley, R. B. Wright and W. A. Koho. The Board organized by electing Ik Kimbrough, President, and George V. Tilley, Clerk. The present Board are V illiam M. Meadows, F. T. D. Vale, G. W. Sims, C. H. Showalter and M. A\ hitehead. William M. Meadows is President of the Board; J. J. Sva n, Clerk; John Rafferty, Police Magistrate. As already stated, Vermil- ion was laid out by James S. Vermilion, and received its name from him. The original plat embraced the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 12, Town 13 north, Range 11 west, and since its first laying-out several additions have been made, until the little town covers considerable space.

The Village Of Kentucky

This village "was surveyed and la'd out by J. Mayo, Deputy Surveyor for C. B. Jones, County Surveyor, for Isaiah Welsh, the owner of the land embraced in the original plat, and is on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 11, Town 13 north, Range 11 west. The plat is recorded November 23, 1854. An addition wras made to the village of Kentucky August 30, 1806, by D. A. Morrison, being a part of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 2, Town 13 north, Range 11 west, and was surveyed by Lewis Wallace, County Surveyor.

Kentucky at one time was quite a little village, with two or three small stores and groceries. James Gordon kept the first store, and, perhaps, the largest the town ever had about 1866-67. He continued in business about a vear, when he sold out and went to the village of Redmon. A man named Henderson also kept a small store, and another of the name of Ewing. The railroad put in a side-track, and for a time much grain and stock were shipped from the place. A depot was put up by Morrison at his own expense, and a grain warehouse. Morrison and Allen built a saw-mill here and operated it for ten or twelve years, then sold it for a stave-factorv. After changing hands a few more times, it took fire and was burned to the ground.

But after Vermilion was laid out, the glory of Kentucky began to wane. It grew more rapidly than the latter ever had, and is, perhaps, the most eligible site for a town. The trains quit stopping at Kentucky, and finally removed the side-track. Morrison tore down the depot building which he had himself built and hauled it away. Those who had been in business there sought other fields, and the place that knew the village of Kentucky, now knows it no more. Passe.

Historically speaking, Brouillett holds a front place among the townships of Edgar County, with a record running back nearly threescore of years. Yes, almost sixty years have dissolved in the mists of the past since the echoes of the woodman's ax first resounded through the lofty forests of Brouillett, as he felled the trees for his cabin, or cleared away the timber for a " patch " of corn or garden " truck." Its forests and prairies, where erst the red man trapped the Avolf or pursued the bounding deer, are now fertile fields, dotted here and there Avitli lordly mansions, while the Indian yell has died away forever on this side of the Father of Waters. The young men have grown old, and the old men are in their graves, who first saw it in its pristine beauty and joined

Brouillett Township occupies a place in the eastern range of towns, and is bounded on the east by the State of Indiana, on the north by Prairie Township, on the west by Edgar, on the south by Hunter, and is about one tier of sections short of a full Congressional township. It is pretty well divided between prairie and woodland ; is rather level, except along the margin of Brouillett's Creek, the north fork of which meanders diagonally through its center. Most of the woodland is rather thin soil, but is covered, or was at the time of early settlement, with a fine growth of white and black oak, hickory, elm, ash, and a light sprinkle of -walnut along the edge of the prairies. The old Indian bound¬ ary line passes between this and Edgar Township, and is more particularly referred to in the general county history. No railroad tracks mar the sacred soil of Brouillett, neither are there any cities or large towns within its borders, but wholly oblivious as to the wickedness of the great cities of the outside world, its quiet citizens move on in the even tenor of their ways, engaged in agricul¬ tural and domestic pursuits.

Early History And Settlement

Robert J. Scott, Sr., the oldest settler living, perhaps, in Brouillett Town¬ ship at the present day, came from the Buckeye State in 1825. In March of that year he came to Illinois on a trip of inspection, and among other points visited was Edgar County. Paris, this lovely little city of the plain, he says, upon his arrival he found to contain some ten or twelve newly-built log cabins, covered with "clapboards," or "shakes," as the "Yankees" called them. There was quite a settlement on the "North Arm" of Grand Prairie, which runs into this section of the county, and contains the site of the first settle¬ ment, not only of Edgar County, but the first settlement made in the eastern part of the State, as noticed in another page. Being highly pleased with the country he had seen, he returned to his old home in Ohio, to make immediate preparations for immigrating to Illinois. In August following his first visit, he removed to Edgar County, bringing with him his family, and also his mother and her family. The latter consisted of his mother (his father having previously died) and two sons and two daughters, while his own family con¬ sisted of his wife and five children. They came by water to Terre Haute, making the voyage in a boat built by Mr. Scott himself, and from there to the place of their settlement, in a wagon. For a time, they occupied a cabin on the "North Arm Prairie, owned by Aloysius Brown. They were nearly all sick on their arrival, and the elder Mrs. Scott died within a week after their coming to the settlement. In addition to the sickness in his mother's family, and her death, four of his own children, says Mr. Scott, "had the ague every day for three months, ' nor did he escape altogether, but occasionally joined in the " shake himself. But when the swallows took their flight to the " south- land," and the cold breezes burdened with the snowflakes came down from the north, it, like the yellow plague of the Southern States, disappeared. In those early times, the ague was one of the natural foes to be met with in the wilds of Illinois. During the fall and winter, Mr. Scott built a cabin in the forks of Brouillett's Creek, into which he moved with his family in January, 1826, and where he has since resided. For more than fifty years he has occupied this place without change, except the erection of more elegant and commodious buildings. He says that when he settled on his present farm, his nearest neighbors were Wells Morgan and a Mr. Carlin, who lived northwest of his place, in what is now Edgar Township, and about two and a half miles distant, while two or three miles further away lived Judge William Lowry, Col. Wm. Wyatt, and a few others who had settled there in 1824. In the spring of 1827, Matthew R. Scott and John Fuller settled on lands adjoining Robert Scott, and they, as well as himself, being in rather limited circumstances, did most of their farm work with a partnership team. M. R. Scott lived in Stratton Town¬ ship a year or two before he settled here. He is one of the honored and respected citizens of this township.

The Joneses and Samuel Littlefield were from the pine forests of Maine, and settled in Hunter Township early as 1819, where they are mentioned among the early comers to that neighborhood. They spent their first winter West in Terre Haute, and in the spring of 1819, crossed the raging Wabash and settled in Hunter, as above stated. They resided there until 1826, when they removed to Brouillett Township and settled permanently. Jacob Jones was a man of some prominence, and possessed considerable property. He died in 1851, in the neighborhood where he had settled more than a quarter of a century before. Samuel Jones was his son, and came to the West at the same time, but located first in Vigo County, Ind., and while living there made the first brick ever made in that county, and with which the first brick house was built in Terre Haute. He removed to Brouillett Township in 1826, and entered the land where his son, Z. T. Jones, now lives. He died in 1876. Richard Jones, a younger son of Jacob Jones, settled north of the others, in what is now Prairie Township, and is noticed further in the history of that town. Little¬ field was a son-in-law of Jacob Jones, and removed to this section with the Joneses. He was quite a noted man in the community, and owned a large body of land. His death occurred in 1845, but his widow still survives at the ripe old age of fourscore years ; and a son, Thomas B. Littlefield, lives in the neighborhood. Sylvester Barker is also a son-in-law of Jacob Jones, and hails from the granite hills of New Hampshire. He came to the Western country in 1816 and stopped at the future city of Terre Haute, then a feeble settlement of two or three cabins, standing in the shadow of the walls of Fort Harrison. Here he remained until 1826, except short visits now and then at Fort Har¬ rison, when the unpleasant proximity of hostile savages rendered a residence beyond its frowning battlements perilous in the extreme. He settled in Prairie

Township in 1826, and the next year removed into Brouillett Township, where he lived until 1839, then removed to Paris, and has since resided there, spend¬ ing the evening of his days in peace and comfort.

In 1850, Mr. Barker went to California, making the trip overland. In making the overland trip to the Pacific coast, during the gold fever, it was the custom for about four men to band together and make up a team between them. This was not only for company and convenience, but for safety, as affording the better means of protection. Barker's partners on the long, dreary trip w ere his son, J. H. Vance and Henry Hignot. While they did not make an immense fortune in the Golden State, they perhaps made a little more, for the time they remained, than they would have made on their farms for the same period. Samuel Jones crossed the plains in 1849, at the first breaking-out of the gold fever, and was very successful in his mining operations, digging out as much as 81,000 in ore in two days. The lead, however, did not long hold out at that rate

Mr. Barker has in bis possession a pencil-drawing of old Fort Harrison, which is said to be a very true and correct representation of the old fort, w'here the early settlers were often forced to take shelter, when that most horrible of all cries to the pioneer - " Indians ! " - was wont to startle the community. It stood about three miles above the present railroad bridge, on the Indiana side of the Wabash River, and was built of heavy timber. The council house, which was about forty feet square, stood just outside of the walls of the Fort, and was the scene of many a powwow between the red man and his pale-face neighbors, when the doughty warriors thrilled their audience with their fiery, native elo¬ quence. It show's also a number of huts where the Indians used to stay when they came to the Fort to exchange their furs for powder and " fire-water.'' A squad of Indians came there once in midwinter, during a very cold spell of weather, to barter their furs to a Frenchman named Pierre Brouillett, an Indian trader from Vincennes, who made this a stopping-place a part of the season. Next morning one of the Indians was found dead, and upon investigation, a ver¬ dict was rendered that the Indian had come to his death from drinking so much of the Wabash, in order to get a little of old Brouillett's whisky, that the " water had congealed in his stomach, thus producing congestion of the bowels " - a learned decision for that day and time, and one that w ill doubtless startle the medical savants of the present day.

Edward Wheeler was also a son-in-law of Jacob Jones. He came from New York to the North Arm settlement in 1822. a young man, and married Narissa Jones, the family living at the time in Hunter Township. After marriage, he took his bride to New Y^ork. where they remained until 1830, when they returned to Illinois and settled in Brouillett Township. Their marriage is else¬ where noticed as the first occurring in Hunter Township. A son, Andrew Y. Wheeler, lives in the neighborhood and is one of the liberal-spirited citizens of the town. He donated the land on which Mount Carmel Church stands, as elsewhere noted.

Among the early settlers of this town, in addition to those already noticed, Aye may mention the following, most of whom settled here previous to 1880: Jonathan and Sanborn Basford ; David Light, Godfrey, Isaac and Abraham

Evans, John S. Brown, William Allen, William Hurst, Daniel and Lewis Camerer, John Clarke, Jesse Moore, William C. Trimble, John Wilson, John Somerville, Enos Martin, William Beard, Stephen Parker and a brother, Augustus Wyatt, Reuben Lowry and Joseph Barkley. The Buckeye State

Coffman, Daniel and Lewis Camerer, William Hurst, David Light, Simon Camerer, and perhaps others Avho are entitled to rank as old settlers. Godfrey and Isaac Wilkins were brothers, and settled here in 1829. Abraham Wilkins Avas a son of Godfrey Wilkins, and settled in the neighborhood about 1887, Avhere he still lives. His father died here many years ago. Isaac Wilkins the toA\7nship in 1828, where he still lives. Hurst settled here in 1826, and had a large family, but all have removed to other sections, and none are now living in the toAvn. The old gentleman died about 1865. John Clarke settled in Brouillett in 1829, and married a daughter of Godfrey Wilkins. He bought eighty acres of land of Sylvester Barker, upon AA'hich he built a carding machine in 1841. It Avas propelled by horse-power, and A\Tas for carding ayooI into rolls. These were spun by the AArives and daughters, and Avoven into cloth for the family clothing. We are thus particular in describing the process, because the young people of the present day are totally ignorant of this home employment of the early times, and our modern girls, Ave doubt not, knoAv as little of the abig wheel '' and loom their mothers and grandmothers Avere so familiar Avith, as the Hottentots knoAv of the Ten Commandments. Clarke died some tAventy years ago, on the place where he built his carding machine. The Camerers, though coming to this settlement from Ohio, Avere originally from Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Clermont County, Ohio, in 1809, settling there in the midst of the Indians, then very plenty in that section of the coun¬ try. They remained in Ohio until 1830, AAThen they removed to Illinois and settled in Brouillett Township. At that time there aauis but one county orga¬ nized north of Edgar County, and the earliest settlers in Brouillett had been located four or five years. Daniel Camerer died upon his original farm, in 1850, at the age of seventy-one years, and his Avife six years later, at the age of seventy-two years. LeAATis Camerer died in 1855, in the same log house he built Avhen he first came to the toAvnship. David Light came in 1837, and after living in the town seA'eral years, remoAred to Prairie Township, where at present he resides. He tells the folloAving story of an encounter he had with a avoH in the early days, when AA olves Avere a spontaneous growth in the country : Hear¬ ing a young calf in his yard making a noise as if in distress, he Avent out to see AA'hat was the matter, and found a Avolf making hostile demonstrations toward it. As the wolf attempted to jump through a crack of the fence, he caught it by its hind legs and essayed to knock its head against the fence, but every time he gave it a backward swing for that purpose his dog would catch hold of it, which made too heavy a load to swing both. The wolf finally got his hand in its mouth, and from its bite his hand is still crippled. Mr. Light has two or three sons living in the neighborhood where he first settled.

Sanborn Basford and his father, Jonathan Basford, were from the Green Mountains of Vermont. They came to Brouillett Township in 1828. The elder Basford, it seems, was in poor health, and died at the house of Samuel Jones, in a few years after moving into the township. They had located first in Indiana, near the Illinois line, but remained there only a short time, when thev came to this town. After the death of his father, Sanborn Basford removed to Missouri, where he was still living at last accounts of him. Enos Hobbs was from Tennessee, and had a son named Thomas, who served in Cap¬ tain Mayo's company during the Black Hawk war. Thomas removed to Missouri, and was living at Trenton three years ago, since which time nothing has been heard of him. His father brought to this section a very fine race-horse, of the " Brimmer " stock. He was considered very fast - the horse was, not Hobbs - for that remote period, when such feats as have been performed by Longfellow, Goldsmith Maid, Rarus, and a host of other celebrities of the turf, were not dreamed of. But then he was a hero of the times, and Hobbs used to make many races with him. The Hobbses came to the town about 1828, and the old gentleman, as well as his son, removed to Missouri many years ago, and there died. James Murphy came from the Old Dominion, the home of states¬ men and the birthplace of Presidents. He is among the first settlers of this township, where he lived some years, and then sold out, removed to Missouri, where he died several years ago. William Allen is another Virginian, and set¬ tled in Brouillett in 1828-29, but removed into Ross Township, a few miles west of Chrisman, about six years, remaining there about four years, then removed into the village of Chrisman, where he now lives, a hearty old gentleman, seventy-five years of age.

Irom old Kentucky, famous for its fine stock, pretty women and good whis ky, came the following sturdy pioneers, and made settlements in this township : lhomas Evans, George W. Haws, John Brown, William C. Trimble, John W ilson, John Somerville and Jesse Moore. Thomas Evans settled here in 1827, and remained a good citizen of the town until about fifteen years ago, when he removed to Kansas and there died. He had an uncle who was one ol the early settlers of this township. His first name is not remembered, nor the exact date of his settlement. He died at Charleston where he was at the time engaged in some kind of business, but his family were living in this township. John S. Brown came here with his father about 1826, and is still living. George V . Haws came to the settlement in 1833, and is one of the largest land-owners in the township. In coming from Kentucky to Indiana,

BENJAMIN ALLEN, farmer; P. 0. Vermilion; was born in Meade Co., Ky., June 14, 1814, and is the son of Benja¬ min and Mary Allen ; his father was a native of Penn., having moved 'To Ken¬ tucky with his parents at an early day ; Mr. Allen, in December, 1825, with his parents, moved to Illinois and settled in Stratton Tp., Edgar Co.; they purchased 160 acres of land and set out in farming, and also engaged in loading flatboats with produce which was floated down the Wa¬ bash River into the Ohio, then the Miss¬ issippi to New Orleans, and sold ; Mr. Allen was very successful in flatboating ; he had made $700 ; he entered the saw¬ mill business but lost the $700 ; but, with hard labor and good management, he owns one of the best improved farms of Edgar Co.; 307 acres, with forty-five acres in a fine fruit orchard. Mr. Allen has held several offices of trust, and in every instance he has made it his duty to try and give entire satisfaction ; he has proven himself a gentleman of acknowledged ability ; was Justice of the Peace eleven years ; School Treasurer, ten years, and is now Super¬ visor of Stratton Tp. ; was elected on the Greenback ticket. Mr. Allen has been married twice; first wife in 1850, Nancy Holland Hudson, of Tennessee ; she died in 1864 ; married second time to Mary Appleby, of Indiana; have twelve children; ten children living.

J. W. BOYER, Postmaster and mer¬ chant, Vermilion; the subject of this sketch was born in Augusta Co., Va., Feb. 1, 1832, and is the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Ewing) Boyer, natives of Vir¬ ginia ; his father was a farmer and a sol¬ dier of the war of 1812. Mr. Boyer was brought up on his father's farm, engaged in farming, with his parents, emigrated West to Illinois, and settled in Coles Co.; here he remained about twenty-two years, part of the time engaged in teaching school; thence to Clark Co. In 1864, he came to Edgar Co.; here he was engaged in teaching school for four years ; he then accepted a clerkship in Besier & Showalter's store ; from there he entered mercan¬ tile business for himself. In 1872, he was appointed Postmaster; this office he still holds ; also the office of Notary Public. Mr. Boyer married Miss Asenath S. Scott, of Indiana, by whom he has had five children. Mr. Boyer's mother is still liv¬ ing, at the good old age of 78 years.

COL. J AS. M. BLACKBURN, retired farmer ; P. O. Paris ; the subject of this sketch is one of the best known and highly respected farmers of Edgar Co., Ill.; was born in Harrison Co., Ky., June 8, 1797, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (McClanahan) Blackburn.; his father was a farmer, and a native of York Co., Penn., and was a soldier of the war of 1812; when very young he moved to Kentucky. Here he married, and, with wife and three children, moved to Butler Co., Ohio in 1803. Col. Blackburn states he remem¬ bers well when he passed through Cincin¬ nati on their way to Butler Co., the place was then nothing but a small town, now a city of over a quarter of a million inhab¬ itants. They remained in Butler Co. until 1816, then moved to Sullivan Co., Did.; here his father died April 13, 1824; born Nov. 19, 1762; his wife was born May 31, 1773, and died in Edgar Co., Ill. In 1817, Col. Blackburn came to Edgar Co., and purchased 320 acres of land at $2.25 per acre ; he then returned to the farm in Sullivan Co., Ind. In Nov. 23, 1819, he married Cassandra Widener, who was born Aug. 10, 1798, and is supposed to be the first white child born in the Wa¬ bash Valley; her father was John Wide¬ ner, of Virginia, who was the first settler on the Wabash River. In 1820, Col. Blackburn and wife came to Edgar Co. and settled in Stratton Township on the present farm. He first erected a log cabin and lived in this until about 1826; made improvements and kept adding to the house as his family increased. In 1832, Col. Blackburn received orders from the Governor of Illinois for 200 volunteers for the Black Hawk war ; it was but a short time before Col. Blackburn reported with his full quota, and ready to march. He enlisted as a private, but was elected Colonel of the First Regiment 2d Brigade of mounted volunteers (Col. Mayo was the Adjutant); reported at Fort Dixon Aug. 15, 1832. Col. Blackburn's regiment did duty in Illinois and Wisconsin ; was at the battle of Bad Axe, where Black Hawk and his Indians were defeated and driven across the Mississippi Biver. After the close of farm in Edgar Co.; here he has remained ever since. Married second wife, Rachel Webster, March 4, 1835 ; she died March 31, 1874; six children by first wife, and one child by second wife. David S. en¬ listed in the late war ; was Captain of Co. F, 21st Ill. V. I.; participated in some of the prominent battles during the war. Col. Blackburn took the first load of hay to Paris, and sold it for $2 per ton; sold the j first lot of cattle - twenty head - very large and fine cattle, which were sold for $200 for the lot. This is to show what hay and cattle were worth in the first settlement of the county. Col. Blackburn owned at one time 2,300 acres of fine improved land, which had been made by hard work, in¬ dustry and economy, and to publish the reminiscences of his pioneer life in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois would make a valuable volume.

Alexander M. Blackburn

ALEXANDER M. BLACKBURN, farmer ; P. 0. Paris ; this gentleman was born in Stratton Tp., Edgar Co., Ill., Dec. 29, 1827, and is the son of James M. and Cassandra (Widener) Blackburn, who are pioneers of Edgar Co., Ill. Mr. Blackburn was raised on his father's farm, and farmed it principally through life ; in 1853, he moved to California ; here he was engaged in farming and fruit-growing, and remained there until 1863 ; he returned home, and farmed on the old homestead ; he was engaged with his brother in stock business about four years ; in 1875, he moved on the present homestead ; here he has re¬ mained, engaged in farming. May 9, 1865, he married Margaret M. Snyder, who was born in Newport, Ky., Dec. 6,

1835, daughter of Thomas D. Snyder, a real estate broker of Cincinnati ; she died Nov. 19, 1878 ; sick but a short time with lung fever; three children. Mr. Black¬ burn owns 378 acres of land, given to him by his father.

J. C. BESIER, merchant, Vermilion ; the subject of this sketch is one of the most prominent business men of Vermilion ; was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 29, tailor by trade, and a merchant ; Mr. Beiser's father died when he was young ; his first experience in business was clerk¬ ing for his father ; Mr. Besier also served an apprenticeship as house-joiner and stairbuilder ; he came to Edgar Co. in 1856; he first commenced clerking in a store in Vermilion ; then as a partner. In 1861, at the breaking-out of the war, he enlisted as private, Co. D, 1st Mo. V. I.; he par¬ ticipated in some of the prominent battles under Gens. Grant, Sherman, Pope and Fremont ; was mustered out as First Lieutenant of Co. D, 1st" Mo., at Atlanta, Ga.; returned home to Vermilion in 1864. In May, 1865, he commenced the mercan¬ tile business with a partner, firm known as Beatty & Besier ; here he remained as partner until 1 869 ; the firm then dissolved ; he then entered partnership with Mr. Showalter, known as Showalter & Besier ; this firm remained until 1874; then dis¬ solved ; since then, Mr. Besier has been engaged in the general store business alone ; he carries a first-class stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, and a general assortment of goods to be found in a first-class store ; his stock is valued at $10,000 ; Mr. Besier is also engaged in the grain and stock busi¬ ness, with Mr. George Sims as a partner. Mr. Besier married Mrs. Mary E. Patton.

TRUEMAN BLACKMAN, farmer; P. O. Vermilion; the above-named gen¬ tleman is one of the oldest settlers of Edgar Co. ; was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Oct. 13, 1814, and is son of Trueman and Dolly (Pardy) Blackman ; his father was a native of New York, and was the first Sheriff of Vigo Co., Ind.; he came West at an early day ; first settled in Cincinnati, Ohio ; thence to Vincennes, Ind., in 1815 ; here Mr. Blackman's mother died, and his father died in Vigo Co. ; in 1819 or '20, Mr. Blackman came to Edgar Co., Ill., and lived with his uncle, Remember Blackman, who had come to the county at an early day ; here Mr. Blackman remained about eleven years ; he then lived with Isaac Sandford, and remained with him until he was about 21 years old ; at about 23 years old he had saved enough money to pur¬ chase 120 acres of land, for which he paid $6 per acre ; thence to Paris ; here he was engaged in the tannery business with Isaac Sandford, from 1841 to 1856 ; he then returned to farming ; this business he has been engaged in ever since ; lie came here a poor boy, but with hard labor and good management to-day owns 399 acres of fine improved land ; is strictly temperate, both in liquor and tobacco. Mr. Black¬ man has lost three wives ; his first wife was Harriet Sandford, daughter of Isaac Sandford, married in 1840, died 'm 1862, by whom he had six children, two chil¬ dren living - Daniel B., born Nov. 6, 1844, and Elbertina ; married second wife, Margaret Trouteman, by whom he had one child, now dead ; married third wife, Sal lie Crawford, daughter of James and Sallie Ann Crawford, by whom he had two children, one living - Trueman P., born Oct. 1, 1873; third wife died Nov. 29,

EDWABD B. PBISKELL, farmer; P. 0. Paris ; this gentleman was born in Stratton Tp., Edgar Co., Ill., Jan. 5, 1848, and is the son of J. M. and Judith Driskell ; Mr. Driskell, the subject of this sketch, was raised on his father s farm, en¬ gaged in farming; this business he has followed through life; he is now engaged in farming on the old homestead where his parents first settled, in Stratton Tp. Mr. Driskell is the patentee of the Driskell Hoad Scraper, which was patented by him July, 1868. He married Augusta A. Swart April 10, 1877, daughter of the Bev. Peter A. Swart, of the M. E. Church. Mr. Driskell owns 220 acres of flue land.

JOHN S. DILL, farmer; P. O. Paris; come to Edgar Co., 1830; was born in Mason Co., Ivy., Aug. 21, 1811; son of Benjamin and Rachel (Crowsley) Dill ; father was a tailor by trade, a native of Delaware, having moved to Kentucky when very young ; Mr. Dill was raised on a farm, and has been engaged in this vocation principally through life ; when he was about 3 years old, he, with his parents, moved to Clermont Co., Ohio ; here he remained until he was about 19 ; he then came to Edgar Co., Ill. ; came with parents ; first settled in Paris ; here they remained but a short time, then moved to a farm, and remained there until the Black Hawk war; he enlisted in Col. Blackburn's regi¬ ment; Col. Mayo was Captain of company ; he served until the close of war; in 1833, he went to Chicago ; here he was for five years; here he was engaged in the carpen¬ ter business, in fact, he was working about the first year of the progress of this great city ; he engaged there for five years ; he helped move the Pottawatomie tribe west ; these Indians were moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and part to Kansas ; returned to Edgar Co. in 1839; moved to Andrew Co., Mo. ; here he was engaged in farming, part of his time plastering ; he plastered the first house that was plastered in Savan¬ nah, which was the county seat of Andrew Co., Mo. ; the plastering trade he learned in Paris ; here be remained in Missouri eight years, then returned to Edgar Co. ; 1847, settled north of Paris on a farm; there, 1847 to 1856, then started to Kan¬ sas ; went as far as Warrensburgh, Mo., but, on account of trouble in State, returned to Paris; there two years; 1857, drove cattle to the north part of Iowa, then back farming in Edgar Co. ; in 1859, set¬ tled on present homestead ; here he has remained ever since. Married Miss Martha E. Powell, of Nicholas Co., Ky., having come to Edgar Co. 1835, by whom he has had twelve children, seven children living. Owns 207 acres of land.

IRA K. ELIOT, farmer ; P. O. Ver¬ milion ; the subject of this sketch was born in Stratton Tp., Edgar Co., Ill., March 24, 1840, and is the son of Palmer D. and Sophia Eliot, who were among the early settlers of Edgar Co. ; Palmer D. Eliot was born in New York State in 1792 ; his father died when he was a young man ; he, with his brother, started West from New York, and, being very poor, they walked all the way to Kentucky ; here he married Sophia Jarred ; came to Illinois in a wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen ; they arrived in Edgar Co., and, being very poor, having but 50 cents cash and one horse, he first commenced to work for Mr. Sandford ; here, it seems, he saved a little maney, and entered a piece of land ; he built him a log cabin ; at that time the Indians were very numerous, and before Mr. Eliot moved in the cabin, it was occupied by Indians; from here he set out in farming, and, with hard labor and good management, he was among the successful farmers of Edgar Co., at his death leaving a valuable estate. Mr. Plliot was a member of the Christian Church, and helped to organize the Christian Church in Stratton Tp. He died respect¬ ed and honored by his fellow-men. Ira K. Eliot, at the breaking-out of the late

he enlisted in Co. A, 12th I. V. I., and served three months ; was honorably discharged. He married Miss Sarah A. Myers, daughter of Jonas F. Myers ; have had four children, three children living.

W. W. FERRIS, M. D. ; P. 0. Ver¬ milion ; this gentleman was born in Ge¬ auga Co., Ohio, Jan. 3, 1841, and is the son of Elijah and Mary (Russell) Ferris; his father was a native of New York, en¬ gaged in farming ; Dr. Ferris was brought up on his father's farm, engaged in farm¬ ing; at the age of 15, he entered school and received a common-school education ; in 1857, he commenced the study of med¬ icine in Henry Co., Ind. ; in 1859, he en¬ tered the Michigan State University of Ann Arbor, Mich. ; here he graduated in medicine and received a diploma ; in 1862, he came to Vermilion, Edgar Co., Ill., and commenced the practice of his profession ; to-day he ranks with the leading physicians of Edgar Co., Ill., being the oldest resident physician of Vermilion. Dr. Ferris owns a well-stocked drug store in Vermilion, where can be had the purest of drugs. He married Eliza Burner, of Henry Co., Ind. ; one child. Dr. Ferris was one of the first Councilmen of Vermilion and was the first President of the Council.

ANDREW G. FITZGERALD, retired farmer ; P. 0. Vermilion ; was born in Iredell Co., N. C., June 24, 1796, and is the son of John and Nancy (Bagerly) Fitz¬ gerald ; his father was a farmer and a na¬ tive of Maryland; Mr. Fitzgerald was brought up on the farm ; in 1815, he moved to Hardin Co., Ky. ; here he was engaged by the month to work on the farm. While in Hardin Co. he married, in 1822, to Miss Annie Morrison, who was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Nov. 27, 1803, and is the daughter of James and Mary (McWilliams) Morrison, who emigrated to Kentucky at an early day. Mr. Fitzgerald, in 1825. with wife and two children, started in a wagon for Illinois, crossed the Ohio River by ferry near Brandenburg, Ky., then to Edgar Co. ; they first lived on a rented farm, then purchased forty acres of land and in about 1828 they built a log cabin, 18x20, and moved the family ; in here they lived until about 1832, when he built a larger building ; this old log oabin is now standing on the farm, fifty years old. Mr. Fitzgerald came here a poor man ; with hard work and industry he ranks among the successful farmers of Stratton Tp. ; he is a member of the Christian Church ; the first members of the Cnristian Church of Stratton Tp. were A. G. Fitzgerald and wife, R. C. Kimbrough and wife, Palmer D. Eliot and wife, Benjamin Vaulioutin and wife, William Hartley and wife, William Smith and wife, Nicholas Schoptaugh and wife ; out of the fourteen original members of this church only four are living, viz., A. G. Fitzgerald and wife and Benjamin Vanhoutin and wife.

JAMES A. GILLESPY, farmer; P. 0. Paris ; was born in Stratton Tp., Edgar Co., Ill., Feb. 3, 1846, and is the son of James L. and Annie Campbell Gillespy, who were among the early settlers of Stratton Tp., Edgar Co., Ill. His father was a native of Tennessee ; came to Ed¬ gar Co. at an early day ; was a soldier of the Black Hawk war, 1832 ; enlisted from Edgar Co., Ill. Came to Edgar Co., a poor man ; was a farmer, and at his death he had accumulated a large estate. Mr. James A. Gillespy was brought up on his father's farm, and has been engaged in farming, principally, through life. En¬ listed in the late war as private in Co. G, 70th I. V. I.; served three months; was honorably discharged. Returned to farm¬ ing ; owns a good improved farm of 124 acres of land. Married twice, first wife, Virginia C. Thomas, deceased ; married second wife, Miss Abia Atkinson, daughter of George J. Atkinson ; one child.

M. F. GILLESPY, farmer ; the sub¬ ject of this sketch was born in Stratton Tp., Edgar Co., Ill., July 11, 1849, and is the son of James and Annie C. Gillespy ; his father was born near Knoxville, Tenn., having moved to Indiana at an early day ; then to Crawford Co., Ill. ; thence to Ed¬ gar Co., being among the first settlers of Edgar Co., Stratton Tp., Ill. He was a soldier of the Black Hawk war of 1832. Came to county poor ; but with hard labor he managed to accumulate a large estate ; he died respected and beloved by his fellowmen. Mr. M. F. Gillespy married Miss Caroline Whalen, who was born in Edgar Co., Ill., by whom he has had two children, one living - Nellie G. Mr. Gillespy owns 118 acres of land.

Biographical Sketches

was bom July 24, 1835 ; be was brought to this country by parents when a mere boy ; they settled in Stark Co.. Ohio, where they lived until 1850, when they removed to Shelby Co., Ill. During the early life of Martin he obtained a good business educa¬ tion. and on June 14, 1858, he married Miss Phoebe A., only daughter of Daniel Lane, a pioneer of this county ;"she was born Aug. 25, 1842, and her home is the old homestead where her father settled in 1818. Mr. and Mrs. Hausam have a beau¬ tiful home of 160 acres, and fine farm build¬ ings. They are among the better class of citizens.

CHARLES T. JOHNSON, M. D., Vermilion, the subject of this sketch, was born in Edgar Co., Ill., two and a quarter miles northeast of Paris, June 7, 1833, and is the son of Madison and Maria (Kimble) Johnson ; his father was a native of Virginia ; with his parents moved to Ohio when he was about 7 years old. Here he married, and. with his wife, came to Illinois. Dr. Johnson was brought up on his father's farm and commenced farm¬ ing from the time he could handle a plow, and in the winter months gathering in¬ struction from the district schools of the period ; at 20, he entered the high school at Paris ; here he received a common-school education ; he then commenced the study of medicine under Dr. Shubal York, and remained with him until the breaking-out of the late war; he enlisted in the 54th I. V. I. as Hospital Steward, under Dr. Shubal York, who was acting as Surgeon of same regiment. Dr. Johnson remained in the 54th about two years ; he then was Contracting Surgeon about three months ; then returned to the 54th, and remained with this regiment until the close of the war, acting as First Assistant Surgeon ; he returned home to Edgar Co., Ill., in 1865, and in 1866, he graduated in the Chicago Medical College ; he then went to New- Goshen, Vigo Co., Ind.; here he com¬ menced the practice of medicine, and remained there until 1872 ; thence to Paris Edgar Co., Ill, in 1872, 1873 and 1874 ; in 1874, he commenced the practice of medi cine in Vermilion; here he has remained ever since, and ranks to-day as one of the leading physicians of Edgar Co. Dr. Johnson has been married twice ; first wife Miss Harriet Pinder, of England, having emigrated to America with her parents at the age of 10 years ; were only married about two years ; she died in Vigo Co.T Ind., by whom he had one child ; second wife, Mrs. Louisa (Sherley) Shores, of In¬ diana.

DAVID A. KIMBROUGH, Vermil¬ ion ; this gentleman was born in Elbridge Tp., Edgar Co., Ill., March 9, 1825, and is the son of Richard C. and Jane (Mor¬ rison) Kimbrough ; his father was born in North Carolina, 1792 ; was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, and participated in some of the prominent battles ; was five years in the regular army, and three years in the volunteer service ; he came to Kentucky at an early day ; here he married Jane Morrison ; with wife and two children moved to Illinois, and settled in Edgar Co.; here he remained until his death, which occurred Oct. 20, 1833; his wife died June 3, 1875. Mr. Kimbrough, in 1852, moved to Coles Co., and returned to Edgar Co. in 1856 ; with this exception, he has lived in Edgar Co. since 1825. In 1849, he married Miss Nancy L. 8ims, born in Edgar Co., Ill., April 7, 1826, daughter of Hall and An¬ nie (Jones i Sims, who were among the first settlers of Edgar Co.; in 1870, Mr. Kimbrough moved to Vermilion, with the intention of educating his children ; in Sept. 8, 1874, a very sad accident oc¬ curred to his two sons, John L. and James M. ; while at the raising of a house, it fell and instantly killed both of them. Have one child - Mary E. S. Mr. Kimbrough has been President of the Council of Ver¬ milion for the last four years. He is a Democrat in politics ; is a member of the Christian Church.

JOHN W. MOFFITT, farmer; P. O. Paris ; the subject of this sketch was born in Indiana Co., Penn., July 10, 1819, and is the son of Robert and Jane (Clark) Moffitt, both natives of Ireland; were Protestants in religion, having emigrated to America at an early day ; Mr. Moffitt, when he was but 1 year old (1820), with his parents moved to Knox Co., Ohio, being among the early settlers of this county; Mr. Moffitt states when they first came to Knox Co. there were plenty of wild game, such as deer, wolves, etc.; he has visited the Indian camps. In 1838, he married Miss Druzella Welker, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth (Gomer) Welker; her father, a native of Maryland, was a soldier in the war of 1812; they having moved to Knox Co. in 1803, were among the first settlers of the county ; Judge Martin Welker, a brother of Mrs. Moffitt, is now Judge of the Northwest¬ ern District of Ohio ; was at one time Lieutenant-Governor of Ohio ; also served three terms as Congressman from same State. Mr. Moffitt remained in Knox Co., Ohio, until 1850 ; then with wife and four children, came to Illinois, and settled in Paris, Edgar Co.; here he remained five years ; was the first Steward of the present Poorhouse ; this office he filled for eight and one-half years ; has been a resident of Mulberry Grove, and May's Station ; in 1875, he moved to the present farm ; here he has been engaged in farming ever since. Mr. Moffitt lost a son and son-in-law in the late war ; his son, Dilion W., enlisted in the 54th I. V. I., Co. F, for three years ; was detailed as Company teamster ; was taken sick at Vicksburg, Miss., and on his way home with his father died at the Sol¬ diers' Home, in Cairo, Ill.; his remains were buried at Mound City, Ill.; Mr. Moffitt's son-in-law, David C. Perrish, enlisted in Co. F, 59th I. V. I. ; he participated in the battle of Nashville, Tenn. ; after the battle, he was in a skirmish where he re¬ ceived a wound which proved mortal ; he died leaving a wife, Edith (Moffitt) Per¬ rish, and one child, a daughter to mourn, his loss; his wife died two years after, with the consumption. Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt have lived together as man and wife for the last forty years ; have had seven chil¬ dren, four living; Charles (deceased), was a graduate of the Keokuk Medical College.

JOHN MINGS, farmer and stock dealer ; P. 0. Vermilion ; the abovenamed gentleman was born on the line of Preble and Butler Counties, Ohio, Sept. 21, 1827, and is the son of William and Ann (Newton) Mings, of England, who emi¬ grated to America young ; his father was shoemaker by trade, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and was among the early settlers of Ohio, having passed through Cincinnati, Ohio, when it was but a small village ; Mr. Mings, when he was young, with his parents moved to Shelby Co., Ind. ; here in this county his father and ' mother died. He returned to Ohio, and married Lucy Ann Parker ; thence to Marion Co., Ind. ; from there he came to Edgar Co., 1865 ; here he has been en¬ gaged in farming and stock dealing, and ranks to-day as one of the successful men of Stratton Tp. ; Mr. Mings was crippled on a threshing machine ; he then, at 21 years old, learned the shoemaker's trade ; this he followed but a few years ; owns a a fine, improved farm of 160 acres. Have had three children, one living - William H., who is engaged with his father in the stock business.

J. F. MYERS, farmer ; P. 0. Ver¬ milion ; was born in Shenandoah Co., Va., Sept. 25, 1813, and is the son of Michael and Magdalene (Lindamood) Myers; his father was a farmer; when Mr. Myers was between 8 and 10 years old, he, with his parents, emigrated West, to Ohio, and settled in Greene Co.; here he remained until 1858 ; then, with wife and eight children, moved to Edgar Co., and settled in Stratton Tp.; here he has re¬ mained ever since, and ranks to-day as one of the successful farmers of Edgar Co. Mr. Myers married in Greene Co., Ohio, to Eliza¬ beth Dice, of Virginia, by whom he has had eleven children, ten children living. Mr. and Mrs. Myers are members of the German Reformed Church. His son Auderson was in the late war ; enlisted in a reg¬ iment of engineers in Missouri, which was detailed to build bridges and trestle work ; he took sick at Jacksonville, Tenn.; re¬ turned home, and few weeks after died. John enlisted, but near the close of war ; did but little service.

COL. D. A. MORRISON, farmer ; P. 0. Vermilion ; is one of the oldest settlers of Edgar Co.; was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Feb. 26, 1809, and is the son of James and Mary (McWilliams) Morrison; his father was a native of New Jersey, having moved to Kentucky at an early day ; here, in 1820, he died; Mr. Morrison was raised on his father's farm, and remained on the farm in Kentucky until 1826 ; then, with his mother and one sister, moved to Illinois, and settled in Stratton Tp., Ed¬ gar Co.; he first rented a farm, and by his industry he had saved sufficient money topurchase forty acres of land, part of the present farm ; here he has remained ever since ; to-day owns a good, improved farm of 1961 acres. In 1832, Col. Morrison enlisted as a volunteer in the Black Hawk war under Col. Blackburn, and served un¬ til the close of the war ; he returned to his home in Edgar Co., and was elected as Colonel of the 19th Ill. Militia ; this office he filled about eight years. He married Catharine E. Boss, of Breckinridge Co., Ivy., daughter of Jesse and Nancy Ross; she died Oct. 16, 1878; have eight chil¬ dren. James R. was a soldier of the late war; enlisted in Co. A, 7th I. V. C.; on account of sickness, was honorably dis¬ charged.

DAVID ORMISTON, Jr., farmer; P. O Paris ; came to Edgar Co with his par¬ ents in 1844; was born in Washington Co., Ohio, Nov. 24, 1830. and is the son of David and Jane (Bell) Ormiston, na¬ tives of Scotland; were married in Scot¬ land, having emigrated to America in about 1827 ; landed in Philadelphia ; then to Washington Co., Ohio, being among the early settlers of this county ; David Ormis¬ ton was born Feb. 15, 1800 ; married twice ; first wife, Jane Bell, who died in Ohio ; he then married second wife, Eliza Pond, and with wife and family moved to Edgar Co., Ill., 1844 ; second wife died, 1876. Mr. Ormiston is at the good old age of 78 years ; he is living with his son David Ormiston, Jr. The subject of this sketch was brought up on his father's farm. In 1862, he enlisted iu Co. A, 7th I. V. C., Quartermaster Sergeant ; partici¬ pated in some of the prominent battles during the war - Corinth, Fort Hudson, with Gen. Grierson's raid through Tenues see into Louisiana, etc.; Mr. Ormiston was engaged in over fifty battles and skirmishes during his enlistment, and never received but a veiy slight wound; only sick eighteen days ; with this exception, he served lull time, always ready for duty ; was mustered out at Huntsville, Ala.; final discharge at Nashville, Tenn., at the close of the war ; he then returned home, and has been en¬ gaged in farming ever since. Married Miss Harriet Hall Oct. 20, 1850 ; she was born in Washington Co., Ohio, Aug. 20, 1829, daughter of Mitchell Hall (born in Ireland Feb. 15, 1795) and Frances Hall (born in Ireland Dec. 19, 1809) ; have two adopted children - Emma L. and Elner P. Mr. Ormiston is a Republican in politics, and a member of the M. E. Church.

D. K. RAFFETY, merchant, Vermil¬ ion ; this gentleman was born in Green Co., Ky., Sept. 20, 1819, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Kean) Raffety; father was a farmer ; here Mr. Raffety was raised on his father's farm, and with his parents moved to Franklin Co., Ind.; here he remained until about 1838 ; he then went to Butler Co., Ohio, and re¬ mained until 1839 ; returned to Indiana, to Ripley Co.; thence to Dearborn Co., Ind. Here he married, in 1842, to Miss Harriet Mering, daughter of Mary and Frederick Mering ; in 1854, Mr. Raffety came to Edgar Co., looking for a location, with the intention of moving; in 1855, he started with wife and seven children in settled in Stratton Tp., Edgar Co.; here he set out in farming, which business he continued until 1875; he then moved to Vermilion; in 1876, he commenced the sale of agricultural implements ; this busi¬ ness he is now engaged in ; Mr. Raffety was about the first man that moved to Stratton Tp. from Dearborn Co., Ind.; when he settled here, he wrote favorably of the country, and caused Mr. A. Showalter to move here, who started the first store in Vermilion ; consequently it must be credited to Mr. Raffety as being one of the founders of Vermilion. Mr. Raffety organized the first Sunday school in Ver¬ milion in 1856, then known as the Union Sunday school. A member of the United Brethren Church ever since 1844. He has been married twice ; first wife Harri¬ et Mering, who died Feb. 21. 1875; mar¬ ried the second time to Mrs. Cynthia Lips lv April 3, 1877.

JOHN RAFFETY, harness-maker, Vermilion ; was born in Green Co., Ky., Dec. 16, 1817, and is the son of James and Elizabeth (Kean ) Raffety ; his father was a farmer, and a native of North Carolina ; when young, moved to Virginia; then to Kentucky. Mr. Raffety with his parents moved to Franklin Co., Ind., when he was about 11 years of age; at the age of 18, he commenced to learn the harness making trade ; this trade he followed prin¬ cipally while in Indiana, in Franklin, Dear¬ born and Jennings Cos. In Jennings Co., he was Postmaster for fourteen years, and Justice of the Peace eighteen years. Mr. Raffety married Mary Vankirk, of Penn- sylvan ia ; with wife and family, Sept. 17, 1863, settled in Stratton Tp., Edgar Co., Ill. ; here he commenced farming, and fol¬ lowed this until 1871 ; moved to Ver¬ milion ; here he has been engaged in the harness business. Mr. Raffety is Justice of the Peace, which office he has held for the last twelve years.

ABRAHAM SHOWALTER, retired, Vermilion ; this gentleman was born in Beaver Co., Penn., March 24, 1806, and is the son Christopher and Annie (Funkhouser) Showalter ; his father was a miller by trade. Mr. Showalter, in 1822, with his parents moved to Indiana ; here his father died in 1825, at 55 years old. Mr. Showalter was then placed at the head of the family to manage the farm and mill. Mr. Showalter first married Christina Kile ; she was born at sea ; by whom they had eight children, four children living ; he was married to his first wife twenty years. Married second time to Mrs. Louisa Besier ; she was born in Germany, in 1813, and is the daughter of John and Margaret (Albright) Scheanlaub, of Germany, hav¬ ing emigrated to America in 1831. In 1846, Mr. Showalter entered the mercantile business in Lawrenceville, Ind. ; here he remained in business until 1856 ; from glowing descriptions of the country, he came and located at Vermilion ; here he started the first store in Vermilion, which building is now occupied by Mr. John Raffety as a harness-shop. Mr. Showalter took an active part in building up the town ; he retired from business in 1864. Have ten children living.

C. H. SHOWALTER, merchant, Ver¬ milion ; this gentleman is one of the best known and highly respected business men of Vermilion ; he came here when there was no town, and with his father commenced the mercantile business in Vermilion in 1856 ; this business he has followed ever since, and to-day ranks as one of the lead¬ ing merchants of the place. Mr. Showal¬ ter was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., April 11, 1841, and is the son of Abraham and Christina -(Kile) Showalter. Mr. Sho¬ walter commenced business for himself by first giving his note to his father for $1,- 185 for a stock of goods ; to-day he owns a fine brick business block, where his store is located with a stock valued at $5,000 ; besides this, Mr. Showalter owns other valuable real estate in V ermilion ; this he has accumulated by industry. He married Miss Carrie S. Geisenhof, of Louisville, Ky., by whom he has five children. Mr. Showalter was the first Treasurer of the village ; was the second Postmaster of the village.