Vance Township

Vance Township

Yance township, as now bounded, occupies a position on the western border of the county, and is in the second tier of townships from the southern line, having Oakwood on its northern boundary, Catlin on its eastern, Sidell on its southern, and Champaign county on its western. The Salt Fork of the Vermilion river runs through its northern part nearly the whole length, which is skirted by timber on an average of about one mile on either bank. The township is seven miles long east and west, and live miles wide, and contains one section less than a full congressional township. The State Road from Danville to Decatur runs through, keeping as nearly as possible about one and one half miles away from the Salt Fork ; and the Wabash railway runs very nearly through its center, having the village of Fairmount, a neatly built and pleasantly located town, situated about one mile from its eastern border. Abundance of building-stone is found along and in the bed of the stream, and ledges of calcareo-silicious stone crop out on the prairie near the center of the town, which is the best known material for making roads, and makes an excellent quality of lime for building purposes, and for dressing for wheat lands. This stone is hard enough to withstand natural destruction from the elements, and soft enough to wear smooth under wagon-wheels, giving just the quality suitable for McAdam roads. It is being sparingly used here as yet, but in other places in this state where it has been used for years its value has been thoroughly tested and abundantly proved. There is a mine of wealth in these ledges of stone, such as crop out on the Big

Spring farm of J. 0. Sandusky. The ridge, or divide, between the Salt Fork and the Little Vermilion runs along the southern border of Yance, and the prairie land all sheds toward the north, being freely supplied with streams and small branches, which beautifully water the farms and afford fine drainage. The surface is neither flat nor hill}', having sufficient undulation to make it capable of tillage all seasons, with here and there small mounds or easily rising hills, which add variegated beauty to the scene no less than real value to its worth. Originally about twelve square miles of its territory was timber land, being about one third of its present surface. This proportion is not much varied, for few farms have been made on that portion which was timber, although, of course, some of it was cut off by early settlers. It is as fine a tract of farming land as can be found in this or an}' other state. Let any one who has an eye to that which is both beautiful and useful in nature and in rural life drive along the State Road in May or June in the cool evening, and see, where only a few short years ago all was as nature had prepared it for man, the wealth which has sprung from well directed toil and the frugal lives of those who rescued these acres from wild nature, the substantial farm-houses, with their surroundings of groves, orchards, herds and buildings, well-tilled land and thrifty crops, and his doubting will be turned into conviction of the strongest type. Here one sees farm-life arrayed in its goodliest adornments. The small farms that have come down from father to son show the qualities which time lends. The tiresome appearance of newness which everywhere in the prairie country confronts us is wanting. Everything which adds to comfort is here found.

The earlier settlements were made along this State Road ; or, to state it more correctly, they were made along the border of the timber, and the State Road was made here because of this fact. At first the road wound in and out wherever clearings were made; and, through the influence of Col. Vance, who was then a member of the legislature, the road was straightened and adopted as a state road.

The railroad was graded through this townjin 1836. It was one of that network of "internal improvements" that the state proposed at that time to prosecute for the purpose of developing the country. It is looked upon now as a wild and visionary scheme. John W. Vance, from whom this township was named, aroused serious opposition, and destroyed whatever prospects he may have had for political promotion, by opposing the railroad scheme, or "ring" as it would now be called. His reasons for opposing it were, that it was far in advance of the necessities of the times, and must result in failure. He, of course, did not suppose that such a revulsion as came in 1837, was at hand ; but his argument was based upon sure and certain business principles. He said, in justifying his opposition, that there was not then, and for years could not be, business to support so many railroads as they were pro" posing to build ; that a single road would carry all there was to be carried to market for years to come. This was undoubtedly true, and yet those whom he was opposing sought to find in his opposition some selfish, hidden reason. He was a statesman, and was about as far in advance of his time as the railroads of 1836 were. No better evidence of his ability as a legislator is wanted than his record on this matter. His brother was governor of Ohio, and it is said b}r those who knew them both, that John was by far the abler man of the two. The township that received his name embraced a portion of what is now Oakwood until 1866, and he resided in that part of the township.

As soon as the railroad was located, Ellsworth & Co. entered all the land along its line, from Danville to Decatur, that had not previously been taken, and held it for speculation. Owing to the revulsion which, in due course of nature's law, must, and did, follow the flush times of 1836, the speculators did not get an opportunity to sell their land for twenty years. With the actual building of the Wabash road came their opportunity to sell at from five to eight dollars per acre, so that their speculation was not a magnificent one by any means, for though taxation was much lighter then than now, the interest on their investment, and taxes for twenty years, amounted to no inconsiderable part of the receipts.

Early Settlements

The first settler known to make a home within the bounds of Vance was Thomas Osborne, who made a little cabin in section 32, a mile or two northwest of Fairmonnt, in 1825. He did not do any large amount of clearing or farming, but spent his time in fishing and hunting, which latter was by far the most profitable business of that day and age. The skins and furs of a winter's crop were wTorth more than a corn crop. Osborne did not stay here long after the game began to grow scarce, but went on west. Mr. Rowell and Mr. Gazad had cabins near by, and, as " squatters," remained around here a short time. In the same neighborhood James Elliot, James French and Samuel Beaver commenced a year or two later. They also pushed on farther west, and William Davis bought their claims when he came here soon after. Beaver was a tanner, and kept and worked a small tan-yard, the material for which business was plenty here at that time. His house stood exactly where the Baptist church was built, - in fact, the church was, for some reason not now known, built around the house, which was torn down and carried out after the church was enclosed. The church was built in 1*35, and thirty years later was to have been moved to Fairmount, but was burned the night before it was to have started on its journey. Henry Hunter took up a claim in 1828, on section 33, just north of Fairmount. He sold to Jennings in 1833, and after living awhile here, died. His family are gone, some still living in Missouri. Jennings, a few years after, sold and went to the vicinity of Jacksonville, where his widow still resides. He was a peculiar man, and difficult to get along with ; was not, in fact, a popular neighbor, or a very agreeable man. The Catletts now own the land. Win. Steward the same year (1828) took up land near by, and died in 1833. His was the second grave in the Dougherty grave-yard. He is spoken of as being a man of excellent character. His land also belongs to the Catlett farm. Near by were several old cabins of those who had been here for a short time. Thomas Redmond and Joseph Yount came the same year from Ohio, and took up claims in section 3, near Homer. They remained here until they died. Some members of the Yount family live on the place yet.

The next year James Smith commenced a farm on section 2, near by. He died there, and his family are all gone except William, who lives on a portion of the land which is in section 1. John Cordts owns and occupies the old homestead. A little farther east W. H. Lee settled in 1829. He died there, and most of his family are dead also. Such as are living are in the neighborhood. Wm. Hardin settled here at the same time. He was a prosperous and influential man in the community. He died about 1861. One son, Wm. M. Hardin, lives near by, and one resides in Iowa. These people, as far as known, comprise the first settlers, and were all from Ohio.

Wm. O'Neal came here in 1829, and three years later sold to Francis Dougherty and moved farther north. His place was on section 34, just northeast of Fairmount. W. Fielder settled near there the next year, and W. H. Butler settled on the same section. He afterward went farther east, and made his home in Catlin township. James Buoy purchased his place, which is now owned by James M. Dougherty. Wm. Reynolds had a claim just north of these, in section 27, and also went to Catlin, where he was long an influential citizen, and a prominent local preacher of the Methodist church. B. M. Dougherty bought his claim. Mr. Nicholas Van Duzen also settled in this section in 1832, and lived here until 1810. The same year Peter Frazier settled on section 28, where he still resides. He is now more than ninety years old, and is nearly blind. His daughter, Mrs. Smith, lives on the farm, taking care of her aged father in his declining years. In 1S31 Aaron Dabley came to the same section to live. He sold to Henry

Hunter and removed farther north into Oak wood township, where he died. His family are nearly all dead, though some still reside there. Harvey Stearns took up a claim on section 5 in 1832. His widow lives on the farm yet, and his sons, Alvin, Calvin and Alonzo, live on farms near by. Luther Stearns had a farm in section 1, west of Harvey's. He went to Texas. His son resides in Homer. Geo. Custar bought, and Mr. Saladay owns, the land. Pretty much all these settlements were on what was the old road, before it was straightened in conformity to the plan to make it the State Road.

Francis Dougherty came here from Brown county, Ohio, in Septem ber, 1832, with teams to bring his family and worldly effects. His family then consisted of three daughters and one son, Samuel. His son Alexander came with his family at the same time, and another son, B. M., had come a year before. His son James and family, and daughter, Mrs. Ferrior, and family, came the next year. He purchased land of Mr. O'Neal, and afterward entered considerable, amounting in all to nine hundred acres. He was a man of enlarged views and strict business habits, industrious and frugal. When he came he had means enough to commence in a new country comfortably, and his boys had been brought up to work. It was not long before they got into easy circumstances, and were well enough fixed so that the revulsion of 1837, which ruined so many, did not affect them much. He died in 1860, at the advanced age of ninety-one, leaving to his children and grandchildren - who still live in the neighborhood, and have been among the most energetic business men - an honored name, and the memory of a well-spent life. Mrs. Dougherty died in 1851. Alexander, who was then just commencing life, still lives in Fairmount. Though now past his three-score and ten, and apparently feeble in physical strength, his mind is as clear and his recollection as accurate as need be. The writer has been placed under very many obligations to him for the facts for this sketch. He was a member of the first Methodist class ever formed in the township - by Father Anderson, at Henry Hunter's, in 1833, - and it may be added that, so far as known, he has never fallen from grace. It is a real pleasure to spend an hour or two with such old citizens, whose minds are stored with the pleasant reminiscences of early days, especially now that so few are left who do really know any thing which the gleaner for historical statistics needs. Dr. Thomas Deacon had a residence in the part of this township which lies north of the Fork, as early as 1830. He acquired considerable land, and was a prosperous man and an excellent citizen. He has recently died, leaving behind him an honored memory for honesty, industry and thrift. His family still reside there.

That portion of the township which lies south of the railroad did not come into g-eneral cultivation until about 1855 or 1860. About 1850 it became known that the railroad which had been graded fourteen years before, would be built. Senator Douglas had secured an assurance of the passage through congress of the Illinois Central Railroad bill, and it was readily seen that the building of that would force the completion of the lines already begun. This called attention to land lying within a few miles of these lines, and soon every acre of it was taken up. Josiah Sandusky, who lived at Catlin, a prosperous and driving man, took the occasion to enter the land which he had long had his eye upon, for his son Jacob, just south of where Fairmount now is, and known as the "Big Spring" farm. The springs, bubbling up out of the ledge of lime-stone, way out on the prairie, was so noticeable that it had long attracted attention. Everybody in this part of the county knew the "big spring," and everybody thought "what a nice place that would be for a milk-house if this prairie ever gets settled up," and everybody thought they would like to own that farm sometime. What others thought, Josiah Sandusky, with his eye as usual on the main chance, did. Putting $450 into his pockets, he went to Danville and entered nine "forties" around this famous spring, making a square farm three-fourths of a mile each way, which thirty times that amount of money could not buy to-day. He soon brought it into cultivation, and put on it the old Butler house, which stood so long the monument of the pioneer of Butler's Point. This was, aside from its associations, a famous house. The logs were of black walnut, hewn, and so large that they would now, if sawed into inch boards, bring almost enough, at market rates, to build a good-sized farm residence. While everything about is good, the chief attraction is the magnificent spring, or really a series of springs, which furnish water enough for the stock, and has been utilized at the milk-house, and can be in many other ways. Isaac made his home at Catlin, and with his sons, a portion of whom lived there, became possessed of large landed property, buying up all the farms that were for sale around the mound. They are a remarkable family. In the history of Vermilion county no family has cut so important a figure in its business, social and agricultural concerns.

Fairmount was platted and recorded December, 1856, by Capt. Josiah Hunt. He was chief engineer of the Great Western railroad, as it was then called, and bought this tract of Mr. Cornelius, after he knew there was to be a station here. The plat included thirty-seven blocks, several of which were mere fractions, owing to the fact that the streets were made to run parallel with, and perpendicular to, the railroad, instead of running with the points of compass. The town was first called Salina. R. Q. Cornelius, Joseph Reese, John Allen, John H. Folks platted additions at various times since. The name of the town was changed to Fairmount, but on the record it remains Salina. The first building put up on the site of this town was built by Parish & Bowman, in 1836. They had a "job on the railway" to do grading in that ancient time, and John Dougherty relates that he used to come here to sell potatoes, onions and cabbages in their season, to the railroad men. It stood just east of the hill, nearly opposite the mill. The stationhouse was first put up on Main street in 1857, and served all the purposes of railroad station, residence for Mr. Michael Dunn, tool-house, hotel, and in fact everything but church. Mr. Dunn, who is the pioneer, and who still lives here doing the railroad work, was by far the most important personage in the business. He had great difficulty at first in getting a supply of water. The building was 16 x 24, and made a very sightly appearance as it was seen from a distance across the prairies. There was not a tree or a bush growing on the present site of the village, and young mothers who moved there to live had to provide themselves with switches for family use, and bring them along with the household goods. Mr. Dunn says that there was the same lack of switch for railroad purposes. The side-track was not long enough to sidetrack a train if trains happened to meet here. The first residence was built where the residence of Mr. Aams now stands.

John Allen, who owned a farm east of town three miles, where Thomas Sandusky now lives, was employed by W. P. Chandler to negotiate the sale of lots in the new town for Capt. Hunt. He sold a good many of the lots. J. W. Booker, Andrew Howden, Allen, and others, purchased. He built a residence upon the site where he now lives, and bought several acres adjoining. Win. Goodwin built on Main street, where Bradway's drug store now is. Mr. Booker built a dwelling east of Main street ; John Haney, a residence on the corner near the railroad. Allen & Booker built the store now occupied by Gibson, and Booker lived in it. Mr. Allen kept a boarding-house, having eight or ten boarders. Allen & Booker put in a general stock of goods, very general, too, as is remembered, containing everything from tin pans to patent medicines. After two years, W. A. Lowery, of Danville, purchased it, and put Charles Tilton in charge of it, a youth of some experience in mercantile pursuits, and a keen taste for the business, and who is still selling goods here. He ran it successfully for nearly two years, when Caleb Yredenberg, an old citizen of Danville, bought it, and came here and sold goods for a time, then removed it to Homer. John R. Witherspoon came from Indiana in the spring 1869, bringing a store already framed with him, and the carpenters to put it up. He erected it on the corner next to Til ton's present store, and stocked it with goods. He was a successful and experienced business man. He died after about ten years' business here.' His widow and family still reside here, engaged in the hotel business. John Corts commenced to build the hotel in 1860, when Mr. Hall bought it and finished it; afterward enlarging and materially improving it. He continues to occupy it. Mr. Witherspoon occupied the house for a residence which Wm. Woods resides in for one year, after which he lived in the building where Mr. Stalons now is. This residence had no fence around it, and, during "fly-time," the cattle and sheep from a thousand acres used to collect around to find the grateful shade, and pick up whatever they could find. If Mrs. W. left the door open for a minute, the chances were that the calves would make a raid into her pantry, or chase the frightened children, of whom she had a goodly number, through the house. Many a time she longed to be back among the Hoosiers, where at least the cattle were compelled to recognize the fact that white folks had some rights which horned-cattle were bound to respect. For weeks at a time she had to throw out pickets of young Witherspoons and dogs to keep the cattle from eating up her "starched clothes" out on the line. A " boiled shirt" seemed to be the particular delight of the half-grown calves which collected around her castle. This house has been enlarged and rebuilt by Mr. Ellis Adams, who still owns it. John B. Turner built the house on the north side of the railroad, where his widow still lives. The house now occupied by Lewis E. Booker was built by his father as a residence when he first came here. F. L. Dougherty built the first elevator in 1859, which was burned in 1862, and he then built the present one. Joseph Dougherty's residence was burned in 1867. Another fire, probably in 1866, burned the entire wooden row on the east side of Main street. It burned Aldridge's and Heistenel's buildings, New's drug store, and some other small buildings.

A fellow by the name of Crawford conceived the idea that here be a " right smart chance " to sell whisky, so he supplied himself with a little stock of choice native and foreign " forty rod," " instant death," "linger long" and other choice brands. Messrs. Allen and Catlett, thinking to convert the chap from the evil of his ways, made a bargain with him to buy his stock, provided he would discontinue business permanently. Mrs. Crawford, however, when being in terviewed, " separate and aside from her husband," would not consent to the bargain, and Allen had to make the best of so one-sided a bar-

Source changes here: from History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a Tale of Its Evolution, Settlement, and Progress for Nearly a Century, by Jones, Lottie E, published 1911; 1,256 words in this source stream.

Vance Township

Vance township is on the extreme western border of Vermilion County. It has Oakwood as its northern boundary, Catlin as its eastern boundary and Sidell as its southern boundary. The Salt Fork of the Vermilion river runs through its northern part nearly its whole length. This stream was skirted with timber, but it is all gone at this time. The township was one of the first established and it was with one section less than a congressional township. The state road from Danville to Decatur runs through Vance township keeping as nearly as possible one half mile from the banks of Salt Fork. The Wabash railway runs through the center of this township. The village of Fairmount is situated on this railroad about one mile from its eastern border. There is an abundance of building stones along this stream, and ledges of valvaree silicious crop out on the prairie near the center of the town from which the best known material for making roads and an excellent quality of lime for building purposes and dressing for wheat lands. This stone is so hard it will withstand the destructive elements of nature and

Scenes Along The Indian Trail

The ridge or divide between the Salt Fork and Little Vermilion runs along the southern border of Vance township, and the prairie land all sheds toward the north, being freely supplied with small streams and branches which water the farms and afford fine drainage. The surface is neither flat nor hilly, having sufficient undulation to make it capable of tillage all seasons, with here and there small mounds or easily rising hills which add variegated beauty to the scene no less than real value to its worth. Originally about twelve square miles of its territory was timber land, that being about one-third of its present surface.

This township includes the finest farm lands in this or any other state. The small farm is the rule and in most instances of these small farms they have been in the possession of the original owners and their descendants since they were first entered or bought. The earlier settlements of Vance township were made along the state road, or, as more nearly the facts in the matter, these houses were built along the border of the timber and the state road followed the settlements. Before the road was straightened and made a state road through the efforts and influence of Col. Vance, then in the state legislature, it wound in and out where clearings were made. The railroad was graded through the township in 1836. This grading was done through the influence of Dr. Fithian. He foresaw the impossibility of the network of international improvements being carried out and secured work on the proposed railroad through Vermilion county while there yet was money to attain this object. John W. Vance was at the time, also, a member of the legislature, and he opposed the railroad scheme from start to finish. This opposition destroyed whatever chance he might have had for political promotion, but his reasons for this stand was that the project for the railroad was so much in advance of the needs of the times as to prove impracticable. It is well that he was honored by the name of the township, for no more noble name was ever held in Vermilion County than that of John W. Vance, the statesman. Vance township contained a part of what is now Oakwood township at the time it was organized and named for this man whose residence was in that part of the township.

As soon as the railroad was located Ellsworth & Co. entered all the land along the line from Danville to Decatur, that had not previously been taken, and held it for speculation. Owing to the revulsion in trade during the next year this speculation did not result in the vast wealth anticipated.

. The first settler in Vance township was Thomas Osborne who made a cabin in section 32, a mile or two northwest of Fairmount, in 1825. He was not a farmer but made his wealth in hunting and fishing. Mr. Osborne staid only long enough to have the trade in fur grow less. Mr. Rowell and Mr. Gazad were "squatters" for a time. These were followed by James Elliott, James French, and Samuel Beaver. These two went further west and William Davis bought their claims. The list of early settlers grows longer and longer, including the names of James Smith, William O'Neal, W. Feidler, W. H. Butle and Francis Daugherty.

The latter came to this section in 1832 and it was he who gave the name to the village of Fairmount. This village was established and named Salina. This name was all right until the matter of a post office at the place was agitated.

Then it was, the fact became known that there was a post office by that name in Illinois and the name of Fairmount was given to the village. This was not the first time a place in Vance township was called by that name. Some time previous to this the Dougherty farm was the place where the mail for the people of this part of the county was carried. This farm was so located on a pleasing rise of ground that it was called Fairmount, and this elevation was well named, for a fairer place could not be found. When the name of Salina was found impossible, this old name was chosen and the village of Fairmount became one of the towns of Vermilion county.

Fairmount began its career with the determination to have no liquor sold within its limits. A struggle just at first resulted in the decisive defeat of all opposition to this plan.

There was a drain tile factory located in Fairmount in 1880, and operated for twenty years. This was patronized by the farmers of Vermilion county and large quantities of it shipped south. The location of this plant in Fairmount saved the farmers of the county thousands of dollars in popularizing draining which added to the value of the land in increased productiveness. When the large Fairmount dredge ditch is completed which is now being dug, Vance township will have all the land reclaimed. Large portions of Vance township are underlaid with a good strata of coal which is being worked at Bennett station two miles northeast of Fairmount. Another and a valuable industry of Vance township is the Fairmount quarries located two miles south of the village. These quarries produce an almost chemically pure limestone which is used in the manufacture of steel also cement in large quantities is being produced from this stone. This stone field is of several miles in extent. Of this several hundred acres have been proven and purchased. The company which are operating these quarries now (1910) take four thousand tons out daily of this material and have four hundred seventy-five to five hundred employees on the pay roll.

Vance township is one of the smallest of Vermilion County but has no less than sixteen miles of hard roads and in the near future will have all wagon roads as fine as any city pavement.

Fairmount is the only village in the township and has a thousand inhabitants. It has a graded high school employing six teachers. It has four churches, two elevators, several good stores, lumber yard and the ever indispensable blacksmith shop. Fairmount is one of the best lighted villages in the country ; residences and streets lighted with Presto light or acetelyne gas.