|
OTHER BIOGRAPHICAL INDEXES:
BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
HISTORY OF VERMILION COUNTY,
ILLINOIS
by H. W. Beckwith
Publ. Chicago: H. H. Hill and Company, Publishers
1879
| |
Danville -
WILLIAM C. WAIT
Source: History of Vermilion County, Ohio
- Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 374 |
| |
Danville -
PETER WALSH
Source: History of Vermilion County, Ohio
- Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 414 |
| |
Danville -
GEORGE WALZ
Source: History of Vermilion County, Ohio
- Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 441 |
| |
Elwood Twp. -
MILO H. WATERMAN, Georgetown,
farmer and stockdealer, section 16, was born in Vermilion
county, Indiana, on the 4th of March, 1844, and lived in Eugene,
Indiana, until thirteen years of age, going to school most of
the time. He enlisted in the late war, first in Co. E.,
115th Ind. Vol. Inf., and went forward to defend his country.
He served six months, and reenlisted in 1865 in Co. E, 149th
Ind. Inf., and served seven months as first surgeon. He
was married in 1874 to Mary E. Case, who was born in
Vermilion County, Indiana, on the 22d of June, 1848. They
have one child by this union, Jane C., born on the 7th of
September, 1875. In politics he is a republican. He
owns three hundred and thirty-seven acres, worth fifty dollars
per acre.
Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H.
H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 599 |
| |
Danville -
WATSON BROS.Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co.,
1879 - Page 475 |
| |
Newell Twp. -
JOHN WATSON, Jr., Danville, farmer, was
born on the 3d of April, 1842, in Newell township, Vermilion
county, Illinois. He is the son of John R. and Susanna
(Martin) Watson. He is the father of eight children:
Eliza A., Susanna, Ida, Minerva J., Ada, Eben, Walter I.,
and Thomas. Mr. Watson owns one hundred and
seventy acres of land, valued at $5,000. In politics he is
a democrat, and in religion a Baptist.
Source: History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H.
Hill and Co., 1879 - Page |
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Danville -
MISS MINERVA WATSONSource:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co.,
1879 - Page 426 |
| |
Newell Twp. -
THOMAS WATSON, Bismark,
farmer, was born in Newell township, Vermilion county, Illinois,
on the 18th of February, 1846, and is a son of John
R. and Susannah (Martin) Watson.
He was married on the 21st of September, 1865, to Sarah,
daughter of Samuel Adams, born
on
the 1st of January, 1846. He lived in Danville during the pears
1873-4, engaged in the saddle and harness trade.
In addition to his farming operations Mr.
Watson buys and feeds a good deal of stock, in which
business he enjoys a rare degree of prosperity and success. He
is the father of four living children: Dora
E., born on the 26th
of July, 1866; Samuel R.,
February 13,
1868; Bertha A.,
March 26,1873; Earnest
M., January 10, 1876.
He is an independent in politics.
Source: History of Vermilion County, Ohio
- Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 962 - Submitted by
Mary Paulius |
| |
WILLIAM WATSON was a native of Nelson County, Kentucky, and he
went from there to Harrison County, Indiana, thence to Vermilion
County, Illinois, in 1826. He bought, land and developed a farm,
at least was doing what he could, when three years later he
died. His son John was not much more than a boy, but boys grew
up quickly in those days of responsibility, and John Watson was
the same as other boys and early took a man's part. He served in
the Black Hawk war and shared all the privation of a pioneer's
life. His capital of determination and a pair of good strong
arms and willing hands was worth more than money would have been
at that time. He entered and bought land until he owned about a
thousand acres. His home was about five miles northeast of
Danville. He remained on his farm until, in 1873, when at the
age of sixty-three, he bought residence property in Danville and
made that his home for twenty-five years.
Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H.
H. Hill and Co., 1879 - pgs 122 & 123
- Submitted by Mary Paulius |
| |
Danville -
A. G. WEBSTER, Danville,
grocer, was born in St. Albans, Franklin county,
Vermont, in 1822. Leaving there with his
people in 1836 he went to Saline, Michigan,
remaining there eight years, and then removed to
Lafayette, Indiana, where he remained also eight
years, during which time he was employed in the
capacity of clerk. From there he came to
Danville in1853, bringing with him a small stock
of dry goods. Here he was engaged in the
dry-goods trade for about two years, and in
1856, after having closed out his stock of dry
goods, he began in the grocery business, which
he has principally been engaged in since, having
for the past ten years been doing business in
the building he now occupies. He is now
the oldest groceryman in the city, there being
none other now engaged in the business who began
as early as 1856. He is a man who has
always been interested in any matters pertaining
to the public good, and has done his share
toward the development and improvement of
Danville and Vermilion county, of which he has
now been a resident twenty-six years.
Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H.
H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 407 |
| |
Danville -
A. L. WEBSTER. In
1867 Mr. A. L. Webster, of Danville, in
company with G. B. Yeomans, engaged in
the hardware trade in Danville. They
remained in business together about four years,
when G. B. sold his interest in the
business to his brother, Charles T. Yeomans.
This firm continued to do business together
about three years, when they dissolved
partnership, Mr. Yeomans taking the light
and shelf hardware, and Mr. Webster
retaining the heavy hardware trade, which is
almost entirely a jobbing trade. At the
date above mentioned he sold out to the firm of
Giddings & Patterson, they becoming his
successors and occupying a new building which he
has just completed, located at the corner of
Main and Franklin streets. Mr. Webster
is a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio. For
sixteen years he has been engaged in the
hardware trade, a part of this time in Ohio and
at Aurora, Illinois. At present he is
engaged in settling up old accounts relating to
his business in Danville.
Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H.
H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 457 |
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Danville -
JAMES H. WELLS
Source: History of Vermilion County, Ohio
- Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 419 |
| |
Elwood Twp. -
ALEXANDER B. WHINREY, Ridge
Farm, grain dealer and general merchandise, was born in
Tennessee on the 13th of September, 1829, and was raised to the
occupation of a farmer until eighteen years of age, at which
time he learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed for
several years. He came to this state in 1852, and settled
in Georgetown, where he remained one year, and then came to
Ridge Farm in 1853, where he has resided since. Mr.
Whinrey commenced general merchandising in 1863, and now
carries a $5,000 stock of goods. He does a good business,
and has been actively engaged in buying grain since 1873.
Mr. Whinrey has been twice married in this county: first
in 1855, to Elizabeth Rice, who was born in this state,
and died in 1861. They had one child, now deceased.
He was then married, in 1863, to Emily P. Weeks, who,
too, was born in this state. They had by this union six
children, three living: James M., Ada A. and
Henry J. Mr. Whinrey has held the office of road
commissioner one term. He is a republican in politics, and
a member of the Friends church.
Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H.
H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 599 |
| |
Sidell Twp. -
A. W. WHITE, Broadlands, Champaign
county, farmer, section 35, is a descendant of the first of the
Whites that came to America on the Mayflower. They were
of English descent. Mr.
A. W. White
was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 20th of March, 1843.
He came to Champaign county in 1861, but returned soon after,
and attended military college, from which he graduated in 1863.
During this time he was in active service under McClellan
in the summer of 1862, and in the spring of 1863 he was
commissioned first-lieutenant of the 7th Ohio Cav., and was
detached as body-guard to the President during the war. He was
at the siege of Richmond, and was engaged in the second battle
of Boll Run and Harper's Ferry.
Mr. White
returned to Illinois after the close of the war, and in 1870 was
married to Miss Lora
J. Stevens,
daughter of Dr.
H. Stevens.
She was born in Champaign county, Illinois, on the 7th of
July,1850. They have three children; Rena
E., Clara
E., and Florence.
Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H.
H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 1033 |
| |
Ross Twp. -
ASA W. WHITE, Alvin,
farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Muskingum county Ohio, on
the 12th day of June, 1819, and is a son of John and Mary
(Davis) White. When he was twelve years old his parents
removed to Licking county, where he lived till 1841, when he
settled in Ross county. In 1844 came to Illinois and located in
Vermilion county, near the present-site of State Line City. He
has lived in this county since. Mr. White was poor
for many years after he came, and lived by renting farms. At
length, in 1860, he bought the first farm he ever owned in
Illinois. By unremitting industry and careful management he has
increased it to three hundred and twenty acres, worth $6,500. He
has ten children living: John W., born on the 1st of
March, 1846; James E.; Tichsh; Delia A., born on the 6th
of September, 1847; Martha, born on the 2d of June, 1854;
Noah; George H.; Elizabeth; Sarah E., born on the 9th of
April, 1863; Mary A., born on the 19th of February, 1865.
Mr. White is a citizen of sterling integrity, and
is a republican in politics.
Source: History of
Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and
Co., 1879 - Page 681 - Submitted by Mary Paulius |
| |
Blount Twp. -
WILLIAM WHITE, Danville,
farmer, section 13, was born in Bedford county,
Pennsylvania, on the 3d of September, 1796, and
was raised a farmer, and this occupation he has
followed through life, making it a good success.
He had no property when he was married to
Betsy Guillin, in 1818, but by hard labor,
economy and fair dealing, he has acquired three
hundred and thirty acres of good land, and about
$1,000 in money, which is on interest. And
besides this he has given considerable to his
children. Mrs. White was born in
Ohio on the 12th of March, 1798. They are
the parents of ten children, seven living.
Mr. White has filled the office of
justice of the peace. Though eighty-three
yeas of age he has never in his life been so
sick but what he was able to go about. He
has been quite temperate in his habits.
Mr. White frequently went to Chicago with
team in an early day, hauling produce and
returning with salt. He went there when
there was but one house between where he now
lives and Chicago. He has been a very
industrious man, and is a man well
respected in the community in which he resides.
He is a republican, and does not belong to any
church.
Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H.
H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 896 |
| |
Elwood Twp. -
REV. S. H. WHITLOCK, Ridge
Farm, minister of the gospel, of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio on the 27th of
April, 1836, and at the age of eighteen learned the carpenter
trade, at which he continued until 1863. He commenced
preparing for the ministry, an became a member of the Illinois
conference in 1868, since which time he has been constantly
engaged in the ministry, having charge of a circuit.
Mr. Whitlock is a minister of no small degree of ability.
He makes a good impression wherever he preaches. He has
charge, at present, of the Ridge Farm circuit. Mr.
Whitlock was married on the 20th of January, 1860, to
Mariah J. Horton, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, on
the 25th of April, 1853. They have by this union three
children: Minnie, born on the 29th of October,
1860; Ward B., born on the 18th of June, 1862, and
Mabel, born on the 24th of August, 1869. Mr.
Whitlock has two brothers who are ministers. His
political views are republican.
Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H.
H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 604 |
| |
Ross Twp. -
JAMES A. WILLIAMS, Alvin,
hardware and lumber dealer, was born LaFayette, Indians, on the
8th of November, 1845, and is a son of Harrison and Hannah
(Gish) Williams. He was bred to farming, and lived near
Pond Grove, in Warren county, Indiana, until 1873, began
traveling for the benefit of his health, meantime studying
medicine, and graduating at the Hygieo-Therapeutic College, at
Florence Heights, New Jersey, on the 10th day of April, 1876,
delivering the valedictory address of his class on that
occasion. In the winter of 1874; he took the course in Drew's
Business College, and graduated on the 2d of March, 1874. In
1864 he enlisted in the 135th Ind. Vols., regiment of
one-hundred-days men. He was married on the 17th of April, 1879,
to Sarah E. Salmans. In March, 1877, he located in Alvin,
where he has since carried on the lumber and hardware trade. In
politics Mr. Williams is a republican.
Source: History of
Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and
Co., 1879 - Page 700 - Submitted by Mary Paulius |
| |
Grant Twp. -
JOHN WILLIAMS, Hoopeston, farmer, was born
in Harrison county, Ohio, on the 29th of September, 1832, and is
the son of Nathan and Sarah (Hoopes) Williams. In
the spring of 1854 he came to this county; broke prairie and
farmed, and the third year entered three
hundred and twenty acres in section 12, in the present limits of
Prairie Green township, Iroquois county. He lived there
seventeen years. He was married on the 13th of October,
1858, to Elnora Shankland, who was born in 1841,
and died on the 23d of February, 1864; married again on the 12th
of August, 1867, to Jennie M. Harwood, who was born on
the 7th of April, 1844. He was assessor of Prairie Green
four or five years in succession. On the 1st of January,
1864, memorable as a cold day, he froze his right foot while
feeding stock, and all the toes had to be amputated. In
April, 1873, he moved to his present home, one and a half miles
south of Hoopeston. He has six children: Sarah E.,
born on the 3d of March, 1860, died on the 16th of May, 1866;
Anna C., born on the 28th of September, 1862, died on the
22d of September, 1865; Mary E., born on the 14th of
February, 1864, died on the 2d of September, 1864; infant,
born and died on the 11th of November, 1870; Nellie M.,
born on the 12th of November, 1871; Charles H., born on
the 5th of October, 1873, died on the 5th of August, 1875;
Josephine B., born on the 30th of August, 1875. Mr.
Williams owns two hundred and thirty-five acres worth
$8,500. His political views are republican. He is a
member of the Christian church. His parents belonged to
the Society of Friends, and his father was a preacher among
them.
Source: History of
Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co., 1879 -
Page 728 |
| |
Ross Twp. -
RITCHIE A. S. WILLIAMS,
Rossville, music teacher, was born in what was then Greenbrier
county Virginia, on the 18th of day, 1824, and is the son of
Richard and Thankful (Morrison) Williams. He was educated
at Winchester, Virginia, and afterward took a full course of
music at the Friendship Musical Academy, New York. He followed
the profession of school-teaching eight or ten years at first,
but after that devoted his time principally to instruction in
music. In 1846 he left Virginia and settled at. Lafayette,
Indiana. He lived there a few years, and removed to Delphi,
where he married Miss Sarah A. Reed, the13th of January,
1850. In 1862 he removed to Brookeston, residing there till
1873, then he located at Rossville, Vermilion county, Illinois.
Mr. Williams is the father of one son,
Wright, born on the 10th of July, 1852. He is a republican
in politics.
Source: History of
Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and
Co., 1879 - Page 697 - Submitted by Mary Paulius |
| |
Newell Twp. -
WATKIN W. WILLIAMS,
Bismark, farmer, was born in Worcestershire, England, on the
11th day of August, 1826, and is a son of John and Eliza
(Bloomfield) Williams. He emigrated with his parents to
America in 1831 or 1833; settled and lived in Ohio two or three
years, when the family removed to Illinois, and located at Sugar
Grove, Champaign county;
but, not
liking the place, his father traded his farm to James
Skinner for the Denmark mill, taking Robert Wyatt as a
partner. He changed his residence several times subsequent to
this; at one time living three years on the Kankakee river. The
subject of this sketch was married on the 11th of November,
1854, to Marth Ann Worley,daughter of
Caleb Worley, born on the 23d of April. 1831. They
have eight living children:
Emma
C., Adelia C., William Sherman, Elizabeth Ann, George Bunyan,
Eliza C., Martha Jane and Simon Peter.
He owns two hundred and ten acres of land? worth
$6,500. In politics he is a democrat.
Source: History of Vermilion
County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 957 -
Submitted by Mary Paulius |
| |
E. B. WILLISON, SR.,
Indianola, farmer and stock-raiser, was born in Alleghany
county, Maryland, on the 15th of December, 1804, and lived there
until 1831, living on the farm twenty-one years. He then
learned the carpenter's trade. In 1831 he moved to Ohio and
engaged at his trade. In 1835 he married Miss Deborah Bryan.
She was born in Ohio, and died on the 17th of April, 1849. In
1839 they came to Vermilion county, Illinois, and settled near
Indianola. On the 4th of .November, 1849, he married Mrs.
Briggs, formerly Miss Ruth Davis. She was
born in Ohio. By his first marriage there were six children,
three living : James B., John C. and Mary E.; and
by the second marriage six children, five living: E. E.,
Jr., Joseph A., Elmar A., Nancy M. and Deborah R. He
owns two hundred and ninety-eight acres of land in this county,
which he has earned by his own labor. He has held the offices
of justice of the peace, road commissioner and school trustee
and director. He is a well known and highly respected citizen.
Source: History of
Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co., 1879 -
Pages 789 and 790 - Submitted by Mary Paulius |
| |
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 Tilton'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.
Source: History of
Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and Co., 1879 -
Page 976 - Submitted by Mary Paulius |
| |
Sidell Twp. -
W. P. WITHERSPOON, Fairmount, farmer,
section 20, was born in Morgan county, Alabama, on the 4th of
November, 1825, and came with his parents to Gibson county,
Indiana, in 1828, where his occupation was that of a farmer.
He remained there until 1861, and then removed to Vermilion
county, where he has resided, as one of the prominent citizens
of Sidell township. His father was born in Virginia in
1798, and died in Gibson county, Indiana, in 1862. His
mother was a native of Alabama, and was born in 1833.
Mr. W. has been three times married. His first wife
was Julie Lynn, and they were was married in 1847.
She was a native of Gibson county, Indiana. He married the
second time, to Sitha McDaniel, in 1850. She was
also a native of Gibson county, and was born in 1834, and died
in 1877. Both wives died with consumption. His
present wife was M. Orr, a native of Indiana, and they
were married in 1878. He is the father of eight children
by his second wife: John D., George W., Lawrence M.,
Hattie R., Elmer E., Mable, Nora R., Lillie A., and two
dead: James M. and William C. Mr. W.
has served as assessor of Sidell township and collector, and
other offices of the township. He and his wife are members
of the M. E. church, and he is a republican.
Source: History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H.
Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 1033 |
| |
Newell Twp -
DAVID K. WOODBURY, Danville, saddler, was
born in South Danville on the 24th of August, 1840, and is a son
of Gardner and Elizabeth (Songer) Woodbury. He
was married on the 18th of October, 1866, to Mary M. Kerr.
He has been town clerk of Danville township. He owns a country
residence and grounds of twenty acres of land near the fair
grounds, and on the boundary between Danville and Newell ten
acres lying in each township, valued at $5,000. He also owns
six lots on Hazel street, three hundred feet front, containing
two dwellings, worth $5,000. Mr. Woodbury is a
manufacturer of harness and saddles, and a jobber in goods
pertaining to that business. He is the father of one child,
named Winstead. In politics he is a republican.
Source: History of
Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H. H. Hill and
Co., 1879 - Page 959 - Submitted by Mary Paulius |
Lincoln Opera Hall |
Danville -
W. W. R. WOODBURY, Danville, druggist and
bookseller. One among the oldest residents of the
city of Danville or of Vermillion county is Dr. W. W. R.
Woodbury. He was born on the 19th of November, 1824,
in Ripley county, Illinois. During his early life the
Doctor had but few chances of getting an education. His
father being permanently crippled, there were but few advantages
to be had either by going to school, which was the old
subscription system, or by studying at home. All due
honor, however, must be given his father, who, to raise money to
pay for the Doctor's last term of school, sold the old family
clock. Not being able to give him the advantages he would
like, his father allowed him to become a member of old Dr.
Fithian's family, with whom he began and completed the study
of medicine, graduating at Rush Medical College, of Chicago, on
the 7th of February, 1850. Returning to Danville after
graduating, he proposed to follow his profession; but became
interested in the drug trade with Dr. J. A. D. Sconce,
and finally made it a permanent business. He began in the
drug trade in April of 1850, and is now the only man engaged in
the mercantile trade that was at that date doing business in the
city of Danville. In company with John W. Myers, in
1859 he built the Lincoln Opera Hall, which at that time was the
wonder of the country.
The proprietors were
laughed at very much for building their monument of folly, as it
was called. But real estate about that time taking an
upward turn, Mr. Woodbury came out all right. He
has filled several public offices, among which may be mentioned
that of commissioner of highways and the office of mayor of the
city of Danville. He has built some twelve or fifteen
different buildings in the city and added four additions to the
city plat. In 1853 Mr. Sconce sold out to
Stephen and John W. Myers. In 1857 Stephen
died, and Mr. Woodbury then bought their interest in the
business, and has since conducted it alone. It is now
twenty-nine years since he began on the same ground where he is
still engaged as one of the successful men of Danville.
Source:
History of Vermilion County, Ohio - Chicago: H.
H. Hill and Co., 1879 - Page 378 |
NOTES: |
