Edgar County History Page

The History of Edgar County, Illinois

Transcribed and contributed by
Jane A. Fullington
jgeick@sprynet.com

This history of Edgar County is taken from the book, "The History of Edgar County, Illinois", published in 1879 by Wm. Le Baron, Jr. & Co., 186 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Ill. It was compiled by historians, W. H. Perrin, H. H. Hill, and A. A. Graham.

FAIRFIELD PRECINCT.

This district embraced in its limits the present townships of Paris, Sims, Grand View, Kansas, Buck, the larger portion of Embarrass, with a tier of sections off of the south ends of Edgar and Shiloh. Settlements were not made in this precinct as early by two or three yeas as in Wayne and Pike. Of the first in this section, we may note Hall Sims and his father-in-law, Thomas Jones. The latter was from Kentucky, and settled in what is now Paris Township, in July 1821, where he died some years later. Sims was likewise from Kentucky, but was born in North Carolina. He is still living, though several years past his fourscore. He settled originally in what is now Sims Township, where he lived from 1821 until a few years ago, when, as old age crept upon him, he dissolved his household and went to live with a son in Elbridge Township. Mr. Sims has always been a prominent man in the county, and a public-spirited citizen. He served two terms in the State Legislature, and held other important offices. He and Mr. Jones were the only settlers in Fairfield, in 1821, of whom we have any information. The next year, the following additions were made to it, vis.: Samuel Vance, Smith Shaw, Thomas Tenery, Charles Ives, Jacob and Thomas Rhoades, John Cutler, John and Thomas Darnall, Thomas Brown, the Sutherlands, William Janes, Moses Williams, Isaac Johnson, Samuel Wells and Thomas Cary. The present site of the settlement of Mr. Vance is now included in the city limits of Paris. He donated twenty-six acres of land for the county seat. A son, together with many other descendants, still resides in the county. Shaw's original settlement is also in the city limits; and a son, Major Shaw, owns it. A more extended notice is given these pioneers in the chapter devoted to Paris Township. Tenery was supposed to be from Tennessee, but of him little could be learned. Charles Ives was from New York, and settled in the southern part of Paris Township. He was one of the first County Commissioners, and afterward a Representative in the Legislature. The Rhoadeses first settled in what is now Elbridge Township, but soon afterward removed to the present town of Sims. John Cutler was from Ohio, and settled in that portion of Fairfield now known as Grand View. Thomas Brown also settled in Grand View, and was from Tennessee. The Darnalls were from Kentucky; Thomas settled in Grand View and John in Sims, where the latter died the next spring after his settlement. Thomas Darnall raised a large family of children, none of whom, we believe, are living except William D. Darnall, a present resident of Paris, and to whose excellent memory we are indebted for many facts pertaining to the early times. The Sutherlands came from New York, and consisted of Aric Sutherland, R. B., Daniel and Charles Sutherland, all of whom settled in Grand View Township. Many representatives of this family still live in the county. William Janes and Moses Williams were from Kentucky, and settled in the present town of Sims. Isaac Johnson was from Ohio, and located in that part of the district now embraced in Grand View. Samuel Wells came from Kentucky, and made his claim in Sims Township.

In 1823, the population was increased by the arrival of William Whitley, Nathaniel Wayne, Gen. M. K. Alexander, Washington Alexander, Isaac Alexander, Leander Munsell, William Means, William Beard, David Crosier, Adriel Stout, Isaac Brimberry, Moses and Aaron Darnall, William Flood, William Craig and William Young. Whitley first settled in Wayne Precinct, and was noticed in that chapter. Nathaniel Wayne settled in Paris, and was one of the early hotel keepers, but in a few years removed to Embarrass Township, where he is noticed as one of the early settlers of that section. Gen. Alexander and his brothers, Washington and Isaac, settled in Paris. Gen. Alexander took a prominent part in the Black Hawk war; was one of the first merchants of Paris and the first Postmaster, after his father, Hon. John B. Alexander, who is noticed as one of the early settlers of the original Wayne Township. Washington Alexander is still living in Paris, and Isaac was one of the early school-teachers in the county. Munsell settled in Paris and was one of the early merchants. He has a son, a lawyer, still living in the city. Means, Beard, Crosier and Stout were all from Ohio, all came together and all settled in what is now Paris Township, where they are more particularly referred to. Brimberry settled in Grand View, and was a captain in the campaign against Black Hawk. Moses and Aaron Darnall were from Kentucky and settled in Sims. They were brothers of John Darnall, who settled here a year previous and died, when they came and took charge of his claim. Flood, Craig and Young settled in Sims also.

The population of the district was increased in 1824-25 by the following arrivals: Michael and William O'Hair, ----- Hanly, James Adams, Jonathan Newman, Isaac Craig, the Dills, the Redmons, G. B. Shellady, Robert Brown, the Johnsons, the Pinsons, Solomon McGwire, George Moke, the Olmsteads, Anson Phelps, James and Benjamin Johnson, the Hendersons, William Roley, Ledston Redmon and Joseph McCracken. The O'Hairs, Hanly, Adams, Newman and Craig settled in the present township of Sims. The Dills, of whom there were a large family, settled in what is now Paris Township, where members of the family still live. M. M. Dill, son of Abner Dill, is a prominent citizen of Paris, and one of the proprietors of the Edgar County Mills. The Redmons also settled in Paris Township, and George W. Redmon, a son of the early settler, George Redmon, lives in Paris, and is likewise one of the proprietors of the Edgar County Mills. Garland B. Shellady located in Paris, and was the first resident lawyer of Edgar County. Brown was from Kentucky, settled in Paris Township and died more than forty years ago. Madison and William Johnson settled in what is now Paris Township, and William is at present one of the proprietors of the City Mills. The Pinsons were from the Old Dominion, and settled near Paris. Aaron Pinson died here; his sons, Thomas and James, moved away. McGwire and Moke settled in what is now Paris Township. Moses and John T. Olmstead settled in the present town of Grand View. They were from New York, as was also Anson Phelps, who settled in the town about the same time. James and Benjamin Johnson came from Ohio and located in the present town of Grand View. The Hendersons were from the old Blue-grass State, and consisted of John, Andrew and Hugh Henderson, and made their claims in Grand View Township. William Roley was from Virginia, and settled also in Grand View. Ledston Redmon and McCracken also settled in this section, and were from Kentucky.

Among the additions made to the settlement up to and including 1830, we may note the following: Thomas Brock, Lawson Kimble, the Bovels, John Matthews, John Arterburn, James Hoskins, the Pinnells, James F. Whitney, John Montgomery, Thomas Morgan, the Whalens, Robert M. Ray, W. K. Payne, William and John Shrader, James Miller, John and Joseph Perisho, J. R. Wilhoit, Daniel and Emanuel Zink, and John Archer, Joseph Hite, John Umphrey, Rev. J. Y. Allison, Squire Boyer, John Milburn, Fredrick Rudy, Jacob Augustus, John Cuist, Nathaniel Wayne, Benjamin Wayne, George Roberts, Thomas Dohhette, Joseph Smart, James Scott, James Flack, Henry Owsley, Robert Downs, Middleton White, William Laughlin and Isaac Neeley. Thomas Brock settled near Paris, as did also Lawson Kimble, who is still living, and was originally from the Buckeye State. The Bovels were from Tennessee and located in what is now Paris Township. Matthews, Hoskins and Montgomery were Kentuckians and located near Paris. Whitney was also from Kentucky and died with the cholera. He was Sheriff of the county at the time of his death. Patrick and Bartholomew Whalen settled in Paris Township; the latter is still living where he originally settled. Patrick is dead. Robert M. Ray settled also in Paris and was twice Sheriff of the county, and one of the early merchants. W. K. Payne, the Shraders, Perishos, James Miller and the Zinks settled in what is now Grand View Township. Also John Archer, Joseph Hite, John Umphrey, Milburn, Rudy and Augustus located in Grand View. Arterburn, Wilhoit, the Pinnells, Rev. Allison and Boyer settled in what was Grand View Township, but is now known as Kansas Township, and, for several years after township organization, a part of the former. The Waynes settled in what is now Embarrass Township; Nathaniel had previously settled in Paris Township where he lived some years. Cuist, Roberts, Dohhette, Smart, Scott, Flack and Owsley also settled in Embarrass, and were mostly from Kentucky. Laughlin, Downs, White and Neeley were also from Kentucky and settled in Sims Township. Thus we have taken a brief glance of the original settlement of old Fairfield Township or Precinct. The north part of the county as now bounded was originally called CARROLL PRECINCT.