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Vermilion County History & Genealogy

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History of Vermilion County
from the "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois", 1901

Vermilion County, an eastern county, bordering on the Indiana State line, and drained by the Vermilion and Little Vermilion Rivers, from which it takes its name. It was originally organized in 1826, when it extended north to Lake Michigan. Its present area is 926 square miles. The discovery of salt springs, in 1819, aided in attracting immigration to this region, but the manufacture of salt was abandoned many years ago. Early settlers were Seymour Treat, James Butler, Henry Johnston, Harvey Lidington, Gurdon S. Hubbard and Daniel W. Beckwith. James Butler and Achilles Morgan were the first County Commissioners. Many interesting fossil remains have been found, among them the skeleton of a mastodon (1868). Fire clay is found in large quantities, and two coal seams cross the county. The surface is level and the soil fertile. Corn is the chief agricultural product, although oats, wheat, rye, and potatoes are extensively cultivated. Stock-raising and wool-growing are important industries. There are also several manufactories, chiefly at Danville, which is the county-seat. Coal mining is carried on extensively, especially in the vicinity of Danville. Population (in 1880): 41,588; in 1890: 49,905; in 1900: 65,635

History of Danville
from the "Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois", 1901

Danville, the county-seat of Vermilion County, on Vermilion River and on five important lines of railroad; in rich coal-mining district and near large deposts of shale and soapstone, which are utilized in manufacture of sewer-pipe, paving and fire-clay brick. The city has car-shops and numerous factories, water-works, electric lights, paved streets, several banks, 27 churches, five graded schools and one high school, and six newspapers, three daily. A Soldiers' Home is located three miles east of the city. Pop (1890), 11,491. (1900) 16,354.


Online Data

Census

Biographies

Obituary Index

Deaths

Church Records

Cemeteries

Military

Newspaper Stories

Births

Marriages

History

 Court Records

County Map

Family Records

Vermilion County Residents in the Joliet Prison

Queries

 

LINKS

 
 
Website Updates:
Dec 2009: MCGINZEY "Sick List" news item
Nov 2009: 79th Infantry Company C Muster roll
Sep 2009: RIFE obit
July 2009: Oakwood Cemetery; News Item about BROWN
May 2009: Potomac Cemetery NIXON Burials; NIXON, CADLE burials; additional Vermilion Grove Cemetery Burials; Songer, Pate and Greenwood Cemetery updates; Under
HISTORY: Danville postmasters; Towns of Vermilion county and how they got their names; Extinct Towns as of 1940; Old Cemeteries of Vermilion County

Apr 2009: Obits for BREWER, MASON, MAKEMSON, MESSINGER; Burials in Makemsom Cemetery; burials in Oakhill and Mt. Vernon cems; burial locations of soldiers of company C of the 73rd infantry; Query Page;
Mar 2009: SESLOR obit; Oakwood Cemetery and Mt. Vernon Cemetery burials; Makemson bios
Feb 2009: Mount Pisgah, Dalbey, Sharon, Gundy Cemetery Burials; WATSON Cemetery; Early Danville Photographers
Jan 2009:
Death Announcements for MYERS, NOBLE, SELBY, WHITCOMB
1840 Census of Danville - Now Complete with headcounts! Churches and Ministers of Verm. Co; WHEELER, HUFFMAN, JOHNSON, BREWER, FOETNER, HOUF, SIDELL obits; Report of 1865 soldier meeting; Stillbirths for 1877-1882; FRAZIER Family History; SMITH Family death and birth records; 1850 and 1860 Mortality Index; Early Marriages from 1830's. Early Settler's Biographies; First Settlements; Early Military Invasion of Vermilion county; Elder sons and daughters of Vermilion county; History of Old Indian Village of Piankeshaw; Vermilion county in the civil war and After the War; List of Pensioners on the Roll as of January 1, 1883; Old Sandusky Cemetery burials; Gordon Cemetery Burials

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Surrounding Counties:
Champaign County - Douglas County
Edgar County - Iroquois County
Ford County



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