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SCRAP BOOK
Amos Williams
and
Early Danville, Illinois
ji:ju
i
AMOS WILLIAMS
1797—1857
SCRAP BOOK
Amos Williams
and
Early Danville, Illinois
d^.
%
^773(^^ Preface
r^ "It*s only human nature to cherish memories.
As the years speed by incidents of the past ac-
quire nev; significance. Somehow the average per-
son finds recollections interesting. Most of us
like to "live in the past" at times — to talk over
again the days that are gone." — Commercial-News.
In presenting this little sketch of the life
of Amos V/illiams, and in trying to picture the
times and conditions under which he lived, we asK
our readers not to think of it as a real book but
to try to imagine themselves before a heap of old
papers trying to select old letters and bits of
information suitable for a scrapbook. Trying to
find what will show how people fixed their homes
in "the long ago." Also how they worked and how
the schools were run and business managed. Among
'^ the papers we find two Interesting lists of names.
' One is a subscription to raise funds for the
building of a rail fence and good gates for the
old "grave yard." The other is for raising money
to build the old Red Bridge across the Vermilion
River, which was built In the year 1857. These
"^ lists have names of many of our early Danville
^ citizens. If they do not contain names of some
who still live or who had loved ones living here
in those old days, we beg that no one will feel
r hurt by the absent names, they may have beeji on
^ other lists or In other enterprises. Each person
cannot be In every thing.
One fact is important and that is that these
personal subscriptions show that public work was
not always paid for by taxes. It may be a ques-
^ tion as to which way was really best.
vX
'il There is one more thing to mention, and it
'^ is that In copying from old manuscripts, we have
^ followed the original form in the use of spelling,
^ capitals, punctuation, and paragraphs. Also re-
member that this is not a book, only a scrap book.
I It is with the hope of throwing some light
V on the early days of Danville, and a more com-
-2 plete Idea of the varied accomplishments of Amos
^ Williams that we attempt this little memorial to
him.
His Woodbury Grandchildren.
The librarian of the Chicago Historical So-
ciety after looking over the old papers said, "I
have not ceased to ponder upon these interesting
waifs of a byegone time which, fragile as they
are, nevertheless serve as links to bind together
the old and the new."
Sketch of the life of Amos Williams, pioneer,
3s told to
Miss Ruth Sandeson
by
His Woodbury Grandchildren
It Is a good many years back to 1826 and
18?7 when Vermilion County and Danville, Illinois
were brought into being. There were no electric
lights then, no automobiles, no good roads, no
matches, no coal oil lamps, and no fine office
furniture. Amos Williams, Vermilion County's
outstanding pioneer, did much of his almost per-
fect writing at a little candle stand about two
feet square with a candle on it. It is safe to
say that he did not sit up all night I Like most
pioneers he was in the habit of retiring at nine
and rising at four. He built the wood fires and
brought water from the fine, big spring in the
hillside to use in preparing breakfast. When the
hot fires had warmed the rooms and the sun ap-
peared with its golden light, he was ready to
write — if there was writing to be done.
Red Tape
The acciMulation of letters and papers oc-
curred then, as now, but it was not so rapid in
early days when paper was not so cheap and mails
were not as convenient. The papers and letters
were generally folded to the same size, labelled
and ready to be laid away for future reference.
Then Amos Williams cut a strip of "red tape" and
wrapped it around the package and neatly tied it.
There were no rubber bands then as there are now.
The rubber bands slip on quickly and are very con-
venient but they have their faults. They some-
times "go dead" and let the papers fall apart.
They, also, sometiffies stick to the paper and
cause the ruin of an important word. The red
tape of Amos Williams* time lasted well and
served well. As it was so much used people fin-
ally made a joke of it, saying, "It is all done
up in red tape" or "It's according to red tape."
A Bushel of Letters
After the death of Amos Williams the court
appointed Dr. W. W. R. V/oodbury to administer the
Williams' estate. One of the first things to be
done was to vacate the old Williams home number
10 South Clark Street. That made necessary the
sorting of the papers and letters that had ac-
cumulated in some thirty years. It was no small
task. The first post office had been in the
Williams' home and there was the accumulation of
public as well as the private correspondence.
Dr. Woodbury destroyed about a wagon load of
papers. They were not loose, crumpled up papers
but neatly, accurately folded and closely packed.
Much of the correspondence had been penned before
1840 when envelopes came into use. The address
was written on the back of the letter and the
letter was sealed or else sent without much re-
gard for secrecy. Dr. Woodbury packed about
a bushel of letters in a box with the idea that
they might be of interest to someone. That
bushel of letters sat around in the Woodoury home
for over fifty years. Uo body seemed to get
interested enough to look them over and no one
wished to throw them away without looking at them.
When the Doctors' son, Amos Gardner, hurt
his foot and a great snow fall lay on the ground
for days he was shut in the house with nothing to
do. He decided to take a look at those old
papers and see if they were really worth shelter-
ing any longer. So he started. The first ones
did not interest him very much. He and his
Sister Flo tossed several into the bright, winter
grate fire. Before long they found a letter from
Lincoln. That aroused more interest and they
wondered how many documents of interest they had
already burned. The sorting continued. It soon
became evident that the papers covered many
different subjects such as land, mills, legis-
lation, Dolitics, prospective railroads, family
affairs.' Each subject was put in a separate pile.
The number of piles increased. The tables and
chairs overflowed. The floor had hardly walking
space. There were not only hundreds but thou-
sands of letters. After having them around for
v/eeKs, Amos Gardner Woodbury bought a big office
letter file case and put the letters in it "just
so" — like his grandfather Williams.
In the meantime he wrote to Historical So-
cieties and to the University of Illinois in re-
gard to the letters. He found that old letters
were of interest and even, in some cases, of
benefit. His health had begun to fail and the
letters and records remained in their new place
for a few years. Then his sister, Flo Woodbury,
wrote the University of Illinois. Some of the
letters and records and the filing case became
part of the historical collection of that insti-
tution in 1922. The old papers, which were sold
for three hundred dollars, were worth much more
from a historical standpoint. The owners, how-
ever, wished to be sure thay they would be pre-
served. Some documents and relics of local inter-
est have been put into the hands of the local
Daughter of American Revolution Chapter, Danville
Public Library.
However, material relating especially to
Danville and to the Williams family was kept with
the thought that a history of Danville might yet
be written. That never seemed to be accomplished
and now this effort is being made to give a skech
of the life of Amos Williams and his work, to
show some of the letters, to quote old rules, and
to collect scraps from the colorful pioneer cloth
woven with threads that have made our nation
strong. Thus there can be established a memorial
to one of Danvilles* most helpful citizens.
Amos V/illiams, Pioneer Citizen
It is over a hundred years since Amos
Williams came to Illinois. It was 1821. He was
twenty four years old and came from Pennsylvania.
A man of considerable education and very careful
training, he could have done well in an eastern
state among other people of education and ad-
vantages. But he chose to come west to a new
land where he most surely did his full share in
the laying of the foundations of Illinois. He
helped to organize two counties, Edgar and
Vermilion; he was a member of the first com-
missioners court in each county; he wrote down
the first laws of both counties; he started their
bookkeeping of accounts; he taught in their first
schools, surveyed their land, and helped lay out
their towns. But it is in Vermilion County and
particularly at Danville that he spent the greater
portion of his life. He was a little man but
strong and able to stand hardships. A friend of
his in commenting on his size said, "He is, oh,
so little. About like a cake of soap after a
hard days washing."
The first name on the Williams* records of
which there are at present any available records
is that of Enoch Williams, grandfather of Amos
Williams. Enoch was born September twentieth,
1751. That was just four months before the birth
of George Washington. Both of these men were in
the war of the American Revolution Washington as
General and Enoch Williams a private soldier.
His name is so recorded on the Pennsylvania files.
The Williams* records give the names of six
children born to Enoch Willi?ms and his wife,
Hannah. The first child was Catherine, born
February twenty-second, 1754. The fourth child
was Benjamin Williams, born May fifth, 1760.
When Benjamin was nineteen years of age he and
Anna Ross were united in marriage. The marriage
certificate of this couple, signed by Joseph
Powel, the minister, on October 18, 1779 in still
preserved.
Whether Benjamin and Anna had any children
or not, is not known. Anna died in August 1796
and Benjamin* £ mother, Hannah, had died in April
of the same year. Benjamin was then thirty years
old and he may have been lonely. At any rate he
married a girl of twenty and three children were
born to them. Anos was born June fifteenth, 1797 ,
then later Eli and Mary.
In those days many boys were trained to a
trade or profession that would be followed alone
or with very little help. So Amos was sent to
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania to learn the printer* s
trade with George Harper. The original contract
says that the master, Harper, was to teach the
said apprentice in the art, trade and mystery of
a Printer" and should provide for the said ap-
prentice "sufficient meat, drink, physic, washing,
lodging and six months day schooling during said
term." His brother, Eli, became a silversmith.
Some little spoons and cuff buttons of his making
still exist. Eli as well as Amos came west after
learning his trade. Amos had become very pro-
f icient as a printer. He went to work for a
Ij fir,-\/tvo^L Dutch newspaper and learned to speak the language
Oa-'^^K very fluently. He remained in the East until he
C STL ^^^ twenty one.
^Ov^/ff^d^ Then he decided to see the world a little.
3 He journeyed southward and westward. His diary
recounts the land conditions, water, something
about trade and particularly mentions where he
"fed" and"lay." The following is typical: "22-
fed at Hager on timber ridge (house only midllng)
and lodged at Higgins (raidling house) . 23-break-
fast at Springfield Pipus house (pretty good) fed
at Criss uptown the meanest place in the United
StRtes and lay at Bramfields a trifling place."
By following the names Wheeling, Zanesville,
Cincinnati, Lexington one can trace rather defi-
nitely the route westward of this adventurous lad.
He went as far westward as Little Rock, Arkansas
then turned eastward again and came to Illinois
which he said w^s the best spot ill all his
travels. He reached Clark County about 1821 and
remained there awhile. Then he went further
north through Vincennes and Terre Haute, Indiana,
and over close to where the tov/n of Paris was
later located. He helped organize Edgar County
in 1825, surveyed for the county and taught
school there for 1822, 25, 24. Sometime in 1826
he visited Vandalia, which had become the capitol
of Illinois in 1820. All these experiences and
travels gave him a splendid practical education
for his life's work in what was to be known as
Vermilion County. He came here in 1826 and
helped organize Vermilion County. At that time
it included Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and the
present Vermilion County. He became clerk of the
Commissioner's court of Vermilion County which
held its first meeting at Butler's Point, near
the present village of Catlin. They met at the
Asa Elliott cabin which was, also, the first
meeting place of the Circuit Court of Vermilion
County. He held that position for about twenty
five years. He wrote "a handsome, bold and easy
hand", according to comments in the letters of
his friends. Our early county records are fine
specimens of penmanship and correctness of form.
On March 21, 1826, Amos Williams married
Miss Martha Ann Shaw, daughter of Smith and
Elizabeth Shaw of Paris, Illinois. They went to
housekeeping at Butler's Point in a little cabin
one half of which Amos used part of the time for
a school house. It was in this little cabin that
Maria Louisa was born on February 22, 1827.
Martha Ann was a friendly, kindly woman — much
loved. She could read and write but her edu-
cation was rather limited owing to lack of oppor-
tunity in a new county. She was the second child
in a family of fifteen brothers and sisters and
was skilled in all household arts. She could
spin and weave, as could nearly all women in
those days. There is still preserved a wonder-
ful white bed spread she made before her marriage.
She raised the cotton in Crawford County, carded,
spun and wove it into cloth. Then she worked out
a design upon it, using pewter plates in tracing
the outline. In the center of the spread is a
large American eagle with out-spread wings. Other
girls, so her letters say, were making similar
spreads. This patriotic turn of mind is evi-
denced in many things the people wrote and did.
In 1827 Amos led the movement to change the
county seat to the site of the Piankeshaw Indian
Village. Amos Williams built the first house
and brought his wife and baby here during the
spring of 1827. He conducted the first sale of
town lots in April and then about the middle of
the month took his wife and seven weeks old
8
daughter to Paris to stay with the Shaw family
while he and another man started to Pennsylvania
after Mother Williams and her daughter Mary. The
iourney was made in a two horse covered wagon and
lasted about eight weeks. On reaching Danville,
Mother Williams and Mary became members oX' the
Amos Williams household presided over by the
young mother when she and the baby were brought
back from Paris. In addition to their own family,
they boarded Dan Beckwith and took in visitors
and travellers besides.
This region which centered around the site
of the Piankeshaw village was Vermilion County,
Illinois. Amos Williams had been appointed first
post master of Vermilion County in the year 18S6.
The first letters to this locality came in that
year and were addressed to Vermilion Court House.
Some of them went to Vermilion County, Indiana.
So as Postmaster, Amos Williams led another move-
ment to name this locality Danville, in honor of
Dan Beckwith who had given twenty acres of land
for the location of the town.
People were interested in Vermilion because
of the Salines. Long before 1819 when the white
men were establishing claims the Indians and
later the French traders had made salt at the
Salt Licks, so called from the fact that the
animals came here to *»lick" the salt. The legis-
lature, having passed a law giving any person who
discovered salines exclusive right to manufacture
salt, had many conflicting claims on its hands.
Barron, General Harrison»s interpreter, seems to
have had the first claim. Then Trioman Blackman
made application in his own name and it was sever-
al years before the difficulties were adjusted.
In the meantime Mr. and Mrs- Seymour Treat had
become the first permanent settlers in Vermilion
County.
In 1824 Major John W. Vance came fros] Ohio
and the Salines became a thriving business.
Kettles were brought by water from Louisville,
Kentucky and then taken across from the mouth of
Stony Creek in the Vermilion River east of
Danville to the Salt Works--located about five
miles west of Danville. It has been marked at
Possum Trot by the D. A. R. with an historic and
worn salt kettle. Looking from the rise of the
9
land to the Vermilion River one gets a good pic-
ture of the oxen toiling across the intervening
miles from Stony Creek to drag the wagons with
the large heavy salt kettles. There is an old
tradition told by the Indians that there would
never be any bad storms in Danville because of
the basin in which it is located, although one
hundred feet above the river — all roads leading
away from Danville go up hill. There have been
severe storms here but far less damaging ones
than those same winds carried elsewhere. The
rivers and their branches around and through
Danville made many trails center here. Even
across the present Vermilion Street just north of
"Uncle Joe'' Cannon's home was a bridge over
Jarett's branch — a stream which ran into Stony
Creek about three blocks south of the present
bridge at Williams Street. The Salines, good
water, comm.unication, good wells, and timber
made Danville a growing place until the late
1830 »s and 1840 »s when new salt fields lessened
Vermilion County's importance.
Amos Williams, Danville's first post master,
carried on his duties in one room of his home.
It was a typical pioneer cabin located 10 South
Clark Street, a short thoroughfare running from
Main Street south to the river bluff. Rattle-
snakes were common and it is recorded that even
sales of lots were delayed while the men drove
them away from the horses' heels. Clark Street
is now more like an alley. It is on the south
side of Main Street between Franklin and Walnut
streets. The building looked south over the
bluff. An excellent spring was close by. The
north portion was the post office, the lobby was
in the central part and the southern half was the
home.
Post master Williams did not find those
duties very heavy. Generally he did not have
over one pouch of mail about twice a week, teail
was carried on horseback or by means of coaches.
The leading event of the village was the
arrival of the stage from Vincennes via Palestine,
Marshall, Paris and Georgetown. Across the
Vermilion River from the hill top in the present
South Danville came the driver who blew loud and
long on the familiar horn. Winding down the hill,
10
crossing the stream, using the ferry in high
waters and slowly climbing the steep north road
he pulled into west Main Street. A short rest
for the horses, then on with a flourish and rush
the driver proudly turned into Clark street to
unload the mail sack.
There were rules, and strict ones, regu-
lating the mail. In fine weather the mail was
carried on top of the old Concord stage coach.
The passengers inside paid at the rate of six
cents a mile. The stage tavern meals cost the
travellers about thirty seven and a half cents.
In a Travelers Guide Book published in 1843 is
the following: "Emigrants and travelers will
find it to their interest always to be a little
skeptical relative to statements of stage drivers
and agents for stage coach lines, to make some
allowances in their own calculations for delays,
difficulties, and expenses, and above all, to
feel perfectly patient and on good terms with
themselves, the officers and the world generally,
if they do not move just as rapidly or fare quite
as well as they desire, for they sometimes have
breakdowns and runaways."
The following letter is a copy to the
Assistant Postmaster General, C. R. Gardner, at
Washing^ton D. C:
Danville, Vermilion County, Illinois
February 13, 1835
Sir
The mail from Covington, Ind. to Danville,
111. failed to arrive here on Tuesday the 3rd
inst. by which one entire trip was lost — which
failure according to the best information I can
obtain was occasioned by the running of ice in
the Wabash River; so as to render the same im-
passable.
I am Sir very respectfully
Your most obt servt
A. Williams
P. M.
The drivers had regulations concerning such cases
11
In a paper dated 1844 one of the seven listed
rules is: "In case of high water or ice or any-
other obstruction rendering it impossible for a
driver to proceed he shall get a certificate of a
Postmaster which shall be sent to the Contractor,
and if he fail to do this he shall be charged
with whatever fine the Postmaster General shall
assess the Contractor."
Amos Williams was postmaster for eighteen
consecutive ye^rs, 1826 to 1844. After the next
postmaster, James Craven, was appointed by
President Van Buren the Post office was moved a
little farther north to the northwest corner of
Walnut and Main street. Farther down Walnut
street toward the river bluffs was the home of
Enoch Kingsbury, the first pastor of the
Presbyterian Church. The court house, school,
hotel, and trading post were near. It is all
historical ground where the eocial and political
life of the community was carried on. Danville
was many years in advance of Chicago. Those in
the north did all their l^nd office business here
and the officer in Chicago kept all his papers
in an old two story white hat.
The first court house, a log structure
twenty by thirty feet, was sold to this county
by William Reed in 1828 for two hundred dollars.
It was located where the present Woodbury Drug
Company has its store on 14 West Main Street Just
west of Redden Square. In 1831 this log court
house was sold to Hezekiah Cunningham for three
hundred and fifty dollars and a new one was com-
pleted in 1833 on the location of the present
court house. After this second building was
burned, 1872, the court house had temporary
quarters in Lincoln Hall — the site of the present
Woodbury Drug Company. Then the new court house
was put up on the present day site.
Although not supported by public taxation
the first school was held in the building known
as Haworth's Smoke House. It was in this ten
foot by twelve building made of logs and without
a floor that Dr. Norton Beckwith taught his
twelve scholars. It was located on the northwest
corner of the present public — or Redden Square
number 5 West Main Street. Next to it and more
directly on the present square was a strongly
built structure which could be used as a stockade
12
if the Indians ever went on a rampage. This was
known as Haworth's house. For awhil6 he used it
for a hotel and part of it for his merchandise.
Hubbard used the other part as a trading post.
Later Hubbard* s own building was completed, lo-
cated where the Palmer national Bank is novi es-
tablished at number 2 East Main street. HUbbard'fe
store was Danville* s first frame building. The
lumber had been cut at Denmark — a village where
the bridge over Lake Vermilion is located. The
first hotel was a two story log house containing
four rooms. The proprietor, Solomon Gilbert, had
his tavern at the foot of Gilbert street where
the Lorado Taft monument is now placed.
The first newspaper was established here in
183S by Amos Williams and Bryant. Papers in
those days were a large sheet, printed on both
sides and folded. It was a slow process to as-
semble the type. As life with the pioneers was
serious their papers included many lines of ad-
vice and long essays to both the young and old.
Advertisements are set in the same type as the
news. Many references are to arrivals of goods,
rates, patent medicines (since doctors were
scarce) and brief notices of sales. This first
paper, "The Weekly Inquirer" struggled till 1859.
Danville at this time had a population of about
700, fourteen stores, three groceries, three tav-
erns and a postoffice.
The first public school house in Danville
set aside by the commissioners for educational
purposes was a small log cabin about twelve by
fifteen feet covered with clapboard and "mudded
over." It had one door and two small windows
each about two feet square which admitted but
little light. The large old fashioned fire place
served to warm and partly light the room. It
was at this institution of learniiig, situated
east and south of South street between Vermilion
and Hazel streets not far from the railroad
bridge across the Vermilion River, that Dr.
Norton Beckwith taught school. Later Wright's
mill was erected west of the school. All around
hazel brush grew until in the 1860' s. Later
there was another school located at what is nov/
124 Franklin street, erected by Amos Williams at
his own expense and on his own ground. This
building was used not only as a school but also
13
as a place for public worship, for all kinds of
speaking, and entertainment of an instructive
nature. In fact Amos Williams was interested in
the education of the masses. Later the erection
of the Red Seminary on Pine Street near Main and
the Union Seminary on the corner of Vermilion and
Seminary Streets gave more advanced instruction.
But the early education in Danville was confined
to the three "Rs.^^
The first national seal used in Vermilion
County was made in York, Pennsylvania in 1826.
It weighs about a quarter of a pound, is about
two inches in diameter and looks somewhat like
an old scale weight. On it? face is engraved
«Amos Williams, I^ot??ry Public." Inside the
circle is a "cut" of a plow, a steamboat and
three sheaves of wheat. It was used as seals
are now, to emboss the papers.
No other man held so many positions, nor
held them so many years in Vermilion County,
as did Amos Williams. As couiity agent he con-
ducted the first officially advertised sale of
lots in Danville on April tenth and eleventh,
1827. Thus April 10, 1827 is Danville's birth-
day, fie made subsequent sales, both public and
private, for many years. He was Postmaster,
Recorder of Deeds, Judge of Probate Court, Notary
Public, Register of Saline Lands, Master in
Chancery, Clerk of County Commissioners Court,
Agent of Vermilion County and he was a Bureau
of Information for all. Parties seeking lands,
hunting stray animals, asking about taxes, having
problems in merchandising or of milling talked
with or wrote to him. In a "broadside" put out
May 10, 1840, called "A Few Hints to the Citizens
of Vermilion County" a certain Jacksonian
Democrat criticized and declaimed against the
offices being concentrated in the hands of one man
a Whig. He lists the name of Amos Williams seven
times with the seven offices he held and so dedi-
cated it with bitter and pointed sarcasm. He
says, "It may be possible that the Williamses of
Vermilion are a numerous, wealthy, aristocratic
and Whigabus family, and have had the advantages
of a classical education and that the balance of
her citizens are Jackson men who cannot write and
spell well; consequently, none others capable; if
so what a fortunate circumstance for the benight-
ed inhabitants of Vermilion that she enjoys the
14
services of so useful a family, as the Williamses,
who not only can read the law, but have the ex-
clusive arthority of administrating it.
"I tremble at
upon the deplorable
citizens) would be
tary disease should
the performance of
offices. We could
of Justice would be
lors would go about
license, etc.
the result
condition
placed, in
disenable
the duties
get no more
when reflecting
in which they (the
case some heredi-
this family from
of their respective
papers, the Courts
closed, old maids and bache-
the streets moaning for
"Expositor", as he signed himself was making
a great plea to the voters to give the other
party some offices.
It was customary in those days as it is now
to get recommendations concerning appointments.
The following letter to Hon. James 0. Wattles,
New Harmony, not only is typical of other letters
in the Williams' collection but shows the paper
and ink in a good state of preservation. I«iot a
word of the letter has faded.
Albion Jan. 25, 1826
Dear Sir,
Believing that in a new county the several
offices of Judge of Probate, Notary Public,
Recorder, and Clerk ought to unite in the same
person, and being informed that Mr. Amos Williams
has been elected Judge of Probate for the new
county of Vermilion and will probably receive
also the office of Notary Public and recorder,
should you think it advisable to appoint him
Clerk of the Circuit Court for said county I
have no hesitation in saying that at the same
time you confer a f-avor on a gentleman well
deserving it — you are gratifying the wishes of
the people in the county of Vermilion.
With respect I remain yours
T. C. Cone
Amos Williams was active in many things
apart from his official duties. He was foremost
15
in church and school matters, giving both time
and money. His home was the headquarters for the
itinerant preacher. Wo charge was ever brought
against him for incompetency or fidelity to
office. As a surveyor he was much interested in
roads. He surveyed for the roads from Paris to
Springfield and the road from Paris to the Salt
Works. He spent much time and thousands of
dollars in erecting mills and mill dams. He
personally conducted grist mills, saw mills, and
a mill for carding wool, all located near
Danville. He invented a mill wheel and carried
on a correspondence with Abraham Lincoln trying
to obtain a patent for it. He left a large corre-
spondence showing his interest in steam engines.
In 1857 he was the secretary of tiie meetings
that joined with Lafayette, Indiana, in arousing
interest in what was later the Northern Cross
railroad, now known as the Wabash. He saw the
roadbeds preoared and the abutments constructed
where the Wabash now crosses the Vermilion. The
panic followed; but he lived almost twenty years
longer to see the schemes carried out and the
engine come over these same abutments into
Danville. His aid never faltered. In 1856,
only a year before his death, he gave two hundred
dollars to provide a depot grounds for the Wabash
railroad.
He was a student and had a large library.
A practical printer himself having served his six
years apprenticeship in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania,
he always encouraged the local newspaper. He was
agent for the American Bible Society and helped
distribute its literature, on Sunday carrying the
tracts around in his tall hat.
He conducted an extensive correspondence
with the state officials and members of the legis-
lature relating to public matters. Letters from
Abraham Lincoln, Judge David Davis, Lyman Trumbull
and other brilliant minds of the time are in vari-
ous collections. These recall his association
and broad outlook on his country. Occupying the
position he did and being so familiar with the
location of lands in the county, it was natural
that he should locate and buy several tracts.
Several of these holdings were later cut across
the street named for him, namely — Williams street.
16
Amos and his wife Martha had eight children,
Martha died when the last was only five days old.
She left six children for Amos to raise. He did
his best for the children and never married again.
Three of their children died young, Benjamin
Franklin Williams, first son, at the age of nine;
little Sarah, fo»r months old; and little Samuel
of the Old Testament and Paul of the New. Little
Sammy lost his mother when only five days old and
she was only thirty six. The oldest was Maria
Louisa, sixteen years old. Maria called little
Sammy her own and did her best to raise him with
the help of an aunt. But he lived only nine
months.
The other five children lived to grow up and
marry and have homes of their own. The two sons
were Amos Smith and Enoch Alexander. The first
daughter, Maria Louisa became the wife of Dr.
W. W. R. Woodbury, a physician and druggist of
Danville. Charlotte became the wife of Dr. James
H. Paris, a young physician who came from Virginia
to practice medicine in Danville. He died toward
the close of the Civil War after serving as a
physician to one of the regiments of the Union
Army. The youngest of Amos* daughters was Mary.
She married Dr. C. V. Baldwin who practiced
dentistry in Danville for some years and later
moved to Los Angeles, California. Grandchildren,
and great great grandchildren are now (1934)
living. All can trace back a definite line to
Enoch of Revolutionary fame.
But the Amos Williams household sheltered
other children. After Amos went East and brought
his mother and young sister Mary back to Danville
it was not long until Dan W. Beckwith and Mary
were united in marriage. They put up a cabin of
their own and two children, Melissa and Eiram,
were born. The father Dan died December S5, 1825
leaving his widow and her two children to the care
of her brother Amos. The two children continued
in his care until they were grown. The mother
married again but Hiram, who studied law under
Abraham Lincoln, was cared for by Amos Williams.
He saw Hiram started on his law career mnd in-
spired him in his historical work.
At the age of sixty, Amos Williams closed an
active life devoted to public service. He died
late Friday night or early Saturday morning on
17
November 14. The records in the paper call it
Friday night. The customary funeral notices were
printed on heavy white paper and distributed to
places of business and to friends. The notice
says, "Yourself and family are respectfully so-
licited to attend the funeral of Amos Williams
Esq. from his late residence on Monday at 2
o'clock P. M. Danville, Nov. 16, 1857." As a
man whose life was spent in politics one wonders
if the word "solicited" is entirely out of place!
The obituary in the Vermilion County Press,
of which James D. Kilpatrick was editor, written
on Wednesday, November 18, 1857 shows how his
contemporaries regarded Amos Williams.
"Amos Williams is no more. On Friday night
he closed a long, lingering and painful sickness
in death, and gathering up his feet, was gathered
to his fathers. His career has been one of long
duration amongst us. * While he
held office— and he held nearly every one is the
county — he was considered as an oracle of busi-
ness, and up to the day of his death he enjoyed
the favor and the confidence of the community.
Several years ago, having occasion to lay aside
official cares, he commenced building mills, and
erected two near this place which have greatly
added to its prosperity . He had
lived long enough to see that country, which when
he first cast his lot in it, was wild, savage
and unsettled, bloom with the fruits of industry
and thicken with population. Truly in his case,
had the "waste places been made glad, and the
desert to blossom as the rose"
"In all his intercourse he has been kind and
obliging, and by an uniform gentlemess of deport-
ment, won the esteem of all who became acquainted
with him, and now that he is no more, he will
dwell long in the memory of those with whom he
lived. During the last two or three years of his
life, he has been gradually declining, and his
departure was not unlocked for. His name is fa-
miliar in every household in the country, and he
has closed a long and useful career, followed
with kindly recollections and the prayers of a
people he has been instrumental in rendering
happy and prosperous. Peace to his ashes."
18
Home of Danville Post-office for eighteen years.
Drawn by Mary Williams, daughter
of the post master.
This was the first hous
Illinois. It was the home o
number 10 South Clark street
then a sturdy villager of 50
folk, who sat on splint-bott
a big fireplace, read their
and made predictions of the
office was the gathering pla
settlement and the center of
was originally a log house--
weather boards. The center
and the post office was kept
e built in Danville,
f Amos Williams,
Here Mr. Williams,
, welcomed the town-
omed chairs around
mail, swapped gossip
weather. The post
ce for the pioneer
social life. It
later covered with
room was the lobby
in the north room.
Mr. Williams lived here from 1827 to 1857.
Here is where he brought his wife and little
daughter, Maria, then only six years old and
the youngest child in the new settlement.
S'^
Wllllams-VVoodbury Collect ion-1922
An extensive collection, of several thousand
pieces, of the papers of Amos Williams and his
son-in-law, W. W. Woodbury, 16^0-1865. The col-
lection illustrates Illinois politics, local
business, post-office and land-agent business at
Danville, Illinois. The papers were carefully
arranged and preserved by the late Amos G,
Woodbury of Danville and were acquired by the
Survey from his executrix, Kiss Flo Woodbury
Taken from Illinois Historical Survey, U. of I.
A. G. Woodbury arranged Amos Williams old letters
under the following subjects:
Before Coming to Edgar County
Edgar County 1821-18S6
Post Office — Contractors and Mail Carriers
Arrival and Departure — Mail Routes
Letters of Inquiry and Complaint
Receipts and Statements
Delay of Mail — address Letters
from Postmasters East and West
from Postmasters Worth and South
Washington and Official
Printed Forms
Building Carpenter — Lumber
Advertising
Agreements — Motices and Indentures
Books--Legal and Miscellaneous
Roads — Road Tax
Circulars and Handbills
County Seat (Danville) location of
Court House Construction-1832
Court — Fines and Receipts
Bankruptcy
Letters and Enquiries
List of Cases, Causes and Fees
Costs
Churches — Religious
Doctors, Drugs, etc.
Cattle, Horses, Estrays
Danville — First Plat survey ect., lots, Houses
and rentals
Dry goods--groceries etc.
Elections
19
Political and Legislation
Ferry--roads and travel
Farming — seek, meat. Wolf Scalps, tools, plowing
leases
Hardware, materials, labor
Land — deeding, enquiries, instructions, descrip-
tions, certificates, receipts, applications
Licenses — taverns
Money — Ills. State Bank and State Papers, letters
and men about receipts and orders
Mills — saw, woolen grist
Wev/spapers — Eastern, bills, receipts, subscrip-
tions; Western, bills, receipts,
subscriptions
Pensions, Indians and soldiers
Railroads, Canals
Schools, Teachers, Officials
School lands
Sheriffs
Taxes --Instruct ions
Stean Engine — Hydraulic Ram
Water Wheel Patent
Notable letters — early members of legislature and
other officials
Illinois Legislators and Lawyers that Corre-
sponded with Amos Williams
W. B. Archer, legislator; J. J. Brown, Jas.
Clyman, legislators; Lyle T. Dickey, ;Judge; Wm.
Fithian, legislator; 0. B. Ficklin, Harlan Jacob,
Harlan Justice, Ed Hannigan, Chas. Ives, legis-
lators; Gen. G. W. Smith, Isaac P. Walker, legis-
lators; Jno. H. Murphy, legislator.
The University of Illinois bought the original
copy of the above.
Notable People Who Corresponded With Amos Williams
E. D. Baker, Col. Civil War — Senator of
Oregon, Sidney Breeze, Judge Supreme Court Ills.
Thompson Campbell, Sec. State Ills. — John Carr,
Congressman Ills. — David Davis, Vice Pres. Judge
U. S. Supr. Ct. Sen. Ills. --Jos. Duncan, Gen. in
War 1812, Gov. Ills., Congressman — Levi Davis,
Auditor State Ills.--A. P. Field, Sec. State Ills.
20
E. K. Kane, Senator Ills. — S. W. Kearney, Gen.
Mex. War, Gov. California. Amos Kendell, Post-
master Genl. U. S.--A. F. Huboard, Cand. Gov.
Ills. W. B. Ogden, Chicago Atty. — John Reynolds,
Gov. Ills. — Jas. Shields, Auditor of 111.
Trumbull Lyman, Senator Ills. Judge of Supr.
Court 111. John D. Wiiiteslde Treasurer Ills.--
C. A.. Wickliff, Postmaster General.
Danville, 111-, Sept. 14th, 1934
In Regard to Amos Williams* Indenture
It must not be forgotten that in the days of
Amos Williams, there were no free schools. Par-
ents had to pay for the education of their chil-
dren or let them grow up in ignorance. This may
have led to the practice of having a boy ap-
prenticed for a term of years to learn a calling.
There was no disgrace attached to such a practice,
but it was not over complimentary to parents to
be unable to pay for fitting their sons with a
way of self support.
In our time the poorest boy may receive an
education such as was undreamed of by Amos
Williams, if the boy can be provided with food
and shelter and clothes. It was thought that a
boy must be taught a trade or some way by which
to make a living. Now that has been changed
somewhat. If a boy has a good education he is
supposed to be able to secure a ;)ob or position.
Machinery and wholesale production have made
Individual action less productive than it was
once. There is one drawback to the new way though.
The factory doors may close any time and leave
the workers without any way to live.
I do not know whether our mother would have
wished it known publically that her father was ap-
prenticed to learn the printer's trade or not.
His father must have been fifty years old or
more when Amos was sent to learn the trade.
There is one other thing I would like to say.
The little bunch of letters relating more es-
pecially to the Williams family, was kept with
the great quantity of letters by the time our
21
brother A. G. Woodbiiry undertook his investi-
gation of them all.
Madie Woodbury
Among all of Grandpa Williams* papers this is the
oldest, from 1812 to 1934 makes it 122 years old.
The original is in the D. A. R. Museum, in the
Public Library.
THIS INDENTURE Witnesseth, That Amos Williams, by
aj3d with the consent of his father Ben.lamin
Williams, Esq. of Warren township. Franklip
County, and State of Pennsylvania hath bound and
put himself, and by these presents doth bind and
put himself an Apprentice to Geo. K. Harper,
Chambersbiirg in t he County and state of aforesaid
after the winner of an Apprentice, to dwell and
serve the said Geo. K. Harper from the day and
date hereof, and during, and until the end and
term of six years thence ensuing, and fully to
be complete and ended: During all which term the
said Apprentice his said master faithfully shall
serve, and that honestly and obediently in all
things, as a dutiful Apprentice ought to do: And
the said fien. K. Harper shall teach, or cause to
be taught and Instructed, the said Apprentice in
the art, trade and mystery of a Printer and shall
and will provide for the said Apprentice, suffi-
cient meat, drink, physic, washing, lodging, an^
?ix months day schooling , during the said term:
22
And at the expiration thereof shall and will give
the said Apprentice, one genteel sui t of clQthe.c;,
exclusive of his common wearing apparel.
And for the true performance of all and sing-
ular the convenants and agreements aforesaid, the
parties bind themselves each unto the other,
firmly by these presents. In witness whereof the
said parties have hereunto interchangeably set
their hands and seals this sixteenth day of
Januarv annoque domini, one thousand eight hun-
dred ^qq twelYgt
Sealed and Delivered
in Presence of Amos Williams (SEAL)
Ben1. Williams Geo. K. Harper (SEAL)
William D. Bell Amos Williams
How Grandpa Williams Lived
Grandpa Williams got up early every morning,
built the wood fires (they did not know coal
could be used), went down the hillside to the
wonderful spring and got enough water for break-
fast and filled the teakettle and hung it on the
crane in the fireplace as there were no cook
stoves then.
In the summertime they had no screens in the
doors or windows. The houses were kept dark so
as to keep out as many flies and mosquitos as
possible. That is one reason why they had tall
canopy, or four-poster beds — they could easily
drape them with mosquito-netting. At the dinner
table they would use "shoo-fly brushes", made of
tissue or any kind of paper they could get and
fastening it on a long stick, someone was dele-
?ated to stand by and »'shoo the flies" off the
able. Some used little peach branches. Many
people built a little shed for a summer kitchen
S3
and had a covered porch between it and the house--
thls was called the "dog-trot". The "dog-trot"
made the house-wife a lot of extra steps but the
home was cooler and they did not have nearly so
many flies.
Both post office and home were dimly lighted
as there was no glass in the windows, only
greased paper. Early mornings and at night when
it was dark tallow candles were used. Each
family had its own set of candle molds. Betty
lamps were also used. Betty lamps had a dis-
agreeable odor, as our Mother said, "They smelled
to heaven."
Many mornings Grandpa Williams was out of
ink and had to get ink powder and make ink before
starting his daily work. He walked out through
the sitting room, across the lobby and on into
the post office which was kept in his ov/n home
for over twenty years (in what was called the
north room). Some mornings Mr. Williams would
go to the kitchen where they were busy with
household tasks and say, "Girls, mind the post
office while I go up to the McCormick house and
see if anyone new has come in. I also have to
attend to some business over at the court house."
And away he would go leaving the girls to carry
on the business of the mornings
The old letters of this time show a good
quality of paper. The sheets were large, unruled,
thick and tough, seven and one-half by twelve
inches, more like fools cap paper though it had
no glaze. The letters were written with a goose-
quill pen (steel pens had not been invented),
the slit in the pen holds the ink so it was
necessary to cut a small slit in the goose quill
and he always sharpened his knife before he made
a pen. Quill pens were in use from the 6th cen-
tury, 1848. Then the blotter or sander as it
was called — , this resembles a salt shaker with
a flaring top. The sander was made of wood.
The sand was shaken on the writing and then
poured back into the sander again. At this time
there were no envelopes, they were not used until
1840, and no stamps were used. The letters were
folded lengthwise twice and one end inserted in
the other and sealed with red sealing wax. The
S4
SANDER OR BLOTTER
Used in the early days instead of paper blotters. It is filled with sand and
the sand is sprinkled over the writing, absorbing the moisture. The extra
sand is put back in the wooden container.
address was written on the blank side of the
letter and it would have in one corner, "fee so
much." The postmaster had the privelege of send-
ing and receiving mail free--maybe that is the
reason he had so much. Many wealthy people had
seal rings with their crest or coat of arms em-
bossed and used them to stamp the seal. If the
seal was broken they could immediately tell that
the letter had been opened.
Wow the business of the day was over and in
these days they believed in "early to bed and
early to rise." So Grandpa said, "Mary, we are
going to have a cold night to-night so get the
bed warmer and warm the beds." Mary goes to the
south side of the large fire place and gets some-
thing resembling a long-handled brass skillet or
a corn-popper with a lid. The handle is orna-
mental and about thirty inches long. Mary places
first a layer of ashes and then a layer of red
hot coals and then ashes. Fastening the lid down
tight she followed Charlotte, who was carrying
the candle, up the stairs, and slipped the bed
warmer between the covers and warmed all the beds,
Grandpa Williams banked the fires good because
If they went out they must strike a flint to
light them or go to a neighbors and borrow
"a coal" which neighbors often had to do.
Mother picks up the candle-snuffers and
snuffs out the lights. Quiet was about to reign
— a voice rang out, "I can»t get my boots off and
I can't find the bootjack." Charlotte went to
the fireplace and lighted a taper and lit the
candles again. They all hunted and finally found
it under the nev/ kitchen chair Leander Rutledge
had made. They hauled and pulled but the boots
seemed to have become a part of him, finally they
came off and Grandpa said the first thing he must
do In the morning was to rub them v/ith Neat's
Foot Oil.
Mother said, "Amos there's your night cap
under your pillow, don't forget to put it on." -
An old story is told of Amos Williams' wife
She kept a stack of hand-made night caps In the
old glass knobbed drawer and whenever a man came
from a distance she always gave him a night cap
to take home to his wife.
r»
5
CANDLE SNUFFER
When one blows out a candle the wick still burns and smoulders and
causes a disagreeable odor. When snuffed out with a snuffer its life is
"snuffed out" completely.
c
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