stands, by one. Akers. The first steam mill was built by William Park, in 1849, in Urbana.

The first saw mill was built by Moses Thomas, in the year 1834, on the Salt Fork, north of Homer. How long this mill was in operation we have been unable to learn; as late as 1836 it must have been destroyed, or had ceased work, for this year Mr. M. D. Coffeen, of Homer, erected a frame house, but hewed out the heavier timbers, and sawed the joists with a whip saw, and in 1837 Mr. Sadorus built his frame house, drawing the lumber therefor from Hillsboro, Indiana, a distance of 110 miles.

The first frame house erected in the county was built by A. Bruer and Jacob Bradshaw, in the city of Urbana, in 1833 or 1834. We are unable to give the first births or the first deaths, those events not being known, with any degree of certainty, by the oldest inhabitant now living. Hon. T. R. Webber, a settler of 1832, says, that one cold night in December, 1836, there came to his cabin a man and wife, strangers, asking shelter, which was granted, and they were made as comfortable as possible; before morning the strange woman was delivered of a male child, and a few days after, the wife of Mr. Webber gave him a daughter.

The first blooded stock brought into the county, was by Mr. J. W. S. Mitchell, who then lived at the place now known as Pancake's Point. The stock was brought from Kentucky in 1835. Dr. Lyons, of Sidney, is supposed to have brought the next lot.

The first school was taught by J. B. Thomas, in 1829, in a small log house north of Big Grove.

One John Dunham, of the United Brethren persuasion, was the first preacher in the county. Preachers in those days led a different life from what we now see led by their modern brethren; not that they were any better then, but that their habits of life and manner of labor were vastly different. It is said of one, that he saddled and rode his ox to the place of service, and hitched him to a post outside, where he pawed and

Fine Gold and Plated Bracelets.

bellowed, while his master pawed and bellowed inside. Preachers were poorly paid in those days, or rather, they were not paid at all; and were compelled to resort to the labor of their hands, or some other means, for a subsistence. They were not always particular about the means; one good brother, feeling the necessity of having an eye to business, determined that while ministering to the spiritual wants of his hearers, he would also supply their want of spirits, and at the same time fill his larder. Accordingly, he purchased a barrel of whisky, and took a jug with him to each of his appointments, preaching to the people, and selling his whisky to the same congregation; but everybody drank then, and very nearly everybody drinks now, only not as openly, perhaps.

T. R. Webber, of Urbana, was the first to keep articles of merchandise, in the year 1834; not a very extensive assortment, it is true, but enough to say that he was the first merchant. A man by the name of Lyons, shortly after, opened a store at or near where Sidney now stands; and another, some time during the next season, was started north of Big Grove. All of these, however, ceased operations about the year 1837, and M. D. Coffeen, who had settled on Salt Fork, north of where the flourishing village of Homer now stands, and opened a store there in 1836, was the only merchant in the county. He kept a variety store, consisting of. dry goods, groceries, and whisky. At this time, the citizens of Champaign county could purchase the articles necessary to supply their wants at Danville, Bloomington, Decatur, or at Coffeen's. There was no Monticello then, and Coffeen's trade came from the Sangamon, Cheney's Grove, from below Monticello, the Okaw, in Douglas county, and north of Middle Fork, and half way to Danville.

The first invoices of goods and merchandise brought into the county, were purchased in Philadelphia, taken thence by wagons over the mountains to Pittsburgh, then by river to Evansville, Indiana, and by wagons to this county. Our readers have but to note the facts here stated, to comprehend

in all its force the wonderful improvement made since those days. A merchant who has passed through them, shipping his goods by this long, round-about, slow way, and has seen his county grow out from the swaddling bands of infancy, and its attendant disadvantages, into strength and vigor, its commerce and industry impelled by fire, can understand and appreciate.

THE PRICE OF MERCHANDISE

at that time claims a moment's attention. The best prints of calicoes retailed at from 35 to 50 cents per yard, and nearly all goods of that character at corresponding rates. The coarsest brown muslins of to-day were then sold at 35 and 40 cents per yard, and were considered a good article. Pins, per paper, were 10 cents, and it is a curious fact, that pins have never changed in price; ten cents per paper is now the universal price, and ever has been. Mr. Coffeen says: "In 1838, I purchased my sugar and molasses in New Orleans, and after shipping here, could sell at 4 cents per pound and 37 cents per gallon." The pioneers could at least keep themselves well sweetened.

THE MARKETS,

If markets they could be called, were mainly Chicago and Cincinnati. Corn, wheat, and hogs, were the principal articles of export, while whisky, tobacco, and groceries, were the imports. Farmers disposed of their corn, after drawing it to Chicago, at from 10 to 25 cents per bushel; wheat, from 25 to 50 cents per bushel, and their hogs from 25 cents to $1.50 per hundred, and all things else in proportion.

Does it ever occur to those who are surrounded by all the advantages and facilities which the present affords, of accumulating wealth, that these very advantages have, in a measure, become a curse? Who among our farmers now could live, and sell, even at his door, his corn and other produce, at the prices given above? And why not as well as those of earlier days? Does it necessarily cost one more to live now, than then? Certainly not. Some articles of family consump tion are more expensive, and others less, while the price of all

All kinds of Black Jewelry.

farm produce is very materially advanced, and the market brought home to the producer. In 1830, the young man of the time had no hesitancy about taking to himself a wife, and commencing life for himself upon a farm, knowing, if life and health were spared, he would succeed, though from the start his life were a constant warfare.

To-day, young men do hesitate, and many who make the attempt, soon become fearfully whelmed in debt, and a few years of painful struggles close their efforts here, and they move away, bowed in disappointment, to repeat the endeavor elsewhere, with like results, or to succeed in the light of past experience.

The early settlers had few advantages, and few temptations to lead them into excess and extravagance, while the privileges and advantages of the present, bring the unmeasured evil of extravagance and debt.

CRIME

Of all species was the same then as now, in proportion to the population. Horse stealing seemed to be the principal amusement, for a certain class of those who live upon forced presents from others. In connection with these gentlemen, a funny story is told of Mr. Sadorus. Mr. Piatt, who lived where Monticello is now, lost three valuable horses, and getting upon their trail, called upon his neighbor, Sadorus, to help him. The two started, and after a few days hard traveling, overtook and captured the horses and the thief, or one of them. After securely handcuffing their prisoner, they commenced their return. On the way the prisoner made frequent attempts to escape, and each time, Mr. Sadorus put a bullet into his rifle. After the thief had been turned over to the proper authorities, Mr. S. was surprised to find twenty-nine balls in his

gun!

The county was organized January 20th, 1833, by Act of State Legislature, by which John R. Richardson and S. B. Shelledy were appointed as commissioners, to locate the county seat. This was done the same year, and the county seat of

Champaign county was permanently located at Urbana; the county receiving a donation of 43 acres of land from I. Busey, M. W. Busey, and T. R. Webber.

At this time, the affairs of counties were conducted by county commissioners' courts, and agreeably to the law of 1833, Isaac Busey, Jacob Bartley and George Akers were elected to that office. Their first term was held in June, at the house of Isaac Busey, in Urbana.

Their first act was to appoint T. R. Webber, Clerk of the Court, and John Salisbury, Sheriff of the County. Moses Thomas was appointed Treasurer.

There seemed to be but little for the commissioners to do at this time; their terms were usually of short duration. All the work of the county devolved upon them, such as laying out roads, contracting for bridges, holding courts, settling the estates of deceased persons, establishing voting precincts, etc. Shortly after the first Board (that is what we will call it,) was elected, a new voting precinct was established, which was very definitely stated as including the settlements on the Sangamon, and Sadorus Grove; there being settlements nowhere else in that half of the county, it was plain enough. What the population of the county was at that time, is not known, but could not have been in excess of five hundred souls.

It is to be regretted that the population of the county cannot be given by townships, so as to show the local improvement, but with the exception of 1870, this cannot be done, as by a proper understanding of the case, it will readily be seen. The township organization was adopted in this county in 1860. Previous to that time, the towns had been merely voting precincts, embracing large tracts of land, including many townships in each, and sometimes subdividing them. The Board of Supervisors have made many changes in the towns since 1860; which are as follows:

The name of Middle Fork, changed to Kerr, 1861.

Compromise, taken from the east four tiers of sections of Rantoul and the southern half of Kerr, 1868.

Gold Pens and Pencils.