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Section from book, History of Fulton Co., Illinois; Peoria: Charles C. Chapman & Company, 1879, page 911
James Crail
Auctioneer, and founder of the town of Vermont, was born in Kentucky, September 12, 1812. His father, William Crail, was also a native Kentuckian, a wheelwright by occupation and married Margaret Mayall, daughter of Joseph Mayall, a Revolutionalry soldier, who lost his property by British confiscation. In 1834 Mr. Crail moved to Fulton County, where he died at an advanced age. Mrs. Crail is still living, and is in her 85th year. Of their nine children James J. is the eldest. He came into this township with the family, when there were but six or seven cabins here, the residents being Wm. B. Higgins, Abraham Williams, Mr. Wright (father of Granville Wrigtht), Isaac Cadwallader and Caleb Dilworth,. Mr. Crail, of course, at that early day went through all the experiences characteristic of the times, fully described in chapters I, II and X of this volume. He saw that the citizens began to consider Havana and Beardstown rather too far for convenience, and that there was a demand for a business place nearer by. He selected a site and erected a cabin on the ground now occupied by Sidwell's. Wm. McCurdy built the second cabin, and here subsequently these two gentlemen carried on saddle and harness-making, and this was the germ of the village. The next building was a frame, used as a store house by Greene Reeves. Other buildings went up, and directly Mr. Crail, in partnership with Dr. A.M. Johnson, started a dry goods and grocery store, shipping and packing. Dr. Johnson was one of the most active and enterprising men in the early history of the County, and did much to further the interests of Vermont after two or three other changes in business he, in 1850, went to California with an ox team. Mr. Crail still resides in Vermont.
Miscellaneous from same book---
p. 850
G.C. Cooper and wife Sarah D. Bealles had nine
children...one, (eldest) Nancy J. married C. Crail
p. 979
Election Nov. 4, 1856
James J. Crail, dem. 2803
B.W. Messler, rep. 369 Coroner.
James Robb, ab. 2885--
p. 651
Steven Carlin married Jane S. Dolan...had six children...third child,
Sophia J. married Jess. Crail, of Vermont
p. 387
2nd Calvary Co. C
Crail, James M., e. July 3, '61
p. 677
Robert Andrews was a Collector in 1852
p. 935
Collectors . . . Godfrey Sheeler 1877 (Vermont Township)