The First White Person Born in the County Has Gone to His Reward On Friday occured the death of Hon. William Skidmore, of Helt township, whose life was closely connected with the early history of this county. He was born in 1819, and was the first white person born in the county. His parents were among the first settlers of Helt's Prairie. The deceased has lived an honorable and useful life. He was sober and industrious, and by hard toll had accumulated a snug little fortune to leave his family. He was elected to the Legislature from this county, and again renominated and was defeated by the combined strength of the Democrats and Nationals who ran Hon. James Osborn against him. Although Mr. Skidmore was not a member of any church, he was a moral and upright citizen and a Christian man in every sense of the term. He had the implicit confidence of his neighbors, and for many years was honored with the office of Trustee of his township, which he filled honestly and faithfully to the entire satisfaction of everybody. He was kind and courteous, and had but few enemies for one who had filled public trust as long as he did. His funeral, which took place on the day following his death, was very largely attended, thus evidencing the esteem in which he was held by his neighbors and friends.

1888 Biographical and Historical Record of Vermillion County, Indiana 

Hon. William Skidmore, who was promintntly identified with the growth and development of Vermillion County, Indiana, during his life, was the first white child born in the county, a son of John Skidmore, the date of his birth being February 19, 1819. He was born with but one hand, his left hand, and one-third of that arm being gone. Yet in spite of this he was able to chop trees, and do other work required in the clearing and making of a farm, seemingly as well as any one. He was reared amid the wild 
surroundings of pioneer life, and during his life he frequently hauled corn to the Wabash River, which he sold for ten cents a bushel, and has often taken apples to Chicago, Illinois. He was a self-made man in every sense of the word, and became one of the most prominent men in the county where he has always lived. He was twice married, taking for his first wife Elizabeth Pearman, and of the three children born to them two are yet living - Thomas J. Skimore and Mrs. Sarah J. Freeman. Mr. Skidmore was married a second time to a widow named Mrs. Amelia Helt, and to this union five children were born - William Henry, George F., Mary E., Jasper F. and Caroline F. By her first marriage Mrs. Skidmore has two children - Mrs Serena Depuy and Mrs. Clarinda Garner. Mr. Skidmore filled many of the official trusts of his township and county, and twice represented the county in the State Legislature, in the years 1866-1870. In the early history of the county he served as constable and justice of the peace. While holding the former office he was called one time by the citizens to assist in arresting a man whom they had chased into Mr. Swazey's cellar, Mr. Skidmore went into the cellar when he was shot by the man in the right arm below the elbow. Never heeding this he succeeded in arresting his man before he had time to do more harm, wrestling from his grasp a second freshly-loaded pistol and holding until the citizens came to his help and bound their prisoner. He carried the bullet received there in his arm to his grave. He was a consistent Christian and an active worker in the Methodist church for many years. Even when a boy he would walk over the settlement and tell the people of the near approach of some religious meeting. He died in May 1881, in the triumphant hope of a blessed immortality.

1888 Biographical Sketches and History of Vermillion County, Indiana