History w/Biographies

Historical Encyclopedia
of
Illinois and History of Piatt County
Vol. II - 1917
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS

CHAPTER I.
GENERAL HISTORY.
Earliest Annals - Religious Persecution Led to Early Colonization in America - Coast Settlement First -
 English and French - Many Conflicts over Possessions - French and Indian War - The Clark Expedition -
 Illinois County Organized - Made Part of the Northwest Territory - Becomes Portion of Indiana Territory -
 Made Separate Territory in 1809 - Admitted to Union in 1818 .......... 623-235

CHAPTER II.
GEOGRAPHICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL.
Location - Area - Population - Great Fertility - Exceptional Market Advantages - Natural Drainage -
 A Water Shed Ridge - Sangamon and Kaskaskia Rivers and Tributaries - Present Drainage Districts -
 Time, Money and Effort Well Expended - Coon's Spring - Climate and Geology -
 Flora - Fauna - Few Snakes .......... 625-628

CHAPTER III.
INDIAN HISTORY
The American Indian - His Early Treatment Unjust - Many Times a Victim of Ignorance -
Lands Wrested from Him - Present General Status - Facts of History- Early Indian Troubles in Illinois -
 Winnebago War - Black Hawk War - Treaty with Sacs and Foxes - Death of Black Hawk -
 Indians in Piatt County - Friendly with Piatt Family .......... 628-632

CHAPTER IV.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The First Settler - Builder of Second Cabin - Settlers in 1824 - A prominent Pioneer -
A Notable Event in Illinois - Winter of the Deep Snow - The Big Freeze -
A Personal Experience - Settlers Between 1830 and 1840 - First Births in County -
First Deaths - The "Coffin Tree" - Early Mills - Examples of Pioneer Ingenuity - First Grist Mill -
Pioneer Characteristics - Early Postal Annoyances - Much Typhoid Fever -
Chills and Fever Often Prevailed - Green Fly Pest - Defender of Pioneer Life .......... 632-636

CHAPTER V.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT.
Piatt First a Part of Macon and DeWitt - Separated in 1841 - Given Its Present Name - Boundaries -
Population - No County Seat Struggles - First County Election - Division into Townships -
Courthouses - First One Destroyed by Fire - Second Dismantled by Storm - Present Courthouse -
 Corner Stone Laid in Fall of 1903 -  Occupied January, 1905 - Circuit Judges Who have Presided Here -
County Jail - County Poor Farm - Early Provision Made - New Buildings Completed in 1902 -
Adequate Accommodations - List of Stewards - Value of County's Public Buildings -
Much Local Pride .......... 636 - 640

CHAPTER V.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT.
Piatt First a Part of Macon and DeWitt - Separated in 1841 - Given Its Present Name -
Boundaries - Population - No County Seat Struggles - First County Election -
Division into Townships - Courthouses - First One Destroyed by Fire - Second Dismantled by Storm -
Present Courthouse - Corner Stone Laid in Fall of 1903 - Occupied January, 1905 -
Circuit Judges Who Have Presided Here - County Jail - County Poor Farm -
Early Provision Made - New Buildings Completed in 1902 - Adequate Accommodations -
List of Stewards - Value of County's Public Buildings - Much Local Pride ..........636 - 640

CHAPTER VI.
POLITICAL REPRESENTATION.
Presidential Elections Important Events - Piatt Voted First in 1844 - Three Party Organizations South Power -
Democrats Successful - Whigs Won in 1848 and Democrats in 1852 - In 1856 the Republican Party Entered the Field -
How Piatt Treated Abraham Lincoln - Presidential Election of 1860 - Re-election of Mr. Lincoln in 1864 -
Results as to Leading Parties in Piatt in 1868-1872 - 1876 - 1880 - 1884 - 1888 - 1892 - 1896 -
 1904 - 1908 - 1912 - 1916 - Piatt Legislators - Local Representation - State's Attorneys -
County Judges - County Clerks - Circuit Clerks - County Treasurers ' Sheriffs'
County Superintendents - Surveyors - Coroners - Masters in Chancery .......... 640 - 643

COURTS, BENCH AND BAR.
Early Administration of Justice - Formation of Committees of Safety - Necessary Organizations -
First Court Held in Piatt County - First Presiding Judge Was Hon. Samuel H. Treat -
Early Lawyers - Present Attorneys - An Able Body - Justices of the Peace by Townships -
Bement - Cerro Gordo - Blue Ridge - Goose Creek - Monticello - Sangamon - Willow Branch - Unity .......... 643 - 644

CHAPTER VIII.
MILITARY HISTORY.
Patriotism of Piatt County - Civil War Records Prove It - No Conscription in This County -
Appended Military Record - List of Regiments in Which Piatt County Men Served -
Ninth Illinois Infantry - Fourteenth Illinois Infantry Reorganized - Seventeenth Illinois Infantry -
Twenty-first Illinois Infantry - This Regiment Organized by Capt. U. S. Grant - Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry -
Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry - Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry - Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry -
Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry - Forty-first Illinois Infantry - Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry -
Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry - Sixty-second Illinois Infantry - Sixty-third Illinois Infantry -
Seventy-second Illinois Infantry - Seventy-third Illinois Infantry - Many Piatt Soldiers in This Regiment -
Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry - One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry with Long Roster of Piatt County Soldiers -
One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry - One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Infantry -
One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois Infantry - Second Illinois Cavalry - Fifth Illinois Cavalry
Seventh Illinois Cavalry - Tenth Illinois Cavalry - Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry -
First Illinois Light Artillery - Spanish-American War Not Heavily Represented -
Grand Army of the Republic - Its Inception and Organization - The First Grand Army Post -
First Encampment - Harker Post at Atwood - Three Charter Members Surviving -
Cerro Gordo Post Has Twenty-five Members - History of Mansfield Post -
One Charter Member Living at Mansfield - Franklin Post at Monticello -
Posts Were Also Organized at Bement and La Place .......... 644 - 665

CHAPTER IX.
PHYSICIANS.
A Universal Impulse - Neighborly Helpfulness - First Permanent Physician in County - Early Successors -
Well Remembered Practitioners - Trials of Pioneer Physicians - An Amusing Anecdote - Conditions All Changed -
Profession Now Ably Represented - List of Leading Physicians and Surgeons -
Piatt County Medical Society - Date of Organization - First Officials -
Present - Piatt County Has No Hospitals .......... 665 - 667

CHAPTER X.
THE PRESS.
Power of the Press - First Editor - First Newspaper - The Monticello Times - Subsequent Changes in Name -
The Sucker State - The Conservative - The Piatt County Union - The Piatt Independent - The Piatt Republican -
The Monticello Bulletin the Present Title - Oldest Paper in County - Present Owners -
Piatt County Herald - Piatt County Republican - Piatt County Pilot - Bement Union -
The Farmers Advocate - Bement Gazette - Cerro Gordo Times - Bement Register - Cerro Gordo News
Deland Tribune - Mansfield Express - Atwood Herald - Cisco Review - Hammond Courier -
A Word of Appreciation .......... 667 - 668

CHAPTER XI.
EDUCATIONAL.
Excellent Schools - Subscription Schools at First - Cabin Schoolhouses Social Centers -
Various Buildings Utilized - The Typical Pioneer Schoolhouse - Development of Schools by Townships -
Monticello - Earliest Schools - Present Fine Building - High School Course - List of Educators -
Valuation of School Property - In City - Schools Outside of City - All Well Equipped - Bement -
 First School in 1856 - Present Fine Building - List of Educators - Bement Rural Schools -
Cerro Gordo City School Facilities - On Accredited List of University of Illinois .......... 668 - 672

CHAPTER XII.
BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
General Financial Conditions - Necessity for Banks - Power of Financial Institutions - First Banks -
Moore State Bank of Monticello - First National Bank of Monticello - Farmers National Bank of Monticello -
 First National Bank of Atwood - State Bank of Hammond - State Bank of Cerro Gordo - Citizens Bank of Cerro Gordo -
State Bank of La Place - Bank of Milmine - State Bank of Cisco - State Bank of De Land -
State Bank of De Land - First National Bank of De Land - Pierson Bank -
Peoples State Bank of Mansfield - State Bank of Mansfield - S. L. Stivers & Company Bank of White Heath -
First National Bank of Bement - State Bank of Bement - Other Financial Institutions -
Mortgage Investments - Remarkable Financial Condition .......... 672 - 676

CHAPTER XIII.
RAILROADS.
Transportation Problems - First roads Buffalo and Indian Trails - Oldest Made Road -
First State Road - Stage Routes Established - Accommodated Travelers for Many Years -
Railroads Sounded Their Knell - First Railroad Construction Work in 1855 -
Wabash Railroad Began Operating as the Chicago & Paducah -
Stations on the Wabash in Piatt County - Illinois Central Railroad -
Branch line First Bore Name of the Monticello Railroad -
Many Changes in Ownership - Piatt Stations Along This Road -
Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad - Mansfield Only Station in Piatt County -
Chicago, Indianapolis & Western - Piatt Stations in Piatt County -
 Chicago, Indianapolis & Western - Piatt Stations on This Line - McKinley Traction System -
Bloomington, Decatur & Champaign Railroad - Automobiles -
Many Valuable Motors Owned in County .......... 676 - 678

CHAPTER XIV.
CLUBS AND FRATERNITIES.
Woman's Clubs - Influence of Clubs - Advancement of Women -
Monticello Women's Club; Organization, Work, Officers -
Bement Woman's Club; Organization, Work, Officers - Fraternities .......... 678 - 680

CHAPTER XV.
AGRICULTURE.
Importance of Agriculture - Stock Raising - Corn Growing - Other Grains -
Land Values - Farm Machinery .......... 680 - 681

CHAPTER XVI.
TELEPHONE LINES AND PUBLIC LIGHTNING.
First Telephone Line - The Telerema - Invented, Patented and Manufactured in Piatt County -
Large Demand Prior to Introduction of the Bell Telephone - First Private Telephone Line -
Organization of the Mutual Telephone Company - First Toll Telephones -
Organization of Piatt County Telephone Company - Exchanges at Monticello, Bement, and De Land -
First Exchange at Cerro Gordo - Exchange at La Place -
Telephone Line with Exchanges at Hammond, Burrowsville and La Place Built in 1900 -
Atwood Mutual Telephone Company -
The Natural Telephone Company Has Exchanges at Mansfield, Clinton, Farmer City, Cisco and Argenta -
Excellent Service Given All Over the County - Electrical Works - First Officials -
Present Equipment - Other Lightning Interests .......... 681 - 682

CHAPTER XVII.
COUNTY FAIRS.
First Agricultural Society Organized - Accomplished Little During the First Five Years -
Representative Men Accept Official Position in 1861 - Through Concerted Effort Fair Grounds Were Prepared -
Character of the Early Fairs - The Centennial Exposition Awakens Interest -
Change of Name in 1903 - Lists of Officials - Equipment and Valuation -
Recent Features and Exhibits - Importance of County Fairs .......... 682 - 683

CHAPTER XVIII.
BEMENT TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries - Natural Drainage - Early Settlers - Village of Bement - Origin -
 Founders Bement Post Office - Bement Postmasters - Pioneer Incidents -
Public Improvements - Churches - Civic History - Ivesdale - Officials -
Highway Commissioner - Justice of the Peace -
Constable - Supervisors .......... 683 - 687

CHAPTER XIX.
BLUE RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries - Natural Drainage - Railroads - Early Settlers - First Election - Stringtown - Mansfield - General Mansfield -
Incorporation of City - Churches - Blue Ridge - Officials - Highway Commissioner -
Justice of the Peace - Constable - Supervisors ......... 687 - 688

CHAPTER XX.
CERRO GORDO TOWNSHIP.
FINISHED
Boundaries - Natural Drainage - Origin of Name - Railroads - Early Settlements -
Village of Cerro Gordo - Village Officials - Public Improvements - Churches - Business Interests -
La Place - Churches - Milmine - Litner - Burrowsville - Officials - Supervisors .......... 688 - 690

CHAPTER XXI.
GOOSE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries - Origin Settlements - Railroads - City of Monticello - First Settlers -
First Business Houses - No Controversy Over Location of County Seat - Incorporation -
Present City Officials - Post Office - Public Buildings - Public Improvements -
Water Works - Sewerage - Fire Department - Cemeteries - Manufactures - Allerton Library -
Churches - Methodist - Presbyterian - Christian - Catholic - An Old Proclamation - Monticello of Today -
Officials - Town Clerk - Assessor - Collector - Highway Commissioner - Justice of the Peace -
Constable - Supervisors .......... 691 - 694

CHAPTER XXII.
MONTICELLO TOWNSHIP
 - PARTIALLY DONE - UPDATED 7/18/2015
Boundaries - First Settlements - Railroads -
City of Monticello - First Settlers - First Business Houses -
No Controversy Over Location of County Seat -
Incorporation - Present City Officials - Post Office -
Public Buildings - Public Improvements - Water Works -
Sewerage - First Department - Cemeteries - Manufacturers -
Allerton Library - Churches - Methodist - Presbyterian - Christian -
Catholic - An Old Proclamation - Monticello of Today -
Officials - Town Clark - Assessor - Collector -
Highway Commissioner - Justice of the Peace -
Constable - Supervisors....... Page 594 - 597

CHAPTER XXIII.
SANGAMON TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries - Railroads - Early Settlements - Centerville - Lickskillett -
Present Conditions - White Heath - Origin of Name - Present Condition - Churches - Galesville -
 Origin of Name - Present Condition - Lodge - Officials Highway Commissioner -
Justice of the Peace - Constable - Supervisor .......... 697 - 698

CHAPTER XXIV.
UNITY TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries - Mound Builders - Railroads - Early Settlements - Mackville - Hammond - Pierson -
Atwood - Origin of Name - Early Settlers - Organization of Village -
Organization of City - Mayors - Public Improvements - Atwood Township High School  -
Odd Fellows - Officials - Highway Commissioners - Justices of the Peace -
Constable - Supervisors .......... 698 - 700

CHAPTER XXV.
WILLOW BRANCH TOWNSHIP.
Boundaries - Soil - Natural Drainage - Origin of Name - Early Settlers -
Stringtown - Railroads - Sisco - Churches - Officials - Commissioners of Highways -
Justice of the Peace - Constable - Supervisors .......... 701 - 702

CHAPTER XXVI.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
The Part of Biography in General History - Citizens of Piatt County and Outlines of Personal History -
Personal Sketches Arranged in Encyclopedic Order .......... 703 - 818

PORTRAITS.

ILLUSTRATIONS