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ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS
A part of Genealogy Express
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Welcome to
Piatt County,
Illinois
History & Genealogy
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Biographies
Source:
Piatt County History
together with a
Brief History of Illinois
from the
Discovery of the Upper
Mississippi to the Present Time
by Emma C. Piatt
With Map and Illustrations.
1883
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Cerro Gordo Twp. -
MR. PETER ADAMS, a farmer, was born in
Kentucky in 1818. He moved from his native state to Ohio and
from thence to Illinois, and in 1839 came to Piatt county. He
first settled on Willow Branch, where he found very few settlers.
He moved to his present home in Cerro Gordo township in 1849.
He owns 120 acres of land, which he improved himself, and upon which
he has planted at least three hundred trees. Mr. Adams
was married in 1845, to Sarah J. Peck. Two of their
children are living, Angelo, who married Mary A. Ater,
and David S., who lives at home. In 1868 Mr. Adams
took for his second wife Rebecca Johnston, a native of North
Carolina. They have no children. Mr. Adams has
held the offices of school director and road commissioner.
Source: Piatt County History, by Emma C.
Piatt - With Map and Illustrations - Publ. 1883 - Page 469 |
MR
FRANK ADKINS, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ohio, and
has been in Piatt county for many years. He was married to
Mrs. H. Harries nee Nancy Jones in 1860. She is a
native of Kentucky, her parents were of English and Irish descent.
Mrs. Adkins married her first husband, Chas. W. Harris,
a native of Virginia, and they moved to this county in the summer of
1844. He died of lung fever in 1858. They had four
children: Martha P., who is the wife of L. W. Patterson,
lives in Manhattan, Kansas, where they have lived for nearly eight
years; William T. is a druggist, lives in Solomon, Kansas,
and married Miss Hannah Rodgers; Fannie is the wife of
Martin Fogleson, and has four children, Eloise, Charlie,
Daisy and Frank; they live in Champaign; Edward
lives on the home place, married Jane Persel, and has three
children, Grace, Nannie and Charles. Nannie
C. and her husband live on their farm near Abilene, Kansas.
B. F. is at home.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 252 |
REV. GEORGE S. ALEXANDER
was born July 10, 1832, in Cumberland, Rhode Island. His youth
was spent on a farm, and in a woolen factory, and his education was
obtained in Rhode Island. He was married first on Cape Cod,
March 11, 1856; again at Philo, Illinois, September 20, 1877, and
has six children. Mr. Alexander has been a Methodist
minister for number of years, and the last three years have been
spent in doing most excellent work in the Monticello Methodist
church. A short time ago he removed to Nebraska, where he is a
pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of Syracuse, and editor of
the Syracuse Journal, a weekly republican paper. Mrs.
Alexander and Mrs. Arthur Alexander gained quite a reputation as
artists in the vicinity of Monticello, where they had a painting
class during their stay there.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 254 |
MR.
SAMUEL ALLERTON, of Chicago, is the largest land-holder of
Piatt county. He owns 7,160 acres of land, most of which he
has improved. Three houses have been erected on the land, a
cut of one of which appears in this book. Mr. Allerton
is quite an advocate of tiling, having had some fifteen miles of the
same put in in 1882. In attempting to have an artesian well at
Allerton Station, a well 286 feet deep was bored, which is the
deepest well in the county. Some seven hundred head of cattle
are fattened and sold each year from Mr. Allerton's farms.
Mr. Allerton has traveled a great deal and his verdict is
that nowhere in the old or new world has he found agricultural land
surpassing that of Piatt county.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 254 |
MR. JOHN ARNDT is of
German descent and is a native of Pennsylvania. He moved from
Pennsylvania to Ohio, and thence to Illinois. His father and
mother came with him and lived in this county until their death,
which occurred in 1867 and about 1865 respectively. After
coming to this county Mr. Arndt married Mrs. Fannie Boyer.
Her first husband, Mr. William Boyer, died leaving two
children, George, who is now married and living in Champaign
county, and Alice, who married Mr. A. Lord and lives
in Sangamon township. They have four children, Frank,
Fannie, Willie, and a babe. Mrs. Arndt died about
1863, leaving one child, Hattie, who still makes her home
with her father. Part of her time, however, is spent in school
teaching. Mr. Arndt was married the second time in
1867, to Mrs. Eliza Miller nee Eliza J. Graham.
She was a native of Kentucky, and was married in that state in 1852,
to Mr. James Miller, a school teacher. They moved to
Monticello, Illinois, in 1852, and after one year's residence there
moved to Mr. George Boyer's place near Centerville, where
they lived until Mr. Miller was elected county clerk, when
they moved to Monticello and lived till Mr. Miller's death in
1859. Mr. Wilson Cox finished out Mr. Miller's
unexpired term as county clerk. Mr. Miller taught
school several terms after coming to the county. He taught one
term in the first school-house in Monticello. Two of Mr.
Miller's children are now living. William A. Miller
was married in May, 1881, to Ella Norris. He has taught
quite a number of schools in this county, but at present is in a
clothing store in Monticello. Miss Adaline is unmarried
and lives at home.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 254 |
Ireland is MR.
JAMES ALLMAN's native country. When but fifteen
years old he moved from southwestern part of the county of Kerry and
landed in Piatt county in 1854. The sailing vessel in which
they came over was wrecked near Nantucket Island. It struck
some rocks and got fast on a sand-bar. No lives were lost but
all the merchandise was unloaded. Two tugs succeeded in
pulling the vessel into safe waters again. For eight and a
half days the crew were apportioned one and a half pints of water
for both drinking and cooking purposes. Two of Mr. Allman's
brothers were already in America. Patrick was educated
for a priest in Dublin, Ireland. He died in Piatt county
without fulfilling the mission for which he was educated.
John Allman was married, in Ireland, to Honora Cronan.
After her death John went west and is supposed to be dead.
His daughter, Mary, is keeping house for Mr. Edward Allman,
who came to America at the time Mr. James Allman did, and who
now lives on a fine farm in Monticello township. Mr. Allman's
sister, Catharine, married Mr. Amos Stout, a farmer in
Bement township. They have four children. For three
years after coming to Piatt county Mr. James Allman worked on
Mr. Calef's place; then for four or five years he worked for
Mr. John Piatt. He soon bought land of Mr. M. T.
Scott, and some railroad land. He bought a portion of the
farm he now lives on of Mr. George Campbell. In 1877
Mr. Allman married Miss Anna McSheffry, a native of
Pennsylvania, but who at that time was a resident of Champaign
county. She graduated at St. Mary's Indiana, after an
attendance of six years. They have had three children:
Mary, Agnes C. and Margaret. Mr. James Allman
is an example of what can be done by perseverance and hard work.
All that he has he made by sheer hard labor. He is a gentleman
who is held in high esteem by the church and all his neighbors.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 254 |
MR. WILLIAM ANDERSON,
farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ohio. In 8145 he moved to
Illinois and has lived in the county ever since. He was
married in 1854, to Jane Brady, and has had sixteen children,
thirteen of whom are living. Joseph is now in Kansas.
The names of the other children are Alice, Melissa, George,
Henry, Samuel, Martin, Delilah, Peter, William, Sarah and
Ollie. Mr. Anderson went to the army, from Piatt county,
in Co. A, 107th Ill. reg., and remained ten months; most of this
time was spent in the hospital. He was on duty but a short
time and never off a gun. He stood guard with one once which was
filled with mud.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page |
Cerro Gordo Twp. -
MR. SCOTT ARMSWORTH, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was
born in Virginia, Sept. 9, 1806. His parents moved when he was
just three weeks old to Ohio, where he was reared. When
Scott was eighteen years old his father died and the family
concluded to sell out and go to Illinois. After the sale each
had about $400. Four of the children and the mother finally
came to this county. Now all are dead except Mr. Scott
Armsworth. Samuel Armsworth came to the county in
about 1838, married Miss Ater, and settled on the north side
of the river, in Willow Branch township. Two of his sons,
James and Noah, are still living in the township.
Rebecca Armsworth was the wife of Abraham Ater, and they
came to the county about 1838. He died the next year, while
she lived until 1847. Catharine moved with her mother
to Piatt county some time between 1838 and 1845. She married
George Matchler and settled on what is now the Allerton
place. She died Jan. 12, 1847, and her mother died while
visiting relatives in Indiana. Mr. Scott Armsworth
first moved on to his farm in Willow Branch township in 1845, having
bought 120 acres of land, to which he added more later, now having
about 360 acres of land, upon which he has put all the improvements.
He built his farm residence in 1850. It has since been altered
and now contains four good sized rooms. He was married Apr.
14, 1840, and has had six children, but one of whom, Willis,
is living. Ann married George Still and died in
1879, having had three children, Leona Noah and Samuel.
Mr. Armsworth recently moved into Cerro Gordo, where he owns
three business house, one of which is brick, and two residences.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 469 |
MR. EDWARD
ATER (Monticello) was born in 1815 in Pickaway County, Ohio. when
about twelve years old he moved with his parents to Vermilion
county, Illinois. In 1838 he came to Piatt county to close up
a contract for land, which his father had made. Upon reaching
the county "Edward expected to spend the first night at Mr.
Clover's, but upon arriving there found the family al sick with
ague. He next went to Mr. Reber's, to find the
same disease in the household. At Mr. West's he also found all
sick, and when he reached the Piatt cabin Mr. Piatt had the typhoid
fever, but a night's lodging was secured. This incident serves
as but an illustration of what the early settlers suffered from then
then prevalent malarial diseases. When Mr. Ater's
family moved into Willow Branch township the following persons were
residing there: Emanual Clover, Washington
Zinn, John Sea, Thomas Henderson, John West, James Reber, William
Pratt, John Moore, Mr. Shuman, Mr. Widich and M. Dillow.
Mr. Edward Ater and Lydia Greene were married in 1837.
They had four children, two of whom were girls and died quite young.
William Ater served four years in the late war, and died at
thirty-six years of age, when on his way home from Missouri.
Frank still lives in Piatt county. Mrs. Lydia Ater
died in 1857, and Mr. Ater took his second wife Margaret
Cramer, of Ladoga, Indiana. Mr. Ater taught the
first school in Willow Branch township, and was the second sheriff
of the county, serving four years, and never drew any fee for his
services. In 1846 he moved to Urbana, and while there served
as county judge four years, and was also Mayor of Urbana four years.
In 1871 he moved back to Monticello, and has since resided here.
Mr. Ater is the only one of his father's family now living.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 254 |
MR. THOMAS
ATER (Monticello) was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1795.
When but seven years old his father's family emigrated to Pickaway
county, Ohio. After reaching the Ohio river they went down the
stream in a "bitter-head' boat, and while on this voyage young
Thomas came near losing his life: he fell overboard and the folks
had given him up just as his head appeared above the surface of the
water, when an older brother seized him by the hair and dragged him
into the boat. When seventeen years of age Thomas took
the place of a brother who had been drafted in the war of 1812, and
served throughout the entire war. He was under Gen Harrison at
Tippecanoe, and for his services in the war received a land warrant
for 160 acres of land, but never received any benefit from the
warrant. His wife, though, through the efforts of their son
Edward, made use of the warrant after Mr. Ater's
death. Mr. Thomas Ater, and Elizabeth
Brown, who was born in Delaware in 1795, were united in marriage in
1813. Of their five children, who were born in Ohio, Edward
was born in 1815; Solomon, in 1817; Willis, in 1819; Celia,
in 1821; and John, in 1823. On October 11, 1827, Mr.
Ater, with his family, started for Illinois. They
reached Vermilion county the same month, and camped out until a
homestead was procured. After living in Vermilion county, and
settled near the Willow Branch. Mr. Ater died in
1852, and was buried near his last home. His faithful wife
survived him many years, but died in 1877,, and was buried beside
her husband. A gentleman who was a resident of the county when
Mr. Ater lived here, says of him: "He was a tall,
well-made man.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 251 |
Cerro Gordo Twp. -
MR. JOSEPH AUTEN, stock dealer, Cerro Gordo,
is a native of Ohio and was reared in Pennsylvania. He moved
from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1851 and to Piatt county in 1856,
and lived in Willow Branch and Cerro Gordo townships until he moved
into town in 1872. He had previously moved to town in 1856,
when he remained two years. Among Mr. Auten's first
farming enterprises he hauled corn to Cerro Gordo at ten cents a
bushel and sold it in the field for eight cents. It is
pleasing to note the various changes and improvements since then.
Mr. Auten was assessor of the township and belongs to the
Cerro Gordo Masonic lodge No. 600. He was married in 1858, to
Sarah McKinney, and has three sons: Frank, who
taught as first assistant in the Cerro Gordo schools this past year,
and Charley and John at home.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 469 |
MR. JOHN V. AYRE,
(Monticello) to
the firm R. T. AYRE & Bro., came in November 1878, to
Monticello. He was married October 8, 1871, to Bettie
Ogden, and has one son, Jonas.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 255 |
MR. R. T. AYRE,
(Monticello) of the firm of R. T. AYRE & Bro., butcher, Monticello, is a
native of England. He came to American when eight years old
and located in Illinois, coming to Piatt county in 1873. At
that time he located in Monticello, where he owns a residence, a
business house and three acres of ground. He was married in
July, 1870, to Delia Ray, and has had six children:
Charles O., John C., Annie, Lizzie, Richard and Golde.
Source: Piatt County History,
by Emma C. Piatt - With Map and Illustrations -
Publ. 1883 - Page 255 |
NOTES:
* Picture
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