.


 ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS

 A part of Genealogy Express
 

Welcome to
Piatt County, Illinois
History & Genealogy

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. 623-625
 

 - 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

  
CHAPTER II. - GEOGRAPHICAL AND TOPOGRAPHICAL. 625-628
   - 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  		 
CHAPTER III. - INDIAN HISTORY 628-632
   - 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		  
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. 636 - 640
 

 - 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

  
CHAPTER VI. - POLITICAL REPRESENTATION. 640 - 643
   - 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 .......... 		 
CHAPTER VII. - COURTS, BENCH AND BAR. 643 - 644
   - 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 		 
CHAPTER VIII. - MILITARY HISTORY. 644 - 665
   - Patriotism of Piatt County - 645
 - Civil War Records Prove It - 645
 - Record of Piatt County Soldiers - 646
 - No Conscription in This County
 - Appended Military Record
 - List of Regiments in Which Piatt County Men Served
 - Ninth Illinois Infantry - 646
 - Fourteenth Illinois Infantry Reorganized - 646
 - Seventeenth Illinois Infantry - 646
 - Twenty-first Illinois Infantry - 646
 - This Regiment Organized by Capt. U. S. Grant
 - Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry - 648
 - Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry - 648
 - Thirty-fifth Illinois Infantry - 648
 - Thirty-eighth Illinois Infantry - 649
 - Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry - 649
 - Forty-first Illinois Infantry - 649
 - Forty-ninth Illinois Infantry - 649
 - Fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry - 649
 - Sixty-second Illinois Infantry - 650
 - Sixty-third Illinois Infantry - 650
 - Seventy-second Illinois Infantry - 651
 - Seventy-third Illinois Infantry - 651
 - Many Piatt Soldiers in This Regiment
 - Ninety-ninth Illinois Infantry - 653
 - One Hundred and Seventh Illinois Infantry with Long Roster of Piatt County Soldiers - 653
 - One Hundred and Fifteenth Illinois Infantry - 659
 - One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois Infantry - 659
 - One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois Infantry - 660
 - Second Illinois Cavalry - 660
 - Fifth Illinois Cavalry - 662
 - Seventh Illinois Cavalry - 662
 - Tenth Illinois Cavalry - 662
 -- Portrait of Charles L. Croninger and Family
 - Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry - 663
 - First Illinois Light Artillery - 663
 - Spanish-American War Not Heavily Represented - 663
 - A Proposed Monument - 664
 - Grand Army of the Republic - 664
 - Its Inception and Organization
 - The First Grand Army Post - 664
 - ATWOOD - 664
 - CERRO GORDO - 664
 - MANSFIELD - 665
 - MONTICELLO - 665
 - 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		  
CHAPTER IX. - PHYSICIANS. 665 - 667
   - 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		  
CHAPTER X. - THE PRESS. 667 - 668
   - 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		  
CHAPTER XI. - EDUCATIONAL. 668 - 672
   - 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 		 
CHAPTER XII. - BANKS AND OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS. 672 - 676
   - 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 		 
CHAPTER XIII. - RAILROADS. 676 - 678
   - 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		  
CHAPTER XIV. - CLUBS AND FRATERNITIES. 678 - 680
   - Woman's Clubs
 - Influence of Clubs
 - Advancement of Women
 - Monticello Women's Club; Organization, Work, Officers
 - Bement Woman's Club; Organization, Work, Officers
 - Fraternities		  
CHAPTER XV. - AGRICULTURE. 680 - 681
   - Importance of Agriculture
 - Stock Raising
 - Corn Growing
 - Other Grains
 - Land Values
 - Farm Machinery		  
CHAPTER XVI. - TELEPHONE LINES AND PUBLIC LIGHTNING. 681 - 682
   - 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		  
CHAPTER XVII. - COUNTY FAIRS. 682 - 683
   - 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		  
CHAPTER XVIII. - BEMENT TOWNSHIP. 683 - 687
   - 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		  
CHAPTER XIX. - BLUE RIDGE TOWNSHIP.  687 - 688
   - 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		  
CHAPTER XX. - CERRO GORDO TOWNSHIP.    FINISHED 688 - 690
   - 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 		 
CHAPTER XXI. - GOOSE CREEK TOWNSHIP.  691 - 694
   - 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		  
CHAPTER XXII. - MONTICELLO TOWNSHIP - PARTIALLY DONE - UPDATED 7/18/2015 594 - 597
   - 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		  
CHAPTER XXIII. - SANGAMON TOWNSHIP.  697 - 698
   - 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		  
CHAPTER XXIV. - UNITY TOWNSHIP 698 - 700
   - 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 .......... 		 
CHAPTER XXV. - WILLOW BRANCH TOWNSHIP. 701 - 702
 

 - Boundaries
 - Soil
 - Natural Drainage
 - Origin of Name
 - Early Settlers
 - Stringtown
 - Railroads
 - Sisco
 - Churches
 - Officials
 - Commissioners of Highways
 - Justice of the Peace
 - Constable
 - Supervisors

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

PORTRAITS.

Alexander, Jennie M. 624
Alexander, Ora V. 624
Armsworth, Sarah 630
Armsworth, Willis 628
Ater, John S. 636
Baumann, Herman B. 642
Baumann, Sarah C. 642
Bensyl, John A. 646
Bensyl, Nellie F. 646
Bondurant, Thomas E. 650
Burr, Amos S. 654
Caldwell, Alvin L. 658
Croninger, Charles L. & Family 662
Dighton, John N. 666
Grason, Charles F. 672
Grason, Martha E. 674
Hadden, Benjamin & Family 571
Hallstead, Johhn 686
Heath, Noble P. 690
Kilton, Obert L. 698
Kingston, John W. 702
Leischner, Daniel 706
Leischner, John 712
Leischner, L. Annie 708
Leischner, John, Mrs. 712
Lemen, James M. 716
Liestman, Frederick 720
Liestman, Minnie 720
Lodge, Samuel A. 727
Lumsden, Edmond W. 728
Lumsden, Edmond W., Mrs. 728
Lyons, Elizabeth 732
Lyons, William 732
Martin, Francis 736
Martin, Henry P. 740
McBride, David 744
McBride, David, Mrs. 744
McFadden, Mary A., Mrs. 748
Mitchell, James H. 752
Mitchell, Myrtle B. 752
Parr, Andrew E. 756
Parr, Caroline 756
Peck, James K., and Granddaughter 760
Phillips, J. Madison 764
Phillips, J. M., Children of Mr. & Mrs. 764
Piatt, James A. 768
Piatt, James A., Mrs. 768
Plunk, Emma E. 772
Plunk, Maria M. 778
Plunk, William A. 772
Plunk, William H. 776
Quick, Daniel 782
Shively, John J. 786
Shonkwiler, Francis M.  
  .............. Frontispiece, Piatt County  
Smock, Samuel & Family 790
Sprinkle, Simon 794
Traxler, Samuel J., & Family 798
Tucker, Thomas J. & Family 802
Van Vickle, Henry 804
Warner, Jesse W. 806
Wilson, Jacob G. 808
Wilson, Joseph 808
Wolfe, Eli F., & Family 812
Wolfe, Frank & Family 810
Wood, John W. 814

ILLUSTRATIONS

Baling Threshed Straw 678
Breaking the Soil 678
Court House (Old) 632
Court House (Present) 638
Disking the Stubble Field 678
Farm Team at Work 678
High School 668
Honselman Cabin 694
Library 694
Lincoln School 668
Map of Piatt County 623
Opera House 694
Residence of Daniel Leischner 710
Residence of James A. Piatt (Sr.) 632
Steam Threshing Outfit 678
Wheat and Corn Fields 678
Wheat in the Stack 678
 

 

 

 

CLICK HERE to RETURN to
PIATT COUNTY, OHIO		 CLICK HERE to RETURN to
ILLINOIS GENEALOGY EXPRESS
FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION
 GENEALOGY EXPRESS
This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Genealogy Express  ©2008
Submitters retain all copyrights