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
Transcribed by Sharon Wick

PIATT COUNTY, ILLINOIS

CHAPTER X.
The SNOW BIRDS and their RELATIVES*
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     MR. GEORGE HAYWORTH was the first man to settle within the limits of what is now Piatt county.  He came to Illinois from Tennessee with a colony of Quakers.  Some went to Tazwell county, and some to Vermillion county, while Mr. Hayworth came to this county in the spring of 1822.  He built a small log cabin on what is now W. E. Lodge's place in Monticello.  Soon after he, with the assistance of some Indians, built near the other a larger cabin, which is still standing.  Mr. and Mrs. Hayworth had four children, two girls and two

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     *In this chapter we include the sketches of those persons who came to the county previous to the deep snow.

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boys.  Mr. Hayworth lived in his new home about three years when he went to Danville to school his children.  In 1829 he owned a hewed log house, the largest residence in Danville.

     MR. JAMES MARTIN, formerly from Kentucky, came from Ohio to Illinois in 1822.  In the fall of 1822 he settled in what is now Piatt county.  He built a little log cabin near where Mr. Nath. Rhoades' barn now stands.  During Mr. Martin's first season at his new home his wife died, and he sold out his claim to a gentleman by the name of Daggot.  Mr. Martin then went back to Indiana and persuaded his niece, Mrs. Furnace, and nephew, John Martin, to move to Illinois.  They all came west, and camped from fall to spring near where Mr. Jim Blacker now lives.  In the spring a cabin was built near the camping place.  These were living in their camp when Mr. Abraham Henline, sr., made his first visit to this section of the country.  Mrs. Furnace had two children, Nancy and Sam.  Nancy is still living.  Her first husband's name was Jacob Cline.  Mr. Ingram, who is now dead, became her last husband. Mrs. Furnace and Mr. John Martin both died in the old cabin where they moved in the spring after their season of camping out.  Their remains lie in the Wright burying ground.  Mr. James Martin went to Indiana about 1831 and died there.

     MR. DAGGOTT bought Mr. Martin's claim on what is now a portion of Mr. Rhoades' land.  Mr. and Mrs. Daggott had five children, two girls and three boys.  After living here about two years they left their claim and went to Big Grove - Urbana- in Champaign county.  It is related by the old settlers of the county that Mr. Daggott spent one winter in capturing and penning up wolves, with the hope that the legislature would pass a law paying a bounty for wolf skins.  Mr. D. had several wolf traps in different parts of the county.  Quite a number of years afterward the remains of some of the traps could be seen.  The bones of deer and hogs were scattered in their vicinity  At one time Mr. Daggott had as many as ten or twelve wolves in a rail pen in his dooryard.  Mr. Daggott had a tanyard near the bridge, not far from Mr. Nath. Rhoades' house.

     MRS. HARDING INGRAM nee Nancy Furnace, who came to the county in 1822, thus having lived longer in Piatt county than any one else, was born in Kentucky in 1818.  Her folks came to the county in October, 1822, and stayed at what was afterward known as the Terry place.  The next fall they moved to where Jim Blacker now lives and camped there.  The family included her mother, brother, uncle and herself.

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     MR. NATHAN HENLINE. -

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     MR. ABRAHAM HENLINE, JR., in 1834 married Miss Lucy Reynolds, a step-daughter of Mr. Souders.  They went to housekeeping near Coon's spring, and lived there for a short time.  They moved from this place to the upper part of the county, where they lived for fifteen or twenty years.  From here they moved down near Monticello, to the place where Mr. Jim Henline now lives.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Henline died at this place.  They left six children, of whom four are now living:  Mary Ann married Henry Gressel, and is now living in the southwestern part of the state.  Sarah Ann married John Conan,

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and now lives near Mansfield.  Elijah married Mary Spencer, and their present home is east of Monticello.  Two of the sons were lost in the army, one near Shreveport and the other at Little Rock.

     MR. JAMES HENLINE, the next to the eldest of four boys who came with Mr. Abraham Henline to this county in 1824, married Jane Lockwood.  They lived for a time near what is now White Heath, and then moved to Iowa.

     MR. JACOB HENLINE was the only one of the four Henline brothers who lived through life in "single blessedness."  He was a very strong, hard-working man.  He was considered by some the strongest man in the county.  It was a custom in those days for neighbors to come together from their ofttimes distant homes to assist in "cabin raisings."  People were known to travel for twenty  miles for this purpose.  Mr. Jacob Henline, on account of his superior strength, was always especially welcome at "cabin raisings."  One of the early settlers of the county remembers of having seen Jacob Henline carry a log at a cabin raising that would have been a good load for three ordinary men.  It is the verdict of some of the early settlers now living, that Mr. Henline wore himself out by so repeatedly exerting his strength while helping to build cabins.  In 1854 he went down into Coles county, this state, where his death occurred.

THE PIATTS AND THEIR RELATIVES.

     MR. JAMES A. PIATT, for whom this county was named, was born Apr. 21, 1789, probably in Pennsylvania.  His father, Abraham Piatt, moved from New Jersey to Penn's Valley, Pennsylvania, and settled on land obtained for surveying for some company.  James Piatt was but small boy when his father died.  The family soon moved to Ohio, reaching Cincinnati when there were but two log cabins in it.  They soon settled near Oxford, Ohio.  James A., when still quit young, went back to Pennsylvania to settle up his father's estate.  Only about six months of his life was spent in school, but he succeeded in giving himself a very fair education.  He was a good scribe, and while in Pennsylvania settling up his father's estate, he taught one term of school.  Being thrown on his own resources quite early in life, the discipline only served to make him the better prepared for his later life as a pioneer.  After returning from Pennsylvania he, on Dec. 21, 1815, was united in marriage to Jemima Ford, who was then in Cincinnati, and who was born in Maryland, Jan. 10, 1792.  Jemima, with her sister, Delia Ford, came over the mountains and to

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     MRS. JAMES PIATT

     MR. WILLIAM H. PIATT

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     MR. JOHN PIATT, farmer,

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     MR. JAMES A. PIATT, JR.,

     MR. RICHARD F. PIATT, of Napa City, California,

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Peasley, who afterward became his wife.  Two of their children, R. H., and Ida, are living.  Mr. Piatt has discovered several valuable mines, and though having never been repaid for his long years of work in that direction, is still mining.

     MR. NOAH NOBLE PIATT was born in Indianapolis, Feb. 24, 1828.  He was the babe of the family when Mr. James A. Piatt moved to the Hayworth cabin, on the present site of Monticello.  His boyhood and youthful days were spent in Piatt county.  In 1855 he married Hannah Philipps, who was making her home at Wm. Piatt's.  In 1857 he went to California, where he farmed near Marysville until about 1868.  His wife died about this time, and Mr. Piatt with his daughters, Mattie, Clara and Kate, and son Willie, returned to Piatt county.  After living here a time he married Miss Olive Bryden and soon went onto his farm, one mile east of Monticello.  HE sold this farm and went to Kansas about 1879, and now resides in Greenwood county, of that state.  Mr. and Mrs. Piatt have three sons, Frank, Phil. and James.

    Mr. JACOB PIATT, deceased, was born Feb. 17, 1831, and is recorded as the first male child born within the limits of Piatt county.  His entire life was spent in the immediate vicinity of his native place.  When but a boy he resolved on being a merchant and began clerking for Daniel Stickel.  He went to Cincinnati for the purpose of completing his commercial education, and while there became acquainted with Mary A. Hubbel, who became his wife Mar. 1, 1853.  During the rest of his life he was a merchant in Monticello.  For a number of years previous to his death he was consumptive and an intense sufferer.  His death occurred July 4, 1871.  Six children survived him, five of whom are living now.  Mary is now the wife of Dr. J. H. Carper, a successful physician of Monticello.  Ford is successful as an express agent of St. Paul, Minnesota.  Silas is a member of the class of 1883 of the Illinois University of Champaign.  Jacob is in Monticello, while Will makes his home with his grandfather, Mr. Hubbell, of Cincinnati.  Mrs. Jacob Piatt was married in 1877 to Mr. Harvey Benson.  Her death occurred in the spring of 1880.

     ANNABELLE PIATT, who was born at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, May 16, 1825, became the wife of Daniel Stickel.  (See his sketch.)

     MARY J. PIATT, who was born Jan. 10, 1839, fell heir to a land warrant issued for services rendered by Mr. James A. PIatt during the Black Hawk war.  The land is located in Nebraska.  On June 5, 1860, she became the wife of Wm. Bryden, who for a number of years

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was a merchant of Monticello.  During the last years of his life he was an invalid, and his death occurred Feb. 5, 1866, in Savannah, Georgia.  He had gone south for his health and was then on his way home.  His last words were, "Peace on earth and good will to all."  Mrs. Bryden and her two sons, Charles and Will are still residing in Monticello.
     The following facts relating to the first Piatts in America were obtained by Abram Piatt of the Piatts in Watsontown, Pennsylvania.
     The first Piatt (John) was originally from France.  In the city of Amsterdam, Holland, he married a widow, Mrs. Wycoff, nee Frances Vlett.  They settled in New Jersey some years previous to the revolutionary war, and in 1760 were living at Six Mile Run, near the city of New Brunswick.  This fact is shown by the following letter written by the same John Piatt from the Island of St. Thomas, in the West Indies, to his son in New Jersey.
     Letter to John Piatt, addressed "Six Mile Run, New Jersey":

     Dear Son, - I hereby let you know that I am yet alive and when I have said that I have said all I can say, for I am so very low and weak that I can scarcely hold my pen.  I therefore only write you two or three lines, to let you know I have not forgot you.  I am not able to stir out anywhere to see to getting some trinkets or other to send you by your brother Abraham, which otherwise I would have done.  You told me in your letter you intended to come and see me as soon as your time was out.  But I would not have you attempt it until yoou hear form me again, for if I live I shall leave this island very soon in order to recover my health and if I live till next summer you may depend on seeing me at home.  I would therefore advise you to stick close to your business and do the best you can for yourself  As to any further news, your brother Abraham can tell you.  Give my love to your mother and all  your brothers, and all inquiring friends.
                                

	I remain, your affectionate father,
St. Thomas, July 7 1760.	JNO PIATT.

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     MR. ABRAHAM PIATT, son of the first Piatt who came to America, and father of James A. Piatt, for whom this county was named, was born in New Jersey and afterward moved to Pennsylvania, where it is supposed he died Nov. 13, 1791.  His wife nee Anna Belle Andrew, died Apr. 16, 1822, at the house of her eldest son, Jacob, and was buried in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio.  They had ten children, four sons and six daughters.
     Jacob, the eldest son, moved to Ohio, was twice married, and lived there till his family was nearly grown, when he moved to near Perryville Indiana.  HE then moved to Henry county, Illinois, where Wm. H. Piatt thinks he died.  Some of his children's names are: Abraham, who died in Altona, James who moved to near St. Mary's, Kansas, and John, who for twenty-three years was county commissioner and supervisor in Henry county, and died there a short time ago; while Anna Belle and William are names of other members of the family.

     Abraham Piatt settled in Butler county, Ohio.  (See Michael Piatt's sketch.)

     John Piatt was never married.  At an early day he went to New Orleans to trade, and while there was murdered and robbed.

     For Jas. A. Piatt, see his sketch.

     Catharine Piatt became the wife of Mr. Jas. Andrew.  (See Jno. Andrew's sketch.)

     Fannie Piatt married James Watson, and had three sons,

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Abraham, William and James, who settled near Crawfordsville, Indiana, and who are all dead now.
     Eleanor married John McDonald, and had three sons and one daughter, now Mrs. F. A. Marsh.  Joseph McDonald, e-senator of Indiana, is eminent as a lawyer in Indianapolis.  For James McDonald, see his sketch.  Zeke McDonald now resides in California.

     Jane Piatt married James Carnahan, and had three sons, William, Abraham and John.  Of these William is the only one living.  Of the four daughters, Anna married the Rev. Theo. Adams, of the Christian church and they both are dead.  Mary married Mr. Hubbell, has her sister Amanda with her, and lives in Cincinnati.

     Anna Piatt married Wm. Hart and settled in southern Indiana.  She had several sons, who are supposed to be living in Clinton county, Iowa.

     Margaret Piatt married Mr. John Ecles, a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, and had a number of children.

     Hon. Donn Piatt, of Mac-o-cheek, Ohio, writes us that all he knows of his ancestors was obtained through his father of his grandfather, Jacob Piatt, of Boone county, Kentucky.  This Jacob Piatt was a native of New Jersey.  He entered the revolutionary war as a private, fought his way up to colonel, and was at one time on the staff of Gen. Washington, taking part in all the important battles of the war.  "He was a Puritan of the purest type, having the Hugenot traits strongly marked in him.  He gave his pension to the support of a clergyman.  His tomb at Federal Hall bears the following suggestive epitaph:

A SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTION
AND
A SOLDIER OF THE CROSS.

     This Jacob Piatt told Donn Piatt's father that the first Piatts in America were two brothers, who went from France to Amsterdam, and, after marrying there, came to New York.  One of these settled in New Jersey while the other went to the West Indies, where he was murdered by his negroes.
     Gen. Piatt, a brother of Donn Piatt, also resides at Mac-o-cheek, Ohio.

     WILLIAM PIATT was born June 29, 1795, at La Grange, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and died there in December, 1875.  His father, John Piatt, settled in Pennsylvania.  William was a armer and tanner by profession.  He was a captain of the 1st Lycoming Troop Cavalry for

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some twenty years, a ruling elder of the Presbyterian church for twenty years, a member of the Pennsylvania legislature, and associate judge of Lycoming county.  He married Hannah Brady, who was born at Milton Pennsylvania, Apr. 2, 1799, and who was a niece of Capt. John Brady and Gen. Hugh Brady, the celebrated Indian fighters.  Of their children James B. Piatt, who was born July 10 1821, in La Grange, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania was a captain in the Lycoming Troop Cavalry for ten years.  He is now a farmer at Tipton, Iowa.  H. C. Piatt, born Mar. 24, 1824, is a graduate of the Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, and is now a wealthy lawyer of Tipton, Iowa.  McCall Piatt was born Aug. 4, 1829, and is carrying on a tan-yard on the farm where his father was born and where he died.  His eldest sister, Mary, lives with him.  Betty married William McCormick and died some thirteen years ago, leaving six children.  Charlotte Piatt married Frank Porter and died about five years ago.  Mr. Abner Piatt was born in La Grange, Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, Mar. 27, 1827.  His youth was spent as a tanner and civil engineer, and he was educated at Lewisburg Academy.  For ten yeas he was a member of the 1st Lycoming Troop Cavalry, and he was also major of a military company of Lycoming county.  For a number of years he has been a stock commission merchant in Chicago, Illinois.  He married Anne M. Murphy, and has four children: Hammond, Harry, Emma and Anna.

     MR. MICHAEL PIATT, St. Louis is a native of Butler county, Ohio.  His education was obtained and his youth was spent in that state.  He moved from Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1857, and at present resides at 3614 N. Ninth street, St. Louis, Missouri.  He was horse inspector for three and a half years during the war, at present in a veterinary surgeon, and, in fact, has been in the horse business all his life.  He was married in 1837, to E. D. Kirk, and they have had eight children.

     MR. ABRAHAM PIATT, father of Michael Piatt, was born in Pennsylvania and was a farmer, having held the offices of constable and sheriff.

     MR. JOHN ANDREW, brother of Anna Belle (Andrew) Piatt, was a surgeon in the patriot army during the entire revolutionary war.  He was married twice, and had a large family of children.

     MR. JAMES ANDREW, the eldest of the family, married Catharine Piatt, sister of James A. Piatt.  She died June 27, 1828, and her husband Mar. 21, 1851.  They had eight children: the youngest, Anna Bella, died when a babe, and John died Sept. 2, 1819.  The rest of the family are all living, and,  with the exception of Jacob P., reside in La Porte, Indiana.  James is in his eighty-fourth year.  Abraham P.

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Andrew is in his eighty-second year, is in "good health and active in mind and body."  The 1st of October, 1882, was the fifty-third anniversary of his marriage to Viola J. Armstrong who is in her seventy-seventh year.  Lewis C. Andrew is in his seventy-fourth year, while William is seventy-two years old.  Rachel married Sutton Van Pelt, who died not long ago.  Jacob Piatt Andrew is in his seventy-ninth year, and has been a preacher of the Christian church for over sixty years was a practicing physician.  His eldest son, Lieut. A. C. Andrew, was killed in the union army Sept. 20, 1863.  His youngest son, William H., died in his fifteenth year.  His daughter Phebe A. Clark, has several children

     DR. E. A. PYATT, of Bethany, Illinois, writes that his grandfather, named Joseph was born in Coventry, England.  His father, also named Joseph, was born in Bush county, North Carolina.  Dr. Pyatt was born Oct. 9, 1832 in North Carolina, and lived on a farm and went to school in the country up to the age of eighteen when he entered Burnsville College, and remained two year.  He studied medicine, and in 1856 began practicing the same in Sullivan county, Tennessee.  Soon after he graduated in the Jefferson Medical College Philadelphia.  He was surgeon in the late war three years, and at the close of the war married a lady of Abington, Washington county, Virginia.  In 1868 he located at Bethany, Moultrie county, where he has been in active practice since.

     Mrs. Ann Honselman daughter of Catharine and John Piatt was married in 1832, and in 1839 came to Piatt county.  Of her children, William was born in 1834, James, in 1836; Abraham, in 1838; Caroline, in 1841, and Melissa, in 1843.  She still resides in Monticello and is yet a characteristic pioneer woman.  Let who would like to catch a glimpse of the early days step into her cabin, and she, in the are no more.  She has a kind heart, a good memory, and is always pleased to take you back into the past, where she will find for you many a gem by the wayside.

     Chas. O. Piatt, Decatur, Illinois, was born near Bellefontaine, Logan county, Ohio, Aug. 16, 1847.  His mother died when he was thirteen months old, and he then lived with his grandmother Piatt until he was thirteen years old.  His father married again, and with his family moved to DeWitt county in 1854, where he still resides. In 1860 C. O. Piatt came from Ohio to his father's farm, where he stayed until he was eighteen years old, since which time he has been making

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his own way.  He had gained a good common and high school education, and taught several terms of school in DeWitt county.  He afterward went into the grain trade, which business he is still in, and is associated in the firm W. L. Dumont & Co., of Decatur.  Mr. Piatt was married Mar. 7, 1871, to Flora C. granddaughter of Wm. Clagg.  They have had two children, one of whom died at the age of four years, and the other is still living.  Mr. Piatt's name was John and his grandfather, also named John, moved from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, to Ohio at an early day.
 

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