USA > Illinois > Piatt County > History of Piatt County; together with a brief history of Illinois from the discovery of the upper Mississippi to the present time > Part 14
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In 1856, during the presidential campaign, Lincoln came to Monti- cello to make a speech. The speaking was to be in the court-house, and when the time came to proceed to said place, only two persons could be found who were willing to walk with Abraham Lincoln through the streets. and to the court-house. These men were Ezra Marquiss, Sr., and Joseph Guy, who carried the flag. The speaking began, with these two men for andience, but gradually the number increased until the court-room was nearly full.
· During the senatorial campaign in 1858, a very different greeting awaited Lincoln, who was called by his party to speak at Monticello. A procession. nearly a mile long, came down from Champaign county, and another delegation arrived from DeWitt county, with the Piatt county delegation in addition. A magnificent display was made as the throng proceeded to meet Lincoln as he came from Bement. Douglas, who had just fulfilled the appointment made by his party for him in Monticello, met Lincoln on the hill, one mile south of Monticello, and, according to Judge Spear, they arranged to meet at Bement, in F. E. Bryant's house, upon Lincoln's return to the place. At the time of their meeting arrangements were concluded for the great senatorial debate, which soon followed.
In the procession that went to meet Lincoln were carried many banners with suggestive mottoes. One was: "Cham-paign for Abe; real pain for Dug." After the crowd of some five thousand persons reached the old park, just west of Monticello, Lawrence Weldon, of De Witt county, made the first speech. Lincoln followed him with a two hours' concise and logical speech. "Dinner was sumptuously served in the park. Altogether 'twas the greatest day Piatt county had ever seen.
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IIISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
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It seems almost incredible that so great a change could come over the public sentiment of the people of the county during two short years. In 1856 the people would scarcely pause in their work to look at him, while, in 1858, they were ready to literally carry him in their arms.
The press .- Mr. James D. Moudy was the editor of the first paper in Piatt county. A copy of this paper, which was printed in Novem- ber, 1856, and called "The Monticello Times," lies before us, and in it we notice the advertisements of some of the men who are yet in business in Monticello. Mr. Moudy, who only edited the paper a short time, sold out to Mr. J. C. Johnson, who published the paper under its original name for a time. He sold out to Mr. James Outten, who edited it under the same name for a time. He then took Mr. Hassett as his part- ner and the name was changed to " The Sucker State." Messrs. Gilliland and Tritt bought these men out and were running the paper in 1859. Thomas Milligan succeeded them, and edited "The Conservative " until 1862. At this date W. E. Lodge bought him out and edited the paper until 1864. During .a part of this time J. M. Holmes assisted him. Mr. Lodge sold out to N. E. Rhoades and the paper was conducted under the auspices of the Union League. Mit. A. Bates was the edi- tor and publisher during the political campaign of 1864, and the paper was called "The Piatt County Union."
Mr. James M. Hohines was the next person to buy the paper, and he printed the first copy of Vol. I of "The Piatt Independent," No- vember 23, 1865.
Mr. Holmes published this paper under the same name for about seven years, and then changed it to "The Piatt Republican." At the end of about three years Mr. Holmes sold to Mr. Wagner, who im- mediately sold out to H. B. Funk, and in 1876 the paper became known as "The Monticello Bulletin." After running the paper four or five years Mr. Funk sold out to Messrs. Mise and Wagner, who in turn sold to Mise Brothers. In 1882 Mr. Funk again bought the paper, and under his present able management we have reason to expect a good paper for the people.
In 1874 H. D. Peters came to Monticello and began work on "The Herald," which was under the management of Scroggs and Peters. Soon Mr. Peters became both editor and publisher. He has been suc- cessful in his work, and still furnishes a very good paper for the county. For the following items incident to "The Bement Press," we are indebted principally to Judge Spear and Mr. Eli Drum.
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PIATT COUNTY.
In April, 1860, Mr. James Shoaff, of Decatur, and Mr. Outten, began publishing the "The Bement Union," in Freese & Co's ware- house. Mr. Shoaff made his editorial farewell in the paper of April 18, 1861, and went to the army. After this Mr. Sanches served as publisher for several months, when the paper was discontinued. The next editors in the town were John Smith and John S. Harper, after which Mr. Mit Bates started "The Farmers' Advocate." J. H. Jacobs next published "The Bement Register," and was succeeded by Mr. Connor. On the first day of January, 1878, Mr. Ben Biddle- come issued the first number of "The Independent." This paper was begun under unfavorable circumstances, but for several years made its way quite well. "The Independent" was followed by "The Bement Gazette," published by F. E. Bills. "The Bement Gazette" was next started by J. I. Chilson, who sold out to Mr. Eli Drmmn, the present editor of the paper. A citizen of the town remarked that this was Mr. Drum's first editorial effort and that he was "getting along finely."
Cerro Gordo had one newspaper, "The Cerro Gordo Times," edited by J. H. Jacobs, but it was discontinued long since.
Some pioneer physicians in the county .- The very first settlers of the county were their own physicians. They were herb doctors, though a few had imbibed some ideas from physicians they had seen in other states.
Dr. Burrill, who was here in 1838, was one of the first physicians in the county.
Dr. King located in Macon county in 1839, and began practicing both there and in what is now Piatt county. He received his medical education in Cincinnati, Ohio. There were but two or three physicians in Macon county upon his coming west. Dr. King las honored his profession, and is now enjoying a ripe old age in Decatur.
Dr. Hillis came to the county a short time after Dr. King, and remained for a short time.
Following these were the revered Dr. Hull, who came to this little county in 1841. He seemed to possess just the right qualities for a physician. "The memory of him, as a genial friend, companion and citizen, yet lingers in the hearts of hundreds of people ; and as a high- toned, skillful physician he has left an impress upon the ininds of his professional brethren, who were associated with him, that will not fade away during their lives. Ile was an ardent lover of nature and out- door manly sports, which contributed no little to his generosity of heart. His ear was ever open to the tale of distress and his hand
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
ready to give. In fine, he was one of those strong natures, mentally and physically, full of individuality, the type of which is fast falling away."
Dr. C. R. Ward located in Monticello in 1845. He soon worked himself into a very lucrative practice, the extent of which has not been surpassed by any physician in the county. His death, which occurred April 22, 1881, was lamented by all who knew him.
Dr. Coffin, now living in Monticello, came to the county in 1847; Dr. Noecker in 1853; Dr. Knott in 1855, and Dr. Coleman in 1860. (See their personal sketches.)
We notice in "The Monticello Times," of November 6, 1856, that T. Wheeler, A.M., M.D., was located in Monticello at that time.
Dr. Mitchell, now living in Bement, moved on to. Lake. Fork in 1853, and was the first physician at Mackville. Dr. Prosser was located at Cerro Gordo previous to 1860, and was probably the first physician of the place. Dr. Taylor was in Bement previous to 1860. Dr. J. H. Leal also located in Bement a few years previous to the war. He was in partnership with Dr. Taylor, and built up a fine practice. (See his sketcl.)
The pioneer physicians of the county had trials that those of a later date know nothing of. It was a frequent occurrence for then to be called to see a patient twenty or thirty miles distant. And ofttimes it was not the distance that was to be dreaded. The ride would often liave to be made on a dark night, along muddy roads, and through swamps and ponds. Sometimes the horse would have to swim streams, while the rider on his knees on the saddle, held his medicine case of the bridle-reins in his teeth.
We heard a good joke told not long since relative to a physician of a neighboring county. He was called to see a patient who lived on the Sangamon, and accordingly, after bidding his wife good-bye, he started in the dark night to ride across the prairie. After riding a long time he came to a house. He alighted, knocked at the door, to hear the question "Who's there?" He answered by asking the way to the house of the patient he started to see." What was his astonishment to hear, instead of the requested directions, a lady's voice questioning : "Why, William, is that you?" and the worthy physician found that he liad alighted at his own door, and was talking to his own wife.
Pioneer lawyers .- As has been stated, there was little work for lawyers during the first few years of settlement in Piatt county. The lawyers who were here came from Decatur. Among the first who
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PIATT COUNTY.
located in this place were Mr. Milligan, H. C. McComas, and A. T. Pipher. Charles Watts was also one of the first lawyers here. W. E. Lodge came to the county in 1859. A. T. Pipher and W. E. Lodge have been in the county longer than any others now located here. The personal sketches of the majority of the lawyers in the county appears further on in the book.
Poor Farm .- The Piatt County Poor Farm contains two hundred and ninety-three acres, and is situated about three miles west of Monti- cello. A portion of the farm is in Monticello township, while the rest lies in Willow Branch township. The farm contains sixty acres of tim- ber land. There are six acres in the garden and three in the orchard. The almshouse proper is of brick, and its two stories and basement con- tain eighteen rooms, six on each floor. The insane department is apart from the main building, and consists of a building 14×24 feet, which contains two rooms. These rooms are ceiled inside with un- dressed lumber. There is no corridor. The windows are 13×4 feet, and are protected by iron bars. On the outside of this building is a yard 40×50 feet, which is inclosed as an airing court.
Mr. Seits, the present keeper of the Poor Farm, took possession March 1, 1877. At that time there were but seven inhabitants of the house ; since 1877, however, there has been as high as fifteen at a time. All inmates are expected to work about the house or farm, if able. When Mr. Seits moved to the place it was in rather a poor condition ; since his coming the amount of fencing on the place has been doubled, two hundred rods of tile ditching has been done, two hundred trees have been planted, and many other improvements have been ınade. The farm at present is self-sustaining. The keeper's salary is $600, besides his family's living. The county's relief outside the Poor Farm is about $800 per year.
Piatt county jail .- This is in the rear of the sheriff's residence, on the jail lot, one block north of the court-house. The walls are of brick, lined with scantling and two-inch plank driven full of spikes. There are six iron cells in double block, with back to back. There is a cor- ridor on three sides, while the jailor's corridor is on the fourth side. There are six long, narrow windows, with cross-bar grating. It is heated by two stoves, and ventilated by the doors and windows. There is a guard-room next to the prison, next to which is a cell for female prisoners. The building was erected in 1867.
Court-houses .- The first one was put up by Judge Rickets, in 1843, right where the present court-house stands. It was of frame, and was
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
afterward moved to the west side of the square, and was ultimately destroyed by fire. The present brick court-house was erected about 1856, by Judge Rickets, George Dempsey and John Lowry. It originally had a cupola on it, but a storm, some seven or eight years ago, demolished it and, in addition, tore off a portion of the gable end and roof of the building. The lower floor of the building is occupied by the county officers principally. The court-room proper and two small rooms are on the second floor.
Agricultural society .- This society was first organized in 1856, and it now has between four and five hundred members. Nearly eight hundred shares have been issued at $5 per share. The fair ground con- tains twenty-five acres, and its improvements and real estate are valued at about $10,000. The society is out of debt, and has about $1,500 in the treasury. For the last few years the fairs have been decidedly suc- cessful, the first two or three days' receipts being sufficient to cover all expenses. The present officers are Jesse Warner, president ; E. P. Thompson, vice-president ; C. A. Tatman, secretary ; and Theo. Gross, corresponding secretary. The board of directors are W. H. Plunk, John Kirby, Oscar Mansfield, Horace Calef, Jesse Yoakum, William Voorhies, A. D. Newton and John Goodson.
Roads .- The primitive roads of the county were the buffalo trails. Following these came the Indian paths, and upon the white man's arrival, and for years after, the traveling was done in these tracks of the red-man. However, the time came when the continual incoming of settlers formed a few roads. Probably the first visible road of the county was that which led from Sadorus Grove to James Piatt's cabin, and on to the trading-house near the mouth of Friends creek. Not long since we saw traces of this old road in John Piatt's present door-yard. After a number of families were located here, it was sometimes the custom to break roads between the settlements by hitching oxen to a log and dragging it throughout the distance, and ofttimes a furrow was made to show where the road was.
During high waters the Sangamon was crossed by means of ferry- boats. Nathan Henline and his brother kept a ferry near where the wagon-bridge, one mile west of Monticello, is located.
The first state road intersecting the county was that leading from Danville, via Big Grove (Urbana), through what is now Monticello, and on to Springfield. The road extending diagonally across Blue Ridge township, and which is known as the State road, according to one of the early settlers in that vicinity, was never surveyed as such. The
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P'IATT COUNTY.
road was gained by people settling on it. It was used as early as 1832, and used to go by Cheney's Grove. Probably Mr. Richard Webb was the first to settle on it in this county.
It was five years after the first settlement was made on Lake Fork ere officers of any kind found the people. William Monroe got up a petition that led to the location of the first local road, which extended from Monticello to the head of Lake Fork, and on down the east side of the same stream. Jolin Tenbrooke surveyed the road, and William Monroe made the furrow with Hiram Heath's ox team. After a time William Monroe got up another petition, and this time'twas for a state road extending from Charleston to Bloomington, and in this county, following in almost the direct route of the former road. Daniel Stickle and Judge Hughes were appointed commissioners, and George Heath surveyor. A mail route was established, and the mail carrier rode on horseback.
For quite awhile the mail of the county was all carried on horse- back, and ofttimes unlocked saddle-bags contained the precious load. Letters formed the principal bulk of mail matter, and the postage on each one was from ten cents to twenty-five cents, and they were some- times weeks in reaching their destination. According to the postage law then, the postage could be paid at either end of the route, and more often the receiver paid the expense than did the sender of a letter.
When the stage routes wers established, about 1839, the mail was carried by stage. There are not many living in the county who rement- ber the first stages that passed through the county on the state road from Urbana to Decatur. The arrival of the stage coach was a great event in the week, and as the first stage driver sprang from his elevated seat to the tavern door, for the time being he was the most important man of the county. How curiously the collected villagers eyed each traveler ; and the boys of the place weekly or bi-weekly surveyed the horses, harness and all the rigging of what seemed to them the most wonder- ful vehicle that was ever constructed.
The last stage-coach route of the county was between Monticello and Bement, after the building of the T. W. & W. railroad. "Uncle Billy" Motherspaw was the able and successful manager of this route, and did we have nothing else to remember this man by, the many deeds. of kindness done by him while making his regular trips between the said places, would be sufficient to cause the people to hold him in remembrance a long time. Mr. Motherspaw is at present located in Carthage, Missouri.
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
Railroads .- It was not long after the building of railroads through the county ere all stage-coaching was done away with.
What is now the main division of the Wabash railroad was con- structed through this county across Bement and Cerro Gordo townships in the years of 1855-56. Both ends of the road were being worked at once during the time stated, and the connection was made, according to an old settler in that vicinity, between the present towns of Milmine and Cerro Gordo.
The following statistics relative to the railroads in the county were furnished us by Mr. L. J. Bond :
The road now connecting Champaign and Decatur was chartered in 1861 as the Monticello railroad, but nothing further was done toward the road until after the war. The charter was amended and the com- pany was fully organized in 1865, but the work did not commence until 1867. The road was put in operation from Champaign to Monti- cello in December, 1870, but it was not completed to Decatur until about two years afterward. It continued under the same name until the road was completed, after which it was consolidated with the Havana, Mason City, Lincoln and Eastern road. The consolidated company was transferred to that of the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western, and it remained a part of that road until the foreclosure sale by which it was re-organized as the Champaign, Havana and Western company. It is now a part of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific road.
The Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western railroad was chartered as the Danville, Urbana, Bloomington and Pekin railroad, and was built and put into operation through this county about or a little before 1870. The road was consolidated with the Indianapolis and Danville road, and then became known as the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western railroad.
The Chicago division of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railroad was chartered in 1867 as the Bloomington and Ohio River railroad. It. was afterward consolidated with the Streator and Fairbury company, and named Chicago and Paducah Railroad Company. It was com- pleted and put in operation through this county about 1873. . It became a part of the Wabash system in 1880.
The Havana division of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railroad was chartered in 1867 as the Havana, Mason City, Lincoln and Eastern railroad, and was built through this county about 1872. The same year it was consolidated with the Monticello railroad, and with it was transferred to the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western road. After
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PIATT COUNTY.
the foreclosure sale it became a part of the Champaign, Havana and Western road, but was again consolidated, and now is a part of the Wabash system.
The Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield railroad was originally known as the Indiana and Illinois Central road, and was commenced about 1847. The company was kept alive, but nothing further was done at the road until about 1872 or 1873, when the work was pushed along to the completion of the road from Decatur to Montezuma. Within the last few years the road was finished to Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield. In 1882 the road was consolidated with and is a part of the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western company.
The following shows the amount of railroad business done at some of the stations in the county :
REPORTS FROM RAILROAD AGENTS AT SOME OF THE STATIONS IN THE COUNTY.
Mr. Barnard, of Bement, makes the following report for the year- ending August 8, 1881 :
Tickets sold
$13,700 00
Freight received
18,500 00
Freight forwarded
23,274 00
Total.
$55,474 00
The business on the Wabash railroad at Monticello for September, 1882, is as follows :
Pacific Express
221 56
Ticket sales
1,195 15.
Freight forwarded 3,028 96
Freight received 4,055 99
Total. . $8,501 66
James Mahan, agent of the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western at Mansfield sends a report for six months ending May 31, 1882. He considers it a light receipt for the office. Usually the freight forwarded amounts to about $30,000 per year :
Tickets sold $ 2,392 50
Freight received
1,925 62
Freight forwarded
13,547 85
Total.
$17,865 97
The report from Cerro Gordo is that the business done per month is as follows :
Freight received, about $2,000 00
Freight forwarded, about
3.000 00
Tickets sold, about 500 00
Total
$5,500 00
CHAPTER VII.
THE SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY .*
regard to its educational prosperity, Piatt county has made advancement equal to any county in the state, considering its age. During its first decade its school-houses were few and far between. They were built by donations of material and labor, and the teachers depended upon the subscriptions of the patrons for a subsistence.
The school-houses were built of logs and the pupils sat upon slab seats. The writing desks consisted of boards laid upon wooden pins driven into the logs, and the pupils when writing faced the wall. The windows in the earlier days consisted of greased paper, as a substitute for glass, and the room was warmed by a fire-place.
The last of these primitive school-houses passed away in 1871, when the old house on "Stringtown Lane " gave way to the present improved and commodious structure. To-day the county is dotted with its school-houses, most of which are comfortably and conveniently arranged, with patent improved furniture ; with folding seats and often with folding desks ; with slated blackboards on which are used beau- tiful crayons in place of the lumps of chalk ; with school-books finely illustrated, sometimes with maps, charts and pictures adorning the walls ; with sufficient means for rapidly heating the often high ceiled capacious apartments ; and with teachers who are generally. trained by experience and special preparation for the work of educating the young. This change has occurred within the space of forty years, and yet there is much to be done before we reach the ideal in education.
The estimated value of public school property, grounds, buildings, furniture, apparatus, etc., in Piatt county as given June 30, 1882, is $78,927.
Monticello, Bement and Cerro Gordo have well-graded schools, accompanied by high-school departments. The graduates of the high- schools of Monticello and Bement are admitted to the Illinois Industrial University at Champaign without examination. Mans-
* The greater part of facts for and arrangement of this article is due to the kindness and labor of G. A. Burgess, county superintendent of schools. .
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THE SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY.
field, Milmine and Hammond have graded schools, and Mackville employs an assistant, but has not two distinct departments.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.
During the winters of 1867-8 and 1868-9 teachers' institutes on the old-fashioned plan were held in Monticello, under the management of J. W. Coleman, county superintendent. During the winter of 1869-70 an enthusiastic meeting was held at Bement, managed by County Superintendent C. A. Tatman. At these meetings Dr. J. M. Gregory, regent of the Illinois Industrial University, and President Richard Edwards and E. C. Hewett, of the State Normal School at Normal, were the leading instructors. Prominent among those who
TIMES.ST.LOUIS
MONTICELLO NORTH SCHOOL.
attended one or more of these three institutes, some of whom conducted exercises, were H. A. Coffeen, T. J. Mitchell, HI. E. Huston, Mary I. Reed, T. C. Fuller, J." A. Hawks, C. D. Moore, the Poland brothers, Amos Norris, Aunt . Lettie and Aunt Rachel Huston, the Suver sisters, Anna Combes, Pamelia (Combes) Hughes, A. D. Beckhart, R. I. Tatman, A. T. Pipher, J. A. McComas, J. A. Williams, John Garver, Nellie (Piatt) Moffitt, Fannie MeFaddin, Olive (Bryden) Piatt, and Charles and Rudolph Welch.
During the seasons of the two institutes from 1867-9, C. A. Tat- man was assistant principal of the Monticello schools, and on both occa- sions exhibited class-work before the institute. At the first he brought
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