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 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
It seems that the first John Piatt referred to had four sons, John, Jacob, William and Abraham. John, as has just been related, settled in Pennsylvania, as Abraham also did, and the other brothers came west to Ohio and Kentucky.
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 November 13, 1791. His wife nee Anna Belle Andrew, died April 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 Perry- ville, 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, Jamies 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,
.
234
HISTORY OF PLATT COUNTY.
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 danghter, now Mrs. F. A. Marsh. Joseph McDonald, ex-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 grand- father, 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 farmer and tanner by profession. He was a captain of the 1st Lycoming Troop Cavalry for
235
THE PLATTS AND THEIR RELATIV'ES.
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 Mil- ton, Pennsylvania, April 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 March 24, 1824, is a graduate of the Jefferson College. Pennsyl- vania, and is now a wealthy lawyer of Tipton, Iowa. McCall Piatt was born August 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, March 27. 1827. His youth was spent as a tanner and civil engineer, and he was educated at Lewisburg Acad- emy. For ten years he was a member of the 1st Lycoming Troop Cav- alry, 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 Ama.
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 is 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 Pennsyl- vania, 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 JJames A. Piatt. She died June 27, 1828, and her hus- band March 21. 1851. They had eight children: the youngest, Anna Bella, died when a babe, and John died September 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.
1
236
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
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 anni- versary 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. He graduated at the Cincinnati Medical College, and for over fifty years was a practicing physician. His eldest son, Lieut. A. C. Andrew, was killed in the Union army September 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 namned Joseph, was born in Bush county, North Carolina. Dr. Pyatt was born October 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 years. 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 Abingdon, 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 one who would like to catch a glimpse of the early days step into her cabin, and she, in the midst of her pioneer surroundings, will delight to tell of the days that 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 inany a gem by the wayside.
Chas. O. Piatt, Decatur, Illinois, was born near Bellefontaine, Logan county, Ohio, August 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 De Witt 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
237
MONTICELLO TOWNSHIP.
his own way. He had gained a good common and high school education, and tanght 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 March 7, 1871, to Flora C., granddaughter of Win. 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.
CHAPTER XL.
MONTICELLO TOWNSHIP.
T THE center of Piatt county lies within Monticello township, which may justly be called the principal township of the county, since it contains the county seat, and lias more inhabitants than any other in the county. In size it is one of the four smallest townships in the county. The distance across the township from west to east is cight miles, while from the northern boundary to the southern it is six miles ; the entire township thus contains forty-eight square miles or 30,720 acres of land. On the north the township is bounded by Goose Creek and Sangamon townships ; a portion of Champaign county forms the eastern boundary ; while Bement township bounds it on the south and Willow Branch on the west.
A ridge strikes the township in the southern-western or southern part, and runs diagonally to the northeast, thus making some of the land of the township slightly rolling. The drainage-except in the extreme southeastern part, where the sluggish waters of the Lake Fork stand a portion of the year-is very good. The entire western, northern and northeastern parts drain into the Sangamon river, which crosses the northwestern corner of the township. A generous belt of timber fol- lows the course of this river, but the greater portion of the township is fine tillable prairie land. Some clay is found on the hills near the Sangamon river, but the greater portion of soil is a rich black loam, such as all farmers rejoice to see.
The early settlements of the township coincide with those already mentioned of the county, since the first settlements of the county were
238
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
made in what is now Monticello township. The Hayworths. Daggotts and Martins all located in the northwestern corner of this township, and others of the pioneers mnade settlements within its boundaries. Since the location of many of the first settlers of the township is alluded to elsewhere in the book, it is not necessary to mention the same in this connection.
Monticello township, in common with other portions of the county, was once a part of Macon county. After the formation of Piatt county it became a portion of one of the precincts of the new county, and it was not until 1860, when the township organization was introduced, that it became a township.
Two railroads, both of which are now in possession of the Wabash Railroad Company, pass through a portion of the township. The one originally known as the Champaign & Decatur railroad, and which was first constructed, strikes the northern line of the township about two miles from the western boundary line, runs nearly south about two miles. making an abrupt bend within the city limits of Monticello, and then extends west nearly three miles to the western boundary line of the township. The other railroad, which was built under the name of the Chicago & Paducah, passes almost directly north and sonth through the township, about two miles from the western boundary line. These roads intersect at Monticello, where one depot serves the pur- poses of both roads.
In regard to the wagon roads of this township, as also we might say of all the townships,, that in some places they are 'comparatively good, but portions of the roads are in very poor condition. Some of the grades are all right but the bridges seem invariably out of order. Again, the bridges are all right, when the roads are not graded or drained as well as they might be, even with the proper materials at hand for doing so. What is the cause of all of this ? Can it be that the people of Piatt county do not take an interest in their roads? No, the trouble does not lie there, for certainly there is scarce a business person in the county who is not financially interested in the roads of the county. Of course all are interested in having good roads, but do they apply their interest in the best way for removing the obstacles in the way of the best possible roads for the least money and labor? Which would be the best for any set of roads-to have several "road bosses," with a number of men, ofttimes those who seem to take no interest save to work out their taxes, and many times green hands at the work, and those who perhaps do not even live in the county,
Mr. Jones A. Piatt.
LIBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
241
MONTICELLO TOWNSHIP.
but are taken by some farmer from the field to work out his tax; or to employ one man who was to obtain a set of hands and keep the road in order for the season ? If one man had a road in charge. he, as well as everybody else, would know whose business it was to fill up a chuck-hole, to drain the water from a low place in the road before a great mud-hole resulted, or to mend a broken plank in a bridge. If he did his duty-and it would be very easy to get rid of him if he did not-we . would not hear so many expressions as the following : "Why don't some one fix this grade ?" "Why don't they scrape these roads ?" etc. It is our opinion, as well as of them with whom we have talked, that such arrangement would vastly improve the condition of the roads, while, instead of being more expensive, it would really be money in the pockets of the people. What fariner can afford to wait until his summer work is done, and then work out his tax on the road, just in time for the fall rains to prevent the grades settling for the winter season? Would it not have been better for him to take the money out of his pocket and pay his tax toward securing a man to do the work in proper season than to work out his tax at a wrong season, and then later in the year jostle over the side-boards of his wagon enough grain, wear out enough of his wagon, and lose enough time over bad roads, to more than pay for his tax? Let us have fewer men on the road, and see that they are under a good leader, and have the roads worked when they need it, not when most convenient to the people, and we feel convinced that the roads of the county will soon be in a vastly better condition than they now are.
Improvements .- Outside of the city of Monticello, there are not very many improvements other than those formed by the putting of the farms into good shape. A mill on the Sangamon river has been of good service to the entire county. The original mill was owned by a stock company. Mr. Zorger probably bought the mill of the stock- owners, and Mr. Collins bought of him, and built a part of the present mill building. Mr. Collins sold ont to Emanuel Rhoades, who sold to Mr. Martin McIntosh, the present owner. At present some ten or fifteen thousand bushels of grain are ground a year, and preparations are being made for more extensive work. For many years a saw mill has been in connection with the grist mill. In 1881 a new forty-five horse power engine from the Decatur Novelty works was put in the mill.
Monticello .- In 1837 the citizens of what is now Piatt county con-
242
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
cluded that it was too far to go to Decatur for trading purposes, and they resolved to have a town of their own. Abraham Marquiss, William Barnes, Major McReynolds and James A. Piatt formed the committee which, after searching up and down both sides of the Sangamon river, decided that the present site of Monticello was the most appropriate place for the location of a village. This land was once owned by James A. Piatt, who sold part of his land. A joint stock company was formed by these. men and a town was laid ont on the site of a portion of the present city of Monticello. On July 1, 1837. the town of Monticello was recorded. It was platted by James A. Piatt, sur- veyed by Mr. MeClelland, and named by Major McReynolds after the home of Jefferson. Right here let us remark, that one would have to search long and well ere a prettier name for the town could be found.
On July 4, 1837, a grand barbecue was held. Beeves, hogs and sheep were roasted, and altogether there was a regular feast and jubilee. The prime object of the gathering was the sale of lots in the new town, and the result was the sale of some $2,700 worth of lots.
The original plat of Monticello did not include the Hayworth house, which is still standing north of the Wabash depot. So this first house in the county was not the first house in the original Monticello. However, as the limits of Monticello now extend far beyond this cabin, it is justly called the oldest house in the city. In about 1839 there were but four houses in the new town. The first house put up was a small storehouse, which stood on the present site of Dr. Noecker's drug store. This house was built about 1837 by Mr. Cass, who dealt in merchandise on a very small scale. In 1839 Mr. Nicholas Devore began the erection of the first dwelling house in Monticello as origi- nally laid out. This building originally had four rooms, and was not completed for several years. Judge Rickets assisted in the building of the house and it existed for a number of years, bearing the name of "old Fort." Jno. Tenbrooke built, on the site of Jno. Lowry's store, a log house in which he kept hotel, and which was the second dwell- ing house in the village. The third dwelling house was erected by James Outten just opposite the present jail. About this time, too, a Mr. Hull had a little blacksmith shop near where Mrs. Ann Honsel- inan lives.
Such was the beginning of Monticello. It was not long, however, until more residences were erected, business buildings were put up and a number of other improvements were made. Daniel Stickel, in 1841, opened the first regular store in the town in a building just east of W.
243
MONTICELLO TOWNSHIP'.
H. Reese's drug store ; J. C. Johnson opened the first drug store and was the first regular postmaster. Dr. King was the first physician who settled in Monticello. The first lawyer of the town (we could not learn his name), after living here three or four months, started for Cali- foruia, but died on the way. The first preaching in the town was at Mr. Outten's house, where a circuit-rider of the Methodist Episcopal church used to stop once a month. In 1843 and 1844 the Rev. Peter Cartwright held meetings in the old court-house. Rev. Cartwright also conducted several camp-meetings in this county. Mr. Mosher con- ducted the first camp-meeting of the county in a grove a little south- west of the prescut Wabash depot. The first church in the town was built in 1848 by Judge Rickets and others. It belonged to the Methodists and stood on the present site of Mr. Kiser's residence. In 1843 Judge Rickets built the first court-house. The second was built about 1856 by Judge Rickets, George Dempsy aud Jno. Lowry.
In 1856 quite a good deal of business was done in Monticello. In the "Monticello Times" of that date we find that T. Milligan and H. C. McComas advertised as attorneys-at-law; N. G. Coffin, Noecker & Hull and T. Wheeler as physicians ; R. B. Winchester as saddle and harness maker; Marblestou & Bro. as clothiers ; J. E. Duncan as tailor ; Young & Co. as furniture dealers ; J. Il. Hollingsworth, O. Bailey, Piatt & Kerr, and Bruffett & Foster as dry-goods merchants ; J. C. Johnson & Bro. as druggists ; Dunseth & Shroeder as brick- layers ; D. Kelleher as boot and shoe merchant ; B. T. Meeks as hard- ware merchant ; David Cornpropst as grocer, and John Painter as butcher. Were we to go into details and mention cach business firm in Monticello of to-day a great improvement would be seen in the amount of business done now and that done in 1856.
Under Gen. Grant's second term the postoffice of Monticello was changed from a fourth to a third class office. Mr. Samuel Webster is the present able postmaster. His bond is $16,000. It seems to be the opinion of the people that Mouticello could not have a better post- master than Mr. Webster has proved to be.
Monticello a City .- On the 10th of April. 1872, the president and trustees of Monticello met for the purpose of taking steps to change the village government to that of a city.
At that time L. J. Bond was president; Chas. Watts, E. G. Knight, . J. M. Holmes and Samuel Bender were trustees, and W. D. Shultz, clerk. The population of the town was reported to be 1,060 souls, and the government was changed so as to comply with the law in regard
1
244
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
to city government. A mayor and six aldermen were elected, but the city is not yet laid off in wards.
At the election of December 17, 1872, Daniel Stickel was made the first mayor, and Wm. T. Foster, B. B. Jones, E. G. Knight, J. A. Hill, John Keenan and James M. Holmes, alderman. Wm. D. Shultz was made clerk, A. T. Pipher, attorney, and J. T. Vangundy, treas- urer. Daniel Stickel was mayor two terms. The term of C. P. Davis was finished out by S. H. Hubbell. Samuel Reed and Wm. H. Plunk each held the office one term, and Mr. Bert Emerson is the present mayor. Wmn. Shultz has been clerk most of the time since city gov- erninent was enforced. There has been no saloon license since the organization under city government. At present the population of the city is about 1,800 persons.
Monticello was held back, and grew slowly, a number of years on account of having no railroads ; but since the building of the first rail- road a steady and quite rapid improvement has been going on.
Monticello of to-day contains three churches : the Methodist, Pres- byterian and German Methodist ; two school buildings and two hotels. The High school building is of brick and is in the south part of the city, while the frame building is in the northern part. The brick hotel is under good management and is near the public square. Joseph Mallory has recently become proprietor of the other hotel, and with his ability as landlord and with his wife's culinary skill, we may anticipate a first-class hotel. The first grain elevator in Monticello was erected in 1872, by Piatt, Hubbel & Co. Its capacity is about 15,000 bushels. In 1878 a grist mill was connected with the elevator, and both are now owned by E. A. Townly & Co. In 1876 Knight & Tinder erected an elevator on what was then the Chicago & Pacific railroad. Its capacity is 20,000 bushels. There are two lumber yards and two livery stables in the place. J. W. Race & Co. have three rooms on the east side of the public square, which are devoted to merchandising purposes. There are a number of other grocery, clothing and merchandising stores in the city, mention of which will be found elsewhere. The business center of the city is found in the vicinity of the public square.
Rhodes block, on the northeast corner of the square, was built in 1874. It contains an opera hall 40×90 feet, which has a seating capacity for over 500 persons. The building is of brick and has three stories and a basement.
Dr. Noecker's block, in connection with the brick hotel, a little northwest of the square, is another addition to the appearance of the
245
MONTICELLO TOWNSILIP.
place. The brick block formed by the buildings occupied by Mr. Julius Brown, Mr. John Davison, Messrs. Bolm & Vangundy, and Mr. Dickerson, adds greatly to the appearance of the southwestern corner of the square. Another brick building is on the south side of the square, while the eastern side is also partly built up with brick build- ings. While the people are very well satisfied with the appearance of the public square, yet all are waiting anxiously for the removal of some of the old one-story frame business houses and the erection of brick build- ings in their stead. Monticello is improving rapidly now, and we hope to see this change soon.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.