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 23
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Monticello has two cemetries, the old one whichi joins the west side of the city, and the new one which is situated over a mile north of Monticello. Not a city of its size in central Illinois can boast of nicer and neater residences than some in Monticello.
The Churches .- There was preaching in Piatt county a number of years before there was any organized church, and this preaching was done by ministers of various denominations. After a time there were soine resident ministers in the county, among whom we can mention Mr. Welch and Mr. Harshbarger, of the Christian church.
In regard to the Methodist Episcopal church of Monticello, we could not gain a great deal from the records. The first quarterly conference recorded is that of November 23, 1843, with W. D. Trotter, presiding elder, and Addison Godrid, pastor in charge.
The first Methodist Episcopal church building was begun when James C. Rucker was pastor in charge. A great revival meeting was held in 1857, when about 400 joined the church by letter and on probation. Camp Creek church was built about 1860, dedicated by Granville Moody, of Ohio, and a subscription was raised to liquidate the debt. The war reduced the membership on the circuit very much.
In September, 1868, Monticello was constituted as a station, with a membership of 138, in two classes-four local preachers, one exhorter, R. W. Travis, presiding elder, and Ira Emerson, pastor in charge. During 1868-70 the new Methodist church was begun. We have been informed that Mr. B. F. Harris, of Champaign, nominally donated the lot to the church. The building is of brick, and was dedicated to church purposes December 17, 1870, by the Rev. H. Buck. This church has been existing a number of years under a load of debt amounting to over $3,000. Owing to the undiminished labors of G. S. Alexander, who has recently left his field of labors in Monticello, this debt las been lifted.
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
The following are the names of the presiding elders and pastors in charge, as recorded in the Methodist Episcopal church record-book :
Presiding Elders -John S. Barger, 1847; C. D. James, 1851 ; G. W. Fairbank, 1854; Samuel Elliott, 1885 ; L. C. Pintner, 1857; Hiram Buck, 1859; R. W. Travis, 1861.
Pastors in Charge-L. C. Pitner, 1846 ; James C. Rucker, 1847 ; I. L. Green, 1848; W. J. Newman, 1849 ; Joseph Lane, 1849 ; A. Doncarloss, 1850; William C. Blundell, 1852; Christain Arnold, 1854; Miles A. Wright, 1856; John H. Scott, assistant pastor ; Edward Rutledge, 1857; B. F. Lodge, assistant pastor ; A. R. Garner, 1859 ; W. B. Anderson, assistant pastor ; Isaac Grove, 1861-62; D. P. Lyon, 1864 ; J. B. IIonts, 1865; James T. Orr, 1867 ; Ira Emer- son, 1868; J. S. Orr, 1868-70 ; W. H. H. Adams, 1870-72; P. C. Carroll, 1872; George M. Fortune, 1873; I. Villars, 1874 ; Mr. Everhart, 1875 ; J. Montgomery, 1876; JJ. A. Muse, 1877 ; D. Gav, 1878 ; G. S. Alexander, 1879-80-81.
The membership of the church is nearly 200.
Sketch of the Presbyterian Church of Monticello, as reported by Rer. Ormsby .- The Presbyterian church of Monticello was organized on Saturday, October 27, 1842, by Rev. Joseph Adams, then preach- ing to the church of Ashmore, Coles county. But previous to that time there had been occasional Presbyterian preaching, and Rev. William Hutchinson, a Cumberland Presbyterian of Champaign county, hind preached statedly as often as once a month for perhaps a year. So far as I have been able to ascertain, he was the first Presbyterian minister to preach in Monticello. Mr. Adams was appointed a committee to organize the church, by Palestine presbytery, Old School. It consisted, at the organization, of the following ten members, all of them miting by letter from other places, namely : James Huston, Sarah Huston, Mary Neyhart, Archibald Moffitt, Samuel Moffitt, James J. Patterson, Anna Patterson, Elizabeth Young. Hugh O'Neal and Mary O'Neal.
At an election held the same day, James Huston and Archibald Moffitt were chosen ruling elders. The church remained, however, withont regular services for about a year, when, in December, 1851, Rev. R. H. Lilly, of Champaign, was engaged to preach half his time for one year. He may have continued longer. The church was then destitute for several years, and became very much reduced by deaths and removals, losing both its elders by death. However, a committee of Palestine presbytery again visited it, and on October 31, 1857, received five additional members, and took measures for its reorgani-
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zation. About the beginning of 1858 Rev. John Huston took charge. He remained some six years, preaching part of his time in Monticello, and the rest in neighboring school-houses, especially the Morain school- honse, and another near what is now De Land, where there was at that time a small Presbyterian organization, since disbanded. Mr. Huston is well entitled to be considered as the real founder of the church, and endured toils and self-denials for it such as few other men would have done. Some time in the summer of 1865 he removed to sonthern Illinois, and is now supplying the churches of Goshen and Princeton. Missouri.
In the fall the services of Rev. T. P. Emerson were obtained part of his time for one or two years. He was succeeded by Rev. J. H. Dins- more, of Louisville presbytery, who was so much of an invalid that he was employed to preach only so much as "his state of health might enable him." Early in 1869 the services of Rev. S. A. Hummer were obtained. who continued in charge about three years. During the last year of his stay with the church, 1871, its house of worship was built. Previously the public services had been held in the conrt-house, and part of the time in the old Methodist Episcopal church. The house is of wood, on a brick foundation, having a pleasant audience room of 35×60 feet, and a tower and belfry in front. It was built under the supervision of J. M. Combs, architect, and cost about $4,000. It was paid for by subscriptions of money and work given in the community, and a grant of $700 from the Board of Church Erection. The ladies' aid society of the church purchased its furniture-stoves, chandeliers, chairs. carpets, etc .- and paid for the frescoing. It seats comfortably about 300, and has a bell weighing one thousand pounds.
After Mr. Hummer left, the church remained unsupplied for about a year, when Rev. William R. Glen became its pastor, and continued in that relation two years, the only regularly installed pastor the church has ever had. After his removal it had only occasional and transient sup- plies until July 1, 1876, when Rev. A. F. Ashley took charge of it. Under his ministries, in the following Janmary, ocenrred the most con- siderable revival it has ever enjoyed in all its history. As the fruits of that revival twenty-one stood up together at the February communion to profess their faith in Christ, ranging from the grey-haired man of seventy to the child of ten. Several others were received later. Mr. Ashley remained in charge some three years, after which he labored a short time in neighboring churches, and in the spring of 1880 removed to Ishpeming, Michigan, where he is at present.
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
June 13, 1880, Rev. M. P. Ormsby became stated supply, and is still occupying the field.
Owing to its frequent destitutions of preaching, the many changes that have taken place in the community, and other causes, the church has had but a slow growthı. Out of nearly 200 members, first and last connected with it, it has only eighty remaining at present. But the last ten years, since the building of its house, it has been making constant progress, and has promising prospects for the future.
Fraternal Lodge, No. 58, A. F. and A. M .- The charter of Fra- ternal Lodge, No. 48, is dated October 4, 1848, and is consequently among the older charters in the state. It is signed by William Lanely, the then Grand Master of Masons of the State of Illinois, and also by E. R. Roe, D.G.M., J. C. Ketcham, G.S. W., Wm. C. Hobbs, G.J.W., and Wm. Mitchel, G. Sec. The charter members were Peter K. Hull, Master ; Wm. Laforge, S.W .; R. Carlyle. J.W .; also J. J. Patterson, Wm. Marquiss, John P. Tenbrook and J. C. Johnson. The first meeting of the lodge was, however, held under dispensation on "the night of the 1st Monday in March, 1848." At this meeting all of what were afterward charter members were present, and in addition thereto we find the name of Samuel Bender on record. At this meeting the petition of Robert O. Parantea, of Logan county, was received and referred to a committee. At a regular communication held May 1, 1848, the lodge did its first work, the degree of E.A. being at that time conferred upon Allen Sadorus, George Matsler, G. W. Fisher and Henry Zorger. The regular communications of the lodge are held on the evening of Saturday of each month coming on or before the full of the moon. The meetings are held in the hall owned by the lodge, comprising the third floor of the brick block northwest of the public square in Monticello. At the present time the lodge consists of eighty-one members. The officers' names are as follows : Joseph E. Evans, W.M. ; Henry W. Keyes, S. W. ; Samuel Cole, J.W. ; W. J. Britton, Treas. ; J. A. Hill, Sec. ; G. A. Burgess, S.D. ; Joshua Tatman, J.D. ; Henry Sackriter, Jr., S.S. ; William Baldwin, J.S. ; Win. Worsley, Tyler ; J. H. Carper, Marshal.
Markwell Chapter, No. 48, R. A. M .- Markwell Chapter was organized January 25, 1859, under a dispensation granted N. D. Elwood, Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the State of Illinois, by Companion Levi Lusk, acting as high priest. At this meeting the chapter conferred the degree of Mark Master on Charles Watts. it being their first work. The returns to the grand
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chapter show the following named companions as officers and mem- bers for the year 1859, viz: Peter K. Hull, H. P. ; James J. Patter- son, King; A. G. Boyer, Scribe; Wmn. Noecker, C.H. ; B. Cassell, P.S. ; James A. Hill, R.A.C. ; Charles Watts, G.M. 3d V. ; Wm. T. Foster, G.M. 2d V. ; L. J. Bond, G.M. 1st V. ; Charles Watts, Sec. ; John Mosgrove, Treas. ; M. M. Harshbarger, Sent. Members : J. O. Sparks, F. E. Bryant, T. T. Pettit, Charles Marquiss and S. H. Bender. At the present time the chapter consists of forty-four mem- bers and the following named officers, viz : Harvey E. Huston, H.P. ; Caleb A. Tatman, King ; Richard T. Ayer, Scribe ; Henry W. Keyes, C.H. ; Gilbert A. Burgess, P.S. ; Wm. J. Britton, R.A.C .; Joshua Tatman, M. 3d V. ; Samuel Cole, M. 2d V. ; Joseph E. Evans, M. 1st V .; Henry Sackriter, Treas. ; Samuel B. Webster, Sec. ; Win. B. Worsley, Sent. The charter is dated September 30, 1859. The regular convocations have been held, ever since the organization of the chapter, on the evening of Thursday on or before the full of the moon in cach montlı.
Monticello Council, No. 27, R. and S. M .- This council was organ- ized under dispensation on August 31, 1866. The charter was dated October 4. 1860, and the following are the names of the first officers, who were also the charter members : A. T. Pipher, T.I.G.M. ; Charles Watts, D.G.G.M. ; J. C. Johnson, P.C.W. ; E. P. Fisher, M. of E. ; L. J. Bonn, Recorder ; Wmn. Noecker, C. of G. ; N. Henline, C. of C. ; J. A. Piatt, Sent. The council at present consists of nineteen members, and the following named officers, viz : E. A. Barringer, T.I.G.M. ; A. T. Pipher, D.I.G.M. ; J. R. Dove, P.C. of W. ; James M. Holmes, Recorder; JJ. C. Johnson, M. of E .; Win. Noecker, C. of G .; L. J. Bond, C. of C. ; E. P. Fisher, Steward ; Win. Worsley, Sent. The regular convocations of the council are held on the evening of the second Tuesday in each month, at the Masonic Hall in Monticello.
The foregoing matter relative to the several lodges was furnished us by H. E. Huston.
Fraternal Encampment .- The Fraternal Encampment, No. 145, I.O.O.F., was organized July 9, 1873. The charter members were Joseph T. Van Gundy, Wm. E. Smith, James Honselman, Louis Katz, John Kousho, Henry Sackriter and James C. Harrington. The following presiding officers were installed when instituted : Jos. T. Van Gundy, C.P .; Louis Katz, H.P .; Jas. C. Harrington, S. W .; Jas.
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
Honselman, J. W .; Wm. E. Smith, Scribe; John Konsho, Treas. The presiding officers installed January 2, 1882, are Jos. T. Van Gundy, C.P .; Wm. E. Smith, H. P .; J. A. Brown, S. W .; Wm. A. Baldwin, J. W .; Emmett II. Orisby, Scribe ; Francis A. Tate, Treas. The membership is thirty and the encampment meets on the first and third Mondays of each month in the Odd-Fellows' hall. over J. A. Brown's store.
Selah Lodge .- The Selah Lodge, No. 403, I.O.O.F., was organized August 26. 1869. The following are the names of the charter members : Alonzo T. Pipher, James C. Harrington, Wmn. D. Shultz. Michael Hazzard, Jacob McClain, Pierre Hahn. The following presiding officers were installed at time of organization : Alonzo T. Pipher, N.G .; James C. Harrington, V. G .; Win .- D. Shultz, Rec. Sec .; Michael' Hazzard, Treas. The presiding officers installed in July, 1882, are Geo. R. Baldwin, N.G .; Francis A. Tate, V.G .; E. H. Ormsby, Rec. Sec .; F. G. Stevens, Per. Sec .; Christian Wengenroth, Treas. The membership is fifty-two. The lodge meets on Tuesday evening of each week in their hall over J. A. Brown's hardware store, on the west side of the square, Monticello. Illinois.
Monticello Mutual Building, Loan and Homestead Association .- This association was organized in 1873 with a capital of $100,000 divided into 1,000 shares of $100 cach. The original stock was held by 169 different persons, who took from one to twenty shares each, on which they paid at the rate of fifty cents a month for each share held, respectively. The money arising from these payments, together with the interest accumulating on the same, was loaned and re-loaned to the members of the association. It was the design that everything paid to the association in the way of fees should be applied to advancing the value of the stock until it should arrive at par value, at which time the association would go into liquidation, and the inortgages exeented by the borrowing members would be offset and canceled by their stock. The association flourished until the hard times came on, when it was thought advisable by the board of direct- ors to wind up the affairs as soon as possible, which has accordingly been done, excepting as to a few matters that are in litigation in the supreme court, in one of which. being the Smythe case, the constitutionality of the law under which such associations are organ- ized has been attached. This case was once decided adversely to the
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association, but a re-hearing was granted. These associations have been successful in other states, particularly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and are claimed to be very beneficial to communities. There have been no losses by the stockholders in Monticello, and probably some money will be made. At present there are twelve stockholders.
CHAPTER XII.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
M R. THOMAS AATER 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. llis 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 montli, and camped out until a homestead was procured. After living in Vermilion county eleven years, the entire family moved to what is now Piatt 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 : " Ile was a tall, well-made man.
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Though uneducated, he had a fine mind, was an excellent farmer, and was noted far and near for his genial hospitality."
MR. EDWARD ATER 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 all sick with the 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 the then prevalent malarial diseases. When Mr. Ater's family moved into Willow Branch township the following persons were residing there : Emanuel Clover, Washington Zinn, John Sea, Thomas Henderson, John West, . James Reber, William Pratt, John Moore, Mr. Shuman, Mr. Widich and Mr. 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 as 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.
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. Harris 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 sunimer of 1844. He died of lung fever in 1858. They had four children : Martha P., who is the wife of L. W. Patter- son, 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 Fogle- song, and has four children, Eloise, Charlie, Daisy and Frank ; they live
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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.
REV. GEORGE S. ALEXANDER was born July 10, 1832, in Cumber- land, 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 lie is pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church of Syracuse, and editor of the Syra- cuse Journal, a weekly republican paper. Mrs. Alexander and Mr. Arthur Alexander gained quite a reputation as artists in the vicinity of Monticello, where they had a painting class during their stay here.
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 verdiet is that nowhere in the old or new world has he found agricul- tural land surpassing that of Piatt county.
MR. JOHN ARNDT is of German descent and is a native of Pennsyl- vania. 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
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HISTORY OF PLATT COUNTY.
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.
Ireland is MR. JAMES ALLMAN'S native country. When but fifteen years old he moved from the 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 loaded. 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 Jolm 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 Be- ment 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 240 acres of land of Mr. James Bryden. To this amount of land he next added 360 acres which he bought of Mr. James Johnson. Ile also 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. All- man married Miss Anna McSheffry, a native of Pennsylvania, but who at that time was a resident of Champaign conty. 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.
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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.
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