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 37
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MR. CHRISTOPHER ROSE, farmer, Ivesdale, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to America in 1865, locating in Piatt county in 1880. He owns 80 acres of land, which is all under cultivation, and on which there is a good orchard.
MR. S. REINHART, tailor, Bement, is a native of Germany, who came to America in 1854. From Philadelphia he came to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1875, and located in Bement, where he owns a residence and a business building. He first married Fannie Ziller, who died, leaving three children, Chris., Jacob and Clyde. He was married in 1877, to May Daniels, who has three children, Roxy, Leo and Cresse.
MR. PATRICK RUAN came from Ireland to America in 1853, and to. Piatt county in 1875. He owns 80 acres of land, which he improved himself. He was married in 1865, to Bridget Tucker, and has one daughter, Anna.
MR. J. O. SPARKS, Bement, was born in Ohio, in 1820. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania. They moved into the " Pan- handle " of West Virginia after their marriage, and from there moved to Adams county, Ohio, where both died, his father in 1838, and his inothier in 1858. Mr. Sparks was one of a family of twelve, only three of whom are living now. He became acquainted with Anna Barbara Bradford in Adams county, and on January 8, 1851, they were united in marriage. They moved from Adams county to High- land county, of the same state, and from there to Ilinois in 1856, when they located in Decatur. Mr. Sparks went into the dry goods
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business there, but in 1858 moved to Bement, where he began the merchandise business. He began buying grain in 1859, dropped the merchandise in 1860, and has continued in the grain trade ever since. For a number of years now he has been buying grain at Milmine, though still residing at Bement. Mr. Sparks joined the Masonic order in 1844 in Ohio, and has been Knight Templar ever since 1851. He attended the encampments at Baltimore, New Orleans, Cleveland and Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks have had two children. Inez B., who was born in Winchester, Ohio, was married November 20, 1873, to J. Ferd Knapp, a hardware merchant of Bement, and has had three children, Duane, Charlie, and Fannie, who died recently. Mary Kate Sparks, who is a native of Hillsboro, Ohio, was married January 12, 1875, to C. W. Piatt, of Monticello. .
JUDGE G. L. SPEAR, Bement, was born in New York in 1823. He moved to Shelby county, Illinois, and taught school there three years before moving to Piatt county, February 22, 1860. He has lived in this county ever since, most of the time in Bement, where in 1860 he · was appointed postmaster, and in 1863 elected police magistrate of the village. He was justice of the peace eighteen years, and has also been county judge. He now owns 80 acres of land, which he has im- proved himself. At present he is teaching, and is probably the oldest teacher in the county. In 1844, October 2, G. L. Spear and Laura C.
Segar were married. Mrs. Spear died, leaving two children, Emory, who married Marion Reynolds, and Laura, who died at four years of age. Mr. Spear was again married October 10, 1853, to Clarissa Abbey, at Clifton Springs, New York. They have two children, Abbey, the wife of J. A. Hardenbrook, of Silver City, New Mexico, and Elmer E.
MR. ISAAC W. Scorr, Bement, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and moved from there to Piatt county in 1874, having previously passed through in 1836. In 1865 he began farming operations here, and between 1865 and 1868 bought over 4,800 acres of land in Piatt ,county. He cultivated and improved some of this land and bought some of it improved. At present time his children own over 1,300 acres here. His brother and three sisters at Lexington, Kentucky, own 1,920 acres in this county, which is a part of the amount he orig- inally purchased. This land is all improved and in good farming con- dition. Eight dwelling-houses and barns are on the land owned by the Scotts. The houses are better than tenants usually have. 'An elevator belonging to Mr. Scott burned in 1868, and was at that time the largest between Springfield and Danville. About $4,000 worth of grain was
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destroyed. A nice residence in Bement, belonging to Mrs. Isaac Scott, burned in 1881. Mr. Scott passed through in 1836, stopping at Mr. Sadorus', then taking dinner at Mr. Piatt's, and went on to Spring- field, where he entered 2,000 acres of land for his father, which proved to be a very profitable investment. Mr. Scott's uncle was lieutenant under Gen. Wayne. Mr. Isaac Scott was married in 1838, to Susan B. Mitchell, a native of Philadelphia, and they have had seven children, four of whom are living. M. Thompson married Kate Williams, and has five children living, Isaac W., Margaret, Matthew T., John W. and Henry S .; Mary M. makes her home here ; Joseph M., after living here seven years and improving a farm, moved to Kentucky in 1875. He married Mary Campbell and has three children. Miss Sue B. lives at home, and she and her sister Mary are very active members in the Presbyterian church here. They graduated at Lexington and attended Sayre Female Institution. Mr. Mat. Scott, Isaac's brother, formerly owned considerable land in Piatt county, some of which he improved, and entered in this and adjoining counties some 20,000 acres. He is now in business in the coal mines in Bloomington. Mr. Joseph Scott, another brother of Isaac's, owned some 1,280 acres of land in this county; lived here seven years, dying in 1865.
MR. F. H. SMITH, nurseryman, Bement, is a native of Winchester, Cheshire county, New Hampshire; moved from there to Winchester, Scott county, Illinois, in 1856, and from there to Bement in 1859. He began farming near town, but his principal business has been his present oc- cupation, though from 1861 to 1864 was keeping hotel. He owns his residence and two lots. Mr. Smith was married in November 1856, in Williamstown, Vermont, to Sarah A. Bruce. They had one daugh- ter, Etta May. Mr. Smith has held the office of assessor of Bement township, and is a member of the Knights of Honor. His father was in the war of 1812.
MR. MARO SPRAGUE, furniture dealer, Bement, is a native of Co- shocton county, Ohio, and moved from there to Illinois in .1871, locat- ing in Bement. For a number of years he was in the grocery business with his brother, and has only been in the furniture business a year. He owns a house and three acres and business house and lot. Mr. Sprague was married in Ohio in 1860, to Elizabeth McKee, who died, leaving three daughters, Nellie, Lucy (a graduate of the Bement high school and a teacher in the county) and Lizzie. He was again married in 1875, to S. Maggie Beall, of Ohio. They both belong to the society of "Chosen Friends." Mr. Sprague's father was born in 1796, in New
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Hampshire, and made his home in Piatt county for several years. He died January 6, 1877.
MR. GEORGE STADLER, grocer, Bement, of the firm Stadler Brothers, is of German descent and a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. He moved to Indiana about 1856, and to Vermilion county, Illinois, 1867, coming to Bement in 1874. He went into the grocery business in 1877, and carries the heaviest stock of groceries in the county, doing a strictly caslı business, and has been successful right along. His pres- ent grocery building consisting of two rooms, basement and public hall, was completed in 1880. Mr. George Stadler is at present super- visor of Bement township, and was a member of the town board for four years, and also township clerk for several years. He is a member
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TIMES.ST.L ...
STADLER BROTHERS' HARDWARE STORE.
of the Masonic lodge, No. 365, and chapter 65, and Beaumanoir, No. 9, Decatur commandery. Mr. Stadler was married in August 1877. to Ada L. Newton, and has one son, Warren. Mr. Stadler's father was a regular soldier in Germany for nine years, and was in the late war here. He came to America in 1848 with Siegel and Schurtz, and organized and was captain of the 12th Ind. bat. He resigned when lieut .- col. on account of sickness.
MR. AMos STOUT, farmer, Bement, was born in Pickaway county. Ohio, and moved from there to Piatt county about 1855. He first set- tled at Monticello, remained there a time, then went on to a farm.
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
In 1866 he was married to Catherine Allman, and has had four children, Edmund S., John W., James C. and Mary Catharine. Mr. Stout went to the army from Piatt county in 1862, in Co. E of the 107th reg. He stayed three years and was in the battles of Franklin, Naslıville, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach-tree Creek, Resaca and the Georgia campaign. He was wounded by a bullet in the head at Kenesaw Mountain, and, has not received a pension. He owns a farm of 120 acres, upon which has put most of improvements ; built barn, planted sixty fruit trees, one mile and a half of hedge, and has it well tiled and all under cultivation.
DR. EDWARD SWANEY, is a retired physician who came to Bement in May 1867. He owns quite a good deal of property in the place, and was married May 10, 1860, to Miss Emily Camp. He is a native of Maryland, and obtained his medical education in Hanover, Ohio. He has not practiced medicine since coming to Bement. He owns a good deal of real estate in the town, and is one of its most worthy citizens.
MR. G. W. SHOW, baker, Bement, is a native of Pennsylvania, and moved from there to La Salle county, Illinois, about. 1862 ; thence to Macon county, and then to Piatt county in 1877, when he immediately opened a bakery and confectionery store at Bement, which is the only bakery in town. He is doing a thriving business and gives good satisfaction. He owns a portion of his business house. Mr. Show was married in 1872, to Mattie Mavity, a native of Illinois. They have one daughter, Gertie.
MR. MARTIN SUNDERLAND, farmer, Bement, was born in Allen county, Ohio, from which state he moved to Illinois, and in 1866 to Piatt county. He owns 100 acres of land, upon which he has put all the improvements. He was married about 1853, to Millie J. Greer, and has had six children : Ebon, who married Susie Plikard, and has one child ; William, George, Eliza Ann, Martha D. and Mary E.
MR. CHARLES F. TENNEY, hardware merchant, Bement, is a native of New Hampshire, his parents' native state. He is the youngest of a family of eiglit children. His brother Ralph, now in Chicago, was formerly a resident of Piatt county. Mr. Tenney moved from New Hampshire to Henry county, Illinois, when he was twenty-one years old. He was a school teacher previous to coming west. He moved to Decatur in 1857 or 1858, and then 1859 he settled in Bement. Until 1866 he was in the dry goods business. In 1867 or 1868 he went into partnership with Mr. William Camp in the hardware business.
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He was married in 1864, to Clara Reese, and has had the following named children : Mabel, Frances, Olive E., Charles, Frederick and Carrie B. Mr. Tenney has belonged to the Masonic order since 1862, and is one of the Knights Templar of the Decatur commandery. He has held several town offices, and is now a member of the state legisla- ture. Mr. Tenney owns one of the finest residences in Bement. The arrangement of the house and the plan of the surroundings show a cul- tivated taste in the owners.
MR. ROYAL THOMAS, hotelkeeper, Bement, is a native of Massachu- setts. From there he moved to Pennsylvania, where he lived five years, and then came to Bement in 1869, having previously been there in 1867. It was owing to Mr. Wing's influence he located here. His grandfathers on both sides were in the revolutionary war. He. came of a long-lived family. His great-uncle lived to be one hundred and twelve years old, and his great-grandmother walked half a mile to church after one hundred years old and died at one hundred and six. . Of his great-grandmother's family of twelve children, the eldest lived to be one hundred and twelve and the youngest one hundred and six. His grandfather died at ninety-six and his father at eighty-six. Mr. Royal Thomas has seen many changes in the country since he first caine. The land is now well drained and the trees increased in num- ber. The first summer he was here he saw about five thousand cattle herding where now are fruitful farms. Mr. Thomas, in 1871, began keeping the hotel, which is the largest in the place, and has had it since. Mr. Wharton sold the building to Mr. Sparks, who sold to Mr. Thomas. Besides the hotel and three lots he owns fifteen other lots in Bement. He was police magistrate for three years, justice of the peace for two years and member of the school board for four years. Mr. Thomas was married in 1848, to Adeline M. Mayhew, and has three children living : Frank J., who is the wife of Mr. Frank Jones and has two children, Royal and Charles ; Mary and Lucius W. are the names of the other children.
MR. W. C. TRABUE, farmer and in real estate business, Bement, is a native of Kentucky, who moved from there to Indiana, and to Bement in 1867. He improved a farm of 68 acres adjoining town on north side and owns three buildings, two of which are residences, and three lots in Bement. He was married in Indiana, to Ellen Ceders, a native of Kentucky, and they have had four children : Albert, a grad- uate of Cincinnati Medical College, is practicing in Bement ; William Bennett, at home ; Viola, married in 1881 to Mr. William Tenney,
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has one daughter ; and Dora. Mr. Trabue is a member of the masonic lodge of Beinent.
MR. G. W. THOMPSON, formerly a minister, Bement, is a native of Pennsylvania, and moved to Bureau county, Illinois, in 1866. IIe then went to DeWitt county and came from there to Bement in 1878. He received his ministerial education in Pennsylvania and was a min- ister in the Christian church for eighteen years. At present he has no charge, but frequently fills pulpits. He owns his residence and three lots. Mr. Thompson was married in 1855, to Alice A. Ramsey, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have had nine children, five of whom are living, Mollie R., Anna M., J. Formey, George M. and Carl R. Mr. Thompson went to the war from Pennsylvania in Co. G, 143d Penn. Vols., remaining two years. The principal battle was that of the Wilderness, beginning on the Rapidan and ending with Spottsylvania Court House. He was wounded at the latter place.
DR. N. N. VANCE, Bement, is a native of Kentucky, moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, about 1846, and then to Bement in October, 1868, and began practicing medicine at once. When he first came here he practiced in Champaign, Douglas, Moultrie and Piatt counties ; now is in a smaller territory but has larger practice. One year he was located in Cerro Gordo. Mr. Vance gained his medical education at medical college of Ohio, in Cincinnati, graduating from there in 1868. He was for a time in partnership with Dr. Leal, who died in Califor- nia. Mr. Vance is a member of the lodge and chapter and master of the blue lodge of Bement. He is surgeon of the Wabash Railroad Company. He went to the army in Co. A, of the "Bloody " 132d reg. Ind., and has, in common with others, a certificate of thanks signed by Abraham Lincoln. Was out three monthis, enlisting June, 1864. Mr. Vance was married December 24, 1872, to Fannie Routh, and has four children, Noble, Willie, Harvey and James St. Clair.
MR. D. VAUGHAN, lumber merchant, Bement, is of English and Ger- man descent and a native of New Jersey, from which state he moved to Illinois in 1863. After locating in Bement for three months he went to Decatur, where he remained for about three years. He then returned to Bement about 1867, where he was in a bank for three years. In 1870 he and Mr. J. C. Evans went into partnership in the lumber business. Mr. Vanghn owns his residence and four lots in Bement. He has held several offices since living at this place. He was married in 1867, to Emma J. Reynolds, a native of New York. They have one daughter, Lily F.
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MR. L. B. WING, though never a resident proper of Piatt county, has been identified with the history and interest of Bement township since its settlement. He was born in 1822, at Wilmington, Vermont, was educated at Williston Seminary, Massachusetts. For five years he was clerk of a steamboat on Lake Erie, and finally settled in Newark, Ohio, where he still lives. Late in the year of 1853 Mr. Joseph Bod- inan and Mr. Wing came to Monticello, making their home with Mr. Barney Winchester ; surveyed and located their lands they now own in Bement township. In 1854 IIunt and Carter, engineers and financial agents of the Wabash railroad, bought thirty-three acres in Sec. 19, T. 17, R. 6, of Mr. Wing for $1, and upon this tract was located the railroad grounds and the principal business houses of this town. In 1858 Mr. William Rea and Mr. Wing gave to the village of Bement the square upon which the public school buildings were erected. Mr. Wing lias for many years maintained on his farm near Bement a valu- able herd of Short-horn cattle, and has introduced improved breeds of other domestic animals. In general, Mr. Wing has manifested a will- ingness to assist in whatever tends to the improvement of the town and neighborhood.
MR. C. T. Webster, grocer, Bement, is a native of New York. He located in Bement in 1866, and opened a grocery store, which business he has remained in since. In 1880 his brother-in-law, Mr. Klapp, went into business with him. Mr. Webster owns two residences and two and one-half lots in Bement. He was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia S. Klapp, and has three children, Ida E., Eugene K. and Charles M. In 1862 he went to the army from Michigan in Co. E of the 20th Mich. Inf., and remained until 1865. In all, he was in twenty- three engagements, the principal of which are South Mountain, Antietam and the Wilderness. Near Petersburg he was buried alive by the explosion of a sixty-four pound mortar shell, during an engage- ment. He was under the ground nearly half an hour before the boys could release him. He escaped witli but an injury to his back. while those who stood at his side at the time of the explosion were severely injured. He was taken prisoner while near the same fort, but succeeded in escaping ere long. Mr. Webster's father and mother moved from New York to Missouri, where his mother died and his father married again. His father was killed by being thrown from a horse. His inother is now the wife of Mr. Simon Shonkwiler. Mr. Webster first came to Illinois about 1848, but after remaining a few years, went to New York, where his uncle gave him his education.
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
MR. EDWARD WEINSTEIN, Bement, is a native of New York, but was raised in Kentucky, and came to Illinois about 1857. The second year of the war he went south, engaged in cotton raising, and, return- ing to Illinois about 1868, located in Bement. For two years he was in a clothing store in Bement, then, in 1870, began traveling for a clothing house in Cincinnati. He owns his residence and two lots. Mr. Weinstein belongs to several societies, the Odd-Fellows, Masonic Lodge and Knights of Honor. He was instrumental in organizing the Odd-Fellows' encampment, which was instituted about 1869. Mr. Weinstein was married in 1864, to Mary E. Fulghum, of Richmond, Wayne county, Indiana, and has three children, Lena M., Romeo A. and Walter P. Mrs. Fulghum lives with her daughter.
MR. PATRICK WELCH, farmer, Bement, came from Ireland to Amer- ca in 1839, and in 1873 located in Piatt county. He was married in 1847, to Eliza McElroy, and has five sons, Peter, who married Miss Morgan ; John, who married Miss Slaven ; Nicholas, Frank and Bar- nard.
MRS. CAROLINE YOST, Bement, is a native of Belmont county, Ohio. She moved from Monroe county, where she married Mr. Aaron Yost, to Bement, April 29, 1856. Mrs. Yost's father, Jacob L. Colvig, was born and educated in Paris, France. We saw an ear-ring he wore while a student in Paris. After gaining his education he learned a trade and after coming to America worked as a cabinet maker. He made furniture for the house of George Washington's brother. Mrs. Yost's father and mother moved to Ohio, where they lived until their death, which occurred within seven days of each other. Mrs. Yost's sister, Josephine Grabonski, after living in this county for a time, died, and is buried in the Bement cemetery. Another sister, Mrs. Peter Shaffer, moved to Reno county, Kansas, in 1872. Mr. Aaron Yost died in 1871, leaving four children. Robert, their eldest son, when ten years old, was killed by a wagon running over him. Ezra Yost is a carpen- ter in Bement, and owns the house and two lots where Mrs. Yost now lives. Alice is the wife of F. M. Bell, has one son, Herbert, and lives on the farm near Bement, where Mr. and Mrs. Yost lived a number of years. Mary and John Yost are living with their mother. Mrs. Yost's nephew, Clark Colvig, made his home with her, and was one of the first young men to come to Bement. He went to the army in the 21st Ill. Inf., and was captured at Chickamauga, and was taken to Richmond and to Danville. From the latter place he, with others, escaped by tunneling under the ground 100 feet. He traveled until his feet were
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sore and bleeding. Through a negro's influence he found shelter in a cave, where he remained until he was able to continue his journey and rejoin his regiment. Mr. Colvig is now mining in Globe City, Ari- zona.
CHAPTER XV.
UNITY TOWNSHIP.
T' HIS township is one of the earliest settled townships of the county. In size it is equal to Bement and Monticello townships. It lies directly south of the former, and the surface of the land is very similar to the same. Douglas county borders on the east, Moultrie county on the south, while Cerro Gordo township forms the western boundary line.
The surface of the land is level, and for a number of years a great portion of it was covered with swamps, but since the settlements began to be scattered throughout the township sufficient ditching has been done to make the greater portion of the township tillable.
The main slope of the ground, imperceptible though it may be, is toward the east and southeast, and the greater portion of the land is drained into the lake fork of the Okaw. This stream strikes this town- ship about three miles west of the northeast corner of the township, flows southeast and leaves the township almost exactly at its southeast corner. This stream has a shallow bed, flows very slowly, and well deserves its name of Lake Fork. Quite a good belt of timber follows the course of this stream, which breaks the monotony of the prairie land.
Relics of a former race are found in this township. On the banks of Lake Fork and on Mr. Livengood's place there are some mounds at least three feet in height and two rods in circumference. Trees eight inches in diameter grow on these mounds, human bones have been found in them, and stone axes and arrow-points have been found in their vicinity.
Two railroads cross Unity township. What was originally known as the Chicago & Paducah road strikes the northern boundary line about two miles from the northwestern corner of the township, runs south nearly five miles, and then bends a little to the southwest,
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leaving the township about one mile east of the southwest corner of the township. This road has two stations, Voorhies and Hammond, which is at the intersection of this road with the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield railroad. The Indianapolis, Dacatur & Springfield road, which has lately become a part of the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Wabash system of roads, crosses the southern part of the township from east to west, and just half a mile from the southern township line. There are three stations on this road, Hammond, Pierson and Atwood, the latter lying only partly within the limits of Piatt county.
Early settlements .- The Monroes, Shonkwilers, Harshbargers, Moores, and Mr. James Utterback, were the first settlers in Unity township. These people settled on the Lake Fork during the years 1836 and 1837, and part of them still live there. Other old settlers were the Quicks, Crains and Gregorys. Most of these people, or their descendants, have successfully built up homes in this township, and in every way are well-to-do people. From our transient contact with the people in this section of the township we think that they probably retain more of the good old ways of pioneer life than any other people in the county. We found here several of the old substan- tial two-story hewn log-houses, with their great fireplaces. We also found the second brick house of the county. We observed a great deal of the good old-time neighborly feeling, and we found characteristic pioneer hospitality. There was not a great deal of ceremony about this hospitality, but with it all you could not fail to see that you were welcome in every sense of the word. We also found here one of the oldest church organizations of the county.
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