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 44
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La Place .- This town was laid off in 1873, and was named by G. W. Stoner. Before this name was decided upon the place was called indiscriminately Gatewood and Stoner. Eighty acres of land are laid off into town lots in a very attractive section of the township. The ground is rolling and a small stream, Bonnie Brook, runs through the town and into the west branch of the Okaw. In fact the location for the town is as pretty as any spot in the county. La Place is considered a very healthy place. In the year of 1881, however, there probably occurred more deaths than in any previous year. The first house on the section upon which the town is located was built about 1860 by Tho. B. Warfield, and is now owned by the Gatewood heirs. The hotel kept by William Eicholtz was the first house built within the limits of the town. The barn was first erected and the family lived in it until the hotel building was erected about 1874. Jacob Reedy was the first postmaster of the town, and A. H. Locke is the present post- master. Dr. Pierson was the first physician of the town, and he and Miss Reedy were the first couple married. The town contains about 250 inhabitants, and the business firms number about a dozen. There are a number of good farms in the vicinity. Bonnie Brook farm owned by G. W. Stoner, is especially noted for its stock. The trotting horses are of the Hambletonian, Clay, trotting Normans, and Mambrino stock. The introduction of these horses has done very much to advance the grade of horses in the county. Mr. Stoner also keeps a good grade of hogs.
Churches .- According to Mr. A. S. Hawthorne, the Methodist Episcopal church was organized in the fall of 1874, at the school-house near La Place. Five persons - Henry L. Kuns and wife, William Carter, and A. S. Hawthorn and wife-constituted the membership. La Place circuit was formed at the annual conference of 1876, and W. A. Reynolds was sent as minister. During a revival hield by him the membership became eighty-five instead of five. The Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1877, and dedicated in June by Rev. Barnes. It is Mr. George C. Wagner's opinion that the present Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1873, by Mr. Austin, of
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CERRO GORDO TOWNSHIP.
Cerro Gordo, who was the first stated supply./ P. A. Swart, of Cerro Gordo, is the present minister.
Milmine or Farnsworth .- The town of Farnsworth was laid out by Enos Farnsworth, and surveyed by Mr. C. D. Moore. It received its name in honor of the foriner person, who owned the town plat, a good deal of land in the vicinity, and who put up the first residence in the town. Mr. Farnsworth sold the whole town plot to Messrs. Geo. Milmine and David Kuns, and made the deed to Emma G. Milmine and Margaret Kuns, their wives. Milmine and Bodman owned the first store which was kept by Mr. E. B. Sprague, now of Bement. The post-office, which is now kept by Hiram Barber, is named Milmine, we suppose in honor of Mr. George Milmine, and of late years the name is used to desig- nate the town more than Farnsworth is. Mr. Kuns owns a warehouse and an elevator in the place. Mr. J. O. Sparks has the principal grain office of the town. The town has a population of about 200, contains several business houses, a union church and a fine brick school- building which was built about 1872, and which contains two large rooms. Milmine was the scene of quite a serious railroad accident in the summer of 1882. A freight train ran into another train right at tlie station. Several cars and the depot building were badly damaged, a number of cattle were killed, and several of the train men were so severely injured that they died.
Milmine church .- The Milinine Christian church was organized in the spring of 1879, and the meetings are held in the union church of the village. At the time of the organization there were fifteen charter members, but before the meeting closed there were fifty-six in membership, and now the number is increased to about ninety-six. The church owns a parsonage in Milmine, a half interest in the Ridge chapel, and the Sangamnon church on Willow Branch. Mr. Robert Harris is the first regular minister. John Biebinger and Henry Taylor are deacons, Isaac Peek is clerk, and John Biebinger, Isaac Peck and Mr. B. Middleton are trustees of the parsonage.
Lintner .- This is a small station on the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield railroad. It was named for William Lintner, of Decatur, who owned some 800 acres of land in the vicinity. It has a postoffice and a good general merchandise store, and being in the center of a good farming district, a great deal of grain is shipped from the station.
CHAPTER XVIII.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
M R. SCOTT ARMSWORTH, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Virginia, September 9, 1806. His parents moved when he was just three weeks old to Ohio, where he was reared. When Scott was eighteen years old his father died and the family concluded to sell out and go to Illinois. After the sale each had about $400. Four of the children and the mother finally came to this county. Now all are dead except Mr. Scott Armsworth. Samuel Armsworth came to the county about 1838, married Miss Ater, and settled on the north side of the river, in Willow Branch township. Two of his sons, James and Noah, are still living in the township. Rebecca Armsworth was the wife of Abraham Ater, and they came to the county about 1838. He died the next year, while she lived until 1847. Catharine moved with her . mother to Piatt county some time between 1838 and 1845. She married George Matchler and settled on what is now the Allerton place. She died January 12, 1847, and her mother died while visiting relatives in Indiana. Mr. Scott Armsworth first moved on to his farm in Willow Branch township in 1845, having bought 120 acres of land, to which he added more later, now having about 360 acres of land, upon which he has put all the improvements. He built his farm residence in 1850. It has since been altered and now contains four good sized rooms. He was married April 14, 1840, and has had six children, but one of whom, Willis, is living. Ann married George Still and died in 1879, having had three children, Leona, Noah and Samuel. Mr. Armsworth recently moved into Cerro Gordo, where he owns three business houses, one of which is brick, and two residences.
MR. PETER ADAMS, a farmer, was born in Kentucky in 1818. He moved from his native state to Ohio and from thence to Illinois, and in 1839 came to Piatt county. He first settled on Willow Branch, where he found very few settlers. He moved to his present home in Cerro Gordo township in 1849. He owns 120 acres of land, which he improved himself, and upon which he has planted at least three hundred trees. Mr. Adams was married in 1845, to Sarah J. Peck. Two of their children are living, Angelo, who married Mary A. Ater, and
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
David S., who lives at home. In 1868 Mr. Adams took for his second wife Rebecca Johnston, a native of North Carolina. They have no children. Mr. Adams has held the offices of school director and road commissioner.
MR. JOSEPH AUTEN, stock dealer, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Ohio and was reared in Pennsylvania. He moved from Pennsylvania to. Illinois in 1851 and to Piatt county in 1856, and lived in Willow Branch and Cerro Gordo townships until he moved into town in 1872. He had previously moved to town in 1856, when he remained two years. Among Mr. Auten's first farming enterprises he hauled corn to Cerro Gordo at ten cents a bushel and sold it in the field for eight cents. It is pleasing to note the various changes and improvements since then. Mr. Auten was assessor of the township and belongs to the Cerro Gordo Masonic lodge No. 600. He was married in 1858, to Sarah MeKinney, and has three sons : Frank, who taught as first assistant in the Cerro Gordo schools this past year, and Charley and John at home.
MR. STILLMAN BARBER, formerly of Milmine, now of Gonzales, Texas, is a native of Rhode Island, which state his grandfather and two uncles helped to stake out. He was born in 1821, and in 1857 moved to Piatt county, Illinois. He lived, however, near Carlinville, Illinois, previous to moving to Piatt county. When he first settled here he bought land where Mr. Henry Kuns lives and began making extensive improvements. At the time of his settling on it there was not a stick of wood on the place, but he soon had out a forty-acre apple orchard, which has yielded as high as a thousand bushel of apples a year. He set out two other orchards before leaving the county. After living about eight years on the farm Mr. Barber moved into Milmin. where he resided until 1875, when he went to Texas. While in Milmine Mr. Barber kept a store, was railroad agent and bought grain. He was also school director, treasurer and justice of the peace. He can justly be called one of the most energetic men of the county. Mr. Barber came to Illinois a bachelor, but was married in Madison county to Mrs. Mary A. Murphy née Mary Clark, who had had four children, three of whom are living. John Murphy married Sarah Hays, has one child, Jno. Deliner, and lives on a farm north of Bement. Julia A. Murphy is not married and makes her home with her brother John. Robert married Mary Barber, has three children, James, George and Charles, and lives in Unity township. Mr. Barber has had seven children, five of whom are living. Katie S. married Thomas W. East in 1873, has had three children, Victor, Herbert and Arthur,
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HISTORY OF HATT COUNTY.
and lives near Milmine. She was bookkeeper in her father's store for several years. Mr. East has put most of the improvements on his 140 acres of land. He lias a cottonwood and a maple grove of about six hundred trees. Margaret Barber attended the State Normal for one term and then studied at the State University at Champaign for two terms. She is now teaching at Luling, Texas. Moses, Ida and Clark are attending college near their home in Gonzales, Texas.
MR. HIRAM BARBER, merchant and postmaster, Milinine, is a native of Rhode Island. He moved from there to Piatt county in 1858, settling two miles west of Milmine. He owned a farm of 136 acres, which he broke, fenced and improved himself. He sold this and bought a farm of 160 acres joining Milmine, part of which was improved when he purchased it. In 1879 he bought a lot, store and goods, and has since been a merchant. Mr. Barber was married in 1846, to Susan E. Sherman, who died, leaving two children : Mathew S., who married Jennie Stanton and lives in Kansas ; Susan A., who is the wife of Win. Briggs, lives in Chicago and has two children. At Mr. Barber's second nuptials, in 1857, he married Mary F. Briggs.
MR. F. A. BOWDLE, farmer, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Illinois in 1862. In 1868 he settled on his present home- place of 160 acres, upon which he has made all improvements. He was married in Ohio, to Catherine Willis, who died in 1860, leaving eight children, seven of whom are living. Sally E. is living at home. Wm. married Lucy McDonald, of Pennsylvania, and lives in Cerro Gordo township; they have two children, Frank A. and Jennie. Josephine married Daniel Immel, and with one child lives in Macon county. J. W. married Maria Corman, has one child, Herbert, and lives in Cerro Gordo township. Maria C. married Uleric Born, and has one child, Selah. Emma J. is the wife of Mr. Humer. Mary is living at home. Mr. Bowdle has been school director for four years. He thinks that their neighborhood has changed somewhat in regard to morals since lie first came into it. Now the people do seem to know what Sunday is, while some years ago all days seemed the same. He considers this county one of the finest he has ever seen.
MR. BENJAMIN BOWMAN, a farmer, is a native of Ohio. He moved from his native state when quite young, and was reared in Indiana. He moved to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1865, and settled on the place of eighty acres which he has principally improved, and which he now lives on. He was married in Ohio, to Mary A. Laird, and has had
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BIOGRAPHICAL, SKETCHES.
four children, three of whom are living, Silas M., Anna Eliza and Della. Mr. Bowman is a member of the German Baptist church.
MR. JONATHAN BURNS, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, is a native of Scott county. He moved from there to Macon county, and from thence to Piatt county in 1866. He lived in Bement town- ship for a time, but for the last nine years has been in Cerro Gordo township, where he owns eighty acres of land, upon which he has made some improvements. He was married to Francis V. Burrows, of Scott county. They have had eight children, seven of whoni, Clas. R., Alice M., Tho. W., Frederic F., Daniel, Jennie P. and Carrie are living. Mr. Burns went to the army from Scott county, in Co. F of the 61st Ill. He was out nearly four years, but was never wounded. He served as second and first lieutenant, and was veteranized. He took part in the following engagements : Shiloh, Vicksburg, Mechanicsburg, Little Rock, Murfreesborough and The Cedars. Mr. Burns once had a narrow escape from bushwhackers in the grand prairie of Arkansas. He with others were out deer hunt- ing, when they suddenly found themselves in the midst of their enemy. By a little maneuvering they escaped from the bush whackers, who luckily were attracted elsewhere.
SQUIRE E. A. BARNWELL, Cerro Gordo, was born near Nashville, Tennessee. He moved from that state to Macon county in 1833. His father was then one of the early settlers of that county. His father was on a war vessel in the war of 1812. Mr. Barnwell lived in Macon most of the time previous to his coming to Piatt county. He lived there continuously from 1856 until 1874, when he settled in Cerro Gordo. After locating in this town he followed photography for a time, and now for the last six years has been police magistrate of the place. He has also held the office of town clerk for four years. H'e is a member of the Masonic lodge, and has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1846. He owns a house and lot in Cerro Gordo. Mr. Barnwell and Susanna Whidky were united in marriage in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1848. They have had five chil- dren, two of whom, E. A. Barnwell Jr. and Gracie R. are at home.
MR. SAMUEL BRANDENBURG, farmer, is of German descent and a native of Kentucky. He moved from that state to Illinois in 1864, and settled where he now lives upon eighty acres of land, upon which he has made all improvements. He was married in Kentucky, to Adaline Haggard. Their eight children are all living. David is married and lives in Kansas; Alvin is also in Kansas; Win., Jas.,
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
Louisa, Elizabeth, Mary and Samuel are at home. Mr. Brandenburg has been school director for nine years.
MR. JAMES R. CHAMBERS, a farmer near Cerro Gordo, was born in Kentucky. His parents, who were of Scotch and Irish lineage, and natives of the same state, settled in Macon county about 1831. Some of their children are still living in that county. James was married in 1848, in Macon county, to Elizabeth Dickey, a native of Tennessee; they have had eight children, seven of whom are living. Martha E. lives at home. Wmn. married Belle Gancher, has one child, Guy, and lives on a farm near La Place. Isaac married Lenora Wells, and lives in Macon county. Lucy J., John, Margaret and Anna are all at home. Mr. Chambers lived in Macon county until about 1860, when he moved on a farm one mile north Cerro Gordo, where he has lived ever since. When asked if he had held any offices, he remarked : "Yes. I have had all I want." He has been school director, trustee, road commissioner, assessor- and supervisor. Mr. Chambers owns 360 acres of land, upon which he has put very near all of the improvements. The farm is in good condition, well tiled and ditched ; and five hundred trees have been planted out. The crops on the place have all averaged well. From sixty to seventy bushels of corn to the acre, however, have been the highest. Mr. Chambers thinks that tiling is the salvation of the county. In 1881 the residence was remodeled, and it now contains seven rooms. Mr. Chambers is one of the few old settlers who seems not to long for the "good old times." He is very glad that he does not now have to go through what he once did ; that the market places are nearer than Springfield and Chicago. He thinks, too, that it is a tendency of the old settlers to underrate the hospitality of the people of the present time.
MR. ALEXANDER Cox, with Pitts & Green, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Woodford county, Kentucky, and moved from there direct to Cerro Gordo, May 22, 1856, where he has since resided. His grandfather and great-uncle were in the war of 1812, and one great- uncle served seven years under Washington in the revolutionary war. His forefathers have been in America since the settlement of the country. Mr. Alexander Cox was in the Mexican war, went from Kentucky, and served under Col. Humphrey. He was under Zacha- riah Taylor, sat and chatted with him many a day. He was in the battle of Buena Vista, and in several skirmishes; was often shot at but felt no fear of being injured. When he left he was in poor health. but returned much improved. When Mr. Cox first came here all was
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
open prairie ; his brother remarked "if you live here one hundred years you will always have plenty of pasture." At that time there were only four houses in Cerro Gordo, depot, store-room, Mr. Cole's, and Mr. Mckinney's, the first dwellings being built in the fall of 1855. Mr. Cox owns a farmi of eighty acres one mile from Cerro Gordo, and also lot and residence. He improved one farm of 160 acres, which he sold. The subject of our sketch was married in 1849, to Hettie H. Price, and has six children living. Elizabeth, who is the wife of Andrew Burns, lives in Denver, Colorado, and has three children; Alexander H. married Anna Zimmerman, lives in Decatur, and has two children ; Chas. B. is with Lynn & Scruggs; Matilda is at home; Hetty M. is the wife of Chas. A. Bowlby, lives at Fairmount, and has one child; John G. lives at home, and is night operator on the Wabash railroad.
MR. MATTHEW CREIGHTON, farmer near Cerro Gordo, is a native of Delaware. He moved to Ohio in 1840, and in 1852 settled in Piatt county. For the first year he lived in the Ater settlement, and then in 1853 moved to where he now lives. He owns 560 acres of land, upon which he has put all the improvements, including the putting out of hedges and the planting of about two hundred trees. His present residence was built in 1860. Mr. Creighton was married in 1849, to Maria Grove, and has had eight children, four of whom are iving. John R. married Rosa Huff, and lives in Cerro Gordo township; Noah, Sarah and Mary. Etta are at home.
MR. V. B. CLIFTON, hardware merchant, Cerro Gordo, is a native of DeWitt county, Illinois. He moved from DeWitt to Macon county and in 1865 settled in Willow Branch township in Piatt county. In 1869 he moved into Cerro Gordo, where for a time he was in the mill- ing and grain business, but in 1876 or 1877 he went into the hardware store. He was married in 1862, to Jane Lucas, and has had six children, five of whom are living, Josephine, Anna, Gilmer, Eddie and Oscar. He went into the army from DeWitt county in 1862, in Co. D, 107th Ill. The principal engagements in which he participated were those of Knoxville, Franklin, Louden and Campbell Station.
MR. W. E. CODDINGTON, grocer and merchant of La Place, is a native of Ohio. From there he moved to Illinois and in 1879 located in Piatt county. He owns a residence and three lots in La Place and was married about 1872, to Dora Coffeen. They have two children, Mabel and Ray.
MR. E. CRIPE, blacksmith and wagonmaker, Cerro Gordo, was
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
born in Montgomery county, Ohio, and moved from there to Carroll county, Indiana, and thence to Macon county, Illinois, in 1861; from there to Piatt county in 1862, locating in Cerro Gordo township. He moved into the town of Cerro Gordo and was for seven years engaged in the mill, and then opened a shop. He owns his residence and about three acres, and the shop with the lot on which it is built. Mr. Cripe was married in 1850, to Mary Zech, and has four children living, John (see his name) ; Daniel, who was married about 1874, to Mary E. Carver, and has three children ; Flora Belle, Artilla and Sylvan E .; Daniel is with his father in the wagon and blacksmith shop ; he owns a house and lot ; Josephus and Allen are unmarried.
MR. J. CRIPE, hardware merchant, Cerro Gordo, is a native of Indiana. He moved to Illinois in 1861, and to Cerro Gordo in 1863. He became a partner in the hardware store of Clifton & Cripe in 1881, and owns a residence and two lots in Cerro Gordo. Mr. Cripe and Laura V. Calloway were united in marriage in 1876. They have one son, Harry Elmer.
MR. ELI CRIPE, a farmer near La Place, is a native of Indiana, from which state he moved to Macon county in 1858. In 1876 he moved to Piatt county, where he owns forty acres of land. He was married in Macon county, to Matilda Funk, and has had four children, three of whom, Simon, Jolin and Levi, are living. Mr. and Mrs. Cripe belong to the German Baptist church.
MR. WILLIAM H. CLAY, a farmer of Cerro Gordo township, and owner of eighty acres of land, came to Piatt county fron Macon county in 1862. He was married in 1874, to Susan Lutz. They liave had four children, two of whom, Anstin L. and Elmer, are living. Mr. Clay went into the army in Co. A, 116th Ill. Vols. He was in the engagement at Resaca and. went with Sherman to the sea. He was wounded at Fort McAllister and had to remain in a hospital for several montlıs.
MR. DANIEL CONKLIN, hotel keeper, Cerro Gordo, was born in New York, and moved from there to Macon county, Illinois, about 1851, after farming a year near Sycamore. He laid out the town he called " West Danville," building the mill and other houses there. He came to Piatt county in 1857, and at that time there were but three or four houses in Cerro Gordo, his being the fifth or sixth house in town. He says his grandfather helped to take and hang Major Andre, in the revolutionary war. Mr. Conklin has been constable several terms, and has caught many thieves. He considers himself the man who ferreted
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
out John Huffman, who killed Julius Cumby near Milmine, and was caught in Oregon. Mr. Conklin has traveled some in the west, and is familiarly and notoriously known as "Uncle Dan." When he first went to Cerro Gordo he was a merchant, then kept groceries and gen- eral merchandise, but has been keeping hotel for ten or twelve years. Mr. Conklin was married in 1845, to Sarah Kelsey, and has had three children, who are all dead. His wife owns a house and several busi- ness houses in town.
MR. PHILIP DOBSON, farmer, Cerro Gordo, was born in Yorkshire, England ; came to America in 1855, and to Piatt county in 1865, set- tling in Cerro Gordo township, where he owns about 500 acres, part of which he himself improved. He never bought an acre of land for less than $25, and it was raw prairie. He also owns a brick house and four lots in Cerro Gordo, into which he has recently moved. Mr. Dobson was married in England in 1855, to Isabella Morley, and they have seven children : Mary married Alfred Balch, lives in Cerro Gordo township ; Sarah married Andrew Ankram, lives in Cerro Gordo town- ship, and has two children, Lillie and Ora ; Belle keeps her brother's house ; Robinson M. lives on the farm ; Rachel is unmarried ; Annie recently married Wm. Brandenburg, a grocer in Cerro Gordo ; John lives at home.
NELSON DUELL moved from New York in 1859 to Cook county, Illinois, and to Piatt county in 1860, settling near Milmine. He owns his house and lot in Milmine, and also some lots in Bement. He moved into Cerro Gordo in 1881. Mr. Duell was married to Phœbe Mosier, and has ten children living. Malvina married Martin Vant, lives near Waukegan, and has three children ; M. E. married Mattie Minskey, lives near Bement, and has two children ; Louisa is the wife of Merrick Shepherd, lives in Minnesota, and has three children ; Ruth married Wm. McGaffey, lives east of Bement, and has five' children ; D. G. married Delia Edmunds, who died in 1876, leaving three chil- dren, Maggie M., Ellen D. and Herbert ; Russel Duell is married, and lives in Minnesota ; Kate lives at home .; Lettie is the wife of Will Fisher (see his sketch) ; Holland and Charles are at home.
MR. GEORGE DOBSON, a farmer near Cerro Gordo, is a native of England. He came to America in 1858, and for awhile lived at Jacksonville. He bought land in Piatt county in 1864, and in 1866 settled near Milmine, and about seven or eight years ago moved on the place of eighty acres where he now lives. Much improvement, including a great deal of draining, has been done since the place has
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