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 50
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
MR. JESSE YOAKUM, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ross county, Ohio, from which state he moved to Piatt county, Illinois, in 1858. He had been to the county several times previously, however. He first settled in Willow Branch township, on land now owned by Mr. S. W. Allerton. At that time he owned land in Macon county, but dis- posed of it, and got possession of the place he now lives on. He now owns 700 acres, upon which he has made most of the improvements. The place is drained by three and a half miles of open ditch, and it has averaged good crops each year. About six years ago eighty acres of corn averaged eighty bushels to the acre, and the crop of 1881 aver- aged sixty-five bushels. There are two good bearing orchards, besides other fruit trees, on the farm. Mr. Yoakum has some of the finest stock which has ever been in Willow Branch township. The cattle are Short-horns, and the horses Clydesdale (Clydell), Norman and Persian. He erected his eight-room frame residence in 1879. It presents a very pleasant appearance from without, and one has only to glance within
529
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
to discover that not only a housekeeper, but a homekeeper, dwells therein. Mr. Yoakum was married in 1861, to Alice McCoy, who died ten years later, leaving one daughter, Fannie, who died at the age of fifteen. He took for his second wife Miss Emma Blaine, a native of Indiana. One son, Wm. Allerton, was born July 21, 1881. Mr. Yoakum has not escaped all the offices in the township. He has been road-master for one year, and school director eight or nine years.
MR. SEYMOUR YOAKUM, farmer, Bement, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Indiana, and from there to Piatt county in 1862. He first settled on Dr. John's farm. He now owns 120 acres of land in Willow Branch township, has fenced it, ditched it to the extent of a mile or more of tiling, and has planted at least 100 trees on it. He was first married to Betty Arrowsmith, a native of Ohio, who died leaving one child, Theo. L. He next married Medora Waughop.
MR. JAMES T. VENT, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved in 1858 to Marion county, Illinois, and in 1859 he settled in Piatt county on the farm where he now lives, but it was then owned by Mr. James Ater. He owns 228 acres of land, twenty-eight acres of which are timber land, and has improved the place a good deal in the way of ditching, fencing, and the planting of about 200 fruit trees. In 1872 he built a neat frame residence. Mr. Vent has succeeded well, both in the raising of grain and in stock raising. In 1872 over fifty acres of corn averaged seventy-five bushels to the acre. The next year the average was sixty-five bushels to the acre. He thinks he once sold to Piatt & Kirby the heaviest car-load of hogs that ever went out of the township, or out of the county. The sixty-four hogs averaged three hundred and sixty-eight pounds apiece. He also sold to A. M. Piatt, in 1875, seventy-five head of hogs, which averaged three hundred and fifty pounds. Mr. Vent was married in 1865, to Elizabeth Ater, and has had six children, John W., Viola, Charity, James A., Lizzie and Sabina J. Mr. Vent has been commissioner of highways for three years, and school director for eight or nine years.
33
1
CHAPTER XXI.
GOOSE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
G OOSE Creek township lies northwest of Monticello township, and is bounded on the north by Blue Ridge township, on the east by Sangamon, on the south by Monticello and Willow Branch, and on the west by De Witt county. The western boundary line is quite uneven, so that De Witt county bounds a small portion of the town- ship on the north. The township contains about fifty-six sections of land, finely located for farming. It has, in addition to a large amount of tillable land, a good deal of timbered ground.
It is well drained by both Goose creek and Friends creek. The main course of the former-named stream is from the northwest to the southeast, and it empties into the Sangamon river at almost exactly the southeastern corner of the township. This creek derived its namne from the fact that two wild geese had their nests in the tops of trees which were on the banks of the stream. These geese had their nests here for a number of successive seasons. The western part of tlie township is drained by Friends creek, another branch of the San- gamon. The land along these streams is slightly rolling, while, as it recedes from them it is comparatively flat. There is but a very small portion of the township now that is untillable.
There is but one railroad in this township. The Havana branch of the Chicago division of the Wabash railway enters the township at almost exactly the middle point of the eastern boundary line, angles northwest for about one mile, and then extends almost due west, enter- ing De Witt county about five miles north of the southern boundary line of Goose Creek township.
The first settlements of this township have already been referred to. The first cabin on Goose creek was built near the present resi- dence of George Varner. The Olneys were early settlers, and we think that Mr. and Mrs. Olney, who were buried just north of where Mrs. M. J. Marquiss lives, were the first who died in the township. Mr. Abraham Marquiss and sons followed the Olneys in making settlement. Ezra Marquiss. Sr., has lived longer in Goose Creek township than any other person. 'Tis going on fifty years since he first set foot on
531
GOOSE CREEK TOWNSHIP.
Goose creek soil. William Piatt and wife are the next oldest residents. The Welches were also early settlers, as was also Mr. Richard Hubbart. We might mention other comparatively early settlers, but sketches of the most of them appear further on.
De Land .- This township has but one town, which is situated on the Havana Branch railroad, about four miles from the eastern bound- ary line of the township. This is an enterprising place of over 300 inhabitants. It has already made a rapid growth and bids fair to keep on growing. According to the surveyor's certificate, De Land was laid out for Thomas E. Bondurant on the 23d and 25th days of April, and the 20th and 21st days of May, 1873, and is situated on the N. W. 4 Sec. 9, T. 19 N., R. 5 E. 3d P. M.
According to Thomas Bondurant, S. C. Langdon owned the first dwelling house in De Land. Mr. Langdon was the first station agent, and was the first postmaster, which position he still holds. Richard Tilson says he moved the first dwelling into De Land. In the fall of 1873 R. B. Moody and John Vail built a store where the latter had had the first store of the place. Dr. J. A. Davis was the first physi- cian in the town, Dr. H. M. Harrison was next, and then Dr. Wood came. Dr. William T. Ward was the first neighborhood physician, but he never lived in the town. Dr. J. R. Gardiner was in the place for a short time.
De Land of to-day contains two churches, a school building, and about fifteen business firms. Quite a number of new residences have been erected the past year, and Moody & Rodman have recently put up an elevator having a capacity for 30,000 bushels of grain. T. E. Bondurant is erecting a commodious dwelling, which bids fair to be the finest residence of the place. .
Goose Creek township las reason to be proud of its one town, which has sprung up so rapidly, and the citizens of the place are well- deserving of praise for their part in its growth.
Union Church .- The following items were obtained from Mr. Moody. The Christian and Protestant Methodists joined forces for the erection of a new church, and the meeting for the election of the trustees was held September 25, 1875. A. R. Borton was chairman, and J. P. Van Vickle, secretary. The following were made trustees, the first three of whom were chosen on the building committee : A. R. Borton, T. E. Bondurant, R. B. Moody, Jacob Mansfield, N. B. Moberly, Robert Bryden and M. D. Marvel. The location for the church was chosen in block 2, lots 13 and 14, and the church building,
532
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
which cost $2,700, was built by Meredith & Roberts, of Monticello, and was completed July 15, 1876. The church was dedicated July 23, 1877, and Elder Moppin, of the Christian church, and J. M. Mayall, president of the North Illinois conference of the P. M. church, were present. The following ministers of the P. M. church have preached in DeLand : Rev. D. Ackerman, Rev. J. W. Kidd, Rev. Chas. Slack, and Rev. L. S. Hitchins. The Christian ministers are Rev. Moppin, Rev. Samuel Lowe, Rev. Jas. Seaton and Elder Robinson.
Methodist Episcopal Church .-- This organization was transferred from the Ashland school-house to DeLand about 1874, while Mr. Winterbottom was minister. On the 24th of March, 1879, a meeting was held to see about the building of the present church building. R. B. Moody, Salem Kesler, Joel H. Rhinehart, Jno. W. Cyphers, Jacob Stults (deceased), were appointed trustees. The building was erected under the management of a building committee, who employed workmen by the day. It cost $2,250, and was dedicated February 7, 1880, by Rev. Hiram Buck. J. D. Bodkin was the first minister in the new church, and H. C. Turner was the second. There has been a Sunday-school in connection with the church ever since the transfer to De Land. At first it was a Union Sunday-school, which was held in a hall, and then in the Union church. Under the charge of Rev. Bodkin a Methodist Sunday-school was organized in the Methodist church.
Kentucky School-house .- The ground for the Kentucky school- house was donated by Rev. Johnson for both church and school purposes. At present three denominations hold services there : a congregation of Germans who are Baptists, the Mission Baptists, and a United Brethren minister preaches every two weeks. Sometimes there are three sermons and two sunday schools on a Sunday. The German Baptists have a regular church organization, and I. C. Dösher is their present minister. They have bought some land for their min- ister, but at present rent a place for him. He has what he can make off the place and is paid some besides. This is a small congregation, but is certainly an enthusiastic one, or so much would not be done for their minister. There is talk of a church being built by donation.
CHAPTER XXII.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
M R. JOHN ARNDT, farmer, Monticello, is a native of Ohio, from which state he moved to Illinois in 1873, and in 1874 he came to Piatt county. He was in the government employ for eighteen months during the late war. He was married March 9, 1881, to May B. Marsh, has had one child, Ezra Noble, and lives in Goose Creek township.
MR. JOHN BAILEY was born in Ohio, from which state he moved to Piatt county, Illinois, about 1835 or 1836 and settled on the place Mr. John Bender is now living on. He lived on this place until he moved to Monticello for a year. After returning to the farm for a short time he went to Iowa in 1878 and bought town property. He was married in Ohio, to Mary Hubbart, and had thirteen children, twelve of whom are living. Elizabeth married John Funston, has a large family and lives in Champaign county. Jane married Allen Hubbart, has four children and lives in Iowa. David married Nancy J. Herron, has six children and is a carpenter in Mahomet. James married Catherine
Perkins and is a farmer in Iowa. Martha is the wife of Benjamin Rhoades, sheriff of Marshalltown, Iowa, and has five children. Nancy is the wife of Robert Culp, of Plymouth county, Iowa, and is the inother of five children. William married Marion Burgess, has two children and is a grocer in Marshalltown, Iowa. Mary is the wife of Philip Lewis, has one child and lives in Sac City, Iowa. Richard married Matilda Burson, has two children and is a grocer in Atlanta, Iowa. Matilda is the wife of Henry Dewees, of Goose Creek town- ship, and is the mother of six children, Carrie, Effie, Edgar and Ed- win, twins, Ora and Lizzie. Lydia Bailey was married in 1873, to Mr. John Bender, and has two children, Arthur and Mabel. Clara Bailey is living at home in Marsalltown, Iowa.
MR. WILLIAM BAILEY came to the county about 1836 and settled on the farm upon which Mr. William Dewees lives. IIis eldest daughter, Margaret, married Mr. John Stansbury and lived in Cheney's Grove. She died leaving several children. Ellen married Tho. Stansbury, had two children and lived in Cheney's Grove. Edward died after he
53
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
became of age. George is also dead. Rebecca was the wife of James Perkins, but both she and her husband are dead. Minnie married Mr. Jerry Rock, who died, leaving one daughter, Emma, who is now the wife of Luther Horr. Mrs. Rock next married Mr. Keller. Albert and James Bailey are both dead.
MRS. MARTHA BONDURANT in 1854 was living with her family in Sangamon county, Illinois, but afterward moved to Piatt county. Five of her children have lived in this county. Of these Thos. E. Bondurant is the eldest. He came to Piatt county in 1854 and secured 293 acres of land, where he now lives, paying fifty cents an acre for the same. When Mr. Bondurant came in 1856 to put out the orchard, he borrowed a pole and an ax of the nearest neighbor. With the ax he drove the pole into the ground, not far from where their present home is, hitched his horse to the pole and proceeded to select the place for an orchard. Mr. Bondurant's farm was for a number of years partially covered with water each year. At the present time, with the excellent system of drainage, which he is gradually perfecting, the farm is in good condition and ranks as one of the finest in the county. Mary Bondurant has been in the county for the last twenty years. She has taught school in various parts of the county during this time, is quite an active member of the Christian church, and has been super- intendent of the Union Sunday-school of De Land. On the 1st of March, 1877, there occurred . in this family what came near being a serious tragedy. The family quite frequently had bread and milk for supper. In the evening of the day mentioned Miss Mary brought in the milk for supper. Upon emptying the milk from the pan she discovered a white sediment in the bottom of the pan. She thought something liad accidentally fallen into the pan and so went for more milk. Mr. Tho. Bondurant had gone to De Land, so that only Mrs. Bondurant, Mary and the hired man, Mr. Browley, were there for supper. Before Miss Mary was half through her supper she became deatlily sick and went ont on the porch. When she came back she found her mother looking for some cloves to relieve hier of the sick feeling she experienced. Mary said, "Mother, I am very sick." Her mother answered, " so am I." Mr. Browley said, "I am sick, too." 3 Upon hearing this Mary asserted they were all poisoned, and told the man to jump onto a horse and go to De Land for her brother and a physician. The mall did not wait for a second telling, but started and ran the horse all the way to town. Upon reaching De Land he was very sick, but managed to let his errand be known. When the physician and Mr. Bondurant
535
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
reached the house Miss Mary was on the floor unable to get up and was almost unconscious. Mrs. Bondurant had fainted once, and for a time they thought that she was dead. It was found to be a case of arsenic poisoning. How the arsenic got into the milk was never known. There was not the slightest cause for suspicioning any one whoni they knew of attempting to poison the family. Fortunately no lives were lost. Mrs. Bondurant, however, has never ceased to feel the effects of the arsenic.
MR. NEWTON BONDURANT married Sarah Devore, of Piatt county, February 19, 1867. They have had three children, Willie, Frank and Earnest, two of whom are dead. Their home until quite lately was within two miles of Farmer City.
MR. SAMUEL BONDURANT came to Piatt county soon after his brother Thomas did. He married Miss Ellen Barnett, of Douglas county, and in 1862 moved to that county. Lucretia J. Bondurant married Mr. Joel Churchill.
MR. JAMES A. BROWN's parents were born in Albemarle county, Virginia. They had a family of eight children. Mr. Brown was married in 1844, to Miss Margaret A. Hull. In November, 1857, they moved to Piatt county, Illinois, and settled on a farm bought the previous year of Dr. P. K. Hull, a brother of Mrs. Brown. This farm continued to be che family homestead until the fall of 1880. It is now owned by Dr. Noecker, of Monticello. Mrs. Brown's parents were born in Virginia. Her father enlisted in the war of 1812, but peace was declared before he reached the scene of action. Mrs. Brown is a graduate of the Kalorama Seminary, in Stanton, Virginia. Upon hier arrival in Illinois, Mrs. Brown thought the prairies, in spite of their summer beauty, a barren exchange for the forest-clad mountains of Virginia. But soon such feelings were dispersed, and now she says she much prefers a prairie to a timbered country. Mr. James Brown died October, 22, 1878, and left a family sadly bereft of a kind and loving husband and an affectionate father. Six of Mr. and Mrs. Brown's children were born in Virginia. Of these Belle, the eldest, was born in 1845, and was married September 1, 1869, to Mr. James A. Shep- herd. Since 1877 their home has been in Iowa ; they have one child. Bettie was born May 30, 1847, and was married July 3, 1873, to Mr. Joseph M. Woolington ; three children bless their union. Emma was born July 29, 1849. On August 20, 1867, she married Mr. Joseph H. Rankin, and they, with their child, are still living in this county. Mollie was born June 6, 1880. While on a visit to her sister in Mis-
536
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
souri, she met Mr. Robert Hays, whom she married November 30, 1880. . J. Hull Brown, who was born August 15, 1855, was considered by all who knew him as a very promising young man. He attended school in Lebanon, Ohio, and afterward attended the law department of the Ann Arbor University. He was a successful school teacher for several years in this county. After but a short illness, he died, January 21, 1879. Lucy was born March 18, 1857, and on February 8, 1876, married Mr. Rufus C. Gordon. They are the parents of three children, and at the present time are living in Missouri. Ada. E. was born in Illinois April 8, 1860. In 1878, March 14, she married Mr. Ellis Reed, and has one child. The remaining children are living with their mother in Monticello : Floyd F. was born January 27, 1863 ; Clara M. was born May 22, 1865 ; and Olive F. was born December 23, 1867.
MR. WILLIAM E. BARNETT (deceased) was born in Dayton, Ohio, but his parents moved to Bourbon county, Kentucky, when lie was but two years old. From there they moved to McLean county, from which place Mr. Barnett moved to Piatt county about 1850, and settled in Monticello, where he and his wife kept hotel for several years. They built the frame hotel which stood east of the court- house, and also kept a private boarding house for a time. They moved onto the farm Mrs. Barnett now lives on about 1868 or 1869, and Mr. Barnett died of typhoid fever at this place in 1876. He was married in 1844, in Kentucky, to Mrs. Julia A. Milburn, who was born in 1815, and who had three children, of whom Sarah, the wife of Charles Wiley, is the only one living. Sarah was married last to William Johnson and lives in McLean county, but two of her sons, William and Thomas, are living in this county. Mr. Thomas Jefferson Bar- nett was married in 1864, to Carrie Beaver, lias three children and lives in Effingham. Virginia M. married Milford Bates in 1864. She died but a few weeks ago (1882), leaving three children. Mr. Bates is the editor of "The Greenback," a paper at Shelbyville. Kate Barnett became the wife of Luther Kesler, has child (Maud Wood), and lives with her mother. Julia Frances Barnett, a bright and charming young lady, died of typhoid fever in 1870. William D. married Mary Borton, has one boy, Ellis, and lives in De Land.
MR. ROBERT BRYDEN was born in Ohio and is of Scotch descent. He came to the county about 1848, and for a number of years has been one of the most successful and influential farmers in Goose Creek township. He quite recently sold his farin and has gone to Kansas,
537
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
where his future home will be. He was married in 1864, to Lydia Muminger, a native of De Witt county.
MR. ALBERT R. BORTON, farmer, De Land, is a native of Ohio, and moved to Piatt county in 1857. He first settled near De Land, and still lives on the place. He was married in 1853, to Nancy J. Sarver, and liad ten children, nine of whom are living: Jno. Curtis married Clara B. McMillen ; Mary is the wife of Wm. Barnett, of De Land, and has one child, Ellis. The names of the other children are Joshua L., Chas. S., Edwin S., Albert H., Lusina J., Wm. F. and Byron S. Mr. Borton was justice of the peace for five years.'
MR. JOHN BICKLE, wagon-maker, De Land, was born in Germany, and came to the United States in 1869. About 1874 he came to Piatt county, and has worked at his trade, at Monticello and De Land, ever since. He was married in 1879, to Minnie McBride, and has had but one child, which is now dead.
MR. JOSHUA BORTON (deceased) was married in Ohio, to C. Lavina Stoddard, who died in that state. Mr. Borton came in 1864 to Piatt county, where he died in 1874. He had ninc children, two of whom are living in Piatt county, Albert Borton (see his sketch) and Lucretia, the wife of John Patterson, who lives near De Land.
MR. JOHN F. BARROW, farmer, Weldon, was born in Kentucky, and moved from there to Illinois about 1872, coming directly to Piatt county. He owns 140 acres of land, which he principally improved. His first visit to the county was in 1862, when his father and brother entered some land here, and he found a desolate looking place then. Mr. Barrow was married in 1855, to Adaline Garrett, and has two children, Lou W. and Robert E.
MR. ISAIAH BOONE, farmer, is a native of Kentucky, and a descend- ant of Daniel Boone. He came to Piatt county in 1872, and has put all the improvements on his 100 acres of land. In 1858 he was united in marriage to Sarah E. Barrow, who died leaving seven children, Thomas, Daniel, Lucy, David T., Christopher C., George and Janie.
MR. R. H. BRUNS, farmer, De Land, was born in Germany. He came to America in 1865. From Baltimore he moved, the same year, to Logan county, Illinois, and in 1879 settled in Piatt county. He owns 209 acres of land, upon which he has made some of the improve- ments. The place was first improved, however, by Mr. Winn. Mr. Bruns was married in 1857, to E. K. Kramer, who was born in Ihrhove, Germany. They have had six children, two of whom are living : Conering or Coonrod and Menno were both born in Hanover.
538
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
Mr. Bruns at one time belonged to the German Reform Lutheran church, but for some time he has been a zealous member of the Baptist church.
MR. ABRAHAM COLLINS (deceased) was a native of New Jersey. He married Eliza Beedle, a native of Indiana, and moved from Indiana to Illinois in 1838, and settled on the farm now owned by Mr. James Miner, in Goose Creek township. He first lived in a log cabin, but after a time built the brick house which Mr. Miner lives in. Mr. Col- lins had nine children : William married Margaret Long, and is now living in Jasper county Missouri ; Abraham lives with his sister, Mary J. ; John married Eliza Weddle, has four children, and lives in Mis- souri ; Surrilda was married in 1864, to Geo. Fisher, who owns a farm of 420 acres. She died in 1881, leaving four children, Armeda, Ada, Geo. W. and Rosetta ; Simeon Collins makes his home with his sister, Mary J. ; Mary Jane, the eldest daughter, and next in age to John, married Levi Walle, and lives in Missouri ; James Collins married Martha Fisher, but she died leaving four children ; Ann mar- ried Wilson Williams, had one daughter, and died in 1880, after long years of sickness ; Joseph married Abbey Keller and lives in Mis- souri.
MR. JOEL CHURCHILL, farmer, De Land, was born in Kentucky, and reared in Sangamon county, Illinois. He was married November 16, 1845, to Lucretia J. Bondurant, and has had twelve children, eleven of whom are living: Sarah is at home ; Martha A. married Dr. Dallas, of Kansas, and has two children ; Mary L. is the wife of Mr. Harrison A. Pawly, of St. Louis; Elizabeth J. married Eugene Chamberlain and has three children ; John T. married Belle Hatfield, and has one child, Fabian Clarence. The names of the other children are Thomas A., William, Jesse, Edgar E., Harvey and Gertrude Etha, who is attending school at Normal. Mr. and Mrs. Churchill, after living a number of years at Mechanicsburg, moved to Kansas, and then in 1875 moved to Piatt county.
MR. ISAAC COMBS, was born in Indiana, from which state he moved to Illinois in 1862, and to Piatt county in 1868. He was married in Indiana, to Mary Loveness. Their eldest son, Benj. F., married and lives in Indiana. William married Mary Garver, has five children, John G., Jesse Z., Chas. L., Ada H. and Willie C., and is one of the earnest, successful, and hardworking farmers of Goose Creek township ; Henry married Anna Watrous, who died, leaving two children. He next married Martha McKinley, has four children, and lives in Iowa.
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.