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 8
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The length of the main line of the Chicago and Alton road, front Chicago to East St. Louis, is 280.70 miles. The branch lines in Illi- nois aggregate 295.58 miles in lengtli, while the aggregate length of all the tracks, including sidings, double tracks, etc., is 754.17 miles. The number of stations in Illinois is one hundred and fifteen.
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, with its branches, is made up of several sliort lines. The Chicago and Aurora Railroad Company, which was first chartered June 22, 1851, and the Central Military Tract Company united their roads July 9, 1856, and formed the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad. This company owns several branch roads, and the aggregate length of the main lines and branchı roads in Illinois is 1,131+ miles, and there are one hundred and sixty-eight stations in this state.
The Chicago and Eastern railroad was first organized as the Chicago, Danville and Vincennes railroad, and was chartered February 16, 1865. Several changes and consolidations have been made in connection with the road, the last of which was on March 8, 1881, when the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad and Danville and Grape Creek railroad consolidated as the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Company. The aggregate length of track in Illinois is 177 miles, and the number of stations is thirty-five.
The Chicago and Grand Trunk Railway Company was formed by the consolidation of a number of railways under the laws of Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. The consummation of these consolidations was made April 7, 1880, and the present name was given to the corpora- tion. Only 34.89 miles of the track lie within Illinois, but there are fifteen stations.
SO
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
The Chicago and Iowa railroad was put in operation May, 1872, and was formed by the consolidation of the Ogle and Carroll County and the Chicago and Iowa railroads. The former was chartered February 18, 1857, and the latter March 30, 1869. The aggregate length of track in Illinois, including the leased line from Flagg Center to Rockford, is 115.93 miles, and there are twenty-two stations.
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railway was organized on May 5, 1863, under the name of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway Company. The present name was given it on February 11, 1874. There are 295.77 miles of the track and seventy-four stations in Illi- nois.
The present Chicago and Northwestern railway was begun in 1848 by the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad Company, under a charter which dated January 16, 1836. The Chicago and Northwestern Rail- way Company was organized June 7, 1859. Many purchases, leases and consolidations have been made, and now the company owns 636.25 miles of track in Illinois, along which there are one hundred and twenty-one stations.
The Chicago, Pekin and Southwestern Railroad Company owns 92 miles of track in this state, and there are nineteen stations on the road.
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway Company was formed August 20, 1866, by the consolidation of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company, of Iowa, which was chartered February 7, 1851, and the Rock Island and La Salle Railroad Company, which was chartered February 27, 1847. The main line from Chicago to Rock Island was put in operation July 10, 1854. This company operates 397.51 miles of track, in Illinois, along which there are fifty- four stations.
The Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad Company was organ- ized June 6, 1879. This line was open for operation to Twelfthi street, Chicago, in December, 1880. It is made use of as a terminus into the city by the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railway Company, Chicago and Grand Trunk Railroad Company, and the Wabashı, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Company. In all there are only 48.38 iniles of track and eleven stations in Illinois.
The Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Chicago railway, in addition to several other roads, operates the Cincinnati, La Fayette and Chicago railroad, 33.05 miles of which is in Illinois.
The Danville, Olney and Ohio River railroad was chartered March
81
ORGANIZATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROADS.
10, 1869, and was built first a narrow gauge, but was changed to the standard gauge. The length is 52.02 miles and there are fifteen stations.
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The Danville and Southwestern railroad was chartered March 23, 1869, under the name of the Paris and Danville Railroad Company. The road was put in operation from Danville to Paris in 1872. There are 108.57 miles of track and thirty-three stations in Illinois.
The East St. Louis and Carondelet railway exists under a charter approved February 18, 1857. The main line was put in operation September 26, 1872, and the name was changed to the present one April 19, 1873. The aggregate length of tracks is 13.50 miles.
The East St. Louis connecting railway was put in operation Octo- ber 28, 1879. The articles of incorporation were filed with the secre- tary of state of Illinois January 4, 1878. There are but 3.30 miles of track in the road.
The Fulton County Narrow Gauge Railway Company was organized in the month of August, 1878, and the whole line was put in operation in December, 1880. The length of the track, from Havana, Illinois, to Fairview, Illinois, is 28.05 miles, and there are six stations.
The Grand Tower Mining, Manufacturing and Transportation Company was named April 9, 1869. An act to incorporate the Mount Carbon Coal Company was dated January 24, 1835. The name was changed from the Mount Carbon Railroad Company to present name on the date above mentioned, and the main line began operation in 1866. The length of all tracks is 31 miles, and the number of stations is six.
The Havana, Rantoul and Eastern Railway Company, which was organized January 11, 1873, after several consolidations with other roads, was merged into the Wabash system May 1, 1881. The length of the main line in Illinois is 67.5 miles, and the number of stations is eighteen.
The Illinois Central railroad was originally chartered February 10, 1851, and the first portion of the road was put in operation May 24, 1852. A number of consolidations and leases have been made and now the road operates 1,108.33 miles of track in Illinois, along which there are two hundred and four stations. '
The Illinois Midland railway is a consolidation of several railways. The first portion of the road was chartered February 18, 1861. The length of the entire track in Illinois is 179+ miles, and there are thirty- eight stations.
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
The main line of the Illinois and St. Louis Railroad Company was put in operation April, 1871. There are thirteen stations in Illinois, and the aggregate lengtli of track is 26 miles.
The present company took possession of the Indiana, Bloomington and Western railway August 9, 1879. In March, 1881, this company was consolidated with the Ohio, Indiana and Pacific Railroad Company. The company leases some roads. The entire length of track in Illinois is 144.37 miles, and there are thirty stations.
The Indianapolis, Decatur and Springfield Railway Company is a consolidation of two companies chartered under the name of Indiana and Illinois Railroad Company. The final consolidation, by which the present company's full possession was effected, was made November 16, 1875. There are 80.27 miles of track and thirteen stations in Illinois.
The Indianapolis and St. Louis railway operates 218 miles of track in Illinois, along which are forty-four stations.
The Jacksonville Southeastern Railway Company was organized June 28, 1879. The company operates 56.78 miles of track, along which are thirteen stations.
The Lake Erie and Western Railway Company was organized Janu- ary 1, 1880, by the consolidation of a number of roads, and operates 87.06 miles of track in Illinois. There are seventeen stations in this state.
The first charter for any portion of the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railway Company was granted April 22, 1835. This present company was formed in 1869, by the consolidation of several com- panies. The length of track in Illinois is 54.50, while there are seven stations.
The present Louisville, New Albany and St. Louis Railway Company was formed by the consolidation of two companies August 15, 1878. There are 18 miles of track and six stations in Illinois.
The Louisville and Nashville railroad was incorporated by an act of the Kentucky legislature, approved March 5, 1850. It controls many branch roads and operates 207.3 miles of track in Illinois. There are seventy stations in Illinois.
The date of the original charter of the Michigan Central Railroad Company is March 28, 1846. The building of the road, however, was begun by the Detroit and St. Joseph Railroad Company. The com- pany controls several roads under leases, and operates 67.44 miles in Illinois. The number of stations in Illinois is ten.
.
83
ORGANIZATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF RAILROADS.
The Moline and Southeastern Narrow Gauge Railway Company was organized March 27, 1878, and the construction of the road was com- menced in September, 1878. There are but ten miles of track and two stations in Illinois.
The original charter for the Ohio and Mississippi railroad in Illinois was granted February 12, 1861. The company operates several branch lines, and the aggregate length of track operated in Illinois is 417.62 miles. The number of stations in Illinois is eighty-five.
The Pennsylvania company operates 52. 72 miles of track in Illinois, along which are seven stations.
The road now owned by the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville Railway Company was commenced in 1869. Several consolidations and leases have been made by the present company. The aggregate length of track is 220.1 miles, and the number of stations in Illinois is fifty-three.
The original charter of the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad Company was approved June 11, 1861. Several changes have been made in the property of the company, and since December 15, 1879, the road has been operated under the present name, but the reorganiza- tion is not yet complete. There are twenty-two stations in this state, and the aggregate length of the track is 83+ miles.
The Peoria and Pekin Union Railway Company was organized Sep- tember 28, 1878, and the line was put in operation by this company February 1, 1881. It also operates some leased track. The company operates 33.09 miles of track, along which are four stations.
The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis Railway Company operates 43.7 miles of track in Illinois.
The Rock Island and Mercer County railroad was organized in May, 1876, and was constructed the same year. The aggregate length of track is 28.85 miles, and there are six stations.
The present Rock Island and Peoria Railway Company was organized October 9, 1877. The company operates 95.5 miles of track in Illinois.
The St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute Railroad Company was incorporated June 24, 1872, under an act approved February 28, 1861. It lias control of several branch roads, while a part of the road is leased to the Indianapolis and St. Louis Railroad Company. The aggregate length of track in Illinois is 355 miles, and there are forty-five stations.
The St. Louis Coal Railroad Company was organized October 15, 1879, and the main line was completed August, 1880. It operates, under lease, the railroad between Carbondale and Marion. The entire lengtli of track is 29 miles, and the number of stations seven.
84
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
The Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis railroad was sold to the St. Louis, Rock Island and Chicago Railroad Company. This road was then sold to and is now operated as a branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad. The entire length of all the tracks is 344+ miles, and there are sixty-one stations in the state.
The Springfield, Effingham and Southeastern Railway Company was formed by the consolidation of two other companies. The aggre- gate length of track is 58.75 miles, and there are eleven stations along - the road.
The original charter of the Springfield and Northwestern company was dated March 24, 1869. The main line was put in operation December, 1874. The Wabash company is now operating the road. The aggregate lengtli of tracks is 47.7 miles, and there are nine stations on the road.
.
The Sycamore, Cortland and Chicago Railroad Company took the present name in 1877. The road was chartered in 1858 under the Sycamore and Cortland Railway Company. There are but 6.90 miles. in the track.
The Terre Haute and Indianapolis Railroad Company was named March 6. 1865. It was incorporated January 26, 1847, under the name of Terre Haute and Richmond Railroad Company. This road operates 188.03 miles of track in Illinois, upon which there are thirty- · nine stations.
The Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw railroad is owned and operated by the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Company. The aggregate length of track in Illinois is 281.87 miles.
The Union Stock Yards and Transit Company, of Chicago, was. organized under a charter of February 13, 1865, by which it was. required to construct a railway from the yards so as to connect the same with all the tracks of railroads which terminate in Chicago. between the lake shore and southwest corner of the city. The length. of track now constructed and used for that purpose is about 45 miles. The above named company has no organization as a railroad company, and operates no railroad, but owns and keeps in repair the: above-mentioned track.
The Wabash, Chester and Western Railroad Company was organ- ized February 20, 1878, and is formed by the consolidation and pur- chase of several roads. The aggregate length of track is 45.55 miles and the number of stations fifteen.
The Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Company is a consoli-
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85
OFFICERS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
dation of several companies. The Great Western Railway Company was organized in 1859 and the Toledo and Wabash railway was organized in-1862. These two roads consolidated in 1865 and took the name of Toledo Wabash and Western railway. This railway was placed in the hands of a receiver in 1875, and in February, 1877, the Wabaslı Railway Company acquired the property of the Toledo, Wabash and Western railway. November 10, 1879, the Wabash railway con- solidated with the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern railway, taking the name of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway Com- pany. The aggregate length of track belonging to this company in Illinois is 1,265.68 miles, and there are two hundred and eighty-four stations.
OFFICERS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
ILLINOIS TERRITORY.
Date of Commission or Inauguration.
Nathaniel Pope.
. Secretary of Territory
March 7, 1809.
Ninian Edwards Governor
H. H. Maxwell.
Auditor Public Accounts
· 1816.
Joseplı Phillips Secretary
December 17, 1816.
Robert Blackwell
Auditor Public Accounts April 5, 1817.
Elijalı C. Berry
Auditor Public Accounts August 29, 1817.
Jolın Thomas. Treasurer 1818.
ILLINOIS STATE.
Shadrach Bond
Governor October 6, 1818.
Pierre Menard
Lieutenant-Governor .October 6, 1818.
Elias J. Kane
.Secretary of State. .October 6, 1818.
Elias C. Berry
Auditor Public Accounts. 1818.
John Thomas. . Treasurer
1818.
Robert K. MeLaughlin Treasurer.
August 2, 1819.
Edward Coles.
Governor. December, 1822.
Adolphus F. Hubbard
Lieutenant-Governor . December, 1822.
Sam. D. Lockwood
Secretary of State December 18, 1822.
Abner Field . Treasurer .January 14, 1823. .
David Blackwell
Secretary of State April 2, 1823.
Morris Birbeek
Secretary of State
. October 15, 1824
George Forquer
Secretary of State January 15, 1825.
Ninian Edwards
. Governor . December, 1826.
Wm. Kinney
Lieutenant-Governor December, 1826.
James Hall. Treasurer February 12, 1827.
. April 24, 1809.
Dan. P. Cook. Auditor Public Accounts
January 13, 1816.
86
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
Alexander P. Field. Secretary of State January 23, 1829.
John Reynolds . Governor .
December 9, 1830.
Zadock Casey.
. Lieutenant-Governor.
.December 9, 1830.
John Dement. . Treasurer. February 5, 1831.
James T. B. Stapp Auditor Public Accounts
August 27, 1831.
Joseph Duncan . Governor
. December, 1834.
Alexander M. Jenkins. Lieutenant-Governor
. December, 1834.
Levi Davis. . Auditor Public Accounts
.November, 1835.
Charles Gregory
. Treasurer.
December 5, 1836.
John D. Whiteside
. Treasurer
March 4, 1837.
Thomas Carlin. Governor
December, 1838.
Stinson H. Anderson Lieutenant-Governor
. December, 1838.
Stephen A. Douglas .Secretary of State.
November 30, 1840.
Lyman Trumbull
. Secretary of State
March 1, 1841.
Milton Carpenter . Treasurer
March, 1841.
James Shields Auditor Public Accounts
March, 1841.
Thomas Ford. . Governor.
December 8, 1842.
John Moore Lieutenant-Governor
December 8, 1842.
Thomas Campbell.
Secretary of State. March 6, 1843.
Wm. L. D. Ewing
Auditor Public Accounts
.March 6, 1843.
Thomas H. Campbell
Auditor Pub. Accts. (fill vacancy) March 26, 1846.
Aug. C. French . Governor.
December 9, 1846.
Joseph B. Wells.
. Lieutenant-Governor December 9, 1846.
Horace S. Cooley
Secretary of State.
. December 23, 1846.
John Moore. Treasurer (vacancy)
. August 14, 1848.
Wm. McMurtry
. Lieutenant-Governor
January, 1849.
David L. Gregg
.Secretary of State (vacancy)
April 3, 1850.
Joel A. Matteson
Governor
January, 1853.
Gustavus Koerner.
Lieutenant-Governor.
. January, 1853.
Alex. Starne
Secretary of State. January, 1853.
Ninian W. Edwards.
Superintendent Pub. Inst.
March 24, 1854.
Wm. H. Bissell
. Governor.
January 12, 1857.
John Wood.
. Lieutenant-Governor . January 12, 1857.
Ozias M. Hatch
Secretary State . January 12, 1857.
Jesse K. Dubois Auditor Public Accounts January 12, 1857.
James Miller Treasurer
. January 12, 1857.
Wm. H. Powell
. Superintendent Public Inst. .January 12, 1857.
Newton Bateman .Superintendent Public Inst. January 10, 1859.
Wm. Butler . Treasurer (vacancy)
.September 3, 1859.
Rich. Yates. Governor
. January 14, 1861.
Francis A. Hoffman . Lieutenant Governor
.January 14, 1861.
Ozias M. Hatch Secretary State January 14, 1861.
Jesse K. Dubois
Auditor Public Accounts January 14, 1861.
Wm. Butler . Treasurer
January 14, 1861.
Newton Bateman Superintendent, Public Inst January 14, 1861.
Alexander Starne
. Treasurer January 12, 1863 ..
John P. Brooks . Superintendent Public Inst. . January 12, 1863.
Rich. J. Oglesby
Governor January 16, 1865.
Wm. Bross Lieutenant Governor January 16, 1865 ..
87
OFFICERS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.
Sharon Tyndale Secretary State January 16, 1865.
Orlin H. Miner
. Auditor Public Accounts
December 12, 1864.
James Beveridge
.Treasurer January 9, 1865.
Newton Bateman
Superintendent Public Inst January 10, 1865.
Geo. W. Smith Treasurer
January 10, 1867.
Jno. M. Palmer Governor
January 11, 1869.
John Dougherty
Lieutenant Governor January 11, 1869.
Edward Rummell
Secretary of State January 11, 1869.
Chas. E. Lippincott
Auditor Public Accounts January 11, 1869.
Erastus N. Bates Treasurer
November 8, 1870.
Rich. J. Oglesby
Governor
January 13, 1873.
John L. Beveridge
Lieutenant Governor January 13, 1873.
George H. Harlow
Secretary of State January 13, 1873.
Chas. E. Lippincott
Auditor Public Accounts January 13, 1873.
Ed. Rutz . Treasurer
January 13, 1873.
John L. Beveridge
. Governor
January 23, 1873.
John Early
Lieutenant Governor January 23, 1873.
S. M. Cullom
Governor
January 8, 1877.
Andrew Shuman
Lieutenant Governor
January 8, 1877.
George Harlow Secretary of State January 8, 1877.
Ed. Rutz . Treasurer January 8, 1877.
T. B. Needles
Auditor Public Accounts January 8, 1877.
S. M. Etter
Superintendent Pub. Inst January 8, 1877.
J. P. Slade
Superintendent Pub. Inst January 8, 1879.
J. C. Smith. . Treasurer. January 8, 1879.
CHAPTER XI.
UNIVERSITIES.
THE ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY.
THIS institution, located at Normal, Illinois, was founded by the act of February 18, 1857, and began operations October 5, 1857. The whole number of students who have received instruction since- the institution was founded is about 7,000. The average attendance in the Normal department is 275, and in the Model department 175.
The university building is one hundred and sixty feet long, has. three stories and a basement, and stands in a beautiful park of fifty-six acres, ornamented with fine evergreens and other trees. The original cost of the building was about $150,000. The lands and most of the cost of building was donated, of which donations, McLean county
90
A BRIEF HISTORY OF ILLINOIS.
THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS NORMAL UNIVERSITY.
[From Illinois Legislative Manual.] >
This institution was founded by act of the legislature, approved April 29, 1869. Its location was fixed at Carbondale by a commission appointed by Governor Palmer, and the corner-stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies May 17, 1870. The work of instruction began within its walls July 2, 1874. On September 6, 1874, the regular ses- sions of the Normal University commenced.
The building is brick, in the Norman style of architecture, with trimmings of sandstone in two colors. It is two hundred and fifteen feet in extreme length and one hundred and nine feet in width. It las a basement story, two stories, and a mansard story. The basement is devoted to the apparatus for heating, and for laboratory and dissecting rooms, exercises in unpleasant weather, and as a residence for the jani- tor. The mansard is for lecture hall, library, museum, art gallery and rooms for literary societies. The other two stories are for purposes of study and recitation.
The faculty consists of eleven professors and teachers, who have been selected from the best institutions in the west. There are also employed twenty-five or more pupil teachers or tutors. Rev. Robert Allyn, D.D., became principal about 1874. He had been at the head of several other institutions and was remarkably successful.
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY,
WITH
PERSONAL SKETCHES OF MANY INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTY.
"Temperance, morals, courteous bearing, And the hand to help all round, Each another's burden sharing,- Generous traits like these abound ; Energetic, self-confiding, And religious and sincere, Patient, duteous, law-abiding,- Men like these are common here."
THE HISTORIAN'S TASK.
DEDICATED TO EMMA C. PIATT BY WILSON F. COX.
A truly patriotic task, to hand To future generations yet unborn, The treasured annals of your native land,
Where grows the waving wheat and golden corn.
A truly patriotic task, to tell Of hardy pioneers who, from afar, Sought out the fertile land we love so well, As led by " Empire's westward beacon Star."
A truly patriotic task, to speak Of times of danger, peril and of fear, When oft was heard the agonizing shriek Of victims of the tomahawk and spear.
A truly patriotic task, to write Of times that tried the souls of bravest men ; When fond adieux were spoken by each at night Lest they in life should never meet again.
92
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
A truly patriotic task, to teach The story of those troublous times of yore, That, filled with love and gratitude, we each Due honor give those heroes for the scars they bore.
A truly patriotic task is yours, To delve into the mysteries of the past, And drag from thence the legendary stores, Revealing deeds of bravery unsurpassed.
A truly patriotic task, to weave In web historic, scenes of toil and strife; Of dangers boldly met at morn and eve, - From lurking foes who sought each patriot's life.
A truly patriotic task, to blend In story true, the struggles of our sires, Who periled life and fortune to defend Their country's honor, and their homes and fires.
A truly patriotic task, to wield The pen (a weapon mightier than the sword),
Portraying deeds of bravery on the fields, By which our glorious union was restored.
A truly patriotic task. to shed Through hist'ry's page, the light that shall reveal Those virtues of the brave and honored dead, Which nought can tarnish, cancel or conceal.
A truly patriotic task, to trace The course of progress in its onward way; Annihilating distance, time and space, And bending all beneath its mighty sway.
A truly patriotic task, to stand Between the ages past and those to come, Bind this to that, as with a m: gic band Of sacred memories surrounding home.
CHAPTER I.
PIATT COUNTY-ITS TOPOGRAPHY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND RESOURCES.
L OCATION .- Near the center of one of the richest and most influ- ential states of the Union, and about midway between Chicago and St. Louis, the chief cities of central United States, is located the little county of Piatt. It lies right in the midst of the great agricultural region of Illinois, and the neighboring counties being influential in the state, thus aid in advancing the interests of Piatt county. . McLean and De Witt counties form the northern boundary ; Champaign and Douglas bound it on the east; Moultrie forms the southern boundary, while it is bounded on the west by Macon and De Witt counties.
Area .- Piatt county comprises an area of 438 sections, or 280,320 acres of land. This land is divided into eight townships, as follows :
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