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 9
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Monticello Township 48 Sections
Bement Township. 48 Sections
Sangamon Township 48 Sections
Unity Township. 48 Sections
Goose Creek Township
56 Sections
Cerro Gordo Township. 593 Sections
Blue Ridge Township. .. 64 Sections
Willow Branch Township. 66} Sections
According to the assessor's list of 1879, the acres and value of im- proved and unimproved lands were as follows :
Improved land.
.262,068 acres
Unimproved land. 13,509 acres
Total value . $3,635,177
Within the last three years much of the formerly "raw " land has been improved, and the value of all the land has been greatly ad- vanced. Preparations are being continually made for the improving of the low lands in the county. Tiling has already done much in this direction, but its value in preparing the soil for cultivation is not, as yet, half realized. It will not be long before every foot of soil in this county will be under cultivation.
Topography .- The physical features of the county are similar to
94
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
those of the surrounding counties. However, the amount of timber and prairie land is probably more nearly equal here than in some of the neighboring counties. The surface, in the most part, is undu- lating, the northern part of the county, however, being more rolling than the land of the southern townships.
Hydrography .- In the main, the county has excellent natural drainage. A ridge, striking the county line a little north of Cerro Gordo and extending northeasterly through the county, passing between Bement and Monticello and extending into Champaign county, forms the water-shed between the Illinois and Kaskaskia rivers, both tributaries of the Mississippi river. From this ridge magnificent views of various parts of the county can be seen. A beholder, some sunshiny day in harvest time, standing on the ridge at a point east of Monti- cello, could ask for no grander view in any agricultural region of the state. The eye leaving the timber, which is visible as far as the eye can reach to the northeast, and turning slowly to the east and south- east, is first attracted by the undulating prairie, dotted everywhere with fast growing groves of trees. A protracted glance takes in the beautiful effect produced by the various fields of grain and corn, and a practical eye readily sees a "mint of money " literally growing on the ground. This is but an illustration of what may be seen at any point of the ridge.
A little north of this ridge, and coursing southwesterly across the county, flows the Sangamon river, through quite a belt of timber. The principal tributaries of the Sangamon on the north are Madden's Run, Goose Creek, Wild Cat Creek and Friend's Creek, which runs through a very small portion of the western part of the county. Camp Creek and Willow Branch are the principal tributaries on the south. The extreme northern part of the county is drained by Salt Creek, another tributary of the Sangamon. The southern and southeastern part of the county drains into the Kaskaskia through the West Okaw and Lake Fork of the Okaw. It is in the southeastern part of the county that the drainage is most inefficient. The fall of the country along the Lake Fork is very slight, and during the rainy season of the year acres of rich and valuable land are submerged. A movement is under foot now which we hope will be successful. It is proposed to deepen the channel of the Lake Fork in eastern Bement township and southern Monticello, or in other words dig a big ditch which will be of size sufficient to drain all the swamp lands in that section of the county. This is a want long felt and we trust the wished for result is near at hand.
95
TOPOGRAPHY, AGRICULTURE, RESOURCES.
There are a few living springs in the county. Probably the most noted of these is Coon's spring, on the south bank of the Sangamon, a little above the Marquiss ford. This is quite a resort, and serves alternately for camp-meeting and picnic grounds. Another spring near the Wabash railroad bridge, has also attracted pleasure seekers. From the bluff above this spring, probably the most beautiful view of the Sangamon in the county can be seen.
The main dependence of the people for water is in wells, and an abundant supply of excellent drinking water can be had at a moderate depth of digging. In some cases, upon boring for water, a seemingly exhaustless supply has been obtained.
Mounds .- Up the river, a little way from the spring just referred to, are a number of mounds, commonly known as Indian mounds. According to Mr. McAdams, of Otterville, Illinois, who has given " American antiquities " many years of study, it is impossible to definitely ascribe these mounds as being the work of the Indians, the "Pottery-makers," or the mound-builders, without an examination of the remains and implements which are now, or were once probably contained in them.
Climate .- In regard to the climate of the county we quote the following : "Closely bordered on the east by the vast forests of In- diana ; sheltered by the fringes of forest that line the banks of the sinuous streams and the island-like groves of forest; located out of the direct route of the trade-winds from the southwest, though these are mildly deflected to us by the river forests of the Kaskaskia and Sanga- mon rivers, and little subject to the cold currents from the polar plains, that press down the valley of the upper Mississippi, making a variance in the isothermal lines that mark the several seasons," this county shows a more equable climate than most other parts of the country.
Agricultural Products .- " When the county was first settled the rank grasses presented an impediment to evaporation, and the result was a moist climate, that gave a too luxuriant growth to wheat and oats. This resulted in the lodging of the latter and producing rust in the former, but culture and pasturage have so modified these conditions that the latter is becoming one of our great staples, and the former, both in its spring and winter varieties, is becoming more and more popular as we learn better how to manage this crop."
The soil of the county is well adapted to the grasses, and there is often good grazing for nearly nine months in the year. Portions of
96
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
many of tlie farms in the county have been used for no other purpose save that of grazing.
Sorghum has met with encouraging results in this county. The potato crop averages well. All cereals are at home on this soil; but the grand staple of the county is Indian corn. . In all the fifty years since the first settlement of this county, the time has not been known when there was an absolute failure of the corn crop. Some large farms in the county are devoted entirely to the raising of broom corn.
Fruit .- This county produces as fine a quality of fruit as any tract of land of similar size in central Illinois. Many varieties of the apple and pear trees, and many varieties of the grape, blackberry, raspberry and other small fruits are grown. About every other year peaches of good quality grow in abundance. The several nurseries and many fine orchards testify to the fact that this is a fruit growing county.
In order to more fully portray the adaptability of this soil for agri- cultural products, we quote from the assessor's report of 1879 the following :
CROPS IN ACRES.
Other
Meadow. Products.
Monticello.
Wheat. 497
Corn. 8,994
Oats. 1,429
1,176
631
Bement
403
10,393
1,453
2,203
2,25
Unity . . . ..
923
10,221
904
1,223
862
Cerro Gordo.
1,203
14,969
2,199
2,391
1,597
Willow. Branch
628
13.741
1,655
2,551
593
Goosè Creck :
486
12,289
2,392
1,750
1,311
Blue Ridge :
264
21,465
3,505
3,152
704
Sangamon.
1,000
11,371
1,555
1,781
1,473
According to the same report, in 1879 there were 44,153 acres of inclosed pasture ; 2,274 acres in orchard ; and 49,463 acres of woodland in the county.
Stock .- But a glance over the reports just given suffices to indicate that stock-raising must be carried on in this county. For fifty years this has been one of the great industries of the county. According to the assessor's report of 1882 the county contained 6,321 sheep ; 10,064 mules and horses ; 16,218 cattle, and 27,493 hogs ; the aggregate value, of the same being estimated at $564,238.
The grade of stock in the county is continually improving. In regard to cattle the short-horns seem to have the preference of the people, and consequently there are several herds in the county. The dairy stock is also improving. In this the Jerseys and Alderneys have the preference. The Berkshire, Poland China and Red-rocks or Jersey-red hogs are the principal improved grades in the county. Of horses, the draft stock has been principally in demand. Of late years
97
TOPOGRAPHY, AGRICULTURE, RESOURCES.
several importations of horses have been made from Great Britain and France. Trotting horses have been introduced into the southern part of the county from a Kentucky grade of stock. The influence of these superior grades of stock for the road and for work has already been felt, and we are glad to note the increasing interest in this direction.
Markets. - Subsequent to statements relating to the agricultural products and the stock of the county; there comes a' query relating to the markets and shipping facilities. In regard to railroad facilities this county is second to none"in central Illinois. Not a foot of ground lies farther than six miles from a railroad ; ay, and we are very near the truth when we say that every foot of land is within six miles of a rail- road station. Five railroads cross the county in a general direction from east to west, making abundant facilities for marketing in the east- ern cities. The railroad extending north and south through the middle of the county connects the rival cities of Chicago and St. Louis, and affords ample means for shipments to either place. We quote the following, showing the distance of Monticello from some of the neigh- boring cities and principal market places in the United States.
Miles.
Miles.
Champaign
20
St. Louis.
135
Decatur ..
26
Indianapolis
139
Bloomington:
46
Toledo
303
Danville
53
Baltimore
936
Springfield
65
New York
1024
Havannah
86
Boston
1098
Chicago
146
Manufactures, etc. - In manufactures, Piatt county is extremely limited. Agricultural implements, wagons, buggies, etc., are made, but in limited quantities. Brick kilns are in several parts of the county, while tile manufactories are becoming quite plentiful and very profit- able. The county is well supplied with flour mills : Monticello, Bement, Cerro-Gordo and Mansfield, each contains mills, while there is a water- power mill about a mile north of Monticello, on the Sangamon river. There is a steam saw-mill in connection with the latter mill. Piatt county needs more manufactures. With its good railroad facilities we see no reason why almost any manufacturing establishment would not do well. Within the last year or two several tow-mills have been started, and with success. We are glad of it and trust that mills of various kinds will follow suit.
In the foregoing manner have we related some of the advantages, the resources and needs of Piatt county. No attempt has been made to overrate it, while we have conscientiously striven to give it due mention.
CHAPTER II.
GEOLOGY OF PIATT COUNTY.
T THERE is an older history of this little speck of the vast globe which we call Piatt county than the traditions of the log cabin, or even those roving tribes that preceded the cabin, can tell us. For this oldest history we must look to the first and oldest settlers-the rocks. But the record of so small and uniform a space must necessarily be brief.
The great geological revolutions which have rent and upheaved and turned the strata in other portions of the globe by which the clue to that long dark past is discovered, seem not to liave disturbed this locality ; or, if such disturbances took place they have been carefully covered over and hidden by the peaceful action of later ages.
Beneath us may be the relic of an ancient sea-floor, overlaid by the traces of a vanished land surface, over which again the waters may have left marks of their dominion. There may be great coal measures with their buried forms of extinct vegetation. Perhaps there are traces of a sea-shore, where huge animals left the prints of their ponderous tread, or a tiny raindrop its impress, to tell us of its missive then as now. There may be indications of great forests, or vast marshes where gigantic reptiles floundered. But if there are such records they are sealed in that great tomb beneath us to which we have had, as yet, no admittance.
While the region around the great lakes and the Alleghanies were rearing their heads above the waters, as the forerunners of this great continent, this, with the adjoining counties of central Illinois, was a part of a vast ocean bed. Not until during what is called in geology the Carboniferous age is it supposed that it emerged fron its watery depths. There are no formations to be seen, however, older than the Drift.
One vast age, the Tertiary, had begun and ended its unknown myriads of years, and another, the Quaternary, has begun since the Carboniferous, before what is called the Drift or Glacial period was formed. The phenomena representing this period seems to have been caused by a great refrigeration of the climate, which reached such a
99
GEOLOGY OF PIATT COUNTY.
height that the whole continent north of 39 degrees was loaded with immense accumulations of ice and snow which overrode hill and valley, removing soil and surface material to the southward. In this way those large stones called bowlders scattered over the county are accounted for. They were carried here and left by the powerful gla- cier. Not only the bowlders are accounted for in this way, but the clay, sands and pebbles.
The survey taken of the county under the authority of the States in 1868 gives the following observations :
Appearance of the drift at the Sangamon river bridge near Monti- cello :
1. Yellowish-brown clay 5 feet.
2. Clay, sand and bowlders. 5 feet.
3. Dark ash, brown clay, fine sand and pebbles. 4 feet.
4. Black clay .. . 1 foot. .
5. Clay streaked brown and black and with ochrey red. 8 feet.
Sangamon bluffs :
1. Brown clay 6 feet.
2. Pebbles and clay . 10 feet.
3. At top dark-brown clay, below reddish brown finely com- mingled sand and clay 14 feet.
Between Monticello and Centerville the road washings disclose three to four feet of bright brown clay, sometimes brown sand, pebbles and bowlders. On the prairies there are bowlders of granite of vari- ous colors : gray, red, sienitic, granite, quartzite, and altered sandstone, gneiss and greenstone; and in the altered drift Devonian fossils and fragments of coal measure rocks.
Springs higlily colored with oxide of iron are found. On Sec. 29, T. 19 N., R. 5 E., there are many such springs. Some of them are strongly chalybeate. In one gas arises, and a quantity of brown sediment is deposited on its sides, and it is marshy around. Some of the wells dug and bored from sixty to one hundred feet are supplied with a seemingly exhaustless amount of water. This great vein of water is thus reached at various depths throughout the county. In Goose Creek township a well was bored 120 feet, but the vein was not reached. On the fair-grounds it was reached at fifty-two feet. Accord- ing to the state geological survey, in the northern part of the county, water is reached at a depth of from twelve to twenty feet. Bement, fifteen to thirty feet, and on the prairie near Monticello at from twenty to thirty feet. For surface water, wells in the timber are dug deeper
100
IIISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
than in the prairie, but 'tis vice versa in regard to the never-failing . stream.
One of the wells dug in the county showed a fine deposition of conglomerate, supposed to have been from the bottom of Lake Michigan when its outlet was the Mississippi river. Pieces of wood have been found in various wells of the county. Mr. Jesse Warner reports a piece of wood resembling- a crab-apple branch, well preserved, and at the depth of twenty-five feet. We might mention other similar remains of former geological periods, and we suppose there have been some depositions discovered which have not come under our notice.
CHAPTER III.
FLORA OF PIATT COUNTY .*
BY A. B. S.
THE object of this article is to give a list of the plants growing spontaneously in Piatt county. Such a list may be utilized in various ways. To the botanist, it answers the purpose of an elaborate flora, for, having a manual of botany, he can refer from that to the list or the reverse, and so has all the necessary information at his command. It greatly facilitates the study of botany to the beginner, for instead of having to find the place of any species among the two thousand six hundred described in Gray's Manual, covering all the Northern States, he has only to find its place among the few hundred growing in this county. It is also valuable as an index to the character of the region, its soil and capabilities of production. Woods, prairie, high ground and low, each has its peculiar vegetation, which the botanist recognizes at once.
In addition to the bare list, a few notes are given under the more important families, which it is hoped will increase its interest to the general reader. The common names are also given, when there are any, and the kind of place in which the plant grows.
The list is known to be incomplete, especially in certain groups
* Since this is not a scientific work, but only an ordinary one, a strictly scientific manner has not been followed in the printing of the following list of plants. The paragraphs following the name of the order are begun with generic names, while other scientific names in the same paragraph are names of species.
101
FLORA OF PIATT COUNTY.
such as the sedges and some genera of compositæ, and this is regretted, but is unavoidable, owing to the limited time available for making observations and collecting specimens. Additions will be welcome.
Ranunculaceæ- Crowfoot family. This family is notable for the simplicity of structure of its flowers. The parts are all inserted sepa- rately on the receptacle. In many species the corolla is wanting, in which case the calyx is colored like a corolla. The stamens are usually numerous and often the pistils also. . A number of our common spring flowers belong here ; also some cultivated species, such as the pæony.
Clematis (virgin's bower) .- Pitcheri, T. & G. River banks. Virginiana, L. (common virgin's bower). Banks of streams.
Anemone .- Virginiana, L. (Virginian anemone). Woods. Pennsylvanica, L. (Pennsylvanian anemone). Low grounds, mostly in woods.
Hepatica .- Acutiloba, DC. (liver-leaf). Woods; common. This is the name under which our form is commonly placed, but there are good evidences that all the forms belong to one species, and H. triloba is probably the oldest name. The acute-lobed form sometimes has five-lobed leaves, but a specimen five-lobed with very rounded lobes has been found in the county.
Thalictrum .- Anemonoides, Michx. (rue-anemone). Woods; common. Dio- icum, L. (early meadow-rue). Woods and fields. Purpurascens, L. (purplish meadow-rue). Fields and damp grounds. .
Ranunculus .- Aquatilis, L., var. trichophyllus, Chaix. (white water-crowfoot). Shallow ponds. Multifidus, Pursh. (yellow water-crowfoot). Shallow ponds. Abortivus, L. (small-flowered crowfoot). Damp grounds and banks of streams; common. Recurvatus, Poir. (hooked crowfoot). Woods; peculiar for its hooked styles. Repens, L. (creeping crowfoot). Damp woods and meadows; common.
Isopyrumn .- Biternatum, Tow. & Gr. Damp woods ; much resembling Thalic- trum anemonoides, and often mistaken for it.
Caltha .- Palustris, L. (marsh marigold). Wet meadows.
Aquilegia .- Canadensis, L. (wild columbine). High banks of the Sangamon ; more graceful than the garden columbine (A. vulgaris). It is itself often culti- vated.
Delphinium .- Tricome (larkspur). Woods.
Hydrastis .- Canadensis, L. Rich woods; rare. w
Actæa .- Alba, Bigel (white baneberry). Hillsides in woods. The red bane- berry may also occur, but can hardly be distinguished without the fruit.
Anonaceæ-Custard-apple family.
Asimina .- Triloba, Duval (common pawpaw). River bottoms, also dry woods ; much more abundant south ward than here.
Menispermaceæ-Moonseed family.
Menispermum .- Canadense, L. (common moonseed). Woods, thickets, etc.
Berberidaceæ-Barberry family.
Podophyllum .- Peltatum, L. (May-apple). Rich woods; common.
Nymphaceæ-Water-lily family.
Nuphar .- Advena, Ait. (yellow pond-lily). Shallow ponds and streams.
102
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
Papaveraceæ-Poppy family.
Sanguinaria .- Canadensis, L. (blood-root). Hillsides in rich woods.
Fumariaceae-Fumitory family.
Dicentra .- Cucullaria, DC. (Dutchman's breeches). Rich woods.
Cruciferæ-Mustard family. The flowers have four sepals, four petals placed in the form of a cross (whence the family name), six stamens, two of which are shorter than the rest, and a pod divided into two cells by a false partition. The two valves split away and leave the partition. It includes such cultivated plants as the cabbage, turnip, radish, cress and sweet alyssum.
Nasturtium (water-cress) .- Sessiliflorum, Nutt. Wet places. Palustre, DC. (marsh cress). Low grounds. Armoracia, Fries (horseradish). Escaped from cultivation.
Dentaria .- Laciniata, Muhl. (toothwort; pepper-root). Rich woods.
Cardamine .- Rhomboidea, DC. (spring cress). Wet places. Hirsuta, L. (small bitter cress). Wet places.
Arabis (rock cress) .- Lævigata, DC. Hillsides in woods. Hesperioides, Gray. Banks of streams.
Sisymbrium .- Officinale, Scop. (hedge mustard). A weed common'in waste places.
Brassica .- Nigra, Gray (black mustard). Fields and waste places; common.
Capsella .- Bursa-pastoris, Mænch (shepherd's purse). A weed; common.
Lepidium .- Virginicum, L. (wild peppergrass). A common weed, often with the last.
Violaceæ-Violet family.
Viola .- Cucullata, Ait. (common blue violet). Moist places. Pubescens, Ait. (downy yellow violet).
Hypericaceæ-St. John's-wort family.
Hypericum (St. John's-wort) .- Sphærocarpon, Michx. Dry prairies. Corym- bosum, Muhl. Damp places.
Caryophyllaceæ- Pink family.
Silene (catchfly) .- Stellata, Ait. (starry campion). Woods. Anthirrhina, L. (sleepy catchfly). Dry prairies and fields.
Cerastium .- Nutans, Raf. Damp places.
Portulacaceæ-Purslane family.
Portulaca .- Oleracea, L. (common purslane). A weed common in gardens everywhere. .
Claytonia .- Virginica, L. (spring-beauty). Woods.
Malvaceæ-Mallow family. This is the family to which the cot- ton plant belongs. The family is characterized by numerous stamens whose filaments are united into a tube, around the styles and at the base, to the cohering bases of the petals and several to many pistils . which form in fruit either a several-celled pod or a collection of one-
103
FLORA OF PIATT COUNTY.
seeded carpels. The flower is often subtended by an involucre. A number of graceful cultivated plants belong here, and some not so graceful, such as the hollyhock. The family is largely tropical.
Malva .- Rotundifolia, L. (common mallow). Roadsides and waste places. Sida .- Spinosa, L. Roadsides. Sida.
Abutilon .- Avicennæ, Gærtn. (Indian mallow; velvet-leaf). Cultivated grounds and waste places. "This is the somewhat troublesome weed that is being successfully utilized as a textile plant at Springfield, Ill." Several beau- tiful cultivated plants belong to this genus.
Hibiscus .- Militaris, Cav. (halberd-leaved rose-mallow). Wet places and borders of ponds; not common; a large and showy plant; it does well in culti- vation, and is well worth cultivating.
Tiliaceæ-Linden family.
Tilia .- Americana, L. (linden ; basswood.) Rich woods and river banks.
Linaceæ-Flax family.
Linum .- Usitatissimum, L. (common flax). Found springing up from seeds scattered along the railroad at Monticello; it is also cultivated in this county.
Geraniaceæ-Geranium family. The cultivated geraniums belong to the genus Pelargonium of this family. Most of them grow wild at the Cape of Good Hope. The pods of the wild touch-me-not burst at maturity with the slightest touch, like the garden balsam, and often throw their seeds several feet.'
Geranium .- Maculatum, L. (wild cranesbill). Woods and fields.
Impatiens .- Fulva, Nutt. (spotted touch-me-not). Shady moist places.
Oxalis .- Violacea, L. Shady places. Stricta, L. Often in cultivated grounds. Rutaceæ-Rue family.
Zanthoxylum .- Americanum, Mill. (prickly ash). Banks of streams.
Anacardiaceæ-Cashew family.
Rhus .- Glabra, L. (smooth sumach). Hillsides, undisturbed fence-rows, etc. Toxicodendron, L. (poison ivy). Woods, thickets, fence corners, etc .; common. The climbing form, var. radicans, grows luxuriantly along the river near Monti- cello. It has recently been discovered by Prof. T. J. Burrill, of the State University, that bacteria constitute the poisonous property of this plant. They are minute vegetable organisms belonging with the lowest fungi. This plant, with its three leaflets, should not be confounded with the Virginia creeper, which has five.
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