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Knox County ILGenWeb |
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History of Yates City |
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"Yates City was laid out Oct. 21, 1857, by William Bulcok Thompson, Maple Rufus, H. Bishop, Bostwick Kent, James Bursen and Henry Bursen. It has a Steam Flouring Mill, several Stores and does a good local trade. The C. B. & Q. R. R. has a branch running south from Yates City, and only 3 miles east a road running north. With its Rail Road facilities, and fine location, it is destined to be a place of some importance." From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago. [Submitted by Jan Bony.] YATES CITY is very pleasantly located on the Peoria Branch of the C., B.& Q. R. R., in the northeast portion of Salem Township. It was platted in October, 1857, by Amos C. and William Babcock, James Burson and Bostwick Kent, and was surveyed by Elias T. Byram, October, 1857. It embraced the whole of section 11. The land was purchased from R. H. Bishop, Mrs. Gray and W. D. Dixon. It was named after Yates County, N. Y., where the Babcocks were born and raised. The first building erected in this town was in 1857, by James Burson, which was located on the corner of Union and Main Streets, and was used for a store. In 1858 another store was built by W. D. Dixon and D. B. Coykendall; Mr. Stimalt, John Sonnemaker and A. Kerns erected dwellings. When the depot was located here an impetus was given to the growth of the town, and it has been increasing in population from that time on. It was incorporated as a village by a special act of the Legislature in 1864. An election was had in April for organization. D. Touslee, W. H. Kestman, G. N. Pierce, J. D. Roberts and F. Madder were elected Trustees. At a subsequent meeting of the Board, D. Touslee was chosen President; E. B. Rhea, Clerk Benj. Kersey, Treasurer; W. L. Adams, Marshal; and David Wilkes, Police Magistrate. Yates City is one of the most thrifty towns in the county, full of life and vigor. It is surrounded by as fine a farming country as there is in the State. It has a large flouring mill, a good brick and tile factory, a first class wagon-shop and a sorghum mill. The wagon factory is owned by W. D. Alley, and was established some 18 years ago. Mr. Alley's wagons have a wide reputation, and he has a ready sale for all that he can make. Sleighs and cutters are also made at this factory. In addition to this, Yates City has a good banking institution, known as the Farmers' Bank, which is ably presided over by L. F. Wortman. Several large business houses, lumber-yards and elevator, and many other business establishments are located here. There is here a co-operative store, which was organized in the spring of 1875. Its capital stock now is $20,000, and the business is carried on in a two-story brick building, which was erected by this company at a cost of $3,000. They are now out of debt and have a fund large enough to meet purchasing demands, and hereafter it is proposed to pay dividends. Three churches have been established here, and also an excellent graded school and a newspaper. It is the headquarters of the construction train for this division, and the Junction of the Buda Branch. the people are enterprising, hospitable, social and moral. The present population is about 1,000. the present officials are : C. S. Roberts, Wm. Burson, Wm. Nash, H. J. Truitt and F. T. Westfall, Trustees: with C. S. Roberts, President; R. A. Fulton, Clerk and Lewis Serles, Marshal. Postmaster, Smith Rhea. Yates City has one of the best public graded schools in the county. A full English course is taught, with the sciences and Latin. S. C. Ransom is the Principal, and E. F. Cunningham, Assistant. Miss Lizzie Furniss has charge of the Grammar Department; the Intermediate is under the charge of Miss Ella E. Williams, and the Primary is presided over by Miss M. E. Clancey. The enrollment is 225 with an average attendance of 200. Connected with the school department is the Salem Teachers' Association, which has a membership of 25. Meetings are held monthly during the school season. It has been organized about one year. A well-selected library is one of the features of this school, containing 1,480 volumes. This school has a good corps of teachers, who are interested in their work and thorough in their system. PRESS. Industrial Banner. The first issue of this paper was out before the reading world on Christmas Day, 1879. It was published by A. H. McKeighan, who is printer, editor and publisher, and advocated the Greenback Policy. It is a seven-column folio, issued every Friday, is neatly printed, well edited and devoted to the advancement of the interests of Yates City. In politics it is now Independent, its editor holding himself free to advocate the claims of that party which in his judgment, will serve the interests of the people. It is quite liberally patronized for a territory so limited in population, having a circulation of about 600. The Maquon Sunbeam is published by Mr. McKeighan, and is printed at the Banner office, with a circulation of about 100. Before coming to Yates City, Mr. McKeigham published the Stream of Light at Ipava, in Fulton County. RELIGIOUS. The Presbyterian Church. A committee appointed by the Presbytery of Peoria to organize a church in Yates City met at the school house Nov. 1, 1866. After a sermon by Rev. Thomas Stevenson, the meeting was opened for the admission of members and election of officers. The enrollment was made and Joseph Cunningham and William B. Mathews were elected as Elders, after which they wore declared to be duly organized as the First Presbyterian Church of Yates City. There were 18 members who were admitted mostly by letter, having belonged to other organizations. when the organization was completed the congregation proceeded to the election of Trustees, which resulted in the choice of the following: John C. Bryson, John D. Henry, William B. Mathews. The committee of the Presbytery were Thomas Stevenson J. H. Smith and John Marshall. John H. Smith was the first pastor, and was followed respectively by Revs. J. E. Caruthers, L. D. Wells, L. C. Littell, C. F. Carson and J. L. Henning, the present pastor. Some of the above-named gentlemen were supplies. The church building was erected in the summer of 1867, at a cost of $3,700. The Ruling Elders at the present time are W. B. Mathews, R. J. McKeigham and J. J. Mathews. Present membership, 105. A Sunday-school was organized in November, 1867, by G. N. Peirce. It has been prosperous and has a membership of 100. It is presided over by W. B. Mathews. The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized here soon after the town was started. In 1867, a very neat and substantial church building was completed. This society has no local pastor, but regular services are held by the pastor of the Elmwood Church, who has charge here. The persons to whom we have to look for church history failed us in regard to this society; hence our history is rather limited. SOCIETIES Yates City Lodge, No. 448, A., F. & A. M., was chartered Oct. 4, 1865, with 18 members. The first officers were: S. S. Buffum, W. M.; John E. Knable, S. W.; M. B. Mason, J. W. Present officers: Henry Soldwell, W. M.; W. H. Houser, S. W.; M. W. Thomson, J. W.; Henry Hare, Treas.; J. D. C. Hoit, Secy.; W. H. Langdon, S. D.; Smith Rhea, J. D.; John Hensler, Tiler. Present membership, 45. This Lodge occupies a hall with the Odd Fellows. It is well furnished and equipped. Eureka Chapter, No 98, R. A. M., was chartered Oct. 5, 1866, with 25 charter members. Officers under charter were Benj. Kersey, H. P.; M. B. Mason, K; J. C. Riner, Scribe. This is a flourishing Chapter as has been quite prosperous, having a present membership of 60. Present officers are: J. M. Corey, H. P.; Henry Hase, K.; W. H. Lott, Scribe; J. W. Hensley, C. H.; Henry H Potts, Treas.; J. D. C. Hoit, Secy.; J. H. Spring, R. A. C.; John Hensler, Tiler. Yates City Lodge, No 207, I. O. O. F., was chartered Oct. 13, 1868, with Ira Dunn, Benjamin Hayes, B. Bevin, A. S. Murphy and Henry Soldwell as charter members. First officers were: H. Soldwell, N. G.; B. S. Briggs, V. G.; B. Hays, Secy.; B. Bevins, Treas. There are at present 32 members connected with the Lodge. Present officers: John Birs, N. G.; William Clark, V. G.; J. B. Coykendall, Secy.; T. J. Knightlinger, Permanent Secy.; Henry Soldwell, Treas; B. Bevias, O. G. The Lodge is prosperous and in good working condition. They have a good hall, which is jointly owned with the Masonic fraternity. there was a Rebecca Degree Lodge organized some years ago, but it has not been kept up. It was chartered Oct. 11, 1870. |