Logan County IL Archives History - Books .....Early History 1953 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 31, 2007, 12:32 am Book Title: A History Of Atlanta ATLANTA IS FOUNDED The coming of the Chicago & Alton railroad through Central Illinois gave impetus to the founding of many cities and villages along its right of way. With visions of rapid growth and resulting financial profits to the promoters, lands were acquired, surveyed and divided into lots and blocks. Such was the beginning of Atlanta. THE TOWN OF NEW CASTLE When Atlanta was first laid out, there existed a short distance to the southeast a town which was known as New Castle. The town was platted on Section 28 of present Atlanta township by Timothy B. Hoblit and James Allen, December 2, 1836. It was located on the old stage line between Springfield and Bloomington and boasted of several stores, a blacksmith shop and several residences. The Baptists had built a church here in 1839. The following list of names is found subscribed to a petition for the sale of school lands in the Congressional township in 1841 and indicates the settlers in and around New Castle at that early date: Samuel Hoblit, William Gard, Thomas Larison, William Bonine, Samuel Bevan, Henry Hornaker, John E. Hoblit, John Druley, Ezekiel Hedges, Benjamin Shipley, Isaac A. Dunagan, J. D. Tinney, James Shipley, Adam Stephens, Fleming Lynch, W. H. Seward, A. K. Martin, James Hedges, Harvey Turner, James Downey, Sylvester Strong, Samuel Jones, William Ho'uch-ins, William Foley, Cornelius Lambert, Andrew Fogg, John Wintine, Elisha Bushnell, Jesse Dobby, J. P. Dunham, Joseph M. Cantrall, John Cline, O. T. Crawford, James Barr, Zebulon Cantrall, M. S. Bushnell, Edwin E. Bushnell, John Miller, William Dyer, George Dyer, Henry Williams, Raymond C. Rathbone, Charles Council, Noah Snedaker and Sampson Rees. Soon after Atlanta was laid out, New Castle was abandoned and the stores, people and the church moved into Atlanta. The proprietors of the new town were Richard T. Gill, Morgan Williams and Calvin Riley, but Mr. Gill was the chief promoter. He had come to Illinois in 1840 and located in Pekin, Tazewell county, where he was sheriff from 1846 to 1850. In 1852, he came to Logan county, and early in 1853, having ascertained that the Alton and Sangamon Railroad was to be extended from Springfield to Bloomington, he bought the land on which Atlanta now stands. This land was originally acquired from the government by a land patent by Lemuel Evans, as assignee of Benjamin Thompson. Thompson had served as a private in the United States Army and consequently had acquired a grant to this land which is legally described as the W 1/2 of the NE 1/4 and the E 1/2 of the NW 1/4 of Sec. 20, Township 21N, Range 1 W. of the Third P. M. The new town was named Xenia. The survey was made March 22, 1853, the town was dedicated April 7, 1853, and the first sale of lots at auction was June 23, 1853. It received its name at the suggestion of Mrs. James Downey, who had come from Xenia, Ohio. It continued to be called by this name until 1855 when upon application for a post office it was found that an office by that name already existed in Illinois. The founders of the town thereupon changed the name to Hamilton in honor of Col. L. D. Hamilton, but when applying for a post office under this name were met with the same difficulty. Finally, Richard T. Gill, remembering the beauty of Atlanta, Georgia, which he had recently visited, suggested that the new town be called Atlanta, and the name was adopted. A short act passed by the Legislature, February 14, 1855, states: "That from and after the passage of this act, the name of the town of Xenia in Logan County shall be and the same is changed to Atlanta." During the first, few years of its history, Atlanta gave promise of fulfilling the hopes of its founders. Atlanta was truly a boom town. At the end of 1854, when the town was little more than a year old, there were one hundred houses and the population was about 500. It had five dry goods stores, two drug stores, two grocer and confectionery stores, one hotel and four grain warehouses. The year 1855 witnessed increased building activity with the erection of 155 houses, and the houses built in 1856 exceeded the number built the previous year. In June, 1856, Editor S. B. Dugger, of the Logan County Forum, listed eleven dry goods stores, three clothing stores, one book store, one banking house, four furniture stores, one hardware store and agricultural warehouse and seed store, two hardware tin and stove stores, five grocery and provision stores, four grain warehouses, one boot and shoe store, two millinery stores, two tailor shops, three hotels, two livery stables, two saddlery and harness stores, two jewelry stores, two tailor shops, one cabinet shop, two wagon and carriage shops, three blacksmith shops, one steam flour mill, one steam planing mill and sash factory, .one printing office, two bake shops and one drinking saloon. There were four attorneys, seven physicians, four ministers and one dental surgeon. Atlanta appears to have reached its high point at the end of four years (the spring of 1857). The population then was probably between 1,200 and 1,300. During these years, Atlanta was a far more enterprising and growing town than Lincoln and had a larger population. However, Lincoln had been chosen the county seat, and following the depression of 1857 forged rapidly ahead while Atlanta's population remained stationary. FIRST TOWN ELECTION Following the incorporation of Atlanta under the town form of government on February 14, 1855, the first election was held April 2, 1855. Richard T. Gill was chosen President of the Board of Trustees. The other trustees elected were A. N. Dills, A. K. Martin, William P. Hunt, William S. Leonard and Cornelius Lambert. The Board met for the first time on April 7, when they named the following officers: John H. Ball Clerk; Elsa H. Dunagan, Constable; H. Armington, Street Commissioner. The town government was used until by a special act of the Legislature, approved March 4, 1869, a charter was obtained creating the city of Atlanta. This act was to take effect upon its adoption by the voters. A vote was taken on the proposition March 16, 1869, there being 173 votes favorable to city organization and 19 against. A special election was held March 23 for the election of city officers with the following result: Mayor, Samuel H. Fields; clerk, J. Henry Ball; marshal, J. B. Ransdell; treasurer, L. James; assessor and collector, S. D. Fisher; attorney, William E. Dicks-street commissioner, J. Finfrock. The charter provided for three wards' with one alderman to each ward. Aldermen elected were: First ward W. P. Hunt; second ward, George Estabrook; third ward, E. Stewart. Additional Comments: Extracted from: A HISTORY OF ATLANTA 1853-1953 Prepared by Citizens of Atlanta As a Part of the Observance of the Centennial, June 11,12 and 13,1953 THE PUBLICATION IS SPONSORED BY THE ATLANTA WOMAN'S CLUB Atlanta, Illinois 1953 Published By The Stewart - Pinks Publishing Co. 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