Pleasantview
This is a little town situatedin the extreme southeast part of the township. It was laid out byEbenezer Dimmick, July 21st, 1843, and situated in section thirty-six. The first business was transacted by E. Dimmick, who was both merchantand postmaster. The present business is as follows:
General Stores–E.Dimmick, Warren Mallory.
Basket Factory–CharlesEdwards.
Wagon Maker–G. W.Scott.
Blacksmiths–GeorgeF. Rebman, Henry Landon.
Postmaster–E. Dimmick.With the exception of a fewyears, Mr. Dimmick has been postmaster since the commencement of the town.
Schuyler County AgriculturalSociety–The first organization of this society was effected March17, 1855. At the preliminary meeting, Benjamin Chadsey was chosen chairman. The first officers elected were, President, Benjamin Chadsey; Vice Presidents,John Brown, and E. M. Wilson; Corresponding Secretary, J. D. Manlove; RecordingSecretary, D. W. C. Johnston; Treasurer, Willis Casson. TheExecutive Committee were chosen from the several townships, as follows:
Rushville–Jonathan Pattersonand Levi Lusk;
Buena Vista–Jacob Snyderand John McCreery;
Frederick–Jesse Darnelland Thomas Bellomy;
Browning–Thomas J. Kinney and Samuel Burtiss;
Hickory–Henry Klepper andWilliam K. Jones;
Bainbridge–Abraham Lamasterand George Strong;
Littleton–James DeWittand John Sellars;
Birmingham–Dr. Cyrus Cowdryand James G. King;
Brooklyn–Charles D. Kingand James WorthingtonThe first fair was held inthe fall of 1855, on the present school house grounds. It was subsequentlyheld in Parrott’s pasture, east of town. In 1859, the associationleased ten acres of ground from the county for ninetynine years, it beingthe northeast quarter of southeast quarter of section twenty-six, in BuenaVista township, and about a mile west of town. Since that time thegrounds have been increased to about twenty five acres, making very convenientand commodious arrangements for fair purposes. It contains an excellenthalf-mile track, and a large amphitheatre, sufficient to accommodate atleast 1500 people. There are two hundred stalls for stock, besidesseveral box stalls. It contains a floral hall, and three other buildingsfor exhibition purposes. The ground is well shaded and watered, sothat those in attendance are well supplied with comforts. The presentofficers are:
President–Robert B. McMaster;
Vice President–John Potts;
Corresponding and RecordingSecretary–John S. Bagby;
Treausrer–A. H. Clark;
Executive Committee–MartinW. Greer, Charles W. Worthington, Alrick M. Foster, Thomas Coupland, andJohn M. Johnson.The society is in good conditionfinancially, having paid premiums in full, with a balance still in thetreasury. During two years of the late war the fair suspended operations. The first premiums were paid wholly with silver-ware. The leading stockmen of the county, at this writing are: A. H. Clark, R. B. McMaster, JamesTeel, John A. Young, F. E. and M. E. Cady, Wilbur F. Whitson & Son,Martin W. Greer & Co., Charles Worthington, Thomas Coupland, A. M.Foster, W. W. Potts, Fred and Charles Rodewald, Jacob Pruett, Simon Doyle& Sons, Henry G. Teel, and George Garrison.
Excerpted from The CombinedHistory of Schuyler and Brown Counties, Illinois, 1882
Transcribed by Carol LongwellMiller for Schuyler County ILGenWebCopyright 1999, 2000 RobinL. W. Petersen; all rights reserved. For personal use only. Commercialuse of the information contained in these pages is strictly prohibitedwithout prior permission. If copied, this copyright must appear with theinformation.