The following is the second of a multi-part article about the timeline of Chillicothe, IL. This article will illustrate the key dates along with the key individuals that helped to shape our city’s great history. Last month, we ended with 1861.

1864 – Moffit and Holman’s addition is platted out by Hugh C. Moffitt and Harvey Holman. The five-block addition runs Northeast from where Elm Street connects Sixth Street and Seventh Street (now Santa Fe Avenue) to Half Street. (Now Truitt Avenue). Parts of Pearce Community Center and First United Methodist now sit within this addition.

1866 – Gibbons & Stuber’s Addition is platted out by Judge Alfred M. Gibbons and Captain Adam Stuber. The six-block addition runs between Sycamore Street and Elm Street running west of Sixth Street from Elm Street to Evergreen Drive. Judge Gibbons was a guard at the White House during Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration. Captain Stuber was veteran of the Mexican War of 1846 and the Civil War of 1861.

1866 – Henry Truitt plats out his second addition. The five-block addition would run from the corner of Fifth Street and Beech Street running west to Seventh Street (Now Santa Fe Avenue), then heading south to Hickory Street, then heading east to Sixth Street then heading south to Eliza Street (now Maple Street), then heading east to Fifth Street and then heading North on Fifth Street back to Beech Street.

1867 – L.A. Wood’s addition is platted out by Lathan Alexander Wood. The fourteen-block addition commences where Second Street intersects with Oak Street and runs North to Wood Street (now Wilmot Street) with lots on both sides of the street. 

1867 – Craven’s Addition is a four-block addition platted by Elizabeth and John Craven that runs from the intersection of Eighth Street (now Benedict) and Pine Street to the south to Elm Street and run west to Ninth Avenue (now Cutright) to Pine Street and then runs west until it dead ends. 

1867 – A.F. Pool, a real estate agent from Quincy, Illinois plats out an eighteen-block addition that sits undeveloped for the next nine years. The addition sits on what is now an area starting between the blocks of Fifth and Sixth Street on the north side of Truitt Avenue, running west to Hoyt Street and continuing north to Wilmot Street and heading east to Sixth Street and heading south back to the Intersection where Sixth Street would intersect with Truitt Avenue. Included in the plat are street names of Loveland, Senachwine, Grant, Sherman, Yorkshire, Loon, and Eagle. 

1868 – Truitt – Matthews & Co. becomes the first bank in Chillicothe. It is organized in 1868 by Henry Truitt and Samuel C. Jack. Later the firm was composed of Henry Truitt, Philip Temple (P. T.) Matthews, Harvey Holman, and Anson David (A. D.) Sawyer.

1868 – Henry Truitt plats out his 3rd Addition in town. This multi-range addition would occupy a large part of southeast Chillicothe. This plat originates at the foot of Hickory Street west to Second Street and runs south to Eliza Street (now Maple Street) and proceeds west to Fourth Street. The plat contains lots on both sides of Fourth Street running south to the County Road which would later become Spruce Street. The plat will turn slightly northeast along County Road to a line extended to the Illinois River. Note:  A portion of this plat is now located at the entrance of the city cemetery. Street names within the plat include Frances, named after his first wife. Eliza, named after his second wife. Sarah and Emma, named for his two daughters. 

1873 – From February 22, 1861, to February 22, 1873, Chillicothe had been governed as a village by a board of trustees. In April of 1873, it adopted a city government and elected Henry Hosmer Mayor. William McLean, Levi Booth, Joseph Bailey, William H. Barbour, and Richard Hughes Aldermen. Hosmer was also an accomplished Chess player, having competed in the Second and Third American Chess Congresses in 1871 and 1874.

1875 – William H. Barbour is elected as the 2nd Mayor of Chillicothe. 

1876 – A.F. Pool’s addition is vacated.

1876 – In 1876 the first organization for the protection against fire was formed. The company consisting of ten members was formed and named the Champion, with G. P. Lester as Fire Marshal. It only existed a few months; and there was no further effort made until the Fall of 1878, when another company, called the Rocket, was organized, with James Kinloch as Capt.; G. B. Temple, Lieut.; Wm. Story, Foreman and twenty members, G. P. Lester being appointed Fire Marshal by the city.

1877 – Henry Truitt is elected as Mayor and would go on to serve two terms over the course of four years.

1881 – Thomas S. McMannamy is elected as Mayor for a two-year term.

1883 – Reuben Beebe is elected as Mayor for a two-year term.

1883 – Frank Bailey, local business owner in Chillicothe starts up a new business to compliment his printing business. The Chillicothe Bulletin puts out its first paper on July 4th. The first paper was a one sided sheet at the start, three columns wide on four pages. The Bulletin starts off a monthly publication until January 1884 when it changes to semi-monthly until 1894. It was changed to The Daily Bulletin for two months before changing to a weekly paper.

1883 – Nathaniel Cutright opens the Chillicothe Canning Factory for what will be Chillicothe’s first big business. The factory opened for the harvest season in the fall at the foot of Elm Street. The factory remained an important part of the area’s industry for many years. It was torn down in 1922. The site is now a city park and known as Cutright Park.

1884 – Henry Truitt passes away at the age of sixty-five.

Below is the link to part 1 of this article.

Part 1