BlockPratt, Illinois
11 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1932 and the latest in 1985. It stands in Fenton Township. It lies in ZIP code area 61250. It lies near Indian Island. The Survey maps it on the Prophetstown quadrangle. The federal gazetteer marks this settlement historical: it is no longer a populated place, though the surveys that recorded it still are.
Topographic sheets covering this place
6 surveys from 11 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1932 USGS Prophetstown quadrangle1:48000
- 1936 USGS Prophetstown quadrangle1:62500, 3 printings
- 1958 USGS Aurora quadrangle1:250000, 3 printings
- 1961 USGS Aurora quadrangle1:250000
- 1982 USGS Prophetstown quadrangle1:24000
- 1985 USGS Dixon quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
In the county-history sources
11,745 words on this townshipPortrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois : Containing Full-page Portraits and Biographies of All the Governors of Illinois, and of the Presidents of the United States, published 1885 names this settlement in its chapter on Fenton Township. These are the passages that mention it, exactly as the scans read.
J.ENTON Township was organized April 6, 1852. The meeting for perfecting the organization and electing township officials was held at the residence of James M. Pratt, on section 26. Joseph Fenton was chosen temporary Chairman, when the citizens proceeded to ballot for moderator and clerk, which resulted in the election of Zena M. Emery as Moderator, and J. D. Odell as Clerk. In the ballot-box at the close of the election for township officers there were 26 votes, and upon counting them James M. Pratt was found to be elected Supervisor; J. D. Odell, Clerk ; Joseph Fenton, Overseer of the Poor ; Thomas W. Havens was chosen for Assessor ; R. M. Thompson, Collector ; John A. King, D. C. Smith and George H. Peters, Commissioners of the Highway ; Hiram Harmon and Martin M. Potter, Justices of the Peace; and R. M. Thompson, Constable.
Passage source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois : Containing Full-page Portraits and Biographies of All the Governors of Illinois, and of the Presidents of the United States, published 1885.
The- first sermon preached in the township was in a log house, in 1846, by Rev. Hiram Harmon, a Methodist clergyman. At one period they had religious services quite regularly. Mr. James M. Pratt was a regular attendant, but was wont to ask the preachers questions during the delivery of their sermons, and have disputations with them. This considerably lessened the quantity of preaching. Yet, after the heated, religious debate was over, Mr. Pratt would invite the ministers over to his house, which was near by, and give them a good dinner. The members of the Church did not at all like this interruption, and said if it was not for Pratt they might have more preaching. Finally Mr. Pratt abstained from attending Church for a few Sundays, which seemed to detract from the usual interest of the services, and which finally resulted in the breaking up of the preaching altogether.
Passage source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois : Containing Full-page Portraits and Biographies of All the Governors of Illinois, and of the Presidents of the United States, published 1885.
The people of Fenton went to Crandall's Ferry in early days for their meat. It was not until the atlvent of the railroad, in 1869, that a postoffice was established in the township. This was at Pratt Station, and Mr. Pratt was appointed Postmaster. He has been continued since.
Passage source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Whiteside County, Illinois : Containing Full-page Portraits and Biographies of All the Governors of Illinois, and of the Presidents of the United States, published 1885.
Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.
Read the whole chapter on Fenton Township - it names this place 2 more 2 times.
Mines and quarries near this place
2 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 2 workings within 5 miles of Pratt (historical): 1 past producer, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collinson Pit and Mill | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Erie Township Highway Department | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denrock | 1.3 miles | 11 | |
| Hamilton Corners | 2.0 miles | 11 | |
| Portland | 2.2 miles | 11 | |
| Fenton | 3.2 miles | 14 | |
| Prophetstown | 3.5 miles | 11 | |
| Lyndon | 4.2 miles | 11 | |
| Erie | 5.0 miles | 14 | |
| Valley Vista Estates | 5.1 miles | 11 |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 1824080. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.