Elkhart, Illinois
County: Logan
Location: East side of US 66 in rest area on the
northwest edge of Elkhart.
Erected: 07/03/1963 Erected by:
Division of Highways and The Illinois State Historical Society
Elkhart City in Logan County is typical of the many Illinois villages
whose growth was spurred by the arrival of the railroad. Founded by
John Shockey in 1855, two years after the coming of the Alton and
Sangamon Railroad, now the Gulf Mobile and Ohio, Elkhart was for many
years one of the largest shipping points on this line. Southeast of
the site, on Elkhart Hill, is the mansion 'Oglehurst,' home and
buriel place of Richard J. Oglesby (1824-1899), three times elected
Governor of Illinois (1864, 1872, 1884). Ten days following his
second inauguration he was elected United States Senator by the
Illinos Legislature and served in that capacity until 1879. Governor
Oglesby moved to Elkhart in 1890, following his retirement from
public life. Another prominent Elkhart resident was John Dean Gillett
(1819-1883), one of the cattle kings of the prairies. A New Englander
by birth, he came to Logan County in 1838. Through his skill in the
raising and feed ing of cattle, his name became a byword for superior
quality beef in both this country and in England. At the time of his
death, Gillett's land holdings totaled more than 16,000 acres.
Captain Adam H. Bogardus (1833-1913), wildfowl market hunter,
conservationist and champion wingshot, made his home for many years
in Elkhart. In 1878, he defeated Aubrey Coventry, English champion
wingshot, 79 to 78. Returning to the United States, Bogardus toured
with William 'Buffalo Bill' Cody's 'The Wild West.'
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