COMMUNITY NEWS
A bit of history about the founding of Plano, IL.
Plano was founded on Feb 28, 1853 by Lewis Steward, pioneer settler.
The city was platted in 1854. It steadily grew to a city of 2,300 (Around 1954).
There were five churches serving the community. Nine industrial plants made it
a bustling little city amidst some of the richest farm land in the state. Plano is
the birthplace of the Marsh Harvester, (Commonly known as the "Reaper") the
idea being conceived by C. W. and W. W. Marsh in Plano in 1857. The Reaper
was a horse drawn grain binder machine that carried two men who tied the grain
stalks which were then laid in the field. Subesequently thousands of Marsh
harvesters were manufactured in Plano and used by farmers all over the United
States.