USA > Illinois > Edwards County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 73
USA > Illinois > Wabash County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 73
USA > Illinois > Lawrence County > Combined history of Edwards, Lawrence and Wabash counties, Illinois. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of their prominent men and pioneers > Part 73
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
Two other important arrivals occurred in 1821: George Walser and Lampton Mckinney were from Bartholomew county, Indiana. Walser had been in
311
312
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
the ranging service in Illinois, and had seen something of the country. His family on his arrival, consisted of his wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Mckinney, and his daughters, Sarah and Eliza. He settled first on the east half of the northwest quarter of section 28, where he lived for a few years, and then located per- manently on the northeast quarter of section 20, where he died October 25, 1854. Mckinney brought a family of five sous, Thomas, Josepli, Lampton, Alfred and Charles. All except Alfred, who had served in the Black Hawk war, and who was killed by the falling of a tree, returned to Indiana.
The settlement received two accessions in the year 1822-William Lock and Thomas Mason. The former was a native of Louisiana, and participated in the battle of New Orleans. He brought with him quite a large family of children, and settled on the E. half of the N. E. quarter of section 20, and lived there till 1829, when the place was purchased by George Walser. He then moved to the west half of the northeast quarter of section 17, and began improvements, which he sold to Peter Hinkle in 1831, and then moved to Sangamon county. He subsequently, after having returned to Edwards county, moved to Missouri and became wealthy. He had a genius for the mechanic trades, and was at the same time cooper, blacksmith and shoemaker. As the latter, he was something of a prodigy, being able to make five pair of shoes in a day and night. He never wore a coat, vest or stockings even iu the coldest weather. His hunting shirt was always open and his breast ex- posed. He was a powerful man, six feet and six inches in height, and weighed without surplus flesh, 220 to 240 pounds. Thomas Mason with his family came from Penn- sylvania, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 36, T. 2 N., R. 10 E. Joseph Robinson was a native of Tennessee, and went from that State to Indiana, whence 1 in 1823, he came to Illinois, bringing his wife and children, Andrew Anna, John, Aaron and Cerena. He settled on, the southwest quarter of the north west quarter_ of section 22, ending his days there in January, 1855. Andrew married and settled on the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 21, where his widow now resides. Sarah Aldridge, a widow, her son, G. H. McClure, and two daughters, Jane and Sarah, about the year 1823, settled on the southeast quarter of the south west quarter of section 21. Mrs. Aldridge moved to Wabash county and there died. McClure married and settled on the old homestead, after having spent some time in Kansas and California. His death occurred in 1872. The next important arrival was Henry I. Mills. He was originally from Marietta, Ohio, but had lived for several years in Vincennes, Indiana, whence with his family, consisting of his wife and children, John and Sarah, he came to Illinois, and set- tled on the N. E. quarter of section 28, in the prairie that bears his name. His children, Henry and Benja- min Franklin, born of his second wife, are living on the old homestead. Mills was a Colonel in the war of 1812,
and commanded a regiment in the battle of Tippecanoe. He was a prominent man in the community of which he formed a part, and enjoyed the confidence of all who knew him. He built on his farm in 1830, the first brick building erected in the precinct. His death took place in May 1854 at the place of his original settlement.
Joseph Carpenter, with his mother, a widow, a half- brother, and two half-sisters, carne to Edwards from Washington county in 1825, and settled on the W. } of the N. E. } of section 15. He was originally from Vir- ginia, and moved to Washington county in 1808 or '10. He was a genius in the mechanic trade, and the first wagon maker in the precinct. He died in October, 1833. Adam Hedrick came from North Carolina in 1829, and settled on the S. E. } of section 17, which he entered. His family consisted of his wife, five children, David, Joseph, Catharine, Matthias, and Elizabeth, his sister and his step-daughter. He was a prominent and useful citizen, being master of most of the mechanic trades. He held the office of township treasurer, and was post master at Mills Prairie post office. Two of the pioneer children, David and Matthias, are living, the former in West Salem, the latter in Kansas. Banjamin Ulm is a native of Ross county, Ohio. He came to Edwards in the year 1820. He is one of the few sur- vivors of the original settlers of the county, and now resides in section 32, T. 2 N., R. 14 W. Lovicia Kneip, his first wife, died in 1848; his second, Harriet L. Gray, in 1876. They were both natives of Ohio. His pres- ent wife, Sarah Campbell, is a native of Tennessee.
George Lopp was born in North Carolina in the year 1791, and came to Illinois in 1830. In his native state he married Mary Hedrick, whom, with six children Elizabeth, George, Magdalen, Barbara, Mary, and Catharine he brought with him. He settled half a mile southwest of West Salem, where he purchased a small improvement of John Brown, which had been previously occupied by one Galloway. Here he died in 1835. George is now a druggist and prominent citizen of West Salem. The fall of 1830 witnessed quite an accession of immigrants from Davidson county, North Carolina. Among the number were George Hedrick, Solomon Hedrick, Thomas Walser, Briton Walser, John Lopp, already spoken of, Peter Hinkle and Peter Snyder. Solomon Hedrick and Peter Snyder were single men. The others had families. Hinkle was a widower, and came to the country in a two-horse wagon, with ten dollars in his pocket. He was the earliest blacksmith in the precinct. The occurrence of the Black Hawk war and the Indian troubles checked immigration for a number of years. In 1838 six or eight families arrived from Davidson county, North Carolina, among whom were the Cladfelters. The Germans began coming in the year 1849. Then four single men, P. T. Hallbeck, Albert Knoll, Christopher Israel, and one Gelser ar- rived, having left Germany with West Salem as their destination. Some time afterward, in the same year, fifty-four Germans from Saxony, most of them of the
OF THE UNIVERSITY
VIEW LOOKING
RESIDENCE, STOCK AND GRAIN FARM OF PHILANDER GOULD S
NORTH - EAST.
2. 32, TI, R 14 W. (SALEM PRECINCT ) EDWARDS CO., ILL.
Ut THE
313
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Moravian faith, arrived at the village. To these acces- sions of the Germans the origin of West Salem is due. Prominent among the families of the precinct are the Goulds. Philander, a wealthy retired farmer of section 32, T. 1 N., came to the county from West Virginia in 1835. His first wife, Sarah Knowlton, was born at Amherst, Massachusetts, and came to the county in 1829 Thomas Hocking, a farmer and stock-raiser, of section 14, T. 1 S., R. 10 E., was born in Edwards county in 1833. His wife, Cynthia A. Potter, is a native of Wash- ington county, Ohio. The precinct was represented in the Black Hawk war by David Greathouse, Alfred Mc Kenney, Lewis Pixley, Gordon Coplea and Matthew Rice, who is yet living in the precinct.
The first school-house in the precinct was built of round logs, on the N. E. quarter of the S. E. quarter of section 21, as early as 1824 or '25. Its equipments were of the most primitive character, consisting of puncheon seats and a puncheon writing desk, occupying one side of the building, directly over which a log had been sawed out to afford light, the space being filled with genuine window-glass, instead of the usual greased paper. The chimney was made of clay and sticks, and rested upon a sort of trestle work. Prior to the building of this house, school was taught in deserted cabins. One Sweat, a colored man, taught in the school-house, as early as 1829 or '30. Other early teachers were Lathrop Rude and Daniel Abbey, an Eastern man.
A log school-house was built on the southeast quarter of section 17, about the year 1836. Rev. Massey, a Methodist, preached at Joseph Robinson's as early as 1830. Rev. Maginnis was also an early preacher. The earliest permanent burial place is on the Joseph Robinson farm, and was used for interment prior to 1835. Higgins' water-mill, on Bonpas creek, has al- ready been referred to as the first in the precinct. Kellen and Cladfelter put up a one-burr log-mill on the S. W. quarter of the S E. quarter of section 8, in the winter of 1840. The first permanent resident physician is Dr. Schafer, of West Salem, who began practice in 1849. Drs. David and Samuel Philbrick, and Samuel Lesher practiced at an earlier date. The following are .the first land-entries : the E. half of the N. W. quarter of section 28 was entered by Henry J. Mills, Sept. 14th, 1822; the W. half of S. W. quarter section 21, by T. Mckinney, July 5th, 1825 ; the E. half of N. E. quarter 20, by George Walser, May 14th, 1829 : the E. half of S. E. quarter section 21, George McClure, Sept. 3, 1829, Enoch Preston and David Greathouse, April 12th, 1830, eutered respectively the W. half of N. E. quarter, the E. half N. W. quarter and the W. half of S. E. quarter of section 19, T. 1 N., R. 11 E., August 21st, 1821. Isaac Greathouse entered the N. W. quarter of section 13, March 1st, 1827. Lot Sams entered the E. half of S. E. quarter of section 25.
WEST SALEM.
This prosperous little village of about three hundred 40
and fifty inhabitants, occupies a central position in the precinct, and is located on the S. E. quarter of the N. E. quarter of section 18, T 1 N., R. 14 W. It is a station on the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville Railroad, which extends north and south through the precinct. The village is supported by a prosperous and thickly settled farming community. It had its origin in the little band of German immigrants, already referred to. Of their number, P. T. Hallbeck put up the first building within the present village limits, July 14th, 1849. It is a double frame structure, and was used as a storehouse. by Mr. Hallbeck, and as a dwelling, by him and a num- ber of other Germans. Here were sold the first goods in the precinct, consisting of linens and broad-cloth. The next building was a frame storehouse and dwelling, built by Stephen S. Gunn, who kept general merchandise. Mr. Gunn had been running flat-boats on the Bonpas, and continued the business some time after his arrival in West Salem, till the year 1853, supplying a market for the produce of the country, at Vicksburg, Memphis and New Orleans. He was a valuable citizen, and did much to build up the village, which he left in 1861, and moved to Olney, where he yet resides. The first school-house, a frame building, about 20x22 feet, was put up in the winter of 1850 and 51. Rev. Martin Houser was the first teacher there, as well as the first minister in the village. He was a Moravian, and entered the land for the village, in the name of Charles F. Klugha, Presi- dent of the Synod of the Southern Provincial Conference of the Moravian Church of North America. It was first called New Salem, but on the establishment of a post- office there, in 1854, the name was changed to West Salem. It was surveyed and platted by Thomas R. Bicket, August 3d, 1849. April 22d, 1867, it was in- corporated under the general law. Its first Board of Trustees were William Foster, sr, (President), J. H. MeDowell, J. B. Michel, E. G. Altner and George Pix- ley, Clerk, A. L. Hammaker, Treasurer, J. B. Michel. Its growth, though not rapid, has been steady and sub- stantial. It has a two-story, four-room, brick school- house, built in 1880, at a cost of about $4000. Five churches bear testimony to the religious inclinations of its citizens, viz: the German Moravian, the oldest church in the precinct, a frame structure, built in 1845; the English Moravian, 40x60 feet, built of brick, in 1858, at a cost of $_000; the Evangelical, a frame, 26x 46 feet, built about 1860 for $1000; the Christian, a frame, 26x36 feet, erected in 1860, at a cost of about $600, and the Seventh Day Adventists, also a frame, 26x40 feet, built in 1879 and '80.
PRESENT BUSINESS.
Salem Flouring Mill .- a three-story frame building was put up by Frederick Luther, in 1878. It is operated by steam, and has one wheat and one corn burr. It is confined to custom work. Its cost was $5000. In con- nection with it is a circular saw-mill.
Physicians .- Herman Schafer, John T. Plimell, Eli- sha Jenner, John A. Houser.
314
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
Druggists .- George Lopp, F. M. Bussard.
General Merchants .- Asa Pixley, jr., Joseph H. Mc Dowel, C. Feldmann & Co, A. Fricke.
Grocers .- Paul O. Hallbeck, John Meisenheimer, Henry Harms.
General Hardware .- C. H. Voight. Post Master .- George Lopp.
Spoke Factory and Wagon Shop .- William Voigt, Francis Pixley.
Blacksmiths .- George Biggs, L. C. Modrow.
Dressmakers and Milliners .- Emma Hallbeck and Anna Hunter.
Livery Stable .- Samuel A. Rothrock.
Hotel-Eliza Biehl, Samuel A. Rothrock. Marble Yard-H. T. Dwyer & Co.
Carpenters .- J. P. Miller, Daniel Miller, Permane Rothrock, Edwin Rothrock.
Painters .- Moratz Neuman, J. B. Siewers. Barber .- W. R. Robinsou. Butcher .- C. S. Foster.
Fruit Nursery .- C. F. Winter.
Furniture .- C. Feldmann, H. W. Busefink.
Lumber Dealer .- William H. Rotrammel.
Grain Dealers .- Pixley & Foster, G. C. Walser.
Saddler and Harness Maker .- Jeremiah Dixon.
Shoemakers -Henry Harms, Frederick Steffens, Fred- erick Grass, Andrew Elikofer.
Bakery .- John Meisenheimer.
Justice .- G. C. Walser.
Constable .- Samuel A. Rothrock.
SOCIETIES.
West Salem Lodge, K. of H., No. 2833, was organized September 19th, 1882. Its charter membership num- bered seventeen ; its present memb ·rship numbers twenty five. It is free from debt and has $100 in its treasury.
The town of Rockford was laid out on the S. E. quar- ter of the S. W. quarter of section 3, the site of Higgins' water-mill. It never prospered and had no existence beyond the paper upon which it was platted. At the mill was established the first post-office in the precinct, as early as 1836. It is now kept at the hamlet of Pin- hook.
BIOGRAPHIES.
ANSEL A GOULD.
A ROSTER of the prominent farmers of Edwards county would be incomplete without containing the name of ANSEL A. GOULD, who is one of the most successful of their number. He was born (one of twins) in Lewis county, Virginia (now Upshur county, West Virginia), February 13th, 1817. His parents. Ebenezer and Eli- zabeth Gould, when Ansel was a youth, went from Virginia to New York, whence they preceded him here, coming in 1835,-he following in 1836.
Mr. Gould was united in marriage, Nov. 11th, 1838, with Chloe, daughter of Roswell Knowlton, who came to Illinois from Virginia in 1830, and died in 1834. By her he has had nine children. Soon after coming to Illinois, he hired out his services at eleven dollars per month. In the fall following his arrival he went to Arkansas, where he had $36 per month as a teamster. The first money he was enabled to save from his wages went to pay for land he had bought of George Flower. His first venture in a speculative way was to build a flat-boat, and load it with provisions to take to New Orleans. On the way, both boat and cargo were lost by sinking. The loss was a severe one, as he was paying 12 per cent. interest on money he had borrowed with which to fit out the boat. Shipment of produce follow- ed which subsequently proved profitless, but his farming operations were eminently successful, so that he acquired considerable property, and has by energy and labor succeeded beyond most men. A fine view of his home-
place is shown elsewhere in this work. He is an ardent Republican, and an earuest. faithful member of the M. E. Church. His benefactions in behalf of his fellow- men, and in behalf of the cause of religion, have been large. The names of his children and dates of birth, etc, are as follows : Deuel, born April 27, 1840 ; Mary A., February 13, 1843; Edson, January 14, 1846; Emily E, August 15, 1849; Harriet M., April 14, 1851; Olive M., Dec. 28, 1854; Aaron A., August 19, 1857 ; Alice C., Aug. 14, 1860 ; Elmina S., October 18, 1863. Of these, Edson died Sept. 5, 1848.
PHILANDER GOULD.
FURNISHING an apt illustration of what may be accomplished by earnest effort and a will that knows no failure, Philander Gould affords an excellent ex- ample. He was born in Lewis county, Virginia (now Upshur county, West Virginia), one of twins, Ansel A. being the other, February 13, 1817. His father, Ebene- zer, was a native of Massachusetts. His mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Meeks, was also a New- Englander. They lived a few years in Virginia, thence went to New York. In 1835, in company with his father, Philander came to Edwards county, a penniless boy. He wanted to work, but in a manner that would accomplish the most good for himself. His plan was to buy wild land and improve it. Joel Churchill, at the time a merchant in Albion, assisted him, by fur- nishing money with which he bought forty acres of
MRS. SARAH
DEC'D.
GOL
D
martha.
Lo Gould
Philander Gould
....
-
OI THE
Ansel A Gould
Chloe & Gould
·
LATRANT Of THE
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASHI COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
315
land. On this tract he went to work, and steadily, year by year, has he improved his financial condition, until now he is one of the largest tax-payers of Edwards county. Failures he has met with a stout heart, and overcome; reverses and monetary losses he has sustained, · but they have left no impress upon him. He was mar- ried to Sarah Knowlton, a native of Amherst, Mass.,
Oct. 30, 1836. By her he had ten children, all of whom are living. She died January 10, 1876. He was again married to Martha L. Courtrecht, daughter of John Courtrecht, a native of New York, Sept. 10, 1876. By her he has two bright, intelligent children. He is a firm, uncompromising Republican in political faith.
Blashel Hostie
AMONG prominent farmers in Edwards county, who combine with farming operations business requiring sound judgment and tact, may be mentioned Blashel Foster. To farming he successfully adds grain dealing on an extensive scale, and likewise is a stock shipper- He was born in Clark county, Indiana, Nov. 18, 1826. The son of William and Lucy (Shirley) Foster. The family came to Edwards county in 1844. Mr. Foster's wife, to whom he was married in May, '55, was a daughter of Martin Houser, a Moravian preacher at Hope, Bartho- lomew county, Indiana, and latterly of West Salem, which village he laid out in 1845, after the style of the town of Niesky, Prussia. Her name was Emeline C. Houser. By her there were born to Mr. Foster eight
children, three of whom died in infancy, and five, William E., Lucy S., Dr. Martin D. (a physician practicing in Olney), Caroline M., and George D., are living. Blashel Foster is a member of the A. F. and A. M. Society, in whose workings he manifests great interest ; is also a member of the Christian church, in which cause he is earnest and enthusiastic. In 1872, his fellow citizens of the Liberal Republican faith, as a compliment to his recognized fitness for the position, ran him as a candidate for the State Senate. giving him a flattering vote. Politically he might properly be classed as an Independent Republican. He is a gentleman possessed of social qualities of a high order. A view of his home is shown on another page of this work.
316
HISTORY OF EDWARDS, LAWRENCE AND WABASH COUNTIES, ILLINOIS.
ASA PIXLEY (DECEASED.)
AMONG the pioneers of Wabash and Edwards counties were the Barneys, McClures, Ingrahams, and Pixleys, who were all natives of Alleghany county, New York, and who came together first to Wabash county, about 1×09. Asa Pixley, the subject of this sketch, one of this number, was born in Alleghany county, N. Y., in 1805. His father, Joh, was a farmer, a man strongly imbued with the old time pioneer spirit of adventure. In the family was William, Asa, Lewis, and Isaac. Of these, William died in Friendsville, where he was an honored citizen all his life, in 1880. Asa was noted for his love for, and excellence in, all manner of athlete sports. When in attendance, in early manhood, upon the annual battalion musters, he found few equals in running, jumping, and other sports. For many years he lived in Barney Prairie, where his father first located, and in 1829 came to Edwards county. He married Amanda Ingraham, by whom he had Osman, Harrison, Nancy Ann, Eliza, Asa, Jr , Pathenia, and Caspar. His sons and daughters are all doing well. Asa was an earnest, faithful Christian man ; a most excellent neigh- bor, an active participant in all things calculated to ad- vance the interests of his vicinity. A kind husband, an indulgent father, he enjoyed universal respect. He died at a good old age, February 9th, 1883.
Dr. HERMANN M SCHAEFER.
DURINO the prevalence of the wars of 1848-9 in Ger- many, many of her citizens, and not a few of her soldier-, sought homes across the sea in America. Among the latter .Dr. H. M. Schaefer, at the time company surgeon at home, on furlough, slipped away, taking passage on the boat Helena, in the Bremen trade, and came hither. As the vessel set sail from the harbor of Bremen, she was twice intercepted and chased back, a third attempt proved successful, a favoring wind lending aid to her flight, and she on a northwestward course soon left pursuing Danish sails far in her wake. Fearing to encounter the enemy they pursued their way far to the north, passing between the Shetland and Orkney Islands.
When clear of such fear they raised the flag of their country, and reached the port of New York after a voyage of seven weeks, less one day, on the ocean. Be- fore leaving Bremen the captain of the vessel thought of raising the Russian flag for safety, but finally con- cluded, without colors, to make to sea.
Dr. H. M. Schaefer was born in Niesky, in lower Silesia, Prussia, April 14th, 1821. His father, John Gottlieb Schaefer, was a potter by occupation. His mother's maiden name was Christina Koch. He had a brother and two sisters. One of the sisters, Marie Louisa Voekel, died, the wife of a missionary of the Moravian faith to the West Indies, on the island of St Croix, in 1854. She had been at her post of duty since 1848. The doctor landed in New York city, July 3d, 1849, so that almost the first pleasing sight to greet his vision were flags and bunting in great profusion displaying our national colors on the natal day of American Independ- ence. July 22d, of the same year, found him in West Salem, his objective point upon bidding adieu to his native land. At the age of fourteen years he had com- menced the study of bis chosen profession, that of medicine, which he was quietly pursuing when called into the Prussian service, in which he remained about three years. His attention had been directed to the northeastern part of Edwards county, by Rev. Mr. Houser, Moravian divine, and founder of West Salem. On the 30th of March, 1850, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Hedrick, daughter of George Hedrick, one of the old settlers here. By this union they have had thirteen children, seven of whom are living. He is a firm, outspoken Republican in politics, and during the war was an officer in the Union League. In politics he has taken a somewhat prominent part. In the Moravian church he is active, and has held many positions of honor. His faith is deep and abiding. In 1878, his house was destroyed by fire, but a new structure of beautiful proportions was built by him as a permanent home. As a physician he takes high rank among his brethren of the profession. He comes of a long-lived family, his mother having attained the age of 84, and grandfather 86 years.
ASA. PIXLEY, DEC!
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY v.
PETTY.
LAWRENCE COUNTY.
ETTY Township is bounded on the north by Crawford county, on the east by Bond and Lawrence, and on the south by Bridgeport, Christy township, and on the west by Rich land county. The surface generally is level, and em- braces a considerable amount of fine prairie land. Christy. String township, and Bogard prairies occupy, respectively, the southwestern, the northwestern and the northeastern parts of the township "String town- ship" is a sportive appellation, suggested by the form of a hunting settlement that skirted the western border of the prairie. The principal streams are the Embarras river, Little Muddy creek, and Paragin slough, a slug- gish stream that flows through an extensively wooded bottom, and at various points widens into ponds. The name is a compliment to the memory of Peter Paragin, the pioneer hunter of chat region, and was suggested by the circumstance that he slew the only bears, two in number, ever killed along that stream. The soil is clayey, with a considerable amount of black loam in the low lands. Timber of a good quality is quite abundant. The improvements of the township are good, and some attention is paid to improvement of breed in farm stock. David Watts introduced the Poland China hogs about ten years ago. He is the principal breeder, in his line, in the county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.