USA > Illinois > Christian County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Christian County, Volume II > Part 26
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separate organization, which was granted, and the County court formed a new division, on March 7, 1855, comprised in the present boun- daries, to which the name of Buckhart was given, and maintained ever since. The first elec- tion place was the residence of John George on section 11, township 14 north, range 3 west, and John Fiery, Peter Porter and Benjamin Harris were the first judges of election, at the first one held in the new township on June 4, 1855.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The first settler came to the township in 1820, prior to the survey of the county, and erected a cabin and made other improvements. This took place on the present site of Campbellsburg, at the edge of the timber. This first settler whose name was Titus Gragg later sold his holdings to John L. Cagle. By trade he was a blacksmith, and so served the early settlers. There were other members of the family who located in Christian County, but all died very suddenly and mysteriously, although the cause was never as- certained, and they were laid to rest at differ- ent times, side by side on the farm Titus Gragg wrested from the wilderness, although there are no monuments to mark their graves. For some years, however, an overshadowing forest tree bore the inscription of their names, but in time nature removed this one reminder of the pioneers who once bore their part in the history of Buck- hart Township. William McCallister settled on what later became the James Weeden farm, as early as 1824, a mile northwest of Edinburg, having with him his wife and two sons. The year 1825 brought to the township John and Joseph Brown who entered the west half of the southwest quarter of section 3, township 14 north, range 3 west, on October 30, 1829, selling this property on March 30, 1832, to Shad. J. Campbell for $275. That same year Abner and Joseph McLean located on the Blue Point farm that later became the property of Daniel De Camp; while William Bragg located a little be- low Campbell's Point.
There is no further record of settlements until 1827 when William George became one of the pioneers of the township, and in 1829, there was an addition of two more in the persons of Shad- rack J. Campbell and Robert Hazlett. About this time John Warrick, a great bee hunter, located below Campbell's Point; 1829 also brought David Stokes from Todd County, Ky., and he,
DREW INMAN
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
too, made his home below the historic Campbell's Point, where he built a cabin, improved a farm before his death in 1844. One of his many sons, Iverson Stokes, became one of the proprietors of Campbellsburg, and was one of the leading men of his times in local history. The original Stokes cabin was used for many years by the Predestinarian Baptists for their services, over which for many years Elders Kit Stafford and Aaron Vandeveer officiated. Other very early settlers were John L. Cagle, David Cagle, Wil- liam Harvey, Alfred Bishop and Henry Blount, all of whom came before the winter of the deep snow. An incident of that historic winter, par- ticularly belonging to Buckhart Township, is that some of the boys had stored away a lot of watermelons in some corn husks. The melons became frozen solid, and so remained until the following March, when they were emersed in a well, and thus thawed, were as toothsome as when picked. Thus that far back were the advantages of cold storage proven. Another early black- smith was Moses Martin who improved and lived upon a farm later the old Jesse Hanon farm, but he went to Arkansas in 1840. A neighbor of his was James Radford who lived upon the farm that later became the property of George W. Gawin. William Bennefield owned and operated a distillery near Campbell's Point, but later went to the Blue Point farm where with J. M. Wilkinson, he put in and harvested a crop in 1835. James Weeden was a settler of 1834, being accompanied by James Halford the two occupying with their families the same cabin. That first winter both families were seriously ill, and at one time there were five dead in that little cabin, all passing away from some mysterious disease.
ROBINSON'S POINT.
The above named settlement has become but a matter of history, but at one time was a hamlet at the head of the timber, six miles north of Taylorville, and two miles east of Sharpsburg. It also bore the name of Bethany, and its post office bore the latter name, and the postmaster was David Robinson, after whom the place was called Robinson's Point. This hamlet gained its importance from the fact that it was a way station for the Eastern stage line which ran from Shelbyville to Springfield. Mr. Robinson had the first store in Christian County, and kept it during 1835, 1836 and 1837.
BLUE POINT.
This was another of the stage line stations, and was distinguished by The Travelers Inn, built by Robert Allen of Springfield in 1838. For years this inn was one of the landmarks of the ' county. It is interesting to note that during the various transfers made of the land from its original entry by Abner and Joseph McLean in 1829, it at one time passed into the possession of Abraham Lincoln. The stand was twenty miles away from Springfield, so that it was necessary that a public inn be maintained, and one was es- tablished as early as 1830. The first store was conducted by Dr. S. J. Jerald. As early as 1839, a post office was established, but with the pass- ing of the stage line, this hamlet passed out of existence.
BLUEVILLE.
Blueville was older than some of the other towns, but was founded many years later than the pioneer ones, the date of its survey by Rich- ard M. Powel being June 1, 1870. Its first store was conducted by W. T. Houston, while the first drug store was established in April, 1868. Later there was a blacksmith shop, a plow factory and other business houses. The Methodists put up a chapel, and J. H. Hatfield was the first preacher. Its first physician was Dr. H. T. Moore.
EDINBURG.
The leading city of Buckhart Township is Edinburg, which is really a consolidation of Blueville with the original Edinburg. The latter was surveyed March 26, 1870, by John McGuire on the old Blue Point site. As Blueville was the older town, and only half a mile distant, a riv- alry that was intense and bitter sprung up, but the trustees of the two places effected a merging of the two villages on August 8, 1874, under the name of Edinburg, and one corporation has ad- ministered affairs ever since. The land on which the city is located was entered in 1829, coming into the final possession of Daniel De Camp in February, 1851. Edinburg is ten miles from Taylorville, and twenty from Springfield, and controls a large business.
The first house in Edinburg was built by Daniel DeCamp in the spring of 1870. He also built the first hotel and blacksmith shop. The first store building was erected and the first
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
store was kept by Mumford Pool. The first elevator was built and operated by G. H. Peebles in 1871. The Edinburg postoffice was established in 1870. Daniel DeCamp was the first post- master. Charles McClarey is the present post- master. The first physician to settle in Edin- burg was Dr. Gerhon Little who came there in 1870. The village of Edinburg was incorporated in 1873 with the following officers: Daniel DeCamp, president; E. R. White, clerk; Wil- liam Wyscarver, treasurer; I. N. Martin, James Campbell, A. D. F. Kemmerer, Henry Wilhite and G. H. Peebles, trustees. The following persons constitute the present village officers : G. A. Wacker, president; C. E. Cantrell, E. A. Belmer, H. Brockelsby, John Faist, John Nor- red, J. W. Rhoades, trustees ; E. K. Turner, clerk ; G. E. Jabusch, village marshal ; W. W. Houchen, police magistrate. The first school was taught by Joseph Gegan in 1870. The schoolhouse is a two-story brick structure consisting of six rooms. Besides the eight elementary grades the district maintains a four-year high school which is fully accredited with the University of Illinois.
. BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN OF 1880.
It is interesting to compare the list below of the men who represented the commercial and professional interests of Edinburg in 1880, with those of today, and in this way gain a fair con- prehension of the expansion of the city. C. L. Carroll, Basil Greenwood and J. M. Allen, physi- cians; W. T. Houston, lawyer; Alex. Dixson, J. N. Cantrill, J. W. Stuver & Co., general mer- chants ; Mason, Peck & Son and Buckner Black, grocers ; Brownback Bros., drugs, notions and grain merchants ; George W. Milligan, drugs and notions; Magee & Carlin, hardware, furniture and undertaking ; George P. Herrington, banker ; Price and Wilkinson, grain and lumber mer- chants ; J. B. Eston, grain merchant ; George C. Wilkinson, livery and dealer in agricultural im- plements ; John G. Richardson, restaurant and boarding house; Henry Henkes and Thomas Bell, restaurants; J. M. Ketterer, tin shop; Wil- liam Harrold and Jesse Williams, boot and shoe shops; Goldman and Graham, jewelers and pho- tographers; A. Longatha, harness shop; Miss J. Patterson, Mrs. Nellie Wyscarver and Mrs. M. McGuffin, milliners and dressmakers; John L. Lindsey, Jonathan W. Cook, and William Dix, blacksmiths; John D. Pierce, wagon maker ;
John M. Adams, blacksmith and wagon maker; Silas Matthews, cooper ; R. K. Johnson, Stephen Hunsley, Joseph Patterson, John Westbrooks, Stephen Williams and I. N. Martin, carpenters ; John Robinson, brick maker; M. Whitenack, brick mason ; Ronin & Staples, house, sign and ornamental painter ; John Y. Easley and George Ohlenschager, butchers; William Hayes and Charles Lawrence, barbers; and Charles Lawr- ence, J. H. Love & Bro., sewing machine agents.
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL MEN OF EDINBURG.
The men engaged in business or professional work at Edinburg are as follows: Grocers, Poffenbarger & Morris, Lanum & Williams, J. E. Morris, John Hagan; implements, Firey Bros. ; confectionery, Sam Purnell ; furniture and un- dertaking, S. J. Snyder; general store, Wil- liams & Co. ; hardware, G. W. Price & Son, John Segelhorst and Jake Ballet; meat market, Frank Stanley ; elevators, Farmers' Grain Co., S. M. Mcclintock, manager, Rink & Sch_ib; druggist, W. B. Eaton; harness, Wallace Price ; barbers, A. L. Berry, Nuckolls & Johns; cafe, L. L. Stewart; dry goods, W. G. Blaney ; clothiers, W. J. Etherton ; veterinarian, Charles Van Ausdall; real estate, W. W. Houchen ; jeweler, James Fleming ; lumber, O. H. Pad- dock Lumber Co., A. W. Bryce, manager ; ga- rages, John Cole, Herd & Deeren; hotel, John W. McKay; blacksmiths, W. A. Parrish, John Faist; livery, J. R. Morris, Homer Davis; phy- sicians, Drs. C. A. Stokes, G. W. Milligan ; newspapers, Edinburg Herald, F. F. Kauerauf, proprietor.
FRATERNITIES.
Blueville Lodge, No. 647 A. F. & A. M. was chartered in 1870 with thirteen members. The first officers were: P. E. Williams, W. M .; L. C. Carlin, S. W .; I. Stokes, J. W .; G. H. Peebles, S. D .; J. L. Culver, J. D .; G. C. Houston, treasurer ; W. T. Houston, secretary ; G. Ralston, tyler. The present officers are as follows: W. O. Williams, W. M .; D. A. Mason, S. W .; L. F. Ralph, J. W .; J. A. Wacker, secretary ; A. M. Council, treasurer; H. W. Stokes, S. D .; Elbert Wanack, J. D .; Leason Hoover, tyler. The pres- ent membership is 104.
Edinburg Chapter No. 473 O. E. S. was insti- tuted March 15, 1901. The following named persons were the first officers: Mrs. Cynthia Wil-
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
liams, W. M .; John J. Hill, W. P .; Mabel Wil- liams, secretary ; G. A. Wacker, treasurer. The officers at present are as follows: Mrs. Nellie Bryce, W. M .; A. W. Bryce, W. P .; Mrs. Emma 'Campbell, A. M .; Mrs. Lola Williams, con- ductress ; Mrs. Ida Houchen, assistant conduc- tress; Mrs. Jennie Van Ausdall, secretary ; G. A. Wacker, treasurer. This flourishing chapter now has a membership of 124.
Electric Lodge, No. 505 K. P. was organized February 5, 1895, with the following officers : O. M. Best, C. C .; F. W. Maxmeyer, V. C .; E. D. Powers, prelate; J. H. Logan, M. of W .; C. A. Prater, K. of R. and S .; F. H. Lowe, M. of F .; B. A. Turner, I. G .; G. A. Wacker, O. G. The present officers are as follows: M. S. McClin- tick, C. C .; B. J. Norred, V. C .; C. G. Miller, prelate ; William Lomax, K. of R. and S .; G. E. Jabusch, M. of W .; A. L. Berry, M. of F .; L. E. Swigert, M. of E .; Earl Swigert, M. at A .; Wal- lace Price, I. G .; W. H. Galloway, O. G. The membership at present is fifty-two.
Imogene Temple No. 191, Pythian Sisters was organized January 14, 1908, with the following officers : Retta C. Swigert, M. E. C .; Polly M. Bellmer ; Laura Richardson, E. J .; Marie Par- rish, manager; Jennie A. Ballet, M. of R. and C .; Alice Parrish, M. of F .; Rachael Becket, pro. ; Luella Wolliver, guard; Lydia Turner, P. C. The present officers are as follows : Flor- ence Adrian, M. E. C .; Euna Reinhart, E. S .; Elta Swigert, E. J .; Ruth North, manager ; Jen- nie A. Ballet, M. of R. and C .; Alice Parrish, M. of F .; Belle Wollaver, pro .; Sara Vigel, guard; Bessie Jabusch, P. C. The flourishing lodge now has seventy-six members.
The Edinburg Lodge, No. 753, Rebekahs was organized January 31, 1913, with the following officers : Jennie A. Ballet, N. G .; Polly M. Bell- mer, V. G .; Gladys Halford, recording secretary ; Louis Jones, financial secretary ; Rachel Becket, treasurer ; Rosa Rhodes, warden; Ida Wolfe, conductress ; Ruth Carlin, I. G .; Bertha Gathard, O. G .; Lydia Milligan, chaplain. The officers at present are as follows: Rosa Cole, N. G .; Alice Curtis, V .. G .; Jennie A. Ballet, recording secre- tary ; Ruth North, financial secretary; Ida Wolfe, treasurer ; Nettie Redmon, warden ; Rosa Rhodes, conductress; Glenna Pierce, I. G .; Jen- nie Etherton, O. G .; Mary B. Wilson, chaplain. The present membership is eighty-two.
FIRES.
On May. 6, 1916, Edinburg was visited by a disastrous fire which destroyed the postoffice, the Farmers' elevator, Poffenbarger & Morris' grocery, the business house and residence of Earl Swigert, the business house of John Mc- Kay, a vacant house owned by J. L. Morris and Stanley's meat market.
On April 24, 1917, the fire fiend again laid his hand heavily on the village, this time de- stroying the hardware store of John Segel- horst, J. L. Howes' meat market, W. B. Eaton's drug store, the office of the Edinburg Herald, published by F. F. Kauerhauf; the Masonic Hall, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' lodge rooms, and the general store of J. M. Rogers. Thus in less than a year practically all the buildings on the south side of the prin- cipal business street of the village were en- tirely destroyed. In both fires the volunteer fire department with its two chemical hand engines fought valiantly, but there being no water pressure, the last fire bid fair to get be- yond their control. Springfield responded to the cry for help by sending an engine and hose cart on a train that was just then leaving. By pumping water from a nearby pond they soon succeeded in getting the fire under control. All the men who suffered loss in these fires have again entered into business in Edinburg with the exception of J. L. Howes and J. M. Rogers.
SHARPSBURG.
The village of Sharpsburg had its beginning in its survey on March 21, 1870, William Hargis being the original proprietor. Its first house was erected in 1870 by A. D. Ebert, while G. R. Sharp and E. A. Hanon kept the first store. Joseph Hanon was the first blacksmith. Sharps- burg is a small village, situated in Buck- hart Township about five miles from Tay- lorville. It was named in honor of H. H. Sharp and his brother, many of whose descend- ants at the present time still reside in this vicinity. The postoffice was established in 1871 and G. R. Sharp was the first postmaster. Ira Wastler is the present postmaster. He con- ducts also the only general store in. the village. In 1875 the first church, a frame building, 30x50 feet, was erected by the Methodists. The grain business is conducted by Rink & Schreib, under the local management of Milton Wood.
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
CAMPBELLSBURG.
This village was named in honor of the Camp- bell family and was surveyed and laid off into lots May 27, 1870. Its first house was built by James R. Stokes in 1870, while Allen Stokes built the first store that same year. Owing to the removal of the railroad station the place did not grow and the site was later abandoned. A new brick one room schoolhouse was built near the old site of Campbellsburg in 1916, taking the place of the old frame building which served the people of that community so long.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
Buckhart Township has had the following officials :
ASSESSORS.
Joseph Kemmerer, 1866; G. R. Sharp, 1867; C. I. Lockwood, 1868; G. R. Sharp, 1869; J. F. Davis, 1870; Martin Whitesell, 1871; J. M. Campbell, 1872; C. I. Lockwood, 1873 ; D. C. Car- lin, 1874; J. M. Campbell, 1875-77 ; L. D. Peck, 1878; William Wyscarver, 1879; J. M. Chandler, 1880; Iverson Stokes, 1881; A. M. Halford, 1882; John Westbrook, 1883; L. C. Cartin, 1884; Wil- liam Leigh, 1885; J. Y. Easley, 1886; Iverson Stokes, 1887; Charles Woods, 1888; William Leigh, 1889; Dwight Kirk, 1890-91; William Leigh, 1892; W. H. Watts, 1893; J. F. Cole, 1894; James H. Frack, 1895; J. C. M. Shellhouse, 1896 ; George Rahn, 1897-1901; Laban Yoder, 1902; George F. Lopossa, 1903; Martin Whitesell, 1904; G. F. Lopossa, 1905-06; L. L. Matthew, 1907; L. B. Wilson, 1908; L. L. Matthews, 1909- 11; G. F. Lopossa, 1912-15; George B. Hill, 1916-17.
COLLECTORS.
Hiram Power, 1866; Hiram Orr, 1867; John E. Prater, 1868-69; G. R. Sharp, 1870; James M. Chandler, 1871-73; G. W. Greathard, 1874-76; S. R. Burns, 1877; G. C. Wilkinson, 1878-79 ; S. R. Burns, 1880; William M. Peek, 1881; Wil- liam Wyscarver, 1882; G."M. Smith, 1883; Wil- liam Peck, Jr., 1884; George Eckles, 1885; S. R. Burns, 1886; J. F. Smith, 1887; George C. Wil- kinson, 1888; S. R. Burns, 1889; William H. Hargis, 1890-91; J. E. Firey, 1892; F. H. Lowe,
1893; John E. George, 1894; W. H. Hargis, 1895 ; Chesley Harrold, 1896; C. E. Beckett, 1897; S. R. Burns, 1898; Henry Blount, 1899; W. H. Hargis, 1900; C. F. Kruckeberg, 1901; E. S. Brubeck, 1902; D. F. McCarty, 1903; A. E. Hurlbutt, 1904; J. Schieb, 1905; E. W. Bartling, 1906; C. T. Scott, 1907; Fred E. Reed, 1908; Maurice J. Sewell, 1909; Charles McClary, 1910-11; Lynn Howes, 1912-13; Ira E. Watts, 1914-15; Homer B. Davis, 1916-17.
CLERKS.
Iverson Stokes, 1866; J. M. Chandler, 1867-69 : J. T. Davis, 1870-71; James F. Davis, 1872; G. W. Greathard, 1873; S. R. Burns, 1874-76; J. R. Hill, 1877 ; I. N. Martin, 1878 ; C. A. Prater, 1879-80; John H. Firey, 1881; John Westbrook, 1882; E. B. De Camp, 1883; Jacob Ballet, 1884- 88; E. B. Prater, 1889-90; Abraham Williams, 1891; S. R. Burns, 1892; Aaron Willhite, 1893 ; D. C. Caward, 1894; F. L. Poffenbarger, 1895; Aaron Willhite, 1896-97; C. T. Scott, 1898-1906 ; T. B. Williams, 1907; Omer L. Whitmer, 1908; C. T. Scott, 1909; C. A. R. Snyder, 1910-11; C. T. Scott, 1912-13; L. B. Wilson, 1914-15; Clifford S. Stokes, 1916-17.
COMMISSIONERS OF HIGHWAYS.
Halford, Sharp and Heinlein, 1866; E. Pope, 1867; Martin Miller, 1868; W. B. Lilliard, 1869; Israel Baughman, 1870; Frank George, 1871; H. T. Gardner, 1872; I. Baughman, 1873; F. George, 1874; H. T. Gardner, 1875; I. Baugh- man, 1876; T. B. Hill, 1877 ; H. T. Gardner, 1878; M. Adrian, 1879; Fred Reed, 1880; H. T. Gard- ner, 1881; M. Adrian, 1882; William H. Low, 1883; H. T. Gardner, 1884; S. W. Deny, 1885; W. H. Lowe, 1886; Joel Bauglıman, 1887; S. W. Denny, 1888; M. A. Holben, 1889-90; Andy M. Halford, 1891; M. A. Holben, 1892; J. K. Alexan- der, 1893; A. M. Halford, 1894; M. A. Holben, 1895; Solomon Miller, 1896; S. O. Baughman, 1897; W. D. Waller, 1898; G. W. Wolaver, 1899; S. J. Pearson, 1900; J. P. Hamilton and R. C. Davis, 1901; G. W. Wolaver, 1902; A. J. Carter. 1903; John H. Cole, 1904; G. W. Wolaver, 1905; A. J. Carter, 1906; C. T. Jones, 1907; G. W. Wolaver, Sr., 1908; A. J. Carter, 1909; C. F. Jones, 1910; Fred Baughman and Enoch Pear- son, 1911; L. B. Wilson, 1912; J. M. Cole, 1913 ;
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
Fred Baughman, 1914; D. B. Wilson, 1915; Frank Ralph, 1916-17.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
J. E. Hartsock, 1866; W. B. Cobb, 1866; J. W. Johnson and J. E. Hartsock, 1870; David Wil- liams and E. Heinlein, 1873; J. Brubeck and W. T. Baker, 1876; J. M. Chandler and Alexan- der Matthews, 1879; C. A. Prater, Pharis and Scheib, 1881-82; C. A. Prater and M. A. Holben, 1883-85; N. E. Berry and E. M. Matthews, 1889; David Logan, 1890-92; J. A. Cheney and G. E. Sharp, 1893; William Harrold, 1894; Robert E. Berry, 1896; V. M. Graham and Robert E. Berry, 1897; R. E. Berry and J. F. George, 1898-1901; J. M. Milslagle and J. F. George, 1902-05; J. M. Milslagle and Eugene Virden, 1906-09; J. M. Rogers, 1910-11; James F. George, 1912; W. C. Harvey, 1914-17.
CONSTABLES.
William Harris and A. J. Odenwelder, 1866; A. W. Halford and L. Heinlein, 1870; J. T. Chandler and C. Heinlein, 1873; M. Nester and M. Huxley, 1876; Peter Scheib and J. D. Hurt, 1877 ; Eli Matthews, 1878; Peter Scheib and I. N. Martin, 1881; James M. Campbell, 1882-83 ; L. C. W. Smith, appointed 1884; J. L. Leigh and Thomas Bradley, 1885; N. D. Halford and Thomas Hargis, 1886-89; J. D. Leigh, 1890-93; C. M. De Camp, 1894; J. D. Leigh and Jerry Swiek, 1897; I. N. Martin, 1900; W. H. Blount and J. D. Leigh, 1901-03; W. H. Blount and James Weeden, 1905; W. D. Sebastian, 1906-07 ; Chester A. Driskell, 1908; W. D. Sebastian and Chester A. Driskell, 1909-12; A .W. Campbell and W. D. Sebastian, 1913-15; Clifford J. Driskell, 1916-17.
SUPERVISORS.
John Sharp, 1866; John George, 1867-68; John Sharp, 1869; Joseph Kemmerer, 1870; G. R. Sharp, 1871-79; James Magee, 1880-82; Robert E. Berry, 1883; G. R. Sharp, 1884; J. R. Hill, 1885-87; J. F. Smith, 1888-89; W. E. Seaton, 1890-97; Jacob Ballet, 1898; H. O. Minnis, 1899- 1902; H. T. Gardner, 1903-04; J. R. Harrington, 1905-10; A. M. Council, 1911-12; J. J. Davis, 1913-14; A. L. Williams, 1915-16; George Lo- possa, 1917.
CHAPTER XXI.
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GREENWOOD TOWNSHIP.
BOUNDARIES - WATER COURSES - EARLY SETTLE- MENTS - FIRST SETTLERS - INTERESTING INCI- DENTS-IMPROVEMENTS-TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS- ASSESSORS-COLLECTORS-CLERKS-COMMISSION- ERS OF HIGHWAYS - CONSTABLES - JUSTICES OF THIE PEACE-SUPERVISORS.
BOUNDARIES.
Greenwood Township is located in the south- ern part of Christian County, and bounded on the north by Johnson Township; on the east by Rosemond Township; on the south by Montgom- ery County ; and on the west by Ricks Town- ship. The soil is very fertile and productive, and the farms are extremely valuable. Along the streams considerable timber was found, but the greater part of this has been cleared away.
WATER COURSES.
South Fork and the streams tributary to it give excellent drainage and ample water supply. The principal products of the township are wheat, corn, rye, oats, hay, potatoes and vege- tables.
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
Until 1850 Greenwood Township was but sparsely settled, although some venturesome pioneers located on land in the edges of the tim- ber, entering land from the government at $1.25 per acre, or buying other timbered land from a land speculator at Hillsboro for seventy-five cents per acre. After 1850, people began to awaken to the real value of land in this section, and prices jumped to five and then ten and twenty dollars per acre. For a number of years after Christian County was organized, the territory now contained in Greenwood Township formed a part of Taylorville Precinct. In 1852, how- ever, a movement was set on foot for the estab- lishment of a new precinct, and on March 3 of that year an order was passed creating Nevada
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HISTORY OF CHRISTIAN COUNTY
Precinct, with James Pierce, James Linn and Henry Riggs as the first judges of election. Rob- ert S. Welch was an acting justice of the peace at this time, and when the new precinct was formed, Henry C. Dickson became the other jus- tice of the peace. No one now living knows why the name Nevada was given to the new precinct, as no record of the origin has been kept. With the adoption of township organization, Nevada precinct was divided, all of township 11 N., Range 2 W. being named Greenwood on account of the beautiful timberland, and the remainder added to other territory to form Johnson Township. The first election for township of- ficials took place April 3, 1866. The records show that the lands contained in Greenwood Township were officially surveyed by Enoch Moore, deputy United States surveyor, returned and certified to on January 25, 1819 by William Rector, surveyor general.
FIRST SETTLERS.
Among those who are recorded as being among the first settlers of Greenwood Township are : Mylo Skinner, William Virden, Duanne Skin- ner, John McClurg, Chris. K. Durbin, George Wilcox, Daniel E. Walker, Bradley Skinner, Josephus and Leonard Durbin, Madison Busby, Peter Klinefelter, Nathan Durbin, William Walker, James Pearce, Robert S. Welch, James A. Dunn, James P. Walker, Ed. R. Skinner, James Linn, Francis J. White, Domenick Simp- son, H. C. Dickson, James A. Dunn, Cornelius Klinefelter, Daniel Micehammer, John Miller, Edgar M. Thompson, John Carman, Dr. D. C. Goodan, Jerry Welch, a Mr. McFarland, George Compton, Peter Oller, John W. Miller, H. J. Shaffer, T. L. Bacon, Henry Riggs, William Linn, Andrew S. Miller and William Shehan.
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