USA > Illinois > Jersey County > History of Jersey County, Illinois > Part 38
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1908
Mayor, W. F. Fahey ; clerk, H. H. Brockman ; treasurer, H. B. Hill ; attorney, O. H. Richards; aldermen, W. T. Burnett, E. L. H. Berry, J. C. Bertman, A. Pierre, W. F. Krotzsch, M. B. Trabue, H. A. Shephard, and C. Campbell.
1909
Mayor, J. H. Smith; clerk, H. H. Brockman; treasurer, H. B. Hill; attorney, O. H. Richards; aldermen, W. T. Burnett, C. Campbell, E. L. H. Barry, W. F. Krotzsch, M. B. Trabue, and H. A. Shephard.
1910
Mayor, J. H. Smith ; clerk, A. H. Quinn; treasurer, J. T. Hanley ; attorney, O. H. Richards; aldermen, W. T. Burnett, E. E. Post, F. Krotzsch, M. B. Trabue, J. C. Bertman, and H. A. Shephard.
1911
Mayor, J. M. Page; clerk, A. H. Quinn; treasurer, Frank Munster- man; attorney, O. H. Richards; aldermen, W. T. Burnett, E. E. Post, J. W. Rives, Paul Nitzschke, W. F. Fahey, W. F. Krotzsch, M. B. Trabue, and John Powell.
1912
Mayor, J. M. Page ; clerk, A. H. Quinn ; treasurer, F. J. Munsterman ; attorney, O. H. Richards; aldermen, W. T. Burnett, George M. Seago, N. Fuchs, Charles Eastham, W. F. Krotzsch, J. McGuire, W. T. Bowler, and John Powell.
1913
Mayor, A. C. Robb; clerk, William Hall; treasurer, Carl Schneider ; attorney, Roy Nutt ; aldermen, Clarence Atchison, J. I. White, N. Fuchs, Albert David Crone, C. W. Johns, and W. F. Shephard.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
1914
Mayor, A. C. Robb; clerk, William Hall; treasurer, C. Schneider ; attorney, Roy Nutt; aldermen, J. I. White, C. Atchison, N. Fuchs, A. Riley, J. J. McGuire, Mott Brown, D. Crone, and W. F. Shephard.
1915
Mayor, A. C. Robb; clerk, William Hall; treasurer, A. H. Quinn; attorney, Roy Nutt; aldermen, C. Atchison, J. I. White, M. Brown, Paul Nitschke, D. Crone, J. J. McGuire, H. W. Rice, and W. F. Shephard.
1916
Mayor, A. C. Robb; clerk, William Hall; treasurer, Thomas Quinn ; attorney, Roy Nutt; aldermen, J. I. White, C. Atchison, Paul Nitschke, Charles Eastham, J. J. McGuire, William Dower, W. F. Shephard, and H. W. Rich.
1917
In April, 1917, Jerseyville was organized under the commission form of government, the mayor and four commissioners being elected for terms of four years each, as follows: mayor, William F. Shephard ; com- missioners, Clarence Atchison, W. F. Schroeder, Murray B. Voorhees, and Jacob Wagner; clerk, William Hall; treasurer, F. E. Stelle; and attorney, G. G. Reardon.
1918
Mayor, W. F. Shephard; clerk, William Hall; treasurer, F. W. Roerig; attorney, G. G. Reardon; commissioners, Clarence Atchison, W. F. Schroeder, Murray B. Voorhees, and Jacob Wagner.
The present supervisors are R. T. Hanley and J. R. Fulkerson.
JERSEYVILLE CLASSIFIED BUSINESS DIRECTORY
As the county seat of Jersey County, Jerseyville, with its population of 5,000, is the home of some very important business houses, located here to meet the demands of the residents, and the large outlying territory contiguous, which looks to it as a source of supply. The following list gives the lines of business and professions represented here, as well as the names of those engaged therein :
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
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Department Stores .- Jersey Mercantile Company, H. S. Daniels, president; F. A. Loellke, treasurer and manager; deals in everything. Dry Goods Stores .- M. A. Warren, Fesenmyer & Senior, J. C. Bertman, and Jersey Mercantile Co. Clothing .- Fleming & Walsh, F. E. Stelle, and John Horn & Son, tailors. Groceries .- Kerkner & Delano, Jacob Wagner, B. W. Akard, John J. McGuire, Brammin & Co., J. H. Seago & Son, Walter Post, D. D. Fahey, Deiter Daum, Allen Vanausdall, Josepha Snodgrass, and Jersey Mercantile Co. Hardware .- English Slaten Co., John N. English, president and general manager; William Rittouth, tin- smith and hardware, and Jersey Mercantile Co. Drug Stores .- Frank M. Ware, Thomas Ford, and T. W. Kirby. Boots and Shoes .- Fred Scheffer, Edward Stratton, International Shoe Co., W. S. Wilcox, John Schneider, and Jersey Mercantile Co. Farming Implements .- Newton Beaty & Co., John N. Beaty, president and general manager; C. H. Branom, and Sun- derland & Dower. Jewelry .- Henry A. Lunhorst, Fred Harold, and E. H. Sauer. Confectionary .- N. Accario, Leo Mercurio, and Jerseyville Candy Kitchen. Furniture .- Jacoby Bros., and Jersey Mercantile Co. Undertakers .- Jacoby Bros., and Fales & Wiseman. Second Hand Stores. -S. D. Stanby, C. C. Mourning. Bakeries .- Herman F. Brockman, and Miller's Bakery. Cigar Factories .- W. F. Brockman, George Lauf- koetter, and Charles Schmidt. Poultry .- Richards & Manning. Meat Markets .- Hanley & Gibbons, and Paul Nitschke. Harness Shops .- Kridler & Son, and C. G. Groppell. Blacksmiths .- John Jennings, James Dolan, Charles McFain, B. Dorsett, Jefferson King, Sunderland & Dower, William Sunderland, and Corns & Brown. Insurance .- Cutting Agency, L. M. Cutting and D. E. Beaty, managers; Bowman Agency, H. B. Hill, manager; and Jersey County Mutual, D. Q. Trotter, president, Charles S. White, secretary. Millinery .- Mrs. F. W. Giers, Harriett Poguc, Barron Sisters, and Miss Irene Embly. Hotel .- Colonial. Restaurants. -Jerseyville Candy Kitchen, H. F. Brockman, Oscar Handler, Perry Shaw, and Frank Musterman. Shoe Factory .- International Shoe Fac- tory, H. B. Bowen, manager, 300 employees. Granitoid and Tile Works. -F. M. Frost & Sons, Nelson Bros., and Benjamin England. Plumbers. -Redlich & Son, and Joseph F. C. Schell. Electricity .- Mrs. B. W. Akerd, Lister Fritz, and Central Illinois Publishing Service Co. Lumber Yards .- F. R. Miller Lumber & Coal Co., and Pollock Lumber & Coal Co. Coal Yards .- E. Cockrell & Sons, W. F. Fahey, Jerseyville Ice & Fuel Co., F. R. Miller Lumber & Coal Co., and David Wilson. Elevators. -Stanard-Lilton Milling Co., Andrew Schreiber, manager; Groppel & Schneider; Farmers Elevator: John Shortal Mongs; and E. Cockrell &
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Sons. Ice Factory .- Jerseyville Ice & Fuel Co. Automobile Garages .- Shepard Garage, William F. Shephard, proprietor and manager; Wed- ding Garage, Charles H. Wedding, proprietor and manager; Joseph H. Williamson; White Way Garage, Ira E. Day, manager; and Groppie & Schneider. Livery Stable .- George Powell. Carpenters and Builders .- C. R. Snyder, Herman Green, C. C. and .U. K. Eastham, Frank Drury, Nicholas Fuchs, Harry Whitenack, and James W. Corn. Granite and Marble .- Jerseyville Granite & Marble Works, William H. Houghtlin, president ; Clarence Davison, secretary. Brick and Stone Masons, Plas- terers .- Lloyd Hansell, Aaron Ford, Nelson Bros., and Frank Blight. Soda Water Factory .- August Mitzel. Clover Seed Cleaners .- Rice Bros. 5 and 10 Cent Store .- Otto Eck. City Laundry .- Jerseyville City Laundry. Painters .- Henry Catt, H. L. Day, James Campbell, and William Wells. Barber Shops .- Frank Miller, Pearl Dabbs, John Kern, Cope & Breitweiser, Gaither & Frost, and John Evans. Lawyers .- Judge George W. Herdman, Hamilton & Hamilton, Judge Allen M. Slaten, Judge Charles S. White, Sumner & Reardon, George M. Seago, Isaac D. Snedeker, Martin J. Dolan, Clyde Chappell, Oliver H. Richards, Chap- man & DuHadway, and Hiram P. Noble. Physicians .- Augustus K. Van Horne, Edward L. H. Barry, H. R. Bohannon, L. J. Giers, H. R. Gled- hill, A. A. McBrien, N. F. Bray, A. M. Cheney, James W. Enos, A. M. Wiles, A. S. Hunt, Frank Snedeker, Langley Whitely, and Edward B. Hobson. Dentists .- W. E. Holland, H. D. Bull, J. O. Rice, H. W. Rich, J. G. Schwarz, R. O. Steinman, J. H. Sunderland. Veterinary Surgeons, -L. J. Kutzenberger, and A. E. Harding. Photographers .- Schroeder Bros., and Charles Ballou. Candy Factory .- Jerseyville Candy Kitchen, John Souris, proprietor. Churches .- Presbyterian, Rev. W. S. Neeley, pastor ; Baptist, Rev. Joseph Jenkins, pastor ; Methodist, Rev. F. O. Wil- son, pastor; Evangelical, Rev. Paul Stange, pastor; Episcopal, Rev. Dawson, rector; Catholic, St. Francis Xavier, Rev. J. J. Clancy, pastor ; Holy Ghost, Rev. C. C. Eckhard, pastor; St. Mary's, Rev. C. C. Eckhard, pastor. Schools .- Jersey Township High School, Prof. D. R. Henry, principal ; Jerseyville Grade School, district 34, Prof. D. R. Henry, superintendent, Lillian Sparks, principal; St. Francis Xavier, parish school, Catholic; Holy Ghost, parish school, Catholic; St. Mary's, parish school, Catholic. Justices of the Peace .- W. S. Van Pelt, Fred J. Bert- man, S. L. Wilcox. Constable .- John W. Hayes. Jerseyville City .- Mayor, William F. Shephard, 1921 ; commissioners, William H. Schroe- der, Jacob Wagner, Murray Brothers, Clarence P. Atchison, 1921; city clerk, William Hall. Newspapers and Printing .- Jersey County
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Democrat, weekly and daily, J. M. Page, editor and proprietor ; Jersey- ville Republican, weekly, Pinkerton Bros., editors and proprietors. Post Office .- Joel E. Cory, postmaster, 1922; Charles H. Schroeder, assistant postmaster, 1922. Express .- National Express Co., Ernest Wedding, agent. Markets-L. J. Krueger of Richwoods Township recently sold to Charles Campbell of this city, seventy-four head of hogs at $20.30 per cwt., total, $3,034.70.
SUPERVISORS
The supervisors of Jersey Township from 1879 to 1918 have been as follows: Walter E. Carlin, 1879-1886; P. D. Cheney, 1880-1881 and 1887-1895; M. J. Richey, 1882-1884 and 1888-1889; F. J. Manis, 1885- 1887, 1890-1894 and 1901-1906; T. C. H. Wybler, 1895-1896; Hugh H. Snell, 1896-1901; C. E. Brooks, 1897-1901; Lloyd T. English, 1902-1905; William H. Hanley, 1906-1908; Jolin A. Cory, 1907-1916; J. T. Hanley, 1910-1918 ; Joseph R. Fulkerson, 1917-1918.
CHAPTER XXXVII
MISSISSIPPI TOWNSHIP
FIRST SETTLEMENTS-JUDGE JOHN G. LOFTON-JOSEPH WHITE-JOHN MCDOW-THE GILLHAMS-WILLIAM C. WADDLE-OTHER PROMINENT SETTLERS-PIONEER INCIDENTS-DOW-MC CLUSKY-NEWBERN-EAST NEWBERN-SUPERVISORS.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS
Lofton's Prairie received its name from Judge John G. Lofton, one of the earliest pioneers of this part of the county. There is no record of the entry of land in this precinct until 1823, but from that date the settlement of the prairie advanced quite rapidly. Among the first to locate here were John G. Lofton and his son, Thomas G. Lofton; and John D. Gillham and Jacob Cummings. The latter bought and settled eighty acres in section 10, township 7, range 11, in December, 1823. His brother, Thomas Cummings, settled east of Jacob, during the following year. In July, 1824, Ormond Beeman entered 240 acres of land on sec- tions 19 and 30, and during the succeeding month John McDow made entry of the northwest quarter of section 32. The land entered in 1823, by Thomas G. Lofton soon passed to his father, Judge John G. Lofton.
JUDGE JOHN G. LOFTON
Judge John G. Lofton was a native of South Carolina, and upon taking up his residence on the prairie which bears his name, he became an active and prominent man in the neighborhood. He died about 1837, leaving three sons, Thomas G., who moved to Madison County, Ill .; Samuel A., who settled ncar Otterville; and John G. Lofton, who settled in Macoupin County, Ill. Judge Lofton was a Baptist, and in the days of the early pioneer preachers, the Baptist meetings were frequently held at his home, and that of Joseph White, who was also a zealous ad- herent of the Baptist faith. At Judge Lofton's house, the Salem Baptist
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Church, claimed to be the first church society formed in the county, was organized.
JOSEPH WHITE
Joseph White was also a native of South Carolina. The first land he entered was on the northern line of Jersey County, but he subsequently became a resident of Lofton's Prairie settlement. His sons were Joab, Jesse and Josiah White, who resided in this county, and Joseph White, who resided in Greene County. Ormond Beeman was a son-in-law of .Joseph White. He lived to an advanced age, and died on the farm on which he settled.
JOHN MCDOW
John McDow was another settler from South Carolina, who at an early date had settled two miles and a half east of Edwardsville, in Madison County, Ill., and subsequently moved to the American bottom. and from that locality went to Boone County, Mo., from whence he came to Jersey County, Ill., in 1824. He was the father of William, Thomas. Charles, John and Robert McDow. Robert MeDow went to California ; William McDow moved to the place where he died, adjoining the town of Otterville, in 1830. There were also three daughters in the MeDow family.
THE GILLHAMS
The Gillhams, John D. and Ezekiel, brothers, were early and respected citizens of the Lofton Prairie settlement. They were natives of South Carolina, who first settled in Kentucky, and from thence, in 1800. went to Madison County, Ill., thus being among the earliest settlers in Illinois territory. John D. Gillham came to what is now Jersey County in 1818, and passed the remainder of his life on section 28, township 7, range 11. The Gillhams were often on duty as United States Rangers during the War of 1812. They were Methodists, and the early preachers were in the habit of holding religious meetings at their houses. John D. Gillham, some time about 1828 built a brick house from brick made from clay and burned with wood cut from the site of the building. This was the first brick house in the southern part of the county, and in this house preach- ing was held until the building of the schoolhouse, which answered the purpose of a meetinghouse until the first churches were erected. The Gillham campground, on the east side of Gillham's Mound, was estab- lished in 1820, by the Methodists, and here annually, for a week or ten
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
days, the people from long distances, would gather in their carts and tents, in the grove of immense forest trees, with springs of pure water. Here sitting on puncheon seats, in front of a platform for the preachers, they would spend time worshipping God, in what Bryant denominates "God's first temples." Here the renowned Peter Cartwright, Peter Akers, Isaac N. Piggott, Jacob Lurton, George Slaten, Joseplı Piggott. and many others, who were noted preachers of their day, held service and great revivals of religion resulted. This campground was main- tained for twenty-five years. Among its leading supporters were the Gillhams, Moses Cockrell, the Slatens, Piggotts, Caldwells, Brocks, Swans, Briggs, Lurtons, Fullers, Waddles, Darlingtons, Nobles, Doughertys, and many other setters of those early days. John D. Gillham died in October, 1852, and in his life he was a leading, useful and respected citizen. His descendants still reside in the county. This brick house and original farm is now owned and occupied by Richard C. Gillham, his grandson, and Charles C. Gillham, a great-grandson, now supervisor for Mississippi Township on the county board of supervisors, resides in the original brick house, a cut of which appears in this history.
WILLIAM C. WADDLE
In March, 1826, William C. Waddle made entry of eighty acres on section 30, township 7, range 11. He was born in South Carolina. and was brought by his parents to Edwardsville, in Madison County, Ill., when only two years of age. His father moved from Edwardsville to the mouth of Piasa Creek in Jersey County, where Josiah Cummings, the father of Thomas Cummings, had settled in 1818. Mr. Waddle was a man of peaceable character, a good citizen. He subsequently moved to the neighborhood of Kane.
OTHER PROMINENT SETTLERS
According to the records, in 1828, land was entered by Charles Mc- Dow and Thomas McDow, and in 1829 by George Slaten and Jacob Lurton. Charles McDow was a native of South Carolina, and had resided a number of years in the American bottom before coming to Jersey County. Thomas McDow was a son of John McDow. He had been a ranger during the Indian troubles, from 1812 to 1814, and again during the Black Hawk War, he left his family and his farm for service against the Indians, and was captain of a company. He lost the title of captain,
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
however, and was more commonly known as 'Squire, after he was made a justice of the peace, in which office he was popular and efficient, and his neighbors re-elected him repeatedly to that office.
George Slaten was a native of North Carolina, moving from that state to South Carolina, where he was married; and thence to Georgia. In 1818, he emigrated from Georgia to Illinois, settling three and one-half miles southeast of Lebanon in St. Clair County. After residing there for four years, in 1822 he moved to a place between three and four miles southwest of Carrollton, in Greene County, whence he came in 1830 to Jersey County, to settle on land which he had entered the previous year, on section 31, township 7, range 11. This farm is now owned by the heirs of John C. Lurton. George Slaten had ten children who came with him to this county. William D. F. Slaten, who located three miles from Grafton; John W. Slaten, who early in life studied law, was for a time in the Methodist ministry, and practiced law at Jerseyville; George W. Slaten ; Capt. Benjamin F. Slaten : and James R. and Wiley B. Slaten were among these children. George Slaten, Sr., was a Methodist and religious meetings were held at his house, as well as at the house of the Gillhams.
In 1830, Thomas McDow entered land on section 32; John McDow, on section 29. Among others who made entries in the next couple of years were the following: F. G. Swan, Sally A. Reynolds, Richard H. McGill. Adam Waggoner, Joab White, William Davidson, Jacob Utt, Levi Smitlı and Moses Cockrell.
Jacob Utt was from Pennsylvania, and he was a good farmer. He sold his farm in 1857, buying another near Virden, Macoupin County, Ill., where he died in 1869. There were two Jacob Utts who came to Jersey County about the same time, and the son of Henry Utt, who also bore the name of Jacob, made three Jacob Utts, whom the settlers were accustomed to distinguish, the one from the other, by their personal peculiarities.
Jacob White was a native of North Carolina. Adam Waggoner, who, in his day, was well known in Jersey County, was born in Virginia. When young he removed to Kentucky, and shortly before entering the land above referred to, came to Illinois. He began improving his land at once, made additional purchases, and his homestead, at the time of his death, was a valuable property.
Francis Swan was also born in North Carolina, and in 1809 he emi- grated to St. Clair County, Ill. He was one of the rangers during the war of 1812, against the Indians. In 1823, he moved to Greene County,
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
Ill., settling near Carrollton, and three years afterwards, he came to township 7, range 11. His death occurred in 1850.
OTHER SETTLERS
Among other settlers of Mississippi Township, were members of the following families : John Findley, John R. Caldwell, William Davidson, A. Carson, J. J. Basey, and Samuel J. Kincade, who is said to have been the first justice of the peace. Charles Dodson came here about 1828, settling on the farm where later Chauncey Brown and Addison Greene lived. He was married to the daughter of Judge Lofton. Asher Chase settled on Lofton's Prairie, about 1823, first on the Stone place, but afterward moved to another location in township 7, range 11. About 1834, Bar- tholomew Chappell, an Englishman, purchased considerable land adjoin- ing the Lofton and Gillham property, and resided there until his death. His descendants still live in the same locality.
PIONEER INCIDENTS
The first school in this precinct was taught by Turner R. Lurton, in a small log house owned by John D. Gillham. The first schoolhouse was built in 1840. Previous to that year, schools were taught in the homes of private families.
The first sermon was preached at the house of John G. Lofton, by Rev. John Clark, about 1818.
The first marriage of Mississippi Township, was that of Joab White to Jane Lofton.
The first birth was that of a child of Thomas B. Lofton.
The first store was opened in 1836, by John W. Slaten and Isaac N. Piggott, about one-fourth of a mile south of West Newbern, on section 32. It was kept in a log building, and the stock comprised dry goods, groceries, hardware and all articles of which the settlers usually stood in need.
DOW
The town of Dow, another station on the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad, is located on land entered by John McDow, who was a brother- in-law of John G. Lofton and John D. Gillham, and it is the center of what was originally Lofton's Prairie. It is named after the first settler, John McDow, and was platted by his grandson, John Hardin McDow, who is still living at Dow. The original homestead of John McDow is
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
owned and occupied by Joseph Knight and his family, Mrs. Knight being a granddaughter of John McDow. John McDow, Sr., who was married to Margaret Gillham, a sister of John D. Gillham, died in 1835. Jacob Lurton was married to Margaret McDow, a daughter of John McDow, in 1829. He entered land upon the mound between the Gillham and McDow claims. William Gillham, father of John D. and Ezekiel Gillham, and the wives of John G. Lofton and John McDow, moved to Lofton's Prairie in 1818, and lived there until his death in 1823.
The population of Dow is 100. Its present condition is as follows : Merchants-Will E. MeDow and Clarence Updkye. Elevator-Byron L. McDow. Dow Lumber Yard-Ray H. McDow. Grist and Feed Mill- William and Leonard Vanausdall. Justice of the peace, John J. Falkner ; constable, James H. Cornwill.
MCCLUSKY
McClusky has a population of twenty. Bell Bros. keep a general store here. George L. Bell, Jr., is the township clerk; and Jesse K. Cadwallader is highway commissioner.
NEWBERN
Newbern has a population of twenty. George Spangle and William Smith conduct general stores at this point, and there is a brickyard switch from the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad here. The Cumber- land Presbyterians have a church at Newbern.
EAST NEWBERN
East Newbern is a station on the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Rail- road, and George Loukinson has a general store here. The Methodists have a church at this point.
SUPERVISORS
The supervisors of Mississippi Township from 1879 to 1918 have been as follows: Addison Greene, 1879-1880; John A. Cory, 1881; N. M. Lurton, 1882; Ephraim Chappell, 1883; George A. Reed, 1884; George H. Van Horne, 1885; N. M. Lurton, 1886 ; J. H. McDow, 1887, 1888, 1889, 1891, 1892; Joseph Chambers, 1890; Joseph Knight, 1893-1894; Mathew C. Whipple, 1895-1896 ; Richard C. Gillham, 1897, 1898, and 1903-1910 ; Till E. McDow, 1899-1902, and 1911-1916 ; Charles C. Gillham, 1917-1918.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
OTTER CREEK TOWNSHIP
BOUNDARIES-EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS-HAMILTON PRIMARY SCHOOL-EARLY TEACHERS-REMINISCENCES OF JERSEY COUNTY-ROSTER HAMILTON PRIMARY SCHOOL-GEORGE WASHINGTON EDUCATIONAL FUND-SUR- VIVORS OF ORIGINAL SETTLERS-OTTERVILLE-SUPERVISORS.
BOUNDARIES
Otter Creek Township is bounded on the north by English Township : on the east by Mississippi Township; on the south by Quarry and Elsah townships ; and on the west by Rosedale Township. It is a square town- ship, and is numbered township 7, range 12. It is located in the basin formed by Otter Creek, which forks in section 8. This fork, which is called North Fork, bears to the northeast, from whence it runs eastward, forming two branches, one of which is called Sandy Branch and runs to Hickory Grove, now Jerseyville; and the other which runs to the north to Gillham's Mound in Mississippi Township. The South Fork, which runs through Otter Creek Township in a southeasterly direction, enters Elsah and Quarry townships. Between these forks of Otter Creek, lie what are known as Lofton's Prairie and Otter Creek Prairie. The basin formed by these streams is ten to twelve miles from its extreme limits, north, south, east and west, running from a southeasterly direction from Gillham's Mound to within one and one-half miles of the Mississippi River, where George Noble and Isaac Terry settled on its headwaters; and running thence in a northwesterly direction to Jerseyville, along the divide between the waters running into the Macoupin and those flowing into Otter Creek. Within this basin are several other mounds. notably the MeDow Mound at Otterville; one further east known as McGill's Mound; one further south known at Utt's Mound; and two further west, known as Gillham's Mound and McClusky's Mound, the latter being near Dow.
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HISTORY OF JERSEY COUNTY
EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS
On the high land at Jerseyville, first known as Hickory Grove, the soil was extremely fertile; as was that of Lofton's Prairie, and settle- ments were made here in 1818 and 1819. The English Settlements were made in 1818 and 1819. When Dr. Silas Hamilton made his first entry of land in Otter Creek Settlement, in April, 1830, there were but 320 acres of land entered in this township. Dr. Hamilton entered and pur- chased a section of land which was the east half of section 11, and the west half of section 12, in this township. He located his relatives on land immediately adjoining his section. On the east was his sister, Mrs. Polly (Hamilton) Hurd, her husband, Ezra Hurd, and their family; on the west was his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth (Hamilton) Douglas, her husband Gilbert Douglas and their family, and Aaron Hamilton, Dr. Hamilton's brother. On the south were Daniel H. Hamilton and Thomas M. Hamil- ton, sons of his brother, Nathaniel Hamilton, and another brother of Dr. Hamilton, William Hamilton. Adjoining these settlements of his relatives were located: William Dougherty, Henry Noble and James Dougherty. Henry Noble's wife was a sister of William and James Dougherty. These three were old friends and neighbors of Dr. Hamilton in Mississippi, and it was through his influence that they came to Otter Creek Township. The settlers adjoining the Doughertys and Nobles were: Jasper Terry and Jasper N. Terry, his son, Tarlton F. Brock, John W. Slaten, John J. Lamb, a son-in-law of Henry Noble, and George, Caleb and Sidney Noble, who were sons of Henry Noble, all of whom entered land in this neighborhood. In addition to them, Joab White, Ormond Beeman, Hiram White, Ira White, Samuel Dabbs, father of W. W. Dabbs, and Jesse Dabbs, father of Joshua Dabbs, settled on the west of the creek. George D. Sidway, a son-in-law of Gilbert Douglas, settled on the west of Dr. Hamilton, and opened a tannery on the latter's land.
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