Fayette County, Illinois - Chapter 18: Orography Op Fa Yrttr County, 1878

Chapter 18: Orography Op Fa Yrttr County

ZZSEQAYETTE County, belongs to the group of the Kaskaskia. It is bounded on the north by Montgomery and Shelby Counties, on 9 the east by Effingham and Clay, on the south by Marion and

8RnK7 Clinton, and on the west by Bond and Montgomery. Its terri- ^y*»l tory extends from 88° 42' to 39° l(f north latitude, and is classed as one of the south-central counties. The meridian of 12° west longi¬ tude from Washington passes through almost the centre of the county.

Pepulatum. The population of the oounty, according to the census of 1870, is 19,693, and is composed of persons of English, Irish and German extraction.

Land Surface. The land surface is divided between timber and prairie, the greater part being prairie. The surface is rather undulating, there being no hilly or mountainous country.

It is watered by the Kaskaskia River and its tributaries, which consist of creeks, branches, etc. The Kaskaskia flows through the central portion of the county, and is skirted on either side by the " bottom," which has a very fertile soil, and is covered with a forest of excellent timber. The surface of the bottom lands, as a rule, is too low and wet for cultivation; but with a good system of drainage could be made very productive. The " Hurricane " Greek, which flows through the western part of the county, is the next stream in importance. Like the Kaskaskia, it lies in the midst of a valley of fertile bottom lands. This bottom is not so wide in extent, nor so wet as the Kaskaskia " bottom." Ramsey is a very turbulent little " creek," which often rises very rapidly, and does much damage by overflows in the rainy season.

Minerals. Goal is the chief mineral product, ana it as yet has not been developed. Stone of different varieties, among which is an excellent variety of building stone exists in the country.

Vegetation

jp^. - The most common forest trees are the elm, ash, hickory, the various species of the oak, the black and while walnut, and the different species of the maple - from one of which maple sugar is made.

Sefton, Bowline Green, Ramsey, Hurricane, Sharon, Vandalia, Bear Grove, Seminary and rope. Each township has its board of local officers, consist¬ ing of a supervisor, town clerk, assessor, collector and three commissioners of highways, all of which, except the commissioners of highways, are elected annually. Their tenure of office is for three years-^one going out of office iu the spring of each year.

Loudon is a township in the extreme north-eastern part of the county. It is bounded on the nortn by Shelby County, on the east by Effingham, on the south by Avena and Sefton Townships, on the west by Sefton and Bowling Green, the Kaskaskia River forming the boundary between it and Bowling Green.

The surface is broken. The soil is good in some parts, while in others it is not so productive. Principal productions are wheat, corn, rye and po¬ tatoes. The villages are Greenland, Loudon and part of Holliday. This township is intersected by the Springfield and South-eastern Railroad. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture and stock raising.

The surface is undulating, and oonsists chiefly of prairie land, with some timber in the northern part of the township. The character of the soil is a rich black mold, and very productive. Productions are wheat, corn, rye, oats, barley, hay, potatoes and fruits.

Towns and Villages. St. Elmo, on the Vandalia, 8 l Louis and Terre Haute Railroad, is a flourishing village of about 900 inhabitants. Merchan¬ dizing is carried on to a considerable extent. Large quantities of grain are shipped from this place. The village is well provided with chu ;hes and schools.

Avena , on the same railroad, is quite a prosperous little vill*Jp&. Con¬ siderable business is transacted here. Church and school facilities are fair.

Surfaoe level in most places - broken in south-west part of the Township. Soil muoh the same as Avena. Productions same, - together with tobacco, the cultivation of which reoeives some attention.

Lone Grove lies directly south of Wheatland, and is bounded on the east by La Clede. on the south by Marion County, and on the west by Wilberton. Surface slightly undulating - principally prairie land.

Surface, same as Lone Grove. Soil of a rich black mold. Products, same as adjoining township - and in addition, large quantities of fruit, including, peaches, apples, strawberries, etc., are produced here.

Villages. La Clede, on the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central Rail¬ road, is situated in the north-eastern part of the township. It is a thriving little village, and a great deal of business is transacted here.

Farina , in the south-western part of the Township, situated on the line of the same railroad, is a flourishing village of about 400 inhabitants. Large quantities of grain and fruit are shipped from this station. A large milling business is done here.

Wilberton is bounded on the north by 0;ego, and on the east by Lone Grove, on the south by Marion County, and on the west by Kaskas¬ kia Township. Surface, undulating prairie with some timber in the north. Products, same as adjoining townships. Perhaps more wheat is produced in Wilberton than in any other township in the county.

Otego is bounded on the north by Sefton, on the east by Wheatland, on the south by Wilberton, and on the west by Vandalia. Surface broken. Soil, sandy loam. Products, same as.other adjoining townships.

Brownstown, a beautiful little village on the line of the Vandalia, St. Louis and Terre Haute Railroad, is the centre of trade for a large scope of fertile country on either side. Hay and live stock are shipped from this station in large quantities.

Sefton is bounded by Loudon and Bowling Green on the north, by Avena on the east, Otego and Vandalia on the south, and the Kaskaskia Kiver on the west Surface, level in most parts - broken in the north and north¬ western part of the township. Sou, rich black mold. Products same as Otego.

Bowling Green is bounded on the north by Shelby County, on the east by . Loudon, on the south and south-east by Sefton, and on the west by Ramsey. Surface broken. Soil, light sandy loam - except in southern part which is of a rich black mold. Productions same as adjoining townships.

Ramsey Village is a prosperous little place of about seven hundred inhabi¬ tants, situated on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad. A large busi¬ ness is done at this station in shipping railroad ties, wood, live stock, etc. The village is well supplied with schools and church privileges. |

Surface, undulating in the north - broken in the south. Soil, rich black mold in the north, light sandy loam in the south. Products same as the adjoining townships. j

Sharon has the following boundaries: Hurricane and Ramsey on the | north, Kaskaskia River on the east, Vandalia and Bear Grove on the south, and Montgomery County on the west. 1

Vera t on the Illinois Central Railroad, is a prosperous little village, where great quantities of railroad tie3, wood, flour, etc., are shipped.

Vandalia is bounded on the north by Sharon and Seffcon, on the east by Otego, on ihe south by Kaskaskia Township and Seminary, on the west by ! Bear Grove. I

City of Vandalia , at the crossing of the Illinois Central and the Vandalia and Terre Haute Railroads, is a flourishing city of 2,500 inhabitants - it was for about twenty years the Capital of the State. Mercantile and manu¬ facturing business is carried on extensively in the city.

Surface, level in the eastern and northern part, broken in the western and i southern part. Soil, rich sandy loam. Productions same as adjoining townships. !

Hagerstown on the St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute Railroad, is an enterprising little village. A great deal of grain, live stock, etc., is shipped from here.

Seminary is bounded on the north by Bear Grove and Vandalia, on the east, south-east, and south by the Kaskaskia River, on the west by Clinton and Bond Counties. Surface, broken - principally limber lands. Soil, light sandy loam. Products same as adjoining townships.

Kaskaskia is bounded on the north by Vandalia township, on the east by Wilberton on the south by Marion County and Pope, on the west by the Kaskaskia River. Surface, in the eastern part level, in the south and wtst broken. Soil, in the east rich black mold, in the west and south light sandy loam. Products same as adjoining townships.

Pope is bounded on the north and east by Kaskaskia and Marion County, on the south by Clinton County, and on the west by the Kaskaskia River. Surface, broken. Soil, light sandy loam. Products same as other town¬ ships adjoining it.