Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 2: Geography, Topography and Resources, 1885

Jersey county lies on the western border of the great state of Illinois, at the junction of the Illinois river and the mighty Mississippi, and embraces some"- what over ten congressional townships or about three hundred and sixty-three square miles, and contains about 232,0 0 acres of land, nearly all of which is valuable for tillage or pasture.

The county is bounded on the north by Greene county, on the east by Macoupin and Madison counties, on the south by the state of Missouri, from which it is separated b) the Mississippi river, and on the west by Calhoun county, the Illinois river forming the boundary line between.

The central and eastern portions of this sub-division of the state, are mostly prairie, level or gently rolling, hut the southern and western part becomes more broken and rough as it approaches the rivers farming in bluffs and hills sepatcd from each ether by narrow ravines, and with sharp declivities, crowned with a narrow, knifelike ridge, souk- towering some two or three hundred feet in the air. This portion of the county was heavily timbered at one time, but the hands of the busy woodman has wielded the axe so well that much of the land has been cleared of its leafy mantle, but enough remains to give to it the appearance of a wooded country, and with the

The territory of Jersey county is diversified with many streams of water, that Bow in all directions from the center, of which Jerseyville is the highest point. The principal of these streams are the Macoupin, the Otter, Piasa and Phill's creek with their affluents. Macoupin creek enters Jersey county first in the northern part of Ruyle township and winding, with devious course in a general westerly course close to the boundary line between this and Greene county, is some times in one county and some times in the other, until it reaches the northeast corner of the township of Richwoods, from which point to the 111- nois river, into which it empties, it forms the boundary line between the tw i counties. Phill's creek, which is 'an affluent of this stream, is formed by the junction of several small rivulets, which unite on section 17, of Fidelity township, and from thence flowing northwesterly, receives the waters of the Owl and Dorsey's branches, ami flows into the Macoupin creek. Piasa creek has its solirse in the southwestern part of Macoupin county, ami is formed by the function of two or three small runs that meet on section 35, of

Fidelity township, and from thence flowing in a general southwesterly course, empties into the Mississippi liver. Otter creek has its rise in the center of the county, and flows westwardly into the Illinois river, at the southeast corner of section 6, Rosedale township. These streams, with their numerous affluents, and many small creeks, runs and rivulets that empty into the two rivers, afford ample drainage for the county, and supply an abundance of water for stock purposes.

There are three lines of railroad traversing the territory of Jersey county, in various directions, connecting it with eastern and southern markets. The St. Louis and Kansas City branch of the Chicago and Alton railroad enters the county on the north from Greene county and traverses the townships of Jerseyville, Mississippi and Piasa. It has tAvo stations within the county, those of Jerseyville and Delhi. Another branch of the same road crosses the southeast corner of Piasa township, the main line from Chicago to St. Louis. The Rock Island and St. Louis branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad dosses the northeastern part qf Ruyle township and has one station within this county, Kemper. The St. Louis, Jerseyville and Springfield branch of the Wabash railroad, enters the county from the northeast, crosses the townships of Fidelity and Jerseyville to the city <>f the latter name, and then turns smith, passing through Mississippi and Elsah to the town of Elsah, on the Mississippi river, thence turning west, runs to Grafton, where it, at present, has its terminus. Besides these iron roads, nature has provided the most magnificent of waterways for the carrying off of the surplus products of this portion of the state, the Illinois river and the mighty Mississippi, the Father of Waters. All these numerous avenues of trade, facilitate the transportation of merchandise and produce, and bring the county of Jersey into direct communication with the mighty marts of commerce, both north and south, and add largely to the commercial value of everything raised within its borders. From early times the energetic agriculturists of this county have throve and gathered stores of this world's goods, until to-day Jersey county stands well to the front as one of the most prosperous in the state of Illinois. The bluff lands of the county are most admirably adapted to the cultivation of all kinds of fruits, as well as wheat and other cereals, and the prairie with its rich, black alluvial soil seems the home of corn and other grains. The rich succulent grasses of this region betray by the sleek hides and rounded forms of the stock that are pastured therein, the nutritive qualities drawn from a kindly soil. Thrift and affluence are manifested on every hand in the fine improvements and graded stock throughout the county, and taking it as a whole, in an agricultural sense, this county ranks with the best in the land. Its proximity to the great rivers, together with its excellent railroad facilities, and unexceptional resources, must make it commend itself to those seeking homes in the West. The broken land in the vicinity of the rivers is well adapted to the culture of grape, as is demonstrated by those who have made essay in this direction, and in the hands of skillful vinegrowers could be made to yield a more liberal return for the labor devoted to them, than can be obtained from the richest prairie land, devoted to the common cereals, indigenous to this climate and latitude. Sheep would, no doubt, do well here, as it is a known fact that they are more healthy on hill land than on the lowlands.

The following tables will give some idea of the wealth of the county, being the assessments made at various times during the existence of the county, and shows how the real and personal property of the citizens of Jersey county, has increased from time to time: