Washington County, Illinois - Chapter 3: The Geographical Fea Turks, Commercial Interests , and Agricultural, 1879

Chapter 3: The Geographical Fea Turks, Commercial Interests , and Agricultural

ASHINGTON COUNTY belongs to the group of the Kaskaskia. It is bounded on the north by Clinton county, on the east by Ma¬ rion aud Jefferson, on the south by Perry and Randolph, and on the west by St. Clair county. It lies between the 38th and 39th parallels of north latitude, and between the 12th and 13th meridian of west longitude, from Washington. Its area is about 368 640 acres, or about six¬ teen congressional townships.

Form - In form Washington county is a square, with the exception of a portion of territory which is cut off on the north-west by the Kaskaskia River.

Population - The population is estimated at twenty thousand, composed of Americans, Germans, and a few Poles in the south-east part of the county.

Land Surface - The land surface is divided between timber and prairie - the greater portion being prairie. The surface is undulating - no hilly or mountainous country.

Waters - It is watered by the Kaskaskia River and its tributaries, which consist of branches, creeks, etc. This river flows along, and forms the north¬ west boundary of the county. The Kaskaskia bottom lands are covered with a thick black soil, which is highly productive. The various creek bot¬ toms have a rich and fertile soil, and are in a high state of cultivation.

Minerals - Like most of the counties of Southern Illinois, Washington is underlaid with coal-fields, but as yet they have not been developed. Stone of different varieties is said to exist in the county*

Political Divisions - The political divisions of Washington county, are Pre¬ cincts They are as follows: - Irvington, Richview, Ashley, Dubois, Hoyleton, Covington, Nashville, Pilot Knob, Okawville, Plum Hill, Elkton, Ve¬ nedy and Lively Grow.

Its local government consists of three Commissioners, one of whom is elected annually, and each serves for the period of three years. They con¬ stitute the Commissioners' Court, and transact the county business.

Irvington Precinct is in the north-eastern part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Clinton county, on the east by Marion and Jefferson coun¬ ties, on the south by Richview, and on the west by Hoyleton. The surface of this precinct is level - its soil is composed of black alluvial lands. Productions. - Its productions are wheat, oats, corn and fruits. It is composed principally of prairie lands, which are exceedingly fertile and in a high state of cultivation. Its population is composed principally of Americans.

The village of Irvington is situated on the main line of the Illinois Central Railroad, and has a population estimated at 200, a larger portion of which are Americans. The village is well provided with church and school facili¬ ties. "Illinois Agricultural College" is located here. Milling and manu¬ facturing interests are prosperous.

Richview Precinct is bounded on the north by Irvington and Hoyleton precincts, on the east by Jefferson county, on the south by Ashley precinct, and on the west by Nashville precinct. The surface is somewhat broken, and composed of timber and prairie lands. Soil, light, sandy loam. Produce tions, corn, oats, wheat and fruit. Villages, Old and New Richview; the population of both is estimated at 1000; principally Americans. Both towns are situated on the Illinois Central Railroad. Large quantities of grain, fruits, and other farm products, are shipped from here. Mercantile and man¬ ufacturing interests are in a flourishing condition. Educational and church facilities are good. In Old Richview Washington Seminary " is located.

Ashley Precinct has the following boundaries: Richview on the north, Jef¬ ferson county on the east, Dubois precinct on the south, and Nashville pre¬ cinct on the west. The surface is level, and the soil is composed of rich allu¬ vial lands. The principal part of the lands is prairie, with some timber. Pro¬ ductions same as Richview.

Town of Ashley - Mercantile and manufacturing interests in a state of prosperity. Milling is carried on in this town extensively. Large shipments of grain and other farm products, as well as large quantities of flour, are made from this town. The advantages offered by this town, as a shipping point, are in excess of any other point in the County, in consequence of its location, being situated at the crossing of the Illinois Central and the St. Louis and 3outh Eastern Railroads. It numbers about 1500 in population, including Americans and Germans, principally Americans. Educational and church interests are in a healthy condition.

Dubois Precinct - Bounded on the north by Ashley, on the east by Jeffer¬ son county, on the south by Perry county, and on the west by Nashville Pre¬ cinct. Surface, undmating; timber lands in the north and east, in the south and West, prairie. Soil is black, sandy loam, and very productive. Pro¬ ducts same as adjoining precincts. Commercial and manufacturing interests fair. Mining has received some attention in this Precinct. Kingsbury and Company's coal mine is located here.

The Village of Dubois is on the Illinois Central Railroad, and has a popu¬ lation of about 300, consisting of native Americans, Germans and Poles. Commercial interests, fair. School and church facilities, good.

HayleUm Precinct is bounded on the north by Clinton county, on the east by Irvington precinct, on the south by Richview, and on the west by Coving¬ ton and Nashville precincts. The surface of this precioct is undulating prai¬ rie lands, covered by a rich, black soil, that is highly productive. Tne lands of thiS'precinct are in a high state of cultivation. Productions are wheat, corn, oats, fruit, and other farm products. This precinct is well provided wfth mills, mercantile establishments, churches and schools. Mrs. Bettie Graban's Female Institute, for the education of young ladies, is located in the village cf Hoyleton. The village has a population of about 300 inhabitants, principally Germans. This is a pleasant village, surrounded by a beautiful and productive country, in a high state of cultivation.

Covington Precinct is bounded on the north by Clinton county, on the east by Hoyleton precinct, on the south bjy Nashville, and on the west by Okawville. Surface - on either bank of Little Crooked Creek is a broken tim¬ bered country; the remainder of the precinct is undulating prairie lands. The whole of the land is covered with a rich, black, alluvial soil. The lands are in a fair state of cultivation.

The Village of New Minden has a population of about 400 inhabitants, mostly Germans. In this village milling, mercantile, church and school in¬ terests are in a prosperous condition.

Nashville Precinct is bounded as follows : On the north by Covington, on the east by Hoyleton, Richview, Ashley and Dubois, on the south by Perry county and Pilot Knob precinct, on the west by Elkton, and Plum Hill precincts. The surface is undulating prairie land. Soil, black, alluvial, highly productive. Productions - wheat, corn, oats, and other farm pro¬ ducts.

City of Nashville is situated on the St. Louis and South-Eastern Railroad, forty-nine miles from St. Louis. It has a population estimated at 2300, com¬ posed of Americans and Germans. Milling and manufacturing is carried on extensively here. A more detailed account of the commercial interests will be found elsewhere in this work. Church and school interests are in a flour¬ ishing condition.

Pilot Knob Precinct is bounded on the north and east by Nashville pre¬ cinct, on the south by Perry county, and on the west by Elkton precinct. Surface level, composed of timber and prairie lands, covered with rich, black

OkawviUe Precinct is bounded on the north and north-west by Kmhaakia. River, on the east by Covington, and Plum Hill precincts, on the south by Elkton precinct, and on the west by Venedy precinct and St Clair county. Surface, undulating prairie land. Soil, black, sandy loam, highly productive. Productions same as adjoining precincts.

OkawviUe Village , on the St. Louis and South-Eastern Railroad, has a population of 400, principally Germans. Commercial, manufacturing, churoh and school interests are prosperous. Large quantities of grain and other agricultural products are shipped from this point

Plum HiU Precinct is bounded on the north by Covington and Okawville, on the east by Nashville, on the south by Nashville and Elkton, and on the west by Okawville. Surface, undulating prairie. Soil, rich, black loam. Products, same as adjoining precincts.

Addieville, a thriving little village of 100 inhabitants, is located in this pre¬ cinct, 4 miles west of the city of Nashville. 8chool and church facilities are good.

Elkton Precinct is bounded on the north by Plum Hill and Okawville, on the east by Nashville and Pilot Knob, on the south by Perry county, on the west by Lively Grove. Surface, undulating prairie lands. Soil, black, alluvial lands, highly productive. Productions, wheat, corn, oats, hay and other form products. Commercial, educational, and church interests are prosperous. Elkton and Oakdale are prosperous little villages in this pre¬ cinct

Lively Grove Precinct is bounded as follows: Venedy on the north, Elk¬ ton on the east, Randolph county on the south, St. Clair county on the west Surface, undulating prairie lands. Soil, rich, alluvial lands. Productions same as Elkton. School and church improvements good.

Venedy Precincts has Okawville precinct on the north, Okawville and Elkton on the east, Lively Grove on the south, and St. Clair county on the west. Surface, beautiful, undulating prairie. Soil, black, rich loam, highly productive. Products same as Lively Grove. The lands of this precioct are in a high state of cultivation.

Venedy and Johannesburg , two thriving little villages, composed principal¬ ly of German inhabitants, are located in this precinct. Mercantile, church and school interests are in a prosperous condition.

On the next page will be found a table showing the agricultural statistics of Washington County, by townships, as compiled from the Assessor's books for the year 1877 Also the assessment of the principal articles of personal property, for the same year, with their assessed valuation for the year 1878. They will speak more eloquently of the resources of the county than anything we could say.

The Illinois Central Railroad Company offer for sale about eight thousand (8,000) acres of good farming lands in Washington county at greatly reduced prices, which offer superior facilities to the farmer, fruit-grower and stock raiser.

Winter wheat of the finest quality (and an almost certain crop), is raised every year in this timber region, and will yield from fifteen to thirty bushels per acre. Corn will yield from thirty to sixty bushels per acre; oats from forty to sixty bushels per acre; timothy and clover, as well as many other kinds of grass, from one and a half to three tons of hay per acre. Other farm products yield in the same proportion, and always find a ready market and command good prices.

Horses, cattle, mules, sheep and hogs do well in every part of the State of Illinois, but especially in the timber region, where these lands are located. The climate is'mild, and but little shelter or stabling is necessary either in wioter or summer.

We would call particular attention to the raising of sheep, in the southern part of the 8tate, say from any point twenty-five miles north of Cairo. At the present time but few farmers have more sheep on hand than will supply their own wants in the way of food, and wool for the family clothing. A few have gone into the business extensively, and with great success. Sheep require little more food or water, beyond what they can pick up themselves in the fields or wood pastures. They yield a fine fleece of wool each spring, and mutton will always find a ready market, particularly in the summer months.

Schools, Churches, Etc

The fine school system of the State has placed a good free school-house within rfeach of every family. Churches of all demoninations are scattered all over the State. First class Colleges and Academies for males and females are located at various points, and at as reasonable rates for tuition and board as can be obtained anywhere in the United Slates.

There are quite a large number of manufacturing establishments along the line of the Illinois Central Railroad. Grist and saw mills are located at almost every station. Wagon shops, cooper shops, box factories, blacksmith shops, plow factories, etc., can be found almost everywhere. A nail factory has just been established at Centralia.

Fruit Raising

The great fruit region is located south of the Terre Haute and Alton Railway, where most of the lands in their natural state are covered with for¬ est trees, some beiog very valuable timber. For raising fruit, grapes, berries of all kinds, and vegetables of every variety, these lands cannot be excelled. The fruit and berry crops have become of so much importance that the man¬ agement of the road have for a number of years past, during the berry and fruit season, run a daily Express Fruit Train between Cairo and Chicago which carries all kinds of vegetables, fruits and berries, and runs at a rate of speed equal to any passenger train, so that the fruits and vegetables shipped reach the northern markets almost as fresh as when gathered from the tree or vine, and consequently always command a better price than those that are shipped from more distant points and become stale and unfit for use before reaching their destination.

Climate

The climate throughout the whole State of Illinois is usually mild and genial, and particularly so in the southern portion of the State, where the lands for sale are located. It is as healthy as any other State in the Union.

Water

The very best of well water can be obtained by sinking wells at various depths, from ten to fifty feet below the surface. An abundant supply of stock water can usually be obtained in creeks and rivers convenient enough without digging welb for that purpose. But stock water can generally be procured at so shallow a depth that it is cheaper to dig wells or pond holes than to drive stock any distance to water.

Coal

Our most skilled geologists inform us that the so called " Coal Measures/* (a term used to designate the formation on which the principal coal deposits are found,) attain an aggregate thickness of at least one thousand feet, and cover nearly three-quarters of the area of the entire State. The southern boundary being fixed at about Cobden, on the Illinois Central Railroad ; the eastern boundary by the State line; the northern at Bulkey, on the Chicago branch of that road, and Mendota, on the main line; and the west¬ ern, usually a few miles east of the Mississippi River. This coal measure has not been fully developed in the central and northern portions of the State, and but partially in the southern. In the central and northern part of the State the formation is known to be at a great depth, while in the southern it is in some places quite near the surface. Near St. Johns, Du Quoin, Tamaroa, Carbondale, Centralia, and some other points, mines have been opened and are now in successful operation, some being approached by inclined planes and tunnels at a depth of from eleven to fifty feet from the surface, others by shads, at from one hundred to five hundred feet in depth. The coal is of an excellent quality, and the mining operations have attracted much attention, add when fully developed will be a source of 'great wealth.

Title

The title to these lands offered for sale is as perfect as human agency can make it. It was originally donated by Act of Congress to the State of Illi¬ nois, and by an Act of the State Legislature transferred to this Company and its Trustees. No incumbrance of any kind whatever.

To ail who desire in good faith to examine any of these lands, the Railroad Company issue half rate tickets to and from the nearest points to the land, an I if such ticket holder buys even a forty acre tract, they will allow what be paid for such ticket as part payment on the purchase.

One-quarter cash, with six per cent interest for one year, in advance, on the residue; the balance payable in one, two and three years, with six per cent interest, in advance, each year on the part remaining unpaid. For ex¬ ample, for forty acres of land at $5 per acre, the payments will be as follows

Full information on all points relating to any particular locality or tract, will be furnished on application, either in person or by letter, to

Room 11, No. 78 Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ills. All station agents along the line of the road have maps showing the land in their vicinity for sale, with prices.

Geology and Palaeontology of Washington County, we will use - scientific terms and expressions; but to make it more easily understood by the general reader, we will use plainer and simpler I language. The geological features of this county are in most respects the | same as those of the other counties which are drained by the Kaskaskia tom of this great inland sea is to be found below the deepest coal deposits. Vast quantities of rank weeds, ferns and sedges, together with gigantic- trees and other similar arborescent growth, springing upon the shallow borders and low islands, falling into decay, gradually settled to the bottom of the water, and were finally covered by sedimentary deposits, much of which is now hard¬ ened into stone. These buried drifts, by lapse of time and other causes, were eventually converted into coal. Finally, after vast periods of time had rolled away, this inland sea, by the washing from its shores and islands, had | become comparatively shallow with its stores of coal, shale, sand-stone and lime-stone, covered with various grades and strata^of clay, and the latter ! with a black loam, composed of mingled clay and carbonaceous matter prot duced from decayed vegetation.

| As this vast shallow body of water gradually moved away, it naturally j followed the lowest surfaces at the bottom, and by degrees washed out and

Every farmer has observed how, on any of our wet prairies, if a road, fur- | row, or other slight channel is formed leading to lower levels, a deep ditch

Now, whether the elevations about the head of Grand Point creek, in the east of Sawyer's Point, and Plum Hill, near the centre of the county, and the region about Elkhorn and Lively's Grove, in the west, were original " uplands," or whether these were at the average of the ancient sea level, the fact that on the higher elevations in our county, the surface is com¬ posed of drifts interspersed with " wash-pebbles," would point to the conclu¬ sion that no considerable upheavals had taken place prior to the subsidence of the water, and there is little to lead the scientist to the conclusions that any such action has taken place since.

The first of these causes was the action of enormous icebergs, which, dur¬ ing the glacial periods which our latitude has passed, floated over the Mis¬ sissippi Valley, with their bottoms scraping all shallow places, and carrying and depositing those many boulders and blocks of granite and other masses

In many places the hills were uprooted by these icebergs, driven by tempests, and the strata of rocks are frequently found in a vertical and in¬ clined position.

The second of these causes consists in the fact, that many of the streams, especially the minor ones, have entirely changed their former course. In many of these places the ancient channels undermined banks and ledges of stone, and caused them to fall and tilt upon their edges, after which they have been more or less covered by the shifting sands and sedimentary deposits. Many of these tilts are found under non-existing hills, in the pro¬ cess of well-digging and other mining operations. |

There is, therefore, nothing in the geological feature of this county to indicate that any considerable volcanic action has ever taken place, but, on the contrary, that its hills and valleys, its prairies and other features, as well as its deep-lying coal-beds and strata of sand and lime stone, - the latter of | which are in many places over sixty feet in thickness, - have all been pro¬ duced by the action, direct, or remote, of water. It is evident to the mind | of the State. The surface of Washington County is underlaid with coal, the main strata being at a depth from 90 to 600 feet. While detached beds of thin, shaly coal may be fouud at depths varying from 20 to 60 feet, in some places there is a perceptible outcrop. At Dubois, on the line of the Central road, coal may be found about 300 feet from the surface, under a lime-stone formation of varying thickness from 40 to 75 feet No mine has been sunk at Nashville that reached the coal; but from reliable surveys of the Dubois vein, and the Coulterville mine, near the south-west corner of the county, and along the line of the South-eastern railway, in St. Clair county, we judge the depth of the principal coal vein to be about or near 500 feet at Nashville.

Immediately above the coal we generally find slate, from 2 to 7 feet; the lime-stone 25 to 125 feet. The more recent traces of diluvium become appa¬ rent near the surface of the older lime-stone, (generally called by the miners coal-cap). Vegetable remains are often found; sometimes large trees, in a good state of preservation.

Detached beds of rubble, and sometimes useful quarries of lime-stone, or calcareous sand-stone, are met in various parts of the county, near or on the surface This is particularly the case about the borders of Little Muddy, in the east and south-east, in township 2 south, range 2 west, and near the banks and breaks of the Elkhorn, and of Mud Creek in the w§st and south¬ west. Very little pure sand-stone has been found, and that generally of a very unstable quality; while in a few places, especially in some elevated position, the soil and other surface formations are pale from the absence of carbonaceous matter, the mineral element, such as lime and phosphoric acid being in unusual abundance.

In the line of palaeontology but little can be said. On the more elevated ridge a few fossils have been noticed, and those mostly of coprolites of a reptilian origin. A few only have been found that would weigh as much as twenty or thirty pounds. Just beneath the last mentioned stone forma¬ tions the remains of shell-fish exist. Some petrifications of the water-snail are also found, composed principally of sulphurate of iron. On the prairies, from four to twenty feet below the surface, are frequently found the bones of fishes of the gar-pike species.