Millersburg, Illinois

Millersburg Township is divided into two nearly equal geographical divisions by Edwards River. Until suitable bridges were built across this stream the people of the two divisions were isolated and scarcely knew each other. However, as soon as bridges were built the township was a unit in growth and development. In 1872 upon petition of the inhabitants it was divided into two election precincts, the river being the separating line. This did not continue long, because the following year bridges having been built, the precincts were united into one. In the fall of 1834 settlements were made in both divisions of the township. The first farmers to locate south of the river were Edward Willette, Harrison Riggs and Ebenezer Creswell. Riggs located on section 30 and put up the first log cabin in the township. Creswell located on section 21 and built a sawmill during 1834-5. If was on Camp Creek and was the first mill in the township and one of the first in the county. Willette located on the same section as Creswell. Other early settlers in the south division were Thomas Riggs in 1836; Rice Peckingbaugh, 1840; Charles Griffith, 1836; Isaac Burson, 1837; W. Hubbard, 1836; Edward Brady, Sr., 1842; John T. McGinnis, 1846; Richard and John S. Kiddoo, 1845; William Kiddoo, 1847; John and Edward Brady, 1842; Peter Spangler, Thomas Jackson and others, about 1840. Bv the earlv '40s the settlement south of the river was general and schools had been started and religious societies formed. The first settler in the north division was Benijah Lloyd, who located on section 5 in 1834. Two years afterward the Miller brothers located at what became known as Millersburg. They had previously settled elsewhere in 1834.

Passage source: Past and Present of Mercer County, Illinois, published 1914.

Among the first settlers at Millersburg were H. W. Thornton, 1836; James Thompson, 1838; Christian Routzong, 1838; Erastus, William and Joseph Denison, about 1839; Judge E. Gilmore, about 1838; the latter at a later day located south of the river. These persons located either in the village of Millersburg or within a short distance therefrom. I. M. Gilmore located east of the village about 1840; L. B. Howe, Thomas Brighton, Elbridge Howe, W. A. Bridg- ford and his son, O A. Bridgford, all arrived in the early '40s. William Kline came early in the ^os, and his brother, Christian Kline, about the same time. The former was a skilful hunter. Among the settlers of the township at a later day were the following: Dr. Joseph Boyd, Albert P. Taylor, the Felton family, of whom Herschel was one; Jacob Whorton, who had four sons and several daughters; Samuel and Alexander Carnahan, Robert Shearer, Thomas Greer, John Duff, Rev. Stephen T. Stratton, James H. Crane, George Scott, James Shingledecker, James and Cliff Haverfield, John Love and his son William, Andrew Downing and his son, William W. ; Absalom Volentine and his sons, James, Wesley and William; the Morrow and Close families, James M. Burgess, John Downing, Sr. and Jr., a Frenchman named Ritter, who was a skilful musician; Jacob Braucht and his sons, William and George; Alexander Green, who built a mill on Edwards River south of Millersburg; Mordecai Marsh, the father of the scientist, William A. Marsh; Charles Wakeland, who had five sons, and William Green.

Passage source: Past and Present of Mercer County, Illinois, published 1914.

Beginning in 1835 roads were laid out and built as rapidly as the funds warranted. The first elections were held in the schoolhouse near Edward Brady's corner and later at the Village of Millersburg. In 1 879 the permanent place of holding elections was fixed at Brady's Corner and a town hall for public purposes was built over the schoolhouse there at a cost of $387, a portion of which was raised by private subscription upon condition that entertainments of various kinds could be held in the hall. In 1868 the township by a vote of 114 to 27 decided to pay $13,400 to the American Central Railroad Company. The bonds were issued the next year. In 1870 the township was called upon to vote on the question of aiding the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad Company, but decided against it by a vote of 107 for and 126 against. A little later another attempt was made with the same object in view, there being cast 106 votes for taxation and 117 against it.

Passage source: Past and Present of Mercer County, Illinois, published 1914.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Millersburg Township - it names this place 8 more 8 times.