Truro, Illinois

This township contains a greater number of miles of Spoon river than any other township in the county. That river touches 17 sections, which is, seemingly, as many as is possible for the same number of miles of a stream to cross in running through a township. The first settler in Truro was John Dill, who came to the township in 1832, and erected his cabin on section 19. Malon Winans, United States' Mail Carrier, was the first person meeting with death in this township. He lived in Lewistown, Fulton county, and was making his first trip with the mail. O. M. Ross, who came into Fulton county in 1822, carried the mail between Springfield and Monrnouth for some years, or rather it was carried by his son, Harvey L., who, when he began in 1832, was but 15 years of age. In 1834 Mr. Ross let out a part of the route, from Lewistown to Monmouth, to a relative of his, Malon Winans. Mr. Winans had a son whom he intended to put upon the route, but concluded to go over it himself first that he might make all necessary arrangements for stopping-places. But his first trip was his last, for in attempting to swim Spoon river with the mail-bag strapped to his back, he was drowned.

Passage source: History of Knox County, Illinois, published 1878.

Victoria township lies in the northeast part of Knox county, and was named in honor of Queen Yictoria. It is bounded on the east by Stark county, south by Truro township, on the west by Copley township, and on the north by Lynn township. It is well interspersed with timber and prairie, rock is found in large quantities good for building purposes, and coal is abundant. The whole township is underlaid with coal, yet the land is good and rich, producing abundant crops. In her mineral resources she has a mine which when worked will produce abundant remuneration to the laborer.

Passage source: History of Knox County, Illinois, published 1878.

Methodist local preacher, preached the first sermon in the house of Moses Robinson in 1836. Salem school-house was the first seat of learning; it was about one 'mile northwest of the present site, and was built in 1837. G. F. Reynolds, E. Smith, S. Locke, Rev. J. J. Hedstrom, Isaiah Berry, Peter Yan Buren, Alexander, Peter and Anson Sornberger, M. C. Hubbell, Edward Boyer, the Shurtliffs, Smiths and Olmsteds, with others, were among the early settlers.

Passage source: History of Knox County, Illinois, published 1878.

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 Truro Township - it names this place 5 more 5 times.