Uniontown, Illinois

Among the first settlers of this excellent township were Solomon Sherwood, Henry Dalton, Alexander Taylor, Felix Thurman, Avery Dalton, Benona Hawkins, John Darnell, Sala Blakeslee, William Kent, John Thurman, and John Haskins. Taylor arrived first, and settled on section 5. The first birth was Laura, daughter of John Haskins, in 1835. The first marriage was that of Avery Dalton, to Delilah Dalton. The first death was Anderson Corbine, in the summer of 1835. The first sermon was preached by Rev. Henry Summers, on section 13, on the 4th of November, 1836. Emeline Shinn was the first to die in the township, on the 9th of August, 1839. The first postoffice was established at a place in the southwest corner of the township, called Middle Grove. The first school was taught by Abid Drew, on section 13, in 1838. The first Justice of the Peace was William Davis. There are three towns in this township, and more miles of railroad than in any other township in the county except Galesburg. The first frame building in Salem township was erected by Sala Blakeslee, in 1837. It was a barn, 30 by 40 feet in size; and burned down the same year. Mr. Blakeslee also brought the first timothy seed into the township, in 1834. On his farm are ten chestnut trees, growing from seeds planted by him, in 1810. Thev will now measure two feet in diameter. He also has a rail fence, which is lemarkable for its perfect state of preservation. In 32 rods, which was built in 1844, there are not more than five rails but what are sound and good yet. It has never been re-set. He claims that the rails do not rot, for the reason that they were cut in August, and the fence laid while the moon was in its last quarter. He has logs in a corn-crib that were cut in 1829, and gate posts that were cut in 1832.

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

Salem was settled up by a good class of people, and after a beginning was made its population increased quite rapidly. Its lands lie fair and are rich and very productive, and easily drained by the little water-courses that meander through. A great portion of the township is beautiful rolling prairies, the southeastern and southwestern portions being somewliat broken. These sections at one lime were liberally timbered. It is regarded as one of the best townships in the county; it ranks second in raising cattle and horses, and first in hogs. It has more miles of railroad than any other township, e.xcept Galesburg, and is third in population.

Passage source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, published 1886.

In addition to this, Yates City has a good banking institution, known as the Farmers' Bank, which is ably presided over by L. F. Wenman. Several large business houses,, lumber-yards and elevator, and many other buaness establishments are located here. There is here a co-operative store, which was organized in the spring of 1875. Its capital stock now is $20,000, and the business is carried on in a two-story brick building, which was erected by this corap)any at a cost of $3,000. They are now out of debt and have a fund large enough to meet purchasing demaruis, and hereafter it is proposed to pay dividends.

Passage source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, published 1886.

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 Salem Township - it names this place 1 more 1 time.