Woodville Township

Woodville Township

Woodville a small village, situated in the southwestern part of the county, was platted as a village on the 10th of October, 1835, by Anion Wood, Seanright Wood and others. Mr. Poindexter built the first frame building and opened a small store for the sale of whiskey, which flowed perhaps more abundantly tlian at the present day. Not long thereafter George Rice opened a general merchandise store and conducted a prosperous business ; his successors were Allen Wood and John Bronough. Shortly afier the town was laid off, Esquire Wood O erected a two-story frame building for use as a store, but it was never used as such and it is now the property of Dr. M. F. Kelley. About 1837, Russell Rice erected' a small building which was used as a grocery. Benjamin Powell built the fourth primitive establishment - a log cabin. Henry C. Sieverling was the first blacksmith of the town, and afterwards came Andrew Kelley and Thomas Lyle, who built the second shop of the kind, and is still a resident of the place. Although the town never boasted a drug store, Allen Wood was to some extent a dispenser of drugs in this locality. Edward Pegram in 1877, built a substantial brick building, where he transacts a successful business in groceries. In 1870, Dr. Bruner became a resident of the main village. In 1875, he built a handsome residence east of E. Pegram's store.

Several attempts have been made to establish a post office at Woodville. Some twenty years ago, while William L. Greene officiated as justice of the peace, William Scott, through the united efforts of Messrs. Greene, Harvey Trimble and others, was employed for a short time to carry the mail, making one trip per week to CarroUton ; but this was discontinued. Woodville has grown slowly and contains about thirty inhabitants.

Berdan, a small town on the Chicago and Alton Railroad, was laid out by Kellogg, Olmstead, and Worcester, in September, 1865. It was named for Judge James Berdan, of Jacksonville, who occupied a prominent position in connection with the railroad. The place now contains about fifteen houses, and within its limits and in the immediate vicinity are the homes of an upright and enterprising class of people. George Sleight is postmaster and railroad agent; Joseph Blackshaw is deputy postmaster and merchant ; Miss Mattie Lynn is the teacher ; Rev. R. M. Smith is pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. M-k^

Columbiana, a landing place on the Illinois River, was laid out as a town in September, 1835, by Solomon Bushnell. A. J. Stone owns a warehouse and small store. "There are a few houses in the immediate vicinity, but no post-office. The place was once quite important, when a large portion of all the goods brought into the county came by the river. LitUe business is now done here, save the shipping of grain and cattle from the western part of the county.

The village of Jalappa is situated in Township 9, Range 11, and contains about thirty inhabitants. It was originally laid out in August, 1867, by Fred Sunkel & Bro. This village contains a very fine grist mill owned by Enoch Littlefield and under the superintendence of J. T. Brifjgs. The only blacksmith shop is owned and occupied by Matthew McGlasson the pioneer smith. J. G. Gardiner sells groceries in the only store in the place. There was formerly a post office at this place but it has been removed.

Company

Edwards Presley, disch. Aug. '62, disab. Jackson Francis M. kid. Perryville, Oct.8,'62 Ponell Hiram P. m. o. Dec. 8, '65 Welsh James, died Dec. 10, '63, wounds

Denham Obdiah, m. o. June 14, '65, as Sergt. Denham Woodson, m. o. June 14. '65 Edwards Isom, disch. April 23, '63, disab. Fuller Alfred, transf, Miss. M. Brig. Feb. II,

History

The Si.xty-first Infantry Illinois Volunteers was organized at Carrollton, Illinois, by Colonel Jacob Fry. Three full companies were mustered Feb. 5, 1862. Feb. 21st, the regiment beini; still incomplete, moved to Benton Barracks, Mo. Here a sufficient number of recruits joined to make nine full companies.

March 26, 1862, embarked for Pittsburg Landing. On arriving, Maich 30th, were assigned to Brigade of Colonel Madison Miller, Eighteenth Missouri, Division of Brigadier General B. M. Prentiss. April 6th, 400 men were formed into line, in time to receive the first assault of the enemy, and stood their ground for an hour and a quarter, and until every other regiment in the division had given way, and were then ordered to fall back. Upon retiring from this position, the regiment was complimented, by General Prentiss for its gallant stand. It was then ordered to support a battery of the First Missouri Artillery^ and at l o'clock p. m. ordered to the support of General Hurlbut - coming to his support at a very critical moment, and maintaining his line until relieved by a fresh regiment, and when its ammunition was entirely exhausted, when the second line was broken, the regiment retired in good order, and took up a position supporting the siege guns.

April 28th, Major Ohr took command of the regiment. Colonel Fry being absent. May 2d, Brigadier General John A. Logan took command of the Division, and was succeeded May 6th, by Brigadier General Judah. June 6th, moved to Bethel, Tennessee, Colonel Haynie, 48th Illinois, taking command of brigade. i6th, moved to Jackson. 17th, was in Ross' Brigade, of Logan's (First) Division, and moved to Bolivar, Tenn.

Oct. lOth, Brigadier General IVI. Brayman was assigned to the brigade, and Colonel Fry to command of post, at Trenton, where, on the 20th of December, he was taken prisoner by General Forrest, and paroled.

The brigade remained at Bolivar, General Brayman commanding post. Dec. 18, 1862, 240 men of the regiment proceeded by rail to Jackson, and, moving out on the Lexington road, under command of Colonel Engleman, with Forty-third Illinois and a detachment of cavalry, took position at Salem Center, and, on the morning of the 19th, repulsed the enemy under Forrest, with three pieces of artillery, and, on receiving reinforcements from General Sullivan, pursued the enemy some distance, after which returned to Bolivar. May 31, the regiment, being in the Sixteenth Army Corps, moved via rail to Memphis, and embarked for Vicksburg, June 3. Arrived at Chickasaw Bayou, June 4 ; accompanied expedition up Yazoo River, landing at Satartia ; moved four miles out to Mechanicsburg, capturing some prisoners. 6th, moved to Haines Bluff. June 20, moved to Snyder's Bluff. Lieutenant-Colonel Fry having resigned. Major Ohr was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel. July 17, 1863, moved to Black River Bridge; 22d, returned to Snyder's Bluff; on 27th, moved to Helena, Arkansas. Aug. 13, in Major-General Steele's army. Colonel McLain, Forty-third Indiana, commanding division, and Colonel Graves, Twelfth Michigan, commanding brigade. Moved, via Clarendon, Duvall's Bluff", and Brownsville, to Little Rock, skirmishing some with the enemy after leaving Brownsville, and arriving at Little Rock, September 10. Remained at Little Rock. March 20, 1864, Company K joined the regiment, from Camp Butler, Illinois. Regiment mustered out September 8, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee, and arrived at Camp Butler, Illinois, for final payment and discharge, September 12, 1865.