Monroe County, Missouri - Jackson Township, 1884 (part 2 of 2)

Among the first settlers in this part of the township were Joel Terrill, Evan Davis, Joel Noel, James Owenby, William and Thomas Davis, all from Oldham county, Kentucky. Joseph Brown, Joseph Bryan, Joseph Stephens, James M. Yager, Martin Groves, Isaac Baker, Ezra Fox, William Swindell and Reuben Burton were also early settlers, and from Kentucky.

The town contains a public school, Christian and Methodist churches, one flour and a saw mill, telegraph (W. U.), express, United States mail daily, and has a population of about 500. It has also two general stores, one harness shop, three drug and grocery stores, one grocery store and meat market, one grocery store, one furniture store, one wagon shop, one blacksmith shop, one livery stable, two hotels, one barber shop, one photographer, two physicians.

The town is situated on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas R. R., five miles from Hollidaj^ 13 from Paris, the county seat^^ and contains a population of about ()00, and is in the midst of a very good agricultural country,with good timber and coal lands in close proximity, which add greatly to its prominence as a business point ; and the coal mines inthis region are destined in the near future (when fully developed) to be a source of extraordinar}'^ benefit to the citizens of Madison and vicinity. This is one of the oldest towns in the county and its citizens are mostly natives of the county. They are an energetic and enterprising people and take great interest in the prosperity of the county in which they live. They give employment to all worthy mechanics that come among them, and assist by their aid and influence in every laudable enterprise. Such is the character of its l)usiness men, its citizens and the community in general.

Madison Lodge, No. 91, A. F. And A. M.

This thriving viUageis situated in Marion township on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Raih'oad, eight miles from Paris, five miles from Madison, and was first laid out by W. H. Holliday & Bro. in 1876.

These enterpri^^ing men were engaged for some time in selling dry goods and provisions, and did a prosperous business, so much so that others were attracted to the place and engaged in difiereut enterprises. House after house has been erected, and being located in a beautiful farming country and splendid timber in close proximity, it could not be otherwise than prominent as a business point.

All the lots laid ofi" in the original plat have been disposed of, and to supply the wants for more room for buildings, Mr. Henry Glasscock, who owns a valuable farm adjacent, laid ofi" a tract of land into town lots.

We are indebted to Mr. W. H. Holliday for information in regard to this place. His business tact and energy has been to him a financial success. ^He has now retired from active business pursuits, and transferred them to younger men, who will see that "business" is the watchword, and that it loses none of its laurels.

All well regulated communities, cities and towns should have good schools and churches. Holliday has both. One church, Cumberland Presbyterian (newly painted and papered), has a membership of 140. This church was built about 40 years ago, before there was any town at this point. Rev. James Sharp is the present minister.

Holliday can also boast of a large and commodious depot, presided over by Mr. H. McCown. There was shipped from this point during the year 1881 the following car loads : -

These shipments have slowly but constantly increased since that period, until now (1884) Holliday has become one of the roost important shipping points in the country.

The first house in the town was erected by W. H. Holliday, and was used by him and his brother, Thompson Holliday, as a general store. The first dwelling-house was also built by W. H. Holliday.

The first school-house was built about thirty years ago. It was taken down about five years ago, and a larger and more substantial building put up, which will comfortably seat 125 pupils.

Among the early settlers was William Singleton, from Macon county, Mo. ; he opened the first hotel in the town. Thomas Mappin built the first saw and grist-mill in the vicinity. Among others who located in this section of the township were Austin Moore, William Moore, Philip Moore, Samuel Harper, Samuel Belmer, Frank McCord, Eev. J.B. Mitchell, James Parish, Gustavus Parish, Andrew Thomas^ Kumsey Saling, Frank Weatherford, James Greening, Joseph HoHiday, Robert Gwynn and Harvey Arnold. Near the present town site, and in Henry Glascock's field, Thomas Terrill opened a race track. Rumsey Saling was a great hunter and was so - fond of this pastime that when game became scarce around his home he moved to Texas, where he could pursue with better results his favorite recreation.

Union Toavnship

This township lies in the south-eastern part of the county and borders upon Randolph. It has about 80 square miles. Its watercourses are Long branch, Elk fork of Salt river, Hardin's, Oldham, and Milligan creeks. One-half of the township is prairie, and taken as a whole the soil is well adapted to the growth of the cereals, and in fact, all kinds of crops raised by the farmers of this section are successfully grown in Union township. Some of the earliest settlers in the county located in this township, where they lived and died, and many of their descendants still linger around their old homes.

Herndon Burton, who now resides in Union township on the Elk fork of Salt river, is said to be the first white child Born in Monroe county. The most noted hunter in this region of country is George H. Bassett, who followed hunting for 35 years. He came from Virginia to Randolph county, Missouri, where he resided five years and then moved to Monroe county and located within one mile of Middle Grove, where he lived for a quarter of a century. He now lives in Middle Grove. The first mill in the township was built and operated by C. B. Dawson in 1851, in the town limits. It was, when first built, a saw-mill and carding machine, and afterwards machinery was added for a grist-mill.

Primitive Justice

In 1827 or 1828, in what is now known as Union township, Monroe county, there lived John Burton, a justice of the peace. Reuben Burton, his brother, had lost a hog, and finding it in the possession of one, Rious, a free negro, brought suit before his brother John for the possession of it. The day of trial came. The plaintiff was present with his lawyer, J. C. Fox ; the defendent was also present but had no lawyer. The trial was about over, and the witnesses, as it was thought, had all been sworn and examined, when the justice, a large, tall man, rose from his seat and requested Pleasant Ford, who was a constable, to swear him. Ford administered the oath to the justice, as was requested by that official, when the justice gave his testimony. He said that he was in possession of some facts in reference to the hog that were not presented to the court by the other witnesses, and after giving his testimony, he decided the case in favor of the free neo;ro. He had often hunted with the negro and knew the hog to be his, and hence decided in his favor, and against the claim of his own brother. The justice, however, was known to be a just and truthful man, and his evidence was so clear and convincing, that the decision was regarded by the bystanders as being right.

Middle Grove

Middle Grove is a substantial and business little town of about 200 inhabitants, and is situated in the south-west corner of the county, and 20 miles from the county seat, and four and a half miles from Evansville, the nearest railroad point. The town is built upon a long sloping hillside, at the foot of which runs Milligan creek, a small tributary of the Elk fork of Salt river, and is surrounded by one of the best farming communities in the State. The town site is a jjart of the old Ezra Fox settlement, which was made in 1820, and was the first permanent settlement in Monroe county, and the name was derived from its being a midway station between the Father of Waters and Bi^ Muddy, and also the most ceiitnil station on the first mail route established between New London and Fayette; and from being located in an arm or belt of timber reaching into the Grand Prairie, became the halting place of the earliest pioneers, and was called Middle Grove. These facts, in connection with others, give this little town and neighborhood a history and a civilization reaching ffirther back than any other portion of the county, and almost to the beginning of the present century, when the first daring frontiersman crossed the Mississippi in search of new homes, or new fields of fortune and adventure ; and some of the fields adjacent to the town, which now annually yield their bountiful crops of golden grain, were the first lands ever located in the county. The first virgin soil disturbed by the ploughshare of civilization, still preserves many lingering marks of the husbandry and decayed habitations of the pioneer fathers - the Foxes, Whittenburgs, Burtons, Davis, Swinneys, Ownbys, Noels, Milligans, Fords, Stephens and others of the early settlers, who first sowed in the tracks of barbarism the seeds of civilization, of which four of the youngest only remain to witness the glory crowning the efforts of their parents and of their young manhood, and that four are Blufar Davis, Herndon Burton, Fountain Swinney and ex-Sheriff James Ownby.

Thus originated Middle Grove, around which settlers gradually located, and in which John C. Milligan started the first store about the year 1830 or 1831; afterwards, in 1840, the town was properly laid off into lots, by John G. C. Milligan, and from that time rapidly grew into a thriving village, and one of the best trading points in Northeast Missouri, and in its inhabitants could be found some of the best blood of Virginia and Kentucky, with its attendant qualities of patriotism, hospitality and neighborly kindness ; and many of these distinguishing features yet remain to mark the character of its people, and nowhere are people more united and patriotically resolved for the common weal and welfare of the community and country, or the culture and advancement of the rising generation.

The town is pleasantly and healthily located, and the mortality of the neighborhood will compare favorably with any in the State, and none can boast of longer lived and more aged citizens. The oldest citizen of the town is Dr. John McNutt, who settled in the Grove in 1848, and practiced his profession until recent years, when he retired, and now survives the hardships and reverses of fortune that would have killed an}' ordinary man, at the good old age of 74 years.

was put up in the Grove, tmd in fact, in this section of country in 1825. He was also the first postmaster and the first hotel-keeper. The mail route was between New London in Ralls county, to Old Franklin in Howard county, on the Missouri river. John Myers was the first mail carrier on this route. John Hedger was one of the early blacksmiths of the town. Henry Lutz was the pioneer carpenter and wood workman. Edward T. Tucker was the first tailor. The first school-house was built in the township about the year 1830, and William Maupin taught the first school. He was from Howard county, Missouri. The first church was erected by the Christian denomination about 1825, on section 33, township 54, range 12, two miles north-east of Middle Grove. William Reid was the officiatinominister. The first church in Middle Grove was erected about the year 1840, by the Christian denomination. A Presbyterian Church was built in 1852, first presided over by Rev. J. B. Mitchell ; this organization was discontinued in 1862 and the building was sold and moved away in 1872.

Middle Grove claims the honor of being the point where the first store was opened in Monroe county.^ The house as already stated, was built by John G. C. Milligan and Glenn and Parsons sold the first goods in it. An old colored man - Jesse Burton - who now lives at Holliday, cleared away the brush for the town site.

Lodge No. 326, I. O. O. F. - Was organized in August 1874 with the following charter members : George D. Ownby, James Mitchell, John Mitchell, John T. Haley, Henry Bell, J. B. Swinney, John McAdams, Samuel Truby, Thomas Garrett, Edward C. Brooks, S. T. Hull, John McDonald, Thomas Hocker, Joel H. Noel. The present oflicers are S. T. Hull, N. G. ; J. F. Ownby, V. G. ; W. G. Webb, secretary and T. B. Stephens, treasurer.

This township was organized in 1834 and occnpies about 72 square miles in the south-eastern portion of the county. It is watered by the South fork of Salt river, Long Branch and their tributaries. Much of the land is favorably located for farming purposes and, in fact, portions of the township are very productive, growing large crops of wheat and corn. There is an abundance of timber of the best quality, and the very best of building stone. Among the large farmers of this township are William Hanna, Jr., J. R. Smiley, James W. -Trimble, James B. Davis, John Davis, Charles Davis, John W. Hizer, W. C. Bates, Benjamin Coward, E. W. Smith, John Dashner and C. P. McCarty. The early settlers of the township were generally from Kentucky and Virginia and were an intelligent and thrifty class of people.

The various religious denominations are well represented, each having neat and substantial houses of worship. Religions services and Sunday schools are regularly held in all the churches and are largely attended. The public schools of the township are numerous and are liberally patronized and generally well furnished with all the appliances necessary to successful teaching. Besides the public schools, additional facilities for instruction are furnished by the Prairie High School which is located at Strother, and of which we shall say more hereafter.

Pleasant Hill cemetery, in this county, is the largest burying ground in Monroe county except the one at Paris. It takes its name - Pleasant Hill - from the church of that name, which was located there by the Old School Presbyterians at an early day, and which is now a large and influential religious body.

Among the pioneers who settled in South Fork township we record the names of the following: Lewis Crigler, Lovick Crigler, Capt. Frank Davis, Theodore Price, Dr. John Bybee, Lary Boggs, William Blaukenbaker, Powell Snyder, Henry Tanner, William Hanna, John Hanna, James Hanna, David Hanna, Joseph Hizer and Esom Hanna.

Santa Fe

The original proprietor of the old town of Santa Fe was Dr. John S. Bybee, a Kentuckian, who entered and purchased several hundred acres of land in that vicinity. The town was laid out in 1837 and was named after Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The first business house in the town, was opened by Henry Canote in 1837. This was what was at that time called a grocery, but would be classed to-day as a saloon, as whisky was the chief article of trade. Clemens and Hall started the first general store. Thomas Mosely, who is still living, was the first blacksmith in the town, beginning work soon after the place was laid out. Dr. D. L. Davis was the first physician. Alvin Cauthorn was the first tailor. The first church (now M. E. Church South) was built by the Methodists prior to 1840. The first mill in this vicinity was erected about the year 1838 by Bybee and Canote, on the South fork of Salt river, about three miles north of Santa Fe.

The town having been started 47 years ago, now looks old and weatherbeaten. It is, however, a good business point, and is surrounded by a good farming country. The inhabitants are genial and hospitable, the majority of them being descendants of Virginians and Kentuckians. The town contains 2 churches, Methodist and Christian, and a school-house ; 2 secret orders ; 2 general stores ; 2 drug stores ; 1 hardware store ; 1 shoemaker shop ; 2 blacksmith shops ; 1 saw and grist mill ; 2 physicians and a justice of the peace.

1874, by A. M. Alexander, Grand Master, officiating. The charter members .were P. A. Cook, Philip Qiiisenbury, W. C. Bates, Dr. John S. Drake, T. J. Armstrong, D. Sheckles, H. P. Miller and J. R. Smiley. The present officers are Philip Quisenbury, N. G. ; C. W. Tanner, V. G. ; Lewis Fleming, R. S. ; George W. Kerr, treasurer ; Philip Quisenbury, L. D.

8anta Fe Lodge, JSfo. 462, A. F. and A. M. - Was set to work under a dispensation from Samuel Owens, Grand Master, in April 1873, by Col. Theo. Brace, Past Master.

On the 16th day of October, 1873, the Grand Lodge issued a charter with Dr. J. S. Drake, W. M., Dr. W. R. Rodes, S. W. and Jas. B. Davis, J. W. The Hall was dedicated and the officers publicly installed by Deputy District Master L. R. Downing, in November, 1873. The charter members were J. W. Bates, Jas. Bledsoe, Jas. Bridgeford, J. S. Drake, Geo. W. Edmonston, W. S. Forsyth, Jas. Mc- Cutchan, A. H. Moore, Isaac Hanna, Irvin Powell, W. R. Rodes, Urid Rouse, J. M. Travis and G. A. Wilson.

The present officers are Dr. John S. Drake, W. M. ; C. C. Davis, S. W. ; Geo. D. Massy, J. W. ; J. P. Brownlie, secretary; Jas. B. Davis, treasurer; G. W. Stuart, S. D. ; D. Mcllhany, J. D ; L. A. Creigh, tyler. The membership is 24 and the night of meeting is the Saturday before the full moon. The lodge is out of debt and own the hall and is in good working condition.

This is the name of a recently established post-office in South Fork township, which takes its name from Prof. French Strother, who has resided there for seven years. There are three or four families and one general store in town, kept by Rev. Joseph Rowe. The country surrounding the place is a high and healthful prairie and is one of the most productive and beautiful farming regions in Monroe county.

Strother is chiefly known as the seat of Strother Institute, which has for many years been a prominent institution of learning. It was formerly known as Prairie High school. At a very early day, Capt. John Forsyth, Jacob Cox, Joseph E. Sprowl, Wm. Vaughan, Hiram Powell, Willis Bledsoe and Wm. T. Bridge ford determined to establish a school of higher grade than the ordinary district schools of the country. They accordingly employed John N. Lyle, a graduate of Marietta College, Ohio. After teaching acceptably for some time he returned to his Alma Mater to complete his education. He is now the distinguished Professor of Natural Science at Westminster College, which position he has held for years. The next teacher employed was Eobert N. Baker, a graduate of Westminster College. He is a prominent physician and lives at Millersburg, Callaway county. William C. Foreman, a graduate of Princeton, N. J., was the next teacher. He is now a prominent lawyer of San Antonio, Texas. The next incumbent was James G. Bailey, a graduate of Westminster, now deceased. The next was an Indiana gentleman, by the name of Hastings, who was afterwards a Captain in the Confederate army. He is now dead, having lost his health in the army. Dr. Thomas Gallaher, a distinguished writer and minister of the " Old School Presbyterian Church," was the next teacher. These gentlemen all taught before the war. During the war the school was small and the term short. Among those who had the charge of it might be named Miss Bennett, Miss Annfe Vaughan and some others whose names are forgotten.

After the war, among the most prominent teachers who have had charge of the school may be mentioned Prof. Henry Vaughan, now of St. Louis University ; Prof. Jesse Lewis, of the Holliday public school, and the county school commissioner of Monroe county, and Prof. J. Iglehart, now of Columbia public schools.

At a public gathering in the neighborhood in 1879, where many persons from a large section of the country had congregated, and at which some distinguished teachers and former pupils were present to enjoy a rich repast furnished by the friends of education. Prof. Lyle in complimenting some of the old citizens of the neighborhood, said he had known many strong supporters of education, but that Capt. John Forsyth was the best friend and supporter of education he had ever known.

He was connected with it from its establishment in 1854 till 1861, the beginning of the war. He was born in Mercer county, Kentucky, March 10, 1798, came to Missouri about the year 1837, was married November 24, 1842, to Miss Isabella A. Berry, who was a hearty coworker and sympathizer with him in all his enterprises concerning schools and churches. The cause of education was one very dear to him. He devoted his time and means without stint in the employment of first-class teachers and in the erection of suitable buildings for the accommodation of pupils. His house was the home of the teachers and many of the boarding pupils.

His interest and liberality were not confined to this school alone. He took a scholarship in Westminster College, and in this way assisted several yonng men to obtain an education. He was a constituent member of New Hope (Presbyterian) Church, and assisted with both his time and money in the erection of the church edifice. Of this church he was a ruling elder, and held that position until the time of his death, which occurred July 22, 1870. Capt. Forsyth was universally esteemed as an upright, kind-hearted neighbor, friend and Christian gentleman, and in his death the community, as well as his family, suffered an almost irreparable loss.

Our effort will be to conduct our school so that both mind and heart of pupils will be cultivated and developed for good; knowing, as we do, that knowledge is as great a power for evil as for good.

The years are past when any ambition was felt to establish large and popular schools, and as our sun of life has reached its zenith amid prosperity and adversity, pleasure and pain, sunlight and shadow, bright anticipations and sad bereavements, our hearts' desire is to be more and more the means of doino- the Master's work, and leading the youth intrusted to us in right paths. Therefore, only a limited number of pupils will be received.

Special attention will be given to spelling, reading, writing and other elementary branches. Without a well-laid foundation, pupils will find it difficult to maintain a good standing in advanced classes.

As many pupils never complete branches higher than those included in grammar schools, and as these enter very largely into the practical business of every-day life, a careful drill will be given in each study. Young teachers who are not satisfied with their attainments and are ambitious to teach schools of hio;her o-rade will do well to attend this department. Pupils well trained in these studies will not find those of the Collegiate Department difficult.

"The Collegiate Department embraces classes in physiology, botany, zoology, astronomy, geometry, algebra, conic sections, trigonometry, surveying, natural philosophy, moral philosophy, mental philosophy, chemistry, physical geography, book-keeping, Latin and Greek.

The department of music is under the control of Mrs. Strother, an accomplished music teacher and composer, as arealso the composition and elocution classes. Many of her pupils can testify to her success, both in theory and practice.

Teachers of Strother Institute : French Strother, principal ; French Wood, assistant; Mrs. S. A. Strother, principal of musical department ; Mrs. Bertha Baker, assistant.

Long Branch Postoffice

Washington township is the largest of the northern tier and contains about 74 square miles. Its water advantages are excellent and supply almost every portion of the township. Among the principal streams are the North fork of the Salt river, Brush, Clear and Crooked creeks. About one-third of the township is prairie, and somewhat broken along the streams. For farming purposes it is about an average township.

here were J. M. Dean, Caleb Wood, J. T. Martin, W. A. Saunders, Albert Saunders, William Henniger,W. T. Adams, Preston Adams, Fountain C. Sparks, James T. Hart, Ignatius Coombs, Clifton G. Maupin, David Henniger, T. P. Sharp, Robert Price, James Cox, Cornelius Edwards, Russell Moss, James Ragland, D. M. Dulaney, Willis Buford, Milton Crutcher, Charles Crutcher, Owen Gerry, Gabriel Penn, A. White, John Henniger, Hiram Dooley, Calvin Shearer, Francis Harrison, Angel Gillespie, Gabriel Jones, Edward Shropshire, Barney Worland and Jesse White. Mr. White was in the Indian War, and while fighting was separated from his companions and cut off from a bridge. He ran up the banks of the stream 12 miles before he could cross, and then returned the same distance to where his comrades were. The Indians chased him, and when they would get near enough to him he would present his gun and they would hide behind trees, he doing the same thing when they would attempt to shoot at him. Mr. White ever afterwards seemed to be upon the alert, and would constantly look about him, especially when traveling. His neighbors say that so vigilant was he that no man could slip up on him in the woods.

Clinton

These gentlemen built the first store and first mill that were opened and operated in the town. Jacob Kirkland was the pioneer blacksmith. Greenlee Hays and Major William Howell were once merchants in the town. After the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad was built through that section of the country and the towns of Shelbina and Hunnewell sprang into existence, the business of Clinton was withdrawn from that place and given to the newer and more enterprising railroad towns mentioned above. About all there is left of the ancient and once ambitious little village of Clinton are a blacksmith shop and two potteries. George Leach is the proprietor of one of these potteries, and James Turner is the proprietor of the other. There was at one time a flourishing Catholic church located at Clinton, but this, like the town, is now a thing of the past.

Jonesburg, the rival town of Clinton, was divided from the latter merely by an alley. It was laid out by Col. Gabriel Jones in 1836. Greenlee Hays opened the first store. James Coombs, Benedict Gough, Blakey and Lasley were early merchants. The town went down when Clinton did.

North Fork post-office is located one mile north-west of Clinton, at the residence of Samuel McDowell, who is postmaster. The first church in the township was located at Clinton and was built by the M. E. Church South.

Among the constituent members of this church were William Fowler, wife and two sons ; John Strayer and wife ; Adam Hickart and wife ; William Henniger and wife and Henry Ashcraft and wife.

The Christian Church bought Greenlee Hay's house at an early day and made a church of it. Among the first members of this church were James M. Dean and wife ; John and Drury R igsdale and Robert Nesbit. These churches were discontinued years ago. The Methodists, however, built another church one mile east o^ Clinton which is still in existence, elohn Couch was one of the first school teachers in the township and taught at Deer Creek school-house. Among the large farmers in Washington township are C. A. Hamilton, George Gough, Jacob Crow, Thomas Hart, Fountain Sparks, W. T. Adams, James Hawkins and John Ha^er.

Clay township embraces an area of nearly 50 square miles, and is one of the north-western tier of townships bordering upon Shelby county. About two-thirds of the township is prairie. It is a fair, average township for farming purposes, the northern and southern portions being the best. It is watered by Crooked and Otter creeks, and also by the Middle fork of Salt river, which passes through sections 26, 27 and 28 in the southern part of the township. It contains seven school-houses, located as follows: One in section 31, one in section 15, one in section 26, one in section 18, one in section 6, one in section 2, and one in section 14; and two churches - one in section 31, and one in section 12, the former a Baptist and the latter a Methodist church. Among the important farmers of this township are M. D. Blakey, W. A. Sparks, W. T. Fields, William Powell, M. D. Maddox and Henry S. Sparks.

Granville

The first house in Granville was built by John T. Parker, who also opened the first store. Samuel A. Rawlings was also an early merchant. The town now contains three general stores, two blacksmith shops, a Christian and a Methodist church.

constitutes an area of country a little larger than Monroe township, and is situated in the north-western portion of the country. The Middle fork of Salt river forms its southern boundary ; Otter creek with its tributaries penetrates the northern part of the township. About one-fourth of the township is timber. The soil is good.

Thomas J. Wise, William Smiley, Johnson and Perry Whiles, Thomas Jennings, Nicholas Rea, Allen Phillips, William P. D. Claybrook, Thomas Stephens, Gabriel G. Rice, Asbury Broadwell, Elizabeth Coolidge, Benjamin Byers, Peter J. Sowers, Elisha Hyatt, John A. Martin, Joshua Ginnings, Travis Million, Milton Robinson, Thomas J. Palmer, William S. Brown, Lucy A.. Dye, Esom Faris, John A. Johnson, Elijah Atteberry, Eglantine Hill, Isaac Atteberry, and James King were early settlers in this township.

in I the north-western portion of Monroe county, 18 miles from Paris, in Woodlawn township, is situated the village of Woodlawn. This village is surrounded by as good a farming country as can be found in any other portion of the county, and taking population into consideration, has more energetic farmers than any other township in the county. Several farmers in the immediate vicinity of Woodlawn are extensive stock dealers, and should this township ever have railroad facilities, it would, in a short time, be the banner township of the county. The village of Woodlawn has two stores, one dry goods and grocery, the other drug and grocery.

Duncan's Bridge, or " Leesburg " as it is familiarly called, is situated in the western portion of Monroe county, in Woodlawn township, 20 miles from Paris, 10 miles from Madison. The village is surrounded by a prosperous farming community, and the village itself can boast of superior business qualifications and enterprise as will be shown by the growth and prosperity of the place. Eight years ago there was only one business house and one saw-mill ; to-day there are three dry goods and grocery stores, one drug store, two saw and grist mills, one furniture store, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, one carding machine run by steam. All are in prosperous condition, and at no distant day Duncan's Bridge, though a thriving village now, will reach an epoch when it will be known as one of the important towns of Monroe county.