Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

CHAPTER XXIII.
r+)r
WEST JEXSET TOWNSIIIY.
I
.ns hip called- West Jersev -. uw since 1553, the
-C-- .. - date - its of
organization, was formerly lcnomn as l!lilnss~llo~n~l'react.
Unlike the other townships of the county, the end
trv of its lands mas not made under the soldier's lloinestead
the advisors of the men of 1812, to m
Y
sion was granted to locate "floats" in Illinois. did not
look favorably on this portion of Walnut Creeli Valley, ancl
accordingly .their selections of quarter sections here mere
very few. In 1836 the speculator as well as the settler
came, ancl before IS52 almost every acre had passed into
their hands. With the exception of the "Barrens " a
small tract oT sand, the township presents one of the
finest agricultural districts in the whole Walnut Creelr region. Spring
wells, such as are on the Mahany farin, ancl spring creeks are common,
and in minerals, such as coal and fire-clay, it is not wanting. The
population in ISSO was 1,207, including ninety-four
-- - .in -West Jersey
village. The chur5lr~ni't-mbool have been institutions li6FeLiiXnost -
from the beginnings of settlement, ancl for years the village of West
Jersey ancl hamlet of Star~rwano have been centers for ~nntual benefit
and literary associations.
The original entries of lands in township 18 north, range 5 east,
and the names of the present owners of each tract are given as follo~vs:
Solomon Marshall, n. e. qr., sec. 1, April 6, 1818. John Ham.
Herman ICnox, n. w. qr.,*sec. 1, July 19, 1836. Jolin E-'am.
Robert P. Coates, s. w. qr., sec. 1; Nov. 7, 1536. J. V. B. and J. W. Milhany.
Herman Knox, s. e. qr., sec. 1; July 19, 1886. J. V. B. Mahany.
Herman Knox, n. e. qr., sec. 2; July 19, 1836. John Ham, e. hf ; John Jackson,
w. hf.
David Barber, n. w. qr., sec. 2; Aug. 13, 1836.
Charles Potter, west side; John
Jackson, e. side.
Robert B. Coates, s. w . qr. sec. 2; Nov. 8, 1836. Charles Potter.
Orville 13. Browning, s. e . qr . , sec. 2; Sept . 5, 1836; Carlon Rice, east side; Clizlrles
Potter, w . side.
Orville H. Browning, n. e. qr., sec. 3; Sept . 7, 1836. Thomas Terry.
Orville H. Browning, n. w. qr., sec. 3; Sept. 7,1836. Tilomas Pyle, n. e. cjr. of;
B. R. Brown, n. w. qr. of, and s. hf. of.
David Barber, s. a. yr., sec. 3 ; Aug. 13, 1836. Philip ICnoff, n. hf. of; George
Leigh, s. hf . of.
David Barber, s. e. qr., sec. 3; Aug. 13,1836. Daniel D. Adclis, e. hf. ; R. A. Boyd,
w. hf.
Andrew Johnson, n. e. qr., sec. 4.; Aug. 13, 1836. B. R. Brown.
George A. Charles, e. hf. n. w. qr., sec. 4; May 10, 1836. B. R. Brown.
David Simmerman, w. hf ., n. TV. qr., sec. 4; Feb. 29, 1836. George Simmerman.
Daniel Trash, s. w. qr., sec. 4; Nov. 29, 1817. J. C. Atherton, n. hf.; J. L.
Young, s . hf .
672