THERE was little at an early day to mark any particular site as especially advantageous for a village.  There was a great rage in platting villages throughout the West during a few years preceding 1837.  the system of internal improvements projected by the State gave rise to the most extravagant estimate of the immediate development of the country to follow, and villages were platted in the most isolated situations on the banks of streams that now have scarcely an existence, and wherever one of these enthusiasts happened to have a plat of land large enough to hold the possible village.  At this time there seems to have been but little conception of what changes the ordinary development of the country would bring, and none at all of the wonderful influence of railroads.  It was therefore natural that the first beginning should be along the National road.

     Greenup.* - Ira B. Rose was a resident of Martinsville, and impressed with the advantages likely to accrue from the National road secured land just west of the village of to-day, and in November, 1833, laid out the village of Embarrass.  This little town consisted of thirty-eight lots, spread out on either side of the road.  Rose was not calculated to be successful in such an enterprise, and while temporarily promising future growth it was eclipsed by its stronger neighbor laid out in the following year.  It continued for some years, however, jocosely called Rossville, or Natchez under the hill, and at one time boasted of a store by Bragg & Solenburg, a saloon by W. Stallings, and the first tavern, which was conducted by the mother of the celebrated lawyer, Usher F. Linder.  The Linderes became citizens of Greenup in 1833 coming from Hardin county, Kentucky, in a one-horse wagon.
     In 1834, Joseph Barbour caused the village of Greenup to be platted.  It is located on the National road near the point where it crosses the Embarrass river, forty-five miles west of Terre Haute.
     It assumed the title of Greenup from a man of that name, who owned a large part of hte land, upon which Greenup now stands, and who donated quite  number of lots to the original town, in  

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     * The editor is indebted for the principal matter for this sketch from a contribution to the columns of the Cumberland Democrat.

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order that a town might be established here.  And he it was, it seems who laid off the first lots in Greenup.  But Thomas Sconce was the first Surveyor who laid off and reported a plat of this town, which he did on the 5th day of March, A. D. 1834.  Greenup and Barbour, Ewart and Austin, also Austin and Cook respectively, made additions to this town, by way of granting lots.  The first lot that was laid off in Greenup is in Block one, now known as the "New Public Square," on the northeast corner of said block.  From the original town plat, as made out by Mr. Sconce, who was then County Surveyor of Coles County, we obtain the following description of the original town of Greenup, viz: - beginning at the east side of the new public square, the lots number respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., westward, reaching lot No. 25, when they change to the north side of Cumberland Street (it being that part of the "National road" which runs through Greenup), commencing in the west at lot No. 26, number, eastward to lot No. 50.  There is but one tier of lots south of Cumberland Street, on the original plat.  Just north of the tier mentioned which lies north of Cumberland Street, and running east and west, is an alley fourteen feet wide.  North of this alley is another tier of lots, beginning on the east at lot No. 51, running westward to lot No. 70.  Then north of these is Pleasant Street, north of Pleasant Street are four more lots, through which running east and west is another alley, except the block farthest west, known as the "Old Public Square;" the last mentioned alley does not run through this block.  Still north of the last mentioned tier of blocks, running east and west, is Elizabeth Street.  North of Elizabeth Street is one more block.  The whole number of lots in the original plat is 102.  Then commencing on the west side of the "New Public Square," and running northward, is Mill Street. One block west of Mill Street and running northward is Franklin Street.  One block west of Franklin Street and running northward is Jefferson Street.  One block west of Jefferson Street and running northward is Washington Street.  This constitutes the original Greenup.  But as has been stated, since this was made out several additions have been made to the town, some of which have been mentioned.
     The following references appear on the original plat, as made out by Mr. Sconce, viz:
     1st.  The town is situated on the southwest quarter of Section No. 2, Township No. 9 north, of Range No. 9 east, of the third principal meridian, as designated on the plat.
     2d.  The survey of the lots was made according to the magnetic

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needle, the variation at the time being considered at seventy degrees and thirty minutes east.
     3d. The length and breadth of the public square and the several lots are given in feet, on some one of the lines in figures.
     4th.  The corners of the blocks or squares have stones firmly set in and visible above the surface.
     5th.  The width of all the streets and alleys are expressed in feet on the plat.
     6th.  The lots, streets and alleys are laid down on the plat on a scale of half an inch in a chain of 100 links, or 132 feet to an inch.
     7th.  The number of each lot is expressed on the plat, near the centre threreof, and each is made regularly neumatical, amounting to 102 lots.
     This plat was recorded by J. P. Jones, on the 7th day of May, 1834, he being at that time Recorder of Coles County, and on it appears a certificate of Nathan Ellington, dated May 21, 1852, who was at that time Circuit Clerk and ex-officio Recorder of Coles County.
     For many years Greenup slumbered in the bosom of its woodland home, among the hills, in apparent solitude and oblivion, making but few and small improvements.  Considering the distance to general markets, and the fact that Greenup merchants were compelled to haul their goods in wagons from those far distant points; and the further fact that this country was so thinly settled, the progress of Greenup, from a village to a city must of necessity be slow and tedious.  Away back in that early day, when Cumberland and Douglas counties formed part of Coles county, all that vast region of country was so thinly settled that there were but five voting points in the entire county of Coles.  Somewhere near Arcola on Okaw River was the northwestern point of holding elections; Ashmore was the northeastern, Charleston the center; Woodbury the southwestern and Greenup the southeastern.  On the day of a county election the voters would assemble at these respective places for the purpose of casting their votes.  On the erection of Cumberland County, this village was the most important point in the new division and for a number of years was the de facto county-seat.  A store was established here and many a pound of coffee, sugar and the like were carried away from Greenup by the early settlers, who purchased these articles with the pelts of the various wild animals that infested the forests of southwestern Illinois, owing to the scarcity of money, and the market value of these peltries.

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     As county-seat, the village drew large numbers from the various parts of the county, and as Greenup could boast of no "Town Ordinances" then, or police force with which to control the fury of those who saw fit to enter into pubilistic combat, it often witnessed bloody noses and black eyes, on those election days, occasioned by supernumerary decoctions of home-made whisky.  Greenup knew Jim Eaton in the prime of his manhood, and in Greenup many of his otable feats were performed, which, to an ordinary man, would seem an impossibility.  Greenup was a favorite point with Eaton, and often while there he has held up a barrel of whisky in his hands and drank from its bunghole.  Eaton had many a combat there in early days, and was never but once unsuccessful.  He disposed of some of George Wall's fingers with his teeth.  But he met his fate one day in the person of a showman who struck him in the forehead with a two-pound weight.  He did not live long afterwards.
     But the elections were not all that drew people to Greenup, for it will be remembered that people had to eat in those days as well as do they at this time.  And owing to the scarcity of mills then, and to the fact that Greenup afforded one, many a man made visits to Greenup for the purpose of having corn converted into meal.  The mill to which we allude was built by Messrs. Greenup & Barbour in 1832, and was run by water power.  It was a grist and a sash saw mill, and was located on the river bank, near where the Charleston and Greenup road crosses the river northwest of town.  This remarkable old mill was run respectively and successively by Messrs.Greenup & Barbour, Mr. Williams, Mr. Hellems, Mr. R. Stinson, Mr. John Snearly and lastly, by Traders.  It ran on and did work until 1856.  It fell down sometime afterward, and some of the old mill stones are yet to be seen about the site.  In those days it was a very common thing for a man to throw a sack of corn upon the back of an ox, and hie to the Greenup mill.  Big boys, who were compelled to wait a day or two for their grinding, were frequently seen sitting around a little fire with their bare feet in the ashes, eating parched corn, the while.  It was in the fore-bay of this old water mill that James B. Freeman fell, during the time that John Snearley was running it.
     Mr. Greenup, it seems, was an engineer on the Cumberland road about the time it was laid out, and after the road was duly located, he took a job of furnishing hte government with bridge timbers, and particularly for the bridges across the slough and river, west of Greenup.  Mr. Barbour put up this mill, the primary object of

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which was to saw out these timbers.  But the mill and its builders, as well as those bridges, are now known only in the past.
     The greater part of the history of Greenup, up to the time it became the county-seat of Cumberland, is pretty much the same old oft repeated story, of rough western pioneer villages, such as is so well known to many of the people of the West.  From this time forward the village prospered.  The National road brought new life with its increasing travel, and it grew to be a noted point to travelers far and near.  There is no doubt but Greenup is well remembered by hundreds of persons who were on their way to the golden hills of California, in search of their hidden treasures, whose good fortune it was to partake of the hospitalities of Greenup, on their wearisome journey.  Charles Conzet, Sr. is undoubtedly remembered as the landlord of the Greenup House.  Doubtless meals obtained from his well loaded table, by the hungry traveler, thirty years ago, have helped to establish that reputation as a landlord which uncle Charley so justly deserved.
     He came to this country from Philadelphia, in 1848, and located three miles east of Greenup, where he pursued the occupation of a farmer for about five years.  He then bought the Greenup House from John Shiplor, and entertained the public here for years.  The building was erected by Captain Ed. Talbott, who sold it to John Shiplor.  It is located on the southwest corner of Cumberland and Franklin streets.
     Closely connected with this house is a rather laughable anecdote, for an account of which we are under many many obligations to its hero, Mr. J. W. Latta.  The incident to which we allude occurred a short time before Mr. Conzet became proprietor of the house, and during the time that Simon Lyons was running it.  Mr. Lyons, it seems, was entertaining a temporary boarder, who was at the time a citizen of Missouri.  This boarder was projecting a portable photographic office, which was to be carried on wheels.  Some short words passed in a little unpleasantness in the bar-room, between the boarder and Mr. Harvey Green, who was then driving state.  Whereupon Mr. Latta said "no gentleman or Christian will insult me, and a blackguard shall not."  At this, Mr. Green informed him that he could not step out upon the porch and say that.  Out they went.  But when Mr. Harvey saw hands placed upon pistols, in casing pockets, performed a series of back steps, the other the while advancing, until Mr. Lyons cried out, "Harvey!  Harvey!" Whereupon the latter threw up the sponge and said, "now you quit

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determined to hold an election on the 18th day of February, 1869, for the purpose of electing a police magistrate, on which day A. Cook was elected to that office, and shortly afterward Z. Davee was appointed police constable.
     The village is now greatly disturbed over the question of the re-location of the county-seat.  The constitutional requirement of a three-fifths vote seems to put it beyond the power of Greenup ever regaining the distinction of being the seat of justice, and yet it enterprise seems to be waiting for this improbable event.  A large public square is left unfenced and unimproved; business is generally satisfied to have possessed the larger part of the community.

     Woodbury - This village lives now only in the memory of the older citizens and in the name of the township.  It was platted on land belonging to William C. Greenup and George Hanson, in 1835.  It was named for George Woodbury, who built a cabin here as early as 1831.  In 1833, Levi Beals came here, built a cabin and was soon after appointed postmaster.  The mail carrier stopped at his place, and occasionally travelers.  Subsequently, D. T. Wisner settled here and kept a small store and postoffice for years, but the place is no more recognized as a village.  Originally, it consisted of fifty-two lots, twenty-six on each side of the National road, and divided into five blocks by three cross streets, thirty-three feet wide, denominated First, Second and Third streets.  There is some prospect now that certain railroad shops may be located at this place and the abandoned site, or the near vicinity, once more assume the importance of a village.

     Johnstown.* - This is one of the oldest settlements in the country.  As far back as 1827-28 John Tully had a little water-mill and distillery above Johnstown on the Muddy.  To this mill the few settlers of the country repaired to get their grists ground and their jugs filled with whisky.  About the year 1835 Tully started a horse mill, which he ran when the water was too low to run his water-mill, and he had to go out among the settlers in search of corn to grind, and David Bruster says that when he was quite a small boy he remembers Tully coming to his father's (Mr. Davis Bruster's) house on the old Thraldkill place in Kickapoo Point for corn.  Tully staid at Johnstown until about the year 1837 or 1838, when he sold out his mill and distillery to Bob Dixon and Walter Patterson, who laid out a town and named it "Sheffield."  They also opened a small

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     * Many of the facts for this sketch are derived from a publication by George E. Mason.

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store, buying their goods to stock it from Bill Todd, of Charleston.  Dixon and Patterson remained in Sheffield until about the year 1840, when they were closed out by Morton & Decker, of Charleston, into whose hands the land upon which the town is located, the mill, distillery, etc., fell.  The town then went down, and the people moved away to other localities.  About the year 1846 Alfred Alexander purchased the town site, and shortly after his son, John W. Alexander, revived the town, changing its name to "Johnston," after himself.  About the year 1851 or 1852 Deal & Johnson brought a stock of goods to Johnstown and commenced business, and from this small beginning our friend "Zay" has risen to be president of the First National Bank of Charleston, and a wealthy and influential man.  Here Abe Highland also formerly cut quite a figure.  At the time Deal & Johnson opened their store a postoffice was established at the place.  The early days of Johnstown is replete with historic interest.  It was at Tully's mill that the early settlers met to decide their differences and hear the news from the outside world.  And later, it has been the scene of many fiercely contested political battles between contending candidates, and Ed Norfolk relates that in 1860 when Uncle Jimmy Cunningham and Jim Robison were candidates for congress, and Henry Rhoads and Phil Wolchimer were candidates for sheriff, he went to Johnstown on election day and found all the "groceries" chartered by the Whigs; so, seeing that the day was lost unless something was done to check the current against the democracy, at once purchased several gallons of whisky and some cups, and, placing a table in the middle of the street, opened a "free grocery," and triumphantly carried the day for his party.
     Originally the village was platted on the northeast corner of the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 27, Township 11 north, Range 8 east.  It consisted of twelve blocks of eight lots each, and public square the size of one block.  The streets were sixty feet wide, and in its beginning was planned for a thriving village.  The character of modern development, however, has left the village stranded in the interior.  It has a store, a few shops, and two or three members of the professions to keep up the character of a village.

     Jewett.* - This village dates from the old town of Pleasantville, which originally was situated on the east half of the southeast quarter of Section 24, and the east half of the northeast quarter of

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     * Many of the facts for this sketch are derived from a publication by George E. Mason.

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the same section of Township 9 north, Range 8 east.  It consisted of 116 lots, three rows deep on the north side and four on the south side of the National road.  Pleasantville was platted in 1844; Thomas Sconce, surveyor; plat recorded June 12, 1844; Otis Perrin, recorder.  Jewett is on the Cumberland, or National road, is five miles south of Prairie City, and five miles southwest from Greenup.  Hull Tower, the proprietor, an old-time Methodist preacher, lives at Oakland, Oregon, having emigrated about 1850.  The town was once noted as a great stage station, stopping place, etc., when Owen Tuller had the line from Terre Haute to Saint Louis.  Until recently the widow Beals occupied the old homestead a short distance form town, which was once an "ancient hostelry."
     After the "Brough Survey" collapsed and the T. H. A. & St. L. R. R. was built, the stage and telegraph line was discontinued, property became almost worthless, and many of the old settlers abandoned the town for more prosperous localities.  Dr. L. C. Churchill, Levi Beals, Joseph Russell and John Laughter, the Lawsons, old John Gillham, Dan Marks, B. r. Russell, now in California, Meredith and Wiley Ross, of Prairie City, were old settlers in or near Pleasantville.  the Hamiltons, John Ivens, "Squire Pickering," John Hollinhan, Russell, Morrison and Laughter, and others are among those remembered as early citizens who abided by the old place.
     In the early days the surrounding country was heavily timbered, and many a buck fell beneath the unerring aim of Uncle Jo Russell, John Talbott, "Old Jack Pick," and others.  Pioneer sports were freely indulged in, consisting of shooting matches, horse and foot races, pitching quoits, etc., interlarded with practice in the "manly art of self-defence."  The junction of the National and now Prairie City roads, on the east bank of Muddy, one and one-half miles from town, was a great stamping ground for the pioneers from all parts of the country in the olden time.  Among the names of the champions in pugilistic encounters were John Kingery, Joseph Berry, Sr. (both dead), and old Dan Needham, who yet lives to recount the history of their exploits.  David T. Wisner, at Woodbury, two miles southwest of Pleasantville, occupies a prominent place in the history of those times.  He removed to Missouri and died there in 1872.  Old Jo Kirkpatrick, who dropped dead in the streets of Charleston about 1859-'60, formerly resided about one and one-quarter miles west of town, and was burned out by his enemies

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who were too cowardly to seek revenge by other means.  The old landmarks have many of them disappeared.  The Churchill buildings have lately became a wreck.  The Laughter Mill, which was so prolific of litigation in 1858-'60, has long since disappeared, as has also the old log church and schoolhouse.
     Among the early business men were Daniel Mark, Colonel and Morgan Rush, Benjamin Russell, Meredith Ross, and some others, but the change of the county-seat and the development of railroads elsewhere sapped the prosperity of the place, and it was almost deserted.  UP to the advent of the Vandalia Railroad everything had about flattened out and dilapidated, until it building revived things in 1869-70.  In 1870 Jewett was platted; W. H. Rissler, surveyor; E. S. Norfolk, recorder.  Addition (connecting the town to Pleasantville) platted 1873; recorder, Andrew Carsen.  Millions of feet of lumber have been manufactured and shipped at this point, walnut and white oak being the principal kinds shipped.  Until the building of the P. D. & E. R. R. this was the shipping point for Toledo and the western portion of Jasper County, and the town rapidly took on an appearance of business thrift.  This road, however, made some change, but Jewett is a pleasant village, with several good stores, churches, schoolhouse, and the usual complement of shops.

     Toledo. - The county seat was platted in 1854 by Nelson and John Berry, Lewis Harvey and Wm. P. Rush.  Its site coves the geographical center of the county, and was originated for the purpose of accommodating the seat of justice.  The site was not especially adapted for a village, but is location made it more desirable than other locations which were competitors for the distinction.  The early growth of the village was rapid.  The courthouse was erected in 1857 and the county records removed in that year.  This necessitated the presence of the County officers at least, and the town rapidly built up.  Wm. P. Rush was the first storekeeper, and Lee and Norfolk the second.  Business gradually increased, but not with large strides until after the building of the Peoria, Decatur and Evansville Railroad in 1877.  Three years before this village business and inhabitants are given in the Democrat as follows:
"The village contains twenty business houses, namely, Bruster & Sons, two stores, dry goods, clothing, etc., and provisions and groceries; Rono Logan, groceries, etc.; Miles Moore, liquors and confectionaries; Mike Barrett, dry goods, groceries, etc.; Israel Yanaway, drugs, medicines, groceries, boots and shoes, etc.; Mrs. Mary Bradshaw, milliner and dress maker; Charles Hanker, furniture

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dealer; Mat Hurst, saddler; E. B. Jones, drugs, medicines and groceries; D. H. Wohler, boots and shoes and boot-maker; Levi Ross, groceries, provisions, confectionaries and ice-cream saloon; R. Bloomfield, dry goods, clothing, notions, groceries, etc.; Sam Harvey, groceries, provisions, restaurant, etc.; Logan & Eskridge, dry goods, clothing, notions and groceries; R. M. & C. O. Ray, liquors, confectionaries, tobacco and cigars, etc.; Dr. J. H. Yanaway, drugs, medicines, paints oil and groceries; A. A. Lovins, hardware, tinware, farming utensils, stoves, etc.; Mrs. McCartney, milliner.  We have one No. 1 hotel, the 'Brown House,' two printing offices the Cumberland Democrat and the Mail, six physicians, ten lawyers, and four preachers.  We have one excellent grist mill, with as good a miller as there is in the State.  There are eighty-two families inside the incorporate limits of the village, namely, those of William Shaw, H. B. Decius, L. L. Logan, J. H. Yanaway, Thomas White, Rev. J. M. Baker, Charles Selby, Wiley Ross, Harris Orr, Josiah White, Lewis Brookhart, Alfred Payne, Andrew Carson, W. H. McDonald, R. Bloomfield, Joseph Morgan, C. Woods, H. T. Woolen, Henry Rhoads, J. L. B. Ellis, M. Hurst, G. E. Mason, W. D. Mumford, A. J. Lee, A. G. Caldwell, Amos Stead, R. Long, Wm. Brown, Wm. Peters, M. Barrett, Mary Bradshaw, Chas. Hanker, E. B. Jones, D. H. Wolers, Levi Ross, D. Bruster, Polly White, N. L. Seranton, John Prather, A. A. Lovins, Mary Bright, John Lee, D. B. Green, J. W. McCartney, Betty McCartney, Samuel Harvey, Al Rosencrans, Henry Green, D. Corderman, Joel Smith, W. Humphrey, Simony Lee, Wm. Logan, Flavius Tossey, Ed. Miles, Vol Clark, Chas. Akins, John Berry, F. Baichley, W. H. Shull, Anna Hannah, Bob Ray, Mary Croy, M. B. Ross, W. L. Bruster, Sam McMahon, R. E. & M. L. Mumford, Elias Armor, Wiley Shaw, Rev. Schlosser, Tom Brewer, Tom Shiplor, Coleman Ray, Lewis Harvey, D. B. Green, Wm. Richardson, Geo. Starger, _____ Hays, Perry Cox, W. Cottenham, Levi Brewer.
     On the 10th day of June, 1866, a public meeting was held at the courthouse to determine whether the town should be incorporated or not, and a viva voce vote taken, which resulted in the affirmative.  Whereupon, R. Bloomfield was chosen president of the meeting and James E. Mumford, clerk, who were duly qualified to poll the legal vote of the town, which resulted in the unanimous voice for incorporation.
     The Clerk then posted up notices of election for the election of five trustees of said town, and upon the 23d day of July, 1863, an

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Charles Hanker

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election was held, and the following persons chosen trustees, viz.:  R. Bloomfield, M. B. Ross, Joel Smith, H. H. Yanaway, and L. L. Logan.  Upon the first meeting of the Board, which took place on the 28th day of July, 1866, it was found that L. L. Logan was ineligible to serve as trustee on account of not having resided in the town long enough, and that R. Bloomfield was also ineligible on account of being Probate Judge of the County; whereupon a new election was ordered to take place on the 8th day of August, 1866, for a new Board, which resulted in the election of Joel Smith, M. B. Ross, D. B. Green, James E. Mumford and A. G. Caldwell, as trustees of said town,  who were duly sworn in as such, and on the 21st day of August the Board met, organized and elected D. B. Green President, A. G. Caldwell, Clerk, and M. B. Ross, Treasurer, and appointed C. S. Mumford, street commissioner, and Thomas White, town constable.
     The village has been considerably embarrassed to secure a name that would harmonize all interests.  The original name of the town, Prairie City, was found to conflict at the post-office department with another village in the State, and in establishing an office here hit upon the name of Majority Point as its designation.  This, of course, became to the outside world the name of the village, but to the citizens there was a distinction which legal forms required to be maintained.  In the early part of 1874, a meeting of the citizens was had to remedy this defect.  There was a wide difference in the choice of names, but the issue was finally narrowed down to a choice between Toledo and Majority Point, the final vote being thirty-nine in favor of the former and seventeen in favor of the latter.  A few weeks later the post office of the village was named in harmony with the new name adopted.  Subsequently when the railroad was put in operation, by some grave carelessness the material for this station was printed Majority Point, and now the three names of Prairie City, Toledo, and Majority Point vex the citizen and confuse the stranger.
     In reporting this change of name, the Democrat takes pains to give the significance of the new name as follows:  The word 'Toledo' is of Hebrew origin, and in the original language, is pronounced 'To-le-doth,' the interpretation or meaning of which is 'generations,' 'families,' 'races.'  The Latin pronunciation of the word is 'To-le-dum,' the Spanish pronunciation of the word is 'To-la-do,' the English pronunciation of the word is To-le-do, and means that the generation of men now inhabiting this town and vicinity have

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changed the uncouth and inappropriate name of our town and post-office, to one of historical note, that is easily spelled, easily pronounced, and will be easily adopted.
     "The Spanish City of TOLEDO is noted for its superior swords, and its famous 'TOLEDO BLADES' have a world-wide reputation.  The Spanish Republic recently presented President Grant with one of these elegant swords, through it former patriotic President.  Senor Castelar.  So we have a name for our town not only of ancient and significant origin, but one of historical interest."  The editor seems to have overlooked the special appropriateness of the name if another legend which is asserted with a good deal of assurance be true.  It is said that when the "oldest inhabitant" arried at this spot, he said to himself, as he gazed upon the heaving mass of green, emerald-gemmed, as it were, with frogs: Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, since I have seen this great country, flowing with mud and frogs."  Suddenly addressing himself to the little frogs, who had been sitting on their hunkers, gazing at him in unaffected astonishment, unable to speak a word, he said: "My children, what do you call this land?"  And as he turned, each little frog flipped its hinder-parts into the air and chippered gleefully, "T" leedo! "T"ledo!"  And ever afterward the name of that place was called Toledo.
     The village is now showing evidences of rapid improvement.  The business houses are disposed about the courthouse square.  Thus far, frame buildings have satisfied the merchants, some of which are of a somewhat antiquated pattern, but the coming year will see considerable improvement in this direction.  One or two fine brick blocks are projected, and material now being placed preparatory to building.  The grist-mill is to be replaced by a fine brick one, near the railroad, with all the modern improvements.  A fine iron fence about the public square will soon add to its attraction, and with the impetus given by a new courthouse and jail, urgently needed and certainly soon to be built, the county-seat will not only be the capital, but clearly the metropolis of the county.  In the matter of internal improvements, but little has been attempted.  Sidewalks have been built, and are in fair repair; the streets have been "piked" and drained by open ditches; stock is allowed the liberty of the city, and hogs are especially numerous and annoying.  There is now a movement to abate the latter nuisance, and when effected there will be at least more inducement to ornament enclosures and keep the margin of the walks in neat appearance.

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   Neoga. - This village is pleasantly situated on the Illinois Central Railroad, upon the western confines of the county, and boasts of being the largest town in population commercial centers.  Situated, as it is, in the midst of one of the finest agricultural regions  in the State, with an energetic, go ahead, intelligent farming population to back it, it has all material advantages abundantly supplied to contribute to its commercial and social prosperity.  The village was platted in 1856, on land owned by the Illinois Central Railroad, and Bacon & Jennings, speculators, who had purchased the land.  The name is of Indian origin, and signifies "a deer."  The station bore this name before the town was thought of, but is quite appropriate to the region where deer were once so numerous.  The first train of cars ran through the place Aug. 1, 1854, and killed a bull belonging to S. Parks.  It appears that the bull was of a belligerent disposition, and had learned to lock horns with everything that crossed its pathway.  But this was an untried experiment, and he found himself worsted and sent to the pastures of his fathers to graze iu pieces.  The first dwelling-house erected in the village was built by Dr. G. W. Albin.  The first business house was built by Wm. House, who also opened the first store; the first hotel was built and kept by C. D. Green, Sr.; the first postmaster was G. W. Albin; the first Justice of the Peace was Philip Welcheimer, the first sermon ever preached in the place was delivered by Rev. Joseph Wilson, of the Presbyterian Church; the first station agent was Capt. Heutig; the first church was built by the Presbyterians in 1854; and the first saloon ever kept in the village was owned by T. Patterson.  In 1868, the Methodist denomination erected a fine place of worship, and the Baptist in 1872.  The following interesting sketch of the Presbyterian Church is written by Rev. Mr. Wilson, and is given place, as follows: "The Presbyterian Church of Neoga originated in two parts.  The first part was organized Apr. 5, 1851, by the Rev. John H. Russ, of Alton Presbytery, at the house of John G. Morrison, at Long Point, about four miles southeast of Neoga.  The spot was central to the population, and had begun to be a center of business.  The original ten members of the church were.  Jno. G. Morrison and Eliza N. Morrison, his wife; James H. Morrison and Sarah C. Morrison, his wife; Nathan Gould and Martha R. Gould, his wife; Sarah Morrison, Margaret Morrison, Tirzah Morrison and Marv Ann Parkerson.  Nathan Gould and John G. Morrison were chosen elders.  The church voted to be called 'The Presbyterian Church of Long Point,' and to apply to

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very fine mill, and is noted for its good work."  There are now twelve business houses, and a grist-mill with a capacity of sixty barrels of flour, and 120 bushels of meal per day.  It is provided with the roller process.  The village was incorporated Apr. 17, 1869, by an act of the legislature.

     Rainsburgh. - This was located near Shiloh Church, in Sumpter Township, in 1854, by Henry Williams.  It consisted of eighty lots, and was projected as a competitor for the county seat in the election of 1855, but it failed of this notoriety and lapsed into its original rural simplicity.

     Centerville was another of the competitors for the suffrage of the people in the county seat contest of 1855, and was platted on the northeast quarter of Section 26, in Township 10 north.  Range 8 east, in 1854.  The ambitious village had its site in Sumpter Township, near the "Muddy Bridge," and is often referred to as "Bildad," though Ichabod is written over its history.

     Hazel Dell. - Following the the chronological order mixes the living with the dead; those whose existence was only in the records, and others that remain to this day.  Of the latter class is the village mentioned.  It was platted in 1866, on the D., O. & O. R. Railroad, in Crooked Creek Township.  It consisted of some sixty lots originally, and has in the meanwhile grown beyond the original limits somewhat, and is a thriving village with its complement of stores, shops, churches and grist-mill.

     Janesville is a village on the county-line, in Cottonwood Township.  It was laid out in 1879, by John Furray, on the line of the railroad - P., D. & E., - on land belonging to him, in Coles County.  At the same time, S. P. Reed laid out an addition in Cumberland County.

     Diona is another village grown up on the county-line in Union Township.  It has never been platted, but it is one of those spontaneous growths that arise in response to the demand of an agricultural community for a rallying point.  A post-office and store, with a cluster of houses, mark the spot.

     Bradbury is the name of a post-office in the central part of Cottonwood Township.  A store, two dwellings and a blacksmith shop, mark the spot.

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