Erection etc. - In years, area and population, compared with the other political subdivisions of Douglas county.  Murdock township ranks number nine and last having been created at the December meeting of the board of supervisors in 1882.
     The petition for the new township was closely followed by a counter petition in the shape of a remonstrance, leading to a warm discussion of the "pros and cons," it being held and strenuously maintained that the board held jurisdiction only of the inhabitants of the pro-

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posed new territory, and not of those out of whose area the new township was to be made.  This nice distinction evolved from the ingenuity of the attorneys, did not ,however, prevail; the matter was taken to the circuit court on appeal, and at the October term, 1883, the action of the board being confirmed.  Murdock became an independent township.  The name of the township was given in compliment to John D. Murdock, an old resident yet living (see sketch).

     Its area. - The area is made up from twenty-two square miles of territory, which were generously donated by the township of Camargo on the west, and about seven from Newman, which lie upon the east side.  It includes the west twenty-four sections of township 16 north of range 10 east, of third principal meridian, and sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of township 15 north, of range 10 east, comprising twenty-eight regular sections, containing, according to the United States government survey, 30.65 miles, the same being 19,617.61 acres, being the smallest township in the county.
     With regard to the first entries of lands in this township, while there were some very early entries, most of the lands, being all prairie, were taken up along about 1852-53, which years seem to have been at the close of a period in which the government lands were temporarily withdrawn from sale pending the location of the Illinois Central Railroad and its selections of lands within the six-mile limit, which limit was afterward extended to fifteen miles to enable the road to supply hte quantity of lands not found in the first limit.  The latter extended limit takes in all of Murdock.
     On Feb. 23, 1853, William Cline entered the east half of the southeast quarter of section 2, township 15, range 10.  This is the extreme southeast eighty acres in the township.  The first entry made was by James Brewer June 18, 1847; he entered lot No. 2 of the northwest quarter of section 31, township 16, range 10, and Samuel Roderick took the southeast quarter of section 30, township 16, range 10, in 1849.  I. Y. Campbell entered several tracts, as also John Tenbrook and the Baileys, 1852 to 1855.

THE VILLAGE OF MURDOCK.

     This village, established and named before the township was made, is situated generally on the north side of the I. D. & W. railroad, and between it and the east and west half-mile line of section 33, township 16 north, range 10 east.  It was laid off by the Murdocks in September, 1881.  It was shortly afterward followed by an addition made by R. F. Helm on the north side of east and west public road.  The railroad has a reserve on the north side of its track, about eighty rods long and one hundred and twenty-five feet wide, and a right-of-way on the south side of fifty-feet; a roomy side track is established which gives ample facilities to shippers in the vicinity.
     Mr. S. Baxter purchased a few acres directly east of the village, where he erected several neat tenant houses which assist in giving Murdock the air of quite a busy place; this is further assisted by the elevator erected by the Murdocks in 1878, and later by Fred P. Rush & Co., of Indianapolis.
     The Methodists, with their proverbial zeal erected a substantial church here and finished.

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