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Capable of thoroughly Seasoning 25,000 feet of LUMBER every ten days. Come and look at his Yard.

land, while those brick mansions on State street, near Springfield avenue, cannot be surpassed in beauty and elegance combined with comfort, by any of the cities of Central Illinois.

Also, S. Richards, S. M. Marble, C. G. Larned, C. F. Columbia, A. C. Burnham, B. F. Harris, Frank Finch, Mark Carley, L. W. & F. F. Walker, D. Rugg, John Mathers, S. McFadden, and many others of whom we would like to make special mention, for their devotion to the interests of the city, and their large-hearted, liberal public spirit, but space (or the want of it) forbids.

CONDIT TOWNSHIP

Was taken from the east end of Newcomb Township, in 1867. It is bounded on the east by Rantoul, on the north by East Bend, on the west by Newcomb, and on the south by Hensley, and occupies Town 21, Range 8 east.

Among the towns of the county, few possess greater natural advantages than this. Along the southern border the prairies are high and rolling, while in other portions of the township, the prairies, though undulating, are more on the level order, giving that variety of prairie soil and surface seldom found within the space of six miles square. This variety of conditions of soil secures a variety of farm productions, without the necessity of mixed farming, each farm having its specialty.

The first settlers in this township were A. Crozier and F. Loyd, who came there about the same time, in 1834, from Ohio. Their improvements were very crude, not extending beyond the log hut and breaking a little prairie. They were brought out by one John Phillipe in 1837, who came from Ohio. Mr. Phillipe was a wide-awake farmer, entering upon the work of reducing the native wilderness to a state of civilization, with an earnest zeal and determined effort. He was born in the

Everything Cheap.

State of Virginia, and located in this town in 1837, as before stated, upon the farm now occupied by John Phillipe, Jr. He died in the year 1816, upon the farm where he had thus early located, leaving to his children, and the farmers of the county, the legacy of a spotless reputation, and illustrations of his practical farming. John Phillipe, Jr., who came into the township at the same time with his father, in 1837, still lives on the old homestead on section 31. His farm to-day contains about 1,300 acres of choice land, most admirably adapted to stock growing, to which purpose it is devoted. Mr. Phillipe is another of those agriculturists who may be classed as business men, that is, conducting the affairs of the farm as a safe merchant does that of his store, keeping close accounts of expenditure and income, and his success shows that his mistakes are few. John Phillips, a M. E. preacher, settled, or rather stopped, in the township, upon the place of Mr. Crozier, in 1837, and moved into Hensley the same year, to give place to Mr. Phillipe, who had purchased the farm.

Stephen Pusey was the next settler. He came from Ohio and settled in Condit, in 1839, and, with the few that were there engaged in agriculture, commenced the life of a pioneer. He died upon his farm about 1847.

C. F. Columbia was the next settler within the town. He came from Indiana in the year 1842, and entered upon the work of improving a farm under the discouraging circumstances of that early day. He remained here until 1853, when he removed to the place now occupied by him in Champaign.

From the date of the last settlement until 1855 there were very few additions to the population of Condit, and the only addition in wealth was what was extracted from the soil by the determined efforts of its hardy inhabitants.

In 1836 one William Lenington came to the township from Ohio, and like many others, commenced life on the wild prairie, and, while gold and silver he had none, yet, what was better, he brought to the work a sound judgment, and a thoroughly practical mind, backed by untiring energy. His

farm now contains about 300 acres of choice land, enriched by valuable, substantial improvements. He has for the last three years successively been elected supervisor of the town, showing that those who know him best appreciate his worth.

A. B. Condit and John Condit, both came from Ohio, and settled there in 1856. They were at that time possessed of some means which they employed in the improvement of their lands, and the advancement of the science of agriculture. In this they did much to advance the interest of the farming community of the county, and to place the work of the agriculturist where it belongs,-first in rank among the vocations of men. Mr. A. B. Condit was the first to represent his town in the Board of Supervisors, and his name was given to the new

town.

Henry and Luther Putnam, also from Ohio, settled in the township, about the same time, and are among its substantial farmers.

These, with many others whom we might name, such as E. N. Parker, A. Gulick, M. E. Nelson, W. H. Banner, and others, are furnishing convincing proofs of the rapid progress made in cultivating the soil within the past ten years.

The first entry of land in this township, was by James W. S. Mitchell, in April, 1835, the records showing that he entered Lot 2 of the north-west quarter of Section 5, Town 21, Range 8 east.

COLFAX TOWNSHIP.

This Township is bounded on the east by Tolono, on the north by Scott, on the west by Piatt county, and on the south by Sadorus. It occupies the Congressional Town 18, Range 7 east, and was formerly incorporated with Tolono, bearing that name, but was separated, and the new town formed in 1869. What of history there is of the town, is of recent date.

Looking Glasses.

John Cook was the first settler. He was a native of Ohio, and came here in March, 1841, and located at the north end of Sadorus Grove, in the south-eastern corner of Colfax. Here he made improvements, building a house, and planting an orchard, the first house and the first orchard in the town. From this time to 1865, the improvement and advancement of the town was very slow. It was not until that period, that the real value of the country lying mainly within this township was understood and appreciated. High lands, sharp rolling prairies and commanding locations, had hitherto presented attractions that could not be resisted by those in search of farm homes; while the exhaustless treasures, buried within the dark soil of the prairies of Colfax, were passed by unheeded. Slowly, but surely, the truth appeared, that however early seed may be deposited in the ground, that of itself is no guarantee that the husbandman will secure the return for his labor and care he may hope for. The rays of a summer sun will scorch and burn, and without the attending blessing of frequent showers, must shrivel and blight, in spite of the efforts of the farmer. While on the more level plains, the rich dark foliage of rank-growing corn, tossing its head in the breezes and laughing in its strength, tells of a wealth in moisture and soil that cannot be found among the more broken or elevated lands.

After Cook came John Hamilton, from Indiana, in the Spring of 1846, and settled near the farm of Mr. Cook. He was born in Pennsylvania, in the year 1800, and died on his farm in

1864.

Benjamin F. James and John Miller were among those who settled soon after, and have done well their part in subduing the uncultivated wilds.

The first school house was built in 1846, near where Isaac J.“ Miller now lives. It was of logs, and the first school was taught by A. Nesbit.

The rapid improvement of the last five years in this town, will be better understood by comparisons. As late as 1865,

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