The town was organized from the south half of Mahomet, in 1861, and at that time there were but 49 voters, and, as has been said before, the increase was slow until after the close of the war. We refer the reader to the statistics in the latter part of this book for information, that will show the astonishing increase since that period.

Among the prominent men of the town, we name Samuel Koogler, whose large stock-farm of over 800 acres of choice land, is among the best improved in the county. Mr. Koogler has several times represented his town in the county legislature, showing the confidence reposed in him by his fellow-towns

men.

F. G. Seymour and J. R. Lytle have also figured extensively in the history of the town, and as successful farmers, few surpass them.

The large farm of B. F. Cresap has few equals in the State, and no superiors. It is designed and used for stock-growing and feeding, and in all its appointments, approaches as near perfection as one can attain without having control of the contour of the land. It contains over 1,000 acres.

Seth Merriman also has control of a section of land improved for stock purposes, which is a model of its class.

William Dighton also has a large, well improved farm of 1,440 acres, while the new farm of E. J. Anderson gives promise of holding first rank among the model farms of the county. Henry Tilbury, Noble M. Crawford, T. Mallory, William D. Lytle, F. M. Young, and many others, are deserving of all praise for their determined efforts to advance the interests of the town and agriculturists generally.

The grading for the track of the Monticello and Champaign Railroad, has been completed through the town, and the coming summer the track will be laid, and the road put in opera

tion.

All kinds of Musical Instruments.

SIDNEY TOWNSHIP

Is bounded on the north by St. Joseph, on the west by Philo, on the south by Raymond, and on the east by South Homer; being Town 18, Range 10 east. Within this town is a magnificent body of timber, a woodland, lying on the Salt Fork, which enters the town from the north, near the center of the town, and after winding through the same, passes out near the north-east corner; the space in the huge bend being covered with stately trees of oak, ash and black walnut; invaluable for fencing material, and manufacturing purposes. The country south and west from the Salt Fork is prairie, of the same characteristics to be found in all parts of the county, well adapted to mixed or special husbandry.

The first to enter land here was Jesse Williams, February, 1827, the east half of the north-east quarter of Section 12, Town 18, Range 10.

The first settlers in this town, of whom we have been able to obtain information, were Thomas L. Butler, who came from Ohio, in 1834, and one Adam Thomas, the same year. These men made improvements. Mr. Thomas planted the first orchard in the town. G. W. Towner came in 1837; he was born in Pennsylvania, 1815. George Wilson came in 1839.

Dr. James H. Lyons came in 1837, and made valuable improvements, building the first house where the village of Sidney now stands. It is said of him, that he brought the first blooded stock to the county; but from all the light we have on that subject, that honor rests with one Mitchel, who settled in Newcomb township.

From this early period, until 1854 or 1855, the growth of the town was slow, receiving, occasionally, new accessions to the number of its inhabitants, of those who dared to brave the trials and discomforts attendant upon the life of the pioneer.

In 1855, the Toledo, Wabash and Western Railway was completed through the town, and immigration flowed in, settling

up the lands with great rapidity, about the woodlands of the Salt Fork, and stretched out to the west and south, as it came to be known that the prairies could be inhabited by man, without the danger of freezing, or blowing away.

Fountain Busey, whom we found in Hensley township, and who sold out there to H. Phillipe, in 1841, resides here, and his farm of over 500 acres tells plainly that he has not been idle.

Thomas Butler has a farm that for improvements is excelled by few. In all of his farming operations, there is stamped the impress of a guiding hand, controlling the work, and not controlled by it.

The farm of J. B. Porterfield is the boast of the town, and they have a right to boast, for one more complete in all its parts does not exist within the State, or out of it.

Mr. Porterfield's farm contains about 1,000 acres, in a high state of cultivation, improved almost to perfection. The design is for stock-growing and feeding; and in buildings and appointments generally, there seems to be no fault.

E. Waters, Samuel Love, Geo. Wilson, and many others, have large farms, the cultivation and improvement of which give evidence of the care bestowed by their owners, and also of the great improvement in the management of farms over the earlier days.

The village is located on the T., W. & W. R. W., at the point of woodland at the bend in the Salt Fork to the east, and is a thriving, flourishing town. One of the tributaries of the Salt Fork runs through the village, rendering its location peculiarly advantageous for cleanliness and health. Its inhabitants are a wide-awake, driving people, evincing a thorough knowledge of the value of time. The extensive flouring and saw mill of William Parks is an acquisition of which any town in the West might boast, while all the business men are of the right mettle.

They have two fine church buildings; one graded school, that is an honor to the county; three blacksmith and wagon

Silver Forks and Spoons.

manufacturing shops; two dry goods houses; drug store; agricultural warehouse; and all the various branches of industry, fully and well represented by active business men, all in happy accord, in making their town, as it really is, worthy the atten tion of capitalists.

SADORUS TOWNSHIP

Is located in the extreme south-western corner of the county, and is bounded on the east by Crittenden, on the north by Colfax, on the west by Piatt county, and on the south by Douglas county; and occupies Town 17, Range 7 east. The first land entered here, was by Henry Sadorus, Dec., 1834, south-east quarter of Section 1, Town 17, Range 7 east. Mr. Sadorus was also the first settler, and, for a long time, the only settler, as has been seen in the former pages of this book, where we have given this worthy gentleman some little notice; we fail, however, in doing him justice. Long and alone, he lived and labored the life of the pioneer, and through his persevering influence, gradually, but surely, neighbors came to him, and now in his ripe old age, he rests from weary labor, eating the bread of honest industry, and enjoying the comforts that years of care have secured.

The next settler in the town of Sadorus, outside of the Sadorus family, was one Marcus, who located south of the farm of Mr. Sadorus, about the year 1833; he did not stop long, but left for some point farther west.

It will be seen by the map, that the Kaskaskia river flows through the entire length of this town. This, with the heavy body of timber which borders the stream, occupies the eastern portion, and here the settlements of the town were confined, until as late as 1855, when the new comers began to push out upon the prairie.

The surface of the prairie, west of the grove, is gently undulating, and towards the southern line, inclines to the level order. This part also is the lowest point of land in the county, and is known as " Lake Fork." For many years it was believed to be impossible to cultivate those lands, so low they seemed, so wet in the spring time, and appeared so utterly incapable of drainage. Yet the few who ventured there, found this all a mistake.

John Quick, who owns a farm in the extreme south-western corner of the county, says: "I have never failed to raise good corn. Sometimes, owing to a very wet spring, I have been late in planting, but the exceeding strength and fertility of the soil has always brought it forward to maturity; and, repeatedly, when my corn and that of my neighbors has stood rank and green, I have seen corn on the high and sharp rolling lands, dwarfed, spindling and yellow."

Mr. Quick is one of the oldest settlers in the town, and ha lived on that farm about thirty years. He is a hale, healthy, and hospitable man, and with his estimable lady, can give to friend or stranger a true old genuine welcome.

William Rock is also an old settler, and his large, well improved farm, on the Kaskaskia, shows a life of earnest, well directed labor. His buildings are all constructed for use and not for display, and all the surroundings give evidence of thrift and home-like comfort. D. Rice, D. Gunnery, H. and William O'Brian, each have extensive farms in an advanced state of cultivation. They are stock growers, and none better in that branch of husbandry can be found; their superiority being evinced in their farms, and the arrangement of the same. William Rosenstiel, also, has an extensive farm, well improved, for the purpose of broom corn raising, wherein he is making a decided success. D. Campbell's farm of 600 acres, though new, shows through its rough exterior the plans of a superior workman, and will one day stand high among model farms.

William Ellers has a farm of 1,500 acres on the west side of the Kaskaskia, which in character of improvements, fertility of

Silver and Plated Ware.