1882 History
Chapter 31 – Audubon Township
TOPOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION — PHYSICAL FEATURES —
WATER-COURSES — EARLY SETTLEMENT — FIRST BIRTH, DEATH AND MARRIAGE — THE
LITTLES — EARLY CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS —
THE OLD TOWN OF AUDUBON, ETC.
By T. J. Riley
THE township of Audubon lies in the northeast corner of Montgomery County, and consists of two parts commonly known as North and South Audubon. North Audubon is made-up of thirty-six sections, while the portion known as South Audubon is a fractional township, containing only eighteen sections. It is bounded by Christian County on the north, by Shelby County on the east, by Fayette County on the south, and on the west by the townships of Witt and Nokomis. Most of the surface is level prairie land, though along the streams it is somewhat rough and broken. Originally. about one-fifth of the township was covered with timber, consisting of oak. ash, walnut, elm, hickory, etc. Much of this original timber has, however, been cleared away. Throughout the township are numerous small watercourses, among the most important of which is Ramsey Creek, rising in the northeast corner of county, and, flowing in a southerly direction, unites with Elliott Creek, in the northwest corner of Section 14, in South Audubon. Carter's Branch has its source in a small lake in the southern part of Section 1, in South Audubon, and, flowing almost due south, unite with Otter Branch, and together, empty into Elliott Creek. Hooker's Branch rises in the northwest corner of Section 5, in South Audubon, and winds its tortuous course, first in a southeasterly direction, and then almost directly east, until after it has become a stream of considerable size. It is given the name of Elliott Creek, and leaves the township at the southwest corner of Section 14. Caesar Creek flows through the western part of South Audubon. The soil is of average futility, producing good crops of corn, wheat, oats, rye, etc. Considerable fruit is also raised in this section.
Among the first white people who ventured to settle in this portion of Montgomery County was Thomas Hill. He came in about the year 1832 and located in the eastern part of the township. About the same time, Basil Hill and Joseph Davis came in and located a little west of Thomas Hill, near the central part of the township. James Card came in about 1833 and settled in the central part. In 1834, the most important settlement was made by a colony of emigrants who came from the State of Massachusetts. They laid off the town of Audubon a short time after their arrival. Prominent among these were Isaac Hinkley, Robert Little, Otis Little and William Pike, who entered large tracts of land, and for some time farmed very extensively. They all have descendants living here at present, and Robert Little is now the largest land-owner in Audubon Township. The first settler in what is known as North Audubon, was Thomas Price, who came in in 1831 and located on Section 36. The first white child born in North Audubon was John Henry Price, son of Thomas Price, who was born in 1832, and Amanda Price, daughter of Thomas Price, who died about this time (1832), was the first death. The first Justice of the Peace in North Audubon was M. S. Cushman, who was elected in 1836, and about the same time William H. Russell was elected Constable. Radford Virden came in 1832, and settled in the southeastern corner of the township. George Cottingham, another early settler, came about 1835, and located in the southwestern corner. He was soon after, in 1836, followed by Bailey Oshorn, William Craig and William Cottingham, who located in the same neighborhood. Shipton Estes settled in the northeastern corner of South Audubon in 1843, and during the same year, William Orear, James Smith and William T. Slater located near him. At quite an early date, a number of wealthy settlers came in from Massachusetts, and entered large tracts of land. They built magnificent residences and farmed extensively, but after remaining a short time grew discouraged and sold out, disposing of their land at a price ranging from 30 to 60 cents an acre. The fine houses built by them, partially remain, and though they have gone very much to decay, they still bear signs of their former grandeur. A part of one of these farms is that known at present as the "Old Blue Farm."
In 1846, William T. Slater was elected the first Justice of the Peace in South Audubon, and Elias Pearce the first Constable. The first two marriages occurred in 1845; John Slater to Miss Julia Coy, and Miss Isabel Slater promised to "love, honor and obey" Dr. A. S. Vandeveer. The first birth was that of Sarah J., daughter of William and Elizabeth Orear, in 1843, and the first death was a daughter of Shipton and Margaret Estes.
Of the early schools of this township, but little can be said. They were of the usual primitive character, and the buildings were the ordinary log structures so common at an early day. The first house for school purposes was erected on Section 12 in South Audubon, in 1849, and was a log building, with a large fireplace and a stick chimney. The first teacher was Charles Turner, and his school was taught on the subscription plan.
The first church erected in this township was by the Unitarian denomination. The church was organized by the Rev. Mr. Huntington, and a house of worship was built in the spring of 1839. The second church in South Audubon was of the Baptist denomination. It was organized by Elder Samuel Rogers, a Baptist preacher, and the first church edifice was built in 1850.
The only village in this township is that of Audubon. As stated, it was laid out by a colony of emigrants from Massachusetts, in 1834. For some years after its settlement, it gave promise of becoming a town of considerable importance, and, at one time, competed with Hillsboro for the county seat. Hiram Holmes built and kept the first hotel. He also built the first mill, which at that time was considered a very extensive affair. M. S. Cushman and Samuel Patch were the first merchants. Isaac Hinkley was the first land agent and also the first Postmaster. Not long after the settlement of Audubon, a party of Eastern capitalists came in and built a magnificent hotel. They were compelled to haul all of the material from St. Louis, and their poor facilities made it a very expensive undertaking. It was operated without success for several years, and was finally torn down and a farm house made of it. A court house was also erected here in an early day, but Hillsboro being chosen as the county seat, it was very little used and was finally sold to the Methodist denomination for a church, and is at present used as such. After a few short years of prosperity, the town gradually began to die. Merchants moved their business to other places, and the extensive town plat was slowly changed into farming land, until at present only three or four houses, a few ruins and numerous old wells remain to mark the place where the town once stood.
Extracted 15 Jan 2017 by Norma Hass from History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, published in 1882, pages 418-419.
