Austin Township lies in the extreme north-west corner of the county, and is
bounded on the north by DeWitt county, on the east by Maroa township, on the south by Illini township,
on the west by Logan county. It is drained by the lake fork of Salt creek and Jones' fork and their tributaries.
The surface is level prairie, and the soil is rich and productive; it comprised an area
of 36 square miles, or 23,040 acres.
This township is one of the youngest in the county--notwithstanding this fact, it is as flourishing and
almost as far advanced in improvement as many of those older settled.
The first settlement began in the year 1845, and Amos Wright, who came from Pennsylvania and
located on what is now section one, in that year, was the first settler. Here Mr. Wright built the first house
in the township, immediately on his arrival.
John Story was another early settler, locating on the same section in 1850.
Samuel Lowe, who came from Ross county, Ohio, settled on section 14 in the year 1854.
James S. Parker came from Butler county, Ohio, in 1855, and settled where his son, Wm. H, Parker,
now resides.
The first school was taught by a Mr. Burns, at the residence of Samuel Brayden, in section one in
the year 1856. The following year the first school-house was built on section eleven. It was a frame
building.
The first sermon preached in the township was by the Rev. John Moore, in 1857. C.R. Robinson
began preaching in 1857, and continued regular preaching for several years.
In 1877 a school-house, which was built in 1868, was converted into a church, which was the first
one in the township.
Richard Ross was the first justice of the peace. The first resident physician was Dr. John Demsey.
Mr. Maguire erected a blacksmith shop in section fourteen in 1857, and did the first blacksmithing.
The introduction of improved stock was first made by Edward and James Jones in 1859, by the
purchasing of thoroughbred short horns. The first blooded hogs were Poland Magee stock, and were
brought from Butler county, Ohio, in 1856.
The first land entries are as follows:--Charles G. Draper entered March 4th, 1850, 40 acres in
section No. 1, 40 acres in section No. 5, and 80 acres in section No. 6. On the same day Jacob Miller
entered 155.43 acres in section No. 1--all in township No. 18, north of range 1, east of the third P.M.
The following is a list of the supervisors since township organization.
Austin township has no railroads, but there are railroads on three sides of it, which make the shipping
facilities excellent.
In 1855 there was not more than three hundred acres of soil in cultivation in the township, while at
present almost every foot is cultivated or used for pasturage.
The school system is in a most properous condition. This is one of the few counties in the state
that still holds its "school section," and from which it derives a revenue of thirteen or fourteen hundred
dollars annually, making the school-tax less than any other township in the county. There are at present
seven first-class schools, all well attended, and each district free from debt. The township was named
in honor of Benj. R. Austin, who was a prominent man in the early history of the county.
Among the well-improved farms may be mentioned those of Wm. H. Parker and Mrs. L.A. Toland.
James Parker, elected in 1860; re-elected in 1861
A. Emery, elected in 1862
J. S. Parker, elected in 1863; re-elected in 1864 and 1865
C.F. Emery, elected in 1866, and re-elected in 1867
T.B. Campbell elected in 1868
Robert T. Morris, elected in 1869
Peter Bennett, elected in 1870
C.F. Emery, elected in 1871
D. Patterson, elected in 1872, and re-elected in 1873
Robert Morris, elected in 1874 and re-elected in 1875
Andrew Hawyard, elected in 1876, re-elected each succeeding year, and is the
present incumbent.
NAME |
RES. |
OCCUPATION |
NATIVITY |
SETT. |
| Austin, James B. | Sec 13 | Farmer & Breeder of Hogs & Sheep | Green Co., OH | 1856 |
| Phoebe N. Dunham | Sec 13 | Wife of J.B. Austin | Green Co., OH | 1856 |
| Bradshaw, A.J. | Sec 19 | Farmer & Stock Raiser | TN | 1861 |
| Susan A. Haines | Sec 19 | Wife of A.J. Bradshaw | OH | 1867 |
| Brelsford, William C. | Sec 14 | Farmer & Breeder of Horses | Butler Co., OH | 1866 |
| Ella Bost | Sec 14 | Wife of Wm. C. Brelsford | Edgar Co., IL | 1871 |
| Susanna E. Dutro | Dec'd | 1st wife of Wm. C. Brelsford Dec'd Sep 15, '76 |
Preble Co, OH | 1866 |
| Brown, J.A | Sec 36 | Farmer & breeder of sheep & hogs | Eng. | 1861 |
| Mary Simon | Sec 36 | Wife of J.A. Brown | Eng. | 1861 |
| Braden, Solomon | Sec 1 | Farmer & breeder of Cattle & Hogs | Richland Co, OH | 1855 |
| Sarah Kershner | Sec 1 | Wife of Solomon Braden | Augusta Co, VA | 1868 |
| Balcom, H.S. | Sec 8 | Farmer & Stock raiser | Oswego Co, NY | 1866 |
| Betsy Emery | Sec 8 | Wife of H.S. Balcom | Merrim'c N.H. | 1857 |
| Crossman, S.A. | Sec 36 | Farmer & Stock raiser | Cayuga Co, NY | 1870 |
| Susan Weaver | Sec 36 | Wife of S.A. Crossman | Macon Co, IL | 1857 |
| Davison, T.B. | Sec 20 | Farmer & Stock raiser | St Francis, MO | 1865 |
| Thomas Davison | Sec 20 | Farmer & Stock raiser | St. Francis, MO | 1865 |
| Martha J. Davison | Sec 20 | Mother of T.B. & G.W. | St Francis, MO | 1865 |
| Geo. W. Davison | Dec'd | Late husband Martha Davison Dec'd Apr 27, '73 |
NJ | 1865 |
| Emery, J.W | Sec 18 | Farmer & Asessor | Merrim'k, NH | 1857 |
| F.A. Sanburn | Sec 18 | Wife of JW Emery | NH | 1857 |
| Frances R. Leland | Dec'd | 1st wife of JW Emery | Worcester Co, MA | 1857 |
| Hawkyard, A. | Sec 10 | Farmer & Srock raiser | Yorkshire, Eng. | 1858 |
| Hannah, Bottomlay | Sec 10 | Wife of A Hawkyard | Yorkshire, Eng. | 1860 |
| Heft, Samuel | Sec 17 | Farmer & Stock raiser | Fairfield Co, OH | 1868 |
| Elizabeth Davis | Dec'd | Late wife of Samuel Heft Dec'd Jan 27, '77 |
Shelby Co, OH | 1868 |
| Hill, W.H. | Sec 29 | Farmer & Stock raiser | Devonsh'e, Eng. | 1869 |
| Elizabeth Mary Salter | Sec 29 | Wife of WH Hill | Devonsh'e, Eng. | 1869 |
| Johnston, John | Sec 19 | Farmer & Stock Raiser | Scotland | 1870 |
| Agnes Irving | Sec 19 | Wife of John Johnston | Scotland | 1875 |
| George Johnston | Sec 19 | Farmer, Stock raiser & J.P. | Scotland | 1870 |
| Jane Wright | Sec 19 | Wife of George Johnston | Sangamon Co, IL | 1870 |
| Lowe, William | Sec 10 | Farmer & Breeder of Cattle & Hogs | MD | 1858 |
| Ann Rebecka McKeever | Sec 10 | Wife of Wm. Lowe | VA | 1858 |
| Larkin, Henderson | Sec 10 | Farmer & Breeder Hogs | Hamilton, IN | 1858 |
| Eliza M. Israel | Sec 10 | Wife of Henderson Lakin | Carroll Co, IN | |
| Nowllin, J.B. | Sec 20 | Farmer & Stock raiser | Dearborn, IN | 1874 |
| J.E. Sykes | Sec 20 | Wife of J.B. Nowlin | Hamilton Co, OH | 1874 |
| Patterson, David | Sec 18 | Farmer & Stock raiser | Scotland | 1854 |
| Mary Francis Smith | Sec 18 | Wife of David Patterson | Effingham Co, IL | 1875 |
| Elizabeth Wright | Dec'd | 1st wife of David Dec'd Oct 1875 |
Scotland | 1844 |
| Parker, Wm. H. | Sec 11 | Farmer & Stock | Preble Co, OH | 1855 |
| Frances M. Crowell | Sec 11 | Wife of Wm. Parker | Madison Co, OH | 1869 |
| Eliza C. Shan | Dec'd | 1st wife of Wm. Parker Dec'd Aug 12, '69 |
Clermont Co, OH | 1853 |
| Rothermal, Louis | Sec 19 | Farmer & Stock raiser | Germany | 1867 |
| Margaret Lutz | Sec 19 | Wife of Louis Rothermal | Germany | 1867 |
| Schenck, Daniel | Sec 23 | Farmer, Breeder, Hogs & Cattle | PA | 1860 |
| Sarah Ann Denise | Sec 23 | Wife of Daniel Schenck | Butler Co, OH | 1860 |
| Aquilla Toland | Dec'd | Late husb of Mrs. L.A. Toland Dec'd Feb 15, '78 |
Madison Co, OH | 1865 |
| Toland, nee Smith, Mrs | Sec 31 | Farmer & Breeder | Macon Co, IL | 1848 |
| Whitaker, N.M. | Sec 18 | Farmer & Breeder Hogs | IN | 1864 |
| Mary C. Norvell | Sec 18 | Wife of N.M. Whitaker | KY | 1864 |
| History Index | Macon Co Home Page |
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