Barr Township History, Macoupin County Illinois
©1997 Mary Ann Kaylor



HISTORY OF BARR TOWNSHIP, MACOUPIN COUNTY ILLINOIS

Contributed by Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor

BARR TOWNSHIP, MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS - Township 11N-Range 9W

Extracted from: 1763-1879 HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY ILLINOIS Published by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia

JOSEPH ELLIOTT was the first white inhabitant, settling on Sec. 21 in 1828 or 1829. He built a log cabin and cultivated some land with improvements which he sold in 1830 to WILLIAM HANDLIN.

JOHN MARKHAM came in 1830; a MR. KENNEDY; SILAS DRUM and the WIGGINS in 1835. BENJAMIN and HUGH BARR, for whom the township is named; JAMES B. STEIDLEY; HAMPTON BATES; JOHN BARNETT; JOHN PARKS; ADAM JAMES; WILLIAM TAGGERT; THOMAS CODDLE; and MICHAEL BUCHANAN were some of the first settlers.

The first marriage in the township was JOHN RUMMONS to MRS. FANNY MARKHAM. The ceremony was performed by JOHN BURNETT, justice of the peace.

The first church was built by the Methodists on Sec. 20 and was called "Asbury Chapel". CHARLES MAXFIELD and wife and NATHAN HENDERSON and wife, were the first members. First joined on probation were SAMUEL REES and wife; J. B. STEIDLEY and wife; JOHN HENDERSON and wife, DAVID HENDERSON and wife and WILLIAM TAGGERT and wife. (Church was torn down about two or three years ago. ASBURY CEMETERY adjoins this location--MAK)

There is also a Methodist Church at Barr's Store, on section 9

The first school was taught by ELIZABETH ANN STEIDLEY in the summer of 1835.

MR. J. B. HANDLIN built a horse-power saw-mill at Barr's Store, which was the first in the township.

The oldest settlers now living in the township are R. J. and J. M. METCALF, who came from Kentucky to the county in 1835; J. W. HENDERSON settled here in 1833 and GEORGE O. SOLOMON came in 1834.

The first land entries were: JOHN W. STUBBS, Nov. 1, 1827, 40 acres in section 26; WILLIAM ARNOLD, May 13, 1829, 80 acres in section 5; ELI J. BUTCHER, May 13, 1829, 84 acres in section 11.

First schoolhouse built of logs, on section 20, in 1836, and J. B. STEIDLEY was the first to teach in it.

A steam flouring mill was erected in 1863 by Shane and Henderon, and is at present operated by MOSER and TYLER.

Statistics from the Assessor's book, taken in 1879, will show the present assessed value of property: --Acres of improved lands 15,644, value $94,024; acres unimproved land 7,794, value $18,128; total value of lands $112,152. Horses 680, value $11,079; cattle 1,470, value $10,317; mules 63, value $1,168; sheep 1,371, value $1,105; hogs 2,609, value $1,969; carriages and wagons 204, value $1,699; 138 watches and clocks, 71 sewing machines, 4 pianos, 10 organs. Total value of personal property, $37,772.

List of township officers:
Supervisors--JOHN M. BATES, elected in 1871; RICHARD J. METCALF, elected in 1872; EDWARD HENDERSON, elected in 1873; RICHARD J. METCALF, elected in 1874; J. W. HENDERSON, elected in 1875; J. W. DALBY, elected in 1876; J. W. DALBY, re- elected in 1878; EDWIN HENDERSON, elected in 1879.

Town Clerks--HIRAM DRUM, elected in 1871 and re-elected in 1872 and 1873. J. W. DALBY elected in 1874 and re-elected in 1875; B. B. OLBERT, elected in 1876; T. S. FAUSLER, elected in 1877; J. W. OLBERT elected in 1878; W. A. FANSLER, elected in 1879.

Assessors--JESSE H. DAILY elected in 1871; P. ROBISON (PRESLEY ROBISON, mak) elected in 1872; and re-elected in 1873; A. M. SOLOMON elected in 1874; J. GALLOWAY, elected in 1875; F. W. CROUCH elected in 1876 and re-elected in 1877; J. S. McCOLLOM elected in 1878 and re-elected in 1879.

Collectors--JOSEPH L. KING elected in 1871; W. FAUSLER, elected in 1872; A. M. SOLOMON elected in 1873; F. E. WIGGINS elected in 1874; A. M. SOLOMON elected in 1875; J. H. HINKLE, elected in 1876 and re-elected in 1877, 1878 and 1879.

Justices of the Peace--JOHN W. HETTICK and E. FAUSLER elected in 1871; J. S. McCOLLOM elected 1872; A. M. SOLOMON elected in 1873; G. W. OLBERT elected in 1874; J. S. McCOLLUM elected in 1876; H. DRUM and T. J. TEANEY elected in 1877; J. S. McCOLLOM elected in 1878.

Constables--WM. J. DORMAN and ROBERT P. PATTERSON, elected in 1872 H. DRUM elected in 1872; J. S. STOTLER and F. E. WIGGINS, elected in 1873; J. GARTRELL, elected in 1874; A. D. HINCH, elected in 1875; J. G. YOUNG, elected in 1877.

Commissioners of Highways--1871, JONAS RIBBLE, A. J. DRUM, GEORGE A. BALLON; 1872, JONAS RIBBLE; 1873, J. M. LINDER, GEORGE SOLOMON, GEORGE W. BARR; 1874, JOSEPH CRUM, ORIN GIFFORD; GEORGE H. DENNIS; 1875 J. W. HETTICK: 1876, G. PITCHFORD; 1877, R. P. PATERSON; 1878, JOHN HOLLY; 1879, THOMAS J. LADLEY.

Biographical Sketches of: NATHANIEL A. NIGHBERT; RICHARD J. METCALF; ISAAC HAVEN; JAMES L. METCALF; WILLIAM J. SLAUGHTER; ROBERT R. COOPER; J. W. HENDERSON.

1879 HISTORY OF MACOUPIN COUNTY ILLINOIS by Brink, McDonough & Co.

Partial List of Patrons:

BARR--TOWNSHIP 11 NORTH. RANGE 9 WEST.

NAME, P.OFFICE, RESID., OCCUPATION, NATIVITY, CAME TO CO.

BARR, Robert Barr's Store Sec.15 farm/stock Greene CO PA 1837
FLEMING, Norinda " Sec.15 w/o R. BARR Greene CO IL 1834
COOPER, R. R. " Sec.17 farm/stock Christian CO KY 1853
BACON, Mary J. " Sec.17 w/o R.COOPER Tenn. 1852
CONVERSE, Jeremiah " Sec.20 farm/stock Addison CO VT 1874
CORY, Lavina " Sec.20 w/o J.CONVERSE " 1874
CROUCH, John " Sec.35 farm/stock Washington CO TN 1857
PRITCHETT, Caroline, deceased 6 July 1848 #1w/J. CROUCH
GALLOWAY, Mary R., deceased 20 Jan 1873 #2w/J. CROUCH Sullivan CO TN 1857
DRUM, Hiram Barr's Store Sec. 9 frm, J.P. Macoupin CO IL 1839
BARR, Martha B. " Sec. 9 w/o H. DRUM Macoupin CO IL 1841
FINLEY, George M. " Sec.17 farm/stock Greene CO IL 1875
CROSS, May A. " Sec.17 w/o G.FINLEY Sullivan CO TN 1850
FAUSLER, E. " Sec. 4 farm/stock Sullivan CO TN 1852
DALBEY, Mary E. " Sec. 4 w/o E. FAUSLER, VA 1854
GARY, Henry H. Greenfield Sec. 30 farm/stock Macoupin CO IL 1855
CONVERSE, Laura E. " Sec. 30 w/o H. GARY Greene CO IL 1874
GALLOWAY, John Palmyra Sec. 12 farm/stock Sullivan CO TN 1866
CARROLL, Mary E. " Sec. 12 w/o J.GALLOWAY Pike CO MO 1848
HOLLY, J. W. " Sec. 11 farm/stock Alleg'ny CO PA 1849
HOLLY, William - deceased Sep 19, 1872 ,father of J. W., Bedford CO PA 1849
DEW, Malinda " Sec. 11 w/o W. HOLLY Alleg'ny CO PA 1849
HAVEN, R. B. Greenfield Sec. 18 farm/stock VT 1849
REYNOLDS, Jennie C. Sec. 18 w/o R. HAVEN Ashland CO OH 1865
HENDERSON, J. O. Barr's Store Sec. 16 farm/stock Macoupin CO IL 1838
HENDERSON, J. W. Greenfield Sec. 29 farm/stck Greene CO IL 1833
KIDD, Sarah J. Greenfield Sec. 29 w/o J. W. Peoria CO IL 1840
LINDER, John M. Barr's Store Sec. 6 farm/stock Greene CO IL 1865
TUNNELL, N. Kate " Sec. 6 w/o J. M. Anderson CO TN 1876
METCALF, R.J. Barr's Store Sec. 31 farm/stock Hopkins CO KY 1835
BUCHANAN, Mary J. " Sec. 31 w/o R. J. Bourbon CO KY 1833
METCALF, J. L. Barr's Stone Sec. 31 farm/stock Hopkins CO KY 1835
PETER, Eliza " " w/o J. L. Louisville, KY 1848
MAXFIELD,Chas. W. " Sec. 8 farm/stock Macoupin CO IL 1851
GREENE, Martha J. " " w/o Chas. W. Macoupin CO IL 1857
NIGHBERT, N. A. " Sec. 10 farm/stock VA 1840
CRUM, M. A. " Sec. 10 w/o N. A. Morgan CO IL 1835
OLBERT, George W. " Sec. 15 farm/stock Fred'k Co VA 1840
BARR, Melvina B. " " w/o George Fred'k Co VA 1839
PETEFISH, Sarah J. " widow of late R.H.MAXFIELD Rock'g'm CO VA 1840
MAXFIELD, Eddie G. "s/o R.H.&S.J., Sec. 8 farm/stock Macoupin CO IL 1860
MAXFIELD, Robert H., deceased 15 Jun 1876, h/o Sarah Clark CO KY 1831
ROBISON, Pressley " Sec. 32 farm/stock Caldwell CO KY 1835
REDMAN,Elizabeth " Sec. 32 w/o Presley Indiana 1831
SLAUGHTER, W. J., Greenfield Sec. 30 Fmr.Blcksmith,Mchnt Greene CO IL 1852
DUNN, R. A. " " w/o W. J. Fulton CO IL 1856
SMITH, Wm. A. " Sec. 7 farm/stock Orange CO IN 1865
SMITH, Sarah M. " " w/o Wm.A. Greene CO IL 1865
SHEARBURN, Henry B.,Barr's Store Sec. 1 farmstock England 1843
JEFFREY, Mary A. " " w/o Henry B. Canada West 1835
SOLOMON, George O. Palmyra Sec. 13 farm/stock Morgan CO IL 1834
PROFFITT, Sarah E. " " w/o George O. Sullivan CO TN 1853
SOLOMON, A. M. Barr's Store Sec. 14 farm/stock Muhlb'rg CO KY 1835
BRADSHAW, Alvian " " w/o A. M. Morgan CO IL 1879
TEANEY, Theodore J. Greenfield Sec. 32 farm/stock Wythe CO VA 1843
VAUGHN, Martha J. " " w/o Theo. J. Grene CO IL 1872
TEANEY, E.A.C. " Sec. 32 farm/attorney Augusta CO VA 1843
WATTEANBARGEE, Sarah J. " " w/o E.A.C. Washington CO VA 1859
YOUNG, J. G. Barr's Store, Barr's Store, Druggist Tenn. 1855
YOUNG, Sarah A. " " w/o J. G. Pulaski CO KY 1877

Known CEMETERIES of Barr Township (some extinct)
Sec. 3 - MILLER
Sec. 16 - HENDERSON
Sec. 12 - LeMARR
Sec. 17 - COOPER
Sec. 14 - SOLOMON, A. M.
Sec. 13 - SOLOMON, G. O.
Sec. 20 - ASBURY CHURCH
Sec. 20 - STEIDLEY
Sec. 20 - STEIDLEY
Sec. 27 - WITT
Sec. 34 - STULTS
Sec. 36 - GILEAD
Sec. 31 - METCALF

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