Barr Township

Township 11N-Range 9W

This township is located in the north-west part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Scottville, on the west by Greene county, on the south by Western Mound, and on the east by South Palmyra township. It has a very rich, clay soil, and in the western portion, along Taylor creek, is covered with a heavy growth of timber. The eastern and south-eastern part was at one time covered with oak and cotton-wood timber, much of which land has been changed into fine productive farms. In the northern portion it is mostly prairie land, excepting the extreme north-west corner, which is rough and broken.

The entire township is well drained by Solomon's, Joe's, Taylor's and Watts' creeks and their tributaries. Joe's creek received its name from a circumstance concerning a bear killing, many years ago, by Joseph Elliott and Joseph Hodges.

First Settlements. - JOSEPH ELLIOTT, a squatter, was the first white inhabitant of Barr township. He settled on Sec. 21, in the year 1828 or '29, and built a log cabin and cultivated some land, which improvements he sold in 1830 to WILLIAM HANDLIN.

JOHN MARKHAM settled here in 1830; a MR. KENNEDY, SILAS DRUM, and the WIGGINS in 1835. BENJ. BARR and HUGH BARR – in honor of 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.

First Birth was Martha Ann Steidley, daughter of James B. and Rachel Steidley, February 9th, 1835.

First Death. – The first death occurring in the township was that of John Markham, in January, 1835.

The First Preacher was Jos. J. Gray, a Presbyterian, who held service in an old school-house on section 20.

Churches. – The first congregation was organized by Rev. James Corrington, a Methodist circuit preacher, of Carlinville.

The first church was built by the Methodist denomination on section 20, and was called the "Asbury Chapel." CHARLES MAXFIELD and wife, and NATHAN HENDERSON and wife, were the first members, and were from the "Hermitage Society," in Greene county.

The following were the first who joined on probation: 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.

Schools. – The first school was taught in the summer of 1835 by Miss ELIZABETH ANN STEIDLEY, in a room of a private residence.

The first school-house was built of logs, on section 20, in 1836, and Mr. J. B. Steidley was the first who taught school in it.

Mills. – A steam flouring mill was erected in 1863 by Shane and Henderson, and is at present operated by Moser and Tyler.

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

Barr's Store is a small hamlet, situated on section nine, and received its name from the Barr family. It was laid out by James R. Steidley in 1865. Benjamin R. Barr kept a store at this point, and was also post-master at an early day. This was the first store in the township.

There are at present two general stores; one kept by J. G. Young, and the other by J. H. Hinkle, who is also post-master.

There is a blacksmith shop owned by Fred. Ershig, and a shoe shop by George Webber. There are two physicians, Dr. J. W. Mason and Dr. J. G. Reed, which comprise the business men of the place.

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.

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 are available of: NATHANIEL A. NIGHBERT; RICHARD J. METCALF; ISAAC HAVEN; JAMES L. METCALF; WILLIAM J. SLAUGHTER; ROBERT R. COOPER; J. W. HENDERSON. Some property views and portraits are also in this book.]

Partial List of Patrons

Name – Residence; Occupation; Nativity; Year Came to County

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

Contributed by Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor [additional transcriptions 2022 May 10 by Norma Hass], extracted from History of Macoupin County 1763-1879 Illinois, published in 1879 by Brink, McDonough & Co., Philadelphia, pages 157-158, 275-276.