LEECH TOWNSHIP
Transcribed
and Compiled by Laurie Selpien
First Settlers
Isaac Harris
ELIZABETH Shrewsbury
HARRIS
Cadwaller Jones
John Jones
Gen. Samuel Leech
George McCown
DR. N. P. MERRIT
Robert H. Morris
WILLIAM
SCOTT
Landmarks & Towns
BAREFOOT
BIG CREEK
BRIAR BRANCH
DEVIL'S HALF ACRE
Golden Gate
GUM CORNER
HUNTSINGER HILL
KING CREEK
Scottsville
TERRAPIN RIDGE
MARS HILL
Old Iron Bridge
OLD RIVER
OWEN CREEK
WHITE OAK SLOUGH
Schools
Allison School
Chandler School
Johnson School
Mars Hill School
Wabash School
Wagner School
Wild Rose School
Windle School
Woods School
Leech Township lies in the southeast
corner of Wayne County, having the following boundaries, to wit: North, by
Massillon Township; east, by Edwards County; south, by White County; and west by
Barnhill Township. Its limits comprise Congressional Townships Town 2 south,
Range 9 east, and the north half of Town 3 south, Range 9 east. The surface of
this township is diversified between woodland and prairie. iii
First known as the Wabash Voting Precinct and later named
Leech Voting Precinct, in honor of Col. Samuel Leech, and finally organized as a
township in 1859. Leech Township is known to have had the first settlers in what
is now Wayne County. The very first settler in Leech Township is disputed
between the two families of Isaac Harris and Cadwallader Jones. One man settled
in the one the east side of the county Cadwallader Jones ( NE NE sec 25) while
Isaac Harris settled on the west side ( NE quarter of section 31) Either way
both men were the first settlers of the area.
Isaac Harris and his wife
Jennie CAMPBELL ii are said to have lived in a cave before building their
cabin on the S. E. quarter of the S. W. quarter of the N. E. quarter of section
31, T2S, R9E. Isaac’s brothers Gilham, Elijah, and Nathan also settled in the
area sometime between 1814 – 1816 depending on the source.
[i]
The original origins of the Harris family is said to have been out of Virginia,
[ii] and
moving first into Kentucky and then settled in Illinois. Isaac Harris fought at
Tippecanoe late in the year 1811 and was at the battle of Thames when Tecumseh
was killed in October of 1813.
Isaac Harris, left his Kentucky home
with a few provisions and cooking utensils packed on horses, and followed a dim
Indian trail to the territory now comprised in Wayne County --- then a perfect
wilderness. Mr. Harris was the first white man to settle and build a house
in our county. The site chosen was a high bluff at the edge of the Wabash
bottoms, nine miles southeast of Fairfield. A large spring at the foot of
the bluff was doubtless an attraction. Thomas Harris, ex-Supervisor of
Leech Township, now lives on the exact site of the first building erected in
Wayne County. This first cabin had a dirt floor and its size is shown by
Mrs. Goodwin's statement as to the carpet used. Four bear skins, cut
square, filled the cabin and made a luxurious carpet. The daily food of
the pioneers was corn meal, hominy, bear meat, venison, honey and sassafras tea.
The meal and hominy were ground in a mortar made out of a stump, a wooden maul
attached to a spring pole being the pestle. The breadstuff for each day
was pounded up before breakfast. Mrs. Goodwin thinks she has ground over a
hundred bushels of corn in this way. The grist was sieved and the finer
portion called meal, the coarser hominy. These mortars were used for three
years. Bear meat was plentiful, Mr. Harris killing four or five a week.
Venison was not a rarity in a household where the head of the family has been
known to kill nineteen deer before breakfast as Mr. Harris did. But this
was doubtless an unusually good morning for deer. Mr. Harris' method of
bringing home honey when out on a hunt was decidedly aboriginal. When he
found a bee-tree, he would kill a deer, take off the skin in a way best suited
to the use he had for it, fill the skin with honey, tie up the holes made by the
legs and neck, throw it across his horse and make his way homeward. Honey
was so abundant that great wooden troughs were provided for it.[iii]
Isaac and Jennie children were:
Elizabeth “Betsy” married 1) Stephen Meritt 2) James Goodwin
Sally Hooper
Meritt Harris
Stephen M. Harris (died in Thomas County, Kansas Aug
17, 1898)
Lemuel Hatch Harris married Elizabeth SHREWSBERRY daughter
of Daniel Shrewsberry, (1821 – 1863)
Gilham Harris was enlisted in 1812 as an Illinois Ranger
under the command of Capt. Willis Hargraves
MRS. ELIZABETH HARRIS,
Burnt Prairie, was born August 16, 1822, in Breckinridge County, Ky.
She is a daughter of Samuel Shrewsbury, a native of Virginia. He
came to Wayne County, Ill., January 14, 1841, and after raising one crop, moved
to White County, where he died. His father, Dabney Shrewsbury, was born
and died in Virginia. The mother of our subject, Polly (Kurrens)
Shrewsbury, was a native of North Carolina. She died in Wayne County,
leaving four children --- Elizabeth (our subject), Minerva Palmer, Mary Meeks
and Nancy S. Harlan. Our subject was reared in Kentucky. She came to
Illinois with her parents, and was married December 15, 1842, in White County,
to Mr. Lemuel Hatch Harris, youngest child of Isaac Harris, one of Wayne
County's oldest and most worthy pioneers, who came here in 1814. He first
settled in the southern part of Illinois in 1812, but when the war broke out
that year, and to the dangers of wild beasts who inhabited the dark forest was
added the greater danger from the still wilder men of the woods, the prowling,
treacherous Indian, Mr. Isaac Harris deemed it best to move back to Kentucky,
from where he entered the army as a volunteer, and participated in many
thrilling scenes and famous battles, in what is known in history as the war of
1812. With the return of peace came the longing for pioneer life for which
nature had so well endowed him, and having heard of the fertile region on the
Wabash, he removed his family to what was afterward called Wayne County.
Here he reared his family, and finally passed away to that better land from
whose bourn no traveler returns. His son, L. H. Harris, who married our
subject, was a farmer by occupation, owning at his death 360 acres of land.
He is the father of thirteen children, of whom ten are now living --- Mary J.
Murphy, James L., Rosan, Indiana S., Lucy P., Wilson B., Sarah I., Emeline D.
Simpson, Martha Ida, Eliza E. Mr. Harris died in this county. His
memory is cherished by all who came in contact with him. The whole family
are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Page 109 - 110 iii
WILLIAM SCOTT, blacksmith, Wabash,
as born August 25, 1826, in Albion, Edwards County, Ill. He is a son of
William Scott, Sr., a native of New York; he was a blacksmith by occupation, and
died in this county. He was one of the first settlers of Edwards County,
where he lived a number of years before he came to Wayne County. At the
age of sixteen, he offered
his services as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and fought gallantly for the
cause of freedom. The mother of our subject was Jan (Ewing) Scott,
a native of Virginia. She died in this county being the mother of fourteen
children, of whom our subject is the only one living. He was educated in
Albion, Ill., where he also learned the blacksmith trade, partly with his
father, and partly with George Johns. This occupation he has followed ever
since, and became quite an expert in many branches of his vocation. He
lived a good part of his early life alternately in this and Edwards County, but
did not settle here permanently till 1857. On the 8th day of June, 1848,
Mr. Scott was married to Miss Narcissa Hunt, born September 27, 1832, in Edwards
County, Ill.; her father, Thomas Hunt, was a native of Kentucky, while her
mother, Mary (Edmonson) Hunt, was a native of Indiana. Five children now
living are the result of this happy union --- Alfred W., born October 30, 1849,
is married to Cynthia Copland; Laura, born February 7, 1851, is the wife of John
Straup; Emma, wife of Nathan Dempsey, was born December 19, 1853; Minetta, wife
of Henry T. Skiner, was born January 14, 1856; Francis E., who married Parthenia
Copland, was born March 9, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Scott are religiously
connected with the Christian Church, and he is a member of the G A. R., to which
membership he was entitled by his military career, which is as follows: In
the spring of 1864, Mr. Scott enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Company H, Capt. W. H. Jones. After a six
months' service, he returned home, having been stationed mostly in Columbus,
Ky., but also participating in different engagements. Page 112 – 113 iii
NOTE this proves to be wrong! His
headstone in Scottsville Cemetery reads June 17, 1797 Onondagua Co. N. Y. died
Dec 4, 1847 Pvt.
Warden’s Co. Swifts N. Y. War of 1812
DR. N. P. MERRIT, physician, Wabash, was born
December 20, 1826, in Breckinridge County, Ky. His father was the
celebrated Dr. John W. Merrit, a native of Virginia. He died in Sullivan,
Ind. He received his medical education in St. Louis, Mo., in 1831,
following his profession in Illinois, Kentucky, and Indianapolis, Ind. It
may be said with truth that Dr. John W. Merrit was one of the most noted
physicians in his day, making chronic diseases a specialty. The
grandfather of our subject was Nathaniel P. Merrit, a native of South Carolina
and a farmer by occupation. He died in Seymour, Jackson County, Ind.
The great grandfather of Dr. Merrit was Stephen Merrit, who emigrated from South
Carolina to Tennessee, where he farmed with success. Dr. Merrit's mother
was Lucretia (Pyle) Merrit, a native of Maryland. She died in 1838, in
Illinois. She was a daughter of Col. William Pyle, a native of Scotland,
as was also his wife. Col. Pyle was an officer on George Washington's
staff in the Revolutionary war. In one of the many engagements in which he
participated, he had his queue shot off, and for many years the lock of hair was
kept as a relic in the Pyle family. Mrs. Lucretia Pyle was the mother of
eight children, of whom our subject is the only one living. He was
educated in Shelbyville, Ky., receiving his medical education in Indianapolis,
Ind., and Cincinnati, Ohio, where he graduated in 1877. The Doctor
followed his profession in Greene County, Ind., and in Wayne County, to
which he came in 1871, enjoying a large practice and the esteem of the people in
the surrounding counties, especially in Edwards County. In the summer of
1864, when the war cloud was hanging over this beautiful country, Dr.
Merrit offered his services, and was appointed Assistant Surgeon, by Gov.
Morton, to the Thirty-first Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, staying with
the regiment till December 8, 1865, when it was mustered out in Victoria, Texas,
after which he returned home and resumed the practice of his noble profession,
having enriched his experience by his army service. The Doctor was married
twice. His first wife, Eliza Cheneoworth, died, leaving five children.
viz.: Melville, Mary, Susan, Robert, and Grace, deceased. The
Doctor's present wife, Nellie (Nicholson) Merritt, born March 27, 1845, in
Kentucky, is the daughter of Ludwick and Paulina (Warmouth) Nicholson.
Three children are the result of this happy union, viz.: James F., Morris F. and
French Le Ford. The Doctor is an I. O. O. F., Opell Lodge, No. 99.
He is a Republican and served the people in the capacity of Township Supervisor.
Page 111 iii
Cadwaller Jones was a ranger in
the War of 1812, a Lt. Col. 3rd regiment 2nd brigade on
the Black Hawk War. He built his cabin on Section 25 T2S, R9E. He would at a
later date move to Edwards County. Cadwaller’s brother john stayed in Leech
township and in fact taught school in his brothers cabin. John also designed
many of the quilts and covers made at the time.
Robert H. Morris came to Leech
Township in 1818. He was the son of Robert Morris who signed the Declaration of
Independence.
Old
Iron Bridge
or Scotts bridge was built on sec 21 T2S R9E finished in
1865 at a cost of $4,000
Noticeable among the many substantial improvements made in
Leech Township is that of the building of the iron bridge across the Little
Wabash, on Section 21, Township 2 south, Range 9 east. Previous to the erection
of this structure, great difficulty was ofttimes experienced in crossing the
river, the course of which divides the township into two divisions, and the
settlements on either side were quite distinct from each other. The bridge was
built by contract for the county in 1865, at a total expense of about $4,000 and
12,000 acres of swamp land. iii
GOLDEN GATE
Golden Gate, located on the Southern
Railroad line, 8 miles to the southeast of Fairfield and in Leach Township is
one of the most prosperous little towns of which Wayne County boast, nestling
closely within the heart of its richest and most fertile agricultural district.
Its lands are well drained by the many small streams as they wind their way
through field and woodland in the rich valley and timbered bottoms of the Little
Wabash. The sound of saw and hammer is heard in every direction; churches,
schools, homes, mills and granaries dot her acres on every hand. The scenes and
surroundings present to the mind’s eye the earliest dawn of this wonderful
section and it’s subsequent development. Wonderful in many ways; wonderful from
the fact that only a few decades ago, the town site was but a wilderness,
practically untouched by the hand of man in its settlement and its acres of
waving grass and belts of timber growth were profuse in their presence and
preponderant as a feature; wonderful that this grassy waste has transformed into
a live and hustling trade center of almost a thousand souls, and the fertile
adjacent land made to respond to the husbandman’s touch and the tall and
stalwart timber to yield to the woodsman’s ax; waving fields of golden grain and
blossoming orchards present to the observing eye a panorama of beauty as
wonderful as it is beautiful. Remarkable in many ways is this quiet, yet
thriving village.
[iv]
The Golden Gate Post Office established when name changed
from Beech Bluff on 18 Oct 1888. Name was further changed to Goldengate on
23 Feb 1895. Incorporated as a village on 14 May 1897 as Golden Gate.
Railroad shows as Goldengate. Population in 1960 was 156.
Possibly named because one man refused to give the right for the railroad to
cross his land. He had gates on his porch to keep stock off. One day
he took down the gates, the house was moved, the railroad continued. Some
say that money was paid and called it the Golden Gate.vi
Golden Gate
An Evolution of Twenty-five Years in Eastern Wayne
A thriving Village Takes the Place of a Howling Wilderness of a Few Years Ago.
The Wayne County Press
14 Jan 1897
On Saturday afternoon, August 10, 1870, the last load of the winter’s supply
of wood was being hauled by an elderly, but prosperous farmer, and his three
sturdy sons, aged seventeen and down successively, near Bone Gap. The summer’s
work was all done ‘Twas two months till winter’s school would begin and the good
farmer knew well that the months of idleness that must surely follow would not
add greatness to their destiny, so he thus addressed them: “Boys, what shall we
do?” they pondered. It was the philosophy of one to buy some timber land and
clear and cultivate it. Having a son-in-law (Mr. Clark), near what is now
Ellery, through him was learned the fact that one Mr. Henderson had an
eighty acre tract of land he was anxious to sell, lying somewhere northwest on
the Little Wabash river. We said land, but the fact of the matter was that it
was a compound mixture of land and water, the latter, if anything,
predominating. An appointment was made with the gentleman and all concerned were
to meet at a given point at a certain date and more detailed examination was to
be held. Arrangements were carried out, and all came on horseback for it would
not have been wise to have come any other way. After several miles of plunging,
dashing, splashing, turning, winding, dodging and stooping, frequent dismounts
and hunting, they found a stone marking the corner of a section, standing at
which, with the aid of a compass, they determined the “lay of the land.” The
prospective buyers then began a more detailed examination of the surroundings.
‘Twas plain enough that the land would not need irrigation, though here and
there where were visible spots of terra firma, it gave evidence of vast
fertility, which was further attested by the vast trees and all things
botanical. The owls, the frogs, and other amphibious denizens of the place, all
in their destined way, seemed to welcome the sturdy pioneers. The old logs and
tree-tops, partly submerged beneath the slimy ooze, had no charm, especially for
the boys, and they questioned the advisability of buying such land. A “council
of war” was held, and the older heads of those interested prevailed. They would
buy. The theory that it was more expedient to drain than to irrigate, ruled
their action. The consideration agreed upon was four large oxen and twenty-five
dollars in cash.
On August 18th, equipped becomingly for an expedition of that nature, they
besought their new home. They inspected the whole tract for a dwelling. A tall,
slender, straight tree, of the genus “gum,” was first to bow to their sturdy
stroke, and the godly father, having, from his youth up, been actuated in all
things by a deep religious feeling, and realizing the seriousness of the
undertaking, the obstacles they must overcome, the dangers to life, health,
etc., gathered the sons around him and thus addressed them: “The whole future,
for weal or woe, prosperity or misfortune, for success or failure, wealth or
poverty, life or death, lies now before you. This is a serious undertaking. You
will make this your home. All we now have is our strength and a trust that all
will be well. Let us invoke God’s blessings upon us and our work.” There,
partially overcome by feelings of emotion, in the depths of the forest gloom, no
audience save themselves and the dominant owls, frogs, and snakes, they godly
sire commended the whole affair into the hands of he infinite.
Reader, you cannot understand the situation; you cannot, unless you have seen
typical bottom land as it was here thirty years ago. As far as civilization goes
they were on an island in the middle of the Pacific. In progress and
surroundings it was as four hundred years ago. The natives, what few had
“squatted” around on knolls, were frequently seen in costumes fashioned after
Father Adam’s primitive style of tailoring, and they lived by the rod and gun.
No schools, no churches, no books, no papers, no roads, no bridges, no society,
no associations for pastime save that which was exhausted in an old time
“frolic,” or dance; no virtue, no enlightenment; only aversion to progress,
education and civilization, as modern people define it.
Well, winter came, finding them with a goodly number of acres devoid of small
trees and brush, and a house ready for the roof, when they returned to their
Bone Gap home for the winter’s schooling.
Spring returned and with it renewed energy and determination. The house was
finished and a crop put in. More land was cleared and an adjoining eighty was
purchased. This mode of procedure was followed for several years. In the
meantime the sons had married, other homes were built, a sawmill was procured
with which to utilize the vast timber resources, Mr. Leach, himself,
hauling the lumber to Albion to sell. Grandsons came to bless the lonely homes.
Other people, with capital, were attracted by the big crops of everything
agricultural, and who ceased to longer hold the action of Rev. Leach in ridicule
for buying swamps. They now saw the policy of such action. Ditches long, deep
and wide – had demonstrated that it was possible to make tillable land from
swamps.
Time passed on, tiling took the place of open ditches, roads and bridges took
the places of hog-paths and fords. A schoolhouse was built and before the proper
seating had been arranged, Rev. D. B. Leach held a three weeks’ meeting
and an association of M. E. people was formed, consisting of six members. That
little band of faithful workers was the nucleus around which were gathered many
others, and continued until Sunday, September 8th, 1895, when a neat edifice was
dedicated to the worship of God. It partakes largely of the aristocratic. The
prayers of the good father have been answered, his desires consummated, his
anticipations realized, his ambitions reached. He still lives, though the hand
of time is beginning to deal harshly with him, and attended the dedication
exercises and could not control his emotions when he spoke of the past and its
memories, the prospects then and the prospects now. The prosperity of his colony
has never been questioned and is, according to the profound belief of the godly
gentleman, the answer to the first forest prayer.
Within the past year Carey, Stewart & Co., attracted by the advantages
of shipping and resources in the timber line along the Little Wabash river, have
invested many thousands of dollars in a stave and heading mill, and have done
for our little village what no other individuals have done. Land has enhanced
ten fold and still going upward, hundreds of acres of the finest corn may be
seen to wave in the summer season, where once was the bullfrogs’ paradise;
hundreds of acres of woods still stand waiting for the leveling touch of
capital, the ax and saw are heard on every hand and the world does move. What
ten years has in store for this little village none ever dare conjecture. Edd.
H. Childress
[v]
The little village of
Scottsville,
(also known at one time as Wabash) which consisted of but a few houses and
business places, is pleasantly located in the south part of Section 23, Township
2 south, Range 9 east. It was located on what was once called the “Old buffalo
trail” and later called the stagecoach trail east of the old iron bridge. It was
the central stopping place in stagecoach days between Fairfield and Albion where
the horses were changed. The Wabash post office was there during the stagecoach
times, but was moved when the train was built, and ran through other nearby
towns. Robert Monroe laid it out partially, but no actual survey and plat has
ever been recorded. William Scott Sr. (mentioned above)
and his family who settled in the area is how the town got it’s name. Nick
McCown was one of the first store keepers in the town. There was a Cooper
Richard GRADDY, , cobbler and a tanner. Of the four Scotts brothers two Bill
and Pomp were blacksmiths and 2 were farmers. Dr. N. P.
Merritt practiced medicine in Scottsville for ten years leaving in 1881 for
Ellery when the railroad came through. The last store in Scottsville was run by
Scott Wylie which he closed in the 1930’s. There is a Scottsville cemetery with
civil War veterans buried there and many of the Scottsville’s early residence
Wabash Post Office has been at this point for
several years, but it was finally moved to Scott, or Scott Station, a little
town situated on the "Air Line" Railroad, and on the south part of the south
half of the southeast quarter of Section 11, Township 2 south, Range 9 east, on
land belonging to J. R. Parks and Frances W. Fawkes. The land was surveyed and
platted by James W. Hilliard, Deputy County Surveyor, October 9, 1882, and was
recorded by him three days later.
BAREFOOT – In Leech Township – The
region north of Golden Gate before the settlement of Golden Gate. The
people went barefoot to save their shoes. Named after a fight where a
local guy was barefoot and an outsider wore socks.
[vi]
BIG CREEK – The creek is in the extreme
southeast corner of Leech Township and flows into the Wabash. Named
because of the simplest description that early settlers could give it. v
BRIAR BRANCH – In Leech Township,
area south of Golden Gate. Named because of all the briars and brambles,
name then applied to the creek, too. v
DEVIL'S HALF ACRE – In Leech Township,
between Golden Gate and the river. Named because some local men used to
gather and play cards there. v
GUM CORNER – Not the same as Gum. In
Leech Township. Named because it was a corner where roads met and there
were gum trees there. v
HUNTSINGER HILL – In Leech Township – A high
point in Section 25 named after the family that settled there in the earlier
days.v
KING CREEK – Creek in the extreme northwest corner
of Leech Township that was named after a family that lived in that area. v
TERRAPIN RIDGE - In Leech Township
- The ridge that Golden Gate was built. When water was high, many
terrapins crawled on the ridge for refuge. Farmers used it to herd their
stock when water was high. v
WHITE OAK SLOUGH – Area in Leech Township
north of Golden Gate, once surrounded by many large white oaks. v
OWEN CREEK – In the extreme northwest
corner of Leech township, named after the family that lived in that region. v
OLD RIVER – In the west side of Section 34 of
Leech Township – the area that was left when the river cut a new course. v
MARS HILL – In the southwestern portion
of Leech Township, named after the family that lived there. v
Samuel Leech built the first mill north of the old Iron
Bridge. Gen. Samuel Leech put up in an
early day a water mill, with a saw mill in connection. For many years this mill,
which was known as Leech's Mills, did the grist and saw work for the country for
miles around. Trips, which would consume several days, were often made to this
mill, from points twenty and thirty miles away in all directions. No trace of
this mill remains at the present day.iii
The 2nd Mill was built south of the Old Iron
Bridge by Pulley Blank and Scott. Just below its site, on the Little Wabash,
John Pulleyblank and A. E. Scott erected a water mill about 1867.
George McCown came to Wayne
County in 1817, he was a ranger in the War of 1812 along with his brother-in-law
Nicholas Smith. George married Martha Nash who was his second wife and was
a school teacher. Frances McCown George’s oldest son married Parthenia Andrus.
George McCown came from Kentucky in 1817. He was one
of five brothers, Scotch-Irish. Two of the brothers settled in Kentucky,
two in Virginia, and the other in South Carolina. George McCown's second
wife was Martha Nash, of Kentucky. The eldest child by the second wife was
Francis, who came to Illinois with his father. Two daughters of George
McCown were born here, namely, Nancy and Matilda. Francis married
Parthenia Andrus in 1838, by whom he had two sons and three daughters, namely N.
S. and James (died in infancy), Mary, who married Capt. Walsur, and died four
years ago; and Helen, who married Thomas Locke, and is now living in Fairfield.
Nicholas S. is one of the good people of Fairfield, whose biography may be found
in another part of this work. In company with George McCown came Nicholas
Smith, his brother-in-law. These two men were Rangers and belonged to the
Regulators of the early time.
Charles Rollin
settled in eastern leech in 1818.
Schools in Leech Township
John Jones taught the first
school in the township. The little log house was situated on Section 36, Town 2
south, Range 9 east, and Jones was the teacher for the first six months of
school. He was succeeded by James Harrison, who was followed by Reuben Ewing,
both of whom taught in the same house.
Allison School built on sec 35
T2S R9E s acres were donated by Samuel Allison in the 1870’s for the school.
Scottsville School built in 1870’s
The Chandler School 1st
built south of the Old Iron Bridge 1st built on the Old Anderson
place 2nd school built on the corner of the Chandler farm
Woods School was built near Tom
Woods home built in the late 1870’s early 1880’s south west of Ellery.
Wabash School was built just west
of Ellery
Windle School built on section 17
T2S R9E named after James Windle who’s farm it was built on.
Wagner School built on section 30
T2s R9E named after James Wagner.
Wild Rose School sec 10 T3S R9E
Johnson School built in Southern
Leech on Campbell Hill named after Melvin Johnson who was instrumental in having
the school built sec 4 T3s R9E
Mars Hill School
built on Sec 17 T3S R9E.
[i]
The history of Leech Township by Lelah Allison
[ii]
Wayne County An Early History by W. R. Jones
[iii]HISTORY
OF WAYNE AND CLAY COUNTIES ILLINOIS ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO: GLOBE PUBLISHING CO., HISTORICAL PUBLISHERS,183 Lake
Street.1884. which can be found in its entirety at
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilwayne/
[iv]
ILLUSTRATED AND
DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH BOOK OF Wayne County, Illinois
By Paul F. Campbell 1903
[v]
Transcribed by Harry T. Bryan - September 2004
[vi]
Compiled by Dorothy Faulk from the following sources “Illinois Place
Names”, Compiled by James N. Adams, 1969, plus addendum. “The History of
Leech Township”, Lelah Allison. Both of these books are available
through any lending library from the Illinois Library System. “Abstracts
of a Gazetteer of Illinois – 1837 – John Peck” SAGA’s Quarterlies
XVII-2, XVII-3 and XVII-4. “History of Wayne County” Illinois Highway
Map, 1999-2000, Illinois Secretary of State. Her complete listing is
found
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilwayne