Downing Baugh came early, acted well his part as a business man. Judge, Justice of the Peace, enterprising and useful citizen, and above all, as a Christian. Some years ago he moved to McGregor, Iowa, and but recently died there at a ripe old age of perhaps ninety-five. He left his imprint on the early history of Mount Vernon, and left with us his posterity, of which we are justly proud.

His children were:

1. Mrs. J. J. Fly, who is still with us, at an advanced age, and is the mother of
   1. Walter,
   2. Oscar and
   3. Addison Fly, and
   4. Mrs. Carrie Spiese and
   5. Amy, at home;
2. Mrs. H. H. Wilkerson, who moved to Chicago and died
3. Thomas J. (dead)
4. John W., our well known express agent—whose children are:
   1. Frank and Nellie;
   2. Joe V., the present editor of the Mount Vernon News, whose children are:
      1. Ernest and
      2. Harry, and
      3. Mrs. "Hat" Thurston, living in Dakota.

The writer well remembers being one of the charivari party who "serenaded" Mrs. Fly and Mrs. Wilkerson—both having been married the same night, over fifty years ago.

The Baughs then lived on what is now Herrin's corner. We were sent over to Aunt Mariah's, who kept gingerbread and cider about where George Carter now lives, for the "treat" and it was a good one—just such a one as Aunt Mariah (colored) delighted to give.

In 1838 we find that Downing Baugh was indicted for peddling clocks without a license, but he was not convicted and the very next year was elected Circuit Judge.

Judge Scates was on the bench from 1837 to 1840, then Judge Denning to 1846—when Judge Baugh came in.

As in all new villages some one in other business was usually pressed into the service as postmaster. After passing the task around for some time, Downing Baugh (father of J. V. and J. W.) assumed the duties of postmaster.

The oldest member who located here was the above named Joel Pace, Sr. His family was composed of John M. Pace, Joel Pace, Jr., Joseph Pace, Spencer Pace, William West Pace, Thomas East Pace, his sons, and Mary Atwood (wife of James Atwood), Martha Goodrich (wife of Nathan Goodrich), Milly Baugh (wife of Judge Downing Baugh), and Frances Watson (wife of Dr. John W. Watson), his daughters.

Downing Baugh came, married Milly Pace, went to Vandalia, to Collinsville, finally located in Mount Vernon, where he sold goods and was Justice of the Peace. He built a two story house on the north side of the square, and put up another grocery store.

Source: Wall's History of Jefferson County, Illinois - 1909 pages 63, 87-88, 107, 241, 242, 340
Submitted by: Sandy Bauer