Field Township is situated in the north tier of townships, and is bounded on the north bv Marion County, on the east bv Farrington Township, on the south by Mount Vernon Township, on the west by Rome Township, and is Congressionally known as Township 1 south of the base line, and Range 3 east.of the Third Principal Meridian. It is divided between woodland and prairie, the former predominating. The timber is mostly oak and hickory, with a few other kinds common to this section of the country. Casey's Fork of the Big Muddy is the principal stream, and flows south through the west side of the township. Adam's Fork has its source in the northeast part and flows west - wardly. These, with a few other small brooks, constitute the natural drainage.

Field Township has no railroads or manufactories, but is thoroughly an agricultural region, and many prosperous farmers, whose well - kept farms are proof of their enterprise, are found here.

The settlement of Field Township is of much more modern date than some other portions of the county. Among the early settlers were the Fields, for whom the township was named. Jeremiah Field, the patriarch of the family, came to Marion County in 1826. but never lived in this township. Several of his sons, however, came here, among them Nathan. James and Henry Field. Thomas McCrary settled the farm now owned by John Osborne, in Section 17. and was from Alabama. He died about 1877 - 78, and left several children.

Thomas Jordan settled here very early. and lived near the line, in the prairie which bears his name, and which lies in this and Rome Township. He kept a tavern on the old Goshen road, and had a large family of children. The Jordans were among the earliest settlers in this portion of the State, but they first located in Franklin County. where they lived for some years and built a block house. They afterward scattered out. and several of the name became settlers in different portions of Jefferson County. Thomas locating in this township, as above. James Foster was an early settler, and improved the place where John McConnell now lives. Mr. Maxwell and David Garrison settled early; W. J. Garrison, a descendant, has always lived here. D. Easley settled the place now occupied by Alfred Finn. John and Benjamin Hawkins came in about 1840,and settled in Section 8. They were good farmers, and came originally from Indiana. Thomas Minor settled in the southeast part of the township prior to 1840, and still lives there. W. D. Claybourn came about 1840. from Tennessee. and is still here. Thus the township settled up. and the land was all entered and improved within a comparatively short time from the first settlements.

Field Township, as we have said, was of more modern occupation than some of the contiguous portions of the county, and hence the first settlers did not experience as great trials as some of the first pioneers did. Mills had already sprung up in many localities, and life was becoming quite easy to what it was when the first whites settled in the county. It was not all flowers and sunshine here, however, for a number of years. The people had their hardships and dangers, and enough of them. too. but they managed to outlive them and to see peace and plenty around them.

The old Goshen road was one of the first highways through Field Township, but so much has already been said of it that we will but make this reference to it here. As the township settled up. other roads were opened to accommodate the increasing population, and substantial bridges were built where they were needed. There are now some three or four good bridges in the township.

An amusing incident is related of the early history of Field Township, which is somewhat as follows: Thomas McCrary.who is mentioned as an early settler, was what was termed in ihose days an Abolitionist. He used to burn charcoal for a blacksmith named Storman. and the pit where he burned it was on big Muddy Creek. He burnt all the coal Storman used for several years. Blacksmiths then used charcoal entirely in their shops. Being an Abolitionist, McCrary. of course, kept a station on the underground railroad, a line that trafficked between the Slave States and Canada, and was more or less ob - noxious to his neighbors, according to their political sentiments. A man named Harmon living just over in Rome Township, had boasted that if any negroes came about him they would be roughly treated, etc. One day Andrew and William McCrary, two of Tom McCrary's boys, blacked their faces at the charcoal pit and went to Harmon's. The women were washing at the spring, and when they saw the "niggers." they ran to the house for protection, very much frightened. The boys disappeared into the woods, and at the first branch washed the black from their faces and then joined the immense crowd that had turned out to hunt the "niggers," whom, we may add, they did not succeed in finding. The joke was too good to keep, and the McCrary boys finally told it. This led to a regular "Donnybrook fight" on the next election day. between the friends of Harmon and the McCrarys.

The first schoolhouse in Field Township was built on Big Muddy on the McCrary farm. It was a log cabin about sixteen feet square, and of the usual pioneer pattern, with its slab seats, puncheon floor and oldtime fire - place. There are now in the township six good, commodious schoolhouses. well furnished and well patronized during the school terms.

Field Township is well supplied with churches, and if its citizens are not religions it is for no lack of church facilities. Oak Grove Baptist Church, on Section 28, is a neat and tasty frame building. New Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal Church, on or near the line of Section 25, is a handsome frame edifice. Panther Fork Baptist Church, on Section 11, is an excellent frame building. The Campbellites, or Christians, have a new frame church on Section 18, near the line of Rome Township. Thus, as we have said, the people do not lack for church facilities.

As a matter of some interest to our readers, we append the following list of township officials since the adoption of township organization in 1869:

Supervisors - John McConnell, 1870; John McConnell,1871; John Sprowle, 1873; W. J Garrison, 1874: W. J. Garrison, 1875: W. F. McConnell, 1876: W. F. McConnell. 1877: John Hawkins, 1878; W. F. McConnell. 1870. W, J - Garrison, 1880: W. J. Garrison. 1881; W. J. Garrison, 1882: W. J. Garrison, 1883, the present incumbent

Township Clerks - Thomas Rollinson, 1872: Thomas Rollinson, 1873; B. R. Capenter, 1874: Thomas Rollinson, 1875; Thomas Rollinson, 1876: L. Frazier, 1877; H. Hawkins. 1878; Thomas Rollinson, 1879; E. McMeens, 1880: W. F. Simmons, 1881; W. F. Simmons. 1882; W. D. Deane. 1883, now holding the office.

Assessors - J. V. Garrison. 1872; James Brown, 1873: T. B. Cady, 1874; J. M. Bennett. 1875; B. J. Hawkins. 1876; B.J.Hawkins. 1877: E. H. Howard, 1878; E. H. Howard. 1879; R. Raynor. 1880; R. Raynor. 1881; C. F. Hawkins, 1882: R. Raynor, 1883. now in office.

Collectors - B. F. Wimberly, 1872; B. R. Carpenter, 1873: T. Rollinson, 1874; J. F. Satterfield, 1875: J. F. Satterfield, 1876: J. G. Howard, 1877; J. G. Howard. 1878: D. Thompson, 1879; James Brown, 1880; T. H. Wimberly. 1881: James Brown, 1882; J. D. Simmons, 1883, now holding the position.

School Treasurers. - Elias Howard, James Brown. T. H. Wimberly, J. A. Donahoo, M. M. Howard. D. Price. W. F. McConnell. J. Sechrest, D. Price.

Highway Commissioners - John Hawkins, C. D. Frost, S. W. Maxey, John Hawkins, W. J. Garrison. R. Smith, J. J. Williams, W. J. Hawkins. R. Padget, J. J. Williams, J. J. Connoway, R. Pagdet, etc.

Justices of the Peace - John Sprowle. Joseph Hawkins, J. T. Hutchinson, Joseph Hawkins, J. G. Darnell, Joseph Hawkins, C. M Whitsen. J. G. Darnell, C. M. Whitsen, etc.

Constables - William Myers, F. C. Quick, T. H. Wimberley, J. J. Hawkins, H. P. Field, M. Bradford, J. E. Gibson.

Field Township contains little to write about, except the mere fact of its settlement. as it is without towns, without railroads and without manufactories. Its population is devoted chiefly to farming and stock - raising, and axe an industrious and prosperous people. One of the largest stock - raisers in the township is John McConnell, who devotes his attention to horses, cattle and Cotswold sheep, of which he has some fine animals. Others, also, devote more or less time and attention to stock, and every year stock - raising, as a business, is increasing in interest.

Source: The History of Jefferson County, Illinois
by William Henry Perrin
Published by Globe Pub. Co. in 1883)

Submitted By: Cindy Ford