Webber comprises one of the east tier of townships of the county and lies east of Mount Vernon. It is bounded north by Farrington Township, east by Wayne County, south by Pendleton Township, west by Mount Vernon Township, and according to the Congressional survey is Township 2 south. Range 4 east, of the Third Principal Meridian.

The surface of the township is somewhat rough and broken, and is mostly timbered land, but takes in a small portion of Long Prairie. The timber growth is several kinds of oak, black hickory, wild cherry, sassafras, hazel, etc.

The streams are Puncheon Camp Creek, which received its peculiar name from the puncheon camps erected along its banks by the early hunters; Bear Creek, Four Mile Creek and Two Mile Creek. Puncheon Camp Creek rises northeast of Mount Vernon and empties into Horse Creek; Bear Creek has its source in a sulphur spring on Pope's farm and runs east and north into the Puncheon Camp Creek. Four Mile Creek empties into the Skillet Fork of the Little Wabash. Black Oak Ridge, running nearly thi-ough the center of the township, forms a water shod, the waters on the east side flowing into the Skillet Fork, finally reach the Ohio River, while those on the west side flow into Big iluddy, and thence thi-ough it to the Mississippi. The products of the township are grain, stock and fruit. The latter of late years is receiving considerable attention, apples being mostly grown, and to which the township seems well adapted.

To particularize each settlement in the county and tell just where each family settled as they came in is not a task easily accomplished. A list of the early settlers of the county has been given in different chapters, but it has been impossible to locate them all. Among the pioneers of Webber Township we may mention the following: Jacob Norton, Isaac Casey, Daniel Scott, Word Webber, H. Wade, William Dale, Peter Bruce, James Archie, xllesander Moore, James Bridges, W. Willett, William Green, David and Elijah Davis, Joseph Childers, James Hunt, Joseph Brown, etc. , etc. Jacob Norton was a brother-in-law to Gov. Casey, and settled here about 1822. He remained but a few years and then went back to Tennessee and died thei'e. Isaac Casey, one of the early settlers of the county, and who first located in Mount Vernon Township, came into this about 1838, and lived here a few years. But after the death of his wife in 1846, he broke up housekeeping and went to live with his children. Daniel Scott settled in the township in 1838. Webber came in 184O and settled on the Fairfield road, but about the time of the war moved into Pendleton Township and located near Lynchburg. He was (quite a prominent man, and has the honor of giving his name to the township. Wade settled in the south part of the township, and was a plain, hard working farmer. Dale came in early and carried on a tan yard—the first in the township. The farm on which he settled is now owned by Levi Harris. Peter Bruce was originally from Virginia, came to Illinois and settled in this township in 1840. He made what was called the " Ridge road," a prominent thoroughfare in early times, but of which there is now no trace. It extended from the old Joseph Brown jilace to East Long Prairie, and was much traveled by the pioneers. James Archie was a " squatter," and " squatted" on the Ridgo road. He stayed tptite awhile, but left a short time before the war. Alexander Moore lived m the southeast corner of the township, and was a large stock-raiser for the time. Bridges settled on the place now owned by Leonard W. Bruce. Willett settled wheie Mrs. Carter now lives and opened a small farm. Green was among the first settlers in the township; the place on which he located is now owned by Mrs. Lancaster Green. It belonged awhile to Dr. Wood, a practicing physician here. He took the flux and died, and his wife wont back to Indiana. The Davisea were from North Carolina and came here about 1839-40. David settled where he now lives, near the Black Oak Ridge Schoolhouse; Elijah died on the place where he settled. Joseph Childers settled in the same neighborhood. He kept a large pack of hounds and was quite a hunter. Hunt settled on Two Mile Creek near its som-ce. Joseph Brown was a very early settler on what is known as Spring Hill farm, so named from a tine spring that breaks from the side of a hill on the farm. Doubtless there were others entitled to mention as early settlers of the township, but we failed to learn their names.

A great change has taken place in this section in the last half a century. Where the first pioneers crossed the border there are now no deer to pay the sportsman, for trudging through the forests and over the hills. Could the old hunters who used to enjoy their broiled venison and roasted coon around the evening camp fire come back here and see the wonderful changes that have taken place, they would doubtless turn away in supreme disgust at the signs of civilization that would everywhere meet their gaze. Aye, could they revisit these scenes of their youth, and behold their degenerate successors with no hunting grounds, no moccasins, no leather breeches, no flint-lock guns, broiled venison nor roasted coons, they would no doubt gather their mantles about them (their buckskin hunting-shirts) and lie down and die. Would not their big hearts burst asunder upon seeing the men of this day in plug hats and store clothes, riding in carriages and sleeping cars and chasing no other game than the metaphorical tiger up stairs behind closed blinds and under bright gas lights! Wonderful, wonderful the change the years have wrought!

Among the pioneer improvements were mills, roads, bridges, tan yards, etc. , etc. Willett & Fagan built a mill about 1848. It was of very poor mechanical construction, but did good service for a number of years. James Hunt erected a mill on Two Mile Creek, which received its power from that stream. It was short-lived, however (the mill, not the stream, for it is there yet), and soon passed away. W. B. and Lewis Logan built a saw mill about the year 1867, the first ever in the township. William Dale had a tannery as early as 1841-42. All the shoes then that were worn at all were made at home, and not bought at the store as now, and hence a tan yard was an important pioneer industry—next, perhaps, to the mill. A free- stone quarry in the township was operated in an early day, from which material was obtained for building chimneys throughout the neighborhood.

The first road through the township was the road leading from Mount Vernon to Fairfield, and was known as the "Fairfield road." The Black Oak Ridge road was also an old road, and was made by Peter Bruce. Mr. Marlow, who settled here just after the Mexican war, was instrumental in getting a road entitled the " East Long Prairie road," diverging from the Fairfield road at the seven mile bridge and running to Long Prairie, The township is now well supplied with roads, and where the more important roads cross the streams they are spanned by substantial bridges.

Previous to the township system coming into vogue, the county was divided into election precincts, but in 1869 the county adopted township organization, when the whole system of government was changed and each township became a separate and distinct municipality. It may be a matter of some interest to some of our readers to give the township officers, the first of whom were elected in 1870. They are as follows:

Supervisors. —-S. V. Bruce, 1870-71; J. Harlow, 1872-73; A. Marlow, 1874 to 1876; J. H. Newton, 1877-78; John Hopper, 1879; W. B Esman, 1880; D. S. Etlington, 1881; B. D. Esman, 1882; T. F. Moore, 1883.

Township Clerk.—G. T. Bruce, 1872; H. M. Maxey, 1873; J. H. Dulaney, 1874; J. H. Newton, 1875-76; B. Bruce, 1877-78; H. Benton, 1879; H. J. Benton, 1880; G. M. Davis, 1881-82; G. M. Davis, 1883.

Assessor.—W. H. Morris, Jr., 1872-73; J. H. Newton, 1874; J. B. Young. 1875; G. L. Bruce, 1876-77; B. D. Esman, 1878; W. E. Dulaney, 1879; W. S. Maxey, 1880; William Dnianey, 1881; R. Young, 1882; R. S. Young, 1883.

Collector. —T. F. Moore, 1872; G. M. Watts, 1873; R. J. Scott. 1874; J. T. Howell, 1875; B. D. Esman, 1876: B. (i. Ward, 1877; J. T. Howell, 1878-79; R. C. Wood, 1880-81; E. W. Wallace, 1882; G. W. Rosenberger, 1883.

School Treasurers.—J. W. Gregory, 1872- 73; Wiley Green, 1874; J. H. Dulaney, 1875 to 1878; J. C. Masey, 1879; L. Harris, 1880; B. M. Green, 1881; T. D. Fry, 1882; L. R. Laird, 1883.

Highway Commissioners. —W. H. Morris, Sr., H. M. Richards, C. Gowler, E. Gentle, J. W. Gregory, E. Gentle, R. A. Allsbrook, L. W. Bruce, C. Gowler, L. W. Bruce, William Stone, W. ¥. Adams, A. Cook, T. Green, and W. T. Adams.

Justices of the Peace.—W. S. Davis and R. S. Young, 1870-73; O. J. Byard and R. S. Young. 1874 to 1876; Wiley Green and A. Marlow, 1877; B. G. Wood and A. Marlow, 1878; Wiley Green and A. Marlow, 1879-80; W. S. Dodds and B. G. Wood, 1881; W. A. Watson and B. G, Wood, 1882-83.

Constables.— J. M. Bruce, 1874 to 1876; O. J. Byard, 1877; J. T. Feltz, 1878-79; O. J. Byard, 1880; J. T. Feltz, 1881; and G. Keele, 1883.

Some years ago, during Squire Mariow's term as -Justice of the Peace, a suit was being tried before him, to which M. Waters and Fayette Osborne were the parties, and the nature of which was " squatterism," or the right to a certain improvement. While the trial was going on a large rat caught a chicken in the midst of the court room, when some one with great gravity made a motion that the rat be fined for contempt of court.

A post office was established in 1875 in the north part of the township called Pigeon Post Office, of which Mr. Partridge was Postmaster. It received its name from the great flocks of pigeons that used to roost in the low trees in the vicinity. It is said that millions of these birds might be seen there at one time. The early settlers used to kill great numbers of them.

Schools were taught in the township as soon as there were children to support them and money to pay teachers. One of the first schoolhouses was a log cabin erected on Section 28, on Black Oak Ridge. Among the early wielders of the birch within this primitive temple of learning, were Jehu Hodges, Joel Hawkins, John Vick, Brown and Davis. Another schoolhouse was built in the north part of the township, which was known as the Young Schoolhouse. Before this house was built, a school was taught in the old Council Bluff" Church, The Barren Schoolhouse was, perhaps, the next one built. It received the name on account of the barren country around it. About the year 1850, the precinct was divided into four school districts. The township now contains six districts, in all of which are good, comfortable schoolhouses. The first School Trustees in the township (prior to township organization) were D. B. Davis and C. M. Casey.

The pioneers of Webber Township looked early to their spiritual welfare as well as their temporal. Meetings were held at private houses. Congregations assembled regularly in the old Ridge Schoolhouse, and preaching was held whenever a preacher came along. The first religious society formed in the township, perhaps, was the old Council Bluff Church. Among the early members were the Caseys, Maxeys and Johnsons, and Thomas Casey, A. Maxey and Simeon Walker were among the preachers.

The Black Oak Ridge Methodist Church was organized about 1855. Among the original members were Jolin Fagan and family, D. B. Davis and family, and Abraham Marlow and wife; the first class-leader was D. B. Davis. A flourishing Sunday school with about thirty pupils is maintained. Hickory Hill United Baptist Church was organized in 1868, and the Dales and Davises were among the first members. Elder C. Richardson is the present pastor. The Universalists and Adventists hold meetings occasionally. The Adventists have an organization, but no church building.

The Louisville, Evansville & St. Louis Railroad, oommonly called the " Air Line," passes through Webber Township from east to west. There are two stations in Webber, viz., Marlow and Bluford. The latter was laid out about the time the road was opened for travel, and consists of but a few houses. It is located on the land of Evans and Crews, citizens of Mount Vernon. The place contains two stores—Thomas Moore & Co. and B. D. Esman—a grocery and saloon, a saw mill, a shop or two and a few residences.

Marlow Station is situated on Section 30, on John Scott's land. Like Bluford, it is a small place and has sprung up since the building of the railroad. W. & H. Morris carry on a general store. A grain house was put up by Mr. Marlow, with wagon scales attached; he also owns a dwelling house here. A saw mill was started here and run one year by Dallas & Burk. It was portable, and hence has left the town. A post office was established in 1882, and Mr. Marlow appointed Postmaster. He resigned in April, 1883. and Mr. Morris was appointed in his stead. Drs. Newton and Hillard are the practicing physicians of the township, and care for the physical ailments of the people.

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

Submitted By: Sandy Bauer