ABANDONEDVILLAGES OF SCHUYLER COUNTY
This list is excerpted from an articlewritten in 1918 by Howard F. Dyson titled “Old Times In Schuyler” whichwas reprinted in the Centennial Edition of The Rushville Times, October7, 1948.
Erie
Located on Section 20 in Fredericktownship. “Located on the river, it was the landing place for all the steamboatsthat plied upon the Illinois. Founded about 1834, its history is spannedby a decade, for the great flood of 1844 blasted the hopes of those wholooked upon Erie as the river port for all Schuyler county. But the townwill always live in history, for it was the landing place of many of thefirst pioneers of Schuyler county. Erie’s improvements were confined toa big warehouse built by Ransellor Wells and a hotel which was operatedby a Mr. Seaman. Hon. L. D. Erwin, of this city, was warehouse clerk forMr. Wells in the early ‘Forties, and during those years an immense amountof business was transacted there, for it was the shipping point for thecountry 50 miles northward and nearly all of the merchandise to supplythe Rushville stores was delivered at Erie by steamboats.”
Schuyler City
Laid out by B. V. Teel in 1836,and located on Section 4 in Frederick township, near the mouth of Sugarcreek. “One of the old pioneers, in reciting the story of the foundingof Schuyler City said, the ground where it was situated was so low a fogon the river would cause an overflow. After the flood of 1844 SchuylerCity was heard of no more.”
Milton
Originally in Schuyler County beforeBrown County was organized. Platted and advertised by William C. Rallsand Lewis Gay. “The town was laid out in 1836 on McKee creek, five milesfrom the Illinois river, and in the prospectus advertising the sale oftown lots the promoters referred to it as located at the head of slackwater navigation. Milton long ago passed from the memory of man.”
New York
Located on the northwest quarterof Section 11 in Woodstock township, founded in 1836 by Samuel A. Cliff.”The townsite was surveyed by Allen Persinger, and the improvements consistedof a store and a mill. Micah Warren, afterwards a resident of Rushville,erected and operated the mill.”
York
Same locality as above, laid out,but never platted. Located “on the Gilead road to Calhoun county, and itstavern afforded entertainment to many weary travelers.”
Richmond
Located on the northeast quarterof Section 13 in 1836, laid out by Allen Persinger for William Wilson.”Six blocks were platted and the location on the north bank of Crookedcreek, and adjacent to the main traveled road, was considered an idealone. G. O. Wilson advertised a barbecue to be held at Richmond in 1836,and that is the only mention of the town-site in history.”
Centerville
Located in Woodstock township onthe northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 21.
Ridgeville
Located on Section 16 in Browningtownship. “The village was laid out by Isaac Garrett, April 19, 1836, and,in after years, it boasted of a store, post office, church, and schoolhouse, but when the post office was discontinued, it soon lost its identityas a town site.”
Mosco
Located on the northwest quarterof Section 6 in Frederick township. Gained “distinction as a governmentpost office, and Anthony Messerer was postmaster, but the town was neverplatted and when Frederickville was founded on the river the post officewas moved down from the bluff.”
Mt. Meacham
Located on the southwest quarterof Section 17 in Oakland township. “It was laid out by W. L. Gay…anda number of quarter-acre lots were platted. Mr. Gay had a store there andwas postmaster.”
Newburg
Founded in 1840 on the northeastquarter of Section 28 in Bainbridge township by Joseph Newburg. “The townwas surveyed by Francis E. Bryant, April 24, 1840, and 24 lots were plattedon either side of Main street. Two lots were set aside by Mr. Newburg fora school building site and a Methodist “meeting house,” but they were neverutilized. In the early days, however, Newburg showed thrifty signs of growthand boasted of a store, blacksmith shop, grist mill, saw mill, and twosaloons, but in time the town diminished in importance and, timber by timber,brick by brick, it scattered to the four winds; the town lots were vacated,and even the name became a misnomer, for the government post office, whichwas maintained there for many years by L. O. Huff, was known by Center.”
Copyright© 1998, 1999 Robin L. Worth Petersen