|
Northern Township in Franklin County, is in the north-eastern corner of the
county.
It took its name because of the fact that it originally represented the northern portion of county.
Herrin Taylor, Eli and Lazarus
Webb, doubtless were the first settlers in the Northern
Township settling about 1815.
The large prairie in Northern and Ewing Townships was named after the Webb
family.
The Middle Fork Baptist Church was established in 1818 - one hundred years ago.
This was originally the arm of the Sugar Camp Church located in Jefferson County.
The charter members of this old church were Chester Carpenter and wife,
Eli Webb and wife, and John
Manis and wife.
This church can truely celebrate its one-hundredth anniversary this centennial year. This church is the oldest
church in the county.
Jacob Phillips and Jacob Clark settled near Macedonia about 1817. Jacob Phillips
established the first water mill in Franklin County
in the year of 1834, on Middle Fork Creek, near Macedonia. The location of this famous old mill was on the farm
now owned by Robert H. Johnson.
The northeast corner of the township was settled by emigrants from "Pennsylvania Dutch Settlement".
The Johnsons, Vises, and Fisher settled in and around Macedonia.
Macedonia is lively village for both
Hamilton and Franklin Counties. It has
a population of about 400 people. It has a strong bank, that is doing a large volume of business.
H.C. Vise has been an active
merchant in the town for nearly fourty years.
Rev. Hosea Vise, a pioneer
Baptist preacher has been the means of organizing more Baptist churches in Southern Illinois than any other man.
The Johnsons were early settlers
of Macedonia, in fact, the village was
first called Johnsonville then later,
Macedonia. These Johnsons were neighbors of Andrew
Johnson - the president, in Tennessee. It is said that Andrew Johnson was a tailor, and made the wedding suit for
John K. Johnson. The Bains, Barnfields and Robersons
occupied the southwest portion of the township.
The schools of Northern Township
are: Snowflake, Sugar Camp, Taylor Hill, Webb's Prairie, Independence, Macedonia, Accommodation, New Harmony,
West Point, and Stockwell.
The churches are Methodist - Macedonia
and Walnut Grove; Baptist - Macedonia, Frisco and Liberty; Free Baptist - Stockwell; United Brethern - Oak
Hill; Regular Baptist - Middle Fork.
Webb's Hill has been a noted commercial
place of business. John S. Webb
opened a store many years ago, and at his death his son continued the business. The firm now is A. N. Webb and Son. They have, perhaps the largest country store in Southern
Illinois and are doing a large volume of business.
Northern Township has very progressive
farmers who are rapidly developing that part of the county in a agricultural way. The township is nominally
Republican, but not very strong, for their policy is always to vote for a good man regardless of his political
affilation.
Andrew Phillips, a grandson of Jacob
Phillips the early pioneer, is the present supervisor.
[(1918) Franklin County History Centennial Edition by H.M. AIKEN]
|
