Places in Grassy Twp
Section 8 Snyder--no information
Section 16
Cottage Home was on the Jonesboro Franklin Post Road in 1839. William Spence
built the first house made of lumber, the "cottage". This is where the name
Cottage Home originated. The three Baker doctors opened a
store in 1884 with $3600 in stock. John Wesley Thaxton was the PM
in 1892. Griffin Jacob Baker was the local doctor. Today all that
remains is the church. The gravel lane which leads to the church
was once the main street of town with the other businesses on
either side.
Section 17 Head--no information.
Section 20
Oak--no information
Section 20
Baker's Crossroads was located where Sec 20, 21, 28 and 29 meet. This area was
settled by three Baker brother's: Jonathon Aaron, Benjamin Jackson and Jacob
David. A fourth brother Abel, settled in Sec 33 and a sister, Rachel settled in
Progress in Union Co. All where born in Mecklenburg Co, NC, in the 1830's they
moved to Benton Co, TN. Abel being the first to come to ILL by 1840. The other
three brothers followed in about 1853. Jonathon Aaron Baker (1821-1875) married
Matilda C Sanders in Benton Co, TN he first settled in Sec 33. His three sons,
Alonzo Pulaski (1848-1826), Griffin Jonathon (1851-1913) and Miles David
(1853-1932) all became doctors. The doctors bought over a 1000 acres in the
area, there was a church, and school on their land. They also owned a store in
Cottage Home. They practiced in Grassy Twp until the 1890's or so. Alonzo seems
to be the first to move going to Herrin, Griffin followed his son Carl (also a
doctor) to Herrin and helped to build the hospital. Miles first went to Anna and
worked at the Mental hospital there, but later joined the family in Herrin.
Today this area is complete wilderness.
Section 23 Meade-- I am not sure if this was a village or
not, but in Sep 1900 Nathan Mead closed the post office there and
moved to Marion
Section 25 Wolf Creek was est by Eli Lance.