Milam is situated in the extreme south-east corner of the county, and comprises the north half of the congressional township 14 north, range 3 east, with one tier of sections on the south from township 15 north, range 3 east. It contains nineteen square miles, or twelve thousand one hundred and sixty acres of choice prairie land, bounded on the north by Mt. Zion township, on the east by Moultrie county, on the south by Shelby county and on the west by South Macon township. The soil is a rich black loam, averaging about two feet in depth, adapted to the growth of all the cereals usual to the county, but especially to the culture of corn. The surface is generally level, and is much in need of artificial drainage, which is just being understood and introduced.
The name of Milam was suggested by J.B. Gleason, from the fact that the Milam apple thrived better in that locality than any other. The township was organized in the spring of 1870, at the instance of J.B. Gleason and others. It was struck off from Mt. Zion. The first settlement began in the year 1851, when James Greenfield and his son, Jesse Greenfield, located in the northern portion of its border, erected a dwelling, and made some improvements. Joel Cloud settled in section twelve in 1857, and David J. Freeland from Orange county, North Carolina, settled also on section twelve in 1858. There were also a family name Hale, that ettled here at an early date. Milam is the newest township in the county, and with the exception of those above mentioned it remained unsettled until after the late civil war. In 1865, J.B. Gleason, located with his family and began the settlement of the south-eastern corner. David Shelton arrived the same year. Also Frederick and Henry Wehrman settled and commenced farming. Richard Cribbett, J.W. Smith, James Kerr, William Meyers, John W. and William Dudley, William Rutledge and a few others arrived within a brief space of time, and assisted in establishing the agricultural and commercial properity of the township.
Franklin Cloud, son of Joseph and Nancy Cloud, was the first child born in the township. Silas Rutledge and Oliver Smith were the first couple married. The first death was that of Philo Hale.
The township was resurveyed by special provision of the Legislature and county court, at a cost of some two thousand dollars, corners established and roads laid out. Immediately after its organization and among its first enactments, a stock law was voted, which has worked with entire satisfaction, and has added much to the convenience of all citizens as well, as aiding in a more rapid improvement of the county, as well as the stock.
The first land entries were made by Benjamin Durgin, August 23d, 1852, to wit: the N.E. 1/4 of section No. 1, 160.24 acres. Sarah Nash entered on same day 164.18 acers in same section. The next entry was made by Andrew Libby same date, 160 acres in section No. 1. Theodore Brooks entered 160 acres in section No. 1, township No. 14 N. R. 3 east.
The inhabitants are divided in nativity, between the eastern, southern and middle states, and a few Americanized Germans. They are all sober, intelligent and enterprising people. There are six hundred and thirty-one inhabitants; one hundred and fifteen families and dwellings, and four school-houses. There are three school districts and halves of two others. Though having no house especially dedicated to public worship, yet the people almost universally belong to some one of the evangelical denominations, each of whom have houses of worship just outside of the township. There is in fact not an infiedl reident in Milam. A noteworthy fact is that in this township there is no preacher, no doctor, no lawyer, no pauper, no drunkard, no empty houses and no family without a house.
J.B. Gleason was elected the first Justice of the Peace, and has held the office ever since. Geo.
A. Bartlett, was the first collector; W.E. Kyer, first assessor; James M. Kerr, first town clerk. The
supervisors that have been elected to represent Milam, are: J.B. Gleason, in 1870; G.A. Bartlett, 1871;
re-elected in 1872; J.W. Rogers, 1873, re-elected 1874; W.E. Kyer, 1875, re-elected 1876 and '77;
John Vangundy, 1878, re-elected 1879; A. Dickson, elected 1880. This Page Was Last Updated
NAME
RESI'D
OCCUPATION
NATIVITY
SET'D
BARTLETT, Geo. A.
Sec 8
Farmer & Stock Raiser
Madison Co IL
1868
Hettie Naftel
Sec 8
Present wife of Geo. Bartlett
Guernsey Co IL
1873
Isabelle McNickle
Dec'd
First wife of Geo Bartlett
PA
1868
DICKSON, Adam
Sec 2
Farmer & Stock Raiser
Scotland
1859
Hattie J. Gleason
Sec 2
Wife of Adam Dickson
OH
1865
FREELAND, David J.
Sec 12
Farmer & Stock Raiser
NC
1837
Martha Sawyer
Sec 12
Wife of David J. Freeland
Coles Co IL
1849
GLEASON, J.B.
Sec 14
J.P. & Retired Farmer
Hartford CT
1865
Rececca L. Little
Sec 14
Wife of J.B. Gleason
MA
1865
MERRIS, Ellery M.
Sec 32
Farmer & Stock Raiser
Sangamon Co IL
1865
Nancy A. VanGrundy
Sec 32
Wife of Ellery M. Merris
Madison Co IL
1865
McREYNOLDS, J.C.
Sec 13
Farmer & Stock Raiser
E. TN
1865
Mary A. Morrison
Sec 13
Wife of J.C. McReynolds
Boston MA
1865
WEAR, John A.
Sec 13
Farmer & Stock Raiser
Fayette Co IL
1862
History Index
Macon Co Home Page
Copyright 2011 by Cheryl Rothwell for ILGenWeb
All materials contained on these pages are furnished for the free use of individuals engaged in researching their personal genealogy. Any commercial use or any use for which money is asked or paid for any reason is strictly prohibited.