Banner Township

Banner Township

This excerpt was taken from the History of Fulton County, published by Chas. C. Chapman & Co. in 1879, page 469.

This township is one of the five townships of this county that border on the Illinois River, and of these is the one farthest north. In an early day there was abundance of game in this township, and indeed it has always been noted as being a good hunting and fishing ground for sportsmen. Among the wild animals found here were the deer, wild turkeys, wolves, and occasional bear, wild-cats, lynx, and all the smaller native animals. In the lakes along the river and upon that stream are found abundance of wild ducks, geese and other game. A large number of hoops-snakes and rattlesnakes formally abounded here; also the black, garter, copperhead, blue racers and other snakes, and salamanders, commonly called lizards. The swamps abound in frogs and mosquitoes.

The first settler to locate in the township was Joseph Anderson. He moved to Canton Township in 1823. The first marriage was William Powell to Miss Margaret McCan. They were united by Richard Tompkins. To this couple the first child was born. The first mill and distillery were run by Brooks & Cogswell in 1835. The first tavern was kept by Alex. Wilson and was known as the Half-way House, being half-way between Canton and the landing on the Illinois river. The first warehouse was built by Ira Mills, who came here from the east as a missionary "to enlighten the heathen". He expended the money given to him in building his warehouse on the Illinois River at the mouth of Copperas creek.

Monterey, which is located in the northern part of this township, was first settled in 1848. The first store building was built by David Martin. Samuel Null kept the first tavern, and Eli Lyons the first tannery. Burnett & Lyons started the first boot and shoe shop. Dorrance & Perkins opened the first dry-goods store. This place, Troy and other places did good business in an early day, before the advent of railroads, but since then they have not progressed as other places; indeed they have gone down. There is but one store at Monterey now. This is kept by Zachariah Weaver. There is one wagon shop, run by Lewis Ketchum. W. A. Webb keeps a boot and shoe shop. The school-house was erected in 1859. A. Schwartz is Justice of the Peace.