This excerpt was taken from the History
of Fulton County, published by Chas. C. Chapman & Co. in 1879, pages 712-713.
It was in this township that the first habitation for a white man in Fulton county was erected. Over three score years ago Dr. Davison came from his Eastern home and located in the dense forest upon the bank of Spoon river in this township. How long he had lived here before he was discovered by John Eveland is not known, but doubtless for many years. Dr. Davison, who is spoken of in the first chapter of this work, was the first white man to make his home between the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. He was leading the life of a hermit, and as soon as settlers began to be numerous here, he gathered his effects into a little boat, floated down Spoon river to the Illinois, and paddled bis way up that stream till he reached Starved Rock, near the present city of Peru, where he landed, lived a few years and died.
This township was settled very early by others besides Mr. Davison. As early as 1822 James and Charles Gardner came from the "Sangamo country" and located in Isabel township upon section 34. Here Mr. James Gardner lived until his death, which occurred only a few years ago. His brother returned to Sangamon county, where he died.
The township contains some fine farm land, and under as high state of cultivation as any in the county. To illustrate how rapidly timber has grown since the country was first settled, and how unfounded the fear of the pioneers that the country would soon be barren of timber, we will speak of a strip of timber upon Mr. Duncan's farm. At one time since they came there the ground from which now tower lofty forest trees was used a grain field. It was plowed and cultivated as other parts of the farm for a while, when it was left idle. Trees soon started up, and now some are 60 to 75 feet in height. From these few acres of timber rails enough could be obtained to fence his large farm into 5-acre fields.
As early as 1829 a saw-mill was erected. Then the well-known Duncan's mill was put up.
Duncan's Mills is a small place of business with postoffice, on section 8 and on Spoon river, deriving its name from the gristmill at that point formerly owned and operated by George Duncan, an early settler here and a very highly respected citizen. From 1840 to 1855, perhaps for a greater length of time, his was the largest grist-mill within a radius of 15 or 20 miles.
Point Isabel is an old shipping point on the Illinois river, at the mouth of Spoon river and directly opposite Havana, being on the southeast quarter of section 29. It is now the southern terminus of the Fulton County Narrow-Gauge railway soon to be finished to Fairview, and thus the place will have enlarged opportunities for trade.
Otto is a postoffice on section 30, on Otter Creek.
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