First Stores at
Drury's Landing

Reynolds Drury was the first storekeeper of the township. He opened his little store at the landing that bore the name of his family, and he was the only trader within a number of miles, did a large business. In return for the grain and pork of the settlers, he furnished them with the bare necessities of life.

Probably weeks went by without the exchange of a single cent of money, for currency was scarce in those days. There was but little need of it, the merchant readily accepting produce in trade for his goods.

To the Drury family is also due the establishment of several mills, Isaiah and Silas Drury building a grist-mill, a sawmill and a Wool-carding machine, quite a novelty in those days, on Copperas creek, as early as 1837. To these mills, operated by water power, came the settlers from miles around, carrying their grain on horse-back, or in flat-boats, if they made the trip by water.

Going to the mill was a journey those days, and often was used as a reward of merit, to be bestowed upon the best worker on the family farm.

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and
History of Mercer County, 1914

Submitted by Mary Lou Schaechter