Western Mound Township, Macoupin County IL
Western Mound Township
Macoupin County, Illinois
T10N R9W
The population for all of Western Mound Township in 1870 was 891.
Early Family Names
In Western Mound Township Taken From the 1875 Atlas
(Use Find under pulldown menu Edit to find a surname)
Partial Abatement List For
1866 Delinquent List of Tax Payers on Personal Property Western Mound Township
Cemeteries in Western Mound Township
The towns in Western Mound Township are:
(Hagaman)
GENERAL STORE - Family Maintains historic Hagaman
landmark - Article contributed by Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor
(Reader) Extinct
Fayette Greene County IL
Hagaman Information
Hagaman was located in Section 15 of Western Mound Township. The
town was established as the result of the building of the Jacksonville
Southeastern Railroad Line. There was a hotel in the town and quite a few
town lots.
From Illinois Place Names book by James Adams - PO est. 18 July 1882 and
located north of Chesterfield. Hagaman Post Office disbanded since 1931;
now RFD Chesterfield. Population (RM58) 30.
Hagaman is marked on a current plat map.
Hagaman
Town Map and Yellow Pages
GENERAL STORE - Family Maintains
historic Hagaman landmark
The State Journal-Register, Springfield, IL - Tues. Sept 2, 1997,
page 7 by Kimbre Chapman, Correspondent
contributed by Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor
(The following article was extracted in *part* and summarized.)
HAGAMAN - Time seems to stand still in the old general store. There's still
a hitching post flanking the weathered wooden porch, a turn-of-the-century
meat counter and products--such as men's stiff shirt collars--that you'd
be hard pressed to find anywhere else.
This general store was opened in 1881 and is still owned by the family
of the original proprietor C. C. ROBINSON. C. C. ROBINSON worked on the
railroad. He used three mules and a scraper to move the dirt. He was paid
$1800. and used it to build the store. "That's what they did then
(railroad companies)--contracted local people every few miles to help build
the railroad" according to his granddaughter MARY SMITH of Hagaman.
Hagaman had three grocery stores in the early days, two railroads running
four routes each day, a depot, a warehouse, a town hall, a busy hotel and
a church. About 30 or 40 people lived in the town, with a total population
of 93 if the surrounding area is included. Three creeks provide ample water
for the town.
The population today had dwindled to 10 and almost everything is gone,
except the town hall, the church, the general store and the three creeks.
Merchandise in the store is from the '20s,'30s and '40s and earlier. Antique
horse collars hang on the walls, udder ointment in its original tin cans.
Hit Parade cigarettes are advertised as well as "vegetable butter
tonic". You will not find electric lights and heat is from an old
wood stove which replaced the original large potbelly stove.
The store has a dry goods section where there are antiquated hats, shoes,
long underwear known as union suits and suspenders. Stiff men's collars
are available, made primarily of some kind of paper material. Most of the
clothing is in its original boxes.
When C. C. ROBINSON died his son J. L. ROBINSON inherited it, who upon
his death gave it to his cousin J. B. ROBINSON. After the death of J. B.,
the store closed in 1962. The stock was left in the store with no heat
for 13 years.
It was purchased in 1976 by descendants of J. L.- BILL, and CHARLIE JACOBY.
Today it is owned by BOB son of MARY SMITH. It was reported as a meeting
place for neighbors to visit with lots of stories being told, fights instigated
on Saturday night that would occur on Sunday morning.
The two railroads were Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis; Litchfield, Carrollton
& Wester Train (renamed by residents as "LOOK, CUSS and WAIT")
They were shut down in early 1940's. It provided an access to Carlinville.
Most famous town story concerns the WRIGHT brothers (ORVILLE & WILBUR),
who are said to have spent two weeks during two winters trapping and coon
hunting in the area. Story goes that after their visit, they wrote back
asking a number of people to loan them $1,000 as an investment for an airplane
they were working on. Some people didn't believe this was true.
The general store also housed a post office. The old postal slots are still
in the store. Every few years paint is thrown on the old store, which doesn't
"hold paint too well". They have also put on a new roof, but
no other changes have been made in the store.
This General Store has been on the NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTRY since 1980.
Reader Information
Reader was established close to the Jacksonville Southeastern Railroad
Line in Section 13 of Western Mound Township. The town had quite a few
town lots.
Reader was located north of Chesterfield and was named after George W Reader.
Reader Post Office was established 3 Apr 1888 and was disbanded 15 Oct
1924. Population 20.
Reader is marked on a current plat map.
Fayette Information
Fayette was located in Greene County but the Post Office at Fayette
was used by residents on the western side of Western Mound Township.
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