1829
1829 saw the arrival of Peter Scott, who took the claim of George Burrow south of town. 1829 also saw the arrival of William Wilson, who came to Washington with his widowed sister Jane, who later became the second wife of William Holland Sr. Wilson took up his claim in the current area of Muller Road.
In 1829, a band of Native Americans took up camp about a mile and a half west of town, which would seem to be in the area of what is now Cherry Tree Shopping Center. The White women living in our area were nervous about this, because the Natives at the time were known to freely walk into White homes and look for money. William Holland, now back at his job as government blacksmith for the Natives, went to the campsite and convinced the Chief to move further away, and the band moved down by the river, on the Tazewell side.
William Holland's settlement at the headwater of Farm Creek, four and a half years after his arrival to the area, now numbered nine families. The eastern part of the township, the vast prairie, was mistakenly considered to be worthless because it had no trees. Much of it was swampy and wet and it was thought that land would never be settled. Our early settlers greatly preferred the wooded areas of our township with streams, timber, and shade, along with nearby tillable areas for their crops. As time would go on, that script would flip.
