Brown County IL Archives Newspapers.....Strike Oil on Davis Farm in Buckhorn Township
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Sherry Ward hippygirl@sc.rr.com June 5, 2001


     The Democrat-Message, Mt. Sterling, Illinois, Wednesday, October 28,
     1959

     HEADLINE:  Strike Oil on Davis Farm in Buckhorn Township Subhead:  Best
     Prospects of Any Hit in Brown-Adams Oil Pool

     An oil well on the Wm. L. (Bill) Davis farm in Buckhorn township was
     brought in at 10:30 Friday morning, a well which shows the best
     prospects of any well drilled in West Central Illinois.

     The oil was struck at 635 feet and within one hour and 20 minutes was
     flowing over the top.  The drillers, J. B. Bushnell of Plymouth, capped
     the well with a valve and work on installation of pump and piping is
     now under way.

     Promoting the well is Charles Eager of Decatur, and other Decatur men
     have an interst in it.  Only one local man has an interest, Harold
     Shields in addition to the land owner, Mr. Davis.

     The well is located just north of the Davis farm home on which Paul
     Davis now lives.  It is several hundred feet north of the house on top
     of a hill.

     The well is in section eight in Buckhorn township, a couple of hundred
     feet north of the section line.

     Just how good the well will be is as yet conjecture.  The well is
     "bled" occasionally to relieve the pressure which is built up as the
     oil is forced to the top.  Those in charge feel that it will be at
     least a minimum of 300 barrels a day and might in the first days of
     pumping go as high as 500.

     Drilling of the well began on October 15, and was brought in just a
     week and one day later.  The drillers operated two shifts during the
     drilling operation and were able to reach the required depth in record
     time.

     According to those in charge of the operation the quality of the oil is
     excellent and it certainly appears to be.

     Plans for the installation of the pump and storage tanks have also been
     made.  It is expected that the tanks will be installed on the road,
     several hundred feet south of the well and oil could flow to them by
     gravity.

     Leasing of ground for oil well drilling has been an intensive activity
     in this area this year.

     The lease with Mr. Davis was signed on September 3, and the drilling
     operation was underway in less than 45 days.

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