History: Woodburn - 1 Jan 1998 - Macoupin County Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Project Archives ©1997 Mary McKenzie Woodburn Macoupin County IL History contributed by Mary McKenzie Taken from the Bunker Hill Gazette, July 6, 1876, page 2. Woodburn is located in Section 17 of Bunker Hill Township. Woodburn was laid out in 1834 by Dr B F Edwards. He laid out nine blocks with the center block being dedicated as a public park. According to the Bunker Hill Gazette of 1876, the park had been used for every conceivable purpose except for a park. The first building was E J Miner's store. The first residence was occupied by Elder Elijah Dodson. Dodson hauled the first timber in the town to build with. Daniel Luttrell built in 1835; also Enos Grandy; and the same year Dr Edwards built a tavern for the travelling public. Dr Edwards building was a very large building and James and William Hamilton were the first landlords. Many of the first buildings were built by James and RR Tompkins who came to Woodburn February 13, 1835 from Virginia. Mr Mudge finished a saw mill which Dr Edwards and John Adams had begun to build in 1836. They sold it to Moses Jones who in turn sold it to Mr Mudge. In 1841, T J VanDorn bought the mill and put in a large engine and two run of burrs, which set Woodburn ahead of any other place in the county for conveniences. About 1837, the Perry Brothers and Alford Davis had blacksmith shops. Elder Starkweather was of the Baptist Church which was built 24 Jun 1835. About 1837, the post-office was established at Woodburn with Corey as postmaster. George Gordon carried the mail from Alton to Carlinville. In 1837, Wm West made the first kiln of brick. West also established the first grocery (bar). For some virtuous reason, Wm West was forced to sell out his brick kiln and grocery and leave the area. I Long came in 1837 and furnished brick for Woodburn and vicinity for many years. In 1845, Jona. Huggins started the Woodburn Nursery from which many of the beautiful trees of the area came. At different times, groceries had been established and, in 1850, there were 3 groceries but they would die out and men would rather go to Bunker Hill for their early morning dram rather than wait "for the barkeeper to thaw out their whiskey." Among the first settlers was James Wood, who settled in 1832 on the mound one and one- half miles south of town. J L Wood entered 80 acres of his farm in 1830. J T Wood, a representative in the legislature, entered and improved about the same time. Richard Wood from New Jersey entered 160 acres south of town in 1834. Rev Robert Blake settled on the Blake farm in 1835. Other names, Sheriff J P Pennington, Sheriff Henry Burton, Judge Huggins, E B Goderd, Wm Bailey, A L Sturges, Phil Pennington, Moore, Kellum, and Justus Rider. NOTICE: This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities for educational and/or research purposes as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation without the permission of The Macoupin County Illinois USGenWeb Project. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Project archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Project Archives by ©1997 Mary McKenzie