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Casey is situated on the southwest
quarter of the northwest quarter of section 20, and was surveyed by D. H.
Heimer, March, 1854, for John Cole, proprietor of the land. The first
building on the original plat of the village was a hotel erected by John Lang
for the accommodation of travelers on the
National road.
Lang was a native of Scotland and a man of more than ordinary
information and intelligence. He kept the hotel until the time of his death, a
few years ago. Among the first persons to purchase lots and erect
buildings in the village were William Gordon, William Kline and
John Anderson. The first store was started by John Cole who erected a
house for the purpose in the eastern part of the town. His stock consisted of a
miscellaneous assortment of merchandise, and he was in business about three
years when he closed out, and left the village.
J. M. Ryan kept the second store, which he operated very successfully
for a period of six years, when he sold out to other parties. Among the early
merchants in the place were Thomas Chancellor, H. A. Boyd and
M. Sanford, the last two of whom are still in business in the
village. The completion of the Vandalia railroad through the county gave
the town new impetus and its growth since that time has been rapid and
substantial. A number of brick business houses have been erected, and at the
present time [1883] the town is considered the second place as a trading point
in the county.1
"The village was incorporated on the 13th day of
May, in the year 1871, when the following board of trustees were elected:
Lon Archer, Shannon Wilson, A. J. Snavely and Rufus
Neal.
H. A. Boyd was elected president of the board, Thomas Ensign,
clerk, David Coffman, town constable, and Wash. Sanford,
treasurer. The present officers are [in 1883] the following:
Wash. Sanford, president, John Brooks, clerk, H. G. Morris,
police magistrate, Silas E. Tippey, police constable, William
Echelberry, Charles Weckerman, John F. Emerick, R. A. Young
and James Ernely, trustees.1
**To Be Continued** |
