The sale of lots in the town of Jackson began July 4, 1822, and lasted about one week. Joseph Lynn was allowed twenty dollars for whisky furnished at the sale to encourage bidding. The first purchasers of lots were Geo. Todd, Herndon Harelson, Mark Fisher, Duncan McIvor, Wm. Broden, Wilson McClellan, Jas. McKnight, Vincent Harelson, David Horton, J. H. Ball, Isaac Curry, Wm. Espy, Alex. B. Bradford, W. L. Flener, Jas. Burress, Jas. K. Polk, S. F. Gray, S. C. Crofton, Roderick McIvor, and M. Leggett. James K. Polk bought three lots, costing the aggregate sum of $582. Madison County furnished to the Seminole war of 1836, a company called The Grays, commanded by Capt. Jesse McMahon; also troops to the Mexican war. Statistics of Madison County: Population, 1920, 43,824. Assessed valuation of taxable property, 1921, $25,793,119. Area, 520 square miles. Number of farms, 4,467. Railway mileage, 115. Intersected by the Forked Deer River. Its surface is generally level. Soil very fertile and staple products are cotton, corn, fruits, vegetables and live stock. The Illinois Central, the Mobile & Ohio, and the N. C. & St. L. Railroads traverse the county. A large cotton mill is located at Bemis, near Jackson, employing a large number of operatives. Jackson, the county seat, with a population of 18,860, is a flourishing city with the facilities of the three railroads named. It has large manufacturing interests and is a jobbing center for a large territory. Jackson has fine private and public schools and is noted as an educational center. It has daily and weekly newspapers and other large publishing interests. An artesian waterworks system owned by the city supplies the city with water. Scholastic population of county, 16,783; high schools, 14; elementary schools, 100.