Franklin County - Settlers
In consequence of the difficulties that existed among the Indians, there were no settlers this side of Equality until the year 1804, when seven brothers by the name of Jordan, John and Willing Browning, Joseph Estes, and a man by the name of Barbrey, a brother-in-law to the Jordans, from Smith County, Tenn., located in this county, and built a fort and block-house where the residence of Judge William Elstun now stands. These settlers were all related. John Browning's mother was Mollie Jordan, sister to the seven Jordan brothers. John Browning was the father of James and Levi, who were well known to nearly all citizens of the county. The latter still survives and is a prominent merchant at Benton. Elias Jordan, the father of Moses, was one of the seven Jordans. William Browning died in 1817. From the time of the building of the fort until about the year 1815, little or no attempt was made to cultivate the soil, the settlers subsisting almost entirely upon game, honey and a little corn, which they, by close watching, succeeded in raising and preventing the Indians from stealing. While these early settlers were thus fortified, and in the year 1812, James Jordan and Mr. Barbrey, while out of the fort gathering wood, were fired upon by the Indians. Barbrey was killed and scalped. James Jordan was wounded in the leg. After obtaining re-enforcements from Frank Jordan's fort, which was then located in what is now known as Williamson County, about three miles south of the first named fort, the whites started in pursuit of the Indians, and followed them as far as the , Okaw River, but did not succeed in overtaking them. Barbrey was buried at the fort and his grave still remains near the residence of Judge William Elstun. This was the starting of the first graveyard in Franklin County.
The Jordan settlement was made in what is now Cave Township.
In consequence of the difficulties that existed among the Indians, there were no settlers this side of Equality until the year 1804, when seven brothers by the name of Jordan, John and Willing Browning, Joseph Estes, and a man by the name of Barbrey, a brother-in-law to the Jordans, from Smith County, Tenn., located in this county, and built a fort and block-house where the residence of Judge William Elstun now stands. These settlers were all related. John Browning's mother was Mollie Jordan, sister to the seven Jordan brothers. John Browning was the father of James and Levi, who were well known to nearly all citizens of the county. The latter still survives and is a prominent merchant at Benton. Elias Jordan, the father of Moses, was one of the seven Jordans. William Browning died in 1817. From the time of the building of the fort until about the year 1815, little or no attempt was made to cultivate the soil, the settlers subsisting almost entirely upon game, honey and a little corn, which they, by close watching, succeeded in raising and preventing the Indians from stealing. While these early settlers were thus fortified, and in the year 1812, James Jordan and Mr. Barbrey, while out of the fort gathering wood, were fired upon by the Indians. Barbrey was killed and scalped. James Jordan was wounded in the leg. After obtaining re-enforcements from Frank Jordan's fort, which was then located in what is now known as Williamson County, about three miles south of the first named fort, the whites started in pursuit of the Indians, and followed them as far as the , Okaw River, but did not succeed in overtaking them. Barbrey was buried at the fort and his grave still remains near the residence of Judge William Elstun. This was the starting of the first graveyard in Franklin County.
The Jordan settlement was made in what is now Cave Township.
QUOTE
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
- Mark Twain -
Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.
- Mark Twain -
LAUGHTER...
Two nuns are ordered to paint a room in the convent, and the last instruction of Mother Superior is that they must not get even a drop of paint on their habits.
After conferring about this for a while, the two nuns decide to lock the door of the room, take off their habits, and paint in their underwear.
In the middle of the project comes a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" calls one of the nuns.
"Blind man," replies a voice from outside.
The two nuns look at each other and shrug. Deciding that no harm can come from letting a blind man into the room, they open the door.
Completely unfazed, the man asks, "Where do you want these blinds?"
Two nuns are ordered to paint a room in the convent, and the last instruction of Mother Superior is that they must not get even a drop of paint on their habits.
After conferring about this for a while, the two nuns decide to lock the door of the room, take off their habits, and paint in their underwear.
In the middle of the project comes a knock at the door.
"Who is it?" calls one of the nuns.
"Blind man," replies a voice from outside.
The two nuns look at each other and shrug. Deciding that no harm can come from letting a blind man into the room, they open the door.
Completely unfazed, the man asks, "Where do you want these blinds?"
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* Copyright 2026 * All Rights Reserved * Promoting Franklin County, Illinois
Benton, Illinois 62812 * Since 2012
Benton, Illinois 62812 * Since 2012
