Randolph County ILGenWeb
This Township contains Horse Prairie and Horse Creek. The early settlers here where William McBride in the SW sections and Jarrot Brickey, the father of Preston B. Robert McMahon settled near Ralls Ridge. William Nelson was born in Ireland, after spending some time in Abbeville, SC he moved to RC where he opened a distillery and became JP. Mr. Nelson died in 1844. Chesley Allen came to the county in 1809 or about, from VA. He settled near Ralls Ridge. His son Edward settled near Robert McMahon. In 1819 Edmond Faherty settled in Sec 21 with his sons James and Edmond. In 1825 Shelton Evans and Levi Simmons moved to the area.
Red Bud was formerly named Prairieville. The Post Office was est. in 1837. It is presently located on Rt. 154 and Rt3. Richmond D Durfee built the first house in town and he owned the store. Sam Crozier and William Simmons sold town lots in 1847. John and William Brickey opened a flourmill in 1858. The same year John H Meyer opened a brewery. The town was renamed Red Bud for the timber in the area. Jacob Miller was the first mayor in 1875.
The present hamlet of Prairie is located off Rt. 154 south on county rd 1500E in Sec 23 and 24. Prairie was once a thriving place first known as Washington and then Horse Prairie Town. The first settlers were Samuel and Winder Kinney, Chance Ratcliff, Jarrot Brickey, Henry Levens, Robert McMahon, and the Gibson family. Originally located about where New Design is in Monroe CO, the settlers moved due to Indian attacks. In 1795 Indians killed Robert McMahon's wife and 4 children. He and 2 daughters were taken prisoners. He escaped and did finally get his children returned. He remarried and lived in Sec 12. About 1795 Johnson J Whiteside laid out the town on the west bank of the Okaw River, calling it Washington. William Going was an early resident of the town who made bells. John Pullvan settled in 1799 before moving on to St. Clair Co. The Trinity Lutheran Church was founded in 1838. It celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1973. The Post Office was est. in 1892 and closed in 1903. In the middle of 1800's, Henry Nagle was the town blacksmith and owned a wagon shop.