McDonough ILGenWeb

WEALTH IN CLAY FIELDS

Pioneers who broke large tracts of Illinois' farmlands in the 1820's and 1830's little realized that the clay fields of McDonough, Warren, and Green counties would lead to the development of an important industry. The clay fields were first developed for stone-ware making in 1824. Farm drain tile was for years the principal product. After the Civil War the tile and pipe industry rapidly expanded, and the present time three of its great centers are at Macomb, Monmouth, and White Hall.

BLACK PARTRIDGES FROM CALCUTTA

An attempt to naturalize exotic wild foul in Illinois was made in 1891 by a resident of Macomb, McDonough County. Five brace of India black partridge were secured through the American consul at Calcutta and imported to Illinois. The birds were said to be the first of the Indian varieties of partridge to be brought to America.

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Source: Stories from Illinois History, compiled by the Workers of the Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Illinois, published in 1940, pages 21 and 65. Extracted 23 Oct 2019 by Norma Hass.