JOHNSON COUNTY'S FIRST SETTLER JOHNSON COUNTY ILLINOIS AND OTHER INTERESTING DATA OF LONG AGO BY D.H. BARNWELL, VIENNA IL Many years before Vienna, Creal Springs, Marion, or any other of the hosts of cities, villages, hamlets and bailiwicks, of what has been known for years as "Egypt" were founded, there came the first settler, one William Simpson, pitching his primitive log cabin home in the northern part of what is now Simpson Township in the present county of Johnson, Illinois, being some two miles north of the present village of Simpson, which with the township, is named in his honor. It is quite reliably established that this sturdy pioneer was the first settler in what is now Johnson County. it was seven years after his coming in 1805 that Johnson County, Illinois was organized, which organization took place in 1812. In that year the county was set off from Randolph and embraced more than a half dozen more of the present counties. In 1805, William Simpson, with his large family, floated down the Ohio River from Lexington, Ky., to Shawneetown, carrying about all the belongings they could keep above water on their raft-fleet. It was after considerably consumed time with the risky mode of travel that their disembarking took place at the rustling pioneer village of Shawneetown when their caravan got under way for the interior of the now western region. For a few miles out of the river town, their roadway toward the southwest was quite clear but after awhile they ran out of any road and were compelled to literally to cut their way through the heavily timbered section of the country. After many days, this sturdy family reached the Fort Massac-Kaskasia Trail east of the present village of Simpson and following that old Trail some two miles north east, a place of temporary abode was located at what is now known as Double Bridge a few feet from the I.C.R.R. track, a half mile southwest of Hogg Cliff. Under the command of the head of the family, the boys started slashing away at the primeval forest and soon a small clearing appeared and from sizable logs, the firs whit man�s log cabin residence in the present limits of Johnson County was raised. What daring, that lead this old pioneer over such a perilous voyage and through uncharted and unblashed treks to this far inland abode. No other known whit person was with in twenty five miles of him and to add to the situation, the family was virtually surrounded with wildcats, wolves, bears, deer and of course, the Indians. There were things, indeed, to hold ones interest and to prod him to a high degree of courage and alertness, to be sure. The little cabin was not only living quarters but a veritable arsenal as well. With the forest teeming with wild game, and a bunch of crack marksmen with each a sure hit rifle at hand, it was no question of keeping the larder supplied with meats. Even the lurking redskins did not care to tread too closely. As the new ground was so fertile, it was soon yielding plenty of potatoes, corn and other palatable vegetable and thus providing a safe investment for getting on. It is in line with reliable data that a more substantial residence was soon erected in the form of a double log house only a short distance from the first temporary cabin. This building was soon opened as a Tavern or hotel and it is thought to be among the first hotels in the state. With the incoming of new settlers, roads were opened and Mr. Simpson chanced to be right at the crossroads from Golconda, Metropolis and Elvira to Shawneetown, and points to the northwest and thus in line for a thriving patronage. William Simpson was pretty well fixed for his day and with all the outdoors for range, he was in line for much stock raising and soon became the forerunner of stockmen in the country. There being no city markets nearer than Louisville, Ky., and Detroit, Michigan, he would drive his cattle to the latter city, usually the round trip requiring several weeks to make. On one occasion, he was captured by the Indians and his wife and children were not sure that ht would ever get back home but about three years late, he returned unharmed to the great pleasure of all concerned. The family tree grown from this old settler, William Simpson, has certainly spread to vast dimensions and is indeed probably the largest family tree in the state of Illinois. It has been a widely known and quite public spirited family all down the years, many a Simpson having been called to fill various offices of trust at the hands of the people.