This is from History of Logan Co. (in my own words) William Scully, an Irish landlord of London England, came to the US to invest in land. He was a smart guy who road his horse over the states from Philadelphia + looking for just the right "soil." Here in Central Illinois he felt he'd found what he was looking for, some of the most beautiful dirt to be had in the world.( I agree ) Scully purchased land on a straight line between the cities of St. Louis and Chicago,,, since he knew there'd be a railroad going through and the land would be even more valuable. He bought the land for $ 1.25 an acre. In 1853 Scully built a home in Logan Co. bringing several Irish families to help him work the land. THe Irish didn't stay long and his wife sickened and died. He sold some of his land, but the Civil War began and land sales ceased.With the return of Civil War soldiers, Scully had his renters. In 1870 he began work on a drainage system that worked quite well. Some criticized Scully for his introduction of the Irish tenantry system and many felt that a person who had not taken American citizenship shouldn't own so much American soil. My Great Uncle worked Scully land and in a few years was able to save enough to buy his own farm, many others did too. Scully leased the land, not the improvements on the land. If the renters left, Scully would not reimburse them for their fences, houses, barns ect. the new tenants would.( in most cases.) Taxes were also paid by the renter.