From History of Madison County, W. H. Beers & Co, Chicago, 1883
There are three villages within the limits of this township. The first was laid out in the spring of 1849, by Thomas Chappel, Robert Thomas and William D. Pringle. This was about the time of the great excitement over the discovery of the rich gold mines in California, and this town was laid out in the midst of a very rich country, possessed of an excellent soil, and they gave it the suggestive name of California. Near this town were the large prairies known as the "Big Plains," and in establishing the post office of this town, as there was an office elsewhere called California, they gave this the name of Big Plains. Dr Holmes erected the first house in the place, and was the first Postmaster and also the first physician located in the town. Prior, however, to the laying-out of the town there was a Dr. Davis, a practicing physician, located about three miles northeast of California, who was, perhaps, the first physician resident in the township, although it is said that he never had a very extensive practice. Peter Trout is said to have built the second house. The first store was kept by James Parks. William Riley was the first blacksmith. This town for a time grew rapidly, and there was quite an extensive business carried on here, and, in fact, from that day to the present time, there has been an active mercantile trade here for a village of its size, as it is surrounded by a beautiful country and a wealthy and thriving class of people. It now has three good general stores, three blacksmiths, three physicians, one steam tile factory and saw-mill combined, one church—Methodist—a good brick schoolhouse and a good brick town house, erected in 1877.
Warnersville.—At the south line of Fairfield, bordering on Pleasant Township, is a small village known as Warnersville. receiving such name from the fact that the tract of land was owned by Mr. Warner, where a cluster of eight or ten houses now stand, embracing a population of forty to fifty persons. About 1867, David Lane, a huckster by occupation, opened a small store here, which, in 1872. he sold to R. Watrous, who continued trade here till 1881, when, in January, of that year, he sold out to J. S. Bowers. He carried on business one year, and sold to William Watrous & Bro., who are now conducting a general merchandise trade. In the fall of 1874, a post office was established here by the same name of the village, with R. Watrous as Postmaster. This office existed until 1879, when, as it was not self-supporting, it was discontinued. But again, in the spring of 1881, it was re-established under the name of Kiousville, with J. S. Bowers as Postmaster. In January, 1882, William Watrous became Postmaster, and is now its present incumbent. Jesse S. Bowers built the first house and was the first blacksmith in the village. He was succeeded by Henry Bowers, who is the present incumbent.
Gilroy or Lilly Chapel.—In 1871 and 1872, the Short-Line Railroad, from Springfield to Columbus, appeared in prospect, and, in the latter year, Mr. Thomas Durfiinger opened a store here in anticipation of the railroad and the establishing of a station at this point. In 1850, the Methodist Church was erected here on land owned by Wesley Lilly, which was given the name of "Lilly Chapel." In 1873, the railroad was completed and a station established and called Lilly Chapel. In 1874, Henry Gilroy and Henry Lilly laid out the town, which was named Gilroy, in honor of Mr. Gilroy. But as the station and locality had previously been designated as Lilly Chapel, in consequence of the church erected here and given that name, and as, in 1873, Henry Lilly originated a petition for a post office under the name of Lilly Chapel, which was granted by the Department on the establishing of a postal route over the railroad, the town has ever been known and recognized by the name of Lilly Chapel. The first Postmaster was Thomas Horn. He was succeeded by C. L. Bales, and he by George Leiter, the present incumbent. Thomas Horn built the first house after the laying-out of the town, and engaged in mercantile trade, and was the first local agent of the railroad company. David Wright was the first blacksmith; he opened a shop in a house built by Henry Lilly. The first physician was Dr. Taggart, who located here in 1880, but remained only a few months. In the spring of 1881, Dr. Schofield located here, who has since remained the practicing physician of the place. The town now contains over two hundred inhabitants, and is rapidly growing and increasing in business. There are now three general stores, one grocery, two blacksmith shops, employing four workmen, with a wagon and buggy shop combined with them. There are two steam saw-mills, one of which runs two engines and is doing a large business, saws a large amount of material for the manufacture of buggies and wagons. But the largest and most attractive business of the place is carried on by two grain elevators, one built by Pringle Bros., in the fall of 1877, and the other by the "Farmers' Association," which is now conducted by J. C. Byers & Co., both of which are doing a large business. In 1870, prior to the erection of these elevators, four farmers, Henry Lilly, John Horn, Thomas Horn and Thomas Gorby, erected a corn-sheller and elevator for a neighborhood convenience, for shelling and shipping corn. This proved so successful and beneficial in it operations that it resulted in the building of the above-mentioned elevators. These now receive grain from a large scope of country, in some directions from fifteen to twenty miles distant, and are a great convenience and source of profit to this section of country.
In 1878, a large tile factory run by steam power was erected, and is doing a large and prosperous business, and is probably one of the best in Madison County. This town is just in its infancy, having seen but eight summers since its natal day. It is the only railroad station and shipping point within the township, and is located in the midst of a rich and productive country, and must necessarily become an extensive shipping point.
During the year 1881, the following number of full car loads of products were shipped from this section, viz.: 232 cars of corn; 44 cars of hogs; 15 cars of logs; 18 cars of cattle; 2 cars of staves; 2 cars of spokes; 1.67 cars of wheat; 19 cars of sheep; 11 cars of wool; 5 cars of lumber; 2 cars of hoop poles and 1 car of tile; total number of cars, 508.