Big Plain is the second town in Fairfield township in point of size, but it is first in point of age. It is situated in the central part of the township and 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 in consequence it was given the name of California. The town was laid out in the midst of a very rich country, possessed of an excellent soil and the name seemed very appropriate and suggestive. Near this town were the large prairies known as the "Big Plains," and upon the establishment of the postoffice in this town, as there was an office elsewhere in the state called California, the department gave the town the name of Big Plain, the name soon being adopted for the town, in order to prevent confusion, and California was dropped.
Doctor Holmes erected the first house in the town. He was the first postmaster and also the first physician to locate in the town. Prior, however, to the laying out of the town, Doctor Davis, a practicing physician, had located about three miles northeast of California, and he was, perhaps, the first resident physician in the township, although it is said that he never had a very extensive practice. Peter Trout built the second house in the village. The first store was opened by James Parks and the first blacksmith shop by William Riley.
Big Plain grew rapidly for a time, and there was quite an extensive business carried on there. It is located in the heart of a thriving community, and is surrounded by beautiful farms and a wealthy class of people. It is a town of two hundred population and does quite an extensive local business, regardless of the fact that there has been a great exodus of people from the smaller to the larger towns. There is a Methodist Episcopal church in the town; a Knights of Pythias lodge and the township house is located there. The business interests are taken care of by Charles Funk, Fremont Buffington, F. D. Edwards and Harley Carter.