Madison County History and Genealogy

History and Genealogy



History of Madison County


Range Township Roads and Turnpikes



From History of Madison County, W. H. Beers & Co, Chicago, 1883

This township is well supplied with good roads, and all the main lines are free turnpikes. Commencing in the western part of the township, running in a north and south direction through the township, is the London & Midway pike and Bloomingsburg road. Further east, near the center of the township, passing entirely through the township, in the same general direction and almost parallel with the first-mentioned, is the London & Bloomingsburg pike. Further east still is another road, branching off from the London pike above Newport, adn taking a general southeastern course, connects in the eastern part of the township with the Federal road near Mud Run. And lastly, the principal east and west road of the township, is the Federal road. This road runs almost directly east and west through the township, with about one-third of the township lying south of the road, and the two-thirds lying north of it. At the time the Genral Government proposed to build a turnpike from the East to the West, from Maryland to St. Louis, her officers first viewed and surveyed this road for that great throroughfare; but subsequently another survey was made north of London about four miles, which survey was finally adopted, and the great National road built, the acme of magnitude of improvement of that day and age. And from the fact that the Federal Government surveyed and laid out this road, it hs ever since been known as the Federal road. And, although for many years it was merely a mud road yet it became a lively thoroughfare from the West to the East for immense droves of cattle and stock and of general travel. it is said that, before the days of railroads, it was no uncommon thing to see as many as two thousand cattle pass on that road in a day on their way to Eastern markets.

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