CHAPTER XXI. 



KNOX COUNTY. 



Knox county comprises a superficial area of twenty townships, or seven hun- 

 dred and twenty square miles. It is bounded, on the north, by Henry county; 

 on the east, by Stark and Peoria ; on the south, by Fulton ; and on the west, 

 by Warren and Mercer. The fourth principal meridian passes along its west- 

 ern border, and i embraces townships 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 north, of ranges 1, 

 2, 3 and 4 east. 



The southeastern part of the county is intersected by Spoon river, which en- 

 ters it in township 11, range 4, and passes out in township 9, range 2. French 

 and Littler's creeks lie to the east, while Haw and Court creeks with their 

 branches, the larger of .which are Brush, Middle, North and Sugar creeks, lie 

 on the west. In the northeast, is Walnut creek, a branch of Spoon river, 

 while in the northwest, Cedar, Main Henderson and Pope creeks have their 

 origin, and run to the westward. 



By these, and some smaller streams, this county is well watered. Springs, 

 though not numerous, are occasionally found along the lower lands. Good 

 wells may generally be had at depths varying from fifteen to fifty feet. 



A large proportion of the county is prairie, but so numerous are the streams 

 that the prairies are commonly but a few square miles in extent. The soil 

 does not present any material difference in appearance from that of the other 

 counties in this part of the State, and is of the usual dark colored, vegetable 

 loam, with a brown clay subsoil. That along the water courses is generally of 

 less depth and lighter in color. 



Surface Geology. 



This embraces the usual subdivisions of the Quaternary, with the exception 

 of the Loess, which was not noticed. The alluvial deposits are not extensive , 

 seldom over a mile or so in width, and commonly much less, and comprise the 

 bottom lands found along nearly all the water courses. The soil is a dark 

 colored loam, frequently intermingled with sand and gravel. 



The Drift is spread over the entire surface of the uplands, to a depth of from 



ten to sixty feet, perhaps occasionally a little more. It comprises a series of 

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