CHAPTER XXII. 



STARK COUNTY. 



Stark county is bounded on the north by Henry and Bureau counties, on the 

 east by Putnam and Marsha], on the south by Peoria, and the west by Knox 

 and Henry. It has a superficial area of eight townships, or two hundred and 

 eighty-eight square miles. It embraces townships 12 and 13 north, of range 5 

 east, and townships 12, 13 and 14 north, of ranges 6 and 7 east. 



Spoon river intersects the county from north to south. In the northeastern 

 part of township 13, range 6, the river branches the West Fork passing 

 through township 14, range 6, and the East Fork through township 14, range 7. 

 In the southern part of the latter township, is Cooper's Defeat Creek. In the 

 southeastern part of the county are Camp and Mud runs, and in the southwest 

 is Walnut creek. Indian creek rises near the northern part of township 13, 

 range 5, and empties into Spoon river just above Slackwater. By these and 

 some smaller streams, this county is well watered. Springs are occasionally 

 found along the lower lands, but are not abundant. Good wells may generally 

 be had at depths varying from fifteen to fifty feet. 



A large portion of the county is prairie, but on account of the numerous in- 

 tersecting streams, the prairies usually contain but a few square miles of area. 

 There are, however, some large prairies in township 12 and 13, range 7. The 

 soil is similar in appearance to that of the other counties in this part of the 

 State, and is of the common dark colored loam, which, when properly drained 

 and cultivated, is everywhere productive. The subsoil is usually of a brown or 

 yellow clay. The soil of the timbered lands along the water courses is usually 

 of less depth and lighter in color. . 



Surface Geology. 



Two of the subdivisions of the Quaternary are found in this county, Allu- 

 vium and Drift. The Alluvial deposits comprise the bottom lands found along 

 nearly all the water courses, but they are seldom over a mile in width, and 

 generally much less. 



