CHAPTER X. 



BUREAU COUXTY. 



Tlii.s large county is located in one of the finest agricultural portions of 

 the State. It is bounded on the north by Whiteside and Lee counties, 

 on the east by LaSalle ; on the south by the Illinois river, and parts of 

 Putnam and Stark counties, and on the west by Henry county. The 

 Illinois river also touches the south-eastern boundary line for four or 

 five miles, and the south side of the township of Milo joins upon the 

 north side of Marshall county. The county is longest from east to west, 

 being six townships, or thirty-six miles. It is four townships, or twenty- 

 four miles from north to south, except where the township of Milo ex- 

 tends south of what ought to be the southern line. There, of course, 

 the distance is six miles more. The county thus contains about twenty- 

 three and one half townships, or eight hundred and forty-six square 

 miles or sections of land. 



The general configuration of the face of the county; its groves, streams, 

 soil and other characteristics, are similar to those of Henry county, with 

 the exception of some peculiarities along the Illinois river. The prairies 

 are not quite so rolling as those of Henry county. The timber skiits 

 the streams more in belts, and fewer groves stand like islands over the 

 expanse of the prairies. The surface of the ground rises and falls in 

 long, swelling undulations, separated in places by level stretches of 

 country. The streams wind in long curves. The soil is light and warm. 

 Corn and the grains, grasses, fruits, potatoes and the other staple 

 products of Xorthern Illinois grow luxuriously, and are almost never 

 failing. 



>+ reams. Green river enters the county about twelve miles from its 

 north-west corner, flows south with very crooked windings through the 

 township of Greenfield ; then turns westward through the north part of 

 the township of Gold to the west county line, cutting off from this corner 

 of the county the township of Fairfield and parts of the two townships 

 just mentioned. Green river has here its usual characteristics. These 

 three townships have in them large bodies of genuine Green river swamp 



