Early History of Prairietown (or Prairie City)
Prairietown Newspaper Articles
Early Settlers
A German settlement was established near what would become Prairie City,
when F. Meyer entered a tract of land in 1831. The following
families soon settled around the Meyer settlement: Adam Hoeh in
1842; H. Meyer in 1843; Daniel Schmidt in 1847; Herman Wieseman,
Ludwig Pape, Carl Engelke, Henry and Christian Knoche, Christian
Kuethe, John Schoenweiss, H. Thurmann, H. Dustmann, J. A. Scherff,
Albert Kaiser, Fred Dustmann, Henry Dorr, Henry Ruenhold, Adam
Mueller, Klein J. Schumacher, John Schaefer, the Helmkamp brothers,
and other who followed in the course of a few years.
In 1854, the Rev. F. Besel of Staunton organized the future St.
Peter’s Lutheran Congregation, and on September 25, 1855, they
purchased five acres of land from one of their members, Conrad
Weishaupt, for their future church building. In 1856, they erected a house of worship
on the property.
Founding of Prairietown
Maurice Hartnett was the first settler of Prairie City (later called
Prairietown) in Omphghent Township, Madison County. Hartnett built a
small log house in 1858, on the northwest corner of the “four corners”
(Prairietown Road and Renken Road). That same year, the
town was laid out by L. L. Dorsey (originally spelled D’Orsey). The
next year, Mr. Klump opened a saloon and F. and E. Best opened their
blacksmith shop. In 1860, a general store and saloon was established
by John Schaffer. At about the same time, Richard Richards
constructed a general store. Mr. Schaffer established a post office
shortly after he began business, and was the first postmaster. Dr.
Martin was the first physician.
By 1883, the following businesses existed in Prairietown:
E. Engel - physician
M. Kyle, H. Grote, and John McDonnell – general stores
M. Kyle – postmaster
F. & E. Best, Albert Farner – blacksmiths
John Hess – wagonmaker
V. Schulz, C. Bockoer – boot and shoe maker
Township Supervisors:
James Kell – 1876 (2 terms)
W. F. Kell - 1878
Henry Dorr – 1879 – 1882
Joseph Floyd - 1883
Early Churches in Prairietown
In 1863 a frame church a short distance west of the village was
constructed for the Lutherans. This building was later used for a
schoolhouse. A new brick Lutheran Church was constructed in 1874 at
a cost of $11,000.