"Windsor is situated on the east side of Shelby County, and contains thirty sections of land; it is bounded on the north by Moultrie county, south by Richland Township, west by Okaw Township, and on the East by Ash Grove Township and Moultrie County. The Okaw, or Kaskaskia river flows through two sections on the west side of the township; Sand Creek drains the center of the township from east to west; Lick creek and Carr creek are two small streams in the south part, tributaries of Sand creek. Wolf creek is a small stream in the north part, and flows into the Okaw river. Originally the west part of the township was heavily timbered along the Okaw; the land is considerably broken. In the east and south part the land is very rich and here were made some of the early settlements of the county. The first was Elias Carr and Isaac Corbin; they located their cabin on a prong of Sand creek called Carr’s creek in 1826. The cabin stood a short distance from where the Methodist Church now is, on section twenty-eight.

In the early spring of 1827, Benjamin Moberly built a cabin in the edge of the timber on the south side of Sand creek, on section twenty-six. He was born in Madison county, Kentucky, in 1799. In 1812 his father emigrated to what is now Franklin county, this state, where he lived a number of years in a fort as the Indians were very troublesome at that time. Mr. B. Moberly now lives in, and is a hale and hearty old gentleman, full of life and delights in talking of the olden time. The third house up by Isaac Sherley, a short distance east of where Moberly now known as the Joseph Walker place. Soberly and were brothers-in-law, and came here together. They with them a load of salt, and part of a barrel of whiskey, h they found a ready sale, to the settlers on Richland and creeks Sherley did not remain long; he was of a roving on. He died in Kansas some years ago.

Joseph Baker settled the John Walden place in 1827.

David Turrentine built a cabin at the head of the north prong of Sand Creek, on section twenty-three, in 1828, where he resided until death. His aged wife still survives him, and lives on the place.

Daniel Davis was one among the first settlers at the head of Sand he was a blacksmith, although not an expert at his trade. He could mend a chain or clevis, and at that time was considered useful citizen. He sometimes preached to the early settlers.

Benjamin Bruce located west of the Sulphur Spring, on section eight, in 1829, where he lived a short time, and afterwards the William Hartsell place, on section twenty-two, where deaf until his death in 1861. He was twice married, and raised a family of twelve children.

Col. Peter Warren, a native of Virginia, from Tennessee, here settled on section thirty-two, in 1830, now the Samuel Thompson place. He raised a family of fifteen children; three are now living. P. P. Warren, who lives on section twenty-eight, Joseph n now living in Ash Grove township, and Mrs. Ann Robin Windsor township. Col. Warren was a militia colonel in Dee before he came to Illinois, and was a militia general in this state; was Captain of a company in the Black Hawk war, and represented this district in the State Senate for a number of years. He resided on the place he improved until his death in 1858. David Robinson settled on Carr’s creek as early as 1830. In 1829 Wallis located on section twenty-seven; two years later his, Jacob Wallis located on the same section. They were natives of Kentucky; came to Southern Illinois as early as 1820.

Daniel Miner came to the township in 1838; his wife, who was Miss Ledbetter, came to the County in 1824, with her parents.

Daniel Tull, a native of Tennessee, settled on the south side of the fork Sand creek, section twenty-three, in 1829. He had two married children, who accompanied him to this county: Elizabeth wife of B Bruce, and J. B. Tull, his eldest son, who settled on the head of Sand creek, between the forks. J. B. Tull only reed here about two years, when he returned to Tennessee. After eight years he came back to this township, and settled on section nineteen, where he resided until his death. His widow yet lives on the place; they have three sons living here.

Benjamin Weeks was one of the early settlers here. He lived on Joseph Walker place as early as 1832. Nathan Gaddis, now living on Wolf creek, has lived in the county 1839.

James Richardson, a native of Indiana, settled on section eight, in 1839; he has two sons still living here, George and John.

Judge William Williamson, a native of North Carolina, came to county about 1825. In 1830 he bought a "squatter’s" improvement of William Weger, near the head of Carr’s creek. Williamson was elected first sheriff of this county, and filled the office two terms; was first lieutenant in Captain Price’s company in Black Hawk war; was first county surveyor; he filled the office of county judge for some time; afterwards represented this county in both houses of the State Assembly. He died in this township, on the place he improved.

W. F. Hilsabeck, now living on section sixteen, has lived in the County since 1834. His father, Frederick Hilsabeck, was a native of North Carolina; he came to Hillsboro, Montgomery county, Illinois, in 1830, and to Shelbyville four years later, and followed blacksmithing in Shelbyville many years; he died three miles north of Shelbyville in 1856. Five of his children now live in Shelby county, two in Missouri, and one in Kentucky. W. F. Hilsabeck settled where he now lives in 1845; the place was first settled by Jonathan Wyman.

The Waldens are early settlers here; they first settled in Richland Township (See history of that township.)

Tobias Grider, one of the early preachers of Shelby County, settled on the north side of Sand creek, near where the Christian Church now stands, in 1836, where he resided until his death, Nov. 11^th, 1880.

Other early settlers of the township may be mentioned the- Lovins, Elisha Fortner, and William Upchurch.

Supervisors- Since township organization, the following gentlemen, whose names appear below, have represented Windsor: Alex. Walker, elected in 1860, re-elected in 1861; 1862, (chairman) 1863. W. H. Brown elected in 1864; re-elected in 1865, 1866, and 1867. A. Bland, elected in 1868; re-elected in 1869. H. N. Walden elected in 1870; re-elected in 1871. G Richardson elected in 1872. J. Rose elected in 1873. H. N. Walden, elected in 1874; reelected in 1875, ‘76 and 77. T. N. Henry, elected in 1878; re elected in 1879 and ‘80; is the present incumbent.

In 1827 the Indians had a camp at the head of Sand Creek, on the land now owned by James Davis. They did not remain here long.

The first Church was built on the Bruce place, now the Hartsel place, about 1838; it was a small log building with puncheon floor, and John Storm, of the Christian denomination, preached the first sermon here. The above building soon became too small for the congregation, and they built a frame, and subsequently a brick church, near by, in 1874. The township is now well supplied with church buildings- there are six in the country and three in the town of Windsor.

The first schoolhouse was built near where B. Bruce lived in 1836. Two railroads pass through this township, with a junction at Windsor. This town was laid out by Simeon Ryder and P. C. Huggins, in 1856 it is the second town in size in the county having about 900 population. J. D. Bruce built the first house here, in which he kept a hotel; the old building still stands north of the depot; he was also the first post-master, the office being in the hotel. Thomas Kenney erected the second house on the south side of the railroad, where he boarded the railroad hands. The third house was put up by Watson Wallace, in which he opened a saloon. The fourth building was a business house, built by L. H. Kellar, in which he put a general stock of goods, and has followed merchandising here up to the present time. The fifth house was also a business house, put up by James Hilsabeck, who was the second merchant in the building now occupied by Joseph Garrett & Son. Dr. Jesse York was the first physician, and erected the first residence. The first blacksmith shop was carried on by John T. Alexander, who sold out to Joseph Garrett.

The old Mill was first built in 1857 by John Keith, now run by Westby and Voris. This mill has two runs of burrs, and has a good custom trade.

The City Mills were erected, in 1866, by Woolard & Price; the firm name has been changed several time, but now under the style of Frazer and Price. It is a good, substantial mill of two run of burrs and does a good business. They have an elevator attached to the mill where they handle all kinds of grain"