Botna

BOTNA -The village of Botna dates its existence from 1881, when the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad extended its lines into Shelby county. It was platted by the Western Town Lot Company, August 21, 1884, and was called "Rochdale", but the post-office (1889-1903) name, as well as the railroad station, was known as "Botna". It was a flag station on the Kirkman branch of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and in 1889 had one general store, operated by S. B. Fritz. City street map.

Aberdeen Angus Hall of Famer
Earl Marshall was one of the all-time great bulls of the breed, born on September 4, 1912, on the W.A. McHenry Farm in Denison, IA. Susequently, McHenry sold his herd to Earl Ryan (of Irwin) and Charles Escher, Jr. (of Botna) in 1916. Earl Marshall's son, Blackcap Revolution, traveled as an International Grand Champ spreading the pedigree. At the present time, the American Angus Association, since its origin in 1883, has registered 16,832,114 animals in the herd book, 15,040,919 have Earl Marshall in their pedigree. Over the last ten years, 3,072,429 have been registered and all but 964 have Earl Marshall in their pedigree. Earl Marshall spent most of his life in Shelby County and died July 2, 1928. Read America's Most Wanted Bull for more information. A Listing of International Grand Champion Aberdeen Angus Bulls from 1903-2011 can be found here starting on page 12.

The Board of Directors of the American Angus Association established in 1983 the Angus Heritage Foundation. The sole purpose of the foundation is to identify and appropriately honor the people who have made major contributions to the improvement and advancement of Angus in the United States. Out of 194 inductees ... President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 2009 and our very own  Earl Ryan (of Irwin) and Charles Escher, Jr. (of Botna) in 1983.

Corley

CORLEY was a small village and the only station on the Harlan branch of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad between Harlan and Avoca. The Harlan branch was completed December 1, 1878. Thomas McDonald opened a general store here in January , 1881, and was the first postmaster, having obtained an office as early as 1878. He named the new station Corley, in honor, it is said, of his wife, whose maiden name was Corley and was platted in June, 1883. In 1975 the village had an elevator. a depot, two general stores, a church building and a lumber yard. City street map.

Police Protection: Shelby County Sheriff's Dept.

Schools: Harlan Community School District 

Businesses: Old Corley Store & Antiques

Utilities: Farmer's Mutual Cooperative Telephone Co.

Population (2010): 27

Location: Hwy 59, 6 mi north of I80.

Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE was settled by Danish pioneers beginning about 1870 in the Jackson Township. It was platted in 1884. In 1897 a post-office was established at the village and closed in the early 1900s. Its population is composed largely of Danish people who have retired from their farms and are passing their later life in this quiet country village. In 1975 it had an implement business, a general store, and a large ball at Jacksonville, in which are held social, fraternal and political meetings. City street map.

Police Protection: Shelby County Sheriff's Dept.

Schools: Harlan Community School District 

Church: Bethlehem Lutheran Church is a few miles to the west on Hwy 44 and Redline Church of Christ.

Businesses: Weddings, Banquets & More

Utilities: Farmer's Mutual Cooperative Telephone Co.

Population (2010): 30

Location: 9 mi east of Harlan off Hwy 44.

Redline

REDLINE for a number of years, in the southwest corner of section 22, Polk township, provided a country store that helped to supply the local needs of people distant from town. City street map.

Police Protection: Shelby County Sheriff's Dept.

Schools: Harlan Community School District 

Church: Redline Church of Christ.

Businesses: Country Store

Utilities: Farmer's Mutual Cooperative Telephone Co.

Population (2010): 30

Location: 15 mi north of Jacksonville off Hwy 44 on M46/F32.

​And then there is Fiscus ... and a Challenge!

The challenge is to prove irrefutably which county Fiscus resides in. $5 Chamber certificate for proof. And, if in Shelby County ... add $10! {This challenge is from Ed the webmaster in mid 2017} 

Fiscus in the records, has been said to be in Shelby County but others say Audubon. A post office was established in Fiscus in 1889, and remained in operation until it was discontinued in 1903. Adam Cain Fiscus was the minister at the Fiscus Church of Christ.
City street map.

Police Protection: 

Schools: 

Utilities: 

Population (2010): Audubon Census - no data

Location: