New
Vernon Village is the only one in [New Vernon]
township. It was at one time called Middleton, but
afterward New Vernon. It is quite an old town, and looks much older
than it really is. The houses, which are in nearly every instance
unpainted frames, appear to have been erected years ago. The village
sustains two stores, kept by David
McElwain and J. N.
McCutcheon, and a blacksmith shop, operated by T. J. Osborn. There is a lodge
of the K. and L. of H., in a flourishing condition.
History
of Mercer County,
1888, page 560
The [Fairfield Presbyterian]
church became a central point in that vicinity and was called
Middleton and later took the name New Vernon. Here was established a
postoffice with the title of Sandy Creek in July, 1837, being changed
to New Vernon in 1851, a name it retained until the office was
discontinued several years since. John
M. Montgomery was the first postmaster.
A grist mill built by Lincoln Axtell, son of Daniel, was the first
industrial enterprise of the township. The milling business has
declined in recent years, but New Vernon is still a fine agricultural
community.
Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County,
1909, pages 163-164
Landowners in and near New Vernon village,
from the 1873 Combined Atlas of Mercer
County:
H. Robison, P. Burnett, T. Carnahan, J. K.
Ross, S. Condit, L. Franklin, W. L. Gould, E. Smith, T. Galey, McCormick's
heirs, S. Hill, J. Gallagher, W.
Gahlen, L. J. Gill, Mrs. M. Montgomery, A. Montgomery, J. McCutcheon,
I. Scofield, Jeff Strite, and
C. Stewart.