The article is from The Lexington Courier,

published by Fisher and Edwards, March 3, 1870.

          The town of Lexington was laid out in 1835, and the first survey was made by order of Messrs. A. Gridley and Jas. Brown. Mr. Gridley was one of the most respected and wealthy citizens of McLean County. He is now deceased. James Brown moved from here to Missouri, where his family still live. He died in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and about 1851, while in the employ of the United States. He has a brother and a number of relatives living in this country. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. Before coming here he lived in Kentucky, near Lexington. In the winter of 1836-37 Mr. Gridley and a young man by the name of Carpenter erected the first business house in Lexington, and in fact it was the first house built in the place. It was on the north corner of Main street where it joins the public square, and where the furniture store used to stand. The ground is now owned by J. G. Sprague. The house was moved off, and after itinerating for a while, located at Pleasant Hill, where it still is. It was taken to Clarksville from here. These gentlemen filled their house with goods from St. Louis, from which place they were hauled on wagons. Chicago was at that time only a city of about two thousand inhabitants -- about as large as Lexington now is. Mr. Carpenter went east after a few years, where he engaged in the practice of law. From the best we can learn he is still living.

          The second house ever built in the place was erected by Jacob Spawr, who is still living among us. His log cabin stood just across the street, north of the Presbyterian church, where Mr. Spawr afterwards put up a frame house, and where he now lives. The log cabin north of town a few miles, and is now occupied by Robert Ambrose. Squire Spawr, as we are used to calling him, has never accumulated a very large amount of wealth, but he has ever been a true man. He never raised any soldiers, but instead, quite a family of girls, all of whom are married and doing well and well respected. The Squire is a member of the M. E. church. He is a peaceable, inoffensive, good man; and when he is gone to that high and better life (Ed.: in 1902 at the age of 100), will leave a record behind him that his family may well be proud to read -- the record of an honest man. He kept the first board-house or hotel in Lexington, and lamented Abraham Lincoln used to frequently be one of his guests. Once when Mr. Lincoln was stopped with the Squire a heavy rain storm came up. Just before it commenced to rain Mr. Spawr's daughters went to house some of young poultry, and Mr. Lincoln, volunteering him services, came out, and waving and swinging his long arms helped to secure the goslings in their coop. He made himself quite at home among the Squire's guests and in his family. He was always ready to lend a helping hand when help was needed, and being fond of children was often among them and helping them. Mr. Spawn was the first man to take up his residence in the town of Lexington. The third house in the place was built by William Brown. It was a log cabin and stood where Wm. M. Smith now lives. William Lamar came next. He built a frame house just west of Dement's store, now owned by F. A. Goddard. He moved to Iowa and is farming there.

          Charles Tilberry owned the first blacksmith shop in the place. It stood on the block that Wm. M. Smith now lives on, east of where Smith's house stands. He died here, leaving a wife and several children.

          J. C. Mahan had the second business house put up in town. It stood where Charles Preble's dwelling house now stands, on the north side of the public square. It was moved from there and occupied by Best & Shade, lumber dealers, and B. Fitzgerald grocer. Mr. Mahan, after some years, quit business here and went to Chicago; but finding Chicago a poor place compared with Lexington, came back again, and was well known among the people as a banker. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and a honor to the community. He was not a citizen of the city when, having built his dwelling house outside of the corporation limits. However, he built the first brick block in the place, and did more than any one man to build up the town of Lexington. He organized the first bank in the place and wielded a heavy hand in financial circles. The community, Democrats and Republicans, friend and foe, for the greater part accorded to Mr. Mahan the high praise of being "an honorable man."

          The third business house was put up by Dr. Goddard. It was erected at the east side of the public square, and afterward owned by William and Richard Stevenson and occupied as a carpenter and paint shop. The doctor sold dry goods in it. The doctor was a local preacher in the Methodist church. He did a great deal of hard work in his profession. His practice extended for many miles in every direction. He was the only physician for many years in the place. He died some years since, leaving a widow and several children.

          The town was resurveyed in 1855 and a new plot drafted comprising its present limits.