“Mr. [Albert] Strain refers to the land lying west of the railroad as ‘a wilderness of large hickory and ash timbers…almost impassable on horseback in August.’ It is not surprising therefore to learn that one of the early industries in Fort Branch was the manufacture of field tile. An early tile factory was established about 1880 by Peter Hoffman in a location south of Locust Street between Walters and Willard [streets]. Clay was dug from the spot and a large pond south of Walnut Street between Willard and Walters was a favorite ice skating place for young and old during the winters. A little later another tile yard and kiln was built on John Street, just east of Main. John Douglas operated this second yard and later sold out to W. C. Polk and the factory was moved to West Vine Street, between Polk and West Street. Clay was dug just west of this location and a large pond is there yet today. The products from these tile factories successfully drained the land west of Fort Branch. The ‘Mash,’ a name given to the area—probably a derivative of the word marsh—has become one of the best farming areas in the nation.”
[Photo and excerpt from page 11 of “The Fort On A Branch” by John V. DeLong, Jr., 1974. You can find a copy of this book at the Fort Branch & Haubstadt Public Library locations.]