FANCY CREEK - Fancy Creek township is situated near the middle of the extreme northern tier of townships bordering on Menard county. It comprises nearly all of government township 17 and a small part of 18 north, range 5 west. When this township was organized in 1861 it was named Power, in honor of George Power, one of its oldest and most influential citizens; but this name was afterward changed to Fancy Creek, for one of its streams. Its chief water courses are Cantrall creek and Fancy creek; timber is found in abundance on the banks of these streams. The township is crossed diagonally by what was formerly known as the Springfield and Northwestern railroad. On the line of this railroad is located Cantrall village, which was laid out in 1872 and contains 396 inhabitants. The other principal village is Sherman, on the line of the Chicago and Alton railroad.