Rensselaer Republican, Volume 24, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 October 1891 — A Gillam Man Strikes Oil. [ARTICLE]

A Gillam Man Strikes Oil.

A WONDERFULLY BICH OIL WELL IN GILLAM TOWNSHIP. Last Saturday evening, while the parties who bored the deep experimental wells in Gillam tp., a few months ago, were boring for water for Wm. Swisher, on his farm in Gillam tp., about 6 miles due west of Medaryville, they suddenly pierced a strong vein of petroleum, at a depth of 95 feet from the surface; the last 25 or 30 feet of which being in the rock. When first struck the oil spouted to a bight of 20 feet or more, and then settled down to to a steady flow of about 5 gallons a minute.. After it had been allowed to fill all the tubs and barrels about the place, it was plugged up, to prevent unnecessary waste. The oil is heavy black petroleum, and no doubt a good quality of lubricating oil. If this proves to be the case, and the well is permanent, Mr. Swisher evidently has a good fortune in the well.

Our informant as to the well, Mr. Wm. Querry, an entirely reliable man, passed the Swisher place on his his way to Rensselaer, Tuesday morning, and for his edification the plug was removed, and the well allowed to flow a few minutes. He timed the low himself, and found that it was at the rate stated above. There is no water at all in the oil. The only well as deep in the rock in the vicinity is on the Campbell farm, a quarter mile distant. This has no oil. The two 1000 foot wells above referred to, are.some two miles distant.