Category Archives: Early residents

Batterton Cabin, Clayville

Posted on September 29, 2026 by editor

The Batterton Cabin at the Clayville Historic Site, probably built in the late 18-teens, is thought to be the oldest structure in Sangamon County. The cabin is part of a complex of relocated and/or reconstructed historic buildings at Clayville, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Early residents, Historic Sites, Museums | Leave a comment

New Salem residents: ‘hard to cheat, hard to whip, and still harder to fool’

Posted on September 14, 2026 by editor

The site of New Salem, the village where Abraham Lincoln lived as a young man, is in Menard County today. When Lincoln lived there, however, New Salem was part of Sangamon County. See below. In researching his foundational biography, Herndon’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Early residents, Historic Sites, Lincoln, Abraham, Markers, Museums, Parks, Presidents, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Samuel S. Ball investigates Liberia emigration, 1848

Posted on February 8, 2026 by editor

Editor’s note: This bulk of this entry comes from a talk, titled “The Spirit of Springfield’s Early African-Americans,” delivered by local historian Richard E. Hart on May 20, 2002, to the Sangamon County Historical Society. Hart (1942-2022), an indefatigable researcher, … Continue reading →

Posted in Abolitionism, African Americans, Early residents, Histories, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

‘Bee-Keeping for Women’ (1909) by Louisa C. Kennedy

Posted on July 20, 2025 by editor

John A. (1808-92) and Elizabeth Kennedy (1812-92) moved with their six children from Pennsylvania in 1860 and took up farming in the Curran area. For some period of time, possibly beginning as soon as the Kennedys arrived in Sangamon County, … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Business, Early residents, Farming, Women | Leave a comment

Peter Vredenburgh Lumber Co. & its Alabama company town

Posted on July 16, 2025 by editor

The Vredenburgh family operated lumber businesses in Springfield for 145 years. One of the main reasons for the Vredenburghs’ success, though overlooked in Springfield, was the logging empire the Vredenburghs built in the forests of southern Alabama. That venture even … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Early residents, Industry, Mills, Prominent figures | 3 Comments

Henrietta Ulrich, businesswoman

Posted on May 25, 2025 by editor

Henrietta Ulrich, the story goes, sold her fabulous pearl necklace to buy what became the near west side of Springfield. Sadly, the story probably isn’t true. As a young woman, Ulrich (1797-1887) hobnobbed with Russian aristocrats and married into German … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Early residents, Germans, Prominent figures, Women | 1 Comment

Island Grove United Methodist Church

Posted on January 23, 2025 by editor

Island Grove United Methodist Church, located on Old Jacksonville Road two miles west of Berlin, was founded as a church by the Island Grove Society in 1822. In its earliest days, the congregation was serviced by circuit-riding preachers. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Early residents, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

Springfield city charter brawl, 1840

Posted on January 19, 2025 by editor

A brawl between two of Springfield’s leading citizens enlivened the 1840 election that converted the community from a town to a city. The fight was over who should be allowed to vote in the referendum. The combatants were Dr. Alexander … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Politics, Prominent figures, Springfield | Leave a comment

Springfield market house, 1832-1880

Posted on January 7, 2025 by editor

When residents of early Springfield wanted fresh meat or vegetables, the city market house was the place to go. But you had to get up early. City fathers decided in 1832 to build a market house, a central point where … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Business, Early residents, Grocery markets, Local government, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Springfield cemeteries, past and present

Posted on October 18, 2024 by editor

This entry has been updated and corrected. See notes below. Springfield’s Old City Cemetery had been closed to new burials for more than 30 years when an Illinois State Journal writer visited in February 1890. It wasn’t a pleasant sight. … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Historic Sites | 2 Comments