Category Archives: Early residents

Edwards Place: Center of social life

Posted on April 18, 2013 by editor

In 1833, Dr. Thomas Houghan, an early Springfield physician, built a 1½-story brick house in a 14-acre grove of elm, walnut, and maple trees on the northern edge of Springfield. The home, greatly altered over the years, now is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Early residents, Historic Sites, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Dr. Gershom Jayne (1828 pioneers)

Posted on April 14, 2013 by editor

Dr. Gershom Jayne (1791-1867), born in New York, moved to Sangamon County in 1819 and practiced medicine in the area for 47 years. When he arrived, he was the only physician that far north in Illinois. He was remembered in … Continue reading →

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

Portuguese immigrants

Posted on April 14, 2013 by editor

Note: This entry has been updated and expanded. Religious differences on the  island of Madeira were the unlikely backdrop for an equally unlikely influx of immigrants — people of Portuguese descent — to Sangamon County in 1850. Members of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, Early residents, Portuguese, Prominent figures | Tagged | 53 Comments

Jameson Jenkins

Posted on April 13, 2013 by editor

(Alternative spellings: Jamieson Jenkins, Jimison Jarkins) Jameson Jenkins (1810?-1873) was an African American drayman – a carter or teamster – in Springfield from the late 1840s through the 1860s. He was a neighbor of the Lincoln family and was active … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Early residents, Ethnic groups, Historic Sites, Lincoln, Abraham, Prominent figures | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Rochester

Posted on April 12, 2013 by editor

Prior to European settlement, Rochester Township was one of the most heavily wooded sections of Sangamon County, and as a result, became one of the earliest areas to be settled. The first permanent European resident was probably James McCoy, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Communities, Early residents, Historic Sites, Prominent figures | Tagged | Leave a comment

Sherman

Posted on April 12, 2013 by editor

James Sayles built a home on the current site of Sherman in 1819. However, the village wasn’t platted until 1858, after construction of the Springfield-to-Bloomington section of the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and it wasn’t incorporated as a village until … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Early residents, Historic Sites, Prominent figures | Tagged | Leave a comment

Mechanicsburg

Posted on April 7, 2013 by editor

Mechanicsburg, south of Interstate 72 18 miles northeast of Springfield, was platted in 1832 by William Pickrell. In hopes of boosting settlement, Pickrell offered a free town lot to any “mechanic” who would build a building and pay for the title. … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Early residents, Schools and school districts, Sports and recreation | Tagged | Leave a comment

Riverton

Posted on April 7, 2013 by editor

Like many early towns, the village of Riverton’s proximity to the Sangamon River contributed to its beginnings. A ferry across the Sangamon, operated by Ezikiel Judd, was the first enterprise in the area. He later transferred the ferry to his … Continue reading →

Posted in Amusements, Coal mines and mining, Communities, Early residents, Lincoln, Abraham, Local government, Mills, Railroads, Sangamon River, Schools and school districts, Sports and recreation, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Chatham

Posted on March 31, 2013 by editor

The village of Chatham was laid out in October 1836 by Luther Ransom, who also built the first house in the community. Chatham got its first burst of growth following the building of the Alton & Sangamon Railroad (later the … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Early residents, Historic Sites, National Register | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Williamsville

Posted on March 26, 2013 by editor

European settlers lived in the Williamsville area by the early 1820s, but the village itself wasn’t laid out until 1853. The community’s first house was built by Jacob Flagg in the fall of that year. Williamsville is named after Col. … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Disasters, Early residents, Historic Sites, Local government | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment