Springfield in 1828 (map)

Full view 1828 Map

The map above, which gives a sense of Springfield’s layout in 1828, is a reconstruction based on two primary sources: the reminiscences of Zimri Enos, contained in Papers in Illinois History and Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1909; and a speech given by John Todd Stuart to the county Old Settlers Reunion on Sept. 4, 1877.

The map was painted by Sonia Lang in 2008 for the Elijah Iles House exhibit , “Springfield as an Urban Frontier, 1818-1836,” sponsored by Farrell Gay.  The map interpretation was by Linda Garvert of the Sangamon Valley Collection at Lincoln Library.  The original of the painting is in the Iles House.

Viewing note: Click on map, then click magnifier to see map numerals. The legend will still be difficult to read, but here is the text:

Springfield – 1828

Recreation of John Todd Stuart’s map

Taylor Addition – platted in 1827

1. William Fagin – cabin

2. William Baker – cabin

3. John Moore – house

4. John Sherill – house

Old Town Plat – 1825

5. Abrams hotel

6. John Taylor – brick store and dwelling

7. Buck Tavern, Andrew Elliott – two-story log building, passage between east & west rooms fronting north

8. William Carpenter – grocery and dwelling

9. Thomas Cox – dwelling, double hewn log cabin with porch, kitchen, brick chimneys

10. Jesse Cormack and Asa S. Shaw – frame, two room, gable end to street. Front tinner shop and rear justice office

11. Mordecai Mobley – frame, two-room store, gable end to street.

12. Ebenzer Capps – frame, two-room grocery, gable end to street

13. James D. Henry with Philip C. Latham as clerk – frame, two-rooms, gable end to street and a second building

14. Elijah Iles with John Williams as clerk – two-story hewn log store and upstairs residence

15. Jabez Capps – two-story residence, first floor shoemaker shop, upstairs residence

16. Archer G. Herndon – log structure serving as a house and store

17. Hooper Warren – frame one-story, two-room house with gable end toward the street, front – printing office, back – residence

18. Pascal P. Enos – two-story hewn log house, two rooms below with hall between, used as a residence except east lower room used as a land office

19. Philip Fowler – carpenter, two-room frame residence, gable end to Third Street

20. Levi Goodan – cabin

21. James Adams – residence

22. Gorden Abrams – residence, double log building

23. Dr. Gershom Jayne – residence and shop

24. Charles Boyd – residence and shop

25. John White – blacksmith shop and residence.

26. Thomas Strawbridge and his sister Mary Anderson – residence

27. Jacob Plank – two-room frame house

28. Elisha Tucker – cabin

29. Lucretia “Aunt Creecy” Moore, a “colored woman” – residence

30. Dr. John Todd – residence, two-story frame home

31. Polly Shelby – log cabin residence of a colored woman and family

32. Alex Humphrey – blacksmith shop and residence

33. Thomas/Bergen – double frame house occupied by Joseph Thomas, later sold in 1828 to Rev. John C. Bergen

34. Asa S. Shaw – residence

35. Dr. Darling – two-room frame house

36. Courthouse – two-story frame building, lower courtroom, upper, Charles Matheny office

37. Dr. Garret Elkin – residence

38. Washington Iles – two-room frame houseschs logo (2)

Original content copyright Sangamon County Historical Society. You are free to republish this content as long as credit is given to the Society.

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5 Responses to Springfield in 1828 (map)

  1. Tristan Gray says:

    I think that is cool.you guys have any old maps of the old town branch creek?

    • editor says:

      You can see the Town Branch running from top left to bottom right in this entry, of course. And you can get a general idea of it as of 1916 here, though the detail is lousy. An entry solely about the Town Branch is a good idea. I’ll put it on my (long) list of topics to get to. Thanks for the idea, and thanks for reading.

  2. Rhonda Young says:

    I am looking for the piece of land/home owned by family in 1909. They lived in Salisbury Township. Do you have any ideas where I can find a plot map showing this information?

    • editor says:

      Ms. Young: I’m not an expert on property searches, but you can start at the Sangamon Valley Collection, the local history collection at Lincoln Library, Springfield’s public library. The SVC has some books of land ownership maps and may have one that shows your family’s property. If not, Curtis Mann, who heads the SVC, can tell you how to go about pursuing your search. The library’s phone number is (217) 753-4900. Good luck, and thanks for reading.

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