Category Archives: Native Americans

Frank P. Richards, wood carver

Posted on April 16, 2024 by editor

In the early 20th century, Frank P. Richards would display his patriotic wood carvings on the front lawn of his home at 1160 Elliott Ave. every Fourth of July. Soldiers from nearby Camp Lincoln would salute as they marched past. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arts and letters, Business, Industry, Museums, Native Americans | Leave a comment

First window glass

Posted on September 26, 2021 by editor

“Squire Job” Fletcher, one of Sangamon County’s earliest officials and a member of the “Long Nine” that secured Springfield as the state capital, apparently was the first county resident to have glass windows in his home. John Carroll Power recorded … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Local government, Native Americans, Prominent figures | Leave a comment

First European buried in Sangamon County

Posted on December 12, 2020 by editor

The first European to die in Sangamon County apparently was a U.S. Ranger enlisted to help protect early European settlers from Native Americans during the War of 1812. The man, probably named William Hewitt, was shot in an unprovoked scuffle … Continue reading →

Posted in Historic Sites, Histories, Markers, Military, Native Americans, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

‘Wigwam tree’ and sulfur spring, Loami

Posted on September 21, 2016 by editor

Note: This entry has been edited to reflect additional information about the first burial at Sulphur Spring Cemetery. The “wigwam tree” was a hollow sycamore near Loami that, according to John Carroll Power in History of the Early Settlers of … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Early residents, Native Americans, Prehistory | 7 Comments

The Payne Stone Age Collection

Posted on July 18, 2014 by editor

Edward W. Payne (1857-1932), a Springfield banker and property investor, amassed a huge collection of stone relics — most, though not all, from pre-Columbian America — with the intention of building a museum to house them. At his death, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in Depression, Historic Sites, Museums, Native Americans, Prehistory, Prominent figures, State government | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Early Springfield (Barringer map)

Posted on October 28, 2013 by editor

The map at right was created for Dr. Floyd Barringer’s 1971 booklet Tour of Historic Springfield. Fever River Research, in its  Aristocracy Hill  and Enos Park surveys, along with its archaeological survey prior to construction of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential … Continue reading →

Posted in Buildings, Early residents, Fever River, Historic Sites, Histories, Maps, Native Americans, Springfield, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Edwards Trace

Posted on October 28, 2013 by editor

Update (November 2024): The most complete information on the Edwards Trace is available at rabbitsrow.com, a website created by Trace researchers Luke Moore, David Brady and Tracy Garrison. It includes: their paper on the history and route of the Trace; … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Native Americans, Transportation | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Gen. James Henry

Posted on October 26, 2013 by editor

James D. Henry (1797-1834), gained the title of “General” via his acknowledged exceptional leadership during the Black Hawk War of 1832. Henry, who arrived in Springfield in 1826, was elected sheriff in 1827 and was operating a store on the … Continue reading →

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Elijah Iles (1828 pioneers)

Posted on October 23, 2013 by editor

Elijah Iles (1796-1883) was Springfield’s first merchant and perhaps its most dynamic founder. Iles built a log store near the settlement of the John Kelly family shortly after arriving in central Illinois. Iles described his move to Sangamon County and … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Early residents, Historic Sites, Illinois capital, Native Americans, Parks, Prominent figures, Springfield | Leave a comment

The Kickapoo

Posted on October 21, 2013 by editor

When Europeans began moving into Central Illinois in the early 1800s, the Kickapoo were the dominant Native American tribe, holding sway from north of present-day Peoria to near St. Louis and east to west across Illinois. “I am a Kickapoo,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Early residents, Native Americans, Prehistory | Tagged , , | 1 Comment