Towns and Histories

ALMA	No longer in existence, but merged with GEORGETOWN to form Steeleville.
BALDWIN	Located in Twp4 R7, between Sparta and Red Bud, in the North Central part of the county, on Heacock Prairie. First settler was Absolomon COX in 1804. In 1816, a mill was built by Robert McDANIELS. First schoolhouse was built in 1874. The village was incorporated in 1876
BLAIR	Located in Twp5 R6, about three miles north of the Shawneetown Trail. The small town got its name when Thomas C. BLAIR applied for a post office in 1859. Thomas built the first house in 1859 and was the first postmaster.
BOXTOWN-KIDD	Both towns are now extinct. Located near Prairie du Rocher in the North western corner of the county. Settled in the very early 1800's
BREMEN	First called Randolph, Bremen is about seven miles NE of Chester. First settler was Robert TINDALL in 1802, who owned a mill. Randolph was known for its toll road, aptly named the Old Plank Road. Laid out by Hiram CHAPMAN, the village was platted by Samuel THOMPSON in 1839. Post office was established in 1856, first school in 1856. A man named Isaac LEHNHERR had one of the first businesses there.
BREWERVILLE	Now extinct, this town was formed in the early 1750's, by the French who farmed the land. In 1806 the English were in command of it. Most of the inhabitants lived in Kaskaskia or Prairie du Rocher. Located in Twp 5 R9, it was laid out by Thomas BREWER in the early 1880's. Name was changed to MODOC about 1882.
CAMPTOWN	Located in Twp 7 R6, on the NE edge of Chester, Camptown was a stopping place for wagon train traveling on the Plank Road. It was incorporated into the city of Chester in the 1970's.
CHESTER	First settled in the 1820's by John McFERRON, by 1829 Samuel SMITH had a ferry, a mill and a home erected. Named by Mrs. Jane Smith, a native of Chester, England, it was first called Servant. Chester has been the county seat since 1848, after the flood of 1844 destroyed Kaskaskia.
COULTERVILLE	Founded by James COULTER, who moved there in 1829 and built the first house. David CATHCART was the earliest settler, coming in 1818. A part of the town was originally called Grand Cote. Firsts for the village are: post office, 1854.... Newspaper, 1879.... Telephone, 1898.
DIAMOND CROSS	Located three miles east of the Kaskaskia River, on Gravel Run, the town is now extinct. In its prime, it had a post office, blacksmith shop, cooper shop and several other businesses.
ELLIS GROVE	Originally known as Florence, the village of Ellis Grove is located in Twp 6 R7, two miles from the Kaskaskia River. The land was purchased, surveyed and named Ellis Grove in 1852, by George Ellis.
EVANSVILLE	Located on the bank of the Kaskaskia River, Evansville was formed by Andrew WHITE in 1811. A part of its streets and lots were laid out by Cadwell EVANS in 1834.
Fort CHARTRES VILLAGE	This little village grew outside the walls of Fort de Chartres, being renamed to New Chartres in 1756, after the rebuilding of the fort. In 1764 it consisted of 40 families. It is now extinct.
GEORGETOWN	No longer in existence, but merged with ALMA to form Steeleville.
GRIGG	Post Office established Mar 23, 1904 and disbanded Feb 28, 1906. Now considered rural Red Bud.
HICKORYVILLE	Located on KASKASKIA Island. Still regarded as village in 1919
HOUSTON	The town started when William HOUSTON opened a grocery store and a blacksmith shop near his home in 1868. It is located in Twp4 R6w, sec 20 of the county, between Sparta and Baldwin.
KAMPENVILLE	Located in Twp 6 R5, on the East side of what is now Percy.
LIBERTY	One of 10 original "Liberty's" in Illinois, it was re-named ROCKWOOD.
MENARD	Menard is just outside of the city limits of Chester, along the river.
MODOC	First known as BREWERVILLE, its Post Office was established June 5, 1882. It is still in existence today.
NEW KASKASKIA	Early inhabitants referred to the "moved" settlement as New Kaskaskia... in time, it was just known as Kaskaskia.
NEW PALESTINE	First known as the HARMON Settlement, after Michael HARMON settled here in 1811. Densely populated by 1855, it now consists of only a few houses. Located in Twp 6 R6, at the junction of the Shawneetown Trail and the Bremen/Chester Road.
PRAIRIE du ROCHER	Formed about 1722, fourteen miles from Kaskaskia and three miles from Fort de Chartres, it sits at the foot of the Mississippi Bluffs. St. Joseph Cath. Church was built here in 1743. The population in 1880 was 300 people. Located in Twp 5 R9.
PRAIRIE	One of eight TWPs with that name, its Post Office was established May 7, 1892 and disbanded April 30, 1903. It is located a few miles East of Red Bud.
PRESTON	Located in Twp5 R7, just off the Baldwin/Chester road, James PATTERSON settled this in area in 1804. James POLLOCK laid off his land into town lots and formed Preston in 1836. It was officially incorporated in 1825, and had a tanning yard as early as 1823.
PUJOL	Located on Kaskaskia Island, and named for Louis Philippe PUJOL, a Kaskaskia merchant. First Post Office was established Jan 25, 1886, then disbanded Jan 23, 1888... re-established Dec 22, 1888 and disbanded March 31, 1902.
RANDOLPH	One of six "Randolphs" in the state, its name was changed to BREMEN. (see BREMEN for more)
REDBUD	Originally known as Prairieville, it had its beginnings two miles south of town. It is located on the NW edge of the county. Here the first post office was laid out by BAKER and GILBERT. Prairieville was abandoned and the post office was moved to Market and Main streets in the new town. The first settler came here in 1820, Preston BRICKEY. William SIMMONS had his land surveyed into lots in 1847, and sold them at public auction. First brick building was built in 1854 and was the school. Chamber of Commerce website: redbudchamber.com
RILEY LAKE	Located just west of Ellis Grove, on the Mississippi River, the town is now extinct. The PAGI mill was located near Fort Gage, at Riley Lake.
ROCKWOOD	Emsley Jones made the first settlement here between 1800-1804, naming the town Jones Creek. It is located in the southwest corner of the county, east of Chester. Here was the first station of the underground railroad in the county, and because of this, it became known as LIBERTY. The name was officially changed to Rockwood in 1865, as there was already another town by the name of Liberty. Rockwood was incorporated in 1837.
RUMA	Located just four miles south of Red Bud, this town was laid out in 1854, by the heirs of John H. BAKER, and Thomas and Mathew DONAHOO. A large brick flour mill was erected in 1872. By 1882, Henry KUENEN and Medard HECK had built hotels here.
SCHULINE	Located in Twp 5 R6, southwest of Sparta, the town was named for John SCHULEIN.
SHILOH HILL	First called Steuben, Shiloh Hill is located Twp 7 R5, south of Steeleville. Its first building was built in 1838. Here is where the first college of Illinois was built.
SPARTA	One of two Sparta's in the state, its name was changed from SHANNONS STORE. Its Post office was established Feb 7, 1840.
STEELEVILLE	Originally known as Steele's Mill, the Post Office was established March 6, 1882. It is made up of the ALMA, GEORGETOWN and STEELE'S MILL settlements.
TILDEN	Platted by James D. THOMPSON, the town was laid out by William EDMISTON, Robert MATTHEWS and William G. CRAWFORD in 1860. It is located in Twp 4 R6, north of Sparta. It was the first village in the county to have a rail road. The first buildings and post office were erected in 1871.
WALSH	Located in Twp5 R7, southwest of Sparta, the town was originally called Muerville. In 1901, the name changed to honor John R. WALSH, as he was instrumental in bringing the railroad through the town.
WELGE	Located in Twp 6 R6, south of Steeleville and east of Bremen, its first post office was established in 1881 and closed in 1981. It now consists of about a dozen residents, and one of the counties oldest cemeteries, the Welge Cemetery.
WINE HILL	An early German settlement, it was given the name for its many vineyards. It is located in Twp 7 R5, south of Steeleville.