1. The History of Jacksonville
An Overview of our City
Created by Mr. Kelly
Revised by Mrs. Anderson

2. Morgan County History Organized January 31, 1823
Seymour and Elisha Kellogg and Charles Collins and their families were the first to settle the area.
Cass and Scott Counties were part of Morgan County until 1837 and 1839 respectively

3. Jacksonville History Platted in 1825
Name is kind of a mystery… in honor of a former President or of a charismatic Baptist minister? Which Andrew Jackson do you think the town was named after?
Diamond Grove was a focal point for settlers for its wood source

4. Illinois College
I.C. was founded in 1829 – It is the oldest college in Illinois
Rev. John Ellis was the Founder along with the “Yale Band” who came west to establish I.C. They wanted I.C. to be the “Athens of the West”.
Beecher Hall - oldest college building in IL. It began as a medical school.
Edward Beecher, brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe who wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was the first President of I.C.
It was an all boys school for many years

5. Illinois College
Jonathan Baldwin Turner and Julian Sturtevant were early professors at I.C.
IL Gov. Richard Yates, U.S. Senator Edward Spilman, and lawyer William Jennings Bryan earned degrees at I.C.
Ralph Waldo Emerson, Abraham Lincoln, and Mark Twain lectured at I.C.
Who is pictured on the right?

6. MacMurray College Peter Cartwright -- preacher and founder
Illinois Conference Female Academy established in 1846 and renamed Illinois Female College in 1863 and the in 1930 it became the MacMurray College for Women
MacMurray College became co-education in 1955, allowing men to enroll.

7. Women in Jacksonville History
The Ladies Education Society (1833), closely connected with I.C., is believed to be the oldest women’s club in America
In 1847, Dorothea Dix was instrumental in establishing a State Hospital in Jacksonville
Catherine Kendall (Mother) Carson -- a midwife

8. Former Jacksonville Businesses
J. Capps & Sons Mill was established in 1839 and carded and wove woolens for clothing
Andre and Andre Department Store
Lane’s Bookstore
Cassell’s Cigar Store and Factory
Schmalz & Sons Grocery
Grand Hotel and Opera House

9. Jacksonville Transportation
Cherry’s Livery
The Northern Cross was the first railroad in Jacksonville and it connected with the Illinois River in Meredosia
Hook’s Trolley System of Downtown and State Street
Jacksonville Bus Lines

10. Lasting Businesses in Jacksonville
Lukeman’s Clothier
Walton’s Appliance
Farmer’s State Bank
The Eli Bridge Co. has manufactured ferris wheels since 1900
J.C. Penney
Jacksonville Journal Courier
WLDS Radio
Passavant Area Hospital

11. Restaurants of Jacksonville
Di Silva’s Cafe
Winstead’s Drive-In
Birdsell’s Drive-In
C.R.’s Drive-In
Dairy Queen
Lonzerotti’s
Dog-N-Suds Drive-In
Top’s Big Boy Drive-In
Merrigan’s

12. Current Jacksonville Businesses
Pactiv
AC Humko (Kraft)
Nestle
Eli Bridge
Hertzberg Permabound
Bound to Stay Bound
Passavant Area Hospital
ILMO

13. Current State Institutions in Jacksonville
Jacksonville Public Schools
Illinois School for the Deaf and Illinois School for the Visually Impaired
Jacksonville Developmental Center

14. Civil War and Jacksonville
General Grierson and Grierson Days
General Grant’s Camp
Governor Richard Yates (Civil War Governor)
Abraham Lincoln
Stephen Douglas
Sammy Nichols
Civil War Memorial

15. Lawyers in Jacksonville
Abraham Lincoln sometimes practiced in Morgan County
Stephen A. Douglas was the Morgan County State’s Attorney
William Jennings Bryan was famous for the “Monkey Trials” about the teaching of Evolution in Schools
David A. Smith

16. Politicians in Jacksonville
Governor Joseph Duncan
Governor Richard Yates, Sr.
U.S. Senator Edward Spilman
Governor Richard Yates, Jr.
Stephen A. Douglas
Abraham Lincoln
William Jennings Bryan
State Representative Jim Watson, Paul Findley

17. Innovators in Jacksonville
Jonathan B. Turner
Dr. Vardiman Black
Dr. Kenniebrew
Samuel Nichols
Jacob Strawn
Sherwood Eddy
Brigadier General Daniel Morgan

18. Underground Railroad in Jacksonville
Illinois College
Jonathan B. Turner
Edward Beecher
Asa Talcott
Porter-Clay Family
Woodlawn Farm
Benjamin Grierson
Congregational Church

19. Sports Figures of Jacksonville
Ken Norton, Sr.
Creston Whitaker
Luther “Dummy” Taylor
Sherwood Eddy
Pops Hildner
Andy Kaufmann
Jerry Barber
Al Rosenburg

20. Historical Places in Jacksonville
Ayer’s Bank Building
Labor Temple
Carnegie Library
Morgan County Courthouse
Strawn Art Gallery
The old post office
The Rectory
State Street Arches

21. Historical Homes of Jacksonville
Grierson Home
Gillett Home
Talcott House
Ayer’s House
Hook Mansion
Thompson House
Yates-Rowe House
There are too many to list!
Look at this picture. Do you see why Jacksonville is sometimes called the “Elm City”?

22. Historical Homes of Jacksonville
Octagon House
Smith House
Porter-Clay House
Samuel Adam’s House
Fayerweather House
Routt-McMillan House
Peter Cartwright House
And so many more!

23. Events in Jacksonville
Chautaqua
Prairieland Heritage Days
Morgan County Fair
Grierson Days
Jacksonville Raceways
Cruise Night
Theatre Guild

24. Religion in Jacksonville
First Presbyterian Church
Centenary United Methodist Church
Northminster Church
Congregational Church
Founders of I.C. and MacMurray
Liberty Church
Asbury Church
Mt. Emory Baptist
4 Church Corner
Just to name a few…

25. And you thought Jacksonville was boring!
Wow! We have a lot to learn about our historic town! This was just the tip of the iceberg! 