The History of Jacksonville

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 Toms 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
  womens 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
• Lanes Bookstore
• Cassells Cigar Store and Factory
• Schmalz Sons Grocery
• Grand Hotel and Opera House

9
Jacksonville Transportation

• Cherrys Livery
• The Northern Cross was the first railroad in
  Jacksonville and it connected with the Illinois
  River in Meredosia
• Hooks Trolley System of Downtown and State
  Street
• Jacksonville Bus Lines

10
Lasting Businesses in Jacksonville

• Lukemans Clothier
• Waltons Appliance
• Farmers 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 Silvas Cafe
• Winsteads Drive-In
• Birdsells Drive-In
• C.R.s Drive-In
• Dairy Queen
• Lonzerottis
• Dog-N-Suds Drive-In
• Tops Big Boy Drive-In
• Merrigans

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 Grants 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 States
  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

• Ayers 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
• Ayers 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 Adams 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! ?