.jpg)
Montgomery County (IL) Genealogical Society
TOWNS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY IL
Most of the towns in Montgomery County became a reality due to the coming of the railroad. First came the St Louis, Alton & Terre Haute Railroad (known as the Big 4) in the 1850's. Towns along the Big 4 are Ohlman, Nokomis, Witt, Irving, Butler & Litchfield. The Toledo, Wabash & Western Railroad (known as the Wabash) came in the 1870's led to Harvel, Raymond & Honey Bend before coming through Litchfield. In 1895, the Chicago, Peoria & St Louis Railroad (known as the Illinois Central) led to Thomasville, Farmersville & Waggoner before Litchfield. Also in 1895, the Jacksonville-Southeastern Railroad (known as CB&Q) led to Barnett, through Litchfield, and Walshville. Also in 1895, the Toledo, St Louis & Kansas City (known as the Nickel Plate) through Fillmore, Coffeen, and Donnellson.
PRESENT TOWNS
BUTLER
Platted in 1855 on land entered by William Seward, Butler is located in Butler Grove Township. When the St Louis & Terre Haute Railroad reached Butler in 1855 and bypassed the small village of Woodsboro to the south, William Wood moved his store from Woodsboro to Butler. The folks of Butler and Mr Wood had conflicts and Mr Wood moved to build the town of Melrose, a part of present day Witt.
Butler is home to the Montgomery County Fair.
COALTON
Platted in 1913, Coalton is located on the southwestern edge of the town of Nokomis. It began with the sinking of the coal shaft nearby, providing much needed housing for the miners.
COFFEEN
Platted in 1881, Coffeen is located in East Fork Township. When the Cloverleaf Railroad was built across land belonging to G. F. Coffeen, he platted the town at the intersection of the railroad and the Hillsboro to Vandalia road. A public park was platted, trees were planted and lots were sold. A coal mine was sunk and was prosperous for quite a number of years.
DONNELLSON
Platted in 1860, Donnellson is located mostly in Grisham Township. Originally platted on forty acres of land owned by Carson Donnell. In 1881, the Cloverleaf Railroad was built through Donnellson providing a better means for the transporting of livestock and grain.
FARMERSVILLE
Platted in 1893, Farmersville is located in Bois D'Arc Township. Built along the Chicago, Peoria and St. Louis Railroad (Illinois Central), the community was named for "a community of farmers".
FILLMORE
Platted in 1881, Fillmore is located in Fillmore Township. Along the newly built Cloverleaf Railroad, Fillmore boasted three general stores, one grocery store, two hardware stores, two restaurants, one hotel, one harness shop, two barber shops, two blacksmith shops, two garages, one livery barn, one grain elevator, one poultry house, one stock buyer, two banks, electric lights and two telephone service providers
HARVEL
Platted in 1869, Harvel is located in Harvel Township. Built on land owned by John Harvel, where its name originated. It is located on the Montgomery and Christian county line with a small part of the town in Christian County. Harvel was built along the Wabash Railroad.
HILLSBORO
Platted in 1823, Hillsboro is the county seat of Montgomery County. Hillsboro is the second site for this honor, with Hamilton as the first site chosen. The choosing of a new site was due to conflict over Hamilton not being centrally located in the county.
The original town, consisting of 20 acres, was donated by Newton Coffey. Boundaries for the original town were on the south, Wood Street, on the the west, Hamilton Street, on the east, Broad Street, and on the north, almost to Brailey Street.
IRVING
Platted in 1863, Irving is located in Irving Township. The first storehouse built within its limits was in 1846 by William S. Berry and Thomas G. Black long before the village was there. The small settlement began at that time, attracting other businesses and residents, but it was not until years later that a plat was made and lots sold within the boundaries of Irving. In 1856, the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, later known as the Big Four, was built through the settlement and plans began for the platting of a town.
LITCHFIELD
Platted in 1853 by Thomas Gray, the 80 acre tract was named Huntsville. In 1855, with the building of the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, the railroad decided to locate through Huntsville. This decision became the death of the village of Hardinsburg due to the railroad going to the north. In 1855, four brothers, surnamed Litchfield, came from New York in connection with the railroad. With their arrival and the purchase of a large amount of land, the Litchfield family became the major landowner. When the railroad was looking for a place to establish a terminal and car works, the Litchfields were willing to donate the land needed by the railroad and securing the growth of this new town. The name was changed from Huntsville to Litchfield. The car works employed over 150 trained mechanics and became the leader in the town's industrial development. Litchfield became the only town in the county with four different railroads passing through; the Terre Haute & Alton (Big Four), the Jacksonville Southeastern (Burlington), the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis (IL Central) and the Wabash.
NOKOMIS
Platted in 1856, Nokomis is located in Nokomis Township. Built with the arrival of the Terre Haute & Alton Railrod, later known as the Big Four, Nokomis has prospered. A coal mine was sunk nearby.
OHLMAN
Platted in 1886, Ohlman is the only town in Audubon Township. Capt. Michael Ohlman, a steamboat captain, planned the town along the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, later known as the Big Four, which had been built across the township in 1856.
PANAMA
Platted in 1907, Panama is located in Grisham Township. The Montgomery-Bond county line runs through the village with part in each county. A vein of coal was located, the shaft sunk, and the village of Panama was built around it. Most of the early residents were miners who immigrated here from foreign lands.
RAYMOND
Platted in 1870, Raymond is located in Raymond Township. This was at the time of the building of the Wabash Railroad. Shortly after, houses were built, stores were opened, and a warehouse for grain was built.
SCHRAM CITY & KORTKAMP aka POCOCK
Along the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, a station was secured on property owned by a Mr. Pocock. Early railroad records indicate this station as Pocock. A coal mine and shaft were sunk, houses were erected, and William Kortkamp was named as mine manager. The town was called Kortkamp. In 1906, Mr. Schram proposed to establish a large plant for the manufacture of the Schram automatic glass jar. A town was platted and the building of houses started. A schoolhouse was built between Schram City and Kortkamp and the two small villages shared the school. When incorporated, both towns merged and used the Schram City name.
TAYLOR SPRINGS
Taylor Springs is located one and one-half miles south of Hillsboro along the Big Four Railroad. Taylor Springs was the home of the largest smelter in the world, the American Acid Company. There was also a coal mine. Several housing areas were established; Frametown, Hillcrest and Summit Heights, which are all part of present day Taylor Springs.
VAN BURENSBURG
Laid out in 1837 and platted in 1842, VanBurensburg is located in Fillmore Township. It is located in the south east corner of that township near the Fayette and Bond county lines. The original plat contained 40 lots and a town square. Later another 150 lots were platted and the name was changed to Hurricane. The Cloverleaf Railroad bypassed the little "burg" and the hoped for growth did not happen.
WAGGONER
Platted in 1886, Waggoner is located in Pitman Township along the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis (Illinois Central) Railroad. In the early years, Waggoner boasted four general stores, two restaurants, one hotel, a lumber yard, a bank, a post office, an eletric light system, two telephone providers, and more.
WALSHVILLE
In 1850, a storehouse was built where the village of Walshville now is. It was later that Michael Walsh looked towards the future. He platted the town, named for him, into 16 blocks with 8 lots per block. The Jacksonville Southeastern Railrod (Burlington) runs through Walshville.
WENONAH
About one mile north of Nokomis, a coal mine was sunk. In 1905, Wenonah was platted for housing for the coal miners. The plat consisted of 12 blocks, with 12 lots per block.
WITT
In 1868, William Wood platted a town on the south side of the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad (later the Big Four). Mr. Wood had founded Woodsboro in the 1850's, then went to Butler, before started a new town here. A year later, when the town failed to grow, he sold his town Melrose to Thos. Sauders of Philadelphia. When turned down for a post office, due to another town named Melrose, Mr. Saunders called the town Witt. Mr. Wood proceded to build another town on the other side of the railroad from the town he had sold. This second town he named Chance. In 1894, George W. Paisley and others sunk a coal mine one mile south of Witt. He then platted a town, calling it Paisley, to accomodate the miners' need for housing.
The village of Witt, including Chance, was incorporated in 1895. In 1905, Paisley was annexed into the village of Witt.
SMALL SETTLEMENTS (Former Towns)
BARNETT
Barnett is located on the North Litchfield & Zanesville Township line near the Macoupin County line. The village was platted along the Jacksonville Southeastern Railroad. Lots were laid out around a central public square.
CHAPMAN
Located in Section 28 of Fillmore Township, Chapman was platted along the Cloverleaf Railroad. Unfortunately, the small town was located too close to Fillmore to have much chance of growing.
HONEY BEND
There was already a small settlement when the Wabash Railroad was built. The community requested and was granted a station on the railroad. The settlement was named Honey Bend.
KORTKAMP
Located just to the northeast of Schram City, along the Terre Haute & Alton Railroad, a station was secured on property owned by a Mr. Pocock. Early railroad records indicate this station as Pocock. A coal mine and shaft were sunk, houses were erected, and William Kortkamp was named as mine manager. The town was called Kortkamp.
THOMASVILLE
Located in Section 16 of Bois D'Arc Township, Thomasville was platted along the Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad on land of L. H. Thomas. Mr. Thomas seured a railroad station and post office.
FORGOTTEN TOWNS
AUDUBON
Audubon was laid out in 1834 by a colony of emigrants from Massachusetts. At one time Audubon competed with Hillsboro for the county seat. Audubon enjoyed a few years of prosperity, then the town began to fade. The courthouse was sold to the Methodists, the magnificent hotel was torn down and a farm house was built from it. Some buildings were moved into Nokomis.
CHANCE
Chance, another town laid out by William Wood, was located across the railroad tracks from the town of Melrose, that he had previously sold. Mr. Wood moved his store building from Melrose to his new town of Chance. William died in 1873. Chance is part of the present day Witt.
FRAMETOWN, HILLCREST, SUMMIT HEIGHTS
Became "additions" to Taylor Springs.
GRISHAM
Grisham, a town platted in Section 7 of Grisham Township, in the early 1900's was attempted by S. P. Chapin ad others. Lots were sold, but failing to secure the sinking of a coal shaft, as had been promised, the lot owners refused to build. As a result, the proposed town site was abandoned. 1918 Historical Ency of Montgomery County, page 877
HAMILTON
Hamilton, the first county seat, was located in Hillsboro Township. The town was laid out, lots were sold, and a few houses built, though no courthouse or other public buildings were erected. Shortly after the town was laid out, the location of the county seat was changed to Hillsboro, as it was more centrally located in the county.
According to the 1882 History of Bond & Montgomery County, IL, page 220, "From its ruins, however, arose eventually, the village of Woodsboro, which was laid out very near if not at the same place where Hamilton had formerly stood. It is not believed at present that Woodsboro was laid out in the same location as Hamilton, but one to two miles to the west of the site."
HARDINSBURG
Hardinsburg was located in Section 7 of South Litchfield Township. The town was laid out in 1850 consisting of 17 blocks, with 8 lots each, and several families built homes there. A Methodist Chapel was built in 1853 or 1854. Hardinsburg was the only village between Woodsboro and Bunker Hill. With the building of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, the founding of Litchfield just a couple of miles to the northeast, the village of Hardinsburg disappeared. Families moved with their buildings into the new town of Litchfield.
HUNTSVILLE
Huntsville was the original name when the initial survey was made for present day Litchfield in the fall of 1853. The survey consisted of "a cornfield was converted into 236 lots and this 80 acres was the beginning of Huntsville, today called Litchfield." Litchfield Centennial 1853-1953, page 16. The name of Huntsville was changed to Litchfield when the railroad was built to honor Electus Bachus Litchfield, Director of Terre Haute and Alton Railroad.
HURRICANE
Hurricane was the original name of VanBurensburg.
.jpg)
LEESBURG
Leesburg, named after Robert E. Lee, a wholesale merchant of St. Louis and whose name the land was entered, was laid out into town lots about the year 1828. Its name was later changed to Zanesville.
MELROSE
Melrose was founded by William Wood (of Woodsboro, then Butler) in late 1868. He built a store facing that part of the Nokomis-Hillsboro Road he named Talmadge Street. It was parallel to and one block north of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad. Witt Centennial 1868-1968, page 7. In February 1869, William Wood sold seventy acres in Section 5 & 6 to Thos. Saunders of Philadelphia for $25 per acre. This included Wood's town of Melrose consisting of 9 blocks laid out on 3 streets all north of the railroad. The town's name of Melrose was unable to get a post office as there was another town by that name and was renamed Witt.
.jpg)
PAISLEY
Paisley was a small village consisting of 60 acres, founded by George William Paisley. Mr. Paisley bought his land north of Witt in 1879. In 1894, he purchased more land southwest of the original town and sank a coal mine. He built his own town and named it Paisley. He built a depot and post office, but had trouble convincing both the railroad and the federal government that another depot and post office were neded only one mile from the already established ones in Witt. Paisley was annexed into Witt in 1905.
POCOCK
Another name for Kortkamp along the Illinois Central Railroad per Rand McNally.
WOODSBORO
Woodsboro was laid out in 1848 in Hillsboro Township where the Springfield & Greenville road crossed the Hillsboro & St. Louis road, about 3 miles southwest of Hillsboro on the William Wood farm. William Wood, after whom the town was named, succeeded in getting a post office in 1848. Woodsboro flourished until about 1853 when the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad was built through Butler. Mr. Wood moved to Butler, and then to the Witt area.
"A church of the Methodist denomination was built at Woodsboro", 1882 History of Bond & Montgomery Counties, IL - page 220. This church was located on the west side of what is now Miller Trail, between Walshville Trail and Farm Trail. This church was destroyed in 1883 during the devastating tornado.
ZANESVILLE
Originally called Leesburg, Zanesville was at one time considered the second most important place in the county. By 1830, the town had a large store, businesses of various kinds, a school, and lots were sold rapidly. Zanesville was located in the northwest corner of Section 7 of Zanesville Township.