probably a fact that this party crossed Spoon River at what was afterward known as "Boardman's Ford," located where the river crosses the S. E. 14 of Sec. 22 Essex Township. About one mile down the river from the seat of Cox's mill many evidences exist today of this trail, the crooked oak tree bent over as a sapling by early settlers or Indians, marks its pathway more definite as the beaten path or road tells to the world that here must have been a thoroughfare in a very early day. In this party was one to whom we pay honor. Whose memory we revere as he who first blazed his way in the wilderness forests of Stark County. Coming almost due north to a point in the clearing to the west of this worn trail about 11⁄2 miles on the northeast quarter of Section 15 Essex Township, where we have dedicated a small monument encasing a bronze tablet, respectfully provided for by our Honorable Board of Supervisors of Stark County, which reads: "The first resi dence in Stark County, erected by Isaac B. Essex in year 1829 on the Indian Trail near Spoon River in Essex Township, and on the stone beneath the same the S. E. 14 of Sec. 15." Mr. Essex was primarily an eastern man, coming here from Virginia, a noted pioneer. Accompanying him were Daniel Prince, Stephen French, Simon Reed, Frank Thomas and Elders Silliman and Allen. These men came to perform an act of real brotherly co-operation for their neighbor, Mr. Essex. The latter had made his claim in 1828, cut the logs and made everything ready so the evening of the second day they moved into their cabin. Mr. Essex had formerly worked in the lead mines at Galena and no doubt had traveled these trails for a few years previous. This cabin was no different from many others of its times but it was first located on Indian Trail and near Spoon River formed a nucleus for others. Good crops of potatoes and corn were raised the first year even without the protection of a fence. The French family were seven miles to the southeast. Indians were much nearer but not bad neighbors when sober. The second cabin was built by John B. Dodge in the fall of 1829, Sec. 14. In March 30 Benjamin Smith came on and built; there were but three cabins until 1831, when our settlement numbered 14 or 15. Isaac B. Essex Thomas Essex, Sr. Thomas Essex, Jr. Benjamin Smith Greenleaf Smith John C. Owns Harris W. Miner First white child born in Stark County, son of Isaac B. Essex, 1829. In this connection it is important to state that the first white male child born in LaSalle County was Augustus Bailey, father of our present townsmen and present owners of the land formerly held by Mr. Essex, born near Bailey's Falls, LaSalle County in 1828. Leaving the settlement here on Sec. 15 the trail can be followed in its northwesterly course across Sec. 10-4 of Essex and 32 of Toulon Township. Here was once the village of Moulton to the south of Toulon, evidences of a village of the trail-and a few graves from the land-marks that seem to determine these facts. The Indian Creek seems also to have been a much used camping ground in early days and numerous evidences of various trails can be found here leading in a general direction toward the northwest. "Yank Road" was formerly known to the older settlers, undoubtedly a continuation of this trail. As early as 1833, this neighborhood organized a school district and the following spring began the erection of a school building. This during a time when the state was practically without support in its common school laws. Many and great were the arguments necessary to pass laws making it legal to create schools, some arguing it was not necessary to read or write while others championed the idea of a free school system and as a means of prevention of crime agitated the education of the masses. This building was formed of logs with split logs for desks and fireplace made of sticks, straw and clay, today almost a lost art, as is evidenced by our chimney on the old log cabin. This school house, the first in the county, was erected on July 4, 1834, and Adam Perry taught the first school. To this the Board of Supervisors also wish at this time to dedicate a monument of like character of that erected to the first settler. It is fitting to honor the memory of those who founded this first school house and the great cause of education in our midst. We respectfully place on this spot on Sec. 5 this marker, also containing a bronze tablet bearing this inscription: "The location of First School House in Stark County, built in year 1834, by residents along Indian Trail in Essex Township near Spoon River." The markers were placed as near as possible to the exact spot of the location of these first buildings, and the public are urged to visit them as they are their property and help to form a connecting link in putting together the small pieces of the history mosaic. A STORY OF THE EARLY DAYS IN SPRINGFIELD The first settler of Springfield as is well known was John Kelly who came to the site of the present city in 1819. On April 10, 1821 the first board of county commissioners of the new county of Sangamon which county had been organized by Act of the Legislature a few months earlier, in January of that year, 1821, selected this site for the county seat of the new county and gave it the name of Springfield. In 1823 this selection of the site was confirmed and made permanent. About the same time 1823, a town was platted and lots were sold. This town was named Calhoun. It was located in what is now a part of the northwest section of the city of Springfield. The name did not strike the fancy of the citizens or the new comers. Few adopted or used it and it was soon entirely dropped. In the next decade the town grew rapidly. Springfield was incorporated as a town April 2, 1832. It was incorporated as a city April 6, 1840. When Illinois was admitted as a state of the Federal Union in 1818 its capital and chief city was at Kaskaskia in Randolph county, but even at that time plans were being made to remove the capital and a new site was selected and in 1820 Vandalia became the Capital of the State. In 1837 settlements in the central part of the state were becoming numerous and the Sangamon country was highly regarded by settlers. By 1837 the General Assembly had passed an act making Springfield the State Capital. This law became effective July 4, 1839. The first session of the Legislature held in Springfield convened December 9, 1839. The corner stone for the first State House built in Springfield, the building that is now the Sangamon county court house, was laid on July 4, 1837. An oration was delivered on that occasion by Edward D. Baker. A number of the early settlers of Springfield came from the south, especially from Kentucky, but there were notable exceptions. James L. Lamb who had been a successful mer chant in Kaskaskia, came to Springfield to reside in 1832. He was a native of Pennsylvania. His brother-in-law and business partner Thomas Mather, was born in Connecticut. He came to Springfield from Kaskaskia in 1834. Mr. Pascal P. Enos, one of the early proprietors of the town was a native of Windsor, Connecticut. He came to Springfield in 1823, having been appointed by President Monroe Receiver of the Land Office. Dr. Gershom Jayne was born in Orange County, New York and came to Springfield in 1821. His daughter Julia became the wife of Lyman Trumbull. She was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Mr. Lincoln and Miss Todd. Ninian Edwards, Governor of Illinois Territory, came from Kentucky to Illinois in 1809, but he was born in Maryland March 17, 1775. He was one of Illinois' first United States Senators when Illinois was admitted to the Union and was Governor of the State from 1826-1830. His son Ninian Wirt Edwards was born in Kentucky in 1809, but came to Illinois with his parents when an infant, his father having been that year (1809) appointed governor of Illinois Territory. Ninian Wirt Edwards became a citizen of Springfield in 1835. His wife was Elizabeth P. Todd, daughter of Mr. Robert S. Todd of Lexington, Kentucky. Her sister, Mary Todd came to visit her soon after the Edwards family located in Springfield, and she made the acquaintance of Abraham Lincoln to whom she was married in the Edwards home on Friday, November 4, 1842. Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd became engaged to be married in 1840 but their courtship was not without some interruptions. The Edwards home stood where the west end of the Centennial Memorial building now stands. On the ground now belonging to the state as a part of the grounds of the Centennial building and south of the Edwards house, in 1838, stood a house owned and inhabited by Mr. Lawrason Levering. Mr. Levering was the son of Judge Aaron A. Levering of Georgetown, D. C. At about that time Mr. Levering had as a visitor in his home his sister, Miss Mercy A. Levering who afterwards became the wife of James C. Conkling. Mr. Conkling and Miss Levering were married September 11, 1841, more than a year before the marriage of Mr. Lincoln and Miss Mary Todd. This young lady and Miss Mary Todd, who was visit |