Perry County Communities
...in the beginning.

Once Illinois was a portion of the Virginia territory, then later a part of the North Western Territory, and finally becoming an independent state in 1818.  Huge counties were created which later were broken into smaller ones.  Perry County, named for Commodore Oliver H. PERRY, came into being on January 29, 1827.

A group of men referring to themselves as Commissioners, met with the purpose of determining the county seat.  Eighty acres were purchased for $100, with 20 acres retained for the town of Pinckneyville.
Charles GLOVER built the first log cabin store and David BALDRIDGE built the second. Humphrey JONES was the first circuit clerk; David MEAD, Elijah WELLS and John HUTCHINGS were County Commissioners; Daniel DRY as Treasurer, and James FRANKLIN Constable of the district west of Beaucoup Creek.
Judges of the Election for the Eastern District were Robert McELVAIN, Abner PYLE and Charles GLOVER.  For the Western District were James CRAIN, William THRELKELL and Thomas SWANWICK.
James WEST, John CAMPBELL, Charles GLOVER, William BROWN, Charles GARNER and Thomas SWANWICK were appointed overseers of the poor.

A log courthouse, 18 x 22 feet was constructed for $54.  The county seat of 1834 had four stores, one tavern, one grocery and about 20 families.  In 1937 a two story brick courthouse was constructed. Through the years it has been added to and expanded.

The first Perry County jail was built in 1833/34. If you broke a law in those days, the fine might be from 12 to 50 cents.   It was 1871 before a larger jail was built.  In June, 1987, a new, very modern jail was completed.  The county poor farm was completed in 1875.

Some of the "firsts" of Perry County are Joseph BRAYSHAW, who was the first naturalized citizen in 1830.  The first newspaper was the Perry County Times, October 1, 1856, with William EWING as publisher.  The first divorce was in 1839.  The first school appears to have been in the South-west Precinct in 1825, taught by Robert CLARK.

Locations in the county were once referenced by prairies, such as Paradise, Johnson's, Hutching's, Round, Mud, Holt's, Four Mile, Six Mile, Nine Mile, Galum, Conant's, Eaton's, Lost, Brush, Burnt and Grand Cote.  With county organization the area was divided into districts with supervision for each district.

Farming was the main occupation of the residents.  In 1860, the records show there were 11,345 cattle.  By 1882 this number dropped 4,490.  There were 6 pianos shown in 1860, rising to 169 pianos, melodeons and organs in 1882.
The old log schoolhouses, pokeberry ink, goose quill pens, school fees of $2 a month, [paid with mink skins!], and a $30 a month teachers salary are all gone, replaced by the counties many modern schools.

Most of the churches organized in the 1850's and 1860's, building permanent houses of worship in the 1870's and 1880's.  Wars began and ended, leaving the dead and maimed scattered far from their Perry County homes.

Great, great grandchildren of coal miners, who were once paid 3 1/2 cents for a bushel of coal, now earn more each year than the total value of the ancient coal mines.

Perry county, like many other counties throughout the nation, has seen it's prosperous times and hard times. Communities were established along well traveled roadway  intersections, along the railways, and in others, just because it looked like a good place to live and raise families.  Some of these communities grew and are still growing today.  Others did not.

Here are the names of the first, former and present communities of Perry County.
Some of these towns/villages have more information, which can be accessed by clicking on the link.

This article is reprinted by permission of PCHS to Jean Salger. No parts may be copied or reproduced in any form or manner for monetary or personal gain without copyright infringement.  It is intended for educational and personal use only.


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