Histories

1876 Atlas - History of Bond County

Bond County lies in the southwestern quarter of the State, and is one of the smaller counties, having an area of but 378 square miles. As early as 1807, settlers from the Southern States established Hill's fort and Jones' fort, both in the vicinity of Greenville, and it is stated that in 1816 there were not over twenty-five log cabins in the county. The earliest residence at Greenville was erected in 1815, by George Davidson, and was a log cabin with puncheon floor, clapboard roof, and not a window or nail in the structure. The county was organized in 1818, and named after Gov. Bond, the first court being held at Perryville. The counties of Fayette, Montgomery and Clinton were soon after set off from Bond, and the county seat of the latter established at Greenville, the first court house being erected in 1822. The northern portion of the town stands on the highest ground between Terre Haute and St. Louis, and the population is over 2,000. The first Commissioners were Thomas Kirkpatrick, Martin Jones and Isaac Price. The earliest Circuit Court was held at Hill's Station in May, 1817, by Hon. Jesse B. Thomas. The county contains a due proportion of timber and prairie, and is watered by Shoal and Hurricane Creeks and the Kaskaskia River. Coal is exposed on Lula Fork, and on the prairies lie round granite stones, weighing from one hundred to several thousand pounds, called by the pioneers "lost rocks." The only railway is the St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute. The county had, in 1870, a population of 13,152. [page 182]

1882 Historical Section of History of Bond

1882 Biographical Section of History of Bond

1905 Historical Souvenir of Greenville

1912 A History of Southern Illinois

1922 History of the Spradlings

1936 Economic and Social History

1938 Farming a Century Ago

2002 Historical Stories

Border Changes

Letters submitted Nov 2013 by Mary Lens

Schools

		Greenville High School Class of 1892. The photo was taken by DeMoulin Studios of Greenville & Vandalia. Annie Eliza SANDIFER is second from the left in the back row.

		Annie Eliza SANDIFER (1875-1967) at the time of her graduation.

		1926 Jun 01 Pocahontas High School Top Row: Lola Gilliland, Clay Wiedner, Leone Ossola, Valley Carson, Alma Schmitt Row 2: Giendone Simpson, Paul Sussenbach, Elva Haenny, Virgil Sussenbach, Stella Rule Row 3: Ada Shaffer, Rusty Doris C Redding, Margaret Craig, Arthur Stewart, Frances Redding Row 4: Evelyn Jenner, Gerald Brown, Charles A. Vonderbruegge, J R Greathouse - principal Bottom Row: A___ Grobe - faculty, Miss Mildred Kemper - faculty, Miss Grace Thompson - faculty Contributed 21 May 2020 by Catherine Kaye

		1934 Pocahontas Elementary School Contributed 21 May 2020 by Catherine Kaye

		1934 Pocahontas Elementary School Faculty Front Row: Esther Schwierjohn, Marie Swofford, and Elizabeth Jenner Contributed 21 May 2020 by Catherine Kaye

		1934 Pocahontas Elementary School Class - Esther Schwierjohn, teacher Contributed 21 May 2020 by Catherine Kaye

Matchbooks

I came across an old matchbook from a restaurant on U.S. 40 called the "Bel Air Restaurant" in Greenville, ILL. .... The flip side is for another restaurant on U.S. 40 called the "Salad Bowl Cafe" in Greenup. ILL. I don't know anymore about the restaurants but I'm sure it will bring back fond memories to someone. Susie