Brownstown
John Brown founded Brownstown in 1870. The town was surveyed and platted on May 13,1870 by A.H. Wing, the Fayette County surveyor. Brownstown was laid out parallel to the St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute Railroad and the National Road.
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William C. Greenup was appointed to survey the area of Vandalia overlooking the Kaskaskia River. Greenup, along with Beal Greenup and John McCollum, completed the survey in July 1819. The name Vandalia is thought to have come from William Greenup himself. Someone suggested “van” from “vanguard” or an advancing military unit. Another person suggested “dalia” from the Anglo Saxon “dale” meaning river valley. Greenup supposedly combined the two words to form Vandalia. It was the second capital of Illinois 1819-1839. The first Illinois State House is located in the downtown square and is an Illinois historic site where a grand levee is held every summer. A “Madonna of the Trail” statue is located on the southwest corner of the State House square. This is dedicated to the pioneers who risked their lives in settling the wilderness known as Illinois.
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Vandalia
Images courtesy of Phil Lewis and the Historical Collectors' Association for the Effingham County and National Road Museum Association.
Effingham County and National Road community histories by Phil Lewis
Copyright 2006 Effingham County And National Road Museum Association. Site designed by ZDesigns