Effingham

The city of Effingham was originally called Broughton, named after a Mr. Brough, an Ohio man who helped bring the Vandalia Railroad to Effingham. David B. Alexander and Samuel W. Little recorded the city’s plat in 1853. The city and county are named after Edward Effingham, a British surveyor who worked for W.L.D. Ewing, a former general in the Illinois militia. The Illinois Central Railroad was completed to Effingham in 1854. The current courthouse was completed in 1872 in the Second Empire style, since Effingham had become the county seat in 1860. The courthouse becomes the Effingham County and National Road Museum in 2007 or 2008. It is located in Douglas Township.

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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

Green Creek

H.H. Mette and Ferdinand Kaufman laid out Green Creek in 1860. James M Anderson surveyed the village for 56 lots and a church square. The northern Douglas township community was settled by German Catholics. Father Frauenhofer, a native of the German state of Bavaria, organized the settlement. Frauenhofer became the regular pastor of the St. Mary of Help Catholic Church. After only two years there, the Franciscan Fathers from Teutopolis took over the pastoral duties at the church. At one time, Green Creek had its own post office.

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Copyright 2006 Effingham County And National Road Museum Association. Site designed by ZDesigns