The Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal™

Sunday, September 18, 2022

Lost Towns of Illinois - Evans, Illinois.

Evans (aka Evans Point) was in Marshall County, Illinois, on the old Chicago & Alton railroad grade.

Evans Township is traversed by two railroads; the Illinois Central extends most of the way along its eastern border and the Chicago & Alton through the center of the southern half. The crossing of the two railroads was selected for a station. At that point, the planned rail station was amidst an immense prairie with not a settler or house for miles.

On section 28 of Evans township was a railroad station on the Chicago & Alton railroad, which took the name of "Evans." It was quite a busy shipping point for grain and livestock. Evans had a general store and a blacksmith shop. The post office opened in 1873 but was discontinued in 1905 because of the advent of Rural Free Delivery (RFD).

Evans did not improve, according to the expectations of its founders, and returned to the beginning; an "Evans Point" rail station for shipping and not much else. Its most prominent characteristic was its claim of the highest point between the Illinois and Wabash Rivers.

The local Post Office in Wenona, Illinois, a Chicago & Alton railroad town, said there was absolutely nothing left of Evans, Illinois.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Lost Towns of Illinois - Greenridge, Illinois.

Greenridge is located in Nilwood Township, Macoupin County, on Rt 4, two miles north-north-east of Nilwood.

It was right next to a railroad that is no longer in use, which is probably why Greenridge, like other towns, became a ghost town. Residents moved to other nearby locations. There was one house left close to where downtown was.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Lost Towns of Illinois - Stachnikville, Illinois.

The exact location is unknown, but I believe it is very close to Peoria, Illinois.

Stacknikville is a desolate ghost town in Tazewell County, Illinois, founded in 1856 as a small coal mining settlement.

It reached its peak in 1873 and then began a steep decline. Coal miners fell on hard times in the late 19th century. The town was ridden by poverty and sickness as people fought to keep their families together as their main source of income dwindled. A rebound began when an underground spring was discovered but didn't make much of a difference.

The population diminished rather quickly as the surrounding towns became more popular and the coal mining industry dried up in this area. The only thing that still remains is the Hillman Street Barn.

The original town had been leveled, and the property was returned to cultivable land.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Lost Towns of Illinois - Ledford, Illinois.

Ledford was an unincorporated community in the Harrisburg Township, Saline County, Illinois.

Ledford was located just south of Harrisburg, Illinois, on US 45. It was named after a well-known Ledford family in the area. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the peak of the coal boom in Saline County, it was a thriving mining center home to more than 1,000 people.

At one time, it had a population of 1,100 to 1,400 people. According to an early edition of the Harrisburg Daily Register, there was a time during the first 10 years of the 20th century when the population of Ledford was larger than that of Harrisburg, the county seat. In 1905, Saline County had numerous small slope mines and 15 major shaft mines. Thirteen of these larger mines were along the Big Four Railway; "The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis Railway Company" [CCC&StL], (1889-1930), that traveled through Ledford.

At some point, Ledford was annexed to Harrisburg, Illinois. Almost all signs of the mining industry are gone. The mines’ air shafts and fans are gone, along with the many coal tipples[1] and mine ponds that dotted the area. The smokestacks are missing, and the air is clean. Gone are the sounds of the tipples hoisting coal, the steam whistles signaling the men, and the occasional snorts of a steam locomotive or the groaning of a streetcar motor.

Ledford is now one of Harrisburg's ten neighborhoods; Buena Vista, Dorris Heights, Dorrisville, Garden Heights, Gaskins City, Ledford, Liberty, Old Harrisburg Village, and the Wilmoth Addition.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

[1] A tipple is a structure used at a mine to load the extracted coal or ores for transport, typically into railroad hopper cars.

Lost Towns of Illinois - Horace, Illinois.

Horace has suffered the ultimate indignity: its name is misspelled on Illinois maps as "Harris." It appears to have been a small farming hamlet.

Horace was located in Edgar County, about one mile west of Illinois Route 1 and five miles north of Paris, Illinois. The Edgar County Airport is where the location of Horace, Illinois, was located.

The major remnant is an old brick mercantile building, although there are some other abandoned buildings in the area.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Citation-Free Writing as a Pedagogical Tool

Citation-Free Writing as a Teaching Tool. The lack of inline citations in this journal is intentional. It follows a long tradition in respected popular history and journalism—such as Smithsonian Magazine and American Heritage—where writing is meant for a broad, curious audience rather than only academic specialists. Instead of supplying ready-made source lists, these articles are meant to spark independent research. Students and researchers are encouraged to investigate claims, check facts, and build context independently. This active approach promotes a sense of intellectual ownership, strengthens research skills, and deepens understanding of history. A Lifelong Commitment to Historical Inquiry Dr. Neil Gale has devoted decades to the study and teaching of history. From his first work at the 1979 Chicago Metro History Fair to his continuing mentorship through Illinois History Day, his focus has always been on context, complexity, and curiosity—not just on collecting facts. His work models history as an ongoing conversation rather than a fixed record. Educators across Illinois and beyond have embraced this approach because it helps students build strong research habits and confidence in working with complex historical material. These articles serve as starting points, encouraging future historians to ask questions, follow evidence, and develop interpretations in their own voice. A Dynamic, Multidisciplinary Method. This journal treats history as more than a simple timeline of events. It combines: ● Narrative construction – shaping events into meaningful stories. ● Comparative analysis – examining different communities and civilizations across time and place. ● Cultural mapping – exploring how memory, identity, and place interact. By blending careful archival research with thoughtful storytelling, this method helps historians and students: ● Place events within broader social, political, and technological contexts . ● Compare societies across time and geography to see patterns and differences. ● Create narratives that respect both emotional truth and factual evidence, turning archival records into lasting historical insight. ● Review and Evaluation Entries in this journal are periodically reviewed for clarity, accuracy, and educational value. Readers, educators, and subject-matter experts are invited to offer comments and corrections. This open, collaborative process reflects the journal’s core belief that history is a shared endeavor, strengthened by many voices. How This Journal Uses Sources ● This journal does not use inline citations on purpose. That choice is part of how it teaches history. ● It follows the tradition of trusted history magazines like Smithsonian and American Heritage. Those publications are written for curious readers, not just college professors. In the same way, this journal is meant to be readable, engaging, and open to a wide audience. ● Instead of giving you every source up front, the articles are meant to be starting points. You are invited to: Track down where a claim might come from. Check facts by looking at other books, documents, or websites. Build your own understanding of the time period or event. Working this way helps you: ● Take ownership of your research. ● Build stronger research skills. ● Develop a deeper understanding of history because you discover things for yourself. ● These articles are invitations, not final answers. ● They encourage you to ask questions, follow clues, and explain the past in your own voice. Dr. Neil Gale’s Work in History Dr. Neil Gale has spent many years studying and sharing Illinois history. He began this work in 1979 at the first Chicago Metro History Fair and has continued mentoring students through Illinois History Day. His goal is not just to list facts. He wants readers and students to: ● See how events fit into a bigger story. ● Understand that history is complex, not simple. ● Stay curious and keep asking “why” and “how.” Dr. Gale’s approach shows that history is not a frozen list of dates. It is more like an ongoing conversation across time. Many teachers in Illinois and beyond use this journal because it: ● Builds research and critical thinking skills. ● Helps students feel more confident reading and using historical sources. How This Journal Teaches History. This journal treats history as more than a timeline. It combines: ● Storytelling – turning facts into clear, meaningful stories. ● Comparing and contrasting – looking at different communities or time periods side by side. ● Cultural mapping – asking how people’s beliefs, memories, and identities shape events. ● Using both careful research and strong storytelling, this method helps students and historians: ● Put events in a larger social, political, and technological context. ● Compare different places and times to see patterns and differences. ● Write stories that are both accurate and emotionally honest, turning old records into powerful histories. How Articles Are Reviewed Entries in this journal are checked from time to time for: ● Clarity – Is the writing easy to understand? ● Accuracy – Are the facts correct? ● Educational value – Will this help students and teachers learn and teach history? ● Readers, teachers, and experts are welcome to send in comments or corrections. This open style of review aligns with the journal’s central idea: that history is something we explore together, not alone. .............................................. Revised statement — The Digital Research Library of Illinois History Journal™ Peer Reviewed: July 7, 2025 Copilot AI ♦ Impact Score: 1