The territory comprised within the limits of Macoupin County was originally a portion of Madison, and was ceded to Greene when that County was set off from Madison. As early as 1820, the list of settlers included the following names: Seth Hodges, John Love, Richard Chapman, James Hall, Samuel Leir, George Mathews, David Coop, Joseph Burough, William Wilcox, Edward McKinley and Bennett Nolan. At that time, improvements were very limited, and the Indian tribes roamed over the prairies at will. The most numerous of these tribes were the Osages, Delawares, Kickapoos and Pottawattomies. The region was, doubtless, as fine a one for game as there was in the State. Macoupin is an Indian word, signifying "white potato." County organization was effected in the year 1829, and the first court was held on April 12th, at the house of Joseph Burough. The County Commissioners were Seth Hodges, William Wilcox, and Theodorus Davis. Tristram P. Hoxsey was appointed County Clerk, and three election districts were created. William G. Coop was the first Treasurer and Assessor. The County Court was held at private houses until 1830, when the log court house was completed. As it contained but two rooms, it was the custom of the jury to retire for deliberation to an adjoining thicket. In this building was also held the first Circuit Court of the county, Samuel D. Lockwood being the Presiding Judge, John Harris, Sheriff, and David Coop, Coroner. In 1837, a two-story brick replaced the log court house, and thirty years later was commenced the erection of the present magnificent structure. The first Surveyor was Joseph Burough, who laid out the county seat in 1829. John L. Davis took the census in 1830. The first educational structure of any importance was erected at Carlinville in 1835, and is still standing. Macoupin can now boast of as fine schools as any county in the State. The first store was owned by Starr & Winchester, and kept by William Barrett. The Methodists of Carlinville erected the first church. The first railway built through the county was the Chicago & Alton, which reached the county seat on July 4, 1852. Four others have since gone into operation. Macoupin has become one of the largest and finest farming counties in the State. The surface is mostly level, garnished with narrow belts of timber running nearly the entire length of the county. Both corn and wheat are successfully cultivated. There are coal shafts and banks at various points. Carlinville has one of the finest universities in the State, and all the principal towns have fine public schools. Agriculture predominates in the southern part of the county and stock raising in the northern. Carlinville has a population of over 4,000. Blackburne University, founded by the Rev. Gideon Blackburne, has a fund of $80 000 and an attendance of 200 students. Bunker Hill is situated on the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, and located on a gradually sloping mound. The site was originally known as Wolves' Run. The population is about 1,800. Stanton contains about 1,500 inhabitants and is located on the Toledo, Wabash & Western Railway. Virden and Girard are the largest grain shipping towns in the county, having each about 1,500 inhabitants, with fine educational facilities.
Contributed 2022 Apr 12 by Norma Hass, extracted from Atlas of the State of Illinois, published in 1876, by Warner & Beers, pages 197-198.
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