Macoupin County
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History of the Village of Palmyra

[formerly named Newburg, then Cummington, then Palmyra]

The village of Palmyra is built on the township line, between North and South Palmyra. The portion in South Palmyra stands on the northwest quarter of section 4. The part in North Palmyra on the southwest quarter of section 33. The portion of town on section 4 was laid out by D. N. SOLOMON, in the year 1855. The north portion, on section 33, was laid out by J. F. NIFONG and H. BERRY, in 1855. The old town of NEWBURG, was situated on section 4, and was laid out in 1835 by JAMES CAVE.

The first house was built by WILLIAM OWENS, in 1835; it was a log building.
The first hotel was kept by W. B. GARDINER. SCOTT & BOSWORTH kept the first store.
The first post office was kept by OAKES SHAW, in the year 1841.
The first blacksmith shop was started by JAMES L. WARFIELD.
The first church was built by the Cumberland Presbyterians, in the year 1857.
The first sermon was preached in the house of OAKES SHAW, by the Rev. L. W. WILLIAMS, a Presbyterian, in 1838.
The first school was taught by Miss ELIZA HERSEY, in the fall of 1836.
The first physician was Dr. THORNTON, who located here in the spring of 1840.
Another early physician was Dr. H. J. VANWINKLE.

About the year 1842 the town had its name changed from that of NEWBURG to CUMMINGTON, and continued by that name for about thirteen years, at which time new buildings were erected a little west of the old town and on a more desirable site. The ground was higher and afforded some shade. Business was changed to the new part of the town. A new name was given to the village, and from that time it has been called "PALMYRA". After the survey and laying out of the town, in 1855, it received a fresh impulse. Shops, stores, &c., were put up in rapid succession. A hotel was built on the north side by R. F. BRACKEN, in 1855.

The first church edifice was erected by the Christian in 1867. The first preacher was G. M. GOODE.

The first mill was built by A. C. FARMER; F. E. SHAW and J. F. NIFONG, in the year 1856.
Subsequently NIFONG & SOLOMON built a saw mill. ...


Contributed by Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor, extracted from the History of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1879, pages 222-223.

Organization of Palmyra Village

United States of America
State of Illinois ss
Macoupin County In County Court June Term. A. D. 1881
Pleas, before the Honorable Lewis P. Peebles Judge of the County Court of Macoupin County, in the State aforesaid, and at a regular term thereof begun and holden at the Court House, in the City of Carlinville, in said County, on the second Monday, being the thirteenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty one and of the Independance of the said United States the one hundred and fifth. Present. Honorable Lewis P. Peebles. Judge
A. H. Bell. States Attorney
John F. Sunderland. Sheriff
Attest: C. Westermeir Jr Clerk
And afterwards to wit on the 20th day of June A. D. 1881 it being still one of the days of said term of Court held at ?? Present. ?? is afterforesaid the following proceedings were had and became of record in said court. No. 62.
In the matter of the Petition of S. D. Carlile, T. W. Chiles and others for an order of court, submitting to legal voters, the question of village organization for Palmyra under the general law.

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And now on this day comes the petitioners herein and present their petition to the Court asking for an order of said court submitting to the legal voters residing in the district proposed to be organized the proposition for or against Village organization under the general law, said village when organized to be called Palmyra, ordered that the Clerk of this court file said petition, and the court having read and duly considered said petition. It is therefore considered and ordered by the Court, that an election be held at Palmyra, Macoupin County, State of Illinois. On the 12th day of July A. D. 1881, Submitting the question of Village Organization under the general law to the legal voters residing in the district sought to be organized. It is further ordered that T. W. Chiles, S. Berry and M. Loran be, and are hereby appointed Judges of said election.
Copy of Petition filed in said Court.
June 17th A. D. 1881.

State of Illinois Palmyra, Ills. June 10, 1881
Macoupin County

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To his Honor, L. P. Peebles, Judge of Macoupin County Court

The undersigned legal voters Petition your Honor to order an election for the purpose of submitting to the legal voters residing within the limits hereafter described, the proposition for and against Village Organization under the general law, said village when organized to be called Palmyra. The boundaries of said village to be as follows to wit: Commencing at the North East corner of the North West quarter of the South West quarter of Section Thirty Three (33) Town Twelve (12) North Range Eight (8) West of the Third (3rd) Principal Meridian. Thence running east half (1/2) mile. Thence South one (1) mile. Thence West one (1) mile. Thence North one (1) mile. Thence East one half (1/2) mile back to place of beginning, including the South West quarter of Section Thirty three (33) also the West half of the South East quarter of Section Thirty Three (33) also the East half 1/2 of the South East Quarter of section Thirty two (32) in Township No. Twelve (12) North Range No. (8) Eight West of Third 3rd Principal Meridian also the West half 1/2 of the North East Quarter and the North West quarter

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of Section Four (4) and the East half (1/2) of the North East quarter of Section Five (5) In Township No. Eleven (11) North Range Eight (8) West Third (3rd) Principal Meridian. The foregoing described lands include the present Village of Palmyra and its additions as shown by the respective plots thereof. Also the Town of Cummington said above described territory contains Three hundred and twenty, 320, inhabitants. For which your petitions will ever fray.
Signed by S. D. Carlile, T. W. Chiles and 40 others.

And afterwards to wit: On the 15th day of July A. D. 1881 It shall being one of the days of said June A. D. 1881 of said Court held. Present ?? as aforesaid the following. Proceedings were held and became of record in said court.

No. 62. In the Matter of Village organization of Palmyra, Macoupin County, State of Illinois under the general law. And now on this day the returns of an election held July 12th A. D. 1881 at the Office of Dr. R. J. Allmond at Palmyra, County and State aforesaid for or against

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Village organization under the general law in joursuance of Notice given as by law required having been presented to the Hon. Lewis P. Peebles, County Judge. The said Judge proceeds to call to his assistance John W. McNeill and Daniel W. Bagby, Esqrs., two Justices of the Peace, for the purpose of canvassing said returns as by law required and finds the results as follows:

Abstract of Votes

For Village Organization under the general law, and against Village organization under the general law -- given in the Village of Palmyra in the County of Macoupin and State of Illinois at an election held at the office of Dr. R. J. Allmond within the territory sought to be organized, as shown by petition for said organization on file in Office of County Clerk; on Tuesday July 12th A. D. 1881. And also a statement of the whole number of votes cast at said election.

For Village Organization under general law received Fifty votes.
Against Village Organization under general law received Fourteen votes.
The above number of votes cast at said election was sixty-four.

We, the undersigned Justices of the Peace of the County, above named were this day taken to the . . . [ cannot read ] . . . assistance of the County Judge of said County, and the Poll Books for the aforersaid election were opened, and the foregoing abstract made in our presence at the office of said County Judge at Carlinville in said County on this 15th day of July, A. D. 1881.
D. W. Bagby, J. P. (Seal)
J. W. McNeill, J. P. (Seal)
State of Illinois ss.
Macoupin County Office of the County Judge
Carlinville, ILLs. July 15, 1881

I , Lewis P. Peebles, County Judge of the County aforesaid, do certify that the foregoing is a correct statement of the votes cast for Village Organization under the general law, and against Village Organization under the general law and also the whole number of votes cast at an election held at the office of Dr. R. J. Allmond within the limits sought to be organized in said county of Macoupin; on Tuesday the twelfth day of July A. D. 1881.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto fixed my hand and seal this 15th day of July A. D. 1881.
L. P. Peebles (Seal) Co. Judge
I. C. Wesbermeier Jr. Clerk of the County

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Court of Macoupin County in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify the above and foregoing to be a true, perfect, and complete copy of the Proceedings in the matter of submitting the question of organization under the general law and copy of Petition describing boundaries. In witness: Thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court, at Carlinville this 9th day of January A. D. 1882.
C. Wesbermeier Jr Clerk (Seal)


State of Illinois
Village of Palmyra ss
I, Robt. Bramley, village clerk of said Village of Palmyra, do hereby certify that the above and annexed transcript is a true copy of the entry thereof, as the same appears entered upon the records of said village, now being and remaining in my said office of Village Clerk of the Proceedings in the matter of submitting the question of organization under the general law and copy of Petition describing boundaries. In witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Village at Palmyra, Ills. this 13th day of January A. D. 1882.
Robert Bramley Village Clerk

SOURCE: Office of the Secretary of State, Index Department. Springfield, Illinois. 62756. Has seven pages. Letter of September 29, 1995.


Contributed by Robert Fletcher


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