Edgar County IL Archives History .....Brief History Of Paris ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 March 24, 2009, 11:47 pm HISTORY OF PARIS, ILLINOIS. The territory embraced in Paris Township was a part of the Kickapoo hunting grounds for years after settlements were made on the east side of the old boundary line. The lands west of this line were not bought from the Indians until 1822 and were then surveyed and placed in the market. Thomas Jones is conceded to be the first settler in Paris township. He came from Christian county, Ky., and settled in the southern part of the township in July, 1821. Samuel Vance came to Illinois in the fall of 1822 and settled in Paris township near the city. He donated twenty-six acres of land upon which the county seat was located, this section was all a wilderness, and until 1834 it is said the Public Square was a brush thicket and the town was designated by a board nailed to a tree upon which was painted the name Paris. The first addition made to the town of Paris, after its first laying out, as shown by the records, was made in April, 1829, by Mr. Vance, who gave the original site. This addition consisted of twenty-two lots, streets and alleys on the south side. The first house put up after the laying out of the place was built by M. K. Alexander for a storehouse. He built a residence adjoining the store immediately after completing the latter. The records of the County Commissioners' Court show that the first merchants' license issued in the county was to M. K. Alexander and would seem to imply that he was the first recognized merchant in the county. One of the first lots sold at the public sale of lots was bought by Nathaniel Wayne. On this lot he built a tavern, the first house of entertainment opened in the town. The first mill built in Paris, and which was the first steam mill in Edgar county, was built by Leander Munsell about 1834-35. A post office was established here about the time the town was laid out, receiving a mail once in two weeks. The mail was carried on horseback from Terre Haute to Springfield, Jacksonville and Quincy. In 1849 the village of Paris was organized and incorporated under the legislative act provided in such cases. It remained under this style of government until June 1, 1869, when it was organized as a city. The first house of worship, aside from the settler's cabin, in Paris, was the old Court House that stood on the south side of the Square. The Methodist Society was originally organized in Paris in 1823 by Rev. H. Vreedenburg, who was termed the founder of Methodism in the county. Which denomination formed the first church society is not authentically known, probably the Methodists were first in the field but it is pretty generally conceded that the Presbyterian erected-the first church edifice. Amos Williams built the first school house and also taught the first school in it. From this beginning the schools of Paris have grown and expanded to accommodate the increasing demand. The first newspaper issued in Paris was in the year 1836 by Lovelace & Delay and was called the Illinois Statesman. After changing hands several times, it became the property of Jacob Harding in 1849 and was published under the name of The Prairie Beacon. In 1852 the Wabash Valley Republican was launched and was finally incorporated with the Beacon, which paper is now The Daily Beacon. The Paris Gazette is the oldest Democratic paper now published in Paris. It was established in 1873 by James Shooff and was called the Edgar County Gazette. Mr. Shooff died in 1874 and the paper was continued by his sons, T. B. Shooff & Bro., and the name changed to the Paris Gazette as it is now known. The First National Bank of Paris was incorporated in 1865. The Edgar County Bank was incorporated in 1873, and the Citizens' National was chartered September 24, 1902, and opened for business November 22, 1902, all of which are now conducting a general banking business in Paris and for strength, resources and appointments rank very high. Paris of today is a thriving city of about 11,000 inhabitants, the county seat of Edgar County. It is surrounded by very rich farm lands, and contains several prosperous manufacturing plants. Paris has great natural resources, best of railroad service, enterprising people, excellent stores, a live Commercial Club, beautiful residences situated upon well kept streets and grounds, ample fire departments, churches and schools of which she may well feel proud, sound banks, live and progressive newpapers, plenty of wealth, in fact, Paris is a good place to live. Additional Comments: Extracted from: 1908 - 1909 MOORE'S STANDARD DIRECTORY AND REFERENCE BOOK PARIS ILLINOIS Containing, Besides an Up-to-Date House and Business Directory, Much Local and General Information Invaluable in the Home and Office. COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY S. H. MOORE COMPANY PUBLISHERS OF THE LADIES' WORLD New York City File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/edgar/history/other/briefhis117nms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb