History: Palmyra - 1 Jan 1998 - Macoupin County Illinois
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives © 1997 Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor

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History of the town of Palmyra - Macoupin County, Illinois

History of the town of Palmyra Macoupin County IL (formerly named Newburg 
then Cummington then Palmyra)

submitted by Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor
for Macoupin County ILGenWeb

VILLAGE OF PALMYRA from 1879 History of Macoupin County, Illinois by Mary Ann
Stewart Kaylor

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.

(There are many listings of Shops, stores, Benevolent Societies, Supervisors, 
Constables; Assessors; Collectors; Comm. of Highways. Some of these are 
Township offices)

NOTICE: This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities for 
educational and/or research purposes as long as this message remains on all 
copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format 
for profit or other presentation without the permission of The Macoupin 
County Illinois USGenWeb Project.  ©1997 The Macoupin County ILGenWeb Project

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USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format
for profit or other presentation. Material may be freely used by 
non-commercial  entities, as long as this message remains on all copied 
material, *and* permission  is obtained from the contributor of the file.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor 
(© 1997 Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor)