Edwardsville in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Governor Coles and Slavery
Photographed By Jason Voigt, December 1, 2019
1. Governor Coles and Slavery Marker
Site of the courthouse where, in 1824, political enemies convicted Governor Edward Coles of illegally freeing his slaves. "To preserve to a continuous line of generations that liberty obtained by the valor of our forefathers, we must make provisions for the moral and intellectual improvement of those who are to follow."
Erected 1999 by City of Edwardsville and the Illinois State Historical Society.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Law Enforcement. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1824.
Location. 38° 49.139′ N, 89° 57.846′ W. Marker is in Edwardsville, Illinois, in Madison County. Marker is at the intersection of North Main Street (Illinois Route 143/159) and Liberty Street, on the right when traveling west on North Main Street. Marker is located on a brick wall on the grounds of the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities Foundation (formerly Lincoln School). Touch for map.
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lincoln School (a few steps from this marker); The Pogue Store (a few steps from this marker); The Weir House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Edwardsville National Bank Clock (approx. half a mile away); First Cemetery in the City of Edwardsville (approx. half a mile away); West End Service Station (approx. 0.6 miles away); Site of Abraham Lincoln's Speech (approx. 0.6 miles away); Edwardsville (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Edwardsville.
More about this marker. The current marker was replaced by one that was first placed at that spot in 1953. The old marker was originally mounted on the Lincoln School building, but had been damaged in later years. In 1999, Edwardsville's Historic Preservation Commission worked with the ISHS to place a new tablet on a lit brick structure near the old school.
Regarding Governor Coles and Slavery. The Madison County Courthouse was once located in the building that was built sometime in the early 19th century. This was before Illinois became a state in 1818, as a jail and circuit clerk's office was added at that time. By the 1850's,
Photographed By Jason Voigt, December 1, 2019
2. Governor Coles and Slavery Marker
Near the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities building
Edward Coles, who had come from a very prominent Virginia family, had worked in the White House as he worked with Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He would eventually leave the East and buy land on what would become Edwardsville, Illinois, and would settle there in May 1819. Two months later (on July 4), Coles filed papers to give his slaves emancipation at that very spot. In 1822, he was elected as the second Governor of Illinois. While his name may be obscure today, Coles is widely credited by historians for keeping slavery out of Illinois.
Also see . . .
1. Fighting Against Slavery. An article about Edward Coles and the marker, published in the Edwardsville Intelligencer on February 16, 2011. (Submitted on December 3, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. Edward Coles on Wikipedia. Wikipedia page for the 2nd Governor of Illinois, which talks more about his life and views on slavery (Submitted on December 3, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 2, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 230 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 3, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
