Near Hecker in St. Clair County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Winstanley Settlement

Prairie Du Long, Illinois

Photographed by Thomas Smith, June 30, 2019

1. WINSTANLEY SETTLEMENT PRAIRE DU LONG,ILLINOIS Marker

Inscription. Around 1816 pioneer families from Lancashire England established a Catholic English settlement near the banks of the Prairie Du Long Creek, and named it after their leader Thomas Winstanley, Irish and German immigrants arrived later in 1824 a log church was built, and St. Augustine of Canterbury, The Apostle of England, was chosen as patron of the parish in 1834 sixty acres of land were donated by Edward Newsham and John Winstanley on Nov.11 1836, the first church ever to be consecrated, was consecrated here by Bishop Joseph Rogat of St. Louis Mo. 1854 a second stone church was built,1862 rectory was built with a room to serve as a class room, the log church also served as the first school, in 1866 a new brick school was dedicated in 1892 the parish was relocated at the near by Village of Freedom, later called Hecker.

The first church ever to be consecrated in Illinois was consecrated here in 1838

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1816.

Location. 38° 18.576′ N, 90° 1.411′ W. Marker

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is near Hecker, Illinois, in St. Clair County. It is on Cemetery Road 0.3 miles north of Illinois Route 156, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2409 Cemetery Road, Waterloo IL 62298, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Martini Cemetery (approx. 4.2 miles away); Tipton, Illinois (approx. 5.9 miles away); Sgt. Zebediah Barker / Pvt. Moses Varnum (approx. 6.1 miles away); Site of the First English Speaking School in Illinois (approx. 6½ miles away); In Memory of All American Veterans (approx. 6.7 miles away); World War I Grave Markers

Photographed by Thomas Smith, December 13, 2019

2. WINSTANLEY SETTLEMENT PRAIRE DU LONG,ILLINOIS Marker

(approx. 6.7 miles away); James Lemen (approx. 6.8 miles away); James McRoberts (approx. 6.8 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 13, 2019, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 617 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 13, 2019, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.