Jacksonville in Morgan County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

First Illinois State Hospital for the Insane

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 12, 2020

1. First Illinois State Hospital for the Insane Marker

Inscription. Miss Dorothea Dix in her "memorial to the Senate and House of the Representatives of Illinois" urged their serious consideration of the afflicted condition of an increasing class of insane sufferers, whose healthful exercise of their intellectual faculties were withdrawn, incapable of self-government and self care. As a result the Assembly passed a law in 1847 stating "there shall be established, within four miles of the town of Jacksonville, county of Morgan, an institution to be known as the Illinois State Hospital for the Insane." Joseph Morton, James Dunlap, John J. Hardin, John Henry, Samuel D. Lockwood, William G. Thomas, Bezaleel Gillett, Nathaniel English and Owen M. Long constituted a body corporate as trustees. The building, under Superintendent Dr. James M. Higgins, was opened to accept the first patient, Sophronia McElhiney, McLean County, 3 November, 1851.

The first deceased patient buried on this site, 13 February, 1852, was Martha Fisher, Morgan County. This Immanuel North Cemetery has 234 recorded burials from 78 counties, 1852-1879 as copied form an old cemetery book uncovered in 1979 at the old administration

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building. The deceased hereon represent a cross section of various life-styles, friendships, occupations, religions, races and creeds from families of many nationalities and origins.

Erected 1992 by Jacksonville Area Genealogical and Historical Society, Jacksonville Developmental Center, Illinois Department of Transportation and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Science & Medicine • Women. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is February 13, 1852.

Location. 39° 42.966′ N, 90° 14.095′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Illinois, in Morgan County. It is on West Michigan Avenue just east of Havendale Drive, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 W Michigan Ave, Jacksonville IL 62650, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the

Photographed by Jason Voigt, May 12, 2020

2. First Illinois State Hospital for the Insane Marker

Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Stephen Arnold Douglas (approx. half a mile away); Big Eli Wheel No. 17 (approx. half a mile away); C.D. (Pat) Kenny (approx. half a mile away); War Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Jacksonville Bandstand (approx. 0.6 miles away); Isaac Fort Roe (approx. 0.8 miles away); Michael Huffaker (approx. 0.9 miles away); Joseph O. King (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,769 times since then and 130 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 13, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.