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

Theodor Erasmus Hilgard

1790-1873

— Democracy Advocate, West Belleville Developer —

Theodor Erasmus Hilgard Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 11, 2020

1. Theodor Erasmus Hilgard Marker

Inscription. For Germans yearning to live in a freer land, Justice Theodor Hilgard of the appellate court of Rhenish Bavaria encouraged scouts to immigrate to the United States to locate favorable places to settle. In 1833 they began the Latin Farmer migration, bringing to St. Clair County university-trained professionals with a knowledge of Latin who desired to farm. Hilgard followed them here in 1836, buying 134 acres adjoining Belleville to farm. He subdivided this land and sold it to develop the village of West Belleville. He donated land for a public school that later was incorporated into the Belleville school system. Before he returned permanently to Germany in 1854, Hilgard published both political studies and poetry.

Erected 2020 by Belleville Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 38° 30.827′ N, 89° 59.067′ W. Marker is in Belleville, Illinois, in St. Clair County. Marker is at the intersection of West Main Street and North Illinois Street (Illinois Route 159), on the right when traveling east on West Main Street. Marker is in front of the St. Clair Annex building, with other Belleville

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Walk of Fame plaques at the northwest quadrant of Belleville Public Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 23 Public Square, Belleville IL 62220, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. George Bunsen (here, next to this marker); Les Mueller (here, next to this marker); Lyman Trumbull (here, next to this marker); Gustavus P. Koerner / Sophia Engelmann Koerner (here, next to this marker); Edward A. Daley (here, next to this marker); Ninian Edwards (here, next to this marker); George Blair (here, next to this marker); Robert "Bob" Goalby (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Belleville.

More about this marker. Hilgard and Ruth A. Sterling were both inducted to Belleville's Walk of Fame in 2020.

Also see . . . Theodore Erasmus Hilgard on Wikipedia. More history on the German educator, lawyer and viticulturist. (Submitted on October 12, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed By Jason Voigt, October 11, 2020

2. Theodor Erasmus Hilgard Marker

Marker is where the red arrow points

Credits. This page was last revised on October 12, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 12, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 162 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 12, 2020, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.