Normal in McLean County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
African Americans Settle in Normal
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 7, 2024
1. African Americans Settle in Normal Marker
Inscription.
African Americans Settle in Normal. . African American Civil War veteran Simon Malone built a home southeast of this location in the late 1860s. Malone and his wife were early Black residents of Normal, joining the Esque, Fields, Barton, and Underwood families. Others would follow for work opportunities with hope for a decent life. Town founder Jesse Fell worked to develop an integrated community, and by 1870, Normal was home to more than 100 African American citizens. The Malone story an enslaved person fighting for his freedom, moving to Normal, obtaining gainful employment, and becoming a homeowner illustrates the challenges faced by Black residents during the early development of Normal. Born enslaved in 1842 in Tippah County, Mississippi, Malone was freed in 1863 during a Union Army raid. He promptly joined the Union Army fighting for the freedom of enslaved persons and served honorably before being discharged for health reasons. Making his way to Illinois, Malone married Julia E. Dillon in June 1867. He worked as a coal miner and other odd jobs, eventually becoming a wagon driver in Normal. Appointed the town's Animal Control Master in 1878, he resigned after a wealthy farmer let his horses loose in town, and then prevented Malone from doing his job. Simon and Julia Malone had nine children. Julia passed away in 1895; Simon died in 1925. At his death he was one of few remaining members of the Charles E. Hovey Post of the GAR, a fraternal veterans' organization. The Malone home was destroyed by fire in 1981.
African American Civil War veteran Simon Malone built a home southeast of
this location in the late 1860s. Malone and his wife were early Black residents
of Normal, joining the Esque, Fields, Barton, and Underwood families. Others
would follow for work opportunities with hope for a decent life. Town founder
Jesse Fell worked to develop an integrated community, and by 1870, Normal was
home to more than 100 African American citizens. The Malone story an enslaved
person fighting for his freedom, moving to Normal, obtaining gainful
employment, and becoming a homeowner illustrates the challenges faced by
Black residents during the early development of Normal. Born enslaved in 1842
in Tippah County, Mississippi, Malone was freed in 1863 during a Union Army raid.
He promptly joined the Union Army fighting for the freedom of enslaved
persons and served honorably before being discharged for health reasons.
Making his way to Illinois, Malone married Julia E. Dillon in June 1867. He worked
as a coal miner and other odd jobs, eventually becoming a wagon driver in
Normal. Appointed the town's Animal Control Master
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in 1878, he resigned after a
wealthy farmer let his horses loose in town, and then prevented Malone from
doing his job. Simon and Julia Malone had nine children. Julia passed away in
1895; Simon died in 1925. At his death he was one of few remaining members of the
Charles E. Hovey Post of the GAR, a fraternal veterans' organization. The Malone
home was destroyed by fire in 1981.
Erected 2023 by The McLean County Museum of History The Town of Normal McLean County Unit 5 The Illinois State Historical Society.
Location. 40° 30.397′ N, 88° 59.802′ W. Marker is in Normal, Illinois, in McLean County. It is at the intersection of Kingsley Street (Business U.S. 51) and Hale Street, on the right when traveling south on Kingsley Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 701 Hale St, Normal IL 61761, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally,
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 7, 2024
2. African Americans Settle in Normal Marker
this marker is in Central Illinois. It is also in the American Midwest and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Also see . . . 1. Malone, Simon Booth. Simon trained at Camp Nelson, Kentucky. There is no evidence that he participated in any significant battles. Instead, Simon probably spent most of his time at garrison duty at Camp Nelson, Smithland, Lexington, and other places in Kentucky. (By Anthony Bowman, McLean County Museum of History, 2009) (Submitted on August 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
2. Bloomington-Normal Black History Project. The Bloomington-Normal Black History Project (BNBHP) was founded in 1982 and its collections span the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection contains photographs, portraits, booklets, articles, and photocopies related to club organizations and churches of the local Black community. In 1989, the Black History Project was affiliated with the McLean County Historical Society, which now serves as a repository for the project's collections. (McLean County Museum of History) (Submitted on August 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 221 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
