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

Jonathan Baldwin Turner

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 22, 2025

1. Jonathan Baldwin Turner Marker

Inscription. This tablet honors the memory of
Jonathan Baldwin Turner Professor of English at Illinois College, Great Citizen of Illinois, who in February, 1852, first publicly proposed federal aid for a national system of agricultural and industrial universities, and whose devoted efforts toward the realization of this concept earned him the title: "Father of the Land Grant Act of 1862."

Erected April 13, 1962 in the centennial year of the Land Grant Act by the University of Illinois.

Erected 1962 by University of Illinois.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1865.

Location. 39° 43.903′ N, 90° 14.817′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Illinois, in Morgan County. It can be reached from West College Avenue. Marker is located on the Illinois College campus green. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1101 West College Avenue, 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 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: Illinois College Legacy Plaza Excerpts (within shouting distance of this marker); Sturtevant Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Crampton Hall

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Lincoln Home National Historic Site Created (within shouting distance of this marker); Whipple Hall (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jonathan B. Turner (about 400 feet away); I. C. Honors Mr. Lincoln (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lincoln & Governor Duncan (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

More about this marker. Marker is adjacent to a large Osage orange tree: watch your head in autumn! Turner advocated the use of this type of tree for prairie hedgerows.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

Also see . . .
1. Jonathan Baldwin Turner: Reformer and Visionary (Univ of Illinois). (Submitted on October 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Jonathan B. Turner (Papers of Abraham Lincoln Digital Library). (Submitted on October 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. The Turner Titan tree planted by Jonathan Baldwin Turner has a legacy of its own (Illinois College). Perhaps this is why his marker on the college green is under an Osage orange tree? (Submitted on October 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 22, 2025

2. Jonathan Baldwin Turner Marker

Looking NE, with Rammelkamp Chapel in background

Additional commentary.
1. Footnote
The Land Grant Act of 1862 is better known as the Morrill Act of 1862.

— Submitted February 26, 2026, by Luke Toussaint of Glenview, Illinois.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 72 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2025, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.