Virgina in Cass County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Plow
Photographed by Thomas Smith, March 2, 2026
1. The Plow Marker
The steel plow doomed the Illinois prairie over 150 years ago when blacksmith John Deere first introduced his invention design to ease the task of breaking the tough sod of what was to become the "Corn Belt."
(from article written by Virginia resident, Bill Kilby, in the Jacksonville Area Showcase, June 17, 1992)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant day of the year for for this entry is June 17.
Location. 39° 56.629′ N, 90° 12.949′ W. Marker is in Virgina, Illinois, in Cass County. It is at the intersection of South Main Street (Illinois Route 78) and Virgina Road (County Road 10), on the right when traveling south on South Main Street. The marker is on the grounds of Rexroat Prairie Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 652 S Main St, Virginia IL 62691, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Illinois River Valley. 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.
Other nearby markers. At least 4 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Wood Spoke Wagon Wheel (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cass County Courthouse (approx. 0.6 miles away); Chandlerville (approx. 8.3 miles away).
this page online
Photographed by Thomas Smith, March 2, 2026
2. The Plow Marker and Display
Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 3, 2026, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. This page has been viewed 28 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 3, 2026, by Thomas Smith of Waterloo, Ill. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
