Murphysboro in Jackson County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Deal Brothers
Celebrating Murphysboro's History
Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 10, 2026
1. The Deal Brothers Marker
"True craftsmen of their historic trade civic minded contributors to Murphysboro and Southern Illinois"
The Southern Illinoisan: April 17, 1966
Born in Macon, Georgia, Jim and Benjamin Deal moved to Murphysboro in 1922. The Deal brothers opened their blacksmith shop approximately five blocks north of this marker, at the corner of N. 17th and Logan Streets, in 1935. Jim Deal learned the craft of blacksmithing at the Tuskegee Institute, graduating from Tuskegee in 1922. His brother Ben learned the trade from Jim. The Deal Brothers Blacksmith Shop shoed horses, fixed buggies, repaired farm machinery, made custom tools, and welded countless items for people throughout Southern Illinois.
The Deal brothers were active in Mt. Gilead Church, members of the Chamber of Commerce, active in the YMCA, Lions Club, Red Cross, and the Eugene Jones American Legion Post. Benjamin Deal was a veteran of WWII, serving in the Army as a welder and mechanic. Jim Deal served as the chairman of the Jackson County NAACP Chapter. The Deal brothers were also instrumental in the creation of the Bald Knob Cross of Peace, raising money for and helping construct the 111' tall cross in Alto Pass.
The Deal brothers are hereby forever noted by this marker as leaders of the Murphysboro Community.
Their lives
this page online
Erected 2021 by City of Murphysboro.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is April 17, 1966.
Location. 37° 45.865′ N, 89° 20.507′ W. Marker is in Murphysboro, Illinois, in Jackson County. It is at the intersection of Walnut Street (U.S. 149) and South 17th Street, on the right when traveling west on Walnut Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1624 Walnut St, Murphysboro IL 62966, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Illinois Little Egypt and in Shawnee Hills. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. 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: Pat's Prairie (approx. 0.2 miles away); Major General John A. Logan (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elizabeth Jenkins Logan (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1914 Logan Day Cornerstone (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Logan Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); The S.S. General Lyon Disaster (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dalton House (approx. 0.2 miles away); 1914 Logan Day Relic (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Murphysboro.
Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 10, 2026
2. The Deal Brothers Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on June 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 10, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 10, 2026, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
