The music for this song was composed by Jonathan Edwards Spilman in 1836. He entered the ministry in 1858 and became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in 1881. This church had been organized by his brother Benjamin F. Spilman on November 25, . . . — — Map (db m177871) HM
This house was built by early settler John Craw prior to 1817. In 1835 it was purchased by John M. Robinson, U.S. Senator (1831-43) and Illinois Supreme Court Justice (1843). The house was later occupied by his daughter Mrs. Robert Stewart and his . . . — — Map (db m177875) HM
Colonel Everton J. Conger, who commanded the troops capturing, Abraham Lincoln's assassin, John Wilkes Booth, built this house in 1871. He practiced law in Carmi, became a Federal judge in Montana Territory, and later moved to Hawaii where he was an . . . — — Map (db m177874) HM
This building was erected in 1828 by James Ratcliff, nicknamed "Old Beaver" because of his energy. He was a founder of Carmi (1816), an inn-keeper, merchant, and postmaster, and White County's first Clerk, Recorder and Probate Judge. Abraham . . . — — Map (db m177869) HM
Alma mater of United States Senators William E. Borah, Idaho, and Wesley L. Jones, Washington. This educational institution was chartered by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (1873). From the 1890's until 1935 it was a public school. It was . . . — — Map (db m177845) HM
In 1816 the Reverend James McGready of Kentucky organized Sharon, the first Presbyterian church in Illinois, with Peter Miller, James Mayes and James Rutledge as ruling elders. Three miles northeast of this site B.F. Spilman, active Presbyterian . . . — — Map (db m154623) HM
This church was the cradle of Methodism in White County. Early pioneers risked Indian raids to worship in the cabins of Robert Land and John Hanna. In 1812 presiding elder Peter Cartwright sent circuit rider John Smith to this settlement. This . . . — — Map (db m177839) HM
Founded in 1812 while this part of the country was still a wilderness, and before Illinois was a state, Big Prairie Church was one of the oldest Methodist churches in Illinois at the time it was closed in December 2017. Early settlers Robert . . . — — Map (db m177843) HM
The first trading post was established here in 1830 by James Gray and Robert Walden. A post office was opened here in 1836. Later, a two-story frame building was erected here by the Empire Milling Company and this corner was known as 'Empire . . . — — Map (db m61809) HM
This home was built by the Gray Family, the family that gave Grayville it's name. When completed in 1896, it was the finest home in this area and one of the first to have electric lights, running water, and steam heat. Slave quarters and a stable . . . — — Map (db m177850) HM
This building was erected in 1895 by the Gray Family for their Gray Bank on the bottom floor and the Gray Opera house on the second floor. The Opera House was the center of entertainment for many years. — — Map (db m61785) HM
In the 1830's, James Gray's Stables and Slave Quarters were located here. Later, he donated the barn to the city to use as a city hall and police station. In 1866, the city built a two story building with a jail in the basement. The second story was . . . — — Map (db m61788) HM
On this corner was located the roughest, toughest saloon in the history of Grayville. It was opened after the Civil War by Mike Smith, who made a fortune in illegal whiskey and gambling. The saloon was torched in 1881 and re-built and was finally . . . — — Map (db m177852) HM
The first Presbyterian Church in Grayville was organized in 1850 under the leadership of Mrs. Thomasann Gray. In 1868 the members built a small wooden Church on this corner of the cemetery, a gift from a member of the Gray Family.
It was . . . — — Map (db m61781) HM
Established by James R. Gray
First Internment - 1831
Obelisk Erected - 1901
Church Plaza Constructed - 2005
Memorial Plaza and Fountain Dedicated - 2007 — — Map (db m61782) HM
On this site was the home of Thomasanne Payne, Authoress of the Song 'Sleep Soldier Sleep' which she wrote in honor of James Bethel Gresham from Evansville, Indiana. He was the first American Soldier to die in World War I. The song was accepted . . . — — Map (db m61784) HM WM
On July 1, 1838, the Vincennes to Shawneetown Stage Coach Line began operations and made regular stops at a log cabin hotel located on this corner. The stage carried passengers and provided mail service for the first time in this area. — — Map (db m61787) HM
The first business in Norris City was Harper, Ritchie and Company founded in 1871 which sold general merchandise. So on, there were two Blacksmith shops, one harness shop, and one hotel. In 1904 Norris City State Bank was erected. By 1907 there . . . — — Map (db m305148) HM
As the pioneers arrived in the Norris City Area, many brought their religious customs and church preference with them and soon established their houses of worship. At first, they met in homes, but later started building log churches from the . . . — — Map (db m305232) HM
Norris City owes its existence to the railroads that crossed here, the Springfield and Illinois Southeastern was built in 1870 and 1871 and later became the Ohio and Mississippi. The Cairo and Vincennes was built through the town in 1872 and . . . — — Map (db m306286) HM
The first school in town was built in 1871 and was called The Little Red School House. It served the town until 1908, when a new school was built. It consisted of the elementary grades and 1-year high school. In 1926, a 4-year High School was . . . — — Map (db m305268) HM
The Oil Boom brought many Oil Companies to Norris City and one of the biggest was Sohio Oil Company, an American Oil producing, transporting, refining and marketing Company starting up in 1870 and lasted until 1911 when it split into Sohio and . . . — — Map (db m305229) HM
Norris City owes its existence to the railroads, which came through in 1871. Because of the railroads, Norris City was chosen for the Texas Eastern Terminal. In the early 40's, oil was shipped from Texas to other parts of the Country, but the . . . — — Map (db m305151) HM
Before the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and entry of the United States into World War II, 95 percent of the crude oil delivered to east coast oil refineries was transported by tanker ships with 90 percent of that oil from Texas . . . — — Map (db m154609) HM
