Historical Markers and War Memorials in Waterloo, Illinois
Waterloo is the county seat for Monroe County
Waterloo is in Monroe County
Monroe County(125) ► ADJACENT TO MONROE COUNTY Randolph County(85) ► St. Clair County(189) ► Jefferson County, Missouri(24) ► St. Louis County, Missouri(508) ► Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri(12) ►
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Near G Road, 3 miles south of KK Rd, on the right when traveling south.
Armin Henry Krueger 1914-1996, served as caretaker of Illinois Caverns for 45 years his constant presence and willingness to share his affection for underground Monroe County enhanced the experience for countless visitors to the cave. His humble . . . — — Map (db m175246) HM
Near S Church Street, on the right when traveling south.
Bellefontaine was one of the first settlements made by Americans in what is now Illinois. The earliest settlers included families of Revolutionary War veterans who had served with George Rogers Clark. Captain James Moore brought a band of pioneers . . . — — Map (db m140335) HM
On South Main Street just north of West 3rd Street, on the left when traveling north.
In 1838, McKendree Moore, with his father, Enoch Moore, owned a mercantile store here, which carried on until the death of McKendree Moore in 1840. The Moore family was one of Waterloo's first settlers. Enoch Moore, born in 1783 in the blockhouse at . . . — — Map (db m140341) HM
Near Rogers Street, 0.2 miles south of Hamacher Street (County Route 2), on the right when traveling south.
To honor the soldiers who fought in the American Civil War, Shane Douglas marked the graves of 99 Veterans buried in the City of Waterloo for his Eagle Scout Project. There are 67 buried in Waterloo City Cemetery, 31 buried in St. Peter & Paul . . . — — Map (db m146844) WM
Near Park Street (Illinois Route 156) at South Library Street, on the left when traveling east.
William R. Morrison, destined to be elected a Colonel during the American Civil War, was of Scotch-Irish descent, born on September 14, 1824. Although raised on a farm, upon his father's remarriage following the death of William's mother, they moved . . . — — Map (db m136540) HM
On South Main Street at West Mill Street, on the left when traveling north on South Main Street.
This building as it stands today sits on combined lots, which were originally the sites of a rock residence and a butcher shop, Theodore Ruch's meat market. The meat market was a family operated business in the 1880's ran by prominent butchers . . . — — Map (db m140469) HM
Near South Library Street south of Cathy Lane, on the right when traveling north.
The corn stubble left over from the harvest presented problems for the farmer. Plowing would not cover up the corn stalks adequately, which interfered with the planting of next year's crop. Exposed stalks promoted insects and disease. This gave rise . . . — — Map (db m187466) HM
On Main Street, 0.1 miles north of Magnolia Avenue, on the left when traveling north.
Near this marker stood the boyhood home of Thomas Ford, 1800-1850, eighth Governor of Illinois. He held many public offices before serving as Governor, 1842-1846. His mother Elizabeth Forquer Ford, a pioneer school teacher, raised her seven children . . . — — Map (db m144934) HM
Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail: 40 Miles to Kaskaskia
20 Miles to Cahokia Here passed the ancient trail trod first by buffaloes and Indians, then by explorers, traders and French settlers of Kaskaskia and Cahokia. Revolutionary War soldiers with . . . — — Map (db m140364) HM
On South Main Street just south of West 3rd Street, on the right when traveling south.
213 South Main Street
Became the headquarters of Harrisonville Telephone Company in 1905 when the Company moved in, occupying one-fourth of the building. At that time, the remaining space was apartments.
As Harrisonville . . . — — Map (db m144220) HM
On Main Street south of West 3rd Street, on the right when traveling south.
In 1818 George Forquer purchased and, along with Daniel P. Cook, began laying out the lots that would become known as Original Waterloo or Old Town Waterloo. They immediately sold lot 82 in Block 11 to Alexander Wells for $20. It stayed in the . . . — — Map (db m140426) HM
On KK Road (County Road 1300N) just west of Ahne Road, on the right when traveling west.
The Beginning
The settlement of Madonnaville was not always called Madonnavile, it was originally known as James Settlement or James Mills, In June of 1804 ,Austin James moved here with his family. For many years the James family was the . . . — — Map (db m179195) HM
Near Elaine Drive at Cathy Lane, on the right when traveling south.
The hay tedder was introduced in the mid-1800s. It turned over the cut hay exposing it to the sun and wind, thereby speeding drying time in preparation for baling.
Donated by Henry Rahe — — Map (db m187481) HM
On Kaskaskia Rd west of Illinois Route 3, on the right when traveling south.
James Lemen
Born in Virgina, Nov. 20 1760
Died in Illinois Jan. 8 1823
A Revolutionary Soldier, Indian
Fighter, Anti Slavery Leader,
Baptist Minster and Organizer
of the First Churches in Illinois.
His wife
Katherine Ogle . . . — — Map (db m144921) HM
On South Church Street, on the right when traveling south.
Captin James Moore was an officer of the Virginia Militia during the American Revolution. Under the command of Colonel George Rogers Clark, he took part in an expedition to Illinois in 1778. Captain Moore led his group by boat to Kaskaskia in 1782 . . . — — Map (db m143246) HM
Near Elaine Drive at Cathy Lane, on the right when traveling south.
John Deere revolutionized farming with the introduction of his steel plow in 1837, which replaced fragile and inefficient wood and cast-iron models. In 1875, The John Deere Co. introduced the riding sulky plow, which eliminated the slow and . . . — — Map (db m187467) HM
On North Main Street, 0.1 miles north of Magnolia Avenue, on the left when traveling north.
Ditch Tavern…
…was the first hotel in Waterloo located on North Main Street, and run by David and Hannah Ditch. David H. Ditch owned the land on which Waterloo was built until it was purchased by George Forquer in 1818.
The Old Tavern . . . — — Map (db m148322) HM
On Columbia Avenue just west of North Main Street, on the left when traveling west.
Log cabin donated by the:
Conrad Kolmer Family
to the Peterstown Heritage Society.
The farm was purchased in 1851.
The log cabin was moved from their
125 Acre farm two miles north of Waterloo. — — Map (db m148324) HM
Near South Church Street south of Debra Lane, on the right when traveling south.
The second American settlement in the northwest territory was established in 1782 by Capt. James Moore, an Officer of the American Revolution serving with the Virginia Militia. He was commissioned by Gov. Patrick Henry and sent George Rogers Clark . . . — — Map (db m145121) HM WM
On Kopp Road at Konarcik Road, on the right when traveling north on Kopp Road.
Martini Cemetery
also known as Goeddeltown Cemetery
1862 to 1942
You are gone but not forgotten
Ruht in Frieden
[Rest in peace]
— — Map (db m168728) HM
On Veterans Dvive, 0.1 miles east of Monroe St, on the right when traveling east.
In January 1946, several overseas veterans of Monroe County began talking about the possibilities of organizing a Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Monroe County. Raymond Oestreich, Frank Eichelmann and William Emick were among these men, and that . . . — — Map (db m179272) HM WM
On S Main Street at W 3rd Street, on the right when traveling west on S Main Street.
On this site on August 25, 1840, Abraham Lincoln presented a political speech for Whig Party at the Monroe County Courthouse.
This tablet erected by the Monroe County Bicenntennial Committee
August 6, 2016 — — Map (db m140355) HM
On South Main Street south of West Mill Street, on the left when traveling south.
In memory of
Monroe County
World War Veterans
Apr-6-1917 - Nov-11-1918
Columbia - Waterloo
erected by
Columbia Post 581-Goeddel-Buettner Post 747 — — Map (db m140349) WM
On Lakeview Drive (County Highway 7) at South Library Street, on the left when traveling west on Lakeview Drive.
Archie W • Berry, Missing in Action U.S. Navy, served during World War II, Memorialized: tablets of the missing, Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii •
John H • Bickelhaupt, Killed in Action, U.S. Army, served during World War I, Buried Plot F . . . — — Map (db m182226) WM
On North Main Street just north of Mill Street, on the right when traveling north.
This beautiful mural,
hand-painted by Elaine and John Polizzi,
is dedicated to
Adolph Gaitsch,
one of the first draftees in World War II,
Earl Rietz,
who served in the Korean War
and all the Veterans who have ever called . . . — — Map (db m146072) WM
On North Main Street just south of Columbia Avenue, on the right when traveling south.
The north end of Waterloo was originally called Peter's Town, for Emery Peter Rogers, 1795-1859. Coming from Massachusetts in 1816, he started with 5 acres here on the west side of the Kaskaskia Trail, where he operated a grist mill, woolen mill, . . . — — Map (db m143475) HM
A Potter's field is a term used for a place for the burial of unknown or indigent people. The expression potter's field derives from the Bible, referring to a field used for the extraction of potter's clay; such land, useless for agriculture, could . . . — — Map (db m140353) HM
On South Main Street south of Mill Street, on the left when traveling south.
In Memory of the Revolutionary Patriots of Monroe County, Illinois
William Biggs • Shadrach Bond, Sr. • Ebenezer Bourn • John Doyle • James Garretson • Pierre Giradot • Andrew Hilton • William Howard • Jacob Judy • Robert Kidd • James Lemen . . . — — Map (db m173568) WM
On Old Baum Church Road, on the left when traveling north.
On May 11, 1845, a German-speaking Protestant congregation was organized at the Philip Baum residence near here that same year, a log church was erected and a cemetery was opened on six acres immediately north of this spot which was donated by . . . — — Map (db m140506) HM
On North Main Street north of Flower Street, on the left when traveling north.
The first brewery established in Waterloo, the Koechel brewery, was built at this location in 1847 by john and Elizabeth Koechel.
It is believed to have been a wooden structure which was replaced by a brick building in 1852. John Koechel ran . . . — — Map (db m140421) HM
Near Elaine Drive at Cathy Lane, on the left when traveling south.
This tractor was used through out the 1950, by Don Stumpf Sr. to till many gardens in Columbia, IL.
Donated by the don Stumpf family — — Map (db m187502) HM
On this site, in the year 1783, stood the first English speaking public school in the state of Illinois. It was taught by Samuel J. Seeley. The school was an abandoned squatters cabin, located on a tract of land known as the James Lemen Greater, . . . — — Map (db m140351) HM
On Birdie Lane, 0.6 miles Gall Road (Local Route 1), in the median.
Built over 100 years ago this smokehouse still stans on its original site. With its distinctive red roof and door, the smokehouse remains in its original condition and is now Annbriar's logo. — — Map (db m175613) HM
On South Main Street at West 3rd Street, on the right when traveling south on South Main Street.
In 1886, Peter Feller bought a wooden structure for $2,500 located on lots 13, 14 and 15 of block 19, which would later be addressed as 141 South Main Street, and known as the Southern Hotel. In 1892, the hotel was rebuilt of brick and a tavern . . . — — Map (db m156706) HM
On West Mill Street just south of West Mill Street, on the right when traveling south.
History
Saints Peter and Paul Parish was founded in 1843, when, "On May 7th, 1843 the first Catholic baptisms of Catharine Glessner, Jacob Syler, and George Miller were recorded by Fr. Patrick McCabe. He was an itinerant priest from Ireland . . . — — Map (db m184542) HM
On 3rd Street just west of South Market Street, on the left when traveling west.
The land on which Hopskeller now stands dates back to March, 1816, when William Lemon purchased nearly 255 acres at a cost of $2 per acre. This land encompassed all modern-day downtown Waterloo.
For unknown reasons, in January of 1817 (only ten . . . — — Map (db m140337) HM
On South Main Street just south of East 3rd Street, on the right when traveling north.
According to the late Mame Wetmore Horine, who remembered watching the building go up, the Advocate building was built in 1868 at 222 South Main Street. It was a brick, three-story structure.
In 1862, J. F. Gotshall became the editor of the . . . — — Map (db m168403) HM
Near Brittany Court, 0.1 miles south of Kasey Lane, on the right when traveling south.
This stone arch bridge dates back to 1877 when it was built by Charles Liebheit and Christian Hartmann. It extends over a tributary of Fountain Creek, called Moore's Run (named after James Moore, one of the founders of Waterloo). This bridge is . . . — — Map (db m143476) HM
On West Mill Street east of South Main Street, on the right when traveling east.
This statue pays homage to the buffalo, or bison which roamed the uplands of Monroe County thousands of years ago, trampling down prairie grasses, creating what became the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trial. The trail was also used by Native Americans and was . . . — — Map (db m143250) HM
On South Main Street north of East 4th Street, on the right when traveling north.
This historic building, known officially as Tax Lot 2 in Block 8 of
Waterloo, dates back to the year 1845 and has served many purposes
throughout the years. Unfortunately, we have no record of what it was
used for in its earliest years, other . . . — — Map (db m143251) HM
John Coleman purchased three lots (115, 117, and 119 East Mill) in 1834. The present building at 115 was built before the Civil War. In 1862 Coleman sold the property to William Hursey who later sold it to Paul C. Brey, who was a German native born . . . — — Map (db m140459) HM
On South Main Street just north of East 4th Street (Illinois Route 156), on the left when traveling north.
The Garretson Home was built in 1852 as a family home in the Italianate style, by William C. Garretson, a prominent figure in the history of Monroe County. William Garretson was a direct relative of James Garretson, one of the founding fathers of . . . — — Map (db m140387) HM
On South Main Street at West 3rd Street, on the left when traveling north on South Main Street.
The Küenster Building is named after its builder, Hubert Küenster, who built it as home to his pharmacy in 1871. Küenster was appointed as a Postmaster in 1865, so there is belief that the Post Office was also in this building at one point in time, . . . — — Map (db m140348) HM
On South Main Street just north of West 3rd Street, on the left when traveling north.
Hubert Küenster immigrated to America from Germany in May 1852. He came to St. Louis, where he was a clerk in Dr. Berghoff’s drug store for a year. Some of his countrymen were residents in the neighborhood of Waterloo, and at their request, Küenster . . . — — Map (db m143986) HM
Near Park Street (Route 156) just east of South Liberty Street, on the left when traveling east.
Since the late 1800’s, citizens have worked to provide the community of Waterloo, Illinois, with a public library to serve as a cultural center. In 1892, Henry and Mary Talbott donated their personal collection of over 3,000 books and periodicals to . . . — — Map (db m144987) HM
On South Main Street just south of West 3rd Street, on the left when traveling south.
Elizabeth and William Sinnhold were the first owners of the land of which the Odd Fellows building sits today. In 1875, M.C. Rodenberger and Wm. Kestner, established M.C. Rodenberger and Company, which made and sold marble and granite monuments, . . . — — Map (db m140519) HM
On North Main Street just north of Flower Street, on the right when traveling north.
This property, located at 116 North Main Street, dates back to the year 1843. Not much is known about its original owners, John H. and Mariah Pirtle. They sold the building to Thomas Singleton on June 13, 1843 for two hundred and thirty-five . . . — — Map (db m148321) HM
On South Main street just south of West Mill Street, on the right when traveling south.
The Pluth Building was originally constructed in 1885 as a two-story building which featured a French-style mansard roof. The roof reached the height of the current building's third floor. Original sketches of the building plans detail the upstairs . . . — — Map (db m140350) HM
On Columbia Avenue just west of North Main Street, on the left when traveling west.
Original site was near Maeystown, purchased by Frederick Schatte in 1888. The Schatte family used the cabin for shelter until their home was built. Donated by Halbert Schatte to Peterstown Heritage Society in 1975. Moved to this site by Alfred . . . — — Map (db m148325) HM
On South Church Street just south of West Mill Street, on the left when traveling south.
The Schmitt-Nobbe Building has been a grocery store for the bulk of its existence. In 1941 Ambrose Schmitt inherited the property, along with several other properties, from his wife Annie Schmitt upon her death. Ambrose decided to leave it all to . . . — — Map (db m140381) HM
On South Main Street just north of West 3rd Street, on the left when traveling north.
Records dating back to 1837 tell us that David Ditch, an early pioneer of Waterloo, was the original owner of this property. David Ditch is known for operating Waterloo’s first hotel and bar, called Ditch Tavern, which was about 2 blocks north of . . . — — Map (db m148323) HM
On East Mill Street, on the right when traveling south on East Mill Street.
Before 1830, John Coleman erected a large windmill at the corner of Main and Mill where this building stands today. He also owned a mill next door. The mill was changed into an ox-mill in 1837 and destroyed by fire in 1857, when it was a steam . . . — — Map (db m140392) HM
On South Main Street, 0.1 miles north of West 3rd Street, on the right when traveling south.
Henry Wallhaus was born on April 7, 1847 in Daenkershausen, Germany. His family emigrated to the U.S. in 1855and settled in the Columbia, Illinois area. Shortly after, the Wallhaus' bought a farm in the Foster Pond area. Henry farmed his father . . . — — Map (db m181911) HM
On South Main Street just south of West Mill Street, on the left when traveling north.
This property, 107 South Main Street, is officially known as Tax Lot 11 in Block 12 of Old Town, now City of Waterloo, Monroe County, Illinois. Property deeds date back to 1867, when its first owners, John and Mary Harms sold the property to . . . — — Map (db m156248) HM
On South Main Street just north of 3rd Street, on the right when traveling north.
The Ziebold Fountain
Mary Ziebold, native of Waterloo, went off to study music at a young age, and made a name for herself as a talented opera singer. Through studying music abroad, she maintained an intense love of her home . . . — — Map (db m189613) HM
Near Elaine Drive at Cathy Lane, on the left when traveling south.
Manufactured by the Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Co. Separating the grain from the chaff and stalk via the threshing machine was one of agriculture's greatest advancements. Threshing machines enabled the U.S. to become the greatest producer and . . . — — Map (db m187503) HM
On Bellefontaine Dr. at Talbot St., on the left when traveling south on Bellefontaine Dr..
U.S. American Legion, GAR 1861-1865, U.S. World War Veteran, American Legion Auxiliary, World War 1917- 1918, Veterans of Foreign Wars United States, — — Map (db m191773) WM
On Lakeview Drive (Illinois Route 7) at South Library Street, on the left when traveling west on Lakeview Drive.
From the
people of
Monroe
County
Illinois
In honor
of those
who perished
In tribute
to those
who served
In gratitude
to those
now serving
— — Map (db m143503) WM
On West 4th Street (Illinois Route 156) just east of South Church Street (Illinois Route 156), on the left when traveling west.
The Waterloo City Hall is situated on Lots 75 and 76 at 100 West Fourth Street in the southerly block between Main Street and Church Street.
In 1816, George Forquer purchased a tract of land that is now part of the City of Waterloo. Forquer and . . . — — Map (db m144219) HM
On North Moore Street, 0.1 miles south of Illinois Ave, on the left when traveling south.
By ring this bell, cast in 1894, early members of the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Company were called to action to assist their neighbors in times of emergency.
Since that time, the bell has graced every fire station the Waterloo Fire Department . . . — — Map (db m148284) HM
Near Adams Drive at Adams Drive, on the left when traveling east.
To honor the brave soldiers who fought in World War I, Sam Thomas marked the graves of WW I Veterans buried in the City of Waterloo that did not already have a military recognition. There are 25 in the Waterloo City Cemetery and 18 in St. Peter . . . — — Map (db m146821) WM
