Welcome to Menard County

History & Historical Sites throughout Menard County
Menard County has a vast, diverse, and rich history, more so than can be recreated or presented here. For more information on Menard County history, please contact the organizations and town officials listed below. Some of the more unique and perhaps well-known facets of local history have been captured and encapsulated below.

The Abraham Lincoln Travel Route through Menard County

Abraham Lincoln, before moving to Springfield, lived in the village of New Salem, currently Lincoln’s New Salem Historic site, from 1831-1837. Abraham Lincoln stopped in Athens during his trips to Springfield, this route was the shortest. Going through Athens was the shortest route for him to travel. While in the legislature, Mr. Lincoln worked to establish the boundary lines that have separated Menard and Sangamon counties since 1839.

Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site: This site is located 2 miles south of Petersburg on Route 97. The park is open all year round Wednesday through Sunday except for major winter holidays. The site offers an 1830's style reconstructed log village. Abraham Lincoln lived here for 6 years. There are a wide variety of special programs. These range from a Quilt Show, candlelight tour, Summer Fest and lecture series and workshops. All events are open to the public. From mid-June to late August, there is an outdoor theater.
Lincoln's New Salem State Park is located 2 miles south of Petersburg on Illinois State Route 97.

Menard County Towns and History

Athens, Illinois
The area was settled in 1819 and by 1822 Athens had a store, blacksmith shop, and a tavern. It became a city in 1831 and is the oldest city in Menard County. The Abraham Lincoln Long Nine Museum is located at 200 S. Main Street in Athens, Illinois.

Fancy Prairie, Illinois
This town is located in the very south east corner of Menard County. Old Fancy Prairie, the original Fancy Prairie was laid out around 1850 and had a Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1898, when the railroad came through, the village was relocated one half mile to the east.

Greenview, Illinois
This town was incorporated on May 6, 1869. The town was named for William “Slicky Bill” Greene, who played an instrumental part in bringing the railroad through town. A.H. Bogardus was a champion marksman. He shot 500 clay pigeons in one day. He used two shotguns; Bogardus fired so fast he had to cool one gun in a tub of ice water while he fired the other..

Sweetwater, Illinois
This town was laid out by the William Engle and the Alkire families on March 11, 1853. The first Postmaster was William Engel while Jacob Probst Jr. was the first blacksmith. Dr. John Hughes later became the village's first physician. The first mill was constructed and operated by the firm of Deal and Hughes.

Tallula, Illinois
This town was founded in 1857 by William G. Greene; an associate of Abraham Lincoln. Greene named this town “trickling water” for the abundant springs in the area. Today the railroad is gone, but Tallula retains its place in the county history.

Tice, Illinois
This town is located five miles west of Athens. In 1874, it was referred to as Tice's Station because of the railroad. By 1899 it was being called Tice and around the turn of the century there was a church and school here.

Historical Areas Throughout Menard County

Memorial to Benjamin F. Stevenson, Grand Army of the Republic

Rose Hill Cemetery, Petersburg, Illinois

Col. Stevenson founded the GAR following the Civil War to assist war veterans and their families with hardships brought about by the war.

The GAR, America's first veterans' assistance organization, became the model upon which all subsequent veteran's organizations were based.

Today, the GAR remnant organization, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, holds a full-scale period reenactment of a memorial service for Col. Stevenson on the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's death.

Greenwood Cemetery
Tallula, Illinois
The cemetery is located in Tallula, proceed west on Main Street to the end of the business district. Turn right onto Yates and go one block to the stop sign. Turn left and follow the blacktop to Judy Road. Turn left, cemetery is approximately one-half mile on the right. Buried here are two of the county’s most interesting characters. William Greene, known locally as “Slicky Bill” due to his shrewd business sense and Mary Neely “Granny” Spears. Spears was captured by Indians as a girl and lived with them for several years before being rescued. In later life, she practiced as a midwife using herbs as a primary cure-all.