Sir Francis and Madison travel to Jacksonville!

Hello everyone, it's Sir Francis. I went on a very exciting trip this weekend to Jacksonville, IL. I got to see so many historical places! First we went to the Governor Duncan Mansion. The mansion was built in 1834, this home served as the official executive mansion for the state of Illinois from 1834-38. It was used for State business during the term of Governor Joseph Duncan from 1834-1838. The early capitals, Kaskaskia and Vandalia, had no “Governor’s Mansion”. The mansion was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and houses many of the original Duncan family furnishings. 

Next, we went to the Illinois School for the deaf. The school was opened in 1839 and serves students from Kindergarten to age 21. 

Then we went to Illinois College. Illinois College was the first college in the state to conduct classes and grant a baccalaureate degree. The first president of Illinois College was Edward Beecher was the brother of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the influential anti-slavery novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The best-known alumnus, William Jennings Bryan, Class of 1881, was a three-time candidate for president of the United States, secretary of state and congressman. Among the visitors and lecturers on campus during the early years were Abraham Lincoln, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Bronson Alcott, Mark Twain, Horace Greeley and Wendell Phillips. It was very exciting to be in a place with so much history. 

The final stop on our travels was to General Grierson's home. Grierson joined the Union war effort as a volunteer from Jacksonville.  His family lived in Jacksonville and remained here during the Civil War.  “Grierson’s Raid” was a sixteen day foray through the South, from LaGrange, Tenn., to Baton Rouge, La., pulling the attention of the Southern army from Vicksburg and allowing Grant to take Vicksburg.

Traveled 374 miles round trip.

Latitude: 39.7319° N

Longitude: 90.2344° W