Wyoming, Illinois

Toulon is the center of new associations. It borrows no propelling power from venerated antiquarian ism, since the spot where it stands was but yesterday wa^apt in solitary grandeur. Some western settlements are filled up with bankrupts who have fled from eastern credi tors, anxious only to ol)tain peace of mind and bread enough to eat; they are decayed and tem})est-tossed vessels, stripped of sjjars and rigging, but Toulon, however, always claimed large exemption from these. Its first settlers were iron-souled and true-hearted men. They came determined to plow their way through the wilderness and nuike unto themselves pleasant homes - and they succeeded. They had a mis- sion. and tbev iioLlv perforaied it. Thev did their work roiio-hlv. vet tliey did it for all time. There is a sort of romance in their historv that fascinates : there is a kind of rnstic simplicity connected witli them that is trnlv poetic. Behind them were the homes they had left. the waterfalls that danced to their childish mnsic. and the hills that echoed back their playfnl shonts. Before them was the wilderness, dark and oloomv, standino- in all its solemnity. Look from the little village of the past to the city of the present and see what a contrast it presents. It is set off with substantial dwellings, cultivated gardens and shaded streets. True to the progressive spirit of the age. its people have devoted themselves to the decoration of their homes. There are dry goods and millinery stores, grocery stores, clothing stores, hotels, drug stores, physicians, lawyers, hardware and tinning establishments, a woolen factory, carriage factory, printing houses, harness makers, wagon shops, lumber merchants, cabinet-makers, stonemasons and painters. There is a l)ank, school houses and five churches, a number of benevolent and literary societies, and not one saloon. Only a little over half a century ago the Indians of AValnut Grove, driven out by the patentees of their land, sought refuge in the groves round the present town and along Indian Creek in its vicinity. The name is taken from Toulon in Tennessee, which was suggested by Col. Henderson, and adopted. The population in 1880 was 967, but now estimated at about 1,100.

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

In January, 1882, the office was raised to a second class, with salary of $l,00o. In July, 1883, G. A. Thomas resigned as postmastei-. wlien Frank AV. Lyons was appointed. The rank of the office was rechiced, aiul up to July 1, 1886, was ranked at fourtli rate, but was raised to a presidential office that day. On April 9, 1885, J. Knox Hall was commissioned postmaster. On April 26, 1883, a tele- ])hone was placed in the office, connecting Toulon with Wyoming and other towns.

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

On August 8, t\vent3-one votes were cast for building on the site of the old church and five in favor of a new site. The building committee was instructed to dispose of the old church ; Geo. W. Dewey was elected delegate to the C. W. Association. On October 15, the old church was sold to Chas. S. Payne for $175, and on the 15th the last services were held therein, when it was moved to Wyoming. In December, 1882, John F. Rhodes, Chas. P. Dewey and D. J. Walker, the trustees, were continued in office, and E. B. Starrett, James Nicholson and Willis C. Dewey, continued on the finance committee.

Passage source: Documents and Biography Pertaining to the Settlement and Progress of Stark County, Illinois : Containing an Authentic Summary of Records, Documents, Historical Works and Newspapers Relating to Indian History, Original Settlement, Organization and Politics ..., published 1887.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Toulon Township - it names this place 122 more 122 times.