Illinois Traction System Mackinaw Depot

The early history of the villags of Mackinaw is very fully detailed in the second chapter of this History, we therefore deem it unnecessary to record it here. The present population of the town is about 800. It is on the line of the I., B. & W., and I. M. Railroads. The first post-office was established in 1827. Mordecai Mobley was the first postmaster ; the present postmaster is James E. Hill. There is one drug store, three grocery stores, one furniture store, one hardAvare store, and two of general merchandise, one hotel, one large agricultural implement house, three wagon shops, and a grist-mill. There is a Masonic lodge, which was organized over a half century ago, and is now in a flourishing condition. The Trustees of the town are as follows : Daniel Beckly, James H. Porter, J. L. Davis, Thomas Higgins, and J. H. Wilson.

Passage source: History of Tazewell County, Illinois ; Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. History of Illinois ... Digest of State Laws, published 1879.

Christian Church. - From the earliest settlement of Mackinaw township, dating as for back as 1826, there were occasional religious meetings held at private houses and subsequently school-houses. Methodist, Cumberland Presbyterian, United Brethren, occasionally a Baptist, a New Light, or Old Christian preacher, living in other settlements, or traveling through, would stop with the friendly pioneers and preach to those who would gather in. These meetings were not without some good effect. In 183-t, Elder James A. Lindsey came from Kentucky and settled in the east part of the township. He was a minister of the Disciples or Christian Church, and was, perhaps, the first resident preacher of the township ; was a man of sterling worth and integrity, kind and genial in disposition, and ardently devotional. He began at once the proclamation of the Gospel as taught by this people. Having a large family, and realizing the importance of regular church influence, he soon made it a special feature of his work to establish the cause in his own neighborhood. He was successful in harmonizing some of other religious views, and baptizing others who had made no profession. These efforts resulted in a meeting for consolidation, which was held at his house in Sept., 1837, and on the 5th day of October, at what was known as Mt. Pleasant school-house, the first Christian Church of the township, and perhaps the first, that was strictly on that basis, in the county. The Methodist Conference had established a station at

Passage source: History of Tazewell County, Illinois ; Together with Sketches of Its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious, Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons and Biographies of Representative Citizens. History of Illinois ... Digest of State Laws, published 1879.

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Read the whole chapter on Mackinaw Township - 7,686 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.