History
Pike
County, Illinois is rich in history - history that
dates back to the stone age. Many thousands of artifacts
have been uncovered here to substantiate the history
of this area.
Originally a part of Madison County, Pike County
was created by an act of Legislature in 1821. From
1821 through 1822 Pike County consisted of all the
land between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers,
which included, at the time, the small town of Chicago.
In 1825, Pike County was reduced to its present
size.
The first settlers to Pike County were New Englanders.
Col. William Ross, who came here from Massachusetts,
was a prominent early settler of Pike County and
contributed a great deal to its growth and prosperity.
He provided the money that purchased land for our
county seat, Pittsfield.
Abraham
Lincoln stayed in this hotel in Florence,
Illinois in a riverside stop in Pike County.
The building has not yet been historically certified
and has received no funding for restoration. This
is the only known reference to the hotel on the
internet. (Photo by Nancy Ladd. Research by Geoff
Ladd.)
Pike County, along with many areas of Illinois,
has a strong connection with Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln
practiced law and made campaign stops in Pike County,
and it was a Pike County Newspaper, The Free Press,
that first suggested he was presidential material.
John Nicolay, who wrote the editorial, would later
become one of President Lincoln's personal secretaries.
John Hay, another Pike County associate, also was
a personal secretary to Lincoln and later served
as Secretary of State.
Pike County has
a history of many unique towns and villages. Among
them is New Philadelphia, the first town in the
entire U.S. to be settled by an African-American.
Pike County was also home to an early Mormon settlement.
To better understand the heritage of Pike's people,
read the Lakeside Classic, A True Picture of Emigration.
This book is narrated by early pioneer Rebecca Burlend.
The story is typical of early settlement, but unique
in that it is told by a woman.
For further information about Pike County History,
visit the museums in Pittsfield, Barry, Griggsville
and Hull. They will help you learn more about Pike
County's colorful past.
