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Billy Furry discusses Illinois
historical markers at November Logan County Genealogical and
Historical Society meeting
[November 19, 2025]
At the November Logan County
Genealogical and Historical Society meeting, Billy Furry, Executive
Director of the Illinois State Historical Society presented a
program on marking history.
Furry presented an overview of the Illinois State Historical Society
Marker program from 1934 to 2025. The marker program recognizes
sites which have national or statewide significance to make people
aware of their history.
Before starting, Furry asked who in Logan County deserves a
historical marker that does not have one. He asked everyone to think
about the question as he spoke.
There are stories everywhere we go and Furry said there are many we
do not know. He talked about historical markers that have been put
up around the state of Illinois in the past 81 years. It can take a
long time to get a marker installed because it takes a while to get
the facts together.
One of the first historical markers
was put up in 1934 at the Lincoln home in Springfield. Furry said it
was probably put together and molded by prisoners.
Another historical marker commemorates Lithuanians in Springfield,
which is in Springfield’s Enos Park. At one time, there was a whole
community of several thousand “displaced” Lithuanian people on the
Northeast side of Springfield who had their own church. Many worked
in the mines and the shoe factory, but now the community is almost
gone.
In Eldorado, Illinois is a marker
near where Robert Ingersoll had his law office. Ingersoll practiced
law at the Saline County Circuit Court in Raleigh. Furry said that
Ingersoll is better known for being the most famous atheist in the
country between 1865 and 1899 due to his ability to argue his point
so well. He was the highest paid orator at the time.
A marker put up near Tremont in
July 2025 shares the story of black pioneer Peter Logan, who was the
son of slaves. Furry said Logan was the first black property owner
in Tazewell county and a conductor on the underground railroad.
Down in Murphysboro, Illinois, is a marker which memorializes the
lives lost in the S.S. General Lyon Disaster off the coast of South
Carolina during the Civil War. Furry said over 200 people lost their
lives.
In Springfield, a fairly new marker honors black union activist
Henry Stephens. Furry said Stephens tried to get better rights for
African Americans and streetcar workers. Author Carl Sandburg wrote
a poem called “The Sayings of Henry Stephens,” which talked about
the issues in Springfield.
A historical marker in Neponset, Illinois commemorates Carl
Sandburg’s time in Neponset. Sandburg was a poet and wrote six
volumes about Abraham Lincoln. Furry said in 1908, Sandburg rode his
bicycle from Galesburg to Neponset to sell view masters. After
Sandburg’s time in Neponset, he wrote a poem called “Pods in
Neponset” because he saw train cars he thought looked like little
pea pods.
In Secor, Illinois is a historical marker memorializing Minnie
Vautrin, Goddess of Mercy at Nanjing. Furry said Vautrin obtained
teaching degrees at Illinois State University and University of
Illinois, then later became a missionary to China, serving as head
of Gingling college for women. 300,000 people were killed in
Vautrin’s front yard in three months. She saved 10,000 lives by
allowing women and children into Ginling College to protect them
from Japanese soldiers.
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A marker in Murphysboro in 2015
commemorates Doctor John Logan, who fought in the Civil War and
later served in the Illinois Legislature.
In Metropolis, a two sided marker was placed in 2024. Furry said
one side honors Oscar Micheaux, the first black filmmaker in
Illinois during 1915 to 1930. The other commemorates Annie
Turnbo Malone, the first black female millionaire who sold
cosmetic products around the country.
The Illinois Petroleum Industry historical marker is in honor of
the many petroleum pumps in Southeastern and Southern Illinois.
Furry said the industry is no longer there, but you can still
see the pumps.
Up in Naperville at North Central College, there is a marker
commemorating the Potawatomi and Fort Payne. Furry said during
the short-lived Black Hawk War from May to August 1832, there
were many atrocities committed against Potawatomi and others
forcing them from their land.
Hutchinson Cemetery in Springfield, where Abraham Lincoln’s
young son Edward Lincoln and many others were buried, was later
closed and Springfield High School was built there. Furry said
the Springfield High School History Club [and the Illinois State
Historical Society] erected a marker there in 2005.
Memorial Park in Peoria has a marker for people who were buried
at the Moffatt Cemetery. Furry said after the cemetery was
abandoned, it was later covered over with asphalt. There are 150
bodies under there.
In Washington, Illinois, a Lincoln
in Washington marker placed in October commemorates Abraham
Lincoln’s time there during his debates with Stephen Douglass.
There is a new marker in Yorkville, Illinois to commemorate Bristol
Church, a Congregationalist church on the underground railroad.
Furry said many freedom seekers came through there.
Furry said there are several markers to be unveiled in 2025 and
2026. One is a marker to the World War I military camp in Herring.
He said the camp is where Caterpillar got its start setting up
tractors to use in World War I. These tractors replaced the horses
used in the war.
To be considered for a historical marker, Furry said the person or
location must have local, state or national significance. He loves
to have kids unveil the markers, since they need to remember the
stories and pass them on.
When Furry again asked who may need a historical marker in Logan
County, one person suggested E.N. Luckenbill, who was a former
county superintendent of schools.
New Holland recently celebrated 150
years, and Roseanne Coers said she wished there was a marker to
honor the village’s first resident Jacob Niewold.
As for the cost, Furry said small markers cost $2,300 to put up and
large markers cost around $5,000. He said finding money for these
markers has never been a problem.
[Angela Reiners]
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