BLUE MOUND. Soon after the construction of the Decatur and East St. Louis Railroad, in 1868, this town sprung into existence, and has continued to increase in population and a commercial point of view from that time since. It has some residences and store-houses that would be a credit to a much larger place, and its streets often present a scene of activity and business astonishing to one not acquainted with the thriving, go-ahead character of its merchants and business men. There is more business transacted in some of our railroad towns in one day than there is in a week in towns of double their size in some of our eastern states; and Blue Mound is a fair illustration of the truthfulness of this remark. The town was laid out through the influence of Doctor Goltra, who owned at the time of the location of the railroad, the land upon which the town plat was laid out. This town has its churches and school — all of which are in successful operation. It derived its name from two large mounds, situated not far distant. These mounds have been objects of speculation and curiosity to our citizens from the time of the first visit of white men to this vicinity. Whether they are of natural or artificial origin, will, in all probability, remain matters of conjecture, and upon which the writer, in this connection, does not deem it proper to add suggestions. [Smith, J. W. (1876). History of Macon County, Illinois, from its organization to 1876. Springfield, Ill: Rokker's Printing House. P. 231.] Blue Mound. After the completion, in 1886, of the East St. Louis Railroad, now the Wabash, this town was established. The town was platted through the influence of Doctor Goltra, who owned the land upon which the town is located. It takes its name from two large mounds lying west of it. There are in the town four grocery stores, two bakeries and restaurants, one hardware store, one furniture and implement store, two elevators, three hotels, two blacksmith shops, two drug stores, two clothing and shoe stores, one shoe store, one general store, two dry goods stores, one harness shop, two meat markets, three barber shops, one tailor shop, one photograph gallery, one implement house, two millinery stores, one paper, the Blue Mound Leader, also five doctors and one dentist. There is a public system of water works, the water coming from deep wells; also a private electric light plant. The town was incorporated in 1876; the population is about 800. The following churches are located within its boundaries: Methodist, Christian, Cumberland Presbyterian, and in addition to this there is a good four-room school house. It is situated about ten miles southwest of Decatur, in Pleasant View township, one of the great corn producing localities of Macon county; it is a thriving town and is making a steady, substantial growth. Lodges: I. O. O. F., A. F. & A. M., K. of P., M. W. [Past and present of the City of Decatur and Macon County, Illinois. 1903. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. p. 68. Transcribed by Judy Rosella Edwards.] HOME ©2008 Genealogy Trails