Sand Prairie Township, Tazewell County, IL Genealogy Trails

Sand Prairie Township
T. 23 N. R. 5 W.

(The following is a small excerpt of the history of Tazewell County townships from the book
“Souvenir of Early and Notable Events in the History of the North West Territory, Illinois and Tazewell County.”)
Submitted by: Linda T - 2008

Sand Prairie, at first had five-sixths of Malone attached, and was named “Jefferson.” It was now six miles square. Elisha and Major Perkins, (the latter was killed during the Black Hawk War), were the first pioneer settlers who built their crude cabins on section 1, about 1822. Among other early comers were Gideon Hawley, Thos. Lander, John Vancil, John summers, and Mr. Shipman. Wm. Woodrow, Isaac Dillon, Joseph Haines, Daniel Rankin, John Shelton, Jas. Reese, et. al., came later. John Summers lost a son, and John Vancil a daughter, who died at an early date. The celebrated pioneer preacher, Peter Cartwright, delivered the first sermon in John Vancil’s log cabin, about 1823. Rev. Mr. ____ Carmac, who lived for several months in a tent near the Mackinaw river was the first regular M. E. preacher. Mrs. Sarah Hinkle was the first teacher, and her log-cabin school-house stood on section 17 – date, 1827. Joseph Haines is credited with erecting the first frame dwelling, and the barn in this township, as well as Tazewell county, the first in 1829 and the latter in 1831.
The village of Circleville, in this township, was laid off by Spencer Field and E. M. Perkins, August 7, 1837. The village of Green Valley, was laid off by Samuel Schureman, October 19, 1872, and incorporated March 11^th 1916.