Benjaminville, Illinois
Encyclopedia
The village of Benjaminville, Illinois, was founded in McLean County, Illinois
, United States during the 1850s by Quaker farmers, who, like many others who came to Illinois
, were looking to take advantage of the rich prairie
soil. The town's settlement centered around the Society of Friends and the meeting house that was first constructed there in 1859. The town was rendered a ghost town
after 1870 when the expected Lake Erie Railroad did not come into town. Today the unincorporated
community of Bentown, Illinois
, exists near the site of the former town of Benjaminville.
The village of Benjaminville was located near the present-day community of Holder, Illinois
, east of the city of Bloomington
. The town was founded on an elevated area of flat, treeless prairie
. Today, much of the area is used as crop land. Near the site of Benjaminville is the present-day unincorporated community of Bentown, Illinois
. The townsite lies in both Dawson Township
and Oldtown Township.
Benjaminville was founded in 1856 when three Quaker families, those of Joseph Marot, Isaac Clement and Timothy Benjamin, arrived in the area. Settlement followed and was closely tied to the Society of Friends and the local church. The town grew gradually, in 1859 the first Meeting House
was erected at a cost of US$
1,000 and a burial ground
was established soon after. Through the 1860s a slow but steady stream of Quakers moved to the area. In 1874 the Benjaminville Friends Meeting House was erected, the only structure still extant from the town of Benjaminville. Settlement continued through the 1870s and Benjaminville became a social, political and religious hub for Friends from Illinois. An 1879 history of McLean County called Benjaminville "one of the strongest settlements of Friends that is to be found anywhere in the state."
The members of the Society of Friends Benjaminville meeting often took political stances on issues of the day. Among these were, peace, Indian affairs, women's suffrage
, and the evils of boxing
, lotteries and gambling
. Throughout the 19th century Benjaminville was home to a distinct local community of considerable political importance. Benjaminville never grew large though it did contain at least two churches besides the meeting house and a few shops. By 1870 the town's fate was sealed when the Lake Erie Railroad opted to bypass the town because of the elevation of its terrain. The local churches eventually moved closer to the new railroad and the town's businesses shut down. In 1981 the only other remaining structure, an old wagon shop, was destroyed by fire, leaving the meeting house as the last remnant of the town.
McLean County, Illinois
McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...
, United States during the 1850s by Quaker farmers, who, like many others who came to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, were looking to take advantage of the rich prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
soil. The town's settlement centered around the Society of Friends and the meeting house that was first constructed there in 1859. The town was rendered a ghost town
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
after 1870 when the expected Lake Erie Railroad did not come into town. Today the unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community of Bentown, Illinois
Bentown, Illinois
Bentown is a small town in McLean County, Illinois, United States.Situated 10 miles east of Bloomington, this small town has recently received attention due to the construction of wind turbines nearby. Bentown lies 850 feet above sea level)....
, exists near the site of the former town of Benjaminville.
Geography
The last remaining structure in Benjaminville is located at 40°28′35.4"N 88°48′22"W.The village of Benjaminville was located near the present-day community of Holder, Illinois
Holder, Illinois
Holder is an unincorporated community in Old Town Township, McLean County, Illinois.-Geography:Holder is located at , and is located east of Bloomington.-History:...
, east of the city of Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
. The town was founded on an elevated area of flat, treeless prairie
Prairie
Prairies are considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant vegetation type...
. Today, much of the area is used as crop land. Near the site of Benjaminville is the present-day unincorporated community of Bentown, Illinois
Bentown, Illinois
Bentown is a small town in McLean County, Illinois, United States.Situated 10 miles east of Bloomington, this small town has recently received attention due to the construction of wind turbines nearby. Bentown lies 850 feet above sea level)....
. The townsite lies in both Dawson Township
Dawson Township, McLean County, Illinois
Dawson Township is located in McLean County, Illinois. The population was 668 at the 2000 census. Dawson Township was originally named Lee Township, but changed to Padua Township on May 17, 1858, and then to Dawson on an unknown date....
and Oldtown Township.
History
Friends meeting house
A Friends meeting house is a meeting house of the Religious Society of Friends , where meeting for worship may be held.-History:Quakers do not believe that meeting for worship should take place in any special place. They believe that "where two or three meet together in my name, I am there among...
was erected at a cost of US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1,000 and a burial ground
Burial Ground
Burial Ground is the ninth studio album by Swedish death metal band Grave, released in June 2010.-Track listing:# "Liberation" - 3:40# "Semblance In Black" - 7:50# "Dismembered Mind" - 6:10# "Ridden With Belief" - 7:57# "Conquerer" - 4:44...
was established soon after. Through the 1860s a slow but steady stream of Quakers moved to the area. In 1874 the Benjaminville Friends Meeting House was erected, the only structure still extant from the town of Benjaminville. Settlement continued through the 1870s and Benjaminville became a social, political and religious hub for Friends from Illinois. An 1879 history of McLean County called Benjaminville "one of the strongest settlements of Friends that is to be found anywhere in the state."
The members of the Society of Friends Benjaminville meeting often took political stances on issues of the day. Among these were, peace, Indian affairs, women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
, and the evils of boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, lotteries and gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
. Throughout the 19th century Benjaminville was home to a distinct local community of considerable political importance. Benjaminville never grew large though it did contain at least two churches besides the meeting house and a few shops. By 1870 the town's fate was sealed when the Lake Erie Railroad opted to bypass the town because of the elevation of its terrain. The local churches eventually moved closer to the new railroad and the town's businesses shut down. In 1981 the only other remaining structure, an old wagon shop, was destroyed by fire, leaving the meeting house as the last remnant of the town.