Benjaminville, Illinois facts for kids
The village of Benjaminville, Illinois, was a small community founded in the 1850s. It was located in McLean County, Illinois, in the United States. Quaker farmers, who are members of a Christian group called the Society of Friends, started the town. They came to Illinois because they wanted to farm the rich prairie soil. The town grew around the Society of Friends and their first meeting house, built in 1859.
Benjaminville became a ghost town after 1870. This happened because a planned railroad, the Lake Erie Railroad, did not come to the town. Today, a small, unincorporated community called Bentown, Illinois, is located near where Benjaminville used to be.
Contents
Where Was Benjaminville?
The last building left in Benjaminville is located at 40°28′35.4″N 88°48′22″W / 40.476500°N 88.80611°W. The village of Benjaminville was near the community of Holder, Illinois. This is east of the city of Bloomington. The town was built on a raised, flat area of land with no trees, which is typical prairie.
Today, much of this area is used for growing crops. The current community of Bentown, Illinois is very close to the old Benjaminville townsite. The land where Benjaminville once stood is split between Dawson Township and Oldtown Township.
The Story of Benjaminville
Benjaminville started in 1856 when three Quaker families arrived. These were the families of Joseph Marot, Isaac Clement, and Timothy Benjamin. More people came, and the town grew closely connected to the Society of Friends and their local church.
The town slowly got bigger. In 1859, the first Meeting House was built. It cost about US$1,000. A burial ground (cemetery) was also started soon after. Through the 1860s, more Quakers moved to the area. In 1874, the Benjaminville Friends Meeting House was built. This is the only building from the original town that is still standing today.
People continued to settle in Benjaminville through the 1870s. It became an important place for Quakers in Illinois. It was a center for their social life, politics, and religion. A history book from 1879 said Benjaminville was "one of the strongest settlements of Friends that is to be found anywhere in the state."
Quakers and Their Beliefs
The Quakers of Benjaminville often spoke out about important issues of their time. They believed strongly in peace and fairness. They also cared about how Native Americans were treated. They supported women's suffrage, which means women's right to vote. They also spoke out against things like boxing, lotteries, and gambling.
Throughout the 1800s, Benjaminville was home to a special community. This community had a lot of political influence. Benjaminville never became a very large town. It had at least two other churches besides the Meeting House, and a few shops.
Why Benjaminville Became a Ghost Town
By 1870, the future of Benjaminville was decided. The Lake Erie Railroad chose not to build its tracks through the town. This was because the land was too high. Without the railroad, businesses and people started to leave. The local churches eventually moved closer to the new railroad lines. The shops in Benjaminville closed down.
In 1981, the only other building left, an old wagon shop, was destroyed by fire. This left the Meeting House as the last reminder of the town of Benjaminville.
