Goshen Settlement facts for kids
The Goshen Settlement was an early American pioneer village in what is now Illinois, United States. It was located just east of St. Louis, Missouri, about one mile (1.6 km) southwest of the modern town of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This settlement was right where Judy's Creek flows out of the bluffs and into the wide, flat area called the American Bottoms, on its way to the mighty Mississippi River.
In 1799, a minister named David Bagley from Virginia traveled through this area. He was so amazed by how big and green the land was that he compared it to the "Land of Goshen" from the Bible. That's how this special place got its name, and people have called it Goshen ever since!
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Goshen Settlement: A New Beginning
In 1801, a man named Colonel Samuel Judy received a special land grant from the military. It was for about 100 acres (0.4 km2) near the bluffs, just north of Judy's Creek. Colonel Judy became the very first permanent American settler in what is now Madison County, Illinois. His land became the heart of the Goshen Settlement. Even though its exact borders were never perfectly clear, everyone knew it was centered around Colonel Judy's property, where Judy's Creek met what is now Illinois Route 157.
The Famous Goshen Road
Building a Path Across Illinois
In 1808, an important road was built. It was called the Goshen Road, and it was made for wagons to travel across Illinois. This road started at the Goshen Settlement and stretched all the way to the salt works near Shawneetown. Salt was very important back then for preserving food!
Following the Old Trail
The Goshen Road cut diagonally across the state. It went from a place called Peter's Station, which was north and west of Glen Carbon. From there, it headed east towards Troy. Then, it turned southeast and finally ended at Shawneetown, which is on the Ohio River. Today, a part of the original Goshen Road still exists. You can find it running from Route 159 to the intersection of Route 143, just south of Edwardsville.
What Remains Today
Today, the Goshen Settlement itself is mostly a memory. But its name lives on! You'll find many short road sections across Illinois named "Goshen Road." There are also many places named "Goshen" that were once close to this old, long-lost road and settlement. It can be a bit confusing because the modern towns of Goshen, Illinois, and Goshen, Indiana, are actually quite far from where the original Goshen Settlement used to be!
