HISTORICAL  FACTS

February 2012

The Belleville and Southern Illinois Railroad was the first railroad built in Randolph County.  It arrived in the village of Tilden in 1870.  The first train came through the village on 5 December 1870. 

John Walfington was the first first station agent in Tilden and Dave Gregory was the first section foreman.  .

January 2012

Two congregational ministers, with a colony of ten families, surveyed and platted the town of Hoyleton, Washington County, IL.  They contributed much to its early growth.  Rev. J. A. Bent and Rev. Ovid Miner and their group came from New York state.  Hoyleton was called Yankee Town until 1860.  Horace Wells had the first residence, part of which was used as a post office. 

December 2011

November 2011

Two working coal mines once existed within the Village limits of Tilden.  The "Tilden" mine from 1888 to 1908 was to the west and the "Crystal" mine from 1901 to 1925 was to the east.  In 1908 the two mines joined together to operate as one.  The "Eureka" mine, which was also known as the Jones mine, was 1/2 mile west of Tilden and operated from 1898 until it closed on 22 Aug 1948.  Two miles east of Tilden the Florida Coal Co. operated the "Black Cat" mine from 1903 until 1951. 

September 2011

William Ayers came into the area of the present site of Oakdale, Washington County, IL in 1823.   The community became known as Ayers Point.  He selected a site on the east side of Elkhorn creek near the place where the Kaskaskia-Vincennes Trail crossed the creek.    This site is very near the "Meadow in the Hole"  described as one of the camping places in the George Rogers Clark expedition.   In 1830 Tomas Bird opened the first post office.

MAY 2011

Michael and Friedaricka (Ohlendorf) moved to New Athens, IL from Millstadt, IL.  In New Athens they owned and operated a soft drink bottling works.  Kolabru was invented here.  All operations were done by hand and deliveries were made by horse and wagon.  About 1910, their son Richard, who married Clara Fries, bought the business, added some modern machinery and two Model "T" Ford trucks.

April 2011

The first Roman Catholic Church, organized in Washington County was in Lively Grove Precinct  in 1867 when a church was erected at a cost of $2000.

The membership at that time about twenty families.  Father Turck was the first Priest.  He served for one and a half years.   He was followed by Father Rosmoller who remained about five years.    He was succeeded by Father Busch a native of Westphalia, Prussia.  Father Busch came to America in 1836.

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