The village of Illiopolis, from which the township took its name, is on the line of the Wabash railroad and was laid out and platted in 1856 under the name of Wilson. It is now a prosperous village, containing about 750 inhabitants, and is the most important trading and shipping point in the township.

Population, including the village, 1,615.

In 1834 a town was laid out, but never built upon, about half a mile south of the present village by John Taylor, Eli Blankenship and Governor Joseph Duncan. This "paper town" was alleged to be the geographical center of the state and was a competitor with Springfield for the seat of government

Early Settlement of Illiopolis Township.

The first settlements in the township were made in the timber land bordering the Sangamon River in the southwest part. Here grew every variety of native hardwoods and wild fruit trees: the plum, crab apple, cherry, mulberry,persimmon. Wild honey could be taken from bee trees. Game was plentiful and here were deer and bear in the woods. Hogs could feed upon acorns and other nuts.

This region, rather than the rich virgin soil of the prairie lands, was the site chosen by emigrants, coming here chiefly from Virginia by way of Kentucky, where they had been accustomed to living near the streams. From the forests they could get material to build and furnish their cabins, fuel for their fireplaces, and much of their food. Also the rivers were their easiest method of transportation.

In 1826, the first settler, Mrs. Anderson, a widow, arrived with her family and hers was the first log cabin. Soon after her came John and James Hunter, Mr. Allen, Joel Watkins,Samuel and Chesley Dickerson, William Gragg, James Hampton, John Churchill, Josiah Kent, William Bridges and others.

Very little farming was done, but there were patches of corn and cane grown inclosed by stake and rider fences. Sorghum and grist mils were built and there was a saw mill, though most of the logs for the cabins were hand hewn of walnut. Fishing was done with light weight poles cut from hickory or pawpaw which were dried during the winter and peeled. No glass rods or reels were needed. From the fruits and berries - elder, spice and service berries - jam or preserves were made and stored beneath the floors in stone jars covered with wax. Mechanicsburg was the nearest place where these early settlers might to to do their trading.

After the village of Illiopolis had been built the later settlers, who were truck farmers, brought some of their products to sell to the stores or to housewives. Mr. Tom Disney would walk to town carrying a pail of blackberries in each hand, refusing to ride lest the berries be jolted down. These he sold for forty cents a gallon and, on the return journey he might be seen shouldering sacks of flour or sugar.

These first settlers were the ancestors of the early farmers and residents of the village. James Hampton was the grandfather of Mrs. Archibald Boyd. Jame Hunter, who married Rachel Scott, was the grandfather of Scott Hunter, owner of a meat market, and the great-grandfather of Mrs. T. O. Rule, A. E. Hunter, Elizabeth Hunter, and J. L. Hunter. Mrs. Alta Peters, Mrs. W. S. Mussenden, Russell Johnston, Elizabeth and A. E Hunter are greatgrandchildren of William Bridges, a veteran of the War of 1812. Edwin Dickerson is the great-great grandson of Samuel Dickerson.