New Market, Gallatin County, Illinois
New Market is a former village in Ridgway Township, Gallatin County.
In 1857 a motion was passed in the Illinois state legislature putting a proposal on the ballot in Gallatin County to shift the county seat from Shawneetown (now Old Shawneetown) to New Market. The proposal apparently failed at the ballot box, but it does give one an idea of some of the political wrangling going on between the western and eastern parts of Gallatin County as to where the political center of gravity should be located.
Here is an article on New Market on the Histopolis website that has information such as the exact coordinates of the village.
The following is from Gallatin County, Illinois: History and Families, 1812-1988, Volume I, by the Gallatin County Historical Society.
"The village of New Market was located about 1 1/2 miles south east of the center of the present-day town of Ridgway. James Dillard, Sr. and family settled on a knoll at the site of New Market in the early 1800's and Mr. Dillard applied for 160 acres of land on Aug. 10, 1814 as follows: T9, R9, Sec 14 SW. This land was located near the intersection of the New Haven to Salt Springs and Shawneetown to Bear Creek roads, and a pioneer village began to grow on the farm. Business establishments were set up to supply the people's needs."
"The village was platted in 1854 with a town square and more than 200 lots. The population quickly grew to more than one hundred, and new business places sprung up. Three blacksmiths, Joel Lamb, John Hancock and Nathan Lamb opened shops. Fredrick H. Sellers, son of the well-known George Eschol Sellers, was the first merchant. He was also Justice of the Peace, and opened the first post office in his store in 1857. David Philower and Joseph Smith also owned stores that supplied the area with general merchandise as well as groceries. A tannery operated for a time and Abram Zuck, a Civil War Veteran operated a grist mill. Benjamin L. Jackson was the chair-maker, whose product is yet in demand by collectors. Bricks were made 1/4 mile south of New Market by Joseph Smith and son. Master Carpenter William Brown was the town's coffin maker."
"The post office closed in 1871 and the village began to decline. The new railroad, constructed by Thomas Ridgway of Shawneetown, was laid about one mile east (ed. note: I believe this should read west, not east) of New Market. The railway passed Hammersly's sawmill and the people and shopkeepers moved to this new location, causing the town of Ridgway to come into existence. Today, few people have ever heard of the once-thriving village of New Market." ---Submitted by James F. Ralph
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