The Ghost Town of Elvira, Union County, Illinois Elvira was the first county seat of Johnson County. The first settler arrived in 1806. The area was chosen as the county seat by the Illinois Territorial Legislature in 1813. A log courthouse was erected that same year. In 1814 a box courthouse was built followed shortly after by a jail. At the time, Johnson County consisted of what is now Alexander, Pulaski, Massac and Johnson Counties as well as parts of Williamson, Jackson, Hardin, Polk and Saline counties. It is believed that the town got its name from the name of the wife of the Illinois Territorial Governor at the time, Elvira Edwards. Elvira reached the height of its prosperity in 1817 and 1818 when it boasted of 2 general stores, a blacksmith shop, doctors’ offices, lawyers’ offices and the public buildings. There were approximately 25 houses with over 100 residents. In 1818 Union County was carved out of Johnson County and the geographical center of the new county was in the wilderness. A new courthouse was built in the geographical center of the new county and the town of Vienna was platted around the courthouse. Lawyers, doctors and the commerce moved to Vienna and the town of Elvira went into decline. In 1823 the courthouse was torn down and replaced with a barn. The post office closed in 1904 and the last town physician quit practice in 1908. Nothing remains today of this important pioneer town but an empty field. A sign by the highway, erected by the Boy Scouts, identifies the location of the town. Directions: Elvira is located about 5 miles east of Lick Creek between Lick Creek and Buncombe. The easiest access to this remote site is via a road that exits Buncombe to the west. Watch closely for the sign on the north side of the road a few miles to the west of Buncombe.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 02:00:00 +0000
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