26-549: The Pierre Menard House , located in Ellis Grove, Illinois , United States, was the home of Pierre Menard , a trader who became the first lieutenant governor of Illinois from 1818 to 1822. Pierre Menard was born near Montreal , Quebec on October 7, 1766. The third of ten children, Menard sought to make his fortune by trading furs in what was then " Illinois Country ". Leaving his home in Canada with two of his brothers at approximately
52-511: A National Historic Landmark in 1970, and it was named one of the contributing properties to the new French Colonial Historic District in 1974, along with other area French-influenced sites such as Fort de Chartres , the Creole House , the Kolmer Site (a former Indian village), and the site of Fort Kaskaskia . The two-story home features early 19th-century period furnishings. The rooms on
78-434: A female householder with no husband present, 33.5% were non-families, and 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 41.0 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 45,020 and the median income for a family was $ 55,113. Males had a median income of $ 43,359 versus $ 28,376 for females. The per capita income for
104-537: A time that allowed slavery and fostered bigotry and oppression has no place in the Illinois House, where the work of all Illinoisans is conducted," according to Speaker Michael Madigan. 37°57′53″N 89°54′36″W / 37.9647°N 89.9099°W / 37.9647; -89.9099 Ellis Grove, Illinois Ellis Grove is a village in Randolph County , Illinois , United States . The population
130-541: Is Chester . Owing to its role in the state's history, the county motto is "Where Illinois Began." It contains the historically important village of Kaskaskia , Illinois's first capital. The county is part of Southern Illinois in the southern portion of the state known locally as " Little Egypt ", and includes fertile river flats, part of the American Bottom ; it is near the Greater St. Louis area. Randolph County
156-645: Is a few miles further down the river. In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Chester have ranged from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 91 °F (33 °C) in July, although a record low of −18 °F (−28 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 2012. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.85 inches (47 mm) in January to 4.30 inches (109 mm) in May. Randolph County
182-564: Is among the few counties in the United States to border two counties with the same name (Perry County in Missouri and Illinois). As of the 2010 United States Census , there were 33,476 people, 12,314 households, and 8,188 families residing in the county. The population density was 58.2 inhabitants per square mile (22.5/km ). There were 13,707 housing units at an average density of 23.8 per square mile (9.2/km ). The racial makeup of
208-582: Is another enclave of Illinois west of the Mississippi that was created by a change in the river's course. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 597 square miles (1,550 km ), of which 576 square miles (1,490 km ) is land and 22 square miles (57 km ) (3.6%) is water. The Kaskaskia River flows into the Mississippi River in Randolph County. At this point
234-492: Is water. As of the 2000 United States Census , there were 381 people, 145 households, and 102 families residing in the village. The population density was 819.4 inhabitants per square mile (316.4/km ). There were 149 housing units at an average density of 320.4 units per square mile (123.7 units/km ). The racial makeup of the village was 99.21% White , 0.26% Native American , and 0.52% from two or more races. There were 145 households, out of which 40.0% had children under
260-489: The Indiana Territorial Legislature, regimental Major, and being one of the select few chosen to help draft Illinois' first constitution, Pierre Menard is still remembered to this day for his good-natured will and for his generosity towards the poor. The land was purchased sometime in 1802 according to records and family and the house itself construction began sometime later that year. It is an illustration of
286-596: The Mississippi, which usually defines the border between Illinois and Missouri , is entirely in Illinois. The Mississippi changed its course in the late-nineteenth century, leaving Kaskaskia, the former state capital, on the west side of the river. The boundary of the State, however, follows the old course of the river, leaving Illinois with an exclave on the western shore of the Mississippi River. A smaller enclave, Crains Island,
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#1732873198410312-590: The Southern French Colonial (sometimes referred to as "Creole") and has various features which highlight this, including its beautiful Gallery (porch). The house is located within only a few hundred yards of the Mississippi River which during Pierre's time would have been the Kaskaskia River. Due to the annual flooding and erosion, the rest of the original town of Kaskaskia, Illinois ' first capital, has been washed away. The Pierre Menard House now stands as
338-562: The age of 15, he worked for Francois Vigo of Vincennes, IN as a clerk moving to Kaskaskia in March 1790. Having become a successful businessman by the age of thirty, Menard went on to become a successful U.S. political figure, eventually becoming the first lieutenant governor of Illinois, after having served as the presiding officer of the Illinois Territorial Legislature. Despite his various political accolades, including delegate to
364-423: The age of 18 living with them, 62.1% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.22. In the village, the population was spread out, with 29.4% under
390-463: The age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males. The median income for a household in the village was $ 33,250, and the median income for a family was $ 42,750. Males had a median income of $ 36,667 versus $ 21,250 for females. The per capita income for
416-581: The county was $ 19,950. About 7.0% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.9% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over. The Illinois Department of Corrections Menard Correctional Center is located in Chester . Prior to the January 11, 2003, commutation of death row sentences, male death row inmates were housed in Menard, Tamms , and Pontiac correctional centers. After that date, only Pontiac continued to host
442-472: The county was 87.6% white, 9.7% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.2% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 40.3% were German , 11.3% were Irish , 9.4% were English , and 5.7% were American . Of the 12,314 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 10.1% had
468-579: The existence of the Northwest Territory on July 13, 1787. Edmund Randolph was Governor of Virginia at the time Virginia ceded the Northwest Territory to the United States. In 1809, when Illinois became a separate territory, Territorial Secretary Nathaniel Pope , in his capacity as acting governor, issued a proclamation establishing Randolph as one of the Illinois' two original counties. The county's boundaries were last changed in 1827, when land
494-498: The main floor include the entry hall, parlor , master bedroom, dining room, two additional bedrooms, maid's room and a nursery . Behind the home is a period stone kitchen. The grounds include a privy , a reconstructed smokehouse and springhouse , and a historic herb and vegetable garden. The house and museum doesn't describe or mention the history of slaves on this plantation. In 1999, Christopher Stratton and William Flesher conducted an archaeological investigation to recreate where
520-589: The male death row. Randolph is a rural conservative county in southern Illinois that has trended Republican since 2000 in presidential elections. There are two AM radio stations licensed in the county — WHCO 1230AM in Sparta and KSGM 980AM in Chester. Weekly newspapers in the county are The Randolph County Herald Tribune located in Chester, The County Journal , which is based in Percy and also covers Perry and Jackson Counties,
546-632: The only testament to where the first state capital once stood in its original place. Preserved by the state as the Pierre Menard Home State Historic Site, it contains a museum which includes audio-visual program. The museum is devoted to the Menard family, as well as local history, and is governed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources . The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places and designated
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#1732873198410572-602: The slave quarters existed. The total number of slaves swelled from 7 in 1810 to 22 in 1830. They remained slaves on the property until Illinois abolished slavery in 1848. Pierre Menard was one of only three people with a statue on the grounds of the Illinois state capitol in Springfield. August 19, 2020, the Speaker of the House and office of architecture removed this Menard's statue from the grounds because it led to "Memorializing people and
598-399: The village was $ 14,527. About 5.9% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over. News from Randolph County Randolph County, Illinois Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois . According to the 2020 census , it had a population of 30,163. Its county seat
624-406: Was 328 at the 2020 census. Ellis Grove is located at 38°0′37″N 89°54′29″W / 38.01028°N 89.90806°W / 38.01028; -89.90806 (38.010394, -89.908123). According to the 2010 census, Ellis Grove has a total area of 0.491 square miles (1.27 km ), of which 0.49 square miles (1.27 km ) (or 99.8%) is land and 0.001 square miles (0.00 km ) (or 0.2%)
650-617: Was organized in 1795 out of a part of St. Clair County . It was named in honor of Edmund Randolph , Governor of Virginia. George Rogers Clark of the army of Virginia captured the area from the British on July 4, 1778, near the end of the Revolutionary War . The area then became the seat, for several years, of Illinois County, Virginia , although the Congress of the Confederation legislated
676-400: Was taken to form Perry County . The Mississippi River has played a prominent role in the county's history, altering its boundaries in 1881 when it severed the isthmus that connected Kaskaskia to the Illinois mainland, destroying the original village of Kaskaskia and forcing its historic cemetery to be relocated across the river to Fort Kaskaskia . Crains Island, southeast of Chester ,
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