All history is local until it is woven together with other stories to become part of the National fabric and there is no aspect of National history that doesn’t touch Tazewell County. 

East Peoria, more than any other community in the county, is one that was formed from many. The early days saw tiny settlements pop up here and there around Fondulac township. Those with post offices were often towns, others perhaps just place names but they are all points of reference.                     

The first post office in Fondulac township was established at Little Detroit about 20 September 1833. The site had a ferry and a tavern or inn that likely held the post office. It would’ve been a stage coach stop, too, that was located near the current site of the McCluggage bridge.

The town of Cleveland was platted in 1836 in an area near the river but never came to pass. Henry Cleveland subsequently petitioned for a renewal of his ferry license at the July 1837 term of the Tazewell Commissioners Court. That ferry would cross the river from Peoria to his town.

Bluetown, situated a little east of Springfield Rd along Washington Rd, had a post office established around 21 May 1864. 

An East Peoria post office was briefly established 23 October 1863, then changed to Hilton about 3 February 1869, then was changed back to East Peoria on 25 Jan 1886.

The town of Fondulac, situated near Camp and Main, had a post office established 26 March 1872 and Farmdale had a post office beginning about 19 June 1874. All of the little post offices were eventually consolidated into the East Peoria office.

Colesville was east of Main Street along Washington and Creston was off to the far east along Bloomington Road. Neither ever had post offices but were referenced on maps and in other records. For example, the September 1870 Tazewell County Commissioners Minutes record “that the road and bridge committee be instructed to examine the bridges across Farm Creek at Colesville and Dry Branch and the bridge across Ten Mile Creek in the Town of Fondulac and contract for the repairing of said bridges.”

Cloverdale and Gardena in Groveland township have been swallowed up by modern day East Peoria. Cartersville, Farm Creek, Pleasant Hill, Richland Farms, Robein, So. East Peoria, Urbandale, Slabtown and Spurcksville and are also found in various documents.

Although East Peoria was off to a slow start compared to other towns, once it took off near the dawn of the twentieth century it grew and grew to cover most of Fondulac and a good deal of Groveland township too. The turn of the century saw a great deal of industrial development such as  Colean, Holt, and Herschels to name a few. Shortly after the bicentennial, circa 1980, there was another great upheaval when first the four corners came down and then nearly everything between Main Street and the Illinois river. Finally, the beautiful, modern city that East Peoria is today rose to be the envy of the area.

Hope everyone had a very Happy Semiquincentennial Independence Day!

If anyone would like more information about any Tazewell family, feel free to contact TCGHS.

The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society is an award-winning 501c3, all volunteer organization that has been in continuous service to our members and the public for 47 years. TCGHS operates an archive, library, and research facility at 719 N. 11th St., Pekin. Visit our website at www.tcghs.org to learn more about us. If you have any point of interest that you would like to know more about, stop in at TCGHS or drop us a line.