Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz

The Illinois Territory was formed in 1809. Its governor, Ninian Edwards, laid out a district on Sept. 14, 1812 and called it the county of Gallatin, after Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. The County changed size and shape often before its present boundaries were established on Feb. 25, 1847.

Shawneetown received the honor of appointment as the Seat of Justice. The County Seat was moved to Equality in 1827 and returned to Shawneetown in 1852.

In 1857 a courthouse was built with this bell later becoming its distinctive crown-piece. The bell's peal was a familiar part of daily life, celebrating triumphs, tolling tidings, announcing meetings, warning of fire, and floods.

The building was razed in 1939, when the town was moved, and the bell was placed atop the new courthouse. There it sat unnoticed until removed Aug. 1989 and placed here as a memorial.

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