1841

In 1841, more prominent settlers arrived, including George Bayler Sr. and James Tobias.

Woodford County had been created, and in 1841, conducted their first business at the county seat of Versailles.  Versailles is now an extinct town just southeast of Eureka at the intersections of County Roads 1575E and 1600E, where you will still find a stone commemorating the community.  Versailles would succumb to the unfortunate position of not being located on any of the main roads or railroads constructed in the ensuing years and slowly faded from existence.  Business and trade shifted to Eureka, then called Walnut Grove.  1843 the county seat was moved to Metamora, then called Hanover. 

With populations throughout central Illinois rising, goods needed to be obtained, and the main source of materials was steamboats coming into Peoria.  In 1834, three steamboats made regular stops in Peoria to deliver goods.  By 1841, that number had risen to sixty.  That number would double again by 1844.

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