ILLINOIS GENEALOGY TRAILS
ALHAMBRA
This is a thriving village with a population of about two hundred and is situated in township five north, range six west; eighteen miles northeast of Edwardsville. It contains a good hotel, one general store, one grocery, two wagon shops, two blacksmith shops, one carpenter shop and one school house.
DORSEY
In the western part of township 6, 8, on the St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute Railroad
GREENCASTLE
Is about one third of mile distant from Alhambra. There are in it, one church, two hotels, one store, one steam flouring mill, one wagon shop and one blacksmith shop. The Post Office is at Alhambra.
MORO
Is a post village in the south-western part of township 6, 8, and on the St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute Railroad. Eight miles east and two miles north from Alton.
MOULTONVILLE
Is a small post village in township six north, range six west, in the north-east part of this county. It contains two churches-Campbellite or Christian and German Lutheran-and one school house. There are also, one blacksmith, two carpenters and one shoemaker in the place.
NEW DOUGLAS
Is a small post village,in township six north, range seven west, and about thirty miles north-east of Edwardsville. It has one general store, one saddle and harness shop, together with a number of mechanics and laborers.
PRAIRIE TOWN
In the western part of township 6,7, on the St. Louis, Alton and Terre Haute Railroad.
VENICE
Is a post village, located on the east bank of the Mississippi, opposite the northern portion of St. Louis,-four miles from the Chicago, Alton and St. Louis depot, and about eighty rods north of the line between Madison and St. Clair counties. There are two general stores, one drug store, one hotel, five blacksmith, one plow and two wagon shops. The village being located in the "American Bottom" is surrounded by a country of unsurpassed fertility; its productions finding a ready market in the city opposite.
The site of the village of "Old Venice," formerly lying immediately west, is now almost entirely washed away by the waters of the Mississippi. It was at one time a place of considerable business, being the center where several stage lines made connection. Mr. Robinson, a former resident of St.Louis, and father of Henry Robinson, Esq. of Venice, was one of the principal stock holders of the first ferry that run between St. Louis and Old Venice.
There is one common school in the vicinity, and the M.E. Society hold weekly meetings in a public hall.
A ferry connects the village with St. Louis, having two boats that make two trips each hour. The tracks of both the C.A. & St. L. and St. L., A. & T. H. Railroads pass through the village. Population about three hundred and fifty.