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Community of Clarksville History
McLean County, Illinois

(Transcribed by: Teri Moncelle Colglazier)

[Gen. Bartholomew] laid out the village of Clarksville [Money Creek Township] in 1836. After his death in 1840, the village declined. Gen. Bartholomew is one of the soldiers of the American Revolution buried in this county. ["Official souvenir program, McLean County Centennial, Aug. 27, 28, 30, 1930" by: McLean County Illinois Centennial Souvenir Program Committee, Harold Lang and Eugene Funk] A few miles east of Lake Bloomington lies the scattered settlement of Clarksville. Originally, a town was planned herein the late 1830's by James Clark, but the town failed to materialize. Clarksville is located in Money Creek Township, which has a total population of 590. First to settle in the township was Louis Soward, who later became familiarly known as "Uncle Louie." He and his family are believed to have arrived in 1825- He was joined afterwards by his brother-inlaw, Jacob Harness. Another who came here early was Jacob Spawr, the year of his arrival having been 1826. [This is McLean County, Illinois by: John Drury, The Loree Co., Chicago, Illinois (1955)]

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