HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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has grain elevators, woolen mills, marble works, a carriage factory and a national bank. It also has water works, an excellent telephone system, good drainage, and is lighted by electricity. There are seven churches, a graded school and two weekly newspapers. Population (1880), 1,814; (1890), 1,649; (1900), 1,601.
LA FAYETTE (Marquis de), VISIT OF. An event of profound interest in the history of Illinois, during the year 1825, was the visit to the State by the Marquis de La Fayette, who had been the ally of the American people during their struggle for independence. The distinguished Frenchman having arrived in the country during the latter part of 1824, the General Assembly in session at Vandalia, in December of that year, adopted an address inviting him to visit Illinois. This was communicated to La Fayette by Gov. Edward Coles, who had met the General in Europe seven years before. Governor Coles' letter and the address of the General Assembly were answered with an acceptance by La Fayette from "Washington, under date of Jan. 16,1825. The approach of the latter was made by way of New Orleans, the steamer Natchez (by which General La Fayette ascended the Mississippi) arriving at the old French village of Carondelet, below St. Louis, on the 28th of April. Col. William S. Hamilton, a son of Alexander Hamilton, and at that time a Representative in the General Assembly from Sangamon County, as well as an Aid-de-Camp on the staff of Governor Coles, was dispatched from the home of the latter at Edwardsville, to meet the distinguished visitor, which he did at St. Louis. On Saturday, April 30, the boat bearing General La Fayette, with a large delegation of prominent citizens of Missouri, left St. Louis, arriving at Kaskaskia, where a reception awaited him at the elegant residence of Gen. John Edgar, Governor Coles delivering an address of welcome. The presence of a number of old soldiers, who had fought under La Fayette at Brandywine and Yorktown, constituted an interesting feature of the occasion. This was followed by a banquet at the tavern kept by Colonel Sweet, and a closing reception at the house of William Morrison, Sr., a member of the celebrated family of that name, and one of the leadin
