Article in OWL_CREEK_GAZETTE = Bicentennial Series
On January 4, 1817, Bond County was formed as an act of the territorial legislature. The
county was named for Shadrack Bond. The honor was bestowed for Bond's service as a
congressional delegate. Bond later became the first governor of Illinois. Bond County
was formed out of Madison County in 1817 and was one of 11 original counties when Illinois
applied for statehood in 1818. At one time, Bond County was one of the largest counties (26
miles in width and extending southward from 6 miles farther south to Lake Superior to the north.
Hills Fort became the first county seat of Bond County. The fort was built around 1811, possibly
before, as dates are conflicting. Isaac Hill built a cabin that was used as his headquarters for
surveying the area. He was sent here by President Thomas Jefferson. As more settlers came and
there was more need for protection from the Indians, a blockhouse and stockade walls were
erected. Hills Fort was the site of an Indian attack September 1814. Four Rangers were killed
and three injured in an ambush as the group left the fort on patrol.
Hills Fort was not the county seat for long. As the seat of justice was moved to Perryville later in the year. Perryville was in what is now Fayette County. When Fayette itself was formed as a county
in 1821, the Bond County Seat was by necessity moved to Greenville. . .
see www.owlcreekgazette.com/
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