Historian and educator Caroline Kisiel tells the largely forgotten story of the English Prairie settlement in early Illinois and how it played an important role in keeping Illinois free from slavery. This historical presentation takes a critical look at George Flower’s 1882 account, History of the English Settlement in Edwards County, Illinois, and his discussions of slavery, free Blacks, attitudes and practices witnessed among Illinois residents, and their community’s efforts towards the antislavery cause – all set against a backdrop of tense differences with regard to slavery that played out on the Illinois frontier. This important historical record also illuminates our understanding of early Illinois mindsets that influenced community formation and supports thinking about community-building efforts today.
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