Chalfin Bridge, Illinois is a small unincorporated community in the historic Mitchie Precinct of Monroe County, Illinois

Monroe County, Illinois

Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 32,957, which is an increase of 19.3% from 27,619 in 2000. Its county seat is Waterloo...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. It lies on the old Bluff Road in the American Bottoms between Fults

Fults, Illinois

Fults is a village in the Renault precinct of Monroe County, Illinois, United States. The population was 28 at the 2000 census. It is located entirely within the American Bottom floodplain.-Geography:Fults is located at ....

 and the old site of Valmeyer

Valmeyer, Illinois

Valmeyer is a village in Monroe County, Illinois, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 1200 at the 2006 census.-History:...

 and near Maeystown

Maeystown, Illinois

Maeystown is a village in Monroe County, Illinois, United States. The population was 148 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...

.

History

It was settled in 1796, by Isaac Chalfin and his son William. They arrived in the area from England, via Pennsylvania. Another son, James, was massacred along with his entire family when they were forced to stop for provisions while on their way here, travelling up the Mississippi

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

 from its confluence with the Ohio

Ohio River

The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...

 at Cairo

Cairo, Illinois

Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...

, which was the main route for those moving west from the Appalachians.