Lakeview, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Lakeview is an unincorporated dominantly African American
community in the Carrier Mills township
, Saline County, Illinois
, United States
. Lakeview was originally called "The Pond Settlement" It was named after the Cypress
swampland and wetlands that surrounds the area of Carrier Mills
. It is one of the oldest settlements in Illinois, and holds the oldest dominantly African American cemetery in Illinois. The community is drained by the Saline River
Lakeview was established by a group of African-American freedomen who immigrated from North Carolina
shortly after the War of 1812
. They arrived between 1818-1820. This area was ideal for the remaining Native Americans
who lived, hunted, fished, and farmed this region. Most of the Native American Families around 1800 contracted Small Pox and were all but wiped out. Only 13 families remained and they welcomed the freed men with open arms.
Census records indicate that the first settlers were the Allen, Blackwell, Taborn, Mitchell, Evans, Cofield, and Cole Families. These earliest Lakeview residents were most self-sufficient. They depended on a mixture of hunting and farming for their food. The early families had substantial land holdings in the Pre-Civil War
era. It was only after the village of Morrillsville, later known as Carrier Mills
, was established that some of these holdings were sold off. Whites continued to buy land around Lakeview during the remainder of the nineteenth century, resulting in the breakup of the larger land holdings.
Never a formal community or village, Lakeview covered a series of farmsteads concentrated about 3 square miles (7.8 km²); however, the focus of the settlement has always been on the church and school, along what was is now Taborn Road.
Lakeview had its own school and grocery store along with many homes. In 1850, a Union Church
was established near Carrier Mills in Saline County. Most members were either Baptist or Methodist. An African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at the home of Irvin Allen, who then built a one-room log church building on his property. Later they organized and built a frame structure on the M. Taylor farm. After the church burned they rebuilt and moved the church to Carrier Mills where it sits today. This congregation is now Baber Chapel AME Church. The Lakeview cemetery has become a state historical landmark. The area of Lakeview is still a nearly 100% black area. After the closing of the Lakeview school in the 1950s, many people moved to the east side of Carrier Mills.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
community in the Carrier Mills township
Carrier Mills Township, Saline County, Illinois
Carrier Mills Township is located in Saline County, Illinois. The population was 2,573 at the 2000 census.- External links :***...
, Saline County, Illinois
Saline County, Illinois
Saline County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 24,913, which is a decrease of 6.8% from 26,733 in 2000. Its county seat is Harrisburg. Saline County is home to the smallest post office and the largest KFC in the United States....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Lakeview was originally called "The Pond Settlement" It was named after the Cypress
Cypress
Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs...
swampland and wetlands that surrounds the area of Carrier Mills
Carrier Mills, Illinois
Carrier Mills, formerly Carriers Mills and Morrilsville, also known as Catskin, is a village in Saline County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,886 at the 2000 census. Carrier Mills was named after George Washington Carrier and his saw and grist mill, and was one of the early Cairo...
. It is one of the oldest settlements in Illinois, and holds the oldest dominantly African American cemetery in Illinois. The community is drained by the Saline River
Saline River (Illinois)
The Saline River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in the Southern Illinois region of the U.S. state of Illinois. The river drains a large section of southeast Illinois, with a drainage basin of . The major tributaries include the South Fork, Middle Fork and North Fork, all...
Lakeview was established by a group of African-American freedomen who immigrated from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
shortly after the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
. They arrived between 1818-1820. This area was ideal for the remaining Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
who lived, hunted, fished, and farmed this region. Most of the Native American Families around 1800 contracted Small Pox and were all but wiped out. Only 13 families remained and they welcomed the freed men with open arms.
Census records indicate that the first settlers were the Allen, Blackwell, Taborn, Mitchell, Evans, Cofield, and Cole Families. These earliest Lakeview residents were most self-sufficient. They depended on a mixture of hunting and farming for their food. The early families had substantial land holdings in the Pre-Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
era. It was only after the village of Morrillsville, later known as Carrier Mills
Carrier Mills, Illinois
Carrier Mills, formerly Carriers Mills and Morrilsville, also known as Catskin, is a village in Saline County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,886 at the 2000 census. Carrier Mills was named after George Washington Carrier and his saw and grist mill, and was one of the early Cairo...
, was established that some of these holdings were sold off. Whites continued to buy land around Lakeview during the remainder of the nineteenth century, resulting in the breakup of the larger land holdings.
Never a formal community or village, Lakeview covered a series of farmsteads concentrated about 3 square miles (7.8 km²); however, the focus of the settlement has always been on the church and school, along what was is now Taborn Road.
Lakeview had its own school and grocery store along with many homes. In 1850, a Union Church
Union Church
-National Register of Historic Places:United States*Union Church and School , listed on the NRHP in Logan County, Arkansas*Union Church of Dunnigan, Dunnigan, California, listed on the NRHP in California...
was established near Carrier Mills in Saline County. Most members were either Baptist or Methodist. An African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at the home of Irvin Allen, who then built a one-room log church building on his property. Later they organized and built a frame structure on the M. Taylor farm. After the church burned they rebuilt and moved the church to Carrier Mills where it sits today. This congregation is now Baber Chapel AME Church. The Lakeview cemetery has become a state historical landmark. The area of Lakeview is still a nearly 100% black area. After the closing of the Lakeview school in the 1950s, many people moved to the east side of Carrier Mills.