Excerpt from History of the First Baptist Church of Bloomington, Illinois, 1837-1937

Legislature, once to the Lower House of Congress and twice to the United States Senate.

The Commissioners then turned their attention to the selection of the spot, which, for all the years to come, Should be the County Seat of the new-born County. This was no easy task. It took not only clear judgment and courage, but also faith and vision.

Several of the very early settlers who had come to this region had chosen a beautiful wooded location which they had named Blooming Grove, and had built homes there. At this time of year the wild fruit trees were in full bloom, the prairie was carpeted by flowers of every hue, and the peace of God seemed to rest over the unturned sod.

At first this appeared the logical place for the location of the busy city they hoped soon to see rising on the prairie. Again there was discussion and delay. Then Honorable James Allen, who had been active in urging the formation of the new County, offered to give twenty-two and one-half acres of his own land lying north and west of the tract under consideration. A few miles made little difference in those days, so the offer was accepted and the town received its name. Thus Bloomington came into being. The town was Soon laid out. The twenty-two and one-half acres were divided into twelve squares, the boundaries were located and the streets named. Front Street marked the southern limits of the town; North Street, now called Monroe Street, marked the northern boundary; East Street, the eastern; and West Street, now called Roosevelt Avenue, the western, with a central space reserved for a Court House.

Most of the earliest settlers of this region were Christian people who longed for the Christian fellowship and religious instruction and inspira tion to which they had been accustomed. Whenever possible they met in little groups to talk and pray together, looking forward hopefully to the time when there would be churches, schools, and libraries here. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the land of Central Illinois. When ever a new-comer arrived, his denominational preference was one of the first questions asked him. In 1824, before there was even a separate County, a little group of seven had formed the First Methodist Church, and for seven years the only preaching services they had were held in the home of one of their number. By this time there was a small one story Court House, which for four years they rented for their religious services.

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