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Alexander Buel House

Alexander Buel House
General History
Columbus Avenue
Golconda Illinois 62938

Information

(217) 782-6302
lat: 37.3642907 long: -88.4843574

The Alexander Buel House is a State Historic Site with ties to the Trail of Tears—the forced migration of tens of thousands of Native Americans from the Southeastern United States to territory west of the Mississippi River from approximately 1830 to 1850. While the house was built after the major forced migration of the Cherokee people from their homeland in Georgia that took place from 1838-39, Cherokees undoubtedly passed by the site, as it was the landing point on the Illinois side of the Ohio River. There are indications that Cherokees would later stop by the Buel House on their way to visit Georgia.

Built by A. H. Buel, who received a deed to the lot 18 October, 1841 from Daniel Field. Family members, some of whom lived in the house until 1986, thought Mr. Buel, a tanner, built the house shortly after the deed was executed. The Buels came to Golconda in 1836. They witnessed the 1838-39 Cherokee Trail of Tears and told the story of feeding pumpkin to two weary travelers. A son, James William, was a renowned non-fiction author in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.

The property was purchased by Frank J. Mason, Springfield, who presented it to Governor Jim Edgar for the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency in 1992. The site is open by appointment with Pope County Historical Society.

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