In 1673 Pere Jacques Marquette, a missionary priest, and Louis Jolliet, French explorers under authority of Louis XIV, King of France, on their expedition to explore the region of the Mississippi, floated in canoes past the western shores of Columbia Precinct, and were the first white men to behold this magnificent country.

    The Mound Builders, undoubtedly were the first inhabitants of Columbia Precinct, originally called the Eagle Precinct. They were so called because they built mounds in North America chiefly centered in the valley of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. It is now generally agreed by ethnologists that the Mound Builders were Indians believed to have inhabited the area and built the mounds from the eighth or ninth century, before the arrival of the French settlers. Some of the flat topped mounds still remaining are located northwest of Columbia at Bixby and Fish Lake, and apparently were garden plots where maize and other crops were raised. The mound building Indians were succeeded by the Kickapoo Indians, a tribe of the great Illini-Confederation, who occupied this area upon the arrival of the early settlers.

    The first settlers of this section were pioneers from the East Coast, the territories of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware, as they arrived about 1783, but their settlements were scattered because of bloody Indian wars.

    In 1778 after George Roger Clark captured Kaskaskia from the British, in the name of the immortal Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, a group of Clark's men journeyed over the now famous Kaskaskia Trail, passing through Columbia. Some of Clark's men were the early settlers of Columbia, who brought their families from Virginia and Maryland to Columbia about 1793-1795. The Kaskaskia Trail, though only a footpath of the Indians, was the only established road through the wilderness and probably the deciding factor in their settling of Columbia.

    The first settlement in Columbia Precinct was made on the tract of land now the farm of Robert J. Frierdich, south of Columbia, where a fort was built in 1780 by the Flanneries. Fort Whiteside was built by William Whiteside, a Revolutionary War soldier, in 1783.

    Palmer Cemetery, the oldest burial place in the Columbia Precinct, was laid out on the Ogle estate about 1783. Many Revolutionary, War of 1812 and Mexican War heroes were buried there.

    The early settlers of 1793--1795 probably reasoned that this area was a favorable place to settle, for here there was a rise between the Bottoms and the nearly 700-feet high bluffs, and here lay a plateau, 515 feet above sea level, which was safe from floods, protected from storms by a rise of hills on the north and east, and had an abundance of clear spring water, making it a logical place to settle and found a permanent village.

    Monroe County was organized and established on January 6, 1816, two years before the Territory of Illinois was admitted to Statehood, and in 1820 had a population of 1,516.

    In 1820 the ORIGINAL TOWN OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS was laid out by and on the land of John Nolan, located in Surveys 773 and 417, Township One, South Range Ten (10) West in Monroe County. The survey and plat was made by a Whiteside, but it was never recorded. A plat of Columbia was recorded in the County Seat in August, 1839.

    The origin of the name "Columbia" has been the subject of much discussion and conjecture among the Columbians as to why the original town was named Columbia. The name Columbia came into popularity at the close of the American Revolution. There seemed to be a feeling that Columbus, the discoverer of America, should be memorialized. The first time the name Columbia appeared in legislation was the legislature act of the State of New York, giving the name to the Columbia University, May 1, 1784.

    During the Revolution, Rev. Timothy Dwight, a chaplain in the American Army, composed a song entitled "Columbia, Columbia to Glory Arise". Dr. Dwight had idealized the new republic. The word had become significant of liberty and patriotism, representing the new born hopes and aspirations of the American people and nation. A verse In the song which perhaps prompted the decision, is the following: "Columbia, Columbia to glory arise, The Queen of the World and child of the skies." Columbia then became a popular name. By a Congressional Act in 1790 the District of Columbia was established. Since the early settlers of Columbia had fought in the Revolution, it is possible they heard the song, had sung it, and decided it was a patriotic and appropriate name for the town they founded, our own fair Columbia.

    The first school in Columbia Precinct was held in 1815 with Charles Walker as Schoolmaster, and in 1817 Levi Piggott kept school in a log house in a clearing near Biggs Creek, now Palmer Creek, in the north City Limits of Columbia.

    A double log house was built by David Robinson and used as a dwelling house and hotel as early as 1825. In 1828 it was purchased by Robert Coleman and named the Franklin Inn, later known as the Buck Tavern. It became famous for its hospitality. Here the stage coaches stopped and changed horses and the passengers refreshed themselves for their long journey over the Kaskaskia Trail. The building, located on Main and Liberty Streets, was later owned by the Fred Juengling family and after 130 years of continuous hospitality, was razed in 1958 to make way for new improvements.

    In 1828 Robert Coleman established a grist mill, or ox-mill as old records call it, for oxen were the power to run it. Coleman also had a store there. Messrs. Smith and Stewart were the first merchants, and a log building near the mill served as their store. Joshua Parker had the first blacksmith shop.

    A post office was established in Columbia, August 10, 1822, and the Kaskaskia-Cahokia trail became the mail and stage route from St. Louis to Columbia and south.

    The first years of Columbia settlers were busy ones. They broke the sod for crops, cleared the ground for cabins, built roads and fought the Indians. With all this drudgery which preceded the beginning of civilization in this area, they had little time for anything but mere survival. The population was very sparse at first, but grew rapidly. The people came westward from Virginia, South Carolina, Maryland and Kentucky, crossed the Ohio River and settled in Southern Illinois, including Columbia Precinct.

    The advent of the Germans began about 1833-1835. Many came by boat from New Orleans to St. Louis, eventually to Columbia. In 1835-1840 a flood of Germans came overland in covered wagons from the Eastern States to Columbia and surrounding territory.

    The early settlers brought with them a true religious spirit, a strong and undying faith. The records indicate the Methodist Episcopal Church was the first church in Columbia, established in 1843. The St. Paul Lutheran Church was established in the precinct in 1841 and held their first service in Columbia in 1846. The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church was established in Columbia in 1846. The St. Paul Evangelical Church (now United Church of Christ) was established here in 1849.

    The first railroad was built through Columbia in 1868, then named the St. Louis-Cairo Railroad Company, now the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad Company.

    The original Town Hall and Calabooze was built in 1876. The building was 16 x 20 feet, two stories high, built of rocks, walls 18 inches thick, and built by Berg and Fischer for $1,075.00. The building was located at the corner of Cherry Street and Rapp Avenue, until 1940, when it was razed and replaced with the present Municipal Building.

    Town boundaries were designated and the Columbia Municipality was first incorporated in 1859 as a "Town" by a special Act of the Thirty-first General Assembly of the State of Illinois, approved in February A.D., 1859, on the 19th day, by Governor William H. Bissell, who was elected from Monroe County.

    The first election in said TOWN of Columbia was held at the house of Ernst Mund, in 1859, at which "all white free male inhabitants over the age of 21 years" were entitled to vote. Only a bona fide freeholder who had paid a state and county tax could hold the office of Trustee.

    The FIRST OFFICERS for the TOWN OF COLUMBIA, elected in 1859, were:

        President    Stewart McKee

        Trustees    John Gundlach

            LaFayette Warnock

            John Jost

            John Ferkel

        Clerk    Armin Bornemann

        Treasurer    John Ferkel

        Constable    Henry Scheuermann

        Street Commissioner    Jacob Beck

    The LAST OFFICERS for the TOWN OF COLUMBIA, elected in 1903, were:

        President    Jas. W. Warnock

        Trustees    Charles Lotz

            Gustav Rohm

            John C. Schmidt

            Gustav Tunze

            Albert Lepp

        Clerk    Jas. McKee

        Treasurer    Henry N. Kunz

        Constables    John B. Schmidt

            Henry Dahmer, Sr.

    At a general election held October 3, 1903, the municipal government was changed from Town to Village, under the General Laws of the State of Illinois.

    The FIRST OFFICERS for the VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA, elected April 19, A.D., 1904, were:

        President    Henry N. Kunz

        Trustees    Albert Lepp

            Gustav Tunze

            Edmund L. Rauch

            George Roessler

            William Haberlah

        Clerk    Rudolph P. Briegel

        Treasurer    George B. Schoening

        Constable    John B. Schmidt

    The LAST OFFICERS of the VILLAGE OF COLUMBIA, elected in 1926, were:

        President    Fred G. Rapp

        Trustees    E.L. Rauch

            Daniel Daab

            Louis Landgraf

            William Roessler

            Joseph J. Volkert, Sr.

            William Wilde

        Clerk    Arthur A. Lepp

        Treasurer    Julius F. Lotz

        Marshal    Charles L. Kern

        Attorney    A.C. Bollinger

    At a special election held on March 22, 1927, under the aldermanic form of government, the municipal government was changed from Village to City under the General Laws of the State of Illinois.

    The FIRST OFFICERS for the CITY OF COLUMBIA, elected in 1927, were:

        Mayor    Fred G.  Rapp

        Alderman 1st Ward    Daniel Daab

            Thomas C. Schmidt

        Alderman 2nd Ward    Joseph J. Volkert, Sr.

            Herman G. Haller

        Alderman 3rd Ward    Edmund L. Rauch

            Arthur H. Rueck

        Clerk    Arthur A. Lepp

        Treasurer    Julius F. Lotz

        Police Magistrate    Edwin C. Kueffner

        Attorney    A.C. Bollinger

        Marshal    C.L. Kern

        Fire Chief    Gus C. Goeckeler, Jr.

    On March 20, 1933, Edward J. Hughes, Secretary of the State of Illinois, certified Columbia, Illinois, as a legally organized and incorporated City pursuant to a Special Election, held March 22, 1927, authorizing the changed status from a Village to a City under the General Laws of the State of Illinois. The Charter for the City of Columbia, Monroe County, Illinois was approved and signed by the said Secretary of State, March 20, 1933.

    The officers for the CITY OF COLUMBIA, for the term 1933 to 1937 were:

        Mayor    Albert C. Metter

        Aldermen 1st Ward     M.W. Steffenauer

            Herman J. Frierdich

        Aldermen 2nd Ward     Gus D. Schroeder

            Carl A. Reis

        Aldermen 3rd Ward     Walter F. Giffhorn

            Philip J. Ludwig

        Clerk     Alvin G. Klein

        Treasurer     Arthur P. Wink

        Attorney     Roy E. Gauen

        Chief of Police     C. L. Kern

        Fire Chief     John Landgraf

    The Officers of the CITY OF COLUMBIA for the term 1963 to 1965 were:

        Mayor.     Albert C. Metter

        Aldermen 1st Ward     Wilbert H. Kremmel

            William E. Landgraf

        Aldermen 2nd Ward     William J. Gallagher

            Robert J. Hagel

        Aldermen 3rd Ward     Robert F. Lepp

            Carl W. Richert

        Aldermen 4th Ward     Warren E. Bergman

            Clifford H. Schrador

        Clerk        Joseph J. Volkert, Jr.

        Treasurer     Lester Deffenbaugh

        Police Magistrate    Henry Haberlah

        Attorney     Edgar O. Zimmer

        Chief of Police     Chris L. Volkert

        Fire Chief     Francis Fromme

        Auditor--C.P.A.    Thomas J. Hargadon

    February 4, 1867

    The Town Board of Columbia, Illinois, met at 7 o'clock P.M.

    Present: L. Warnock, Chr. Breidecker, Jacob Beck, Thomas Koenigsmark and John Gundlach.

    * * * * * * *

    ORDINANCE ON STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.

    Be it ordained by the Board of Trustees of the town of Columbia as follows:

    1. That Main Street shall be sixty (60) feet wide and no person or persons shall be allowed to erect any building or any other obstruction within thirty (30) feet from the middle or center of said Main Street.

    2. That all the other streets shall be forty feet wide and that no building, nor any other obstruction, shall be erected within twenty (20) feet from the center of said streets.

    3. That the sidewalks on each side on Main Street shall be ten (10) feet and the sidewalks on each side of the other streets six (6) feet wide.

    Yeas: L. Warnock, J. Gundlach, Chr. Breidecker, J. Beck, and Thomas Koenigsmark.

    No's: (None)

    * * * * * * *

    L. Warnock,  

    Pres.

Att: H. A. Bornemann,

             Clerk.

    CORPORATE BOUNDARIES.

    Original Town of Columbia.

    Established by the Town Board of Columbia in 1859 and legalized in the Second Amendment to the Original Town Charter of 1859 Section 22; and approved March 27, 1869, as follows:

    The corporate limits of the City of Columbia, County of Monroe, State of Illinois, shall be as follows. Commencing at the northwesterly corner of lot number eight (8) in block two (2) in Gardner and Williams Addition to the Town, now City, of Columbia, Illinois, said point to be the center of said city limits, thence north true meridian, forty (40) chains for a beginning corner, thence west forty (40) chains, thence south eighty (80) chains, thence east eighty (80) chains, then north true meridian eighty (80) chains, thence west forty (40) chains to the place of beginning.

    In a regular City Council Meeting, held January 5, 1959, the following Centennial Celebration Resolution was adopted:

    R E S O L U T I O N.

    WHEREAS, the City of Columbia, Illinois, laid out in 1820, was incorporated as a Town by a Special Act of the 31st General Assembly, State of Illinois, approved by Governor William H. Bissell on February 19, 1859, thence changed to a Village in 1903, and to a City in 1927, and

    WHEREAS, the various civic, educational, patriotic and religious organizations, and the citizens-at-large of Columbia, have endorsed the Mayor's and City Council's recommendations for a Columbia Centennial Celebration in 1959:

    NOW, THEREFORE be it resolved that the City Council hereby authorizes a Centennial Celebration of the incorporation of the Town of Columbia as a municipality in 1859, and that the 100th year anniversary of this historic event be held on July 3, 4 and 5th, 1959, and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the centennial celebration activities be conducted on behalf of the City Council and the citizens of Columbia, under the active and cooperative sponsorship of the Columbia Centennial Association, incorporated a non-profit civic organization, under the laws of the State of Illinois.

    Adopted this 5th day of January A.D. 1959.

    (sgd.) ALBERT C. METTER,   

                                                     Albert C. Metter,

    Mayor.

(SEAL)

Attest:

    (sgd.)    Jos. J. Volkert, Jr.,

    Joseph J. Volkert,

        City Clerk.

    CERTIFICATE NUMBER

    11261

    STATE OF ILLINOIS

    Office of the Secretary of State.

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING:

    WHEREAS, Articles of Incorporation duly signed and verified of COLUMBIA CENTENNIAL ASSOCIATION have been filed in the Office of the Secretary of State on the 17th day of January A.D., 1959, as provided by the GENERAL NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION ACT of Illinois, approved July 17, 1943 in force January 1, A.D. 1944;

    NOW THEREFORE, 1, Charles F. Carpentier, Secretary of State of the State of Illinois, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby issue this Certificate of Incorporation and attach thereto a copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the aforesaid corporation.

    IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereto set my hand and cause to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Illinois. Done at the City of Springfield this 17th day of January, A.D., 1959 and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and 83rd.

    (Sgd.) CHARLES F. CARPENTIER,   

    Secretary of State.

(SEAL)

    (FEDERAL CENSUS CITY OF COLUMBIA, ILLINOIS, YEAR 1960.)

    STATE OF ILLINOIS,

    Office of the Secretary of State.

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME: GREETING:

    WHEREAS, Section 1-9 of an Act entitled "An Act concerning cities, villages, and incorporated towns, and to repeal certain Acts herein named," approved August 15, 1941, in force January 1, 1942, and as amended provides that the Secretary of State shall certify to each municipality the number of its inhabitants as shown by the latest census taken by authority of the United States or this State; and

    WHEREAS, a certificate of the official count of returns of the Eighteenth Census of the United States, as to the population of incorporated places in the State of Illinois, has now been filed in my office; and

    WHEREAS, it appears from such certificate so filed that the CITY of COLUMBIA has 3,174 inhabitants.

    NOW, THEREFORE, I, Charles F. Carpentier, Secretary of the State of Illinois, by virtue of the power and authority vested in me by law, and in compliance therewith, do hereby certify that the number of inhabitants of the CITY of COLUMBIA as shown by said Census certificate is 3,174.

    IN TESTIMONY WHEREFORE, I hereto set my hand and the Great Seal of the State of Illinois. Done at the Capitol in the City of Springfield this the 3rd day of April A.D., nineteen hundred and sixty-one and of the Independence of the United States, the one hundred and eighty-fifth.

    (Sgd.) CHARLES F. CARPENTIER,   

    Secretary of State.

(SEAL)