A Window into Sangamon County’s Frontier Past

Just west of Springfield, the Clayville Historic Site stands as a rare and remarkable window into early 19th-century life on the Illinois prairie. Anchored by the Broadwell Inn, a two-story brick structure built in 1824, the site offers visitors a glimpse into a formative era of Sangamon County’s history, shaped by pioneers, political ambition, and one of the nation’s most enduring historical figures.

The story of Clayville begins in December 1819, when John Broadwell and his wife Betsy arrived on the frontier land near what would become Richland Creek. They were soon joined by John’s father, Moses Broadwell, and the rest of the Broadwell family in 1820. Moses, a Revolutionary War veteran and successful land speculator originally from New Jersey, had moved west from Ohio after acquiring substantial wealth.

In 1824, Moses purchased nearly 3,000 acres of land following the first official land sales in the region. That same year, construction began on two brick homes: one for Moses, and the other—still standing today—as the Broadwell Inn. The Inn served as a public house and stagecoach stop, offering food, lodging, and services to travelers on the Springfield-Beardstown road until 1847.

The Broadwells were industrious and community-minded. In addition to running the inn, they operated a tannery, mills, and laid out the nearby town of Sangamo Town. Moses Broadwell designed Sangamo Town with the goal of making it the county seat, laying out over 80 lots intended for residences, businesses, and government buildings. However, the effort fell short, reportedly due to misleading impressions given to a state delegation about the site’s accessibility. Springfield ultimately secured the designation, and Sangamo Town declined.

Despite that setback, Clayville thrived for a time. A grand Fourth of July celebration in 1842 drew local dignitaries and a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln—then a rising Whig political figure and personal attorney to John Broadwell. Lincoln is believed to have represented the Broadwells in at least four legal cases, and accounts suggest he likely visited the inn during his time on the legal circuit.

Following its closure as a tavern, the property passed through several owners. It was eventually acquired in the early 1930s by Dr. Fink and listed on the Historic American Buildings Registry. In 1961, Dr. Emmett and Mary Pearson purchased the site and began an ambitious restoration. Over the next decade, they relocated multiple historic buildings to the property and in 1972 donated it to Sangamon State University, which ran it as the Clayville Rural Life Center until 1992.

Years of private ownership led to the site’s deterioration, and by 2007 it was listed as one of the ten most endangered historic places in Illinois. That prompted action from local residents. In 2009, led by Jim Verkuilen, the Pleasant Plains Historical Society was formed to rescue the site. The group successfully purchased it in 2010 and began the long process of revitalization.

In recognition of their efforts, Landmarks Illinois awarded the Pleasant Plains Historical Society its Advocacy Award in 2012 for preserving Clayville.

Today, the Clayville Historic Site is once again a vibrant center of learning and community activity. Events, tours, and educational programs bring the past to life for visitors of all ages. For information about upcoming events and how you can visit or support the site, visit www.clayville.org and follow the Clayville Historic Site on Facebook.