| This is the information kiosk at the New Philadelpohia National Historic Site. The site is undeveloped but is under the umbrella of the National Park Service. New Philadelphia was the first town in Illinois to be plat and recorded as a town by a Black American. Frank McWorter was born in slavery in South Carolina in 1777. With the permission of his owner, Frank worked for wages and when he had enough, he purchased his, his wife's and his son's freedom. The family came to Illinois in 1830 and settled in Hadley Township, Illinois. In 1836 he laid out the town and sold enough lots to secure thefreedom of 12 additional family members. Following the Civil War, a railroad was built north of the town and eventually, the town population dried up. |
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