The first cabin to be erected in Toulon was in the spring of 1835. The town was officially created by an act of the state Legislature on February 27, 1841. John Dawson, Peter Van Bergen, an William F. Elkin of Sangamon County were commissioned to locate the town. On the 17th of May 1841 they met at the home of Colonel William H. Henderson to consider all aspects as to where to best locate the new town. It was at this time that Toulon received its name from Colonel Henderson which he chose from a place in Tennessee. To avoid contention the board of commissioners resolved to locate as near as possible at the center of the county, which would be on the four corners, halfway between the Jug Run Schoolhouse and the Winn Schoolhouse, that is the center of Toulon township. But of the four quarter sections centering there, one was school land and the other three had entered under the bounty act by soldiers whose whereabouts were unknown; therefore no good title could be obtained at Toulon center.

The nearest most centrally located area was "Miller's Point", an area ninety rods sqaure. John Miller and his wife Charlotte, offered this to the commissioners, provided it would be the shire town or county seat. The commissioners accepted the offer and on July12, 1841 made their report to the legislature. On July 28, 1841 John Miller and his wife signed the deed conveying "Miller's Point" to the county. On August 23, 1841 the survey of the original town plat of Toulon was finished. The surveying had been done by Carson Berfield. Joseph Eckley and Lewis Perry had carried the chains and Jonathan Hodgson did the most of the mowing of the tall prairie grass, wild plum, and hazel brush that stood in the way of the surveying.

The streets were named at this time with Mr. Henderson and Mr. Miller being the only local citizens honored. The other streets were named Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Main and Vine. The three alleys were named Plum, Cherry, and Grape.

The plat was acknowledged by the county commissioners before Mr. Miller, Justice of the Peace, on September 2nd and on September 9th was filed for record with Benjamin Turner, deputy recorder. The firs sale of lots took place on September 14 and 15, 1841. One-hundred Twenty-two lots were sold at this time. Harris Miner paid $86 for Lot 10, block 6 which was the highest paid amount. Jonathan Hodgson purchased Lot 2, Block 9 for $5.00 and John Miller paid this same amount for Lot 1, Block 1. The second sale of lots took place April 2, 1849 and at this time thirty-two lots were sold. This time the prices ranged from $6.50 for Lot 6, Block 8 to $60 for Lot 6, Block 5.

The establishment of the county seat under a village government dates back to October 1857 when the voters within the original town and the Henderson, Whitaker, & Culbertson additions voted in favor of local government.......

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