National Register of Historic Places

Woodlawn Farm

Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois
Listed
June 5, 2007
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
07000146

About this property

Woodlawn Farm is a historic farm located at 1463 Gerkie Lane east of Jacksonville, Illinois. Michael Huffaker, one of Morgan County's first settlers, established the farm in the 1824 after purchasing a 160-acre plot to the south of Jacksonville, Illinois. Due to the many agricultural innovations of the 1830s, Huffaker earned a significant amount of money from his farm and became one of the county's wealthiest residents. Huffaker mainly raised livestock, particularly cattle and pigs, on his farm; while he also grew crops, the grain mainly served as feed. In 1840, Huffaker built the farmhouse, an I-house with a Greek Revival entrance and frieze, that still stands on the property. According to local tradition, the house was a stop on the Underground Railroad; as Huffaker employed many free black farmhands, he could conceal escaped slaves among his workers. The farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 6, 2007. Currently, Woodlawn Farm Museum is funded by a volunteer committee, the Underground Railroad (UGRR) Committee founded by Art Wilson and Abbie Templin Smith. The committee purchased Woodlawn farm with the assistance of the Morgan County Historical Society. The UGRR Committee serves as a not-for-profit agency to provide education to individuals interested in learning about the underground railroad movement in Morgan County.

Location

1463 Gierke Rd.
Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois
39.73564, -90.13890

Categories

AGRICULTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Nearby Historic Sites

Grierson, Gen. Benjamin Henry, House
Industrial
3.9 mi
Jacksonville Labor Temple
Industrial
4.7 mi
Ayers Bank Building
Industrial
4.8 mi
Jacksonville Public Library
Industrial
4.9 mi
Morgan County Courthouse
Industrial
4.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Woodlawn Farm listed on the National Register?

Woodlawn Farm was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 5, 2007.

What type of historic resource is Woodlawn Farm?

Woodlawn Farm is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Woodlawn Farm?

The period of significance for Woodlawn Farm is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Woodlawn Farm?

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