New Salem

[Gene C]

According to "Living in the Shadow of Greatness" by Raymond Montgomery, about New Salem, Petersburg and the surrounding area;
"Black families began to settle in the Petersburg as early as 1870. This small group of less than half a dozen took pride in their families, their homes, their work and the community The fact that they resided in a small town is in itself a phenomenon for unfortunately most small towns in Central Illinois before and following the Civil War did not welcome them."