Knox County ILGenWeb

From the 1870 Atlas Map of Knox County, Illinois, Andreas, Lyter & Co., Davenport, Iowa, 91 pages.  [Submitted by Bob Miller.]

"Gilson was laid out, July 10, 1857, by Lenneus Richmond.  It is an old settled and very productive locality and does a good local trade."

From the 1886 Portrait and Biographical Album of Knox County, Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago.  [Submitted by Vicki Burton.]

This little hamlet is located on the northwest corner of section 7, Haw Creek Township, and was laid out by Linneus Richmond, July 10, 1857.

It is on the Peoria Brach of the C., B. & Q. R. R. and the station was built very soon after the road was completed. Around this town the first settlement of the township was made. There are some fair business houses here, which are supported by the local trade of the township, and also by some parts of Orange and Persifer Townships. The population of the place is about 250.