Hamilton Primary School - Otterville, IL
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 39° 03.055 W 090° 23.856
15S E 725200 N 4325650
Dr. Silas Hamilton, freed slaves, and built a school for their education. The first free school and first intergrated school in Illinois
Waymark Code: WMKZJA
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 06/22/2014
Views: 1
County of site: Jersey County
Location of site: Main St., Hamilton Primary School, Otterville
Lots to read here about this man and his foster son:
Great River Roads, Jersey County Historical Society, Otter Creek Hostorical Society
"Otterville is the home of the first free integrated school in the United States, the Hamilton Primary School, located on Main Street.[5] In 1834, Dr. Silas Hamilton, a local physician, left $4,000 for the construction and operation of a building for educational and religious purposes. A stone-built school was opened in 1836, and the tuition-free education for local students attracted families to the area. The school was razed in 1872, and was rebuilt and enlarged, with the original stones at the base. Classes were held at the school until 1971. George Washington, a slave freed by Dr. Hamilton, studied here, became successful, and established a perpetual scholarship fund for Americans of African descent. He also provided for the erection of a monument to his former master at the school." ~ Wikipedia