Most people are not aware of the origins of many street names in Greenville.
The reasons for many of the street names are listed in the book "Tales,
Trails and Breadcrumbs." This fact-packed volume, published in 1993, was
written by Eleanor Wilson.
Some of the street origins are as follows. Alice Avenue was named by Judge
Cicero Lindly for his wife Alice, who he married in 1881. She was the
daughter of Abe McNeil, a banker.
The Lindly Addition was added to the city by him in 1909. Lindly was a
member of the state House of Representatives, a judge and chairman of the
Illinois Railroad Commission.
Allen Street was named in honor of Dr. William A. Allen, a former mayor of
Greenville. He was a physician in the Union Army in the Civil War.
Beaumont Avenue means "beautiful mountain." First Street from West Oak
Street to the Vandalia Road was renamed Beaumont Ave.
Charles, Clarence and White streets were named for members of the family of
C. D. Hoiles, president of the State Bank of Hoiles and Sons. His wife was a
daughter of the Rev. John Brown White, co-founder and first president of
Almira College, founded in 1855.
DeMoulin Drive was named for the founders and operators of DeMoulin Brothers
Co. -- Ed, U.S. and Erastus DeMoulin.
Durley Street was named for James Durley, county treasurer in 1821 and
county clerk in 1830, according to Mrs. Wilson's book. Grigg Street was
named for D. R. Grigg, a downtown merchant.
Harris Avenue was originally a private road on which C. D. Harris built his
home. He was a city alderman for three terms. Idler Lane was so named
because "the Idler house once stood in this area."
Killarney and Shannon streets are on land once owned by Irishman Lawrence
McGinnes. He was a large landowner and an early promoter of a Catholic
Church in Greenville.
LaDue Street was changed from Wells Street to LaDue in honor of John
LaDue, who headed the Department of Theology at Greenville College for 32 years
starting in 1894.
Louis Latzer Drive was named for the president of the Helvetia Milk
Condensing Co., later called Pet Milk. McLain Street was named for W. A.
McLain. The McLain and Cable grocery store was formed by W. A. McLain and F.
J. Cable in 1898.
Monroe Street was named in honor of J. H. Monroe. Will C. Carson's 1905
history of Greenville says he was a member of the firm of Mulford and Monroe
druggists.
Parent Street was named for Frank Parent, a baker and restaurant owner who
arrived in Greenville in 1858 from Canada.
Prairie Street was so named because it was the first street east of First
Street and was literally "out in the prairie." Mrs. Wilson's book says that
land east of First was country land owned by Samuel White and Wyatt
Stubblefield. William Wait owned the land south of South Street.
Stephen Street was named for members of both the Reid and Hoiles families.
Ward and Robin streets were named for members of the Ward Reid family. Reid
was circuit clerk, county clerk, secretary of the Greenville Building and
Savings Association and was in the real estate and insurance business.
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