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History of Alton, Illinois, USA
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Alton, Madison, IL
Robert Wadlow was born in 1918 in Alton, and is the tallest person ever recorded in human history. He measured in at 8 feet 11.1 inches and was nicknamed the Alton Giant or the Giant of Illinois.
Before the Civil War, Alton was an important town for abolitionists, and was part of the Underground Railroad. Several homes were equipped to help slaves on to a safe passage in the North. Alton resident Lyman Trumbull co-wrote the
Thirteenth Amendment after the Civil War ended.
thetelegraph.com
There is MUCH more to discover about Alton, Illinois, USA. Read on!
History, News and Stories of Alton, Illinois, USA

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1854 - Alton
Alton, a city and river port of Madison county, Illinois, on the Mississippi river, 21 miles above St. Louis, 3 miles above the mouth of the... Read MORE...
1857 - Destructive Fire At Alton, Ill.
Chicago, Saturday, April 18. A destructive conflagration occurred at Alton, Ill. On Thursday, destroying the planing Mill of MORRISON & BEAL, the... Read MORE...
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1858 - Alton was the site of the last Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas debate in October 1858.
1868 - Fire in Alton, Ill.
Louisville, Ky., Tuesday,. Feb. 18. FLACKENECKER'S grocery-store, and three or four adjoining buildings in Alton, Ill., were burned on Sunday night.... Read MORE...
1885 - DAMAGE BY FIERCE STORM. HOUSES WRECKED, CROPS INJURED, AND LIVES LOST.
Alton, Ill., May 25. - This city was struck last night by a tornado, which burst from the southwest, sweeping across the river with terrific fury.... Read MORE...
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1893 - January 21 - Nine persons were killed, twelve fatally injured, and a hundred others burned by oil in a collision on the "Big Four" Road, near Alton, Ill.
The World Almanac and Book of Facts, Volume 1894 Press Publishing Company. 1894
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1895 - Alton
Alton, all'ton, a handsome city and river port of Madison co., Ill., on the Mississippi River, 8 miles above the mouth of the Missouri, 25 miles... Read MORE...
1923 - NINE KILLED, 25 HURT IN POWDER EXPLOSION
ALTON, Ill., July 10 (Associated Press) — Nine persons were killed and twenty-five injured in an explosion this afternoon in the metallic shell... Read MORE...
1926 - FOUR MEN KILLED, FIVE INJURED, IN REFINERY BLAST. EXPLOSION, CAUSE OF WHICH IS UNKNOWN, OCCURS IN LIQUID ASPHALT MIXING TANK OF PLANT.
Alton, Illinois, June 14. - (AP) - Four men were killed and five injured in an explosion and fire at the refinery of the Standard Oil Company of... Read MORE...
Alton, Illinois, USA Genealogy
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Updated: 2/8/2020 10:06:36 AM
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