Manville, Ill History

It would be my guess that Manville was originally known as Newtown, and or Collins.  In 1871, the Chicago & Paducah Railroad having been completed through this part of the county, and a switch being laid at this place . See Newtown History

The following information concerning Manville was taken from the 1898 Livingston County Business Directory: 

“Manville is a village of about 100 inhabitants, situated on the Streator branch of the Wabash Railroad, fifteen miles northwest of Pontiac, and six miles southeast of Streator, which is its nearest banking point.  It has several general stores, drug store, post office and Pacific Express.  A toll station of the Central Union Telephone Company is located at C. C. Leonard & Son’s general store.

Manville is one of the oldest settlements in the county.  Two town plats were laid out, one known as Collins and the other known as Newtown, while the original settlement was called New Michigan, about two miles distant. The first house in the village was moved from the farm of M. A. Newman, and the first storeroom was moved from New Michigan.  In the fall of 1874 the Methodist Episcopal Church was also moved to the station. The church is still maintained at this point in connection with the Cornell charge.  The village has a large local trade and is a shipping point for grain and stock.  The shipments for 1897 were 100,000 bushels of corn and 75,000 bushels of oats.

 

1898 Manville Business Directory

Gillman & Burton, dry goods, groceries, shoes and shelf hardware

C. C. Leonard & Son, dry goods, groceries, shoes and shelf hardware

A. N. McCord, Drugs and Farming Implments

Middle Division Elevator Co., Grain, Gus Wenzelman, L. Goddard, Manager

C. C. Leonard, postmaster

Andrew Fout, Blacksmith

W. Hoobler, buggies

W. Hoobler, railroad and Express Agent

 

It would be my suggestion if you are interested in the history of Manville,  New Michigan or Collins, check out the Newtown Township history.

  I couldn’t separate the history of the township from the history of these villages.