Asa Talcott House
Underground Railroad Site and Home of the Jacksonville African American History Museum
Built: 1833 (additions in 1844 and 1861)
Location: 859 Grove St, Jacksonville, Illinois
Original Owner: Asa Talcott
Profession: Brickmason, plasterer
Current Use: Jacksonville African American History Museum
SUMMARY
Asa Talcott House is a historic home in Jacksonville, Illinois, built in 1833 and now serves as the site of the Jacksonville African American History Museum. Once owned by Asa Talcott, an early settler and abolitionist, the home is believed to have been an active stop on the Underground Railroad, providing shelter and aid to freedom seekers.
2008
Posthumous recognition by medical society
1940
Hospital reached peak scale and regional impact
1933
Moved to Springfield; founded newspaper
1922
Hospital reached peak scale and regional impact
1909
Opened New Home Sanitarium
1897 - 1902
Served at Tuskegee Institute
1875
Born in Shorter, Alabama
EARLY 19TH CENTURY
ASA TALCOTT BORN NEAR GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT
1833
Asa Talcott arrived in Jacksonville; home constructed
1844
Addition made to the house; documented fugitive concealment account
1861
Further expansion of the home
1869
Talcott moved to Oregon
1880
Talcott passed away in Scio, Oregon
2022
Jacksonville African American History Museum opens at Asa Talcott House
Asa Talcott: Early Life and Arrival in Jacksonville
Asa Talcott was born in the early 19th century near Glastonbury, Connecticut. Trained as a brickmason and plasterer, he was part of a wave of settlers who moved westward during the early development of Illinois.
Talcott arrived in Jacksonville in 1833, the same year his home on Grove Street was constructed. He and his wife, Marie Talcott, became founding members of a local Congregational Church, which was associated with anti-slavery and abolitionist ideals.
The Talcott Home and Underground Railroad Activity
The Talcott House is widely believed to have served as a station on the Underground Railroad. Its location and Talcott’s known abolitionist views made it a trusted place for aiding freedom seekers traveling through Jacksonville.
Benjamin Henderson, a formerly enslaved man and active conductor in the region, identified Talcott as someone he could rely on for assistance, including supplies for those escaping slavery.
One account from February 1844 describes a fugitive being hidden in a haystack in Talcott’s barn while authorities searched the property. Stories like this, though based on historical narratives and local tradition, reflect the risks taken by individuals who participated in Underground Railroad efforts.
Architecture and Development
The Talcott House was originally constructed in 1833 and expanded over time, with additions made in 1844 and 1861. The structure reflects early residential architecture in Jacksonville and stands as a preserved example of mid-19th century craftsmanship.
As a brickmason, Talcott likely played a direct role in the construction of the home, further linking the building to his personal and professional legacy.
Later Life and Migration
In 1869, Asa Talcott relocated to Oregon, where he lived until his death on September 13, 1880, in Scio. His departure reflects a broader pattern of westward movement among early settlers following the Civil War.
Present-Day Significance
Today, the Talcott House serves as the home of the Jacksonville African American History Museum. As both a preserved historic structure and a site of interpretation, it provides visitors with a direct connection to the stories of African American life, resistance, and community in Jacksonville.
The building’s layered history—as a family home, possible Underground Railroad site, and modern museum—makes it one of the most significant historical landmarks in the area.
DISCLAIMER
Some historical accounts of Underground Railroad activity at this site are based on personal narratives and local tradition. While not all details can be independently verified, the information presented reflects the most widely accepted historical interpretations.
