Monthly Archives: April 2026

Mattoon dentist and auto enthusiast Iverson A. Lumpkin’s (above) plan for a Chicago to Cairo roadway continues to leave its mark the length of Illinois. From Kankakee to Effingham, travelers on what later became State Route 25 and ultimately U. … Continue reading →

In the last segment of this series we traced the route the Egyptian Trail took through Champaign County from the Ford County line south to Champaign, coming into town on Market Street. At this point the directions an early auto … Continue reading →

Using details on maps and in newspaper accounts from the era, here’s what I believe to be the route the Egyptian Trail took through Champaign County, starting in the north at the Ford County line and traveling south. The route … Continue reading →