The village of Modesto is located in North Palmyra Township. In 1870 a blacksmith shop was built by a group of local farmers in the corner of Section 16 in the center of the township. The Grangers built a hall nearby, which was also used for church meetings. The Chicago, Peoria & St. Louis Railroad was laid out in 1878 and completed in 1881. A group of men, namely I.B. Vancil, R.T. Allyn, H.M. Shumway, John Hodges and Robert Horton purchased a strip of ground from Mr. Shumway and laid it out in lots. . . . Read more in MACOUPIN COUNTY, ILLINOIS HISTORY & FAMILIES available in our genealogy library or through this website.