Of the two Kanes, old Kane and new Kane, old Kane had Allen settlers soon after the historic 1815 settlement by Daniel Allen and his sons, John and Daniel Jr., on the bank of the Macoupin opposite Taylor Creek. Homer was its first name. The old building which had been Pope's tavern, licensed in 1830 stood at the crossroads until the 1970's. Planners of the extension of the Jacksonville-Carrollton Railroad made every effort to route the line through Homer. The meandering Macoupin Creek, was the physical reason for the railroad running 1 mile to the east.

  In 1865, Tobias Holiday laid out his tract along the railroad naming it Holiday's Station, Gradually both names faded and to this day, Old Kane and New Kane prevail. In 1823, the Lemen brothers on New Design came into Greene County and organized seven persons into the Macoupin Baptist Church of Christ, Greene County at the home of Judge Jehu Brown. This church started a strong stand against slavery of any human being and helped early run away slaves. Kane is the home of Umphress Printing Company, one of the finest printers in central western Illinois.

Copyright 2011 Illinois Valley Cultural Heritage Assoc.

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