Horace

Illinois ghost towns cluster around the old lead district and the coal fields that fed Chicago.

Horace S. Cooley (1806 – April 2, 1850) was an American politician. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Cooley studied medicine and then law. In 1840, Cooley moved to Rushville, Illinois and then finally settled in Quincy, Illinois. In 1842, Cooley was appointed quartermaster general of Illinois. In 1846, Cooley was appointed to and then elected Illinois Secretary of State. Cooley was a Democrat. He died in 1850 while still in office.

The on-the-ground condition of Horace is unverified — it's listed here with unknown status. That could mean standing buildings, or an empty field. Go prepared for either, and consider sharing what you find so the record improves.

Nobody has confirmed the access situation, so treat any visit as reconnaissance: verify land ownership first, and be ready to admire from the road.

Here's the honest truth: access to Horace is unverified. We couldn't confirm whether the site sits on public land, private property, or something in between — so verify land ownership and local rules before visiting, and respect private property at all times. The mapped point for Horace is roughly 39.7203, -87.7067 — use it as a starting point and cross-reference a current topographic map before leaving pavement.

Ghost-town etiquette is simple: take only photographs. Removing artifacts is illegal on public lands and disrespectful everywhere else — and on federal land it can be a serious offense.