A case surrounding the escape of a slave named Susan Richardson put this site on the map. It illustrates the polarizing views about slavery that were held in Knox County. It also points to the misconception of northern states vs. southern states, when it came to where slavery was accepted. In this case, Knox County - located well within the northern half of Illinois - had its own internal battle.
Richardson was enslaved by a man named Andrew Borders in Randolph County, Illinois when she escaped with her three children to Knox County. After her escape, Richardson and her children were captured and taken to the Old Knox County Courthouse in Knoxville, Illinois.