The Illinois Territory was formed in 1809. Its governor, Ninian Edwards, laid out a district on Sept. 14, 1812 and called it the County of Gallatin, after Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. The county changed size and shape often before its present boundaries were established on Feb. 25, 1847. Shawneetown was appointed the seat of justice, the county seat was moved to Equality in 1827, and it returned to Shawneetown in 1852. In 1857 a courthouse was built with this bell later becoming its distinctive crownpiece. The bell's peal was a familiar part of daily life, celebrating triumphs, tolling tidings, announcing meetings, and warning of fire and floods. The building was razed in 1939, when the town was moved, and the bell was placed atop the new courthouse.