Gilbert Griswold Jr., a pioneer teacher, surveyor, and Justice of the Peace, founded Walpole in 1857. Born 4-16-1788 in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, he was the son of Rebecca Nichols and Gilbert Griswold Sr. He may have been in southern Illinois as early as 1821. His first land entry from the Shawneetown Land Office was in 1839, when he bought the east half of the southwest quarter of section 4 in south Twigg township. The Griswold post office opened in 1832, its name was changed to Walpole in 1869, and it operated until the 1950's. Griswold died 11-10-1866 and was buried with his family on their farm near Walpole. Walpole stood at the intersection of the early north-south Goshen Trail and the east-west New Haven to Benton road.