The small city of Mattoon is found in the prairies of central Illinois, conveniently located off of Interstate 57. Settlers from Kentucky and other eastern states began moving to the area in the early 1800s, and agriculture was the main source of income for the area. Log cabins were the norm, as Mattoon was a rough, frontier town not known for its luxury. Much like other Midwest towns, the emerging railways began to arrive in town from faraway places like Terre Haute in Indiana, and Chicago in the north. The mid-1800s brought waves of new people hoping to move to the now vibrant locality, with complete access to the cities to the north and to the east. The population increased rapidly and Mattoon would soon after develop into a proper city with beautiful houses, big brick buildings, mass transportation, and many other city features.