Vandalia is the second Illinois capital, the location of Lincoln’s first political office, and the terminus of the National Road. Vandalia and Fayette County have had many local historians and caretakers of its history. The town’s historical significance has also gained the attention of biographers, and geographers.  The town and county have interesting histories and precious genealogical links for many. 

My contribution to the local history includes genealogy work that I began in the '70s. Some of this work can be found on my blog, paulstroble.wordpress.com. 

I also wrote the first study of Vandalia’s period as capital (1819-1839). The book was researched and written over 15 years. (Never give up on your dreams!) It was published by University of Illinois Press in 1992, when I was 35. 
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Here are some links to information about early Vandalia.  They’re on my blog, but I want to include them here, too.

Here is my wife Beth's biographical essays about Mary Burtschi (1911-2009), an amazing Vandalia historian and caretaker of local history. 
https://paulstroble.wordpress.com/2016/08/16/mary-pauline-burtschi-by-beth-stroble-part-1/

Here is another local historian, Robert W. Ross (1844-1928). 
https://paulstroble.wordpress.com/2024/01/08/robert-w-ross-vandalia-fayette-co-historian/

Here is Beth's and my article about Ferdinand Ernst and his German colony of immigrants at Vandalia. 
​https://www.lib.niu.edu/1997/iht419702.html

Here is my article about Ernst that appeared in another journal: 
​https://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/eiu02/id/2607

Here is my article about the effort to relocate the Illinois seat of government from Vandalia to Springfield. 
​https://www.lib.niu.edu/2000/ihsp0012.html

Here is my list of all the known businesses in Vandalia when the town was the state capital. 
​https://paulstroble.wordpress.com/2016/08/19/businesses-of-the-state-capital-vandalia-illinois-1819-1839/

Here are my essays about Illinois politics in 1819-1839. 
https://paulstroble.wordpress.com/2016/11/04/illinois-politics-1819-1839/

Here is an essay about Lincoln and Vandalia. 
https://paulstroble.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/lincoln-and-vandalia-2/

Here is an essay about Lincoln's purported jump from a Vandalia statehouse window. 
https://paulstroble.wordpress.com/2010/07/14/lincolns-big-jump/

Here is an essay about the Twin Pumps along the National Road near Vandalia. 
​https://paulstroble.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/twin-pumps-on-the-national-road/

Here is a site that accesses the Laws of Illinois passed at Vandalia in 1820-1839. 
https://paulstroble.wordpress.com/2016/07/24/twin-pumps-on-the-national-road/

Here is an article about Perryville, the first county seat of Bond County, Illinois. 
https://paulstroble.wordpress.com/2021/01/19/perryville-a-vanished-illinois-town/