The future site of Springfield was designated by John Polk Campbell, of Tennessee in 1829. Three brothers along with their families arrived early in 1830 and were quickly followed by other settlers. On February 18, 1838, the town of Springfield was established. Named to honor Nathanael Greene, of Revolutionary War fame, Greene County was organized in 1833 and once composed of the entire southwest corner of the state. National attention was given to Springfield in 1858 when the city became a stop on the Butterfield Overland Mail, a stagecoach line, from Tipton, Missouri, to San Francisco.
The Springfield Name
The origin of the name Springfield remains unclear. Writing in 1883 the historian R. I. Holcombe states, "The town took its name from the circumstance of there being a spring under the hill, on the creek, while on top of the hill, where the principal portion of the town lay, there was a field." He goes on to note, "This version of the origin of the name is disputed by the editor of the Springfield Express, Mr. J. G. Newbill, who, in the issue of his paper, November 11, 1881, says: 'It has been stated that this city got its name from the fact of a spring and field being near by just west of town. But such is not a correct version. When the authorized persons met and adopted the title of the "Future Great" of the Southwest, several of the earliest settlers had handed in their favorite names, among whom was Kindred Rose, who presented the winning name, "Springfield," in honor of his former home town, Springfield, Robertson county, Tennessee.'". The most common view is that the city was named for Springfield, Massachusetts. One story is that a man named James Wilson, who lived in the then unnamed city, offered free whiskey to everyone who would vote for naming it after his home town of Springfield, Massachusetts.
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