Editing Westfield, Illinois (section)

==History==
The village of Westfield was laid out in 1839,<ref>Perrin, p. 383</ref> and a post office opened there on June 18, 1840. The community did not incorporate until August 31, 1875.<ref name="Westfield">[https://www.clarkcountyil.org/westfield "Westfield. Ill."] Retrieved June 16, 2014.</ref>
Westfield College operated here from 1865 until 1914. The school was founded by the [[Church of the United Brethren in Christ]] in 1861 as a seminary, then was incorporated as a coeducational college in 1865. The peak enrollment was 160, in 1909. However, enrollment declined sharply thereafter, and financial problems forced the school to close in 1914. The building was used as the Westfield Township high school from 1914 until being destroyed by fire in 1917.<ref>[http://www.illinoishsglorydays.com/id488.html "Westfield High School "Eagles'."] Retrieved June 18, 2014.</ref>