Editing Bluford, Illinois (section)

==History==
The town of Bluford was named after Bluford "Bluf" Green (1868–1912) when he was a small boy <ref>Jefferson County Historical Society 1978, pg 61</ref> by his father Wiley Green (1835–1878), who was the local [[justice of the peace]]. An extended story about Bluford by Mrs. Opal H. Wood states:

In 1881, before there was a Bluford, construction was started on the Air Line Railroad, later the Southern Railroad. George Evans, Mt. Vernon banker, laid out the town on 40 acres of land bisected by the railroad. In 1882, Rev. Z. H. Byard, a [[Church of the United Brethren in Christ|United Brethren]] preacher, built the first store building and dwelling. Byard also was the first postmaster in Bluford, and the first railroad station agent. Bluford was incorporated by popular vote counted and verified on September 8, 1926<page 166 Filed Sept 8, 1926, Jefferson County.>. Dwight Bressler was its first mayor.

Bluford spread on both sides of the railroad. The south section unofficially was called Tilford, and the north, Bluford, both being names of the sons of Minerva (Flint) and Wiley Green. When son Tilford died, all the town became Bluford. No reason was given why the boys should have been so honored.<ref>Jefferson County Historical Society (1978), ''Facts and Folks A History of Jefferson County, Illinois'', Taylor Publishing Company, Dallas, TX, 61</ref>