JONESBOROUGH(sic), a small post-village, capital of Union county, Illinois, on the Central railroad, 160 miles S. from Springfield, and 10 miles from the Mississippi, contains several churches and stores. The county has extensive beds of coal, iron ore, lead, and porcelain clay. (Baldwin's New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States..., 1854)
JONESBORO Is a city, capital of Union county, on the line of the Illinois Central railroad. 150 miles south from Springfield, 333 from Chicago, and 10 from the Mississippi river. It is pleasantly situated on high and undulating ground in a beautiful and fertile district, and in the midst of varied and romantic scenery. It is well supplied with pure water and contains extensive beds of coal, iron ore, lead, and porcelain clay. Population 2,000. Charles M. Willard, Postmaster. (Hawkes' Illinois State Gazetteer, 1859)