When the conductor of the first regular passenger train on the Illinois Central to run from Bloomington to LaSalle shouted, "All Out For Tonica!", on May 23, 1853, this community was born. Mr. A.J. West, considered to be the founder of the village, named the town after an Indian chief who he knew well as a boy in New York State. In fact, he was so intrigued with the Indians of his boyhood, that the original streets of Tonica still carry Indian names. Such as Shawandassee, Mugekewis, Oneca, Pontiac, Wequash and Hiawatha.