History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois  1904 

Jo Daviess County in Transition 

The territory of which Jo Daviess forms a part was formerly 
claimed by France. Following the battle on the Plains of 
Abraham, near Quebec, on the 13th of September, 1759, 
between the French commanded by Montcalm and the English 
under Wolfe, and as a consequence of that battle, Jo 
Daviess County, which was then unnamed, passed to the 
control of the British Commonwealth. At the close of the
Revolutionary War, by the treaty of 1783, it was ceded to 
the United States and, as a result of Col. George Rogers 
Clark's conquest of Illinois in 1778, was claimed by 
Virginia. 

The General Assembly of Virginia on the 20th of October, 
1783, passed an act authorizing the delegates of that State 
to convey to the United States, in Congress assembled, all 
the right of the State of Virginia to the territory northwest 
of Ohio river. 

Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee and James Monroe, 
having been appointed delegates for the Commonwealth of 
Virginia in the Congress of the United States, on the 1st 
day of March, 1784, in the name, and for and on behalf of 
the Commonwealth of Virginia, conveyed, transferred, 
assigned and made over unto the United States in Congress, 
then assembled, and for the benefit of said States--Virginia
inclusive--all right, title and claim, as well of the soil 
and of jurisdiction which the said Commonwealth of 
Virginia had to the territory or tract of country situate, 
lying and being to the northwest of the river Ohio. 

On July 13, 1787, Congress, sitting under the Articles of 
Confederation, passed an act for the government of the 
Territory of the United States Northwest of the River Ohio, 
which is commonly known as the Ordinance of 1787. Article 5 
of said Act provided that not less than three, nor more than 
five States should be formed in said Territory; that the 
western State in said Territory should be bounded by the
Mississippi River, the Ohio and the Wabash River, a direct 
line drawn from the Wabash and Post


Physical Characteristics 
 
The physical characteristics of Jo Daviess County are 
peculiar and, in some respects, rather remarkable.  The land 
generally is rolling and, as a rule, there is not a great 
quantity of what is known as prairie land.  The general dip 
of the county is toward the south and west, generally 
terminating in a high bluff long the banks of the Missis-
sippi River. 

It contains within its borders the highest point in the 
State of Illinois. Many, of the hills of the county are
conical in form and one of them, called "Pilot Knob," has 
been a mark for pilots on the Mississippi River ever since 
that stream has been navigated along the borders of the 
county. 

Many of its hills or mounds are capped with Dolomitic 
Niagara Limestone. Under this lies the green and blue shale 
and limestone of the Cincinnati Group, but the great bed-
rock of the county is the Galena Limestone. 

The principal streams in the county are the Galena River, 
Smallpox Creek, the Sinsinawa River, Plum River, Apple River 
(the latter, with its branches, being the longest river in 
the county), Big Rush Creek, and Little and Big Menominee. 
Nearly all of these streams flow in a southwesterly 
direction and water nearly the entire county. 

The Sinsinawa River flows through portions of Vinegar 
Hill, the Menominee through the west part of Rawlins and 
West Galena Towns. 

The Galena River flows through Council Hill, Vinegar Hill, 
along the east portion of the Town of Rawlins, and divides 
East and West Galena. 

The Smallpox flows through Guilford, East Galena and Rice. 

Apple River, with its branches (one of which is called Mill 
Creek, another Hell's Branch, others Clear Creek, Wolf 
Creek, Coon Creek and Welch Creek), waters the Towns of 
Scales' Mound, Apple River, Guilford, Thompson, Warren, 
Rush, Nora, Woodbine, Elizabeth and Hanover. 

Big Rush Creek, with its branches, waters Stockton, Rush, 
Woodbine and Derinda. 

Plum River, with its branches, waters Stockton, Ward's Grove, 
Pleasant Valley and Berreman. 

So that every township within the county has some stream, 
either rising within its borders or passing through it, 
which leads directly to the Mississippi River, generally 
flowing into that stream in a southwesterly direction. Many 
of these streams--namely, the Sinsinawa. Galena River, 
Smallpox. and Apple River-were formerly navigable for a 
considerable distance from their mouths. 

The soil of Jo Daviess County is generally a black loam, 
and there is no kind of grain or fruit that can be grown 
in this latitude which the county cannot produce. A large 
percentage of the timber of the county is oak, although 
other varieties exist to a considerable extent; but these 
are now being rapidly cut off for fuel and railroad ties, 
and, unless such destruction ceases, it will not be many 
years before Jo Daviess County will be almost void of 
timber. 

It has been noted that, for several years past, timber that 
has been left standing has, for some cause, ceased to live; 
but what that cause is has not, as yet, been fully 
determined. Some attribute it to a small insect, while 
others claim it is due to a lack of moisture in the soil; but, 
whatever the cause, steps should be taken to prevent its 
further ravages and thus protect the timber from entire 
destruction. The Township of Menominee was formerly heavily 
wooded, with few farms within its borders; now the timber,
excepting along the bluffs, has been almost entirely destroy-
ed and the land is used for agricultural purposes. And what 
is said of Menominee is true of every other town in the 
county. 

Jo Daviess County also abounds in mines, of which we shall 
speak more in detail later on, and it is claimed that lead 
ore, to a greater or less extent, has been found in every 
town in the county. 

The county is peculiarly adapted to the raising of all kinds 
of stock, as both upland and meadow grass can be found in 
every town in the county. 

For agricultural purposes and mineral wealth Jo Daviess 
County has not its superior in the State. The county has 
never been thoroughly examined by geologists, but there 
seems now to be an awakening to its vast resources, and 
there is reason to believe it will soon take its position 
as one of the wealthiest counties in the State. 

Nature has been lavish of her gifts county; some of the 
most beautiful scenery along the banks of the Mississippi 
is to be within its borders; untold wealth lies beneath its 
surface, while its soil will produce in abundance anything 
that will grow in this latitude; and, for stock-raising, it 
is not excelled by any county of like size in the State. 

Vincennes, due north to the Territorial line between the 
United States and Canada, and by said. Territorial line to 
the Lake of the Woods and Mississippi River. This included 
the whole of Illinois, all but a small portion of Wisconsin, 
a part of Michigan and a part of Minnesota. It will be 
observed that no name was given to said Territory by said 
ordinance. 

It was expressly provided by said ordinance that Congress 
should have authority to form one or two states in that part 
of said Territory which lies north of an east and west line 
drawn through the southerly bend or extreme of Lake Michigan. 

On the 3d day of February, 1809, Congress passed an act with 
reference to said Western Territory, which provided as 
follows: that from and after the first day of March next, 
all that part of Indiana Territory which lies west of the 
Wabash, River and a direct line drawn from said Wabash River 
and Post Vincennes due north to the territorial line between 
the United States and Canada, shall, for the purpose of 
temporary government, constitute a separate Territory and 
be called Illinois. 

On the 18th of April, 1818, Congress passed an act enabling 
the people of Illinois to form a State government. 

The first Constitution of Illinois was adopted August 26, 
1818, and Illinois became a State on the 3d day of December, 
1818. 

On the 17th of February, 1827, is the first mention made, in 
the law, with reference to Jo Daviess County being a separate 
and distinct corporation. On that day a law was passed by the 
Legislature of Illinois, Section 1 of which provided as 
follows: "All that tract or country lying within the 
following boundaries, to-wit: Beginning on the northwest 
corner of the State, thence down the Mississippi River to 
the northern line of the Military Tract; thence east with 
said line to the Illinois River; thence north to the northern
boundary line of this State; thence west with said boundary 
line to the place of beginning, shall constitute a county; 
and, to perpetuate the memory of Col. Joseph Hamilton Daviess, 
who fell in the battle of Tippecanoe gallantly charging upon 
the enemy at the head of his corps, the said county shall be 
called Jo Daviess." It is a little difficult to locate the 
first territorial boundaries of the county from the above
description, as there does not exist any authentic map of 
the Military Tract-or at least any authentic map which is of 
record. A tracing of a map is on file in the General Land 
Office showing the area in Illinois between the Mississippi 
and Illinois Rivers, in which, by act of Congress of May 6, 
1812, all military lands were to be located; but said map 
has no certification of authenticity, save a pencil note by 
the Surveyor General, that the map was received at the 
General Land Office November 11, 1817, and there is no 
evidence in the Land Office that the northern boundary in 
said map has ever been surveyed or established. The tracing 
of the map above referred to extends to and includes Township 
15, Ranges I to 6 West, inclusive. 

Assuming this as the northern boundary of the Military Tract, 
the first boundary of Jo Daviess County would commence at 
the northwest corner of the State on the State line between 
Illinois and Wisconsin above the city of East Dubuque, thence 
down the Mississippi River to the southwest corner of what is
now Rock Island County; thence east, striking the Illinois 
River at La Salle; thence north, striking the State line north 
of Rockton in the County of Winnebago. 

There would be included in said territory all of what is now 
Rock Island County, the northern portion of Henry County, 
the northern portion of Bureau County, a portion of La 
Salle County, the greater part of Lee County, all of White-
side County, all of Carroll County, the greater portion of 
Ogle County, all of Stephenson County, the greater portion 
of Winnebago County and all of Jo Daviess County as now
formed. Through the courtesy of Thomas McNeil, druggist, 
of the City of Galena, I have been shown a map now in his 
possession, which was published in 1830, in which the 
boundaries of Jo Daviess County are given as embracing all 
that part of Illinois lying north and west of Rock River. 
The northern boundary of Jo Daviess County, as shown by this 
map, very nearly coincides with the boundary as established 
by act of the Legislature of Illinois, as above set forth. 

Before passing to the next act of the Legislature bearing 
upon the territorial boundary of Illinois, it may be well to 
give a short Sketch of Colonel Daviess, after whom the county 
was named. 

He was born in Bedford County, Va., March 4, 1774, but moved 
with his parents to Lincoln County, Ky., in 1779. He was given 
an excellent classical education, was admitted to the bar in 
1795, and located in Danville, that State, where he entered 
upon a remarkably brilliant career and soon attained a high
position at the bar. It is said that he had many eccentrici-
ties; that, instead of riding the circuit as other lawyers 
did, he would shoulder his rifle and range the woods from 
town to town, usually appearing in court in hunting costume. 
In 1799, by reason of his acting as second in a duel in which 
one of the principals was killed, he fled to avoid prosecu-
tion, and for some time was a fugitive from justice; but that,
hearing that his principal had been arrested, he returned, 
appeared in court as his counsel and secured his acquittal. 
It is claimed that he was the first Western lawyer that ever 
argued a case in the United States Supreme Court; that he 
appeared before that tribunal in a hunting costume and gained 
his suit. He married a sister of Chief Justice Marshall and 
became United States Attorney for Kentucky, in which capacity, 
in 1806, he moved for an order requiring Aaron Burr to appear 
and answer to a charge of levying war against a nation with 
which the United States was at peace. Burr appeared in court 
with Henry Clay as his counsel and boldly courted investiga-
tion. Witnesses could not be procured to sustain the charge; 
and such was the magnetic influence of Burr and the rising 
popularity of Henry Clay, that this act almost destroyed the 
popularity of Daviess. 

In 1811 he joined the army of Gen. William Henry Harrison as 
Major of Kentucky Voluntary Dragoons, and served in the 
campaign against the Northwestern Indians. In the Battle of 
Tippecanoe, seeing that an exposed angle of Gen. Harrison's 
lines was likely to give way before a determined assault, he 
led a cavalry charge against the savages at that point. The 
charge was completely successful, but Daviess fell shot 
through the breast. 

Aside from being a fine scholar, an able lawyer and a gallant 
soldier, he was also an author, and published a work 
entitled: "A View of the President's Conduct concerning the 
Conspiracy of 1806." It is supposed that he was of Welsh 
descent, but of this little is known. 

The Legislature of the State of Illinois, on the 16th day of 
January, 1836, passed an act the third section of which reads 
as follows: "All that tract of country within the following 
line and boundaries, to-wit:  Beginning at a point on the 
Mississippi River where the northern boundary line of 
Township twenty-two strikes said river; running thence east 
along said line to the dividing line between Ranges 3, 7 and 
8 of the Fourth Principal Meridian; thence north along- said 
boundary line to the northern boundary of This State; thence 
west with said line to the Mississippi River; thence down the 
Mississippi River to the place of beginning, shall constitute 
Jo Daviess County." The boundary of Jo Daviess, as thus 
established, would take in the whole of Carroll County, a 
part of Ogle County, the west half of Stephenson and the 
whole of Jo Daviess County, as now formed. 

Afterwards several legislative enactment's were passed 
creating Carroll, Stephenson and Ogle Counties, which 
confined Jo Daviess County to its present limits, and which 
may be properly described as follows:  Commencing at the 
extreme northwest boundary of the State at the northwest 
corner of fractional Section 17, Range 2 West; thence south 
along the Mississippi River to the south boundary of Section 
31, Township 26 North, Range 2 East; thence east to the 
southeast corner of Section 33, Township 26 North, Range 5 
East; thence north to the State line between Illinois and 
Wisconsin; thence west to the place of beginning. The general 
boundaries of this area may be described as follows: On the 
south by Carroll County, on the east by Stephenson County, 
on the north by Wisconsin and on the west by the Mississippi
River. 


Early Settlement 

It is not known, and cannot definitely be ascertained, who 
were the first occupants of the territory within the bounds 
of what is now Jo Daviess County. 

It is more than probable that what is now known as Galena 
River was discovered by the French trader Pierre Le Sueur, 
who is said to have visited the mines long before any 
permanent settlement was made.  That lead-mines existed near 
the site of the present city of Galena prior to 1810 is 
fairly well established; but they were worked by the Indians 
and the product of the mines were used only for the purpose 
of making bullets. It is also probable that traders and 
trappers made annual visits to the mines near Galena prior 
to 1820. There is on file with the Secretary of State at 
Springfield an old map, published in 1820, wherein Galena 
River is named "Mine River;" but just how it came to be 
called Mine River is not definitely known, and it is more 
than probable that many people visited the mines who left 
no record of their visit.late John Lorrain, in his life-time, 
published a short history of Jo Daviess County, in which he
says that, "in 1820, one Jesse Shull and Samuel Muir opened 
a trading-post near the present site of the city of Galena, 
which was then called January's Point, and by this name was
known to the early settlers.  The supposition is that, prior 
to this time, one Thomas H. January, a Pennsylvanian, had a 
log smelting-furnace somewhere within the limits of Galena, 
but just where it was it is now impossible to ascertain." 

It is probable, also, that Julian Dubuque, after whom the 
city of Dubuque, Iowa, was named, visited the mines of 
Galena prior to 1820. It is reasonably certain that the 
first settlement in the county was made on the banks of 
Galena River and was occasioned by the mines, but where 
the first location was is not known and cannot be definitely 
ascertained. An old copy of the "Gazetteer of Illinois and 
Missouri," published in 1822, speaks of a small stream 
twenty miles below Dubuque's mine and about seventy above
Rock River, as emptying into the Mississippi, the bank of 
which stream and the hills are filled with lead-ore of the
best quality; and that three miles below the mines is a 
trader's village, consisting of ten or twelve cabins, and 
that, at this point, the ore is smelted and sent by boats to 
New Orleans. It is probable that the trader's village above 
spoken of was afterwards known as Portage, which is near the 
junction of the Illinois Central Railroad with the Chicago, 
Burlington & Quincy and the Chicago Great Western, in 
Section 35, Town 28, Range 1 West, and being in West Galena. 
It is claimed that Col. George Davenport, agent of the 
American Fur Company trading with the Sacs and Foxes, 
occupied a trading-post at Portage, but just how long he 
remained there is not known. It is also claimed that the 
post was afterwards occupied in 1821 by Amos Farrar of the 
firm of Davenport, Farrar & Farnam, agents of the American 
Fur Company, but this does not rest upon any recorded evidence. 
Little attention was at first paid to its agriculture, the 
mines being the attraction and, like all mining camps, few 
left any record of their location there. 

In the years 1822 and '23, emigrants of a more permanent 
character began to flock to the mines. Among them were a Dr. 
Samuel C. Muir, Thomas H. January, Amos Farrar, Jesse W. 
Shull, Francois Barthillier, A. P. Van Matre, D. G. Bates, 
John Connell, John Ray, James Johnson and others. It is 
claimed that a Mrs. Adney was the first white woman who 
came to the mines and located in Galena. In 1824 Lieut. 
Martin Thomas was appointed Superintendent of the mines on 
the Upper Mississippi, and authorized to grant leases and 
permits to smelters and miners, and to farmers. provided 
they did not interfere with mining interests. 

It is claimed that the first white child born in Jo Daviess 
County was James Smith Hunt, who as born on the 9th day of 
October, 1824. 

There is a fairly well authenticated tradition though not 
sufficient to amount to a certainty that a white man married 
an Indian woman, built a log cabin and did some farming near 
he mouth of the Sinsiniwa River in Jo Daviess County, in the 
year 1810; but just who he was or where he came from it is 
impossible to ascertain. Tradition also has it that his squaw-
wife informed him that her tribe had determined to kill him, 
and warned him to flee: but that he refused to heed the 
warning and was massacred, and that his bones lie buried 
somewhere near the mouth of the Sinsiniwa River. 

>From the best information obtainable, it could appear that 
the first permanent settlement made in Jo Daviess County was 
upon Lots 10, 11 and 12 in Block 5, east side of Galena 
River--which lots are directly south the Chicago & North-
western depot and directly west of the passenger depot of 
the Illinois Central Railroad--and that the person asking 
such permanent location was Francois Barthillier (which has 
been corrupted into "Bouthillier"), and that a street 
running from said lots up past the residence of General 
Grant was named after him.  It seems probable that he made 
such location about the year 1819.  He was an Indian trader, 
and , a year or so afterwards, moved further north.  It was 
not for some years after this that Jo Daviess County began 
to have permanent settlers in any great numbers.  Space will 
not permit me to give in detail the names of all the settlers 
who became permanent inhabitants after the year 1820, and no 
complete list of the the same is obtainable.   

 
Mining History 

There is no question but that the early settlement of Jo 
Daviess County was caused by its mines. Just when those 
mines were first discovered is shrouded in mystery, although 
it is certain that a Frenchman by the name of LeSueur saw 
the mines as early as the month of August, 1700. 

He was on a trading expedition to the Indians in what is now 
the State of Minnesota and, in his report of that expedition, 
he says he discovered a small river entering the Mississippi 
on the right side and describes it as "a river running from 
the north, but it turns to the northeast. On the right of 
said river, seven leagues from the Mississippi River, is a 
lead mine, and he named the small river, thus discovered by 
him, the "River of the Mines." 

This river was, beyond doubt, what is now known as Galena 
River. The writer has examined a map of the State of Illinois 
which was published in 1820, and Galena River is named on 
said map as the "River of Mines." The geography of the 
country was then but little known. In 1712 Louis XIV of 
France granted in perpetuity to one Anthony Crozat and his 
heirs, all the property of the lead mine country of Louisiana,
which was then supposed to include the mines of what is now 
included within the bounds of Jo Daviess County. 

The best evidence obtainable points to the fact that the 
mine known in early history as "The Buck Mine," located on 
Section 8 in West Galena, on lands now owned by the Hughlett 
estate, was the first discovered, and is doubtless the one 
seen by LeSueur. It has been worked more or less up to the 
present time. 

>From a short historical account of the lead mines of the 
Northwest, published by the New England & Galena Mining 
Company, other early mines near Galena are mentioned as 
follows: The Harris Leads; Tomlin & Burrichter; The Tomlin; 
The Doe; The Krengle Mine; The Gaffner Range; The Hog Range;
The Graves; Comstock and Rosemeyer; Wallo & Quick; Sanders & 
Co.; Molitore; Crumbacker; Evans & Adams; A. C. Davis; 
Armbruster & Co.; Ottawa Diggings; Drum, Rare & Co.; 
Benninger & Co.; P. Smith & Co.;. Hostetter & Co.; Dueer & 
CO.; Allendorf & Co.; Tom Evans; Bolton; Stephen Marsden; 
The Allenrath; The Egan; The J. E. Comstock; Britten & 
Wilkins; The Cady Range; The Roberts Range; The William 
Richards Range; The Wilcox & Co. Range. All these, with 
many others of lesser note, were within a short distance 
of the present limits of the City of Galena, and were all 
good producing mines. 

In addition to the above there were valuable mines located 
in the Township of Vinegar Hill, Council Hill, Rice and 
Elizabeth the latter, however, being a later discovery than 
those first named.  At a still later date valuable mines 
were discovered in the Township of Rice, better known as the 
Black Jack Mine and the New California Diggings, and these 
have been worked more or less continuously up to the present 
time. It is rather remarkable that, up to within recent years, 
all of the mines in Jo Daviess County were worked for lead ore 
exclusively. The vast quantities of zinc ore, which seems to 
underlie all lead ore in Jo Daviess County, was considered a 
worthless ore a despised material and, as the miners used to 
express it, "it burned the mineral out." 

It is to be regretted that no accurate account of the output 
of the lead ore from said mines has been preserved, and any 
statement of such output would be largely speculative; but -
it can in be said with truth that the product has been very 
large. 

Prof. Whitney, who is perhaps the best authority on-the lead-
mining region, states that, from 1853 to 1859, the out-put 
of lead-ore from the mines of Jo Daviess County was thirty 
million pounds. 

The late Henry Green in 1875 stated that, up to that time, 
the out-put of the Elizabeth mines, alone, had been at least 
seventy-five million pounds. 

The late H. H. Houghton, in his work, entitled, "The Marsden 
Mines" (now known as the Black-Jack Mines), states that the 
out-put of the mines of Vinegar Hill has now reached the 
enormous sum of one hundred million pounds. 

A writer from Galena, whose name I have not been able to 
ascertain, in Harper's publication for the month of May, 
1866, states that the value of the lead ore, produced by 
the mines of Jo Daviess County up to that time, was 
$40,000,000. 

During the early history of the mines, ore was sold as low 
as $8 per thousand; and it is on record that a thousand 
pounds of mineral has been exchanged for a barrel of flour. 
In one instance, at least, five thousand pounds were given 
for a barrel of flour. The highest price per thousand that 
has been known to have been paid was $110, which was during 
the War of the Rebellion-and this price was paid only for a
short time. Since the year 1878 the average price of lead-
ore per thousand has not exceeded $30, and it is doubtful if 
it has equaled that figure. It is now (1902) $22 per 
thousand. The ore is found in veins and flat sheets, -the 
horizontal veins being known to geologists as gash veins. 
It is found at various depths from the surface as far down 
as explorations have been made. The principal veins run 
east and west, and are known in the mines as "Easts and 
Wests;" other veins run north and south, and are known in 
the mines as "Norths and Souths." The north and south veins 
generally cross the east and west ranges at right angles.
Besides these there are what are known as 11 quarterings," 
which usually cross the east and west crevices diagonally. 
Some of these quarterings, so-called, run from the north-
east to the southwest, and some from the southeast to the 
northwest; these are locally called either "ten o'clocks" 
or "four o'clocks," according to the direction they assume. 
There are also smaller crevices, which usually cross the
east and west ranges in various directions; these are 
locally called "swithers," though just why they are so 
called we have not been able to ascertain. The ore found 
in the crevices that run east and west is generally known 
as "cog mineral;" that found in the veins running north 
and south is generally of a sheet formation. It is a
remarkable fact that no ore is found in any of the crevices 
without the same having been crossed by some other crevice, 
and the local expression is, "you will not find lead ore 
until you strike a crossing." Just why this is so is not 
known. 

The first work done in the mines was. beyond doubt, performed
by the squaws, and their method of extracting the ore from 
the ground where it was found attached to the rock, was to 
build great fires and, when the rock had been sufficiently 
heated, throw water upon it, thus causing it to crack and 
enable it to be more easily worked. It may be added that the 
method of working the mines is still rather primitive. 

The Indians reduced the ore by piling up wood, putting the 
ore thereon and setting the wood on fire, thus melting the 
ore. Many such places, called "Indian furnaces," may still 
be found in the county. 

When the white miners first came they reduced the ore in much 
the same manner, only more skillfully, and their furnaces 
were called "log furnaces." Afterwards the Drummond furnace 
was introduced, also the cupola and the blast furnace-the 
latter being nothing more than the old "Scotch Hearth," a 
full description of which is subjoined, taken from Judge 
Shaw's geological work of Jo Daviess County. 

The hearth consists of a box of cast-iron, two feet square, 
one foot high, open at top, with the sides and bottom two 
inches thick. To the top of the front edge is affixed a 
sloping shelf, or hearth, called the work-stone, used for 
spreading the materials of the "charge" upon, as occasionally 
becomes necessary during smelting, and also for the excess 
of molten lead to flow down. For the latter purpose a groove,
one-half an inch deep and an inch wide, runs diagonally across 
the work-stone. A ledge, one inch in thickness and height, 
surrounds the work-stone on all sides except that towards the 
sole of the furnace.  The hearth slopes from behind forward, 
and immediately below the front edge of it is placed the
receptacle or "melting pot." An inch from the bottom, in the 
posterior side of the box, is a hole two inches in diameter, 
through which the current or "blast" of air is blown from the 
bellows. The furnace is built under an immense chimney thirty 
to thirty-five feet high and ten feet wide at its base. Behind 
the base of the chimney is the bellows, which is propelled by
a waterwheel, the tuyere, or point of the bellows, entering 
at the hole in the back of the box. The fuel, which consists 
of light wood, coke, and charcoal, is thrown in against the 
tuyere and kindled, and the ore is placed upon the fuel to 
the top of the box. The blast of air in the rear keeps the 
fire burning, and, as the reservoir, or box, is filled with 
molten lead, the excess flows down the grooved hearth into 
the "melting pot," under which a gentle fire is kept, and 
the lead is ladled from it into the molds as is convenient. 
Before adding a new "charge," the blast is turned off, the 
"charge" already in is turned forward upon the work-stone, 
more fuel is cast in, and the "charge" is thrown back with 
the addition of fresh ore upon the wood. The combustion of 
the sulphur in the ore produces a large amount of the heat 
required for smelting. The furnace is thus kept in operation 
sixteen hours out of the twenty-four. 

The ore is of different degrees of purity, but the purest 
galena does not yield, on an average, over 65 per cent of 
lead from the first process of smelting. The gray slag is 
very valuable, though the lead procured from it is harder 
than that 'of the first smelting. There is left about 
75,000 of gray slag from each 1,000,000 pounds of (>re. 
The slag furnace is erected under the same roof with the 
Scotch Hearth, and has a chimney of its own a few feet from 
that of the hearth, and the "blast" 'is secured from the 
same water-power by an additional blast-pipe driven by the 
same wheel. It consists of a much larger reservoir, built 
of limestone cemented and lined with clay, with a cast-iron 
door in front heavily barred with iron. It will burn out so 
as to require repairs in about three months. Open at the top, 
the slag and fuel are thrown in promiscuously. Under the 
iron door is an escape, and below it is the "slag-pot." This 
is an oblong iron basin about a foot in depth, with one-
third of its length partitioned off to receive the lead, 
which sinks as it escapes, while the slag, being lighter, 
flows in a flame-colored stream forward and falls into a 
reservoir that is partly filled with water, which cools 
the slag as it is plunged therein. As the reservoir fills,
a workman shovels the scoriae into a hand-barrow and wheels 
it off. This scoriae is black slag and worthless, the lead 
having now been entirely extracted. The smelter now and then 
throws a shovel-full of -,ray slag into the furnace, which 
casts up beautiful parti-colored flames, while the strong 
sulphurous odor, the red-hot stream of slag, with the vapor 
arising from the tub 'wherein the hissing slag is plunged,
the sooty smelters 'and the hot air of the furnace room, 
suggest a thought of the infernal regions. Outside, the 
wealth of "pigs"-not in the least porcine gives one a sort 
of covetous desire, that, if indulged in, we are taught 
leads directly to said regions. 

The Scotch Hearth requires less fuel than any other furnace. 
It "blows out" in from six to twelve hours, while the 
Drummond furnace may be kept in operation night and day. 

The Scotch Hearth, or blast furnace, is still the one most 
commonly used in the lead mines. None of these furnaces were 
able to get all of the lead out of the ore. The father of the 
writer owned and operated a blast furnace on the Sinsinawa 
from 1852 until 1875 ' and during part of that time the 
writer kept his father's books, and the highest percentage 
that he ever knew to be made in his father's furnace was 74 
per cent, and his father's furnace was probably an average. 
It is doubtful if the average percentage of lead extracted 
from the ore by any of the furnaces that were ever operated 
in Jo Daviess County would exceed sixty-eight, although it 
is known that a much greater percentage of lead exists in 
the ore, and it is probable that, if all the lead that 
exists in the ore could be saved, the average would reach 
eighty-five per cent.

>From an old Directory of Galena, published in 1848 by E. S. 
Seymour, I gather that, when the Directory was published, 
there were twenty-four smelting furnaces within the county 
of Jo Daviess, but I am unable to give the location of all. 

It may not be amiss in this connection to state that, in the 
early history of the mines, Illinoisans ran up the Missis-
sippi River in boats in the spring, worked in the mines 
during the warm weather, and returned to their homes for the 
winter. This was supposed to be after the manner of a certain 
kind of fish, and for this reason they were called "suckers" 
by Missourians. Very soon, however, many miners from Missouri
came to seek their fortune in the new El Dorado. A boat-load 
of these, landing at the wharf in Galena, a resident miner 
sang, "Hello! Missouri has taken a puke." Ever after that 
Illinoisans were called "Suckers," while Missourians were 
called "Pukes"-names by which they will be called by the 
vulgar for some time to come. 

It is also a remarkable fact, when you take into considera-
tion that ore has been discovered in every one of the twenty-
three townships in the county, what a small portion of the 
county has been explored for ore or "prospected," as the, 
mining term is. As compared with what is unexplored the 
explored portion is very insignificant. It can be stated with 
certainty that, if all the mines in the county were placed 
side by side, they could not cover more than a section of 
land, or six hundred and forty acres; and some idea can be
gathered from this, to justify the assertion that untold 
quantities of ore still lie under the surface of Jo Daviess 
County. It can be stated with certainty, that, so far, 
little or nothing has been done more than surface mining. 

It is also a little remarkable that the zinc ore (called by 
the miners, "dry-bone" and "blackjack"), which, in the 
earliest history of the county, was a despised material, is 
now being sought for more than lead ore the reason being that. 
while not as valuable as the lead ore, the output, 
prospectively, is much greater, and companies are being 
formed to develop the zinc mines. 

A Wisconsin Company is now operating a zinc mine on the 
lands of Oldenburg in Section 1, about three miles from the 
City of Galena, which bids fair to be a mine of great value. 
The company is operating the mine with a view of reaching 
deposits much lower than have heretofore been developed, and 
the prospects are that the enterprise will be richly rewarded. 
At the California Mines in Rice Township, Harris & Co., of 
Chicago, are developing a mine. which promises large returns, 
in both lead and zinc ore. 

Within the City' of Galena, Wm. Waters has been working a 
mine for the past two or three years, and has be-en rewarded 
with good returns in the shape of zinc ore. It is claimed that 
his mine, which runs entirely through the corporate limits 
of the City of Galena from west to east, is a true "Fisher 
vein." His mine has been worked down to the water-level only, 
but has been worked at that level for a distance of over half 
a mile. The product has been largely zinc ore, although the 
mine also produces some lead ore, and it is claimed with a 
strong probability of truth, that far greater deposits exist 
-in those mines below the water level than have yet been 
developed. Mr. Waters claims that he can walk on ore at the 
water-level for a distance of over six hundred feet. - 

The mines in Elizabeth Township seem to have taken on a new 
lease of life, but they as yet produce only lead ore, 
although many believe-and with good ground for such belief 
-that, at a lower depth under the lead ore, exists a still 
greater deposit of zinc ore. We shall treat of the mines of 
that township more at length when we specifically speak of 
the township. 

As before stated, so far the mines of the county have been 
worked only to a limited extent; and in no sense have they 
been worked to any great depth, as no mine of which the 
writer has any knowledge has been worked to the depth of two 
hundred feet. The most of the ore has been taken from a depth 
of less than one hundred feet from the surface. It can be 
safely asserted that, nowhere in the United States are there 
mines which offer a fairer, return for capital invested, than 
the mines of .Jo Daviess County. 

Thus far mining in Jo Daviess County has been prosecuted by 
men with limited means, and in no -instance has any mine been 
developed to any great depth. 

In the judgment of those whose opinion is of value, with a 
larger use of capital and more adequate machinery, the mines 
of Jo Daviess County would be found to be practically 
inexhaustible. 

Besides lead and zinc, iron ore to a considerable extent has 
been found in the township of Derinda, and traces of copper 
have also been discovered. 

In one locality the writer has personally picked up specimens 
of quartz, and has seen "black sand," such as is found in the 
placer gold mines in the West, washed out of the ground, 
although he saw no gold.  Mixed with the ores in the county 
is an element called sulphur, but which is really a Sulphide. 
Until recently it had no commercial value, but now it is worth 
six dollars per ton, and is used in the manufacture of 
sulphuric acid. Arsenic is also found mixed with the ores; 
but as yet has no market value. In fact, no effort has been 
made to save it. 

 
Official History 

As already set forth, Jo Daviess County was not a separate 
and distinct corporation until the year 1827; so that those 
who represented the Territory in Congress only represented 
the territory of Jo Daviess County in a general way. Shadrach 
Bond was the first Delegate to Congress from Illinois 
Territory, serving in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Congresses. 
He took his seat at the second session of the Twelfth Congress,
December 3, 1812, and served until Oct. 3, 1814, when he was 
appointed Receiver of Public Moneys. 

Benjamin Stephenson succeeded Bond and took his seat at the 
third session of the Thirteenth Congress, Nov. 14, 1814, and 
served during the third session of the Thirteenth and first 
session of the Fourteenth Congresses, when he also was 
appointed Receiver of Public Moneys, April 29, 1816. Nathaniel 
Pope was elected the successor of Benjamin Stephenson, and 
entered Congress at the second session of the Fourteenth 
Congress, Dec. 2, 1816, and served during that session and 
the first session of the Fifteenth Congress, he being the 
Delegate at the time of the admission of the Territory as a 
State. It must be remembered that these were only Territorial 
Delegates, and had only the power of making speeches in
Congress; they had no vote. 

John McLean was the first Representative in Congress from 
the State, taking his seat at the second session of the 
Fifteenth Congress. He was succeeded by Daniel P. Cook in 
the Sixteenth Congress, which met in December, 1819, and he 
continued to represent the State during the Sixteenth, 
Seventeenth, Eighteenth and Nineteenth Congresses, a period 
of nearly nine years, from December, 1818, until March, 1827. 

Joseph Duncan succeeded Daniel P. Cook, taking his seat at the
first session of the Twentieth Congress, in 1827, and 
represented the State in the Twentieth, Twenty-first and 
Twenty-second Congresses, covering the period from 1827 to 
1833. 

A new apportionment was had under the census of 1830, and 
the State having been divided into three Districts, Jo 
Daviess County fell into the Third. Joseph Duncan was again 
elected to the Twenty-third Congress, but having been elected
Governor before the close of his term, resigned his seat in 
Congress and was succeeded by William L. May, of Springfield, 
who filled out the unexpired term, afterwards being elected 
to the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Congresses and serving 
until 1839. 

May was succeeded by John T. Stuart, of Springfield, who 
served in the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses 
(1839-43). 

Under the apportionment of 1843, following the census of 
1840, Illinois was divided into seven districts, Jo Daviess 
being assigned to the Sixth, and for the first time the 
county was represented by one of its own citizens, Hon. 
Joseph P. Hoge, of Galena, who represented the District by 
re-election in the Twenty-eighth and Twenty-ninth 
Congresses' (1843-47). 

In 1847 to 1849, Thomas J. Turner, of Freeport, represented 
Jo Daviess County in the Thirtieth Congress, the county 
being still a part of the Sixth District. 

In the Thirty-first Congress (1849-51), the Sixth District 
was represented by Edward D. Baker, of Galena. 

In the Thirty-second Congress (1851-53), the Sixth District 
was represented by Thompson Campbell, also of Galena. 

Under the re-apportionment based upon the census of 1850, 
Illinois was given nine Congressmen. Jo Daviess County was 
then placed in the First Congressional District, and was 
represented by E. B. Washburne from 1853 to 1863, when a 
new apportionment was made whereby Illinois was given four-
teen Congressmen, of whom thirteen were elected from regularly 
organized districts and one from the State-at-large. Under 
this apportionment Jo Daviess County was placed in the Third
Congressional District, represented by E. B. Washburne until 
the Forty-first Congress (lt369), when, having been appointed 
Secretary of State by President Grant, he resigned and 
Horatio C. Burchard, of Freeport, was elected Congressman in 
his place, taking his seat Dec. 6, 1869. Mr. Burchard, by re-
election in 1870, represented the Third District, which 
included Jo Daviess County, in the Forty-second Congress
(1871-73). 

Another congressional apportionment was made in 1873, when 
Jo Daviess County was placed in the Fifth District and, in 
the Forty-third, Forty-fourth and Forty-fifth Congresses 
(1873-79), it continued to be represented by Mr. Burchard 
under this apportionment. In the Forty-sixth Congress 
(1879-81), the Fifth District, including Jo Daviess County, 
was represented by R. M. A. Hawk, of Mt. Carroll, who was
re-elected to the Forty-seventh Congress to serve from 1881 
to 1883, but died while in office, when Robert R. Hitt (the 
present incumbent) was elected his successor. 

In 1883 another congressional apportionment was had, when 
Illinois was given twenty Congressmen and Jo Daviess County 
placed in the Sixth District, with Robert R. Hitt as its 
Congressman, who has continued to serve Jo Daviess County 
in that capacity up to the present time, 1904. Two 
apportionments have been made since that of 1883-the first 
in June, 1893, under the census of 1890, and the second May
13, 1901, under the census of 1900. Under the first of these 
the State was divided into 22 Congressional Districts, with 
Jo Daviess County in the Ninth; and under the second (now in 
force) there are 25 Districts, Jo Daviess being in the 
Thirteenth. As already indicated, however, there has been 
no change during this period in the representation of the
county in Congress. 

It will thus be seen that the Congressional Districts in 
which Jo Daviess County has been placed, have been 
represented by men who have had more than local reputation. 
Some of them can fairly be claimed by Jo Daviess County, of 
whom we shall speak more at length in the chapter devoted to 
a short history of the many citizens of Jo Daviess County who 
became men of national reputation. 

Jo Daviess County, since its organization, has played its 
part in the formation of the various Constitutional 
Conventions which have been held during that period. In the 
Convention of 1847 it was represented by Thompson Campbell 
(of whom a brief sketch has been given elsewhere), 0. C. 
Pratt and William B. Green, all of whom exerted a marked 
influence in the convention. In the Constitutional 
Convention of 1862 Jo Daviess County was represented by 
Wellington Weigley, one of the most brilliant advocates of
the Galena Bar. At that time the nation was torn by civil 
strife, so that careful deliberation was almost out of the 
question, and the-result of the convention was so distasteful 
to Mr. Weigley, that he took the stump and earnestly advocated 
that the work of the convention be rejected by the people, 
which was done. Mr. Weigley is still living, residing with 
his daughter in Chicago at the age of nearly 90 years. In the
convention of 1869-70; William Cary, an attorney then in 
practice in Galena, represented the county, the result of 
which convention was the present Constitution of the State. 

The following named persons have directly represented Jo 
Daviess County in the State Legislature since the 
organization of the State. The list is believed to be 
correct and the services rendered in the order named: 

Several of the persons mentioned below, namely: Wallace A. 
Little, Henry Green, R. H. McClellan and J. C. McKenzie, 
L. P. Sanger, G. W. Harrison, Jas. W. Stephenson, A. G. S. 
Wight and H. H. Gear were State Senators. Wallace A. Little, 
R. H. McClellan, Henry Green and J. C. McKenzie served in 
the House before becoming Senators. 

The list is as near complete as the records show: 

Benjamin Mills, 
Jas. W. Stephenson, 
Elijah Charles, 
A. G. S. Wight, 
S. M. Bartlett, 
James Craig, 
G. W. Harrison, 
Germanicus Kent, 
Thos. Drummond, 
Hiram W. Thornton, 
Jno. McDonald, 
Cyrus Aldrich, 
Abner Eads, 
L. P. Sanger, 
H. H. Gear, 
C. D. Denio,
J. R. Jones, 
R. H. McClellan, 
Henry Green, 
Jno. D. Platt, 
William Cary, 
A. M. Jones, 
Forest Turner, 
Hiram Tyrell, 
C. S. Burt, 
Joseph Moore, 
Julius A. Hammond, 
D. A. Sheffield, 
G. W. Pepoon, 
James Carr, 
George W. Curtiss, 
Henry Frentress, 
B. B. Howard, 
J. C. McKenzie, (is the present State Senator 1903) 
Wallace A. Little, 
James Berryman, 
H. S. Townsend, 
M. H. Cleary, 


Judiciary and the Bar 

It is exceedingly difficult to get accurate information 
with reference to the early courts of Jo Daviess County. 
The mining interests overshadowed all others, and before 
the organization of the county many disputes were settled 
by arbitration, of which no record has been preserved. When 
the county was first organized in 1827, Galena was named as 
the county seat. The territory comprised in the first bounds 
of the county was so vast-and the county-seat being placed 
in the northwest corner of this territory-it was not until 
several years elapsed before anything like system could be 
maintained. The county at first was made a part of the First 
Judicial Circuit and the first term of the Circuit Court 
ever held in the county was held in June, 1828, by three 
Justices of the Peace, although a County Commissioner's Court 
was held in Galena on the 18th of June, 1827. the names of 
the Justices who held the first term of the Circuit Court
were John Connolly, Hugh R. Coulter and Abner Field. Another 
session of the court was held in October, 1828, at which 
five Justices presided. These Justices sat as Circuit Judges 
and must have been impressed with their official dignity, 
as the record discloses that several attorneys were fined 
for contempt of court, and the fines were probably just, as 
the lawyers unquestionably had a profound contempt for the
legal ability of the Justices of the Peace before whom they 
were then compelled to practice. In May, 1829, the Hon. 
Richard M. Young presided as Circuit Judge and, in 1835, 
was succeeded by Stephen T. Logan, who was, in his day, one 
of the most profound lawyers. Logan was succeeded by Thomas 
Ford in 1836, who was followed by Daniel Stone. Stone was 
legislated out of office with the other Circuit Judges in 
1841, and Judge Thomas C. Browne, of the Supreme Court, was 
assigned to duty on the Galena Circuit. The administration 
of the office of Circuit Judge by Judge Browne does not 
appear to have been a marked success, as many of the 
attorneys seemed to feel that he favored a lawyer at the bar
who was his son-in-law. The late M. Y. Johnson told the 
writer of a witticism that Thompson Campbell got off at the 
expense of Judge Browne, which I will relate-not vouching for 
its truth, however. It seems that Judge Browne, while 
attempting to cross Galena River, accidentally fell into the
stream and came near being drowned. He was relating the 
circumstance in the presence of Campbell, describing the 
narrow escape he had had. Campbell retorted: "Judge, you 
were in no danger. Corruption always floats." 

Judge Browne continued to preside as Circuit Judge until the 
adoption of the Constitution of 1848, when he was succeeded 
by Benjamin R. Sheldon, who held the position of Circuit 
Judge until elevated to 'the Supreme Bench in 1870. He was 
succeeded by the Hon. William Brown, of Rockford, who was a 
far different man from Judge Thomas C. Browne, with whom he 
has sometimes been confounded. It can be said with truth 
that the bar of Jo Daviess County has included some of the 
ablest and most eloquent attorneys that Illinois or any other 
State can boast. Space will not permit me to name all of 
the attorneys who practiced at its bar. Among them were:  
John Turney, William Smith, James M. Strode, Benjamin Mills, 
Thomas Ford, Jesse B. Thomas, Thomas Hoyne, Thomas Drummond, 
Charles S. Hempstead, Joseph P. Hoge, Samuel M. Wilson, E. B. 
Washburn, John M. Douglass, E. D. Baker and Thompson 
Campbell. These may all be said to have been the more 
prominent among the early members of the bar of Jo Daviess 
County, and many of them rose to great prominence in other 
fields. Among them all, Thompson Campbell was probably, the 
most brilliant, witty and eloquent, and it is said of him 
that, in the trial of a criminal case, he was probably the 
most eloquent man At that time in the State of Illinois. Jo 
Daviess County has always held its position as having among 
its members of the bar those who were leading lawyers of the 
State. At a later period Wellington Weigley, Robert H. 
McClellan, Madison Y. Johnson and David Sheean have been 
among the leading lawyers in Northern Illinois. David Sheean, 
at this writing (1903), is still in active practice and 
recognized as one of the leading lawyers of the State. 

COUNTY COURT-Thus far I have spoken only of the Circuit 
Court. Jo Daviess County also has a County Court which seems 
to have been somewhat of a development. In 1845 the Legisla-
ture of Illinois passed an act which may be said to have 
consolidated all prior acts relating to County Commissioners,
which act provided that there should remain in each county of 
the State, and be established in each county hereafter 
created, a court of record to be composed of three Commis-
sioners, which court should be styled "The County Commis-
sioner's Court," which Commissioners should be elected by 
the people. Said court should have a seal and a clerk, and 
said court was to have jurisdiction in all matters and things
concerning the county revenue, and had power to issue all 
kinds of writs, attachments for contempt, etc.  Prior to 
this act several acts of the Legislature had been passed 
with reference to County Commissioners' Courts, the first of 
which was passed on the 22d of March, 1819, before Jo Daviess 
County was organized. An appeal from said County Commis-
sioners' Court was allowed to the Circuit Court. 

On March 4, 1837, an act was passed by the Legislature of 
Illinois providing for the election of Probate Justices of 
the Peace, and on March 3, 1845, all former acts were amended 
and a law passed establishing in each county of the State a 
Court of Probate, to be composed of one officer to be styled 
a Probate Justice of the Peace. Said-Probate Justice of the 
Peace was given all powers conferred by law on Justices of 
the Peace, and was given further jurisdiction in all cases 
of debt and assumpsit, expressed or implied, where executors 
or administrators should be parties to the extent of $1,000. 
He had power to administer oaths, to issue and grant letters 
of administration, letters testamentary, letters of guardian-
ship, to *fake (*I do not know if this is the right word to 
be used here though that is what is in the book) probate of 
wills, to receive and file inventories, and generally to do 
all acts necessary to settlement of estates. 

On the 12th of February, 1849, an act was passed by the 
Legislature of the State of Illinois establishing in each 
of the organized counties of the State a Court of Record, to
be styled the County Court of the proper county to be held 
by and consist of one Judge to be styled the County Judge of
the proper county.  The same act provided for the election of 
a Clerk of said County Court. The same act provided for the
election of two Justices of the Peace, who should sit with the 
County Judge as members of the Court for the transaction of 
county business only, and should have an equal vote with the 
County Judge on all questions, as the law puts it, "legally 
and properly before said court." Any two of the three Judges 
should constitute a quorum to do business. It is related that 
one of the witty members of the bar of Jo Daviess County, 
when that act was passed, said that "hereafter the County 
Court of Jo Daviess County would be composed of 100 Judges, 
there being one Judge and two ciphers on the bench."  

>From these acts much confusion arose, and the records do 
not give us much information that is reliable.  Wm. C. 
Bostwick acted as County Judge from 1849 to 1853; before him 
Hugh S. Dickey presided.  George M. Mitchell was elected 
County Judge in 1853'and Richard Seal, County Clerk. Mitchell
was followed as County Judge by John D. Platt, who held the 
office until 1861, when Matthew Marvin was elected, he 
holding the office until 1869, when Richard Seal became 
County Judge. The pay of the County Judge was $2.50 per day 
for every day he held court; and this remained the law until 
the adoption of our present Constitution in 1870, when by 
that instrument the Board of Supervisors were required to
fix the compensation of the County Judge. It may not be 
improper, in passing, to say that, by the action of the Board 
of Supervisors, the office of County Judge is not as remunera-
tive as it was thirty years ago--strange as such a statement 
may be--because prior to 1870, the County Judge was almost 
continually being allowed compensation for extra service. 
In 1828, in the month of July, Auburn Field was elected Judge 
of Probate for the County. He died in June, 1830, and was 
succeeded by John Turney, who held the office until 1837, when 
Elijah Charles was elected Judge of Probate. It is uncertain 
just how long he held the office. 

                    Township Organization 

                            from 

              History of Jo Daviess County   1904 

On February 17, 1851, an act was passed by the State Legisla-
ture providing that, at any general election that may be held 
in the several counties of the State, the qualified voters in 
any county might vote for or against township organization, 
and the County Court, on petition of fifty legal voters of 
said county, should cause the question to be submitted to the 
legal voters of the county. If the returns showed a majority 
in favor of township organization, then the County Court should 
appoint three commissioners, residents of the county, who 
should divide the county into towns or townships, making as 
many towns as there are townships, according to government 
survey, and the towns should be named in accordance with the 
expressed wish of the inhabitants of the town; and if there 
should not be a degree of unanimity as to the name, the commis-
sioners might designate the name. The requisite number of 
voters having petitioned the County Court, that tribunal 
called an election to be held in the month of November, 1852, 
to determine whether or not Jo Daviess County should adopt 
township organization. The vote being in the affirmative, the 
County Court, at its December term, 1852, appointed Charles R. 
Bennet, George N. Townsend and David T. Barr as commissioners
to divide the county of Jo Daviess into towns. At the
February term of said Court in 1853 the commissioners made a 
report of their work and divided the county into seventeen 
towns, which were named as follows: 

 Nora 
               Courtland 
                             Elizabeth 
                                        Jefferson 
                                                        Thompson 
  Rush 
               Stockton 
                             Scales 
                                        Ward's Grove 
                                                         Pleasant Valley 
 Mann 
               Menominee 
                             Derinda 
                                        Guilford 
                                                         Hanover 
 East Galena, 
               West Galena 


                              

Afterwards the Township of Menominee was divided and a new 
township created called Dunleith. 

West Galena was also divided at a later period, a new town 
being created called Rawlins. 

East Galena was also afterwards divided and a new town 
created called Washington, which name was afterwards changed 
to Rice. 

The Town of Thompson was also divided afterwards, and a new 
town created called Apple River. 

Pleasant Valley was also divided and a new town created 
called Berreman. 

The Town of Scales was also divided and a new town created 
called Council Hill and the name Scales was changed to Scales 
Mound. 

By vote of the people the name of the town of Mann was 
changed to Vinegar Hill, 

that of Courtland to Warren and the name Jefferson to 
Woodbine; so that, at the present writing (1903), Jo Daviess 
County contains twenty-three towns whose names are as follows: 

 Nora          Elizabeth     Warren      Woodbine      Scales Mound 
 Rush          Stockton      Thompson    Ward's Grove  Pleasant Valley 
 Rice          Derinda       Menominee   Vinegar Hill  Council Hill 
 Rawlins       Hanover       Dunleith    Guilford      Apple River 
 East Galena   West Galena   Berreman 

When East Galena was divided and a new township formed out 
of its territory, the latter received the name Washington 
after the first President, but this was afterward changed to 
Rice, in honor of Henry A. Rice, who settled in the township 
in 1821, and who died there in 1874. 

East and West Galena were so named because of the lead ore 
found within their boundaries. 

The Township of Mann was named after Harvey Mann, an early 
settler of the township, who was Chairman of the first Board 
of Supervisors that ever assembled in Jo Daviess County; but 
afterwards, by vote of the people, the name of the town was 
changed from Mann to Vinegar Hill, after a village of that
name in Ireland. 

The Township of Rawlins was named after General John A. 
Rawlins, formerly chief of Grant's staff. 

Guilford was named by General John A. Rawlins, its honored 
son. 

The Town of Scales Mound was first named Scales, in honor 
of an early settler within its borders, but was afterwards 
changed to Scales Mound the same having reference to one of 
the highest points of land in the State of Illinois. 

Council Hill was so named because, before it was organized 
into a separate town, there had been a council held with 
Indian tribes within its borders; and tradition has it that 
Black Hawk addressed his followers from the bluff just south 
of Lupton Station on the Illinois Central. 

The Town of Thompson was named after one of its early 
settlers by the name of Thompson. When it was first 
organized into a town, there was a large stream running 
through it upon the banks of which grew a large number of 
crab-apple trees, from which the stream took the name of 
Apple River; and when the town was formed, it took its name 
from this river. 

The Township of Menominee was named after the tribe of 
Menominee Indians. This name was suggested by James Finley, 
its first Supervisor. 

Pleasant Valley was so named because it is practically a 
valley with fine scenery, and is, as its name implies, a 
"pleasant valley." 

It is said that the Town of Berreman was given its name by 
one A. Mahony, a resident of the township, and that he named 
it after a. friend of his then living in Tennessee. 

Derinda was named after a lady residing in the township at 
the time the town was organized. 

Stockton was so named by its inhabitants at the time the 
town was organized. Its name is said to have been suggested
by Alanson Parker, who described it as a beautiful stock 
country. 

Ward's Grove is said to have been named in honor of Bernard 
Ward, who was its first settler, and who owned a fine grove 
of timber situated within its borders. 

The first name of the present Town of Warren was Courtland, 
which name was suggested by Mr. A. L. Brink to Charles Cole, 
who was present at the meeting of the Commissioners when the 
different towns were first named. The first post office in 
the Township of Courtland was named Warren by Alexander 
Burnett, and was named after Burnett's native place, which 
was Warren, Ohio. Afterwards, at the request of a majority 
of the people of Courtland, it was changed to Warren. 

The Township of Elizabeth was named in honor of Mrs. 
Elizabeth Winters, who kept the first hotel within the
bounds of the township. Such was her popularity among the 
people of the township that, when they were called upon to 
give it a name, they named it Elizabeth in her honor. 

It is probable that the name of the Township of Woodbine has 
a botanical derivation. There is a plant called the woodbine, 
the botanical name of which is cissus, which is found wild in 
woods and thickets and is a vigorous plant supporting itself 
firmly on trees by means of its radiating tendrils, and it is 
more than probable that the town of Woodbine was given its 
name because of this plant. 

It is not certain just why the Town of Nora was so called. 
It is supposed to have been so named by some of the 
officials of the Illinois Central Railroad, probably after 
a daughter of one of them. 

The Town of Rush was named after two streams called Little 
and Big Rush Creek, which both start in said town, and they 
are supposed to have derived their names because of their 
rapid flowage. 

In the early 'forties, what is now the Village of Hanover 
was called Wapello, and there was a post office at that place 
with J. W. White as postmaster. There was also a post office 
called Wapello in Iowa, and much confusion arose it, the 
distribution of mail matter and, at the suggestion of Mr. 
White, the name of the Jo Daviess County post office was 
changed from Wapello to Hanover, and when the town was formed 
it took the name of Hanover from the post office. It will 
thus be seen that the Town of Hanover owes its name to J. W. 
White, who still lives within its borders and who is one of 
its most honored citizens. 

Dunleith is said to have derived. its name from some town 
in Scotland. 

Township Histories

Apple River Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Apple River had for its first settlers 
Daniel Robbins, Melzer Robbins, William Colvin and later 
came the Maynards and Levitts, also Lot L. Dimmick, William 
Hudson and Samuel Warner. The village of Apple River was 
incorporated on the 18th day of July, 1876, and was the
fourth of the cities and villages to become incorporated in 
Jo Daviess County. Where the village of Apple River now 
stands was originally called "Bean's Mound," after a man who 
had a blacksmith situated near what was then called the Big 
Woods. The village of Apple River is an enterprising place 
and is keeping up with the spirit of the age. 

Berreman Township Jo Daviess County, Illinois

The Township of Berreman, also one of the smaller townships, 
is situated in the southeast corner of the county. It was 
formerly well supplied with timber. But little mineral has 
been discovered within its borders, and but little effort 
has been made in that direction. There. are no villages 
within the township. Its first settler was D. Tiffany, and 
his descendants still own the land upon which he first 
located. S. B. Gates, J. Parkinson and Isaac Parkinson were 
also early settlers. The first post office established in 
this township was located at a place called Willow, and the 
first postmaster was I. W. Parkinson. The township of 
Berreman was intensely loyal during the War of the Rebellion, 
and furnished as many soldiers for the Union Army, in 
proportion to its population as any other township in the 
county. 

Council Hill Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Council Hill is said to have been quite a 
resort for the Indian tribes, and there are various legends 
as to councils or, as the early settlers called them, "pow-
wows" having been held there. Its earliest settler was 
probably John Batty, who, it is claimed, built the first 
blast furnace for the reduction of lead ore that was ever 
built in America. Patrick Hogan and Ezekiel Lockwood, Simon 
Alderson, Mr. Branton and Richard Arthur came later. There 
are within the township two villages, neither of which has 
ever been incorporated, one being called Council Hill and 
the other Council Hill Station on the line of the Illinois 
Central Railroad. The latter place, however, is now called 
Lupton in honor of one of her prominent citizens. There is 
considerable business done at both villages and vast 
quantities of lead ore have been taken from the mines in 
this township. 

Derinda Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Derinda derives its name, as has heretofore 
been noted, from a woman. The first settlement was made in 
the township about the year 1836 and, among the first 
settlers if not the very first were the Olivers, the Hermans 
and the Hendershots. It is claimed that one Robert Campbell 
was the first individual to own land within the township. 
After the persons just named came Robert McGrath.  The face 
of the country is rather hilly and rocky, but is quite well 
timbered. Farming is the principal business of the 
inhabitants. There are some signs of mineral deposits in the 
township. Considerable iron ore has been found, and an attempt 
has been made to develop an iron ore mine. The township has no
railroad facilities, however, and, so far, the ore has not been 
found in sufficient quantities to prove profitable. There are a 
large number of Germans within the township, and it was first 
proposed to call the township New Germany, but the 
proposition failed. There are no organized cities or villages 
within the township but there are two places--one called 
Derinda Centre and one Massbach--at which considerable 
business is transacted. Its inhabitants are a well-to-do, 
law-abiding people. 

Dunleith Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

It is a little difficult to ascertain who were the first 
settlers of the Township of Dunleith, as that township
borders upon the Mississippi River and it is possible that 
many, while seeking locations near the lead mines, may have 
settled within its borders. It contains some lead mines but 
they are not very extensive. It is probable, however, that 
many miners have prospected there. The first permanent 
settler of which we have any record was Eleazer Frentress, 
who settled on a claim south of East Dubuque, and the land 
is still owned by his descendants. The city of East Dubuque, 
which is within the borders of the township, is a place of 
considerable importance. and bids fair to become more so in 
the not distant future. It owns its own light plant and 
waterworks and has the second best public school building 
in the county. 

East   & West Galena Townships, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Townships of East and West Galena are situated, 
geographically, that a short sketch of the one necessarily 
is a short sketch of the them, because the city of Galena 
is formed out of portions of each township. There is no 
question that the mines near the city of Galena were the 
cause of the earliest settlement of the county, and for 
years Galena was practically isolated from the remainder 
of the State, the nearest settlement in the east being 
Chicago and the nearest inhabited point on the south being 
Peoria.  Among the earlier settlers of Galena was Jesse W. 
Shull, and the village of Shullsburg, Wis., takes its name 
from him. We also find the name of Dr. Samuel C. Muir, A. P. 
Van Matre, David G. Bates, and Thomas H. January. Afterwards 
came Dr. Newhall, Dr. Philleo, James Jones, James G. Soulard, 
Captain D. S. Harris, Robert Bonson (grandfather of the 
author), and many others whose names the writer has been 
unable to ascertain. 

Galena was first called by the early French explorers "La 
Pointe," which literally means "The Point," and it is 
probable that it was so called because of what is known as 
Shot Tower Hill, which makes the divide between what is now 
called Hughlett's Branch and Fever River, the earliest mines 
being discovered on Hughlett's Branch. As is the custom in 
all Western towns, there was quite a large collection of 
houses in Galena before the city became incorporated; in 
fact, it seems to have been the practice for the early 
settlers to build their houses without any regard to city 
formation. In 1823 the tide of immigration set toward the 
mines, and in August of that year, Lieutenant Martin Thomas 
was appointed to act on behalf of the Government in granting 
leases, collecting rents and generally superintending the 
mines, as at that time they were located upon government 
property. The tide of immigration increased until 1827, when 
the mines became over run with newly arrived emigrants and 
speculators, and in that year, Lieutenant Thomas, who had by 
that time been promoted to a captaincy, in company with James
Craig, made the first survey of the city of Galena, notes of 
which do not appear of record, but still exist in the office 
of the Surveyor-General in the City of Washington. 

Permits were granted to individuals to occupy and improve 
lots as they had been laid out by Captain Thomas and Mr. 
Craig, conditioned that they be surrendered to the 
Government upon thirty days' notice. The first permit was 
granted June 22, 1827, and these permits were the only title 
the citizens had to their lots or improvements up to 1838. In 
February, 1829, an act was passed by Congress authorizing 
the Surveyor-General to lay off on Green River (as Galena 
River was then called) a town embracing 640 acres, and to 
sell lots at auction, reserving to actual settlers a 
preemption right to purchase their lots at $10 to $25 per 
acre. This act was not complied with, and another act was 
passed in July, 1836, and three Commissioners - Samuel 
Leach, John Turney and Daniel Wann - were authorized to 
perform the duties previously assigned to the Surveyor-
General. These Commissioners were to constitute a Board to
determine all claims and grant certificates of pre-emption 
to be filed at the Land Office, and upon payment to the 
Receiver of the amount found to be due, he was required to 
grant certificates, as in other sales of public lands. 
Unclaimed lots were to be offered to the highest bidder and 
the proceeds, after deducting all expenses, were to be paid 
into the hands of the County Commissioners of Jo Daviess 
County, to be expended by them in the erection of public 
buildings and the construction of suitable wharves in the 
town of Galena. 

The first plat of Galena, which appears of record in the 
Recorder's office of Jo Daviess County, was made by Charles 
R. Bennet, and is to be found in "Book F," page 65, of the 
Records of Jo Daviess County. The first deed to any lot in 
the city of Galena is a quit-claim deed, bearing date June 3, 
1828, made by William Troy to James H. and Ezekiel Lockwood, 
for the consideration of $400. . This deed is recorded in 
"Book A," of the Records of Jo Daviess County, on page 1, 
and the description of the lot conveyed is as follows: "A 
piece or parcel of land, being a village lot in Galena, 
bounded on the east by the Triangular Street, and on the west, 
north and south by a lot claimed by the said Lockwood; the 
same being originally a part of said lot, and having thereon 
a dwelling house twenty-six by twenty-five feet." It is a 
little difficult, from the above ascription, accurately to 
locate the above named lot, for the reason that there is no 
street n the city of Galena-and never was, so far as have 
been able to ascertain-known by the name of "Triangular 
Street;" but it was probably meant for Diagonal Street, and 
the lot of round was probably Lot 57, Diagonal Street, upon 
which is located the brick building lately longing to the 
Duverry estate and now occupied by Fred Burgdorf as a feed 
store. 

A post office was established in Galena in 1826 and Ezekiel 
Lockwood appointed Postmaster. There was but one mail in two 
weeks, the same being conveyed to and from Vandalia. Galena 
grew it began to put on metropolitan airs, and from the first 
of July, 1847, it was announced that the eastern mail would
arrive very evening except Monday, and depart every morning 
except Sunday; that all mails closed precisely at 8 o'clock 
p. m.; that office hours on Sunday would be from 7:30 to 
8:30 o'clock a.m., and from half-past 12 to half-past 1 p.m. 
The time-table from Galena for passengers east was announced 
as follows: "A daily line of four-horse post-coaches leaves 
Galena or Chicago at 3 o'clock a. m., and goes through in 
forty hours." 

The city of Galena was incorporated on the 7th of January, 
1835. The first newspaper published in Galena was issued on 
the 4th day of July, 1828. It was called "The Miners' 
Journal," and edited by James Jones. In 1832 Jones sold out 
to Dr. Philleo, who changed the name of the paper to "The 
Galenian." "The Galenian" having died out in 1834, a newspaper 
led "The Northwestern Gazette and Galena Advertiser" was 
started; and, although it has changed its name, it is still 
published under he name of "The Galena Gazette," has never 
missed an issue for sixty-nine years and is now more vigorous 
than when it was started. 

The city of Galena did not suffer directly during the Black 
Hawk War, although a fort or lock-house was erected within 
its borders, being located on the southeast corner of Bench 
and Perry Streets, while a, lookout was established on the 
hill immediately west of the fort, on Lot 8, in Block 1. A 
magazine for the storing of war materials was located on 
Magazine Street, between Bench and Spring Streets. As this
location is more than a quarter of a mile from where the 
fort was situated, it is difficult to tell why the two were 
located so far apart. 

That African slavery once existed in Galena is beyond 
question. In Book A, page 54, of the Records of Jo Daviess 
County, we find that, on the 11th day of November, 1829, one 
Charles D. St. Vrain, John Campbell, Alexander Scott and 
William H. Rule entered into an agreement according, to 
which a black girl named Matilda figured as part 
consideration of a contract between said parties; and also 
in Book A, on page 120, we find that J. W. Stephenson, on 
the 6th day of October, 1830, by bill of sale, for the sum 
of $300, transferred to John H. Rountree a negro girl nineteen 
years of age, named Maria, together with a boy aged eighteen 
months named Felix. I have been unable to trace any of those 
negroes, and do not know what became of them, although the 
boy named Felix would not now be a very old man; but I do 
know that John H. Rountree, now dead, to whom he was conveyed, 
earnestly desired that slavery should be destroyed. The 
smallness of the price paid for those two negroes is probably 
due to the fact that, by the terms of the bill of sale, the 
woman was to be free when she became twenty eight years of
age, and her son when he reached the age of twenty-one years. 

It is also a matter of history that one of Galena's early 
settlers, named Samuel Hughlett, inherited a large number 
of slaves from his father, who had a plantation in Kentucky, 
and that he brought these slaves to Galena and gave all of 
them their freedom. There was living in Galena about that 
time a free negro by the name of Brooks, who had located 
there with his wife and seven children. While working on a 
steamboat he was kidnapped and taken to Missouri and, as is 
supposed, his kidnappers attempted to sell him as their slave. 
The incident created intense excitement in Galena and several 
of her prominent citizens went to Missouri in his interest and 
with a view to securing the punishment of his captors; but, 
for some reason which has never been explained, they could 
get no trace of Brooks, and the supposition was that his 
captors became so hard pressed that they murdered him. At 
all events, he was never heard of afterwards.  The incident 
created as much excitement in the city of Galena as the 
capture of Burns by the United States Marines did in 
Boston. It is worthy of remark that both Democrats and 
Whigs (the Republican party not having been organized at 
that time) condemned the capture of Brooks, and the incident 
did much toward shaping public opinion in and about Galena 
in opposition to African slavery. 

Galena always has been, is now, and probably always will be, 
the county-seat of Jo Daviess County; and, as a city, in 
historical importance is second to none in the West. I have 
heretofore called attention to the fact that she furnished 
the first volunteer in the Northwest to aid in the suppres-
sion of the Rebellion. I have also called attention to the 
fact as to the number of great men she has furnished to the 
nation. These facts, therefore, need not be recounted here; 
and while the city has decreased in population somewhat from 
what it' was in former years, it does not take a prophet to 
foretell that it will, in the near future, resume its old-time 
position as the center of the mining district in the north-
western portion of the State. 

The history of Galena is the history of the townships of East 
and West Galena, and also of the township of Rawlins, which 
was formerly a part of the Township of West Galena. 

Elizabeth Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Elizabeth has long been a township of great 
importance in the county. Its early settlers were attracted 
thereto by the mines. Jefferson Clark, John McDonald, John D. 
Winters and Clark Stone were among the earliest settlers. 
Afterwards came Benjamin Clark. Within its bounds was a fort
which was attacked by the Indians during the Black Hawk War, 
but the Indians were repulsed. The village of Elizabeth is 
within the township. For years it was an inland village, but 
since the Chicago Great Western Railroad has passed through 
its borders, it has become a place of great importance and is
constantly improving. Near the village of Elizabeth was one of 
the best mines ever discovered in the county, which was called 
the "Wishon Mine."  Here were turned out vast quantities of 
lead ore. It had not been operated for the past thirty years 
until during the year 1903, when a company called the Wishon
Mining Company, with a capital of $1,000,000, leased the mine 
and contemplate searching for a lower run of ore. Elizabeth 
has been of importance in a political sense. It has furnished 
to the State at least three State Senators, namely:  W. A. 
Little, Henry Green and John C. McKenzie, one of whom (John 
C. McKenzie) was acting Governor of the State. In 1847 there 
were within the bounds of Elizabeth Township, two post offices 
--one at Elizabeth, with William Boutwell as postmaster, and 
one at Weston, with Otis C. Bennet as postmaster. 

Guilford Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The principal glory of the Township of Guilford lies in the 
fact that it produced a Major General in the War of the 
Rebellion, and also a Secretary of War in the person of John 
A. Rawlins, who was early known as the "coal boy." Its 
earliest settlers were Elliot T. Isbell, James D. Rawlins 
(father of General Rawlins), 'William Avery, John 'VV. 
Taylor and Samuel Hathaway. The first post office ever
established in the township was at the house of William 
Avery, and was called Avery. This post office was established 
in 1850 and is still in existence with the same name. Mr. 
Avery's home was on the direct road between Elizabeth and 
Galena. Mining has been prosecuted to a considerable extent 
in the township, but not with as good results as in some 
other townships of the county. There are no cities or 
villages within its borders. 

Hanover Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Hanover was among the earliest settled town-
ships in the county.  Among its early settlers were James 
Craig, Nathan B. Craig, John Armstrong, Charles Ames, Daniel 
Fowler, Samuel Jamieson and Archer and Thomas Drummond. James 
Craig was probably the first man who handled mail in that 
township. Running through the town is a stream called Apple 
River, and upon this river in said township was located what 
was called Craig's Mill, and it was here that James Craig 
handled the mail, although I have not been able to find that 
he was a regularly appointed post master at that place.  
There is a record at James W. White was Postmaster in 1847. 
Located within the Township of Hanover is the village of 
Hanover. It was formerly called Wapello, after an Indian 
chief of the Sacs and Foxes, and by this name it was 
incorporated February 12, 1849. The name was afterwards 
changed to Hanover, and this was the second incorporated 
city or village within the county. It is now an active, 
energetic, thriving business place, and its people are among 
the most cultured and intelligent in the county. 

Menominee Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Menominee has a history peculiar to itself. 
At first it was mostly covered with heavy timber. Its surface 
is rolling and, for a number of years, the land was thought 
to be of little value except for its mines and its timber. 
Gradually, however, as time passed, it began to be settled up 
by a thrifty class of Germans who grubbed out the timber and 
have made valuable and productive farms. Its population is 
now almost entirely German. Politically it is called by 
Republicans the "Black Belt," as nine out of every ten of its 
voters vote the Democratic ticket. There is not an 
incorporated city or village within its borders, and no plat 
of any village therein has ever been made. Among its earlier 
settlers were Joseph Shipton, Nathaniel Laird, Thomas Prowse 
and Joseph Finley. The latter was at first Supervisor of the
Township, but later joined the Mormon Church and went west. 

Nora Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Nora is the northeastern township of the 
county, and for fertility of soil is unsurpassed by any 
township in the State. Its first settler was George B. 
Stanchfield, although it has been claimed by some that one 
Garret Garner was the first settler. Afterwards came Samuel 
and Tilman H. Dobler and Asher Miner. The village of Nora is 
located within its borders and is on the line of the Illinois 
Central Railroad. It was laid out by George B. StanchfieId 
and John C. Gardner, the latter being then County Surveyor. 
It was incorporated May 7, 1883. 

Pleasant Valley Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Pleasant Valley is, as its name implies, a 
pleasant valley.  Plum River extends through the township, 
and the soil of the township-especially in the valley-is 
very productive. But little mineral has been found in the 
township and but little prospecting has been done. Among the 
earliest settlers were Thomas Deeds, Eli Thomas, G. Miller 
and Darius Myers. The Troxells were also early settlers there.
George Edwards, Watkins Williams (father of County Clerk 
Williams), came later. There is a record to the effect that 
a post office existed in Pleasant Valley in 1847, with 
Thomas Deeds as postmaster, but just when this office was 
first established I have not been able to ascertain. There 
are no organized cities or villages within the township, 
although there is a place called Moville within its borders, 
at which considerable business is transacted. The people of 
this township are well to-do, energetic and thrifty.


Rice Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois

The Township of Rice, like the Township of Dunleith, borders 
upon the Mississippi. Its land is rolling and, in some parts, 
is heavily timbered. Its earlier settlers were Messrs. Rice, 
Lane, Schurl and Robinson, although Nicholas Peschang and 
others located in the township at an early day. Its mines, 
both of zinc and lead ore, have been very productive, and 
just now two large corporations are seeking to further 
develop the same with every prospect of success. The 
California Diggings, located in this township, have been 
the occasion of much litigation. Owing to the hills being 
high and steep, the Government did not make a very accurate 
survey of the township; hence there was what was commonly 
called a "lost forty," upon which a valuable lead mine was 
discovered, the right to which was only settled by the 
Supreme Court of the State.


Rush Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Rush has probably had as much influence in 
shaping the destiny of the county as any other township 
outside the Township of West Galena. Immigration began to 
flow in quite rapidly in the year 1828, when a large number 
of energetic, thrifty people were attracted toward it-much 
more so than to many other townships in the county-among them 
being George N., Ira L. and Halstead S. Townsend. The 
Townsends were fine specimens of physical manhood and could 
trace their lineage back to noble ancestry. They were of 
English descent, their ancestors having emigrated to America 
at an early day. Eber Townsend of this family was a soldier 
in the Revolutionary War and 'was wounded and captured by the 
Indians. Halstead S. Townsend rose to considerable prominence 
and represented the county in the State Legislature two terms
1859 and 1871. Later there came to the township such men as
Asher Miller, Ira Rowker, Seth Post and Elias Stanton, the 
descendants of many of whom still reside in the township. 
In early times there was a race-track within the township, 
where people from all parts of the country came annually to 
attend the races and, for several years, there were large 
annual gatherings. 

The population have always been intensely loyal, and during 
the War of the Rebellion the township sent 125 men of its 
best blood into the Union Army. In politics it has always 
been almost as strongly Republican as the township of 
Menominee has been Democratic. The first post office within 
the township was established at Millville in 1847, with Hiram 
Ames as postmaster. 


Scale Mounds Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

As already noted, Scales Mound Township received its name 
from Samuel Scales, and among the first settlers of the 
township were Messrs. Napper, Conley, Maupin and Woods. The 
village of Scales Mound was incorporated June 9, 1877, being
the fifth of the cities or villages in the county to become
incorporated. Within the borders of the township are valuable 
mines. The first post office ever established within the 
bounds of the township was called Baltimore, and Fleming C. 
Maupin was the first postmaster. The inhabitants of the 
Township of Scales Mound are an intelligent, thrifty and 
prosperous people, and, on an average, are among the 
wealthiest citizens of the county. 


Stocton Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

It is quite probable that the early settlers, of the Township 
of Stockton were attracted to that part of the county by its 
lead mines, as the county was pretty thoroughly prospected 
for such mines, and quite a quantity of lead ore has been 
raised within its borders. Henry Rice, John Hayes, John 
Wilkins, Elanson and Benjamin Parker, William Stainer and 
Asahel Morse were among its earliest settlers.  George L. 
Dow, Chester Parker and the Johnsons came at a later date. 
In the southeast part of the township, near where the lead 
mines were, Mr. Morse planted a village which was called 
Morseville, but it never became incorporated. For a time it 
was a very busy, thriving place, and was a point of 
considerable importance. Later the Chicago Great Western 
Railroad Company built its lines through the northern portion 
of this township, and a village was laid out in Sections 11 
and 12 called Stockton. It became incorporated on the 15th 
of April, 1890, and from the day it was first platted, it has 
continued to grow until, today, it is one of the most 
important villages in the county. Its people are intelligent 
and progressive. It has the finest and best equipped public 
school building in the county. It owns its water plant and, 
from the hill where the standpipe is located, is one of the 
finest views in the State. It is fast becoming a great 
shipping point for stock.  


Thompson Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

What now constitutes the Township of Thompson was formerly 
known as Indian Grove, and the last council of Indians ever 
held in the county is said to have taken place in this 
township. It is named after C. C. Thompson. one of its 
earliest settlers. Thompson's Mill was, for years, a landmark 
in the county.  There are no incorporated cities or villages 
within the township, but there is an unincorporated village
called Schapville within its borders, in which considerable 
business is done. 


Vinegar Hill Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Vinegar Hill was first settled because of 
its mines; in fact, farming was little thought of by the 
early settlers until the sober second-thought of its early 
settlers began to assert itself. One of the earliest mines 
in the county was worked in this township and was known as 
the "Old Cave Range." It is very difficult to ascertain who 
were its first settlers, but it is very probable that John 
Furlong and Harvey Mann were among the first to settle in the 
township, although Jacob Doxey, George Todd and Thomas Allinson 
were early residents of the township. Richard Spensley, the 
father of the writer, settled in the township in 1852, and 
operated a lead furnace in the western portion. He had, 
however, reached Galena in 1839. There are no villages or 
cities within the township. Its mining interests seem now
(1903) to be taking on a new lease of life. 


Ward's Grove Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The Township of Ward's Grove is one of the small townships 
of the county, and takes its name, as heretofore stated, 
from Bernard Ward, its first settler, while James Blair, 
Samuel Tyrrell, Joseph Moore and William Graves settled in 
the township very soon after Mr. Ward located there. Very 
little effort has been made to discover ore in this township, 
although traces have been found in various places.  There are 
no incorporated villages within the township, although a 
portion of Morseville was laid out on its western border. 
Its soil is very productive and it contains as good land as 
there is in the county. 


Warren Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

The first settler in the Township of Warren as unquestionably 
Alexander Burnett. He built himself a log house very near the 
center of what is now the village of Warren. After him came 
Freeman Tisdel, Kingsley Old and family and a Mr. Newville. 
Mr. Burnett kept the first hotel in the village, and as near
his house what was known as the "Sucker Trail" and another 
road crossed each other, his place was known for years as 
"Burnett's Corners." The first post office was established 
at the house of Mr. Tisdel in 1847. Owing to the fertility 
of the soil and the development of the mines not far from 
the "Corners," Warren began to develop very rapidly and many 
enterprising men, such as A. L., Brink, John D. Platt, E. T. 
Sandoe, Manly Rogers, C. A. Smith, Thomas E. Champion, John 
Tear, George W. Pepoon and others settled within her borders. 
On February 24, 1859, the village of Warren was incorporated, 
and from that time until now it has had a steady, healthy 
growth, so that at present it ranks as one of the most 
enterprising villages in Northern Illinois. It has never had 
what, in western parlance, could be called a "boom," but 
whatever advance it has made it has retained. Its citizens 
are enterprising, -wide-awake and constantly on the lookout 
for that which would improve their village. It owns its own 
waterworks, is well lighted, and has secured manufacturing 
plants which have been profitable from the start. It has an
academy and one of the best high schools in the State, and 
altogether is a delightful village in which to dwell. 


Woodbine Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

Woodbine Township is very near the geographical center of the 
county. Owing to the fact that the village of Elizabeth joins 
the township near the center of its west boundary, and that 
the mines in and about the village attracted its first 
settlers, it is a little difficult to separate the history of 
the two townships. It is probable that two men named James 
Flack and John D. Winters were its first settlers. The land 
of the township is generally rich and well watered, and there 
was formerly an abundance of timber. The Chicago Great 
Western Railroad now runs through it near the central 
portions, and the village of Woodbine, which is an energetic, 
thriving place, has been established, but has not been 
incorporated. The inhabitants of the township are among the 
best people of the county and are a loyal, industrious and 
law-abiding class of citizens. 


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