Kendall County Pioneers 1828-1840

Preface [Select to Show/Hide]

It is now approximately 175 years since the first people moved into what became Kendall County. The first pioneers settled near the timber. They believed the trees would help protect them from the fierce winds that blew across the prairie. They also needed to be near a source of building material, and fuel for cooking and heating their homes.

The pioneer's best source of water was a good spring. Initially springs were plentiful and the settlers clustered around them. After the most desirable land was taken, pioneers began to drain the sloughs. When the sloughs were drained, the springs dried up and the pioneers were forced to seek other sources of drinking water. Initially wells were dug by hand, but the depth a well could be dug was limited. It was not until the late eighteen seventies or early eighteen eighties, that well drilling technology advanced to the point that deeper wells could be drilled. The ability to drill a well, even through solid rock, was a major factor in the development of the area away from the timber and streams that flowed through the groves.

When the first settlers arrived, the closest mill was near Peoria. Under normal circumstances, taking wheat or corn to the mill required several days. When weather was bad, a round trip to the mill could take two or three weeks.

Initially wheat was the only marketable commodity. Chicago was the nearest market but there were no roads between Kendall County and Chicago. The grain had to be hauled there by wagon, sloughs were numerous and difficult to pass through, and rivers and creeks had to be crossed without the benefit of bridges. A round trip to Chicago often required several days.

During the initial settlement period there was virtually no money in circulation, requiring the pioneers to trade one commodity or skill for another. If they became ill or were injured, they had to rely on their own medical skill to survive.

Those who led the way had to survive droughts, prairie fires, storms, harsh economic times, and much other depravation.

To the extent possible, the following represents a list of the names, and the genealogy of the pioneers and settlers who came to Kendall County before January 1, 1841. In some cases it was not possible to determine the pioneer's date and place of death. In other cases pioneers were tracked for a while and then lost. Information in brackets [ ] within the second "Place" column indicates the last place and time the compiler was able to find that person. For example, [Burlington, IA 1910] means the last genealogical sighting of the person referred to was Burlington, Iowa in 1910.

Some of the entries are incomplete. Addition information or corrections will be gratefully accepted.

Source CodeSource
BS Bateman, Norman & Paul Selby, editors. Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois & History of Kendall County. With special authors and contributors. Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co., (1914) Two volumes, 1078 pages.
FA Farren, Kathy, editor. A Bicentennial History of Kendall County, Illinois. Yorkville, IL: Kendall County Bicentennial Commission, (1976) 314 pages.
GF Biographical Directory of Kendall County, Illinois. Chicago: Fisher & Co., (1876) 114 pages.
HI Hicks, Edmund W., Reverend. History of Kendall County, Illinois: From the Earliest Discoveries to the Present Time. Aurora, IL: Knickerbocker & Hodder, (1877) 439 pages
JO Johnson, Oliver C. and Anna French Johnson. Atlas and History of Kendall County, Illinois. Maps and Plats, Biographies and Special Features. Elmhurst, IL: Friendly Map & Publishing Co., (1941) 112 pages.
KK Durant, Pliny A, et al. Commemorative Portrait & Biographical Record of Kane & Kendall Counties, Illinois. Chicago: Beers, Leggett & Co., (1888) 999 pages.
KW Genealogical & Biographical Record of Kendall & Will Counties, Illinois. Chicago: Biographical Publishing Co., (1901) 670 pages.
LP Shufelt, Mrs. John L. When Lisbon Was A Prairie. Yorkville, IL: Kendall County Record, (1917) 13 pages.
MC Rasmusen, Honor Brodie. History of the Millington Methodist Church and Community 125th Anniversary 1833-1958. Publisher not given, (l958) 48 pages.
NS Newark Sesquicentennial Committee. Newark's Sesquicentennial History: A Community Proud of Its Heritage 1835-1985. Yorkville, IL: Kendall County Record (1985) 139 pages.
OS Oswego Sesquicentennial Days Steering Committee, Roger Matile, editor. 150 Years Along the Fox: The History of Oswego Township Illinois. Oswego Sesquicentennial - 150 Years - 1833-1983. Dallas: Taylor Publishing Co., (1983) 191 pages.
PF Prairie Farmer's Reliable Directory of Farmers & Breeders Grundy & Kendall Counties, Illinois. Chicago: Prairie Farmer Publishing Co., (1917) 221 pages.
RL Lisbon Pioneer Days Book Committee. Roads To Lisbon…Past and Present, A collection of Biographical Sketches. Prepared for the 150th Anniversary of the settling of Lisbon (IL). Yorkville, IL: Kendall County Record, (1985) 112 pages.
URL External link to an internet source document
YO Lucinda Tio and Kathy Farren, A History of Yorkville, Illinois 1836-1986. Published for Yorkville's Sesquicentennial, (1986) 220 pages.

 

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    Bir      Dea        Arrival  
SurnameGiven NameMoDyYrPlace of BirthMoDyYrPlace of DeathTwpYearCode
    Bir      Dea        Arrival  
SurnameGiven NameMoDyYrPlace of BirthMoDyYrPlace of DeathTwpYearCode
Alford Katherine (Ricketson)(Mrs. Clark Baker, Sr.) Jan 5 1812 Clinton Co., NY Apr 25 1878 Waterman, IL LI 1834 HI
Barstow Edward P. (s. Galen & Almira) May 13 1835 Oct 21 1852 Lisbon Twp, IL LI 1836 HI
Barstow Galen (early settler Lisbon Twp) nds Aug 10 1867 Lisbon Twp, IL LI 1838 HI
Barstow Oscar (early settler Lisbon Twp) abt 1816 New York abt 1854 Lisbon Twp, IL LI 1836 HI
Bartholomew Katherine E. (Moore)(Mrs. Samuel D.) abt 1827 New York Feb 10 1911 Aurora, IL LI 1835 HI
Brown Simeon "Sim" (s. David & Mary) Sep 19 1820 Ellery, NY Oct 22 1907 Lisbon, IL LI 1836
Bushnell Adelaide May 11 1830 Sullivan, NY Sep 28 1917 Manchester, IA LI 1839
Bushnell Althea "Nancy" (Clarke)(Mrs. George) Sep 29 1818 Sullivan, NY Apr 24 1893 Lisbon, IL LI 1840 CE
Bushnell E. Viola (d. George & Nancy (Clarke)) Apr 2 1838 Niles, MI nf 1870 [Lisbon Twp, IL 1860] LI 1839 CE
Bushnell George (s. Stephen, Sr. & Vincy (Tuttle)) Apr 17 1812 New York abt 1867 Lisbon, IL LI 1839 CE
Bushnell Mariah (Sears)(Mrs. Hiram) Jun 27 1808 Putnam Co., NY Feb 13 1870 LI 1837 HI
Bushnell Paul (s. Stephen, Sr. & Vincy (Tuttle)) abt 1829 New York nds LI 1839 CE
Bushnell Stephen Jones (s. Reuben & Martha (Jones)) Mar 11 1812 Durham, NY Nov 22 1857 Lisbon Twp, IL LI 1839 CE
Bushnell Stephen, Sr. (included in 1840 census) May ng 1779 Westbrook, CT Sep 5 1867 Lisbon Twp, IL LI 1839 CE
Bushnell Vincie/Vincy (Tuttle)(Mrs. Stephen, Sr.) Dec 9 1786 Connecticut Aug 18 1854 Lisbon Twp, IL LI 1839 CE
Bushnell Washington (s. Stephen, Sr. & Vincie/Vincy (Tuttle)) Sep 26 1827 Sullivan, NY Jun 30 1885 Ottawa, IL LI 1839 CE
Clark John (s. Reuben & Nancy) abt 1827 New York nds LI 1840 CE
Clark Nancy (Mrs. Reuben) Apr 12 1789 Bennington, VT Dec 20 1881 Lisbon Twp, IL LI 1840 CE
Clark Reuben (f-in-l George Bushnell) abt 1782 Connecticut nds LI 1840 CE
Codner James P., Sr. Nov 29 1804 New York Nov 3 1884 Hoopeston, IL LI 1836 HI
Codner Mary A. (Mrs. James P., Sr.) abt 1802 Massachusetts Dec 12 1871 Big Grove Twp, IL LI 1836 HI
Cody Louisa Philomela (Heacox)(Mrs. Albert G.) Dec 9 1837 Westmoreland, NY Feb 7 1900 Iroquois Co., IL LI 1840 HI
Compton Albert Dec 31 1822 Dryden, NY Jan 7 1877 Michigan LI 1837 OS
Compton Mary (Pratt)(Mrs. Albert) Mar 1 1824 Lodi, NY Nov 18 1900 Plattville, IL LI 1837
Convis James (s. Thomas & Diantha (Phillips))(mar. Harriet ?) abt 1819 Bridgewater, NY nds [Lisbon Twp, IL 1850] LI 1838 HI
Cotton Mary (d. Thomas & Mary) Nov 14 1818 England Apr 15 1879 Clinton Co., IL LI 1837 HI
Cotton Mary (Mrs. Thomas) abt 1794 England Aug 28 1873 Plainfield, IL (no headstone) LI 1837 HI
Cotton Thomas (early schoolteacher in Kendall Co.) abt 1795 England Aug 21 1876 Plainfield, IL (no headstone) LI 1837 HI
Edmonds George W. (settled near Daniel Platt's) Feb 18 1816 New York Nov 18 1892 Blencoe, Monona Co., IA LI 1834 HI
Gilmore Mary Eliza (Heacox)(Mrs. William) Mar 14 1822 Annsville, Oneida Co., NY Oct 12 1884 Newton Co., IN LI 1840 HI
Grant Catherine (d. Colquhoun & Margaret) abt 1837 New York aft 1850 [Grundy Co., IL 1850] LI 1839 HI
Grant Colquhoun (Probate Judge) abt 1811 Scotland May 10 1881 Morris, IL LI 1839 HI
Grant Innis (Early settler in Lisbon Twp.) nds nds LI 1839 HI
Grant Margaret (d. Colquhoun & Margaret) abt 1832 New York aft 1850 [Grundy Co., IL 1850] LI 1839 HI
Grant Mayant? "Margaret" (Mrs. Colquhoun) abt 1816 Scotland Feb 12 1902 Homer, MI; bur. Morris, IL LI 1839 HI
Grant William (s. Colquhoun & Margaret) abt 1839 New York aft 1850 [Grundy Co., IL 1850] LI 1839 HI
Gray Elizabeth Isabel (Platt)(Mrs. Jordan) Aug 29 1832 Peru, NY May 15 1884 Chicago, IL LI 1833 HI
Greenfield Matilda "Jane" (Moore)(Mrs. Harvey Ira) Mar ng 1837 Little Rock Twp, IL aft 1910 [Greene Co., IA 1910] LI 1837 HI
Harrison William (founding mem. Lisbon Cong. Ch.) abt 1809 aft 1850 [Clark Co., IL 1850] LI 1838 HI
Heacox Amon (s. Horace & Mary D.)(Co. K, 20th IL INF) Aug 10 1817 Annsville, Oneida Co., NY Apr 23 1889 Quincy, IL LI 1840 HI
Heacox Charles Edward (s. Horace & Lucy (Brown)) Nov 22 1840 Westmoreland, NY Aug 15 1890 Lisbon, IL LI 1840 HI
Heacox Horace Oct 27 1791 New York Jan 28 1863 Kendall Co., IL LI 1840 HI
Heacox Louisa Philomela (d. Horace & Lucy (Brown)) Dec 9 1837 Westmoreland, NY Feb 7 1900 Iroquois Co., IL LI 1840 HI
Heacox Lucy (Brown)(2nd Mrs. Horace)(b. 10-27-1800?) Oct 20 1796 Mar 6 1873 LI 1840 HI
Heacox Mary Eliza (d. Horace & Mary D. (Holms) Mar 14 1822 Annsville, Oneida Co., NY Oct 12 1884 Newton Co., IN LI 1840 HI
Heacox Washington A. (s. Horace & Mary D. (Holms) Sep 29 1819 Annsville, Oneida Co., NY Oct 1 1875 LI 1840 HI
Henry Emily (d. John H. & Zilpha Ann (Wright)) abt 1839 Lisbon Twp, IL Jul ng 1916 Chicago, IL LI 1837
Henry Francis Wright (s. John H. & Zilpha Ann (Wright)) Oct 20 1830 Bennington, VT Apr 11 1907 White Willow, IL LI 1837
Henry John H. (s. John & Mary (Waite)(land entry) Oct 6 1804 Bennington, VT Apr 11 1884 Lisbon, IL LI 1837 LE
Henry Josephine C. (d. John H. & Zilpha Ann (Wright)) May 1 1837 Lisbon Twp, IL May ng 1917 Kentland, IN LI 1837
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Data last uploaded on 2015-11-20 19:22:23-0600 CST by unknown