Untitled Document

PECATONICA TOWNSHIP

This:township was settled in 1835. The first settlers were Ephraim Sumner, now of Rockford; William Sumner, Mrs. Dolly Guilford (sister to the Sumners), Elijah Guilford, her son, and Thomas Hance . After the county was organized in 1836, and the county machinery put in motion, seven justices' precincts were established, towit: Yellow River, Rock Grove, Peeketolika, Kishwaukee, Rockford, Rock River, and Belvidere. Peeketolika embraced the townships now known as Pecatonica, Seward and Burritt. The first election for county officers was held on Monday, August 1, 1836. Wednesday, August 3d, the County Commissioners met, organized and started the county machinery. Besides establishing the seven precincts above named, they fixed a date— August 27—for the election of justices of the peace and constables. In this precinct (Peeketolika), Ephraim Sumner and Isaac Hance were elected justices, and William. Sumner and Thomas Hance were chosen as constables. This was one of the precincts that honored the Commissioners' order by holding elections on the day fixed. At a subsequent session of the Board, another day was fixed for the election of justices in the precincts that had failed to elect in August—the time so fixed being the 14th of October following.

In the fall of 1836 a brisk tide of immigration set in, and Peeketolika filled up quite rapidly. As a rule, the settlers were of a hardy, industrious, intelligent character, and established a moral and religious sentiment that has ever since been maintained.

In the public undertakings of the county—in all enterprises inaugurated for the public good—the people took an active part, and are recognized as among the most public spirited people of the Rock river country.

This township has the honor of being the birthplace of the first white child born in the territory now included in Winnebago County—Ogden Hance, the son of Thomas Hance, who was born during the early part of 1836.

The first school in the township was taught in 1849, by Emmeline Knapp. by Daniel Reed, Sr., in 1846. Soon after purchase, Mr. Reed settled upon it and commenced reducing its wild sward to farm tillage. In 1852, after the line of the Galena and reducing Union, now the Chicago and Northwestern railroad, had been established, and the grading, etc., well under way, T. D. Robertson and John A. Holland, of Rockford, appreciating the advantages it offered for a railway station, being in the heart of a rich and rapidly developing agricultural district, bought from Mr. Reed an interest in the land, and. "laid off" the town, the plot of which was filed and entered of record in December of that year. Before this, however, while the railroad was building, N. F. Maynard built a small house on the west side of Main street, a little north of the railroad track, in which he opened a small stock of groceries, provisions, etc. That building—the first busi ness house in Pecatonica—is still standing, and is now occupied as a tenement house.

History of Winnebago County-1877

Illinois Ancestors