The area which contains the present city of Pekin was not settled until the summer of 1824 when Jonathan Tharp built a small cabin on the bank of the Illinois River, near the site of the old Franklin School.
A Historical Tidbit is generally a short Tazewell County related historical article. It could be up to 5 or 6 page story but could be as simple as a family photo, letter, or document. Almost anything Tazewell County related is eligible (see all the Tidbits listed below).
If you have a Tazewell County related article, photo, video, letter, or document you’d like to share, here’s how to make a submission.
If you have questions or comments, please contact us.
1827 – First Tazewell County Legal Document
The first Tazewell County legal document was recorded on 6 July 1827, authorizing John L. Bogardus to operate a ferry across the Illinois River opposite Peoria.
Our thanks to Robert Lutz, Tazewell County Recorder, for supplying us with a copy of the document back in May 2000.
1844 – Old Horshor Mill
In 2015, archivist Rindi Shannon purchased an old postcard with a black & white photograph on it. It was a rural scene with a dirt road, a fence and an old mill. It was labeled “Old Horshor Mill 1844, Tazewell Co., Ill.” She decided to try and find the location of the old mill. Rindi would eventually find the Horshor Mill was actually the Hoshor Mill but was it located in Tazewell County? See how Rindi solved the mystery!
1850’s – William & Phebe Hodgson
William Hodgson (15 Aug 1816 – 23 Nov 1906) first came to Tazewell County about 1832 with his father Amos.
These photos were contributed by Deborah Huffman, Seattle, Washington (William & Phebe’s third great-granddaughter).
1862 – James Anson Williams
James Anson Williams of Lilly served in Company I of the 94th Regiment of the Illinois Infantry during the Civil War.
This 1862 photo of James in his Civil War uniform was submitted by his great-grandson Ralph Brooks of Vancouver, Washington.
1862-1865 – Busy Bee Sewing Circle
Members of the Busy Bee Sewing Circle during the Civil War. One of these young girls, Josephine Goodheart, would grow up to become one of the first principals of Pekin High School.
The photo was submitted about 2002 by Ellen Rowan Taylor, Sierra Vista, Arizona. who is the great-grandniece of Josephine Goodheart.
1870’s – Berry Gang
This is the only known photo of three members of the infamous Berry Gang, who terrorized Tazewell County in the late 1860’s.
The tintype was found in the floorboards during a 2000 remodeling of a home owned by the Berry family until the 1940’s.
1873 – First Pekin High Graduating Class
Besides the six members of the 1873 class, we show photos of the high school building and the commencement program. One of these young ladies, Josephine Goodheart, would later become principal of Pekin High School.
Photo was submitted about 2002 by Ellen Rowan Taylor, Sierra Vista, Arizona. who is the great-grandniece of graduate Josephine Goodheart.
1878 – Bird’s Eye View of Delavan
Aerial views of Delavan in 1878 and 1975.
1879 – Daisy & Grace Reed
Circa 1879 photo of sisters Daisy & Grace Reed
The photo of the two sisters was contributed in 2000 by Richard & Elizabeth Saunders of California. (Grace is Richard’s grandmother)
1880’s – Dr. Samuel Kennedy Linn & Jane Lindsey
Dr. Samuel Kennedy Linn & Jane Lindsey were married on 22 October 1850 in Tazewell County. They lived most of their married lives in the Mackinaw, Illinois area.
This 1880’ss photo of Samuel & Jane was submitted by their 2nd Great Grandnephew Ralph Brooks of Vancouver, Washington.
1880’s – Photographer H.H. Cole
Pioneering photographer H.H. Cole created a historical picture gallery of notable Tazewell County residents—displayed at one time on the hallway walls of the Tazewell County Courthouse. Many of these photographs are of early Tazewell County notable men. Our archivists scanned over 1500 of the 5″x7″ photos that had been stored in the basement of the Tazewell County Courthouse for decades. Here’s your chance to own a photograph of your Tazewell County ancestor taken by the same man who photographed Abraham Lincoln.
