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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

Jacob & Elizabeth Fischer’s wedding photograph taken by H.H. Cole in his Pekin studio in February 1891 as well as a 1919 family photo.

The photos were submitted by their granddaughter Louise Rollings of Salem, Oregon.

Circa 1892 photo of the family of Joachim Christian Hinrich Schroeder, Augusta, and son David Schroeder of Hopedale.

The photo was submitted around 2004 by Joachim’s great-grandson Father David Klein, SSC of Fort Worth, Texas.

1892 photo of Maria Schrock with a Christmas note on the back to her son Karl

Found in a Pekin antique auction in March 1993 – over 100 years after it was first sent.

James A. Williams & Mary E. Linn were married on 3 August 1875. They were born & lived most of their lives in the Lilly, Illinois area.

This 1900’s photo of James & Mary was submitted by their great-grandson Ralph Brooks of Vancouver, Washington.