East Peoria Timeline

East Peoria Timeline
Legend
Bridges Government Schools Churches Floods Railroads Industry

Ft. Clark created - 1813

Illinois became a state - 1818.
Charles Sargeant, Theodore Sargeant, David Barnes, and William Blanchard (War of 1812 veterans) settled in what is now Fondulac Township in the early 1820’s. The Sargeant brothers and David Barnes moved to Fulton County when their bounty land was awarded. William Blanchard constructed what is believed to be the first American structure in Tazewell County and remained on property in southern Woodford County until his death. Joshua and Seth Fulton settled claims on Farm Creek near what is now Fondulac Cemetery but sold their claims and returned to Peoria in 1824. J. Davis settled on Farm Creek and moved on to Sangamon County.
Jacob Wilson, son Jacob L. Wilson, Jakey Phillips, Joshua Walker, Thomas Banks and Elisha Green arrived February, 1825. Settled in the 10 Mile Creek Area.
Thomas Camlin, (the Daniel Boone of Tazewell County), was an early settler here. He was not only a great hunter, but a genial companion and an inimitable story-teller. Among other early settlers of Fondulac, were Jesse, Absalom and Jacob Funk, Jacob Wilson, Jacob Hepperly, Morgan Buckingham, Horace Crocker, Abraham Brown and Jefferson Husham
Peoria County created in 1825 – Ft. Clark renamed Peoria.
The first mill propelled by water was erected on Farm Creek, in

1827, by Mr. Leak. It had one run of stone, and the bolting was done

by hand.
Tazewell County formed 1827 from Peoria County. (Macon county split off Tazewell in 1829, McLean County split off Tazewell in 1830 and LaSalle County split off Tazewell in 1831. Final adjustment in 1841 (Woodford County formed out of McLean and Tazewell).
First saw-mill was built on Ten Mile Creek, in 1828, by Hugh Woodruff and
David Baily, of Pekin.
First steamboat the “Liberty” (formerly called the “Native”) reaches this far up the Illinois River – December 1829
David Schertz moved here in 1831. His family joined him in 1832.

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Post Office Little Detroit established in area along lake north of the narrows 20 Sep 1833. Discontinued 11 Sep 1836.

Buckeye School built in sec 11 – 1835
Camelin Cemetery (Fondulac Cemetery) – First known burial - 1835
Original Patents – Purchased from US Government for $ 1.25 per acre

NW1/4 Sec 33 T26N R4W – Rudolphus Rouse – 13 Mar 1835

Randolphus Rouse b. 20 Jul 1793 New York married Martha b. 15 Jan 1809 New Jersey. Settled on Sec 33 Fondulac in 1833. Living in Peoria by 1840. Buried in Springdale Cemetery.

W1/2 NE1/4 Sec 33 T26N R4W – Emeline Nelson – 14 Oct 1835

Emeline Nelson b. 12 Aug 1814 New York married Thomas D. Broyhill b. 17 Oct 1816 North Carolina, 19 Feb 184 in Tazewell, Illinois. Moved to Iowa in 1850’s. Buried Union Chapel Cemetery, Madison County, Iowa. SE1/4 Sec 33 T26N R4W – David Schertz – 9 Dec 1835 David Schertz b. 1791 Germany married Anna b. 1806 France. Arrived Fondulac 1831. SW1/4 Sec 33 T26N R4W – Susannah & Jesse Funk – 10 Feb 1836 Jacob Funk b. 28 Dec 1893 Lexington, Fayette, Kentucky married Susannah Popejoy b. 20 Apr 1798 Fairfax, Fairfax, Virginia. Son Jesse Funk b. 11 May 1817, Fayette, Ohio married Cynthia Haines b. 3 Oct 1822 Brooke, Virginia, 13 Feb 1840 at Groveland, Tazewell, Illinois. . Jesse moved to Stark County, Illinois and Iowa by 1880. Buried in Forest Cemetery, Oskaloosa, Mahaska, Iowa.

E1/2 NE1/4 Sec 33 T26N R4W – John Leadly – 22 Aug 1838 John Leadly b. 1807 England married Elizabeth b. 1800 Virginia. Sons: Thomas H., Allen and John. Had not settled prior to purchase.
David Schertz built a grist mill (about where Camp and Washington Streets intersect) 1840

Glendale School started in “Skunk Hollow” 1847
Illinois-Michigan Canal – 1848 – Peru to Lake Michigan
Post Office Little Detroit reestablished 15 May 1848
Cole Bridge opened 27 October 1849
Fondulac Township created on 6 November 1849.
Central Grade School Erected. Land donated by David Schertz – 1850
Peoria & Oquawka Railroad charter amended to build from Peoria to Indiana state line, 22 June 1852
Fondulac town platted 14 June 1855 by Seth Abbott
Pleasant Hill School established 1855.
First trains operated to Chenoa 2 February 1857
Fondulac Cemetery Association formed – 17 February 1857
First Railroad Bridge across Illinois River opened12 April 1857
First Sunday School operated by Thomas Chamberlain on Cole Street - 1860
P&O RR became Logansport, Peoria & Burlington February 1861
Post Office Little Detroit named changed to Post Office East Peoria – 23 Oct 1863
Bluetown platted 1 February 1864 by Joseph Schertz
Post Office Bluetown established 21 May 1864
Toledo, Peoria and Warsaw Railroad assumed control of eastern segment of LP&B RR March 1864.
Coleville Platted – 8 May 1866 by Almiron Cole.
Blue Town Sunday School erected (now the First United Methodist Church) – 1867
Post Office East Peoria name changed back to Post Office Little Detroit – 3 Jun 1867
Illinois-Michigan Canal deepened and flow reversed
Blue Town (sic) name changed to Hilton by State General Assembly – 25 March, 1869
Post Office Little Detroit discontinued – 4 Apr 1871
Peoria and Pekin Union Railroad - 28 September 1880 – consolidated 4 railroads
Telephone service established - ca 1880
Free Methodist Church of East Peoria organized February 1882 ans building erected 1883
Village of Hilton created 1 July 1884 by election. Vote 30-12. President Nicholas Slagle

Trustees: Peter Schertz, H. F. Capps, J. G. Vogelsand, Samuel Allen, Sr. & Edward Lange, Sr.

Oliver J. Bailey bought Voris Farm fall of 1887.
Upper Free Bridge opened 4 December 1888
Slagle’s Addition to the Village of Hilton was platted 1 Oct 1889 by Sophia and Nicholas Slagle
Village of Hilton changed to Village of East Peoria 21 Oct 1889 by village ordinance following a petition of over 50% of registered voters.
Post Office Hilton changed to Post Office East Peoria – 2 Nov 1889
Lake Erie and Western – ca 1890 – extended from Bloomington
East Peoria High School founded by Singleton A Dennis – 1900
Village of East Peoria – 1891 – All of Sec 33, E1/2 Sec 32 and the E1/2 E ½ NW1/4 Sec 32
Herschel Manufacturing Company – 1893
Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge # 668 organized – 23 Nov 1893
Flash Flood -1895
New channel for Farm Creek - 1896
IOOF Lodge – chartered 2 Feb 1893
St. Monica’s Catholic Church dedicated 9 October 1898
F. R. Carter Brick Yard (Peoria Brick and Tile) 1899
Seven major coal companies – 1900 – Lake Erie, East Peoria, Standard, Doering, Geibelhausen, Manhattan, and Royster
Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal – Reversed the flow of the Chicago River - Completed in 1900
“The Pilot” A. R. Zimmerman, first newspaper - 1901
First streetlights installed (gas) Meriden Hydro Carbon Company - 1 November 1901.
First paved street in East Peoria - 1901
Colean Manufacturing – Manufacturing plant for steam powered Equipment -1902
O. J. Bailey’s First Addition platted 15 Apr 1903
Electric light Ordinance 20 February, 1903 – Peoria Gas and Electric
First National Bank of East Peoria opened on the SE corner of Main and Washington - 1 June 1903
Flood – Illinois River – Spring 1904
Peoria Steel and Tool 1904
O. J. Bailey’s Second Addition platted 22 Nov 1904
Street Car system approved 19 April 1905
Roosevelt School opened 1906
Illinois Traction System – 1907 (Completed Peoria to Bloomington line
Holt Caterpillar Company formed and took over the assets of Colean Company – 1908
St. Peter’s Lutheran church built 1910
Cole Bridge replaced – collapses 1911
Levees built – 1911-12
Franklin Street Bridge opened 6 April 1912
CILCO formed 1 May 1913.
ABC plant located to East Peoria - 1914
East Peoria Water Works established 12 March 1915
First National Bank of East Peoria moved to NE corner of Main and Washington -1918
Columbia sank – 5 July 1918
Village of East Peoria changed to City of East Peoria with commission form of government - adopted by City Resolution No. 99 on 22 April 1919 following an election 15 April 1919 with a majority vote of 388.
Tazewell Building, Loan and Homestead Association formed - 1919
Fondulac Park District created - 9 November 1920
City of East Peoria – 1920 – Contained: All Sec. 33, E1/2 Sec 32, SE1/4 Sec 29, SW1/4 Sec. 28, S1/2 SE1/4 Sec 28, W1/2 SW1/4 Sec 27 and the W ½ W ½ Sec 34
East Peoria community High School (A Building) built 1922.
Holt and Best Merged to form Caterpillar Tractor company - 1925
High School Band established 1925.
Superior Foundry establish - 1925
Fondulac “High” Drive completed – 1925
CILCO’s Wallace Station begins operation - 1925
Flash Flood – 18 May 1927
Richland school - 1927
East Peoria Sanitary District formed 11 January 1928
VFW Post # 2078 organized – 1918
Swimming Pool constructed on Cole Street – 1929
Lock and dam construction and 9 foot channel – 1930’s
Cedar Street Bridge completed January 1933.(Started in 1929)
First National Bank in East Peoria chartered 17 February 1934.
East Peoria Women’s Club organized – 13 March 1934
Library Reading Room due to efforts of the Woman’s Club – June 1935
Rotary Club of East Peoria created - 2 February 1937.
East Peoria Public Library formed by taxpayers of Fondulac Township – 20 July 1937
Bethany Missionary Church (little steel church) erected at 223 Leadly by R. G. LeTourneau - 1937

Washington School completed in 1940
Flood – Illinois River - 20 May 1943
Flash Flood – 15 June 1945
American Legion Post #983 organized - 1946
Flash Flood – 4 Apr 1947
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church (Present) completed 2 November 1947
McCluggage Bridge completed in December 1948 (started September 1940)
Fondulac Dam completed – 1949
East Peoria Junior Chamber of Commerce organized – July 1951
First Baptist Church erected 1953
Farmdale Dam completed - 1954
Paul L. Bolin School – 1954
Jefferson School replaced 1954
Murray Baker Bridge opened 12 December 1958
Fondulac Golf course opened – 28 June 1963
Fondulac swimming Pool opened 1 June 1964
St. Monica’s Catholic Church on Campanile Drive built in 1966
Illinois Central College “interim campus” opened 1967
Illinois Central College permanent campus opened September 1972
Free Methodist church of East Peoria on Springfield road completes June 1975
Amtrak - Prairie Marksman – 1979-81
McCluggage Bridge second span opened in 1983.
Home Rule defeated 4,344 to 1,110 at an election 4 Nov 1986
Bob Michel Bridge completed – 1993
Par-a-Dice Casino – Moved to East Peoria - 1993
East Peoria (Tazewell County) — [1] P.O. "Little Detroit" 20 September 1833 to 1 September 1836; Re-established 15 May 1848 to 23 October 1863 (to East Peoria); P.O. "East Peoria" 23 October 1863 to 3 June 1867 (to Little Detroit); P.O. "Little Detroit" 3 June 1867 to 4 April 1871. [2] P.O. "East Peoria" 25 January 1886 to 11 November 1886 (mail to Peoria). [3] P.O. "Hilton" 11 April 1870 to 2 November 1889 (to East Peoria); P.O. "East Peoria" 2 November 1889 to 26 October 1900 (mail to Peoria).