History

Prophetstown early history is inter-twined with that of it's namesake.

 

 

One of the stories connected with the Black Hawk War concerns Captain Abraham Lincoln and his company of men who, it is said, burned the village of the Prophet as they followed them into Wisconsin, however, no Indians were in the village at the time.

It is hard to realize that this pleasant, quiet village was involved in the final removal of the Indians from this region. White settlers came in droves once most of the Indians were removed, but many Indians returned to this area for several years after settlers arrived. As late as 1871, Indians still lived in the area around the Prophet’s Town.

The Prophet, through his marriage with a friendly tribe, and his associations with the early settlers, was disposed to be on friendly relations with the white settlers. But when the war broke out he did all in his power to make the Indian cause successful. He was, in reality, an enemy in war, and in peace, a friend. The Prophet was the most prominent Indian that was ever intimately connected with the history of Whiteside County. This was his lifetime home.

In 1835 there were still three to four hundred Indians living near the mouth of Coon Creek which is now part of the Prophetstown State Park. The native and new settlers lived in peace, but the Indians gradually moved westward leaving the Rock River Valley to the white settlers.

Asa Crook, his wife and nine children staked a claim on Coon Creek near the Rock River in 1834. Other settlers followed, ferries were built to cross the Rock, and the first store in Prophetstown Township was opened in 1837. The original Town of Prophetstown was platted in 1838, and Prophetstown was incorporated in 1859. The first retail establishment in Prophetstown was opened by Job Dodge and A.T. Wiggins in a building they move from Portland in 1841. Early factories produced plows, wagons and butter. The first school was built in 1841. Rail reached Prophetstown in 1871 with a branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. Photos Asa Crook Family

A TIMELINE

In the early 1800’s besides the fourteen villages between Rock Island and Dixon, there were also three more villages in the immediate area at Walker’s slough, at the site of the first railroad bridge and in Portland.

1818—Illinois becomes a State. Virtually the entire population lives in the southern third of the state.

1832—The Winnebago Indians were the first settlers in this area.– Their village was burned by Captain Abraham Lincoln and his militia during the Black Hawk War as they pursued the Indians as they fled to Wisconsin, and there to Iowa. This was the last of the Indian wars east of the Mississippi. Black Hawk, the Prophet and three of their sons were captured and imprisoned for a short time. Black Hawk dies in Iowa and 1838 and the Prophet dies in 1841 on a reservation in Kansas.

1834—Asa Crook was the first inhabitant when he arrived on June 4, 1832 at the mouth of Coon Creek, established his claim, built a log cabin after living in a sod house during the summer months, and returned to Michigan in the fall to bring his wife and nine children to the Prophet’s Town. The first Christmas service was held in the Crook cabin. When Crook arrived in this area in June 1834, his only white neighbors were in Rock Island and Dixon. Friendly Indians still lived in the area.

1835—The first school room for children was held in the Crook cabin. More settlers were entering this area influenced by Crook and the Seely’s, most having ties to Rutland Co., Vermont of Erie Co., New York. The first elections were held at the Crook’s cabin. There were still three to four hundred Indians living in peace with the settlers near the mouth of Coon Creek. Some stayed until the 1870’s.

1836—The first Post Office was established in the Crook home. Up to this time families had to travel to Dixon to receive their mail. The first store was built along the River bank. It was told that a large group of Indians had returned to Lyndon for the winter. The first school building in the county a log cabin, was built on Washington Street, and the bell from this building is now displayed in the park are at the north end of Washington St.

1837—John Deere arrived in Grand Detour on the Rock River, traveling from Rutland Co., Vermont.

1838—The original town of Prophetstown was platted.

1839—Whiteside County is organized with county seat in Lyndon; Asa Crook built a two-story home for his family, the first in Whiteside County. The home currently is being restored by the Prophetstown Area Historical Society.

1840—The population of Whiteside County is about 2000 persons, rapidly growing.

1841—The Rock River House opened in 1841 in the village of Portland. It served as an inn for travelers and also served food. The first retail establishment was opened by Job Dodge and A. T. Wiggins in a building they moved from Portland. The first school building was replace with a frame building on Benton Street.

1843—Through 1845, land claims are registered (land purchased from the U.S. Government). Forty acres per settler.

1859—Prophetstown was incorporated.

1861—The Civil War begins with more than 2,500 Whiteside County men going to war. The population of Whiteside County is now 18,700. A Civil War monument of a lone Civil War soldier stand near the entrance of Riverside Cemetery on East Third Street. The monument commemorates four major battles; Shiloh, Gettysburg, Kennesaw and Resaca.

1871—The railroad reached Prophetstown with a branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. The first newspaper, the Prophetstown Spike, was published by A.D. Hill.

1872—The first National Bank was organized with Nathan Thompson as president and A.J. Mattson as Cashier. (This brick building still is in use as a home next to the Eureka Inn). The Seely House (now the Eureka Inn) was built in Portland in 1856 by Solomon Seely, was used as a hotel for two years, then sold to Col. Ebenezer Seely, who continued to business for two years, then purchased by Martin V. Seely and used as a farmhouse and hotel for twelve years, before being moved to Prophetstown In 1872 at a cost of $400. It opened again on December 15, 1872. It is now operated as The Eureka Inn, a restaurant.

1873—There were nearly 1,000 Indians still in Wisconsin but by 1874 they moved to Nebraska.

1896—The first electric poser was generated by William McNeill.

1904—The first water works became operational in the city. The first telephone service was chartered in the same year.

Other notable Firsts:

First settlers were the Winnebago Indians whose village was burned in 1832 during the Black Hawk War.

First white settlers were the Asa Crook family. who arrived on June 4, 1834

First school, first church services, and first post office: Conducted in the Asa Crook home in 1835, 1835, 1836 respectively.

First Hotel was the Rock River House opened in 1841.

First newspaper was the Prophetstown Spike, first published in 1871.

First Bank: organized in 1872.

First electric power was generated in 1896 by William McNeill.

First Waterworks was operational in 1904.

First Telephone was chartered in 1904.