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SOME HISTORICAL FACTS ABOUT GURNEE AND THE TOWN OF WARRENMaofiss’nai]By Bernice Dismore and Ruth JohnsonWhen the first settlers came to what now is Gurnee, they found Indians living here. Their encampments were said to have been on the old Sneesby and Porter farms. Old settlers tell of the two last Indians, who were medicine men or doctors. These two Indians, becatuse one was exceedingly tall, and the other exceedingly short. If white children misbehaved their parents would theaten to give them to these Indians.Some of the early settlers of warren were: Thomas McClure, George Drury, Avory Esty, William Lovejoy, Abram March and B. F. Shepard.Warren received its name from the town of Warren, Herkimen County, N. Y.. A Mr. Wright and a Mrs. Druce were responsible for this name and it was trough their efforts that the town received the name of Warren.Little by little the people built their homes on the banks of the DesPlaines river. This cluster of homes had as its first name, Wentworth. This name being changed to Aux Plaines. The latter name was changed to Gurnee in honor of Walter S. Gurnee, a director of the Chocago, Milwaukee St. Paul Railroad, and^a large Lake County land owner.Theflrst school in the town of Warren was built in 1838, near the present Stafford school. As more settlers moved in, it became necessary to build more schools. In Gurnee, the first school house was built Just west of the Woodman ball. The second was built near the home of Mrs. Nellie Sneesby. Gurnee outgrew this school, and the third building was erected on the site of the present school house. Our present school house is the third to have been built, with several additions.Our school today, is a modern, well built three-room school house. What a change from the first log cabin.In the early days, the schools were the centres of attraction. There would be held trough the year, various sociables,spelling bees, singffig and writing shcooH and other various entertainments. It was in the little red school house that many a romance first blossomed, and so such things happen ened even in our Gurnee Grammar School. 8Some of the early teachers in the Gurnee schools were, Miss Noble, Miss Ladd, Miss Wilson, Miss Julia Marsh, Mr. Boise and Mr. Selcere. Some of the later teachers were, the Hon. Charles Charles Whitney, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gaggin, Mr. Grandy, Mr. Bullock, Mr. Beale, Mr. Hamley, Mr. Manchester, Mr. Backus, Miss Blanche Chiittenden, Miss Ethel Haines, Miss Vera Joiner, Miss Margaret DeLaney, Miss Alice E. Smith and Miss Edith Raeside. Mr. T. Arthur Simpson, our county superintendent of schools, is a former Gurnee teacher. Mr. Arthur Howard is our present teacher.In tfife early days, Gurnee had two taverns, one in the present McCann home (Mutaw Farm), and the other in the house now owned by Mr. Farrel, of Waukegan. One of these taverns was a temperance tavern, but in the other one. one could have anything from whiskey to wine. What interesting things must have taken place in these taverns. What Important news must have been told. How thrilling it must have been to. await the stage coach at one of these taverns, as it came down the trail from Chicago.The firs post-office was located at the home of Mrs. Rudd, it being later moved to Dady’s Corner by the Government. Finally it was moved to the present location, in Fenlon and Washburn’s Store.The first church in Warren was built in 1877.As the community gre, a need for stores d.evoloped. The first sorte was built near the Potter Farm. Mr. J. R. Bracher, father of L. W. Bracher, our county treasurer, was one of the first store keepers In Gurnee.In the passing years, cheese factories were built, which thrived for a time and then passed out of •xistance. The roads that run trough Gurnee are old Indian trails. The Grand Avenue Road and the road that runs past our school were the most prominent.Many underground activities took place in Warren in the Civil War times but none of them were of great impor tance. Abolitionist societies and Liberty parties were formed, in the com-.munity. Some of the men who serv-!ed in the Civil War were. Edwin Potter Benjamin Franklin Sheppard, NathanOfrelan0bySc]
Newspaper Details
Libertyville Independent
Libertyville, Illinois, US
Thu, May 04, 1922
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Nichole R.
USA 01 Mar 2025
Other Publications Near Libertyville, Illinois
Libertyville Lake County Independent and Waukegan Weekly Sun
Libertyville Independent
Libertyville Lake County Independent
