1. Dutch Bottoms: To me they lay in the SW end of Portland Township, and section 35 would be pretty much the center of it. Chase and Ferry road are at the lower end. A gentleman in Springhill, as a lad remembers when they built Chase Road up, (sort of serves as a dike also) with horses and mules.

2. Sharon and or Sharon Church: I believe we have the answer below:
Also see:

Sharon Cemetery; Sharon Church; Sharon Cemetery; Sharon Museleum

3. Thunderbolt: Most everybody already knows, as we have Thunder Road. At the East edge, there was one of the first "stills" that ran in these parts. The late Earl Hanson who owned Thunderbolt for quite a few years found many Indian artifacts and had an extensive collection of arrow heads. He spent many hours on Thunderbolt and often gave his opinion that it was built by our Indians. In the timber to the south of the hill, there is a very large hole, and we used to call it the "Fish Bowl". Some 60 - 70 yards wide at the top, a very small (just a few feet) bottom, and sides so steep we couldn't climb them. Earl believed that a lot of the sand on Thunderbolt came from this hole. He had a spot located in his mind where the Indians loaded and unloaded canoes for trade among the tribes, as the river way back when ran at the West side, and he wanted somebody to help him dig for treasures, as he knew they upset a canoe once in a while. As Earl's long gone I always feel like I missed something.

4. Jefferson Corners: Answered below.

5. Sandtown: With irrigation, it's raising a lot of snap beans, sweet-corn and potatoes in today's world. Lays west of Portland Truck Sales on both sides of Cooper Road. Also West of the Sand Town Cemetery. aka Sandytown.

6. Foytown: Present day intersection of Lyndon Road and Lomax, and to the East. Well known as Leon, or Leon Corners. It was always told to me that before present day Illinois Rt. 78 was built, that Lyndon Road through this intersection was the main road North and South.

7. Eight-Mile: I think Janet has it well described as below. Used to be a well known gas station and restaurant at ILL. 78 and 92 Intersection. Before interstate 80, 92 was the main road between the Tri Cities and Chicago. ( Quad Cites in todays world.)

8. Big Island: I just got a lesson. What I thought was the often spoken of (made reference to) Big Island, is on the Illinois Atlas as Indian Island. I guess I'll need some help on this one. (?) maybe Big Island is above the State Park in P-town. (Indian Island is just down stream from the old Railroad bridge.)

9. Sweed Town: Swede Town. (Me and my spelling) Janet's got this pretty well covered as below. I'll always remember Kip Hill's apple cider press up there.

10. Hamilton Grove or Hamilton Corners: Intersection of Il. Rt. 78 and Moline Road. (aka Old IL. Rt. 2.) A lot of history in that area. (Adam R. Hamilton, Wm. Dudley and the Hubbards)

11. Connies Grove: I think D&D pretty well covered this one as below. (Stories about it abound)

12. Denrock or Denrock Station: If anybody needs help with this one, I'm here.

13. Harrisburg: I would appreciate some help on this one. All I know is that my 3rd great-grandfather came from Morgan County Ohio, in the 1840's and worked there for a while as a miller. 1850 he was back in Morgan County for the census. Harrisburg was used in a history story about a loaded steam boat going down river from Dixon, and before going over the rapids at Rock Falls, (aka Rock Rapids) they unloaded a good portion of the cargo at Harrisburg and hauled the cargo around the shallow distance, and reloaded down stream. I would like to know if the present day city of Sterling has taken over what was known as Harrisburg. There was another small community up there somewhere also, called Harwich.

14. Empire: Another easy one. Need help, I'm here.

15. Rock Island Junction (Mother was born there):
The east end of the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, (ran through Lyndon) where it met the East - West line from Sterling to Morrison. It's only a few yards south from the Agnew grain elevator. At one time there was an engine house there.

16. Prairie View (School): I have on my mind that it stood on the NE corner of present day intersection of Perkins and Cooper Roads. Section 13. Back in the 50's I remember an Olsen family as living on the farm.

17. Crest View (School): Another one that's to easy.

18. Walkers Slew: At the east entrance of the P-Town State Park, go North towards the old Lyndon bridge. After crossing Ellsworth Creek, look west and you have it.

19. Blind Charley's Corner: This one, (for what I know of it) is up in Ustick township, and splits sections 18 and 19, North to South. Intersection of Smaltz Rd., Union Grove Rd., and Penrose.

20. I just opened my old W-side History, and it fell open to page 466. Example--- Clifton and later Bluff Station. The answer is spelled out, but It's the kind of reference points used some of the old family writings and appear every now and then, and the questions abound like --- Grandpa used to farm by Bluff Station and does anybody know where it's at?

Another example; Jacobstown, page 294 and on and on.

As above and without much effort I recalled nineteen and I'm sure there is many more. Please feel free to add to this list as I'm sure it will be a lot of fun, and can only help in our historical endeavors. I'll watch and be back with locations if it takes an interest.
Jack

Last Edited on 1-Jun-2007 2:45 PM

Last Edited on 30-Nov-2006 10:13 PM

Jefferson Corners:
Even tho I've lived in Prophetstown all but a few months of my life, a couple years ago I found myself at The P-town Historical Society, asking where Jefferson Corners was at. I had confused it's history with a long time ago general store - Post office building some 6 miles SW of Jefferson Corners in Henry County. After arriving home with the knowledge of where Jefferson Corners was at, I opened my Wayne Bastian - History of Whiteside County, and the corners are shown on page 472. I happen to have it open now, and I'm setting here with this smile, that I just spotted a couple of locations on this map that I've never heard of. In section 25 of Fenton Twp., is a small place noted as "Pratt". It sets about 2 miles North of Portland (across the river) and 3/4 miles West. Another one is in section # 23 of Newton Twp., called "Kingsbury". It's about a mile and a half West of Mineral Springs. (As if we all know where Mineral Springs is at.)

This list of places/locations could go on and on, but I have a pretty good opinion of where the 19 or 20 places that I listed for an opening (as above) are/were at. I had a conversation with one of the local policemen, and they have had accident reports referenced off Bee-Hive Hill. I'm sure most people will know where it's at, but it's just another location/area that will eventually fade away as generations go by.

Jack

I'm glad to see some interest in this post, as I believe it can be a lot of fun.

When I started this, (and I still do) I had intentions of putting locations to the original list, to the best of my knowledge and let the corrections come in as they may, and let the list grow from there. As time allows I'll try and get to the list and fill it in, but I'm not any expert as you'll find out. Where ever I'm wrong or someone has a different opinion I'll be glad to here it. It can only help, as history has a habit of changing over the years. The more information we have the better.

Jack

I just went through 1 - 19 with what was left, in an edit mode. (See above) If anyone has anything to add or correct, I'm all ears.

Janet----
1. Kay's Corner, Have you been by there the last few weeks? It has a big sign now, "Kay's Corner", on what used to be the truck stop.

2. McCue's Corner, I have an idea, and I was going to type it in the first writing, but held off as I wasn't quite sure. But I know it was used a lot for reference years ago.

3. Meredosia Bottom's, All I know is that it's huge area, and may have connections to the floods of the Mississippi.

4. Indian Garden's: I have heard of the area, but I'm lost on this one, but very happy to see it mentioned. One of those, if we don't use it, we loose it.

5. River Bottoms: I'm lost on this one also.

Thanks, Jack

People/Places/Things Photo Album

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Denise
Family History Coordinator
Tampico Area Historical Society

Jack

I just now began to read thru this discussion thread and noticed you had more information regarding Denrock.

My 3g grandparents, John Noah & Anna Kedzie HOGEBOOM ran the lunch counter and hotel at the Denrock Station at the turn of the last century. I have a number of photos of John, Anna and their children, but none of the Hotel and/or Lunch Counter. I also have "tickets" for the lunch counter which I scanned and Denise posted on this site.

Any further information you might have, especially any photographs, I would be keenly interested in hearing from you.

Thanks,
Les

I did a little arm chair work on your Denrock Hotel quest and the closest I can come to something you might not have seen, is an article in the Sterling Gazette as indexed below.

Depot, Railroad (Denrock){^} remodeled 19 May 1944;8;6

I wouldn't have any idea how far the hotel was from the depot, or if anything on the hotel would appear in this article, but it might be worth looking at the micro-film, but as the article is only indexed in column 6 there may not even be a picture of the depot.

I assume the hotel is long gone.

I haven't heard of Cliff's writing, but maybe next winter I won't be so busy, and have time for a good read.

I have only heard of Indian Gardens as used as a reference in a conversation or two. I thought maybe it was on the ground that was farmed by the late Silver Dewitte (Spl. ?), but it appears from your description to be well North of it. THANKS!
I wish some of the Tampico people could mention a few places, as Prophetstown locations seem to be the most used. I wonder if some of the Feeder Canal bridges (when there) were tagged after farmer names.

Thanks Janet
Jack

Now I have a better picture of the Sterling history. I wasn't sure of the Chatham name, but knew it had a name that rang a few bells with an old town name on Cape Cod, as a lot of my ancestry was there. Thanks again for the help.

Jack

I wonder what started the idea to drain the marshland and lakes in the Hooppole/Yorktown area for farmland?

In the Northern portion of Loraine Twp., many years back my father and I were in the area and he told of a building that was a store and Post Office as we drove by. I have long ago forgot the name he used, but I'm wondering if it was Rickel. Lets start at the old gas station at the corner of 92 and Atkinson Blacktop. Go West on 92 to the next road to the right (goes north) and then the next left, (goes West). A short way down this road sat the building that was described by my father. Local farmers say it was demolished some years back by the Township to keep the young public out of it. I've always wondered about the name in my thoughts of that trip. If that is the wrong location for Rickel, please clue me in.

Jack

Gee, this is fun!

Kathy

You mentioned that the marsh was drained for farmland, the farm that I was raised on was orginally part of the marsh.
When I was a child I can remember my father having to make sure that when he plowed the field that he would not plug the drain pipe that had been installed.

This farm was orginally owned by Casper Ott who happens to be my great great Grandfather and it was in our family till my Mother passed away in 1987.

Bette

I hope someone has an exact location for Rickel. Until I find better information I will assume it was an area in general, and could have been called Rickel because of a family by that name. Henry County history lists a Rickel cemetery in Loraine Twp. section 15. However I remember the old store in the general area of Rickel as being in section 10, which is above section 15.

Section 10 is some 4.5 miles west of the Il. Rt. 92 and 78 junction, and then north. I believe the old store/Post office, sat very close to the present roads (T intersection)of 2200 E and 2900 N.

Jack

Thanks for interest, and the mention of Lone Tree. I have never heard of it.

I'm glad to see people take interest in this, and it's for them and those who will follows us. I listed a few locations to get things rolling, but never intended this to be a list for me. A couple weeks ago we got a post that gave us how the name of Eight-mile came about. If we don't record things like this as they come to mind, some may be lost forever.

Jack

Thank you
Bette

Genealogy Trails - Henry County lists the following:

Cemeteries in Northern Twp., of Henry County --- Loraine Twp.- Section Four (No name listed) & Section Fifteen as Rickel Cemetery.

I believe the Loraine cemetery is in section 4, and the unknown size of the listed Rickel cemetery in section 15 (some 1.5 miles to the Southeast) is a different cemetery.

Jack