Ogle County Newspapers / oglecountynews.com • Friday, Jun 4, 2021
OGLE COUNTY NEWS
6
LOCAL HISTORY
Monroe Township was organized in 1850
Editor’s note: Otto Dick, Oregon has researched the people, places and events important in the Oregon area’s history for the Ogle County Historical Society. The following is one of a series of the articles he has written.
BY OTTO DICK
M
onroe Township is located in the northeast corner of Ogle County. An early map of Ogle County shows two trails running through Monroe Township. The Galena Chicago Trail, established in 1837, ran generally east-west through the northern half of Monroe Township and the Rockford Ottawa Trail ran in a general north-south direction in the west half of the township. This is interesting because there were no communities or towns at this time. Monroe Township contained mostly prairie soil with a fairly small track of timber located close to the Kilbuck Creek which ran through the western edge of the Township. Early settlers in Ogle County homesteaded mainly on land close to timber which supplied them with logs to build their homes and fuel. The township was also a far distance from markets. The earliest settlers arrived in the 1850s. This was 14 years after Oregon was founded. In 1840 they purchased prairie land for $1.50 per acre from the Dixon Land Office. Monroe Township was organized in 1850. Monroe Center is the only town located in Monroe Township. A small community called Dutchtown was located on Crill Road north of Monroe Center. It consisted of a school, church, Roseland Cemetery and a Town House. All the buildings were relocated to Monroe Center, then called Monroe Station in 1875. This happened after Silas Tyler donated land along the rail road right of way for the construction of Monroe Center. Rosewood Cemetery remains today. Monroe Center is located near the center of Monroe Township on Route 72. Illinois Route 72 is an east-west road that runs from the intersection with Illinois Route 73 north of Lanark and east to Illinois Route 43 in Chicago. This is a distance of 110 miles. Monroe Center and Davis Junction became active early towns when the Chicago and Pacific completed its rail service. These towns and the railroad were essential to the farm community. The railroad made it possible to ship grain
and
TOP LEFT: Monroe Center and Davis Junction became active early towns when the Chicago and Pacific completed its rail service. This is a photo of the Monroe Center depot. CENTER: This was the first house in Monroe Center. LEFT: The welcome sign for Monroe Center. TOP: The old Post Office. Photos supplied by Otto Dick
livestock to Chicago. The local stockyards were still being active during WWII. Today there is a fire department, ambulance service, a park with lighting, a city sewer system, two churches and a Lion’s Club. The following are selected news from Monroe Township and the Village of Monroe Center in 1897. ( A history of Monroe Township by Judy Joly and William Condon ) Rev. Bonnen spoke at the church Thursday evening. One of the topics was “How to Get Married.” Earl is carrying his arm in a sling as
a result of being kicked by a horse last Tuesday. Dr. B. S. Tyler of Rockford will be at the Storz House in Monroe every Saturday to do all work pertaining to dentistry. The question of organizing the village of Monroe Center has at last assumed a definite shape. Ed Lane, jeweler, was here yesterday on his regular trip. His next visit will be Thursday, November 13. A telephone service is greatly needed in Monroe. Our price is $33.00 for an Acorn six hole steel range as good as there is made. Don’t pay $69.00 to the peddlers.
(Howe and Lee advertisement) A cyclone hit Ogle County on Wednesday evening. Nail your gates and tie your sidewalks as Monday night, October 31 is Halloween. For fancy, tan shoes, call at Nashold’s. One of the large windows in Atchison’s Confectionary Store was broken Wednesday during a friendly scuffle between Marvin Malana and Will James. Buttermilk was on tap Monday night. Many enjoyed a refreshing drink.
