In 1854 the Illinois Central Railroad was built through the northern townships, and soon after, the village was established. Ebenezer Baldwin, a civil engineer on the road, J. W. Webster and Charles H. Lamar purchased the ground north of the railroad and laid out the town plat. The railroad company owned the land south of the track and formed it into a town addition. F. A. Strockley also made an addition on the east side of the original plat. The north line of the village is identical with the state line.

The first house on the site of Apple River was built of logs about 1832, by Daniel Robbins—the first settler at that place. He sold out to Francis Redfern, who came West about 1850 from Ohio. A large family of rough characters, named Daves, settled on a branch of the Apple River about the year 1835, which received, on account of their residence there, the name of “Hell Branch.” In 1837 they had a dispute with a man named Alexander McKillips regarding his claim, which resulted in the Daves brothers waylaying McKillips,.at night—tieing him to a stump and whipping him until almost dead. Such acts were among the lawlessness of frontier life. It may be added that a just retribution overtook these brothers, several of whom were hung, one killed by a falling mineral tub, and another chopped to pieces with an ax.

In 1842 Melzer Robbins, a brother of Daniel, settled in Apple River and became a prominent man in its progress. School was first taught by Edward Town, at the site of the village, in a log cabin situated where the residence of Thos. H. Maynard now stands. Soon after, school was kept by John Hartwell in the old historical cabin built by Daniel Robbins. The location of this house was across the railroad track just opposite the present Robbins Hotel. Mr. Redfern built the third house at the village on the site of Capt. John Maynard’s present residence. In 1854, Francis Cosgrove built the first boarding house and saloon for the accommodation of railroad hands. The first hotel was built in 1854 by William Hoskins where the Robbins House now stands. It was originally 28 by 32 feet in size but was enlarged and owned for many years by J. B. Robbins, a son of Meizer, who, in 1877, built the present and only hotel of Apple River. In the Spring of 1854, J. M. Irvin built the first general store in the village and has continued in business on the same location to the present time. A little later in the same year David Black built a store ràom and sold goods there for a few years. In 1855, James Powers opened a store, and the following year another was added by George Frost, who continued in business until 1864, then, after eleven years’ absence in Chicago, he established the first and only Bank of Apple River.

The first local election remembered was in 1856 when Chauncey Hutchings and E. B. Downes were nominated for the office of Justice of the Peace. The night before election a gravel train was run into town, bringing about sixty men (more than the entire number of residents) and, being of Downes’ nativity (Irish), they gave him an overwhelming majority. However, Mr. Downes, who is still living at Apple River, declined to serve and Mr. H. S. Russell was made Justice.

After the adoption of the township system in 1853, and up to September, 1858, Apple River Township was included in Thompson Township, and C. C. Thompson was the first Supervisor. At that date, however, a new township was created. and called Apple River. It was created out of fractional township 29, north of range 3 east, and was taken from the Town of Thompson. Wm. F. Tay­lor was the first Supervisor. At a later period, a mile strip of territory was taken from Warren Township and attached to Apple River, including the Village of Apple River. After this change, Hiram DeGraff was the first Supervisor. Another change was made about 1864, by taking a strip of one mile and a half from Apple River, including the Village of Scales Mound, and attached to Scales Mound ‘Township. At the election of ¶859, held at Hudson Mound School-house, 8o votes were cast.

July 22, 1868, a vote was taken on the propriety of incorporating Apple River as a village, resulting in 35 votes for, and 33 against, incorporation. Incorporation under the general laws of the state followed immediately. The following Trustees were elected: J. A. Funk, Rob’t Irvine, James M. Irvine, S. Woolan and Meizer Robbins. February 19, 1870, it was re-incorporated under special charter. The population of Apple River Township in 186o was 5o8, and in 1870, 1,108 persons.

The assessed valuation of the township for 1877 was :—

Its present officers are: Joseph Roberts, Supervisor; P. A. Easley, Town Clerk; John Barry, Assessor; D. W. Christy, Collector; Patrick Murphy, John Hume and C. Lichtenburger, Commissioners of Highways; Geo. Frost, T. J. Birmingham, Hugh Williams, Henry Smith, Joseph Robbins and Robert Par­kins, Trustees; Thomas Scott and William Levitt, Justices of the Peace; John Bush and C. Teppert, Constables.

The schools held in cabins have already been referred to. The first build­ing erected for school purposes was in 1857, on lot one, block nine of the rail­road addition, which was donated, for the purpose, by the railroad company. On it was built a one-story stone house, to which a second story was afterwards added. As the village grew, more school room was found necessary, and in 1873, a frame building of two stories was erected on the opposite side of the railroad track, to be used as a high school. Professor Brown first acted in the capacity of teacher in this building. The present principal is Thomas Ber­mingham, while Misses Ada Rivenburg and Selina Woodward officiate in the stone building. Twelve hundred dollars is appropriated annually for teachers’ salaries.

Rev. J. Hartwell preached, in a log cabin, the first sermon in Apple River, in 1855. The first regular mission preacher, of whom record remains, was William Taylor, now Postmaster at Nora, who,.in connection with school teaching, directed the devotions of the scattered settlers as early as the year 1857.

In the year 1858, the people gathered in the school-house to listen to the teachings of Rev. S. S. Guyer, a Methodist circuit-rider, and in the same year, a Methodist Sunday-school was organized, by T. F. Hastie, in the railroad office. This was soon transferred to the school-house. Two years after, the Methodist Church, a good frame building, was erected, costing about $2,000, and seating three hundred persons. At present, Hans Lamont is the Sabbath-school Superintendent. The church was dedicated by Rev. Peter Cartwright, a pioneer of Methodism in Illinois. The ministers in succession have been: Revs. J. Clendenning, E. B. Russell, J. M. Clendenning, J. Odgers, H. U. Rey­nolds, S. 0. Foster, T. L. Olrnsted, A. D. Field. Joseph Crummer, Joseph Caidwell, Thomas Cochrane, concluding with the present pastor, Rev. D. W. Linn.

Catholic Church services were held for several years in private houses. In 1858, Rev. Father P. Corcoran superintended. the building of their church, which was originally 26 by 36 feet in size, but was enlarged in 1872 byan addi­tion of 30 by 26 feet. It now.seats about five hundred persons, and the church has a membership of one hundred families. Rev. Fathers Shilling, Michael El Heren, Joseph Kindekins and M. Zara have, in succession, officiated as their priests, Father Zara having just taken the position.

The Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. John Reynard, in April, 1861, at the residence of Mr. Vroman, when Joseph C. Jellison was made elder. From this time, the association took no action until 1864, when Rev. J. W. Cunningham came, reorganized the society, and caused the church to be built. Rev. Rufus King was their first permanent minister. He was followed by Rev. G. M. Jenks, then John Cook, D. B. Gordon and E. B. Miner, who remained until 1876, since which time the church has been unable to maintain a regular pastor.

Masonic.—Apple River Lodge, No. 548, A. F. and A. M., was organized October, 1868, with M. Maynard, W. M.; J. P. Black, S. W., and H. J. D. Maynard, J. W. The present officers are: Geo. Frost, W. M.; Thos. White, S. W.; Hugh Williams, J. W.; E. M. Funk, Secretary; Geo. Kleeburger, Treasurer. Meetings are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Membership, forty-five. I. 0. 0. F—The Reliance Lodge, No. 533, was organized Nov. 9, 1873. Its first officers were: John Buche, N. G.; John Sieber, V. G.; Wm. Uhren, Treasurer, and D. P. Emery, Secretary. The first four named, with R. Buche and Thomas Gelaspie, constitute the charter members. The present officers are: Hans Lamont, N. G.; Nemiah Rowlston, V. G.; John Sieber, Treasurer; G. L. H. Kleeburger, Secretary.

In the southeastern part of town is situated a large three-story stone building, erected at a cost of $10,000 by Black, Irvine & Co. as a plow factory. This business was sold, in 1876, to the Grand Detour Plow Factory, of Dixon, Ill., since when it has been occupied as a planing and sawing mill.

The leading business firms of Apple River at present are given below, together with the date of their establishment:

General Store.—J. M. Irvine, 1854; G. L. H. Kleeburger, 1870; Malachi Maynard, 186o; Nicholas Murphy, 1873; W. D. Ennor, 1876; S. H. Shoop, 1875.

Drugs.—R. L. Hall, 1870
Hardware.—M. Maynard, 1877.
Jewelry.—T. V. Maynard, 1870.
Lumber.—T. J. Bermingham, 1873. Millinery.—Misses B. A. & L. Hall, 1864.
Wagon Making.— Hugh Williams, 1869.
Harness Making.—C. F.. Spofford, 1877.
Banker—George Frost, 1875.
Physicians.—Daniel Sheffield, 1859; Charles Carey, 1866.

The first postmaster was J. M. Irvine; the present one is Ben Serviss, who has held the position since Mr. Irvine resigned. The village has a general appearance of prosperity; is well supported by a good farming community, and does a large amount of mineral, stock and produce shipping. It is the shipping point for several zinc and lead mines in Wisconsin.

Source: History of Jo Daviess / H.F. Keet & Co 1878

The Township of Apple River had for its first settlers Daniel Robbins, Melzer Robbins, William Colvin and later came the Maynards and Levitts, also Lot L. Dimmick, William Hudson and Samuel Warner. The village of Apple River was incorporated on the 18th day of July, 1876, and was the fourth of the cities and villages to become incorporated in Jo Daviess County. Where the village of Apple River now stands was originally called Bean's Mound, after a man who had a blacksmith situated near what was then called the Big Woods. The village of Apple River is an enterprising place and is keeping up with the spirit of the age.