According to the 1885 History of McHenry County, the first settler of McHenry was John McClean,  in 1836. While there may have been claims made on land in the county prior to this date, Mr. McClean was the first to settle and build a cabin here. Before 1837, the only settlers of the area were John V. McClean, H.W. McClean, and William L. Way, in what is now the town of McHenry. At that time, there were also claims  by Chancey Beckwith, John Boon(e), George Boon, Jacob Jackson, Merrill Thompson, Samuel H. Walker, David McCollum, William McCollum, and Abiael Walker.
In 1837 there arrived many other settlers, including: John Sutton, Manley Turner, Jacob Story, James A. Salisbury, James Button, Abijah S. Barnum, John McOmber with his wife and 6 children, Benjamin B. Brown, Joel wheeler, Peter Robinault, HM Owen, Benjamin F. Bosworth, Freeman Harvey, Alden Harvey, Michael Sutton, Enos Bernarde, Att Hanley, Smith Herrick, John McQueen, and Colonel Starr.

McHenry Public Library

MCIGS's Collection of Publications at Local Libraries
 
 

First Marriage:
Joseph Fellows to Christiana Robinault, November 10, 1839.

First birth: 
Augusta Wheeler,daughter of Christy Wheeler and his wife, September 20, 1838

First death:
William Herrick, 1836.

First school: 
1840, taught by Miss McComber.

First store:
Owned by Dr. Christy Wheeler.

The McHenry Brick Mills