Peoria County, Illinois Genealogy Trails

Firsts and Seconds
By Howard Henry, 1924
(Transcribed from Old Settler's Reunion book of 1929 by Jo Chance Cohrs)

The first white man to settle at the grove near Princeville was Daniel Prince, 1821.

First man to move his family to Prince's grove was Stephen French, 1828

Dr. Thomas Waters, the first doctor of Princeville or vininity, 1836.

First Presbyterian minister, Rev. Calvin W. Babbit, 1834

First Methodist minister, Rev. B. C. Swartz, 1848

First rector, Catholic church, Rev. Father Murphy, 1867

First Fouth of July celebration, 1844

First burial in Princeville cemetery, child of George I. McGinnis, 1844. Name: Temperance McGinnis

First blacksmith, Ebenezer Russell, 1841

Hugh Morrow, son of Thomas Morrow was the first white child born in Akron Township, April 14, 1832

First Masonic funeral held in Princeville was that of Leonard Klinck, 1852

First private school was taught by Mrs. Hannah Breese, wife of Rev.Robert Breese, 1844

First winter school (subscription) was taught by Theodore F. Hurd

Second school was taught by Solomon Bliss 1840-1844 (Approximately)

First public school building; stone school house, corner Canton and French streets

Benjamin F. Slane, first teacher to draw public money for his services, 1847 - 1848

Second teacher, public school was John M. Henry

First town clerk of Princeville under township organization was Jonathon Nixon

First postmaster in Princeville was Stephen French. Second postmaster, William Coburn.

First store was kept by Elisha Morrow

First president of Village was Dr. R. F. Henry, 1869

Dr. R. F. Henry started the first drug store in Princeville. It was located south of where Mitchell's
blacksmith shop used to be, and south of Mrs. Morrow's home now. After the Civil War, the building was moved to west of Cheeseman's corner and was occupied by Mary Simpson's millinery shop.

First barber shop in Princeville was kept by Samuel Tabor, a young colored man.
It was located where Home State Bank is now. Tabor sold his shop to Calvin McMillan.

First newspaper published in Princeville was the "Princeville Weekly Citizen" by G. T. Gillman, 1868.
Second newspaper, established by C. A.Pratt, "The Princeville Times," 1868.

The first hotel was Seth Fulton's Tavern, a log building erected about 1830. Seth Fulton also kept the first Tavern in Peoria.

First bank established in Princeville by Peter Auten and George W. Alter, 1872 under the firm name of Auten & Alter.

First burying ground near Princeville was on Section 25, near it's north line, one mile south of Princeville.

First Princeville band, 1850

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Peoria  County, IL Genealogy Trails
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