As early as 1830 Mason Dimmick staked out a claim which embraced nearly all of Lost Grove. He also began to build a cabin about where Arlington now stands, but he never finished it. After about two years of roughing he finally abandoned the cabin, claim and all, and for several years there was no further attempt to settle this township.
In 1834, a Mr. Hough completed Dimmick's cabin and occupied it for some time, but becoming lonesome and dissatisfied with his location, as there was no prospect of ever having any neighbors, he offered cabin and claim for twenty-five dollars. No one seemed to make this purchase, so the claim was again abandoned and all of the improvements went to decay, and for five years, the territory of Westfield was without human inhabitation, but the wolf and deer were much in evidence, and great sport was had in the chase during those years.
In 1840 Benjamin Briggs and Michael Kennedy, Sr., settled in this township. Also David Roth, a contractor on the Illinois Central Railroad, built on Section 10. In 1843 Daniel Cahill and David Lyon settled on sections 26 and 27. George W. Gibson settled on section 8, afterward owned by James Waugh. Peter Cassady, Elijah Little, and David Nicholas were among the first settlers.
The Village of Arlington
After 1843, settlers began to come to this part of the county. Arlington was laid out by James Waugh about the time the Burlington railroad went through in 1853. Nathan Linton kept the first store and was also the first grain dealer. J. C. Gibbons bought grain and sold lumber on the south side of the railroad, but reverses came to him and he moved west. The first blacksmiths were Luke Lawler and Charles Westcote. The first physician was Dr. Pyronet. He was followed by Dr. Tuttle and Dr. George. The first carpenters were Van Law, Clint Robinson and Albert Morgan. The first hotel was opened by James Waugh In 1854, Peter Cassady platted an addition to the southwest of the town. Sidney Gray and L. O. Hills kept a store for some years in Arlington. Mr. Gray now lives in Nebraska and Mr. Hill is in the south.
Nathan Gray, who was one of the active men for many years in Bureau county, moved upon his farm in Westfield in 1852, where he resided until his death in 1892, having lived beyond four score years. Most of the early settlers of this township, like all of the others of this county, have finished their course on earth and joined the great majority, and all that is mortal in their being is returning to the natural elements.
Arlington was incorporated June 8, 1874. Westfield township, by census in 1900, including the village of Arlington, had a population of 1118; the corporation of Arlington, 400. The following are the names of those who served as supervisors:
Michael Kennedy Jr., 1851
Edmund Polke, 1852
Michael Kennedy Jr., 1853
Nathan Gray, 1854
John C. Gibson, 1855
Nathan Gray, 1856-59
Michael Kennedy Jr., 1860-62
H. I. Briggs, 1863-64
Michael Young, 1865-66
C. Gray, 1867
J. McCreedy, 1868-71
Daniel Bouden, 1872
James S. Willson, 1873
James McCreedy, 1874-75
Martin Corley, 1876-77
Louis Zearing, 1878
Michael Skeffington, 1879-1900
John Dwyer, 1901-05
S. P. Prescott, 1906
-- Taken From the Past and Present of Bureau County, Illinois. Chicago: Pioneer Publishing, 1906, Page 118 and 119 - Westfield Township
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