The first settlement of any locality is always around a grove, if there be one, or along roads of travel, if there be any. Carroll County was not an exception to the rule, for we find that our first settlers, except those at Savanna, who came there to found a village, settled at Elkhorn Grove. Chambers’ Grove, which, in fact, is a part or branch of Elkhorn Grove, and Cherry Grove, in the immediate vicinity of the route of travel from Dixon’s Ferry to Galena, but as Chambers’ Grove is almost entirely in Ogle County, we will have but little to say about that old-time land mark. At which particular grove the first settler marked his claim and reared his hut or cabin, is not very clear, as no record of the event seems to have been kept. But, from the best and most reliable data to be had, the first settlement is credited to Cherry Grove, and was made by Thomas Crane; and from the fact of his having built a log or block house in the grove, a little east of the Garner Moffott House, he must have had some companions or associates. It is also presumable that he had some knowledge of Indian character, for he surrounded his house by an abatis* to protect its inmates from surprise. The walls of the house were pierced with post holes, and the abatis was large enough to include within it a small garden. For many years this old house offered shelter and protection to all new-corners and wafarers. Geo. W. Harris and family found shelter within it in 1837; David Emmert and family in 1840 and the father and family of W. A. J. Pierce in 1841. Numerous other families whose names are not remembered at this late day, also found temporary homes beneath the old house’s friendly roof and within its protective walls.

“Shortly after the close of the Black Hawk War, Thomas Crane sold his claim to Samuel M. Hitt, of Maryland, who afterwards became prominently identified with the public affairs of Ogle County, and Crane removed to what was subsequently known as Crane’s Point, in Stephenson County. Francis Garner, wife and family, including five or six children, came here from Southern Illinois soon after the Indian troubles were conquered. His youngest daughter, Mary, and probably Jane, also (but of this I am not certain), was born in Carroll County. Garner had been one of the army against the Indians, and he selected his claim when he was en route home, after his discharge at Galena.

“In 1833, Wm. Thompson settled either at Cherry Grove or Arnold’s Grove, if at Cherry Grove, he soon sold out and took the claim of the old Arnold and Henry Strickler places. Levi Walden (or Walker) took up a claim the same year. George Swaggert came the next year, and soon after his arrival his wife died. She had selected the place for her burial, and hers was the first grave in the Cherry Grove graveyard. Garner Moffett came in 1835, and purchased a claim, probably Swaggert’s. Moffett lived in the original log house until 1846 or 1848. Wm. Daniels caine in 1837, and made a claim on the creek near Lanark, where George Ransover now lives. This was the pioneer claim—away out beyond the frontier line of settlement, and was considered a bold move on the part of Mr. Ransover. In 1837, George W. Harris, another Marylander, came to the Grove, more to look after and take care of Hitt’s interests than as a settler. He first lived in the old, fort-like house built by Crane, and kept a kind of tavern therein for three years, when he built the old Cherry Grove House for Hitt, which he also occupied for a time, as did also David Einmert in 1840 and 1841. Emmert was succeeded by a Mr. Pierce. John Iler and Peter Meyers came about the same time that Harris came. Some time about 1835 or 1836, a line of stage coaches was established between Galena and Peoria, via Dixon’s Ferry. The line was kept up until 1846, and made a station with Harris as long as he remained at Cherry Grove, and when he removed to Plum River, his place there was made a station. also. Emanuel Stover afterwards caine into the ownership of the farm on which the Cherry Grove House stood, and either Mr. Stover, or some one to whom he sold it, removed it to Lanark, and it now makes a part of the Taber House barn. Sarah, daughter of Garner Moffett (now the wife of Emanuel Stover), was born in 1831, and is the oldest native resident of that vicinity.

When Harris left the Grove he took the claim that is now covered by the farm of Samuel Ludwick, on Plum River. In 1847, he moved to Mt. Carroll, where he was postmaster from 1853 to 1861-—eight years, and justice of the peace for a much longer period. He died in 1875. Jas. Mark came without money or property in 1837. In 1841 he was living in an 8 by 10 pole shanty on his claim, east of where H. F. Lowman now lives. Nathan Frisk, Israel Jones, and Bradstreet Bobbins made claims about 1838-9. Frisk located on the north side of the Grove, Jones at the Big Springs near Shannon, and Robinson east of the Grove—Jones venturing further out than any settler had ever attempted before. Some time previous to these last-named accessions to the Cherry Grove settlement, the father of John Laird either selected or bought a claim. When George Swaggert left the Grove, he bought the claim of Wm. Thompson, who in turn took up the Shultz farm in Woodland, which, a few years later, he sold to Daniel Arnold and Henry Strickler, and in 1838, together with S. M. Hitt and Daniel Christian, bought the Otis and Mathews claim to Mt. Carroll and vicinity, and in 1841-2 lived where Hlartman now resides. In later years, he took up the farm two miles southeast of Mt. Carroll, where he died in 1856 or 1857.

“John C. Owings came to the county in 1834, from some one of the Southern States, and settled a little to the southwest of the Grove. He was a man of energy and influence, and a kind of leader or representative man, and served for a number of years as a justice of the peace, and also as post­master. He removed from the county in 1868, and now lives in Iowa.

“Garner Moffett, of whom mention has heretofore been made, was a kindly, genial gentleman, of fair talents and some degree of culture. He filled several offices of trust and honor, always being elected by large majorities, notwithstanding he was a Democrat, and the county decidedly Whig. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1848, and died in 1856, respected and regretted by every citizen and acquaintance.”

From the History of Carroll County - Ketts 1878

Most of them emigrated to the wild west in the old fashioned style, in covered wagons drawn by horse or oxen. The conveyances took the name of prairie schooners, sometimes taking over a month. They traveled through the dense wooded wilderness of Ohio and Indiana, then across long stretches of prairie, sometimes detained many days by floods and swollen streams, which could not be crossed for want of bridges and ferries.

Most of those who came from Pennsylvania took the passenger canal boat on the "raging canal." Then at Pittsburg, they could take a steamboat up the Ohio & Mississippi Rivers to Savana, IL. This was considered fast traveling as it took only 2 weeks.

Those who came overland had covered wagons, in which were packed their household goods and provisions for the journey. Some had horses, some cattle, some traveled with cows along, and even had them yoked to wagons. The roads were often so rough that by hanging the cream in a pailto the wagon, the shaking would hcurn it to butter so that it would be ready to use at the next stopping place. One party was two months in coming from Franklin County, Pennsylvania to Carroll County.

When at last they arrived at their destination they were weary and travel stained, provisions almost exhausted, and there was no habitation, no house for them to occupy, most of them with very scant means to subsist upon, strangers in a strange land where there was nobody, neighbors were miles away. It is no wonder some of the women were homesick, and shed many bitter tears, longing for the comfortable home and friends they had left behind them, whom they never expected to see again, if they had to travel that weary journey back to the old home. Nor could they ever expect their friends to come to them if they told a truthful tale, of the difficulites they had encountered to get here.

There were no steel or gold pens in pioneer days, but very good pens were made from goosequills, which were in common use. It was one of the duties of teh schoolmaster to sharpen the goosequill pens for his pupils. There was no blotting paper, instead a sand box was used, something like a pepper box with a wide rim on top, making a little hopper to catch the sand, which after being sprinkled on the damp ink was poured from the paper back into the box.

Cherry Grove was so named from the great number of wild cherry trees the early settlers found growing in this grove. They were very tall and straight trees and could be seen a considerable distance from the prairie, towering above the oaks and other trees. The 1910 census credits the township with704 inhabitants.

Cherry Grove figured quite prominently in the early setlement of the county on account of the stage lines that passed through this territory from the east and south converging here in a highway that led to the Galena Lead Mines, with was perhaps what was called the Sucker Trail; along this road the southerners returned every fall with their home made wagons loaded with mineral, drawn by four or six yoke of oxen; most of these oxen having their toes shod with iron to withstand the war of contact traveling; and although slow in motion they made a very good motive power when urged along by the grea thong whips of their frivers, the crack of which resounded for some distance and is remembered by the early settlers as well as the squeaking of their heavily loaded wagons. Some of these teams brought merchandise, which the steamboats landed at Peoria, for the merchants of Galena, which they distributed throughout th e northwest country. The Cherry Grove stage station was located near the west boundary of the township on section 30. It was the first stopping place in the county of many of the early settlers. Another road passed through the northeast corner of the township from Gratiots Grove, fifteen miles from Galena to Peoria.

The eastern part of the township was a beautiful rolling prairie and the western part wooded hills. Where the timber was thick the land was divided into wood lots of a few acres each which those owning prairie farms purchased for supplying fuel and wood for other purposes on the farm. The fram work of many of the large barns in the county was made from hewn timber. Most of the old houses have great fireplaces, where the rough wood in large pieces was used for heating the house. It was all brought from the wood lots, some times several miles distant, usually in winter time on sleds.

In early days forest fires frequently swept through these woods and destroyed a great deal of the timber. Since they have been kept out the growth of young trees has been quite rapid, so that notwithstanding a large portion of some of the groves has been grubbed out to make ready for farming, there is more timber in the county now than when it was first settled.

Contributed by Sue Cramer from The History of Carroll County