Visit the National Genealogy Trails Site

McLean County Home

Visit the Illinois Genealogy Trails Site

Empire Township
History
McLean County, Illinois

(Transcribed by: Teri Moncelle Colglazier)

When Illinois became a state in 1818, no white settlers had ever come to that piece of the prairie which is now McLean County. Four years later, a few white families came across country from Pekin and started the little settlement of Blooming Grove, south of the present city of Bloomington. However, the very rich tract of land, 8 miles long and 6 miles wide composing Empire Township, was known only to roving bands of Indians. birds of the air and wild animals of the forest. The middle fork of Salt Creek flows through the entire length of the township and is joined by the West Fork in the southern part, together forming about 11 miles of running water the year around. Nine miles of Salt Creek was bordered with heavy timber composed of varieties of oak, walnut, hickory and many other valuable species. This grove covered about 7,000 acres. Besides this, there were about 2,000 acres across the north side, called "Old Town Timber." [Heritage of the prairie : a history of LeRoy and of Empire and West townships, McLean County, Illinois (1976) LeRoy Historical Society; LeRoy Bi-Centennial Commission] This is one of the most largely populated and important townships, containing the city of LeRoy. John Buckles settled there in 1827, and a grove of 8,700 acres took his name. Michael Dickerson and his sons, Henry and Frank, were leading citizens after 1830. Henry and David Crumbaugh were other pioneers. Mahlon Bishop was an early settler and was elected to the legislature. William Johnson taught the first school at Clearwater school. David Phillips and Isaac Williamson built a mill on Salt creek. With the coming of the railroad, now known as the Big Four, a new era dawned for this township. Later a branch of the Illinois Central was extended from Rantoul to LeRoy. The population of Empire township is 2,400. ["Official souvenir program, McLean County Centennial, Aug. 27, 28, 30, 1930" by: McLean County Illinois Centennial Souvenir Program Committee, Harold Lang and Eugene Funk]

HOME