(The following is a small excerpt of the history of  Tazewell County townships from the book
“Souvenir of Early and Notable Events in the History of the North West Territory, Illinois and Tazewell County.”)
Submitted by: Linda T

Elm Grove township has had no change in boundary. First election held at the school-house as the same name.
John Dillon was the “advance Guard” of the pioneer settlers, building his crude log cabin home as early as 1823.
Among other settlers were Hugh Montgomery, Alex McNight, Israel Shreves, Benj. Briggs, James Scott, Thornton Wilson, Jas. Wright, Thos. Bennett, Levi and Thos. Moulton, John Lord, John and Eli Redman, Rufus North and Alexander Barnes. A year or two later came W. Davis, Martin Miars, W. Edds and H. Davis, the later being the first tanner in the county.
The first white child born was Isabella Briggs.
The first to depart this life was Elizabeth Wilson. Jesse Dillon built the first school-house in 1826, and Joseph Dillon taught the first school.
 The Quakers erected he first church in the same year. The Methodists did not build their house of worship until 1842.
The good Friend, Dr. Grifflth, was the pioneer physician, as well as the first postmaster.

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