Hopedale Township, Tazewell County, IL Genealogy Trails

Hopedale Township
T. 23 N. R. 3 W.

(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 - 2008

Hopedale township was first named “Highland.” For early County map, see page 32.
Aaron Orendorff, the first settler, built a log cabin on section 34, in 1827, Messrs. Whitten and Shaw came next.
D. W. Orendorff, son of Aaron, born in 1828, was the first white child. Elias Ogden was the first Justice of the Peace, in 1829, commission signed by Gov. Ford.
The first school was held at Mr. A. Orendorff’s home in 1832, and a Mr. Smith was the first school teacher. The first school-house was built on section 2, in 1834.
Shiloh was the name of the first church, and it was built about 1835.
Hopedale was first named Osceola, but when a postoffice was petitioned for, the department reported adversely because there was another Osceola in Illinois. The old town was laid off in 1853, by Thos. Orendorff, but the new town was not incorporated until February 22, 1869. the first trustees of the new town were T. H. Orendorff, W. Neisen, J. R. Ogden and E. Barnum.