Source: (Book) History of Bureau County, Illinois
H.C. Bradsby, Editor
Chicago: World Publishing Company 1885
Reprinted by: Higginson Book Company, Salem, MA

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Pages 428-29

October, 1836, Henry Thomas entered the land on which New Bedford stands. This was the first land entered in the west part of the county, except at French and Coal Groves. In 1837 a State road was opened from Hennepin to Prophetstown, on Rock River. This crossed the river at New Bedford, and then Henry Thomas opened a ferry here. Cyrus Watson built a cabin here about this time, and was surprised to find he was south of the Indian line, and on land already entered. He then moved to Section 20, which was afterward owned by E. G. Jester. Mr. Watson was the first white man that ever settled on Green River. In 1839 William Hill, Daniel, James and Peter McDonald settled on Section 20 and 29. In 1840 Joseph Heath, Joseph Caswell, Justus Hall and Thomas Hill settled in this vicinity. In 1841 Milton Cain made a farm south of the river, and Norman Hall, Joseph N. Kise and William Britt located on the north side. Three Frenchmen, Green, Battist and Charlay Shane, lived for some time in Brush Grove. They were merely hunters and trappers. Caleb Rice afterward had their place. A. H. Jaynes, J. Eastlick, Richard Meek, S. Upson, J. M. Draper, J. S. Montgomery and P. Lanphier were the early settlers.