Some key historical places of Grant Township area
The first settlers came to Lake County in 1834, and a year later the Native Americans right to land was gone. In 1836, Lake County was part of the newly formed McHenry County. On March 1, 1839 Lake County split from McHenry County. In 1841 the County Seat moved to Little Fort (now Waukegan). The population of Lake County in 1840 was 2634. The first newspaper, The Little Fort Porcupine and Democratic Banner was printed in Lake County on March 4, 1845. The name Little Fort was changed to Waukegan in March of 1849.
The ealiest settlement in the area was at Fort Hill. It was a large mound rising out of the prairie that was ideal as a lookout point for the indians and early pioneers. The first post office was established at Fort HIll in 1838 which was later moved to Big Hollow in 1849. The first town meeting took place at Goodale's Corner ( now called Big Hollow). Harley Clark is recorded as the first settler in the area who built a home on the north side of Fish Lake in 1839.
- 24: Site of home of Thomas Warner. He was second settler in Antioch Township, 1837
- 26 Highland Lake. originally called Taylor’s Lake, for early settler of that name who came in 1835
- 27 Site of Home of Harley Clark, the first settler in Grant Township, 1839.
- 28 Village of Volo which was originally called Forksville which was established in 1848. Name was changed to Volo in 1868. It is at the Junction of early Native American trails and later roads.
- 46 Hainesville, established 1846 by Elijah M. Haines, prominent early resident of Lake County.
- 48 Fort Hill, a natural eminence so named because of its commanding position. Area settled in 1837.
- 50 Site of saw mill of Nahum White, 1850
- 57 Site of ancient Native American fortification.
- 58 Site of ancient Native American mounds.
- 65 Vivard Bridge replacing famous old wooden “Long Bridge”.
- 66 Lotus beds, west side of lake.
Grant Township land owners 1840
The land of Lake County was surveyed and made available for sale in June of 1840. People lived on the land prior to that time, and these settlers were given preference in buying the land. The settlers who wanted the land had to go to the land office in Chicago and buy the parcels they wanted. Sometimes the land was issued to people who were not the first to request the land. Below are the first names associated with the property that would later be known as Grant Township.
Goodale Township 1861
Grant Township originally was called Goodale Township in honor of innkeeper Devereaux Goodale, who promised to build a town hall at no cost. 17 years later, there was no town hall and Goodale had moved away, and so it was decided to change the name of the town to Grant.
The first settlement in Goodale included a schoolhouse, tavern, blacksmith shop, general store, a butter factory and a community hall. In 1841 the first school in the area was built at Fort Hill. Three years later a one room log cabin was built as Gavin School. The school ran 12 months a year with students enrolled for three months at a time, taking turns staying home to work on the farm.
In 1860, St. Mary's of the Lake, a log church was built at Big Hollow and the first Mass was given by Father M. St. Palais. The Indians who had lived in the area were reported to be strong Roman Catholics due to the missionary work of the early pioneers. The church was destroyed by a windstorm two years later, and was rebuilt in 1871 as St. Mary's of the Lake Church at Gavin's Corner on the present site of St. Bede's Cemetery. My grandmother would go to this church when her family came to stay in a cabin at the Antrim resort. The church would later become St. Bede's Catholic Church in 1928 and it was replaced with a brick builing across the street in 1941.
Grant Township 1873
John Sayles had built a log cabin for his family which is now the present day downtown Fox Lake. Ed O'Sayles donated land for streets to enter the village. The lakes were lower at this time for there was no dam. This allowed the rice to grow wildly and the Indians had a large cornfield on what is now called Crabapple Island. Wild foxes were living on the island and may be the reason the lake is called Fox Lake. Also with the lakes being lower, a plant known as the Lotus bloomed almost exclusively in the lake.
Grant 1907
