Preface
It is now approximately 175 years since the first people moved into what became Kendall County. The first pioneers
settled near the timber. They believed the trees would help protect them from the fierce winds that blew across
the prairie. They also needed to be near a source of building material, and fuel for cooking and heating their
homes.
The pioneer's best source of water was a good spring. Initially springs were plentiful and the settlers clustered
around them. After the most desirable land was taken, pioneers began to drain the sloughs. When the sloughs were
drained, the springs dried up and the pioneers were forced to seek other sources of drinking water. Initially wells
were dug by hand, but the depth a well could be dug was limited. It was not until the late eighteen seventies or
early eighteen eighties, that well drilling technology advanced to the point that deeper wells could be drilled.
The ability to drill a well, even through solid rock, was a major factor in the development of the area away from
the timber and streams that flowed through the groves.
When the first settlers arrived, the closest mill was near Peoria. Under normal circumstances, taking wheat or corn to the mill required several days. When weather was bad, a round trip to the mill could take two or three weeks.
Initially wheat was the only marketable commodity. Chicago was the nearest market but there were no roads between Kendall County and Chicago. The grain had to be hauled there by wagon, sloughs were numerous and difficult to pass through, and rivers and creeks had to be crossed without the benefit of bridges. A round trip to Chicago often required several days.
During the initial settlement period there was virtually no money in circulation, requiring the pioneers to trade one commodity or skill for another. If they became ill or were injured, they had to rely on their own medical skill to survive.
Those who led the way had to survive droughts, prairie fires, storms, harsh economic times, and much other depravation.
To the extent possible, the following represents a list of the names, and the genealogy of the pioneers and settlers who came to Kendall County before January 1, 1841. In some cases it was not possible to determine the pioneer's date and place of death. In other cases pioneers were tracked for a while and then lost. Information in brackets [ ] within the second "Place" column indicates the last place and time the compiler was able to find that person. For example, [Burlington, IA 1910] means the last genealogical sighting of the person referred to was Burlington, Iowa in 1910.
Some of the entries are incomplete. Addition information or corrections will be gratefully accepted.
| Bir | Dea | Arrival | |||||||||||
| Surname | Given Name | Mo | Dy | Yr | Place of Birth | Mo | Dy | Yr | Place of Death | Twp | Year | Code | |
| Wormley | Abraham U. (s. William M. & Elizabeth (VanFleet)) | abt | 1838 | Oswego Twp, IL | aft | 1910 | [Vernon Co., MO 1910] | OS | 1838 | HI | |||
| Wormley | Andrew J. (s. John & Deborah) | Sep | 19 | 1827 | E. Painted Post, NY | Apr | 22 | 1893 | Oswego Twp, IL | OS | 1838 | HI | |
| Wormley | Ann Mariah (d. George W. & Hannah M. (Shaw)) | abt | 1839 | Oswego Twp, IL | Nov | 18 | 1839 | Oswego Twp, IL | OS | 1838 | HI | ||
| Wormley | Clark W. (purchased property from Wendell King) | abt | 1815 | New York | Nov | 27 | 1888 | Aurora, IL | OS | 1836 | HI | ||
| Wormley | Deborah (2nd Mrs. John) | Aug | 25 | 1795 | Pennsylvania | Jan | 17 | 1853 | Oswego Twp, IL | OS | 1836 | HI | |
| Wormley | Eliza Jane (d. John H. & Sarah Maria (Townsend)) | abt | 1837 | Oswego Twp, IL | May | ng | 1897 | Minnesota | OS | 1837 | HI | ||
| Wormley | Elizabeth (VanFleet)(Mrs. William M.) | Jun | 21 | 1818 | Whitehouse, NJ | Aug | 21 | 1906 | Oswego Twp, IL | OS | 1835 | HI | |
| Wormley | George W. (s. John & Deborah) | Mar | 13 | 1809 | Corning, NY | Oct | 25 | 1889 | Oswego, IL | OS | 1837 | HI | |
| Wormley | Hannah M. (Shaw)(1st Mrs. George W.) | Oct | 18 | 1817 | Pennsylvania | May | 9 | 1865 | Oswego Twp, IL | OS | 1837 | HI | |
| Wormley | Henry W. (s. George W. & Hannah M. (Shaw)) | Nov | 2 | 1832 | Corning, NY | Feb | 25 | 1897 | Shabbona, IL | OS | 1837 | ||
| Wormley | John (s. William M. & Elizabeth (VanFleet)) | Oct | 5 | 1836 | Oswego Twp, IL | Oct | 6 | 1836 | Oswego Twp, IL | OS | 1836 | HI | |
| Wormley | John (walked from New York state) | Jul | 22 | 1781 | Pennsylvania | Jan | 6 | 1860 | Oswego Twp, IL | OS | 1836 | HI | |
| Wormley | John H. (s. John & Deborah) | Feb | 21 | 1807 | Harrisburg, PA | Apr | 16 | 1892 | Bristol Sta., IL | BR | 1833 | HI | |
| Wormley | Julia A. (d. Clark W. & Lorinda (Breese)) | abt | 1840 | Oswego Twp, IL | aft | 1850 | [Oswego Twp 1850] | OS | 1840 | HI | |||
| Wormley | Lorinda (Breese)(Mrs. Clark W.) | abt | 1814 | New York | Jun | 23 | 1885 | Kankakee, IL | OS | 1836 | HI | ||
| Wormley | Maria (d. John & Deborah) | Mar | 30 | 1811 | New York | Dec | 12 | 1899 | Chicago, IL | OS | 1835 | HI | |
| Wormley | Marshall T. (s. George W. & Hannah M. (Shaw)) | abt | 1836 | New York | nf | 1900 | [Moline, IL 1892] | OS | 1837 | HI | |||
| Wormley | Sarah (d. John H. & Sarah Maria (Townsend)) | abt | 1832 | New York | aft | 1850 | [Oswego Twp 1850] | BR | 1833 | HI | |||
| Wormley | Sarah E. | abt | 1825 | New York | Dec | 23 | 1888 | [Oswego Twp 1850] | BR | 1833 | HI | ||
| Wormley | Sarah Maria (Townsend)(Mrs. John H.) | Sep | 21 | 1810 | Seneca Lake, NY | Jan | 1 | 1878 | Oswego Twp, IL | OS | 1835 | HI | |
| Wormley | Susan C. (d. George W. & Hannah M. (Shaw)) | Dec | 11 | 1834 | Painted Post, NY | Jun | 10 | 1915 | Oswego, IL | OS | 1837 | HI | |
| Wormley | Susan H. (d. John & Deborah) | abt | 1832 | Pennsylvania | Oct | 3 | 1905 | Aurora, IL | OS | 1836 | HI | ||
| Wormley | William M. (s. John & Susan) | Mar | 2 | 1805 | Harrisburg, PA | Mar | 19 | 1891 | Oswego, IL | OS | 1833 | HI | |
| Wormley | William W. (s. John H. & Sarah Maria (Townsend)) | Feb | 10 | 1830 | Steuben Co., NY | Oct | 1 | 1892 | Oswego Twp, IL | OS | 1833 | HI | |
| Worsley | Elizabeth A. (Lawrence)(1st Mrs. Napoleon B.) | Oct | 2 | 1830 | Pittsburg, PA | Feb | 19 | 1875 | Big Grove Twp, IL | BG | 1837 | HI | |
| Worsley | George Hallum (s. John & Sarah (Hallum)) | Aug | 20 | 1816 | Lancashire, Eng. | Jul | 20 | 1874 | Big Grove Twp, IL | BG | 1836 | OS | |
| Worsley | John (settle east of Big Grove timber)(b. 1780-1790) | abt | 1785 | Attleborough, Eng. | nf | 1870 | BG | 1836 | |||||
| Worsley | Louisa (Howes)(Mrs. George Hallum) | Jun | 4 | 1820 | Wyoming Co., NY | Nov | 19 | 1891 | Big Grove Twp, IL | BG | 1837 | ||
| Wright | Arabella G. (d. Elisha B. & Emeline (Wright)) | Apr | 12 | 1830 | New York | Nov | 21 | 1854 | Big Grove Twp, IL | BG | 1835 | HI | |
| Wright | Beulah (d. Elisha B. & Emeline (Wright)) | Jan | ng | 1832 | New York | Nov | 23 | 1903 | Morris, IL | BG | 1835 | HI | |
| Wright | Chester Fanning. (s. Thomas Gilbert & Hannah E. (Tracy)) | Sep | 30 | 1840 | Illinois | May | 24 | 1890 | Chicago, IL | LI | 1940 | HI | |
| Wright | Cordelia (Mrs. Samuel Sewall, Jr.) | abt | 1818 | Connecticut | nf | 1900 | [Aurora, IL 1880] | BG | 1840 | HI | |||
| Wright | Edward B. (s. John R., Sr. & Miriam (Raymond)) | Apr | 1 | 1811 | Rome, NY | Nov | 30 | 1893 | Grant City, MO | SE | 1833 | HI | |
| Wright | Elisha B. (s. Ebenezer & Beulah (Harrison)) | Apr | 2 | 1802 | New York | Feb | 19 | 1886 | Sandwich, IL | LI | 1836 | HI | |
| Wright | Eliza M. (d. Samuel "Sewall", Sr. & Matilda (Richmond)) | Sep | 16 | 1829 | Rochester, NY | Apr | 13 | 1909 | San Bernadino, CA | BG | 1840 | HI | |
| Wright | Emeline (Wright)(1st Mrs. Elisha B.) | Dec | 7 | 1807 | New York | Dec | 25 | 1854 | Lisbon, IL | LI | 1836 | HI | |
| Wright | Geraldine "Martha" (d. Thomas Gilbert & Hannah E. (Tracy)) | Aug | ng | 1838 | Lisbon, IL | Jan | 29 | 1846 | Lisbon, IL | LI | 1838 | HI | |
| Wright | Hannah E. (Tracy)(Mrs. Thomas Gilbert) | Jun | ng | 1809 | Whitesboro, NY | Jul | 31 | 1866 | Lisbon, IL | LI | 1835 | HI | |
| Wright | Jane Rachel | abt | 1823 | New York | nf | 1900 | [So. Illinois 1887] | BG | 1836 | HI | |||
| Wright | John R., Sr. (s. Thomas & Martha (Butler)) | May | 23 | 1772 | Wethersfield, CT | Feb | 13 | 1851 | Lisbon, IL | BG | 1836 | HI | |
| Wright | Julia (d. Elisha B. & Emeline (Wright)) | abt | 1840 | Lisbon, IL | Jun | 26 | 1843 | Lisbon, IL | LI | 1840 | |||
| Wright | Julia Ann (Edgerton)(Mrs. Milton C.) | abt | 1838 | Oswego Co., NY | Apr | 1 | 1873 | LaPlata, MO | BG | 1838 | HI | ||
| Wright | Louisa (Barker)(Mrs. Robert) | nds | Oneida Co., NY | nds | BG | 1838 | |||||||
| Wright | Mary (Hicks)(Mrs. Deloss) | abt | 1832 | New York | aft | 1880 | [Vienna Twp., IL 1880] | LI | 1840 | ||||
| Wright | Mary Ann (Edgerton)(Mrs. Josiah) | abt | 1836 | Oswego Co., NY | aft | 1880 | [Benton, MO 1880] | BG | 1838 | HI | |||
| Wright | Matilda (Richmond)(Mrs. Samuel "Sewall", Sr.) | abt | 1802 | New York | Mar | 29 | 1876 | Chicago, IL | BG | 1840 | HI | ||
| Wright | Melissa A. (Hills)(Mrs. Thomas) | Mar | 6 | 1839 | Lisbon, IL | Aug | 31 | 1923 | Sandwich, IL | BG | 1839 | ||
| Wright | Miriam (Raymond)(Mrs. John, Sr.) | Sep | 5 | 1771 | Wethersfield, CT | Aug | 23 | 1857 | Lisbon, IL | LI | 1836 | HI | |
| Wright | Nathaniel (s. Thomas Gilbert & Hannah E. (Tracy)) | abt | 1836 | New York | nf | 1880 | [Hyde Park, IL 1870] | BG | 1836 | HI | |||
| Wright | Raymond A. (s. Elisha B. & Emeline (Wright)) | Apr | 11 | 1838 | New York | Nov | 18 | 1854 | Lisbon, IL | BG | 1838 | HI | |
| Wright | Robert, Rev. (b. 1790-1800) | abt | 1795 | nds | LI | 1834 | HI | ||||||
| Wright | Samuel "Sewall", Sr. | abt | 1799 | New York | nds | Big Grove Twp, IL | BG | 1840 | HI | ||||
| Wright | Samuel Sewall, Jr. (s. Samuel "Sewall", Sr. & Matilda (Richmond)) | abt | 1820 | Oneida Co., NY | abt | 1894 | Aurora, IL | BG | 1840 | HI | |||
| Wright | Sophronia (Clark)(Mrs. Edward B.) | May | 14 | 1819 | Philadelphia, PA | Jun | 19 | 1887 | Newark, IL | BG | 1836 | HI | |
| Wright | Thomas (s. Elisha B. & Emeline (Wright)) | Aug | 16 | 1835 | Rome, NY | Jan | 30 | 1909 | Sandwich, IL | LI | 1836 | HI | |
| Wright | Thomas Gilbert (s. Moses & Mary (Gilbert)) | Oct | 18 | 1803 | Rome, NY | Sep | 7 | 1870 | Lisbon, IL | LI | 1835 | HI | |
| Wycoff | Lovina (Beresford)(Mrs. Alphonse D.) | Oct | 6 | 1828 | Big Grove Twp, IL | Jan | 30 | 1890 | York, NE | BG | 1828 | HI | |
| Wycoff | Peter (signed first temperance pledge) | abt | 1801 | Ohio | aft | 1880 | [Fillmore, MO 1880] | KE | 1834 | HI | |||
| Yeigh | John A. (s. Adam & Molly (Graham?)) | abt | 1818 | Burford, Canada | Apr | 9 | 1887 | Oswego, IL | OS | 1838 | OS | ||
| Yoss | John "Frederick" | Feb | 21 | 1825 | Canton Berne, Swit. | Dec | 20 | 1915 | Scranton, Greene Co., IA | LR | 1835 | ||
| Yoss | Mary "Elizabeth" (Wheeler)(Mrs. J. Frederick) | Apr | 24 | 1829 | Schoharie Co., NY | Jun | 18 | 1882 | Little Rock Twp, IL | LR | 1835 | ||
| Young | Eliza (Evans)(Mrs. John H.) | abt | 1834 | Ohio | aft | 1891 | [Polk Co., MO 1891] | FO | 1834 | HI | |||
| Young | Ellen (d. William P. & Mary (Jarvis)) | abt | 1840 | NaAuSay Twp, IL | aft | 1850 | [NaAuSay Twp 1850] | NA | 1840 | HI | |||
| Young | Emeline Amelia (Warner)(Mrs. H. W.) | Dec | 15 | 1821 | Camillus, NY | Nov | 12 | 1874 | Oswego, IL | OS | 1836 | ||
| Young | George H. (s. William P. & ?) | abt | 1817 | England | May | 28 | 1875 | Bristol Twp, IL | NA | 1836 | HI | ||
| Young | Lauretta (d. William P. & Mary (Jarvis)) | Mar | 4 | 1839 | NaAuSay Twp, IL | Nov | 5 | 1906 | NaAuSay Twp, IL | NA | 1839 | HI | |
| Young | Mary (Jarvis)(2nd Mrs. William P.) | Oct | 1 | 1817 | Mayfield, England | Apr | 22 | 1890 | NaAuSay Twp, IL | NA | 1836 | HI | |
| Young | Priscilla (Hawley)(Mrs. John) | Nov | 9 | 1831 | Peoria, IL | Jan | 26 | 1927 | Holden, MO | BG | 1826 | HI | |
| Young | Rebecca (d. William P. & ?) | abt | 1833 | England | aft | 1850 | [NaAuSay Twp 1850] | NA | 1836 | HI | |||
| Young | Richard (s. William P. & Mary (Jarvis)) | Feb | 20 | 1837 | NaAuSay Twp, IL | Oct | 19 | 1900 | Hurdland, MO | NA | 1837 | HI | |
| Young | William P. | abt | 1792 | England | Oct | ng | 1849 | Bidwell Bar, CA | NA | 1836 | HI | ||
| Zellar | Lydia Elizabeth (Robbins)(Mrs. Joel) | Sep | 12 | 1829 | Albany Co., NY | May | 1 | 1908 | Plano, IL | LR | 1835 | HI |
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