Spring Grove HistoryIn the 1700s the areas native Pottawatomi Indians named the Nippersink Creek, which runs through Spring Grove,  “Neversink”, which translates to “place of small waters”. In 1834, as the result of a treaty signed with our government, the Potawatomi and other Indian tribes were removed from the area, although friendly wandering bands still occasionally appeared. Related accounts of these Indians include those of an early settler, Jonathan Imeson, who was said to have hidden his bed from curious Indians who had never seen one before.

Spring Grove was named for the natural springs and groves of trees in the area. Tall flowing prairie grasses reminded the first English settlers of their homeland and they named the area they settled English Prairie. English Prairie Cemetery, road and subdivision remind us of these first adventurous pioneers. Spring Grove was initially established as an agricultural community in the late 1830s. The first vertical silo constructed in North America was built in 1873 by Fred Hatch on a small farm located in Spring Grove. This new way of storing silage for his dairy cows kept the corn dry and unfrozen and resulted in fatter cows producing more milk. Improvements were made to the boxy wooden design and in 1893 the first steel silo was exhibited at Chicago’s Columbia Exposition.  A small replica of the first silo was dedicated in 1984 and stands today at Lyle Thomas Park in Spring Grove.

The Story of the Schooner Algonquin...
In 1843 a town meeting was held and the town now known as Algonquin changed its name from Cornish Ferry to Osceola. But it was discovered another town in Illinois had chosen its name as Osceola before Algonquin petitioned the courts. The name of the town was left to Mr. Edwards, largest land owner to name the town. He suggested Algonquin which was the name of the the boat he part owner or worked on board as a sailor. The schooner Algonquin was named after the Indian Confederation and built in Ohio but became a famous schooner of Lake Superior.