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History of Rockford, Illinois, USA
Journey back in time to Rockford, Illinois, USA
Visit Rockford, Illinois, USA. Discover its history. Learn about the people who lived there through stories, old newspaper articles, pictures, postcards and genealogy.
Rockford, Winnebago, IL
Rockford, Illinois, was first settled in 1834-1835 by Germanicus Kent, Thatcher Blake, and Lewis Lemon, who came from Galena and established themselves on the west bank of Rock River; and Daniel Shaw Haight, who founded a settlement on the east bank. (Lemon, a slave, later bought his freedom, but stayed in the area as a truck farmer.)
Halfway between Chicago and Galena, the community was briefly known as "Midway", but quickly became known as "Rockford", because of the excellent ford across Rock River.
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- 1854 - Rockford
Rockford, a flourishing post-village, capital of Winnebago county, Illinois, is finely situated on the loft (E.) bank of Rock river, and on the...Read MORE... 
1877 - TERRIBLE DISASTER.
CHICAGO, May 11. - A Tribune's special from Rockford, Ills., says: A pall has fallen over what this morning was a happy community. The Winnebago...Read MORE...- 1890 - NARROW ESCAPE OF WORKMEN.
ROCKFORD, Ill., March 25. - Special Telegram---About 8 o'clock this morning the new factory of the Star Furniture Company collapsed, ruining it...Read MORE... 
Brown School
"The Brown school, erected in 1892, derives its name from Judge William Brown, who held many offices of public trust and was for twenty years judge of the circuit court." genealogytrails.com
Postcard- 1895 - Rockford
Rockford, a flourishing city of Illinois, the capital of Winnebago co., is situated on the Rock River at the convergence of four trunk railroad...Read MORE... - 1900 - Mishap At City Quarry. Bert Miller Meets With A Terrible Tumble Breaking One Leg.
And Bruising Head and Body-Fell Thirty Feet from Rocky Ledge to Stone Floor Below-At City Hospital.
Bert Miller, a young man residing at 1027...Read MORE... - 1906
Rockford, a city, capital of Winnebago co, Ill., is situated on the Rock River and on the Illinois Central, the Chicago and Northwestern and other...Read MORE... - 1908 - FIRE AT ROCKFORD, ILL.
ROCKFORD, Ill., March 23. - Fire early today damaged the business block occupied by the Rockford & Interurban company and the W. Clark Printing...Read MORE... 
Masonic Temple
Postcard
Downtown Section, Rockford, Ill.
Postcard- 1944 - Woman Dies as Car Hits Tree - Car Skids on Ice on South Main Road
Mrs. Ruth Williamson, 30, Rochelle, was killed at 3:40 a.m. Sunday when she lost control of her automobile on the ice on South Main road a half mile...Read MORE... - 1948 - Burned when Sparkler Ignites Girl’s Dress
A 7-year-old was recovering last night from painful burns on her left arm and right leg suffered about 9 p.m. Sunday when a sparkler ignited her...Read MORE...
Old Photos, Pictures, Advertisements and Postcards from Rockford, Illinois, USA
Rockford, Illinois, USA
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"The Brown school, erected in 1892, derives its name from Judge William Brown, who held many offices of public trust and was for twenty years judge of the circuit court." genealogytrails.com)
Brown School
"The Brown school, erected in 1892, derives its name from Judge William Brown, who held many offices of public trust and was for twenty years judge of the circuit court." genealogytrails.com
Postcard
Rockford, Illinois, USA
Masonic Temple
Postcard
Rockford, Illinois, USA
Downtown Section, Rockford, Ill.
Postcard
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History and News of Rockford, Illinois, USA
Add History/News-
1854 - Rockford
Rockford, a flourishing post-village, capital of Winnebago county, Illinois, is finely situated on the loft (E.) bank of Rock river, and on the... Read MORE...
1877 - TERRIBLE DISASTER.
CHICAGO, May 11. - A Tribune's special from Rockford, Ills., says: A pall has fallen over what this morning was a happy community. The Winnebago... Read MORE...
-
1890 - NARROW ESCAPE OF WORKMEN.
ROCKFORD, Ill., March 25. - Special Telegram---About 8 o'clock this morning the new factory of the Star Furniture Company collapsed, ruining it... Read MORE...
-
1895 - Rockford
Rockford, a flourishing city of Illinois, the capital of Winnebago co., is situated on the Rock River at the convergence of four trunk railroad... Read MORE...
-
1900 - Mishap At City Quarry. Bert Miller Meets With A Terrible Tumble Breaking One Leg.
And Bruising Head and Body-Fell Thirty Feet from Rocky Ledge to Stone Floor Below-At City Hospital.
Bert Miller, a young man residing at 1027... Read MORE...
-
1906
Rockford, a city, capital of Winnebago co, Ill., is situated on the Rock River and on the Illinois Central, the Chicago and Northwestern and other... Read MORE...
-
1908 - FIRE AT ROCKFORD, ILL.
ROCKFORD, Ill., March 23. - Fire early today damaged the business block occupied by the Rockford & Interurban company and the W. Clark Printing... Read MORE...
-
1944 - Woman Dies as Car Hits Tree - Car Skids on Ice on South Main Road
Mrs. Ruth Williamson, 30, Rochelle, was killed at 3:40 a.m. Sunday when she lost control of her automobile on the ice on South Main road a half mile... Read MORE...
-
1948 - Burned when Sparkler Ignites Girl’s Dress
A 7-year-old was recovering last night from painful burns on her left arm and right leg suffered about 9 p.m. Sunday when a sparkler ignited her... Read MORE...
Rockford, Illinois, USA Genealogy
Ancestors Who Were Born in Rockford, Illinois, USA
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Updated: 2/5/2020 12:08:52 PM
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