Early Settler Stories

  1. Early Settler Stories
    1. Salt was Gold to the early settlers.
    2. Tucker's Ford. Before bridges were built across the Vermilion River, early settlers crossed the river northwest of Fairbury.
    3. Life Before the Railroads. A speech by Dale C. Maley made in August of 2025.
    4. Human Geography presentation by Dale C. Maley. Explains why early settlers chose to live on either a creek or river.
    5. Corn Harvesting in the 1840s by pioneer settlers.
    6. Local Historian Publishes New Book On McDowell Family.
    7. Local Historian Publishes New Book On The Kring Family.
    8. Local Historian Publishes New Book on the Founding of
      Fairbury. Includes the rural pioneer settler history.
    9. Early Fairbury Settlers Challenged by Many Health Issues.
    10. First Fairbury Area Family Arrived 190 Years Ago.
    11. Judge McDowell one of Franklin Oliver's Lawyers. Includes information about pioneer settlers Franklin Oliver and Judge McDowell.
    12. Fairbury Pioneer Farmers Faced Many Difficulties
    13. First Three Years Challenging for Early Settlers.
    14. The Terrible Winter of 1830. How the Darnall family had to cope with the worst blizzard in Fairbury's history.
    15. Father of Fairbury pioneer Had a Unique Life. The story of Rachel Darnall's father.
    16. Tucker's Ford Across the Vermilion River.
    17. Wiley Sparks Experienced Many Changes in the Fairbury Area.
    18. DeMoss Family were early Pioneers.
    19. Popejoy Family were Pioneer Settlers of Livingston County.
    20. Fascinating Family Life of Judge Woodford G. McDowell.
    21. First Surveys of Fairbury Area Townships.