PEORIA FIRSTS

     When we started the History Trolley Tours - Gloria LaHood, Steve Tartar and myself - I was given a lot of information.  Some from the writings of Ernest East, Millie Bryant and Gloria plus research I did at the downtown Library.  Gloria laid out the route and I took the information and wrote the script following her direction.  One of the pages compiled and written by Millie and Syd Eslinger was of Peoria's Firsts.  It follows.

BURIAL:  Soldier from Fort Clark - 1812
MALE SETTLER:  Josiah Fulton, Abner Eads and five companions - 1819
FEMALE SETTLER:  Rebecca Eads, wife of Abner - 1819
SCHOOL:  Cabin on riverbank below Water Street - 1821
LAWYER:  John Bogardus - 1822
FACTORY:  Chairs - 1823
BLACKSMITH:  William Holland (later founded Washington, Il) - 1823
BOOTLEGGER FINED:  Samuel Dougherty (fined for selling whiskey to Native Americans) - 1823
MARRIAGE:  William Blanchard and Elizabeth Donahue - 1825
ELECTION:  1825
POST OFFICE:  1825
COURT HELD:  (In a log building on the bank of the river with Judge Yourk presiding) - 1825
FLOUR MILL:  Erected by John Hamlin on Kickapoo Creek - 1830
REGULAR STEAMBOAT RUN - 1832
PHYSICIAN:  Dr. Augustus Langworthy - 1833
NEWSPAPER:  Illinois Champion Peoria Herald (located on Water St. between Hamilton and Main) - 1834         
JAIL:  1834
VILLAGE PRESIDENT:  Dr. Rudolphus Rouse - 1835
PROTESTANT CHURCH ERECTED -  Presbyterian - 1835
MEAT PACKING PLANT:  Along the river in south part of town - 1837
BREWERY:  Located corner of Water & Bridge St. run by Frederick Muller - 1838
DISTILLERY:  Located on Water St. between Main and Fulton run by A.S. Cole - 1845
ELECTED MAYOR:  William Hale - 1845
ORGANIZED FIRE COMPANY:  Two fire engines with a hose bought by city at a cost of $1200 - 1846
BANK:  Started by Phelps and Bourland - 1847
TELEGRAPH MESSAGE:  Between Peoria and St. Louis - 1848
FIRST BRIDGE:  A foot bridge over Peoria Lake - 1849
LEGAL EXECUTION:  Thomas Brown and George Williams hanged for robbing and killing a cattle buyer - 1851
STREET LIGHTS:   Fifty erected by Peoria Gas, Light and Coke Co. - 1853
RAILROAD:  From Chicago via Peoria, Bureau Valley  RR - 1854
PUBLIC LIBRARY:  1858
FREE MAIL DELIVERY:  1873
ELECTRIC LIGHT:  Hamilton and Adams - 1879
TELEPHONE COMPANY STARTED:  Allair Rayburn Co.. 1879
TELEPHONE DIRECTORY - 1880
BRICK PAVEMENT:  Hamilton St. between Adams and Monroe - 1885
AVIATOR TO VISIT PEORIA:  Walter Brookings - 1910
FIRST PEORIAN AIRPLANE PASSENGER:  Miss Myrtle Grunert - 1911