Galena's Living History Alliance

13 hours ago

This past weekend we installed another beautiful plaque, this one at 608 S. Bench Street, the home of Captain John Atchison and his wife, Caroline Emily Billon Atchison.

And, as so often happens when we start researching these early Galena families, there was so much more to their story than just the name on the plaque.

John Atchison was born in 1799 and was one of Galena’s earliest settlers. By the time he and Caroline were married here in 1829, he was already involved in the business life of this little frontier town. He became one of Galena’s prominent early merchants and later a steamboat captain, eventually commanding the Highland Mary No. 2.

Caroline had an interesting beginning of her own. She was born in Philadelphia in 1809 to parents of Swiss-French ancestry. When she was still a little girl, her family headed west, first settling in St. Louis and eventually making their way to Galena.

John and Caroline raised several children here, including John, Caroline and Charles. We especially love that their son Charles appears to have followed right along in his father’s footsteps and also became known as Captain Charles B. Atchison.

Sadly, John’s life was a short one. In June of 1850, while in St. Louis, he died of cholera at only 50 years old. His obituary described him as one of the first settlers of Galena and said he was closely identified with its early history and improvement. It also described him as a man of great enterprise and business talent, with a frank and generous nature.

Caroline was suddenly left to carry on without him.

The family had also suffered financial difficulties, and after John’s death Caroline began teaching a private school, which provided her with an income. She continued living in Galena for many years and eventually went to live with her daughter when her health began to fail.

By the time Caroline died in March of 1889, only two of her children were still living: her son John, who was living out West, and the daughter in whose home Caroline spent her final years.

I think the words written about Caroline after her death tell us more about her than almost anything else we could find. Her obituary said that few ladies in Galena had more friends or admirers. During the prosperous years of her life she had been known for being charitable and generous, and even after her circumstances changed, that kindness apparently never did.

We always love finding those little details because suddenly these aren't simply names and dates anymore. You can picture this family living in that beautiful house on Bench Street … raising their children, watching Galena grow around them, enjoying years of success and then facing some very difficult ones.

John died nearly 39 years before Caroline, but between the two of them their lives covered such an incredible period of Galena’s early history.

We are so grateful to homeowners, Nick & Jessica for seeing that Captain John Atchison’s name is where it belongs, on the beautiful home at 608 S. Bench Street, and to have one more Galena story preserved. … See MoreSee Less

Galena's Living History Alliance

4 days ago

What a lovely morning it was on saturday, at the old Central School, now Galena Green Condominiums.
We were joined by current residents and former students as we dedicated its new Galena Living History Alliance plaque. There was something very special about hearing memories from those who once walked these halls and called Central School such an important part of their childhood.
Buildings change, years pass, and new stories are written within their walls, but the old stories are still there.
For a little while this morning, it felt like Central School again.
(Video in comments) … See MoreSee Less

Galena's Living History Alliance

7 days ago

We are so grateful to Bill and Krista for applying for a Galena Living History Alliance plaque to honor Louis Homrich and his wife, Adella Charter Homrich. And, as so often happens when we begin looking beyond the name on a plaque, we discovered a family story worth telling.

Louis was born and raised in Galena and learned the marble and granite trade as a young man, eventually establishing his own successful business on Main Street. He would also devote many years to his community, serving as an alderman, Jo Daviess County Sheriff for eight years, a member of the school board, and a director of the Galena State and Savings Bank.

But it is the story of Louis and Adella as a family that especially stayed with us.

Adella was born Adelia W. Charter around 1861. Her family lived for a time in Warren before moving to Galena in 1877. She and Louis married about 1884 and together raised a large family of 8 children.

In 1893, Louis and Adella built their beautiful new home at 418 Harrison Street. It must have been an exciting chapter for the family, settling into a home they had built for themselves and their children.

Sadly, that chapter was far too short.

Just six years after moving into their new home, Adella died suddenly in December of 1899 at only 38 years old.

She had struggled with poor health for several years and had even spent time in a warmer climate hoping it would improve her condition, but her attachment to her home and children continually drew her back to Galena.

At an age when they surely expected to have many more years together, Louis suddenly found himself a widower with children still to raise. He never remarried. He carried on, raising their children to adulthood while continuing his business and his service to Galena.

Louis died many years later at the age of 70. His obituary remembered Adella's death as a tremendous blow and noted that, despite losing her so young, he had successfully raised their large family alone.

Behind the successful Main Street businessman and respected public servant was a husband who lost his wife far too young, and a father who kept going because his children needed him.

Thank you, Bill and Krista, for choosing to honor Louis and Adella Homrich and for helping preserve the story of the family who once called 418 Harrison Street home.

That is what these plaques are really about. Not simply names and dates on the front of a building, but the lives, loves, losses and families that once called Galena home. … See MoreSee Less