John Fisher, born on April 8, 1819, in Pennsylvania, moved to Illinois in 1849 and settled in Winnebago County in 1865. He married Sally Mason, born in December 1819, and they had thirteen children. John operated a successful flour mill in Cherry Valley with his son Solomon. He and Sally lived at 417 Genoa Road before retiring to Louisiana. Their son William F. Fisher, born on September 20, 1858, in Ogle County, Illinois, married Phoebe Castle and had four children. William and Phoebe retired to Cherry Valley. Their son, Herbert William Fisher, born on April 14, 1889, was a carpenter…
Thaddeus and Katherine Kirkland Davis, early pioneers from New York, settled in Rockford, Illinois, in 1839. Their son Jacob, born in 1833, married Harriet Campbell, and they had two sons and a daughter. Abram E. Davis, Jacob and Harriet’s son, purchased a farm on Mill Road and had a son, Fred, born in 1894. Fred, who served in World War I, later developed Davisville and served on the Cherry Valley School Board. He married Emma Enders in 1932, and they had two daughters, Anne and Leslie. The Davis family has a long history of community involvement and land ownership in…
Charles Benson Culver, born in 1873 in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, married Mary Adams, born in 1880 in Beath, Scotland, in 1903. The couple moved to Cherry Valley in 1906, where they opened the town’s first general merchandise store. Their home at 113 North Van Buren Street was where they raised their three children: John Classon, Charles David, and Ruby Mae. The store was a central hub until a devastating fire in 1928 destroyed it. Charles subsequently opened a gas station on the same lot. Both Charles and Mary died in 1956. Their descendants have since spread across various states, continuing…
Dr. Charles Edward Klontz brought the Klontz name to Cherry Valley in 1904 when he began his medical practice after graduating from Northwestern University Medical School. He married Elizabeth Wilmira Case, a Knox College Conservatory of Music graduate and daughter of David and Emma Case. The couple initially lived in Rockford but soon returned to Cherry Valley, where Dr. Klontz practiced until his death in 1947. They had four children: Edward, Gladys, David, and Charles Jr. Dr. Klontz was known for his dedicated community service, house calls, and contributions to the local medical and farming communities. His legacy continued through…
Amon Case, born October 8, 1816, in Hoosick, New York, was a Cherry Valley pioneer who purchased his first farm in 1846. He married Mary Jane Lamb in 1846, and they moved to Cherry Valley, Illinois, settling on a 160-acre farm. Amon became a prominent farmer, acquiring over 2500 acres and raising large herds of livestock. The couple were active in the Cherry Valley Baptist Church. They had five children: Amy, Charles, David, Joseph, and Elizabeth. Amon died in 1883, and Mary Jane in 1908. Their descendants continued to play significant roles in Cherry Valley’s development and community life.
Martin Chesak, born in 1861, and his wife Anna, also born in 1861, moved to Cherry Valley from Trenton, Wisconsin, in 1895. They bought a farm that was part of John Brown’s broom corn farm and had three daughters: Mamie, Kathryn, and Rose. Martin died in 1941, and Anna in 1935. Mamie married Len Johnson in 1908, and they had six children. Len operated a lunch room and the creamery wagon service. Kathryn married Bill Oberg, running the Cricket confectionery, while Rose died young. Descendants of the Chesak family, including the Nymans and Lofquists, have continued to live and contribute…
The Burke family, originally from Ireland, settled in Cherry Valley, Illinois, with Luke Burke, born August 20, 1842. Luke served in the Union Army during the Civil War from 1861 to 1864. He married Catherine McGrath on November 25, 1846, and they lived at 202 Grove Street, now home to their grandson Emmett Burke. Luke, a village blacksmith, died in 1897, and Catherine in 1939. Their children included Mamie, Harry, George, and Emmett. Harry ran a dry goods store, while George lived on Genoa Road. The Burke family has significantly contributed to Cherry Valley’s community and history, spanning multiple generations.
Will Brown, born November 11, 1885, in Mendota, Illinois, married Mae Lang, born August 18, 1885, on a farm near Malta, Illinois, on December 23, 1908. They had one daughter, Bessie, born November 20, 1910. The Browns moved to Cherry Valley in 1927, initially living on a farm in Flora Township before settling in Cherry Valley. Will worked at Atwoods and Cases, retiring at 73. Mae and Will were known for their community involvement and their beautiful garden. Their daughter Bessie married O. Fletcher Landquist, and they had three children: Carol, Joan, and Jim.
Clayton L. Booth, born on August 4, 1902, lived in Cherry Valley, Illinois, from 1906 to 1918. His family moved from Chicago when he was four. They resided on South Mill Road, while his grandparents lived on East State Street. His father, William Booth, worked as a road commissioner and supplied materials for concrete work. Clayton attended local schools and was part of the first Boy Scout Troop in Cherry Valley. In 1918, the Booths returned to Chicago, where Clayton worked for Commonwealth Edison for over 47 years, retiring in 1967. His mother, Anna, remained active in community service.
William and Carrie Wellsbay Bauer and their six children—Clyde, Frank, Ida, Floyd, Cathryn, and Howard—relocated to Cherry Valley, Illinois, in September 1917 due to William’s job transfer with the railroad. The family home, located at 114 South Walnut Street, was where they lived until Mrs. Bauer’s death in 1950. William Bauer served on the Cherry Valley Village Board from 1925-1929 and 1931-1939. The Bauer children pursued various careers, with some remaining in Cherry Valley and others moving to Rockford. This article chronicles their lives and the extended family’s local connections and contributions.