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Premiums were given on live-stock, grains, and house-hold stores, sewing, fancy-work, etc.
People for miles around attended these fairs and some of the old "Diploma-premiums" are still treasured in homes in the community. It has been said that "Plowing matches" common in Scotland were held at these fairs but no authentic information could be obtained on the subject.
Among the "Pioneers" who promoted these fairs were Robert Strang, George Strang, Peter Stewart, Joshua Wedge, Richard Pantall, George (Scotch) Smith, John K. Pollock and William Bonner.
He had been a teacher in Massachusetts for nearly forty years and was also the president of the first anti-slavery society of Salem. He entered heartily into all reforms as they claimed his attention and the work of the Underground Railroad was one that especially claimed his sympathy. His home was one of the "stations" where the slaves on the road to Canada were harbored and then sent on to some other place a little nearer the desired land of liberty.
The home of "Father Dodge" still stands and near it are shade and apple trees that he planted.
The first "grist" mill in Lake Co. was located about one and one half miles east of Millburn on Mill Creek, T. 46, R. 11, S.W. 1/4 of S. 33. This mill was built in 1836 or 1837. Shortly before this time, in 1836, Mr. Miller had built a saw mill near his grist mill. For some years both of these mills did a prosperous business, being patronized by the settlers from many miles around.
Mr. George E. Smith, who came to Lake County about 1839, and later settled in this school district and lived here until his death at over ninety years, operated the Miller saw mill 1840.
Just outside of the Grub school district there was another saw-mill that had a grist mill connected with it.
These mills were upon the north branch of Mill creek, just north east of the farm buildings on the Trotter farm, T. 46 N, R. 11, NW 1/4 of S. 30.
These mills were owned and managed by John Thain and his sons. Here logs were sawed into lumber, and in the grist mill oat-meal was made and barley was hulled. One of the old mill stones from this mill is now in the possession of Mr. George Stephens of Millburn.
Infantry Volunteers; Capt. John K. Pollock, Alexander R. Thain, Richard Thain, George E. Smith, James A. McCredie and Walter W. Hastings. One of the former teachers Henry Webb enlisted. When the Spanish War broke out Richard Trotter was the only person from the district who enlisted.
In the present Great European War, J. Mortimer Cannon enlisted in Ambulance Corps, No 131 and was sent to Camp Logan Houston, Texas. Harold Winker, Charles Truax and Philip Truax enlisted in the Navy and are now at the Great Lakes Training Station.
The first government land sold in the town of Antioch was in 1836 to D. B. Gage, Thomas Gage, and Thomas Warner. The first house built was in April 1837 by the Gage Brothers. The second one was near Loon Lake by Thomas Warner. The first town meeting in Antioch under Township organization was held on the first Tuesday in April 1850 at the tavern of D. B. Gage in the village of Antioch. The following officers were elected: Harrison P. Nelson supervisor, Eli Gage, town clerk, Thomas Webb, assessor, J. (40) H. Eliott, collector: Charles Webb and R. H. Colls justices of the peace; Ira Webb, A. B. Paddock and E. C. Stephens, Commissioners of the Highways; Robert Pollock, Overseer of the Poor; J. H. Eliott and Albert Webb constables. Votes 145.
The name, Antioch, was given to the town because many of the early settlers were members of the Christian Disciple Church and some one suggested as "The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch" that would be appropriate.
The town of Lake Villa was formed in 1911 and 1912. It comprised the two northern rows of sections of Avon, the two southern rows of sections of Antioch, the south-east section of Antioch fraction and the north-east section of Grant.
The first town-meeting was held April 1912 with the following officers: Supervisor, John Stratton, Town clerk, C. W. Talbott, Assessor, E. A. Wilton, Collector, Percy Dibble, Constable, Herman Witt, Justice of the peace, M. S. Miller, Commissioners of the Highway, F. M. Hamlin, J. J. Barnstable and George McCredie. The present officers are, Supervisor, J.J. Barnstable; Town clerk, Albert Kapple; Assessor, E. A. Wilton; Collector, Percy Dibble; Commissioner of the Highway, George McCredie; Constable, Herman Witt; Justice of the peace, L. B. Congdon.
In early times there was a post-office where the present village of Lake Villa stands, called Sherwood's Corners. In 1886 the Wisconis Central Railroad built its road and a depot was built there. The lakes attracted city people and a village soon sprung up called Lake City. This name was soon changed to Lake Villa.
Some of the first settlers who came into Lake County were Daniel Wright, Thomas Webb, Amos Bennett and Thomas Warner. They came from Cook County by the Des Plaines river. Some Scotch settlers came by the lakes. Daniel Wright made his home near where Halfday now is. Thomas Warner made his home on the shore of Loon Lake.
At the September, 1836 term of County Commissioners Court of Cook County, Richard Steele, Mark Noble, and Thomas McClure were appointed "Viewers" to lay out a road from Chicago to the state line across the Des Plaines river. The road was laid out the next December and established by state authority in what is now Lake County.
Green Bay road had been established by state authority before 1836; it extended from Chicago and Green Bay and had been made for military purposes. This road passes through Lake Forest near the shore of Lake Michigan and west of North Chicago through Spauldings Corners. Belvidere Street from Waukegan west through Warrenton to Grayslake and Volo was laid out as a toll road. It was known as the Plank Road to old settlers, part of it being covered with planks (between Waukegan and Grayslake). There were toll houses along its route one of these being on the Chard farm at Gages lake.
About the month of June 1836 a stage line was laid out from Chicago to Milwaukee by way of the new Milwaukee road. This road was for carrying passengers and mail. The scheme was planned and worked out by a Mr. Johnson who owned a hotel in Chicago called "New York house" The first stage coach used was a common lumber wagon, but to make it look more like a real coach it was drawn by four horses. William Lovejoy was the first stage driver. Before this time the mail had to be carried by a man on foot. It was by way a trail along the lake shore.
Along the Milwaukee and Green Bay roads taverns were erected for the accomodations of travelers who were traveling between Chicago and Milwaukee. At these taverns were barns where horses were kept to exchange for the tired ones on the stage coaches. Among these taverns was the "Old Rudd House" at Gurnee and directly across the street, the "Baxter House" now owned by James Farrell, there was another, a few rods east on the Waukgan road owned by Barney Hicks. There was also as early as 1850 a tavern in Antioch, known as the "Gage Tavern" Liquor was sold both at the "Baxter House" and the "Hick's House".
A few years ago a fire killed many of the plants, so that recently few berries have been picked here. This marsh is located mainly on the farm of Mr. H. A. Lange,Township 46, R. 10 S. 35.
Near this marsh are the swamps where sphagaum moss is obtained. This moss is used by gardeners for packing trees and plants for shipment and for lining hanging flower baskets.
Mrs. Margaret Strang Wedge, among the early settlers, used to tell of standing in the door of her father's house and shooting a deer.