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Grays Lake takes its name from William Gray, who lived for several years upon its borders, and was one of the early settlers of this Township. This Lake is about one half mile in length and one fourth of a mile in width, and lies in section 27 and 34.
Cranberry Lake is but a small pond upon the north-east quarter of section 28, which is nearly surrounded by a marsh, affording yearly an abundance of cranberries.
While this marsh was in possession of Mr. Samuel Gunwood, it is said that he usually gathered from it, annually about 200 bushels of cranberries.
Taylor's Lake takes its name from an individual of this name, who was the first settler in its vicinity, and we believe, the first in the Township. In 1835 he made a claim of land upon the north side of this Lake, where he built a log house, and continued in possession til 1837, when the premises passed into the hands of Leonard Gage, where he continues to reside at the present time. This Lake is about half a mile long and about one hundred rods in width, in section 21 and 22.
Round Lake, the third of this chain, is so named from its round and regular form. This Lake is about three-fourths of a mile across it, and is one of the most beautiful Lakes in the County.
Sand Lake lies near the north line of the Township, mostly in section two. It is nearly one half mile in length and about one-fourth of a mile in width. It is so named from its sandy shores.
Slough Lake is but a small pond, lying in the south-east quarter of section three, and is so named from its being mostly surrounded by a marsh or slough.
Gages's Lakes are so called from the Gage brothers, who were the first claimants of land in the vicinity. This is a very beautiful chain of Lakes of four in number. The fourth is the largest of the chain, being something over a mile in length and varying in width, from one-fourth to three-fourths of a mile. It lies mostly upon section 11. The third lake lies in sections 13 and 24, and is about eighty rods across it; its form being nearly round. About one half of the second Lake lies in this Township on section 24.
In addition to the foregoing Lakes, this Township is watered by Squaw or Deer creek, which passes through the south-western portion of the Township, and also by the South branch of Mill creek, which passes through the eastern portion, upon which first mentioned stream there is one of the best sawmills in the County, owned by Mr. Nahum White, situated in the western part of the Township.
Probably no other Township in the County, which possesses an equally good quality of land in other respects, with the exception of Antioch, is as well and conveniently watered as this. The Lakes mostly have beautiful gravel shores, and are so interspersed through the Township as to afford an abundance of water for every neighborhood.
The early settlers of this Township were Noah Potter and sons, Churchill Edwards, Delazan E. Haines, Harley H. Hendee, David Hendee, David Rich, Levi Marble, George Thompson, Thos. Renehan, Leonard Gage, Thomas Welsh, A. T. Miltimore, Lawrence Forvor, Freeman Bridge, Nathaniel King and William Gray; most of these individuals are still residents of the Township. Noah Potter and David Hendee have since died, and Mr. Haines and Bridge have removed to other States. Mr. Potter and sons emigrated from Penn'a.; Edwards, Haines, Hendees, Rich, Gage, Bridge, King and Gray, were from the State of N. Y.; Marble, Thompson and Forvor, were from Ohio, and Renehan and Welsh were from Ireland.
Two or three claims of Government lands were made in this Township in 1835, but no improvements of any consequence were made, except the log house or cabin of Mr. Taylor, until the summer of 1837, when the settlement at the Township may be said to have fairly commenced.
The Village of Hainesville is within this Township, about a mile and a half south from the centre, on the Lake and McHenry plank road. The history of this place is probably familiar to nearly every inhabitant of the County; the writer has therefore thought it unnecessary to be very lengthy in his remarks upon its rise and progress. The first house upon the ground of the present Village plot was built in the fall of 1839, which in 1844 was converted into a tavern house. In February 1846 a post office was established here under the name of Hainesville and Elijah M. Haines appointed Postmaster. The following spring the Village plot was surveyed out and recorded, which may be considered as the date of the commencement of the Town.
Among the first inhabitants of this Village, were Elijah M. Haines, the original proprietor, Jacob T. DeVoe, Banjamin Welch, Dr. P. Dickinson, Isaac A. DeVoe, Harvey Whitney; Abner Fox, Daniel Ingalls, Robert D. Gordon, and Alvin Truesdell. The place at this time affords a large and commodious public house, two stores, and various mechanics, such as are usually found in a country Village.
There is a Masonic Lodge in this Village of about 35 members and a flourishing Division of Sons of Temperance of about 40 members. The post offices in this Town are Hainesville, Angola, Gage's Lakes and Fox Lake.
There are many independent and forehanded farmers in this Town, who are at this time turning their attention to the rearing of stock and culture of fruit. The most extensive farm, is that of John Gage, situated in the south-east part of the Town. The most extensive dealers in stock are Leonard Gage and Churchill Edwards.
The large and extensive fruit nursery of Levi Marble, Esq., is a matter also worthy of notice; it contains about 50,000 trees of the various kinds of fruit and of choice varieties.
The first Town meeting in this Town was convened at the Hotel in the Village of Hainesville. Nahum White was chosen moderator, and Leonard Gage, clerk, at which the following persons were elected Town officers: John Gage, Supervisor; Orville Slusser, Town Clerk; James Kapple, Overseer of Poor; Caleb Arnold, Leonard Gage and Robert Carroll Commissioners of Highways; Levi Marble and W. B. Dodge, Justices of the Peace; John Salisbury, Collector; John Salisbury and Robert D. Gordon, Constables; Freemand Bridge, Assessor. The number of votes cast at this Town meeting was 128.
The Town meeting for 1852 was held at Gage's school house; S. L. Emery was chosen moderator. The following persons were chosen Town officers: Supervisor, Orville Slusser; Town Clerk, S. L. Emery; Assessor, Aaron F. Miltimore; Collector, Samuel J. Avery; Overseer of the Poor, E. W. Avery; Commissioners of Highways, David Hall, Peter Wright and Nahum White.
The assessment value of property in this Town for 1850, including both real and personal, was $80,266.00. The amount of tax on the same was $1,037.23.
This Town has five entire school districts, and five fractional districts. The amount of the Township school fund is $1614.75 which is loaned at 10 per cent.
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