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Some of the early settlers have pointed out and described old Indian trails, most of which have been plowed over so as scarcely to be seen to-day.
One of these evidently led from Hastings' Lake through the "Big Slough" or near it, just west of the Grub School house, then north-east toward Huntley's Lake. Mrs. Susan Smith-Minto remembered this trail and said that when she was a child it came near her father, George Smith's, farm, then turned north through the Pollock farm. This would lead one to think that it might have branched north-east toward Mill Creek.
Mrs. Minto told our teacher, a good many years ago, that she remembered Indians coming to her father's farm house, along this trail. They were riding ponies upon which they had strapped venison. The Indians wanted bread and while waiting for it, saw some trea sured shells that the Smith family had brought from the East. Upon being refused the shells they went away and later it was discovered that they had taken the shells too.
Mrs. Chope, one of the early settlers, lived in one of the "Mud" houses, common in this community in the early days. Her house was south of the Hockaday School House in the town of Newport, South east of Millburn. It is said that Indians used to come to her home and beg for bread.
One camping ground of the Indians was remembered by a son of Mrs. Chope, Mr. William Chope, now deceased, as being just north of Mr. Scott Le Voy's house, near the lane that separates Mr. LeVoy's farm from Mrs. Mitchels, in Township 46, Range 10, Sections 36.
In a poem written by Rev. A. R. Thain, one of the early settlers and an early pupil of this school, he tells of his walks across the fields from the Thain home and among the many things that he saw, says:
First Settlers: The early settlers came into the county in wagons drawn by oxen. They usually followed the Des Plaines River or some creek. They sometimes followed Indian Trails. They came from Wisconsin and Michigan also from Cook and McHenry counties. One of the first homes was in Antioch on Mr. F. Rhymer's farm. It was built by Thomas Warner in the year of 1848. Mr. George Strang walked from Canada to Millburn
In the east part of the Grub School district a number of the early settlers built homes along the east bank of Mill Creek in the hope of obtaining pure spring water, from the many springs that were found.
Another reason, too, was that they expected a road was to be built about one-half mile east of the present road that runs north and south through Millburn.
This road was never built, so these homes have always been away from the road.
Among these settlers who built along Mill Creek were George Trotter, John Thain and Robert Pollock.
About the month of June 1836 a stage line was laid out between Chicago and Milwaukee by the way of the new Milwaukee road. This road was for carrying passengers and mail.
This scheme was planned and worked out by 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 been carried between Chicago and Green Bay by a man on foot. It was by way of a trail along the lake shore.
Along Milwaukee and Green Bay roads taverns were built for the accomodation 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.
Belvidere Street from Waukegan west through Warrenton to Grayslake and Volo was laid out as a toll road. It was known also as the Plank road 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.
The first post office at Millburn was started January 24, 1848 with Robert Strang as post master. Then William W. Fullon became post master June 27, 1853. The post office was then moved about three fourths of a mile west of the village to the Thayer farm, now owned by C.C. Reeves. Here John Thayer was post master from December 14, 1853 until December 30, 1856, when the post office was moved back to the village and Samuel Smith became post master. He continued in office until April 20, 1864.
When Richard Pantall was appointed. Mr. Pantall held the office until the post office was discontinued June, 1904 to make way for rural delivery. He had the distinction of serving as post master longer than any other in Lake County.
The first church was organized in September 1841 by Rev Bascom who was a missionary of the American Missionary Society. Among the first members were Merrill Persons and wife, Robert Pollock and wife, George Trotter and wife and Mary Thayer, and Alexander Kennedy. Many descendants of the pioneers are citizens of the county today.
The first pastor was Rev. E. Howe who was succeeded by Rev. Parker who was pastor until 1844. At that time Rev. W. B. Dodge served the church as pastor and promised to accept the call given to be permanent pastor on condition that a church be built. Up to this time the church was a log building answering also for a school house.
The region around here was known as Mill Creek Precinct. The first voting place was the home of Merrill Pearson, about one and one-half miles east east of the present location of Millburn. Until a short time ago the old house remained there but only the old grasss-grown cellar and a few stones and shrubs now mark the site. Later the neighborhood was known as "Strang's Settlement" or "Strang's Corners".
The Scotch people call a creek, a "burn" and from the mills on the creek or "burn" they finally called the settlement, Millburn. It has been said that either Mr. George Purves or Mr. Robert Strang suggested the name.