T. 36, R. 1, constitutes the town of Mendota. It lies in the extreme
northwest corner of the county; has no natural growth of timber, and was
entirely ignored by the early settlers. The settlements around the head of Troy
Grove timber had extended just over the line into T. 36, in 1840. O' Brian came
in 1840, Taylor, in 1841; Ward, in 1842; Meath, in 1845. Charles Foster settled
on S. W. 1/4 S. 34, in 1848. Bela and William Bowen, from New York in 1849.
But the building of the Illinois Central and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroads inaugurated the germs of the city of Mendota — and soon filled the
town with a busy population. It was known as early as the spring of 1853 where
the junction of the two roads would be, and D. D. Giles erected a store, and
others followed in quick succession. T. B. Blackstone, resident engineer on the
railroad, laid off the original town of Mendota. The place was familiarly called
the Junction, but as the railroad stations located on new territory that were
nameless were given Indian names, this name was changed to Mendota, which is the
Indian name for junction — meaning meeting, or coming together. O. JST. Adams
suggested the name, perhaps from his being the owner of the Mendota Furnace,
near Galena. The Central road was completed to this place in the summer of 1853,
and the Chicago,- Burlington & Quincy in November following. The latter road was
built in sections; first, the Military Tract and Galesburg, Galesburg to
Mendota, and then the Aurora Extension, connecting with the Northwestern at
Turner Junction.
The increase of population and building up of the town was very rapid, so that
in 1855, less than two years from the completion of the railroad, Town Trustees
were chosen and a municipal government organized. The village limits were the
lines of S. 33. There have been several additions since. March 4, 1867, a city
government was organized, and city officers chosen on the 9th of April
following. The growth of Mendota has been constant and rapid, and it is destined
to be a city of no mean proportions. The enterprise and intelligence of the
people is shown by their admirable schools and institutions of learning,
churches, manufactures and trade shown elsewhere.
Extracted from 1877 History of La Salle County Illinois, pages 478-480.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
