On May 29, 1828, John Henry Martin, was born at Fort Peoria, Illinois, during
the Black Hawk war. In 1832 Elizabeth Jane Moulten was born in Woodford county.
In the year of 1849 these two young people were married. They went to
housekeeping in a log cabin and here they lived for several years.
Like
all early pioneers, they had the desire to seek a new home. In March of 1856,
with their four small children, taking what belongings they could and loading
them, they started out with a team and covered wagon. Heading northeast they
drove through the timber, and coming across the open prairie, for there were no
roads at that time.
After several days of hard travel they came to a
stretch of land on the north bank of a stream. This stream is now known at
Diamond creek, located one-half mile south of Dana. Here they decided to settle.
These first pioneers of the vicinity of Dana were my great-grandparents.
The youngest child, who was just six weeks old at the time of immigration, is my
grandfather, Albert H. Martin.
This tract of land on which they settled
was 160 acres of the finest land in Groveland township. It is the northwest
quarter of section 25. After proving this claim, a deed was given to
great-grandfather Martin by President Buchanan, under the "Homestead Act." This
deed is still in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. William Boyd, of Dana.
When they finally arrived at their new destination the first things
necessary were food and shelter. The shelter was provided for by
great-grandfather Martin building a four-room house with what lumber could be
secured. For food, wild fruits, berries and game were available.
Great-grandfather Martin rode horseback eight miles to a small settlement, now
called Minonk, to get other foods that were needed.
When the time came,
great-grandfather Martin broke prairie; then vegetables and grains were planted.
From the wild fruits and berries great-grandmother made jams and jellies. The
vegetables raised were stored for winter use in large holes in the ground lined
with prairie grass then covered with dirt. By doing this, things were kept from
freezing.
Sheep were raised and the wool from them was taken to a woolen
mill at Lacon, Illinois. Here it was woven into cloth, from which their clothing
was made.
At first great-grandmother made the clothing for the family by
hand, but after a few years great-grandfather took a load of oats to Chicago
with a team and wagon. He sold the oats and with part of the money purchased a
sewing machine. He then spent several days in the city learning how to use the
machine. After learning to use it he returned home and taught his wife what he
had learned about the machine. As this was the first and only sewing machine at
this time in the neighborhood, the neighbors living on nearby farms would bring
their sewing to great-grandmother Martin and she would do it for them.
The rest of the grain raised was taken to Ottawa and Streator by team and wagon.
Then on the return trips great-grandfather would bring back coal for winter use.
Other families now began to arrive in this vicinity, and in 1865 a
Christian church was built. The land for the church, for the cemetery close by,
and land where the present grade school stands, was given by great-grandfather
Martin. These were on the northwest side of his quarter section.
Great-grandfather Martin built an elevator for the farmers to store their grain
in. So that he could be near this elevator to run it, he moved in 1875 with his
family to a new home, one-half mile north of the first home. The home in town is
still standing.
As years went by more settlers came to Dana, so
great-grandfather Martin sold parts of his farm to individual people, who built
their homes here.
The town was first named Martin, for the first
settler, but the name was later changed to Conklin, and then to Dana, the
present name. It was named Dana after the superintendent of the C, P. & S. W.
railroad.
The town had grown until there were enough people here and the
town was incorporated in 1873. Many buildings now were built and Dana became a
thriving village.
The elevator which Mr. C. B. Sauer uses to store grain
in was built by David Cooper and my grandfather, Albert H. Martin. There are
also other houses in and around Dana that my grandfather built.
Extracted 08 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from Stories of Pioneer Days in La Salle County, Illinois, by Grammar Grade Pupils, published in 1932, page 94.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
