You are here: Home › About Pingree Grove › History

History of Pingree Grove

From a Genealogical History Written By Dr. Daniel Pingree, 1880
Donated by Joyce Wessel, a descendant of Israel Straw Pingree
More on Pingree Grove's History

The Pingree's bought land from the Federal Government in 1838. Andrew Jr., Israel Straw and Daniel Pingree made the journey "West" in the spring of 1838. Each of the brothers bought land for the purpose of farming. They arrived to be met by "a wolf howling wilderness", to quote Dr. Daniel Pingree. In October of 1838 the rest of the family, father Andrew Pingree Sr., his wife, the girls, and younger son came west to Illinois.

The family’s roots are in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Andrew Pingree

Andrew Pingree Jr. is probably the best known of the family. Reverend Pingree was a Universalist minister who in 1846 preached and taught school in St. Charles, IL. He was also a surveyor who0 surveyed a good portion of Kane County and helped plat the town of Gilberts. Mr. Pingree was also a member of the County Board of Supervisors, a Probate Court Commissioner, and the Postmaster of Pingree Grove. He and hi wife Hannah adopted Emma Gilberts Pingree.

Israel Straw Pingree was a farmer. He and his wife Harriet had eight children. Their children married and some of their descendants are living in the area.

Francis Pingree was the adventurer of the family. On November 26, 1831, Francis went to sea on the whaler "Averic" of the New Bedford, Mass. He remained a merchant seaman until 1837. To quote Dr. Daniel Pingree, "Francis went to sea the elephant". Francis married Lydia Patchin of Hampshire in 1843 and had five children.

Dr. Daniel Pingree

Dr. Daniel Pingree began his study of medicine in 1846 at the Indiana Medical College and graduated in 1849. He practiced medicine in Memphis, Tenn. for one year and then went to California settling in Placerville for one year. It seems the Dr. Daniel went to "see the elephant" in his own way. 1849 was the beginning of the California Gold Rush. Not being content he returned to Illinois and in 1852 he, his brother William with wife, and sister Betsy with husband made the trip across the continent to California. They drove a herd of horses and cattle to the town of La Grange in Stanislaus County, California. In 1859 Dr. Daniel, Betsy and her daughter returned to Pingree Grove. Dr. Daniel married Jane Havenhill in 1859. They had three children.

William Pingree did not own land in Kane County, being a child when the family moved west to Illinois. He remained in California.

The Pingree family as a whole was well educated and took community service seriously. They were teachers, constables, postmasters, surveyors, and Andrew Jr. was a Universalist Minister. After the Civil War, Andrew Jr. and his son-in-law Leverett Kelly were responsible for the railroad coming through the Village.

After the death of her husband, Hannah Pingree began to subdivide the farm that was in Rutland Township. Dr. Daniel subdivided his land in Plato Township somewhat later. Dorans addition came later.

In 1843 Israel Straw Pingree and Francis Pingree sold land to the School District, specifically the Northeast 1/4 and the Southeast 1/4 of the South East 1/4 Section of Section 33, for the amounts of $80.00 and $100.00. In common terms, this is the area that the "Old Village Hall" and part of the Fire Station now occupy.

The Park and the Fire Station are now on land originally owned by the Pingree family.

On December 12, 1906 a petition was filed to incorporate the Village of Pingree Grove. On December 29, 1906 an election was held. When the votes were counted they were in favor of Pingree Grove becoming an official Village. On February 14, 1907, Frank G. Plain, a Kane County Judge, signed the document making the Village of Pingree Grove official.

Today, none of the Pingree's live in the village that bears their name. They have left a heritage of hard work and service to God and the community.

Courtesy of the Rutland Township Historical Society