Knox County ILGenWeb

"The Rev. Geo. W. Gale, D. D., of Whitesboro, Oneida Co., N. Y., conceived the plan of establishing in the Mississippi Valley literary institutions by subscriptions among his friends.  His plan, in its main features, was to secure by subscription money enough to purchase in some desirable location in the Western States, government land to the amount of one township, or thirty-six square miles.  Out of this land, when purchases, enough was to be reserved for the site of a village, and also of the college which was to be organized.  The remainder of the land was to be divided into farms of convenient size, and appraised at an average value of $5 per acre, which would be just four times the amount paid for it.  At this increased valuation, the subscribers were to be allowed to take farming lands to the amount of their subscription.  The remainder was to be donated to the college.  The village property was also to be divided into suitable building lots, and sold only to actual settlers.  The money thus obtained was to be appropriated to an Academy and a Young Ladies Seminary, so far as needed, and the remainder to the college.  In the early part of the year 1835, Mr. Gale had secured by subscription some $21,000.  A meeting of the subscribers was held May 6th, 1835, at Rome, N. Y.  Geo. W. Gale was appointed general agent, and Nehemiah West, Thomas Gilbert, and Timothy B. Jervis an exploring committee.  The committee were nearly three months exploring parts of Indiana and Illinois.  Considerable difficulty was experienced in finding thirty-six sections in a body, of the quality they desired at government rates, and they afterwards were authorized to take less.  Orange township, in Knox County, was first selected by one of the committee, but afterwards changed to Galesburg Township.

At a meeting at Whitesboro, N. Y., August 19, 1835, a purchasing committee were appointed, consisting of G. W. Gale, H. H. Kellogg, and Sylvanus Ferris.  Messrs. Gale, Ferris, and West left for the military tract in Illinois, Sept. 16, 1835.  Mr. Gale, on arriving at Detroit, was too ill to proceed farther.  The others of the committee left for Knoxville, Ill., Sept. 29, 1835.  They immediately expended their funds in purchasing 10,336 and 81-100 acres of most beautiful and fertile prairie land, not dotted by any human habitation, and which cost, at government rates, $12,921.01, and two improved farms of 250 acres, and 160 acres of timber land, at a total cost of $14,821.01.  In the early part of Nov., 1835, they left for their homes.  A meeting of the thirty-four subscribers was held January 7th, at Whitesboro, N. Y.  The action of their committee was endorsed.  Prairie College, now

KNOX COLLEGE,

was founded.  Ten trustees were elected, and their prospective town named Galesburg.  A colony composed principally of a large number of the subscribers and their families removed as early in 1836 as possible upon the grounds where the college was to be located.  The institutions of learning which they had come to build up soon proved a great attraction to persons who were looking for western homes, and early drew settlers from various quarters until now, the wild prairies they purchased 34 years ago, have a population of 12,000 souls, with their city noted for its morality and enterprise, its college ground, worth three quarters of a million dollars, and its college amply endowed.  Thus through a handful of good and wise men, who were willing to forsake their pleasant homes and emigrate to the far-off West, has sprung up by their Christian and philanthropic efforts one of the finest cities and communities in the land.  A city in which looms up its many fine public and private buildings, manufactories, &c., that will place the name of its founders on the immortal pages of history."