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Stephenson County

Established
March 4, 1837 (Laws, 1837, p. 96)

Origin of the name of the county
Named for Benjamin Stephenson, prominent pioneer, a Colonel of the Territorial militia, and Adjutant General of the Territory (1813–1814).

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1826–1837 — JoDaviess
1836–1837 — Winnebago
1825–1826 — Putnam
1823–1825 — Fulton
1821–1823 — Pike
1817–1821 — Bond
1812–1821 — Madison
1801–1812 — St. Clair

County Seats
1837–  — Freeport

History of county governing board
1837–1850 — County Commissioners’ Court
1850–  — County Board of Supervisors

Township Government
Adopted — November 6, 1849

Township Names
Buckeye — Original spelling was Buck Eye.
Dakota — Formed from Buck Eye in April, 1861.
Erin
Florence
Freeport
Harlem — Name changed from Wayne in December, 1850.
Jefferson — Formed from Loran (no date, before 1921).
Kent — Formed from Erin on March 17, 1856.
Lancaster
Loran
Oneco
Ridott
Rock Grove
Rock Run
Silver Creek
Waddams
West Point
Winslow

Township Map

Pertinent Databases
Federal Township Plats of Illinois
Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
Local Governmental Records Database
Name Index to Illinois Local Governments