Chase

History of Monee Township, Illinois

1909 Plat Map for Monee Illinois

This township had not a white inhabitant until after the trouble with the Indians was over. There were settlements to the east over in Crete, and to the northwest up in Frankfort, but the township of Carey, as Monee and Will were then called, could not boast of a single white man until the year 1833. During that year John S. Dilly, John M. Chase, S. W. Cooper, S. W. Gaines, Nicholas Young and Aaron Bonnell came into the township from Ohio, and they constituted the pioneer settlers of the township. There was but one grove of timber in the … Read more

City’s First Execution: Killer Hanged in 1866

The History of Joliet – Chapter 18 By John Whiteside of The Herald News (used with permission) Submitted by Nancy Vargo “I don’t think I’m guilty.” By John WHITESIDE of The Herald News They thought his name was George CHASE. But they weren’t sure, and he wouldn’t tell them. They hanged him anyway in Joliet in the summer of 1866. CHASE was the first execution in the city. He was a convicted horse thief serving time in the prison on Collins Street. While the Civil War was still going on, CHASE attempted to escape in the spring of 1864. He … Read more