Funk's Fort in Jo Daviess County

[Chris Gordy]

Hi!
I was looking through some stuff and found a reference to Funk's Fort in Jo Daviess county. Has anyone heard of this fort or where it may be located?

Thanks

[Greg Carter]

Wasn't that one near Charles or Scales Mound?

GMC

[Robert Braun]

Apparently, the border between Illinois and the northern boundary of Jo Daviess County and the the-Michigan Territory was less defined than it is today. Several location were considered to be part of Illinois, including portions of the New Diggings, White Oak Springs, etc.

I do not know of a "Fort Funk" in Jo Daviess County per se. However, there WAS a settlement by Benjamin Funk in present-day Monticello Township, southern Lafayette County, Wisconsin that was certainly close enough to JDC that it might have once been considered part of that county.

Benjamin Funk, his wife Catherine Wiley Funk, and Thomas Wiley, Catherine’s brother. In 1828, the Funks and Mr. Wiley settled on land comprising today’s Southeast Quarter of Section 30, in Monticello township, per research done by Larry K. of this board.

These men, along with Richard H. Magoon, Francis Clyman, area lead miners, and furnace hands from Magoon’s smelting operation constructed the fort of logs located some two hundred yards from Funks’ post-war residence.

Happly, the borders today are much better defined. According to Greg, the northern border of JDC and Illinois is now connected with CANADA.

Eh? ;D


r.

[Greg Carter]

No comment.


One Moc

[Marge Smith]

Jo Daviess County at one time included a portion of Wisconsin. The Commissioners' Court (County Board) paid for a couple of surveys trying to determine the northern boundary of Jo Daviess County. This County licensed stores and taverns, laid out roads for areas like Shullsburg.

The boundary of Jo Daviess County went across almost to Chicago and down thru Rock Island during the Black Hawk War. The people here were isolated with the closest settlement of any size in Peoria. They had one bad road to Fort Clark (Peoria) or a boat on the Mississippi River to get to the "lower settlements" as they called them.

[Robert Braun]

According to Chandler's 1829 map, some 10,000 persons populated the Lead Region by 1829. The region shows numerous roads, trails, and river routes, along with the Galena-Peoria Trail you mention.

In the same year, according to James E. Davis, Galena's population hovered around 2,000--with easy river access to the Mississippi and points south, including St. Louis as far south as New Orleans. Galena would appear to be a settlement of reasonable size, with both river and road or trail access to the interior of the Lead Region and its emerging settlements.

It would appear that the district's lead diggers would have at least "access" to the goods and services available on and via the Mississippi River.

[Chris Gordy]

Well, it seems that a little more research into a possible Funk's Fort may seem in order. With the foliage gone it's that time of year to go scouting about. We'll see if we can find any documentation that would give a little bit of location for it.

[Robert Braun]

Recommend you attend the OLRHS meeting thsi Sunday. Funk's Fort and much, much, more will be presented by our guest speaker.

See you there!

[Chris Gordy]

We knew we could count on you guys! Looking forward to it. With another fort in the vicinity it would be great to include it's history into the ARF interpretive program.

[Robert Braun]

Actually, the stockades in the vicinity of White Oak Springs and Charles Mound may actually be closer to you folks...

Bob.