Tazewell County
Photo of the Month

The Settlement of Pekin
by the Tharp Family

   The first white settlement in what is now the state of Illinois (as well as Tazewell County) occurred in January of 1680 when French explorer Robert de La Salle and 33 explorers landed their canoes on the eastern bank of the Illinois River near the present day site of Creve Coeur. The explorers built a stockade that became known as Fort Creve Coeur on a high cliff above the river. This site is at the southeast corner of Section One of Pekin Township.
   Although visited by travelers and Native Americans, the area which contains the present city of Pekin was not settled until the summer of 1824 when Jonathan Tharp built a small cabin on the bank of the Illinois River, near the site of the old Franklin School. He began farming a large area that is now part of downtown Pekin.
   Finding the local Pottawatami village, lead by Chief Shaubena (Shabonna,/Shabonee), friendly, Jonathan encouraged other family members to join him. His father, Jacob (photo at left), and his brother, Northcott, along with a friend, Jesse Eggman, arrived in 1825. They all built dwellings close to Jonathan's cabin.
   In 1826, Jacob welcomed a Methodist circuit rider to his home to conduct the first preaching service. They soon organized a twelve-member congregation, which initially conducted services in members' homes. The congregation would eventually become the First United Methodist Church of Pekin, which continues to thrive to the present day.
   In 1827, Jacob opened a trading post in his smokehouse. Trading occurred freely among the settlers and the local Native Americans.
   The Tharps soon laid out a plan for a town that they were going to call "Cincinnati". This town was laid out in a strictly north to south orientation, bounded by the Illinois River and the present streets of Broadway, McLean, and Main. Unfortunately, there was no interest in their lots. However, the settlement continued to grow and became known simply as Town Site.
   The town of Pekin would be laid out and surveyed a second time by County Surveyor William Hodge in 1829, following the Illinois River, resulting in a more northeast to southeast grid.
  The name of "Pekin" was chosen by Mrs. Nathan Cromwell, wife of one of the settlers. It is generally assumed the town was named after the Chinese city of Peking but this has never been documented. Mrs. Cromwell also named several of the city's east-west streets after female relatives and friends of the original settlers including "Ann Eliza" Street after herself.
   In 1831, both plans were used by rival real estate developers. This resulted in the unusual mixture of triangular intersections, jogs, and other odd features (such as Fifth Street intersecting Eighth Street) that survives to present time.
   The first steamboat to come up the Illinois River landed at Pekin in late 1828. According to legend, Jacob Tharp mistook the sound of the riverboat's whistle as the angel Gabriel blowing his trumpet for Judgment Day. He supposedly gathered his family in prayer believing the end of the world was near.
   Jacob Tharp erected one of the first brick buildings in 1836 - located on Tharp Place (now St. Joseph Street) between Sixth and Seventh Streets. It eventually became Pekin Academy - one of the first women seminaries in the frontier. It is also claimed to be the birthplace of the institution that would eventually become the University of Chicago. A photo of the building is located at the left.
   Although not listed among the official "founders" of the town of Pekin, the Tharp family has continued to be recognized as the first white settlers of Pekin area.

Norman L. Tharp
(13 Aug 1941 - 15 Dec 2000)

     Norman L. Tharp, President of the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society, passed away at the age of 59 on December 15, 2000 from complications after recent open-heart surgery.
     Norm had been our President for the last two years. His interests in genealogy began in 1967, when he began to research his family history. As stated in the above article, his great-great-great-grandfather Jacob Tharp founded the city of Pekin in 1824.
     Norm was a founding charter member when the Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society was formed in 1972.  Norm was also a member of the Peoria County Genealogical Society.
     Norm was an active volunteer in almost every project TCGHS ever undertook, including portraying historical characters during our annual cemetery walks.  You could almost see Norm change before your eyes when he donned his characteristic white shirt, black vest, and black western tie, sometimes with an added badge or two.  He seemed to move with a new spring in his step as he'd walk up to you, thrust out his hand, and say, "And, how are you doing today, young man?".   You can get an idea of what I mean from this photo showing Norm on the stage last October at the Illinois State Genealogical Society fall conference - accepting an award our society had been given by ISGS for our innovative use of historical cemetery walks to promote family history.
     Norm envisioned our society utilizing the latest technology to help meet our patrons' research goals. The Tazewell County Genealogical & Historical Society started toward this goal when his vision of a society website was brought to life in 1999. Norm also contributed the pictures used for the first several "photos of the month".
     During Norm's term, TCGHS was able to purchase a state-of-the-art computer system and microfiche/microfilm reader/printer. Norm also developed and implemented a disaster plan for the society during his two-year term.  I still expect to receive an email from Norm discussing a new idea for the website or the society's computer systems.
      Norm had recently retired as Security Supervisor from Caterpillar Tractor Company. He founded and led the volunteer fire department of Caterpillar's Mapleton Foundry for over 30 years. He also instructed on hazardous material emergency response.
     Norm was a Marine Corps veteran. He was a Pekin Police Department patrolman for several years prior to working for Caterpillar.
     Norm  is survived by his wife, Nancy, his mother, two sons, three grandchildren, four brothers, and three sisters.

We'll all miss him - he was a great friend!

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