A man who dedicated himself to recording the history of Galena through poetry, Thomas McCarthy was born on Jackson Street on May 12, 1887 to Edward and Annie (McDermott) who were both children of Irish immigrants. He and his five brothers and sisters were raised on stories of Galena’s pioneering days of lead mines, riverboats, and Civil War generals.
Emma Grebner (1908-1990) was the first woman in Jo Daviess County and the State of Illinois to be duly elected sheriff. She is still the only woman to serve as sheriff in the county.
Born in 1922 as a third generation Galenian and grandson of formerly enslaved individuals, Beauford Clark Johnson served in the U.S. Navy for twenty-three years including time in the Pacific during World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. He experienced the integration of the military as well as the passage of the Civil Rights Act.
Trivia Winners The winning team from the Galena Trivia contest January 16 at Turner Hall, Mike Casper, Katey Casper, Mike Steinhoff, Janet Steinhoff, Janet Eggleston, Jon Clingman, John Cox, and Bonnie Cox
Born on July 25, 1877 in rural Rush Township, Myrtle Renwick Heer spent her life serving the citizens of Galena and Jo Daviess County through her career in the public school districts and her leadership in community, religious, and civic organizations.
December 27th saw us celebrate the beginning of our Bicentennial year with a mayoral proclamation and toast!
There are different accounts in regards to the birth of Galena’s remarkable citizen, Barney Norris.
Ely Samuel Parker, only man to hold the ranks of Sachem and US General, was posthumously admitted to the New York Bar, 130 years after his death and 160 years after he penned one of the most important legal documents in US history.
Imagine living in Galena in 1860.
April 27, 1918, was Ulysses S Grant’s 96th birthday. Kenesaw Mountain Landis delivered a speech for the occasion