Hezekiah Gear arrived in Galena in 1827.  He boasted of being a veteran of the Navy and being aboard the USS Lawrence during the battle of Lake Erie.  (more…)

Galena was briefly named “January’s Point” after Thomas January.  There are several accounts of Thomas January’s arrival found in the early Galena newspaper archives giving dates from 1819 to 1826 for his arrival, but 1821 seems to be the most credible. (more…)