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They named the town Geneseo. It had been an Indian name meaning "pleasant valley.' They had all come from Genesee County , New York , but decided on the name of Geneseo because the land fit the name. Although it was mid-winter they set to work to make their original plans a reality. A cabin was erected for the Roderick R, Slewarts where the First Lutheran Church now stands. The Cones cabin was on the comer of Center and Main streets. The houses were built with unpeeled logs chinked with mud. The roofs were made of long wooden slats. There were no nails used because there were none.
The first winter was a hard one. They lived mostly on cornbread and pork. Wild game was plentiful for eating as well. The salt gave out, (which helped to preserve their meat) but they remained remarkably well. The nearest towns were Galena , Princeton , Wethersfield , Andover and Stevenson, now called Rock Island . These were the only villages where you could get supplies. There were long periods between visits to these places because of the rough trails and the harsh weather.
Religious services began at once with meetings in the various homes. There were good singers in the group, especially among the Stewarts. Music was important in their worship and life. Like others in t his religious revival period they were opposed to slavery. From the very first that Geneseo was founded, it was a station on the "Underground Railroad." The colonist's intent was to help t he slaves on the freedom trail to the north. Many homes had hiding places for the slaves to hide. Elisha Cone was the leader, called the conductor.
In the spring the goods that they had shipped by the great lakes arrived and they were made more comfortable. The prairie was beautiful - one grand flowerbed. The pioneer families had survived their first Geneseo winter.
The boundaries of the original town were North and South Streets, and Spring Street and Creek Alley, now called Geneseo Street.
During the summer a tent like structure for a church and school was made in the park. It was eighteen feet square, with poles laid up three feet high for walls, a roof of wagon covers, and puncheon seats. The prairie grass was the floor.
In 1837 the first frame house was built on the corner of Slate and Main Streets. In a corner of that house was the first store, partitioned off with sheets. The store records for 1842 - 1843 show the accounts of 62 families.
Jump ahead - 1838
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