History of Elgin from the Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce

History of Elgin

This Old House Elgin Il Best Neighborhoods

"In 1835, James T. and Hezekiah Gifford, along with Samuel Jewett Kimball, settled a city that they would name "Elgin" in the state of Illinois, 38 miles west of Chicago. Situated on the Fox River, Elgin is directly between the lead mines of Galena and Chicago. Gifford, being a devoutly religious man, named his new city after a Scottish psalm. "I had been a great admirer of that tune from boyhood", he once stated, "and the name Elgin had ever fallen upon my ear with musical effects". Over the next 165 years, Elgin would be music to the ears of a great many people and industries, including one of the largest watch making factories in the world, the largest producers of dairy products in the Midwest, including the home of The Borden Milk Company, as well as the manufacturing of cars, shoes, bicycles and religious printed material. " – Author James McDunn

Elgin Historical Web Site

Elgin Area Historical Society and Museum
The Elgin Area Historical Society and Museum is based in Elgin, Illinois. Their site has information about the Society and Museum, pictures, and links to other historical sites on the web.
http://www.elginhistory.org/

Elgin History
This site contains two books - over 250,000 words - written by E. C. Alft, author of many other books pertaining to the history of Elgin, Illinois. Both books are complete and simple to search.
http://www.elginhistory.com/

Elgin Postcards
Throughout the years, the triumphs of Elgin would be celebrated through the production of postcards. The products of such postcard companies as V. O. Hammon, S. H. Knox, E. C. Kropp and others would serve two purposes: they not only provide inexpensive ways for people to communicate, but they also provide a historical record of buildings or structures that no longer exist.
http://elginpostcards.tripod.com/

Elgin Watches Collectors Site
This website is dedicated to helping people find out about their Elgin watches. These watches were symbols of America's emergence from an agricultural country into an industrial power. Watches are one of the few machines that were made 50 or even 150 years ago that, even today, can still be practical to use every day.
http://elginwatches.org/

History of Elgin – Mental Health
Kane County Illinois History Page
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/di/256__002.htm#A1

History of Elgin Watch Company
http://www.angelfire.com/il/newh/index.html

History of Kane County
http://www.co.kane.il.us/History/index.htm

Kane County, Illinois History, Genealogy & Today
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~ilkane/

Kane County IL Genealogy Web
http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilkane/

Quilt History - Elgin IL
From its infancy as Western Thread Company at the turn of the century to the First World War years spent as Collingbourne Mills, Inc., with its Virginia Snow and Grandma Dexter divisions to the Second World War years spent as Dexter Mills, Inc., to the post war years when LeeWards made itself a household name among the baby boomer generation and the subsequent acquisition by Michaels Stores, Inc., which is taking sewing and craft artisans into the new century, these early Elgin, Illinois companies were leading producers of quality threads, sewing supplies and needlework kits for over 90 years, each earning their own place in the history of needle arts in the United States
http://www.illinoisquilthistory.com/stories/elgin.html

Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce
31 South Grove Avenue • P.O. Box 648 • Elgin, Illinois 60120
Tel: (847) 741-5660 • Fax: (847) 741-5677