After the end of the Blackhawk War in 1832, a land rush began across the northern third of the state of Illinois. In late April 1834, Asa McDole, from New York, with a backpack in hand and on foot, overtook five Ohioans named James Isbell, Isaac C. Isbell (brothers) and nephew, Parmeno Isbell, James Carmen, and a man named Bishop. Together, they headed west to the Fox River in Illinois with a team of oxen. On May 9th, they arrived in Oswego. They were informed by the only inhabitant there, William Wilson, about a beautiful Grove located ten miles west, known as Sugar Grove, to the Indigenous people. The group immediately started for this place and reached the grove on May 10th, 1834, at around 4:00 pm.
Because of their financial constraints, these men joined a Social Compact of Squatter’s Sovereignty. This was a testament to their unity and determination. Although they had no legal right to Federal Land unless it was purchased, the government had yet to survey the land. They relied on back-country folk laws and invested their sweat in the land, securing and developing farms on the frontier. They formed their own community and established their own rules, demonstrating collective action’s power.
Not long after, another group arrived from the east to claim land, but they discovered that Elijah Pearce, who lived in what is now Montgomery and also claimed land along Rock Creek, had already claimed the Sugar Grove land. The new settlers discovered this after signing a Squatter Sovereignty Compact and staking their claims.
“They fell upon proof of civilization in the shape of 4 logs laid together in the form of a commencement of a log cabin,” proof of a Squatter’s claim. Upon investigation, they concluded, “One man had not the right to all the best of the inheritance of this garden of the west.” The new settlers stood their ground and held their Compact until it was challenged. “The individual who made the first claim soon appeared in Sugar Grove with all the utensils of border warfare and all the threats and denunciations that an evil imagination could invent.” “Contrary to expectations and against the Compact, the squatters turned traitors and sold their integrity for 30 pieces (in the 1830s, about $30., equivalent to about $1,018.47 today). This act came close to destroying their friendship and Compact, but after negotiations and considerate contention, they finally settled the matter, and the Compact held.” – J.L. Panagopoulos