Countywide Histories.
1868
Henry Lamson Boies (1830-1887), for many years the editor and publisher of the Sycamore True Republican newspaper, published the History of DeKalb County, Illinois, in 1868. It includes Civil War rolls and unit histories for area troops, a chronology from 1832-1868, seven historical sketches, and short township histories. Much of Boies’ structure, some wording, and even several errors carry through to later histories.
1876
1876’s Voters and Taxpayers of DeKalb County, Illinois, is a combined almanac and township-by-township directory, along with some biographical information and township histories. It also includes a list of early setters.
1885
Portrait and Biographical Album of DeKalb County, Illinois, published in 1885, contains biographical information as well as more than 100 pages of histories including early history and specific profiles like education, agriculture, the press, and government. The book also contains township and municipal histories.
Past and Present (1907)
Volume I and Volume II
Past and Present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I & II was published in 1907. Lewis M. Gross (1863-1919), compiled and wrote the extensive historical segment that comprises the first 328 pages of Volume I. The historical segment, extensively illustrated, includes history of Native Americans, early settlement, Civil War and the Underground Railroad, and township histories. The remainder of Volume I and all of Volume II contain biographical sketches of individuals, as well as a few businesses.
From Oxen To Jets (1963)
Published in 1963 by the DeKalb County Board of Supervisors, From Oxen to Jets, A History of DeKalb County, 1835-1963, was edited by Harriet Wilson Davy (1888-1974), with the assistance of a small but distinguished panel of historians. A more conventional history than prior DeKalb County resources, the book covers early settlement, education, economic and political profiles, contemporary history, as well as historical profiles of townships. In 2012, an update, Acres of Change, 1963-2012, was published.
