In 1834, one year after the Treaty of Chicago created the conditions under which Native American tribes were to move west of the Mississippi, Cook County included territory in northeastern Illinois to the Wisconsin line.  In 1836-37,  McHenry County was created out of Cook County from the present western boundary all the way to Lake Michigan.  In 1839, Lake County was carved out of the eastern half of McHenry County.

 

In what was to become Cuba Township, the first known settler was Joseph Flint, who with his son Amos, came from the east and found their way to the bank of Fox River where the creek that now bears their name flows into the river.

 

They built a log cabin there, which Amos occupied during the first winter.  Joseph apparently returned to the east.  The Hon. Charles A. Partridge edited “A History of Lake County” as part of an Illinois history  published in 1902.  He wrote the following:  “Joseph Flint located a claim in Cuba Township, probably in 1834., which was occupied by his bachelor son, Amos Flint, who died in 1837 or 1838.   The log house, which was jointly occupied by an aunt, Mrs. Grace Flint, and V.H. Freeman and family, burned during their first winter, leaving them in a pitiable condition.  Timber was plenty however, and little time elapsed before a temporary shelter replaced the burned structure.  Flint Creek in Cuba, still bears the name of the pioneer of that township.  Joseph Flint is understood to have returned east immediately after locating the claim.” 

A Barrington Press article that appeared on March 1, 1962,

Assessor, REBECCA M. TONIGAN

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My staff and I would like to wish all a happy and healthy new year.  We are coming to the end of another assessment cycle within the next few weeks.

 

There has been a change in how the Senior Exemption process will work from now on.  Once you turn 65 years of age, you may come into the Township office with proof of your age (i.e. drivers license or state ID) along with a copy of the deed to your property.  We will then process your senior exemption.  In the past you had to return a card that was mailed to you each year to renew your exemption.  This will no longer be the procedure.  There will be a one time only sign up and the exemption will automatically renew each year (unless you move or sell the property). Please check your tax bill each year to make sure all appropriate exemptions are listed.  Should you have any questions regarding this new procedure, please feel free to contact our office.

 

I hope all of you have a great new year!

By Barbara Benson

says that the publication of the U.S. topographical map in 1923, caused the name “Flynn” to creep into official papers dealing with Flint Creek, but there had been no official change, and the true name was not abandoned.  But, the variation did survive as in West Flynn Creek Drive, just off of Cuba Road.   However, Flint Creek Drive and Flint Drive around Flint Lake in Barrington adhered to the original spelling.

 

On November 21, 1836, the United States let a contract to James Galloway to survey the townships in Range 9, and he finished up in Cuba and Grant townships in the fall of 1839.  The resulting survey map, published in 1840, does not include names, but it does give the location of a mill on  Flint Creek not far from the Fox River.  This is probably the grist mill of F.W. Densmore, and was known by later settlers to be located on the creek, near the present day Lake Barrington Village Hall.  By 1861, Densmore owned considerable property in the northwest corner of the township.

 

Late historian Bill Klingenberg  who was born in 1904, in the house at the southeast corner of Harbor Road and Henry Lane, said that remnants of the mill could be seen along the creek bank near Kelsey Road and in the early 1970’s, during tours given for the historical society, he would take people there.

 

As for the Flints, their memorial is in the name of the stream, on whose banks they found a brief refuge when this was but an empty prairie.