Lake Bluff in Lake County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Dwyer Settlement in Lake County, Illinois

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, March 29, 2012

1. The Dwyer Settlement in Lake County, Illinois Marker

Inscription. In 1837 William Dwyer, his wife Mary, and her brother, Dr. Richard Murphy, established a claim to the property on this site and created what was known as the Dwyer Settlement. The Dwyer homestead included a tavern and one of the three stage stops along the Green Bay Trail in Lake County. It became known as the center of social activity, nurturing political, intellectual, and religious ties in the newly settled area. The Dwyer settlement was the site of St. Ann’s Church and Cemetery (1844), the first Catholic parish in the area.

William Dwyer served as the first road supervisor for this portion of Green Bay Road and served as a tax collector. Dr. Murphy, a physician, was appointed first magistrate for the area and as deputy to the Federal Marshal, recorded the Lake County census for 1840. Murphy served for six years (1839-’45) in the Illinois State Legislature, drafting the first Illinois public school law, and acting as chair of the state finance committee. Dwyer and Dr. Murphy were instrumental in the 1839 formation of Lake County through the division of McHenry County, as well as in moving the county seat from Libertyville to Waukegan. The Tavern was the first polling place in the area and the site of the first Shields Township meeting on April 2, 1852. The Dwyer settlement gave a permanent character to this area and from

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it grew the community now known as Lake Bluff.

Erected 2009 by Vliet Center for Lake Bluff History, Lake Bluff School District 65, the Lake Bluff Women’s Club and the Illinois State Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Illinois State Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1816.

Location. 42° 17.09′ N, 87° 51.406′ W. Marker is in Lake Bluff, Illinois, in Lake County. It is on North Green Bay Road (Illinois Route 131) 0.2 miles north of Armour Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in front of Lake Bluff Elementary School. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 350 W Washington Ave, Lake Bluff IL 60044, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Fighting Tradesmen (approx. 2 miles away); Base Realignment and Closure (approx. 2 miles away); Wings over Great Lakes (approx. 2 miles away); Great Lakes History Trail (approx. 2 miles away); Women at Great Lakes (approx. 2 miles away); The Post War Era (approx. 2 miles away); World War II (approx. 2 miles away); Great Lakes Athletics (approx. 2 miles away).

Related markers.

Photographed by Paul Fehrenbach, March 29, 2012

2. The Dwyer Settlement in Lake County, Illinois Marker

with school in the background

Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. To better understand the relationship, study each marker in the order shown.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 2, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,520 times since then and 56 times this year. Last updated on July 10, 2013, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 2, 2012, by Paul Fehrenbach of Richfield, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.